Analysis of Market Participation by Rice Farmers in Southern Nigeria.

The study analyzed the factors affecting market participation by smallholder rice farmers in the study area. A random sampling procedure was employed in selecting the respondents. The data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics and the probit regression model. The results showed the demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of the small holder rice farmers varied greatly. The probit regression result showed that the level of crop produced, total land size, use of improved seeds, group participation, market information and contractual agreement has positive and significant impact on the ability of household to participate in output market. Lack of timely market information, transport and restricted access to extension agents are some of the problems associated with smallholder farmers in the study area. Based on the findings of the study some policy implications are discussed. KEYWORDS:Market participation, Small holder rice farmers, Market information, Output marke

Effect of Dietary Pumpkin Stem Waste on Haematological Indices, Meat and Serum Lipid Profiles of Rabbits

This study evaluated the effect of different supplementary dietary levels of pumpkin stem waste (PSW) on the haematological indices, meat and serum lipid profile of rabbits. Three experimental feed regime:D1 (control), basal feed+ 0% PSW; D2,basal feed + 5% PSW and D3, basal feed + 10% PSW were randomly assigned to the three treatment groups in a 3x2 factorial arrangement in a completely randomized design experiment. The PSW percentage were offered on rabbit weight basis. Thirty six (18 males and 18 females) crossbred (California x New Zealand white) weaned rabbits aged 6 and 7 weeks were divided into three treatment groups of 12 rabbits each with 4 rabbits per replicate (2 females and 2 males) and randomly allotted to the three dietary treatments. At the end of 12 weeks feeding trial( prior to slaughtering), blood samples were collected from 6 rabbits (3 males and 3 females) per treatment totalling 18 rabbits and used to determine the serum lipid profile and haematological blood indices. Similarly, breast meat sample was used to determined lipid profile. Results obtained showed that while red blood cell (RBC),haemoglobin (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV),Mean cell haemoglobin (MCH) and mean cell haemoglobin concentration MCHC increased (P<0.05) with increasing dietary PSW. White blood cell (WBC) and MCHC however showed no significant difference (P>0.05) among the treatments groups. Lipid profile of both serum and meat indicated that HDL increased significantly (P<0.05) with increase in PSW while total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein (LDL), triglyceride (TG) and very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) decreased significantly (P<0.05). Diet by sex interaction showed that male rabbits recorded significantly different (P<0.05) values from their female counterparts in all the blood and meat lipid parameters assessed. These results suggest that pumpkin stem waste is hypolipidaemic therefore could lower rabbits’ meat cholesterol and improve blood constituents

A framework for semantic driven electronic examination system for subjective questions

In this paper, a theoretical framework that incorporates a semantic dictionary (WordNet) into the current eexamination system to support subjective question is proposed. The WordNet serves as a medium of enhancing the current e-examination system in which machines can process, interpret, and evaluate information for enhance knowledge retrieval. The approach adopted is hypothesized to solve the semantic mismatch issues in subjective e examination. An algorithm that explores the synset structure of WordNet databas e and which gives meaning of any term based on the available synonyms is proposed. The framework is implemented using Java programming language and a prototype of the proposed system is tested and compared with the existing system. Results show that words that are synonymous to any given correct answer are equally recognize as correct option. Hence, the e - examination system reliability, performance and assessment of depth of knowledge of students have been greatly increased. Keywords: E - examination, subjective question, WordNet, semanti

Interactive effect of gender, test anxiety, and test items sequencing on academic -performance of SS3 students in Mathematics in Calabar Education Zone, Cross River State, Nigeria

The rationale of this study was to examine the interactive effect of gender, test anxiety, and test items sequencing on the academic performance in mathematics among SS3 students in Calabar Education Zone, Cross River State. Two formulated null hypotheses directed the study. The study adopted the quasi-experimental design. Simple random sampling technique was used in drawing a sample of 474 students from a population of 8,549 SS3 students. A Mathematics Achievement Test (MAT) and a Test Anxiety Scale (TAS) were used primarily as the instruments for data collection. The reliability coefficient obtained for both instruments were .88 and .82 respectively. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as mean and standard deviation, while the null hypotheses were tested respectively, using Pearson product-moment Correlation, and Analysis of Covariance where applicable. Findings indicated that test anxiety contributes negatively to academic performance in Mathematics; there is a significant interaction effect between item sequencing and gender on academic performance; between item sequencing and test anxiety on academic performance; and between gender and test anxiety on academic performance in Mathematics respectively; The findings also showed that Based on these findings conclusion and recommendations were made

EFFECTS OF DESIGN STUDIO CULTURE ON PERFORMANCE OF ARCHITECTURE STUDENTS

Architectural education will not be complete without due reference to its studio culture. This culture consists of patterns, habits and experiences expressed by students in their design studio. The design studio culture has been observed to affect students’ performance over the years. This paper examined the effect of design studio culture on the performance of architecture students. The survey method was adopted to obtain quantitative data from students in selected schools in south-west Nigeria through the use of structured questionnaires. The data gotten was subjected to factor and regression analysis using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Results gotten showed that the students perceived some other factors to be the core components of design studio culture, in addition to those already identified in the review of literature. The findings also indicated that only four of these components of design studio culture affects students’ performance and they are encouragement, Environment of the design studio, constraint and sacrifice. The paper thus recommends that awareness of design studio culture should be promoted through departmental policies as a way of improving students’ performance

EFFECTS OF DESIGN STUDIO CULTURE ON PERFORMANCE OF ARCHITECTURE STUDENTS

Architectural education will not be complete without due reference to its studio culture. This culture consists of patterns, habits and experiences expressed by students in their design studio. The design studio culture has been observed to affect students’ performance over the years. This paper examined the effect of design studio culture on the performance of architecture students. The survey method was adopted to obtain quantitative data from students in selected schools in south-west Nigeria through the use of structured questionnaires. The data gotten was subjected to factor and regression analysis using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Results gotten showed that the students perceived some other factors to be the core components of design studio culture, in addition to those already identified in the review of literature. The findings also indicated that only four of these components of design studio culture affects students’ performance and they are encouragement, Environment of the design studio, constraint and sacrifice. The paper thus recommends that awareness of design studio culture should be promoted through departmental policies as a way of improving students’ performance

Building Bridges with Boats: Preserving Community History through Intra- and Inter-Institutional Collaboration

This chapter discusses Launching through the Surf: The Dory Fleet of Pacific City, a project which documents the historical and contemporary role of dory fishers in the life of the coastal village of Pacific City, Oregon, U.S. Linfield College’s Department of Theatre and Communication Arts, its Jereld R. Nicholson Library, the Pacific City Arts Association, the Pacific City Dorymen\u27s Association, and the Linfield Center for the Northwest joined forces to engage in a collaborative college and community venture to preserve this important facet of Oregon’s history. Using ethnography as a theoretical grounding and oral history as a method, the project utilized artifacts from the dory fleet to augment interview data, and faculty/student teams created a searchable digital archive available via open access. The chapter draws on the authors’ experiences to identify a philosophy of strategic collaboration. Topics include project development and management, assessment, and the role of serendipity. In an era of value-added services where libraries need to continue to prove their worth, partnering with internal and external entities to create content is one way for academic libraries to remain relevant to agencies that do not have direct connections to higher education. This project not only developed a positive “town and gown” relationship with a regional community, it also benefited partner organizations as they sought to fulfill their missions. The project also serves as a potential model for intra- and inter-agency collaboration for all types of libraries

Opportunistic Immunization With In- Patient Programme: Eliminating a Missed Opportunity in Calabar, Nigeria

Background: Immunization is the most cost-effective tool for disease prevention. Several factors militate against completing immunization. Missed opportunities to vaccinate are one of the barriers to immunization. Methods: The immunization cards of all the children aged 5 years and below admitted into the paediatric wards of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Nigeria, were compared with the history. Results: Immunization status of 919 patients was ascertained. Only 560(60.9%) were fully immunized for age, 244(26.6%) partially immunized and 115(12.5%) had no form of immunization. The prevalence of missed opportunity was 39.1%. Most (64.9%)of these patients were in the lower socio- economic groups .The commonest reason for missing immunization was illness of the child at time of immunization. Immunization was given to 124(34.5%) before discharge, 71(19.8%) at follow-ups, 31(8.6%) loss to follow-up and 15(4.2%) rejected immunization. Conclusion: Immunization coverage is still low and many children on admissions have not completed immunization. We can reduce missed opportunity to immunize if medical personnel crosscheck immunization history with immunization cards at each visit to a health facility and appropriate immunization offered. In-patient immunization programmes should be incorporated into the paediatric practice in our country.Introduction: Immunisation est un utile le plus rentable pour la pr\ue9vention de la maladie. Des facteurs divers militent contre le fait de completer l'immunisation. Des opportunit\ue9s manqu\ue9es pour faire la vaccination sont l'une des obstacles pour l'immunisation. M\ue9thodes: Les cartes d'immunisation de tous les enfants \ue2g\ue9s de moins de 5 ans admins dans la salle paediatrique de centre hospitalier universitaire du Calabar, Nig\ue9ria, ont \ue9t\ue9 compar\ue9s avec l'histoire. R\ue9sultats: Statut de l'immunisation de 919 patients \ue9tait confirm\ue9. Seulement 560 soit 60,9% \ue9taient compl\ue8tement immunis\ue9 pour l'\ue2ge, 244 soit 26,6% partiellemnt immunis\ue9 et 115 soit 12,5% n'avaient aucune forme de l'immunisation. La fr\ue9quence de l'opportunit\ue9 manqu\ue9e \ue9tait 39,1%. La grande partie (64,9%) de ces patients \ue9taient dans le groupe socio-\ue9conomique bas. La raison la plus ordinaire pour manguer l'immunisation \ue9tait, la maladie d'enfant pendant l'immunisation. L'immunisation \ue9tait donn\ue9e au 124 soit 34,5% avant d'\ueatre renvoy\ue9, 71 soit 19,8% pendant des soins post-hospitalier et 15 soit 4,2% ont refus\ue9 l'immunisation. Conclusion: La couverture de l'immunisation n'est pas encore encourageante et beaucoup d'enfants dans l'h\uf4pital n'ont pas encore complet\ue9 l'immunisation. Nous pouvons r\ue9duire l'opportunit\ue9 manqu\ue9e pour faire l'immunisation si les docteurs v\ue9rifient le dossier d'immunisation avec les cartes pendant chaque visite \ue0 l'h\uf4pital et donnent l'immunisation ad\ue9quate. Les programmes pour l'immunisation des patients internes devrait \ueatre incorpor\ue9e dans la pratique paediatries dans notre pays

Prescription Pattern of Anti-Hypertensive Drugs in a Tertiary Health Institution in Nigeria

Objective: This study examined the pattern of physicians\u2019 prescription of antihypertensive drugs and its possible effects on blood pressure control as well as physicians\u2019 compliance with recommended guidelines. Methods: Records of 145 patients aged 17-91 (mean: 52.6\ub114.6) years, with male to female ratio of 1:1.2 were randomly selected. Information on antihypertensive prescriptions was recorded. Blood pressure control was defined as systolic and diastolic blood pressure less than 140 mm Hg and 90mmHg, respectively. Results: Of the 145 patients studied, 20% (29) were on monotherapy and 80% (116) on combination therapy. Of the patients on combination therapy, 61.2% (71), 33.6% (39) and 5.2% (6) were on 2, 3 and 4 drugs, respectively. Diuretic was the most frequently prescribed drug either as a single agent (44.8%) or as combination therapy (88.8%). Mean reductions in both systolic and diastolic blood pressures were more in patients on calcium channel blocker than those on diuretic monotherapy (t=2.5 and 3.6 for reductions in systolic and diastolic BP, respectively; P<.05 for both), and, in patients on combination therapy than those on monotherapy (t=3.64 and 3.27 for reductions in systolic and diastolic BP, respectively; P<.01 for both). Blood pressure control rate was 30.5%. Conclusion: Our results are consistent with the previously observed benefits of antihypertensive combination therapy, and demonstrate an apparent higher efficacy of calcium channel blocker monotherapy than diuretic monotherapy in blood pressure lowering in the study population. Major limitations of this work include its retrospective nature and the inability to determine the actual patients\u2019 adherence to therapy.Objectif: Cette \ue9tude a examin\ue9 le sch\ue9ma de l\u2019ordonance m\ue9dicale (prescription m\ue9dicamenteuse) des antihypertenseurs et son effet possible dans le contr\uf4le de l\u2019hypertension art\ue9rielle ainsi que sa comformit\ue9 aux indications recommend\ue9es. Methode: Les donn\ue9es de 145 patients \ue2g\ue9s de 17 \ue0 91 ans, (moyenne: 52, 6+ 14, 6) avec un rapport d\u2019un homme pour 1, 2 femmes, ont \ue9t\ue9 recueillis au hazard. Des informations sur les ordonnances des antihypertenseurs ont \ue9t\ue9 enregistr\ue9es. Moins de 140mm/hg pour systolique et 90mm/hg pour diastolique ont \ue9t\ue9 retenus comme le contr\uf4le. Resultats: De 145 partients \ue9tudes, 20% soit patients \ue9taient sur le r\ue9gime monoth\ue9rapie (combin\ue9e). Pour les patient en r\ue9gime multith\ue9rapie, 61, 2% soit 71, 33, 6% soit 39 et 5, 2% soit 6 \ue9taient sur 2, 3, et 4 m\ue9dicaments respectivement. Les diur\ue9tiques \ue9taient plus fr\ue9quemment prescript, soit seuls (44, 8%) ou en combinaison avec d\u2019autres agents antihypertenseurs. La r\ue9duction moyenne dans les deux cas de systolique et diastolique \ue9tait plus \ue9lev\ue9e chez les patients prenant les diur\ue9tiques tout court. (= 2.5 et, 3.6 pour la r\ue9duction en systolique et diastolique respectirement; p<0.05 pour les deux cas), et chez les patients en th\ue9rapie combin\ue9e que chez ceux en monoth\ue9rapie (t = 3,64 et 3, 27 pour la r\ue9duction en systolique et diastolique respectivement; p< 0.01) pour les deux cas_. Le taux de contr\uf4le \ue9tait 30, 5%. Conclusion: Nos r\ue9sultats correspondent aux b\ue9n\ue9fices d\ue9j\ue0 observ\ue9s dans le r\ue9gime de la th\ue9rapie antihypertensive combin\ue9e, et montre une efficacit\ue9 clairement \ue9lev\ue9e de beta-bloquants de calcium (la chaine de bloquants de calcium) utilis\ue9s en monoth\ue9rapie que les diur\ue9tiques utilis\ue9s en monoth\ue9rapie dans l\u2019abaissement de la tension art\ue9rielle au sein de l\u2019\ue9chantillon de l\u2019\ue9tude