Assessment of Rainwater and Groundwater Quality in Izombe Town, Oguta Local Government Area of Imo State

Rainwater and groundwater quality in Izombe were assessed. Five water samples were collected from five (5) different locations, with at least one location from one of the four autonomous communities in Izombe, Oguta L.G.A of Imo State. The physicochemical and microbial parameters of rainwater and groundwater samples from Umuakpa, Ndeuloukwu, Ugbele, Ndioko, and Orsu were assessed using Varian Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). The study was aimed to assess the physicochemical and microbial qualities of groundwater and rainwater in Izombe and how these affect their health as individual members of the community, and their environment when compared to WHO standards. The water samples were collected from five different locations, with at least one location from each of the four autonomous communities, and were assessed. The result indicated that rainwater and groundwater pollutants in the community were turbidities, ammonia, copper and temperatures 7.59±0.02 ph, 6.42±0.28 nitrate, 59.56±0.50 ammonia, 0.29±0.07 phosphate, 0.88±0.03 iron, copper, lead, nickel, aluminum, mercury, manganese, cadmium, bacteria count, coliform count, and E-coli. Also, all the pollutant parameters were identified, only iron, copper, aluminum, and bacteria count were not identified as being associated with petroleum products and exploratory activities. This research has broadened the understanding of the suitability of Izombe water sources for both consumption and other purposes. The findings show that the rain and groundwater sources of the community are not fit for human consumption, due to the contaminants inherent in them, attributed majorly to the oil production activities in the area which corroborates other research studies

Gender equity in access to and benefits from modern energy and improved energy technologies:world development report background paper

This background paper has been commissioned as a contribution to the preparation of the World Development Report 2012 which will focus on development and gender equality. It is a companion paper to two other papers which examine gender issues in relation to common property resources and economic dimensions of gender and energy. Gender, as a concept, refers to the socially determined ideas and practices of what it is to be female or male. It contrasts with the concept of sex which uses biological attributes to categorise someone as male or female (Reeves and Baden, 2000). This paper focuses on the socio-cultural dimensions that influence and shape gender equity in terms of access to and benefits from access to modern energy1 and improved energy technologies2. Gender equity recognises that women and men have different needs and interests, and that to achieve equality in life outcomes, a redistribution of power and resources is required (Reeves and Baden, 2000)

Sex disaggregation alone will not energize equality

The need to include gender in energy policy, practice and research is largely accepted. However, when research that merely disaggregates by sex is used to inform energy efficiency initiatives, it often reproduces stereotypical understandings of sex differences, which can harm rather than promote gender equality

Quality of work life and job satisfaction among early-career pharmacists in Africa’s most populous country: A nationwide survey in Nigeria

This study examined the factors affecting the quality of work life and job satisfaction among early-career pharmacists in Nigeria. This was a cross-sectional survey conducted across the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria. We used the database of licensed pharmacists in each selected state to identify eligible participants. Information sheets were sent to all potential participants through email. If interested, they signed the consent form and were sent the survey online to be completed and returned within 24 h. Validated questionnaires were used to evaluate their quality of work life and job satisfaction. Descriptive statistics (frequency, mean, and standard deviation) were used to summarize the data. Of a total of 373 participants; 323 (86.6%) were single, and 245 (65.7%) were working in government-owned hospitals. The findings showed that the quality of work life information affects the job satisfaction of early-career pharmacists. Reasons reported for poor job satisfaction were poor remuneration, increased workload, a lack of employer support, and an unconducive work environment. Suggestions for possible interventions included an increase in remuneration, an accommodating work atmosphere, and flexible working hours. Our findings show a direct relationship between quality of work life and job satisfaction; predictors of job satisfaction were salary, employer assistance, health insurance, and length of leave

Formal and Informal Financing Decisions of Small Businesses

This study investigates small businesses’ financing decisions. Drawing upon asymmetric information theory, institutional theory and relevant literature on cognitive financial constraints, human capital and social capital, we propose a theoretical framework in which financing determinants come from three dimensions: entrepreneurs’ individual factors, organisational (firm-level) factors and contextual (institutional) factors. We employ this model to distinguish four types of firms: (1) firms that use no external finance, (2) firms that use informal finance only, (3) firms that use formal finance only and (4) firms that use both formal and informal finance. An empirical test on Vietnamese small businesses shows that factors from all three dimensions are important in understanding small businesses’ financing decisions

ANTINOCICEPTIVE, ANTI-INFLAMMATORY AND CYTOTOXIC ACTIVITIES OF PENTACLETHRA MACROPHYLLA AQUEOUS EXTRACTS IN MICE.

The aqueous leaf, stem – bark, seed and fruit pericarp extracts of Pentaclethra macrophylla were examined for their cytotoxicity, while only the leaves and seeds were tested for analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities using in-vivo and in-vitro experimental models. Cytotoxicity haemagglutination assay revealed the following order of toxicity among the plant parts: fruit pericarp > stem - bark > seed > leaf with 71.4, 25.6, 5.3, and 0.5 haemagglutination titre values respectively. The extracts at 30 and 60 mg/kg exhibited analgesic activity and anti-inflammatory property using the flick and hot plate tests, acetic acid induced writhing test; and leucocyte counts, pulmonary oedema and oedema paw of mice in a dose-dependent manner. These findings therefore explain and justify ethnomedical uses of Pentaclethra macrophylla in the treatment of itching (inflammatory response) and pain in animals and in man