Adoption of Good Agronomic Practices (GAP) Among Smallholder Rice Farmers in Nigeria Agricultural Transformation Agenda

This study assessed the adoption rate and identified factors influencing adoption of rice technologies among participants of Agricultural Transformation Agenda across the targeted implementation zones of Adani-Omor, Bida-Badeggi, Kano-Jigawa and Kebbi-Sokoto. Multi-stage sampling procedure was used in selecting eighty respondents for the study. The data were collected with the aid of structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and Tobit regression model were employed in the analysis of data. The study revealed that majority of farmers participating in Agricultural Transformation Agenda Project (ATASP-1) are youths and still in their active age as indicated by the average age of 42 years. About 62% have secondary and tertiary education. On the gender distribution of the people engaged in ATASP-1 project, it was revealed that about 92% were male while only 8% were female. Substantial numbers of technologies were disseminated on rice being promoted under ATASP-1 project and the adoption rate of these technologies was very high. More than three-quarter of the respondents have adopted technologies introduced to them. Adoption of rice technologies among participating farmers is largely depends on socioeconomic characteristics of farmers such as age, education and gender of the respondents. The study recommends that there should be continuous training of farmers on the importance of these technologies as well as techniques behind their utilization to ensure continuous usage of the adopted technologies. Women should be encouraged to participate more in the project and to take up farming as a business. Also, adequate attention should be given to farmers socioeconomic characteristics as these are the determinants of technology adoption. Keywords: Adoption, GAP, Rice Farmers, Agricultural Transformation Agenda DOI: 10.7176/JESD/10-15-02 Publication date: August 31st 201

Measurement of Technical Efficiency of Irrigated and Rainfed Onion Farms in Kano State of Nigeria

This study estimated technical efficiency of irrigated and rain-fed onion production in Kano State of Nigeria, and was carried out in six selected Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 217 onion farmers involved in both irrigated and Rain-fed production systems. The study made use of primary data, collected through structured questionnaires. Descriptive statistics and stochastic frontier model were used to analyse the data. Generally, young literate married men with 5 household size and14 years of farming experience were involved in onion farming. The Maximum Likelihood Estimate (MLE) for production frontier shows that the variable inputs (farm size, hired and family labour, seeds and fertilizers) have positive coefficients and were significant at 5% level. This implied positive effect on onion yields under both production systems, while agro-chemical was negative under rain-fed. The mean technical efficiency was higher for irrigated onion farmers than rain-fed farmers indicating that onion production was technically more efficient under irrigation system of production than rain-fed system of production. Educations, experience, membership of cooperative, access to credit are socio-economic variables that reduce technical inefficiency in both systems of production. The following recommendations were made; contract farming, introduction of hybrid seeds, formation of cooperative societies and private partnership participation with government should be encouraged to boost irrigated onion production not only for home and local industry but also for export to other countries of the world. Keywords: Technical efficiency, irrigated, rain-fed, onion production DOI: 10.7176/JRDM/54-02 Publication date: April 30th 201

A Framework for Sustainable Maintenance of Offshore Energy Structures

This paper proposes a structure for maintenance decision support suitable for application to renewable energy assets. The method combines subjective tacit knowledge of subject-area experts with well-structured Analytical Hierarchical Process (AHP) to elicit weights of criteria relevant for effects evaluation of possible failures modes towards support for component’s maintenance decisions. The Technique for Ordered Preference using Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) algorithm is adopted for aggregating the evaluation scores and achieving priority indexing given the conflicting characteristics of some criteria. Part of the highlights of the Framework is the implementation of the group experts, as well as individual expert's elicitations in a complimentary manner that eliminates subjective opinions and achieves a repeatable evaluation score. The conclusion of the analysis is the prioritisation of the component’s failure; An indicative case study of offshore wind turbine jacket support structure is used to demonstrate the applicability of the approach and the analysis results-which shows priority failure modes for focused maintenance intervention as bending of Chord/Brace ( ), collapse of Chord/Brace ( ), buckling of Long piles ( ), and Truss( ), overturning of Skirt pile ( ), and fatigue of Long pile ( ), further demonstrates the capacity of the model to support maintenance decisions. Caution is exercised in the selection of criteria that would capture the objectives of the risk analyses by consulting wide range of industry experts. Keywords— AHP, Expert, Offshore energy, TOPSIS, Wind turbine Support Structur

Effect of Working Capital Management on the Profitability of Selected Manufacturing Companies in Nigeria

There is no doubt that the ultimate objective of any firm is to maximize profit. However, the preservation of the liquidity of a firm is an important objective too and it is the efficient management of the various components of working capital that helps to preserve liquidity. This paper therefore examined the effect of working capital management on profitability of selected manufacturing companies. Secondary data gathered from the annual reports of six selected companies in Nigeria covering the period between 2006 and 2013 was used for the study. Purposive sampling technique was adopted and data collected was analysed using panel data least square method of regression. The study found a significant negative relationship between the components of working capital (DCP, APP and ITID) and profitability (ROI). The study therefore concluded that working capital management has significant impact on profitability of manufacturing companies and recommended that companies should manage their cash, accounts receivables, inventories and accounts payable with a view to reducing the cash conversion cycle so as to increase their profitability amongst other things

Effect of Process Parameters on the Surface Roughness and Kerf Width of Mild Steel during Plasma Arc Cutting Using Response Surface Methodology

This study investigated the effects of process parameters of plasma arc cutting (PAC) of low carbon steel material using analysis of variance. Three process parameters, cutting speed, cutting current and gas pressure were considered and experiments were conducted based on response surface methodology (RSM) via the box-Behnken approach. Process responses viz. surface roughness (Ra) and kerf width of cut surface were measured for each experimental run. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was performed to get the contribution of process parameters on responses. Cutting current has the most significant effect of 33.43% on the surface roughness and gas pressure has the most significant effect on  kerf width of  41.99% . For minimum surface roughness and minimum kerf width, process parameters were optimized using the RSM. Keywords: Cutting speed, cutting current, gas pressure,   surface roughness, kerf widt

IMPACT OF DIESEL FUEL GENERATORS ON SOIL HEAVY METALS

Heavy metals are ubiquitous and are released into the atmosphere/ environment by a variety of natural processes, but their quantities have been greatly augmented by anthropogenic activities. This study investigated the concentration of heavy metals Iron (Fe), Arsenic (As), Cadmium (Cd), Chromium (Cr), Zinc (Zn), Manganese (Mn) and Lead (Pb) in the soil around the power plant obtained at the old power plant, new power plant and a far-away point from the plants which served as the control. In each location, two samples were obtained top layer and bottom layer of soil. Standard laboratory methods were employed for all the analyses. High concentration was obtained for the selected heavy metals in the soil at both the old and the new power plants with Arsenic having an average of 0.67 mg/kg and 0.40 mg/kg, Lead having an average of 2.63 mg/kg and 1.67 mg/kg, Iron having 1.25 mg/kg and 0.95 mg/kg, Chromium having 1.08 mg/kg and 0.67 mg/kg, Cadmium having 1.46 mg/kg and 0.54 mg/kg, Manganese having 1.97 mg/kg and 1.86 mg/kg and Zinc having 2.43 mg/kg and 0.86 mg/kg at the old and new site respectively. All the obtained concentration levels are above the permissible limit of the United States, United Kingdom, Europe and WHO. It is expedient that necessary measures be put in place to control the emissions from the plants to reduce the contaminating impact of the soil around the power plant as well as moving some human intakes far from the locations

IMPACT OF DIESEL FUEL GENERATORS ON SOIL HEAVY METALS

Heavy metals are ubiquitous and are released into the atmosphere/ environment by a variety of natural processes, but their quantities have been greatly augmented by anthropogenic activities. This study investigated the concentration of heavy metals Iron (Fe), Arsenic (As), Cadmium (Cd), Chromium (Cr), Zinc (Zn), Manganese (Mn) and Lead (Pb) in the soil around the power plant obtained at the old power plant, new power plant and a far-away point from the plants which served as the control. In each location, two samples were obtained top layer and bottom layer of soil. Standard laboratory methods were employed for all the analyses. High concentration was obtained for the selected heavy metals in the soil at both the old and the new power plants with Arsenic having an average of 0.67 mg/kg and 0.40 mg/kg, Lead having an average of 2.63 mg/kg and 1.67 mg/kg, Iron having 1.25 mg/kg and 0.95 mg/kg, Chromium having 1.08 mg/kg and 0.67 mg/kg, Cadmium having 1.46 mg/kg and 0.54 mg/kg, Manganese having 1.97 mg/kg and 1.86 mg/kg and Zinc having 2.43 mg/kg and 0.86 mg/kg at the old and new site respectively. All the obtained concentration levels are above the permissible limit of the United States, United Kingdom, Europe and WHO. It is expedient that necessary measures be put in place to control the emissions from the plants to reduce the contaminating impact of the soil around the power plant as well as moving some human intakes far from the locations

Factors Associated with Treatment Success among Pulmonary Tuberculosis and HIV Co-infected Patients in Oyo State, South West-Nigeria

Background The co-existence of Tuberculosis (TB) and Human immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is  known to increase morbidity and mortality in patients. The determinants of treatment success in TBHIV co-infection are not yet well studied. Such information can help optimise treatment and reduce morbidity and mortality.Objective To determine factors associated with antitubercular treatment success among TB I HIV coinfected patients.Methods A cross sectional study was carried out in fifty  three DOT clinics and treatment centres  using tuberculosis patient's records from January 2009 to December 2010 in Oyo state, Nigeria. The study population consisted of 7905 tuberculosis patients. Information on variables of interest were obtained with the use of data extraction forms. Chi-square and logistic regression were used to test the relationship between TB I HIV coinfection and socio-demographic variables, clinical characteristics and treatment success.Results Prevalence ofTB I HIV co-infection was found to be 14.2%. Patients with TB-HIV co-infection  were younger and more likely to be females. There were statistically significant association between treatment success and gender, marital status and patient point of care. After adjusting for other variables, it was found that patients receiving treatment in private facilities were independently less likely to be successfully treated compared with those receiving care in Public facilities. Female patients were also independently more likely to have better treatment outcome than male.Conclusion In addition to patients' point of care, gender of the patients can adversely impact on their treatment success. Efforts from the government to strengthening the private public mix, health education and media awareness on adherence to treatment to improve treatment success should be intensified in the country.Keywords: Tube rc ulosis; Human immunodeficiency virus, Directly observe therapy short-course;  Treatment success, Coinfection

Global overview of the management of acute cholecystitis during the COVID-19 pandemic (CHOLECOVID study)

Background: This study provides a global overview of the management of patients with acute cholecystitis during the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: CHOLECOVID is an international, multicentre, observational comparative study of patients admitted to hospital with acute cholecystitis during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data on management were collected for a 2-month study interval coincident with the WHO declaration of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and compared with an equivalent pre-pandemic time interval. Mediation analysis examined the influence of SARS-COV-2 infection on 30-day mortality. Results: This study collected data on 9783 patients with acute cholecystitis admitted to 247 hospitals across the world. The pandemic was associated with reduced availability of surgical workforce and operating facilities globally, a significant shift to worse severity of disease, and increased use of conservative management. There was a reduction (both absolute and proportionate) in the number of patients undergoing cholecystectomy from 3095 patients (56.2 per cent) pre-pandemic to 1998 patients (46.2 per cent) during the pandemic but there was no difference in 30-day all-cause mortality after cholecystectomy comparing the pre-pandemic interval with the pandemic (13 patients (0.4 per cent) pre-pandemic to 13 patients (0.6 per cent) pandemic; P = 0.355). In mediation analysis, an admission with acute cholecystitis during the pandemic was associated with a non-significant increased risk of death (OR 1.29, 95 per cent c.i. 0.93 to 1.79, P = 0.121). Conclusion: CHOLECOVID provides a unique overview of the treatment of patients with cholecystitis across the globe during the first months of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. The study highlights the need for system resilience in retention of elective surgical activity. Cholecystectomy was associated with a low risk of mortality and deferral of treatment results in an increase in avoidable morbidity that represents the non-COVID cost of this pandemic

Global, regional, and national burden of disorders affecting the nervous system, 1990–2021: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021

BACKGROUND: Disorders affecting the nervous system are diverse and include neurodevelopmental disorders, late-life neurodegeneration, and newly emergent conditions, such as cognitive impairment following COVID-19. Previous publications from the Global Burden of Disease, Injuries, and Risk Factor Study estimated the burden of 15 neurological conditions in 2015 and 2016, but these analyses did not include neurodevelopmental disorders, as defined by the International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-11, or a subset of cases of congenital, neonatal, and infectious conditions that cause neurological damage. Here, we estimate nervous system health loss caused by 37 unique conditions and their associated risk factors globally, regionally, and nationally from 1990 to 2021. METHODS: We estimated mortality, prevalence, years lived with disability (YLDs), years of life lost (YLLs), and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), with corresponding 95% uncertainty intervals (UIs), by age and sex in 204 countries and territories, from 1990 to 2021. We included morbidity and deaths due to neurological conditions, for which health loss is directly due to damage to the CNS or peripheral nervous system. We also isolated neurological health loss from conditions for which nervous system morbidity is a consequence, but not the primary feature, including a subset of congenital conditions (ie, chromosomal anomalies and congenital birth defects), neonatal conditions (ie, jaundice, preterm birth, and sepsis), infectious diseases (ie, COVID-19, cystic echinococcosis, malaria, syphilis, and Zika virus disease), and diabetic neuropathy. By conducting a sequela-level analysis of the health outcomes for these conditions, only cases where nervous system damage occurred were included, and YLDs were recalculated to isolate the non-fatal burden directly attributable to nervous system health loss. A comorbidity correction was used to calculate total prevalence of all conditions that affect the nervous system combined. FINDINGS: Globally, the 37 conditions affecting the nervous system were collectively ranked as the leading group cause of DALYs in 2021 (443 million, 95% UI 378–521), affecting 3·40 billion (3·20–3·62) individuals (43·1%, 40·5–45·9 of the global population); global DALY counts attributed to these conditions increased by 18·2% (8·7–26·7) between 1990 and 2021. Age-standardised rates of deaths per 100 000 people attributed to these conditions decreased from 1990 to 2021 by 33·6% (27·6–38·8), and age-standardised rates of DALYs attributed to these conditions decreased by 27·0% (21·5–32·4). Age-standardised prevalence was almost stable, with a change of 1·5% (0·7–2·4). The ten conditions with the highest age-standardised DALYs in 2021 were stroke, neonatal encephalopathy, migraine, Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, diabetic neuropathy, meningitis, epilepsy, neurological complications due to preterm birth, autism spectrum disorder, and nervous system cancer. INTERPRETATION: As the leading cause of overall disease burden in the world, with increasing global DALY counts, effective prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation strategies for disorders affecting the nervous system are needed