ANYTHING TASTES GOOD WITH A LITTLE SALT AND PEPPER: CANNIBALISM IN LU XUN\u27S DIARY OF A MADMAN

Lu Xun lived in China and during his time, people that gathered enough nerve to rebel against the powers that be were socially martyred, and if they had a political career, it would be rendered nonexistent if they went against their party lines. So dissenters had to tread carefully and be creative whenever they spoke out so that they could keep their livelihoods and still express themselves. Thus, the crazy label works out rather well for Lu Xun; now he can express his dissident views, through the Madman, without any backlash from society because his character is already mad

Effect of vacancy on shopping centres'investment returns in Akure, Nigeria

The paper examined the effect of vacancy rate on the rental returns of shopping centres in six major retail areas in Akure. Data on rental values and vacancy rates in 35 shopping centres were collected from 17 estate surveying firms in Akure. The shopping centres had a total number of 1,352 rentable spaces with 1,183 occupied. The data was analysed using Descriptive statistics such as frequency distribution tables and graph, one sample t - statistics and Simple Linear Regression Analysis. The result showed that vacancy in shopping centres are on the increase especially in Oke ijebu axis of Akure thereby causing a decline in the expected returns from the centres. The result further showed that as vacancy rate in shopping centres increases the rent per meter square reduces as owners tends to reduce rent to retain tenants. There is need for shopping centre developers to employ the services of the Estate Surveyors and Valuers to carry out feasibility and viability appraisal of their projects before embarking on them. This gesture will check over supply of centres. Keywords: Investment, Rental Returns, Shopping centre, Vacancy Rat

Measured effect of Sexual Activities, Alcohol Consumption, Smoking and Aggression on Health Risk of Students in Rural Communities in Ikenne, Nigeria

This study examined the joint and relative contribution of sexual activities, alcohol consumption, smoking and aggression to the prediction of health risk of students in rural communities in Ogun State. Descriptive research design of correlational type was adopted. Multi-stage sampling Technique was used to draw 300 respondents from an approximated population size of 10,066 students. Two research questions guided the study. Thirty-nine item self-report questionnaire tagged “Health Risk Behaviours Questionnaire” was used for data collection. Result of Multivariate Analyses show that the predictor variables accounted for 38.9% of the variance in health risk of respondents (R= .657; R2= .389; F (3. 289) = 15.880; p <.05). Sexual activities made the most potent (β = .903) contribution to the prediction of health risk followed by alcohol consumption (β= .771), aggressive behaviours (β= .632) and smoking (β= .241). It concludes that the more students are involved in sexual activities, exhibits aggressive behaviours, consume alcohol and smoke the greater the likelihood that their health will be compromised. This outcome behooves counselling psychologists to design and implement health preventive, rehabilitative and reformatory counselling services for in-school adolescents Keywords: Health risk, sexual activities, alcohol consumption, violent activities, drug abuse

Dimensions of Service Quality Encountered By Students on Sustainability of Higher Education in Nigeria

Higher education sector in Nigeria today is at the forefront of striving for quality in order to attract more students, as well as gaining a sustainable competitive advantage over others due to imminent rise in the number of private universities in the country. Therefore, this study was designed to examine the dimensions of service quality (SERVQUAL) encountered by students on sustainability of higher education at Babcock University. Also, the study investigated whether the service quality encountered was satisfactory or not. A cross-sectional study was carried out at Babcock University during 2012/2013 summer class. In this study, a total of 250 students were randomly selected. Two valid and reliable instruments were used for data collection. These instruments were (1) Service Quality Dimensions Inventory (SQDI) adapted from the research done by Pariseau & McDaniel (1997) and Tan, et al (2010); (2) Students’ Academic Satisfaction Scale (SASS) developed by Bhamani (2013). Data analysis was done with descriptive statistics, Pearson Product Moment Correlation, t-test and regression analysis. The results showed that the service quality encountered was satisfactory, there was no statistically significant gender difference in service quality encountered and academic satisfaction (t = .973, P< 0.05); while a statistical significant difference was observed based on discipline (t = 1.987, P>0.05). Also, assurance, responsiveness, reliability, tangibles and empathy dimensions of service quality individually contributed significantly to students’ academic satisfaction. This study concluded that quality services at tertiary level are the most important factor to promote academic excellence. Also, this study provides university management with a ‘snapshot’ of service quality and offer suggestions that could be implemented to improve service quality in a competitive educational environment like Nigeria. Keywords: Service quality dimension, student’s academic satisfaction, Babcock University, Assurance, Responsiveness, Reliability, Tangibles and Empathy

Epidemiology of canine distemper in Makurdi, Nigeria

Canine distemper (CD), a major disease of dogs all over the world, hitherto controlled by extensive vaccination of dogs around the world, appears to be persisting and even re-emerging in many parts of the world. It is thought that wild life reservoir hosts contribute to the emergence of CD, but in areas of the world with minimal wildlife contact with domestic dogs, it is thought that cyclical infection between clinically normal dogs and susceptible neonatal animals may be responsible for maintaining the canine distemper virus (CDV) in the canine population. We decided to examine clinically normal dogs in the Makurdi metropolis for evidence of infection with CDV, to determine if such dogs may act as sources of persistence of the CDV in the canine population. We tested 70 unvaccinated, clinically normal dogs for evidence of distemper virus using a rapid CDV antigen (Ag) chromatographic assay test kit designed for the qualitative detection of canine distemper virus antigens in urine, conjunctiva, serum or plasma. We found six (6 or 8.6%) of the 70 dogs positive for distemper antigen; three (3) of the dogs were under one (1) year of age, whereas three were 5 years or more. We conclude that the CDV is circulating among clinically normal dogs in Makurdi, and that a cyclical infection between infected but clinically normal adult dogs and puppies may be responsible for maintaining the disease in the canine population in Makurdi. Further studies are necessary to elucidate the role of vaccination and the possibilities of emergence of new antigenic strains of CDV in the epidemiology of CD in the Makurdi area.Keywords: Canine Distemper, Vaccination, Laboratory diagnosis, maintenance in population, Makurdi, Nigeri

The practice of investment viability appraisal in Akure, Nigeria

This paper examines the role played by valuers in choosing the right viability appraisal technique for an investment appraisal. Structured questionnaire was administered on Twenty one (21) registered and practicing Estate Surveying and Valuation firms in Akure out of which fourteen (14) were retrieved and found good for analysis. The data obtained were analyzed using descriptive statistical tools such as frequency tables and weighted mean score 3 and 4-point likert formats. The result of the analysis revealed that Valuers mostly make use of Payback Period, NPV and IRR, which are deterministic in nature. This is as a result of the valuers basing their appraisals mostly on economic and financial criteria only without fully analyzing the various factors such as the prevailing inflation rate in the economy and the level of risk tolerance of their client. The outcome of a good investment appraisal forms the basis upon which any investment decision is based. A good investment is an offset of a good viability appraisal, and the valuers’ role is to give such advice that will maximize the benefit’s objective of the investor. Key Words: Investment, Practice, Risk Tolerance, Valuer, Appraisal Technique, Viability Criteri

Psychosocial Determinant of Creativity among Secondary School Students in Saki, Oyo State, Nigeria

Correlational research design was adopted to examine the extent to which psychosocial factors predicted  creativity among secondary school students in Saki, Oyo State, Nigeria. Six hundred and seventy-seven  respondents (female=312; male=365) whose age ranged from 12 to 22 with mean age of 5.17 drawn using multistage sampling technique participated in the study. Three research questions guilded the study. Data collected using Animashaun (2007) was analyzed with Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC) and Multiple Regression at 0.05 level of significance. Results  show that emotional intelligence and parental  involvement  have positive relationship with creativity level (r= 0.194, P<.05) and (r= 0.172, P<.05) respectively, while peer group influence has negative correlation with creativity level. The three independent variables jointly accounted for 21.2% of the variance in the prediction of creativity. There is need for teachers, parents, counselling psychologists and  other  stakeholders to design activities and leaning  experinces that will make new ideas are to be  generated, developed and transformed into value. Keywords: Psychosocial, emotional, parental involvement, creativity, Saki,  Oyo Nigeri

The Relationship between Campus Social Life and Psychological Wellbeing among Babcock University Undergraduates

This study investigated the relationship between campus social life and psychological wellbeing among Babcock University undergraduates. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design of an ex-post facto type. Three research hypotheses were formulated and tested at 0.05 level of significance. Data were collected using two (2) standardized instruments. The questionnaires were administered on 300 participants comprises of 150 male and 150 female respectively that were randomly selected across two major fields (science-oriented and non-science oriented fields). Data were analyzed using descriptive analysis, t-test, and multiple analyses of variance. The findings of this study indicated that control of self/ event, happiness, social involvement, self-esteem, mental balance and sociability significantly correlated with undergraduate campus social life (correlations ranged from r = .164 to r = .544, p < .01). The study also indicated that psychological wellbeing accounted for 21.1% of the variance in the undergraduates’ campus social life. Significant differences were observed in the degree of campus social life experienced by participants based on field of study (t=4.482, p <.05), and undergraduate’s family structure (t=2.007, p <.05,), but not on gender. It is therefore recommended that an increase in adolescent’s wellbeing may lead to enhanced interpersonal relationship, which may also promote a meaningful and fulfilled life academically. Keywords: Psychological well-being, campus social life, undergraduates, happiness, social involvement, self-esteem, mental balance

Rental Analysis of Residential Properties in Close Proximity to the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria

This research analyzed the rental values of residential properties within the neighbourhood of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA). It examined among others the relationship between students’ population off-campus and the rental values of proximate residential properties, and the factors that influence the rental values of residential properties within the neighbourhood of the institution. The data for the study was collected through structured questionnaires from twenty (20) registered Practicing Estate Surveyors and Valuers in Akure and from the Student Affairs Division of FUTA. The data collected were analyzed using Descriptive Statistics (Weighted Mean Scores and frequency tables and graph) and Inferential Statistics (Correlation Coefficient). The study revealed that the major factors often discovered from relevant literature to determine rental values of residential properties such as facilities and condition of repairs among others were the least ranked within the neighbourhood of FUTA. The study also revealed that there was a positive relationship between the population of students of FUTA living in the private rented sector and rental values of selected residential properties over the years. This indicates that demand pressure from students and residents contribute immensely to the changes in rental values within the area. It is therefore recommended that government and higher educational institutions should be encouraged to make a clear and definite statement concerning the provision of on-campus accommodation. Also, likely impacts of higher educational institutions on local rental market should be integral to the establishment and expansion plans of every higher institution. Keywords: Higher Educational institution, Proximity, Residential Property, Rental Values