Cattle Marketing in Jos Metropolis of Plateau State, Nigeria

Efficient marketing system is a necessary prerequisite for the consolidation of the growth and development of cattle production industry. Hence this study was carried out to determine the profitability or otherwise of the cattle trading, the marketing efficiency and the problems confronting the traders in Jos metropolis of Plateau State Nigeria. Primary data was generated through focus group discussion technique. Questionnaire schedules were used to elicit further information from the cattle traders. The sample frame comprised all the traders in the markets from where 120 respondents were systematically selected. Marketing margin, profit margin and marketing efficiency models were used to analyze the data. Result show, that on average each respondent makes profit margin (monthly income) of ₦90450. The marketing margin is 15.5%. Analysis of the marketing efficiency also shows that it is inefficient (89%) as costs constitute a very high percentage of sales. Some of the trader’s problems include lack of basic market infrastructure, inadequate livestock inspection by the veterinary authorities, inadequate transport facilities and multiple taxation by legal and illegal entities. The study recommends the amelioration of these problems as it will go a long way in consolidating the growth already achieved in cattle production and marketing in the study area. Keywords: Cattle Marketing, Marketing Efficiency, Profit margin, Jos metropolis DOI: 10.7176/JESD/10-14-04 Publication date:July 31st 201

English Pronunciation Errors: A Case Study of Amhara and Oromia Regions of Ethiopia

The main goal of this study is oral fluency, that is, the ability to express oneself intelligibly, reasonably, accurately and without too much hesitation without which communication breaks down. In pursuit of this intelligibility between speaker and hearer, the researchers observed through formal and informal settings to find out the deficiencies in the speeches of speakers from the two regions under study that calls for immediate attention. Efforts were made to highlight the pronunciation errors, give possible reasons why they may be occurring and provided plausible solutions. African Research Review Vol. 1 (2) 2007: pp. 160-17

Citizens' E-Participation at Local Municipal Government in South Africa

The emergence of the digital revolution has obligated governments all over the world to be more accessible, effective and accountable in the provision of public services. The South Africa government has implemented various Information and Communications Technology (ICT) enabled platforms in engaging citizens in decision-making, a resultant effect of high world E-government Development Index (EGDI) rating for the country. Irrespective of the rating, the citizens have resorted to public violence as a means of communicating about unsatisfactory service delivery issues. The South African government has continued to witness numerous service delivery protests, resulting in destruction of public property, injury and death of innocent citizens. This article therefore evaluates the application of e-participation in government decision-making, using a three-dimensional framework of e-enabling, e-engaging and e-empowering. The findings show that structural challenges exist that limit the achievement of the good intentions of e-participation. The article relies heavily on existing data and focuses at local municipal level, which is considered the closest point of contact between government and citizens

Chemo-preventive Activity of Ethanolic Extracts of Newbouldia laevis and Olax subscorpioidea Leaves on Methylnitrosourea–induced Stroma Fibrosis in Breast Tissues of Female Albino Rats

Breast cancer represents the most common neoplastic disease in females, accounting for up to one third of new diagnoses of women’s cancer in certain regions of the world. The chemo-preventive activity of ethanolic extracts of Newbouldia laevis and Olax subscorpioidea leaves on methylnitrosourea (MNU)–induced stroma fibrosis in female albino rats was evaluated. Quantitative and qualitative phytochemical screening was carried out to identify and determine the quantity of bioactive compounds. Haematoxylin and Eosin staining procedure was used to assess breast tissues of experimental animals. Cancer antigen (CA) markers 15-3, 27-29 and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in the blood of experimental animals were evaluated using an automated procedure. Quantitative phytochemical screening showed that Olax subscorpioidea and Newbouldia laevis contained alkaloid in the highest amount. Histopathological assay revealed the presence of stromal fibrosis in the breast tissues of 8 out of 10 rats administered with NMU. Levels of CA 15-3, CA 27-29, CEA were significantly (p < 0.05) elevated in MNU administered group in comparison to the negative control. Treatment with Olax subscorpioidea leave extract significantly (p < 0.05) ameliorated CA 15-3, CA 27-29 and CEA levels. However, treatment with Newbouldia laevis leave extract significantly (p < 0.05) ameliorated CA 15-3 and CEA levels only. Findings from this study showed that ethanolic extracts of Olax subscorpioidea and Newbouldia laevis leaves have chemo-preventive activity in NMU-induced stroma fibrosis in the breast tissue of female albino rats. However more studies on the discovery and validation of bioactive components of the plants are needed

Compaction and consolidation characteristics of lateritic soil of a selected site in Ikole Ekiti, southwest Nigeria

The compaction and consolidation characteristics of lateritic soils in Ikole area of Ekiti State were investigated. The investigation was carried out through laboratory tests on disturbed and undisturbed soil samples obtained from three borings (BH1, BH2, and BH3) of Holy Apostolic Nursery/Primary School, Ootunja, Ikole Local Government Area (L.G.A.) of Ekiti State Southwest, Nigeria. The soils are all lateritic and mostly fine-grained. Compaction tests indicate maximum dry densities of 2.05Mgm-3, 1.78Mgm-3, and 1.69Mgm-3 at optimum moisture contents of 14.3%, 20.7% and 19.6% for soil samples obtained from BH1, BH2 and BH3 respectively. Compression indices (Cc) obtained from oedometer tests are 0.04816, 0.03820 and 0.04318 while the calculated coefficients of volume compressibility (mv), are 1.308*10-4, 1.065*10-4 and 1.093*10-4 m2kN-1 for samples in BH1, BH2 and BH3 respectively. The unsoaked California Bearing Ratio (CBR) value at 2.5 mm penetration ranges from 42.10% to 92.40% and CBR value at 5.0 mm penetration ranges from 52.70 to 89.10% indicative of good materials for road subgrade, sub-base and base courses.Keywords: Compaction, Consolidation, CBR, Southwest Nigeria

Extent of Use of Performance Indicators for Appraisal of Field Officers in Enugu State Agricultural Development Programme (ENADEP)

This paper investigated the extent of use of performance indicators for appraisal of field officers in Enugu State Agricultural Development Programme (ENADEP).Two structured questionnaire were used to collect data from a randomly selected sample of 51 senior staff of the establishment. Data were analyzed by use of descriptive statistics. The results showed that establishment of small plot Adoption Techniques (SPATs) and assessment in the Annual Performance Evaluation Report (APER) form, were the major indicators used to appraise the field officers, but the only one used during promotion is APER form. These findings suggest that the continual use public service APER form alone in the promotion of technical staff like the field officers or Extension Agents(EAs) in ENADEP is subjective since critical success factors in the job description for these field officers are not embodied in that APER form. Keywords: Performance indicators, Agricultural Development Programme, Field officers, Enugu

Palatal Impalement Injury With Retained Foreign Body in a Child: Case Report and Literature Review

Impalement injuries are uncommon in the head and neck region, and when associated with the retained foreign body present a challenge to the clinician with regards to management. This type of injury may occasionally be associated with life-threatening complications or permanent disability. Therefore, clinicians involved in the management of head and neck trauma need to be constantly reminded of this uncommon type of injury and the different treatment options.This is a case report of impalement injury to the palate of a child by a hair weaving instrument. Clinical and plain radiographic examination was sufficient for foreign body localization. The foreign body was successfully extricated under local anaesthesia and conscious sedation using a simple conservative technique with no complications

Static Elastic Bending Analysis of a Three-Dimensional Clamped Thick Rectangular Plate using Energy Method

Analytical formulations and solutions for the thick rectangular plate static analysis with clamped support based on a three-dimensional (3-D) elasticity theory is developed using the energy method. The theoretical model, whose formulation is based on the static elastic principle as already reported in the literature, is presented herein to obviate the shear correction coefficients while considering shear deformation effect and transverse normal strain/stress in the analysis. The equilibrium equations are obtained using 3-D kinematic and constitutive relations. The deflection and rotation functions, which are the solutions of the equilibrium equation, are obtained in closed form using a general variational technique for solving the boundary value problem. The minimization energy equation yields the general equation which was used to obtain the theoretical model for the deflection and stresses of the plate. The results are compared with the available literature and the results-computed trigonometric displacement function shows that this 3-D predicts the vertical displacement and the stresses more accurately than previous studies considered in this paper. The result showed that the percentage difference between the present work and those of 2-D Mindlin FSDT, 2-D numeric analysis, and 2-D HSDT of polynomial shape functions was about 3.02%, 0.62%, and 0.33%, respectively. It is concluded that the 3-D trigonometric model gives an exact solution, unlike other 2-D theories, and can be used for clamped-supported thick plate analysis. Doi: 10.28991/HIJ-2022-03-03-03 Full Text: PD

Engaging currently available tested and proven strategies to tackle hepatitis B viral epidemic: the HBV-4-pronged approach (HBV4PA)

Hepatitis B viral (HBV) infection is a major world problem and is a key contributing factor to the worldwide incidence of hepatocelullar carcinoma, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. However, although hepatitis B treatment is available and effective, it is out of the reach of the common person. Many have, because of cost of treatment, succumbed to the chronic effects of HBV infection, such as liver cirrhosis and primary liver cancer. In this article, we make a case for the provision of free antiviral drugs to chronically-infected HBV patients by expanding the current HIV services to HBV-infected individuals using the PMTCT model. This, when implemented, will save lives, prevent unnecessary and escalating health expenditure and ensure sustainable development