Industrial Output Response to Inflation and Exchange Rate in Nigeria: An Empirical Analysis

This study investigates the response of aggregate industrial output to relative change in prices and exchange ratein Nigeria using data from 1970- 2011. A vector error correction (VEC) model was employed and the dynamiccorrelations of the variables have been captured by the analyses of impulse response and variancedecomposition. The response of industrial output to the shock to exchange rate was significantly positive morespecifically in the initial years, while shock to prices changes, the industrial output responds negatively althoughwith small magnitude at the beginning. From variance decomposition; the study shows that although the mainsource of variance in output are own shocks, innovation in the exchange rate account for a higher proportion inthe variation of industrial output than that of prices. The study concludes that inflation and exchange rate has thepotentials of causing significant changes in industrial output in Nigeria. This study therefore suggests that morepolicy attention should be given to proper management of the exchange rate and inflation.Keywords: Industrial output, exchange rate, inflation, VEC mode

Analyzing the Impact of Value Added Tax (VAT) on Economic Growth in Nigeria

This study investigates the relative impact of value added tax on economic growth in Nigeria. We used Johansen cointegration test. The result of cointegration test does not provide any evidence of long-run equilibrium relationship among the variables.  An unrestricted vector autoregressions (VARs) technique were employed to analyze and draw policy inferences. Impulse response functions (IRFs) and Forecast error Variance decompositions (FEVDs) were compute through 1000 Monte Carlo simulations. The results derived from the impulse response function (IRF) and forecast error variance decomposition ( FEVD) imply that value added tax have positive impact on economic growth in Nigeria , where variation in this variables growth rate will causes variation in real economic activity with  about 50 percent in the near future. We conclude that the policy makers in Nigeria should continues this fiscal policy with other macroeconomic indicators. Per suing this policy will enhance the Nigerian economy positively, more specifically in this time of economic crisis in the world. Keywords: VAT, unrestricted VAR, impulse response, forecast error variance decompositio

Optimal Allocation and Sizing of Distributed Generation for Power Loss Reduction using Modified PSO for Radial Distribution Systems

For the purpose of improving the voltage profile and power losses reduction, this paper proposes allocation and sizing of Distributed Generation (DG) in radial distribution system (69 IEEE bus test system.). A simple and effective approach for power loss reduction (PLR) value is employed for the allocation while the sizing was by using the results from the allocation as local optimum in a modified PSO called Ranked Evolutionary particle swarm optimization (REPSO) in order to obtain the global optimum. Load simulations in power flow yielded improvement not only in power loss reduction but also in voltage profile. The proposed algorithm was found to be faster and gives more accurate results than the EP and PSO algorithms. Keywords: Distributed Generation, Evolutionary programming,, Particle Swarm Optimization, Allocation and sizing, Power loss reduction

FACTORS AFFECTING LABOR PRODUCTIVITY AT PT. TELKOM REGIONAL DIVISION VII (PERSERO) MAKASSAR CITY

This study aims to determine the factors of employee productivity at PT. Telkom Regional Division VII (Persero) Makassar City, in terms of education level, work experience and gender. Research data obtained from the method of presenting data from the results of respondents' responses (questionnaires), and this is secondary data from telecommunications companies at PT. Telkom Regional Division VII (Persero) Makassar City, the statistical factors used in this study were multiple regression analysis using the SPSS program. The findings of this study indicate that the factors of labor productivity at PT. Telkom Regional Division VII (Persero) Makassar City which consists of education level, work experience and gender simultaneously (together) have a significant effect on employee productivity at PT. Telkom Regional Division VII (Persero) Makassar City in 2017. This is evidenced by the results based on the results of the coefficient of determination R square, the result is 0.477. meaning that productivity factors together affect employee performance by 47.7%. the rest is influenced by other factors outside this research. Based on the results of the linear regression test, the unstandardized coefficient B value of the education level is 0.522, which is greater than the work experience of 0.322. and the smaller gender is 0.211 This means that 52.2%, employee performance is influenced by education level. From the results of this study it can be concluded that the factors are more dominant in increasing employee productivity

Land Tenure Systems and Agricultural Productivity in Nigeria: A Case of Rice Production

This study examined land tenure systems and rice productivity in Nigeria. Primary data were used for the study. Data were collected with the aid of a well-structured questionnaire. A four-stage sampling technique was used to select a total sample size of three hundred and forty-nine (349) rice farmers for the study. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, total factor productivity, and the Stochastic production frontier model. The study revealed that a large portion of the land (over 94%) used for rice production was acquired through inheritance mode of land acquisition and communal type of land tenure system widely practised. The result of total factor productivity indicated that 62.18% of the rice farmers were at a sub-optimal productivity level. The results of the stochastic production frontier function revealed that seed (P< 0.10), and fertilizer application (P<0.01) were the significant factors influencing the technical efficiency of rice production in the study area. Based on the findings, the study recommends that the current land use act and policy should be amended to prevent concurrent grabbing of agricultural land for non-agricultural purposes to enhance the availability and accessibility of land for agriculture

Antibacterial and phytochemical screening of Ziziphus jujuba (jujube/magarya) leaf extract in Kaduna Metropolis

Ziziphus jujuba from the family of Rhamnaceae is widely distributed in both tropical and subtropical countries. Different parts of the plant have been used traditionally for several biological purposes including fungal and antibacterial and antidiarrheal. This study was aimed to assess the antibacterial activity of Ziziphus jujuba leaf extract against bacteria isolated from vaginal swab. Preliminary phytochemical screening of the leaves extract of Ziziphus jujuba was carried out using standard analytical methods. The aqueous and ethanol extracts of Ziziphus jujuba leaf were screened for antimicrobial activities against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli isolated from vaginal swabs using agar well diffusion and broth dilution assay. The results of the phytochemical constituents revealed the presence of alkaloids, steroids, tannins, phenols, cardiac glycosides, and terpenes in the ethanol extract while alkaloids, steroids, tannins, cardiac glycosides, phenols, and saponins were present in the aqueous extract. The inhibitory zones of the ethanol extract against S. aureus ranged between 13.00- 15.00 mm while that of E. coli ranged between 7.00- 10.00 mm at 50 and 100 (mg/ml) respectively. The inhibitory zone of the aqueous extract against the clinical isolates of S. aureus ranged from 9.00- 11.00 and 6.00-8.00 (mm) for E. coli at 50 and 100 (mg/ml) respectively. However, S. aureus was more susceptible to the extract with an MIC of 100 mg/ml. The observed inhibitory activities of the leaf extract against the clinical isolates could be due to phytochemical constituents present in the plant extracts of Ziziphus jujuba

Determination of Some Selected Thermal Properties of Pumpkin Seeds (Cucurbita pepo)

In this study, some selected thermal properties (specific heat, thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity) in the moisture content range of 5.0-5.6% or green and 4.80 – 5.20% for white varieties of pumpkin seeds were determined. The specific heat was measured using mixture method while the thermal conductivity was measured by transient technique using the heat line source. The green pumpkin seed has average moisture content of 5.2% higher than moisture content of white pumpkin seed of average 4.8%. The average specific heat values of green pumpkin seed are 6.171kJ/kgK and white pumpkin seed 4.327kJ/kgK. The thermal conductivity values for white pumpkin seed ranged from 0.074 to 0.288 W/m°C while that for green pumpkin seed ranged from 0.079 to 0.433 W/m°C. The thermal diffusivity values for green pumpkin ranged from 0.0011 to 0.06 m2/s while that for white pumpkin seed ranged from 0.01 to 0.06 m2/s. It was concluded that the higher the moisture content (5.2%) the higher the value of specific heat of seed (6.171kJ/kgK). It can also be concluded that the thermal conductivity (0.079 to 0.433 W/m°C) value is higher with high moisture content (5.2%)

Phytochemical analysis and antibacterial activity of stem bark extracts of Detarium microcarpum against bacteria causing gastrointestinal tract infections in humans

Detarium microcarpum is used by different ethnic groups for treatment of various diseases in Nigeria and several parts of West African. The      phytochemical constituents of the stembark extract of D.microcarpum were analyzed using qualitative methods. The antibacterial activity of the stembark extracts against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were tested using the agar well diffusion method. The phytochemical investigation revealed that presence of tannins, saponin, steroids, flavonoids, glycosides, phenols and terpenoids. The plant extracts exhibited anti bacterial potential against the tested organisms at different concentrations 100 mg/mL , 50mg/mL 25 mg/mL and 12.5 mg/mL )), with S. aureus having the highest zone of inhibition of 21 mm at 100 mg/mL with ethanolic extract. Therefore, this study suggests that D. microcarpum stembark has phytochemical constituents. The antibacterial activity exhibited by the extracts could be as a result of the phytochemicals presents

ARFIMA modelling and investigation of structural break(s) in West Texas Intermediate and Brent series

The research used a long memory or Autoregressive Fractionally Integrated Moving Average model to study and forecast crude oil prices using weekly West Texas Intermediate and Brent series for the period 15/5/1987 to 20/12/2013. Fractional differencing Methods such as Local Whittle Estimator and Geweke and Porter-Hudak identified long memory characteristics in the crude oil prices. For WTI series, the Bayes Information Criteria selected 3 breaks with the first, second and last breaks captured in 1999, 2004 and 2008 respectively. Three breaks in Brent series using the Bayes Information Criteria were selected and this pointed out that Brent series has break points in 1999, 2005 and 2009. Numerous ARFIMA models were identified, selected using Akaike Information Criterion, estimated/check, in sample and out sample forecast was carried out using Box and Jenkins methodology. ARFIMA(1,0.47,2) is appropriate for West Texas Intermediate series while ARFIMA(2,0.09,0) is suitable for Brent series. One year in sample forecast indicates a small difference between the original series and the forecast results. The one year out sample forecast revealed a decline in future crude oil prices which may be good news to the consumers and bad news to the producers