18 research outputs found
Awareness of pesticide residues in locally available food and condiments among food sellers: A case study of Osun state, Nigeria
No full textThe specific objectives are: i) to determine the level of awareness of pesticide residue in locally available food among food sellers in Ile Ife area of Osun state, Nigeria; ii) to identify the demographic and socio-economic characteristics of food sellers who use pesticides, natural means in preserving their foodstuff from getting spoilt; iii) to determine the level of understanding of food sellers who use pesticides about the likely health implications that could result. The design of the study is cross sectional. Structured open-ended questionnaires were administered to 98 randomly selected food sellers in Ile Ife area Osun state, Nigeria. This includes males and female. The inference from the study shows that majority of the food sellers were between ages 21 and 30 years, suggesting that more of the young people are involved in the selling of foodstuff in the area of study. Most of the food sellers used phostozin, an organophosphate compound as preservatives for cereals. The majority of those that were aware of the health hazards associated with the usage of pesticides as preservative were literate school leavers. Among respondents to the questionnaire, it was expected that many of those food sellers likely to demonstrate caution in the usage of pesticide would be the literate school leavers. This is because they are more aware of the possible associated health hazards than their fellow food sellers who are not literate. The level of awareness of health implications associated with use of pesticides on consumable food items is higher among school certificate holders who are food sellers. Phostozin, an organophosphate, is a common preservative pesticide used on cereals foodstuff (e.g., bean, rice, maize) in the area of study, especially among the age group between 21 and 30 years
Study on Characteristics of Synthesis Gas Generation During Catalytic Gasification of Municipal Solid Waste
No full textAbstractThis paper focuses on the effect of Ni-based reforming catalyst on tar decomposition, dealing with the relationship between the operating factors with synthesis gas composition. A series of catalytic gasification experiments of municipal solid waste were carried out under the range of 873-1023K, to evaluate the performance of three types Ni-catalyst on promoting H2 and CO generation, particularly concerning with H2/CO ratio variation. Tar generation characteristics relating to operating elements were discussed, and catalytic promoter inhibiting H2S, SO2 occurs was investigated. It indicated that Ni catalyst can effectively improve tar decomposition, promotes H2 and CO generation. High temperature is favour for gasification and deep thermal crack, moreover improve the catalytic performance. Tar is finally converted into unsaturated hydrocarbons and oxy-organics. As catalyst promoter, alkaline metals, such as K, Ca, Zn presenting in Ni catalyst will significantly eliminate H2S, promote tar decomposition, furthermore, directly affect the H2 and CO ratio. Alkaline metal additives contained Ni-based catalysts be suggested as a potential means for the efficient production of clean synthesis gas from municipal solid wastes
Practice of Effective Hand Washing and Associated Factors among Caregivers of Infants Attending Infant Welfare Clinics in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria
No full textMen’s Perception and Practice of Family Planning in Ede South Local Government Area Osun State, Nigeria
No full textAttitudes of Students towards Peers with Disability in an Inclusive School in Nigeria
No full textPurpose: The majority of children and young people with disabilities live in developing countries where they face inequalities in education and other opportunities. Negative attitudes constitute one of the major barriers to the development of their potential. This study aimed to describe the attitudes of students without disability towards their peers with disability, and to assess the role that gender and interpersonal contact play in shaping these attitudes. Method: A cross-sectional study involving 107 students was carried out at an inclusive secondary school located in a peri-urban area in South Western Nigeria. Participants were recruited from a group of 118 students in the three junior classes and senior class one (JSS 1 to SSS 1). A semi-structured questionnaire containing items on the “Chedoke-McMaster Attitudes Towards Children with Handicaps (CATCH) scale”, which elicits responses on a Likert scale numbered 0 to 4 (0-strongly disagree, 4-strongly agree), was administered. Data analysis was done using Stata version 12. Descriptive analysis was carried out and association between variables was determined using independent two-tailed t-tests.Results: The Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of the scale was 0.83. The attitudes of students in the school were generally positive (M = 22.55, SD = 3.79). Female students had higher total scores (M = 24.76, SD = 2.78) than their male contemporaries (M = 19.84, SD = 3.05), t (103) = 8.55, p = .000. Having a friend/relative with a disability was associated with more positive attitudes among female students.Conclusions: In this inclusive setting, the attitudes of students towards their peers with disability were generally positive. Since interpersonal contact was associated with positive attitudes towards students with disabilities, interventions should be directed towards promoting interpersonal relationships in order to build an integrated society.doi: 10.5463/dcid.v23i3.136</p
Literary Afrofuturism in the Twenty-First Century
No full textPart one: Afrofuturism now. Author roundtable on Afrofuturism / Isiah Lavender III and Lisa Yaszek -- Dangerous muses: black women writers creating at the forefront of Afrofuturism / Sheree R. Thomas -- Part two: Afrofuturism in literary history. This time for Africa! Afrofuturism as alternate (American) history / De Witt Douglas Kilgore -- Middle age, mer people, and the Middle Passage: Nalo Hopkinson's Afrofuturist journeying in The new moon's arms / Gina Wisker -- Young adult Afrofuturism / Rebecca Holden -- Part three: Afrofuturism in cultural history. Space/race: recovering John M. Faucette / Mark Bould -- Runoff: Afroaquanauts in landscapes of sacrifice / Elizabeth A. Wheeler -- Black futures matter: Afrofuturism and geontology in N.K. Jemisin's Broken Earth trilogy / Lisa Dowdall -- Part four: Afrofuturism and Africa. We are terror itself: Wakanda as nation / Gerry Canavan -- Global Afrofuturist ecologies / Jerome Winter -- "You can't go home again": Deji Bryce Olukotun's Nigerians in space, science fiction, and global interdependence / Marleen S. Barr -- Faster than before: science fiction in Amos Tutuola's The palm-wine drinkard / Nedine Moonsamy -- Coda: Wokeness and Afrofuturism / Isiah Lavender III and Lisa Yaszek.Item embargoed for five year
Quantitative Visualization of Dynamic Tracer Transportation in the Extracellular Space of Deep Brain Regions Using Tracer-Based Magnetic Resonance Imaging
No full textBackground: This study assessed an innovative tracer-based magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system to visualize the dynamic transportation of tracers in regions of deep brain extracellular space (ECS) and to measure transportation ability and ECS structure. Material/Methods: Gadolinium-diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid (Gd-DTPA) was the chosen tracer and was injected into the caudate nucleus and thalamus. Real-time dynamic transportation of Gd-DTPA in ECS was observed and the results were verified by laser scanning confocal microscopy. Using Transwell assay across the blood-brain barrier, a modified diffusion equation was further simplified. Effective diffusion coefficient D* and tortuosity l were calculated. Immunohistochemical staining and Western blot analysis were used to investigate the extracellular matrix contributing to ECS structure. Results: Tracers injected into the caudate nucleus were transported to the ipsilateral frontal and temporal cortices away from the injection points, while both of them injected into the thalamus were only distributed on site. Although the caudate nucleus was closely adjacent to the thalamus, tracer transportation between partitions was not observed. In addition, D* and the l showed statistically significant differences between partitions. ECS was shown to be a physiologically partitioned system, and its division is characterized by the unique distribution territory and transportation ability of substances located in it. Versican and Tenascin R are possible contributors to the tortuosity of ECS. Conclusions: Tracer-based MRI will improve our understanding of the brain microenvironment, improve the techniques for local delivery of drugs, and highlight brain tissue engineering fields in the future.National Natural Science Foundation of China [81471633]; Beijing Municipal Science and Technology Commission [Z161100000116041]; China Postdoctoral Science Foundation Grant [2015M570901]; Medical and Health Technology Project in Guangzhou [20141A011008, 20151A011075]; National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars [61625102]SCI(E)ARTICLE2
Perception and Attitude to Family Life Education among Parents in Osun State, Nigeria
No full textBackground: Parents and guardians are important stakeholders in disseminating information about family life education (FLE) to their children. This study was carried out to assess the perception and attitude to FLE among parents and guardians in Osun State Nigeria.
Methods: The study, carried out between July and August, 2010, among parents and guardians in Egbedore Local Government Area (LGA), Osun State, Nigeria, employed a cross-sectional descriptive design. A pre-tested, self-administered, semi-structured questionnaire was used to elicit information from 400 parents who were recruited by multi-stage sampling method. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 17.
Results: The mean age of respondents was 42.4 ± 11.4 years; 52.0% were Christians while 43.5% were Muslims. Overall, 54.3% of the respondents had good perception of FLE while 45.7% had poor perception; 72.0% of the respondents had positive attitude to FLE while 28.0% had a negative attitude. There was a statistically significant association between religion, education, occupation and FLE perception and a statistically significant association between parental status, education, occupation and attitude to FLE (P<0.05).
Conclusion: Parents in Egbedore LGA of Osun State had good perception of and positive attitude to FLE. Parents should be encouraged to translate these positive dispositions into action by teaching their children about FLE
