IFRS Adoption and Its Integration into Accounting Education Curriculum in Nigerian Universities

The International Financial Reporting Standard is a major topic in the accounting profession today as more countries are involved in the adoption. However, the adoption of IFRSs without an adequate representation of same, in the curricula will have negative effects and create problems such as improper curriculum coordination. This study examines the integration of IFRS into accounting education curriculum in Nigeria. Data for this research was majorly collected from primary sources through the use of 240 copies of questionnaire being distributed to a sample of 4 private universities in Nigeria. The study used the regression analysis test statistic, one sample t-test and chi-square analysis to test the hypotheses and to validate the model specified. The result gives a pointer to the readiness of accounting education for the adoption of IFRS. The results revealed that IFRS adoption factors influence the inclusion of IFRS in university curriculum. It also revealed that students are aware of issues which relates to IFRS meaning they have sufficient knowledge of the standard. The research recommends more efforts to aid the training of educators and the provision of training facilities to aid proper integration of IFRS in the curriculum

Taxation, exchange rate and foreign direct investment in Nigeria

This paper investigates factors that may impact foreign direct investment in Nigeria. It seeks to establish the role of taxation (corporate tax) for foreign direct investment in Nigeria. Annual time series data derived from the Central Bank of Nigeria statistical bulletin and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development covering a period of 31 years (1985–2015) were used for this study. The variables considered in the study include FDI, corporate tax, exchange rate, inflation rate, real gross domestic product (RGDP). They were analyzed using Ordinary Least Squares (OLS), Johansen Co-Integration model and Unit Root Test. Findings from this research observed that a negative relationship exists between corporate taxation and FDI. Also, the study observed that corporate tax have a significant impact on FDI and there exists a long-run relationship between the two variables

Load sensitive stable current source for complex precision pulsed electroplating

Electrodeposition is a highly versatile and well explored technology. However, it also depends strongly on the experience level of the operator. This experience includes the pretreatment of the sample, and the composition of the electrolyte settings of the plating parameters. Accurate control over the electroplating current is needed especially for the formation of small structures, where pulsed electrodeposition has proven to reduce many unwanted effects. To bring precision into the formation of optimal recipes, a highly flexible current source based on a microcontroller was developed. It allows a large variety of pulse waveforms, as well as maintaining a feedback loop that controls the current and monitors the output voltage, allowing for both galvanostatic (current driven) and potentiostatic (voltage driven) electrodeposition. The system has been implemented with multiple channels, permitting the simultaneous electrodeposition of multiple substrates in parallel. Being based on a microcomputer, the system can be programmed using predefined recipes individually for each channel, or even adapt the recipes during plating. All measurement values are continuously recorded for the purpose of documentation and diagnosis. The current source is based on a high power operational amplifier in a modified Howland current source configuration. This paper describes the functionality of the electrodeposition system, with a focus on the stability of the source current under different electrodeposition current densities and frequencies. The performance and high capability of the system is demonstrated by performing and analyzing two nontrivial plating applications

The impact of basic forensic accounting skills on financial reporting credibility among listed firms in Nigeria.

The paper aims at evaluating the impact of basic forensic accounting skills viz: communication skills, technical & analytical skills, accounting & auditing skills and psycho-social skills on the financial reporting credibility of listed organisations in Nigeria. The scope of the study is composed of firms quoted on the Nigerian Stock Exchange as at January, 2018 while the study population is the users and auditors of the financial reports produced by these entities. The users of financial reports are represented by investment advisers which a segment of capital market operators while the auditors are represented by the Big 4 Audit Firms operating in Nigeria as at January, 2018. The research design employed is the survey approach by which primary data was collected from the sample respondents described above while the multivariate analysis was conducted to highlight the impact of the selected independent variables on financial reporting. It was found that, with the exception of communication skills which exhibited a negative but significant impact, all the other basic forensic accounting skills exert positive and significant impact on the methods by which an organization reports her financials. It is prescribed that aspiring forensic accountants should be adequately trained to be able to practice the profession satisfactorily

Ownerships Structures and Accounting Conservatism among Nigeria Listed Firms.

The article aims to examine the effect of ownership structure on accounting conservatism among Nigeria listed firms. Correlational research design was employed in this study and the sample size comprises of all 15 firms from the banking sector listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) for the years 2013 – 2017. The study employed the panel regression technique to estimate the coefficients of the variables in the model specified. The study finds that there is a positive and insignificant relationship between managerial ownership and accounting conservatism; a positive but an insignificant relationship was observed between institutional ownership and accounting conservatism. However, foreign ownership revealed a negative but not significant relationship with accounting conservatism. We recommend that financial statements to include more detailed analysis of the structure of their ownership and shareholding to provide more information for decision making for users of the accounting information such as researchers and potential investors. Also, Regulatory bodies should ensure all companies comply with the concept of conservatism by imposing strict penalty on erring companies

Nebulized antibiotics for ventilator-associated pneumonia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION: Nebulized antibiotics are a promising new treatment option for ventilator-associated pneumonia. However, more evidence of the benefit of this therapy is required. METHODS: The Medline, Scopus, EMBASE, Biological Abstracts, CAB Abstracts, Food Science and Technology Abstracts, CENTRAL, Scielo and Lilacs databases were searched to identify randomized controlled trials or matched observational studies that compared nebulized antibiotics with or without intravenous antibiotics to intravenous antibiotics alone for ventilator-associated pneumonia treatment. Two reviewers independently collected data and assessed outcomes and risk of bias. The primary outcome was clinical cure. Secondary outcomes were microbiological cure, ICU and hospital mortality, duration of mechanical ventilation, ICU length of stay and adverse events. A mixed-effect model meta-analysis was performed. Trial sequential analysis was used for the main outcome of interest. RESULTS: Twelve studies were analyzed, including six randomized controlled trials. For the main outcome analysis, 812 patients were included. Nebulized antibiotics were associated with higher rates of clinical cure (risk ratio (RR) = 1.23; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.05 to 1.43; I(2) = 34%; D(2) = 45%). Nebulized antibiotics were not associated with microbiological cure (RR = 1.24; 95% CI, 0.95 to 1.62; I(2) = 62.5), mortality (RR = 0.90; CI 95%, 0.76 to 1.08; I(2) = 0%), duration of mechanical ventilation (standardized mean difference = -0.10 days; 95% CI, -1.22 to 1.00; I(2) = 96.5%), ICU length of stay (standardized mean difference = 0.14 days; 95% CI, -0.46 to 0.73; I(2) = 89.2%) or renal toxicity (RR = 1.05; 95% CI, 0.70 to 1.57; I(2) = 15.6%). Regarding the primary outcome, the number of patients included was below the information size required for a definitive conclusion by trial sequential analysis; therefore, our results regarding this parameter are inconclusive. CONCLUSIONS: Nebulized antibiotics seem to be associated with higher rates of clinical cure in the treatment of ventilator-associated pneumonia. However, the apparent benefit in the clinical cure rate observed by traditional meta-analysis does not persist after trial sequential analysis. Additional high-quality studies on this subject are highly warranted

Massive stars as thermonuclear reactors and their explosions following core collapse

Nuclear reactions transform atomic nuclei inside stars. This is the process of stellar nucleosynthesis. The basic concepts of determining nuclear reaction rates inside stars are reviewed. How stars manage to burn their fuel so slowly most of the time are also considered. Stellar thermonuclear reactions involving protons in hydrostatic burning are discussed first. Then I discuss triple alpha reactions in the helium burning stage. Carbon and oxygen survive in red giant stars because of the nuclear structure of oxygen and neon. Further nuclear burning of carbon, neon, oxygen and silicon in quiescent conditions are discussed next. In the subsequent core-collapse phase, neutronization due to electron capture from the top of the Fermi sea in a degenerate core takes place. The expected signal of neutrinos from a nearby supernova is calculated. The supernova often explodes inside a dense circumstellar medium, which is established due to the progenitor star losing its outermost envelope in a stellar wind or mass transfer in a binary system. The nature of the circumstellar medium and the ejecta of the supernova and their dynamics are revealed by observations in the optical, IR, radio, and X-ray bands, and I discuss some of these observations and their interpretations.Comment: To be published in " Principles and Perspectives in Cosmochemistry" Lecture Notes on Kodai School on Synthesis of Elements in Stars; ed. by Aruna Goswami & Eswar Reddy, Springer Verlag, 2009. Contains 21 figure

Mass-Balance-Consistent Geological Stock Accounting: a New Approach toward Sustainable Management of Mineral Resources

Global resource extraction raises concerns about environmental pressures and the security of mineral supply. Strategies to address these concerns depend on robust information on natural resource endowments, and on suitable methods to monitor and model their changes over time. However, current mineral resources and reserves reporting and accounting workflows are poorly suited for addressing mineral depletion or answering questions about the long-term sustainable supply. Our integrative review finds that the lack of a robust theoretical concept and framework for mass-balance (MB)-consistent geological stock accounting hinders systematic industry-government data integration, resource governance, and strategy development. We evaluate the existing literature on geological stock accounting, identify shortcomings of current monitoring of mine production, and outline a conceptual framework for MB-consistent system integration based on material flow analysis (MFA). Our synthesis shows that recent developments in Earth observation, geoinformation management, and sustainability reporting act as catalysts that make MB-consistent geological stock accounting increasingly feasible. We propose first steps for its implementation and anticipate that our perspective as “resource realists” will facilitate the integration of geological and anthropogenic material systems, help secure future mineral supply, and support the global sustainability transition