Correlation Of Structural Uterine Abnormalities With Abnormal Uterine Bleeding Among Premenopausal Women With Infertility

Objective: To document the various structural uterine abnormalities detected on transabdominal ultrasonography (TAUS) and hysterosalpingography (HSG) of premenopausal women with infertility and abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) and determine whether the structural abnormalities correlate well with the clinical forms of AUB among the patients. Methodology: This is a prospective and analytical study of 98 infertile women with history of AUB, referred for HSG. Clinical history including the forms of AUB were obtained from the subjects. Subjects were evaluated with TAUS and HSG after obtaining both ethical clearance and informed consent. Statistical analysis was with the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21. Simple frequency, measures of central tendency and dispersion, crosstabulation as well as Pearson’s correlation tests were carried out. For correlation, p ≤ 0.05 was considered significant. Result: Fibroids, followed by intrauterine adhesions (IUA) were the commonest structural uterine abnormalities. Fibroids were detected with both TAUS and HSG, while IUA were detected with HSG only. Shortened menstrual flow was the commonest form of AUB and occurred in 52 (53.1%) of the subjects, followed by light menstrual flow 41(41.8%). The menses were irregular in 33(33.7%), light and shortened in 32(32.7%), heavy in 21(21.4%), prolonged in 16(16.3%), and, heavy and prolonged in 9(9.2%). Fibroids occurred most frequently among those with heavy and prolonged menstrual bleeding while IUA occurred most frequently among those with scanty and reduced menstrual bleeding. On TAUS, HSG, or combined TAUS and HSG, there were significant correlations between fibroids and prolonged heavy menses, fibroids and heavy menses, and, fibroid and prolonged menses. On HSG, significant correlation existed between IUA and scanty short menses. Conclusion: Uterine fibroids and intrauterine adhesions were the commonest structural uterine abnormalities detected. There was significant correlation between fibroids and history of heavy menstrual flow as well as between fibroids and prolonged menses, and IUA and scanty short menses

Cell kill pattern and acute toxicity studies of the aqueous fraction of the methanolic extract of parts of Parkia biglobosa

The pattern and rate of kill of the aqueous fraction of the methanolic extract of the stem bark of Parkia biglobosa (WS) against three standard organisms of medical and pharmaceutical importance; Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, as well as the acute toxic effects of the same extract along with those of the leaf (WL) and root (WR) were studied. Results obtained showed the fractions as bactericidal to the test organisms and that the S. aureus and P. aeruginosa were completely killed by WS within 120 min at 12.5 mg/ml and within 90 min at higher concentrations. LD50 results fell within the range of 500 – 5000 mg/kg body weight confirming them to be only slightly toxic and hence not potentially dangerous. These results are discussed in the context of the fact that P. biglobosa parts have been reported to be used extensively in the treatment of a wide variety of infections.Key words: Methanolic, aqueous fraction, Parkia biglobosa, bactericidal, slightly toxic

Security Issues with Mobile IT: A Narrative Review of Bring Your Own Device (BYOD).

The use of employee-owned mobile devices such as smart phones, tablets, laptops, etc., to access business enterprise content or networks otherwise referred to as of ‘Bring Your Own Device’ (BYOD) has further made the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of organizations’ data become insecure, and prone to breaches and fraudulent activities. In this study, the authors explored a narrative review that focuses on the theoretical underpinnings of vast works of literature that revealed significant information on the conceptual framework, existing systems that adopt BYOD security, analysis, and synthesis of prior research. Using some keywords “BYOD system security”, “BYOD security threats”, “cyber-attacks and security”, etc., an electronic database search extracted peer-reviewed articles from the last five years. The thematic analysis of fifty-one articles retrieved revealed that breaches and fraudulent activities exist with the use of BYOD that may be perpetrated against organization’s data, intentionally or maliciously. Good policies and guidelines on the use of BYOD coupled with good formulation and communication of same, should be adhered to avert some forms of security breaches. There is the need to preserve user’s privacy, organizations’ data confidentiality, integrity, and availability, and secure same in the devices of employees using their own devices to process corporate and personal data, by using acceptable and effective BYOD Policy and Mobile Device Management Solution (MDMS). This may increase mutual trust and BYOD adoption rate, new innovations and influence that can positively impact the organizations and their employees. Keyword: BYOD, security threats, password, cyber-attacks and security, Information security. DOI: 10.7176/JIEA/8-1-0

Application of Taylor Principle to Lending Rate Pass-Through Debate in Nigeria: A Parametric Approach

The paper makes clear evidences on the lending rate pass-through from policy to retail interest rates and points out some recent findings on implications for both monetary policy and financial variable flows. Thus the stability properties associated with monetary policy rules have attracted a substantial amount of attention.  Several studies argued that the comparatively successful conduct of monetary policy since the early 1980s is primarily due to the implementation of an appropriate policy rule. The estimation procedures follow the modern econometric methodology, such as, a parametric test which consists of the weighted least square technique, Unit root test and co-integration technique, respectively. Empirical result recommends that the pass-through is incomplete for Nigeria within the period under review, which contradicts the Taylor principle.  As the pass-through is incomplete, policy rates have to respond by even more to compensate for the smoothing of retail rates. Besides, our findings show that an incomplete pass-through has implications for the stabilizing role of monetary policy and the oscillations arising from price and liquidity shocks. JEL Classification: E43, E51, E52, E58 Keywords: Taylor Principle, Lending Rate Pass-Through, Liquidity Shocks, Weighted Least Square

A Parametric Debate of Corruption and Economic Growth in Sub-Saharan African Countries

This paper investigates the determinants of corruption and its impact on economic growth in 39 sub-Saharan African countries. The significance of this study would be to add to extant literature on causes of corruption in sub-Saharan African countries and the results obtain could further raise cautions about casual attempts at institutional reform. In an attempt to empirically investigate on corruption, the corruption index was obtained from the Worldwide Governance Indicators (WGI) and data for the study span from 1996 to 2011. In a Barro-styled economic growth model, the dynamic panel regressions were conducted for both corruption determinants and growth-corruption models. Panel unit root test following lm, Pesaran and Shin W-Stats, Model reliability tests and cointegration test were also conducted. From the model to find the determinants of corruption, empirical result suggests that natural resource (ore, fuel, food and Agriculture), rule of law, secondary school enrollment and foreign direct investment are relevant in explaining spate of corruption. Corruption was important in explaining GDP per capita. Overall, our result suggests that natural resource wealth, irrespective of the types (whether ores, fuel, food and agriculture) tends to consolidate and conserve bad political regimes which undermines appropriate social-cultural changes that in turn breeds corruption via institutional weakness, and in the process distorts economic growth dynamics in countries studied. Keywords: Corruption, Economic Growth, Barro-Growth Model, Institutional Weakness, Dynamic Panel Regression, Point-Source and Diffused Natural Resource

An Analysis of Performance of Real Estate Investments in Onitsha Metropolis and Investments in Bank Shares in Nigeria

Real estate investments in most urban towns of Nigeria are done mostly by the informal sectors (ie private individuals). These group of investors together with formal sectors investors such as banks, insurance companies, corporate bodies  are putting considerable sums of money into real estate investment annually. Also recently the awareness of the need for the investment in securities has made a host of investors especially from the south-eastern part of Nigeria to begin to invest in equities such as bank shares. However these investments are made without knowledge and understanding of the performances of these sectors. This paper therefore focused on the analysis of the performance of real estate investments in Onitsha Metropolis and investments in bank shares in Nigeria for the period 2000-2010. The data on rental value and capital values were sourced from the estates surveying and valuation firms in Onitsha metropolis while data on the bank shares and divided per share were sourced from the commercial banks and the Nigeria stock exchange. Data collected were analyzed, using Arithmetic mean return (AMRR), geometric mean return (RG), standard deviation and coefficient of variation. The result showed the residential properties having arithmetic mean return (AMR) of 9.59%, geometric mean return (GMR) of 9.54%, standard deviation of 3.35% and coefficient of variation of 0.34, while the bank shares have an arithmetic mean return (AMR) of 16.64%, Geometric mean return (GMR( of 9.1%, standard deviation of 38.86% and coefficient of variation of 2.34. The performance indicators as shown by these parameters indicate that property investment is more secure than investment in bank shares. Keywords: comparative Analysis, performance measurement, Residential properties, Onitsha Metropolis, bank shares

The Application of Partial Least Square Regression to Develop a Model for Reliable Investment Valuation Estimates in South-East Nigeria

Against the increasing criticism of the reliability of the conventional investment method of property valuation practice in Nigeria, this study examine the ability of the Estate Surveyors and Valuers to estimate accurately the selling prices of residential properties in South-East Geopolitical Zone of the country with a view to formulate a model for reliable value estimates. Questionnaires were administered in a sample of randomly selected forty (40) Estate Surveyors and Valuers in the four selected towns of (Aba, Enugu, Onitsha and Owerri) in the South-East Geopolitical Zone. From the analysis of variance, the total of degree of freedom is seventeen, while the sum of square is 2682.44 and P-value in the table is 0.00, meaning that there is a statistically significant relationship between the Prices and Valuer estimates. The study further used the application of partial least square (PLS) regression model to develop model for perfect reliable price estimates. The model is thus: P=2.250.13v10.23v20.08v30.17v40.17v5+0.1v60.03v70.25v8+0.14v90.02v10+0.07v11+0.26v12+0.37v13+0.07v14+0.07v15+0.09v16+0.1v17+0.06v18+0.08v19+0.2v20+0.2v21. The model developed has the highest independent (X) variance, lowest level of the predicted error and highest coefficient of determination (R-square) between the value estimates and market prices and gives optimal and reliable result. Keywords: Partial least square, regression analysis, investment method of valuation, Valuation reliability, South-East Zone of Nigeria

Challenges of International Real Estate Investment in an Emerging Economy: The Nigerian Experience

Many real estate investors are increasingly looking to invest internationally for reasons of portfolio diversification and the search for higher risk adjusted returns than can be achieved in their domestic markets and in doing that, the emerging economies provide them with great opportunities. These opportunities are seldomly out- weighed by numerous challenges. This paper therefore evaluates the challenges of international real estate investment in an emerging economies, especially NigeriaWith the great improvement in the political situation of Nigeria, coupled with the large size of the country and thus economies, which resulted to sustained Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth, and performance of other economic indicators, Nigeria is in right direction towards realizing the dream of being one of the major emerging market. These attracted international investors as stated by the foreign direct of investment (FDI) of $723.49 Million in 2015. Despite this strong economic growth and potential opportunities even within the real estate markets, international real estate investors faces such challenges like: property market transparency risk, political risk, structural risk, banking risk, currency risk, ownership structure risk. Keywords: Challenges; International real estate; Investors; Real estate investment; Real estate market; Emerging economie

Comparative Studies of the Spectrophotometric and Microbiological Assay Methods Used for the Determination of Ampicillin Levels in Ampicillin/Cloxacillin Combinations

Abstract: The spectrophotometric and microbiological assay methods used for the determination of ampicillin levels in ampicillin/cloxacillin combinations were compared. A total of 24 samples of ampicillin/cloxacillin suspensions from 8 batches and 3 companies (B 2 , D and E) were assayed for their ampicillin content levels using the Spectrophotometric assay method. Infra-red (IR) Spectroscopy confirmed the presence of ampicillin in all the samples and the results obtained showed that the samples had a wide range of amounts of ampicillin which compared favourably with the microbiological assay results of the same products. All the products assayed had ampicillin content within acceptable ranges of the BP and USP. Spectrophotometric assay is recommended for the quick determination of the levels of ampicillin in their combinations with cloxacillin