Empirical Study of Factors Influencing Adoption of Blockchain Technology Converged with E-Government in Nigerian Public Sector

Uduakobong Ekanem,김윤선 한국콘텐츠학회 2023 International Journal of Contents Vol.19 No.1

The transparency of government transactions can increase citizens’ trust, employees’ productivity, and national economic development. Blockchain technology is a known disruptive technology that can enable the achievement of such transparency. Facilitated by its capabilities and types, blockchain empowers organizations to deploy solutions in accordance with their needs while maintaining the integrity of all records stored in their ledger. It also makes it quite reliable for managing the value-chain of public sector organizations. Similarly, e-Government has been an effective tool for decades for transparent public service delivery and governance cost reduction among other benefits for nations. This study aimed to examine factors that could hinder the success of Blockchain technology and e-Government convergence in Nigerian public sector using both primary and secondary data. To ascertain these factors, the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) was used, data collected were analyzed using statistical models and hypothesis testing. Findings reveal the willingness of users to adopt and use the technology if it is useful and could solve the problem for which it is designed, if there are regulations guiding their usages, and if it is easy to use. The study ends with specific conclusions and recommendations based on research findings.

Blockchain-based Zero Trust Security Model for Employee Identity Verification and Validation in the Nigerian Public Service

Uduakobong Ekanem,Yun Seon Kim 한국지능정보시스템학회 2023 한국지능정보시스템학회 학술대회논문집 Vol.2023 No.5

Morphology of the groove of the inferior petrosal sinus: application to better understanding variations and surgery of the skull base

Uduak-Obong I. Ekanem,Łukasz Olewnik,Andrea Porzionato,Veronica Macchi,Joe Iwanaga,Marios Loukas,Aaron S. Dumont,Raffaele De Caro,R. Shane Tubbs 대한해부학회 2022 Anatomy & Cell Biology Vol.55 No.2

Although adequate venous drainage from the cranium is imperative for maintaining normal intracranial pressure, the bony anatomy surrounding the inferior petrosal sinus and the potential for a compressive canal or tunnel has, to our knowledge, not been previously investigated. One hundred adult human skulls (200 sides) were observed and documented for the presence or absence of an inferior petrosal groove or canal. Measurements were made and a classification developed to help better understand their anatomy and discuss it in future reports. We identified an inferior petrosal sinus groove (IPSG) in the majority of specimens. The IPSG began anteriorly where the apex of the petrous part of the temporal bone articulated with the sphenoid part of the clivus, traveled posteriorly, in a slight medial to lateral course, primarily just medial to the petro-occipital fissure, and ended at the anteromedial aspect of the jugular foramen. When the IPSGs were grouped into five types. In type I specimens, no IPSG was identified (10.0%), in type II specimens, a partial IPSG was identified (6.5%), in type III specimens, a complete IPSG (80.0%) was identified, in type IV specimens, a partial IPS tunnel was identified (2.5%), and in type V specimens, a complete tunnel (1.0%) was identified. An improved knowledge of the bony pathways that the intracranial dural venous sinuses take as they exit the cranium is clinically useful. Radiological interpretation of such bony landmarks might improve patient diagnoses and surgically, such anatomy could decrease patient morbidity during approaches to the posterior cranial fossa.

Predicting the Need for Surgery in Patients with Lumbar Disc Herniation: A New Internally Validated Scoring System

Motiei-Langroudi Rouzbeh,Sadeghian Homa,Ekanem Uduak-Obong,Safdar Aleeza,Grossbach Andrew James,Viljoen Stephanus 대한척추외과학회 2023 Asian Spine Journal Vol.17 No.6

Study Design: Prospective study.Purpose: To propose a scoring system for predicting the need for surgery in patients with lumbar disc herniation (LDH).Overview of Literature: The indications for surgery in patients with LDH are well established. However, the exact timing of surgery is not. According to surgeons, patients with failed conservative treatment who underwent delayed surgery, often after 6 months postsymptom initiation, have poor functional recovery and outcome.Methods: The current study included patients with symptomatic LDH. Patients with an indication for emergent surgery such as profound or progressive motor deficit, cauda equina syndrome, and diagnoses other than single-level LDH were excluded from the analysis. All patients followed a conservative treatment regimen (a combination of physical therapy, pain medications, and/or spinal epidural steroid injections). Surgery was indicated for patients who continuously experienced pain despite maximal conservative therapy.Results: In total, 134 patients met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Among them, 108 (80.6%) responded to conservative management, and 26 (19.4%) underwent unilateral laminotomy and microdiscectomy. The symptom duration, disc degeneration grade on magnetic resonance imaging (Pfirrmann disc grade), herniated disc location and type, fragment size, and thecal sac diameter significantly differed between patients who responded to conservative treatment and those requiring surgery. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the scoring system based on the anteroposterior size of the herniated disc fragment and herniated disc location and type was 0.81.Conclusions: A scoring system based on herniated disc/fragment size, location, and type can be applied to predict the need for surgery in patients with LDH. In the future, this tool can be used to prevent unnecessarily prolonged conservative management (>4–8 weeks).

Screening of bio-derived surfactants for soil washing of PAHs: effects of substrate sources and trace metals distribution

Nnanake-Abasi O. Offiong,Godwin J. Udo,Edu J. Inam,Akanimo N. Ekanem,Joachim J. Awaka-ama,Emaime J. Uwanta,Jun Dong 대한환경공학회 2023 Environmental Engineering Research Vol.28 No.2

In this study, we screened the performance of aqueous extracts of Talinum triangulare (AET) and soap solution prepared from Hura crepitans seed oil saponified by aqueous solution of ashed plantain peels (HCS) for removal of naphthalene and phenanthrene from soil. The distribution of trace metals in the soil before and after soil washing was also investigated. The results revealed maximum removal efficiencies after 25 min washing time of 96.25, 96.14, and 25.70% naphthalene, for Tween 80, AET and HCS, respectively. While for phenanthrene, the recorded maximum removal efficiencies after 25 min washing time were: 91.80, 26.00, and 94.0 for Tween 80, AET and HCS, respectively. Based on results from other experiments, AET generally showed slightly lower removal efficiencies compared to the commercial Tween 80 surfactant. Also, the results revealed that the three remediants affected the distribution of trace metals (Cd, Pb, and Zn) in the soil after surfactant washing. Based on the amount of trace metals extracted, the performance of the three remediants are as follows: AET > Tween 80 > HCS. The performance of AET has been attributed to the presence of multiple heteroatomic moieties for trace metals adsorption and moderation of the acidic conditions of the soil.

Scapular length estimation from anatomical landmarks: an osteometry and radiographic evaluation using regression equations

Sunday Okon Elijah,Aniekan Imo Peter,Akpan Udo Ekanem,Innocent Asuquo Edagha 대한해부학회 2021 Anatomy & Cell Biology Vol.54 No.1

Estimation of body length has been achieved from the measurements of the scapular with relative accuracy by researches in recent times. This research hypothesized that the landmarks on the scapular and on the x-ray radiographs could be used to predict scapular length and elucidated the landmarks that best estimate the scapular length. A total of 600 scapulae and 600 anterior-posterior x-ray radiographs were used for the study. Positive correlation was observed between the measured variables and the scapular length with the males showing significantly higher mean length compared to females. The length of axillary boarder of the scapula was the best predictor of the scapular length. No significant difference (P>0.05) existed in the mean length derived from the scapular and the x-ray radiographs of scapular. We therefore conclude that measurements from the radiographs of scapular were as reliable in estimating scapular length as those from the scapular bones.

How to Improve Eating Behaviour during Early Childhood

Green, Robin John,Samy, Gamal,Miqdady, Mohamad Saleh,Salah, Mohamed,Sleiman, Rola,Abdelrahman, Hatim Mohamed Ahmed,Al Haddad, Fatima,Reda, Mona M.,Lewis, Humphrey,Ekanem, Emmanuel E.,Vandenplas, Yvan The Korean Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology 2015 Pediatric gastroenterology, hepatology & nutrition Vol.18 No.1

Eating behaviour disorder during early childhood is a common pediatric problem. Many terminologies have been used interchangeably to describe this condition, hindering implementation of therapy and confusing a common problem. The definition suggests an eating behaviour which has consequences for family harmony and growth. The recent Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition does not cover the entire spectrum seen by pediatricians. Publications are substantive but level of evidence is most of the time low. This purpose of this review is to clarify terminology of eating behaviour problems during early childhood; including benign picky eating, limited diets, sensory food aversion, selective eating, food avoidance emotional disorder, pervasive refusal syndrome, tactile defensiveness, functional dysphagia, neophobia and toddler anorexia. This tool is proposed only to ease the clinical management for child care providers. Diagnostic criteria are set and management tools are suggested. The role of dietary counselling and, where necessary, behavioural therapy is clarified. It is hoped that the condition will make its way into mainstream pediatrics to allow these children, and their families, to receive the help they deserve.

How to Improve Eating Behaviour during Early Childhood

Robin John Green,Gamal Samy Aly,Mohamad Saleh Miqdady,Mohamed Salah,Rola Sleiman,Hatim Mohamed Ahmed Abdelrahman,Fatima Al Haddad,Mona M. Reda,Humphrey Lewis,Emmanuel E. Ekanem,Yvan Vandenplas 대한소아소화기영양학회 2015 Pediatric gastroenterology, hepatology & nutrition Vol.18 No.1

Eating behaviour disorder during early childhood is a common pediatric problem. Many terminologies have been used interchangeably to describe this condition, hindering implementation of therapy and confusing a common problem. The definition suggests an eating behaviour which has consequences for family harmony and growth. The recent Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition does not cover the entire spectrum seen by pediatricians. Publications are substantive but level of evidence is most of the time low. This purpose of this review is to clarify terminology of eating behaviour problems during early childhood; including benign picky eating, limited diets, sensory food aversion, selective eating, food avoidance emotional disorder, pervasive refusal syndrome, tac-tile defensiveness, functional dysphagia, neophobia and toddler anorexia. This tool is proposed only to ease the clinical management for child care providers. Diagnostic criteria are set and management tools are suggested. The role of dietary counselling and, where necessary, behavioural therapy is clarified. It is hoped that the condition will make its way into mainstream pediatrics to allow these children, and their families, to receive the help they deserve.