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Knowledge and attitude are essential components of food security as malnutrition remains a critical public health concern among adolescents. The study evaluates the effectiveness of a Triple Benefit Health Education Intervention on knowledge, attitude and food security towards malnutrition among adolescent girls. This was a cluster randomized controlled trial among 417 randomly selected adolescent girls aged 10 to 19 years old in Maiduguri, Borno state, Nigeria from October 2019 to March 2020. About 208 respondents were assigned to experimental while 209 to control group, respectively, using an opaque sealed envelope. A structured questionnaire using KoBo Collect Toolbox was used for the collection of data at baseline, three and six-months post intervention while the data collected were analyzed using generalized estimating equation (GEE). The outcome of the baseline shows no statistically significant difference in sociodemographic characteristics, knowledge, attitude and food security between experimental and control groups. The study reveals a statistically significant difference between experimental and control groups for knowledge (p < 0.001; p < 0.001), attitude (p < 0.001; p < 0.001) and food security (p = 0.026; p = 0.001) at three and six-months post intervention, respectively. The triple benefit health education intervention package employed in this study can serve as an intervention tool to combat malnutrition among adolescent girls in Nigeria at large.

Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) composites filled with recycled borosilicate (rBRS) glass were fabricated for printed circuit board (PCB) substrate application. The rBRS powder prepared via a ball milling technique was dispersed in the PTFE matrix in different volume fractions (5%–25%) to produce the composites through a dry powder mixing technique. The effects of filler content on the composites' structural, dielectric, and thermal properties were examined. Scanning electron microscopy showed that rBRS filler was more dispersed in the composites at lower filler contents. The composites showed excellent microwave properties with relative permittivity of 2.31 and a loss tangent of 0.0018 at the highest filler content of 25%. The composites also revealed a good thermal property with a mean CTE of 60.54 ppm/°C at 25% filler content. Experimental data were compared with theoretical predictions. The results showed that experimental values of relative permittivity agreed with calculated values from regression analysis. It was also found that the logarithmic general mixing model gave an excellent estimate of the loss tangent of the composites.

Knowledge and attitude are essential components of food security as malnutrition remains a critical public health concern among adolescents. The study evaluates the effectiveness of a Triple Benefit Health Education Intervention on knowledge, attitude and food security towards malnutrition among adolescent girls. This was a cluster randomized controlled trial among 417 randomly selected adolescent girls aged 10 to 19 years old in Maiduguri, Borno state, Nigeria from October 2019 to March 2020. About 208 respondents were assigned to experimental while 209 to control group, respectively, using an opaque sealed envelope. A structured questionnaire using KoBo Collect Toolbox was used for the collection of data at baseline, three and six-months post intervention while the data collected were analyzed using generalized estimating equation (GEE). The outcome of the baseline shows no statistically significant difference in sociodemographic characteristics, knowledge, attitude and food security between experimental and control groups. The study reveals a statistically significant difference between experimental and control groups for knowledge (p < 0.001; p < 0.001), attitude (p < 0.001; p < 0.001) and food security (p = 0.026; p = 0.001) at three and six-months post intervention, respectively. The triple benefit health education intervention package employed in this study can serve as an intervention tool to combat malnutrition among adolescent girls in Nigeria at large.

Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) composites filled with recycled borosilicate (rBRS) glass were fabricated for printed circuit board (PCB) substrate application. The rBRS powder prepared via a ball milling technique was dispersed in the PTFE matrix in different volume fractions (5%–25%) to produce the composites through a dry powder mixing technique. The effects of filler content on the composites' structural, dielectric, and thermal properties were examined. Scanning electron microscopy showed that rBRS filler was more dispersed in the composites at lower filler contents. The composites showed excellent microwave properties with relative permittivity of 2.31 and a loss tangent of 0.0018 at the highest filler content of 25%. The composites also revealed a good thermal property with a mean CTE of 60.54 ppm/°C at 25% filler content. Experimental data were compared with theoretical predictions. The results showed that experimental values of relative permittivity agreed with calculated values from regression analysis. It was also found that the logarithmic general mixing model gave an excellent estimate of the loss tangent of the composites.

The paper looked at academic libraries in Nigeria as a special agent of economic development in Nigeria, A nation is said to be developed economically when its citizen reaches the high possible standard of living and having a security information for their wellbeing. Academic Library is an institution that is well established to take care of the information needs of students, lecturers, researchers and other comity of scholars and communities. The Academic library is continuously bringing man in contact with the world in the fulfilment of its functions as a repository for knowledge. The paper critically focuses on National development, Security, tourism and Academic Library Marking

Poor water sanitation and hygiene practice can be associated with increased morbidity and mortality. The study aimed to determine the effectiveness of health education intervention using information, motivation and a behavioural skill model on water sanitation and hygiene (WASH) practice among adolescent girls in Maiduguri Metropolitan Council, Borno State, Nigeria. A school-based cluster randomized control trial was conducted among 417 adolescent girls (10 to 19 years old) in four schools. The KoBo collect toolbox was used for data collection from October 2019 to March 2020. The chi-squared test was used to compare the baseline differences between intervention and control groups for WASH practice. A generalized estimating equation was used to assess changes from baseline, post intervention and follow up. There was significant interaction for WASH practice during follow up. Religion, place of residence, monthly income and occupation of mother had a statistically significant effect on WASH practice among adolescent girls. Findings revealed that this health education intervention was effective in improving water sanitation and hygiene practice among adolescent girls. Furthermore, religion, place of residence, monthly income and occupation of mother were found to be associated with water sanitation and hygiene practice.

Poor water sanitation and hygiene practice can be associated with increased morbidity and mortality. The study aimed to determine the effectiveness of health education intervention using information, motivation and a behavioural skill model on water sanitation and hygiene (WASH) practice among adolescent girls in Maiduguri Metropolitan Council, Borno State, Nigeria. A school-based cluster randomized control trial was conducted among 417 adolescent girls (10 to 19 years old) in four schools. The KoBo collect toolbox was used for data collection from October 2019 to March 2020. The chi-squared test was used to compare the baseline differences between intervention and control groups for WASH practice. A generalized estimating equation was used to assess changes from baseline, post intervention and follow up. There was significant interaction for WASH practice during follow up. Religion, place of residence, monthly income and occupation of mother had a statistically significant effect on WASH practice among adolescent girls. Findings revealed that this health education intervention was effective in improving water sanitation and hygiene practice among adolescent girls. Furthermore, religion, place of residence, monthly income and occupation of mother were found to be associated with water sanitation and hygiene practice.

Addressing the gap in knowledge, attitude, and practice among adolescent girls are important as malnutrition has a negative effect on their future generation. This study aimed to determine the knowledge, attitude, and practice of adolescent girls towards reducing malnutrition in Maiduguri Metropolitan Council, Borno State, Nigeria. This was a school-based cross-sectional study conducted among 612 adolescent girls (10 to 19 years old). KoBo collect toolbox was used for the data collection between 3 June and 31 July 2019. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify predictors of knowledge, attitude, and practice towards reducing malnutrition. The majority of respondents (451, 80.2%; 322, 57.3%) had poor knowledge and attitude towards reducing malnutrition respectively, 278 (49.5%) had poor practice towards reducing malnutrition. Schooling (GGSS; p = 0.022; Shehu Garbai; p = 0.003) was a significant predictor of knowledge. Religion (p = 0.023), information (p < 0.001) and motivation (p < 0.001) were significant predictors of attitude. School (GGSS; p < 0.001; GGC; p < 0.001; Shehu garbai; p < 0.001; Bulabulin; p = 0.030; Zajeri day; p = 0.049), education of father (p = 0.001), information (p = 0.026) and behavioral skill (p = 0.019) were significant predictors of practice. There is a need to focus on both school-based and community-based health education intervention to address the poor knowledge, attitude, and practice among adolescent girls for a healthier future.

Infectious Bronchitis (IB) is an economically important avian disease that considerably threatens the global poultry industry. This is partly, as a result of its negative consequences on egg production, weight gain as well as mortality rate.The disease is caused by a constantly evolving avian infectious bronchitis virus whose isolates are classified into several serotypes and genotypes that demonstrate little or no cross protection. In order to curb the menace of the disease therefore, broad based vaccines are urgently needed. The aim of this study was to develop a recombinant DNA vaccine candidate for improved protection of avian infectious bronchitis in poultry. Using bioinformatics and molecular cloning procedures, sets of monovalent and bivalent DNA vaccine constructs were developed based on the S1 glycoprotein from classical and variants IBV strains namely, M41 and CR88 respectively. The candidate vaccine was then encapsulated with a chitosan and saponin formulated nanoparticle for enhanced immunogenicity and protective capacity. RT-PCR assay and IFAT were used to confirm the transcriptional and translational expression of the encoded proteins respectively, while ELISA and Flow-cytometry were used to evaluate the immunogenicity of the candidate vaccine following immunization of various SPF chicken groups (A-F). Furthermore, histopathological changes and virus shedding were determined by quantitative realtime PCR assay and lesion scoring procedure respectively following challenge of various subgroups with respective wild-type IBV viruses. Results obtained from this study showed that, groups vaccinated with a bivalent DNA vaccine construct (pBudCR88-S1/M41-S1) had a significant increase in anti-IBV antibodies, CD3+ and CD8+ T-cells responses as compared to non-vaccinated groups. Likewise, the bivalent vaccine candidate significantly decreased the oropharyngeal and cloacal virus shedding (p < 0.05) compared to non-vaccinated control. Chickens immunized with the bi

Infectious Bronchitis (IB) is an economically important avian disease that considerably threatens the global poultry industry. This is partly, as a result of its negative consequences on egg production, weight gain as well as mortality rate.The disease is caused by a constantly evolving avian infectious bronchitis virus whose isolates are classified into several serotypes and genotypes that demonstrate little or no cross protection. In order to curb the menace of the disease therefore, broad based vaccines are urgently needed. The aim of this study was to develop a recombinant DNA vaccine candidate for improved protection of avian infectious bronchitis in poultry. Using bioinformatics and molecular cloning procedures, sets of monovalent and bivalent DNA vaccine constructs were developed based on the S1 glycoprotein from classical and variants IBV strains namely, M41 and CR88 respectively. The candidate vaccine was then encapsulated with a chitosan and saponin formulated nanoparticle for enhanced immunogenicity and protective capacity. RT-PCR assay and IFAT were used to confirm the transcriptional and translational expression of the encoded proteins respectively, while ELISA and Flow-cytometry were used to evaluate the immunogenicity of the candidate vaccine following immunization of various SPF chicken groups (A-F). Furthermore, histopathological changes and virus shedding were determined by quantitative realtime PCR assay and lesion scoring procedure respectively following challenge of various subgroups with respective wild-type IBV viruses. Results obtained from this study showed that, groups vaccinated with a bivalent DNA vaccine construct (pBudCR88-S1/M41-S1) had a significant increase in anti-IBV antibodies, CD3+ and CD8+ T-cells responses as compared to non-vaccinated groups. Likewise, the bivalent vaccine candidate significantly decreased the oropharyngeal and cloacal virus shedding (p < 0.05) compared to non-vaccinated control. Chickens immunized with the bi

Addressing the gap in knowledge, attitude, and practice among adolescent girls are important as malnutrition has a negative effect on their future generation. This study aimed to determine the knowledge, attitude, and practice of adolescent girls towards reducing malnutrition in Maiduguri Metropolitan Council, Borno State, Nigeria. This was a school-based cross-sectional study conducted among 612 adolescent girls (10 to 19 years old). KoBo collect toolbox was used for the data collection between 3 June and 31 July 2019. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify predictors of knowledge, attitude, and practice towards reducing malnutrition. The majority of respondents (451, 80.2%; 322, 57.3%) had poor knowledge and attitude towards reducing malnutrition respectively, 278 (49.5%) had poor practice towards reducing malnutrition. Schooling (GGSS; p = 0.022; Shehu Garbai; p = 0.003) was a significant predictor of knowledge. Religion (p = 0.023), information (p < 0.001) and motivation (p < 0.001) were significant predictors of attitude. School (GGSS; p < 0.001; GGC; p < 0.001; Shehu garbai; p < 0.001; Bulabulin; p = 0.030; Zajeri day; p = 0.049), education of father (p = 0.001), information (p = 0.026) and behavioral skill (p = 0.019) were significant predictors of practice. There is a need to focus on both school-based and community-based health education intervention to address the poor knowledge, attitude, and practice among adolescent girls for a healthier future.

Inadequate food security contributes to poor health outcome for all, including adolescent girls. The study aims at determining the level of food security and hygiene among adolescent girls. A school-based cross-sectional study was carried out among adolescent girls aged 10 to 19 years old from six schools in Maiduguri Metropolitan Council, Borno State. The instrument for data collection was a questionnaire using KoBoCollect Toolbox between June and July 2019. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify the predictors of food security and hygiene among respondents. A majority of the respondents (73.5%) were in a very low food security level. Three factors were significantly associated with food security level, these included schools (p = 0.007), age of mother (p = 0.004), and occupation of mother (p < 0.001). School (p = 0.003), age (father p = 0.017; mother; p = 0.012), hygiene (p = 0.005), and occupation of mother (p = 0.002) were predictors of food security. About (46.6%) of respondents had poor hygiene practice, school (p = 0.016) was significantly associated with hygiene practice. School (p = 0.019; and p = 0.005) and food security (p = 0.009) were predictors of hygiene practice. This study reveals a high prevalence of low food security among adolescent girls.

Inadequate food security contributes to poor health outcome for all, including adolescent girls. The study aims at determining the level of food security and hygiene among adolescent girls. A school-based cross-sectional study was carried out among adolescent girls aged 10 to 19 years old from six schools in Maiduguri Metropolitan Council, Borno State. The instrument for data collection was a questionnaire using KoBoCollect Toolbox between June and July 2019. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify the predictors of food security and hygiene among respondents. A majority of the respondents (73.5%) were in a very low food security level. Three factors were significantly associated with food security level, these included schools (p = 0.007), age of mother (p = 0.004), and occupation of mother (p < 0.001). School (p = 0.003), age (father p = 0.017; mother; p = 0.012), hygiene (p = 0.005), and occupation of mother (p = 0.002) were predictors of food security. About (46.6%) of respondents had poor hygiene practice, school (p = 0.016) was significantly associated with hygiene practice. School (p = 0.019; and p = 0.005) and food security (p = 0.009) were predictors of hygiene practice. This study reveals a high prevalence of low food security among adolescent girls.

Handover process is a very essential process in the Global System for Mobile Communication system (GSM). Its study is one of the major key performance indicators in every GSM network, and its linked to the quality of service of an each service provider strives to attain. The failure of the handover process is regarded as the drop of quality of service which in turn dissatisfies the customers. This study, contributes more on improving call drop rate in general, reduce handover failure rate and thus save on upgrade costs, this will be beneficial to GSM service providers to easily optimize their network faults relating to the resource management. In this paper, dynamic guard channel algorithm is presented that was developed using JAVA Software. This algorithm prioritizes the handover calls over the new originated calls. All handover calls are ongoing calls and if they are dropped it causes frustrations. Matlab was used to compare simulated results to the other schemes by use of graphs and charts.  From this paper we were able to establish and come up with a definitive solution to the handover crisis befalling telecommunication companies.

Handover process is a very essential process in the Global System for Mobile Communication system (GSM). Its study is one of the major key performance indicators in every GSM network, and its linked to the quality of service of an each service provider strives to attain. The failure of the handover process is regarded as the drop of quality of service which in turn dissatisfies the customers. This study, contributes more on improving call drop rate in general, reduce handover failure rate and thus save on upgrade costs, this will be beneficial to GSM service providers to easily optimize their network faults relating to the resource management. In this paper, dynamic guard channel algorithm is presented that was developed using JAVA Software. This algorithm prioritizes the handover calls over the new originated calls. All handover calls are ongoing calls and if they are dropped it causes frustrations. Matlab was used to compare simulated results to the other schemes by use of graphs and charts.  From this paper we were able to establish and come up with a definitive solution to the handover crisis befalling telecommunication companies.

Handover process is a very essential process in the Global System for Mobile Communication system (GSM). Its study is one of the major key performance indicators in every GSM network, and its linked to the quality of service of an each service provider strives to attain. The failure of the handover process is regarded as the drop of quality of service which in turn dissatisfies the customers. This study, contributes more on improving call drop rate in general, reduce handover failure rate and thus save on upgrade costs, this will be beneficial to GSM service providers to easily optimize their network faults relating to the resource management. In this paper, dynamic guard channel algorithm is presented that was developed using JAVA Software. This algorithm prioritizes the handover calls over the new originated calls. All handover calls are ongoing calls and if they are dropped it causes frustrations. Matlab was used to compare simulated results to the other schemes by use of graphs and charts.  From this paper we were able to establish and come up with a definitive solution to the handover crisis befalling telecommunication companies.

Handover process is a very essential process in the Global System for Mobile Communication system (GSM). Its study is one of the major key performance indicators in every GSM network, and its linked to the quality of service of an each service provider strives to attain. The failure of the handover process is regarded as the drop of quality of service which in turn dissatisfies the customers. This study, contributes more on improving call drop rate in general, reduce handover failure rate and thus save on upgrade costs, this will be beneficial to GSM service providers to easily optimize their network faults relating to the resource management. In this paper, dynamic guard channel algorithm is presented that was developed using JAVA Software. This algorithm prioritizes the handover calls over the new originated calls. All handover calls are ongoing calls and if they are dropped it causes frustrations. Matlab was used to compare simulated results to the other schemes by use of graphs and charts.  From this paper we were able to establish and come up with a definitive solution to the handover crisis befalling telecommunication companies.

Employee commitment and retention are two axioms associated with productivity and stability of employment in organizations. This concept is much more important in the health sector. This study investigates the relationships between each dimension of employee commitment and retention as well as determines their combined influence on retention among doctors and nurses in University Teaching Hospitals in North-Western Nigeria. The study uses cross sectional survey data collected in 2015 from 441 respondents drawn through multi-stage sampling technique. The data was analysed using correlation and regression techniques. The results, in line with multidimensional theory of commitment, indicate that employee commitment dimensions (affective, continuance and normative) are significantly related to retention. Contrary to findings of some previous studies, however, normative commitment is more prevalent in affecting retention than affective commitment. The study, therefore, recommends that management should foster and sustain high levels of affective and normative commitments among employees. Critical working tools should also be made readily available and the overall working environment be made conducive in order to enhance their commitment and retention. Key Words: Employee Commitment, Retention, Management, Teaching Hospitals, Nigeria.

Rice is the most important source of calorie intake for the majority of Malaysians. Rice production has increased over the years, however, about 30-40% of domestic rice demand is imported annually not only to suffice shortfall in supply but to meet the need of consumers for certain varieties not produced locally. Recently, spending on importation has become a marked concern as the country’s rising per capital incomes, consumers phobia-tic health behaviour and need to cater for certain health condition stimulate increase in the demand and consumption of some imported rice varieties rather than quantity proportionally which consequently led to increased importation to satisfy consumers need. In response, the government is investing efforts to restrict importation through the introduction of hybrids with attributes similar to some of the imported varieties. Consumers’ continuous appetite for imported rice varieties with certain quality attributes and government’s efforts to introduce rice varieties with similar attributes to reduce the cost of importation make it a priority to explore consumers’ preferences for alternative intrinsic and extrinsic attributes of imported rice varieties and willingness to pay for the preferred attributes. This study employed conjoint analysis to determine the relative importance of each attribute and the value consumers attached to each level of attributes. In total, 500 respondents were interviewed via structured questionnaire consisting of combinations of attribute levels and consumers were asked to provide a rating response from 1-10 (1 = least preferred; 10 = most preferred) to indicate their preferences for a particular combination. Ordinary least square regression was used to reveal consumers’ preferences and the magnitude of the coefficients determine the value consumers attach to each attribute. The results showed that price is the most important factor for both intrinsic and extrinsic attributes. For intrinsic attributes, texture

Employee commitment and retention are two axioms associated with productivity and stability of employment in organizations. This concept is much more important in the health sector. This study investigates the relationships between each dimension of employee commitment and retention as well as determines their combined influence on retention among doctors and nurses in University Teaching Hospitals in North-Western Nigeria. The study uses cross sectional survey data collected in 2015 from 441 respondents drawn through multi-stage sampling technique. The data was analysed using correlation and regression techniques. The results, in line with multidimensional theory of commitment, indicate that employee commitment dimensions (affective, continuance and normative) are significantly related to retention. Contrary to findings of some previous studies, however, normative commitment is more prevalent in affecting retention than affective commitment. The study, therefore, recommends that management should foster and sustain high levels of affective and normative commitments among employees. Critical working tools should also be made readily available and the overall working environment be made conducive in order to enhance their commitment and retention. Key Words: Employee Commitment, Retention, Management, Teaching Hospitals, Nigeria.

Rice is the most important source of calorie intake for the majority of Malaysians. Rice production has increased over the years, however, about 30-40% of domestic rice demand is imported annually not only to suffice shortfall in supply but to meet the need of consumers for certain varieties not produced locally. Recently, spending on importation has become a marked concern as the country’s rising per capital incomes, consumers phobia-tic health behaviour and need to cater for certain health condition stimulate increase in the demand and consumption of some imported rice varieties rather than quantity proportionally which consequently led to increased importation to satisfy consumers need. In response, the government is investing efforts to restrict importation through the introduction of hybrids with attributes similar to some of the imported varieties. Consumers’ continuous appetite for imported rice varieties with certain quality attributes and government’s efforts to introduce rice varieties with similar attributes to reduce the cost of importation make it a priority to explore consumers’ preferences for alternative intrinsic and extrinsic attributes of imported rice varieties and willingness to pay for the preferred attributes. This study employed conjoint analysis to determine the relative importance of each attribute and the value consumers attached to each level of attributes. In total, 500 respondents were interviewed via structured questionnaire consisting of combinations of attribute levels and consumers were asked to provide a rating response from 1-10 (1 = least preferred; 10 = most preferred) to indicate their preferences for a particular combination. Ordinary least square regression was used to reveal consumers’ preferences and the magnitude of the coefficients determine the value consumers attach to each attribute. The results showed that price is the most important factor for both intrinsic and extrinsic attributes. For intrinsic attributes, texture

Perlakuan benih menggunakan rizobakteri sebagai alternatif pengganti penggunaan bahan kimia untuk mengendalikan penyakit tanaman. Penelitian ini bertujuan (1) menyeleksi keefektifan isolat rizobakteri dalam menghambat pertumbuhan Phytophthora capsici secara in vitro, dan (2) mempelajari pengaruh perlakuan benih menggunakan rizobakteri terhadap pertumbuhan P. capsici, vigor benih dan pertumbuhan tanaman. Penelitian ini terdiri atas dua tahap percobaan, kedua percobaan tersebut menggunakan rancangan acak lengkap. Percobaan satu (pesemaian) terdiri atas lima taraf yaitu perlakuan benih dengan rizobakteri ST116B, ST156, E3, metalaksil, dan tanpa perlakuan (kontrol). Percobaan dua (di rumah kaca) terdiri atas enam taraf yaitu perlakuan rizobakteri ST116B, ST156, E3, metalaksil, kontrol positif, dan kontrol negatif. Terdapat 7 rizobakteri dari 23 isolat yang diuji yaitu ST156, E3, ST116B, ST81, SK7, ST116, dan ST109B menghambat pertumbuhan P. capsici secara in vitro. Perlakuan benih dengan rizobakteri ST116B, ST156, dan E3 nyata meningkatkan vigor benih pada tolok ukur indeks vigor. Perlakuan benih terbaik dalam meningkatkan pertumbuhan tanaman (jumlah daun) dan berpotensi mengendalikan penyakit busuk phytophthora pada tanaman cabai adalah dengan rizobakteri ST116B.