An Investigation into Traffic Turning Movement at Jibowu

This paper aims at understanding the behavioral pattern of traffic at Jibowu intersection with a view of using the results obtained as a model for understudying traffic movement at similar intersections in the Lagos metropolis. Consequently, an evaluation of the sampled intersections was carried out by employing a physical measurement of the layout, traffic volume at each turning point, and evaluating it against the back drop of traffic delays at the intersections. The paper reviews the traffic flow situation within the context of increasing motorization, poor infrastructural facilities and a continuous stream of traffic inflow. It highlights the problems with emphasis on the importance of signalization, land use, intersection design and traffic systems management. The paper concludes that most of the bottlenecks experienced at the intersection are man-induced. Rather than obeying traffic regulations, people act otherwise either out of ignorance or gross indiscipline. Secondly the paper posits that the land use allocation in the area should be reviewed especially with emphasis on discouraging the luxury bus operators from using the area as their base or Main Park. Although the paper did not fully measure the delay at the intersection, it has however set the stage for further investigations.Turning Movement, Junction, Traffic Jam, Survey, Delays, Lagos, Turning Points, Signalization

Rainwater Harvesting Potential for Domestic Water Supply in Edo State

In the face of increasing scarcity of water resources, there is a need for communities to undertake audits of their current rainwater harvesting potential as a practical and promising alternative solution for water shortage. Despite the importance of rainwater harvest in socio-economic development of communities, very little information exists in the literature concerning it. This paper is an attempt to bridge this gap by examining the techniques and materials used for rainwater harvest with a focus on the geographical spread of its use and an analysis to support its wide acceptance by considering a case study from Edo State. Investigations also relate to health implications of rainwater harvest and impact on food production. Also, examined are institutional arrangements and policies guiding water supply and distribution in the state as opposed to rainwater harvest. The total volume of water supplied by the rain (in gallons), and the volume of conserved were evaluated from hydro-meteorological data collection system and through a survey in different senatorial districts of the state. The results of the analysis show that majority of the people empty their tanks mid-way into the dry season, suggesting that the current volume of the tanks is not enough to sustain the people with water during the dry season period. New constructions of bigger tanks are therefore recommended, particularly for families who use harvested rainwater for cassava processing.Rainwater, Harvesting, Edo State, Stream, Tanks

EMPLOYEE’S RETENTION STRATEGIES AND PERFORMANCE IN NIGERIA’S PUBLIC SECTOR

Employee retention strategies are becoming the most critical workforce management challenges in the dynamic business environments. Public Organizations in Nigeria are operating in highly competitive environment owing to today’s rapidly moving dynamic, uncertain and highly competitive global markets. This study aims to examine the impact of employee retention strategies on performance of Nigeria’s public sector. Secondary data obtained from relevant books, journals, websites resource were gathered and analyzed to accomplish this objective. Findings of the study establish the significance that employee retention strategies have on public sector performance in Nigeria. Moreover, the findings revealed the implication of labour turnover in the public sector and the strategies for its avoidance. In view of this, the paper argues that governments in Nigeria need to put in place, adequate employee retention policies that encourage and make employees feel valued. In addition, the conditions of services and other retention strategies in the public sector should be reviewed in line with the current economic situation of the country. These steps are necessary to achieve the much needed quality performance in the Nigeria’s public sector

Virulensi Dan Ras Ralstonia Solanacearum Pada Pertanaman Kentang Di Kecamatan Pangalengan, Kabupaten Bandung, Jawa Barat

. Gunawan, O.S. 2006. Race and virulence of Ralstonia solanacearum in potato growing at Pangalengan,West Java. Research was conducted on January-December 2001. Samples of soil, infected plants, and tuber of potato were collected from 83 sites in 13 villages using the Kiraly method. Nitro cellular membrane Elisa test was done using Sylvie Priouw (1996) method. The ability of R. solanacearum to oxydize 6 kinds of carbohydrates and pathogenicity test were done by AVRDC method. The results shown that virulence of R. solanacearum isolates were different among locations. Pathogenicity test of those bacteria shown high virulence in solanaceae family such as tomatoes and potatoes but less virulence in pepper, eggplant, and ginger. Based on the ability of bacteria to oxydize 6 kinds of carbohydrates, all isolates collected from 13 villages were belong to 2 groups, i.e. ras 1 biovar III from soil samples, and race 3 biovar II from plants and potato tubers

The association between a detectable HIV viral load and non-communicable diseases comorbidity in HIV positive adults on antiretroviral therapy in Western Cape, South Africa.

BACKGROUND: Past studies have found a relationship between detectable HIV viral load and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in HIV-infected individuals on antiretroviral therapy in high-income settings, however there is little research in South Africa. Our objective was to investigate the association between detectable HIV viral load and prevalent NCDs in a primary health centre in peri-urban South Africa. METHODS: HIV-infected adults (aged ≥25) who had been on antiretroviral therapy for ≥ six months and attended the HIV clinic within a primary health centre in Khayelitsha, Cape Town, were recruited. We recorded participants' demographics, HIV characteristics, the presence of NCDs via self-report, from clinic folders and from measurement of their blood pressure on the day of interview. We used logistic regression to estimate the association between a detectable HIV viral load and NCD comorbidity. RESULTS: We recruited 330 adults. We found no association between a detectable HIV viral load and NCD comorbidity. Within our multivariable model, female gender (OR3·26; p = 0·02) age > 35 (OR 0·40; p = 0·02) low CD4 count (compared to CD4 < 300 (reference category): CD4:300-449 OR 0·28; CD4:450-599 OR 0·12, CD4:≥600 OR 0·12; p = < 0·001), and ever smoking (OR 3·95; p = < 0·001) were associated with a detectable HIV viral load. We found a lower prevalence of non-communicable disease in clinic folders than was self-reported. Furthermore the prevalence of hypertension measured on the day of interview was greater than that reported on self-report or in the clinic folders. CONCLUSIONS: The lack of association between detectable viral load and NCDs in this setting is consistent with previous investigation in South Africa but differs from studies in high-income countries. Lower NCD prevalence in clinic records than self-report and a higher level of hypertension on the day than self-reported or recorded in clinic folders suggest under-diagnosis of NCDs in this population. This potential under-detection of NCDs may differ from a high-income setting and have contributed to our finding of a null association. Our findings also highlight the importance of the integration of HIV and primary care systems to facilitate routine monitoring for non-communicable diseases in HIV-infected patients

Informal Land Delivery System in Lagos State,Nigeria

There is a growing body of research concerned with the relationship between informal land delivery system and housing development in Lagos State. Studies originate from a diversity of sources, and encompass a variety of geographic scales and locations. To add to this diversity, many different characteristics of urban form as well as land acquisition patterns have been examined. This paper brings together informal land delivery system and housing development systematic patterns over the last 20 years. This paper is divided i~to three sections in the area of the existing modes of land accessibility; variations in land market transactions under different cultural and social influences and practical attributes that make land transaction arrangements better suited to society's needs. The study found that informal land delivery system is more effective in delivering land for housing, because of its user-friendly characteristics and social legitimacy. The study recommended that the informal processes of subdivision of family land for sale should be based on approved layouts to ensure the reservation of access ways and sites for social facilities. Finally, the issue of security of tenure and the harassment encountered by developers from the "Omo-onile" should be addressed by both the local and state government

Isolation Of Mycotoxi genic Fungi And Quantification Of Aflatoxins From Bean Flours Sold In Abeokuta Nigeria

The recent increase in consumers’ preference for commercially sold bean flour necessitated the need to determine associated mycoflora and quantify the toxin production by the isolates, since several fungal genera have been associated with bean grains. Four fungal genera were isolated from fifteen beans flour samples sourced from various markets in Abeokuta by serial dilutions and pour plates methods on Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) plates. Distinct colonies were transferred to Methyl Red Dessicated Coconut Agar (MRDCA) plates to identify toxin- producing isolates and High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) was used for aflatoxin quantification from the bean flour samples. The isolated fungal genera were, Aspergillus (60%), Fusarium (10%), Rhizopus (15%) and Mucor (5%). Nine of the fifteen samples were found positive for aflatoxigenic organisms and also produced aflatoxins that ranged from 0.006 to 0.151 ng/kg. The presence of toxin- producing organisms in the bean flour which is above the acceptable standard is a red flag that must be addressed vigorously if public health is a priority

Rent Control and Residential Property Values in Lagos State Nigeria

Prior to 1997, arbitrary rent increases, unlawful ejection of tenants, Lengthy and un-ending Litigations between Landlords and tenants were rampant in Lagos State, Nigeria. This dictated the intervention of Lagos State Government through the promulgation of the Rent Control and Recovery of Residential Premises Edict, which stipulates, inter alia, specific method to be adopted in determining residential property values. This research examines the statutory method of detem1ining standard rent under the edict, and adopts the multiple-comparison and analysis of variance techniques to determine the relationship between statutory and open market rents. It discovers that rent control has no impacts on rental prqperty values in the study area. It therefore concludes that government intervention through control of rent would injure the urban poor it sets out to protect and recommends that government should hands off control of rent on houses government has not produce

Effect of Different Drying Methods on the Drying Kinetics of Fermented Cardaba Banana Peels

Cardaba banana peels (Musa acuminata) were fermented for three days and dried using solar dryer, open sun and tunnel dryer. Nonlinear regression analysis was used to fit in the experimental data. Moisture drying was investigated using Fick’s second law. Statistical tools such as coefficient of determination (R2), reduced chi square (χ2), Mean Bias Error (MBE) and Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) were used to test the reliability of the model. Sample dried in sun had single falling rate pattern whereas samples in solar and tunnel dryer exhibited a second falling rate pattern. The values of R2 ranged from 0.872-0.989, χ2(1.4E-34-0.0624), MBE (-0.0067-0.0491) and RMSE (1.1E-17-0.2247). Effective moisture diffusivity for samples dried in solar, tunnel and sun were 2.92 E-11m2/s, 1.98 E-11m2/s and 1.09 E-11m2/s, respectively. The energy of activation in the process was 64.9kJ/mol. Page model best described drying behavior of the samples