Evaluating Diversification Strategi Direct Property Investment Portfo

Executive Summary. This paper evaluates diversification strategies adop direct property investments in the Nigerian property market. Annual hold returns were calculated from the data on rental transactions and capital v the 1998-2003 period. Under the assumption that investments are held lon constant correlation model or excess return to standard deviation represe covariance structure of assets’ returns, the findings revealed that property geographic naïve diversification strategies underperformed most of the eff portfolios constructed using constant correlation model. Most of the perfo results were found to be statistically significant at the 0.05 level. The resu that an efficient portfolio may not be more efficient than a naïvely diversif portfolio in all cases

Sero-prevalence and risk factors for cytomegalovirus infection among pregnant women in a teaching hospital in Ogun state, Nigeria

Background: Infection with cytomegalo virus is usually asymptomatic however in pregnant women the risk of congenital infection and foetal  abnormalities makes antenatal screening for CMV infection necessary. The aim of this study was to determine the sero-prevalence and risk factors for  CMV infection among pregnant women in Babcock University Teaching Hospital (BUTH), Ilishan Remo, Ogun State, Nigeria.Methods: The study was a cross-sectional descriptive study conducted between January and May, 2017 on patients attending the antenatal clinic of  Babcock University Teaching Hospital. Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) Kits were used to determine IgM and IgG anti CMV antibody titresinvenous blood samples obtained from study participants.Results: A total of 80 patients were recruited into the study. The mean age was 30 years.All (100%) respondents were sero-positive for anti CMV IgG  antibodies while 28.75% of respondents were seropositive for anti CMV IgM antibodies.Conclusion: There was a highsero-prevalence rate of CMV infection in the study. Screening of pregnant women for CMV infection is necessary due to the  risk of congenital infection and fetal defects

Comparative study of the functional properties of three legume seed isolates: adzuki, pea and soy bean

The aim of this work was to compare functional properties including solubility, emulsifying and foaming properties of native and thermally treated adzuki, soy and pea protein isolates prepared under the same conditions. These functional properties were tested at four pH values: pH 3.0, pH 5.0, pH 7.0 and pH 8.0. The lowest solubility at all pH values were obtained for isolate of adzuki whereas isolates of soybean had the highest values at almost all pHs. Thermal treatment reduced solubility of soy and pea isolates at all pH values, whereas solubility of adzuki isolate was unchanged, except at pH 8. Native isolate of adzuki had the best emulsifying properties at pH 7.0 whereas at the other pH values some of native pea and soybean protein isolates were superior. After thermal treatment, depending on tested pH and selected variety all of three species could be a good emulsifier. Native soy protein isolates formed the most stable foams at all pHs. Thermal treatment significantly improved foaming properties of adzuki isolate, whereas reduced foaming capacity of soy and pea isolates, but could improve foam stability of these isolates at specific pH. Appropriate selection of legume seed as well as variety could have great importance in achievement of desirable functional properties of final products. All three tested species could find specific application in wide range of food products

Evaluation of equity in informal land development systems in two Nigerian cities

The informal land development system in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is perceived to promote equity and could be leveraged to support sustainable urban development and management. However, scanty empirical evidence exists on the extent of the system’s provision of equity to support policy formulation and practice in the region. Based on stakeholder workshops, focus group discussions and questionnaire surveys, this study analyses the system’s provision of equity in Nigeria. The study finds all categories of people undertake informal developments. Consistent with literature, this finding reflects wide patronage of the informal land development system and its relevance. Nevertheless, contrary to the existing perception, the system’s provision of equity is low. The study recommends for the institution of pro-poor and gender sensitive land development and management policies and programmes to increase the levels of equity to support the achievement of the country’s sustainable urban development and management agenda

Plot by plot: plotting urbanism as an ordinary process of urbanization

With this paper, we analyse an ordinary urban process, which has received little attention so far and propose a new concept to take account of it: plotting urbanism. It is usually subsumed under terms like “urban informality” or “incremental urbanism” and not studied as a distinct process. In comparing Lagos, Istanbul and Shenzhen we captured four defining features of plotting urbanism: first, it unfolds in a piecemeal fashion with limited comprehensive planning. Second, it emerges from conflicts between multiple overlapping modes of territorial regulation, land tenure and property rights, which result in specific territorial compromises. Third, plotting is based on commodification of housing and land, which might accentuate socio-economic differentiations between property-owners, who often live in the same area, and their tenants. The term “plotting” highlights the key role of the plot in the process. It also alludes to strategic acts of collaboration for individual and collaborative benefit

Association mapping for yield and grain quality traits in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Association analysis was applied to a panel of accessions of Embrapa Rice Core Collection (ERiCC) with 86 SSR and field data from two experiments. A clear subdivision between lowland and upland accessions was apparent, thereby indicating the presence of population structure. Thirty-two accessions with admixed ancestry were identified through structure analysis, these being discarded from association analysis, thus leaving 210 accessions subdivided into two panels. The association of yield and grain-quality traits with SSR was undertaken with a mixed linear model, with markers and subpopulation as fixed factors, and kinship matrix as a random factor. Eight markers from the two appraised panels showed significant association with four different traits, although only one (RM190) maintained the marker-trait association across years and cultivation. The significant association detected between amylose content and RM190 was in agreement with previous QTL analyses in the literature. Herein, the feasibility of undertaking association analysis in conjunction with germplasm characterization was demonstrated, even when considering low marker density. The high linkage disequilibrium expected in rice lines and cultivars facilitates the detection of marker-trait associations for implementing marker assisted selection, and the mining of alleles related to important traits in germplasm

The Role of Ethnic Directors in Corporate Social Responsibility: Does Culture matter? The Cultural Trait Theory Perspectives

This paper investigates the effect of cultural differences between ethnic directors on corporate social responsibility (CSR) of Public Liability Companies (PLCs) in Nigeria. Using the cultural trait theory, the study focuses on how the ethnic directors are influenced when making decisions concerning CSR. Adopting multiple regression analysis of data, the study investigates the three major ethnic groups (Yoruba, Igbo and Hausa) and finds cultural differences between the ethnic directors affect the adoption of CSR. Empirical results indicate that ethnic directors (Yoruba, Igbo and Hausa) were positively and significantly related to CSR. The paper contributes to the corporate governance and CSR debate concerning how ethnic directors’ decisions impact on CSR activities, particularly on the directors who are individualistic and collectivists towards CSR