Government Expenditure and Inflation Rate in Nigeria: An Empirical Analyses of Pairwise Causal Relationship

The study investigates the nature and extent of causal relationship between government expenditure and inflation rate in a 42-year  period (1970-2011).Times series data obtained from the Central Bank's statistical bulletin of relevant years are analysed using descriptive(graphs and charts) and inferential(correlation,stationarity,Johansen's cointegration test and Granger causality test) analysis.The variables are stationary,weakly and inversely correlated and show longrun relationship.However,they did not granger-cause each other implying that there exists no pairwise causal relationship between them. We recommend appropriate fiscal-monetary policy mix,redirecting government expenditure to productive channels in the economy and maintaing a strategic balance between capital and recurrent expenditure. Keywords: Government Expenditure;Inflation Rate;Pair-wise causal relationship; Granger causality test

Government Expenditure and Inflation Rate in Nigeria: An Empirical Analyses of Pairwise Causal Relationship.

The study investigates the nature and extent of causal relationship between government expenditure and inflation rate in a 42-year  period (1970-2011). Times series data obtained from the Central Bank's statistical bulletin of relevant years are analysed using descriptive(graphs and charts) and inferential (correlation, stationarity, Johansen's cointegration test and Granger causality test) analysis. The  variables are stationary, weakly and inversely correlated and show longrun relationship. However, they did not granger-cause each other implying that there exists no pairwise causal relationship between them. We recommend appropriate fiscal-monetary policy mix,redirecting government expenditure to productive channels in the economy and maintaing ba strategic balance between capital and recurrent expenditure. Keywords: Government Expenditure; Inflation Rate; Pair-wise causal relationship; Granger causality test

Antioxidant properties, macro and micro elements of selected edible vegetables

Background: Many green leafy vegetables (GLV) have been shown to have  significant antioxidant activity which may be an important property of medicinal plants associated with the treatment of several diseases. Trace element plays a crucial role in the medicinal value of a plant, in health and to cure disease. They play a nutritive, catalytic and balancing function in plants and animals, since animals  easily consume these minerals through food.Objective: The aim of this work is to quantify the macro and trace elements present in these vegetables in order to determine their contribution to the daily dietary  requirement and also determine those element that are present in excess of their maximum dietary allowance.Methodology: The elemental composition and antioxidant activities of ten common edible vegetables obtain from a market in Ibadan, Nigeria were analyzed using  atomic absorption spectroscopy and DPPH radical scavenging assay.Result: Three macro elements and seven trace elements were determined. The  vegetables samples were found to contain trace elements such as manganese, iron, copper, cobalt, chromium (Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Co, Cr). Telfaria occidentalis, one of the most widely eaten vegetables has the best profile for macro elements with a  concentration of 364.2±1.1 mg/g for Ca, 55.4±1.3 mg/g for Mn and 365.6±0.3 mg/g for K. It also had a concentration of 1185.0±0.8 mg/g for Fe.Conclusion: Only one of the vegetables was found to accumulate lead in excess of maximum daily intake. All vegetables were found to be rich in many of the essential elements and all vegetables exhibited varying degree of antioxidant capacity with Gnetum africanum (Gnetaceae) having the highest radical scavenging activity of 14.58 ± 1.8 μg/mL .Keywords: Macro elements, Trace elements, DPPH radical scavenging, Edible  vegetabl

Anti-poliovirus activity of medicinal plants selected from the Nigerian ethno-medicine

This study was carried out to validate acclaimed anti-poliovirus effect of crude methanol extracts from 14 medicinal plants used by traditional healers in Southwest Nigeria. Plant samples were powdered and extracted by cold maceration into absolute methanol and maximum non toxic concentration (MNTC) of each plant extract to rhabdomyosarcoma (RD) cells was determined in tissue culture. Using serial twofold dilution of the MNTC (specific for each extract), ability of extract to inhibit viral-induced cell death (CPE) in tissue culture was evaluated three days post-infection by 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) colorimetric assays. 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) and 50% cytotoxic concentration (CC50) was determined by statistical analysis. Selective index was calculated as ratio of CC50 to IC50. Out of the 14 plant extracts evaluated for anti-poliovirus activity, Senna siamea (Lamk.) Irwin et Barneby (bark extract) and Zephyranthes candida Lindl (whole plant) demonstrated significant in vitro activity with IC50 of 0.0019 and 0.121 μg/mL, respectively. Bioassay-guided fractionation of extracts indicated that activities were retained in chloroform fraction of Z. candida, and also in hexane and chloroform fractions of S. siamea, but none of the polar fractions were active. These results support the traditional use of S. siamea and Z. candida as antiviral agents and suggest that they could provide a possible source for anti-poliovirus drug discovery and development.Keywords: Anti-poliovirus activity, traditional medicine, MTT colorimetric assayAfrican Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 12(24), pp. 3878-388

Time of presentation of stroke patients for CT imaging in a Nigerian tertiary hospital

Background: Neuroimaging is the cornerstone for guiding thrombolytic and interventional therapy for stroke. Beneficial outcome can only be obtained within a rather short time of less than 3-4.5 hours of symptom onset. Challenges in developing countries like Nigeria often lead to delayed presentation of stroke patients in hospitals. We sought to study the time and pattern of presentation of stroke patients for CT imaging in a Nigerian tertiary hospital.Methods: Of the 271 stroke patients who had cranial CT between 2008 and 2010, eighty-three (30.6%) with full retrievable CT records, were included in this study. They were categorized into six time groups cross-tabulated with their CT findings.Results: Forty-two patients (50.6%) had cerebral infarction while 23 (27.7%) had haemorrhagic stroke. However, 18 (21.7%) patients had apparently normal CT findings. The mean presentation time for CT imaging was 70 hours (SD ±94 hours). Only 31% of all stroke patients presented for CT imaging within 12 hours, and none, within 3 hours. Forty-six percent did not present within 24 hours of symptom onset. Significantly more patients with ischemic stroke (72.3%) than hemorrhagic stroke (27.7%) presented after 12 hours of ictus (X2 = 4.027 d=1, P =0.045). Age (X2=0.008, P =0.931) and gender (X21.742, d=1,P =0.187) had no statistically significant relationship with the time of presentation for CT imaging.Conclusion: None of our patients met the time criteria for thrombolytic therapy. Ischemic stroke patients presented for imaging later than patients with intracerebral haemorrhage. There is a need to increase the awareness regarding early recognition, presentation and diagnosis of stroke for timely intervention in Nigeria.Keywords: Time, Stroke, CT Imaging, Nigeri

Job Satisfaction, and Psychological Distress Among Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) Personnel Deployed for Operation Hadin Kai in Yobe State

The study assessed the relationship between job satisfaction and depression, anxiety and stress among Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) personnel deployed for Operation Hadin Kai in Yobe state. A cross-sectional survey design was adopted to obtain information from three hundred and twenty-five (325) personnel using purposive sampling method. Job Description Index (Smith, Kendall & Hulin, 1969) and the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (Lovidond & Lovibond, 1995) were adopted in the study. Majority of the respondents had moderate level of depression, (n=103, 31.7%) and 31 (9.5%) had extremely severe depression. Also, majority of the respondents had high level of anxiety, 111 (34.2%). Furthermore, majority of the respondents had normal level of stress, 149 (45.8%). In respect to job satisfaction, majority of the respondents had low level of satisfaction with their job, 297 (91.4%). Also, there was a slight majority of the respondents who were satisfied with their pay 165 (50.8%) as compared to those that were not, 160 (49.2%). For promotion, majority were not satisfied, 308 (94.8%). Low satisfaction with supervisor also had a majority of 308 (94.8%) and also, majority were not satisfied with their co-workers, 316 (97.2%).  Gender (X=6.660, p<.05), Age (X =6.781, p<.05) and Rank (X =3.799, p<.05) were significant predictors of job satisfaction while psychological distress (X =3.265, p>.05), religion (X =2.635, p>.05) and marital status (X =.640, p>.05) were not found to be significant. Personnel of the NSCDC in Yobe were shown to have feelings of low satisfaction about their job with high psychological distress. Psychosocial interventions should be instituted by the military institution in collaboration with the NSCDC authorities to boost the morale of their personnel deployed to protect the integrity of the nation. Keywords:Job Satisfaction, Psychological Distress, Depression, Anxiety, Stress, DOI: 10.7176/RHSS/11-16-03 Publication date:August 31st 202