scholarly journals Equipping Adult Learners with Basic Literacy Skills for Cognitive Sustainability in Lagos State, Nigeria

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 64
Author(s):  
Blessing Anyikwa ◽  
Oyekunle Oyekunle Yinusa

Abstract  The non-literate adult citizens in Nigeria are often faced with the inability to apply mental intelligence in their lifestyles which is reducing their worth and relevance in the 21st century literate society. The study therefore, seeks to equip adult learners with basic literacy skills for cognitive sustainability in Lagos state, Nigeria. Four research questions were raised and answered; and four hypotheses were tested to guide the study. The study adopted descriptive survey research design. The instruments adopted for the study were Key Informant Interview (KII) and a Questionnaire. A 20-item questionnaire titled “Adult Learners’ Basic Literacy Skills Questionnaire”, (ALBLSQ) was developed by the researchers. The instrument was validated using content and face validity according to the standard approved by the National Mass Education Commission in Nigeria, and the State Agency for Mass Education in Lagos State, Nigeria (NMEC/NOGALSS). A total of one hundred and eighty (180) questionnaires were administered purposively to adult learners across the six NMEC/NOGALSS literacy centers in Lagos state, and one hundred and forty-five (145) were retrieved. The reliability of the instrument was confirmed using a test-retest procedure, which gave a correlation coefficient of 0.87. The data was presented using frequency distribution tables, percentages, and Bar Charts. The data was analyzed using Spearman Rank Order Correlation Coefficient and T-test statistical tools to test the hypotheses at 0.05 significance level. The study revealed that a significant difference exists between the performance of adult learners before intervention and the performance of adult learners after intervention of the adult basic literacy programme amongst others. The study concluded and recommended that the curriculum of the adult basic literacy should be designed to have a combination of English and mother tongue language as a medium of instruction in order to aid cognitive development among adult learners, inter alia.

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arab World English Journal ◽  
Iftikhar Ahmad ◽  
Noor Raha Mohd Radzuan ◽  
Muhammad Sabboor Hussain

This study aims to investigate the perspectives of non-native English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teachers across mother tongue and gender, and their male and female adult students, regarding the use of Arabic in the EFL classrooms at the university level in Saudi Arabia. The study specifically seeks to investigate the perspectives of non-native Arab and non-Arab EFL teachers as they, working in the native Arab setting, often resort to Arabic (Al-Nofaie, 2010; Machaal, 2012). However, there are glaring research gaps about non-native EFL teachers’ and adult learners’ beliefs on the use of first language (L1) in the classroom. For this purpose, the study used quantitative research design, and administered two questionnaires, one for the teachers and the other for the students. Students’ questionnaire complemented that of the teachers. Forty teachers and sixty students were selected based on stratified random sampling. The findings of the study revealed that all camps of teachers, Arab, non-Arab, male, female, and students were in favour of judicious bilingual approach. The study finds statistically significant difference between the beliefs of Arab and non-Arab EFL teachers about the use of L1. The findings suggest that Arab EFL teachers’ use of Arabic is extensive, while non-Arab EFL teachers’ use of Arabic is well-timed. The study suggested practical implications for the improvement of English Language Teaching (ELT) in Saudi Arabia by recommending planned, occasional and judicious use of L1 while teaching EFL adult learners.


2014 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lilian Cristiane Gomes-Villas Boas ◽  
Maria Luisa Soares Almeida Pedroso de Lima ◽  
Ana Emilia Pace

OBJECTIVES: to verify the face validity, criterion-related validity and the reliability of two distinct forms of presentation of the instrument Measurement of Adherence to Treatment, one being for ascertaining the adherence to the use of oral antidiabetics and the other for adherence to the use of insulin, as well as to assess differences in adherence between these two modes of drug therapy. METHOD: a methodological study undertaken with 90 adults with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. The criterion-related validity was verified using the Receiver Operating Characteristic curves; and for the reliability, the researchers calculated the Cronbach alpha coefficient, the item-total correlation, and the Pearson correlation coefficient. RESULTS: the oral antidiabetics and the other showed sensitivity of 0.84, specificity of 0.35 and a Cronbach correlation coefficient of 0.84. For the adherence to the use of insulin, the values found were, respectively, 0.60, 0.21 and 0.68. A statistically significant difference was found between the final scores of the two forms of the instrument, indicating greater adherence to the use of insulin than to oral antidiabetics. CONCLUSION: it is concluded that the two forms of the Measurement of Adherence to Treatment instrument are reliable and should be used to evaluate adherence to drug treatment among people with diabetes mellitus.


Author(s):  
Majid Ashrafi ◽  
Fatemeh Maharati ◽  
Sadegh Jafarzadeh Bejestani ◽  
Alireza Akbarzadeh Baghban

Background and Aim: Spatial hearing is a prerequisite for the proper function of the listener in complex auditory environments. In the present study, a Persian version of the dynamic spatial-quick speech in noise (DS-QSIN) has been developed with respect to all possible factors affecting the test and to run five lists for normal hearing subjects and assessment of reliability. Methods: To construct five new lists according to the original quick speech in noise (QSIN) test, we used frequent, familiar, and difficult words to construct unpredictable sentences. After determining the content and face validity of the sentences, 30 selected sentences were played using a DS-QSIN software for 35 subjects aged 18–25 years. The reliability of the test was assessed after repeating the test after two weeks. Results: According to expert judges, these 30 sentences showed acceptable  content  and  face validity with the changes. The average signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) loss of five lists was –5.2 dB. No significant difference was seen between men and women in all lists. The results indicate no difference in the average SNR loss between the five lists. Regarding the reliability assessment, the test-retest correlation coefficient was 0.5 to 0.7 (p<0.05). The intra-class correlation coefficient between test-retest was statistically significant (p>0.001) and confirmed that the lists have high reliability and repeatability. Conclusion: DS-QSIN test showed good validity and reliability and can be helpful in diagnosis and selecting the best method for rehabilitation of people with a spatial hearing disorder.


2020 ◽  
Vol 79 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 454.1-454
Author(s):  
N. Schlesinger ◽  
A. Yeo ◽  
P. Lipsky

Background:Hyperuricemia is associated with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)1,2, but the relationship to fibrosis remains uncertain3. Moreover, it is not known whether lowering serum urate will affect the course of NAFLD. The availability of data from two randomized trials of pegloticase, a pegylated recombinant mammalian uricase, that profoundly decreases serum urate afforded the opportunity to test the hypothesis that lowering urate might improve NAFLD.Objectives:To determine whether treatment of chronic refractory gout patients with pegloticase was associated with improvement in NAFLD determined by Fibrosis 4 index (Fib4).Methods:Databases from patients with chronic refractory gout who participated in two randomized 6 month clinical trials (RCTs) of pegloticase were analyzed4. Sub-sets who had persistent urate lowering to levels <1 mg/dL in response to biweekly pegloticase (Responders, n=36) were compared to those who received placebo (n=43). Since liver biopsy information was not available on these subjects, we relied on Fib4, a validated non-invasive estimate of liver fibrosis in a variety of liver diseases5,6calculated from measurements of AST, ALT, platelet count and age (Age x AST/platelets x √ALT). A Fib4 value of 1.3 is an indication that further evaluation of liver disease is warranted.Results:At baseline, the mean Fib4 values were 1.40 ± 0.86 in pegloticase responders and 1.04 ± 0.53 in subjects receiving placebo. As shown in figure 1, subjects receiving placebo exhibited a change of 0.26 ± 0.41 in the Fib4 score over the six months of the RCTs compared with 0.13 ± 0.62 in the pegloticase responders (p=0.048; by linear regression). When only the subjects with a Fib4 value > 1.3 were considered, a significant difference in the change in the Fib4 values over the 6 months of the trial between pegloticase responders and those receiving placebo was also observed (-0.15 ± 0.67 vs 0.37 ± 0.42, p=0.004, by linear regression). The correlations between serum urate area under the curve (AUC) over the 6 months of the trial and the change in Fib4 value was rs=0.33, p=0.0.0004 (Spearman rank-order correlation coefficient). Finally, multiple linear regression analysis indicated serum urate AUC (as a surrogate measure for group) is the main contributor to the change in Fib4 (p=0.018 by linear regression).Conclusion:The data are consistent with the conclusion that persistent lowering of serum urate had a significant impact on Fib4 levels, implying a possible effect on the course of NAFLD. The results support a more complete analysis involving biopsy examination of the impact of urate on liver inflammation and fibrosis.References:[1]Yang C et al. PlosOne2017; 12:e0177249[2]Jaruvongvanich V et al. Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2017; 29:1031[3]Jaruvongvanich V et al. Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2017; 29:694[4]Sundy JS, et al. JAMA. 2011; 306 (7):711-20[5]Sterling RK et al. Hepatol 2006; 43:1317[6]Shah AG et al. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2009;7:1104Disclosure of Interests: :Naomi Schlesinger Grant/research support from: Pfizer, Amgen, Consultant of: Novartis, Horizon Therapeutics, Selecta Biosciences, Olatec, IFM Therapeutics, Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals, Anthony Yeo Employee of: Horizon Therapeutics, Peter Lipsky Consultant of: Horizon Therapeutics


Sports ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 66
Author(s):  
Arne Sørensen ◽  
Vidar Sørensen ◽  
Terje Dalen

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the correlation between soccer players’ performance of receptions of passes in tests of both isolated technical skills and more match-realistic situations in small-sided games (SSGs). In addition, this study investigated whether the involvement in SSGs (number of receptions) correlated with the quality of receptions in the respective SSGs. The participants were 13 male outfield youth soccer players from teams in the first division of the regional U18 league. The quality of receptions was scored by educated coaches according to set criteria of performance. Statistical analyses of correlations were determined using Spearman’s rank-order correlation coefficient (rs). The main results were (1) a significant correlation in the quality of ball reception between 4vs1 SSGs and 5vs5 SSGs (rs = −0.61, p < 0.01) and (2) a trend towards moderate correlation between the quality of ball reception using a ball projection machine and 5vs5 SSGs (rs = −0.48, p = 0.10). (3) A significant correlation was found between the number of receptions in 5vs5 SSGs and the quality score of receptions in 5vs5 SSGs (rs = −0.70, p < 0.01). The trend towards moderate correlations between 5vs5 SSGs and the isolated technical reception test could imply the importance of training in the technical aspects of ball reception. Moreover, it seems as though the players with the best reception performance are the players who are most involved in SSGs, that is, having the most receptions.


2021 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Elijah Abakpa Adegbe ◽  
Oluwaseyi Oluwabukola Babajide ◽  
Lois Riyo Maina ◽  
Shola Elijah Adeniji

Abstract Background Heavy metal accumulation in the ecosystem constitutes a potential toxic effect which is hazardous to human health. Increasing environmental pollution has necessitated the use of cattle egrets to evaluate the levels of heavy metal contamination, to establish their use in biomonitoring of heavy metals and to provide data for monitoring pollution in the environment. Results The present study assessed the utilization of Bubulcus ibis in monitoring pollution in five abattoirs, namely Agege, Bariga, Kara, Itire and Idi-Araba, all situated in Lagos State. The concentration of five (5) heavy metals, cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) was determined in the liver, muscle and feather of Bubulcus ibis using the atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The trend of metal accumulation was in the order: Zn > Cu > Pb > Cd > Ni for all the sampled tissues. The mean tissue concentrations of the metals were significantly different (p < 0.05) among the sites. The highest levels of metal concentration were reported in the liver in all the locations. Mean concentration of Cd in Kara (0.003 ± 0.00058) was significantly (p < 0.05) higher than those found at Agege (0.0013 ± 0.00058) and Idi-Araba (0.001 ± 0.001). A significant difference (p < 0.05) was also observed between the mean concentrations of Cu in Bariga (0.01 ± 0.001) and Idi-Araba (0.003 ± 0.001). Conclusion All the studied heavy metals were present in the liver, muscle and feathers of the cattle egrets. The contamination levels were ascertained from the study which indicated that cattle egrets are useful in biomonitoring studies and the generated data will serve as baseline data which could be compared with data from other locations for monitoring heavy metal pollution.


Author(s):  
Valerie L. Shafer ◽  
Sarah Kresh ◽  
Kikuyo Ito ◽  
Miwako Hisagi ◽  
Nancy Vidal ◽  
...  

Abstract This study investigated the influence of first language (L1) phoneme features and phonetic salience on discrimination of second language (L2) American English (AE) vowels. On a perceptual task, L2 adult learners of English with Spanish, Japanese or Russian as an L1 showed poorer discrimination of the spectral-only difference between /æ:/ as the oddball (deviant) among frequent /ɑ:/ stimuli compared to AE controls. The Spanish listeners showed a significant difference from the controls for the spectral-temporal contrast between /ɑ:/ and /ʌ/ for both perception and the neural Mismatch Negativity (MMN), but only for deviant /ɑ:/ versus /ʌ/ (duration decrement). For deviant /ʌ/ versus /ɑ:/, and for deviant /æ:/ versus /ʌ/ or /ɑ:/, all participants showed equivalent MMN amplitude. The asymmetrical pattern for /ɑ:/ and /ʌ/ suggested that L2 phonetic detail was maintained only for the deviant. These findings indicated that discrimination was more strongly influenced by L1 phonology than phonetic salience.


Author(s):  
Taraka V Gadiraju ◽  
Jahnavi Sagi ◽  
Dev Basu ◽  
Srikanth Penumetsa ◽  
Michael Rothberg

Objectives: Patients frequently present to the hospital with chest pain. Once myocardial infarction is ruled out based on EKG and cardiac enzymes, most patients undergo stress testing, but only few patients have a positive test. In ambulatory practice, age, sex and symptomatology can establish pretest probability of the coronary disease. However, there are no studies evaluating the predictors of a positive stress test in the emergency department (ED). We assessed predictors for a positive stress test in patients presenting to our hospital with chest pain. Methods: This is a case-control study conducted on a subset of patients admitted to our tertiary care center with chest pain between 2007 and 2009, and who had an inpatient stress test (n=1474). Using chart review, we identified 87 patients, whose stress tests were positive (abnormals), defined as presence of ischemia on EKG and/or imaging modalities. We then used a pseudorandom number generator to select 194 patients whose stress test results were normal (normals) for comparison. Clinical features of chest pain and CAD risk factors were abstracted from the medical record for comparison. A bivariable screening process was used to identify characteristics for inclusion in a multivariable predictive model. Sex and age were maintained in the model for face validity, and remaining covariates were removed in ascending order of their z-statistics until only those with a two-sided p-value of <0.10 remained. Stata 12.1 (Copyright 2011, StataCorp LP) was used for all analyses. Results: Patients with an abnormal stress test were older and more likely to be male and to have a history of vascular disease. Although patients with abnormal stress test were more likely to have history of hypertension, hyperlipidemia and current or ex-smoking, this difference was not statistically significant. Over half of the patients presented with non-cardiac chest pain and there was no significant difference in the chest pain characteristics between patients who had a normal and an abnormal stress test result. In the final multivariable model, when compared to the normals, abnormals were four times as likely to have a history of revascularization (OR 4.13, 95% CI 2.11, 8.09) and twice as likely to have a history of hyperlipidemia (OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.18, 3.79). They were also more likely to have an EKG suggestive of ischemia at presentation (OR 1.90, 95% CI 1.03, 3.53). Specificity of the model was 89%; sensitivity was 43%, and the c-statistic for the final multivariable model was 0.76, suggesting fair to good discrimination. Conclusions: Among patients presenting to the ED with chest pain, a past history of revascularization and hyperlipidemia and an EKG suggestive of ischemia may independently predict the likelihood of an abnormal stress test. Further validation of this model on an external dataset is necessary.


2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 51-69
Author(s):  
Michelle Y. Alvarez

The purpose of this study is to determine the demographic profiles of the respondents which are the teachers in Mindanao State University–Sulu according to gender and college, to identify the issues encountered by the MSU-Sulu Teacher towards modular distance learning approach, to distinguish the concerns of the MSU-Sulu Teacher towards modular distance learning approach, to investigate the teaching preparations on the adaptation of modular distance learning approach, and to identify the significant difference of issues and concern of the MSU-Sulu Teacher towards modular distance learning approach when they are grouped according gender and college. Frequency and percentage distribution, weighted arithmetic mean and independent t-test and chi-square are the statistical tools used to answer the entire research question. The data gathered was computed using SPSS analyzed and interpreted with the aide of the statistician. Descriptive survey method was used as the research method. This study utilizes 40 teachers from different colleges/department. Convenience sampling was used to It is the recommended number of which it is the 30% from the total population of all the faculty of Mindanao State University-Sulu.; questionnaire is used by the researcher as a research instrument of the study. The findings of the study were: 1) There is no significant difference of issues and concern of the MSU-Sulu teacher towards modular distance learning approach when grouped according gender but in contrary; and 2) There is significant difference on the issues and concern among MSU-Sulu teacher towards modular distance learning approach when grouped according colleges. The issues encountered towards modular distance learning approach were communication failure like that of instructions or confusion of students on the modules, limited teacher guidance, student’s in discourteous approach to teachers, complaints on not understanding the module, and all of which results to misbehavior on students and failure to pass worksheet on time. In addition, the concerns of the MSU-Sulu teacher towards modular distance learning approach were; first, hidden expenses on modules; second, teacher’s lack of media literacy; third, poor internet connection which intercepts communication between teacher and students; fourth, time constraint among teachers due to overload paperwork; fifth, equipment problem and complexity of the discussion as well as measurement of student’s performance; sixth,  managing student’s responses from time to time; seventh, teacher’s unavailability  and lastly, difficulties of studying among slow learners. Moreover, on teaching preparations on the adaptation of modular distance learning approach, the issues were cater and set time for student’s inquiries and be flexible to allow extension in terms of passing worksheets as well as allow parents, relative or even friends to pass worksheets in their behalf to lessen transportation expenses. Teachers must appreciate/ recognize his/her students to boost their confidence and avoid favouritism while being considerate to students who are attention seeker or may have ADHD. Correspondingly, the concerns were. Teachers must encourage handwritten answers to lessen plagiarism, on the absence of teacher, the parents and elders must guide the students in their learning at home. Teacher and parent’s guidance must go hand and hand in today’s learning. Teachers must likewise be flexible in finding solutions on printing shortage. And lastly, alternative teaching strategies like modular learning should be hone to aid lack of media literacy of both teacher and students In view of the findings and analysis, the following are recommended: Teachers must be flexible with the present kind of teaching strategy at all cost and at all aspects, Set guidelines as to establish proper communication among students and teachers, learning materials must be affordable as well as easy to understand content, teachers must develop their media literacy skills and encourage teachers to be available to their students on allotted time and cater all their inquiries with patience at all times. Furthermore, the following are the recommended research agenda: Teacher’s training on media literacy and module development programs to allow teamwork in the making process.


2018 ◽  
Vol 36 (08) ◽  
pp. 781-784
Author(s):  
Katherine A. Connolly ◽  
Luciana Vieira ◽  
Elizabeth M. Yoselevsky ◽  
Stephanie Pan ◽  
Joanne L. Stone

Objective To quantify the degree of change in cervical length (CL) over a 3-minute transvaginal ultrasound. Study Design We conducted a prospective observational study of nulliparous patients who underwent routine transvaginal CL screening at the time of their second-trimester ultrasound. We recorded CL at four time points (0, 1, 2, 3 minutes) and compared these values to determine the minute-to-minute change within a single patient. Results A total of 771 patients were included. The mean gestational age was 20.8 weeks (±0.84). We used a linear mixed effect model to assess if each minute during the ultrasound is associated with a change in CL. The intraclass correlation coefficient between minute 0 to minute 3 was 0.82 (95% confidence interval: 0.80, 0.84). This indicates that there is a relatively high within-patient correlation in CL during their ultrasound. Additionally, we stratified patients based on their starting CL; the intraclass correlation coefficient remained high for all groups. We additionally compared CL at each minute. Although there is a statistically significant difference between several time points, the actual difference is small and not clinically meaningful. Conclusion The variation in CL over a 3-minute transvaginal ultrasound examination is not clinically significant. It may be reasonable to conduct this examination over a shorter period.


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