Corporate governance and IFRS 7 disclosure in Nigerian banks: A triple model assessment

This study employs three models, pooled OLS, fix effect with white cross-section standard error covariance and panel EGLS data with cross-section random effects to assess the impact of corporate governance and IFRS 7 financial instruments disclosure in the balance sheet of 14 listed banks on the Nigerian Stock Exchange during the period 2008-2012. The empirical evidence illustrates that the chi-square and F-statistics in both pooled OLS and fixed effect are significant hence, not appropriate for estimating the model.We employ the Hausman test and applied the redundant effect equation model to further test for the effect.It is found that the null hypothesis in the correlated random effect has an insignificant probability value of 1.0000 supporting the conclusion that IFRS 7 disclosure is related to board committee, board accounting and board financial expertise and the type of gender in boards of the investigated banks.Based on this analysis, the random effect model which report significant values on three of the independent variables (BC, 0.0014 and BE, 0.0000) at 1% and (GEN, 0.0056) at 10% level of significance is the preferred model. These findings are apropos to managers, accountants and regulatory authorities especially in banks of developing countries which have just embrace or are in the process of embracing IFRS7 in their financial instruments disclosure.We further recommend that existing regulations in Nigeria mandatorily compel listed banks in Nigeria to have at least 15% women as board members because of their positive contribution towards compliance with disclosure requirements

A push-pull unsymmetrical subphthalocyanine dimer

Unsymmetrical subphthalocyanine fused dimers have been prepared from appropriate ortho-dinitrile SubPc precursors. In particular, either electron-donating or electron-accepting substituents have been introduced on each SubPc constituent unit, resulting in unprecedented push–pull π-extended curved aromatic macrocycles. From fluorescence experiments in solvents of different polarity we conclude a dual fluorescence, namely a delocalized singlet excited state (1.73 eV) and a polarized charge transfer state (<1.7 eV). Pump probe experiments corroborate the dual nature of the fluorescence. On one hand, the delocalized singlet excited state gives rise to a several nanosecond lasting intersystem crossing yielding the corresponding triplet excited state. On the other hand, the polarized charge transfer state deactivates within a few picosesonds. Visualization of the charge transfer state was accomplished by means of molecular modeling with a slight polarization of the HOMO towards the electron donor and of the LUMO towards the electron acceptor

Heavy Metals Concentrations in some selected Fish Species in Tono Irrigation Reservoir in Navrongo, Ghana

An assessment of heavy metals (lead, cadmium, copper, manganese, zinc and iron) in water, sediments and in the organs of Tilapia (Sarotherodon gallelacus) and African Giraffe Bagrid (Auchenoglanis occidestalis) from the Tono irrigation dam has been carried out. Sediments contained the highest concentrations and appeared to be the major source of bioaccumulation of heavy metals in the fish species as deduced from estimated transfer factors. The mean concentrations of heavy metals Cd, Zn and Cu in muscle and gills both fish species fell within USEPA (2002) acceptable levels for human uses while those of Pb, Mn and Fe were above. The mean concentrations of heavy metals in raw water fell within the permissible limits of WPCL (2004) for aquaculture except Cd (0.03mg/l) and Fe (0.86mg/l). The relatively high mean concentrations of Pb (0.375mg/kg FW in the two fish species may originate from chemicals (fertilisers, weedicides and pesticides) being used for agricultural purposes in the study area. This is a potential health hazard and requires monitoring and awareness creation. Keywords: fish species, Ghana, heavy metals, Navrongo, Tono dam

Subphthalocyanine-based systems focused on molecular photovoltaics

Tesis Doctoral inédita leída en la Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Facultad de Ciencias, Departamento de Química Orgánica. Fecha de lectura: 15-12-201

Health Risks of Heavy Metals in selected Food Crops cultivated in Small-scale Gold-mining Areas in Wassa-Amenfi-West District of Ghana

An assessment of heavy metals (Pb, Cu, Zn, Ni, and Cd) in soils, Cassava (Manihot esculenta crantz) and plantain (Musa paradisiacal) was conducted in Wassa-Amenfi-West District, a small-scale gold-mining area in Ghana. Metal levels in soil samples were within the permissible limits of Indian and EU standards even though, the Pollution Load Index (PLI) revealed significant metal loading. PLI values were 26.35, 4.81, 54.18, 2.01 and 1.55 for Cd, Ni, Pb, Zn and Cu, respectively.  Metals in food crops were higher than in soils, with ranges of 19.63-53.93, 19.45-142.39, 99.42-357.15, 27.01-76.21, and 1.42-5.84mg/kg for Ni, Cu, Zn, Pb and Cd, respectively. Pb, Cd, Zn and Cu in plantain exceeded FAO/WHO recommended values while in cassava, Pb, Cd and Zn exceeded recommended levels. Analysis of daily intake of metals (DIM) and health index (HRI) for cassava and plantain showed that local inhabitants were not safe and were at risk of potentially long term health effects from dietary Pb, Cd, Ni, Cu and Zn. Keywords: Cassava, Ghana, Heavy metals, health risk, Plantain, Wassa-Amenfi-Wes