Accounting for accounting's role in the neoliberalization processes of social housing in England:A Bourdieusian perspective

The file attached to this record is the author's final peer reviewed version. The Publisher's final version can be found by following the DOI link.Abstract This paper seeks to account for how accounting is implicated in the neoliberalization processes of social housing in England. It adopts a processual view which instead of conceptualizing neoliberalism as static and ‘end-state’, views it as a dynamic process of neoliberalization. We draw upon Bourdieu’s notions of field, capital and habitus to frame our study. We focus on reform of the regulation of social housing in England during the period 2006–2016. We show that the process of neoliberalization of social housing in England was instigated by the state’s intervention to change the structure of the field in terms of norms, power relations and positions of players on the field. These changes brought about simultaneous changes in the habitus of the field as well as the structure and habitus of Housing Associations as sub-fields. We demonstrate how these changes create and reproduce a new system of domination where the tenant is the dominated player. We highlight the role accounting played in these changes in terms of being used as a tool by the regulator to achieve social control and drive change within Housing Associations and by the Housing Associations to evidence conformity with the new norms and adaptation

Assessment of Rural Infrastructures and Productive Assets Provided by Fadama Development Project in Okigwe Agricultural Zone of Imo State, Nigeria

The study was designed to assess the rural infrastructure and productive assets provided by Fadama Development Project in Okigwe agricultural zone of Imo State, Nigeria. Two sets of interview schedules were used. One was administered on Fadama User and the other on Non- Fadama users. One hundred and eighty respondents made up the sample size for the study. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The results from the socio- economic characteristics of the farmers show that majority of the respondents were educated and had appreciable experience in farming which enhances their activities. The provision of pump-water, fish ponds, and cold rooms among other essential infrastructure by Fadama Development Project reduced the high incidence of drudgery that characterised subsistent system of farming in the Okigwe agricultural zone. It becomes imperative that more enlightenment should be done to encourage more farmers in the study area to join Fadama user groups in other to be part of the benefits accruable from the project. Keywords: Fadama users; non-Fadama users, productive asset

Integration of Faith and Learning in Christian Higher Education : Professional Development of Teachers and Classroom Implementation

Problem. Few studies have focused on effective professional development programs that enhance faith-learning implementation in the Christian higher education classroom, and little has been documented about what integration of faith and learning actually looks or sounds like in Christian higher education classrooms. Purpose. This study had four purposes: To describe the training processes used for preparing teachers in Christian higher education for implementing EFL in the classroom. To compare these methodologies with Jesus’ training methodologies and research-based professional development programs. To understand how teachers in Christian higher education classrooms defined IFL. To identify and document some exemplary practices of faith and learning integration in Christian higher education classrooms. Methodology. This study used a descriptive, qualitative case study method comprising purposive sampling techniques; participant observation; semi-structured, in-depth interviews; surveys; observation of three Faith and Learning Seminars, and observation of six teachers from the three Christian colleges. Findings and Conclusions. A triangulation of this data revealed common themes. First, the training processes employed at the Faith and Learning Seminars seemed to emphasize more the publication of IFL (position) papers than classroom implementation. These training processes lacked some essential components which Jesus, the Master Teacher/Trainer, used to train His disciples—components which research has found to facilitate transfer of skills to the workplace, enhance effectiveness, impact student performance, and help implementors deal with their personal concerns about the new knowledge. Second, there was no single definition of IFL. Definitions of IFL fell into three classifications: intellectual (thinking Christianly and seeking the mind of God, and seeking balance between the spiritual and the secular), lifestyle, and discipleship/relationship. However, most seminar participants defined IFL intellectually. Third, many of the IFL practices in the Christian higher education classrooms seemed to be based on teacher talk and did not occur at the level of student learning. This study revealed that the most obvious reason for thus was that both the teachers and their trainers in IFL seemed to lack the training on how to model or provide practical suggestions on how to implement IFL in the classroom. Pedagogy is a crucial component for classroom implementation of IFL

Optimum acquisition and processing parameters for multichannel analysis of surface waves using 3D electrical resistivity tomography as control

Multichannel Analysis of Surface Waves (MASW) and Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) data were acquired in the Newburg, Missouri with the goal of determining optimum MASW acquisition parameters. Users of the MASW tool generally state that greater geophone intervals and greater shot-to-receiver offsets provide for more accurate results. The objective was to determine if this rule of thumb applies in karst terrain. ERT data were acquired along four traverses with eighty-four (84) electrodes at five feet spacing with SuperSting R8 Resistivity System using dipole- dipole array. The data were processed using Earth Imager to generate 2-D resistivity inversion and thereafter, Voxler software was used to collate the 2-D ERT data into a 3-D resistivity model. MASW data on the other hand, were acquired along the same ERT traverses on the same locations using a suite of different geophone intervals (1-ft, 2.5-ft, 5-ft, 7.5-ft, and 10-ft) and shot-to-receiver spacings (0-ft, 10-ft, 20-ft, 30-ft, 40-ft, and 50-ft) with a 20lb sledge hammer as the source. The data were processed using Surfseis software to generate the dispersion curves and 1-D shear wave velocity profiles of the area. On the basis of the comparative analyses of the ERT and MASW data, it was determined that 2.5-ft and 5-ft geophone gave generated depth of bedrock that was consistent with ERT data. With 5-ft geophone spacing it is possible to image the subsurface to greater depth, but with the 7.5-ft and 10-ft, unidentifiable dispersion curves would be generated. Therefore, in this study area, on the basis of data that were acquired it is recommended that 2.5ft spacing be used if depth of investigation is about 40ft, but if the depth of investigation is about 80-ft, using a sledge hammer source then 5-ft geophone spacing at 20-ft shot-receiver offset distance is recommended. --Abstract, page iii

Alteration of Organic Matter by Gas Flaring Activity: A Case Study of Utorogu Community in Niger-Delta, Nigeria

The Niger-Delta area of Nigeria is endowed with petroleum resources. However, her environment has been degraded through oil exploration activities. The soil has been exposed to serious varying degrees of heat effects due to the flaring of residual gases at the different gas plants/flow stations situated within the various oil producing communities. Several literatures have revealed that heat impacts negatively on soil properties, such as organic matter, total available pools of organic carbon, nitrogen, etc. Although some studies exist on the pollution status of the region, the situation of a number of communities has not been investigated. This study therefore, examined a three year (1998-2000) profile of organic matter, organic carbon, total soil nitrogen and carbon-to-nitrogen ratio as a function of distance from flaring epicenter and depth from soil surface within the Utorogu community using standard analytical techniques. Soil samples were collected during the dry and wet seasons at variable distance away from the flaring epicenter (downwind)- 20 m, 200 m, 1000 m and 5000 m respectively; and at 0-15 cm and 15-30 cm depths from the soil surface. The results of the study show variations with depth, season and distance. Across the various years, distance and depths, the mean values of the determined soil properties range as follows; soil organic matter: {Below detection limit-3.63% and 0.66-2.13%; Below detection limit-3.68 and 0.27-2.31; Below detection limit-7.20% and 0.10-2.18%}; organic carbon: {Below detection limit-2.11% and 0.13-1.22%; Below detection limit-2.17% and 0.07-1.30%; Below detection limit-2.20% and 0.11-1.28%}; total nitrogen: {Below detection limit-0.43% and 0.02-0.24%; Below detection limit-0.48% and 0.11-0.36%; Below detection limit-0.51% and 0.09-0.31%}; and carbon-to-nitrogen ratio: {Below detection limit-5.00 and 4.50-6.50; Below detection limit-6.58 and 3.50-6.49; Below detection limit-5.38 and 2.75-5.80}, for both the dry and wet seasons, and for the years 1998, 1999 and 2000 respectively. This study reflects potential environmental impacts of gas flaring within a typical oil producing community. Keywords: Niger delta area, Petroleum resources, Oil producing communities, Downwind, Below detection limi

Paul and Hard Work (2 Thessalonians 3:6-10): A Christian Approach to Social and Economic Development

Hard work though misconstrued, misrepresented and misappropriated in some quarters, is a sine qua non to development. Wherever or whenever the concept of development is talked about, whether social, economic, or biological, hard work of any sort is always implied. In this work which attention is essentially drawn to Christian approach to social and economic development, Paul’s model is the standard of consideration in the deliberation. As has always been the case with all biblical writings which this work will not be an exception, the selected passage will be critically analysed as some related terms will be explained prior to the analysis. The results of these will be basis for appraisal of the Nigerian society as regards its developmental programmes in the nation as to evaluate and ascertain the extent to which Pauline model and Christianity, in particular, has affected the nation. The result shall also be used as tool for recommendation where lapses are observed.Keywords: Paul, Hard work, Christian, Social and Economic, Developmen

Pointing Bias in “Spatial Matched Filter” Beamforming at a Tri-Axial Velocity-Sensor due to Non-Perpendicular Axes

This paper investigates how non-perpendicularity in a tri-axial velocity sensor would affect the tri-axial velocity-sensor#39s azimuth-elevation beam-pattern in terms of the beam#39s pointing direction and directivity. The vertical axis was adopted as the reference axis for the analysis and a rotation matrix developed to represent the non-perpendicularity in Euclidean space. The beampattern of this deformed tri-axial velocity sensor is then analytically studied. It was found that the non-perpendicularity does not affect the overall shape of the beampattern, but only introduces a pointing offset. Also, the non-perpendicularity imperfectionreduces the directivity of the imperfect triaxial velocity sensor relative to a perfect case. This finding developed in closed the pointing bias for the described deformity hence serves for non-iterative post data acquisition correction

Type 2 Diabetes Prevention Program in the Medical Office Clinic

The challenge of diabetes prevention is to reduce the financial and human costs of diabetes by preventing new cases and enacting social change. African Americans and Hispanics Americans have a high incidence of Type 2 diabetes because of factors that place them at risk for prediabetes. The purpose of this project was to plan the implementation and evaluation of a Type 2 diabetes prevention program in a medical office clinical setting. The clinic of interest was located in the downtown area of the city and provided care mostly to African American population. The Iowa model of evidence-based practice formed the theoretical framework for the study. The goal was to decrease the number of African Americans patients who will convert from prediabetes to Type 2 diabetes in the medical office clinic. The program was planned using the information from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention Road to Health toolkit. The outline covered a 6-week program. A pretest will be given to assess baseline knowledge of diabetes and diabetes prevention. The same test will be given after the implementation to evaluate if the program enhanced diabetes and diabetes prevention knowledge. Six months after the implementation of the program, nurses will complete a chart review to evaluate how many patients converted from pre-diabetes to Type 2 diabetes since the implementation of the project. The project will lead to the integration of a Type 2 diabetes prevention program in a medical clinic. It will increase the number of African Americans with prediabetes who will engage in lifestyle modification behavior. The project will also decrease the incidence of Type 2 diabetes among African Americans and reduce the health disparity of diabetes among the population

THE BURIAL OF THE RULE OF LAW BY POLITICAL LEADERS: THE BANE OF A VIRILE AND DEVELOPED NIGERIA

The rule of law is the most important feature of good governance in a democratic polity. It preserves the jurisdiction of the Courts and promotes checks and balances of governmental powers. Adherence to the rule of law is seen more in a democratic system of government than in military dispensation. Although in practice, there is no ideal promotion of the rule of law. This thus calls to question the current abuse and lack of respect for rule of law in Nigeria. Worried by this scenario and the devastating consequences it portends for the development of Nigeria in all ramifications, it becomes essential that the gaps be addressed. Adopting a qualitative approach the study relied mainly on documented evidence in the literature for the secondary information used in the study. It was found that the rule of law is faced with serious systemic challenges resulting mainly from flagrant abuse of rule of law by mainly the executive arm of government and its agents. The study, therefore, reinforced the urgency of the need to constitutionally strengthen the autonomy of the judiciary to make it more independent and efficient in the administration of justice. In the submission of this study, the laws of the Federation of Nigeria require review so as to provide safeguards for the rule of law so that court judgments and orders will be always respected by all. In the overall context, all Nigerian leaders need to undergo re-orientation to enable them to understand and appreciate democratic values and principles that will engender a virile and developed Nigeria