The impact of extension intensities on income of sheep producers in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa

Agricultural extension remains a key strategy for dissemination of improved agricultural technologies, yet its effectiveness is related to the level of engagement with farmers. The aim of this study was to analyse the impact of extension intensities on income of sheep producers in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. The study employed a cross-sectional research design and purposive sampling technique to select 105 sheep producing households who had differing degrees of exposure to the extension service in terms of the frequency of visits they hosted. The results showed that the extension intensity did not seem to have played an important role in the level of income of the households that raised and sold sheep. While this is a reflection of the fact that the existing extension services are delivered to groups rather than individual farmers, whereas farming occurs at the individual level, it is probable that measurement of the extension engagement could be an issue. Whatever the case is, the study recommends the use of other extension methods, such as face-to-face interactions, demonstrations, and more frequent visits by the extension officers, which would improve the extension effects, thus allowing the modification of the methodology to quantify the level of extension intensity employed.Keywords: Agricultural extension, sheep producers, Eastern Cap

EFFECT OF PRE-COPULATORY TREATMENT WITH AQUEOUS LEAF EXTRACT OF Spondias mombin ON GESTATIONAL CHARACSTERISTICS OF RABBITS

Fifteen plurigravida rabbits weighing between 2.0 and 2.6 kg were used for the study of gestational characteristics after pre-copulatory oral administration of aqueous leaf extract of Spondias mombin. The fifteen does were divided into three groups of five does per group. Four untreated reproductively proven bucks kept separately in different cages were used for copulation. Dosages administered were 400mg/kg and 800mg/kg for groups A and B respectively while distilled water was served to control group C. Mating, pregnancy diagnosis using ultrasound and determination of birth parameters were conducted subsequently at the end of extract treatment. Average litter size,birth weight and gestation length observed in all dosage groups had statistically similar values (p≥0.05).However, it is worth noting the relatively higher values of average litter size in 800mg/kg dosage group and control (5.60±0.40) compared to 400mg/kg group (5.40±0.75) and the highest birth weight value recorded for 800mg/kg (46.63±3.55) compared to 400mg\kg group (45.30±3.22) and control (42.38±3.74). It was concluded that pre-copulatory administration of aqueous leaf extract of Spondias mombin at dosages as high as 800mg/kg to rabbit does not have deleterious effect on its prolificacy and does have pro-fertility tendencies.       &nbsp

Application of Ground and Aeromagnetics as Reconnaissance Tool for Hydrocarbon Exploration in Part of Ikom Embayment and Lower Benue Trough, Nigeria

In addition to ground magnetic survey carried out in the study area to appraise its hydrocarbon potentials, three aeromagnetic maps on a scale 1:100,000 covering part of Ikom Embayment and Lower Benue Trough were manually digitized and analysed using computer-based programmes such as HDEP, SURFIT, MFINITE, MFFILTER, MFDESIGN, JMERGER, FRTP, PC CONTOUR, P2 GRID, OASIS MONTAJ, GEOCON AND SURFER 9.0 to determine the depth to basement as well as the configuration of the sub-basins within the study area. The average depth of the shallow and deep basins is 1.5Km and 2.5Km respectively with Nkum axis of the Ikom Embayment having the thickest sediments (about 4.0Km). The presence of few intrusives, thick pile of sediments and faults around Nkum- Edor area of Ikom Embayment indicates that they may have good prospects for hydrocarbon accumulation.

Effect of Teacher Variables on the Teaching of Initial Reading to Basics 1 and 2 Pupils in Imo State, Nigeria

Teaching initial reading is a herculean task that must be carried out by qualified, mature teachers. This work is out to investigate if the conditions are met by initial reading teachers in Owerri, Imo State. This study is a survey, carried out on 300 pupils and 60 teachers, randomly selected from eight public basic schools in Owerri Educational Zone 1 of Imo State. Two research hypotheses were posed and two 4-point Likert rating scales; a checklist and a questionnaire with Cronbach Reliability Coefficient r= 0.63 and r= 0.61 respectively were used to generate data, analyzed using t-test. Findings revealed that adult, experienced teachers with Bachelor’s degree in language education (B.Ed.) teach initial reading. There was no significant difference between Basic 1 and Basic 2 teachers’ teaching methods: t (58) = -0.381, p = .146 with Basic one (x̅= 12.54, S.D= 2.487) to Basic two (x̅= 12.75, S.D= 1.741) with the effect size of (r = 0.093) very small; no significant difference in the challenges teachers face in teaching initial reading: t (58) = 0.064, p = .842 with Basic one (x̅= 16.04, S.D= 2.134) to Basic two (x̅= 16.00, S.D= 2.200) with the effect size of (r = 0.045) very small; and no significant difference in teachers’ cadre: t (58) = 0.844, p = .258 with Basic one (x̅= 12.64, S.D= 1.592) to Basic two (x̅= 13.03, S.D= 1.926) with the effect size of (r = 0.234) moderate. It was therefore suggested that teachers should be qualified, have teaching experience, and use mother tongue in their classroom interactions to build in pupils a strong, lifelong foundation in reading.Key Words: Initial reading, mother tongue, qualified teachers, basic learners, teaching methods, reading difficulties, challenge

COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THREE DIFFERENT PREGNANCY DIAGNOSIS TECHNIQUES IN RABBITS

Seven pluriparous non-gravid does and two matured bucks were utilized for the study. Does were all mated after 30 days of stabilization. Successful mating was confirmed by a recoil, backward or sideway fall and emission of a snorting sound by the male. Pregnancy detection was by weight gain, abdominal palpation and ultrasonography techniques at days 6, 9,13,18,23. Abdominal palpation of does was carried out by gentle palpation of nodule-like tissues in the ventral abdomen. Transcutaneous ultrasonography was performed using ultrasound machine Kaixin KX2000®. Weight gain was monitored using a sensitive weighing scale. Early pregnancy was diagnosed by ultrasonography and abdominal palpation on days 6.00±0.00 and 7.5±1.29 post-copulation respectively. Pregnancy was diagnosed by abdominal palpation in 28.57% of the does on day 6 and increased to 100% on day 9 post-copulation; however diagnosis by ultrasonography was 100% on day 6. The average weight gain was 0.029±0.029kg by day 6; 0.057±0.4 by day 13, which plateaued till parturition. Ultrasonography could therefore be used effectively for pregnancy diagnosis as early as day 6 of gestation in rabbit does while abdominal palpation could serve in absence of ultrasonography by day 9 of gestation. Weight gain is a positive adjunct to other pregnancy diagnostic techniques.     &nbsp

Weekend versus weekday hospital deaths: Analysis of in‑patient data in a Nigerian tertiary healthcare center

Aim: This study aims at comparing weekday deaths to weekend deaths of in‑patients of a tertiary hospital in Nigeria.Materials and Methods: This is a 10‑year retrospective survey conducted at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital in which the death records of the hospital were accessed from the various wards and health records department to extract relevant data pertaining to the time of hospital death. Tests of statistical significance were done using Chi‑square test at 95% confidence intervals.Results: A total of 3934 deaths were recorded during the period of study. The ages ranged from a few hours to 94 years with a mean age of 38.5 years. The male to female ratio was 1.2:1. An average of 547 weekend deaths and 568 weekday deaths were recorded, giving a ratio of 0.96:1. A ratio of weekend to weekday death rate of 0.99:1 and 0.93:1 for the males and females, respectively was noted. The labor ward, followed by the intensive care unit (ICU) had the highest weekend to weekday death ratio of 1.72:1 (P = 0.0461) and 1.41:1 (P = 0.1440), respectively. Weekend deaths were less in the other wards, with the gynaecological ward having the least ratio of 0.63:1 (P = 0.7360).Conclusion: The rate of hospital deaths was generally found not to vary significantly over the weekends and weekdays in the hospital except for the labor ward which had significantly higher weekend to weekday death rates of 1.72:1. There is therefore need for confidential enquiry into the causes of hospital deaths, especially in the labor ward, in order to identify and prevent avoidable deaths.Keywords: Hospital deaths, in‑patients, weekend deathsNigerian Journal of Clinical Practice • Oct-Dec 2013 • Vol 16 • Issue

Income Growth-Financial Stability Nexus: The Role of Institutional Quality in Emerging Economies

Motivated by the mixed evidence on growth-finance nexus, we explore the case of 23 emerging countries to offer robust insight on the extent to which financial stability(instability) induce or impede income growth. Exploring a dynamic panel estimation technique using system GMM estimator, we find both the banking segment of the financial system captured as non-performing loan and the non-banking segment measured via stock market volatility as viable underlying sources of financial instability causing declining income growth in emerging markets. Quite an interesting finding, however, is the potential of institutional quality as viable for alleviating the probable adverse effects of financial instability on income growth, particularly via corruption control, political stability, and voice of accountability. Keywords: Financial stability(instability); Institutional quality; Emerging markets; Dynamic panels; Income growth JEL Codes: C33, E01, E44, O11, O16 DOI: 10.7176/RJFA/12-14-08 Publication date:July 31st 202

An Analysis of Inclusive Education in Eastern Kentucky

A report submitted by James A. Knoll to the Research and Creative Productions Committee in April of 1997 on the results of a mail survey of educators in the elementary and middle schools in 30 school districts in Eastern Kentucky