Determinants of Output Growth in Africa’s Non-Oil Producing Countries (ANOPCs)

This study examined the determinants of output growth in the 14 selected non-oil producing countries in Africa, using annual time series data spanning from 1980 to 2016 sourced from the World Bank, World Development Indicator (WDI) and IMF International Financial Statistics (IFS). Error-correction based panel cointegration test was employed to test for the panel cointegration between output growth and some selected macro-economic variables. Results revealed that there is a long-term relationship between output growth and the selected macroeconomic variables; that the responses of output growth to the shocks from world oil price are positive and significant in some of the countries which were able to explore alternative sources of energy; that the responses of output growth to the shocks from Federal Fund Rate (FFR) are significant in all the selected countries, among others. Based on the findings, it is recommended that over reliance on oil can be reduced by diversifying into non-oil sources of energy such as natural gas and renewable sources of electricity such as hydro, geothermal, solar and wind. The study also recommends that stable exchange rate policy should be adopted across all African non-oil producing countries as this will go a long way in creating a predictable climate for investment, enhance more proceeds from exports and appreciate domestic currency. Keywords: : Crude oil, Monetary Policy, Output Growth, Error-Correction Based Panel Cointegration Test and African non-oil producing countries(ANOPCs) DOI: 10.7176/JESD/11-8-15 Publication date: April 30th 202

Effect of Self Management Strategy on Discriminatory Behaviour against the Girl-Child

The present study examined effects of self-management strategy on discriminatory behavior against the girl-child. The study adopted a quasi-experimental, 2x2 factorial design and a total of 80 participants were systematically randomly selected from 2local government areas in a state in Nigeria. 40 of them were males and 40 females. Validated self-reported measures were used for data collection and two hypotheses were tested in the study using Analysis of Covariance. Result showed a significant difference in the gender discriminatory behavior of parents in the experimental and control groups after treatment, thus hypothesis one was accepted. Hypothesis 2 was also accepted because there was a significant difference in the discriminatory behavior between male and female parents in the CG, SMS and CRS after treatment. It was thus concluded that self-management strategy has significant effect on changing discriminatory behavior against the girl-child.         Keywords: Discrimination, discriminatory behavior, Ondo, Self-management Strateg

Assessing Communication Apprehension Among In-Service Teachers in A University of Education

This study examined Communication Apprehension among in-service teachers in a university of education in Nigeria with particular focus on the influence of gender and age on CA among the sample.  A cross-sectional ex post facto survey design was adopted for the study. Participants were 100 purposively & randomly sampled, in-service teachers drawn from a university of education in Nigeria. There were 35 (35%) males and 65 (65%) females, their ages ranged between 16 – 30 years with a mean age of 22.10 and a standard deviation of 2.48. of these samples, 71 were Christian, 27 Muslims and 2 belong to other religions. 90 of the total sample were singles, while 10 were married. Validated scale was used for data collection and three hypotheses tested using descriptive statistics and t-test for independent samples. Results showed that in-service teachers were not significantly high on CA and gender as well as age was not found to be significant predictors of CA among this sample. This result may be owing to the fact that they were purposive samples who have been exposed to pedagogical training that must have helped them to handle CA. it was recommended that further studies should examine other factors such as psychological and social and increase the sample size as well, cutting across other institutions apart from specialized university. Keywords: - In-service teachers, Nigeria, University of Education, Education Majors, Communication Apprehension, Pedagogy

A Study of Sacral Hiatus in Dry Human Sacra in Southern Nigeria

The opening present at the caudal end of sacral canal is known as sacral hiatus. The aim of this study is to determine the anatomical variations of sacral hiatus in dry human sacra in southern Nigeria. This study was carried out on 54 dry human sacra in southern Nigeria. Various shape of the hiatus were observed which includes inverted U- shape (24.1%), inverted V-shape (33.3%), irregular (13.0%), Dumbbell (9.3%) and Bifid (5.6%). The apex of sacral hiatus was commonly found at the level of 4th sacral vertebra in 66.7%. The mean length of sacral hiatus was 23.65mm. The mean anteroposterior diameter of sacral canal at the apex of sacral hiatus was 6.11mm. In conclusion, the sacral hiatus has anatomical variations and understanding of these variations may improve reliability of caudal epidural block. Keywords: sacral hiatus, dry human sacra, southern Nigeria

A Study of Sacral Hiatus in Dry Human Sacra in Southern Nigeria

The opening present at the caudal end of sacral canal is known as sacral hiatus. The aim of this study is to determine the anatomical variations of sacral hiatus in dry human sacra in southern Nigeria. This study was carried out on 54 dry human sacra in southern Nigeria. Various shape of the hiatus were observed which includes inverted U- shape (24.1%), inverted V-shape (33.3%), irregular (13.0%), Dumbbell (9.3%) and Bifid (5.6%). The apex of sacral hiatus was commonly found at the level of 4th sacral vertebra in 66.7%. The mean length of sacral hiatus was 23.65mm. The mean anteroposterior diameter of sacral canal at the apex of sacral hiatus was 6.11mm. In conclusion, the sacral hiatus has anatomical variations and understanding of these variations may improve reliability of caudal epidural block. Keywords: sacral hiatus, dry human sacra, southern Nigeria

Gonadal Histo-Morphology and Antifertility Effects of Bonny Light Crude Oil in Male Rats

The study investigated the antifertility effects of ingestion of Bonny Light Crude Oil (BLCO) at a dose of 0.5, 1.5 2.5 and 3.5ml/kg body weight in adult male rats following oral administration for 60days. The animals were sacrificed, the epididymal spermatozoa expressed out and a homogenate made for semen analysis. The testes were removed for histological processing. The sperm count was significantly reduced (21.80±0.57, 19.00±0.85, 16.20±0.00 and 12.90±0.99 million/ml respectively) when compared to their corresponding control groups 26.30±1.27, 25.50±0.71, 26.70±2.69, and 25.60±0.57 million/ml) at P?0.05. Degenerative and necrotic changes of cells in the seminiferous tubules and interstitium  was observed in the histology of the testes. BLCO has adverse effects on male reproductive system. This may imply possible antifertility for male rats exposed to BLCO ingestion. Keywords: Bonny light crude oil, testes, antifertility, male ra

Dermatoglyphic Patterns of Autistic Children in Nigeria

Dermatoglyphic patterns have positive correlation in a number of genetic diseases. This research was carried out to determine any possible relationship between dermatoglyphics and autism in Nigeria using digital and palmar patterns, total ridge count, a-b ridge count and crease pattern. The digital and palmar prints of 20 autistic subjects from an autistic centre in Port Harcourt, Rivers state Nigeria were taken with parental guidance. The percentage frequency distribution of the digital pattern of the autistic subject was 49.5% for the arch, 18.5% for the whorl, 28.5% for the ulnar loop and 3.5% for the radial loop against 44% for the ulnar loop, 25.5% for the arch, 22% for the whorl and 8.5% for the radial loop for normal subjects. The mean values of the a –b ridge counts on the right and left hands of autistic male were 34.66 and 33.33 against 36.40 and 31.33  in non-autistic children respectively while in  female they were 38.6 and 35.8 against 41.40 and 38.6 respectively. Though no statistical significant difference was observed when the two groups were compared (P>0.05). It was, however, observed that the number of the total ridge counts in the right and left hands of the autistic children were lower than those of the normal subjects. Thus, there is need for further investigation using larger sample size. The data from this study will serve as a good reference for future study on this subject in Nigeria. Key Words: Dermatoglyphics and Autis

Trends in Aridity of the Arid and Semi-Arid Regions of Northern Nigeria

Aridity index (AI) is a numerical indicator of the degree of dryness of the climate at a given location. These indicators serve to identify and delimit regions that suffer from a deficit of available water, a condition that can severely affect the effective use of agricultural land and water resources development. The focus of this paper is to determine the trend and map out the aridity of the drought prone areas of northern Nigeria. Three decade’s (1981–2010) annual rainfall and, minimum and maximum temperature records for 11 synoptic meteorological stations were collected from NIMET Office, Lagos and used. De Martonne’s aridity index formula was applied to the data and aridity indices were derived for the region. The derived aridity indices were subjected to time series analysis and classification of the region into aridity zones was carried out based on the derived aridity indices from which an aridity map of the region was produced. Results of the time series analysis show that only Kaduna indicated a decreasing aridity while the other stations exhibit a significantly positive tendency towards increasing dryness. The region is classified into four aridity zones based on the aridity indices as: slightly humid zone (Kaduna and Zaria areas), moderately arid areas (Yelwa, Gusau, Kano and Bauchi), semi arid regions (Sokoto, Potiskum, Maiduguri) and the arid zone (areas around Nguru, Hadejia and Kano). It is concluded that the drought prone areas of northern Nigeria are witnessing increasing aridity which accounts for the shrinking of most dams and other surface reservouirs in the region. This has necessitated accessing of underground water from even the third aquifer at some locations. It is recommended therefore, that the dredging of all the existing dams in northern Nigeria be undertaken in order to improve the storage of more water, just as proper water policy for its sustainable use be formulated by Nigeria. Keywords: aquifer, aridity, drought, dryness, Indices, time serie

Horizontal and Vertical Distribution of Heavy Metals in Farm Produce and Livestock around Lead-Contaminated Goldmine in Dareta and Abare, Zamfara State, Northern Nigeria

Background. Hitherto studies in response to the June 2010 lead poisoning, Zamfara State, Nigeria, have focused on clinical interventions without information on livestock and other metals. Objective. This study has investigated the distribution of heavy metals in farm produce and livestock around lead-contaminated goldmine in Dareta and Abare, Zamfara State, Nigeria. Methods. Vegetables, soil, water, blood, and different meat samples were harvested from goat, sheep, cattle, and chicken from Dareta, Abare, and Gusau communities. The samples were digested with 10 mL of a mix of nitric and perchloric acids; the mixture was then heated to dryness. Lead, cadmium, zinc, chromium, copper, magnesium, and nickel were analysed using flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. The daily intake, bioaccumulation factor, and target hazard quotient (THQ) were calculated. Results. Chicken bone-muscles from Dareta had the highest concentrations of lead, zinc, and nickel (28.2750, 16.1650, and 4.2700 mg/kg, resp.), while chicken brain had the highest levels of cadmium, magnesium (0.3800 and 67.5400 mg/kg), and chromium (6.1650 mg/kg, kidney tissue inclusive). Conclusion. In addition to lead, cadmium may also be of concern in the contaminated mining communities of Zamfara State, Nigeria, given the high levels of cadmium in meat and vegetables samples from these areas

Fatty acids Analyses of n-Hexane Fractions of Ageratum conyzoides Leaf

Lipidomics is an emerging field, where the structures, functions and dynamic changes of lipids in cells, tissues or body fluids are investigated. This study revealed the GC–MS metabolic profiling of the polar and non-polar fractions from n-hexane extracts of Agerantum conyzoides. After extraction, the n-hexane leaf extract has a yield of 1.20% and the GC-MS result reveal that A. conyzoides have w-6: w-3 PUFA ratio of 2.1 and other fatty acids of biochemical relevance. Keywords: Lipidomics; Cardiovascular disease; Agerantum conyzoides leaf; Fatty acids, GC-MS