Resource - Use Efficiency: An Application of Stochastic Frontier Production Function to Plantain Farmers in Ogun State, Nigeria

This study assessed the resource-use efficiency of plantain farmers in Ogun State, Nigeria using the stochastic frontier production function analysis. Primary data were collected from 160 plantain farmers in Abeokuta zone of Ogun State Agricultural Development Programme (OGADEP). The mean efficiencies values for plantain production were 0.835, 0.675 and 0.721 for technical, allocative and economic efficiencies respectively. The return to scale value showed that plantain production was at stage of decreasing positive return to scale. The study also revealed the presence of inefficiency in the resource-use among plantain farmers in the study area (p < 0.05). The distribution of results also showed that the plantain farmers were more efficient in the use of some inputs. Changing the input combinations was observed to increase farm level efficiency. The farmers in the study area therefore need to use available input intensively so as to reduce current inefficiencies significantly. Keywords: Food security, Plantain farmer, Allocative efficiency, Stochastic  frontier, Technical efficienc

Effect of Currency Fluctuations on the Economic Growth Potential of Nigeria

The exchange rate is one of the most important determinants of a country's relative level of economic health. This study examines the effect of currency fluctuations on the economic growth potential of Nigeria using the World Bank Development Indicators data from 1970-2012. The study through the Augmented Dickey Fuller (ADF)/ unit root test found that the variables used in the model are integrated of the order one while export and interest rate are integrated of the order zero. Using the Johansen co integration tests shows the presence of long run relationship between variables. The Error Correction Model (ECM) results suggest that exchange rate has a negative significant impact on GDP in the short run and long run. The study therefore recommends that the competitiveness and stability of the exchange rate should be given due consideration as this will increase economic growth through increased investment. Keywords: Exchange rate, Economic growth, ADF, ECM, Nigeri

Multifunctional Mesoporous Silica Nanospheres with Cleavable Gd(III) Chelates as MRI Contrast Agents: Synthesis, Characterization, Target-Specificity, and Renal Clearance

Mesoporous silica nanospheres (MSNs) are a promising material for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents. In this paper multifunctional MSNs with cleavable Gd(III) chelates are synthesized and characterized, and their applicability as MRI contrast agents is demonstrated both in vitro and in vivo. The MSNs contain Gd(III) chelates that are covalently linked via a redox-responsive disulfide moiety. The MSNs are further functionalized with polyethylene glycol (PEG) and an anisamide ligand to improve their biocompatibility and target specificity. The effectiveness of MSNs as an MRI imaging contrast agent and their targeting ability are successfully demonstrated in vitro using human colon adenocarcinoma and pancreatic cancer cells. Finally, the capability of this platform as an in vivo MRI contrast agent is tested using a 3T scanner. The Gd(III) chelate was quickly cleaved by the blood pool thiols and eliminated through the renal excretion pathway. Further tuning of the Gd(III) chelate release kinetics is needed before the MSN system can be used as target-specific MRI contrast agents in vivo

Minimum Wage Policy and Rural Household Welfare in Nigeria

Using the Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) framework, this paper showed how urban sector wage rigidities such as the minimum wage policy can impact the rural economy and the welfare of households. A static CGE model of the Nigerian economy was developed to examine the effects of 12%, 30% and 68% minimum wage increases in Nigeria on the economy and the welfare of households, especially informal sector rural households. CGE simulations revealed that with a 12% increase in the minimum wage, domestic output declined in all sectors except the crude oil and mining sector. Similar impacts were observed with 30% and 68% increases but with greater changes. There was also a general decline in labour employment due to its higher price. Most macroeconomic aggregates fell, including GDP and real GDP. Household savings, however, increased in all cases but there were huge inflationary pressures represented by increases in the price index in all three scenarios. Investments also fell, while household utility declined in all three scenarios, indicating that minimum wage policies in the long run, do not result in better household welfare, rather they are left worse off. Acknowledgement : I would like to acknowledge the support of the The Biomass Web Project of the University of Bonn, Germany in collaboration with the German Federal Ministry of Education in completing this research work