Abundance of birds in six selected habitats

Bird species world over are faced with the problem of habitat changes. Conservation of birds in fragments of habitats is increasingly important due to the diverse uses of the environment. To meet this challenge, predicting abundance of bird species in relation to specific vegetation taxa in the habitats is required .This study determined bird species abundance and their relationship with habitat variables of tree, shrub and herb abundance. Study conducted in the forested bitumen belt of Ode-Irele, Ondo state, Nigeria evaluated habitat use by birds using 20- minutes birds point count to a radius of 30 meters, carried out in six selected habitats. The vegetation cover was sampled using 5x5-meters and 1m2quadrants. Data collected were subjected to t-test of independent variables with LSD in ANOVA for birds’ use of habitats and linear regression for the dependence of birds’ abundance on habitats’ variables.88 bird species belonging to 31 families were associated with the study area. The abundance of birds was significantly affected by habitat types (P<0.05) and predicted by habitat variables. The study would assist decision makers in the management and conservation of habitats’ variables critical to the survival of bird species during the bitumen development phase.Keywords: Abundance, Birds, Bitumen, Conservation, Habitats, Nigeri

DEVELOPMENT OF A RECHARGEABLE ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED MOTORISED WHEELCHAIR FOR DISABLED AND ELDERLY PEOPLE

The physically challenged, old-age people, and most paralysed patients need means of transportation from place to place to ease their movement. The earlier available wheelchairs are manually driven that need extra effort of either the physically challenged or an assisting person to move. Nowadays, the level of communication and socialization strongly depends on easy access to mobile transportation.  This paper presents a developed motorized wheelchair that facilitates movement of physically challenged people both in the hospital and in their home by taking into account aesthetics, low cost, ease on maintenance with market competitive advantage using locally sourced materials. The developed wheelchair is designed to work for 3 hours under a maximum load of 90 kg with navigation buttons. A working efficiency of 65 % was obtained under full operation. This design brings a new competition into the wheelchair market and gives more comfort to the physically challenged peoples’ mobility than the existing manually driven one

The Effects of Gray Markets in the International Product Distribution Systems

The problem of gray markets has become one of the main concerns to many global marketing firms. Many of the distribution goals of today’s firms in the international arena have been thwarted by the activities and issues of gray marketing. This work, therefore, analyzes the incidence of gray markets in the international distribution system. The study is guided by the following objectives: to examine if gray marketing  affects product defection as well as encourage increasing customers’ complaint; to examine the effects of gray markets activities on the availability of goods in certain part of the world; and to ascertain whether the realization of distribution objectives in the international marketing environment is affected by the incidence of gray market. To achieve the objectives spelled out, the study utilizes descriptive research. The questionnaire was the main research instrument that the study used to sift data from a sample of 50 respondents who were consumers. Based on the analyzed data, the following findings were made: that gray market  affects product defection and hence, it leads to increasing customer complaints of certain product in the foreign markets; that gray market leads to negative  availability of good in certain parts of the world; and that, gray market affects the realization of distribution goals and objectives of some organizations in international marketing environments.  Guided by the findings, the study concludes that gray markets have a very strong effect on the international distribution Systems, causing dumping of good in certain target foreign markets and leading to non-realization of place utility objective by some global firms. The study recommends that gray markets should be minimized through utilization of internet technology, lowering costs to reliable distributors and as well ensuring effective selection of middlemen. Keywords: gray market, distribution, international systems and parallel importing

Evaluating Branching and Sales Point Banking as Market Strategies to Raising Performance of Banks in Nigeria

A prerequisite in a competitive market environment is a result-oriented market strategies that are customer service oriented. Good service delivery channels have been considered as relevant in this regard. This study evaluates the effect of spread of bank branches and utilization of e-payment system in form of sales point banking on return on equity of banks. Banks in Nigeria were sampled and both primary and secondary data were used. Findings from Panel regression model estimate show a strong support for more branch establishment as a relevant market channel to increase performance of banks. Sales point banking do not have significant effect on return on equity. The findings suggest the need for banks to target the geographical spread of customers and make adequate provision for more bank branches. The expected advantage of proximity is duly linked to increasing performance of banks in Nigeria. Keywords: Market Strategy, Bank Branch, Sales Point Banking, Return on Equity DOI: 10.7176/EJBM/13-3-11 Publication date: January 31st 202

Influence of Torrefaction on Lignocellulosic Woody Biomass of Nigerian Origin

Torrefaction process is a thermal treatment that can improve quality of lignocellulosic biomass into a carbon-rich and hydrophobic feedstock which is applicable as fuel and metallurgical reductant. Biomass (Melina and Teak wood) of Nigerian origin was subjected to mild (240o C) and severe (300o C) torrefaction treatment at different residence times (30 and 60 min) and particle sizes (+0.5 - 2 mm and +4 - 6.35 mm). Raw biomass and biochar from torrefaction were subjected to proximate, ultimate, higher heating value and SEM analyses. The mass yield obtained for mild treatment conditions for both biomass was in the range of 72 - 84 (wt. %) compared to 40 - 54 (wt. %) under severe treatment conditions. However, 33 - 56 % increment in higher hating value was observed for severe treatment conditions as against 11 - 17 % of mild treatment condition. This ultimately led to a 60 - 72 (wt. %) energy yield for severe treatment conditions and 73 - 94 (wt. %). The fixed carbon content increased from the range of 8 - 11 (wt. %) to 20 - 61 (wt. %) after torrefaction. The volatile matter content under mild condition was reduced by 7 - 10 % for both biomass as against 41 - 47 % under severe treatment condition. The fuel ratio increased from 0.11 and 0.15 for Melina and Teak woods respectively to a range of 0.22 - 0.25 for mild treatment conditions and 0.97 - 1.75 for severe treatment condition. The H/C and O/C atomic ratios of biochar were lowered towards that of sub-bituminous coal and peat. A honey-comb-like structure with cylindrical holes were observed for biochar compared to the fibrous and spongy nature of the raw biomass. Biomass of Nigerian origin were improved under torrefaction and thus can be suitable as feedstock in thermal or metallurgical applications

Determinants of Depression among University Students in Nigeria

الملخص: تبحث الدراسة محددات الاكتئاب بين طلاب الجامعات في نيجيريا، وقد اُستخدم المنهج الوصفي من خلال تطبيق استبيان في هذه الدراسة. شملت عيّنة الدراسة جميع طلاب الجامعات في نيجيريا، وتكونت عينة الدراسة من 1050 طالبًا جامعيًا. قام الباحثون بإعداد استبانة خاصة للدراسة، باستخدام نمط الاستجابات المغلقة. أظهرت النتائج أن العمر والدخل عوامل مهمة في مستوى الاكتئاب لدى طلاب الجامعات في نيجيريا، بينما نوع الأسرة لم يكن له تأثير، وعليه فقد جاءت التوصيات على أنه يجب على إدارة الجامعة تحسين خدمات الصحة العقلية من خلال زيادة التثقيف الصحي للكشف المبكر والسيطرة على حالات الاكتئاب بين الطلاب.Abstract: The study examined the determinants of depression among university students in Nigeria. Additionally, descriptive research design of survey type was used in this study. The population for this study comprised of all Nigeria undergraduate students. The sample for the study was 1,050 undergraduates. The instrument used for this study was a self-constructed, structured close ended questionnaire. Findings revealed that age and income were significant determinants of depression among university students in Nigeria while family type is not. It was therefore recommended that the University management should strengthen mental health services through health education to enable early detection and management of depression among students

Ash analyses of bio‑coal briquettes produced using blended binder

The behaviour of ash of fuel affects its thermal efficiency when in use. The ash analyses of bio-coal briquettes developed from lean grade coal and torrefied woody biomass have received limited intensive study. Therefore, the present study aims at analysing the ashes of briquette made from lean grade coal and torrefied woody biomass using blended coal tar pitch and molasses as the binder. Bio-coal briquettes were produced from coal and torrefied biomass in various hybrid ratios. Ashing of various briquettes was done in a muffle furnace at 850 °C for 3 h. Mineral phases of the ash were identified using an X-ray Diffractometer (XRD), while the mineral oxides were obtained using an X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometer. The AFT700 Furnace was used with its AFT700 software to evaluate the ash fusion temperatures of the ashes. The XRD patterns look similar, and quartz was found to be the dominant mineral phase present in the raw coal and bio-coal briquettes. The SiO2 (57–58%), Al2O3 (19–21%), and Fe2O3 (8–9%) were the major oxides observed in the ashes. The final fusion temperatures of the ashes range from 1300–1350 °C. The compositions of the ashes of the bio-coal briquettes are classifed as detrital minerals. It was concluded that the addition of torrefied biomass (≤10%)and blended binder (≤ 15%) to coal gave a negligible impact on the ashes of the resultant biocoal briquettes

In vitro Anticancer Screening of 24 Locally Used Nigerian Medicinal Plants

Background: Plants that are used as traditional medicine represent a relevant pool for selecting plant candidates that may have anticancer properties. In this study, the ethnomedicinal approach was used to select several medicinal plants native to Nigeria, on the basis of their local or traditional uses. The collected plants were then evaluated for cytoxicity. Methods: The antitumor activity of methanolic extracts obtained from 24 of the selected plants, were evaluated in vitro on five human cancer cell lines. Results: Results obtained from the plants screened indicate that 18 plant extracts of folk medicine exhibited promising cytotoxic activity against human carcinoma cell lines. Erythrophleum suaveolens (Guill. & Perr.) Brenan was found to demonstrate potent anti-cancer activity in this study exhibiting IC50 = 0.2-1.3 $\mu$g/ml. Conclusions: Based on the significantly potent activity of some plants extracts reported here, further studies aimed at mechanism elucidation and bio-guided isolation of active anticancer compounds is currently underway.Chemistry and Chemical Biolog