Insect Pest occurrence on Cultivated Amaranthus Spp in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria

Amaranthus is one of those rare plants whose leaves are eaten as vegetables and seeds as cereal.   Unfortunately, one of the major factors limiting the productivity of Amaranthus is the incidence of insect pests attack. The aim of this study was to determine the insect pest occurrence on cultivated Amaranths in Benin City, Nigeria. The experiment was conducted in the Agricultural farm of University of Benin, Edo State,  Nigeria. Three varieties of Amaranth were used for this experiment, namely, Amaranthus cruentus (white–seeded), Amaranthus hybridus (red–seeded) and Amaranthus hybridus (black–seeded). The experimental  design used was completely randomized design with three replicates, each replicate having nine plots. The result showed the diversity of insect pests associated with Amaranth. Insects found on Amaranth were  classified into seven (7) orders, namely Coleoptera, Lepidoptera, Diptera, Hemiptera, Orthoptera,  Hymenoptera and Mantodea; and eight (8) species. The species included Gasteroclisus rhomboidalis and  Hypolixus sp. (Coleoptera); Hymenia recurvalis and Psara sp. (Lepidoptera); Liriomyza sp. (Diptera); Cletus sp. and Aspavia armigera (Hemiptera) and Zonocerus variegates (Orthoptera). Majority of the pests are defoliators, except Cletus sp. and Aspavia armigera that attack grains. The result also revealed that the period of pest occurrence is associated with Amaranth age. Knowledge from this study can be employed by Amaranth growers to ensure proper management of these insect pests

College Recruitment of Low-Income Underrepresented Minority Students

The relationship between the use of discriminatory recruitment procedures against low-income unrepresented minority (URM) students at four-year private institutions based on enrollment managers’ and college recruiters’ beliefs, self-efficacy, and behavioral intentions was this study’s focus. Specifically, the following were investigated: (a) how enrollment managers perceive their role in recruiting low-income URM students, (b) how college recruiters understand their role in recruiting low-income URM students, (c) the effective strategies enrollment managers use to prepare recruiters for recruiting low-income URM students, and (d) the differential impact in recruiting low-income URM students versus their counterparts. A supporting factor explored further in this study is how college choice plays a part in this student population’s motivation to seek higher education. Purposive sampling was used in this study to identify four four-year universities in the United States and to identify enrollment manager and recruiter participants from these institutions. Data were collected through semistructured interviews regarding enrollment managers’ and college recruiters’ roles, document analysis of strategic enrollment management plans, and institutional enrollment data from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System. For this multicase study, nine enrollment managers and college recruiters with experience in admissions and recruitment were selected. Through narrative analysis, five themes were developed: the enrollment manager career, the college recruiter career, the low-income URM students, the recruiting of low-income URM students, and professional development. The findings indicated minimal discrimination in the recruitment procedures used based on enrollment managers and college recruiters’ beliefs, self-efficacy, and behavioral intentions about this student population and that this student population receives more hands-on guidance and support in the recruitment processes at these institutions than their more affluent peers. Results further reflected how enrollment managers and college recruiters’ beliefs about the hindering obstacles low-income URM students face influenced their behavioral intentions to cater more to this student population in the recruitment process. A recommendation for enrollment managers and college recruiters is to use servant and authentic leadership to support low-income URM students in the recruitment process. Keywords: recruitment, underrepresented minority (URM) student, enrollment management, student of color, college recruitment, private university, college choic

Achieving Organisational Objectives through Human Resource Management Practices

The concerns of human resource management in the organization, is to optimize organizational performance through planned employees satisfaction. Thus achieving organisation’s objectives depends largely on employees’ attitude and behaviours. In this study, relations between selected human resource management practices and organizational objectives were investigated among 201 employees of the Nigeria brewery. Various statistical analytical procedures were applied to validate the samples and address the study’s objectives. Results show that HRM practices is significantly associated with achieving organizational objectives. It also shows that, improving the quality of work induces certain behaviours in the employee who is a source of competitive advantage for the organization. Keywords:  Organisational objectives, human resource management, employee behaviours, performance, Nigeria

Effects of pruning location on growth and fruiting of three tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill) varieties in rainforest zone of Nigeria

A field experiment was carried out during the 2016/2017 dry cropping season at the Experimental Farm of the Department of Crop Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Benin, Benin City to examine the effects of location of pruning on some vegetative and reproductive attributes of tomato varieties. The trial was laid out in a 3 × 4 factorial arrangement fitted in a randomized complete block design in three replicates with twelve treatment combinations per replicate and 36 for the whole replicates consisting of four location of pruning, P1 (pruning the tips only), P2 (pruning the lateral suckers only), P3 (pruning the tips and lateral suckers) and P0 (control, i.e., no pruning) on three varieties of tomatoes V1 (Cobra), V2 (Roma VF) and V3 (UC82). The results showed that Cobra variety produced higher fruit weight/plant (37.86 g) and more number of rotted fruits (1.42) than other varieties. Roma VF showed superiority in number of branches /plant (22.58) compared with Cobra variety (15.42) and UC82 (14.67). Pruning at P1 and P0 increased number of branches (23.33 and 21.89) than P2 (14.56) and P3 (10.44) Number of leaves increased in P1 compared with P2 and P3 and the leaf area increased at P3 (36.32 cm2) more than P0 (28.34 cm2). The rotted fruits increased in this order P2, P3 > P0, P1. Since pruning increased the number of rotted fruits/plant but produced non-significant increases in fruit weight/plant (g) and fruit yield (t ha-1), any of the three varieties of tomato could be used in Edo rain forest zone of Nigeria at no pruning.Keywords: cultural practices, leaf area, rotted fruits, stem diameter, sucker

Effect of variety and nutrient on insect pest infestation of Amaranthus spp

Amaranthus species is one of the plants often considered as the most important green leaf vegetable in Nigeria and other countries. Its production has been plagued with an array of factors including incidence of insect pest. This experiment took place in Agricultural farm of University of Benin, Edo state Nigeria from February to April 2013 and 2014. The aim was to investigate the effect of Nutrient and Variety on Insect Pest infestation of Amaranthus spp. The experimental design used was completely randomized design with three replicates comprising a factorial combination of three types of Soil and three varieties of Amaranth. The result showed that Amaranthus cruentus suffered more insect pest attack than other Amaranthus used and that Amaranths planted on poultry manure attracted more insect pests than Amaranths planted on other Nutrients. These results can be employed as part of cultural control methods in the management of insect pests of Amaranths

Growth and Physiological Performance of West African Dwarf Goats Reared Under Two Different Management Systems

Twenty young growing West African Dwarf (WAD) goats of both sexes with an average body weight of 5.77kg were used in an experiment which lasted for three months to assess growth and physiological performance of goats reared under two different management systems. Result of the experiment revealed that growth rate was significantly better in animals reared under intensive system of management as indices measured such as average daily weight gain, (kg) and metabolic weight (W0.75kg), were better in goats reared intensively. Feed intake was not significantly different (p>0.05) among the two management systems. However, physiological parameters such as rectal temperature, pulse rate, respiratory rate and ambient temperature revealed some significant correlation. It was thus concluded that goats reared under both intensive and extensive systems of management could be thermally stressed by the ambient temperature, while rearing goats intensively is better than the extensive method commonly adopted in Nigeria

Biodiversity of Soil Arthropods in Nigerian Institute for oil Palm Research (NIFOR), Nigeria

A survey of soil arthropod fauna inhabiting Nigeria Institute for Oil Palm Research (NIFOR) was carried out from July-September 2012, with a view to determine the diversity and distribution of soil arthropods of the area. Two study stations were identified at the area, namely; Station one (Plantation site) and Station two (Control site). One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven (1877) individual soil arthropods were recorded from both stations. These individuals were represented in 4 classes, 11 orders and 21 families which were collected and extracted using the pitfall trap method and the Berlese Tullgren Extractor Funnel. Data collected from the study stations were subjected to appropriate statistical analyses which included Simpson’s index (Ds), the Shannon Wiener index (H’), the Shannon Diversity T-test and Evenness (E) to determine the diversity of the soil arthropod fauna. Station one (Plantation site), was the most diverse station (Ds=2.99) and (H’=1.84) while station two (Control site) having (Ds= 2.94) and (H’= 1.69) is the least diverse station which may be as a result of anthropogenic activities. The Order Hymenoptera and Family Formicidae (50.5%) and (38.7%) respectively were the dominant and abundant group in both stations with the Order Crustacea and Family Armadillidae (22.2%) and (1.63%) respectively were the least dominant and abundant in both stations. The soil arthropod fauna correlated positively with the soil organic carbon (r=0.16), soil moisture content (r= 0.26) and soil pH (r=0.60) while the soil temperature correlated negatively (r= -0.89) in both stations. This implies that soil arthropods increase with increasing soil moisture content and decreasing soil temperature. © JASE

Fostering Employee Morale through Effective Remuneration Practices

In order to increase employee morale in organizations, it is necessary to create appropriate foundation in the organizational environment. In such organizations, where effective factors in the building of employees morale, are implemented completely and correctly, efficiency has been observed to be at its peak. The research provides reward techniques for business organization to understanding what motivate employee through remuneration practices of the organization. The research followed an in depth questionnaire administered to employees of a telecommunication organization. The result suggested that a careful consideration of job security, prospect of career progression apart from monetary rewards is essential for organizational development and change in employee initiative and boost in employee morale. Keywords: employee morale, remuneration practices, telecommunication, reward techniques, business organizations

Geriatric trauma - epidemiology and outcome at Cedarcrest Hospitals, Abuja, Nigeria

Background: Trauma is a major public health problem with huge economic and social implications. Old age and co-morbidities generally affect the outcome of traumatic injuries in elderly patients, and the impact of trauma on elderly patients has generally been overlooked. Objective: To describe the epidemiology and outcome of trauma on elderly patients. Design: This was a retrospective study that was conducted at Cedarcrest Hospitals, Abuja, Nigeria. Method: Data were collected from the electronic medical records for all patients aged 65 years and above who visited the emergency department as a result of traumatic injuries. Results: A total of 82 patients were recruited for the study. The prevalence of geriatric trauma was 4.9%, and fall was the commonest mechanism of injury (67.1%). Ninety eight point eight percent had a revised trauma score of 12 while the injury severity score ranged from 1 to 15. Conclusion: Geriatric trauma is relatively common in our environment and efforts should be made to prevent falls in the elderly

A Case of Sarcoidosis Disseminated to Skeletal Tissues

Sarcoidosis is a systemic granulomatous disease of unknown etiology that typically affects young adults. Diagnostic criteria for sarcoidosis include involvement of two or more of the following organ systems: 1) pulmonary infiltrates; 2) bilateral hilar adenopathy; and 3) skin and/or eye lesions. Musculoskeletal system is less commonly involved. For that reason potential presenting symptoms can vary and make the diagnosis very challenging; particularly if a patient has symptoms that mimic other conditions. Musculoskeletal involvement for example can mimic malignancy. The following case describes a patient with known history of primary metastatic mediastinal Germ Cell Tumor (GCT) with teratomatous elements who is diagnosed with sarcoidosis involving skeletal tissues