DEMOGRAPHIC FACTORS RESPONSIBLE FOR UNDERACHIEVEMENT AMONG UNDERGRADUATE ENGINEERING STUDENTS IN SOUTH-SOUTH FEDERAL UNIVERSITIES

The study investigated the demographic factors responsible for Underachievement among Undergraduate Engineering students in South-South Federal Universities”. Four research questions and corresponding null hypotheses guided this study. Ex-post facto research design was used. A population size of 1,155 students from year2 to 4 was used and a sample size of 630 was drawn. Three instruments were used, they are; the Demographic Inventory (DI), General Engineering Mathematics Underachievement Test (GEMUT) and Standard Progressive Matrix (SPM). The reliability of these instruments was tested on 20 respondents using Cronbach alpha method of internal consistency. The reliability indexes are 0.60, and 0.55 respectively for General Engineering Mathematics Underachievement Test (GEMUT) and Standard Progressive Matrix (SPM). Research question 1 was answered with simple percentage, while research questions 2 & 3 were answered with One-way ANOVA. The corresponding null hypothesis 1 was tested with Z-test and one-way ANOVA associated with regressions to test hypotheses 2 & 3. Hypothesis 4 was tested with simple linear regressions. Findings show that federal institutions of study significantly influence underachievement, while gender and department of study do not relate to underachievement in South-South Federal Universities. Also, there was a significant relationship among the CGPA and general engineering mathematic test among engineering students. The researcher recommends that course advisers, counsellors and lecturer should identify these underachievers early and appropriate counselling measures given; also, the Federal Government has to provide and supervise Federal Institutions.

Fibulin-1 Integrates Subendothelial Extracellular Matrices and Contributes to Anatomical Closure of the Ductus Arteriosus

Objective: The ductus arteriosus (DA) is a fetal artery connecting the aorta and pulmonary arteries. Progressive matrix remodeling, that is, intimal thickening (IT), occurs in the subendothelial region of DA to bring anatomic DA closure. IT is comprised of multiple ECMs (extracellular matrices) and migrated smooth muscle cells (SMCs). Because glycoprotein fibulin-1 binds to multiple ECMs and regulates morphogenesis during development, we investigated the role of fibulin-1 in DA closure. Approach and Results: Fibulin-1–deficient ( Fbln1 −/− ) mice exhibited patent DA with hypoplastic IT. An unbiased transcriptome analysis revealed that EP4 (prostaglandin E receptor 4) stimulation markedly increased fibulin-1 in DA-SMCs via phospholipase C-NFκB (nuclear factor κB) signaling pathways. Fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis demonstrated that fibulin-1 binding protein versican was derived from DA-endothelial cells (ECs). We examined the effect of fibulin-1 on directional migration toward ECs in association with versican by using cocultured DA-SMCs and ECs. EP4 stimulation promoted directional DA-SMC migration toward ECs, which was attenuated by either silencing fibulin-1 or versican. Immunofluorescence demonstrated that fibulin-1 and versican V0/V1 were coexpressed at the IT of wild-type DA, whereas 30% of versican-deleted mice lacking a hyaluronan binding site displayed patent DA. Fibulin-1 expression was attenuated in the EP4-deficient mouse ( Ptger4 −/− ) DA, which exhibits patent DA with hypoplastic IT, and fibulin-1 protein administration restored IT formation. In human DA, fibulin-1 and versican were abundantly expressed in SMCs and ECs, respectively. Conclusions: Fibulin-1 contributes to DA closure by forming an environment favoring directional SMC migration toward the subendothelial region, at least, in part, in combination with EC-derived versican and its binding partner hyaluronan.

Socio-psychological characteristics of the leaders of the juvenile convicts

The problem of role differentiation of leadership among juvenile convicts is a socially significant and poorly studied problem in modern psychological science. The results of a study of 60 young men serving sentences in young offenders' institutions of the Federal penitentiary service of Russia in the age from 16 to 18 years are presented in the paper. “Leadership style” Questionnaire of R. Bale-K. Schneider (modification T.V. Bendas), “Leadership abilities” Questionnaire of E. Zharikova, E. Krushelnitskogo, “Communicative and organizational tendencies” Questionnaire of V.V. Sinyavsky and V.A. Fedoroshin, “Communicative control” Questionnaire of M. Schneider, “Emotional intelligence” Questionnaire of N. Hall, “Progressive matrix” of Raven were used to diagnosis of socio-psychological qualities of juvenile convict, as well as observations psychologists institutions and educators. The nonparametric Mann-Whitney criterion and factor analysis were applied. The results show that there are formal and informal leaders among juvenile convicts. Formal leaders stand out only in the business sphere and have a positive focus, informal leaders can be positive and negative, business and emotional. Leaders are more focused on solving problems, have developed leadership qualities, organizational and communication abilities. However, the prognostic qualities to identify a leader among juvenile convicts are not only leadership tendencies, but also the qualities of emotional intelligence, allowing to assess the situation, manage their emotions, to have a psychological impact on the state of others.

A progressive analysis of matrix cracking-induced delamination in composite laminates using an advanced phantom node method

Matrix cracking-induced delamination in composite laminates is qualitatively and quantitatively investigated in a finite element framework. The phantom node method is extended to incorporate breakable interfaces at transverse matrix crack tips. New user-defined element types in Abaqus improve the numerical stability in a geometrically nonlinear analysis. The new formulation allows for accurate prediction of matrix crack density and stiffness reduction in a number of composite laminates. Furthermore, the advanced phantom node method is able to simulate progressive matrix cracking-induced delamination with good accuracy.

Prevalence and Correlates of ADHD Among Adolescent Students in Nigeria

Objective: To determine the prevalence and psychosocial correlates of ADHD among adolescents in Jos, Nigeria. Method: A cross-sectional descriptive two-stage study of 487 randomly selected participants using Kiddie–Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia–Present and Lifetime Version (K-SADS-PL), Raven’s Standard Progressive Matrix (SPM) and the Children’s Global Assessment Score (CGAS). Results: The prevalence of ADHD was 8.8%. The subtypes found were inattentive (3.08%), hyperactive-impulsive (2.05%), and combined (3.08%); male:female ratio of 1.4:1. ADHD was significantly associated with use of substance by father (odds ratio [OR] = 0.35; 95% confidence interval [CI] = [0.154, 0.781]), use of substance by mother (OR = 0.2; 95% CI = [0.055, 0.711]), and lower education of mother (OR = 0.3 95% CI = [0.116, 0.693]). Poor quality of handwriting (χ2 = 8.120; p = .010) and impaired global functioning ( t test = 10.756; p < .001) were significantly associated with ADHD in the adolescents. Conclusion: Given the burden of ADHD, efforts should be made to establish a system for the early identification and management.