Response of Lowland Rice Plants to Simulated Insect Defoliation in West Africa

Field experiments were conducted to investigate the impact of simulated insect-caused defoliation on irrigated rice. Defoliation levels tested were 0% (control), 25% defoliation at 21 days after transplanting (dat), 25% defoliation at 41 dat, 25% defoliation at 21 and 42 dat, 50% defoliation at 21 dat, 50% defoliation at 42 dat, 75% defoliation at 21 dat, 75% defoliation at 42 dat, 75% defoliation at 21 and 42 dat, 100% defoliation at 21 dat, and 100% defoliation at 21 and 42 dat. Tiller height, total number of tillers, percent panicle-bearing tillers, weight of 100 grains, and grain yields were recorded. The rice plant when defoliated just before tillering or in the tillering stage has the ability to compensate for defoliation damage. No yield losses occurred at 25% defoliation. Defoliation of 100% had a significant effect on the total number of tillers and on grain yield. Yield losses at 100% defoliation over the 3 years of the study averaged 40% in the 21 dat treatment and 55% in the 21 and 42 dat treatment. The implications of the development of cultural practices to manage lowland rice defoliating insects are discussed

The empirical analysis of cash balance pension scheme implementation in Nigeria

The study tested the equality of the expected mean retirement outcomes of the cash balance, dened contribution and dened benet pension plans in three workplace scenarios in Nigeria that differed only on how monthly wages of employees are computed at entry into the schemes but contingent on employee's experience and desirable skills. The analyses are based upon the values obtained from the actuarial valuation models that incorporate assumptions that satisfy Nigerian pension statutory requirements. The results show that the cash balance mean gratuity and the cash balance mean pension are individually higher than those of the traditional schemes in all the three cases studied. We therefore conclude that cash balance plan offers the most rewarding retirement benets to participants, and thus it deserves introduction into the Nigerian pension market.Keywords: cash balance plan, dened benet plan, dened contribution plan, gratuity, pension, pension replacement rat

Cooperation and optimism in a social dilemma

We examine the influence of optimism about local and foreign people on social cooperation using a public goods game. Firstly, we find that optimism fuels social cooperation, and secondly, that this positive effect holds when optimism is focused either jointly or individually

DETERMINANTS OF SUSTAINABLE INCOME GENERATION AMONG FISH PROCESSORS IN ABEOKUTA METROPOLIS, OGUN STATE, NIGERIA

This study was carried out to assess determinants of sustainable income generation among fish processors in Abeokuta Metropolis, Ogun State, Nigeria. Eighty fish processors were randomly selected from five communities. Data collected were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The results showed that majority (71.3%) used traditional kiln for processing their fish while 23.7% fried fish in hot vegetable oil. Respondents sourced credit from personal savings (48.8%), cooperatives (27.5%), and friends and family (17.5%) for fish processing activities. Respondents generated an average monthly income (gross profit) of ₦28,000.00 from roasted fish, ₦14,000.00 from dried fish, and ₦20,800.00 from fried fish. However, inadequate processing equipment (95.0%) affected fish processing in the study area. Results of regression showed that personal characteristics of the respondents, processing methods and constraints have influence on income generated at p < 0.05 level of significance. The study therefore recommends that fish processors should adopt modern method of fish processing while subsidized equipment should be made available by the government to the fish processors in the study area. &nbsp

Mathematical model to evaluate the effect of carbon monoxide exposure as a function of gender, age and height

This study develops and solves mathematical models using a time-dependent Fick’s law of diffusion with the tools of non-Newtonian mechanics specifically the power-law fluid model with appropriate boundary conditions to predict the concentration profiles of carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) species in the human bloodstream from carbon monoxide (CO) inhaled over some time. The concentration of CO and the length of exposure determines how much harm it does to the body. The model developed prediction compares favourably with experimental results and other models in the literature. The standard error obtained when compared with the experiment is 1.02. The results show that the height of individuals has a significant effect on COHb and CO concentration in both adult male and female such that taller individuals are more susceptible to CO poisoning than shorter ones, but height has no significant effect in children. Similarly, the male is at a higher risk of CO poisoning than the female counterpart of the same age and height.Keywords: CO poisoning, concentration, exposure time,  carboxyhemoglobi

Assessment of Information Needs of Cassava Processors on Food Safety Practices in Ogun and Oyo States, Nigeria

Cassava is a major staple crop that can be processed into diverse products for human consumption in Nigeria. However, improper practices and lack of knowledge of food safety practices by food processors are contributing factors for the spread of food borne outbreaks. Everyone in the food and agro-processing sector therefore needs information on food safety for preventing food borne diseases and death. Hence, this study was carried out to assess information needs of cassava processors on food safety practices in Ogun and Oyo States, Nigeria. Multistage sampling technique was used in the selection of 360 respondents for this study. Descriptive statistics, chi-square and Pearson Product Moment Correlation were used to analyze the data collected. Results of this study showed that the mean age of the respondents was 38.4 years, majority (79.7%) of the respondents was married, 41.9% had primary education; 35.8% of the respondents have spent more than 11 years in cassava processing. Ohori (62.3%) and Arubieru (37.7%) are the most processed varieties of cassava by the respondents; they processed 50 – 100kg/day using traditional equipment. Furthermore, many of the respondents did not have the knowledge that protective clothes such as apron, chef and cap should be worn during cassava processing (64.2%) and that blowing of nose and splitting during cassava processing cannot affect safety of food (67.5%). Meanwhile, most of the respondents need information on washing hands with soap and water before and after cassava processing (90.8%), and disposal of waste away from processing plant from time to time. Correlation results showed that there was a significant relationship between sources of information and food safety practices (r = 0.79, p = 0.01) at p < 0.05 level of significance. Keywords: information needs, cassava processors, food safety practices

Impacts of Climate Change on Residents of Eti-Osa West and East Local Government Areas, Lagos, Nigeria

Against the background of incessant climate change, this paper examines the causes, impacts, as well as residents’ measures of adaptation to climate change in Etiosa West and East Local Government Lagos State. The study utilizes both primary and secondary sources of data.  A total of 222 questionnaires were administered to the respondents using random sampling techniques. Data collected were analyzed using both parametric and non-parametric statistical analytical tools. Likhert scale was used to examine the causes, evidence/impact and mitigation against the impacts of climate change. Also, ANOVA was used to determine the variation of climate change impact across wards in the study area while Pearson correlation analysis was utilized to determine the dependability of residents’ awareness on their level of education. Climate records of Lagos from NIMET were also utilized to examine change in climatic parameters. The study reveals that the most prominent cause of climate change is deforestation (RAI 3.60), while the major impacts of climate change are high rise in sea level (RAI 3.87), fluctuation in the period of rain fall (3.22) and increase in temperature (RAI 3.22). The result of Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) reveals fluctuation in rainfall, disappearing of water bodies, temperature increase, extinctions of plants and animals and water scarcity have a coefficient of 0.00, 0.015, 0.034, 0.022 and 0.00 respectively. This implies that the stated effects above are significant and vary across the wards in the study area,. The result of correlation analysis reveals negative correlation with r= -0.135, which implies that residents awareness is not determined by their level of education. It also showed positive low correlation between average annual temperature and years when r=0.342 and between annual Rain rainfall and year r=0.22. The study recommends that residents should provide green space around their building premises, maintain adequate set back and relocate from water fronts before overflow of bank. Government should discourage developments towards the coastline and also embark on planting of trees to serve as buffer zones at coast line region. Keywords:Climate change, measures of adaptation, green space DOI: 10.7176/JEES/9-9-08 Publication date:September 30th 201

Evaluation of phosphorus fertilizer rates for maize and sources for cowpea on different soil types in southwestern Nigeria

Flexible phosphorus (P) fertilizer rate recommendation could be based on variations in soil characteristics that affect yield responses. Experiments were conducted in the Department of Agronomy, LAUTECH, on the effects of P rates on maize and P sources on cowpea in four soil types. On average, soil types and P rates influenced maize height and grain yield. Iwo and Egbeda soils supported taller plants than Itagunmodi soil. Phosphorus fertilization enhanced height and grain yield compared with no P. To optimize maize grain yield for Itagunmodi and Egbeda soils, application of 15 kg P2O5 ha-1 was sufficient while for Majeroku and Iwo, it was 30 and 75 kg P2O5 ha-1, respectively. Cowpea grain yield and P uptake were significantly affected by soil types and P sources. Iwo and Egbeda soils supported higher grain weights and P uptake than Itagunmodi and Majeroku soils. Triple super phosphate (TSP) and no P supported higher grain weights and P uptake than rock phosphate (RP) and single super phosphate (SSP)

Design and implementation of a prototype active infrared sensor controlled automatic sliding door for mitigation of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)

The door is an essential part of any structure that provides access and security of lives and properties. The manual operation of a door could be cumbersome and laborious when the traffic volume is high. Also, it has been observed that doors could serve as a medium of spreading the deadly coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection. Therefore, a prototype automatic sliding door that plays a crucial role in curbing the spread of this infectious diseases has been designed and implemented in this paper. The design of the prototype sliding door is in two parts namely; the structural part and the automation part. The structural design of the door was achieved using the Microsoft Visio 2016 while the design of the automation system was achieved using express printed circuit board. The implementation of the structural part was achieved using 1 inch particle board while the implementation of the automation system was based on the components like the active infrared sensor, resistors (10 kΩ), capacitor (1000 µF), transistors (TIP41 Q8, BC548 Q7), LED indicators, press button switch, pulley system, drive belt, stepper motor (IP65), and ATMEGA 8 microcontroller. The result of the tests carried out on the door showed that the prototype automatic sliding door was characterized by average opening time, closing time, delay time, and optimal sensing range of 3.10 s, 3.05 s, 5.72 s, and 23.5 cm, respectively. It can therefore be concluded from this work that the prototype automatic sliding door is effective in overriding the manual operation of the door