Gender and Language Acquisition

Opinions have been divergent concerning the rate of language acquisition between male and female learners. This paper examined the claims that male learners acquire language better and faster than their female counterparts using phonology of English as a unit of language study. The scores of forty students (twenty males and twenty females) of the Federal College of Education Yola in phonology-related courses were examined. One research question and a null hypothesis were posed. A t-test of the scores gave a verdict of no significant difference in the mean scores of the two groups. The study recommended that equal educational opportunities should be provided to all students irrespective of their gender differences

Larvicidal activities of five Kotschya species against Culex quinquefasciatus Say (Culicidae: Diptera)

Resistance of mosquito vectors to the commonly used chemical insecticides is posing threats to human health. It is becoming necessary to identify safe, eco-friendly and effective alternative sources of larvicides in order to reduce mosquito menace. HPLC profiling of the chemical constituents in the stem and root bark ethanol extracts had similar pattern of chemical constituents except for K. aeschynomenoides which indicated to have large quantity of polar compounds compared to others. In this study, the ethanolic extracts and powders of five Kotschya species were tested against Culex quinquefasciatus Say. Chemical profiling of the stem and root bark ethanol extracts from K. speciosa, K. thymodora, K. platyphylla, K. aeschynomenoides and K. strigosa did not show any major differences in terms of their chemical composition. At 0.5 mg/ml, the root and stem ethanol extracts from K. speciosa, K. thymodora and K. strigosa exhibited high larvicidal activity (≥ 70%) on the 8th day post treatment. Stem powder of K. thymodora and root powder of K. speciosa and K. strigosa had activity comparable to their respective extracts at 0.2% w/v and 0.4% w/v at the same exposure time. This suggests that Kotschya species contain same or related compounds in varying quantities that are responsible for larvicidal activity.Keywords: Fabaceae, Kotschya strigosa, K. speciosa, K. thymodora, K. platyphylla, K. aeschynomenoides, Larvicidal, Culex quinquefasciatu

Geospatial Analysis of Flood Problems in Jimeta Riverine Community of Adamawa State, Nigeria

Floods are among the most devastating natural disasters in the world, claiming more lives and causing more property damages than any other natural phenomena. In recent times, the incidence of flooding across Nigeria has left both the government and the governed devastated. It is no longer news that flooding and its attendant consequences are injurious to man while the spatial dimensions are often not mapped. This study, therefore, examined the nature of water level/extent and vulnerability in the riverine community of Jimeta, Adamawa State. Using time series analysis, four epoch satellite images covering the study area was used to evaluate the geospatial coverage of water along the watercourse of Upper Benue bordering the study area. Using ILWIS 3.8, ArcGIS 10.1 and statistical analysis, the spatial extent and vulnerability of settlements was mapped. Highly vulnerable (50m buffer) were differentiated from low risk zones (100m buffers). Study revealed that besides rainfall, excess water from Cameroun dam is largely responsible for the identified high level of inundation.  The impacts of flood on the local people are devastating as lives and properties have been lost while economic activities reduced due to health risks and mass migration to neighbouring villages and towns. Early flood warning system (EFWS), rapid response mechanism and outfit, strict adherence to zoning and building principles, evacuation of waste and maintenance of drainage systems, mass awareness campaign on flooding and other environmental hazards and, continuous rehabilitation and assistance of victims as a government, individual and NGOs are recommended hence synergy among stake holders is advocated. Keywords: Flood, GIS Buffer, Settlement, Vulnerability, Water Coverage

Bioeconomic analysis of Engraulicypris sardella (USIPA) in South east arm of Lake Malawi

Usipa Engraulicypris sardella is the most abundant small pelagic species in Lake Malawi. It plays an important part in the lake communities’ economy and food security. However, much remains unknown on their stock status and bioeconomic importance. This study is carried out to estimate the maximum economic yield and maximum sustainable yield for Usipa fishery in the South-east arm of Lake Malawi. Structured quantitative questionnaire was used to collect information from 139 informants on the price of usipa landings and cost of fishing effort. Catch and effort data for Usipa were used in a biomass dynamic model (ASPIC) to estimate key parameters (r, q and k). A bioeconomic model was further developed based on the Gordon-Schaefer model using cost and revenues of the Usipa fisheries to derive the Maximun Sustainable Yield (MSY) and the Maximum Economic Yield (MEY). Model estimates of MSY and MEY were 9,228.8 and 8,227.1 tonnes, respectively. The corresponding fishing effort was estimated to be 40,000 net-hauls and 30,000 net-hauls at MSY and MEY, respectively. Revenues at MSY were estimated at MWK42.280 billion, while at MEY the revenues were MWK39.309 billion. The analysis shows that the current effort of 65,232 net-hauls has a yield of 6,000 tonnes, indicating that the Usipa fishery is currently overexploited over the optimum bio-economic level and even beyond the open access yield. We recommend reducing the fishing effort by 54% to realize the best economic benefits (Production at MEY) and end overfishing to protect the fishery from biological and economic collapses

Antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities of fresh leaf extracts of Warburgia ugandensis

Abstract: Warburgia ugandensis Sprague (Canellaceae), is widely used by Traditional Health Practitioners in Eastern and Southern Africa for treatment of diseases and conditions associated with HIV/AIDS infections. The most commonly prescribed parts of the plant are usually barks and roots. The aim of this study was to investigate whether leaves of this plant have biological activities comparable to those of barks and roots. Fresh leaves of W. ugandensis were freeze-dried to complete dryness while another portion of the leaves from the same collection were air-dried under shade. Ethanolic extracts from the two differently dried leaves weretested for antimicrobial activity and for brine shrimp toxicity test. Ethanolic extract from the freeze-dried leaves exhibited both antibacterial activity against standard strains of Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli,Vibrio cholerae, Bacillus cereus and antifungal activity against Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans. The extract from the air-dried leaves showed similar antibacterial activity against the mentioned organisms but hadno antifungal activity. However, both extracts exhibited comparable cytotoxic activity (95% CI), against brine shrimp larvae with reference to cyclophosphamide, a standard anticancer drug. Fresh leaves of W. ugandensis have shown to exhibit anticandida activity, a factor which substantiates their application as a traditional herbal remedy to complement treatment of fungal infections in HIV/AIDS patients. Further studies to establish constituents responsible for the exhibited antifungal activity are highly desirable

Large scale mapping: an empirical comparison of pixel-based and object-based classifications of remotely sensed data

In the past, large scale mapping was carried using precise ground survey methods. Later, paradigm shift in data collection using medium to low resolution and, recently, high resolution images brought to bear the problem of accurate data analysis and fitness-for-purpose challenges. Using high resolution satellite images such as QuickBird and IKONOS are now preferred alternatives. This paper is aimed at comparing pixel-based (PIXBIA) and Geo-object-based (GEOBIA) classification methods using ENVI 4.8 and eCongnition software respectively, and ArcGIS 10.1 for map layout creation. It uses Aba main city in south-eastern Nigeria as a case study. The paper further evaluates the classification accuracies obtained using error matrix and then test the classifications’ agreement to geographic reality using Kappa Coefficient statistical analysis. Analyzing 2012 QuickBird image as a proof of concept, the study shows that the object-based approach had a higher overall accuracy (OA= 98.75%) than the pixel-based approach (OA=79.44%). With a Kappa Coefficient of K=0.97 (very good) for object-based approach and K=0.62 (good) for pixel-based, the object-based method showed a higher class separability between and among examined geographic objects such as water, bare-land and tree canopy as evidenced in the Golf Course under re-construction in Aba city. In addition, the object-based results also show a higher overall producer accuracy (PA=98.42% > PA=85.37) and user accuracy (UA=96.70 > UA=81.04%) respectively. The paper, therefore, recommends that object-based classification method be applied in analyzing high resolution satellite image. The approach is also recommended for mapping urban areas in developing countries such as Nigeria where the paucity of fund required in flying airplane for the production of orthophotos is a major challenge in large scale mapping.Keywords: Image Classification, Object-based Classification, Pixel-based Classification, Remote Sensing, Urban Planning and Mapping

Sexual Orientation and Moral Value as a Determinant of Sexual Harassment among Athletes in South-South State Sports Councils in Nigeria

This study was designed to determinesexual orientation and moral value as a determinant of sexual harassment among athletes in south-south states sports council in Nigeria. Two specific objectives, two research questions and two null hypotheses guided the study. The study adopted descriptive survey design. The population for the study comprised of one thousand six hundred and forty seven (1,647) male athletes and one thousand two hundred and seventy four (1,274) female athletes. They give a total of two thousand, nine hundred and twenty one (2,921) sports athletes in South-South Sports Council which spread across the six states. The sample size of the study consisted of three hundred and thirty six (336) male athletes and two hundred and sixty two (262) female athletes giving a total of (598) representing twenty percent (20%) of athletes from each of the state Sport Council. Instrument titled “Orientation and Moral Value as a Determinant of Sexual Harassment of Athletes Questionnaire (OMVDSHAQ)” was used for data collection. Instrument was trial tested on 20 athletes who were not part of the research sample. Cronbach Alpha Reliability Statistics and reliability co-efficient of 0.98 was obtained. The data was analysed using simple regression to answer the research questions while simple linear regression was used to test the hypotheses at .05 levels of significance. The finding of the study showed sexual orientations and moral values are determined by sexual harassments among athletes. Based on the findings of the study, it is recommended among others that training on moral values should be organized for athletes from time to time in order to ensure high moral values, athletes should be encouraged to report cases of sexual harassment in the sport council and such report should be treated with all amount of seriousness.&nbsp