Acquisition of Entrepreneurial Competencies by Graduates of Technology Education for Sustainable Self-Employment in Enugu State

The central objective of this study was to determine the extent of acquisition of entrepreneurial competencies among graduates of technology education for sustainable self-employment in Enugu State. Three research questions and three null hypotheses were developed to guide the study. The study adopted descriptive survey research design. The study population of the study was 77 final year students in technology education programmes in public Universities in Enugu State. There was no sampling as the entire population was studied. The instrument for data collection was a 28-item structured questionnaire divided in two sub-categories based on the research questions that made for the study. The questionnaire items were structured in four-point rating scale. The questionnaire was validated by experts while the reliability of the instrument yielded 0.78 using Cronbach Alpha. Out of 77 copies of questionnaire distributed 72 copies were properly filled and returned giving 93.51% return rate. The data collected were analyzed using mean, standard deviation and t-test statistics. Based on the result of data analysis, the study found that there are low extent of acquisition of technical entrepreneurial competencies, managerial entrepreneurial competencies and interpersonal entrepreneurial competencies among graduates of technology education for sustainable self-employment in Enugu State. Based on the findings, recommendations were made among which include that the government and relevant bodies should provide facilities for teaching technical entrepreneurial competencies to the students for sustainable self-employment and technology educators teaching entrepreneurship should increase effort in the teaching of managerial and interpersonal competencies to the students of technology education for sustainable self-employment

Adaptive-mutation compact genetic algorithm for dynamic environments

The file attached to this record is the author's final peer reviewed version. The Publisher's final version can be found by following the DOI link

Inhibition of biofilm formation in clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus by Lactobacillus spp. from soured milk

Objectives: Staphylococcus aureus as a biofilm-forming pathogen has the ability to resist therapeutic treatments evident in prolonged diseases burden. Thus, the aim of this study is to determine the anti-biofilm potential of lactic acid bacteria on biofilm forming Staphylococcus aureus from clinical samples. Methodology and Results: Seventeen (17) swab samples were collected from hospitalized patients and screened for the presence of biofilm forming Staphylococcus aureus. The percentages of Staphylococcus aureus obtained are 11.76%, 35.29% and 52.94% from body fluids, infected wounds and urinary crevices/implants respectively. The biofilm formation assay conducted showed that all the Staphylococcus aureus isolates were biofilm formers but with varying degrees of adherence, that is, weak and moderately adherent formers. The anti-biofilm effect of probiotic Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) isolated from soured milk on the isolates had highest percentage of moderate biofilm (60%) in urinary crevices isolates and weak biofilm formation (50%) from both body fluid and urinary crevices isolates. Comparative analysis of Staphylococcus aureus biofilm inhibition between probiotic from soured milk and pathogenic LAB showed that while the probiotic LAB significantly inhibited biofilm formation for all the Staphylococcus aureus isolates; S1-S17 (p ≤ 0.05), the pathogenic LAB significantly inhibited biofilm formation in only four isolates; S10, S14, S16 and S17 (p ≤ 0.05). Conclusions and application of findings: This study demonstrates the antibiofilm ability of probiotic LAB as better inhibitors than the pathogenic LAB species against a major virulence factor (biofilm formation) in Staphylococcus aureus. The antibiofilm potentials of LAB isolates can serve as alternatives to chemically synthesized agents in reducing or inhibiting pathogenic biofilm formations in treatment and management of infections in clinical settings

RHAMNETIN IS A BETTER INHIBITOR OF SARS-COV-2 2’-O-METHYLTRANSFERASE THAN DOLUTEGRAVIR: A COMPUTATIONAL PREDICTION

Background: The 2’-O-methyltransferase is responsible for the capping of SARS-CoV-2 mRNA and consequently the evasion of the host’s immune system. This study aims at identifying prospective natural inhibitors of the active site of SARS-CoV-2 2’O-methyltransferase (2’-OMT) through an in silico approach. Materials and Method: The target was docked against a library of natural compounds obtained from edible African plants using PyRx - virtual screening software. The antiviral agent, Dolutegravir which has a binding affinity score of -8.5 kcal mol−1 with the SARS-CoV-2 2’-OMT was used as a standard. Compounds were screened for bioavailability through the SWISSADME web server using their molecular descriptors. Screenings for pharmacokinetic properties and bioactivity were performed with PKCSM and Molinspiration web servers respectively. The PLIP and Fpocket webservers were used for the binding site analyses. The Galaxy webserver was used for simulating the time-resolved motions of the apo and holo forms of the target while the MDWeb web server was used for the analyses of the trajectory data. Results: The Root-Mean-Square-Deviation (RMSD) induced by Rhamnetin is 1.656A0 as compared to Dolutegravir (1.579A0). The average B-factor induced by Rhamnetin is 113.75 while for Dolutegravir is 78.87; the Root-Mean-Square-Fluctuation (RMSF) for Rhamnetin is 0.75 and for Dolutegravir is 0.67. Also at the active site, Rhamnetin also has a binding affinity score of -9.5 kcal mol−1 and forms 7 hydrogen bonds as compared to Dolutegravir which has -8.5 kcal mol−1 and forms 4 hydrogen bonds respectively. Conclusion: Rhamnetin showed better inhibitory activity at the target’s active site than Dolutegravir

Human-Centered Design Components in Spiral Model to Improve Mobility of Older Adults

As humans grow older, their cognitive needs change more frequently due to distal and proximal life events. Designers and developers need to come up with better designs that integrate older users’ needs in a short period of time with more interaction with the users. Therefore, the positioning of human end users in the center of the design itself is not the key to the success of design artifacts while designing applications for older adults to use a smartphone as a promising tool for journey planner while using public transportation. This study analyzed the use of human-centered design (HCD) components, the spiral model, and the design for failure (DfF) approach to improve the interactions between older users and designers/developers in gathering usability needs in the concept stage and during the development of the app with short iterative cycles. To illustrate the importance of the applied approach, a case study with particular focus on older adults is presented.The results presented in this study are based on “Assistant” project funded by AAL JP, co-funded by the European Union. The authors would like to thank Dr. Stefan Carmien, my colleague in Assistant, for mentoring and for reading and making comments in the earlier versions of this chapter; participating research institutes; funding agencies; and companies from Finland, Spain, Austria, France, and the United Kingdom for their active support throughout the project

The effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of strength and balance Exergames to reduce falls risk for people aged 55 years and older in UK assisted living facilities: A multi-centre, cluster randomised controlled trial

Background: Falls are the leading cause of fatal and non-fatal unintentional injuries in older people. The use of Exergames (active, gamified video-based exercises) is a possible innovative, community-based approach. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of a tailored OTAGO/FaME based strength and balance Exergame programme for improving balance, maintaining function and reducing falls risk in older people. Methods: A two-arm cluster randomised controlled trial recruiting adults aged 55 years and older living in 18 assisted-living (sheltered housing) facilities (clusters) in the UK. Standard care (physiotherapy advice and leaflet) was compared to a tailored 12-week strength and balance Exergame programme, supported by physiotherapists or trained assistants. Complete-case analysis (intention to treat) was used to compare Berg Balance Scale (BBS) at baseline and at 12 weeks. Secondary outcomes included: fear of falling, mobility, falls risk, pain, mood, fatigue, cognition, healthcare utilisation and health-related quality of life; self-reported physical activity and falls. Results: Eighteen clusters were randomised (9 to each arm) with 56 participants allocated to the intervention and 50 to the control (78% female, mean age 78 years). Fourteen participants withdrew over the 12 weeks (both arms), mainly for ill health. There was an adjusted mean improvement in balance (BBS) of 6.2 (95% CI 2.4 to 10.0), reduced fear of falling (p=0.007) and pain (p=0.02) in Exergame group. Mean attendance at sessions was 69% (mean exercising time of 33 minutes/week). 24% of control group and 20% of Exergame group fell over trial period. The change in falls rates significantly favoured the intervention (incident rate ratio 0.31 (95% CI 0.16 to 0.62, p=0.001)). The point estimate of the incremental cost effectiveness ratio (ICER) was £15,209.80 per QALY. Using 10,000 bootstrap replications, at the lower bound of the NICE threshold of £20,000 per QALY, there was a 61% probability of Exergames being cost-effective, rising to 73% at the upper bound of £30,000 per QALY. Conclusions: Exergames, as delivered in this trial, improve balance, pain and fear of falling and are a cost-effective fall prevention strategy in assisted living facilities for people aged 55 years or older

Impact of product maturity on competitive advantage: A study of Unilever, Nigeria

In recent years the concept of competitive advantage has taken centre stage in discussions of business strategy; that is why one of the major challenges organizations face today is how to have a competitive advantage. In most cases, a stand-out product will do the job, since products are perceived as both highly relevant and meaningfully, the ability for any one product to stand out in a competitive category will guarantee the success of such an organization. While there are numerous ways to differentiate brands, identifying meaningful product-driven differentiators can be especially fruitful in gaining and sustaining a competitive advantage. Product maturity is when a firm or brand has grown to the point where it outperforms rival brands in the provision of a feature(s) such that it faces reduced sensitivity for other features. This study used a sample of 150 respondents to provide evidence on the relationship between product maturity and firms' competitive advantage in Nigeria. The study employed the ordinary least square (OLS) regression analysis. This study finds a positive and significant relationship between product maturity and firms' competitive advantage, as well as a positive and significant relationship between product differentiation and competitive advantage. This study, therefore, recommends that

Bioactivity guided fractionation of Icacina trichantha Oliv. (Icacinaceae) tuber for antimalarial activity against Plasmodium berghei infected mice and GC-MS profile of bioactive fraction

902-912Aqueous methanol extract of the tuber of Icacina trichantha was prepared using cold maceration and dried in vacuo at 40°C. The extract was purified using solvent-solvent partitioning with n-hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, n-butanol. n-Hexane fraction was purified using Vacuum Liquid Chromatography, eluting with a gradient of dichloromethane in methanol (9:1, 7:3, 5:5, 0:10, each 500 mL) to obtain four sub-fractions. Acute toxicity study was done using Lorke’s method while in vivo anti-malarial study was carried out using suppressive model. Phytochemical analysis was carried out using standard procedure and most active sub-fraction was subjected to gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy. The extract at doses of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg caused a significant (p<0.001) increase in percentage suppression of Plasmodium: 91.54 %, 94.48 % and 94.58% respectively. Phytochemical analysis of the extract revealed the presence of alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids saponin, glycoside, terpenoids, phenols, steroids, carbohydrates, reducing sugars. The GC-MS analysis showed the presence of eighteen compounds, the most abundant compound includes 9- octadecenoic acid (Z)-, methyl ester (oleic acid, 15.30%), 9, 12-octadecadienoic acid (Z, Z), methyl ester (linoleic acid, 14.34%). These findings suggest scientific evidence in support to the use of I. trichantha tuber for the management of malaria