Impact of Mergers and Acquisitions on Performance of Companies in Oil and Gas Industry

This study investigated the impact of mergers and acquisitions on performance of the companies and analyzed the post merger challenges in the Oil and Gas sector of Nigerian economy. Secondary data on two purposively selected Oil and Gas companies that merged between 1993 and 2010 were used for the analysis. Data were sourced from the Nigerian Stock Exchange fact- book, Annual Report and Accounts of the selected companies and Federal Inland Revenue Services. Results showed that for the first company, the profit after tax had significant effect (F= 62.238; p< 0.05) likewise the net assets significantly improved (F=47.540; p< 0.05), following mergers and acquisitions. The results also showed that profit after tax of the related company significantly improved after merger (F=5.100; p<0.05) along with its net assets (F=11.471; p<0.05. Hence, the mergers and acquisitions brought about significant improvement on the performance of the companies. JEL classification numbers:G34 Keywords: Mergers, Acquisition, Profit after tax, Net assets

Treatment response in adult patients with hypertension attending a secondary health care center in south-west Nigeria

Background: There has been an increase in prevalence of hypertension worldwide and a trend towards poor control of hypertension. Despite the  development of new guidelines on management of hypertension, it remains a difficult disease to control.Methods: The study was a prospective cohort study of 386 patients aged 18 to 70 years with uncontrolled hypertension. A simple random sampling  technique with computer generated random numbers was used for selection.Results: Majority (58.3%) of the respondents who were overweight had diastolic blood pressure of less than 100 mmHg while 55 (41.7%)  respondents who were overweight had diastolic blood pressure of 100mmHg to 110mmHg. Forty (42.1%) of the respondents who were obese had diastolic blood pressure of less than 100mmHg while 55 (57.9%) respondents who were obese had diastolic blood pressure of 100mmHg to 110mmHg. The association was statistically significant (2 = 9.845, p-value = 0.02). There was a significant difference between the mean first Systolic Blood pressure and the mean third systolic blood pressure. (< 0.001, 95% CI 19.01- 23.04). Also there was a significant difference between the meanfirst Diastolic Blood pressure and the mean third Diastolic Blood pressure. (p < 0.001, 95% CI 11.13-11.56).Conclusion: This study has shown that increasing body weight was associated with high blood pressures and health education on management of hypertension had significant effect in reducing blood pressures and subsequently leading to better control of hypertension. Keywords: Treatment response, Hypertension, Secondary healthcare center, Nigeri

Physiological and Agronomic Responses of Four Rice Varieties to Drought in the Rainforest.

The present investigation tested the hypothesis that there would be variation in physiological responses to water deficit among rice varieties from different production ecologies, with contrasting tolerance to water deficit under repeated cycle of soil moisture deficit, at reproductive growth stage. A screen house and a field trial were conducted at International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan and Ikenne (Latitude 6° 52' N, Longitude 3° 43' E) respectively. Both experiments had rice varieties ('IR 64', 'WAB 56-104', 'IR 77298-1-2-B-10' and 'NERICA 4') and stress status (stress and control) as treatment factor's, arranged in a randomised complete block design with three replicates. In both trials, the physiological mechanism that underpins varietal differences with repeated cycles of water deficit at the reproductive growth stage was more balanced water status, improved foliar characters, efficient photosynthetic capacity and higher grain yield in comparatively drought tolerant upland rice varieties ('NERICA 4' and 'WAB 56-104'), as opposed with the results for the drought susceptible cultivar 'IR 64'. A converse pattern was observed on water stressed rice, despite fewer cycles of water deficit on the field. The results could have suggested that the initiation of water deficit is the rate limiting step rather than its intensity at the reproductive growth stage

Congenital absence of right cardiac notch in the lung of a Bunaji calf

The cardiac notch (fissure) is normally present in both right and left lungs of ruminants. The notch is usually smaller on the right lung relative to its left counterpart and distinctly confined to the lower parts of the third and fourth intercostal spaces where the pericardium comes in contact with the thoracic wall. We report a case of congenital absence of right cardiac notch in one out of the five White Fulani calves used for routine dissection in the Department of Veterinary Anatomy, University of Jos, Plateau state, Nigeria. A complete closure of the cardiac notch was observed between the middle and apical lobes of the right lung. Due to this defect, the pericardium was completely obliterated from view of the coastal surface of the middle lung`s lobes which occupied the supposed space for the cardiac notch in the right lung. To the best of our knowledge, congenital absence of cardiac notch has not been reported in literature. Hence, this study would benefit veterinary surgeons operating the thoracic cavity, radiologists examining radiographs and pathologists investigating thoracic cavity and its contents.Keywords: Bunaji calf, cardiac notch, congenital absence, right lun

Atypical presentation of genital herpes in a retroviral disease patient on highly active anti-retroviral therapy

Herpes Simplex Virus type 2 (HSV-2) is the leading cause of Genital Ulcer Disease (GUD) worldwide. In HIV infected persons, it typically presents with increased number of recurrent genital lesions which often have severe and prolonged presentations. There are reports that patients receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) may be more prone to chronic genital ulcers and a higher risk of acyclovir-resistant herpes infection than is seen in immune competent patients. We present a case of recurrent genital herpes infection in a sexually active 15 year old known HIV patient.Keywords: Recurrent genital ulcer, HSV-2, HIV, HAAR

Effects of graded crude protein diet on serum biochemical parameters of African giant rat (Cricetomys gambianus) reared in Ibadan, Nigeria

The domestication of African giant rats (AGRs) to supplement animal protein needs in Nigeria and its potential as a laboratory animal model for biomedical research have not been fully exploited. Thirty AGRs divided into 5groups (A-E) were used for the experiment. The rats were fed with feed containing graded protein at 9.83%, 14.79%, 21.21% (control), 23.93% and 27.84% crude protein in feed for a period of 10weeks. They were then sampled on day 28 and day 56 by collecting 5mls obtained from the orbital sinus of the AGRs into lithium heparinized (20u/ml) tubes for serum biochemical analysis. On day 28 the levels of sodium, potassium, urea and creatinine at 23.93% CP when compared with the corresponding values in those other groups. The serum protein level revealed significant differences in the levels of albumin and globulin being higher than the others at 27.84% CP with 4.34±0.13g/dl and 2.76±0.11g/dl respectively. Serum liver enzymes showed that the level of ALT was highest at 9.83%CP with 9.50±0.61iu. Significant increase was also observed in the level of Triglycerides (74.80±4.21) at 27.84% CP. On day 56, there was significant increase in the level of urea (47.00±2.52mg/dl) at 14.79%CP. Albumin /globulin ratio was significantly higher with 1.60±0.29 at 9.83%CP. There was a significant increase in the level of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) with 40.00±1.53iu at 9.83%CP. In conclusion, to the best of our knowledge, the data from this study provide complete biochemical reference data that would be useful in clinical evaluation and management of AGRs. These will also be useful in achieving an appropriate diseases management and domestication plan for this species of animal.https://www.ajol.info/index.php/ajbr/indexam2021Paraclinical SciencesProduction Animal Studie

Gene frequencies of ABO and rhesus blood groups and haemoglobin variants in Ogbomoso, South-West Nigeria

The distribution and gene frequencies of ABO and rhesus (Rh) blood groups and haemoglobin variants for samples of the Nigerian population at Ogbomoso was determined. Data consisting of records of blood groups and haemoglobin types of different ages ranging from infants to adults for a period of 4 to 6 years (1995 - 2000) was collected from Baptist Medical Centre (BMC), Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Health Centre (LAUTHC) and Oyo State General Hospital (OSGH), all in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria. Overall, a total number of 7653, 7053 and 14,845 individuals were typed for ABO and Rh blood groups, and haemoglobin genotypes, respectively. 3824 (50%) were blood group O, 1750 (22.9%) were blood group A, 1629 (21.3%) were blood group B and 450 (5.9%) were blood group AB. This distribution differs significantly (P<0.05) from those expected under the Hardy Weinberg law. The proportion of the individuals belonging to the various ABO blood groups also varied significantly (P<0.05) over the period of the study. Overall gene frequencies for the A, B and O alleles were 0.15, 0.15 and 0.70, respectively. For the Rh blood group 6823 (96.7%) were Rhpositive (DD and Dd) while 230 (3.3%) were Rh - negative (dd). The distribution and proportion of individuals belonging to each group did not differ significantly from those expected under the Hardy Weinberg law (P>0.05). The gene frequencies of D and d alleles were 0.82 and 0.18, respectively. Six haemoglobin genotypes were recorded in the order of AA (68.1%) > AS (21.0%) > AC (5.7%) >SS (3.0%) >SC (2.0%) >CC (0.3%). The gene frequencies were 0.81, 0.14 and 0.04 for A, S and C alleles, respectively. Our results are representative of the distribution of these genetic variants in Nigeria

Effects of Graded Crude Protein Diet on Haematological Indices and Body Weight of African Giant Rat (Cricetomys gambianus )

The domestication of the African giant rat (AGRs) (Cricetomys gambianus) to compliment the inadequate animal protein supplies in Nigeria and its potential to serve as a model for biomedical research is yet to be fully exploited. This study determines the effects of varied crude protein (CP) diet on haematological indices and body weight of AGRs. Blood samples were obtained from the orbital sinus of 30 apparently healthy adult male and female AGRs. The AGR’s were kept in captivity and divided into 6 rats per group (A, B, C, D and E). Group A served as control group. The groups were fed with graded levels of crude protein (CP) of (E) 9.83%, (D) 14.79%, (A) 21.21%, (C) 23.93% and (B) 27.84%. Each chloroform pre-anaesthetized AGRs were weighed at days 0 and 14, 28, 42 and 56, while blood samples were collected at days 28 and 56. The samples were each analyzed for erythrocyte and leucocyte parameters and platelet counts by standard methods. All data collected were subjected to analysis of variance and student t-test. At 28 days post-feeding, AGRs fed with 27.84% CP showed no significant elevations in erythrocyte and leucocyte values compared with control values (21.21% CP). However, at 56 days post-feeding, RBC, Hb, PCV, total WBC, eosinophil, lymphocyte and monocyte counts were significantly lowered in the group fed with 27.84% CP. No significant differences in body weights were observed in rats that were fed 27.84%, 21.21%, 14.8% and 9.8% crude protein diets for 28 and 56 days. This study shows improved body weight with 27.84% CP compared with other crude protein percentage used while 14.79% CP had the best haematological parameters when compared with other crude protein groups. Keywords: African giant rats; Crude protein; Haematology; Weig