The Moderating Effect of Institutional Shareholders on the Relationship between Board Attributes and Auditor Selection among Listed Financial Service Firms in Nigeria

The study examines the moderating effect of institutional ownership on the relationship between board attributes and auditor selection among listed financial service firms in Nigeria. It investigated whether institutional shareholding moderate the relationship between board size, board independence, board gender diversity, board meeting attendance and auditor selection among listed financial firms in Nigeria. The study used secondary data extracted from the published financial statements of the sampled firms for the period 2007 to 2020. The population of the study consists of 53 listed financial service firms in Nigeria. The study adopts correlational research design using logistic regression as a tool of analysis.  This study presents evidence that higher levels of institutional ownership strengthen the effect of board attributes (gender diversity and board meeting attendance) on auditor selection. Hence, the result implies that managers may face stringent monitoring when institutional investors, board gender diversity and board meeting attendance interacts. Such superior monitoring may compel managers to consider hiring an industry specialist auditor to audit the firm which leads to boosting the firm’ value. The finding of this investigation has an important policy implication on enhancing sound corporate governance practices, particularly for firms operating in developing countries where the market for corporate control is ineffective

The Role of Emirati Women in Confronting Social Media Misconceptions on the Covid Vaccine

As disagreements rage about the source of the Covid-19 virus, one universal consensus has been established. It is that humanity’s surest guarantee to curbing and mitigating the deadly pandemic is the discovery and wide administration of a vaccine to prevent infection, serious illnesses, and hospitalizations etc. As different countries grapple to roll out the covid vaccine, the world is confronted by another virus that could prove to undermine efforts at curbing Covid-19. Vaccine misinformation is playing into the hands of anti-vaccine groups who are taking advantage of social media platforms that are easily accessible and devoid of editorial gatekeeping to propagate often unfounded rumors about vaccine efficacy and safety. As a result, today, vaccine hesitancy is undermining the efforts put in place to fight the virus. Despite this, today the UAE is among the top three countries in the world with the highest vaccinated population. This paper attempts to provide insight into the uptake of Covid vaccine among Emirati women. The paper assumes that the decision to take covid vaccine or not is, among others, a product of information and perception. Given the centrality of social media as a source of information to most people in the UAE, we inquire into its role in shaping perceptions and attitudes on the covid vaccine among Emirati women. Our findings reveal that over 84% of respondents are vaccinated and factors that account for such vaccine uptake among Emirati women are both general and specific and center around communication and government policy. The paper concludes that contrary to established stereotypical images of Middle Eastern, Arab, Muslim women as passive and laid back, the attitude of Emirati women towards the vaccine brings to fore the role of women in social change thereby challenging established stereotypes

Inclusions and Exclusions in the Narratives of War: Gulf Arabic Press Coverage of Russia-Ukraine Conflict

Domestic policies of nation-states as well as trends in media development have further consolidated the role of mainstream media in shaping social and political processes related to international conflicts. Deregulation of the media landscape in Gulf countries has seen the side-by-side existence of both government and private media. In the current Russia-Ukraine conflict, the mass media are significantly shaping citizens’ perceptions and understanding within Gulf countries. Similarly, the kind of information disseminated by the media on the conflict plays a role in shaping the behavior of social and political structures within nation-states. While the media alone do not determine government policies, they do shape the circumstances in which policy-making takes place. The media plays a substantial role in setting the agenda for national discourse, which guides policymakers in arriving at certain actions or responses. This study explores the characteristics and trends in the coverage of the Russia-Ukraine conflict among Arabic newspapers in the Gulf countries. The intention of this study is to gain insight into factors influencing the war narratives by different national newspapers in the Gulf region, and how these could shape national responses to the conflict. Furthermore, this study identifies different features of war narratives, the inclusions and exclusions of women in framing news about the conflict, and factors that shape such frames

Perceived Quality of Work Life and Work Performance among University Academic Staff

Numerous studies in the field of Industrial and Organizational (I/O) Psychology have revealed that Quality of Work Life (QWL) is related to work related attitudes and behaviours. QWL advocates have argued that QWL have effects on job satisfaction, job involvement, job stress and organizational citizenship behaviours. However, most of these studies have only reported a direct link between QWL and these work related outcomes, and relatively few have looked at the role that other variables play in these relationships. This study examined the mediating effect of orgnisational commitment in the relationship between university staff perceived QWL and work performance. Questionnaires were distributed to fifty (50) randomly selected academic staff of the Kumasi Campus of the University of Education. Results from mediated regression analysis and Pearson r showed that organizational commitment partially mediated the relationship between QWL and work performance. In addition QWL related positively with work performance. This study presents new information on quality of work life and work performance of university staff in a Ghanaian context

Implementation of an optical fiber sensor system to monitor the response of reinforced concrete due to formwork removal

Abstract : The movement of a section of a newly constructed reinforced 2-way suspended floor slab in the Department of Civil Engineering Science at the University of Johannesburg was monitored with an embedded optical fiber sensor (OFS) system during and after construction. The sensor system was used to monitor the strain in the structure before, during and after formwork removal. An OFS system was used due to its inherently distinct advantages such as its unobtrusiveness, lightweight and immunity to corrosion. This paper is concentrated on the findings of the results of these strain measurements with emphasis on the use of Fiber Bragg Gratings (FBG). Strain was measured over a 10 month period in a 5 m section of the suspended floor slab. Three periods during the 10 month period were observed. The first stage was showed 128 micro strain experienced by the structure. During the second stage the formwork was removed and large variations were monitored due to excessive external movement around the structure. The third stage indicated a 10 micro strain change. It was found that an OFS system can accurately measure the movement of reinforced concrete, thereby affording the design engineer to opportunity to monitor the structure during and after construction for large movements that can negatively affect the durability and the serviceability of the structure

C02 Emissions and Economic Growth: A Panel Data Analysis Evidence from Developing African Countries

This paper tests the Environmental Kuznet Hypothesis using data from 23 African countries for the period 1980–2019   in the Pedroni approach to panel cointegration analysis. The evidence suggests that both real GDP and energy consumption have a substantial effect on CO2 emission in most countries studied though energy consumption has less effect. However, in most countries, as income increases, the level of emission declines consistently with the EKC hypothesis. However, the econometric result, their interpretation, and their likely policy implications have to be taken with caution since there is a high degree of heterogeneity among the countries in terms of energy consumption,  real income as well as  CO2 emissions. This is more so when the analysis of the trend in the growth of the three variables used in estimation and the estimated results of fully modified OLS show large divergence among countries. However, the study recommends that, since a great number of economies in the study buttressed the EKC, therefore, the current policy on growth and energy consumption may be pursued without necessarily affecting the quality of their environment. However, other countries should implement strong regulatory and market-based policies on highly energy-intensive sectors to reduce their current level of emissions and attain sustainable, environment-friendly growth

COVID-19 Pandemic: A comparison of adult and pediatric populations

Aim:  Couple of pneumonia cases were reported in a short period in Wuhan, China. The cases were revealed to be associated with a different coronavirus type was named SARS-CoV-2 and the disease was identified as Covid-19.  It is known that the disease occurs in all age groups. We aimed to evaluate the differences in clinical and laboratory features between adult and pediatric patients. Method: The study is a retrospective cross-sectional study and consists of 206 patients with a definitive diagnosis of Covid-19 confirmed by a positive real-time reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing for SARS-CoV-2. They hospitalized in health institutions connected to City Health Administrative of Bolu, Turkey between 11.03.2020 and 19.04.2020. The number of the pediatric patients (0-17 age group) was 106, that of the adult patients (18 and above age group) was 100. Data concerning the patients consisted of age, symptoms, laboratory parameters such as hemogram, biochemistry, coagulation. Results: The mean values of platelet (PLT), platocrit (PCT), percentage of monocytes (MONO %) and MONO in the “0-17” age group were found to be significantly higher than the mean values in the “18 and above” age group. The hemoglobin (HGB) mean value of the “0-17” age group was significantly lower than that of the “18 and above” age group. The mean C - reactive protein (CRP) value of the “0-17” age group (4.55; min: 1.20 – max: 11.80) was significantly lower than that of the “18 and above” age group (5.35; min 1.25- max: 19.77) with no statistically significance. In pediatric group, the most common symptoms were other symptoms like diarrhea, vomiting and joint pain whereas the adult patients had fever and cough often with statistically significant. Conclusion: Clinical findings and laboratory abnormalities in Covid-19 are less common in children. Although it seems that Covid-19 is less symptomatic in children, they are also affected by the disease. Performing RT-PCR test based on the contact history of the children may help to minimize morbidity with an early diagnosis. Multicenter studies with more numbers of patients should be performed

C02 Emissions and Economic Growth: A Panel Data Analysis Evidence from Developing African Countries

This paper tests the Environmental Kuznet Hypothesis using data from 23 African countries for the period 1980–2019   in the Pedroni approach to panel cointegration analysis. The evidence suggests that both real GDP and energy consumption have a substantial effect on CO2 emission in most countries studied though energy consumption has less effect. However, in most countries, as income increases, the level of emission declines consistently with the EKC hypothesis. However, the econometric result, their interpretation, and their likely policy implications have to be taken with caution since there is a high degree of heterogeneity among the countries in terms of energy consumption,  real income as well as  CO2 emissions. This is more so when the analysis of the trend in the growth of the three variables used in estimation and the estimated results of fully modified OLS show large divergence among countries. However, the study recommends that, since a great number of economies in the study buttressed the EKC, therefore, the current policy on growth and energy consumption may be pursued without necessarily affecting the quality of their environment. However, other countries should implement strong regulatory and market-based policies on highly energy-intensive sectors to reduce their current level of emissions and attain sustainable, environment-friendly growth

Work related risk factors for lower back pain among nurses in Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH), Zaria-Nigeria

This study was carried out to assess the work-related risk factors for Lower Back Pain (LBP) among nurses in Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH), Shika - Zaria. The main objective of this Study is to determine the prevalence and duration of LBP as well as to identify the work-related risk factors associated with low back pain (LBP) among Nurses in ABUTH. This Study also examines the relationship between Socio-demographic characteristics of Nurses in ABUTH and development of LBP. The descriptive survey design was adopted and data were collected with help of pre-established Questionnaires. Multi-stage sampling method was used among nurses working in various departments/ units of the hospital. The Study sampled 120 Nurses of which 98 fully participated and filled the questionnaires completely. The major findings of this study were as follows: The cumulative point-prevalence of LBP among nurses was 82.7%. The duration of LBP among nurses were noted to be highest among those in pain for within 3 weeks (69.1%), this is followed by those whose pain is more than 12 weeks (12.3%). Risk factors associated with LBP were highest in lifting of patients or objects (90%), standing on duty (88.9%) and moving of heavy objects/equipments (81.5%). Furthermore, there were significant relationship between LBP and gender (X2 =3.77), and then LBP and Nurses’ Ward/Unit of work (X2 = 11.754). Therefore, it is recommended that efforts be made to prevent lower back pain among nurses working in ABUTH by implementing preventive measures using a multi-dimensional approach such as Sensitizing and encouraging nurses about using safe handling techniques while at work through workshops and use of posters, Training and providing manual laborers for transferring and lifting of patients, among others

STUDYING THE FORMATION AND STABILIZATION OF CUR-AL+3 COMPLEXES BY USING CITRIC ACID AS CATALYST

Cooking ware that is made of aluminum is used in different nations, particularly developing nations, and are a free source of aluminum. Due to its possible harmful effects on human health, aluminum is acknowledged as a public health problem. The goal of the current investigation is to evaluate curcumin's (CUR) capacity to decrease aluminium’s toxicity by forming stable complexes. Rhizomes that are sold in the local marketplaces have an 8.5% crude pigment content of CUR. At various pH levels, CUR's maximum absorbance was identified. Citric acid was used as a catalyst to create the CUR-Al+3 combination at various pH levels, which correspond to the rates at which Al+3 was eliminated from the solution. At pH 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, and 4.0, the highly complexation was seen. At such pH levels, the Al+3 elimination was 79.22, 78.28, 79.26, and 79.41%, respectively. The CUR-Al+3 complexes’ stability represent, respectively, 96.94, 96.29, 95.55, and 95.52% of the initial concentration at 25o, 50o, 75o, and 100o C for 60 min at pH value of 2.50. Using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), it has been possible to identify CUR and its complex with Al+3. At varied pH levels, 1.5, 2.5, 3.5, 4.5, 5.5, and 6.5 at boiling point, the leached aluminium from 3 regions of the aluminium cooking ware (Syrian, Iranian and local) was specified. Comparatively to Syrian and local cooking wares, Iranian cooking ware generally leached more aluminum. In comparison to other pH values, the percentages of the elimination of the aluminum that is leached by utilizing the most leaching cookware (Iranian) have been 79.23 and 79.26% at pH values of 2.50 and 3.50, respectively