Information: A Strategic Resource for Effective decision making and successful Management of the Open and Distance Learning (ODL) System by National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN)

This paper was directed towards recognizing information as the most strategic organizational Resource for effective decision-making and successful management of the ODL system provided By NOUN. It identified information as the key asset for goal-oriented managers to plan correctly and accurately to achieve set goals on time. The elements of adequate information processing were enumerated. However, the paper noted some challenges of introducing a holistic adoption of information elements in the management of the ODL by NOUN. Besides, the huge benefits of wholesale utilization of information as the bedrock capital for effective planning were enlisted. The paper concludes by providing the way-forward for NOUN management to attempt, viz, establishment of information unit managed by information professionals to regularly scan the internal and external environments for current data, adequate analysis of collected data and using the outcome for planning, provision of separate budget for information management activities, and so on

FACTORS AFFECTING PARTICIPATION BEHAVIOR OF LIMITED RESOURCE FARMERS IN COST-SHARE PROGRAMS IN ALABAMA

This study examines factors that affect the participation behavior of limited resource farmers in cost-share programs in Alabama. The data was generated from a survey administered to a sample of limited resource farm operators. A binary logit was employed to analyze the data. Results indicate that college education, age, total farm size, as well as membership in conservation association had significant influence on participation.Agricultural and Food Policy,

A History of Social Conflict and Conflict Management in Nigeria: A Case Study of Anglican Churches in Ukwuaniland, Delta State, Nigeria (1900-1941).

The item one on the theological debate in African Christianity would appear to be dealing with this problem of African identity. The theoretical framework employed in this study is the “Psycho-Cultural Conflict” theory which emphasizes the role of culturally induced conflict based on the fears that individuals and groups experience which force them to see threats, whether real or imagined, and to suspect the motives of others around them (Lake and Rothschild 1996). This was the case in ?kw?ànìland during the modern missionary period that necessitated a series of social conflicts between Anglicanism and ‘?kw?ànìsm’. Hence, using the case study and the historical approaches to the study of religion, this chapter is concerned about the patterns of social conflicts in an indigenous community. While identifying the stake-holders, their interests, and the attempts made to address these social issues, the study reveals that some of the social conflicts have been resolved under various conditions and that some of them that have defiled solutions are still on; each with historical lessons that may be learnt from them. This study concludes by study concludes by stating that in a peoples’ struggle for cultural identity there is the need to employ bargaining and exchange as a means of conflict resolution of which the past speaks to the present. Anglican Churches in ?kw?ànìland should take seriously the socio-cultural aspirations of the indigenes

TAXATION AS A MEANS OF REDUCING NITROGEN FERTILIZER USE IN MINNESOTA CORN PRODUCTION

Crop Production/Industries, Environmental Economics and Policy,

Evaluation of inquiry-based Learning in high school earth science and biology classrooms: learning environment and attitudes

This evaluation of inquiry-based teaching involved 1396 high-school biology and earth science students from Los Angeles County. Inquiry teaching was perceived by students to be more effective than traditional methods in terms of greater teacher support and student involvement. Also inquiry-based instruction was equally effective for male and female student

Authenticating “Vennism”: Men of Local Prominence and Anglicanism in the Early Twentieth Century in Ukwuaniland, Delta State, 1900-194

Most historians enter into indigenous Christian historiography by focusing more on the activities of “foreign missionaries” in mission fields; the natives are often portrayed as being dormant and passive, waiting without will to be Christianized. Resting on McGavran’s (1980) indigenous principle theory, this study gives credence and authenticity to the relevance of considering indigenous human resources in addressing religious, economic and political issues in indigenous milieus. Using the historical approach to the study of Religious phenomenon, this study reveals that to assume the passiveness of natives in their encounter with a foreign religion is to adopt, consciously or unconsciously, the passivity of the Black race, the favourite opinion of the paternalist. To enhance the growth of Anglicanism in that land, there should be a change in the theology of the mission, methods and strategies of evangelism while indigenous lay leaders should be encouraged to pursue pastoral training. Keywords: Vennism, Anglicanism, Native Agency, Evangelisation and  Conversion

The design and applications of the african buffalo algorithm for general optimization problems

Optimization, basically, is the economics of science. It is concerned with the need to maximize profit and minimize cost in terms of time and resources needed to execute a given project in any field of human endeavor. There have been several scientific investigations in the past several decades on discovering effective and efficient algorithms to providing solutions to the optimization needs of mankind leading to the development of deterministic algorithms that provide exact solutions to optimization problems. In the past five decades, however, the attention of scientists has shifted from the deterministic algorithms to the stochastic ones since the latter have proven to be more robust and efficient, even though they do not guarantee exact solutions. Some of the successfully designed stochastic algorithms include Simulated Annealing, Genetic Algorithm, Ant Colony Optimization, Particle Swarm Optimization, Bee Colony Optimization, Artificial Bee Colony Optimization, Firefly Optimization etc. A critical look at these ‘efficient’ stochastic algorithms reveals the need for improvements in the areas of effectiveness, the number of several parameters used, premature convergence, ability to search diverse landscapes and complex implementation strategies. The African Buffalo Optimization (ABO), which is inspired by the herd management, communication and successful grazing cultures of the African buffalos, is designed to attempt solutions to the observed shortcomings of the existing stochastic optimization algorithms. Through several experimental procedures, the ABO was used to successfully solve benchmark optimization problems in mono-modal and multimodal, constrained and unconstrained, separable and non-separable search landscapes with competitive outcomes. Moreover, the ABO algorithm was applied to solve over 100 out of the 118 benchmark symmetric and all the asymmetric travelling salesman’s problems available in TSPLIB95. Based on the successful experimentation with the novel algorithm, it is safe to conclude that the ABO is a worthy contribution to the scientific literature

Biocidal activity of selected plant powders against Tribolium castaneum Herbst in stored groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

The efficacy of powders of plant parts from Telferia occidentalis (fluted pumpkin), Zingiber officinale (ginger), Vitex grandifolia (Vitex) and Dracaena arborea (dragon tree) at 5g, 10g, and 15g/500g seeds was tested using Completely Randomized Design (CRD) against the storage pest Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) in groundnut in the laboratory. At 28 days after application, mean number of seeds damaged/85 cm3 scoop at the concentration of 5g powder/500g seeds was 2.00 for D. arborea and 3.00 for V. grandifolia and were significantly lower (p ≤ 0.05) than the control (6.67). Phostoxin gave complete control (0.00). Five grammes (5g)/500g of D. arborea and V. grandifolia were as efficacious as phostoxin in protecting groundnut seeds against damage by T. castaneum. No adults were recovered from seeds treated with 10g and 15g of D. arborea at 14 days after application of plant powders. Adult recovery (0.33) from seeds treated with V. grandifolia was equally poor and significantly lower (p ≤ 0.05) than the control (16.33). Larval recovery from seeds treated with V. grandifolia (0.33) and D. arborea (0.67) were significantly lower (p ≤ 0.05) than the control (10.00). At the end of three months of storage, mean weight loss from original weight of 500 g was 81.77g (16.35%) for untreated seeds, 28.58g (5.72%) for V. grandifolia and 28.56g (5.71%) for seeds treated with D. arborea. Phostoxintreated seeds suffered minimal loss (0.76%). D. arborea and V. grandifolia at 5g/500g of seeds are recommended for post-harvest control of T. castaneum in stored groundnut for planting.Keywords: Plant powders, biocidal activity, Tribolium castaneum, groundnut

Socio-Missiological Significance of Witchcraft Belief and Practice in Africa

The fact remains that most Africans, especially Nigerians living in urban centres or outside their immediate villages, dread going to their home towns for fear of being bewitched. This study, “Socio-Missiological Significance of Witchcraft Belief and Practice in Africa” discusses in details the nature, and activities of witches and wizards and reveals, firstly, that the Western explanation of this phenomenon is diametrically opposed to the African one; secondly, witchcraft accusation is a safety valve or mechanism of releasing tension inherent in the social system of social relationship; thirdly, the concept of witchcraft is not unique to African communities; activities of witchcraft are noticeable in the West. The study further examines the characteristics and categories of witchcraft, mode of initiation, modus operandi and measures of protection against the activities of witches and concludes that witches, wherever they exist, are anti-thesis of proper behaviour. Hence, the phenomenal increase in the emergence of healing homes, prayer ministries and Neo-Pentecostal Churches, as we witness in the country today.Key words: Witchcraft; Neo-Pentecostal; Initiation; Healing Homes; Prayer Ministrie

Home Based Management of Uncomplicated P. falciparum Malaria in Children Below Five Years in Delta State

Background: The world health organization (WHO) estimates that every 45 seconds an African child dies of malaria while several others lay ill. Also, studies have shown that home-based management of malaria could improve prompt access to antimalarial medications for African children. Objective: This study aimed at assessing the home based management practices among care givers of children below five years in Delta State. Methods: This study was a descriptive cross-sectional survey used to assess the home based management practices of malaria in children under age five. 459 consenting Caregivers of children under five (6 to 59 months) were purposively selected from different churches during Sundays and Wednesdays midweek services through balloting from two communities in Central and North Senatorial Districts of Delta State (Oghara and Obiaruku). Prior to the commencement of the study, the caregivers were thoroughly counselled on the objectives of the study, and a pretested structured interviewer administered questionnaire was used for administration in English, Urhobo and Ukwuani languages. Results: The study revealed that 86.93% respondents have good knowledge of malaria, and 60% commenced treatment within 24hrs. It also showed that 58.4% preferred anti-malarial combination therapies with arthemether-lumefantrine combination accounting for 34.0% drug options. Drug sources for home based malaria management were mainly from Pharmacy 40.5%, Drug sellers such as chemist 55.1% while information sources on choice of therapy and dosage were mainly from chemist 32.7%; health personnel 25.7%; neighbours 7.5% and self-based on previous experience 36.6%. Conclusion: The study revealed very good knowledge of malaria and good management practices as well as good treatment seeking behaviours amongst the caregivers