Search

Due to the release of hazardous heavy metals from various industries, water pollution has become one of the biggest challenges for environmental scientists today. Mercury Hg(II) is regarded as one of the most toxic heavy metals due to its ability to cause cancer and other health issues. In this study, a tailor-made modern eco-friendly molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP)/nanoporous carbon (NC) nanocomposite was synthesized and examined for the uptake of Hg(II) using an aqueous solution. The fabrication of the MIP/NC nanocomposite occurred via bulk polymerization involving the complexation of the template, followed by polymerization and, finally, template removal. Thus, the formed nanocomposite underwent characterizations that included morphological, thermal degradation, functional, and surface area analyses. The MIP/NC nanocomposite, with a high specific surface area of 884.9 m2/g, was evaluated for its efficacy towards the adsorptive elimination of Hg(II) against the pH solution changes, the dosage of adsorbent, initial concentration, and interaction time. The analysis showed that a maximum Hg(II) adsorption effectiveness of 116 mg/g was attained at pH 4, while the Freundlich model fitted the equilibrium sorption result and was aligned with pseudo-second-order kinetics. Likewise, thermodynamic parameters like enthalpy, entropy, and Gibbs free energy indicated that the adsorption was consistent with spontaneous, favorable, and endothermic reactions. Furthermore, the adsorption efficiency of MIP/NC was also evaluated against a real sample of condensate from the oil and gas industry, showing an 87.4% recovery of Hg(II). Finally, the synthesized MIP/NC showed promise as a selective adsorbent of Hg(II) in polluted environments, suggesting that a variety of combined absorbents of different precursors is recommended to evaluate heavy metal and pharmaceutical removals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The significant relationships that lecturers develop and maintain with their students in institutions cannot be overlooked as studies recognize it to have a positive impact on their academic outcomes. This study assessed lecturers interpersonal climate and students' academic engagement in Nigeria university. The study adopted the correlational design of the survey type. The population for the study comprised all 49,153 undergraduate students of university of Ilorin, Nigeria. The required number of respondents for the study was ascertained using the Krejcie and Morgan table and 381 participants were chosen using a convenient sampling procedure. A self developed survey instrument titled "Interpersonal Climate and Students' Engagement Survey" (ICSES) was constructed based on the focus of the study to gather primary data by means of empirical survey-based research methods which allows for the test of research hypotheses formulated for the study. ICSES scale was subjected to face and content validity and reliability coefficient of .89 obtained adjudged the instrument reliable. The factors necessitating these interpersonal climate in school were explored and results show that except for the interrelation of the construct of shared vision on academic engagement with a low factor loading of .30, all other factors explored (Empathy, Leadership Pattern and compassion) were through measures of the constructs with high factor loading >.50 and have significant interactions with student engagement. The formulated hypothesis reveals that a significant relationship exist between the constructs understudied with p-value <.05. The implication of this findings as well as recommendations were highlighted in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aimed at identifying the types of e-databases available, perceptions towards the ease and extent of use, and usefulness of the adopted e-databases and identify the challenges associated with the use of adopted e-databases by the postgraduate students in the selected universities, in North- central, Nigeria. The study adopted descriptive survey design where set of questionnaires were used to collect data from 1726 postgraduate students across five universities in North- central, Nigeria. The study found that Internet facility, e-journals, e-books, science direct, AGORA, DOAJ and TEEAL are the major e-databases available and accessible in selected libraries. The e-databases used on daily basis are Internet, e-books and e-journal while EMERALD, HINARI, EBSCOHOST, OARE, JSTOR and TEEAL are mostly accessed on yearly basis. The study identified poor interregional networking and Internet connection, high cost of e-databases, epileptic power supply and insufficient fund to subscribe to them as major challenges with the use of adopted e-databases. We concluded that there is a significant relationship between the perceived ease of use and use of e-databases among postgraduate students in those university libraries; as well as between perceived usefulness and use of e-databases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study examined the relationships among ICT training, skills acquisition, ICT use and job performance of librarians and library officers in Universities in North-West Nigeria. The study was anchored on four specific objectives and four null hypotheses which were formulated and tested at 0.05 level of significance respectively. Descriptive survey design was used with population of 1,327 library personnel (74 librarians and 95 library officers) in 18-fully operational universities in North-west Nigeria out of which 169 library personnel were adopted in the seven selected universities using multi-stage sampling technique. The instrument for data collection was two set of structured and four point rating scale questionnaire for subordinates and university librarians' and was subjected to validation by library educators and statistics lecturers in a university. Test-retest method was used to pretest (administer) two set of the 40 copies of questionnaire at two week intervals outside the study areas (Federal University of Technology, Minna Nigeria) and the retrieved copies was subjected to Cornbrash's Alpha method to establish a reliability coefficient index of 0.74. Modified copies of questionnaire were administered on respondents and data collected was analyzed by inferential statistics of Pearson moment correlation coefficient and multiple-regression. Out of 167 copies of questionnaire administered, 145 (86%) copies were filled, returned and found usable and thus used for data analysis. Findings showed significant relationship between training and job performance, skills acquisition and job performance and ICT use and job performance respectively. The study further discovered significant relative contribution of ICT training, skills acquisition and ICT use to job performance of librarians and library officers in universities in North-West Nigeria. The study concluded that the contribution or otherwise of individual independent variable will lead to high or low level of job performance among library personnel in the universities in the geo-political zone. The study recommended amongst that the management of universities in North West Nigeria should make provision for adequate funds for procurement of ICT facilities; training and re-training of library staff in the area of ICT skills and usage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, we demonstrated the synthesis of nanosized molecularly imprinted polymer (nanoMIP) particles via a miniemulsion polymerization strategy for the selective recognition of Penicillin G element, a β-lactam antibiotic (PenG-nanoMIP). The PenG-nanoMIP probe was developed by the mixture of functional monomer, methacrylic acid (MAA) and crosslinking agent, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA). The pre-polymerization of monomer-template mixture was emulsified into miniemulsion via sonication where the PenG-nanoMIP particles were obtained with an average diameter of 60–70 nm. Also, various MIPs were formed by taking different combinations of monomer to crosslinker and among all, the MIP formed with a ratio of 6:24 was chosen as the optimum formulation. In addition, the PenG-nanoMIP probe has been characterized thoroughly for the surface functionality (FTIR), morphological changes (FESEM-EDX), and particles diameter. Finally, the batch rebinding tests via UV–Vis were conducted to investigate that the PenG-nanoMIP 2 has the greatest binding capacity with 4.37 mg/g as compared to PenG-nanoMIP 1 and PenG-nanoMIP 3 having the binding capacities of 3.33 mg/g and 3.62 mg/g respectively. Based on the analysis, it can be suggested that PenG-nanoMIP 2 has offered the highest binding and selectivity for PenG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]