A CONJOINT ANALYSIS STUDY OF PREFERENCES AND PURCHASING BEHAVIOR OF POTENTIAL ADOPTERS OF THE BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT WILD HORSES

This study uses conjoint analysis to examine the preferences of buyers for Bureau of Land Management (BLM) wild horses based on physical attributes of wild horses and individual characteristics of the buyers. Generalized ordered logit models and multinomial logit models are used to study the impact of the buyers’ demographic characteristics such as age, gender, knowledge about wild horse care, and number of wild horses previously adopted on physical attributes of the horses such as color, age, height, training status, temperament, conformation, and unique markings. Using a choice experiment, taken together, these attributes determine buyer’s preferences for a wild horse. This study reveals that characteristics of buyers have significant effects on their preferences for wild horses. Their gender, age, knowledge about wild horse care, and the number of horses previously adopted influence the importance that buyers place on physical attributes of a wild horse in their decision to purchase a wild horse

DIRECT NUMERICAL METHOD FOR GENERALIZED OPTIMAL CONTROL PROBLEMS CONSTRAINED WITH ORDINARY DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS

In this paper, we considered general class of continuous optimal control problem governed by Nth-orderordinary differential equations, in which the state and control variables are and column vectors respectivelywith corresponding matrix coefficients of dimension n×n, n×r. We adopt direct numerical method where the continuous optimal control problem is converted to a nonlinear programming problem via Augmented Langrangian which makes it amenable to optimization techniques (Conjugate Gradient Method). The result is compared with an existing method (exterior penalty method) and found to be more accurat

Socio-economic analysis of artisanal fish production in Lower Ogun River basin areas of Lagos State, Nigeria

The study was conducted in lower Ogun river basin areas of Lagos State to evaluate the socioeconomic status of artisanal fisher folks using primary data collected with the aid of a well structured questionnaire from 120 fisher folks randomly selected in four fishing communities. The data collected were analysed using descriptive and budgetary analysis. The results revealed that fishing in the study area was dominated by the males with a mean age of 39 years. The results further revealed that an average total cost of ₦115,406.26 was incurred per annum by fisher folks while total revenue of ₦185, 990.51 was realized with a gross margin of ₦96,227.84 and a profit of ₦70,584.25. The rate of return on investment of 0.61 implies that for every one naira invested in fish production by the fisher folks, a return of ₦1.61 and a profit of ₦0.61 was made. The study concluded that fish production was profitable in the study area

What are the Determinants of Working Capital Requirements of Nigerian Firms?

The purpose of this paper is to examine the determinants of working capital requirements of thirty non-financial firms listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange between 2004 and 2011. Panel data methodology was employed and Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) used as estimation technique. The Working capital requirement (firm’s net working capital deflated by total assets) was used as dependent variable. Regression results reveal that five explanatory variables- firm’s leverage, size, industry classification, return on asset and operating cycle are significant factors that determine the firms’ working capital requirements for the period under study. The outcome of this study supports the findings of some previous studies and is also consistent with financial theory. Keywords: Working Capital Requirements, ROA, Leverage, Size, Pecking Order, Nigeria.

Factors associated with the compliance of recommended first postnatal care services utilization among reproductive age women in Benin Republic: an analysis of 2011/2012 BDHS data

Background: High maternal and neonatal mortality persist in Benin republic. Rates of decline are slow and factors influencing PNC services utilization are not well known. This study aims to assess factors associated with PNC services utilization among mothers and their newborns with special focus on the recommendation 2 of WHO guidelines on postnatal care of the mother and the newborn.Methods: This study analysed Benin’s 2011/2012 DHS data. A total of 16,599 women were interviewed where 8,275 eligible for the present study. Multinomial logistic regression was applied.Results: While 68.42% of mothers and their newborns received at least one PNC visit over postnatal period, the percent of newborns and their mothers with appropriate first PNC check-up was low, 19.95%. Factors explaining PNC uptake were place of residence, ethnic group, occupation, ANC attendance, place of delivery, baby birth size, household wealth status, mass media use, and to a lesser extent education attainment. Accessibility, number of living children followed by the birth order number, and desire for pregnancy appeared to be specific determinants to appropriate first PNC check-up. Mothers who attended more frequently ANC services were more likely to receive PNC check-ups. Mothers who delivered at private health facility were more likely to receive PNC check-ups.Conclusions: To increase the achievement of the recommended WHO PNC frequency, there is a need to: address unmet needs for Family Planning in Benin; to expend health education and counselling to encourage ANC attendance supervise by skilled personnel

Prevalencija invazije vrstama roda Cryptosporidium u goveda na području Jugozapadne Nigerije

This study investigates the prevalence of Cryptosporidium sp. infection in Oyo state, south western Nigeria. Fecal specimens from 406 cattle were randomly collected and examined for the presence of Cryptosporidium sp. oocysts using the formol ethyl ether concentration and the modified Kinyoun acid-fast staining method. The results showed that the overall prevalence of infection was 23.4% (95/406), with an infection rate of 27.4%, 28.1% and 19.9% in cattle less than 6 months, 7-12 months and over 12 months respectively. Although no significant difference (P>0.05) exists between the age groups, calves less than 6 months of age are more likely to be infected than adults (OR: 1.512; 95%CI: 0.849-2.709). A significant difference (P0,05) među skupinama različite dobi, smatra se da je telad mlađa od šest mjeseci primljivija na invaziju od odraslih. Značajna je razlika (P<0,0001) dokazana između prevalencije u goveda različitoga spola. U krava je dokazana dvostruko veća mogućnost invazije. Stopa invadiranosti iznosila je 84,2% (80/95) u goveda bez proljeva, a 15,8% (15/95) u goveda s proljevom. Nije ustanovljena povezanost između pojave proljeva i prisutnosti oocista kriptosporidija (P = 0,9468; OR: 0,979; 95%CI: 0,522-1,636). Rezultati pokazuju da je invazija protozoima Cryptosporidium sp. česta u Nigeriji, osobito u goveda koja ne pokazuju kliničke znakove bolesti, a mogu biti znatan izvor invazije za ljude