37 research outputs found
The conventional versus a constructionist Scratch programming and first-year students' achievements in higher education classes: experimental data.
No full textGlobally, learning or teaching the first programming (popularly called CS1) remains a significant educational challenge. Indicators such as CS1 students' engagement, failure and attrition rates, and lack of diversity, continue to show the need for innovating the learning or teaching of novice computer science students. To ease initiating novices to programming, Scratch, a visual programming language, has become a staple of K-12 CS1 classes.
As outcomes of a research project aiming to explore a constructionist Scratch pedagogy with novice CS students in higher education, we present these datasets. In the research lasting two successive academic sessions, we conducted two quasi-experimental studies involving four intact CS1 classes in selected public polytechnic in the north central Nigeria. In each study, we randomly assigned the classes to the experimental and control groups, constituting the constructionist Scratch and the conventional CS1 classes, respectively.
Instruments for collecting data include a student profile questionnaire, a pretest, and posttest. Sequel to ethical clearance and permission from the selected schools, we conducted each study during the first semester of each academic session, in the first seven to eight weeks. During the first to second week, we administered students who consented to take part with the questionnaire and the pretest. Learning or teaching in the two classes lasted six weeks. Then both classes took the posttest. An independent CS educator who is not part of this research marked all the achievement tests, following a rubric prepared by the first author. To strengthen the research design and the possibility of arriving at valid causal evidence, we employed a Coarsened Exact Matching (CEM) algorithm to generate matched samples of experimental and control data, which we used in the analysis.
Data presented here includes the raw, unmatched and matched experimental datasets from both studies. A researcher can make use of the data:
To explore if some background variables not addressed in the original research may moderate CS1 students' achievements. For instance, their prior achievements in mathematics, physics, or English.
To uncover some interesting patterns using machine learning algorithms.
To validate the outcome of the original experiment by using the unmatched, matched or newly generated matched samples.
The authors welcome further research collaborations in using the data or the accompanying research instruments.
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Book Review: African Philosophy: Reflections on Yoruba Metaphysics and Jurisprudence
No full textBook Title: African Philosophy: Reflections on Yoruba Metaphysics and JurisprudenceBook Author: Oladele Abiodun BalogunPublisher: Xcel Publishers. Pages: 387. Year of Publication: 201
Internal hernia through the broad ligament presenting with acute on chronic intestinal obstruction: A case report
No full textNo Abstract. Nigerian Journal of Medicine Vol. 15 (4) October-December 2006: 430-43
Growth and leaf epidermal response of three Sesamum indicum varieties to industrial effluent irrigation
No full textThe effect of industrial effluents was studied with respect to growth and leaf anatomy of three Sesamum indicum varieties (NGB 00931, NGB 00937 and NGB 00939). Industrial effluents (25%, 50%, 75% and 100%) from two industries are used to irrigate the plants. Although, the control plants possessed larger leaves and longer stems than the effluent-treated plants, at lower concentration, the plant growth is relatively higher. Gradual decrease in the germination of seeds and seedling growth with increase in effluent concentration was observed. The best germination and seedling growth was observed at the 25% concentration. Leaf epidermal features (stomatal density, stomatal index, stomatal size, trichome density, tricome index, trichome size and number of epidermal cells) are more influenced in the effluent-treated plants than in the control plants from the Peace Standard Pharmaceutical Industry than in the effluent from the Global Soap & Detergent Industry. Thus the industrial effluents can be safely used for irrigation purposes with proper treatment and dilution at 25%.Bangladesh J. Sci. Ind. Res. 52(1), 1-6, 2017</jats:p
The Nigerian novel and indigenous culture : problems of communication
No full textIt is argued in this thesis that the Nigerian Novel is an attempt to transliterate traditional customs, beliefs and attitudes, the characters of myth and legends, a whole universe of ancestors, into an entirely new context of the twentieth century, employing a language to which the modern reader can respond. The work gives detailed consideration to the salient features of this attempt and assesses, with particular reference to the novels of Tutuola, Achebe, Aluko, Nzekwu, Amadi, Balewa, Egbuna, Adaora Ulasi, Nwankwo and Okara, what in each case is the atti tudeof the novelist to the indigenous culture of his country and how successfully the link between tradition and modern experience has been established. The approach adopted in the thesis is one of close analysis of texts in an attempt to find out how critically an author has presented those aspects of tradition he has selected for treatment and how skilfully he has dramatized the realities and dilemmas of the present. On each author answers are sought to a numer of searching questions. What are the particular values the writer is upholding or opposing, and what is his attitude to them? What particular emotional or intellectual effect does he hope to achieve, and does he succeed? If he does, by what methods of communication? If he fails, from what problems of communication has failure resulted, and what effect does this have on the reader? What sympathies are evoked, and how do we see a particular work in the body of works of a particular author? A writer's language is a mirror held up to his personality and his particular circumstances. It is through his use of language that he reflects his individual awareness of a given situation. The detailed study of language leads, almost inevitably, to a consideration of the more fundamental problems of communication. Even though all save one of the novelists to whom this thesis is devoted use English as their creative medium, they do so in the consciousness of the fact that they are presenting a Nigerian experience, and the best of them reveal in their works a specific mode of the imagination which derives from their Nigerian background. It has therefore been necessary in all cases to examine closely the use of language by each novelist and try to assess how effectively the artist has communicated. Because of the historical and cultural environment of the Nigerian novelist considerable interest is taken in the influence which the mother tongue (LI) has had on the writer's English (L2). The thesis concludes by identifying the essential requirements for the establishment of a successful link between tradition and modern life: an important theme, a consistent imaginative scheme, a language which recognizes the characteristics of LI and skill in the use of language. Only works in which many of these conditions are fulfilled as, for example, in the novels of Achebe, Amadi, Okara and Aluko achieve satisfactory results. The link between tradition and modern life is valuable only if it widens satisfyingly our experience of what it is to be human and thus contributes to the solution of the political and social problems of the present
Effect of Calcium (Hardness of Water) on the Uptake of Ciprofloxacin in Bath-Medicated African Catfish (<i>Clarias gariepinus</i>)
No full textSeventy -two catfishes weighing between 200 and 250g (and distributed into 3 groups) were subjected to bath medication with ciprofloxacin at 25mg/litre of water. Medicated water of each group (24 catfishes/group) had the same pH of 6.6, after adjustment using sodium carbonate, but different levels of calcium hardness .Group A water had 12.5mg/litre of calcium hardness, while for groups B and C, the levels of the calciumhardness were adjusted to 212.5mg/litre and 412.5mg/litre respectively using calcium chloride. Samples (blood, liver, kidney and muscle) were taken from two randomly selected fishes in each group within 8hours of exposure to ciprofloxacin. These were taken at 0 h, 0.5h, 1 h, 2 h, 4 h, and 8 h and were preserved at - 0.5°C, prior to processing and drug extraction. Ciprofloxacin level was quantified by ELISA. The seraarea under the curve (AUC) values of groups A, B and C were 17,938.13 ìg.hr./L, 18,883.75 ìg.hr./L and 12,273.75 ìg.hr./L respectively, showing that at the highest concentration of calcium ions in medicated water (as seen in group c ) level of the absorption .of ciprofloxacin will be reduced , hence reduced bioavailability There was also a direct linear relationship between the AUC values for tissue and the level of calcium hardness of water. This study therefore suggests a need to strongly consider the influence of corechemical parameters of fish culture water such as hardness, alkalinity and pH, as these can reduce efficacy or increase toxicity of drugs that are administered to fish by bath method
HIV/AIDS and immigrants: knowledge and perceptions of Eastern African refugees in metropolitan Atlanta., 2008
No full textThe purpose of this study was to examine the knowledge and perceptions of Eastern African refugees regarding HIV/AIDS and its interventions in metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia. The study was guided by the following research questions 1) What did Eastern African refugees know about HIV/AIDS and its importance? 2) How did Eastern African refugees and their families learn about HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment? 3) How did Eastern African refugees perceive HIV/AIDS and those suffering from HIV/AIDS in their families and communities? 4) What were the perceptions of Eastern African refugees regarding participation in the interventions offered by public and private organizations? Study participants were refugees from Somalia and southern Sudan who had settled in metropolitan Atlanta The sample of 80 participants was selected based on age, immigration status, and willingness to share information about sex and sexuality. To collect data, the researcher used a structured survey instrument that was administered in a face-to-face interview format with the 80 participants. Qualitative and quantitative analyses of participant responses were conducted Six themes emerged from the qualitative analysis, namely: Knowledge, Openness, Stigma, Attitude, Willingness, and Trust. Participants indicated basic knowledge of HIV/AIDS and its transmission. They also exhibited openness in discussing HIVIAIDS. However, participant responses manifested strong stigma against HIV/AIDS and its victims. Participants who had lived longer in the United States showed negative attitudes towards HIV/AIDS treatment, the healthcare system, and service providers. There was willingness to contribute towards HIV/AIDS interventions and community services. Participants exhibited mistrust towards health institutions, sources of HIV/AIDS information, and the context of the HIV/AIDS information. Results from the quantitative analysis indicated a strong and positive correlation between knowledge and openness Stigma against HIV/AIDS disease and victims was strongly correlated with knowledge, openness, and attitude. Attitude positively correlated with openness and with knowledge, while trust was moderately correlated to knowledge. The study findings confirm previous research among similar populations that reported limited knowledge of HIV/AIDS, entrenched stigma about the disease and its victims, negative attitudes and mistrust towards health institutions and service providers as well as the potency of the duration factor regarding immigrants resettlement process
THE NEXUS BETWEEN FOREIGN AID AND FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT IN NIGERIA: SIMULTANEOUS EQUATIONS APPROACH
No full textUndoubtedly, the choice of models for analyzing the relationship between level stationary Foreign Aid (FA) and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) variables using single-equation modeling techniques such as Multiple Linear Regression (MLR) model produces non-spurious results in the sense that the coefficient of determination (R2) is always less than the Durbin-Watson (DW) statistic. However, non-spurious MLR in this case might not adequately fit the FA-FDI relationship because macroeconomic variables are usually prone to problems of simultaneity, serial correlation as well as autocorrelation. This study therefore shed light on the FA-FDI relationship in Nigeria using a system of simultaneous equation modelling techniques. The FA and FDI variables are proxied as endogenous variables while the Inflation (INF), Population Growth (PG), Trade (TR), and Real Interest Rate (RI) are proxied as instruments. Pre-tests analysis of these time series datasets extracted from the repository of World Governance Index did not only reveal that the six series are level stationary series I(0) but also shown that there was a two-way causation between FA and FDI variables. Results from the estimation techniques further showed that the Three-Stage Least Squares (3SLS) and Seemingly Unrelated Regression (SUR) outperformed the Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) and Two-Stage Least Squares (2SLS) estimators at estimating the structural parameters of the exactly identified and overidentified equations embedded in the model. Findings from the SUR estimates of the overidentified equation established that Nigeria’s FA is projected to increase by 0.217188 units on average for each one-unit increase in the FDI
The nexus between foreign aid and foreign direct investment in Nigeria: Simultaneous equations approach / Mohammed Kabir Garba ... [et al.]
No full textUndoubtedly, the choice of models for analyzing the relationship between level stationary Foreign Aid (FA) and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) variables using single-equation modeling techniques such as Multiple Linear Regression (MLR) model produces non-spurious results in the sense that the coefficient of determination (R2) is always less than the Durbin-Watson (DW) statistic. However, non-spurious MLR in this case might not adequately fit the FA-FDI relationship because macroeconomic variables are usually prone to problems of simultaneity, serial correlation as well as autocorrelation. This study therefore shed light on the FA-FDI relationship in Nigeria using a system of simultaneous equation modelling techniques. The FA and FDI variables are proxied as endogenous variables while the Inflation (INF), Population Growth (PG), Trade (TR), and Real Interest Rate (RI) are proxied as instruments. Pre-tests analysis of these time series datasets extracted from the repository of World Governance Index did not only reveal that the six series are level stationary series I(0) but also shown that there was a two-way causation between FA and FDI variables. Results from the estimation techniques further showed that the Three-Stage Least Squares (3SLS) and Seemingly Unrelated Regression (SUR) outperformed the Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) and Two-Stage Least Squares (2SLS) estimators at estimating the structural parameters of the exactly identified and overidentified equations embedded in the model. Findings from the SUR estimates of the overidentified equation established that Nigeria’s FA is projected to increase by 0.217188 units on average for each one-unit increase in the FDI
Evaluation of electrolyte imbalance among tuberculosis patients receiving treatments in Southwestern Nigeria
No full textBackground: Electrolyte disturbances have been reported in both tuberculosis (TB) infection alone and TB-HIV co-infected patients.Objectives: To evaluate the effects of treatments on the imbalance of some electrolytes among patients infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Osogbo Southwestern Nigeria.Methodology: A total of one hundred and ten patients participated in this study. They were divided into four groups as follows: group 1 contains 50 normal patients without TB or HIV infection (M = 25; F = 25), group 2 20 new positive cases of TB patients without HIV infection (M = 13; F =07), group 3 20 new positive cases of tuberculosis co-infected with HIV infection (M = 10; F = 10), and group 4 20 positive cases of TB patients on anti tuberculous drugs (M = 11; F =09). All patients were screened for the presence and absence of TB, HIV and the level of some electrolytes in plasma (sodium, potassium, chloride and bicarbonates) were determined using standard methods.Results: Levels of sodium in TB patients on drugs (TBD) were significantly lowered compared to new case tuberculosis (NCT) patients (134.80 ± 5.83 mmol/L vs 142.10± 6.68 mmol/L) while potassium levels were significantly elevated in TB patients on drugs compared with their new case counterparts (3.75 ± 0.15 mmol/L vs 3.07 ± 0.42 mmol/L) P < 0.05 respectively. Chloride levels were significantly decreased in TB patients on treatment compared to new case tuberculosis NCT (99.26± 6.85 mmol/L vs 108.76± 8.42 mmol/L) while serum bicarbonate levels were significantly elevated in TB patients on drug (TBD) compared to their NCT counterparts (24.00± 1.81 mmol/L vs 21.00± 2.05 mmol/L, P< 0.05, respectively).Conclusion: Hyponatraemia, hyperkalaemia, and hypochloremia characterized some of the electrolyte imbalance among TB patients receiving treatments. The raised level of bicarbonate may be attributed to overcorrection of respiratory acidosis often found in patients with tuberculosis. Monitoring electrolytes is therefore an important component of TB management
