Ecological Survey of Valuable Non-Timber Plant Resources in Two Rain forest Reserves in Southeastern, Nigeria

The density and diversity of plant species producing valued non-timber products in two moist rainforests in Southeastern Nigeria were studied. The two forests are Cross-River North Forest Reserve, Cross River State and Stubbs Creek Forest Reserve, Akwa Ibom State. Twenty- three plant species with the distribution as Trees (7), Palms (1), Shrubs (6), Climber (5), and Herbs (4), were assessed in the Cross River North Forest Reserve, while twelve species with the distribution as trees (2), Palms (2), Shrubs (2), Climbers (3), and herbs (3) were assessed in the Stubbs Creek Forest Reserve. Shannon-Wiener's diversity indices result (D) in the Cross River North Forest Reserve, showed D of 2.12, 0.30, 1.50, 1.20 and 1.51 respectively for trees, palms, shrubs, herbs and climber while in the Stubbs Creek Forest Reserve D result of 0.60,0.60,0.60, 0.90 and 0.91 respectively were recorded for trees, palms, shrubs, herbs and climbers. Keywords: Rainforests, Non-Timber Products, Diversity- Indices, Sustainable ManagementEthiopian Journal of Environmental Studies of Management Vol. 1 (2) 2008: pp. 93-9

Prevalence and pattern of musculoskeletal pain among undergraduates from a Nigerian University

Musculoskeletal pain (MSP) is a common cause of severe long-term pain and physical disability affecting millions of people around the world. This study investigated the prevalence and pattern of MSP among Nigerian undergraduates.A cross-sectional survey of undergraduates from three purposively selected halls of residence of the University of Ibadan, Nigeria was conducted over a period of 10 weeks using a standardized Nordic questionnaire and a pre-tested questionnaire. Data obtained were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics.Of the 600 questionnaires administered 532 (88.67%) were fully completed and found admissible for analysis. The mean age of the respondents was 23.4±2.34 years (range 17-34)]. Lifetime and point prevalence of MSP was 54.5% and 51.7% respectively. Lifetime occurrence of MSP was highest in the low back (55.1%) followed by the neck (53.8%). Duration of pain resulting from MSP was 1-7 days and it prevented normal daily activities in 20.7% of respondents. There was a significant association between lifetime prevalence of MSP and each of age group (p = 0.001), sex (p = 0.046), lecture duration (0.001), and extracurricular activity (p = 0.001). Self-medication (55.6%) was the most common health practice for MSP.Musculoskeletal pain is a common disorder among Nigerian undergraduates. The low back and the neck were the most affected. MSP was perceived to be caused by prolonged poor postures assumed during lectures, and it predisposes to limitation of daily activities. Preventive strategies to reduce MSP among Nigerian undergraduates are necessary.Keywords: Musculoskeletal pain, university undergraduates, prevalence, pattern, Nigeri

Timber Dealers’ Perception of their Knowledge of the Forest Law in Uyo Senatorial District of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

This study investigated timber dealers’ knowledge of the forest law andregulations in Uyo Senatorial District. Five timber markets were selectedthrough two-stage sampling. Data were collected from 238 traders in theselected markets using structured questionnaires and subjected to descriptive and inferential statistics. Results showed that over 90% of the respondents knew and understood the forest law and penalties for violation. Thus, forestoffences were not committed out of ignorance, but for undue profits.Knowledge and understanding of the law were independent of respondents’Local Government Areas (LGAs), but knowledge of penalties for forestoffences significantly varied with LGA (p = 0.05). Recommendations forimproved compliance with the law and its enforcement strategies includeemployment of more forest policemen, provision of vehicles for patrol andevacuation of illegal forest produce, adequate penalties on culprits, andadequate political will and earnest tackling of corruption by government.Key words: Timber dealers, Knowledge, Forest Law, Uyo SenatorialDistrict, Nigeria

Patient‑doctor relationship: The practice orientation of doctors in Kano

Background and Objectives: Attitude and orientation of doctors to the doctor‑patient relationship has a direct influence on delivery of high quality health‑ care. No study to the knowledge of these researchers has so far examined the practice orientation of doctors in Nigeria to this phenomenon. The aims of this study were to determine the orientation of Kano doctors to the practice of doctor‑patient relationship and physicians’ related‑factors.Materials and Methods: Participants were doctors working in four major hospitals (i.e., two federal‑owned and two state‑owned) servicing Kano State and its environs. The Patient‑Practitioner Orientation Scale (PPOS) and a socio‑demographic questionnaire were completed by the 214 participants. The PPOS has 18 items and measures three parameters of a total score and two dimension of “sharing” and “caring”.Results: The mean age of participants was 31.72 years (standard deviation = 0.87), with 22% being females, 40.7% have been practicing for ≥6 years and about two‑third working in federal‑owned health institution. The Cronbach’s alpha of total PPOS scores was 0.733 and that of two sub‑scale scores of “sharing” and “caring” were 0.659 and 0.546 respectively. Most of the doctors’ orientation (92.5%) was towards doctor‑centered (i.e., paternalistic) care, majority (75.2%) upheld the view of not sharing much information and control with patients, and showing little interest in psychosocial concerns of patients (i.e., ‘caring’=93.0%). Respondents’ characteristics that were significantly associated with high doctor ‘caring’ relationship orientation were being ≥30‑year‑old and practicing for ≥6 years. Working in State‑owned hospitals was also significantly associated with high doctor “sharing” orientation.Conclusion: This paper demonstrated why patient‑centered medical interviewing should be given top priority in medical training in Nigeria, and particularly for federal health institutions saddled with production of new doctors and further training for practicing doctors.Key words: Doctor‑patient relationship, Kano doctors, practice orientation, patient‑centered car

Comparative Study of Pre-Germination Treatments and their Effects on the Growth of Tectona Grandis (Linn. F) Seedlings

A comparative study was conducted for three months to investigate the effect of pre-germination treatment on morphological and physiologicalcharacteristics of Tectona grandis (Linn. F) seedlings. Matured seeds of Tectona grandis were collected from mother trees in Uyo and exposed to four pre-germination treatments – soaking in running water (SRW) for 24 hours, soaking in stagnant water (SSW) for 24 hours, soaking in boiled water (SBW) for 5 minutes and no treatment as control. Treated seeds were sown in the of Forestry and Wildlife Department nursery, University of Uyo by broadcast method in germination boxes. At two-leaf stage, fairly uniformed seedlings from each treatment were selected and transplanted into polypots filled with topsoil and laid on the field in completely randomized design, replicated three times. Morphological and physiological features were assessed after two weeks of transplanting and fortnightly thereafter. Data were subjected to ANOVA and the significant means separated using F-LSD. The result showed that pre-germination treatment had significant effect (p>0.05) on seedling height, number of leaves, stem collar diameter and biomass production while there was no significant effect (

Lithostratigraphy and Sequence Stratigraphy of Ultra-Deep E-Field, Eastern Niger Delta: Reservoir, Geological and Biostratigraphical Evidence

The ultra-deep offshore, eastern Niger Delta is marked by rapid, cyclic deposition of thick units of siliciclastic sediments ranging from deep marine to non-marine environments, deposited into rapidly subsiding sub-basins occurring along the slope of the continental margin. This rapid deposition resulted in thick third-order sequences and systems tracts. Patterns of deposition were analysed from seismic reflection configuration and well-log patterns. Lithofacies patterns critical for systems tract recognition were interpreted from well logs and tied to seismic sections where possible. Sediment accumulation plots were constructed and employed to interpret the location of stratigraphic condensation, key surfaces, diffuse boundaries between systems tracts and evaluate the significance of condensed sections. The origin of these condensed sections is caused by major allocyclic changes associated with transgression and shifting of the deltaic depocenter that fed the area. The regional change in condensation through time was interpreted as reflecting avulsion of the shallow marine sediment source. The compilation of sediment accumulation plots also showed a major increase in sedimentation approximately 2.4 Ma; caused by the influx of the prograding shallow marine sediments. Wells located in distal regions in this field are more condensed [steeper slope] than proximal locations. The resulting analyses of this study showed that the basin-floor fan has the highest rate of deposition and could be identified as a gentle slope in the line of sediment accumulation. In the distal regions of the field, TST’s are characterized by sediment starvation because most of the sediments are trapped in the proximal areas. The maximum flooding surfaces [MFS’s] were recorded in deep water as condensed sections.  Secondary condensed sections were delineated and interpreted to have deposited above the top basin-floor fan surface [tbfs] and top slope fan surface [tsfs]. In addition to traditional first downhole occurrence biostratigraphy, the database also contains information on nannofossil abundance. The sands encountered in the reservoirs are correlatable indicating a relatively longer period of depositional cycle.Keywords:  Lithostratigraphy, Sequence stratigraphy, Eustacy, Reservoir geology, Biostratigraphy, Ultra-deep Offshore, Eastern Niger Delta.DOI: 10.7176/JEES/10-7-06Publication date:July 31st 202

Evaluation of safety of Azdirachta indica seed oil on Albino rat through haematological and some antioxidants by the rotatable central composite design (RCCD) of the response surface methodology (RSM)

Raw Azdirachta indica seed oil is gradually adopted by local farmers as a protector of stored grains and legumes against the common insects, but with some reservations on its safety. The study investigated the safety A. indica on mammalian objects using haematological and antioxidant indixes. A. indica seed was obtained from the trees in the same location in Utu Ikot Ukpong, Essien Udim Local Government Area, Nigeria. The Albino rats were obtained from the Animal House of Biochemistry Department of the University of Calabar, Nigeria. The animals were treated with varied A. indica seed oil at varied concentrations, periods of exposure and age. Haematological analyses revealed that models of packed cell volume (PCV), red blood cell (RBC), white cell count (WCC) and hemoglobin content (Hb) were not significant. Catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione (GSH) were also not significant (p>0.05). Linearity coefficients of the models however appeared to be significant (R2≤0.8000). The mathematical and pictorial models showed slight influence of the test substance on the parameters. The investigation revealed that A. indica seed oil showed no adverse effect on the haematological and antioxidant profile of the animal models at the level of administration, the slight statistical significance could be attributed to other experimental values. A. indica oil seems to be safe on mammalian subjects. More work is recommended on the topic using higher levels of the plant materials at a longer period of exposure

The impact of spirituality and resilience on mental distress among inmates in a northern state, Nigeria

The burden of mental illness of inmates in low and middle income countries (LMICs) prisons was higher than in the developed ones. Positive interventions common in reversing the increasing prevalence of inmates’ mental distress in developed countries are rare in Nigeria, a LMICs. This study contributed to initiate mental health promotion in Nigerian prisons through studying mediating effect of positive interventions, specifically spirituality and resilience on inmates’ mental wellbeing. Mental distress of 63 male inmates of Bida prison, North-centre Nigeria was assessed with GHQ-12. The impact of resilience and spirituality on mental distress was measured by Resilience Scale and brief Spirituality Involvement and Beliefs Scale respectively. The mean age of participants was 27.27years (SD = 1.43years) and 70% of them had mental distress. Variables with statistically significant experience of mental distress were being single and having high mean resilience score. The study demonstrated the impact of marital status, resilience and spirituality on the mental wellness of the participants. This will aid mental health promotion of inmates in Nigeria prisons

Do corporate attributes drive integrated reporting amongst listed companies in Nigeria?

Abstract: Research purpose: The purpose of this paper was to investigate the association between corporate attributes and the implementation of Integrated Reporting (IR) among quoted companies on the Nigerian Stock Exchange which currently operates a voluntary based disclosure environment. Design and method: Using content analysis to derive the disclosure scores for integrated reporting and corporate attributes, the authors investigated the impact of corporate attributes on the implementation of the integrated reporting of a sample of 90 listed firms. The annual reports covering 2013–2017 were analysed using the disclosure methodologies developed by prior researchers in IR. The hypotheses were tested using panel least square regressions. Main findings: The authors found that corporate attributes have a statistically positive and significant impact on the implementation of integrated reporting framework, that share ownership structure and firm age have an insignificant influence over corporate implementation of the integrated reporting framework. The research findings extend integrated reporting research in Nigeria from mere primary data analysis to quantitative data analysis. Practical implications: The empirical findings provide regulators with evidence on the current level of integrated reporting disclosures and the influence of corporate attributes in driving integrated reporting. Originality and value: The study makes significant contributions to integrated reporting literature from a developing country’s perspective. It also provided empirical evidence of a high level of disclosure compliance with the IR framework among quoted companies in Nigeria

Clinical and sonographic features in infertile women with and without polycystic ovarian syndrome

Background: Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine cause of infertility affecting about 1 in 10 women of reproductive age. This study determined the proportion of infertile women with PCOS and compared clinical and sonographic features in infertile women with PCOS and without PCOS.Methods: This was a prospective comparative cross-sectional study at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital over a 6 month period. One hundred and fifty two infertile women were recruited and had trans-vaginal ultrasonography for the presence and absence of polycystic ovaries. The diagnosis of PCOS was made using the Rotterdam criteria with other relevant socio-demographic and clinical data noted in the study proforma. Student t and chi-square tests were used as appropriate.Results: The prevalence of PCOS among infertile women was 32.9%. The mean age of infertile women diagnosed with PCOS and without PCOS was 33±4.90 and 32.71±5.00 years, respectively. Women with PCOS had significantly higher BMI than women without PCOS. Increased ovarian volume, peripheral follicular distribution and increased stromal echogenicity were observed in 60%, 74% and 94% of women with PCOS on trans-vaginal ultrasound compared to 11.8%, 2% and 2% of women without PCOS, respectively.Conclusions: The prevalence of PCOS among infertile women is high. Clinical characteristics of women with PCOS and women without PCOS are similar except in their BMI and features that constitute the diagnostic criteria for PCOS