Evaluation of some geophysical and physicochemical characteristics of soil and groundwater resources in Sapele, south-south Nigeria

This study evaluated some geophysical and physicochemical characteristics of soil and groundwater resources in Sapele, Delta Sate of Nigeria using various standard techniques. The results of the resistivity data shows that a high resistive plume with resistivity > 12,000 Ohm-m has penetrated the soils beyond 21m beneath the surface in most parts of the surveyed area. The water samples shows high acidity with pH values in the range 4.6-5.1. Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) is low 46.40- 47.98mg/l and conductivity ranges from 72.80-78.8 μS/cm, There is no incidence of heavy metal pollution, only Iron is high (0.772-0.915mg/l). Total petroleum hydrocarbons-(TPH) as oil and gas revealed by gas chromatography result is below detection level (<0.031mg/l), this can be attributed to the sealing of the confined aquifer by impermeable clay. The average permeability of the soil is 5.514 x 10-3cm/s indicating good drainage condition. The results have shown that shallow boreholes are polluted and the soils of the area are acidic. Groundwater of the area need treatment before it can be consumed and periodic integrated methods of investigation should be carried out in the study area.Keywords: Contamination, Groundwater, Imaging, Resistivity, Soi

Determinants of Corporate Social Responsibility Disclosure Practices: An Empirical study of Nigerian Listed Firms

This paper investigated determinants of corporate social responsibility disclosure practices of listed firms in Nigeria. Data covering the period of 2010-2017 was collected from the annual report and account of Sixteen (16) listed firms on Nigerian stock exchange market. Ordinary least Square Panel regression estimator was employed owing to the cross sectional and time series nature of the data. The result showed that board independence, financial leverage and age were positively related to corporate social responsibility disclosure while profitability was found to exhibit a negative relationship with corporate social responsibility disclosure. It was however revealed that approximately 40% of the variations in the dependent variable of CSR disclosure was explained by the explanatory variables and jointly tested all the variables had a significant effect on the dependent variable as revealed by the F-statistic of 14.44 significant at 5%. This study extends the scope of previous studies by including corporate governance   variables of: board independence and board size which are issues of current contention. The paper contributes to the understanding of determinants of CSR disclosure practices and offers findings which are useful for both theory and practice

Determinants of Corporate Social Responsibility Disclosure Practices: An Empirical study of Nigerian Listed Firms

This paper investigated determinants of corporate social responsibility disclosure practices of listed firms in Nigeria. Data covering the period of 2010-2017 was collected from the annual report and account of Sixteen (16) listed firms on Nigerian stock exchange market. Ordinary least Square Panel regression estimator was employed owing to the cross sectional and time series nature of the data. The result showed that board independence, financial leverage and age were positively related to corporate social responsibility disclosure while profitability was found to exhibit a negative relationship with corporate social responsibility disclosure. It was however revealed that approximately 40% of the variations in the dependent variable of CSR disclosure was explained by the explanatory variables and jointly tested all the variables had a significant effect on the dependent variable as revealed by the F-statistic of 14.44 significant at 5%. This study extends the scope of previous studies by including corporate governance   variables of: board independence and board size which are issues of current contention. The paper contributes to the understanding of determinants of CSR disclosure practices and offers findings which are useful for both theory and practice

Body Mass Index, Blood Pressure and Serum Cortisol Level as Stress Index in Symptomatic HIV/AIDS Male Subjects on Antiretroviral Therapy Negative to Malaria Parasite in Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria

Background: HIV infection is a risk factor for a variety of endocrine problems. Objectives: This study investigated the body mass index (BMI), Systolic blood pressure (SBP), Diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and serum cortisol level as stress factor/index symptomatic HIV/AIDS male subjects on ART who are negative to malaria parasite in Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria. Methods: A total of 274 adult male participants aged between 18 and 60 (42 ±13) years were randomly recruited at the Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) Centre in Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital and grouped based on WHO criteria for staging HIV into symptomatic HIV (stage 11) infected male participants on ART (A: n=69), Symptomatic HIV subjects not on ART (B: n= 69), Asymptomatic HIV positive subjects (C: n= 68) and HIV seronegative subjects (D: n= 68). Blood samples were collected from the participants for the determination of HIV status by immunochromatography and HIV confirmation by Western Blot. Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) was used to assay for cortisol level. Results: The results showed a significantly increased BMI and decreased mean serum cortisol level in HIV/AIDS seropositive participants on ART than in those, not on ART (p<0.05). Also, the BMI and mean serum cortisol level were significantly decreased and increased respectively in  HIV/AIDS seropositive participants not on ART than in Asymptomatic HIV positive subjects and control respectively (p<0.05). However, the mean SBP and DBP did not differ significantly between the groups studied (p>0.05). Conclusion: This study revealed a decreased stress index in HIV/AIDS subjects on ART with hypercortisolism and lower BMI in symptomatic HIV participants, not on ART. Keywords: HIV; AIDS; Malaria uninfected male subjects; Cortisol; Blood pressure; Antiretroviral therapy

Body Mass Index, Blood Pressure and Serum Cortisol Level as Stress Index in Symptomatic HIV/AIDS Male Subjects on Antiretroviral Therapy Negative to Malaria Parasite in Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria

Background: HIV infection is a risk factor for a variety of endocrine problems. Objectives: This study investigated the body mass index (BMI), Systolic blood pressure (SBP), Diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and serum cortisol level as stress factor/index symptomatic HIV/AIDS male subjects on ART who are negative to malaria parasite in Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria. Methods: A total of 274 adult male participants aged between 18 and 60 (42 ±13) years were randomly recruited at the Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) Centre in Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital and grouped based on WHO criteria for staging HIV into symptomatic HIV (stage 11) infected male participants on ART (A: n=69), Symptomatic HIV subjects not on ART (B: n= 69), Asymptomatic HIV positive subjects (C: n= 68) and HIV seronegative subjects (D: n= 68). Blood samples were collected from the participants for the determination of HIV status by immunochromatography and HIV confirmation by Western Blot. Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) was used to assay for cortisol level. Results: The results showed a significantly increased BMI and decreased mean serum cortisol level in HIV/AIDS seropositive participants on ART than in those, not on ART (p<0.05). Also, the BMI and mean serum cortisol level were significantly decreased and increased respectively in  HIV/AIDS seropositive participants not on ART than in Asymptomatic HIV positive subjects and control respectively (p<0.05). However, the mean SBP and DBP did not differ significantly between the groups studied (p>0.05). Conclusion: This study revealed a decreased stress index in HIV/AIDS subjects on ART with hypercortisolism and lower BMI in symptomatic HIV participants, not on ART. Keywords: HIV; AIDS; Malaria uninfected male subjects; Cortisol; Blood pressure; Antiretroviral therapy

Geophysical study of the aquifer characteristics and its environmental implications along river Ethiope, Delta state, Nigeria

No Abstract

Anaesthetic and obstetric challenges of morbid obesity in caesarean deliveries-a study in South-eastern Nigeria

Background: Morbid obesity of parturient has become very important in perinatal medicine because of a worldwide obesity epidemic. Morbid obesity of parturient is reportedly associated with severely increased anaesthetic and obstetric risk. Objective: To determine the prevalence rate, anaesthetic and obstetric complications in morbidly obese parturient that had caesarean delivery in a Nigerian tertiary care centre. Methods: The obstetric theatre records and case files were reviewed for caesarean deliveries in the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria from May 2008 to December 2010. A sample size of 250 patients, calculated based on a prevalence rate of 19%, confidence interval of 95% , a power of 80% and a finite population of zero was used to determine the prevalence rate of morbid obesity (Body Mass Index of greater than or equal to 35kg/m2). Results: There were thirty-one patients with morbid obesity (12.4%). The average Body Mass Index (BMI) was 38.3kg/m2 (SD ± 2.99). Other findings included macrosomia (7 or 25.8%), gestational diabetes (13%) and pregnancy induced hypertension (7 or 22.5%).There were two neonatal deaths but no maternal deaths. Conclusion: The prevalence rate of morbid obesity is about 10% in Nigerian women of child bearing age. This mirrors a World Health Organisation report published in the World Health Organisation Global Information Base

Anaesthetic and Obstetric challenges of morbid obesity in caesarean deliveries-a study in South-eastern Nigeria

Background: Morbid obesity of parturient has become very important in perinatal medicine because of a worldwide obesity epidemic. Morbid obesity of parturient is reportedly associated with severely increased anaesthetic and obstetric risk.Objective: To determine the prevalence rate, anaesthetic and obstetric complications in morbidly obese parturient that had caesarean delivery in a Nigerian tertiary care centre.Methods: The obstetric theatre records and case files were reviewed for caesarean deliveries in the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria from May 2008 to December 2010. A sample size of 250 patients, calculated based on a prevalence rate of 19%, confidence interval of 95% , a power of 80% and a finite population of zero was used to determine the prevalence rate of morbid obesity (Body Mass Index of greater than or equal to 35kg/m2).Results: There were thirty-one patients with morbid obesity (12.4%). The average Body Mass Index (BMI) was 38.3kg/m2 (SD ± 2.99). Other findings included macrosomia (7 or 25.8%), gestational diabetes (13%) and pregnancy induced hypertension (7 or 22.5%).There were two neonatal deaths but no maternal deaths.Conclusion: The prevalence rate of morbid obesity is about 10% in Nigerian women of child bearing age. This mirrors a World Health Organisation report published in the World Health Organisation Global Information Base