Determinants of Dietary Adequacy Among School Age Children in Guraghe Zone, Southern Ethiopia

Dietary diversity (DD) is a validated proxy indicator of micronutrient adequacy among different age groups including infants, children and women. This study assessed level of dietary adequacy and its associated factors among school age children in Guraghe Zone, Ethiopia. Survey was conducted among 769 children aged 6 to 12 years of with their care givers using multistage sampling method. Data were collected by using structured questionnaire containing the ten food groups for minimum dietary diversity for women and other parts. Adequate dietary diversity was categorized those children who consume at least five food groups. Bivariate and multivariable binary logistic regression with odds ratios (95% CI) was computed. Overall 769 children were included in the study, with a mean age of 8 years. The mean dietary diversity score was 4.9 (±1.42). About 444 (58.3%) had an inadequate dietary diversity. Those children from extended family size had 1.3 times to have inadequate DD level (AOR=1.3). Children from female headed households, did not attend formal education had 1.3 and 1.4 times higher odds of having an inadequate DD level (AOR=1.3 and 1.4). Similarly, children living with uneducated caregiver had six fold more likely to have an adequate DD level (AOR=6.7). The dietary diversity of children in the study area was below average. Household head, caregiver\u27s educational status, occupation of the household head, father/female headed household and family size were found to be associated with DD score. There should be awareness creation through existing Health extension platform and back yard vegetation should be improved

Sociological Factors To Drug Abuse And The Effects On Secondary School Students Academic Performance In Ekiti And Ondo States, Nigeria

This study examined the influence of drug abuse on secondary school students in relation to their family background, family cohesion, peer group influence, and students academic performance. Descriptive research design of the survey type and an inventory were used for the study. The population comprised all secondary school students in Ekiti and Ondo States, while the sample consisted of 460 students that were found to be using drugs in Ekiti and Ondo states. Simple random sampling was used to select one school from each of the 16 local governments in Ekiti and one each from the 30 in Ondo state. Purposive sampling was used to select ten students from each school in the 16 local governments in Ekiti and ten each from the 30 local governments in Ondo states. The instruments used for collection of data were a self-designed questionnaire called Drug Abuse Questionnaire (DAQ) and an inventory for collection of students results. The data were analysed using Pearson Moment Correlation Analysis. The four hypotheses raised were tested at 0.5 level of significance. The study determined that there was significant relationship between family background, peer influence, family cohesion, and drug abuse. In the study, it was also discovered that drug abuse negatively affects students academic performance in Ekiti and Ondo States. It is therefore recommended that parents should give their children moral, social, psychological, and financial support to guide them against negative peer and societal influences

The Relationship Between Motivation and Job Satisfaction on Employee's Performance in Universiti Utara Malaysia

The aims of this study are to investigate whether there is any relationship between employee performance, job satisfaction and employee motivation. The survey method was employ with the quantitative data were processed using a multivariate technique. Descriptive statistics such as frequency and percentage used to measure the percentage of returned questionnaire and also used to describe the respondents' profile such as their gender, educational background, their academic qualifications, and job title. Correlation and multiple regressions used for inferential statistics. The Pearson correlation used to measure the significance of linear bivariate between the independent and dependent variables thereby achieving the objective of this study. Multiple regressions used to determine the relationship between independent and dependent variables, the direction of the relationship, the degree of the relationship and strength of the relationship. This thesis found that job satisfaction has a significance positively influence to the employee's performance rather than motivation. The non significance of motivation was found in the influence to the employee's performance. This study conclude that job satisfaction among support staff much more contribute to the employee's performance of support staff of UUM

Interventional studies of anti-malarial drugs utilization in public health facilities in Kano, Nigeria

The best way to analyze drug utilization and evaluate impact of an intervention in health care institutions is to study the universal indicators, which are not dependent either on investigator or time of measurement. The aim of this study was to characterize the prescription pattern of public health institutions in Kano, Nigeria and evaluate the rational use of anti-malarial drugs with a view to intervening where necessary. Values of drug utilization indicators were measured prospectively and areas that required intervention identified. Intervention; consisting of free pictorial handbills given to patients, discussions held with health care personnel and pieces of advice were given to health administrators. The impact of the intervention was assessed using pre and post comparison of appropriate indicators. The study revealed a significant decline (P < 0.01) in percentage of encounters with injections and increase utilization of oral chloroquine (P < 0.05). Significant increase (P < 0.05) in dispensing time was also observed in the study group. The results of this study suggest the need for further intervention

Structural Analysis of Cattle Market in Kano State, Nigeria

The study examined the structure of cattle market of some selected markets in Kano State. A multi stage sampling technique was employed for the study in which purposive sampling technique was used in the selection of 2 markets, based on the concentration of the cattle marketing activities. The second stage involved random selection of 123 cattle marketers. The data were collected using structured questionnaire supplemented with focus group discussion. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Gini coefficient analysis. Result of descriptive statistics revealed a market structure based on the elements to have many buyers and sellers with cattle traded to be differentiated based on types and breeds of cattle. Entry and exit condition was free with buyers and sellers relatively informed about product and price of cattle. Forces of demand and supply determined the price of cattle. Result of Gini coefficient revealed a value of 0.70 implying a high market concentration and high level of inequality in size and distribution of marketers. The major constraints militating against the development of an efficient marketing system for cattle include inadequate credit, high cost of feeds, high road charges and poor pricing. Smooth access to credit facilities, provision of more infrastructural facilities, re activating of co-operative associations and provision of more grazing land were recommended. Keywords: Structural, Analysis, Cattle, Market, Coefficien

An EWMA Control Chart for Monitoring the Mean of Skewed Populations Using Weighted Variance.

This paper discusses the use of weighted variance (wv) in setting up the limits of the exponentially weighted moving average (EWMA) chart for the monitoring of the mean of a process from a skewed population. This chart, called the WV-EWMA chart hereafter, reduces to the standard EWMA chart when the underlying distribution is symmetric

Institutional Investors, Board Size and Capital Structure Decisions: Empirical Evidence from Non-Financial Firms in Nigeria

This paper explores empirically the contribution of institutional holdings in capital structure decisions using firm level annual data for sample period from 2009-2013 of 19 non-financial firms listed on the Nigeria Stock Exchange. The study also examines the effect of board size on financial mix decisions and controlled for traditional determinants of capital structure which include firm size and profitability. The analysis reveals that board size and the control variables have positive and statistically significant effect on capital structure decisions. We also find that institutional shareholding complement leverage but it is not statistically significant. The results therefore suggest that board size, profitability and firms’ size are important variables to be looked at when determining optimum financing mix. Furthermore, the insignificant contribution of institutional shareholders to achieving optimum level of capital structure may emanate from the fact that the institutional base of the firms in the study are not strong enough to adequately monitor managerial inefficiencies. More so, these institutions may be handpicked and not independent institutions. Therefore, for institutional investors to have considerable effect in capital structure decisions they should be independent. Keywords: Institutional shareholding, Board Size, Capital Structure, Profitabilit

Evaluation of moringa (Moringa oleifera) leaf meal for broiler chicken performance and meat quality

The study evaluated dietary inclusion (0, 7, 14, and 21%) levels of Moringa oleifera leaf meal (MOL) on growth performance and meat quality of broiler chickens. A total of 240 broiler chicks (Chikun) were divided into four treatments with three replicates each (20 chicks per replicate) in a completely randomized design (CRD). The experiment lasted for 8 weeks. The results showed that live weight, dressed weight, dressing percentage, heart and liver weights differed (P˂0.05) significantly across the four treatment groups. All other parameters did not differ significantly among the treatment groups. Growth traits of broiler chickens fed dietary inclusion levels of MOL revealed that only feed conversion ratio and mortality rates were significantly (P ˂ 0.05) different across the treatments. Other traits such as final weight, weight gain, feed intake, average daily feed intake and average daily weight did not differ significantly among the treatment groups. Chemical compositional parameters of fresh broiler chicken meat revealed that per cent moisture, lipid, crude protein, ash and carbohydrate were significantly (P ˂ 0.05) different across the treatments. However, chemical composition of meat floss ‘‘dambun nama’’from broiler chickens fed dietary inclusion levels of MOL showed that per cent moisture, lipid, crude protein, crude fibre and carbohydrate differed significantly (P˂0.05) across the treatments. Furthermore, sensory attributes of meat floss from broiler chickens fed dietary inclusion levels of MOL showed that only juiciness differed significantly among the treatments. This study concludes that incorporation of MOL in the diet of broiler chickens at the inclusion levels of 0, 7, 14 and 21% had no deleterious effects on carcass and organ characteristics, chemical composition of both fresh meat and meat floss ‘‘dambun nama’’of broiler chickens. The processed meat floss was well-cherished by the sensory panelists and rated the product high for quality. It is suggested that other inclusion levels of MOL should be investigated in further studies using broiler chickens for growth and carcass performance re-evaluation for meat quality and its overall acceptance. &nbsp

Electromagnetic induction mapping at varied soil moisture reveals field-scale soil textural patterns and gravel lenses

Knowledge of the spatial distribution of soil textural properties is important for determining soil moisture storage and soil hydraulic transport properties. Capturing field heterogeneity without exhaustive sampling and costly sample analysis is difficult. Our objective was to employ electromagnetic induction (EMI) mapping in low apparent electrical conductivity (ECa) soils at varying soil water contents to capture time invariant properties such as soil texture. Georeferenced ECa measurements were taken using a ground conductivity meter on six different days where volumetric water content (θv) varied from 0.11 to 0.23. The 50 m × 50 m field included a subsurface gravelly patch in an otherwise homogeneous silt-loam alluvial soil. Ordinary block kriging predicted ECa at unsampled areas to produce 1-m resolution maps. Temporal stability analysis was used to divide the field into three distinct ECa regions. Subsequent ground-truthing confirmed the lowest conductivity region correlated with coarse textured soil parent materials associated with a former high-energy alluvial depositional area. Combining maps using temporal stability analysis gives the clearest image of the textural difference. These maps could be informative for modeling, experimental design, sensor placement and targeted zone management strategies in soil science, ecology, hydrology, and agricultural applications

Methanolysis of Balanite aegyptiaca (Desert Date) Oil using CaO as Catalyst

Biodiesel is a trans-esterified vegetable oil which is renewable energy source that can be considered as a pivotal solution to combating global warming, climate stabilization through the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and dependence on mineral diesel. In this work Methanolysis of Balanite aegyptiaca (Desert date) seeds oil was done using a heterogeneous catalyst (CaO). The transesterification was carried out at 55 oC for a period of 1 h. and catalyst loading of 0.4%. FTIR as well as the physico-chemical parameter analysis of the biodiesel obtained were carried out; the FTIR spectrum shows major peaks at 3007 cm-1, 2921 cm-1, 1745 cm-1, 1163 - 1210 cm-1, 1439 cm-1, 1033 cm-1correspond to C-H stretching of alkene, C-H stretching of alkane, C=O of esters, O-C stretching of ester, CH3 asymmetric bending, O-CH3 of ester respectively. The results show a high yield of biodiesel was obtained (96.3%). Physico-chemical results show the density of 0.9 g/cm3, iodine value 96.95, and acid value 0.9. Thus, it can be concluded that Desert date (Balanite aegyptiaca) seed oil can be used as a good feedstock for the biodiesel production with high percentage yield. Keywords: Biodiesel, Desert date, Heterogeneous catalyst, Methanolysis, Physico-chemical propertie