Constant Electricity Supply Research Articles

Strengthening information provision in Nigerian university libraries through information communication technologies

PurposeTo review the current state of information communication technologies (ICT) application for information provision in Nigerian university libraries and make suggestions to enable them take fuller advantage of ICT facilities to provide information more effectively to users.Design/methodology/approachRecent library and information science literature on university libraries and ICT application in Nigeria is reviewed to expose the state‐of‐the‐art and hence the problems which beset the university libraries in Nigeria as regards ICT application.FindingsIdentified obstacles militating against effective application of ICT in university libraries to include inadequate funding, inadequate electricity supply, shortage of competent manpower for operation and maintenance of ICT facilities, lukewarm attitude of the Nigerian government towards the provision of ICT facilities and low level of computer literacy among Nigerians.Research limitations/implicationsPhysical visits were not paid to the university libraries; conclusions drawn are based on experience and evidence from current librarianship literature on Nigeria.Practical implicationsA very useful source of information on how to ameliorate the problem of low level of ICT application for information provision in university libraries in Nigeria.Originality/valueProvides very useful and practical suggestions to enable university libraries in Nigeria take advantage of ICT facilities to provide information more effectively to their users. These include massive infusion of funds into purchase of ICT facilities, provision of constant electricity supply, greater commitment of university library staff to computerization efforts in their libraries, training and retraining opportunities for librarians in computer literacy and involvement of libraries in cooperative acquisition of electronic information resources through consortia.

Low cost stove-top thermoelectric generator for regions with unreliable electricity supply

During the winter months in regions where constant electric power supply cannot be relied upon, power may be derived parasitically from heating stoves. A proportion of heat from these 20–50 kW wood or diesel-heated stoves may be utilized to drive a thermoelectric generator (TEG) consisting of several commercially available low-cost modules. These are Peltier modules operating in a power generating mode and adapted to the low-flux regime coupled with hot side temperatures of 100–300 °C. Two commercially available modules are considered. The generator is then theoretically re-evaluated with the Peltier modules re-designed in order to produce maximum power in a simple and cheap manner allowing easy commercial production using existing technology. A current power target is set at 100 W for a minimum domestic use.

Tradesmen as Vocational Workshop Instructors

Some of the problems that have confronted the implementation of the National Policy on Education in Nigeria include the lack of teachers for the pre‐vocational courses and equipped workshops for practicals, among others. Aims to find out how established tradesmen could be used effectively to teach workshop practicals. Principals of secondary schools and technical colleges provided the data which were used to answer the two formulated research questions. The result of the data analysis showed that most post‐primary schools need between one and three instructors in each pre‐vocational subject. Suggested strategies for effective utilization of tradesmen for workshop lessons, including the building and equipment of workshops, constant supply of electricity, supervision of the instructors and students by school heads and organization of competitions among students. Proposes that a system by which instructors could be acquainted with the processes of continuous assessment be built into their teaching assignment.

The expanded programme on immunization (EPI) in Ondo State, Nigeria

The Expanded Programme of Immunization in Ondo State, Nigeria, which began in 1978 has been reviewed. Non-availability of constant electrical supply needed to keep vaccine at their original potency, shortage of trained health manpower, administrative shortcomings and lack of proper health education have been identified as some of the factors hindering effective implementation of the programme.

Qualitative and quantitative changes in plasma luteinizing hormone (LH) under stimulation by intravenous infusion of synthetic luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) in Japanese monkeys (Macaca fuscata) as assessed by electrofocusing.

Using 5 adult Japanese monkeys (Macaca fuscata) of both sexes, the qualitative and quantitative changes in plasma LH caused by LHRH administration were examined before and after castration. Five hundred micrograms synthetic LHRH was infused for 2 hrs and blood samples were obtained every 15 min for 5 hrs under ketamine hydrochloride anesthesia. Plasma LH levels were determined by an in vitro bioassay using the mouse testis interstitial cell preparation. The LHRH infusion induced a biphasic release of LH in intact animals of both sexes and in castrated females but not in castrated males. The biphasic pattern of LH release was characterized by an initial acute rise followed by a plateau or a fall and the consecutive second rise after a long latent period. Aliquots of plasma samples obtained during 30-90 (corresponding to the initial rise) and 120-210 min (corresponding to the second rise) after the initiation of LHRH infusion were pooled separately (plasma pools I and II, respectively) and subjected to isoelectrofocusing (IEF) fractionation. The IEF fractionation was performed in ampholine-sucrose gradient, pH range 3.5-10, under a constant electrical power supply (3 W, 700 V) for 48 hrs at 4 degrees C. After the completion of the IEF fractionation the LH activity in each fraction was measured by the in vitro bioassay. The IEF fractionation separated plasma LH into 6 distinct species in terms of pI values. When the IEF profiles of plasma pools I and II in intact animals of both sexes were compared, the increase and the decrease in acidic to neutral LH and alkaline LH, respectively, were consistent and significant in plasma pool II. Changes of the same kind were further exaggerated when the IEF profiles in castrated animals were compared with those in non-castrated ones. The acidic LH may represent the LH species newly synthesized and not well processed. The LH species possessing pI values of 7.5-8.5 is likely to be the mature type of LH exhibiting high biological potency. The LH species migrating in the high alkaline region seems to be the LH of over-maturation.