Firm attributes and share price fluctuation of deposit money banks listed in Nigeria

This paper examined firms’ attributes impact on the fluctuation of share prices of listed deposit money banks in Nigeria. Ex-post facto research design was employed, and 13 deposit money banks firms were selected out of 15 from 2006-2016. Descriptive statistics were presented, and correlation analysis was conducted to understand the degree of relationship among the variables. Ordinary least Squares regression was used to ascertain the combined impact of the explanatory variables on the share prices. The study finds four firms’ attributes (dividend ratios, book value, growth and liquidity) to have statistically significant effect on share prices. Companies with high dividends and asset growth as well as low liquidity and book values are more likely to experience higher share prices; hence, the need for investors to be aware of these attributes in making investment decisions. The findings contribute to the existing literature by extending the study to the banking industry

Mini-review on the efficacy of aquatic macrophytes as mosquito larvicide

Malaria is a mosquito-borne disease, which is endemic in Asia, Africa and Latin America. Vector control is the current strategy used for the eradication and elimination of malaria in these countries, but this control method has not proven to be effective, as malaria continues its increasing trend. Although chemical larvicide can also be used to eradicate the malaria vector at the larval stage, preventing the growth of mosquitoes into hematophagous adults, the continuous use of chemical insecticides leads to environmental pollution. It is therefore of paramount importance to identify effective, low-cost, biodegradable and environmentally friendly alternatives to chemical insecticides for the control of mosquito larvae.This mini-review aims to assess the present and future of the use of macrophytes as a mosquito larvicide. We critically analyze the trend of malaria cases in sub-Saharan Africa and evaluate why botanical larvicides may contribute to the eradication of malaria in the region. The ecological role of macrophytes in the aquatic environment and their potential as botanical larvicide are explained in detail. The study illustrates that the macrophytes Azolla pinnata, Pistia stratiotes, Eicchornia crassipes, Phragmites australis, Nelumbo nucifera, Nymphaea lotus, Typha latifolia and Leucas martinicensis have been effectively used as larvicides against mosquito larvae. It is recommended that additional work be done to purify the biologically active components that are responsible for the larvicidal activity of these macrophytes, and future research should assess the potential of other macrophytes for effective utilization as larvicides

Regression Models for the Prediction of Strength Properties of Waste Tyre Ash (WTA) - Mortar

Sustainable development is an emerging political and social issue of global significance, Environmental scientists are generally of the view that Portland cement is not particularly environmentally friendly. Thus, the challenges of producing and using concrete, is aggravated by the high need and consumption of cement which is causing the using concrete, is aggravated by the high need and consumption of cement which is causing the environmental threats as outlined by the environmentalists. The background of this study emanates from this development and forms the basis for conducting the research. Waste Tyre Ash (WTA) is the ash residue that is obtained after slices of waste or scrap tyres are burnt at a temperature of 5000C for a period of 5 hrs.  Therefore, the aim of this study is to determine the effect of using WTA as a partial replacement of cement in WTA-Mortar and to develop models for the prediction of strength properties. Cement was partially replaced with WTA at 0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25% and 30% by weight. The findings showed that WTA decelerates setting time of cement and strength development in mortar. Compressive strength and flexural strength of mortar increases with increase in WTA up to 20% and 15% replacement of cement respectively. Strength predictive models for WTA-Mortar have good correlations with experimental data with average of R2 of 0.91, RMSE of 0.57 and COE of 0.66.  Statistical models drawn from the results of this research will also provide a means to predict WTA mortar strengths and behavior

Prevalence of Anaemia in Pregnancy and Related Factors among Women Attending Antenatal Care (ANC) in General Hospital Bunza, Kebbi State, Nigeria

Background: Anaemia in pregnancy remains a major cause of maternal death in Sub-Saharan Africa, and it mostly results from a deficiency of iron and folate.Objectives: To determine the prevalence of anemia and the factors associated with it among pregnant women in Bunza, Nigeria. Materials and Method: A cross-sectional study conducted among 327 pregnant women attending ANC in General Hospital Bunza, Kebbi State, Nigeria. Data were collected using a pretested questionnaire. Estimation of packed cell volume and RDT were alsodone for the participants; datawereanalysedusing IBMSPSS version 20. Results: The mean packed cell volume of the respondents was 30.7, with a SD 3.7 and majority of the respondents were having anemia 240(75.7%). Level of education of the respondents and their spouses, age at first pregnancy, spouses’ occupation, and the trimester at which the respondents booked were found to be significant p ?0.05for anemic status. Conclusion: The prevalence of anemia in pregnancy is high among pregnant women in Bunza, Nigeria, with the factors associated with it being the levels of education of the woman and that of her spouse, spouse’s occupation, having the first pregnancy before the age of 19 years, and late booking. Recommendations: Anemia in Pregnancy should be considered a public health problem in the LGA and state in general and girl child education should be given priority as a long term measure

MASSIVE MIMO FOR HIGH-SPEED TRAIN COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS

With the current development in wireless communications in high-mobility systems such as high-speed train (HST), the HST scenario is accepted as among the different scenarios for the fifth-generation (5G). Massive Multiple-Input-Multiple-Output (MIMO) systems, which are equipped with tens or hundreds of antennas has become an improved MIMO system which can assist in achieving the ever-growing demand of data for 5G wireless communication systems. In this study, the associated 5G technologies, as well as the equivalent channel modeling in HST settings and the challenges of deploying massive MIMO on HST, was investigated The channel model was modeled using the WINNER II channel model. With regrads, the proposed non-stationary IMT-A massive MIMO channel models, the essential statistical properties such as the spatial cross-correlation function (CCF), local temporal autocorrelation function (ACF) of the massive MIMO channel model using different propagation scenarios such as open space, viaduct and cutting was analyzed and investigated. The results from the simulations were compared with the analytical results in other to show that the statistical properties vary with time as a result of the non-stationarity of the proposed channel model. The agreement between the stationary interval of the non-stationary IMT-A channel model and the HST under different propagation scenarios shows the efficiency of the proposed channel model. Based on findings; the impact of the deployment of a large antenna on the channel capacity should be thoroughly investigated under different HST propagation scenario. Also, more HST train propagation scenarios such as the tunnel, hilly terrain, and the station should be considered in the non-stationary IMT-A massive MIMO channel models

A Theoretical Assessment on the Relationship between Working Capital Investment and Firm's Performance

The concept of financial constraint have a great influence on company decision and capital market entrance as shareholders and directors recognised its negative implication on firm performance. This paper is the first to conceptualize the theoretical influence of financial constraints (FC) on working capital investment (WCI) and corporate performance through firm internal resources and managerial competency by employing a qualitative approach from a theoretical disposition which has been meagerly demonstrated in the literature. Specifically, bearing in mind the rising unpredictability and issues in the credit and capital markets that has been noticed for numbers of years and the similar intensification in regulatory capital about acquiring external financing, the attention of the firm’s gradually shifted to its internal liquidity generated from enterprise operation on the basis of working capital (WC). This study argues that business internal resources through managerial skill and internal capital can to enhance WCI in a financially constrained situation thereby reduces the agency cost and asymmetric information and increases performance. Hence, we conclude that internal funds is suitable to finance WCI in a constrained situation for managers to avoid overinvest or underinvest in working capital asset by controlling for financial constraints. Further review are expected to determine WCI-performance relationship using some vital accounting ratios largely generated from annual reports and accounts

Gas Flaring Effects and Revenue Made from Crude Oil in Nigeria

The study examines gas flaring and crude oil revenue in Nigeria. The study used secondary data for 14 years from 2000 to 2014 inclusive to analyze the issue using multiple regression analysis. The study employed time series data hence, a unit root test is conducted and found that they are stationary at level. Using three variables, gas flaring as the aggregate amount of gas flared by oil producing companies in Nigeria as an independent variable and crude oil revenue as an aggregate of revenue generated from all oil companies crude oil as dependent variable and tax as penalty on flaring is used as a control variable, the findings of the study show that gas flaring has a negative impact on Nigerian crude oil revenue and is statistically significant. From the research there are strong indications that the implementation of regulations and incentives to abate gas glaring in Nigeria has to be improving in other to increase revenue generated from crude oil. The author suggests that government should embark seriously on gas utilization policy and increase the penalty for companies who still engage in gas flaring. In addition, the government should utilize the gas flaring for electricity generation or implore another means of either utilizing it or curtail it. Keywords: Gas Flaring; Carbon Emission; Crude Oil Revenue JEL Classifications: Q51, Q53, Q5

Comparative analysis of gum Arabic and molasses (binders) in briquettes produced from millet husks

The study was carried out to investigate the effects of binders (molasses and gum Arabic) on millet husk in the production of briquettes. Fixed quantities of millet husk were used to produce briquettes with varying percentage of binders (10%, 20% and 30%). Low pressure fabricated briquetting machine was used for compression to produce the briquettes, after sun drying to reduce the moisture content to minimum value. The proximate analysis conducted, indicated the range of moisture content% (2.1-3.0) ash content% (7.8-11.4) volatile matter% (61.9-76.6) and fixed carbon% (13.0-26.5). The physical properties had the values ranging from (0.52-0.60), (0.18-0.24) (1.69-1.80), (2.31-3.14), (3.5-23.2), (4.7-30.2) for compressed density (g/cm3), relaxed density (g/cm3), compaction ratio, relaxation ratio, durability (%) and water resistant (sec) respectively. The fuel density included ignition time (sec), after glow(sec), boiling time (minutes) and calorific value (J/kg) with the value ranging from (2.3-8.3), (2.0-24.4), (16.10-19.13) and (29830.95-30119.84) respectively. The study shows that millet husk with gum Arabic serves as a better combination for the production of briquettes

Pharmacognostic and Acute Toxicity Study of Burkea Africana Root

Burkea africana is a plant that belongs to then family Fabaceae; it is widely spread in tropical Africa including Nigeria. It is of valuable in  ethnomedicine especially in the treatment of antidote for venomous stings and bites, cutaneous and sub cutaneous parasitic infection, convulsion and pulmonary troubles. Despite the fact that roots of Burkea africana have several medicinal properties, no standardization parameter has been  assessed. Due to lack of standard parameters, proper identification and ascertaining quality and purity in the events of adulteration has been thwarted. The objective of the study was to establish some important pharmacognostic profile and safety margin of Burkea africana root with the hope of assisting in its standardization for quality, purity and safety. Elemental analysis was carried out using acid digestion method and phytochemical composition of the plants was evaluated using standard method. Acute toxicity was achieved using Lorke method to determine the LD50. Chemomicroscopical evaluation revealed the presence of cellulose, tannins, starch, lignin, calcium oxalate, suberin, aleurone grain and mucilage with the exception of calcium carbonate. The average moisture contents, total ash, acid insoluble, water soluble ash, alcohol extractive value and water extractive values in the powdered plant material were 3.8%, 7.5%, 4.43%, 8.07%, 25.0% and 20.33% respectively. In addition, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Cd and Cu were found to be within the safety limit. Phytochemicals which include alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, tannins, carbohydrates and triterpenes were detected in both aqueous and methanolic extracts. The LD50 of Burkea africana was found to be greater than 5000 mg /kg and could be considered safe for consumption. Keywords: Elemental analysis, Burkea africana, Pharmacognostic, Phytochemica