EFFECTS OF REVIVE® ON SPERMIOGRAM OF DOG IN THE PRESENCE OR ABSENCE OF TEASER BITCH

There are numerous indications for collection of semen from a male dog, yet there are various limitations that have been identified with the most common method used. Two adult male and one female local dogs with mean weight of 13.4 ± 0.7 kg were used in this study. Treatment orders (T1 – T4) used were 10 ml placebo administered orally 30 minutes before semen collection (SC) in the presence of teaser bitch (T1); 400 mg of Revive® capsules administered orally 30 minutes before SC in the presence of teaser bitch (T2); 10 ml of placebo administered orally 30 minutes before SC in the absence of teaser bitch (T3) and 400 mg of Revive® capsule administered orally 30 minutes before SC in the absence of teaser bitch (T4). A cross over design was used in this study in which each dog acted as his own control and participated in all the treatment groups. T1– T4 were assigned based on complete block design wherein each dog received each treatment thrice in a week. Each dog was ejaculated using digital manipulation method. The length of time to obtain ejaculate (Collection time, CT) was recorded. Semen volume (V), Sperm concentration (C), motility (M), and percentage live sperm (L) were determined for each ejaculate, using standard methods. The results were statistically evaluated using complete block analysis of variance (ANOVA) at level of significance of P=0.05. The mean collection time was 232.5±10.2secs for all treatments, CT was lower in T1 compared to T2 but the difference between dogs for CT was not significant. Mean Semen volume showed statistical difference between dogs. Mean values of V, C, M and L varied between the different groups. Results of this study showed that Revive® appeared not to have an effect on any of the ejaculate characteristic

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SHELF LIFE AND SENSORY EVALUATION OF CARROT (Daucus carota L.) ROOT WITH PACKAGING MATERIALS

Carrot, (Daucus carota L.) is an edible orange-yellow coloured root which adds attractiveness to different delicacies. Retailers often pack carrot with polythene bags, which is observed to lose its attractiveness in few days.  Three different packaging materials and unpackaged were studied and their effects investigated on the shelf-life and organoleptic properties of carrot roots. The packaging materials were: Polythene bag, Thaumacoccus danielle leaf and foil paper. An unpackaged storage served as the control. Prior storage, the carrot samples were washed, cleaned, air dried and sorted. After packaging into different materials, roots were stored in cartoon boxes (CB). The following parameters were measured: physiological weight loss (PWL), shelf-life and organoleptic properties: taste, flavour, mouth fill, sweetness, colour and overall acceptability. Sixty (60) carrot roots of optimum size were arranged randomly into four treatments (packaging materials) including the control (unpackaged), replicated five times and stored for twenty-seven days under average temperature of 32.80C and RH, 72.8%.  Carrot roots were marketable on the 24th day using foil paper. Use of foil paper was effective in extending the shelf-life of carrot for 27 days before showing symptoms of bloating. Visual quality of colour, flavour, taste and sweetness were excellent with carrot packaged in foil paper when compared with other packaging materials and with the unpackaged control in the following order: Foil-paper > leaf > Polythene bag > Control. The type of material used to package carrot roots elongates the shelf-life and delays rotting significantly.   &nbsp

ARTIFICIAL NEURAL NETWORK MODELLING OF ABOVEGROUND BIOMASS FROM TROPICAL RAIN FORESTS IN NIGERIA

This study investigated the impact of applying artificial neural networks (ANNs) with different input variables and different architectures to estimate aboveground biomass (AGB) using allometric data from tropical forests in Southwestern Nigeria. The study also compared the result of ANNs with linear regression. Three fully connected feed-forward neural networks (all four-layer) with backpropagation of error were used in this study. They had two hidden layers: the first two had topography [2, 3, 3, 1], and the third had topography [3, 5, 5, 1]. Rectified Linear Unit (ReLU) activation function was used for all networks; Mean Squared Error (MSE) was used as the loss function. A learning rate of 1e-06 and 1000 iterations was used to run the first two ANNs, and a learning rate of 1e-06 and 1850 iterations was used to run the third. Maximum loss for each neural network was 12.8393, 12.0371, and 0.2078, respectively, while minimum loss was 0.0391, 0.0408, and 0.1559, respectively. Accuracy was measured using Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE) with the training for each neural network RMSE’s being 0.1997, 0.2113 and 0.3949 while test RMSE’s was 0.2199, 0.2284, and 0.3812 for each neural network. &nbsp

EVALUATION OF STUDENTS-MANAGEMENT CONFLICTS IN PUBLIC TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS IN OSUN STATE, NIGERIA (2010-2020)

Students-Management conflict is one of the major obstacles to smooth public tertiary education in Nigeria. Despite the myriad of efforts to mitigate students’ turbulences in tertiary institutions, the dissention between students and school authorities is unabated and strategies often adopted to eradicate this menace are not efficacious. This study examined students-management conflicts in public tertiary institutions in Osun State, Nigeria between 2010 and 2020. Questionnaire and in-depth interview were used for data collection. Three public tertiary institutions were selected for this study and a total number of 400 questionnaires were retrieved from respondents while interviews were conducted with 15 key informants. Data were presented quantitatively and qualitatively through the use of tables and narratives. Descriptive statistics such as frequency counts and percentages were used in the analysis of the quantitative data. The study found that these conflicts occurred frequently (91%), are often violent in nature (82%) and that its causes were increase in fees (93.7%), insensitivity to students’ demands (91%), poor facilities (75%) among others. Findings through the interviews further revealed that the root cause of the students-management conflicts in the institutions was poor funding by the governments. Some of the effects of the conflicts were disruption of academic calendar (96.5%), closure of the institutions (93%) and ban of students’ unionism (87.3%). The study also revealed that 87% of respondents indicated that school authorities often made use of force in handling the conflicts while 86% confirmed that the strategies were ineffective. Based on the findings, the study recommended adequate funding of public tertiary institutions and effective peace education that will equip both the institutional authorities and the students with the necessary skills to prevent or manage conflicts constructively, with a view to realizing conducive and peaceful learning environments.   &nbsp

BEYOND AMNESTY AND ADVERSARIAL CONFLICT MANAGEMENT STRATEGY FOR SUSTAINABLE PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT IN THE NIGER DELTA REGION

The Nigerian state is yet to come up with a viable management strategy to address the Niger Delta conflict with a view to achieving durable peace in the region. Unfortunately, adoption of adversarial conflict management strategy by the Nigerian state in order to stem the tide of insurgency and militancy in the region increased the intensity of the protracted social conflict. Besides, despite its initial and immediate positive effects, the on-going Amnesty initiative of the federal government lacks the capacity to tackle the underlying factors of the conflict and the policy has gone under heavy criticisms, owing to its implementation shortcomings. This article not only explored the dynamics of the violent conflict but also evaluated the effectiveness of the two major conflict management approaches of the federal government and the activities of ethnic militias together with criminality in the region. It further revealed the motive behind the persistence of violence, prevalence of economic and security threats in the region. This article, which adopted an analytical-critical method, also contended that there is a possibility of a recurrent violence in the region in the near future, should the prolonged negotiations between the government and the Niger-Delta people eventually fail to metamorphose into the long-awaited visible developmental transformation of the area. The paper therefore concluded that there is an urgent need for the Nigerian state to be genuinely committed to social justice in order to record an enduring peace, socio-economic stability and sustainable development in the Niger Delta region.     &nbsp

ECONOMIC RETURNS AND TECHNICAL EFFICIENCY IN CASSAVA-BASED FARMING SYSTEMS IN YEWA COMMUNITIES OF OGUN STATE, NIGERIA

This study analyzed the economic returns and technical efficiency in cassava-based farming systems in selected communities in the Yewa axis of Ogun State. Data were collected from 120 cassava farmers in a two-stage sampling technique. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, budgetary technique, and the stochastic frontier model. The study showed majority of the cassava farmers in the study area to be male, ageing, less formally educated but well experienced in farming. Result of the enterprise’s budgetary analysis showed that cassava sole-cropping generated a total gross margin (GM) of N236,051 and net farm income (NFI) of N233,862 as against the values of N474,084 and N470,168 respectively, for cassava intercrop program during the same production year. From the findings, sole cropping has total factor productivity (TFC) value of 0.46, producing more cassava yield from each unit of the input used than in intercrop program with a TFC value of 0.1.  Land and labour inputs were critical determinants of cassava output in the study area, while the involvement of younger folks in the cassava farming enterprise and attainment of higher education will significantly improve the technical efficiency of the cassava farmers. An average technical efficiency level of 79 percent was obtain for cassava production systems, implying a 21% gap for it to reach maximum production potentials. It was recommended that the policy formulation that will enhance access of the cassava farmers to more cultivable land, improved educational opportunities (through adult literacy education) and labour saving device/technology will assist to rapidly transform the cassava production systems in the study area. This will also help them increase their profitability and efficiency level in cassava production.     &nbsp

PEER INFLUENCE AND FEMALE ADOLESCENTS IN PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN OGUN STATE, NIGERIA

The adolescence stage is a critical period in human psychosocial development, whereby adolescents become more vulnerable to peer influence because it is the time for experimenting with new identities and experiences. This study assessed the degree of peer influence among female adolescents in public secondary schools in Ogun State, Nigeria using a multistage sampling procedure to select 234 female adolescents secondary school students. Data were collected on predisposing factors to peer influence, perception on the effect of peer influence, and degree of peer influence, using a structured questionnaire. Data were analysed using frequency counts, percentages, mean, standard deviation, and Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC). Results showed that 47.0% and 26.1% of the respondents reported that coercion to participate in school activities and peer social status were the major predisposing factors to peer influence among female adolescents. Adjusting into a socially acceptable lifestyle (= 2.75)  was the most perceived effect of peer influence. Overall, 54.3% of the respondents indicated that the degree of peer influence was positive. Respondents’ perception of peer influence significantly (p<0.05) affect the degree of peer influence experienced (r = 0.265). Thus, participation in activities against personal conviction and peer social status could predispose female adolescents to peer influence. Therefore, more persuasive techniques should be used to engage female adolescent in school activities, and peers with high status should be identified and mentored in order to positively influence others.   &nbsp

Editorial Board

Journal of Natural Science, Engineering and Technology provides an   appropriate medium for disseminating high quality and original research findings, critical topical reviews, technical notes/short communications on emerging technologies and    innovations among researchers worldwide and promoting scholarship. All papers published in the Journal are independently  peer-reviewed by selected referees on the recommendations of the Editor-in-Chief on behalf of the Editorial Board. &nbsp