When to Sell or Hold a Stock:Empirical Evidence from an Emerging Market

Data from an emerging market were used to determine when to sell or hold a stock for a single model of a stock whose price is assumed to be a geometric Brownian motion in which the jump Markov process changes back and forth between positive and negative values

Tomato farmers adoption level of postharvest value addition technology and its constraints in Surulere Area of Oyo State, Nigeria

The study examined tomato farmers’ adoption level of postharvest value addition technology and its constraints in Surulere Area of Oyo state. 160 tomato farmers were randomly selected and interviewed through structured interview schedule. Data obtained were subjected to descriptive and inferential statistics. Results revealed prevalent causes of tomato postharvest losses to include; unreliable means of transportation, lack of adequate storage facilities, limited alternative uses of produce, diseases/pest infestation and non-accessibility to improved varieties and quality seeds. Furthermore, postharvest value addition technologies at adoption level indicated by majority were ranked as follows; sun drying and peeled tomato preserves (88.1%) ranked first, fresh refrigerated (67.5%) ranked third, pureed and sealed with oil in jars (50.6%) ranked fourth, boiled, sealed and packed sealed (50.0%) ranked fifth, cold water bath (46.9%) ranked sixth. Only (3.1%) evaluated pickling, 0.6% trialled irradiation, 2.5% trialled pulping. Constraints faced by majority include; inadequate technological knowledge about value addition, inadequate of electricity supply, lack of cold storage facilities and lack of awareness about value addition technologies. Regression analysis shows significant relation between preventive initiatives adopted by tomato farmers and their level of education, agricultural cooperative membership and availability of electricity and extension agents’ visit. In the view of the findings, the study concludes that tomato farmers have adopted several preventive initiatives for tomato postharvest losses and were still with faced with challenges. It is therefore important improve educational knowledge of tomato farmers in the study area on improved skills to further minimise post-harvest losses.Keywords: tomato, postharvest losses, value addition, constraint

Perception of Tomato Farmers on Effectiveness of Indigenous Postharvest Value Addition Practices in Surulere Area of Oyo State, Nigeria

The study examined the perception of tomato farmers on effectiveness of indigenous postharvest value addition practices in Surulere Area of Oyo State Nigeria. 160 tomato farmers were randomly selected and interviewed through structured interview schedule. Data obtained were subjected to descriptive and inferential statistics. Results revealed that majority of tomato farmers in the study area were; female, married, aged between 41- 45 years and had secondary school education. Harvesting of fully ripe tomato usually packed in basket/ raffia early in the morning were common indigenous handling and packaging practices to prevent post-harvest losses by tomato farmers in the study area. Indigenous preservative methods such as sun drying, pureed and sealed with oil in jars, boiled and sealed, cold water were mostly perceived to be effective indigenous preservative methods by tomato farmers in the study area. Regression analysis further revealed that age of respondent has positive influence on farmers’ perception of the effectiveness of indigenous preservative practices. In the view of the findings, it can be concluded that tomato farmers still hold to indigenous postharvest handling, packaging and preservative practices. It is therefore important that agricultural extension services should focus on the provision of facilities that will improve sun drying method commonly used by farmers in the study area. Keywords: Tomato, post-harvest, indigenous, effectiveness, value addition

Tomato Farmers Adoption Level of Post harvest Value Addition Technology and Its Constraints in Surulere Area of Oyo State, Nigeria

The study examined tomato farmers’ adoption level of postharvest value addition technology and its constraints in Surulere Area of Oyo state. 160 tomato farmers were randomly selected and interviewed through structured interview schedule. Data obtained were subjected to descriptive and inferential statistics. Results revealed prevalent causes of tomato postharvest losses to include; unreliable means of transportation, lack of adequate storage facilities, limited alternative uses of produce, diseases/pest infestation and non-accessibility to improved varieties and quality seeds. Furthermore, postharvest value addition technologies at adoption level indicated by majority were ranked as follows; sun drying and peeled tomato preserves (88.1%) ranked first, fresh refrigerated (67.5%) ranked third, pureed and sealed with oil in jars (50.6%) ranked fourth, boiled, sealed and packed sealed (50.0%) ranked fifth, cold water bath (46.9%) ranked sixth. Only (3.1%) evaluated pickling, 0.6% trialled irradiation, 2.5% trialled pulping. Constraints faced by majority include; inadequate technological knowledge about value addition, inadequate of electricity supply, lack of cold storage facilities and lack of awareness about value addition technologies. Regression analysis shows significant relation between preventive initiatives adopted by tomato farmers and their level of education, agricultural cooperative membership and availability of electricity and extension agents’ visit. In the view of the findings, the study concludes that tomato farmers have adopted several preventive initiatives for tomato post harvest losses and were still with faced with challenges. It is therefore important improve educational knowledge of tomato farmers in the study area on improved skills to further minimise post-harvest losses. Keywords: tomato, post harvest losses, value addition, constraint

The ASOS Surgical Risk Calculator: development and validation of a tool for identifying African surgical patients at risk of severe postoperative complications

Background: The African Surgical Outcomes Study (ASOS) showed that surgical patients in Africa have a mortality twice the global average. Existing risk assessment tools are not valid for use in this population because the pattern of risk for poor outcomes differs from high-income countries. The objective of this study was to derive and validate a simple, preoperative risk stratification tool to identify African surgical patients at risk for in-hospital postoperative mortality and severe complications. Methods: ASOS was a 7-day prospective cohort study of adult patients undergoing surgery in Africa. The ASOS Surgical Risk Calculator was constructed with a multivariable logistic regression model for the outcome of in-hospital mortality and severe postoperative complications. The following preoperative risk factors were entered into the model; age, sex, smoking status, ASA physical status, preoperative chronic comorbid conditions, indication for surgery, urgency, severity, and type of surgery. Results: The model was derived from 8799 patients from 168 African hospitals. The composite outcome of severe postoperative complications and death occurred in 423/8799 (4.8%) patients. The ASOS Surgical Risk Calculator includes the following risk factors: age, ASA physical status, indication for surgery, urgency, severity, and type of surgery. The model showed good discrimination with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.805 and good calibration with c-statistic corrected for optimism of 0.784. Conclusions: This simple preoperative risk calculator could be used to identify high-risk surgical patients in African hospitals and facilitate increased postoperative surveillance. © 2018 British Journal of Anaesthesia. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Medical Research Council of South Africa gran