An analysis of the structure of fish marketing and distribution in Kwara State of Nigeria

A study was conducted examining the structure of fish marketing in Kwara State and also the conduct of participants within the market structure. The performance of the marketing system was evaluated, highlighting bottlenecks in the system and means of overcoming the

The Effects of Music Therapy Techniques on Clients in a Substance Abuse Group

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of music therapy on clients with substance abuse history attending group sessions in a behavioral health facility. Specifically, the mechanism by which lyric analysis or the musical component may lead to positive therapeutic outcomes was examined. In order to assess the effectiveness of music therapy techniques, a comparison was made between conditions of music alone, lyric analysis alone and music with lyric analysis. One may be able to argue that the mechanism by which music therapy affects clients may lay within the music itself and clients listening to that music. However, if the effects of music+ lyrical analysis are similar to those of lyrical analysis alone, and both are different from music alone, one may be able to argue that the mechanism by which music therapy affects clients may lay in the analysis of the lyrics itself and not due to the actual music. The participants consisted of 5 individuals who were attending weekly substance abuse group sessions at a behavioral health facility. Data were obtained through a questionnaire, which measured participants\u27 perceived level of effectiveness, level of connection to others, and participation. As predicted, results showed that participants rated effectiveness, connection, and participation significantly higher during the music with lyric analysis condition than the music alone and lyric analysis alone conditions. Possible explanations for the results, including limitations and recommendations for the future, and clinical implications of the results, are discussed

Demand for fish in Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria

It is generally recognized from the food balance sheet prepared by experts that Nigeria is a protein deficient country. Not only is the daily intake of protein low but the contribution from animal sources is extremely low. Fish has been found to be the cheapest source of protein in Nigeria hence the consumption of fish will supply the needed protein at a relatively low cost. The study, conducted in Calabar in 1981, was analysed using stepwise ordinary least square multiple regression technique as well as Pearson correlation analysis. The regression result was used to generate some demand curves for different levels of per capital income, as well as own price elasticity of demand. The results show that both own price elasticity of demand for fresh and frozen fish decreased as the level of per capital income increased while income elasticity of demand increased as per capital income increased. The calculated per capital consumption was found to be 5.18 kilograms and 4.31 kg per annum for fresh fish and frozen fish respectively. This is considered rather small since Calabar is a sea port where fish should be more readily available. The values of own price and income elasticities indicate that more fish will be consumed at every increase in income if both production and marketing are improve

Analysis of urban decay from low resolution satellite remote sensing data: Example from organic city in Nigeria

Urban decay reflects deleterious manifestation of urban environment neglect occasioned by poverty and low capacities of dwellers to effect meaningful repairs of aging housing stock. Though urban decay has social, economic and cultural dimensions, it is primarily a physical entity and can be observed comparatively across districts and cities. This paper analyzed the spatial and temporal pattern of urban decay in different parts of a traditional organic city through data extracted from satellite remote sensing images. It analyzed temporal differences in urban quality in the city using uniform parameter of urban blight measurement. It presented a classification scheme for mapping urban decay from remote sensing data using composite parameters including urban densities, urban accessibility, age and type of building materials and vegetation/impervious surface components. These indices were measured from remote sensing data and condensed into an urban decay index through geostatistical analysis of extracted data layers of data. The average indices of each of the parameters were condensed into the city blight index for the entire city. The computed City Blight Index was 0.39 in 1975, 0.38 in 1995 and 0.48 in 2005. The paper discussed the factors responsible for the temporal changes in urban blight condition in Ibadan cit

A Look at Sex Work and OnlyFans Through Self-Definition and Hegelian Dialectic

Senior Project submitted to The Division of Social Studies of Bard College

Vitamin C Attenuates Hyperalgesia, Peripheral Nerve Degeneration and Reversed Paw Numbness in a Wistar Rat Model of Diabetic Neuropathy

Painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is prevalent amidst diabetic patients. It develops with a background of long-standing hyperglycaemia, metabolic derangements and oxidative stress. Vitamin C an aqueous phase antioxidant which may help in combating oxidative stress. Vitamin C depletion occurs in diabetes and this has been reported to be associated with spinal and musculoskeletal pain. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the effect of vitamin C administration on neuropathic pain and peripheral nerve in DPN. Thirty wistar rats (180-200g) were grouped (n=10) into control (C), diabetic and vitamin C treated diabetic. Diabetic neuropathy was induced using 20% fructose and 150mg/kg.ip alloxan. Vitamin C (1g/kg.p.o) treatment via oral-canula lasted for two weeks. Neuropathy was assessed using tail flick and formalin paw lick tests. Peripheral nerve histology and sympathetic activity were assessed using light microscopy and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunohistochemistry respectively. Oxidative and nitrosative stress markers (SOD, MDA, GSH, VC & NO) were evaluated using spectrophotometry. Hyperalgesia, paw numbness, sciatic nerve degeneration and reduced sympathetic activity were observed in diabetic rats showing peripheral neuropathy. However, these were reversed in vitamin C treated diabetic rats via mechanism related to upregulation of tyrosine hydroxylase activities and downregulation of oxidative and nitrosative stress, as SOD, NO and MDA were significantly (p<0.01) reduced, while GSH, VC and TH were increased (p<0.05) in Vitamin C treated rats. Thus, vitamin C may be an effective adjunct therapy for neuropathic pain relief, restoration of normal sensation in lower limbs and amelioration of diabetic peripheral neuropathy

The Nitty-Gritty of Successfully Completed Doctoral Studies: A Personal Review and Lessons for Prospective, New and Final Year Doctoral Students

Finding the direction for a doctoral research can be problematic. Also, keeping in touch with friends and relatives, and managing one’s time effectively can be challenging for doctoral students. Other challenges bedeviling doctoral students are lack of motivation, inability to manage the student-supervisor relationship, etc. This paper seeks to explore different skills and knowledge which can be useful in overcoming challenges which confront doctoral students. Specifically, using autoethnography, this paper explores the author’s successful doctoral experience and presents recommendations that can be tapped into by doctoral students to prevent an abrupt end or a late completion of their studies

A review of unsupervised Artificial Neural Networks with applications

Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) are models formulated to mimic the learning capability of human brains. Learning in ANNs can be categorized into supervised, reinforcement and unsupervised learning. Application of supervised ANNs is limited to when the supervisor’s knowledge of the environment is sufficient to supply the networks with labelled datasets. Application of unsupervised ANNs becomes imperative in situations where it is very difficult to get labelled datasets. This paper presents the various methods, and applications of unsupervised ANNs. In order to achieve this, several secondary sources of information, including academic journals and conference proceedings, were selected. Autoencoders, self-organizing maps, and boltzmann machines are some of the unsupervised ANNs based algorithms identified. Some of the areas of application of unsupervised ANNs identified include exploratory data, statistical, biomedical, industrial, financial and control analysis. Unsupervised algorithms have become very useful tools in segmentation of Magnetic resonance images for detection of anomalies in the body systems

Evaluation of Plant Materials as Root- Knot Nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) Suppressant in Okra (Abelmuscous esculentus)

Plant parasitic nematodes are one of the most important pests on agricultural fields; they cause serious damage to crops. Synthetic pesticides have been used lately to combat the menace of nematodes. Pesticide residues have however been detected in fruits and vegetables due to the residual effect of nematicides in the environment. To minimize the negative effect of synthetic nematicides, it is important to search for alternative plant protection methods. In this study, plant materials (Euphorbia heterophylla, Hyptis suaveolens, Eucalyptus officinalis, Ocimum gratismum and Crotolaria juncea) were investigated as soil amendments for possible reduction of root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) populations on okra (Abelmuscous esculentus). Results revealed that the highest rate of amendment with E. officinalis reduced significantly (p<0.05) the number of root galls, egg masses and juveniles, with a simultaneous increase in okra yield. Thus soil amendments with E. officinalis could be an alternative to synthetic nematicide in M. incognita management

Evaluation of Plant Materials as Root- Knot Nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) Suppressant in Okra (Abelmuscous esculentus)

Plant parasitic nematodes are one of the most important pests on agricultural fields; they cause serious damage to crops. Synthetic pesticides have been used lately to combat the menace of nematodes. Pesticide residues have however been detected in fruits and vegetables due to the residual effect of nematicides in the environment. To minimize the negative effect of synthetic nematicides, it is important to search for alternative plant protection methods. In this study, plant materials (Euphorbia heterophylla, Hyptis suaveolens, Eucalyptus officinalis, Ocimum gratismum and Crotolaria juncea) were investigated as soil amendments for possible reduction of root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) populations on okra (Abelmuscous esculentus). Results revealed that the highest rate of amendment with E. officinalis reduced significantly (p<0.05) the number of root galls, egg masses and juveniles, with a simultaneous increase in okra yield. Thus soil amendments with E. officinalis could be an alternative to synthetic nematicide in M. incognita management