News Analysis as a Media Content for Public Opinion Formation and Moulding

The mass media perform certain roles to the sustenance of the society. Crucial among these roles are surveillance and correlation. The former involves routine journalistic function of monitoring events and reporting such in news while the latter deals with interpreting issues in the news for the purpose of building knowledge and coordinating opinions. There is an overlap between the two roles as opinions cannot be formed without information. In fact, informed opinions are based on adequate, accurate and authoritative information. Thus, by disseminating news and further engaging in discussion and analysis of major issues in the news, the media shape or influence public opinion. This paper examines news analysis as a means of shaping public opinion. It establishes that the mass media engage in construction and reconstruction of public opinion through agenda setting and framing. It presents a model depicting a cyclical process by which the media set agenda, through selective news presentation and treatment; and frame issues, through discussions and analyses, thereby giving direction for public opinion. The opinion so formed could result into actions and events, which are further reported in the news, based on their news values

Determinants of Households’ Food Security in Akure South Local Government Area of Ondo State, Nigeria

The study examined the determinants of households’ food security in Akure South Local Government Area of Ondo State, Nigeria. The study used a multi-stage sampling procedure to select eighty respondents with the aid of a structured questionnaire. Data were collected randomly from four communities and analyzed using a combination of descriptive statistics, food security index and probit regression model. The results revealed that food secure households had an average daily per capita calorie consumption of 3854.46Kcal while the households that were food insecure had an average daily per capita calorie consumption of 1564.3Kcal. The results of probit regression revealed that, household size, level of education, household head’s income and number of income earners were significant determinants of food security among households. Level of education, household head’s income and number of income earners influenced food security positively while household size affected it negatively. Based on the findings of the study, it was therefore recommended that households should diversify their sources of income and register with cooperative societies which may be necessary for them to access funds and also there should be limit in population size through integrated health and education services. Keywords: Determinants, Food Security, Households, Probit Model DOI: 10.7176/JESD/12-22-04 Publication date: November 30th 202

Corporate Marketing Strategy and Attainment of Competitive Advantage: Evidence from Nigeria Money Deposit Banks

This study investigates the effect of corporate marketing strategy in the attainment of competitive advantage in Nigeria money deposit banks. Descriptive research design was used. Purposive sampling technique was adopted to select six (6) banks out of twenty (21) deposit money banks currently in Nigeria. Similarly, ten (10) financial experts (i.e. senior and junior staff) were quotally allocated to each bank thus a total number of 60 questionnaires were administered to the targeted respondents on the ground that they are considered to be of interest to this study. Using correlation (r) inferential statistics as analytical tool, the result of the first hypothesis showed that there is a significant positive relationship between marketing strategies of Nigeria money deposit banks in attaining competitive advantage. The finding also revealed from the second hypothesis that there was statistical significant relationship between corporate marketing strategy and customers’ loyalty. Based on this finding, we recommended that financial institutions must assess the rate of success and or failure of marketing strategies to be adopted for better competitive advantage. Keywords: Corporate Marketing Strategies, Competitive Advantage, Deposit Money Banks, Banks’ Share, Customer Loyalty

In silico analysis of compounds characterized from ethanolic extract of Cucurbita pepo with NF-κB-inhibitory potential

NF-κB controls cellular growth properties of cells and its regulation is key to the management of disease like cancer. Although plant-derived bioactives have been reported to inhibit NF-κB, there is limited knowledge on the interactions between the phytochemicals and NF-κB. In this study, we identified the phytochemicals in ethanolic extract of Cucurbita pepo using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy technique and used in silico approach to understand the interaction between the identified phytochemicals and NF-κB using Molegro Virtual Docker. The docking algorithm showed that nine phytochemicals fit well into the pocket on NF-κB.. Our analysis showed that Lys144 is a prominent residue by involving in the binding of 9-octadecenoic acid (Z)-, methyl ester, hexadecanoic acid, methyl ester and octadecanoic acid, methyl ester with the moldock score of -55.5264, -57.4634 and -61.1258 respectively. Hence, the binding of these phytochemicals to NF-κB could be responsible for the anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer property of C. pepo

Phenotypic Intraspecific Variability among Some Accessions of Drumstick (Moringa Oleifera Lam.)

Phenotypic characterization of plant species is the basis for selection, conservation as well as improvement. Moringa oleifera (Lam.) is commonly grown as multi-purpose medicinal and leafy vegetable crop in Nigeria. This study evaluated phenotypic intraspecific variations among 40 accessions of M. oleifera collected from different agro-ecological zones. A total of 30 morphometric traits involving qualitative and quantitative vegetative, floral, fruit/pod and seed traits, seed set and germination percentages were combined for the analyses. Descriptive statistics, variance analysis, correlation coefficient, principal component analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis (CA) were used to evaluate the intraspecific variability. The accessions showed marked differences in floral, fruit pod and seed characters analyzed. Accessions edN037 (71 days), osN024 (73 days), ogN028 (74 days), oyN003 (75 days) and abN059 (76 days) were identified as early maturing accessions. Correlation coefficients r ≥ 0.70 were high and significant for reproductive characters. The PCA and CA generated similar results. The first five principal component axes explained 61.40% of the total variation with PC1 (23.92%) and PC2 (14.19%) contributing 38.11% of the total variation. The CA showed that the degree of intraspecific similarity was high (66.82%) based on Euclidean similarity index. Nevertheless, four clusters were formed indicating intraspecific phenotypic dissimilarity among the 40 accessions especially with the separation of accessions that were collected from similar environments. The phenotypic variations could be explored for utilization, conservation and for future genetic improvement by selection of accessions with promising agronomic characters

Overcoming the Challenges of Women in Politics: Lesson for and from Nigeria

In spite of the fact that women constitute over 50% of the registered voters in the country and are actively involved in political rallies and election campaigns, they are grossly underrepresented in elective and leadership positions in political parties and other sectors of the nation's economy. The paper examines the historical antecedents of women in politics. It identifies women's participation and contributions to Nigeria's political and democratic process between 1999 and 2015 with a view to identifYing the major challenges and possible means of overcoming the issues. Relying mainly on secondary sources of data, the paper engages archival review of existing gender policies and their roles in promoting women's political participation or otherwise. The paper concludes that with greater awareness, enabling environment, better political commitment and policies, women's political participation in Nigeria will improve markedly

VARIATION IN FLOWERING PHENOLOGY OF CASSIA FISTULA LINN. POPULATION IN OTA, OGUN STATE. NIGERIA

Flowering phenology in the population of Cassia fistula Linn. at Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria was investigated for three years to determine if there was variation in the phenology and the patterns were compared with some environmental factors to determine if there was any correlation. The number of plants flowering each month was monitored for three years. Data for mean monthly maximum and minimum temperatures, mean monthly rainfall and number of days with rain per month were obtained from Meteorological Institute, Oshodi, Lagos- Nigeria. In each year, there was synchronous flowering showing early and late flowering plants but the start and end of flowering vary between years. The peak months of flowering vary from year to year so also the period of flowering. Statistical analysis showed significant difference in flowering pattern between two of the years and from month to month. All these show clear variation in the flowering phenology of the species. Commencement of flowering was correlated with the rainfall and temperature in July and August while the end was correlated with the amount of rainfall and number of rainy days. With the overlap of flowering between the years, flowering is continuous in contrast to annual flowering in its country of origin; a phenomenon that has not been reported for the species before. The ecological implication was discusse

Epigenetic modifications associated with in utero exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals BPA, DDT and Pb

Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are xenobiotics which adversely modify the hormone system. The endocrine system is most vulnerable to assaults by endocrine disruptors during the prenatal and early development window, and effects may persist into adulthood and across generations. The prenatal stage is a period of vulnerability to environmental chemicals because the epigenome is usually reprogrammed during this period. Bisphenol A (BPA), lead (Pb), and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) were chosen for critical review because they have become serious public health concerns globally, especially in Africa where they are widely used without any regulation. In this review, we introduce EDCs and describe the various modes of action of EDCs and the importance of the prenatal and developmental windows to EDC exposure. We give a brief overview of epigenetics and describe the various epigenetic mechanisms: DNA methylation, histone modifications and non-coding RNAs, and how each of them affects gene expression. We then summarize findings from previous studies on the effects of prenatal exposure to the endocrine disruptors BPA, Pb and DDT on each of the previously described epigenetic mechanisms. We also discuss how the epigenetic alterations caused by these EDCs may be related to disease processes

Multiple Shoots Induction from Indigenous Nigerian Pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L.)

Aim: The aim of this study is to develop a protocol for in vitro regeneration of a Nigerian indigenous pumpkin (C. pepo L.) via seedling-derived cotelydon, cotyledonary node and hypocotyl explants. Study Design: A combination of 0.00, 1.00, 2.00 and 3.00 mgl-1 of 6-Benzylaminopurine (BAP) and 0.00 or 0.05 mgl-1 of 2,4-Dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D) for each explant type were set up in three replicates making a total of 36 culture vessels in the entire experimental set up. Five explants were cultured per combination. Place and Duration of Study: The work was conducted in the Plant Tissue Culture Laboratory of the Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science and Technology, Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria, between January 2017 and July 2017. Methodology: Hypocotyl, cotyledonary node and cotyledon explants derived from 4-week ol

Aspects of the Biology of African Moony, Monodactylus sebae from Badagry Creek, Lagos, Nigeria.

The present study investigates some aspects of the biology of African Moony, Monodactylus sebae (Cuvier 1831) from Badagry Creek, Lagos, Nigeria. Diurnal fish collections were carried out from the creek between May 2012 and April 2013. Fish were caught with cast (mesh size: 12-22 mm) and gill nets (mesh size: 18-45 mm). Specimens were preserved in 10% formaldehyde. Data on total length (L) and body weight (W) measurements were obtained from standard measuring board and Sartorius weighing balance respectively. The length frequency distribution was determined from Petersen’s method, the growth coefficient parameters ‘a’ and ‘b’ of length-weight relationship (LWR) was obtained from the equation: W= aLb, and condition factor from the expression: K= 100W/L3. Sexes were differentiated by macro and microscopically examinations of the gonads after making slit from the vent to operculum region of the fish. Ratio of numbers of males to females were determined from equation: ?2 = (O-E)2/E. A total 267 individuals were from the Creek, the specimens measured from 56-163 (111.16±19.30) mm TL, and weighed between 5.6 and 151.7 (44.80±24.46)g body weight. The LWR was LogW = -1.444 + 2.918 LogL, K varied from 2.04-6.25 (3.00±0.56). Sex ratio was 1 male:1.17 female. The findings show that the species exhibited a negative allometric growth (b=2.918) in the creek, the value which was within the expected range of 2-4 recommended for normal growth of tropical fish. The K factor was higher in females than males while the sex ratio was insignificantly different (P>0.05) from the expected or theoretical 1male:1female ratio (X2cal=1.66 < X2 tab(n=1, ?=0.05)=3.84). Key words: Allometric growth, Condition factor, Length-weight relationship, Monodactylidae, Sexual differentiation