School-based data and management of technological innovations in public secondary schools in Cross River State

This study investigated the relationship between school-based data and management of technological innovations in public secondary schools in Cross River State. One hypothesis was formulated to guide the study. Ex-post facto design was used for the study. The population of this study consisted of 232 principals out of which 210 constituted the sample and 840 teachers were drawn from a population of 5,998 using stratified random sampling technique to assess the principals. School- based Data and management of Technological Innovation Questionnaire (SBDMTIQ) was instrument used for data collection. Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation Analysis was used to test the hypothesis. Result indicated that: there is no significant positive relationship between school-based data and principals management of technological innovation. It was recommended that government should give priority attention to the provision and distribution of ICT facilities in schools so as to boost the management of innovations in schools.Keywords: Data, management, technological, innovatio

The Influence of In-Service Training, Seminars and Workshops Attendance by Social Studies Teachers on Academic Performance of Students in Junior Secondary Schools Incross River State, Nigeria

This research examined the influence of in-service training, seminar and workshop attendance by social studies teachers on students academic performance in Cross River State, Nigeria. To achieve the purpose of this study, one hypothesis was formulated to direct the study. Ex-post facto research design was adopted for the study. A sample of five hunded Social Studies teachers (500) and students were selected for the study. The instruments for data collection were a set of questionnaire to measure Social Studies teachers in-service training, seminar and workshop training and Social Studies Performance Test (SOSPT)  to measure students academic performance. The reliability estimate of the instruments were established through the split-half reliability method and it associate Spearman Brown prophesy formula. Pearson product moment correlation analysis was adopted to test the hypothesis at .05 level of significance. The result of the analysis revealed that there exists a positive and small relationship between the frequency of teachers’ attendance at in-service training, seminars and workshops and students’ academic performance in social studies. It was recommended that government should make it mandatory for all teachers in both primary and post primary to undergo professional training. As it is the case with other professions like law and medicine among others

The Nexus Between Total Quality Management, Job Satisfaction and Employee Work Engagement in the Food and Beverage Multinational Company in Nigeria

Adopting total quality management (TQM) program in an organisation may have consequences not only for organisational outcomes but also for employee work behaviour. Therefore, this study investigates the conceptual and empirical link between TQM practices, job satisfaction, and employee work engagement. Cross-sectional survey design, quota, proportionate and simple random sampling were used to draw 300 participants from the study population, out of which 190 responded and n = 183(61%) usable responses to the questionnaire designed for the purpose from employees of a food and beverage multinational company in Lagos metropolis were obtained. Regression and correlation analyses were used to analyse the study data. Significant positive relationship was found between dimensions of TQM practices (leadership and management support, employee participation, training, reward and recognition, and customer focus), job satisfaction and employee work engagement. After controlling for sex, age and experience, job satisfaction and TQM practices construct jointly and independently predicted employee work engagement. Also, job satisfaction partially mediated the relationship between TQM practices and work engagement. The implications of soft TQM implementation on employee job satisfaction for achieving highly engaged workforce are discussed

Nigeria Economic Performance and Bank Recapitalization Policy: The Role of Bank Branch and Deposit Trends

Given series of reforms in the banking sub sector in Nigeria, with the 2004 recapitalization policy in focus, the paper examine whether the was any significant differences in both bank deposit and new office growth and its correlation with changes in some macroeconomic indicators namely: per capita GDP, Unemployment rate, interest rate, loan to small business enterprise and population 5-year before and 5-year after bank recapitalization in 2005. Data on the selected variables were obtained from Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and National Bureau of Statistic (NBS) Annual abstract of statistics. Percentage changes and trend analysis was employed in analyzing the data obtained. The result reveals that, all the variables – change in per capita GDP, loans to small enterprise, population and unfortunately unemployment and interest rate appear to be highly correlated with the high average percentage change in bank branch and deposit during 5-year post bank consolidation policy. A sharp fall in bank branch and deposit trends in 2008 was also accompanied by greatest falls in per capita GDP and loans to small enterprise, and highest rise in unemployment. In general, bank recapitalization policy led to stronger economic performance in Nigeria with 2008 financial crisis as a breaker of progress and gains of bank recapitalization policy. Key word: Economic performance, Bank Branch, deposits, Recapitalization, Nigeri

Comparative egg production analysis of isa brown laying strain raised in three poultry farms in a tropical environment

Data from egg production records involving a total of 1,208 intensively-managed Isa-brown laying strain obtained from three poultry Farms A, B and C located in Calabar Municipality were used for this study. Percent henday production was computed for a period ranging from point-of-lay, 24 weeks of age (Farms A and C) and 20 weeks of age (Farms B). The 40 weeks in-lay for the three farms, was further sub-divided into four discrete production (10- weekly) phases (weeks 1-10; 11-20; 21-30; 31-40) in each of the farms. Maximum hen-day production was obtained as follows: Farm A (70.40% in week 18); Farm B (85.50% in week 20) and Farm C (79.30% in week 25). The percentage hen/day production pattern were fitted into two regression models namely – the simple linear model andexponential function using the age-in-lay as the predictor variable and percentage Hen-day production as the dependent variable. Irrespective of the function used, the rate of increase in percentage egg production was highest within the first quarter (1-10 week) of production in each farm. As the production phase lengthened, the predicted rate of increase in production declined and the predictive ability of the simple linear model as judged by the R2 value became comparatively lower when compared to exponential function. The egg production pattern revealed a period of rapidly increasing production, attainment of peak, and the phase of a gradual declining production. Based on these findings, partitioning the laying period into phases could be a step forward in explaining the concept of phase feeding in which layers are fed at different protein levels at different phases based on their level of production

Pronominalization in Efik

This thesis is primarily an investigation into Pronominalization in Efik. Pronominalization is treated from a basically Chomskian point of view as a general term for a number of related processes each of which is explicitly formulated as a rule. These are reflexivization, simple pronominalization, possessive pronominalization and relativization by which reflexive, anaphoric personal, possessive and relative pronouns respectively are derived. As rules they all operate on Noun Phrases (NPs) under certain conditions. One such condition is coreference. In general NPs on which a rule of pronominalization has operated may (and in fact in some cases must) be deleted under certain conditions one of which is also coreference. In this way, Pronominalization and NP Deletion are related

Drivers of Households’ Decision Making in Agroforestry Practices in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

The increased pressure on the world natural resources has resulted in unsustainable use of natural resources, environmental instability and soil degradation. This study investigated the drivers of agroforestry practices in Eket agricultural zone of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Data were collected by the use of structured questionnaires. Simple random sampling was adopted in the selection of 102 farm households from Eket agricultural zone of Akwa Ibom State. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and probit model. The result showed that the average year of formal education was 11.86, with the mean age of 44.46. Also, the mean score of 2.61 suggest that majority of the respondents were aware of agroforestry practices. The probit analysis indicates that factors such as marital status, farming experience, educational level and land ownership status had positive and significant effects on their decision to adopt agroforestry practices. Conversely, total household income had a negative and statistically significant effect on farmers’ decision to adopt agroforestry. Socio-economic characteristics such as marital status, educational level, farming experience and land ownership status were the major drivers of household’s decision making in agroforestry in the study area

GRANULOMETRY AND PEBBLE MORPHOMETRY OF AWI SANDSTONES, CALABAR FLANK, NIGERIA

ABSTRAC

Effects of Ethanolic Extract of Brassica juncea (Mustard Seed) on the Brain and Kidney Tissues of Albino Wistar Rats

Mustard seeds (Brassica species) are widely used as medicinal crops and spices. They are a rich source of oil and protein containing as high as 46 – 48% oil and 43.6% protein in whole seed meal. Historically, mustard seeds are mentioned in ancient Sanskrit writings dating back five thousand years. The ancient Greeks and Romans also used  the seeds for medicinal purposes. However, not much has been documented on the neurotoxic and nephrotoxic effects of mustard  seeds.  A study designed to investigate the possible toxicity of mustard seeds on brain and kidney tissues was carried out. Twenty albino wistar rats of mixed sexes, aged two months and weighing 100  - 140g were divided into four groups of five rats labeled A to D. Groups A and B were orally administered different concentrations of ethanolic extract of mustard seeds, 2000mg/kg and 4000mg/kg body weight respectively daily for two weeks while groups C and D served as pre and post-treatment  controls and received no extract.  Kidney and brain tissues of rats were histologically processed and stained using Haematoxylin and Eosin technique and examined microscopically. Sections revealed that the ethanolic extracts of Brassica juncea had visible histological effects and altered the histoarchitecture of the brain and kidney tissues of the test groups. The results suggest that prolonged ingestion of extract is toxic to tissues at the concentrations investigated. Keywords: Mustard seeds, albino wistar rats, ethanolic extrac

Thyroid function in hypertensives in South-South Nigeria

Background: Hypertension is the most common cardiovascular disease afflicting humans. It has been reported that hypertensive patients may have a tendency for impaired thyroid function but, these results have not always been confirmed. The aim of this study therefore was to determine the serum level of thyroid hormones in hypertensive subjects and any possible relationship between serum thyroid hormone levels and hypertension.Methods: Blood samples were consecutively obtained from One hundred and seventy (170) consenting subjects. One hundred were hypertensive subjects while seventy subjects were normotensive controls. Triiodothyronine (T3), Thyroxine (T4) and Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) were analyzed using ELISA kits. Data was analyzed using student “t” test and analysis of variance. The difference was considered statistically significant at p < 0.05.Results: The mean serum TSH value for hypertensive subjects was 3.01±2.42 µIu/ml and was significantly higher (p<0.0001) than that of the normotensive subjects (1.74±0.92 µIu/ml). Female hypertensive subjects had significantly higher (3.34±2.74 µIu/ml) mean TSH than the female normotensives with mean value of 1.79±0.86 µIu/ml (p<0.002). Mean TSH value for male hypertensive subjects was 2.78±2.4 µIu/ml and was significantly higher (p<0.007) than that of male normotensive subjects (1.72±0.96 µIu/ml). There were no significant differences in the mean serum T3 and T4 levels of hypertensives compared to the normotensives.Conclusions: It is concluded that the hypertensive subjects in this study required significantly higher (p<0.05) stimulation input, as measured from the level of thyroid stimulating hormone, to maintain the same level of thyroid hormones as their normotensive counterparts.