Liberalisation and the regional air network configuration from Nigeria to other West African Countries

This paper examines the liberalisation and the regional air network configuration from Nigeria to other West African regions. It aims to study the impacts of liberalisation on the regional spatial structure of air networks from Nigeria to West Africa in the pre and post-liberalisation. The pre-liberalisation covers between 1988–2000, and the post-liberalisation ranges from 2001 to 2018. The methodology involves using the graph theory to calculate the route and the network topology in the pre and post-liberalisation and compare the resulting index. This hypothesis was tested using the alpha index. The alpha index analysis compares the level of connection in a pre-and post-liberalisation network via graphical depictions of each period’s route and network structure and the resulting alpha index. The pre-liberalisation alpha index for the route and network was 0.297, while the post-liberalisation alpha index was 0.334. The alpha index ranged from 0 to 1 and was the perfect network for the post‐liberalisation period. In post-liberalisation, the alpha index of the route and network are higher than in pre-liberalisation. Hence, the connection is better in post-liberalisation.

Fertility Cancer and Hereditary Risks in Soil Sample of Nasarawa, Nasarawa State, Nigeria

A survey of Fertility Cancer and Hereditary Risks in Soil Sample of Nasarawa was carried out. This study assessed the level of Fertility Cancer and Hereditary Risks in some part of Nasarawa using the gamma-ray spectrometry. The mean concentration for 40K was 645.29 ± 07.32 Bq/kg, for 226Ra was 28.43 ± 4.8422 Bq/Kg and for 232Th was 66.84 ± 2.0201 Bq/Kg. The average effective dose due to the ingestion was 0.36±0.1µSv/y which was approximately 1000 times lower than the world average effective dose. Radium equivalent activity Raeq (Bq/kg), alpha index and total cancer risk were found to be 161.44±8.08 Bq/kg, 0.142±0.02 and (0.21±0.05) ×10-5 respectively. UNSCEAR/ USEPA stipulated that; radium equivalent activity, alpha index, effective dose and total cancer risk should not exceed the limit of 370 Bq/kg, unity, 300 µSv/y and 1 ×10-4 respectively. Hence the values obtained in this work were within the acceptable limits. This implies that the ingestion or inhalation of soil is not associated with any radiological risk of concern.

Perceived destination image of Poland: an analysis based on Ukrainian and Russian perceptions

The purpose of this article is to compare the perceived destination image of Poland as seen by Russians and Ukrainians. This study contributes to understanding the process of how the image of a destination is shaped, the new contribution being the comparison of the image of Poland as perceived by visitors and non-visitors of two nations, which until 1991 were a part of one state. The study is based on a questionnaire consisting of 16 statements on the perceived destination image of Poland. A 5-point Likert scale was used in the survey. A total of 710 people were examined, including 348 Russians and 362 Ukrainians. The reliability of the survey was assessed using Cronbach's alpha index. The hypotheses verification, using Student's t-test, showed that Russians and Ukrainians perceived Poland as an attractive country in terms of tourism. No major differences between Russians and Ukrainians were observed in the perception of Poland as a tourist destination. Moreover, no influence of past experience was noted on the shaping of the perceived destination image of Poland. Additionally, some managerial implications of significant relevance to destination marketing are discussed, and future directions for research are outlined.

ESTABLISHING SOLAR ACTIVITY TREND FOR SOLAR CYCLES 21 – 24

Solar-terrestrial environment is manifested primarily by the physical conditions of solar interior, solar atmosphere and eruptive solar plasma. Each parameter gives unique information about the Sun and its activity according to its defined characteristics. Hence the variability of solar parameters is of interest from the point of view of plasma dynamics on the Sun and in the interplanetary space as well as for the solar-terrestrial physics. In this study, we have analysed various solar transients and parameters to establish the recent trends of solar activity during solar cycles 21, 22, 23 and 24. The correlation coefficients of linear regression of F10.7 cm index, Lyman alpha index, Mg II index, cosmic ray intensity, number of M & X class flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs) occurrence rate versus sunspot number was examined for last four solar cycles. A running cross-correlation method has been used to study the momentary relationship among the above mentioned solar activity parameters. Solar cycle 21 witnessed the highest value of correlation for F10.7 cm index, Lyman alpha index and number of M-class and X-class flares versus sunspot number among all the considered solar cycles which were 0.979, 0.935 and 0.964 respectively. Solar cycle 22 recorded the highest correlation in case of Mg II index, Ap index and CMEs occurrence rate versus sunspot number among all the considered solar cycles (0.964, 0.384 and 0.972 respectively). Solar cycle 23 and 24 did not witness any highest correlation compared to solar cycle 21 and 22. Further the record values (highest value compared to other solar three cycles) of each solar activity parameters for each of the four solar cycles have been studied. Here solar cycle 24 has no record text at all, this simply indicating that this cycle was a weakest cycle compared to the three previous ones. We have concluded that in every domain solar 24 was weaker to its three predecessors.

Outcome of nursing intervention on knowledge and use of nursing process among nurses in zonal hospitals, rivers state, Nigeria

Background: Nursing process if properly utilized help nurses to be accountable and responsible for the care given. With all of its benefits it has suffered poor implementation and utilization in developing countries, Nigeria inclusive. Hence, this study determined the outcome of nursing intervention on knowledge and use of nursing process among nurses in Zonal Hospitals in Rivers State.Methods: This study adopted a two group pretest-posttest quasi-experimental design. Purposive sampling technique was used to select 41 nurse participants who were working in in-patient management units from the 2 Zonal Hospitals. The instrument for data collection included a checklist and nursing process questionnaire. The reliability was determined with a Cronbach’s alpha index range of 0.77-0.91. Descriptive statistics of percentages, mean and standard deviation was used to answer six research questions.Results: The pre-intervention knowledge mean score of nursing process was below average for the two groups but became high in the experimental group at post-intervention. Also, pre-intervention use mean score of nursing process was below average in both groups but high after intervention in the experimental group.Conclusions: The study concluded that nursing intervention was effective in improving the knowledge and use of nursing process among the nurses. Thus, the outcome was positive as changes were noted. It is recommended that in-service educational program should be established to provide continuous education for nurses to refresh their knowledge and enhance their usage of nursing process.

ASSESSMENT OF RADON CONCENTRATION AND ASSOCIATED HEALTH IMPLICATIONS IN GROUND WATER AND SOIL AROUND RIRUWAI MINE SITE, KANO STATE, NIGERIA AND ITS ENVIRONS

In this study 10 soil and 11 ground water samples were randomly collected, and the 222Rn concentrations were measured using a DURRIDGE RAD7 electronic radon detector. The radon concentration in ground water ranged from 0.53 BqL-1 to 5.13 BqL-1 with a mean value 2.37 BqL-1. The results show that all the groundwater samples collected have 222Rn concentrations below the US EPA Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) of 11.1 BqL–1 (for states without radon monitoring policy and enhanced indoor air programs). All the ground water samples also have 222Rn concentrations below MCL of 100 BqL–1 recommended by EU. The annual effective dose due to ingestion (Hing) of 222Rn in the groundwater ranged from 0.00386 – 0.03744 mSvyear-1 with a mean value of 0.01706 mSvyear-1. These values are within the ICRP recommended reference level of 1 mSvy–1 for the intake of the radionuclide in water by the general public for a prolonged exposure. The effective radium content, radon mass exhalation rate and alpha index of the soil samples varied from 0.574 – 1.170 Bqkg-1, 0.104 Bqkg-1d-1 – 0,212 Bqkg-1d-1 and 0.00287 – 0.00585 respectively. The alpha index suggests that none of the selected soil samples have a radon mass exhalation that could cause indoor radon concentrations exceeding 200 Bqkg-1. Therefore, it is concluded that the radon concentration in ground water and soil in the study area indicate that the ground water is safe for drinking and it is safe to use the soil as a building material.

The maximal \alpha-index of trees with k pendent vertices and its computation

Let $G$ be a graph with adjacency matrix $A(G)$ and let $D(G)$ be the diagonal matrix of the degrees of $G$. The $\alpha-$ index of $G$ is the spectral radius $\rho_{\alpha}\left( G\right)$ of the matrix $A_{\alpha}\left( G\right)=\alpha D\left( G\right) +(1-\alpha)A\left( G\right)$ where $\alpha \in [0,1]$. Let $T_{n,k}$ be the tree of order $n$ and $k$ pendent vertices obtained from a star $K_{1,k}$ and $k$ pendent paths of almost equal lengths attached to different pendent vertices of $K_{1,k}$. It is shown that if $\alpha\in\left[ 0,1\right) $ and $T$ is a tree of order $n$ with $k$ pendent vertices then% \[ \rho_{\alpha}(T)\leq\rho_{\alpha}(T_{n,k}), \] with equality holding if and only if $T=T_{n,k}$. This result generalizes a theorem of Wu, Xiao and Hong \cite{WXH05} in which the result is proved for the adjacency matrix ($\alpha=0$). Let $q=[\frac{n-1}{k}]$ and $n-1=kq+r$, $0 \leq r \leq k-1$. It is also obtained that the spectrum of $A_{\alpha}(T_{n,k})$ is the union of the spectra of two special symmetric tridiagonal matrices of order $q$ and $q+1$ when $r=0$ or the union of the spectra of three special symmetric tridiagonal matrices of order $q$, $q+1$ and $2q+2$ when $r \neq 0$. Thus the $\alpha-$ index of $T_{n,k}$ can be computed as the largest eigenvalue of the special symmetric tridiagonal matrix of order $q+1$ if $r=0$ or order $2q+2$ if $r\neq 0$.

Assessment of radioactivity from selected soil samples from Halfa Aljadida area, Sudan

In this research, the results of radon concentration, surface and mass exhalation rates, radium concentration, effective dose rate and the alpha index have been investigated in a number of 198 soil samples that have been collected from various residential locations of Halfa Aljadida area, Sudan. The can technique, containing CR-39 have been used. From our results, the average value of soil gas radon concentration was found to be 1.96±0.22 kBq·m−3. The average values of surface and mass exhalation rates were 1.73±0.19 Bq·m−2·h−1 and 34.79±3.87 mBq·kg−1·h−1, respectively. The radium concentration average value was 8.06±0.90 Bq·kg−1. While the average value of the effective dose rate was recorded to be 54.69±6.11 mSv·y−1. The average value of alpha index of studied samples was (4.03±0.45)×10−2. From the study, a good positive and linear correlation between radium concentration, surface and mass exhalation rates of soil samples were present. In addition to that, a positive and linear correlation between radium and radon concentrations was found. Finally, a comparison between the results and other findings was conducted and the results imply the fact that the area under consideration is safe as if the health hazard are mentioned.

Padres y madres ante las tareas escolares: La visión del profesorado

RESUMENEn este estudio se analiza la percepción que tiene el profesorado de centros públicos de Educación Infantil y de Educación Primaria acerca de la implicación de los padres y de las madres en el proceso educativo de sus hijos e hijas y en sus tareas escolares. Se estudian también las posibles dificultades que tienen para ello. La muestra está configurada por 78 docentes de 30 centros ubicados tanto en zonas urbanas como rurales del Principado de Asturias (norte de España). La recogida de información se ha realizado con la Escala de Relaciones entre el Centro Escolar y la Familia, de Martínez-González (1994), obteniendo una fiabilidad adecuada con el índice Alfa de Cronbach. Se han efectuado análisis descriptivos y comparativos de dos grupos con la t de Student teniendo en cuenta el género de los progenitores. Los resultados indican que el profesorado percibe una adecuada implicación de ambos padres en el proceso de aprendizaje académico de sus hijos e hijas en estas etapas escolares iniciales. No obstante, indican que las madres se involucran más y hacen frente con más frecuencia a dificultades derivadas de la conciliación entre la vida familiar, laboral y personal. El estudio concluye con algunas orientaciones educativas y con la propuesta de nuevas líneas de investigación, entre las que se incluye contar con información procedente de los propios padres y madres.Palabras Clave: Tareas escolares, profesorado, familia, Educación infantil, Educación primaria.Parents and homework. The teachers’ perspectiveABSTRACTThis study examines the perception of early childhood and primary education teachers in state funded schools as regards the involvement of fathers and mothers in their children´s learning and their schoolwork. The study also examines the possible difficulties that parents face to do this. The sample is composed of 78 teachers of 30 centres located both in urban and rural areas of the Principality of Asturias (North of Spain). To gather information, the study applied the School-Family Relationship Scale, by Martínez-González (1994), obtaining an adequate reliability Cronbach's Alpha index. Descriptive and comparative analysis of two groups were conducted with Student´s t taking into account the gender of the parents. The results indicate that teachers perceived an adequate involvement of both parents in their children's academic tasks and process in these early stages of school. However, these results suggest that mothers engage more and deal more frequently with difficulties arising from the conciliation between family, work and personal life. The study concludes with some educational guidelines and proposal of new lines of research, including gathering information from parents and mothers.Keywords: Homework, teacher’s perceptions, father, mother, Primary Education.

Jaringan Transportasi dan Pengembangan Destinasi Pariwisata di Kota Cirebon

Tourism development needs a good accessibility to support regional connectivity. This study aims to analyse the role of transportation network for tourism destination development in the Cirebon City. This research uses GIS-based network spatial analysis to obtain road network system components in each sub-district, thus transportation indices value which includes alpha index, beta index, Gama index, eta index and road density network. The results shows The Cirebon City has low-medium connectivity and accessibility with alpha index 0.1323, beta index 1.2608, Gama index, 0.4221, eta index 0.1576 and road network density reach 20.869 km / km2. On sub-district level, Pekalipan is the most accessible region based on all parameters of road network and create a suitable place for tourism development in the Cirebon City.