Aron Broches, Selected Essays: World Bank, ICSID and Other Subjects of Public and Private International Law

With the possible exception of international peace and security, global economic development has been the dominant theme in international law and international relations since the end of the Second World War. The tenor and intensity has varied over the decades, but the objectives, centering on institutional arrangements and programs to promote the global economy, have remained the same. Broches\u27 collection of essays, originally written between 1957 and 1992, attests to his intimate knowledge of the workings of the IBRD and its related agencies. In addition to providing both the history and the jurisprudential analysis of these institutions, these essays constitute a discourse on public as well as private international law. They contribute, moreover, to a progressive development of the international law of foreign investment. Essentially, this is a book about arbitration and dispute settlement, with its history told and explained by one who was present at its creation. Broches puts international arbitration into both the contexts of private and public international law. This book contains twenty-five essays and is divided into six parts: (1) the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development; (2) Registration of Treaties and International Agreements; (3) the International Center for the Settlement of Investment of Disputes; (4) International Commercial Arbitration; (5) Investment Disputes; and (6) a section devoted to miscellaneous topics

Cultural Inhibitions and Students’ Academic Achievement in Social Studies in Colleges of Education in Cross River State, Nigeria

The experience of the researchers as classroom teachers in secondary schools in Akwa Ibom and Cross River States of Nigeria and as lecturers and researchers over the years, where they observed that students’ academic achievement in Social Studies is relatively poor. The little output in education does not give much hope for the expected national and individual development. It is this poor achievement in the subject that necessitated this present study which sought to examine the influence of cultural inhibitions and students’ academic achievement in Social Studies in Colleges of Education in Cross River State, Nigeria. To achieve the purpose of this study one hypothesis was formulated to direct the study. Literature review was done according to the variable under study. Ex-post facto research design was adopted for the study. A sample of seven hundred and fifty-three (753) students were randomly selected for the study. The selection was done through simple random sampling technique. The main instruments for data collection were the cultural inhibitions questionnaire (CIQ) and Social Studies Achievement Test (SOSAT) developed by the researchers. The instruments were subjected to face validation by experts in measurement and evaluation. The reliability estimate of the instruments were established through split half reliability method. The reliability co-efficient was corrected with Spearman Brown prophesy formular. Pearson product moment correlation analysis was the statistical technique adopted to test the hypothesis. The hypothesis was tested at .05 level of significance with 751 degree of freedom. The result of the analysis revealed that there is a significant positive relationship between cultural inhibitions and students’ academic achievement in Social Studies. Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended that cultural practices such as male child preference, male inheritance etc should be relaxed in order to give room for our girls to compete favourably in all aspect of life with their male counterpart in order to bring about the desired national development, since education is the bedrock of every viable society

Patterns of Birth and Family Planning Acceptor Rates in Ghana: An Ecological Study

Despite a reported decline in Ghana‘s birth rate (BR), the pattern of ecological percent decrease in BR as corresponding to the percent increase in family planning acceptor rate (FPAR) in Ghana is not clear. This study explicitly explored and compared the pattern of birth and FPAR in Ghana from 2004-2015. National FPAR and BR data were retrieved from Ghana Health Service and World Bank. A timetrend descriptive analysis was performed via tableau software. Additionally, a segmented regression was applied to inferentially identify where statistically significant log-linear distinct segments exist in the trends. All segmented-related analysis was performed using joinpoint trend analysis software. Whereas, the highest decline in BR was observed from 2013-2015 (-1.4%), the highest increase in FPAR was rather observed from 2004-2008 (7.4%). Unexpectedly, from 2008-2013, a much higher decrease in FPAR (-5.8%) also yielded a moderate decline in BR (-0.7%). FPAR over the eleven years (2004-2015) increased by 1.1% whereas BR declined by -0.7%. BR in Ghana continues to be on a moderate declining trend. However, the decline was uninterrupted by an increase or decrease in FPAR. For a further decrease in Ghana‘s birth rate, a multifaceted approach is needed, not only focusing on increasing FPAR but also targeting adherence to FP control methods. Keywords: Birth rate, family planning, fertility rate, segmented regressionMalgré une baisse signalée du taux de natalité (BR) du Ghana, le schéma de la baisse écologique en pourcentage du BR correspondant à l'augmentation en pourcentage du taux d'accepteurs de la planification familiale (FPAR) au Ghana n'est pas clair. Cette étude a  explicitement exploré et comparé le modèle de naissance et le FPAR au Ghana de 2004 à 2015. Les données nationales FPAR et BR ont été récupérées auprès du Ghana Health Service et de la Banque mondiale. Une analyse descriptive des tendances temporelles a été réalisée via le logiciel de tableau. De plus, une régression segmentée a été appliquée pour identifier par inférence où des segments distincts log-linéaires statistiquement significatifs existent dans les tendances. Toutes les analyses liées aux segments ont été effectuées à l'aide du logiciel d'analyse des tendances Joinpoint. Alors que la plus forte baisse du BR a été observée de 2013 à 2015 (-1,4%), la plus forte augmentation du FPAR a plutôt été observée de 2004 à 2008 (7,4%). De façon inattendue, de 2008 à 2013, une baisse beaucoup plus élevée du FPAR (-5,8%) a également entraîné une baisse modérée du BR (-0,7%). Le FPAR sur les onze années (2004-2015) a augmenté de 1,1% tandis que le BR a diminué de -0,7%. BR au Ghana continue d'être sur une tendance à la baisse modérée. Cependant, la baisse n'a pas été interrompue par une augmentation ou une diminution du FPAR. Pour une nouvelle baisse du taux de natalité au Ghana, une approche à multiples facettes est nécessaire, non seulement en se concentrant sur l'augmentation du FPAR, mais aussi enciblant l'adhésion aux méthodes de contrôle de la FP. Mots-clés: Taux de natalité, planification familiale, taux de fécondité, régression segmenté

Problems of industrial fisheries development in the Cross River State

The industrial fisheries as opposed to artisanal fisheries in Cross River State, Nigeria, is discussed, considering the prospect of industrial fisheries in the State and identifying the major fish and shrimp resources within the coastal waters. Industrial fishing was introduced in 1973 when the state government invited a Japaneese company to carry out a joint exploratory shrimp fishing venture. The contributions made by the Seastate Seafoods Company, the Eyib's Nutritional Food and the Arawak Fishing Companies towards the increase in the number of fishing fleet in the state are noted

Increased susceptibility of erythrocyte membrane lipids to peroxidation in sickle cell disease

A medical research paper on sickle cell disease.Erythrocytes from normal subjects and from cases of sickle cell disease were exposed to hydrogen peroxide and the extent of membrane lipid peroxidation studied. Significantly increased peroxidation was observed in intact erythrocytes, isolated lipids from intact erythrocytes or their ghosts compared with normal controls. However, the extent of lipid peroxidation was less for isolated lipids of intact erythrocytes or their ghosts. This difference may be due to loss of factors enhancing peroxidation in intact erythrocytes in the extraction procedure. It is likely that damage to erythrocyte membranes caused by increased susceptibility to lipid peroxidation may be a factor in some of the haematological features of sickle cell disease

Analysis of Protein Sequences Using Time Frequency and Kolmogorov-Smirnov Methods

The plethora of genomic data currently available has resulted in a search for new algorithms and analysis techniques to interpret genomic data. In this two-fold study we explore techniques for locating critical amino acid residues in protein sequences and for estimating the similarity between proteins. We demonstrate the use of the Short-Time Fourier Transform and the Continuous Wavelet Transform together with amino acid hydrophobicity in locating important amino acid domains in proteins and also show that the Kolmogorov-Smirnov statistic can be used as a metric of protein similarity

Combating Corruption and Fraud for Sustainable Development: Beyond Audit Procedures and Rules

Fraud and corruption have devastating effects, especially on the poorest citizens of developing countries and have spread even to countries once considered “clean.” Public sector bribery, fraud, and other forms of corruption have become leading concerns for legislators around the globe, as the diversion of public funds undermines control of the public purse and robs public policies of resources to ensure sustainable development. This paper discusses the different theories and strategies adopted by fraudsters, identify the different methods of combating this “cancer” in developed and developing countries outside the external audit approaches, and evaluate the external audit approach. It proposes strategies that are beyond compliance to external audit procedures and rules that will empower the citizens (principal) to demand for and enforce accountability from the public officials (agents). Thus, allowing for sustainable development. It argues that for these strategies to work effectively, a change in audit emphasis and a given level of decentralization is required. The principles and strategies presented in this paper can be considered by donor agencies to countries where fraud and corruption interfere with good governance. Keywords: corruption and fraud, accountability, audit and governanc

IMPORTANT CUES AND ATTRIBUTES OF RICE AMONG CONSUMERS IN EKET, AKWA IBOM STATE, NIGERIA

Increasing the market share of Nigerian produced rice within the country without trade policy interference willrequire understanding rice attributes and cues which consumers prefer and their perception of rice from differentorigins. By eliciting consumers' ranking of attributes and cues through a survey, and applying the relativeimportance index post-survey, this study examines which attributes and cues are important to consumers. AFisher's exact test is further used to assess consumers' association of attributes and cues with rice of differentorigins –i.e., locally produced or imported. Results show that consumers are more interested in certain experienceattributes than cues and do not significantly associate their preferred attributes with rice produced in Nigeria.Despite the preference for experience attributes, informative cues, which minimize the cost of ignorance andhave the potential of boosting market shares were less important to consumers and significantly associated withimported rice. Addressing consumers' low regard for informative cues and improving on preferred attributes inlocally produced rice may foster its competitiveness without restrictive policies