The identification of conditions required for the creation of a property index in Nigeria

A property index is an essential tool not only to provide a comparative measure for the performance of a portfolio but also for the analysis and drawing of conclusion affecting the future management of the portfolio. This performance measurement tool has been created and controlled by different property investment bodies around the world amongst which includes RAAD VOOR ONROERENDE ZAKEN (ROZ) the umbrella organization of the Dutch property industry, INVESTMENT PROPERTY DATA BANK (IPD) responsible for U.K, South Africa and some other countries and NATIONAL COUNCIL OF REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT FIDUCIARIES (NCREIF) responsible for United State of America. The creation of a property index has brought transparency and standardization into the user’s property market, performance measurement is easily done with other asset class, investment decision are taken with accuracy and it also provides an important benchmark against which performance of the managers of different property portfolio can be measured i.e.in U.K, USA, South Africa and Holland. Four major Conditions are required to be in place for the creation of a property index. These conditions were used to benchmark with the situation currently in place in the Nigerian property market. A total of 40 questionnaires were administered to five categories of real estate investors in Lagos and Abuja and a total of 28 questionnaires were retrieved back. Analysis of the data was done with the use of tables and percentages while presentation was done with the use of bar graphs. The findings from the data analyzed reveals that the Nigerian property market does not have in place the conditions required for the creation of a property index

Molluscum contagiosum virus infection amongst plwha in ibadan, Nigeria

Background: Molluscum contagiosum (MC) infection is caused by a pox virus and the virus is probably passed on by direct skinto- skin contact which may affect any part of the body. There is anecdotal evidence associating facial lesions with HIV-related immunodeficiency. This study was aimed to determine the prevalence and associated risk factors of Molluscum contagiosum infection among PLWHAs attending ART clinic at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria. Methods: This is a descriptive cross-sectional survey of 5,207 patients (3519 female and 1688 males) attending ART clinic between January 2006 and December 2007. Physicians performed complete physical and pelvic examinations. Diagnosis of Molluscum Contagiosum infection was based on the clinical findings of typical lesions on the external genitalia, perianal, trunk, abdominal and facial regions.Results: The mean age of the patients was 34.67 yrs. ± 9.16). About 10% (542) had various sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The male to female ratio was 1: 4.2. One hundred and twenty seven subjects (23.4%) had no formal or primary education with 247 (45.6 %) beingtreatment naïve while 295 (54.4 %) were treatment experienced. Of the 542 PLWHAs with STIs, 3.3 % had undetectable viral load (< 200 copies/ ml) while 272 (50.1 %) had low CD4 count (< 200 cells / mm3.) and The Mean log10 viral load was 5.02 + 0.94. Molluscum Contagiosum infection was diagnosed in 13 patients (0.024%; 8 females and 5 males). Vaginal Candidiasis was the commonest genital infection diagnosed in 223 (41.1%) of the patients with STIs. MC patients had higher viral load, lower CD4 count and more likely to be treatment experienced”.Conclusions: Molluscum Contagiosum infection is not uncommon among the HIV-infected patients, but underreported. Awareness of this cutaneous manifestation should be known to Physicians in AIDS care.Key Words: Molluscum contagiosum, HIV, Sexually Transmitted Infectio

Correlation and path coefficient analysis of top-cross and three-way cross hybrid maize populations

Open Access JournalGrain yield is a complex quantitative trait that depends on a number of other traits for selection. This study was carried out to reveal the pattern of association with and contribution of traits to grain yield in two maize populations evaluated in three agro-ecological zones of South-Western Nigeria during the 2014 cropping season. The experiment consisted of 10 top-cross and 10 three-way cross maize hybrids, laid out in a randomised complete block design with three replications. Genotypic and phenotypic correlation coefficients and path co-efficient analyses were performed for each hybrid population across the three locations. Results showed significant (p≤0.05) differences between the two hybrid populations for all the traits mentioned except days to 50% anthesis, ear diameter and 100-grain weight. Field weight in both hybrid populations, number of kernel rows per cob, ear diameter and ear height in top-cross hybrids, as well as ear length and 100-grain weight in the three-way cross hybrids were directly correlated with grain yield. The link between direct and indirect effects on grain yield depends on hybrid population, although some traits showed similar direct effects in both hybrid populations. These traits can be used as the main criteria for grain yield improvement in the respective hybrid populations

Differential grain yield performance of single cross hybrid maize in varied nitrogen conditions

Presence of genotypic differences in maize ( Zea mays L.) grain yield in multi-environments would help plant breeders to make logical decisions in improvement programmes of the crop. Hence, the grain yield performance, heterosis and stability in hybrid maize in varied soil nitrogen (N) conditions in Nigeria were assessed using multiple biometrical techniques. Grain yield performance, heterosis and stability of 150 single cross hybrid maize were assessed with checks in severe N stress, N stress and optimal conditions in a replicated trial laid out in 19 7 8 lattice design for 2 years. The grain yield was subjected to analysis of variance for each N condition and combined across years. Heterosis was estimated for the trait, additive mean effects and multiplicative interaction (AMMI); and genotype + genotype 7 environment (GGE) models were used to analyse the hybrids\u2019 yield stability. The AMMI captured 93.7%; while GGE bi-plot accounted for 88.7% of total variation among the hybrids. Eight hybrids had high yields across the N conditions. Genotypes and environments affected heterosis for grain yield. Hybrids TZEI7 7BD74-399, BD74-179 7BD74-55 and BD74-175 7BD74-147 were the most ideal genotypes for the N conditions; while severe N stress condition was ideal test environment. Hybrid BD74-170 7BD74-31 adapted most to N stress; while TZEI1 7BD74-399 adapted most to severe N stress and to optimal conditions. Based on yield, heterosis and stability, hybrids involving inbred line BD74-171 were recommended for N stress; while those with inbred lines TZEI1, TZEI4 BD74-170, BD74-128, BD74-179 and BD74-175 were adapted to N stress and optimal conditions.La pr\ue9sence de diff\ue9rences g\ue9notypiques dans le rendement en grains de ma\uefs ( Zea mays L.) dans plusieurs environnements aiderait les selectioneurs \ue0 prendre des d\ue9cisions logiques dans les programmes d\u2019am\ue9lioration de ma\uefs. Par cons\ue9quent, les performances de rendement en grain, l\u2019h\ue9t\ue9rosis et la stabilit\ue9 d\u2018 hybride de ma\uefs dans les diverses conditions d\u2019azote (N) du sol au Nig\ue9ria ont \ue9t\ue9 \ue9valu\ue9es \ue0 l\u2019aide de multiples techniques biom\ue9triques. La performance de rendement en grain, l\u2019h\ue9t\ue9rosis et la stabilit\ue9 de 150 des hybrides de ma\uefs simples crois\ue9s ont \ue9t\ue9 \ue9valu\ue9s avec des contr\uf4les du stress grave en N, du stress en N et des conditions optimales dans le cadre d\u2019un essai r\ue9p\ue9t\ue9 pr\ue9sent\ue9 sur un r\ue9seau 19 7 8 pendant 2 ans. Le rendement en grains a \ue9t\ue9 soumis \ue0 une analyse de variance pour chaque condition d\u2019azote et combin\ue9 sur plusieurs ann\ue9es. L\u2019h\ue9t\ue9rosis a \ue9t\ue9 estim\ue9e pour le trait, les effets moyens additifs et l\u2019interaction multiplicative (MAIM); et des mod\ue8les g\ue9notype + g\ue9notype 7 environnement (GGE) ont \ue9t\ue9 utilis\ue9s pour analyser la stabilit\ue9 du rendement des hybrides. Le MAIM a captur\ue9 93,7%; alors que les bi-parcelles GGE ont repr\ue9sent\ue9 88,7% de la variation totale parmi les hybrides. Huit hybrides ont eu des rendements \ue9lev\ue9s dans les conditions d\u2019azote (N) du sol. Les g\ue9notypes et les environnements ont affect\ue9 l\u2019h\ue9t\ue9rosis pour le rendement en grain. Les hybrides TZEI7 7 BD74-399, BD74-179 7 BD74-55 et BD74-175 7 BD74-147 \ue9taient les g\ue9notypes les plus id\ue9aux pour les conditions N; tandis que la condition de stress N grave \ue9tait l\u2019environnement de test id\ue9al. Les hybrides BD74-170 7 BD74-31 \ue9taient les mieux adapt\ue9s au stress N; TZEI1 7 BD74-399 \ue9taient plus adapt\ue9s \ue0 l\u2018 intense stress li\ue9 \ue0 l\u2019azote et aux conditions optimales. En se basant sur le rendement, l\u2019h\ue9t\ue9rosis et la stabilit\ue9, des hybrides impliquant la lign\ue9e consanguine BD74-171 ont \ue9t\ue9 recommand\ue9s pour le stress sous N; tandis que ceux avec des lign\ue9es consanguines TZEI1, TZEI4 BD74-170, BD74-128, BD74-179 et BD74-175 ont \ue9t\ue9 adapt\ue9s au stress N et \ue0 des conditions optimales

Invasive Haemophilus influenzae Disease, Europe, 1996–2006

Incidence and case-fatality ratios are higher for non–type b than for type b infection

Epidemiology of Haemophilus influenzae Serotype a, North American Arctic, 2000–2005

Serotype a is now the most common seen in the North American Arctic; highest rates occur in indigenous children

Epidemiology of Haemophilus influenzae Serotype a, North American Arctic, 2000–2005

Serotype a is now the most common seen in the North American Arctic; highest rates occur in indigenous children

Genotypic variability and stability of fibre yield components in kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.)

Multi-environment yield trials (METs) are essential to reduce the challenges of the genotypes × environment interaction (G × E) in identification of promising genotypes. Therefore, this study estimated genetic variability, broad-sense heritability (h2b), genetic advances (GA) and repeatability as well as stability of core and bast fibres yield of 33 kenaf genotypes evaluated across six locations. The varieties were grown in an experiment laid out in randomized complete block design with three replications in 2016. Mature plants were harvested, retted and dried. Core fibre (CF) and bast fibre (BF) were weighed and data collected were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) separately and across locations. Genetic variances, broad-sense heritability (h2b), genetic advance (GA) and repeatability were estimated for both traits. The G × E was assessed using joint regression analysis. Highly significant variation existed for both core and bast fibre yields among the genotypes in each of the locations. Phenotypic parameters were higher than those of the genotypes for both core fibre weight (CRW) and bast fibre weight (BSW). Broad-sense heritability was 82% for CRW and 66% for BSW while GA was 53.7% and 8.8% for CRW and BSW, respectively. Combined ANOVA showed significant differences for genotypes, environments, and G × E for CRW and BSW (p<0.001). Partitioning of G × E showed that only Gen × Env. (linear) was significant (P<0.05). Genotypic variance was 85% of the phenotypic variance for CRW, but only 32% for BSW. Hence, environmental effect was more on the CRW than BSW. Inheritance of the CRW and BSW is genetic because of their high heritability. Genetic advance and repeatability were higher for CRW than BSW. Based on high heritability with high GA for CRW, gene action governing inheritance of CRW is additive. Both additive and non-additive gene actions are responsible for BSW because its high heritability but low GA. Progress can therefore be made in selection for CRW than BSW in kenaf improvement programmes. Linear response of genotypes on environments accounted for the major part of total variation for the two types of fibre yield. Genotypes A-60-282-15, AC-313-293, AU-2452-5A and Cuba 108 are adapted to favourable environments while AU-2452-43, AU-24526, 2QQ 171 and AU-7192 are adapted to less favourable environments both in CF and BF yields.Keywords: Bast fibre, Core fibre, Genotype, Gene action, Regression analysis, Stabilit

The Global Management Accounting Principles (GMAP) and the relationship between organizational design elements

Purpose: this study investigates the relationship between organizational design elements (i.e., quality of management accounting skills and performance management system, PMS), management accounting practice (MAP) sophistication and organizational competitiveness using the Global Management Accounting Principles (GMAP) framework.Design/methodology/approach: survey data was obtained through a structured questionnaire from 131 Nigerian firms. Measures of the quality of management accounting skills, robustness of PMS structure, MAP sophistication and organizational competitiveness were derived from the GMAP framework. Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) was applied to explore the complexity of relationship among variables.Findings: whilst the quality of management accounting skills was found to have a positive but insignificant impact on MAP sophistication, the impact of PMS structure on MAP sophistication was positive and significant. MAP sophistication has a positive impact on organizational competitiveness, but the magnitude of its contribution appears to depend on the quality of management accounting skills and the robustness of PMS structure. The inability of MAP sophistication to exert much influence on organizational competitiveness is attributable to the low contribution of management accounting skills. Result supports the proposition that performance is optimized when all organizational design elements are concurrently improved.Originality/value: the study contributes to knowledge by investigating the quality of management accounting skills and the robustness of PMS as organizational design elements affecting MAP and organizational competitiveness using the GMAP framework. The study operationalizes some elements of the GMAP framework by developing measurements that can be used by future studies. Practical implications: the study shows that organizations need to critically look into the quality of skills possessed by personnel in the accounting function, as all organizational design elements must be given equal importance to achieve the best results. <br/