Financial sector development and Investment in selected countries of the Economic Community of West African States: empirical evidence using heterogeneous panel data method

Abstract This study investigated the impact of financial sector development on domestic investment in selected countries of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) for the years 1985–2017. The study employed the augmented mean group procedure, which accounts for country-specific heterogeneity and cross-sectional dependence, and the Granger non-causality test to test for causality in the presence of cross-sectional dependence. The results show that (1) The impact of financial sector development on domestic investment depends on the measure of financial sector development utilised; (2) Domestic credit to the private sector has a positive but insignificant impact on domestic investment in ECOWAS, whereas banking intermediation efficiency (i.e., ability of the banks to transform deposits into credit) and broad money supply negatively and significant influence domestic investment; (3) Cross-country differences exist in the impact of financial sector development on domestic investment in the selected ECOWAS countries; and (4) Domestic credit to the private sector Granger causes domestic investment in ECOWAS. The study recommends careful consideration in the measure of financial development that is utilised as a policy instrument to foster domestic investment. We also highlight the importance of employing country-specific domestic investment policies to avoid blanket policy measures. Domestic credit to the private sector should be given priority when forecasting domestic investment into the future

The effect of resveratrol supplementation on haematological parameters and trypanocidal efficacy of diminazene aceturate in dogs

Trypanosomosis is a debilitating, fatal disease of man and animals often associated with anaemia. The trypanocides currently used in the management of the disease are far from giving desired results. This study investigated changes in haematological indices and the treatment outcome of diminazene aceturate (DA) against Trypanosoma brucei in dogs supplemented with resveratrol. A total of twenty (20) male Nigerian local breed of dogs (NBD) aged 6 to 12 months were used for the study. The dogs were randomly assigned into five groups (I-V) of four dogs per group. Group I was uninfected and unsupplemented; group II, was infected, untreated, and unsupplemented; group III, infected unsupplemented, treated with DA, group IV was infected and supplemented but untreated with DA, and group V was infected and supplemented DA-treated. The mean pre-patent period of Trypanosoma infection was 5.75±0.96 and 9.00±0.82 days for the infected unsupplemented and the infected resveratrol-supplemented groups, respectively. There was a complete parasite clearance from peripheral blood within 24-48 hours following treatment with DA on day 10 post-treatment (PT) in the supplemented and 24-72 hours in the unsupplemented treated groups. The supplemented treated did not show any relapse of infection, whereas the un-supplemented, DA-treated showed relapse on day 25 PT. It was concluded that resveratrol supplementation enhanced the efficacy of diminazene aceturate with no risk of relapse, minimized the effects of the parasite in the animals, and increased survival time

Ascertaining the Overall Occurrence of Dental Fluorosis in Students of Selected Secondary Schools in Rivers State

Public health places a premium on understanding the amount of fluoride in potable water and other toothpastes, as well as how it affects skeletal and dental tissues to cause fluorosis. Fluorosis is, however, poorly understood and known in Nigeria. The goal of this research was to Ascertain the Overall Occurrence of Dental Fluorosis in Students of Selected Secondary Schools in Rivers State. A cross-sectional survey of 541 students from selected secondary schools in Rivers State who were between the ages of 9 and 17 was carried out. All students present at school on the day of data collection had their mouths examined by oral health professionals as part of a quasi-experimental method. Each subject was supported by a torch light while seated on a chair, and their teeth were examined for dental fluorosis in their wet state. The presence of dental fluorosis and the severity of it were documented using Dean's Dental Fluorosis. The presence of dental fluorosis and the severity of it were documented using Dean's Dental Fluorosis. (358) Dental fluorosis impacted 66.17% of the students, varying in severity from very mild to severe cases

Thermal Conversion of Guanylurea Dicyanamide into Graphitic Carbon Nitride via Prototype CNx Precursors

Guanylurea dicyanamide, [(H2N)C(-O)NHC(NH2)2][N(CN)2], has been synthesized by ion exchange reaction in aqueous solution and structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction (C2/c, a = 2249.0(5) pm, b = 483.9(1) pm, c = 1382.4(3) pm, β = 99.49(3)°, V = 1483.8(5) × 106 pm3, T = 130 K). The thermal behavior of the molecular salt has been studied by thermal analysis, temperature-programmed X-ray powder diffraction, FTIR spectroscopy, and mass spectrometry between room temperature and 823 K. The results were interpreted on a molecular level in terms of a sequence of thermally induced addition, cyclization, and elimination reactions. As a consequence, melamine (2,4,6-triamino-1,3,5-triazine) is formed with concomitant loss of HNCO. Further condensation of melamine yields the prototypic CNx precursor melem (2,6,10-triamino-s-heptazine, C6N7(NH2)3), which alongside varying amounts of directly formed CNxHy material transforms into layered CNxHy phases without significant integration of oxygen into the core framework owing to the evaporation of HNCO. Thus, further evidence can be added to melamine and its condensation product melem acting as “key intermediates” in the synthetic pathway toward graphitic CNxHy materials, whose exact constitution is still a point at issue. Due to the characteristic formation process and hydrogen content a close relationship with the polymer melon is evident. In particular, the thermal transformation of guanylurea dicyanamide clearly demonstrates that the formation of volatile compounds such as HNCO during thermal decomposition may render a large variety of previously not considered molecular compounds suitable CNx precursors despite the presence of oxygen in the starting material

Conflict resolution between husband and wife in the light of the hermeneutics of biblical proverbs

Conflicts are commonplace in human relationships. The Bible is replete with narratives and proverbial statements which border on conflict scenarios and conflict resolution strategies. Conflict cannot be severed from relationships between biological brothers and sisters, Christians, friends, colleagues and husbands and wives. In this qualitative study, the researchers examined the menace ‘conflict between husbands and wives’. There is no husband and wife relationship which is devoid of disputes and conflicts. In husband and wife relationship, conflict situations could arise from lack of sexual discipline, lack of sexual satisfaction, finance, lack of communication and other areas. The thrust of this article was to examine conflict resolution principles in the light of biblical proverbs. Biblical proverbs refer to concise and wise sayings in the Bible, which give pieces of advice about everyday life. This article utilised the descriptive research methodology to analyse the primary (Bible) and secondary (Internet materials, journal articles and books) data. The major finding of this work are numerous biblical proverbs which are veritable means for resolving conflicts between husbands and wives. CONTRIBUTION: The article brought to fore the major factors which lead to conflict between husbands and wives. The authors exegetically studied the chosen proverbs in order to ascertain its relevance to conflict situations. The major contribution of this article is that the messages of certain proverbs in the Book of Proverbs are very useful in resolving conflicts between husbands and wives.http://www.hts.org.zapm2020New Testament Studie

Structural matters in HTSC; the origin and form of stripe organization and checker boarding

The paper deals with the controversial charge and spin self-organization phenomena in the HTSC cuprates, of which neutron, X-ray, STM and ARPES experiments give complementary, sometimes apparently contradictory glimpses. The examination has been set in the context of the boson-fermion, negative-U understanding of HTSC advocated over many years by the author. Stripe models are developed which are 2q in nature and diagonal in form. For such a geometry to be compatible with the data rests upon both the spin and charge arrays being face-centred. Various special doping concentrations are closely looked at, in particular p = 0.1836 or 9/49, which is associated with the maximization of the superconducting condensation energy and the termination of the pseudogap regime. The stripe models are dictated by real space organization of the holes, whereas the dispersionless checkerboarding is interpreted in terms of correlation driven collapse of normal Fermi surface behaviour and response functions. The incommensurate spin diffraction below the resonance energy is seen as in no way expressing spin-wave physics or Fermi surface nesting, but is driven by charge and strain (Jahn-Teller) considerations, and it stands virtually without dispersion. The apparent dispersion comes from the downward dispersion of the resonance peak, and the growth of a further incoherent commensurate peak ensuing from the falling level of charge stripe organization under excitation.Comment: 49 pages with 8 figure