Urban Growth During Civilian and Military Administrations in Osogbo, Nigeria

Research on comparative analysis of urban growth and structure during military and civilian regimes most especially in Africa where coup d’etats is common and where private individuals mainly control land is limited. This study analyzed the temporal patterns and morphological characteristics of urban growth during the military and civilian regimes as well as during different civilian administrations using eight landscape metrics. Landsat satellite images of 1984, 1991, 2000, 2003, 2010 and 2014 were used in the analysis. It was found that urban growth occurred primarily through expansion (annexation) of extant urban areas rather than spontaneous and detached development

Trade openness, institutions and economic growth in Sub-Saharan Africa

This research investigates the interactive effect of trade openness and the institutional quality on economic growth in sub-Sahara Africa. The sample consists of 38 sub-Saharan African countries and covers the period 1986-2015. Pooled OLS, fixed effect, and Dynamic GMM were used as estimation techniques. The empirical section used a nonlinear growth regression specification that interacts trade openness with law and order, bureaucratic quality, corruption, government stability, and democratic accountability. The study found that corruption, government stability, law and order, and bureaucratic quality as institutional quality variables harm economic growth. The interaction of trade openness and institutional quality variables positively impacted economic growth. It is an indication that trade openness better impacted economic growth in the presence of high-quality institutional variables

Application of Basic Excel Programming to Linear Muskingum Model for Open Channel Routing

Flood routing as the process of determining the reservoir stage, storage volume of the outflow hydrograph corresponding to a known hydrograph of inflow.  It is viable technique for determining the flood hydrograph at a section of a river by utilizing the flow data at one or more upstream sections. It can be hydraulic and hydrologic. Some hydrological routing techniques include Muskingum method, Muskingum-Cunge method, Lag method and Kalinin-Milyukov method while many sophisticated computer programs like Matlab had been deployed for river routing.Muskingum Method for stream routing was considered by using spreadsheet for. Coefficients were determine using various hydrologic data and formula for the Muskingum method. A popular data with other three data sets were considered in a linear model. The value of k and x was calculated using the basics of Microsoft Excel cell programming. Analysis of variance (One- way) was performed to detect any significant difference in the methods compared with other study without basics of excel.The result shows no significant difference with the values computed in this present study, limitations of Muskingum method were highlighted and further research the subject is recommended. Keywords: Flood routing, hydrograph, Muskingum method, hydraulic, hydrologic

Cote D’Ivoire’s Civil War and the Impact on West African Sub-Region Peace and Security

This paper examines the causes of civil war in Cote d’Ivoire, investigate the impacts of the civil war on Ivoiriens and foreigners living in the country and investigate the consequences of civil war on the West African Sub-region. The failure of the military coup, discrimination of “real” and “mix” Ivoirite and disenfranchised the Northern in Cote d’Ivoire resulted into a civil war which divided the country into north controlled by the rebels and south controlled by the government. A qualitative research design using Library Research and Semi Structured Interviews were employed. Two hundred and twenty five (225) copies of questionnaires were administered for Nigerians in selected agencies. The second research method used was interview.Through the field survey, the study discovered the diverse causes of the civil war, which included inequality, disenfranchising the North, socioeconomic disparity among the ethnic groups. This paper recommends clearly that there is need to enhance international cooperation on the detection and monitoring of peace and security threats related to nepotism and on prevention, preparedness, mitigation and response capacities. Keywords: Civil war, disenfranchised, discrimination, immigrants, peace, security etc

Teorijska analiza niskozapaljivih i ekološki prihvatljivih smjesa ukapljenog naftnog plina i tetrafluoretana kao hladila

Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), like other hydrocarbon gases, has good thermo-physical and ecological properties, but its high-flammability has limited its direct use in refrigeration applications. Therefore, this paper investigates the thermodynamic performance of low flammable and ecological-save mixtures of LPG and tetrafluoroethane refrigerant in a refrigeration system. The computational results of global warming potential (GWP) and low flammability limit shown that the blends with 50 – 90 % LPG contents have GWP below 750 and fall within the lower flammability safety class of which five were selected for further analysis. The results showed that the thermal conductivity and the refrigerating effects produced by the selected blends are greater than those of the reference refrigerant (R134a). Also, the selected blends exhibited appropriate lower pressure ratio, discharge temperature and specific power than R134a refrigerant. Four of the blends required low power input and exhibited higher coefficient of performance which are clear indication that they are more energy efficient than R134a in the refrigeration systems.Ukapljeni naftni plin, poput drugih plinovitih ugljikovodika, ima dobra termičko-fizikalna i okolišna svojstva, ali visoka zapaljivost ograničava njegovu izravnu uporabu za hlađenje. Studija istražuje termodinamička svojstva nisko zapaljivih i ekološki prihvatljivih smjesa ukapljenog plina i tetrafluoretana kao hladila u sustavu hlađenja. Izračuni rezultata potencijnog globalnog zatopljenja (GWP) i niske zapaljivosti pokazuju da smjese koje sadrže 50 – 90 % ukapljenog plina imaju GWP ispod 750 te su u sigurnosnom razredu niže zapaljivosti, od kojih je pet odabrano za daljnju analizu. Rezultati pokazuju da su toplinska vodljivost i učinci hlađenja pri uporabi odabranih smjesa veći od referentnog hladila (R134a). Nadalje, odabrane smjese imaju prikladno niži tlak, niže izlazne temperature i specifične snage nego R134a hladilo. Četiri smjese zahtijevale su nižu snagu i pokazale su viši koeficijent učinkovitosti što jasno dokazuje da su energetski učinkovitije od R134a u sustavima hlađenja

Effect of Competitive Aggressiveness on Competitive Advantage of Selected Small and Medium Scale Enterprises in Ogun State, Nigeria

Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) are frequently under pressure at the local or domestic markets because of cheap importation and high level of competition. The inability of top management of SMEs to properly analyse the market is one of the leading causes of their not been able to enjoy competitive advantage  Therefore, this study aimed to examine the effect of competitive aggressiveness on competitive advantage of small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) in Ogun State, Nigeria. Survey research design was employed for this study. Set of structured questionnaire on competitive aggressiveness and competitive advantage of SMEs were self- administered for the collection of the primary data. In order to get a valid sample, a group of 386 firms were analyzed.  A pilot study was carried out to test the validity and reliability of the research instrument using Cronbach Alpha reliability test. The data collected were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The findings of this study revealed that competitive aggressiveness has positive significant effect on competitive advantage of SMEs. (β=0.973; R2=0.294; t(385)= 12.636; p>0.05). It was concluded that competitive aggressiveness affected competitive advantage of SMEs in Ogun State, Nigeria, and recommended that entrepreneurs should employ appropriate price control mechanisms, invest heavily in marketing, advertisement, sales promotion and aggressive growth to enhance their competitive advantage which is critical for organizational performance, and that maintaining good relationships with clients is an important factor to be considered Key-Words: Competition, Competitive advantage, Competitive aggressiveness, Entrepreneurship, Small and Medium Enterprises

Employees’ Resilience, Organizational Culture and Sustainable Performance of Tertiary Hospitals in Oyo State, Nigeria

Purpose: The study examined the role of employees’ resilience and organisational culture in the sustainable performance of tertiary hospitals in Oyo State, Nigeria, it examined the nature of relationship that exist among employees resilience level, organisational culture and sustainable performance; examined the influence of employees resilience level on sustainable performance; determined the impact of organisational culture on tertiary hospitals sustainable performance; investigated the moderating role of organisational culture in the relationship between employee resilience level and tertiary hospitals sustainable performance; and examined the impact of medical personnel resilience on patient satisfaction in tertiary hospitals. The conditions of the health workers in Nigeria necessitated this study in order to draw the attention of policy makers and tertiary hospitals Management to the need of coming to the aid of health workers in terms of improved services.   Theoretical framework:  The aim of employees’ resilience in the tertiary hospital is to ensure effective performance of the health workers and for them to be able to withstand or recover quickly from difficult conditions in the world of works. Noting that they experience serious stress as a result of the mass relocation of health workers in Nigeria to the western world for greener pastures which therefore put pressures on the ones on ground and finding it difficult to cope with the rigor of work. The study proffers solutions to the difficulties being experience by the health workers. When compared with the developed countries, health workers welfare are well taken care of which the reverse is the case in Nigeria.   Methodology/Design/Approach: This study adopted quantitative design through a survey approach to answer the research questions raised. Questionnaire was made use of to gather data. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical techniques of Social Package of Social Sciences, The population of the study comprises of two (2) sets of respondents which are Medical Personnel and Patients, 338 Medical Personnel and 50 patients were given questionnaire and wee returned.   Findings: The outcome of the findings indicated that employees’ resilience level has a statistically significant positive and low correlation with sustainable performance ( ). Moreover, employees resilience has a statistically significant positive correlation with organizational culture ( ). In addition, organizational culture had a positive and statistically significant relationship with sustainable performance ( ). The result revealed that organizational culture did not moderate the relationship between employees’ resilience level and tertiary hospital sustainable performance ( ). This implies that organizational culture is not a moderator between employees’ resilience level and tertiary hospital sustainable performance. The results also revealed that patients are satisfied with the communication style of the medical personnel (100%), the explanation mode of the medical personnel (85%), the ways by which the medical personnel relate with them (95%), general relationship (100%), the technical skills of the medical personnel (80%) and awareness of their health issue (100%). The medical personnel are well trained and cultured through their professional ways of discharging their duties to safe lives. It also, charged the Nigerian Government to improve in the working conditions of the health workers.   Research, Practical & Social implications: The study resolves by implication that, employees’ resilience and organizational culture have significant relationship with sustainable performance while employees’ resilience level has a statistically significant positive correlation with organizational culture. Employees’ resilience through contextual and behavioural dimensions do not significant predictors on sustainable performance while cognitive dimension significantly predicts of tertiary hospital sustainable performance. The study also clarified that organizational culture is not a moderator of the relationship between employees’ resilience and tertiary hospital sustainable performance. Patients are satisfied with the medical personnel service delivery in these tertiary hospitals. It recommends among others, that medical personnel’s behavioural and contextual dimensions of employees’ resilience should be further enhanced by hospital stakeholders, especially the management to enhance sustainable performance.   Originality/Value: The study added value to body of knowledge because its implications both practical and social affirmed that without creating enabling environment, organizational culture, the level of employees’ resilience is advanced and better and appropriate management strategies, organizational culture that will meet up with its optimization level in terms service delivery and effective welfare of health workers should be put in place from time ti time. The study as recommends that medical personnel’s behavioural and contextual dimensions of employees’ resilience level should be further enhanced by hospital stakeholders, especially the management to enhance sustainable performance

Stress Management and Employee Performance

Purpose: This study investigated the extend at which stress has affected the performance of staff in organization setting. It addressed how performance can be improved upon for effective service delivery.   Improving the performance of employees working within an organization has received attention in different contexts. This occurs because for an organization to achieve high performance, the contributions of its employees matter a lot to achieve their goals. For any organization to achieve its essence, it must have acquired the right calibre of employees and managed them properly. Is at the instance of this that this study was carried out to address how improved performance can be recorded and how stress can be properly managed for effective service delivery.   Theoretical framework:  The aim of stress management is to ensure effective performance of staff in organization and to meet the aim of the organization and deliver services effectively. Several concepts, such as: stress, stressors, signs, symptoms and sources, stress management, stress management practice and employee performance were reviewed to align with the direction of the study. The focus is to see to how personnel in organization can perform effectively, be able to manage stress. Factors causing stress were studied and addressed.   Methodology/Design/Approach: This study which is descriptively adopted the survey research method. The study was carried out at a private university in southwest Nigeria.  The population of this study comprised all the non-academic staff in the university. Two hundred and eighty (280) non-academic staff of the University participated in the survey. The questionnaire was the instrument for data collection in this research. Inferential and descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data that had been obtained.   Findings: The study finding revealed that stress has a significant impact on employee performance. The outcome also showed a substantial correlation between employees' performance and personal stress management strategies. This suggests that personal stress management strategies should be encouraged because they are linked to workers' productivity. The findings suggest that its contribution to employee performance is minimal perhaps because individuals do not adopt these techniques of stress management.   Research, Practical & Social implications: The study concentrate on how stress can be well managed in organization because of the ill stress has caused in the performance of organization.  It has also been established that there are two techniques namely individual and organisational approaches to stress management.   Originality/value: The study added value to body of knowledge because its outcome showed that without effective stress management strategies, organization can not meet up with its optimization level in terms service delivery and achieving the goals of the organization.  The individual techniques of stress management were found to have a significant role to play in suppressing employee poor performance while the organizational stress management techniques provide organizational support for employees to improve their performance on the job. This study established that effective stress management among non-academics of Bowen University would improve their performance on the job. The study as recommends that Management should redefine the stress management policy of the University to address gaps in it and make it more robust

Epigenetics in Reproductive Aging: Involvement of Oxidative Stress

Epigenetic alterations are one of the distinctive characteristics of aging. Epigenetics changes throughout the reproductive life of humans. The major epigenetic parameters viz. DNA methylation, histone modification, and chromatin modeling are altered in the oocyte and sperm due to aging. Also, aging is accompanied by oxidative stress resulting in oocyte and sperm DNA damage. Oxidative stress occurs when the body’s antioxidant defense mechanism is overwhelmed by free radicals or pro-oxidant molecules such as nitrogen and reactive oxygen species, which are generated during normal cellular metabolism. This phenomenon is accompanied by a decline in the cell repair machinery, resulting in a wide range of DNA damage and distortion in cellular epigenetics. Still more, free radicals can directly or indirectly interfere with some epigenetic processes of the cell. For example, free radicals can impart the genome methylation profile by forming oxidized DNA lesions. Given the deleterious impact of oxidative stress on aging and cellular epigenetic profile, the ingestion of external antioxidants is encouraged to circumvent its side effects. This chapter provides insight into the interconnection between epigenetic alterations (histone modification, chromatin remodeling, DNA methylation and miRNA), reproductive aging, and oxidative stress

Isolation and characterization of β-sitosterol, oleanolic, 19- dehyroursolic and yarumic acids, from Plectranthus esculentus leaves and tubers

Plectranthus esculentus N.E.Br. (family Lamiaceae) also known as Livingstone potato (vat or rizga in Nigeria), is a dicotyledonous perennial shrub growing up to 2 m tall. While it is cultivated mainly for its edible tubers, the plant is potentially valuable as phytomedicine. Three varieties (vat-long’at, vat-riyom and vat-bebot) are well known among the Berom of Plateau State, Nigeria. The vat-bebot variety (which showed good promise in bioactivity studies) was used in this study. The leaves and tubers were extracted successively with hexane, ethyl acetate, methanol and water. Fractionation of the active ethyl acetate extracts was carried out using open column and preparative High Performance Liquid Chromatography (prep HPLC). This led to the isolation of β-sitosterol and oleanolic acid from the leaves; while 19-dehydroursolic acid and yarumic acid, as well as β-sitosterol were isolated from the tubers. Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and Electron Impact Mass Spectroscopy (EIMS) were used to characterize isolated compounds. Comparing acquired spectral data of isolated compounds with those from literature helped to confirm the identity of the compounds. The isolation and characterisation of these compounds, from Plecthranthus esculentus, have not been hitherto reported in literature