Impact of export incentive schemes on the performance of agricultural exports in Nigeria

Abstract. This paper examines the impact of export incentive schemes on the Performance of agricultural exports in Nigeria, using quarterly time series data from 1990-2014. The study employed Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model to cointegration analysis and Granger causality test to examine the long run and causality relationship between growth in the Performance of agricultural exports and export incentive schemes in Nigeria. The bounds tests used in the study revealed that there is no long run equilibrium relationship between export incentive schemes and the performance of agricultural exports in Nigeria. It is of high importance to note that the granger casualty test indicates that there was a unidirectional relationship running from agricultural export (AGR) to export expansion grant (EEG), export development fund (EDF) to agricultural export (AGR). Since the findings of the study show that export development fund has positive and significant impact on the performance of agricultural exports in Nigeria, the study suggests that major concern should be given to its management and disbursement to ensure stable growth in the sub-component (agriculture) of non-oil export in Nigeria. This can be achieved through adequate funding by the concerned authority.Keywords. Export incentives, Non-oil exports, Causality, ARDL, Nigeria. JEL. J43, Q00, Q10

Effects of Senna occidentalis leaf supplement on blood glucose level, liver enzymes and total protein in alloxan-induced diabetic wistar rats

Diabetes mellitus is one of the most common non communicable diseases around the world and is responsible for many deaths resulting from some of its serious complications. Senna occidentalis Linn. is extensively being used in folklore medicine to cure and/or manage many disease conditions, although its adequate validation as therapeutic (specifically anti-diabetic and hepatoprotective) effects has not been established. The aim of this study is to determine the effects of Senna occidentalis leaf supplement on blood glucose level, liver enzymes and total protein in alloxan-induced diabetic wistar rats. Diabetes was induced by single intraperitoneal injection of alloxan (150 mg/kg). Thereafter the rats were fed with Senna occidentalis leaf supplement at doses of 12.5%, 25% and 50% .Also Glibenclamide was used as a standard drug (2 mg/kg ) as positive control and diabetic control received distilled water as negative control. Blood glucose levels were measured at day 0, 4, 8, 12 and 16. The liver enzymes and total protein were also determined using the serum and histopathological studies of the pancreas and liver were conducted. Quantitative phytochemical screening revealed that the supplement has high amount of phytoconstitutuents like total phenols, flavonoids, tannins, saponins and alkaloids, which have a percentage composition of 20%, 10.80%, 15%, 0.55% and 7.20%, respectively. Blood glucose levels of all animals treated with the supplement were reduced significantly (p<0.05) by about 82.13%, 88.36 and 81.78% respectively when compared with that of the untreated diabetic control group. There was also an increase in the total protein (p< 0.05) to 90.98 ± 6.02, 73.72 ± 3.02 and 92.23 ± 4.01, respectively in comparison to that of the untreated diabetic group having 69.04 ± 3.59; and hepatotoxicity due to the observed increase in the activities of all the liver enzymes as well as hepatocellular necrosis, sinusoidal congestion and hemorrhage as revealed in the histopathological studies of the liver. This study shows that S. occidentalis leaf supplement has potent hypoglycemic effect due to its high content of active principles that possess strong and potent insulinomimetic and β-cell regenerating potential as depicted by the histopathological studies of the pancreatic tissue, even though, some cytotoxic agents like the cytotoxic saponins may be present in the supplement which is capable of causing damage to both pancreas and liver . These findings prove its use in traditional medicine for the treatment of diabetes but with caution due to its probable potential to induce hepatotoxicity.Keywords: Antidiabetic, Hepatoprotective, Hepatotoxicity, Phytoconstitutuents, Insulinomimetic, Senna occidentali

Antidiabetic effect of fermented Pennisetum glaucum (millet) supplement in alloxan induced hyperglycemic wistar rats

Diabetes mellitus is a debilitating disease that is characterized clinically by hyperglycemia due to chronic and/or relative insulin insufficiency. The disease is associated with disturbance in lipid and protein metabolism. Pennisetum glaucum (PG) has been recommended for several therapeutic purposes as it has been shown to have high amount of magnesium which helps to increase the levels of adiponectin hormone but the hypoglycemic effect of millet as a supplement is yet to be fully elucidated. Therefore this research was designed to determine the effect of Pennisetum glaucum supplement on blood glucose level and serum lipid profile. Diabetes mellitus was induced by single intraperitoneal (i.p) injection of alloxan dissolved in 0.1ml fresh cold citrate buffer pH 4.5 at a dose of 150 mg/kg body weight, after which the rats were randomly divided into 5 groups. Group 1 normoglycemic, Group 2 Diabetic untreated, Group 3 Diabetic treated with 1 mg/kg of Glibenclamide (GB). Group 4 Diabetic treated with 33%w/v P.G. supplement, Group 5 Diabetic treated with 66% P.G. supplement. When compared with the diabetic control, the study revealed a significant decrease (p>0.05) in blood glucose level at both 33%w/v and 66% w/v P.G. supplementation. It also showed that P.G. at both 33% and 66% supplement was able to lower Triglycerides and LDL serum levels as well increase HDL serum levels although not statistically significant, but significantly restored HDL/Cholesterol and Triglycerides/HDL ratios to normal physiological range. Pennisetum glaucum supplementation showed high hypoglycemic effect and also hypolipidemic property in alloxan induced hyperglycemic wistar rats.Keywords: Pennisetum glaucum, hypolipidemia, hyperglycemi

Effects of fermented soya bean supplements on lipid profile and oxidative stress biomarkers in high fat diet-induced Type 2 diabetes mellitus in rabbits

Background: High fat diets are known to increase body weight and fat mass, induce alterations in carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, leading to insulin resistance and diabetes mellitus. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of fermented soya bean supplements on lipid profile and oxidative stress biomarkers in high fat diet-induced type 2 diabetes mellitus in rabbits.Methods: Twenty rabbits weighing between 1kg – 2kg were used for the study. Type 2 diabetes mellitus was induced by feeding the animals with high fat diet (2% cholesterol, 20% groundnut meal, 10% groundnut oil) for eight weeks. Rabbits having fasting blood glucose levels of 7.2 mmol/L (130mg/dL) and above after the induction period were selected for the study. The animals were grouped into four groups of five rabbits each: Group 1 (diabetic control), received distilled water ad libitum for six weeks; groups 2, 3 and 4 (diabetic rabbits) were fed with 12.5%, 25% and 50% fermented soya bean supplements respectively for six weeks. Thereafter, the rabbits were sacrificed and blood samples obtained for analyses. Data were analysed using analysis of variance (ANOVA).Results: There was a significant decrease (p ≤ 0.05) in triglyceride and LDL concentrations in the group fed 50% fermented soya bean supplements and a significant increase in HDL levels (p ≤ 0.05) in all the fermented soya bean supplemented groups when compared with the diabetic control group. The result also showed a significant decrease (p ≤ 0.05) in malondialdehyde concentration in all the treated groups when compared with the control group. Superoxide dismutase was significantly decreased in the group fed 12.5% and 25% fermented soya bean supplements while catalase was significantly decreased in the group fed 12.5% fermented soya bean supplement when compared with the control group.Conclusion: Fermented soya bean supplements decreased lipid profile and improved antioxidant activities in diabetic rabbits and may prove beneficial in the management of hyperlipidaemia and oxidative stress in diabetic patients.Keywords: Diabetes mellitus, fermented soya beans, high fat diet, hyperlipidaemia, lipid profile, oxidative stress biomarker

Identification of the splice variants of Recepteur d'Origine nantais (RON) in lung cancer cell lines

RON receptor tyrosine kinase is a transmembrane protein directly involved in suppression of inflammation and its aberrant expression linked to cancers and metastasis. Efforts to block deregulated RON signaling in tumors using small molecule kinase inhibitors or antibodies have been complicated by the presence of unknown number/types of isoforms of RON, which, despite being structurally similar, localize differently and mediate varied functions. Current study was designed to identify the splice variants of RON transcripts formed by skipping of sequences between exons 9 and 14 for better understanding of isoform specific RON signaling in cancers. PCR amplification and bi-directional sequencing of a 901 bp cDNA sequence located between exons 9 to 14 of RON from lung cancer cell lines revealed the presence of two splicing variants formed by skipping of exons 11 and 11–13. Each of these transcripts was found in more than one cell line. Expressed sequence tag (EST) database search indicated that the splicing variant lacking exons 11–13 was a novel one. Here we conclude that the splice variants of RON lacking exon 11 and exons 11–13 were detected in several lung cancer cell lines. Novel variant formed by skipping exons 11–13, the sequence of which code for transmembrane region, is predicted to code for a truncated isoform that may be secreted out. Tumors may antagonize the ligand dependent anti-inflammatory function of wild-type RON by secreting out the ligand binding isoforms

Focus on Niger State Housing Corporation (N.S.H.C.)

Established in 1979, Niger State Housing Corporation (NSHC)had the primary responsibility to address qualitative and quantitative housing inadequacy in Niger State, thereby enhancing the standard of living of her citizens, this article with the aim of elucidating the activities of the Corporation for performance rating , has the objectives to examine its consultancy and contracting services, and to assess its home ownership and other programmes. The methodology adopted for the study was the qualitative research design method which provides description of case studies with purposive sampling, hence the analyses also. The results of the study concluded that the NSHC’s performance from inception to date has been very satisfactory, and recommended that the Corporation enhances its programmes and continue to discharge its responsibilities to Nigerian citizens in the State with more enlightenment about its activitie

Time-cost effective factor of a Midimew connected Mesh network

Hierarchical Interconnection Network (HIN) is indispensable for the practical implementation of future generation massively parallel computer systems which consists of hundred thousands nodes or even millions of nodes. Because it yields good performance with low cost due to reduction of communication links and by exploring the locality in the communication & traffic patterns. A Midimew connected Mesh Network (MMN) is an HIN comprised of numerous basic modules, where the basic modules are 2D-mesh networks and they are hierarchically interconnected using midimew network to construct the higher level networks. In this paper, we present the architecture of a MMN and evaluate the time-cost effective factor of MMN, TESH, mesh, and torus networks. It is found that the proposed MMN yields slightly high time-cost effectiveness factor with small diameter and average distance as compared to other networks. Overall, performance with respect to time-cost effectiveness factor with small diameter and average distance suggests that the proposed MMN will be a indispensable choice for the next generation massively parallel computer systems

Cost effective factor of a midimew connected mesh network

Background and Objective: Hierarchical Interconnection Network (HIN) is very much essential for the practical implementation of future generation Massively Parallel Computers (MPC) systems which consists of millions of nodes. It yields better performance with low cost due to reduction of wires and by exploring the locality in the communication\and traffic patterns. The main objective of this paper is to analyze the static cost effective factor of Midimew connected Mesh Network (MMN). Materials and Methods: A Midimew connected Mesh Network (MMN) is a HIN comprised of numerous basic modules, where the basic modules are 2D-mesh networks and they are hierarchically interconnected using midimew network to assemble the higher level networks. Results: This study, present the architecture of a MMN and evaluate the cost effective factor of MMN, TESH (Tori-connected Mesh), mesh and torus networks. The results shows that the cost effective factor of MMN was trivially higher than that of mesh and torus network. Conclusion: It was revealed that the proposed MMN yields a little bit high cost effectiveness factor with small diameter and average distance. Overall, performance with respect to cost effective factor with small diameter and average distance suggests that the MMN will be a promising choice for next generation MPC system

Electrolyte and oxidative stress profile of healthy adult population in Zaria, Nigeria, and their relationship with experimental pain response

Background: Electrolyte imbalance and oxidative stress (OS) are known to impair physiological functions, which can alter health and wellbeing. The reactive species produced due to OS are detoxified by endogenous antioxidants to maintain homeostasis. This study investigated the electrolyte and oxidative stress profile of a healthy adult population in Zaria, Nigeria and their relationship with experimental pain outcome. Method: Participants were apparently healthy adult volunteers between the ages of 20 to 65 years and drawn from the city of Zaria and its environs. Experimental pain was induced using pressure algometry. About 5 ml of blood was collected for determination of serum electrolytes, malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD). Result: The results showed that serum concentrations of sodium, potassium and chloride as well as oxidative stress profile did not vary with sex, age and ethnicity among the studied population. There was a significant negative correlation between pressure pain threshold and serum concentration of potassium (r = 0.2330, p = 0.003) and chloride (r = 0.2126, p = 0.007), while serum sodium correlated positively (r = 0.3439, p = 0.000). Serum MDA, SOD and GSH did not show statistically significant correlation with pressure pain threshold (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Serum electrolytes, but not oxidative stress markers, correlate significantly with experimental pressure pain threshold among healthy adult population in Zaria, Nigeria Keywords: Electrolytes, oxidative stress, pressure pain, sex, age, ethnicit

Detection, Quantification and Classification of Ripened Tomatoes: A Comparative Analysis of Image Processing and Machine Learning

In this paper, specifically for detection of ripe/unripe tomatoes with/without defects in the crop field, two distinct methods are described and compared. One is a machine learning approach, known as ‘Cascaded Object Detector’ and the other is a composition of traditional customized methods, individually known as ‘Colour Transformation’, ‘Colour Segmentation’ and ‘Circular Hough Transformation’. The (Viola Jones) Cascaded Object Detector generates ‘histogram of oriented gradient’ (HOG) features to detect tomatoes. For ripeness checking, the RGB mean is calculated with a set of rules. However, for traditional methods, color thresholding is applied to detect tomatoes either from a natural or solid background and RGB colour is adjusted to identify ripened tomatoes. In this work, Colour Segmentation is applied in the detection of tomatoes with defects, which has not previously been applied under machine learning techniques. The function modules of this algorithm are fed formatted images, captured by a camera mounted on a mobile robot. This robot was designed, built and operated in a tomato field to identify and quantify both green and ripened tomatoes as well as to detect damaged/blemished ones. This algorithm is shown to be optimally feasible for any micro-controller based miniature electronic devices in terms of its run time complexity of O(n3) for traditional method in best and average cases. Comparisons show that the accuracy of the machine learning method is 95%, better than that of the Colour Segmentation Method using MATLAB. This result is potentially significant for farmers in crop fields to identify the condition of tomatoes quickly