Life in Quarantine Poem

https://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/pandemic-pandemonium-prompts/1010/thumbnail.jp

EVALUATION OF SELECTED SOIL ORGANIC AMENDMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF COCOYAM ROOT ROT BLIGHT COMPLEX (CRRBC) IN UMUDIKE

Soil-borne diseases are the second most important limiting factor on crop yield after water insufficiency.Xanthosoma spp production systems in particular are plagued by many intractable soil-borne diseases, likecocoyam root rot blight complex (CRRBC). A trial was conducted in Umudike, South-East Nigeria to determinethe effect of selected organic amendment composts on the growth and yield parameters of Xanthosomasagittifolium (NXs 002-Ede Uhie) and to evaluate their effect on CRRBC incidence and severity under Umudikeconditions. The experiment was set up in a split plot treatment fitted into a randomized complete block design(RCBD), at the Western Farm of National Root Crops Research Institute's (NRCRI) Farm, Umudike, South-EastNigeria. Organic amendment composts [poultry manure compost (PMC), cow dung compost (CDC), swine dungcompost (SDC), and rice mill waste compost (RMWC)] occupied the main plots, while rates of amendment (0, 4,8 t/ha) occupied the sub-plots. Treatments were replicated three times. Planting was done on plots measuring 2mx 4m and at a spacing of 0.50m within rows and 0.50m between rows. Composted organic amendmentstreatments were applied 2 weeks after sprouting. Blanket application of inorganic fertilizer (400kg/ha, NPK15:15:15) was applied 6 weeks after planting (WAP). Plots were manually kept weed-free. Relevant agronomicand pathological data were collected. All compost amendments improved growth parameters better than RMWC.Tallest plants were obtained from control plots which were attributed to improved plant nutrition by the blanketapplication of inorganic fertilizer. Highest corm yield and reduction in disease levels occurred in CDC amendedplots. Application of 8 t/ha CDC improved yield and yield parameters, and reduced CRRBC incidence andseverity of Xanthosoma sagittifolium (NXs 002 Ede Uhie) under Umudike conditions

Linkage between psychological contract and employee retention, performance and productivity in organizations in Nigeria

The study examines the linkage between psychological contract and employees‘ retention, performance and productivity in organizations in Nigeria. It studies the interplay between psychological contract and the variables with a view to understanding their interactions and impacts in organizations. The methodology is theoretical and analytical with the use of secondary resource materials. The paper reveals that global competition has altered business environment, hence organizations are compelled to devise improved methods of survival and performance by creating healthy and progressive relationship with their employees. The paper further averred that employees‘ behaviours are susceptible to the healthy relationship with their management. Consequently, a breach of psychological contract hinders employees‘ performance and ignites employees‘ propensity to quit the organization. This, to a considerable extent, affects organizational output. The study therefore, proposes that employee/employer relationship can be strengthened by clearly stating expectations during recruitment and induction stages of employment, initiating organizational culture that promotes transparency on policies and procedures that effect employees and creating a humane work environment that accommodates cooperation, consensus and employees‘ participation. This is necessary if organizations need to maintain their vibrant and resourceful workforce that will competitively drive organizational goals in this globalized economy and society.Keywords: Psychological contract, Employer, Employee retention, Performance, Productivity, Organization, Nigeria

Managing reward strategy to enhance employee performance, retention and productivity in organizations: A general overview

In a globalized economy with millions of businesses vying for talented workforce, an organization must be able to motivate and properly compensate employees or risk their being poached by their competitors. This prompts the need for this study to examine the application of reward strategy in organizations with a view to ascertaining its efficacy on employees‘ performance, retention and productivity. The study is essentially library research. From the study, two types of organizational rewards were identified: financial and non-financial rewards. The paper verified the positive correlation between rewards and employees‘ performance, retention and productivity in the organization. However, the study observed that if organizational rewards plan is perceived to be inequitable and bias, it may de-motivate employees in the organization. Based on this, the study proposes: that rewards system in the organization should be designed with articulated strategies that should be embedded in the organization‘s culture; management should identify employees‘ needs/preferences in developing organizations‘ compensation structure. The application of these notions when matched with a good managerial disposition will enable organizations to formulate effective, sustainable strategies that will address equitable and adequate reward for employees, which in turn will enhance employees‘ performance, retention and productivity in the organization.Keywords: Rewards, Employee, Performance, Retention, Productivity, Organizatio

Bridging the Barriers: ICT in the Girl-Child Education in Nigeria

The problems militating against the girl child education in Nigeria is an age long factor that hingers on cultural, social and religious undertones where the girl-child is perceived as inferior to the male and hence denied aceess to education anf her roles relegated to that of a home maker, child rearer and house keeper. The need to phase these barriers to the girl-child education is an enormous task educationist is saddled with in this 21st century and the emergence of ICT to Education has given it a new approach of interest as access to information will create more awareness on issues bothering on the girl-child education. The study was conducted in college of Education zing, Taraba state and drew a sample of 300 female respondents from the department of Social studies. Survey design was adopted for the study and the following findings were made; ICT mostly internet access improves the interest and motivation of female students and in return improves their educational achievement. The study recommended that ICT facilities should be provided for in the schools, trainings should be organiszed in the institutions to help females learn the relevance of ICT to education, female teachers should equally be encouraged to adapt to ICT so that the disparity with the students will be non existence. Keywords: Girl-Child Education, ICT, Academic achivemen

Pregnancy Outcomes Among The Ibani Of Rivers State, Nigeria: Findings From Case-Studies

The prevalence of high maternal and infant morbidity/mortality among the Ibani of Rivers State, Nigeria, is linked to socio-cultural factors that influence perceptions, attitudes and practices of the people with regard to pregnancy. This study investigates the factors affecting pregnancy outcomes among the Ibani by examining 19 cases identified through Exit-interviews (EIs). Findings indicate that pregnancy outcomes depend on the interaction of complex variables such as male role, socioeconomic status of women, child spacing, access and use of maternal health facilities, among others. The results show that there are 4 principal types of pregnancy outcomes among the Ibani, which include: Type-1 representing maternal and infant survival; Type-2 which is synonymous with maternal survival but infant mortality; Type-3 or spontaneous abortion; and Type-4 which represents maternal mortality but infant survival. The findings suggest that multiple social, cultural and ideological factors condition behaviours among the Ibani and that pregnancy outcomes are only comprehensively understood in the context they occur

Accumulation trends and patterns of some heavy metals in liver of Wistar rats following exposure to contaminated water

Heavy metals are known to cause damage through indirect oxidative effects. A comparative study on the bioavailability and liver accumulation of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and mercury (Hg) in rats following continuous exposures to Hg (10 ppm), Cd (200 ppm) and Pb (100 ppm) in drinking water was carried out for six weeks. The accumulations in the liver were determined using AAS. Analysis gave evidence that the rate of change was not the same for all three metals for all three periods of time; there was statistically (p<0.05) significant interaction between the types of metal and time in their relationship to levels accumulation of the metals. While Hg and Pb showed peak accumulation at the second week of exposure, there was decrease in accumulation by the fourth and sixth week. Cd on the other hand showed a continuous increase in accumulation over the six weeks of study. Results indicate that the heavy metal concentration in the liver is under some physiological control, which may involve the chemistry of these metals resulting in different uptake, accumulation and elimination rates from the liver.Keywords: cadmium, lead, mercury, liver, accumulation patter

Oil Price Volatility and Inflation Rate: Lessons for Overcoming Recession?

An important question is “what are the best options for diversifying a mono-product economy in recession?” Nigeria becomes a good case-study - as rising oil prices portend recovery for her economy, this paper explores the effects of variations in international crude oil prices and shocks on Nigeria’s inflation rate. To better highlight her situation, we analyze inflation rate changes in the twenty-year period (1996 – 2016) with respect to oil price volatility. A detailed analysis of the instability of inflation in Nigeria was performed by correlating it with international crude oil prices, domestic consumer price index and oil export proceeds by creating a VAR model and testing it for trends and correlation. The research reveals that the inflation rate is directly and indirectly affected by changes in oil prices in international markets. However, it was also discovered that shocks in oil prices do not immediately affect inflation rates significantly, but do have a delayed ripple effect that becomes detectible over time. The study also identifies reasons for unexplained variations in statistics and subsequently provides recommendations to minimize Nigeria’s vulnerability to international oil price shocks. One of which is to deepen the financial sector towards channeling resources to the real sector as money supply increases. Second, is to consider the effects of demographic changes on monetary policy measures. Finally, to incorporate the excess supply and its asymmetric effects on international and domestic prices

Resistance of Two B. Japonicum Strains to Antibiotics and Their Effect with or without Solid Carriers on Growth and Biomass Yield of Cowpea

Biological Nitrogen Fixation (BNF) is one of the major sources of nitrogen to inherently low tropical soils (Bohool et al.,1992). The level of resistances of microorganisms to different concentrations of antibiotics is a factor for determining the degree of tolerance of microbes to stressful environments, especially microbes which take part in BNF. Carriers are also required for effective inoculant preparation to facilitate the survival and multiplication of rhizobium strains(microbes). Parent rhizobium strains USDA 3384 and USDA 3451 were exposed to antibiotics at different concentrations to determine their intrinsic resistance level. These were further seeded into three different solid carriers (peat, composted maize cob and cowdung). The developed mutant strains inoculated with the solid carriers and mutant strains inoculated without the solid carriers were evaluated in the laboratory and pot experiments and their effect with or without solid carriers on growth and dry matter yield of cowpea (Ife bimpe) were assayed. Data on plant growth and dry matter yield of cowpea were analysed using ANOVA and means were separated using Duncan Multiple Range Test (DMRT) at 5 % probability level. USDA 3384 and USDA 3451 were resistant to Ampicillin trihydrate pensy at 500 mg/l and Streptomycin sulphate at 1000 mg/l respectively