ANALYSIS OF FACTORS INFLUENCING LOAN DEFAULT AMONG POULTRY FARMERS IN OGUN STATE NIGERIA

This study is interested in determining factors infl uencing default in loan repayment among poultry farmers in Ijebu Ode Local Government Area of Ogun State. A total of 100 poultry farmers were randomly sampled from the study area. Probit model was employed to determine and analyse the factors infl uencing default in loan repayment in the study area. Descriptive statistics were also employed to describe the socio-economic characteristics of the farmers. Finding revealed that majority of the farmers in the study area are educated. About 55.0 percent of the farmers source their credit from formal fi nancial institutions. Result from the probit model revealed that fl ock size of the farmers signifi cantly infl uence default in loan repayment at (P<0.10) level. Age of the farmers signifi cantly infl uence default in loan repayment at (P<0.01) level, while Educational level and Income of the farmers also signifi cantly infl uence default in loan repayment at (P<0.05) level

EVALUATION OF THE QUALITY CHARACTERISTICS OF COCOA BEAN DRIED USING DIFFERENT DRYING TECHNIQUES

Processing techniques, particularly drying because cocoa beans are extremely sensitive to moisture, have a significant impact on the quality of the final product. Fermented cocoa beans were dried using the NSPRI parabolic solar tent dryer (PSTD), wooden solar dryer (WSD), and open-air drying (OAD). The dried cocoa beans’ respective moisture contents (MCs) for PSTD, WSD, and OAD were 5.94%, 6.01%, and 6.82%, respectively. The corresponding MCs for the dried cocoa beans from PSTD, WSD, and OAD were 5.94%, 6.01%, and 6.82, respectively. It was found that the cut test scores for PSTD, WSD, and OAD were 1000, 985, and 965, respectively. This showed that, in contrast to those from WSD and OAD, the dried cocoa beans obtained from PSTD were fully brown. For WSD, OAD, and PSTD, respectively, the obtained pH values were 5.60, 5.65, and 5.80, and the total titratable acidity was 11.70 meq NaOH 100–1 g, 14.10 meq NaOH 100–1 g, and 18.30 meq NaOH 100–1 g for PSTD, WSD, and OAD, respectively. Food products’ shelf life may be indicated by the titratable acidity value. Due to its enclosed design, the NSPRI PSTD has an advantage over other drying methods because it completely eliminates the possibility of external and microbial contamination of the cocoa beans

Bio-preservative activities of Lactobacillus plantarum strains in fermenting Casssava ‘fufu’

The growth of three pathogens, namely Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella typhii were investigated in fermenting and non-fermenting cassava. The pH of the steeped cassava was also examined during fermentation. Antimicrobial effects of the Lactobacillus plantarum on the pathogens were also determined by agar diffusion method. All the pathogens were inhibited by L. plantarum strains with Staph. aureus having the highest inhibitory zone followed by E. coli and S. thyphii. However, in the fermenting cassava, the pathogens increased in population within the first 36 h of the process and decreased to complete extinction after the 96 h of fermentation. The L. plantarum exhibited high but varying degree of inhibition on the pathogens. The findings justify the bio-preservative roles of lactic acid bacteria in traditional cassava products.Key words: Bio-preservation, Lactobacillus plantarum, fermentation, cassava and pathogens

Threats to e-government implementation in the civil service: Nigeria as a case study

The rapid advancement in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has undoubtedly influenced positive changes in carrying out administrative functions in government institutions. The ICT adoption rate in Africa is not impressive when compared to the more developed countries of the world. Nigeria, as a case study in this scenario, has also not implemented E-Government impressively, according to the required standards set up by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU). A comprehensive study conducted on the application and implementation of E-Government in Nigeria has provided some metrics that examine the stumbling blocks for realization of adequate and efficient E-Government implementation in the civil service. The research was carried out in the federal civil service in Nigeria in two phases namely, pre-IT implementation phase and post-IT implementation phase. Our findings reveal that ICT implementation will remain elusive in the civil service as long as the as threats explained below remain unaddressed. It has therefore been asserted that the need to overcome these threats is a precondition for realization of E-Government implementation in the federal civil service

Threats to E-Government Implementation in the Civil Service: Nigeria as a Case Study

The rapid advancement in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has undoubtedly influenced positive changes in carrying out administrative functions in government institutions. The ICT adoption rate in Africa is not impressive when compared to the more developed countries of the world. Nigeria, as a case study in this scenario, has also not implemented E-Government impressively, according to the required standards set up by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU). A comprehensive study conducted on the application and implementation of E-Government in Nigeria has provided some metrics that examine the stumbling blocks for realization of adequate and efficient E-Government implementation in the civil service. The research was carried out in the federal civil service in Nigeria in two phases namely, pre-IT implementation phase and post-IT implementation phase. Our findings reveal that ICT implementation will remain elusive in the civil service as long as the as threats explained below remain unaddressed. It has therefore been asserted that the need to overcome these threats is a precondition for realization of E-Government implementation in the federal civil servic

A bibliometric study on water management accounting research from 2000 to 2018 in Scopus database

The emergence of the Sustainable Development Goal; Agenda 2030, has led to the development and growth of knowledge in various fields of learning. One among several is water management accounting; this field of study becomes necessary in addressing water use, water stress, and a tool for water advocacy which is an integral part of SDG goal 6; clean water and sanitation. Water management accounting (WMA) is a burgeoning field of research within the management accounting research cluster. This research area aims at providing information to improve the use of water resources, a resource being utilized by businesses as an essential raw material component; which facilitates production. The objective of this article is to make evident the insufficient body of literature in this evolving field of knowledge, thus providing research insight to researchers in management sciences. In achieving this objective, this study employs explicitly a bibliometric approach to analyse the volume of publications in the WMA research cluster from 2000 to 2018 using the Scopus database. Furthermore, a critique of the literature that emerged from the bibliometric approach was carried out in a tabular form to establish more research gaps. The study observed that water management accounting research cluster is currently plagued with stunted growth and low publication output. The authors recommended that scholars, researchers and managers should contribute to the development and research intensity in this budding field of knowledge

Changes in mediators of inflammation and pro-thrombosis after 12 months of dietary modification in adults with metabolic syndrome

Objective: This study evaluated the effects of a 12-month dietary modification on indices of inflammation and pro-thrombosis in adults with metabolic syndrome (MS).Materials and methods: This longitudinal study involved 252 adults with MS recruited from the Bodija market, Ibadan and its environs. Participants were placed on 20%, 30% and 50% calories obtained from protein, total fat and carbohydrate respectively and were followed up monthly for 12 months. Anthropometry and blood pressure were measured using standard methods. Fasting plasma glucose (FPG), total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), fibrinogen, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1)], interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) were measured using spectrophotometric methods and ELISA as appropriate. Data was analysed using ANCOVA, Student’s t-test, Mann-Whitney U and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests. P-values less than 0.05 were considered significant.Results: After 6 months of dietary modification, there was a significant reduction in waist circumference (WC), while the levels of HDL-C, fibrinogen and PAI-1 were significantly increased when compared with the corresponding baseline values. However, WC and fibrinogen reduced significantly, while HDL-C and IL-10 significantly increased after 12 months of dietary modification as compared with the respective baseline values.Conclusion: Long-term regular dietary modification may be beneficial in ameliorating inflammation and pro-thrombosis in metabolic syndrome.Keywords: Dietary modification, fibrinogen, interleukins, metabolic syndrome, plasminogen activator inhibito

Estudio de caso colombiano en la inclusión financiera en el cambio de la banca tradicional a la banca digital en el periodo 2012 – 2016

Trabajo de investigaciónLa inclusión financiera hace parte de las estrategias que tienen los gobiernos para ir desarrollando sus economías. En la investigación realizada se encuentra la evolución que se ha presentado en un periodo de 2012 a 2016 teniendo en cuenta aspectos estadísticos profundizando en la influencia que tienen los nuevos canales digitales a comparación de los tradicionales para aportar al crecimiento de la presencia de la población en el sector financiero.1. RESUMEN 2. MARCO TEÓRICO 3. DISEÑO METODOLÓGICO 4. RESULTADOS 5. CONCLUSIONES 6. REFERENCIASEspecializaciónEspecialista en Análisis y Administración Financier

Variability in traditional processing of gari: a major food security product from cassava

Cassava is a major crop for food security in Nigeria and its principal processed form is gari. Gari processing practices were observed in the southwest (Oyo State) and southeast (Benue State) of Nigeria using two complementary approaches: 1) semi-quantitative surveys with processors (n=123) and 2) actual detailed measurements at processing units (n=7). Size of processing operations and type of practices differed significantly between the two States. There were also intra-State differences, influenced by ethnicity and customs. Variability of processing practices should be considered whilst seeking to improve processing productivity and introducing nutritious varieties of cassava to feed fast-growing Nigerian population

A comparative, randomized clinical trial of artemisinin/naphtoquine twice daily one day versus artemether/lumefantrine six doses regimen in children and adults with uncomplicated falciparum malaria in Côte d'Ivoire

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Drug resistance in <it>Plasmodium falciparum </it>poses a major threat to malaria control. Combination anti-malarial therapy, including artemisinins, has been advocated to improve efficacy and limit the spread of resistance. The fixed combination of oral artemether-lumefantrine (AL) is highly effective and well-tolerated. Artemisinin/naphtoquine (AN) is a fixed-dose ACT that has recently become available in Africa.</p> <p>The objectives of the study were to compare the efficacy and safety of AN and AL for the treatment of uncomplicated <it>falciparum </it>malaria in a high transmission-intensity site in Ivory Coast.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We enrolled 122 participants aged 6 months or more with uncomplicated <it>falciparum </it>malaria. Participants were randomized to receive either artemisinin/naphtoquine or artemether/lumefantrine with variable dose according to their weight. Primary endpoints were the risks of treatment failure within 28 days, either unadjusted or adjusted by genotyping to distinguish recrudescence from new infection.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Among 125 participants enrolled, 123 (98.4%) completed follow-up. Clinical evaluation of the 123 participants showed that cumulative PCR-uncorrected cure rate on day 28 was 100% for artemisinin/naphtoquine and 98.4% for artemether/lumefantrine. Both artemisinin-based combinations effected rapid fever and parasite clearance.</p> <p>Interpretation</p> <p>These data suggest that Arco^®could prove to be suitable for use as combination antimalarial therapy. Meanwhile, pharmacokinetic studies and further efficacy assessment should be conducted before its widespread use can be supported.</p