Phytochemical screening, acute toxicity and anti-ulcer activity of the stem bark of Anogeissus leiocarpus (DC.) Guill. & Perr. (Combretaceae)

Peptic ulcer disease constitutes a major health challenge resulting in morbidity and in some cases, mortality. This study evaluated the phytochemistry, acute toxicity, and anti-ulcer activity of the methanol extracts of the stem bark of Anogeissus leiocarpus (DC.) Guill. & Perr. Flavonoids, tannins and saponins are some phytochemicals found in the extracts. From the results, the LD50 of the aqueous and methanol extract was >5000 mg/kg and 3807 mg/kg. The mean ulcer indices for the aqueous extract was 0.38 ± 0.07, 0.38 ± 0.10 and 0.36 ± 0.07 respectively for the 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg), while those of the methanol extract were 0.32 ± 0.09, 0.10 ± 0.03 and 0.12 ± 0.10 respectively for 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg). These values were not significant at P>0.05 when compared with control. However, the percentage ulcer inhibition for methanol extract in group treated with 200 and 400 mg/kg, were both significantly (p<0.05) higher compared with 58.8% from omeprazole (20 mg/kg) treated group. These findings showed that the methanol extract at 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg. significantly (p<0.05) increased the anti-ulcer activity, suggesting that A. leiocarpus possesses anti-ulcer property which could be useful in the treatment of peptic ulcer disease

Medicinal Plants Used in the Management of Psychosis

Substantial number of studies has been conducted to find alternatives or treatments for psychosis. Psychosis represents a variety of mental disorders characterized by the presence of delusions, hallucinations and grossly disorganized thinking in a clear sensorium. Psychosis is burdensome and difficult to treat given the inability of the typical and atypical antipsychotics to adequately manage it, accompanied by numerous disturbing adverse effects. Therefore, many with chronic mental health problems justifiably feel disappointed by the apparent ineffectiveness of conventional treatment and naturally search for a more holistic approach to treatment and alternative medicines having less or no side-effects. Plants are rich in secondary metabolites which have the ability to interact with the Central nervous system (CNS) to produce effects that can be beneficial for the management of psychosis, these phytochemicals are believed to have minimal adverse effects. A review of some of the medicinal plants used as antipsychotics, indicated that many medicinal plants possess antipsychotic effects that can improve the treatment of psychosis. Apparently, further studies are necessary in order to isolate the active constituents, ascertain their molecular mechanisms and safety, and also to test them in clinical studies for the development of new pharmacotherapies for psychosis

Farmers’ Perceived Effects of Communal Conflicts on the Delivery of Agricultural Extension Services in North-Central, Nigeria

The study examined the perceived effects of communal conflicts on the delivery of agricultural extension services to farmers in North-central, Nigeria. The specific objectives were to; describe the socio-economic characteristics of the farmers; determine the perceived effects of communal conflicts on the delivery of agricultural extension services by field extension workers of Agricultural Development Programmes (ADPs) to farmers in the study area, and; identify the relationships between selected socio-economic characteristics and perceived effects of communal conflicts on agricultural extension services delivery. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to obtain a sample size of 391 farmers. Information was elicited using questionnaire, interview schedule and focus group discussion and analysed using frequencies, percentages, mean and Likert-type rating scale and Ordered Logit Regression analysis. The major findings show that the majority of the respondents in the study area perceived communal conflicts to have high effects on accessibility of extension services (xÌ…=2.50), timeliness of extension services (xÌ…=2.49), efficiency of extension services (xÌ… =2.49), targeting of extension services (xÌ…=2.48), effectiveness of extension services (xÌ…=2.41), relevance of extension services (xÌ…=2.36) and content accuracy of extension services (xÌ…=2.27). The findings further reveal that sex of the farmers, marital status, educational level, number of extension contacts, farm size and distance from the farming communities to a major town had significant relationships with perceived effects of communal conflicts on extension services delivery. The study recommended that government should adopt policies that would tackle the causes and occurrence of communal conflicts in communities in the country so as to reduce the effect of the conflicts on timeliness, effectiveness, efficiency, targeting and usefulness of extension services

Farmers’ Perceived Effects of Communal Conflicts on the Delivery of Agricultural Extension Services in North-Central, Nigeria

The study examined the perceived effects of communal conflicts on the delivery of agricultural extension services to farmers in North-central, Nigeria. The specific objectives were to; describe the socio-economic characteristics of the farmers; determine the perceived effects of communal conflicts on the delivery of agricultural extension services by field extension workers of Agricultural Development Programmes (ADPs) to farmers in the study area, and; identify the relationships between selected socio-economic characteristics and perceived effects of communal conflicts on agricultural extension services delivery. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to obtain a sample size of 391 farmers. Information was elicited using questionnaire, interview schedule and focus group discussion and analysed using frequencies, percentages, mean and Likert-type rating scale and Ordered Logit Regression analysis. The major findings show that the majority of the respondents in the study area perceived communal conflicts to have high effects on accessibility of extension services (xÌ…=2.50), timeliness of extension services (xÌ…=2.49), efficiency of extension services (xÌ… =2.49), targeting of extension services (xÌ…=2.48), effectiveness of extension services (xÌ…=2.41), relevance of extension services (xÌ…=2.36) and content accuracy of extension services (xÌ…=2.27). The findings further reveal that sex of the farmers, marital status, educational level, number of extension contacts, farm size and distance from the farming communities to a major town had significant relationships with perceived effects of communal conflicts on extension services delivery. The study recommended that government should adopt policies that would tackle the causes and occurrence of communal conflicts in communities in the country so as to reduce the effect of the conflicts on timeliness, effectiveness, efficiency, targeting and usefulness of extension services

Has advertising lost its meaning: views of UK and US millennials

The findings of a study of Millennials in the US and the UK—an increasingly important and digitally savvy segment of consumers—reveals that they see advertising as Companies promoting a product or service to people through media. Their perception is simple and all-encompassing with no evidence that they distinguish between different types of media or different types of communication. Some variation between the views of Millennials in the two countries is also identified, although this is less than expected. The findings contribute to an important and continuing debate among academics and marketing practitioners over how advertising should be defined in today’s multi-channel environment. The findings are also compared with other recent definitions of advertising and their implications are discussed

The Impact of Compensation on Employee Productivity, A Study of Cement Manufacturing Companies in Nigeria 2001-2010

Among the factors that account for low productivity in the manufacturing sector is employee compensation. The question of compensating employees in such a way as to increase their level of productivity has often been raised. In today's global business environment, human resource best practices that would place an organization competitively above others are been sought. Effective compensation of employees for higher productivity is one such best human resource practice. This is where the research problem lies: to determine the extent to which compensation impacts on productivity. The main study objective therefore is to determine the extent to which compensation impacts on employee productivity in cement manufacturing companies in Nigeria. To achieve this objective, five hypotheses were formulated in a null (Ho) form and five cement companies chosen for survey. A Likerl scaling type questionnaire was administered to 361 respondents from a population of 5,500 employees. Data on compensation components (independent variables) and productivity (dependent variable) were . collected and tested using multiple regression and factor analysis to determine the causal relationship and the extent to which compensation impacted on productivity. The findings of the study indicates that cash, incentives, benefits, bonuses, and job-related (non-financial) compensations had significant statistical impact on productivity with a corresponding t-statistics of 54.271, 26.630, 23.540, 21.548, and 71.873 all at a level of significance of 0.000. This implies that as compensation increases, productivity of employees also increases. The study recommends among others that management must improve on cash payment, incentive schemes, benefit schemes, bonus plans and working conditions of employees; as well as continue the use of value added and turnover to measure productivity in Cement Manufacturing Companies in Nigeria

ASSESSMENT OF THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATIONS IN THE MANAGEMENT OF SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN NORTH EASTERN NIGERIA

Abstract This study assessed the contributions of community development associations to the management of secondary schools in North Eastern Nigeria. Severn research questions and seven hypotheses guided the study. The literature was reviewed under theoretical framework, conceptual framework, empirical studies and summary. Descriptive research design was adopted for the study. The population of the study consists of 2062 of principals, PTA chairmen and chairmen of community development associations of 1031 public secondary schools in the study area. A sample size of 500 principals, PTA chairmen and some community development associations’ chairmen was selected for the study. A 35-item four point rating scale structured questionnaire titled: Assessment of the Contributions of Community Development Associations to the Management of Secondary Schools Questionnaire (ACCDAMSSQ) an interview schedule and checklist were used for data collection. The instruments were validated by four experts from the university system, two in Educational Management Department of Taraba State University and Benue State University respectively, one in Educational Measurement and Evaluation of Taraba State University and one in Geography Department of Benue State University. The reliability of the instrument was ascertained through trial testing. This yielded a Cronbach Alpha coefficient of 0.84 which was considered high enough and reliable to be used for the study. Mean and standard deviation were used in testing the responses from the interviewee, while chi-square (X2) test of goodness of-fit was used in testing the null hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The findings indicated that Community Development Associations significantly contribute to the provision of funds, instructional materials, infrastructural facilities, maintenance of discipline, maintenance of school sites and participation in decision making process to the management of secondary schools in North Eastern Nigeria. It was recommended among others that communities and its associations should continuously support the development of schools in their areas. Community Development Associations should continue to contribute to the development of schools in their areas through procurement of instructional materials such as computers, pictures, maps radios and science equipment