Solutions of Schr\"odinger Equation with Generalized Inverted Hyperbolic Potential

We present the bound state solutions of the Schr\"odinger equation with generalized inverted hyperbolic potential using the Nikiforov-Uvarov method. We obtain the energy spectrum and the wave function with this potential for arbitrary - state. We show that the results of this potential reduced to the standard known potentials - Rosen-Morse, Poschl - Teller and Scarf potential as special cases. We also discussed the energy equation and the wave function for these special cases.Comment: 20pages, 5figure

Klinička toksoplazmoza mačaka: parazitološki, hematološki i serološki nalazi u neinficiranih i retrovirusom inficiranih mačaka.

Reports of the parasitological, haematological and serological diagnoses of clinical feline toxoplasmosis in 10 middle-aged Siamese cats are made with special emphasis on the reconciliation of different diagnostic findings in the process of making a definitive diagnosis. Three of the cats were immuno-competent while the remaining 7 were immuno-compromised due to retroviral co-infections. Major clinical signs included anorexia, fever (>39.8 oC), hyperpnoea, dyspnoea, pneumonia, emaciation, lethargy, icterus, regenerative anaemia and lymphopenia, while the immuno-compromised animals additionally had non-regenerative anaemia and some ocular disorders. The immuno-competent cats responded positively to the 4 week treatment protocol, while the immuno-compromised did not and were consequently eliminated from use in further trials. The immuno competent group had a higher mean live mass gain of 1.8 kg in 55 days and a concurrent above normal haemogram and were thus recommended for uses other than in drug trial study, since the latter could involve the administration of the immunosuppressive drugs that could reactivate oocysts shedding - a zoonotic risk. Counsels were provided on the hygienic mode of managing these cats from a zoonotic aspect.Opisani su nalazi parazitološke, hematološke i serološke dijagnostike u 10 sijamskih mačaka oboljelih od toksoplazmoze s posebnim osvrtom na usklađivanje nalaza u postupku postavljanja konačne dijagnoze. Tri pretražene mačke bile su imunokompetentne, a sedam je bilo s oslabljenim imunskim sustavom zbog retrovirusne infekcije. Glavni klinički znakovi bili su anoreksija, vrućica (>39,8 oC), hiperpneja, dispneja, pneumonija, oslabljenost, letargija, ikterus, regenerativna anemija i limfopenija, dok je u životinja s oslabljenim imunosnim sustavom opisana neregenerativna anemija i očni poremećaji. Imunokompetentne mačke su izliječene četverotjednom primjenom lijekova dok imunokompromitirane nisu odgovorile na liječenje te nisu dalje korištene u istraživanju. Mačke unutar imunokompetentne skupine imale su prosječno veću tjelesnu masu 1,8 kg tijekom 55 dana te istovremeno normalan hemogram. Usprkos ozdravljenju mačke nisu bile uzete u daljnja istraživanja s obzirom da je poznato da i slaba imunosupresija može imati za posljedicu reaktivaciju bolesti s izlučivanjem oocisti u izmetinama. Raspravlja se o higijeni držanja takvih mačaka s obzirom da je toksoplazmoza zoonoza

Problems and strategies for private sector development in Akwa Ibom state, Nigeria

Akwa Ibom State – Nigeria’s leading oil bearing state – is populated with over four million people, 72 percent of whom live below the poverty line. The state which is the 7th poorest nationwide, and the poorest in the South-South region of the country is usually referred to as a civil service state due to the absence of industrial activities in the area. Most salary earners in the state are employed in the civil service. This study was carried out to determine the causes of the underdevelopment of entrepreneurship in the state, as well as strategies that can be employed to stimulate private sector activities. Two hundred indigenous entrepreneurs were included in the study which took a survey design. Data were collected with the use of a questionnaire. The findings of the study show that inadequate capital, lack of experience, noncooperation among entrepreneurs, and inadequate governmental support were the major causes of the underdevelopment of the private sector in the state. It was recommended that a special business enhancement agency to fast-track private sector development in the state should be established by the government. Keywords: Economic development strategies, Infrastructural development, Private sector, Development, Indigenous entrepreneur

Analysis of Empirical Relationship among Agricultural Lending, Agricultural Growth and Non-Performing Loans in Nigerian Banking System

Increasing levels in Non-Performing loans (NPLs) which has remained an area of great concern contributed to issue of declining agribusiness activities in Nigeria in the 1990s and thereafter. The study examined non-performing loans relationship with agricultural lending and agricultural productivity from 1980 to 2015 in Nigeria. Time series data obtained from CBN were analyzed using, Granger causality test, Pearson correlation, and co-integration as well as error correction models. The empirical analyses revealed that, bilateral Granger causality existed between loans and advances granted to agricultural sector and non-performing loans in Nigeria. Also, growth in GDP has a positive and significant correlation with NPL in Nigeria. In the long run, NPL is positively related to agricultural productivity, growth in the GDP and value of loans and advances offered to agricultural sector. Whereas, in the short run, NPL reacted significantly to the negative influence of interest rate and positive impact of GDP growth rate. The adjustment coefficient of 52% was discovered for the NPL long run equation in Nigeria. It is recommended that short and long- term banking reform policies be adopted to reduce fluctuations in NPLs in the banking system and efforts should be geared towards increased participation of specialized financial institutions as to accelerate investments in agriculture sector

Physicochemical and Sensory Properties of Cookies Produced from Wheat, Unripe Plantain and Germinated Fluted Pumpkin Seed Composite Flour

The present study was conducted on preparation and quality evaluation of wheat, unripe plantain and fluted pumpkin seed composite flour cookies. The composite flour prepared from wheat, unripe plantain and germinated pumpkin seed were formulated in the ratio 90:5:5 (A), 85: 5:10 (B), 80:5:15 (C) and 75:5:20 (D) while the 100% wheat flour (sample E) prepared as control. Functional properties of the composite flour were determined and the quality of cookies produced were evaluated for physicochemical and sensory properties using standard methods. Bulk density, oil absorption capacity and gelatinization temperature of the flour samples decreased significantly (p<0.05) as the level of fluted pumpkin seed flour addition increased. Increase in swelling, water absorption and emulsification capacities were observed and the values were higher than the control. Fortified cookies had similar physical properties with the control in term of thickness, diameter and spread ratio. Crude protein, crude fat, ash and crude fibre of fortified cookies also increased significantly when compared with the control while the carbohydrate content of the fortified cookies had the lowest values. Selected anti-nutrients (HCN, tannin, oxalate and phytate) had values higher than the control except saponin content of samples B, C and D which was lower than the control. The sensory result showed that sample E (100% wheat flour cookies) was most preferred followed by sample A based on aroma, appearance, taste and general acceptability. The addition of germinated pumpkin seed flour above 5% has significant negative effect on the acceptance of the cookies. Keywords: Cookies, enriched, nutrition, protein-rich, germinated, pumpkin seed, composite flour DOI: 10.7176/FSQM/96-05 Publication date: April 30th 202

Adaptive Response Strategy of Farmers to Changing Rainfall Averages in Parts of South-Eastern Nigeria

The variable and changing nature of the annual rainfall regime in the study area poses the main problem for which planet responses are needed. The study is conducted with an estimated population of six thousand (6000) food croppers from Abia, Akwa Ibom and Cross River States. Three thousand (3000) respondent farmers are then drawn from six (6) agro-ecological zones, two from each of the sample states at five hundred (500) respondents per zone. Two hundred and fifty (250) farming households and finally sampled from the zones resulting in the one thousand five hundred (1500) sample that the study is based. Statistical evidence indicates that the awareness level of the peasants to the issue is significant at the 95% level of confidence. The main response strategies from analysis include the application of chemical fertilizers, the use of crop verities and changing the time of farming. The main change stimuli, however are higher annual intensities and declines in the duration. Response strategies however vary significantly across the study space at 95% probability. Cross River State, the more vulnerable to the threat is suggested to be the source of the significant variation following the Scheffe Post HOC analysis. Keywords: climate change response stimuli, response strategy, reactive response

Analysis of loan default among agricultural credit guarantee scheme (ACGS) loan beneficiaries in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

This study analyzed factors influencing defaults in loan repayments among agricultural credit guarantee scheme (ACGS) loan beneficiaries in Akwa Ibom State using Tobit model. A total of 109 ACGS loan beneficiaries were randomly sampled from the study area. Analysis of data using the model revealed that 12 explanatory variables namely: age of the beneficiaries, family dependency level, total farm cost, farm income, time interval between loan application and disbursement, other loan schemes, visits by credit officers, loan duration, government policies, years of experience, loan size and average interest rate charged were significant variables influencing default in loan repayment among the beneficiaries in the study area. The study recommended that efforts should be directed towards promoting a good credit culture and discipline through client education and moral persuasion. Key words: Loan, default, credit scheme, bank credit, loan repayment

Appraisal of the magnetic and geothermal anomalies of bornu basin northeast nigeria involving aero-magnetic data

The Bornu Basin in northeast Nigeria was studied using high-resolution airborne magnetic data with the objective of improving the reliability of mapped magnetic and geothermal anomalies, and depth solutions. Necessary enhancement operations like analytic signal (ASIG), upward continuation, depth assessment methods involving standard Euler deconvolution (SED) and source parameter imaging (SPI) as well as spectral analysis applying the centroid technique were applied. The middle and southern parts are dominated by high frequency anomalies as revealed by the ASIG map. Furthermore, the magnetic data, when upward continued to 5 km, revealed avalanche of deeply buried igneous intrusions that created near-surface magnetic sources and geologic structures. Maximum thicknesses of sedimentary series estimated from SED and SPI, are respectively ~5974.7 and ~5885.3 m. These values correlate correlated relatively well with depth to the top boundary (Zt) of ~6550 m obtained from the centroid technique. These depth estimates reveal sequence of thick sediments overlying igneous intrusions and falls under the prospective geothermal anomaly zones characterised by high geothermal gradient (GG) (>55 °C/km) and heat flow (HF) (>130 mW/m2) values. Areas characterised by high geothermal anomalies correspond to igneous intrusion-dominated shallow Curie point depths (CPD or Zb)

Some Quality Indices of Gnetum Africanum (Afang) Leaves as Affected by Drying Methods

Gnetum africanum is a tropical plant with origin in the rain forest of Nigeria and contains valuable nutrients but susceptible to speedy spoilage due to its high moisture content. This necessitates its preservation, through drying, as it is not readily available for consumers in parts of Nigeria where it is not grown. This research, therefore, was carried out to evaluate the effect of three drying methods (solar drying, sun drying and oven drying) on some quality indices of Gnetum africanum leaves with a view to determine the most appropriate drying method for maximum nutrient retention. Fresh Gnetum africanum leaves were obtained from the local market, defoliated, washed, drained and sliced. The sliced vegetable was divided to four portions of 200g each. With the initial properties of the fresh vegetable (sample A) determined, samples B, C and, D were subjected to solar, sun and oven drying respectively. The properties evaluated were analyzed and the results showed that sun dried vegetable (sample C) had the least overall quality retention. Moreover, solar dried vegetable (sample B) had the highest quality retention in terms of protein (3.92%), fat content (6.67%) and carotene (6.10IU) while oven dried one (sample D) had the highest quality retention of crude fiber (0.63%), ash content (7.87%), carbohydrate (72.49%) and sensory properties (taste, colour, aroma and texture). These results indicated that drying, especially solar and oven drying can be used to preserve Gnetum africanum leaves with considerable retention in its nutritional and sensory properties