Farmers Adaptation Strategies to the Effect of Climate Variation on Yam Production: A case study In Ekiti State, Nigeria

The study investigated farmers adaptation strategies to the effect of climate variation on yam production in Ekiti State with the specific objectives of assessing the socio-economic characteristics of farmers, farmers’ climate related constraints, the adaptation strategies employed by farmers, and yam farmers’ level of production across the years 2008, 2009 and 2010. A three - stage multistage sampling technique was used to select one hundred and fifty one respondents from the list of contact farmers obtained from the state Agricultural Development Programme (ADP). Data collected through questionnaire were analysed using frequency counts, percentages, Chi-square, Pearson Product Moment Correlation and ANOVA. Results obtained showed that farmers in the study area were mostly males with a mean age of 53.9 years. Chi-square analysis revealed that there was a significant relationship between secondary occupation (χ2 = 14.068), farm size (χ2 = 99.597) and the level of production of yam farmers. Pearson product moment correlation indicated that there were significant and positive relationships between age (r = 0.160), adaptation strategies (r = 0.158) and level of production, while negative relationship was found between constraints (r = -0.173) and the level of yam production. ANOVA showed a significant difference in the level of production of farmers across the years; 2008, 2009 and 2010 (F= 212.7). Therefore, efforts should be geared towards developing and making available, yam setts that are tolerant to change in climate elements and weather extremes like flood and drought. This study also suggests the need for prompt weather information, increased research and development of innovation for sustainable yam cropping in the face of climate variation.Key words: Climate variation, Constraints, Adaptatio

The Perception of Librarians As Sources Of Information On HIV/AIDS By Hotel Patrons In Katsina Metropolis, Nigeria

HIV/AIDS is a global pandemic and the scourge is spreading very fast in Nigeria. The federal, states, local governments, individuals, groups and international agencies have been intensifying efforts at providing medical remedies against HIV/AIDS infection. Some societies have also mounted awareness campaigns to educate the populace about the disease and how to relate with the people living with the virus. This paper investigated the perception of librarians as sources of information on HIV/AIDS by hotel patrons in Katsina metropolis. Questionnaire was used to obtain information from 750 respondents in 10 selected hotels in the study area. The study showed that respondents had low perception of librarians as sources of information on HIV/AIDS. To enhance their status in among the people, the paper recommended eight areas in which librarians could participate to disseminate information about HIV/AIDS menace in the society

Design Of A Web-Based Paper Submission And Reviewing System (PSRS)

Conference planning, organization and administration are very tedious tasks. In most cases the conference programme committee has to convene several meetings where submitted papers (via emails in most cases) are downloaded, discussed and accepted or rejected for presentation at the conference. This paper presents the design of a web-based conference paper management system which facilitates easy and efficient review of technical submissions to conferences. Our proposed system stores authors\' information, abstracts, papers and reviewers\' comments. The process of assignment of papers to reviewers is done using a set of objective parameters to determine the most suitable reviewers for each article. The system also collates camera ready accepted papers to generate conference proceeding for the conference. This work will reduce the amount of paperwork and the need for several meetings by the programme committee thus making conference organization a pleasure. Also the effectiveness of conference organization and management will be substantially improved. Keywords: Conference management, paper submission, paper assignment, web-based development, reviewers\' ranking, ACM Classification: H.3.5 (Web-based services)Global Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences Vol. 14 (3) 2008: pp. 357-36

Determinants of utilization of traditional bone setters in Ilorin, North Central Nigeria

Background. Traditional bone setting (TBS) practice is an important part of health care delivery in many developing coun- tries and has been in Nigeria for long. Despite the complications that arise from the cultural practice, TBS services is still in high demand by a significant number of people. This study was con- ducted to determine the factors that influence the utilization of TBS practice. Methods. A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out using a semi structured questionnaire to gather information from 400 randomly selected residents of Ilorin West LGA in north cen- tral Nigeria. Multistage sampling technique was used in selecting the respondents. Results. The respondents were between the ages of 18-72 years with a mean age of 36.3 ± 12.3. Three hundred and three (77.3%) of the respondents know of TBS practice as a way of getting treat- ment for bone injuries. More than two third 210 (69.3%) of the respondents who know TBS practice as a form of treatment for bone injuries think that TBS therapy is preferable to Orthodox medicine in handling bone injuries. Reasons for preference are that it is cheap 134 (63.8%), acceptable 123 (58.6%) and accessible 109 (51.9%) to them. More than half (52.3%) of the respond- ents had patronized TBS treatment at one time or the other. Main reason for patronage of TBS was influence from family mem- bers and friends (53.6%). However, factors that influence the respondents decision to utilize TBS treatment include attitude of health workers 310 (77.5%), delay in hospitals 284(71.0%) fear of amputation 272 (54.35) and fear of operation 217(54.3%) in hospitals. There was a statistically significant (p inf. 0.05) relation- ship between respondents age, sex, marital status, occupation, ethnicity as well as the income level of the respondents and the utilization of TBS. Conclusions. Utilisation of TBS is quite popular among the stud- ied population because it is believed to be cheap, acceptable and accessible to them and a high proportion of the respondents uti- lize TBS notwithstanding that they live in a community where they have better access to orthodox medical care. Influence from fam- ily and friends is the main reason for consulting TBS. Regulations should be made concerning the advertisement of TBS practice by relevant agencies and the public should be made aware through health education on the dangers of TBS treatment

Mechanical Properties Of Quench-Hardened, Martempered And Tempered Astm A 128 Grade B-4 Steel

This investigation is conducted to assess the influence of some heat treatment procedures on the structure and mechanical properties of cast ASTM A grade B-4 steel to which formation of grain boundary carbides have been a major problem. Some cast ASTM A grade B-4 steel samples were quench-hardened, martempered and tempered. The as-cast and heat-treated samples were thereafter tested for tensile strength, yield strength, impact strength, ductility and hardness. Some of the samples were also prepared for metallographic examination and their microstructures were studied. It was observed that in all cases, the microstructures were mainly austenite matrix with or without carbides at the grain boundaries and in the austenitic grains depending on the heat-treatment adopted. The measured mechanical properties varied and were greatly dependent on the presence or absence of carbides either at the grain boundaries or at both the grain boundaries and in the grains of austenite matrix. Two of the heat treatment procedures were found to be appropriate as post-casting processes suitable for ASTM A 128 grade B-4 steel components designed to function under a condition in which impact strength and hardness are simultaneously required

Chronic uterine inversion secondary to submucous fibroid: A case report

No Abstract

Root Fracture in Immature Tooth: Report of a Case

Root fracture injuries affect 0.5–7% of permanent teeth. Although this type of injury is rarely seen in teeth with immature root formation, the prognosis is generally good depending on the site of the fracture. A case report of horizontal root fracture in maxillary central incisor of an 8-year and 3-month-old girl and its treatment was presented

Alterations in the lipid profile and liver enzymes of rats treated with monosodium glutamate

This study was carried out to evaluate the effects of monosodium glutamate on the liver and lipid profile of eighteen adult male Wistar rats as measured by biochemical parameters. The rats received monosodium glutamate at dose rate of 0, 0.5 and 1.0g per day for 28 days. There was significant increase (P<0.05) in aminotransferases i.e. alanine and aspartate aminotransferases as well as increase in total plasma cholesterol and low density lipoprotein cholesterol most obvious at higher dose of 1.0g of monosodium glutamate. Though there was decrease in plasma protein concentration, triglyceride and high density lipoprotein cholesterol which was not statistically significant, therefore monosodium glutamate has both hepatotoxic and dyslipidaemia effects due to its alterations in both aminotransferase activities and lipid profile, hence monosodium glutamate though a flavor enhancer food additive but it must be carefully used in food preparation due to it alterations in both the liver enzymes and the lipid profile.Keywords: Adult rats, dyslipidaemia, flavor enhancer, hepatotoxic, monosodium glutamat

Protective role of Telfairia occidentalis in irradiation-induced oxidative stress in rat brain

This study aimed at evaluating the protective role of Telfairia occidentalis extract (TOE) irradiationinduced oxidative stress in rat brain. Aqueous TOE was administered orally to adult rats for 30 days at doses of 400 mg/kg body weight, 800 mg/kg body weight and 1600 mg/kg body weight, and a corresponding group of rats were treated with 50 mg/kg body weight vitamin E (VE), a standard antioxidant before irradiation at a dose of 2 Gy of gamma rays. The control rats received distilled water only. The rats were observed and sacrificed at 24 hours, 15 and 30 days post-irradiation. The results demonstrated a significant increase in levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), an end product of lipid peroxidation (LPO) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) generation with a concomitant decrease in the activities of  superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px),  glutathione-S-transferase (GST), a phase two xenobiotic metabolizing enzyme, and a corresponding decrease in the level of reduced glutathione (GSH) after twenty-four hours, 15 and 30 days post-irradiation compared with the control. Treatments with TOE and VE significantly reversed  oxidative stress of irradiated rats when compared with the control rats. In conclusion, supplementation with TOE could reduce radiationinduced biochemical disorders in brain tissues.Keywords: Gamma radiation, oxidative stress, brain, rats and Telfairia occidentalis