Hazard Perception and Demand for Insurance Among Selected Motorcyclists in Lagos, Nigeria

This study examines hazard perception effects on the demand for insurance withspecial focus on motorcycle riders in Lagos state. For this purpose, the researchershave been able to examine selected hazard perception determinants and theireffects on the insuring attitude and desire of motorcycle riders. An explanatoryresearch design was employed and a convenience sampling type of the nonprobabilitysampling technique was adopted.  Data was gathered by interviewsconducted at motorcycle parks along the Lagos-Badagry expressway.  The sampleconsisted of 126 respondents made up of commercial motorcycle riders within thesample areas. Data collected was analysed using multiple regression technique.The study was able to establish some level of contributory linkage between hazardperception and demand for motorcycle insurance. The findings show that whiledread and trust both appeared to have significant effect, publicity and controllabilityboth have positive contributory effect; furthermore, choice expressed an inverserelationship with demand for insurance among the motorcycle riders. The studytherefore recommends pre-loss and post-loss measures among the motorcycleriders so that unforeseen motorcycle risks can be managed. Also, insurancecompanies should endeavour to invest more on enlightening the motorcycle riders in order to lessen their dread of loss outcome, and thus, design policy that can instil trust in motorcycle riders in insurance as a loss control measure

Health-Related Factors Influencing School Drop-Out Rate in Akoko North-East Local Government Arear of Ondo State.

This study investigated the health-related factors influencing school drop-out rate in Akoko North-East LGA of Ondo State. Two null hypothesis on the rate at which adolescents drop out of school for health-related reasons is not significantly higher than the rate at which they drop out for non-health related reasons. (e.g Poverty, school performance) and health-related factors responsible(Substance use/abuse, teenage pregnancy/motherhood ,Exposure to sexual harassment and communicable and non communicable disease) are not a significant factor in adolescents dropping out of school were formulated to guide the study. This study adopted the descriptive survey research design. The population of the study consist of all out-of school adolescents in Akoko North-East Local Government Area, Ondo State.The sample for this study comprised of 200 out-of-school adolescents selected from Akoko North-East LGA of Ondo State. The LGA has 13 wards, from which ten were selected using simple random sampling technique. From each ward, the snowballing technique was used to select respondents. At the initial stage of snowballing sampling, the researcher established contacts with five drop-outs from each of the ten wards through friends and relatives residing in them. Each of the respondents was implored to provide information needed to locate other adolescent(s) who were also drop-outs. The follow-up yielded other sets of drop-outs who also recommended others in their category, until 200 respondents were got.  The instrument used to collect data for this study was a self-designed questionnaire. The questionnaire developed was validated by experts in the Department of Physical and Health Education who made reconstructions where necessary in order for it to measure what it was supposed to. The corrected questionnaire was used for the study. The questionnaire was administered twice to the same set of 20 school dropout adolescents who were not part of the sample for the study. There was a two week interval between the two tests. The data obtained from both tests were correlated using the Pearson Product Moment Correlation Co-efficient (PPMCC) to establish the strength of the relationship between the two sets of scores. The result showed that r = 0.82 which was considered reliable enough to make the questionnaire reliable. Two hundred copies of the questionnaire for this study were administered by the researcher and two of his friends who acted as research assistants and who were well taught on what to do. Respondents were contacted individually at their homes, shops motor parks and hawking locations. Administration of the questionnaire was done on the spot to ensure high rate of retrieval and completed questionnaire were collected on the spot. The data collected for this study were analysed using  percentage  and  chi-square. The result revealed that Out of 200 respondents, 156 (78%) respondents dropped out of school for health-related issues, while only 44 (22%) dropped for other reasons like financial problem, while Substance use and abuse (x2=36); Teenage pregnancy/motherhood/fatherhood (x2=36.28), Sexual harassment (13.82) and communicable diseases (x2= 32.73) are significant health-related factors influencing school dropout rate among adolescents. Consequent upon the findings, it was recommended among others, that School authorities should enact strict laws regarding sexual coercion and such laws should be strictly enforced and Schools should regularly mount counseling programmes on human sexuality to help adolescent avoid untimely sex and unwanted pregnancies and unexpected motherhood/fatherhood that can lead to dropping out of school. Key words: Education, Adolescent, School dropout and Health related issues. DOI: 10.7176/JHMN/63-11 Publication date:June 30th 201

SURVIVAL PRIORITY FOR NIGERIAN BANKS: INVESTIGATING THE NEED FOR DIVERSIFICATION STRATEGIES IN A DOWNTURN ECONOMY

This study examined diversification strategies from a different perspective by evaluating the survival indicators from sampled of Nigerian banks through the exploitation of new product tactics, related and unrelated diversification options. Using survey design to sift data from 372 sampled respondents of five randomly selected money deposit banks in Oyo and Ogun states Nigeria; and by adopting the triangulation analytical technique involving combination of questionnaires and interviews, it was found that there was a significant positive effect of new product/service strategies on the profit growth of selected banks in Nigeria; further it was discovered that unrelated diversification strategies influenced positively on the banking firms’ ability to outperform their competing rivals; and also, banking firms in Nigeria that considered related or unrelated diversification grow faster and perform better than those who remain undiversified. The regression analysis was used to test the three hypothesized questions and results showed significant figures on the variables. The study concludes that the corporate survival of Nigerian banking organizations would be significantly affected by the mode of diversification utilized by such firms. It was advised that the Nigerian banking organizations should pay greater attention to the new-products, related and unrelated diversifications in order to enjoy continuing successful operations. Further, the study admonished that the banking firms need to enhance and improve on their quality design, innovations and unique features. Due to the forces faced from domestic and international competition, a strategy of diversification would be a more viable option for Nigerian banks than strategies based on efficiency and price. JEL: E58, G21, E02  Article visualizations

Kalaharituber pfeilii and associated bacterial interactions

AbstractTruffles are generally known to form a mycorrhizal relationship with plants. Kalaharituber pfeilii (Hennings) Trappe & Kagan-Zur is a species of desert truffle that is found in the southern part of Africa. The life cycle of this truffle has not been fully investigated as there are many unconfirmed plant species that have been suggested as potential hosts. Many mycorrhizal associations often involve other role players such as associated bacteria that may influence the establishment of the mycorrhizal formation and function. As part of an effort to understand the life cycle of K. pfeilii, laboratory experiments were conducted to investigate the role of ascocarp associated bacteria. Bacterial isolates obtained from the truffle ascocarps were subjected to microbiological and biochemical tests to determine their potentials as mycorrhizal helper bacteria. Tests conducted included stimulation of mycelial growth in vitro, indole acetic acid (IAA) production and phosphate solubilising. A total of 17 bacterial strains belonging to the Proteobacteria, Firmicutes and Actinobacteria were isolated from the truffle ascocarps and identified with sequence homology and phylogenetic methods. Three of these isolates showed potential to be helper bacteria in at least one of the media tested through the stimulation of mycelial growth. Furthermore, four isolates produced IAA and one was able to solubilise CaHPO3 in vitro. One isolate, identified as a relative of Paenibacillus sp. stimulated mycelial growth on all the media tested. Other bacterial isolates that showed potential stimulation of mycelial growth were identified molecularly as a Bacillus sp. and two strains of Rhizobium sp. This study has contributed to the existing knowledge on the biotic interactions with K. pfeilii which may be useful in further symbiont and re-synthesis investigations

Kalaharituber pfeilii and associated bacterial interactions

Truffles are generally known to form a mycorrhizal relationship with plants. Kalaharituber pfeilii (Hennings) Trappe and Kagan-Zur is a species of desert truffle that is found in the southern part of Africa. The life cycle of this truffle has not been fully investigated as there are many unconfirmed plant species that have been suggested as potential hosts. Many mycorrhizal associations often involve other role players such as associated bacteria that may influence the establishment of the mycorrhizal formation and function. As part of an effort to understand the life cycle of K. pfeilii, laboratory experiments were conducted to investigate the role of ascocarp associated bacteria. Bacterial isolates obtained from the truffle ascocarps were subjected to microbiological and biochemical tests to determine their potentials as mycorrhizal helper bacteria. Tests conducted included stimulation of mycelial growth in vitro, indole acetic acid (IAA) production and phosphate solubilising. A total of 17 bacterial strains belonging to the Proteobacteria, Firmicutes and Actinobacteria were isolated from the truffle ascocarps and identified with sequence homology and phylogenetic methods. Three of these isolates showed potential to be helper bacteria in at least one of the media tested through the stimulation of mycelial growth. Furthermore, four isolates produced IAA and one was able to solubilise CaHPO3 in vitro. One isolate, identified as a relative of Paenibacillus sp. stimulated mycelial growth on all the media tested. Other bacterial isolates that showed potential stimulation of mycelial growth were identified molecularly as a Bacillus sp. and two strains of Rhizobium sp. This study has contributed to the existing knowledge on the biotic interactions with K. pfeilii which may be useful in further symbiont and re-synthesis investigations

Emerging methods for prostate cancer imaging: evaluating cancer structure and metabolic alterations more clearly

Imaging plays a fundamental role in all aspects of the cancer management pathway. However, conventional imaging techniques are largely reliant on morphological and size descriptors that have well-known limitations, particularly when considering targeted-therapy response monitoring. Thus, new imaging methods have been developed to characterise cancer and are now routinely implemented, such as diffusion-weighted imaging, dynamic contrast enhancement, positron emission technology (PET) and magnetic resonance spectroscopy. However, despite the improvement these techniques have enabled, limitations still remain. Novel imaging methods are now emerging, intent on further interrogating cancers. These techniques are at different stages of maturity along the biomarker pathway and aim to further evaluate the cancer microstructure (vascular, extracellular and restricted diffusion for cytometry in tumours) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), luminal water fraction imaging] as well as the metabolic alterations associated with cancers (novel PET tracers, hyperpolarised MRI). Finally, the use of machine learning has shown powerful potential applications. By using prostate cancer as an exemplar, this Review aims to showcase these potentially potent imaging techniques and what stage we are at in their application to conventional clinical practice

Influence of fixed-oils in the dispersion of some water-insoluble antimicrobial compounds

Ampicillin trihydrate, salicylic acid and griseofulvin were subjected to interphasal partitioning between an organic and aqueous phases formed from mixtures of sterile fixed-oils and distilled water. The fixed-oils used were groundnut oil, cotton-seed oil, vegetable oil and cod-liver oil. At each of the varying concentrations of the respective antimicrobial compounds, more molecules of each compound were found to have partitioned into organic (oily) phase than the aqueous phase. Based on physico-chemical and susceptibility studies report with Staphylococcus aureus, groundnut oil and cod-liver oil ranked better than cotton-seed oil and vegetable oil oils in their dispersion ability of the drugs. The results support the use of the local fixed-oils as suitable dispersion media in pharmaceutical oil-based preparations and susceptibility testing.African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 4 (6), pp. 502-505, 200

Assessment of rural households’ objectives for gathering non-timber forest products (NTFPs) in Kogi State, Nigeria

This study assessed rural households’ objectives for gathering non-timber forest products in Kogi State, Nigeria, with specific focus on identifying some species of non-timber forest products present in the area, identifying reasons why they engaged in the gathering of the non-timber forest products (NTFPs) as well as determining the relative importance of the identified reasons to the households. One hundred and sixty-eight (168) questionnaires were randomly administered on respondents from four randomly selected local government areas from Kogi West Senatorial District of the State. The study identified some species of NTFPs that were found in the study area. These included locust bean (Parkia biglobosa), water leaf (Talinium triangulare), bitter leaf (Vernonia amygdalina) and a host of others. Also, reasons why these rural households in the study area collected NTFPs were identified. Among the reasons given were food security, self employment, income generation and continuity. The relative importance of the given reasons was also determined and it was discovered that food security was the most important reason the households engaged in NTFPs gathering while continuity objective was ranked least.Key words: Non-timber forest products, household, food security, continuity, Kogi State

Examining males’ perceptions and concerns about adopting modern family planning methods in Delta State, Nigeria

In many parts of Nigeria, women bear the greater burden of family planning responsibilities because of men‘s negative attitude  towards modern family planning methods (MFPMs). This situation has the propensity to promote high fertility and adverse reproductive health outcomes. This study examined men‘s perceptions and concerns about adopting MFPMs in Delta State, Nigeria. Understanding men‘s concerns about the use of MFPMs is important for addressing some misconceptions and stimulating uptake of MFPMs among men. The study was mainly qualitative involving 24 in-depth interviews (IDIs) and three focus group discussions (FGDs) among men ages 15 and 64 years. Findings indicate that most men have knowledge of condom, but regular use was low. Many of them were opposed to their wives‘ adoption of MFPMs. Also, knowledge of vasectomy was low and some men feared that adopting vasectomy would harm their sexual vitality. The study concluded that these concerns operate as barriers to adequate adoption of MFPMs among men. The study recommended intensive reorientation on vasectomy, and men who have achieved their desired fertility can be encouraged to undergo the procedure. (Afr J Reprod Health 2021; 25[6]: 68-75)

Traumatic Brain Injury and Metabolic Dysfunction Among Head Injured Patients in a Tertiary Hospital in North-Central Nigeria

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is a common health problem which is one of the main causes of chronic disability and it is associated with hormonal and metabolic disorders. This work was carried out to investigate the relationship between some stress hormones (i.e. prolactin and cortisol) and plasma glucose level in TBI patients. Twenty-five TBI patients were included in the study consecutively. All patients underwent basal hormonal and plasma glucose evaluation within 24 hours of admission. One of the patients died during the acute phase. The results of the study show that prolactin and glucose levels were positively correlated with the Glasgow Coma Scale (GSC). Cortisol levels were observed to be highest in the moderate TBI group with GSC score of 9-13. The results also showed that 80% (20 patients) of the patients were age 40 years and below and 84% (21 patients) were males. In conclusion, present data show that prolactin, cortisol and plasma glucose are disturbed in TBI. The disturbances in the levels of prolactin and glucose are related to the severity of TBI. However, there is no direct relationship between cortisol and severity of TBI. Our results also show that TBI is more common in males and young people