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1 – 10 of 11S.A. Mashi, S.A. Yaro and P.N. Eyong
Contamination of the environment by heavy metals is a phenomenon of global importance today. When present in high concentrations in the environment, heavy metals may enter…
Abstract
Purpose
Contamination of the environment by heavy metals is a phenomenon of global importance today. When present in high concentrations in the environment, heavy metals may enter the food chain from soils and result in health hazards. Accumulation in street dust is one major way through which heavy metals may find their way into soils and subsequently living tissues of plants, animals and human beings. In this paper, the magnitude and sources of some heavy metals (Cu, Mn, Fe, Cd, Pb and Zn) in street dust samples in and around Gwagwalada, Nigeria, were assessed.
Design/methodology/approach
Street dust samples were collected from 12 sites with and without varying levels of human activities (blacksmithing, motor repair works, metal working and fabrication, vehicular traffic and residential development) in the area and analysed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry to determine the magnitude and sources of accumulation of the above heavy metals in street dust in the study area.
Findings
The mean concentrations were found to be 210, 79, 97, 3.9, 120 and 96 μg g−1 respectively, for Pb, Zn, Cu, Cd, Fe and Mn across the various sampling sites. Samples collected from sites with human activities were found to contain concentrations of the metals that are generally higher than those in background areas (without human activities). However, metal working and fabrication, and motor repair works were found to have a stronger influence on the accumulation of the metals in the dust samples than vehicular traffic.
Practical implications
The results indicate that, contrary to what is expected, based on the observations made in several areas by many researchers elsewhere, metal working and fabrication, and motor repair works have a stronger influence on the accumulation of the metals in the dust samples than vehicular traffic in the study area.
Originality/value
Provides information on heavy metal contamination of the environment in an area of Nigeria.
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The purpose of this paper is to explore use of the Theory of Constraints (TOC) approach in addressing traffic congestion as the main impediment to improving utility of the…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore use of the Theory of Constraints (TOC) approach in addressing traffic congestion as the main impediment to improving utility of the land transportation systems. The observed element is a motorway segment with regulated access.
Design/methodology/approach
As the literature addressing this topic is rare or nonexistent, this study employs exploratory design, developing tentative theory through the generation of new ideas and assumptions forming grounded picture as a base for further investigation.
Findings
The study concludes that the most binding constraint is broken in the third out of the TOC’ five steps and that the improvement in the given segment of the land transportation system is possible to be achieved using this framework.
Originality/value
Although the merits of use of TOC have been considered in other than just production-planning environments, its application in land transportation systems has never been examined. This study presents one of the rare, if not the only attempt to make use of this unique theory that is systematised in the systems management paradigm within the realm of land transportation systems.
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P.A. Essoka, A.E. Ubogu and L. Uzu
This paper seeks to examine the concentration of selected heavy metals (Cr, Pb, Cd, and Ni) in oil‐polluted soils of two communities in Warri, Delta state, Nigeria.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper seeks to examine the concentration of selected heavy metals (Cr, Pb, Cd, and Ni) in oil‐polluted soils of two communities in Warri, Delta state, Nigeria.
Design/methodology/approach
Soil auger samples were collected at a depth of 0‐15 cm from four sites. Two soil samples were collected from two sites observed to have had oil spills and also two samples from two sites without oil spillage. The soil samples were analysed using the UNICAM 969 Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer to determine the level of concentration of the heavy metals in these sites. Their levels in the oil‐spilled sites are compared with those of the control sites and also with the European community standards.
Findings
The results obtained from this study reveal that the concentration of the heavy metals considered were higher in the oil‐spilled sites relative to the control sites. Similarly, when compared with the European community standards, the concentration is said to be quite significant.
Practical implications
The results indicate that the operations of the oil industry in the study area have not been sufficiently accompanied by adequate environmental protection. To safeguard agricultural land in the area and hence human health, there is an urgent need for government to address the incidence of oil spills in this area.
Originality/value
This paper provides information on the contribution of the oil industry in heavy metals contamination in the Niger‐Delta area of Nigeria.
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Sasi B. Swapna and R. Santhosh
The miniscule wireless sensor nodes, engaged in the wide range of applications for its capability of monitoring the physical changes around, requires an improved routing…
Abstract
Purpose
The miniscule wireless sensor nodes, engaged in the wide range of applications for its capability of monitoring the physical changes around, requires an improved routing strategy with the befitting sensor node arrangement that plays a vital part in ensuring a completeness of the network coverage.
Design/methodology/approach
This paves way for the reduced energy consumption, the enhanced network connections and network longevity. The conventional methods and the evolutionary algorithms developed for arranging of the node ended with the less effectiveness and early convergence with the local optimum respectively.
Findings
The paper puts forward the befitting arrangement of the sensor nodes, cluster-head selection and the delayless routing using the ant lion (A-L) optimizer to achieve the substantial coverage, connection, the network-longevity and minimized energy consumption.
Originality/value
The further performance analysis of the proposed system is carried out with the simulation using the network simulator-2 and compared with the genetic algorithm and the particle swarm optimization algorithm to substantiate the competence of the proposed routing method using the ant lion optimization.
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Spirituality is a foundational concept within African indigenous communities. Spirituality informs the socio-cultural, political, environmental and economic operating…
Abstract
Spirituality is a foundational concept within African indigenous communities. Spirituality informs the socio-cultural, political, environmental and economic operating systems within these communities. It is perceived as a strength, but with the systemic debasement of the African indigenous spirituality, many systems informed by spirituality have been impacted in various ways, including the ethno-medical livelihood practices.
This chapter is based on a study that used an exploratory ethnographic case study approach with qualitative methods of data collection to explore the understanding of spirituality and its influence on well-being. The study context is Bomvanaland, in the Eastern Province of South Africa. The people of this area are called ‘amaBomvane’. The study is positioned within the social justice, constructivist interpretivist paradigm, combining Resilience theory (Mertens, 2009) with Ubuntu (an African indigenous framework), which is an African moral philosophical framework, as the influencing frameworks of the study. The study outcomes posit a practice of ethno-medical spirituality that is foundational to the identity and culture of the people who come from this area. This practice is embedded in Ubuntu, supporting resilience and well-being that carry the potential to positively influence their economies.
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Shamshad Ahmed, Farhat Rehman and Arslan Sheikh
This paper aims to identify the personality traits (agreeableness, openness to experience, extraversion, conscientiousness and neuroticism) of library and information…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to identify the personality traits (agreeableness, openness to experience, extraversion, conscientiousness and neuroticism) of library and information science (LIS) students in Pakistan. The difference among the personality traits of LIS students toward their information needs and seeking behavior is also analyzed.
Design/methodology/approach
Two instruments, namely, BFI scale and a self-structured instrument were used to collect the data. Kruskal–Wallis test was applied to find out differences among the personality traits of LIS students toward their information needs and seeking behavior.
Findings
Findings of the study revealed that out of 320 respondents, 186 possessed openness to experience, while only 7 possessed extraversion personality trait. Moreover, the students having extraversion personality trait were, generally, more concerned toward information needs. On the other hand students having conscientious trait were increasingly more seekers of information. Overall, the conscientiousness was identified as the most suitable personality trait for LIS students. A significant difference was also observed among all the personality traits of LIS students.
Practical implications
The findings of this study will help in the identification of LIS individual’s personality. The library managers can use these personality traits for the selection of suitable library professionals for their libraries.
Originality/value
This study can be valuable for the induction of new library professionals and also help managers in assigning the duties based on these personality traits.
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Delight Promise Udochukwu and Chidimma Agunwamba
The Libraries are in an era where changes come with high speed and much intense issues, and this seems to be as a result of the 4th industrial revolution. These emerging…
Abstract
The Libraries are in an era where changes come with high speed and much intense issues, and this seems to be as a result of the 4th industrial revolution. These emerging issues come in the form of changes that are not supposed to be overlooked by the library managers. These are changes libraries and Librarians have to be knowledgeable about. This chapter will address the impact, issues, challenges and controversies, prospects and how libraries should adapt, embrace and redesign their services, spaces and roles to accommodate this change on the Libraries. Existing research in the 4th Industrial revolution tends to focus on the challenges without much prospects and little or no evidence that researchers have approached how the libraries should accommodate and harness this revolutionary changes for improved library services provision. Therefore, this chapter aims to provide how the 4th industrial revolution affects the library and how libraries can harness the industrial revolution for enhanced services provision.
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Eyong B. Kim, Kijoo Kim and Michael Bzullak
The purpose of this paper is to survey the current status of internship programs for Management undergraduate students and to introduce a well‐established internship program.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to survey the current status of internship programs for Management undergraduate students and to introduce a well‐established internship program.
Design/methodology/approach
A web page analysis was conducted on 473 institutions that have AACSB (the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business) accreditation in the USA. The list of these institutions is from the AACSB web site (member school list) as of July 2010. A description of a well‐established internship program is provided. The 15 item questionnaire is developed to get the students feedback on the required internship course described in this paper. Based on that survey and web search findings, suggestions for internship course improvement are provided.
Findings
Most schools (96.5 per cent) offer some type of internship course but only a few schools (4.5 per cent) require students take an internship course. The pass/no pass grading system was preferred by a majority of universities (85 per cent). Students need to work an average of 169 hours for three credit internship courses. The most popular prerequisites are: GPA of 2.5 or higher; permission from an advisor or coordinator (62.5 per cent); and various other restrictions such as school minimum accumulated credit hours (22.5 per cent) and specific courses (33 per cent). The well‐established program introduced has dedicated advisors to supervise the required internship courses.
Practical implications
Internship program advisors/coordinators can assess the compatibility of their internship program with the introduced program. In addition, universities can benchmark against the introduced internship program to improve their current programs or establish a new program.
Originality/value
If any universities want to improve their current internship courses, or establish an internship program, the paper's findings offer some guidelines.
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Consolate Nsabimana and Bo Jiang
Dahlia is an ornamental plant originating from Mexico where it is considered as the National flower. The purpose of this paper is to investigate tubers from yellow, white…
Abstract
Purpose
Dahlia is an ornamental plant originating from Mexico where it is considered as the National flower. The purpose of this paper is to investigate tubers from yellow, white and red‐flowered cultivars of the common garden Dahlia (D. pinnata) for their chemical composition.
Design/methodology/approach
The composition of minerals was determined using Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS), whereas vitamins were analyzed by High‐Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC).
Findings
Carbohydrates represented the major constituent in Dahlia tubers, followed by fibre and protein. Tubers of the yellow‐flowered cultivar “HGH” contained the highest amount of carbohydrates, while tubers of the white‐flowered cultivar “BJ” and those of the red‐flowered cultivar “XM” abounded in fibre and protein, respectively. In addition, Dahlia tubers exhibited varying concentrations of minerals, among which potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc and chromium were predominant. Tubers of the white‐flowered cultivar “LB” contained the highest amounts of magnesium and phosphorus. Moreover, tubers of the red‐flowered cultivar “MLH” showed the highest contents of potassium and chromium, whereas those of the red‐flowered cultivar “XM” were rich in calcium and zinc. Furthermore, Dahlia tubers were found to contain water and fat soluble vitamins, among which vitamins B2, B6, B7 and E were the most abundant. Tubers of the white‐flowered cultivar “BJ” exhibited the highest contents of water soluble vitamins, whereas those of the white‐flowered cultivar “LB” abounded in fat soluble vitamins.
Originality/value
Despite the considerable variability observed among cultivars, Dahlia might be utilized as an alternative food resource for human nutrition.
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The purpose of this paper is to provide information on how processing technique affects some of the nutrient in cashew nut. It aims to guide processors of the nut on the…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to provide information on how processing technique affects some of the nutrient in cashew nut. It aims to guide processors of the nut on the processing techniques that can retain or minimize losses of nutrients during processing.
Design/methodology/approach
Cashew nuts were obtained from commodity support service that procure cashew for export. Standard methods and techniques of processing (boiling, fermentation, germination, roasting) were employed. Standard Association of Official Analytical Chemist methods were used for analysis.
Findings
Cashew nut is low in deleterious elements and processing methods (boiling and fermentation) techniques reduced them. The energy values ranged from 25‐27.38 kJ/g. The nut contains micro‐ and macronutritive elements that can effectively supplement daily requirement of man especially potassium. Processing reduced some of the essential mineral elements. Cashew nut may be used to improve low protein diet.
Research limitations/implications
Processing was carried out using locally available materials. Fermentation was not controlled.
Practical implications
Cashew nut can be included in low protein diet, it can improve mineral intake and deleterious elements pose no threat to its consumption.
Originality/value
The paper provides information on processing effect on cashew nuts which had not been reported in literature, hence, provides data base information.
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