Morphological intraspecific variabilities in African yam bean (AYB) (Sphenostylis stenocarpa Ex. A. Rich) Harms

Intraspecific variabilities in 25 IITA accessions of African yam bean (AYB) (Sphenostylis stenocarpa Ex. A. Rich.) Harms were assessed through characterization of 36 morphological characters. The intraspecific variabilities among the accessions were evaluated by the following statistical analysis tools: Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), principal component and cluster analysis (Semi - partial Rsquared method). The accessions showed significant differences in a number of morphological characters and the P values indicated significant differences (p � 0.0001) in 27 characters. Statistical analysis showed that terminal leaflet length, terminal leaflet width, peduncle length, pod length, pod width, number of locules per pod and number of seeds per pod contributed significantly to seed set percentages in all the studied populations. Cluster analysis on the morphological data clustered the accessions into six distinct groups with pod and seed traits contributing significantly to the grouping. Pod lengths, number of seeds per pod and seed weight were observed to be useful characters for genetic improvement of AYB

Enhancing the Engagement of Disabled Students with Disability Support Services: A Digital Story Approach

Initiatives that recognise diversity within the student population and understand the range of learner variation have been found to help institutions to better recognise and reduce barriers to learning for disabled people. This paper describes the development of a ‘digital story’ designed to inform all students about the disability support services offered by the University of Hertfordshire. The development and utilisation of a digital story to inform students about disability related issues and services was also designed to foster a more informed and tolerant learning community. The findings of the pilot evaluation study have highlighted the digital story to have increased student understandings of what is recognised as a disability. It was also found to have increased the likelihood of them approaching their disabled student’s coordinator. However, it is notable that a majority of students expressed a desire for an in person talk on disability services. It is concluded that although technology is not necessarily a replacement for the ‘personal touch’, new methods should be found to increase the personal feel of the digital story. It is suggested that the final evaluation questionnaire is modified to capture information about why students want an in person talk and how this can best be achieved in a digital format when personal engagement may not be possible.Peer reviewe

Evaluating the impact of policy formation on implementation: the case of the Drinking Water Directive (80/778/EEC)

Acknowledging that polices are rarely made in a rational manner does not prevent the researcher from wanting to understand why particular policy responses were constructed the way they were, and how this can impact upon implementation (Winter, 2003). This paper explores the suitability of four hypotheses developed by Winter (2003) to explain the impact of the policy formation stage on the implementation of public policy. The Drinking Water Directive (80/778/EEC) and its implementation in England/Wales and the Republic of Ireland provide the background for analysis. It is concluded that the policy formation stage of the Directive did contribute to the failures and delays of implementation. In particular, failures of implementation are attributed to conflict, invalid causal theories, political symbolism, and poor attention by policy makers.Peer reviewe

A preliminary investigation into the post harvest losses of fish in Shiroro Lake area

The findings are presented of a study conducted to assess the post harvest losses in Shiroro Lake, Nigeria. The major objectives were to identify and quantify the types of losses, to provide recommendations that would enhance formulation of policy guidelines for utilization and exploitation of the declining fishery resources of the lak

Noon Edition

NANNY Martin sprawled against the corner of the building and stared directly into the brilliance of the street light. He felt like crying - the champagne had made him feel like crying, and the little gold statue in his hand made him feel like crying

Great Guy

The cold seeped through Officer Moriarity\u27s greatcoat and numbed his body. Steam spiraled from his nostrils in dragonesque patterns, and the far reaches of the street light at the mouth of the alley fell upon him and ricocheted off his badge and buttons as he lumbered toward the street. With cold numbed fingers he tugged a ponderous watch from beneath his coat and paused to examine its scarred face beneath the light ... eleven-thirty, half-an-hour until call-in time

Fishery management plans and the development of artisanal fisheries in Nigeria: a review

Management of natural resources all over the world is of paramount importance to their sustainability in developing countries like Nigeria, there is less emphasis on proper management especially of fishery and other aquatic resources due to lack of sensitization and enlightenment of the rural dwellers who are closer to such natural resources. The main thrust of this review is to examine the management plans for Nigerian freshwater bodies (rivers and lakes) and the impact of such plans on the artisanal fisheries development in Nigeria. From the on-shelf information gathered there is scarcity of information on the management of Nigerian freshwater body's information available indicates that there is the traditional fisheries management and the government legal approach in form of fisheries Laws and Regulations. However, these management techniques are poorly carried out since there is a poor follow-up. Appreciable impact of fisheries management introduced on Kanji Lake by the Nigerian-German Kanji Lake Fisheries Promotion Project (NGKLFPP) between 1993 and 2001 proves worthwhile as this introduced some management measures such as implementation of fisheries Laws and Regulations, the ban of obnoxious fishing methods, introduction of fishing license, constitution of a management unit and appointment of liaison fishermen. Within the operative years of the project a lot of success was achieved and it is recommended that the approach in Kainji should be replicated in other freshwater bodies in Nigeria to alleviate poverty in the rural poor fishing communitie

Effect of salinity on growth and survival of Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822): Clariidae fry

The effect of different salinity levels on the growth and survival of Clarais gariepinus fry was studied in indoor hatchery system for a period of three weeks. 1000 Clarias gariepinus fry of an average weight 0.37~c0.06g were stocked at 100 fry in five replicated 20 liters plastic bowls. Five salinity levels of 0.2, 0.4, 1.1, 2.1 and 4.2ppt were tested. The results indicated that significant difference P~.0.05 highest weight gain of 0.89~c0.05g was presented by fry in 0.2ppt medium. All fry raised in 4.2ppt died within 24 hours. No significant difference P~,0.05 in weight gain is presented in fry raised in 0.2ppt-2.1ppt. From this study, the weight gain decreases with increase in salinity. Also the survival rate decreases from 0.2ppt to 1.1ppt raised fry while the lowest significant difference P~.0.05 survivals were presented in fry raised in 2.1 and 4.2ppt. Based on these results and foregoing, salinity rate of 0.4ppt is favourable for growth and survival of C.gariepinus fr