An Appraisal of Borehole Water Quality Index in Selected Areas within Owerri Metropolis, Imo State, Southeastern Nigeria

Borehole water is one of the major sources of potable water in most developing countries of the world. Therefore, it becomes imperative to evaluate the continuing portability of these sources of water to the populace. The present study was undertaken to appraise the water quality of selected boreholes in Owerri Metropolis using the water quality index (WQI) method. Samples were collected from five different locations under stringent protocols. The water samples were analyzed for selected physicochemical properties and compared with WHO permissible limits and American Public Health Association. Results showed that the assayed parameters were within WHO permissible limits except Turbidity in Locations 2, 3 and 4. Water quality index ranged from 24.91 to 70.06. This study revealed that the investigated borehole waters are mostly portable and can be consumed. Nonetheless, the sources identified to be of poor quality should be treated before consumption.

The Importance of Capital Investment and Debt Financing in Deriving Shareholders’ Value; A Literature Survey

Shareholders’ value is the most important goal and an integral part of the companies’ strategic decision-making process. When a corporate performs well and creates value for its shareholders, it benefits the whole economy. The past studies concluded that efficient decision making in the areas of capital investments and debt financing can ensure high financial performance and shareholders’ value creation. This paper thoroughly reviews the literature on impact of capital investment and debt financing decisions on shareholders’ value. Capital investment is a very important managerial decision because it increases company's economic profit. However, past studies have found that not every time the capital investment results in increasing the value as it may vary with the level of investment. Moreover, debt financing lowers the free cash flows due to the payment of fixed interest payments, thus lowering shareholders' return and value. Therefore, this paper recommends the need of further research to better understand the effect of capital investment and debt financing decisions on shareholders’ value.

White Beauty: The Moderating Role of Social Media Addiction on Social Comparison and Skin Tone Satisfaction

Aims: To examine the prevalence of skin tone dissatisfaction among Malaysian young adults and to explore the associations between social media addiction, social comparison, and skin tone satisfaction. Study Design: Cross-sectional survey design. Place and Duration of Study: Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris, Perak, Malaysia, between December 2019 to January 2020 Methodology: Around 414 university students have partaken in an online survey consisting of a demographic questionnaire, Skin Colour Satisfaction Scale (SCSS), Upwards/Downwards Physical Appearance Comparison Scale (UPACS/DACS) and Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS). Results: Descriptive analysis shows that the prevalence of skin tone satisfaction among Malaysian young adults is on a moderate level (M = 5.791, SD = 1.630), and there is a significant difference in satisfaction level among those who never tried using skin lightening products versus those who have experience in using those products, t (410.808) = -3.850, p < .001. Multivariate analysis shows that skin tone satisfaction is significantly associated with upwards social comparison (β = -.45), but not with downwards social comparison and social media addiction. Multigroup invariance analysis showed that social media addiction significantly weakens the relationship between upwards social comparison and skin tone satisfaction but has no effect on the relationship between downwards comparison and skin tone satisfaction. Conclusion: Malaysian young adults are moderately satisfied with their skin tone, and upwards comparison can significantly influence skin tone satisfaction. The implications of this study are discussed in light of recommendations for policymakers to control the marketing of harmful skin lightening products online.

The First Six Registered Pediatric Cases with COIVID-19 in Libya: A Case Study

Globally, fewer cases of COVID-19 have been reported in children (age 0-17 years) compared with adults [1,2], The number and rate of cases in children have been steadily increasing since March 2020. The true incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in children is not known due to lack of widespread testing and the prioritization of testing for adults and those with severe illness. Hospitalization rates in children are significantly lower than hospitalization rates in adults with COVID-19, suggesting that children may have less severe illness from COVID-19 compared to adults [5,6]. Evidence suggests that compared to adults, children likely have similar viral loads in their nasopharynx, [7] similar secondary infections rates, and can spread the virus to others [8,9]. Due to community mitigation measures and school closures, transmission of SARS-CoV-2 to and among children may have been reduced during the pandemic in the spring and early summer of 2020. This may explain the low incidence in children compared with adults. Comparing trends in pediatric infections before and after the return to child care, in-person school, youth sports and other activities may enhance our understanding about infections in children. Children infected with SARS-CoV-2 may have many of these non-specific symptoms, only have a few (such as only upper respiratory symptoms or only gastrointestinal symptoms), or may be asymptomatic. The most common symptoms in children are cough and/or fever [11-15]. A recent systematic review estimated that 16% of children with SARS-CoV-2 infection are asymptomatic, [16] but evidence suggests that as many as half of pediatric infections may be asymptomatic [17] The signs and symptoms of COVID-19 in children are similar to those of other infections and noninfectious processes, including influenza, streptococcal pharyngitis, and allergic rhinitis. The lack of specificity of signs or symptoms and the significant proportion of asymptomatic infections make symptom-based screening for identification of SARS-CoV-2 in children particularly challenging [17].

Gram Negative Bacteria (GNB) Isolated From Used Home-made and Surgical Nose/Face Mask by Local Residents of Akungba Akoko, Ondo State, a Threat to Life and False Sense of Protection against SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19)

Nose/Face masks are physical barriers to respiratory droplets that may enter through the nose and mouth to cause infections in the respiratory tract. The study was determined and assess the presence of Gram-negative bacteria in used home-made and surgical nose mask by residents of Akungba-Akoko Ondo State and to determine the antimicrobial susceptibility and resistant profile of the isolated bacteria to eight (8) different antimicrobial agents. The antimicrobial analysis were performed using standard microbiological and biochemical methods. Antimicrobial Susceptibility test of all identified isolates to antimicrobial agents were determined using the standard Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method. The Gram-negative bacteria that were detected from the used home-made and surgical nose mask in this study include: Haemophilus influenza, Proteus mirabilis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumonia. During this study, all the Gram-negative bacteria isolates were resistant to Ciproflox in both used home-made and surgical nose mask. All isolates were also resistant to Ampicilin, Augmentin, Septrin and Streptomycin. In this study, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were isolated organism from used home-made nose mask, it was observed that Escherichia coli were resistant to Augmentin, Tarivid, Ciproflox, Gentamycin, and Reflaxine, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were resistant to Tarivid, Ciproflox, and Nalidixic acid between 20 mm and 24 mm zones of inhibition respectively. Haemophilus influenza, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli and Proteus mirabilis were isolated organism from used surgical nose mask. It was observed that all isolated organisms from the used surgical nose/face mask were resistant to Augmentin and Gentamycin between 20 and 24 mm zones of inhibition respectively. Klebsiella pneumoniae were isolated from both used home-made and surgical nose/face mask and were found to be resistant to Streptomycin, Septrin, Ampicilin, and Gentamicin between 20 to 22 mm zones of inhibition respectively. Proteus mirabilis were isolated from used surgical nose/face mask, they were found to be resistant to Ciproflox at 21mm zones of inhibition. Haemophilus influenza were resistant to Ampicilin, Septrin, Streptomycin, and Augmentin at 23 mm zones of inhibition. Isolates from used both home-made and surgical nose/face mask were subjected to modified and synergized antibiotics, it was observed that the isolates from both used home-made and surgical nose mask were resistant to all modified and synergized antibiotics between 20 and 25 mm zones of inhibition respectively. The result of this study validates the potency of Gram negative bacteria isolated from used both home-made and surgical nose/face mask and the degree of invasion and evasiveness, thereby causing various degrees of infections and a false sense of protection against SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19). Finding from this research recommends a stringent measures were needed to be implemented, to halt and combat this revenging situation especially in the new era of mutating SARS-CoV-2 Virus not only in Nigeria, worldwide at large.

Using Instructional Screencast to Teach Digital Immigrants: A Paradigm Shift in the 21st Century Learning Process

This paper intended to study the attitudes of postgraduate diploma in education (PGDE) students towards the use of instructional screencast for learning. The study adopted a descriptive survey design. Population of the study include the 13 postgraduate diploma in education students admitted as at 2018/2019 academic session, and all were selected as sample for the study. Objectives of the study were to: categorize the postgraduate diploma in education students offering CSI 702 in the 2019/2020 academic session into digital native and digital immigrants based on their dates of birth; and determine the attitudes of the postgraduate diploma in education students offering CSI 702 in the 2019/2020 academic session towards the use of screencast for instructional process. The instrument pegged “students’ attitudes to using screencast for learning” (SAUSL) was used to obtain necessary information from the respondents. It was validated, pilot study conducted, and reliability index of 0.98 was obtained using Cronbatch Alpha. Results from the study revealed that 92% of the respondents were digital immigrants, and they had positive attitudes towards the use of screencast for learning. The study concluded that even though the digital immigrants (respondents) had shown a positive attitude towards the use of the screencast, the paradigm shift in the education sector “new normal” necessitated the use of technology to facilitate the instructional processes. Therefore, digital immigrants are left with no option than to embrace the use of technology for learning. It was recommended by the study that lecturers, especially in the higher institutions of learning, should adopt the use of screencast in their instructional process. This would help flip the classroom, and economically manage lecture time.

Fire Incident Statistics in the Tamale Metropolitan Area in the Northern Region of Ghana: A Retrospective Study

The effect of a fire disaster is greater in developing countries due to inadequate 'firefighting preventive and support systems. There is therefore the need to analyze fire incident data to enable better fire safety and prevention strategies. The study was a retrospective cross-sectional study from January to June 2021. In all, 130 fire incident reports from 2017 to 2020 were collected. The data, consisting of 32 variables were analyzed using binary logistic regression. It was observed that fire incidents due to electrical causes (53.9%), occurring in residential buildings (55.4%), and in the dry season (57.7%) were the most common. Fires due to nonelectrical causes were less likely to spread compared to fires due to electrical causes [AOR: 0.465(95%CI:0.221-0.977)]. Also, the likelihood of a fire spreading in the wet season was reduced, compared to the dry season [AOR: 0.341(95%CI:0.118-0.988)]. Moreover, apartment house’s fires were less likely to spread as compared to compound house's' fires [AOR: 0.341(95%CI:0.118-0.988)]. The source of energy, the design of a building and the climatic conditions are associated with fire incidents in the study area. These findings will serve as guidelines for fire safety and prevention strategies in the Tamale metropolitan area.

On Binomial Transform of the Generalized Fifth Order Pell Sequence

In this paper, we define the binomial transform of the generalized fifth order Pell sequence and as special cases, the binomial transform of the fifth order Pell and fifth order Pell-Lucas sequences will be introduced. We investigate their properties in details. We present Binet’s formulas, generating functions, Simson formulas, recurrence properties, and the summation formulas for these binomial transforms. Moreover, we give some identities and matrices related with these binomial transforms.

Organoleptic Evaluation for Accessing Sensory Attributes of Lycopene Containing Tomato Purees and its Overall Acceptability

A study on organoleptic evaluation for accessing sensory attributes of lycopene containing tomato purees & its overall acceptance was conducted at Food Science Analysis Laboratory, School of Home Science, B.B.A.U, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India, during July 2020 to May 2021. Different treatments under the investigation were prepared using dried tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum), tomato pulp and water to find out most appropriate treatment having significantly higher sensory attributes and overall acceptability. Five different types of treatments/purees viz. Dried tomato powder without food additives (T1), Mixture of tomato powder and water (ratio 1:10) without heating (T2), Mixture of tomato powder and water (ratio 1:10) heating at 60-70 ᴼC for 5 minutes (T3), Fresh tomato pulp (T4) & Tomato pulp cooked at 60-70 ᴼC for 35 minutes (T5) were used in the investigation. The effect of these treatments was distinguished as reflected on sensory characters like appearance, aroma, texture & overall acceptance. The highest overall acceptance of 8.20±0.7 on hedonic scale was obtained from tomato pulp cooked at 60-70 ᴼC for 35 minutes (T5) followed by dried tomato powder without food additives (T1) ie. 7.90±1.0. These results appeared highly promising depending on the appearance, aroma & texture.

Assessing the Hematology and Serum Biomarkers of Broiler Birds Fed Graded Levels of Kapok (Bombax costatum)

The study was conducted on broiler chickens to investigate the effects of graded levels of kapok seed meal fed on performance. A total of 288 broiler chickens were used. The broiler chickens randomly divided into four treatments groups (four experimental diets) T1 (control), T2 (0.5kg/100kg), T3 (1Kg/100kg) and T4 (1.5kg/100Kg). At the end of the feeding trial (eighth week), fifteen birds (5 per replicate) from each treatment group were randomly selected for blood collection. About 2ml of blood was collected per bird. The result showed a significant variation (P<0.05) in WBC and lymphocytes. The blood parameters were within the normal ranges for broiler chickens. The result showed that birds fed control diet have higher urea compared to those in treatment 3. It was concluded that the inclusion of kapok (Bombax costatum) seed meal up to 1.5kg/100kg in the diet of broiler birds had no adverse effect as indicated by hematological and serum chemistry of the birds.