Relative price variability of grains and inflation rate movement in Nigeria.

The study estimated the functional relationship between relative price variability of grains and inflation rate in Nigeria. The study also estimated price instability indices for major grains and also investigated the impact of government stability and instability on relative price variability of grains in Nigeria. Data were obtained from various publications of Central Bank of Nigeria which covered the period, 1970 to 2007. Ordinary Least Squares method was used to estimate the coefficients of the specified equation. Empirical results reveal that inflation has a positive significant effect on relative price variability of grains. The result further showed that major grain crops in Nigeria have high producer price instability indices. Furthermore, the civilian regimes which were a proxy of government stability brought about a negative significant shift in the coefficient of inflation which implies a reduction in the relative price variability. Hence the civilian regime policies targeted at the grain sub-sector were upheld as these will improve the sub-sector performance.KEY WORD: Relative price variability, Inflation, Grains, Instability, Fluctuation

Beetroot (Beta vulgaris) Juice Inhibits Key Carbohydrate Metabolising Enzymes Associated With Type II Diabetes

Beetroot (Beta vulgaris) is a root tuber belonging to the Amaranthaceae family, which has recently become popular in Nigeria. The reddish purplish tuber and green leaves are usually eaten by boiling, roasting and the raw tuber can be made into juice. This study was carried out to investigate the in vitro ability of aqueous freeze-dried beetroot juice to inhibit α-amylase and α-glucosidase linked to type 2 diabetes (T2D) by spectrophotometric methods. The percentage inhibition and its half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of α-amylase and α-glucosidase by beetroot juice with starch revealed that beetroot juice inhibited α-amylase (26%-73%; IC50 = 1.78 ± 0.13 mg/mL) and α-glucosidase (53%-85%; IC50 = 0.77 ± 0.14 mg/mL) in a dose dependent manner. This was compared with the positive  control acarbose which inhibited α-amylase (IC50 = 0.18 ± 0.02 mg/mL) and α-glucosidase (IC50 = 0.22 ± 0.01 mg/mL). Beetroot juice may possess hypoglycemic effects and through these inhibitory mechanisms, it could be used as an adjuvant in the management of hyperglycemia and diabetes. Keywords: Beetroot juice, carbohydrate hydrolyzing enzymes, α-amylase, α-glucosidase

Integer Programming Approach to Nurse Scheduling Problem (Nsp) In Hospital Management

The need for optimum allocation of available manpower for increase productivity and efficient management is a typical personnel scheduling problem faced by hospitals and other personnel management organizations. In this study, integer programming approach was used to solve a Nurse Scheduling Problem in the hospital using the days-off as decision variables. The result of implementation in St. Luke hospital, Anua, Uyo, Nigeria produces optimal days-off Nurses roster with ten Nurses each in Antenatal Ward, Casualty, Children, Male Surgical and Operating theatre Wards; nine Nurses each in Antenatal Clinic, Maternity Ward, Male Medical, Female Medical and Nursery Wards; three Nurses each in Anesthesia, Counseling and Immunization Units; and fourteen Nurses each in Labour Ward and Out-patients Department which ensures adequate continuous ward care services and minimizes 0.38% of the Hospital’s total Nursing staff cost

Application of sulphuric acid wet-ashing procedure to the determination of some trace metals in crude oil

Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop., 4(l), 13-18 (1990)

Issues in sustainable land use and management in the rain forest belt of Sub-Saharan Africa

The practise of agriculture depends on land-use and resource allocation. For the subsistence farmer resource endowment and management capacity are low, the framework of land-use is viewed therefore, to have a short-term planning horizon as little attention is paid to the status and management of their agricultural land. However, allocation, use and management of a resource like land requires quality maintenance and resource-use efficiency, which is a pivot of sustainability, built within the paradigm of social, economical, cultural and environmental dimensions. This paper therefore, seeks to elucidate relevant issues in sustainable agricultural land-use and management with a view to creating better awareness to Sub-Saharan African peasant farmers. [JEXT Vol.3 2002: 16-20

Fertilizer−MFertilizer−manure substitution among arable crop farmers in Akwa Ibom state: empirical evidence

The study estimated the constant elasticity of substitution of fertilizer for manure in arable crop production in Akwa Ibom State. The approximation of the generalized constant elasticity of substitution (CES) model using Taylor’s expansion series yielded a linear equation that was estimated using OLS method. The CES parameters were estimated through a system of coefficients relationship and were later used to calculate the constant elasticity of substitution for each crop enterprise. Empirical results revealed that, waterleaf has constant elasticity of substitution less than unity: while pumpkin and maize had constant elasticity of substitution greater than unity. Increased supply of fertiliser and repackage extension services were recommended as these would help to increase fertiliser use as well as growth rate of crops in the state.KEY WORDS: Arable Crop, Elasticity, Fertiliser, Manure, Substitutio

Analysis of technical efficiency among community-based seed producers in the savannas of Borno State, Nigeria

The study examined the socio-economic characteristics of participating seed farmers in a community-based seed production scheme organized by the project, Promoting Sustainable Agriculture in Borno State (PROSAB). In addition, it determined the technical efficiency of resource use in PROSAB seed farms. Farm level survey data from 396 seed producers who cultivated maize, cowpea, soybean, rice, groundnut and sorghum were obtained using well structured questionnaires. The production parameters were estimated simultaneously with those of the models of inefficiency effects. Using the maximum likelihood estimation technique, asymptotic parameter estimates were evaluated to describe production inputs and efficiency determinants. Based on the results of gross margin analysis, the observed profit margins across the seed types conclusively revealed that every one naira spent in cultivating the seeds, some levels of financial benefits were derived as indicated by the output/input indices. Results further revealed that labour, farm size, seed and fertilizer were the most important inputs across the six crops. Inefficiency model analysis further revealed that the duration of the crop grown and ecological region predominantly affected the seed farm level of technical efficiency in input use. A mean technical efficiency of between 55% and 58% was identified, meaning that seed production under the scheme can still be increase by about 45% and 42% using available technology. The study recommends that, given the significance of seeds that have a shorter duration to maturity, quick maturing varieties of seeds should be promoted among farmers in the study area. Also, timely access to land augmenting input like fertilizer should be ensured