Factors Influencing Gender Participation in the Exploitation and Management of Forest Resources in the Protected Areas of Cross River National Park Enclave Communities, Nigeria

This study was designed to assess factors/constrains to gender participation in the management of forest resources within the protected areas of the Cross River National Park enclave communities. The quantitative research design was adopted for the study. A null hypothesis of no factors/constrains to gender participation in the management of forest resources was formulated. 638 respondents were sampled from a population of about 4249 people living within the six enclave communities of Okwangwo, Okwa 1 and 2, Mkpot, Abung and Iku all within Boki and Akamkpa local government areas of Cross River State, which houses the two park division of Okwangwo and Oban respectively. The selection of sample was done using a mathematical model where 15% of the total population was sampled for the study.  The instrument for data collection was a well structured questionnaire divided into two sections with four point likert scale response options. Data collected using the instrument was coded and transformed into SPSS version 16 and analyzed using the multiple regressions analysis. Ten factors were suggested are being responsible for gender participation in the management of forest resources. These factors include:  Sex, age, marital status, educational status, cultural factors, religion, household income, occupational status, household heads and property rights. The result of the regression analysis shows a yielded coefficient of regression correlation (R) of .351 and a multiple regression R-square (R2) of .123, and adjusted R2 of .109, at .01 significant level, the result is significant, the result also shows that an analysis of variance (ANOVA) of the multiple regressions produced an F-ratio of 8.817, while the f-critical value is 1.91 (2-tailed), since the calculated F-value of 8.817 is greater than the critical F-value of 1.91, at .05 significant level, (2-tailed), the result is also significant at 0.05 level. The standardized regression beta weight ranged from -.021 to -3.980, the beta weight of four factors (sex, -3.980, marital status, -2.056, educational status,-3.111 and occupational status, -2.618) were significant at 0.05 level of significance, while the other six factors (age, .462, cultural factors, .395, religion, 1.052, household income, -.123, household heads, -.021 and property rights, -.660) were not significant at 0.05 significant level, meaning that they might not necessarily contribute to gender participation in forest resources management. It was therefore recommended that women in every society should be given free hands to participate in management activities and all cultural and social barriers acting as hindrance to gender participation in management activities should be removed to allow women contribute their ideas in situation and decisions that may affect them most. Keywords: gender participation, forest management, enclave communities, cross river national park, gender equality and ecofeminis

Gender Participation in Forest Resources Exploitation and Rural Development of the Forest Communities in Cross Rive State, Nigeria

The exploitation of forest resources is carried out by both male and female; they do this because they have material gains they make from such exploitation. These gains include both timber and non timber forest products like food especially during shortfall in food supply as safety net, income from the sales of timber and non timber forest products, materials for building houses, medicine for ailments and other diseases and other environmental benefits like soil fertility replenishments. This study set out to assess how male and female participate in the exploitation of forest resources, what they benefits from the exploitation and how this benefits could translate to the rural development of the park enclave communities of the Cross River National Park, Nigeria. Two hypotheses were formulated for the study in the null form. Questionnaire was used as the instrument for data collection, this is divided into section A and B, with section A eliciting respondent’s socio-demographic data, while section B elicits data on gender participation in forest resources exploitation and rural development of the park enclave communities. Using the stage-wise random sampling technique, a sample of 638 respondents representing 15% from the total population of 4249 people within  the enclave communities of the park (Okwangwo, Okwa 1 and 2, Mkpot, Abung and Iku) was sampled for the study. The researcher with the help of three trained research assistants administered the instruments and collected same back. Chi square and Pearson Product Moment correlation was used to test the hypotheses at 0.05 significant levels. Both hypotheses tested significant. That there is a significant difference between male and female in forest resources exploitation and there is a significant relationship between benefits from forest resources exploitation and rural development of the park enclave communities. Forest resources exploitation is done along gender disaggregated line with the male harvesting timber and animal products and also harvest few of non timber forest products, the female harvest non timber forest products and very little of animals and timber for fuel wood. The implication of this finding is that both male and female exploit forest resources, the male harvest more of timber forest products and a little of non-timber forest products, whereas the women harvest more of non timber forest products and very little of animals and timber forest products. The benefits derived from gender participation in forest resources exploitation can be used for the rural development of the park enclave communities. Hence benefits from forest exploitation had been used to improve the quality of lives of these communities and also built iron roof houses for themselves. There is increase in the number of schools built by the forest communities with commensurate increase in school enrolment of pupils and students. The study concluded that there is community self help development project executed by community members within the park enclaves and their lives improved, but this development in terms of infrastructural development is limited and relative as compared to other areas where forest resources are protected.  It was recommended that government should design sustainable development projects that will better the lives of the rural enclave communities and also provide facilities that will discourage forest resources exploitation. Keywords: gender participation, rural development, forest resources exploitation, benefits from forest resources, enclave communities, and protected areas

Uloga adrenalnih žlijezda u nastanku promjena u metabolizmu ugljikohidrata izazvanih diazinonom u štakora

Treatment of rats with diazinon (40 mg/kg, i.p.) resulted in hyper-glycaemia and depletion of glycogen from the brain and peripheral tissues two hours after administration. The activities of glycogen phosphorylase and phosphoglucomutase were significantly higher in the brain and liver; that of glucose-6-phosphatase was not altered. The activities of the glycolytic enzymes hexokinase and lactate dehydrogenase were increased only in the brain. The cholinesterase activity in the brain was reduced by treatment with diazinon. The activities of the hepatic gluconeogenic enzymes fructose I.6-diphosphatase and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase were significantly increased. The lactate level was increased in the brain and blood, whereas that of pyruvate was not changed. The activity of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase was not changed to any major extent. Cholesterol and ascorbic acid contents of adrenals were depleted in diazinon-treated animals. The changes were pronounced after intraperitoneal administration of 40 mg/kg diazinon, they were slight but significant after 20 mg/kg, and absent after l0 mg/kg. Hyperglycaemia and changes in carbohydrate metabolism were abolished by adrenalectomy suggesting possible involvement of adrenals.U štakora koji su dobivali diazinon (40 mg/kg) intraperitonealno dva sata nakon pnm1ene utvrđena je hiperglikemija i smanjenje nivoa glikogena u tkivima mozga i živaca. Aktivnosti glikogen fosforilaze i fosfoglukomutaze u mozgu i jetri bile su značajno više, dok se aktivnost glukoza-6-fosfataze nije promijenila. Glikolitski enzimi heksokinaza i laktat dehidrogenaza imali su povišenu aktivnost samo u mozgu. Tretman diazinonom doveo je do smanjene aktivnosti kolinesteraze u mozgu. Aktivnosti glukoneogenih enzima jetre fruktoza 1,6-difosfataze i fosfoenolpiruvatne karboksikinaze značajno su porasle. Nivo laktata bio je povišen u mozgu i krvi, dok je koncentracija piruvata ostala nepromijenjena. Aktivnost glukoza-6-fosfatne dehidrogenaze nije se bitno promijenila. Sadržaj kolesterola i askorbinske kiseline u nadbubrežnim žlijezdama bioje niži u životinja koje su primale diazinon, Promjene su bile najizraženije nakon doze od 40 mg kg diazinona, male ali značajne nakon doze od 20 mg/kg, a nije ih bilo nakon doze od 10 mg/kg. Hiperglikemija i promjene u metabolizmu ugljikohidrata bile su spriječene adrenalektomijom što ukazuje na moguću ulogu nadbubrežnih žlijezda u biokemijskim promjenama izazvanima diazinonom

Glikoliza i glikogenoliza u mozgu životinja tretiranih diazinonom

Treatment with diazinon (40 mg/kg, i. p.) resulted in depletion of glycogen and increased activities of glycogen phosphorylase, phosphoglucomutase, hexokinase and lactate dehydrogenase in the brain of rats. The activity of glucose-o-phosphatase was not significantly changed. The level of lactic acid in the blood was raised, while that of pyruvic was not altered. The induced changes may be due to a compensatory mechanism providing extra energy on account of stimulatory effects in diazinon treated animals.Davanje diazinona (40 mg/kg i. p.) imalo je za posljedicu iscrpljenje glikogena u mozgu štakora te povećanu aktivnost glikogen fosforilaze, fosfoglukomutaze, heksokinaze i laktat dehidrogenaze. Aktivnost glukoza-6-fosfataze nije bila značajnije promijenjena. Razina mliječne kiseline u krvi bila je povećana, dok se koncentracija pirogrožđane kiseline nije mijenjala. Ove inducirane promjene mogu biti posljedica kompenzacijskog mehanizma da bi se stvorila dodatna energija kao posljedica stimulatornih učinaka diazinona u trovanih životinja

The influence of void size on the micropolar constitutive properties of model heterogeneous materials

In this paper the mechanical behaviour of model heterogeneous materials consisting of regular periodic arrays of circular voids within a polymeric matrix is investigated. Circular ring samples of the materials were fabricated by machining the voids into commercially available polymer sheet. Ring samples of differing sizes but similar geometries were loaded using mechanical testing equipment. Sample stiffness was found to depend on sample size with stiffness increasing as size reduced. The periodic nature of the void arrays also facilitated detailed finite element analysis of each sample. The results obtained by analysis substantiate the observed dependence of stiffness on size. Classical elasticity theory does not acknowledge this size effect but more generalized elasticity theories do predict it. Micropolar elasticity theory has therefore been used to interpret the sample stiffness data and identify constitutive properties. Modulus values for the model materials have been quantified. Values of two additional constitutive properties, the characteristic length and the coupling number, which are present within micropolar elasticity but absent from its classic counterpart have also been determined. The dependence of these additional properties on void size has been investigated and characteristic length values compared to the length scales inherent within the structure of the model materials

NATION dan CHARACTER BUILDING (Pengamalannya di Pondok Modern Gontor)

Abstrak: Awalnya, Soekarno, presiden pertama Republik Indonesia, menekankan makna penting nation dan character building. Sayangnya terbatas sekali cendekiawan dan para birokrat sama mengabaikan hal ini. Sementara dinamika bangsa penuh prahara dan menimbulkan aneka masalah, atau problema, terutama bagi pendidik, lebih-lebih lagi orang tua. Memang umumnya belum menemukan jati diri bangsa, apalagi mampu melihat masa depannya. Kenyataan inilah yang dihadapi bangsa Indonesia baik dalam hokum, keamanan, kesehatan, pendidikan, sandang, dan pangan, Mudah dipahami apabila bangsa Indonesia mengalami beragam kesulitan saat muncul tragedi Cebongan, bentrok dan tawuran tidak hanya antar siswa, tetapi juga antar warga di berbagai tempat. Semua ini dibenahi dengan pendidikan karakter yang berintikan nation dan character building seperti diterapkan Pondok Modern Gontor atau PMG dan Ponpes Alumni (PA). Indahnya semua masalah ini tak menyentuh PMG dan PA yang tekun dan tanpa henti coba mengenal, menghayati, dan mengetrapkan nation dan character building pada para santri. Memang asyik mereka dengan bahasa Arab dan Inggris pada segala kegiatan, tanpa abai dengan bahasa Indonesia. Semua ini antara lain tersaji dalam aneka tulisan Emha Ainun Nadjib, yang dikenal sebagai kiai mbeling sebagai drop out PMG. Emha dengan Kiai Kanjengnya tampil di berbagai belahan dunia secara bermakna. Kenyataan yang cukup mengharukan PMG tersaji pula dalam novel Negeri Lima Menara (N5M) karya A. Fuadi, alumni PMG. Sajian novel ini terasa kental aroma sejarah dan berkait dengan kenyataan yang memberi aneka harapan. Mudah dipa-hami apabila peneliti mendekati topik dengan pendekatan agama, pendidikan, sastra, dan sejarah. Jelaslah agama, sastra dan sejarah dalam novel ini seakan tak terpisahkan, demikian menyatu. Berbekal bahasa Arab dan Inggris yang dikuasainya, dengan mudah A. Fuadi meraih beragam beasiswa. Semua ini disajikan dalam N5M, sebuah novel yang telah memberi beragam ilham, atau inspi-rasi, hingga laris manis dan dicetak kembali berulang kali, serta akhirnya diangkat dalam film layar lebar dan banyak pula para penontonnya. Jelas sekali peranan bermakna nation dan character building dan pengamalannya di PMG dan PA hingga mampu melahirkan alumni benar-benar bermutu. Terbukti tanpa ragu-ragu setiap santri harus rajin berkomunikasi dengan bahasa Arab, Inggris, dan Indonesia. Semua ini sebagai bukti nyata pentingnya nation dan character building dalam kiprah bangsa dalam menyelesaikan berbagai masalah yang ada. Semua ini menekankan perlunya pendidikan karakter yang dike-nalkan pada remaja yang penuh dengan berbagai godaan apalagi dengan dikenalkan internet sejak dini. Erat kaitannya antar kenyataan, atau realita masyarakat dengan sajian karya sastra, semua ini tercermin dalam aneka ragam hasil penelitian peneliti yang berkait dengan agama, sastra, sejarah, dan pendidikan karakter. Beberapa diantaranya sajian hasil penelitian peneliti saat tampil sebagai dosen (pensyarah) tamu di Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) pada 1991-1993, berjudul “Peranan GAPENA dalam Pemantapan Bahasa Kebangsaan”. Penelitian sejenis ini pemakalah lanjutkan saat sebagai dosen tamu di Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) pada 1993- 1996, berjudul “Persepsi terhadap Indonesia dalam Sastera Melayu Modern

'I once wore an angry bird t-shirt and went to read Qur’an': asymmetrical institutional complexity and emerging consumption practices in Pakistan

This article brings together theories of institutional logics and the exploration of the lives of tweens in Pakistan to understand how emerging consumption practices fit within Pakistani children’s daily lives, and how institutional complexity that includes the dominance of religion under Pakistani Islamization is negotiated to separate and maintain the differences between them. We identify resolutions to asymmetrical institutional complexity in the consumption of character T-shirts: spatial–temporal practices, visual practices, symbolic substitution practices and single logic practices. We contribute to an understanding of how consumption happens in an Eastern Muslim culture, and how multiple institutional logics shape the consumption practices of children, by articulating how halal consumption practices, far from being essentialist, or presented as market segmentation, form from negotiations and reflections at the boundaries where Islam and Market logics meet

Tune in to your emotions: a robust personalized affective music player

The emotional power of music is exploited in a personalized affective music player (AMP) that selects music for mood enhancement. A biosignal approach is used to measure listeners’ personal emotional reactions to their own music as input for affective user models. Regression and kernel density estimation are applied to model the physiological changes the music elicits. Using these models, personalized music selections based on an affective goal state can be made. The AMP was validated in real-world trials over the course of several weeks. Results show that our models can cope with noisy situations and handle large inter-individual differences in the music domain. The AMP augments music listening where its techniques enable automated affect guidance. Our approach provides valuable insights for affective computing and user modeling, for which the AMP is a suitable carrier application

Amine Containing Analogs of Sulindac for Cancer Prevention

Background: Sulindac belongs to the chemically diverse family of Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) that effectively prevent adenomatous colorectal polyps and colon cancer, especially in patients with familial adenomatous polyposis. Sulindac sulfide amide (SSA), an amide analog of sulindac sulfide, shows insignificant COX-related activity and toxicity while enhancing anticancer activity in vitro and demonstrating in vivo xenograft activity. Objective: Develop structure-activity relationships in the sulindac amine series and identify analogs with promising anticancer activities. Method: A series of sulindac amine analogs were designed and synthesized and then further modified in a “libraries from libraries” approach to produce amide, sulfonamide and N,N-disubstituted sulindac amine sub-libraries. All analogs were screened against three cancer cell lines (prostate, colon and breast). Results: Several active compounds were identified viain vitro cancer cell line screening with the most potent compound (26) in the nanomolar range. Conclusion: Compound 26 and analogs showing the most potent inhibitory activity may be considered for further design and optimization efforts as anticancer hit scaffolds