Identification of Factors that Influence Technical Efficiency of Food Crop Production in West Africa: Empirical Evidence from Borno State, Nigeria

The objective of this study was to examine the determinants of food crop production and technical efficiency in the guinea savannas of Borno State, Nigeria. A stochastic frontier production function, using the maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) technique was applied in the analysis of data collected from 1086 sample farmers in 2004. The MLE results reveal that farm size; fertilizer and hired labour are the major factors that are associated with changes in the output of food crops. The effect of land area on output is positive and the coefficient found to be significant (p = 0.01). Fertilizer and hired labour have positive effects on output and their coefficients are significant (p = 0.01). Mean farmers’ technical efficiency index was found to be 0.68. Farmer-specific efficiency factors, which comprise age, education, credit, extension and crop diversification, were found to be the significant factors that account for the observed variation in efficiency among the farmers. The implication of the study is that technical efficiency in food crop production could be increased by 32 percent through better use of available resources, given the current state of technology

Causes and Measures for Controlling Loan Default among Agricultural Cooperatives in Bune State, Nigeria

The studies analyzed the causes and measures for controlling loan default among agricultural co-operatives in Benue State of Nigeria. Data were collected from 130 respondents using structured questionnaire, and was analyzed using descriptive statistics. The result shows that factors responsible for loan default were classified into Institutional, Client-related, Geo-economical, and Market related factors. Late disbursement of (92.31%), lack of loan monitoring (76.92%), inadequate loan appraisals (69.23%), and lack of clear cut policy on lending (69.23) were the institutional factors responsible for loan default. Lack of integrity (80.77%), poor business practice (78.46%), and loan diversion (50.0%) were client-related factors. Death of client (70.77%), economic downturn (55.38%), and natural calamity (52.31%) were geo-economic factors, while, lack of market information (81.54%), market location (49.23%) and wrong economic decision (40.77) were market related factors. The result also showed that obtaining information on borrowers\u27 integrity (92.23%), and training of borrowers on the terms and conditions (82.54%) were main measures to control loan default in the study area. Information on client integrity, and training of borrowers on terms and condition of loan before loan are granted were found to be best measures to control loan default. It was recommended that sound and flexible lending policies measures which must be reviewed frequently by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Co-operatives (BAAC) be put in place in order to curtail bureaucracies involved in the management approvals and disbursement of agricultural loan should be formulated. This will ensure early disbursement of funds to co-operative members

INSECURITY AND THE PAUPERIZATION OF RESIDENTS OF OWERRI IN IMO STATE, NIGERIA: AN EMPIRICAL ASSESSMENT

Poverty and insecurity are twin recurrent issues in recent times for many countries in the world, especially Third World countries in Africa to which Nigeria belongs. Security is a pillar without which no meaningful development can be achieved and sustained. Nigeria, like most other Sub-Sahara Africa countries, is deeply embroiled in and facing multifaceted security challenges. The wave of insecurity in Nigeria has assumed a dangerous dimension that is threatening both the safety of environment for lives and properties and the conduct of business and economic activities thereby causing untold hardship and poverty. The poverty level in Nigeria is such that many people now live below the poverty line and has become a source of concern and subject of growing attention for both academics and policy makers. This paper, therefore, sought to find out if insecurity has a causative effect on the pauperization of the people of Owerri and vice versa with particular reference to recent happenings in Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria. The survey research design, questionnaire and interviews as instruments of primary data collection and relative deprivation theory as framework were used for the study. Data were analysed with simple percentages while the chi-square was used to test the hypothesis. Secondary data from library research was utilized for analytical discussion. Research findings show that insecurity has both a cause and an effect relationship with poverty cum pauperization and the need to shun violence is recommended.  Article visualizations

Physical Education Curriculum: A Panacea for the Attainment of Socio- Economic and Cultural Development of Primary School Pupils with Visual Impairment in Nigeria

The importance of adapted physical education in the socio- economic and cultural development of children with visual impairment cannot be over-emphasized. Pupils with visual impairment are not often considered in the current physical Education content. The paper advocates the need to adapt the existing physical education curriculum to suit the needs of pupils with visual impairment. Guidelines on the instructional adaptation are also presented and the benefits of having qualified teachers providing special methods and materials are presented

Burden of Disease in Patients with Mild or Mild-to-Moderate Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease Group A or B): A Systematic Literature Review

Alexandrosz Czira,1 Sneha Purushotham,2 Ike Iheanacho,2 Kieran J Rothnie,1 Chris Compton,3 Afisi S Ismaila4,5 1Value Evidence and Outcomes, R&D Global Medical, GSK, Brentford, UK; 2Evidera, London, UK; 3Global Medical, GSK, London, UK; 4Value Evidence and Outcomes, GSK, Collegeville, PA, USA; 5Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, CanadaCorrespondence: Alexandrosz Czira, Value Evidence and Outcomes, R&D Global Medical, GSK, 980 Great West Road, Brentford, Middlesex, TW8 9GS, UK, Tel +44 7788 351610, Email [email protected]: Patients with mild or mild-to-moderate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), defined as Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) group A/B, are regarded as having a lower risk of experiencing multiple or severe exacerbations compared with patients classified as GOLD group C/D. Current guidelines suggest that patients in GOLD A/B should commence treatment with a bronchodilator; however, some patients within this population who have a higher disease burden may benefit from earlier introduction of dual bronchodilator or inhaled corticosteroid-containing therapies. This study aimed to provide research-based insights into the burden of disease experienced by patients classified as GOLD A/B, and to identify characteristics associated with poorer outcomes.Methods: A systematic literature review (SLR) was conducted to identify evidence (burden of disease and prevalence data) relating to the population of interest (patients with COPD classified as GOLD A/B).Results: A total of 79 full-text publications and four conference abstracts were included. In general, the rates of moderate and severe exacerbations were higher among patients in GOLD group B than among those in group A. Among patients classified as GOLD A/B, the risk of exacerbation was higher in those with more symptoms (modified Medical Research Council or COPD Assessment Test scales) and more severe airflow limitation (forced expiratory volume in 1 second % predicted).Conclusion: Data from this SLR provide clear evidence of a heavier burden of disease for patients in GOLD B, compared with those in GOLD A, and highlight factors associated with worse outcomes for patients in GOLD A/B.Keywords: COPD Assessment Test, COPD, disease burden, GOLD A/B, modified Medical Research Council, systematic revie

A Mouse Holder for Awake Functional Imaging in Unanesthetized Mice: Applications in ³¹P Spectroscopy, Manganese-Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging Studies, and Resting-State Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Anesthesia is often used in preclinical imaging studies that incorporate mouse or rat models. However, multiple reports indicate that anesthesia has significant physiological impacts. Thus, there has been great interest in performing imaging studies in awake, unanesthetized animals to obtain accurate results without the confounding physiological effects of anesthesia. Here, we describe a newly designed mouse holder that is interfaceable with existing MRI systems and enables awake in vivo mouse imaging. This holder significantly reduces head movement of the awake animal compared to previously designed holders and allows for the acquisition of improved anatomical images. In addition to applications in anatomical T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), we also describe applications in acquiring 31P spectra, manganese-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MEMRI) transport rates and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) in awake animals and describe a successful conditioning paradigm for awake imaging. These data demonstrate significant differences in 31P spectra, MEMRI transport rates, and rs-fMRI connectivity between anesthetized and awake animals, emphasizing the importance of performing functional studies in unanesthetized animals. Furthermore, these studies demonstrate that the mouse holder presented here is easy to construct and use, compatible with standard Bruker systems for mouse imaging, and provides rigorous results in awake mice