Economic analysis of plantain production in Afijio Local Government Oyo State, Nigeria

The study was carried out to investigate the economic analysis of plantain production in Afijio Local Government Oyo State, Nigeria. Multi – stage sampling technique was used in the data collection. A total of 150 respondents were sampled. Statistical tools such as frequency distribution, production function and budgetary analysis were used in analyzing the data for this study. The result shows that most of the respondents were male (93.3.0 %) and married (76.70%). The major problems faced by the respondents in the study area include inadequate credit facilities, problems of pest and disease and inadequate farm land. The estimated costs and return of plantain growers cultivating one hectare on the average in the zone were  ₦ 134,860.00 and  ₦ 482,000.00 per annum, respectively. The operating cash expenses ratio was 23.57%, which connotes that 23.57 % of the gross revenue was used to cover the operating expenses. The regression analysis reveals that double function had the F-ratio that was significant at 10 % α – level and based on the statistical and econometric theories, the double log function was chosen as the lead equation with coefficient of multiple determinations (R2) value of 0.88, which implies that 88.09 % of variables is allocated to the explanatory variables.Keywords: Plantain, Production, Gross margin, Budgetar

Analysis of wave and current data in a tidal energy test site

Characterisation of a tidal stream site before device deployment is important for the marine tidal industry, in order to optimise the device design and accurately predict its performance during operation. Understanding the short-term uctuations in tidal stream velocity, resulting from turbulence and wave-current interactions, is essential for proper evaluation of the transient performance of a tidal stream turbine. Several aerodynamic models have been proposed for the design of tidal stream turbines and energy production calculation, most of which have proved to predict accurately mean quantities within the ow regime. Unfortunately, these models cannot accurately predict the instantaneous ow variation and resulting forces within the ow regime acting on tidal stream systems which is of central importance to the tidal energy industry. The reasons for this may not be unconnected to the signi cant differences between wind and tidal turbines. Given the uncertainties which exist in the assumptions of resource modelling and the need for an accurate energy capture assessment at a speci c site, accurate on-site measurements that can predict the ow velocity (and its directional component) at a given location, are needed. This thesis is devoted to characterisation of ow in a typical tidal stream site (the Fall of Warness, of the European Marine Energy Center (EMEC), Orkney) through measured data. The high-frequency Acoustic Doppler Current Pro ler (ADCP) surveys were conducted at different locations within this site by EMEC. This dataset allows for the rst time a statistical and thorough analysis of the vertical turbulence structure at the EMEC's tidal stream test site. Detailed analyses of the directional components of the wave elds using a non-phase-locked method and in uences of seabed and tidal stream on wave elds, were performed. The bulk turbulence parameters within the tidal streams were estimated using the variance method. The results suggest a signi - cant effect of directionality and short-term uctuations in stream velocity resulting from turbulence and wave-current interactions, on the hydrodynamics in a typical tidal energy test site. The results from this study can be used to validate and improve/develop proposed hydrodynamic models and can play a vital role in tidal energy resource planning

Reducing the Spread of HIV/AIDs among the Junior Secondary School Students through Instructions in Social Studies

The study investigated the need to reduce the spread of HIV/AIDs through the teaching of Social Studies to the Junior Secondary Schools Students in Nigeria. Also the student’s perception on the influence of the Social Studies instructions they received on HIV/AIDS towards their attitude was investigated. The study was a descriptive study of the survey type. It employed the use of questionnaire to elicit information from the subjects. The population of the study was the junior secondary school students in class three and Social Studies teachers in Ekiti and Ondo States. The samples of the study consist of 200 teachers and 200 junior secondary school students drawn from the two states. Two research questions were raised for the study and two hypotheses were equally generated from the research questions raised. The questionnaire for the teachers had twenty items while that of the students had twenty items all testing the perception of the respondents on the benefits derived from Social Studies instructions and the possibility of reducing the surge as a result of the lessons derived from sex education. These questionnaires were administered to the students and teachers by research assistants who were well trained for the study. The questionnaire was collected and analysed using t- test statistics. The result of the data analysed showed that both the teachers and the students perceived that Social Studies instructions would help them to have insight into human body anatomy and how to avoid contacting the dreaded HIV/AIDS. In addition they learnt how to take care of their health, control their sexual behaviour, and protect themselves from contacting sexually transmitted diseases. The consensus opinion was that Social Studies instructions can help in reducing the spread of HIV/AIDS. It was recommended among others that the Social Studies teachers should teach the subject by relating it to real life situation in order to enable the students use the lessons derived in future

Desirability of Social Values and Sexual Morality among Nigerian University Undergraduates: Social Studies to the Rescue

Many cherished social values among Nigerian societies appear to have been eroded due to some contemporary issues and problems of the society. Hence, youths are now faced with lots of behavioural problems among which is sexual immorality that is seriously affecting their future developmental aspirations This paper therefore examined values and sexual morality among university undergraduates and how Social Studies Educators could restore the lost social values through effective teaching with a view to transforming the sexual immorality that is taking an alarming dimension among university undergraduates in Nigeria in recent times. The research adopted a descriptive research of the survey type and respondents were selected through multi-stage sampling techniques. A simple random technique was used to select three states at stage one, stratified random sampling was used to select two federal, two state and two private universities at stage two, while random sampling through the use of balloting was used to select two universities from each stratum and two hundred and sixty five students from each of the universities at the third stage. The total sample was made up of one thousand, five hundred and eighty one (1581). A self-designed instrument titled ‘Values and Sexual Morality Questionnaire’ (VASMOQ) was used for the study and data collected were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics such as Percentage Scores, Mean, Standard Deviation, Pearson Product Moment Correlation,  Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and t-test. The study found a significant relationship between peer pressure and university undergraduates’ social values, as well as undergraduates’ sexual immorality. The study concluded by suggesting among others that educators should design a programme to introduce new contents that would incorporate relevant knowledge on social values of the society as General Studies (GST) for all university undergraduates.  All hypothesis were tested at 0.05 level of significance

Market Structure of Yam in Selected Market in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria

This study carried out Market Structure of Yam in selected markets in Ibadan. Oyo State, It specifically determined profitability of Yam marketing and examined the market structure for yam in the study area. Five markets centres were covered and simple random sampling techniques wereused to select a total of 120 yam sellers in the study area. Gross margin and gini-coefficient techniques were used to analyse the data collected. The profitability analysis showed that yammarketing in Bodija is more profitable as the seller on the average realizes a net profit of N111,075. The result of the Gini coefficient for yam sellers obtained in the study area was 0.572 which implies that yam market in the study area is imperfectly competitive with the market structure inclining towards monopoly

Effect of different processing methods on the utilization of Jatropha curcas (Linn) kernel meals on weaner rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus)

There is great competition between the usage of most grains as food or feed hence there is need to identify more livestock feed resources that are not directly consumed by human being. Jatropha curcas kernel is one of such options that can replace some protein sources in livestock diets. Twelve weaner rabbits (Oryctolaguscuniculus) housed individually in cages were used to appraise the effect of different processing methods (cooked once and cooked twice) on the utilization of Jatropha curcas kernel meals (JKM) based diets by weaner rabbits. The experimental animals were allocated to three dietary treatment groups marked T1 (control), T2 (cooked once) and T3 (cooked twice) in a completely randomized design. The preliminary determination of the chemical compositions of processed Jatropha curcas kernel meals revealed that the double cooked sample had higher crude protein (38.20%), and energy (1238Kcal/kg) values over the cooked once which had (32.29%) and (1126Kcal/kg), respectively. It was also shown that the anti-nutritional factors in the sample of the double cooked were lower in value over the cooked once that had higher values. There were significant (p<0.05) differences among the treatment means in terms of daily weight gain and average final weight. The apparent crude protein, crude fiber, ether, and ash digestibility were not significantly affected by the dietary inclusion of the test ingredient irrespective of the processing method did not impose any ill-effect on the experimental animals.Keywords: Jatropha curcas, weaner rabbits, processing method

Perceived effect of bush burning on households livelihood security in Agaie Local Government Area of Niger State, Nigeria

This study was to determine the effect of bush burning on household’s livelihood security in Agaie Local Government Area of Niger State. Multi-stage sample technique was used to select 130 respondents in the study area. Data was collected through the use of interview scheduled with the aid of well-structured questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive and inferential analysis. The study revealed that the agricultural activity was the major occupation of the respondents in the study area. Also, the level of livelihood security was low with more than half (53.8%) felt the negative effect of bush burning ranging from destruction of wildlife, pollution of environment, destruction of soil texture, respiratory infection and lastly destruction of agricultural products. However, significant relationship existed between livelihood activities and livelihood security. (r =-0.318, p ≤ 0.000). This study therefore recommends that the dwellers should be educated by extension agents on safer cultivation strategies and appropriate farming methods to be used instead of bush burning.Keywords: Bushing burn, Livelihood and Livelihood Securit

Sleep quality and psychological morbidity among physicians in southwest Nigeria

Objectives: The role of the physician has increasingly become more expansive, and demanding. These demanding schedules have played a heavy toll on sleep patterns and increased psychological stress. The objective of the study was to assess sleep quality and psychological morbidity among Physicians.Method: A cross-sectional survey of 95 voluntary consenting physicians from different specialties during a 2-day conference. We administered Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and General Health Questionnaire-12.Results: About 13.6% (n=13 out of 95) had a score above 2 on General Health Questionnaire-12, indicating psychological morbidity. Those who reported poor sleep quality (>5) made up 36.8% (n=35) of the respondents, There were positive significant correlation between hours spent on call and total scores on GHQ at r=0.230, p=0.03. Only subjective sleep quality (component 1) was significantly correlated with total GHQ scores at p=0.001Conclusion: The findings in our study showed a relationship between sleep quality (component 1) psychological morbidity. We observed that long work schedules was the only factor associated with psychological morbidity and sleep quality. It is imperative for work-time stress management to be instituted among physicians.Keywords: Sleep quality, psychological morbidity, physicians, work schedules, Nigeri