Social Support and Work-Family Balance of Manufacturing Companies’ Employee with Self-Efficacy as a Mediator

Past studies reported that social support correlated with work-family balance. However, the role of self-efficacy in the relationship between social support and work-family balance among the manufacturing sector employees is missing. Therefore, this study examined the indirect effect of self-efficacy in the relationship between social support and work-family balance. A sample of 456 (F=26.8%; mean age=31.55) manufacturing sector employees that were selected through the stratified sampling technique responded to the Work-Family Balance Scale, Social Support Questionnaire, and Self-Efficacy Scale. Results of the correlation analysis revealed that social support from family and co-workers positively associated with work-family balance. Self-efficacy was also found to relate positively to social support and work-family balance. Mediation analysis, using Hayes Process Macro, showed that self-efficacy had an indirect effect on the relationship between social support and work-family balance among employees of food and beverage companies. Improved social support from co-workers and family can assist manufacturing sector employees to balance the demands from both domains.

A-21 Day Safety Evaluation Of Methanol Extract Of Stem Bark of Artocarpus Altilis (Parkinson) Fosberg (Moraceae) in Wistar Rats

Background: Medicinal plants have been used as therapeutic agents since prehistoric era. Artocarpus altilis (Breadfruit) is used in African traditional medicine to treat hypertension with scanty information on its safety profile in animals.Objectives: This study was designed to evaluate the toxicological effects of oral administration of methanol extract of Artocarpus altilis (MEAA) in rats.Materials and Methods: Thirty male Wistar rats were divided into 6 groups of 5 animals each and were treated orally with corn oil (control), 100, 250, 500, 1000 and 2000 mg/kg of MEAA for twenty one days.Results: MEAA caused insignificant (p>0.05) changes in the activities of serum alanine and aspartate aminotransferases (ALT and AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) relative to the control. Cardiac and hepatic AST (114.8±4.8 and (111.0±1.0) serum urea (1.1±0.2), creatinine (0.3±0.1), lactate dehydrogenase (17.3±5.8) and creatinine kinase (15.5±4.4) were significantly decreased (p<0.05) in rats treated with 2000 mg/kg of MEAA when compared to control [(134.8±5.8 and 129.7±5.0), 2.94±0.3, 0.4±0.1, 38.5±13.3 and 41.3±2.9]. The MEAA significantly decreased (p<0.05) serum total cholesterol and triglyceride while high density lipoprotein- cholesterol (HDL-c) level was increased. Histopathological examination of liver, kidney and aorta slides from MEAA- treated rats showed little alteration from the control.Conclusions: The MEAA could be safe when used over a long period for therapeutic purposes.Keywords: Artocarpus altilis, biochemical indices, lipid parameters, toxicity profile

Analysis of Electrical Faults Caused by Natural Phenomena in the Distribution System of Lagos State, Nigeria

This paper analysed empirical system data of nature-induced electrical faults, its variation, and ratings in the distribution networks of Lagos State, Nigeria, which affect the power distribution system infrastructure, end-users of electricity, and the economic development of the distribution companies, consumers, and the nation at large. Fault-based outage data (at installed 11 kV and 33 kV nominal network voltages) were obtained and analysed by natural phenomena (NPs) using relative frequency, seasonal variation, and probabilistic statistics. From obtained results, the following were established: NP-induced electrical faults are prevalent in the distribution systems of Lagos State, and it is more towards or closer to the mainland; vegetation (67%) and birds/snakes (24%) are the most predominant fault-causing NPs in the distribution networks; floods (0.1%) rarely cause electrical faults in these distribution networks despite being a coastal region; and NP-induced electrical faults vary periodically throughout the year. It was recommended that existing maintenance policy must be enhanced to control vegetation, birds, and reptile incursions into Lagos DNs. Modern software-based sensor technologies for monitoring vegetation growth and repelling bird/snake incursions in the network should be explored. Existing protection scheme should be evaluated for effectiveness in view of ensuing short circuit events from incidents of these NPs at various hotspots

Technology Adoption among Cassava Producers in Ijebu North-East Local Government Area of Ogun State

The main objective of this research work was to find out the adoption of technology among cassava producers in the study area. A multistage random sampling procedure was adopted to collect primary data from 80 cassava farmers who were randomly selected from some selected communities in the study area. Descriptive statistics, logit regression analysis and budgetary analysis were used to analyze the data collected. The result revealed that majority of the respondents have low formal education, as about 68% of the farmers only attended primary school, 67% of respondents fall within the age bracket of 31 to 50 years which is the normal age group for the working population, also revealing that majority of the respondents (farmers) are males with about 78% of entire respondents being males, the research also revealed that 91% of the farmers are married with an average income of N34,153.21. Furthermore, the regression analysis showed that age of farmers, farm size, hired labour (mandays) and cropping patterns showed significant influence at different levels on the probability of adopting improved technologies in cassava production as age had a positive and significant influence on the probability of adopting improved technologies. This influence is significant at 10% level. The coefficient of farmer’s age and education is positive meaning that as farmers age increase by one unit, the probability of adopting improved technologies will also increase. The budgetary analysis revealed that the average total revenue is N34,153.52, the average farmer’s net income is N22,094.99 and gross margin is N25,818.77 with the profitability index as 0.6469. Based on the problems identified, it has been recommended that the government should provide incentives for the farmers as well as increasing the rate of visit of extension agents in the study area so as to boost their level of adoption of technologies on cassava farming. Keywords: Farming, Technology, Profitability, Adoption, Incentive

Development of a Compact and Accurate Auto-Update Digital Clock with Real-Time Location Display using Organic Light Emitting Diode and Crystal Oscillator

Research has been going on for a lengthy time on digital clocks but with restraints to auto-updating based totally on location. The objective of the paper is to produce a portable and accurate auto-update digital watch (clock) that shows the real time and the current location of the user with the aid of crystal oscillator to generate clock pulses which interfaced with the GPS modules with organic light-emitting diode (OELD). The system was able to automatically update the co-ordinate of locations whenever the user moves from one place to another, It also auto-update time whenever the battery is removed and reinserted or when switched OFF and then switch ON after sometime. It also eliminate the stretch associated with time adjustment whenever the battery is down and replaced or when the watch is switched OFF and then ON. It performed satisfactorily and as a result, the system can be adapted and integrated to the new technology of modern watch as it can be adopted by the user to locate his/her position at any point in time

Climate Change Dynamics and Imperatives for Food Security in Nigeria

Decadal variability in African rainfall is projected from General Circulation Models (GCMs) to continue under elevated greenhouse gas scenarios. Effects on rain intensity, spatio-temporal variability of growing seasons, flooding, drought, and land-use change impose feedbacks at regional-local scales. Yet, empirical knowledge of associated impacts on crop yield is limited; thus, we examined the imperatives for food security in Nigeria. Bivariate correlation and multiple regression suggests impending drought in the northern region where livestock farming is predominant. Relative contributions of climate independent variables in determining crop yield by backward selection procedures with stepwise approach indexed the impacts of annual climate variability by a parameter computed as annual yield minus mean annual yield divided by the standard deviation. Results show Z-distribution approximately 5 to + 5, when 3 indicate impacts significant at 95% confidence levels. In conclusion, we established the interwoven relationship between climatic change and food security

Comparative Antioxidants Status of Leaves Extracts of Some Common Antimalarial Plants in West Africa

Objective: Malaria chemotherapy remains relevance and gives way to the re-evaluation of medicinal plants that has already gain approval in the traditional treatments of Malaria. This work evaluated and compared the antioxidant status of methanol leaves extracts of Azadirachta Indica (MAI), Vernonia Amygdalina (MVA) and Carica Papaya (MCP). Methods: Phenols, Flavonoids,percentage inhibition of lipid peroxidation and radical scavenging activities using 1,1-diphenyl-2- picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) and Hydroxyl radicals were determined spectrophotometrically based on international standardized methods . Results: Total Phenolic content in garlic acid equivalence (GAE)were expressed maximally at 700μg/ml by 0.015±0.002, 0.019±0.017, 0.013±0.006 mg/g and flavonoids contents at 350μg/ml by 0.063±0.004, 0.020±0.031, 0.049±0.002 Mg/g quercetin equivalence (QE) for MAI, MVA and MCP respectively. DPPH scavenging activities of 78.60, 55.55 and 54.96 % were obtained at 350μg/ml by MAI, MVA and MCP respectively in the order MAI>MVA>MCP. At 300μg/ml, the extracts scavenged hydroxyl radicals significantly( p≤0.05) by72.00, 77.80 and 53.15 % in the order MVA>MAI>MCP. Intriguingly, extracts also convered significantly (p≤0.05), 50% cell protection as they inhibited lipid peroxidation by50.00, 66.20 and 64.30% in the order MVA>MCP>MAI at 350μg/ml, respectively. Conclusion: Antioxidative properties exhibited by extracts may be correlated with their antimalarial functions, bioactive contents and suggestive of MVA as more potent antimalarial of the evaluated plants which may serve as template for malaria drugs and its local usage encouraged in poverty- stricken malarial-endemic areas of West Africa. Keywords: AzadirachtaIndica, Antimalarial, Antioxidants, CaricaPapaya, Malaria, Vernonia Amygdalina

Mathematical Modelling of the Co-dynamics of iIIicit Drug use and Terrorism

In recent years, illicit drug use and an act of terrorism has led to deaths of many people in different countries. This paper used mathematical modelling approach to studied the dynamics of illicit drug use and terrorism in a population. A model was developed and the basic properties of it were studied; the equilibrium points were obtained. Next generation method was used to calculate Illicit drug use and terrorism threshold (R0). Global stability of illicit drug use and terrorism-present equilibrium point was shown to be asymptotically stable analytically; this was achieved by construction of suitable Lyapunov function. The model exhibits backward bifurcation which was studied with by center manifold theory, this reveals to us the serious setback in eradicate illicit drug use and terrorism in the population, even when R0 \u3c 1 except some condition are met. The normalized forward-sensitivity index of the variables was used to determine the contributory effects of each parameter on spread of the illicit drug use and terrorism menace in a population. Numerical simulations were done with the help of MATLAB, this was done to confirm these analytical results. The result indicates the parameters to targeted with corrective control and the one to be strengthen

Mathematical Modelling of the Co-dynamics of iIIicit Drug use and Terrorism

In recent years, illicit drug use and an act of terrorism has led to deaths of many people in different countries. This paper used mathematical modelling approach to studied the dynamics of illicit drug use and terrorism in a population. A model was developed and the basic properties of it were studied; the equilibrium points were obtained. Next generation method was used to calculate Illicit drug use and terrorism threshold (R0). Global stability of illicit drug use and terrorism-present equilibrium point was shown to be asymptotically stable analytically; this was achieved by construction of suitable Lyapunov function. The model exhibits backward bifurcation which was studied with by center manifold theory, this reveals to us the serious setback in eradicate illicit drug use and terrorism in the population, even when R0 \u3c 1 except some condition are met. The normalized forward-sensitivity index of the variables was used to determine the contributory effects of each parameter on spread of the illicit drug use and terrorism menace in a population. Numerical simulations were done with the help of MATLAB, this was done to confirm these analytical results. The result indicates the parameters to targeted with corrective control and the one to be strengthen

Mathematical Modelling of the Co-dynamics of iIIicit Drug use and Terrorism

In recent years, illicit drug use and an act of terrorism has led to deaths of many people in different countries. This paper used mathematical modelling approach to studied the dynamics of illicit drug use and terrorism in a population. A model was developed and the basic properties of it were studied; the equilibrium points were obtained. Next generation method was used to calculate Illicit drug use and terrorism threshold (R0). Global stability of illicit drug use and terrorism-present equilibrium point was shown to be asymptotically stable analytically; this was achieved by construction of suitable Lyapunov function. The model exhibits backward bifurcation which was studied with by center manifold theory, this reveals to us the serious setback in eradicate illicit drug use and terrorism in the population, even when R0 \u3c 1 except some condition are met. The normalized forward-sensitivity index of the variables was used to determine the contributory effects of each parameter on spread of the illicit drug use and terrorism menace in a population. Numerical simulations were done with the help of MATLAB, this was done to confirm these analytical results. The result indicates the parameters to targeted with corrective control and the one to be strengthen