The nutritive value of water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) and its utilisation in fish feed

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The Effects of Foreign Direct Investments on Oil Sands Industry Development in Canada

The apparent decline in conventional crude oil reserves creates concern about how to meet future global oil demand. The Canadian oil sands industry could help to fill the gap in projected world oil supply; however, the oil sands industry in Canada is operating below capacity because local investors lack the funds needed for sufficient development. Foreign direct investment could enhance the quick evolution of the oil sands industry in Canada. The purpose of this case study research was to explore the effects of foreign direct investment on the development of the oil sands industry in Canada by examining the case of a company in Alberta, Canada where foreign direct investment has occurred. The conceptual framework for this study is foreign direct investment and host country economic growth. A purposeful sampling method was used to select 15 professionals from the case study company and professionals familiar with the case from the oil sands industry and government agencies. The data collection methods involved the review of the case study company financial and production records and the use of face-to-face and telephone interviews. Collected data were analyzed using the thematic analysis and percentage analysis approaches. The participants acknowledged the effects of the oil sands sector in the development of the community in areas such as increased population, infrastructural and real estate development. The participants also viewed the industry as a major contributor to the revenue of the various levels of government and an employer of labor. The benefit of the study includes stimulating more interest to the oil sands industry from the government, investors and other scholars. The study could lead to social change, as it provides opportunities for increased revenue for the government, more jobs, improved infrastructural facilities, and improved standard of living

Comparative Characteristics of Integrin αDβ2 Binding to Native Fibrinogen and Fibrinogen Modified by DHA Oxidation During Inflammation

2-ω-carboxyethylpyrrole (CEP) is a product of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) oxidation, which forms covalent adducts with different proteins. CEP-modified proteins can interact with macrophage receptor, integrin αDβ2. This study aims to compare αDβ2 binding to its physiological ligand, fibrinogen, and CEP-modified fibrinogen, which is formed during inflammation. We hypothesize that modification of fibrinogen changes its ligand-binding properties to integrin αDβ2 which can affect macrophage migration and retention. Recombinant αD I-domain and αDβ2-transfected HEK293 cells were used for the experiments. Using biolayer interferometry, we found that the affinity of αD I-domain binding to fibrinogen-CEP was higher than fibrinogen and inhibited by the anti-CEP antibody. In agreement, αDβ2-transfected cells demonstrated stronger adhesion to fibrinogen-CEP and this adhesion was significantly inhibited by polyglutamic acid that mimics CEP-mediated binding. These findings suggest that αDβ2\u27s interaction with DHA-modified extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins significantly increases macrophage adhesion and may serve for macrophage retention during chronic inflammation

A Theological Analysis of Confessional-Centric Curriculum of Christian Religious Education: Towards an Inclusive Religious Pluralistic Centered Curriculum for Nigeria Colleges of Education

Desire to live in peace and unity despite the multi ethnic and multi religious composition of Nigeria, remain ideals that are constant in the nation’s Constitution. However, accruable benefits of a culturally and religiously pluralistic society have continued to elude Nigeria due to incessant religious violence arising from the mutual suspicion of Christians and Muslims in the country. Nevertheless, the nation’s National Policy on Education proposes the education sector as one of the platforms to inculcate a sense of unity and religious tolerance in the country. The policy considers the nation’s learning centers and religious courses offered in such institutions as media to attain the goals of peaceful co-existence and unity of all citizens. Unfortunately, this goal has remained unrealized. It is from this background that this dissertation conducts a theological analysis of the curriculum of Christian Religious Studies operative in Nigeria Colleges of Education and finds it defective by default for the purpose of facilitating religious harmony in the country. For one, the curriculum is mostly catechetical in content, and transmits a confessional orientation of religious studies across board from the training of CRS teachers, to their engagement in teaching at primary and secondary school levels. The project deploys Jacque Dupuis’ ‘inclusive religious pluralism’ in drafting a Christian religious studies curriculum for Nigeria Colleges of Education. The submission is made on the assumption that a robust community of religiously pluralistic society operates on respect for each other’s’ religious views, and avoidance of attempt at relegating adherents of other religions and their religious views to an inferior status

Urban Design and Urban Disasters: Lessons for Nigeria

Urban design has been described as being 'about the making of better places for people'; therefore the growing trend of natural and human-induced disasters should be areas of key concern to urban designers and other built environment professionals. Earthquakes, typhoons, landslides, flooding, explosions, and other disasters related to global climate change have increased in frequency and intensity. This paper explores the links between urban design and urban disasters - that is, disasters that directly or indirectly impact the urban realm. It identifies and attempts a categorization of disasters, with reference to their urban character. It reflects on a number of questions, and attempts to find answers to these from the literature and through lessons gleaned from the archival records of past urban disasters. The key questions include: What is the role urban design in urban disasters? Are there ways that urban designers can be trained to meet the increasing need for disaster-preparedness and disaster-mitigation? What lessons can urban designers learn from urban disasters? The conclusion is drawn to inform further research and policy-making in the context of a developing nation like Nigeria

Corporate social responsibility and firm performance of local and multinational firms in Penang Malaysia

This study examined the relationship between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and firm performance between the multinational and local companies in Penang, Malaysia. Corporate social responsibility (CSR) in this study is dimensionalised into the community development CSR, human resources CSR and environmental contribution CSR. The study used a convenience sampling technique to collect primary data from 113 multinational and local companies in Penang, through a self-administered survey questionnaire and which was analysed with statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 20 software. The findings show that community development CSR, human resources CSR and environmental contribution CSR have positive relationship with firm performance. In addition, the findings revealed that there is a significant difference between multinational companies and local companies in their practice of corporate social responsibilit

Pathological basis of symptoms and crises in sickle cell disorder: implications for counseling and psychotherapy

Sickle Cell Disorder (SCD) is a congenital hemoglobinopathy. There is little in literature regarding the psychological variables affecting individuals living with SCD and all of the significant people around them. There are also limited numbers of trained clinical psychologists and genetic counselors to cater for the psychotherapeutic needs of individuals living with SCD. Even among those who have been trained, only a few might have fully grasped the complexities of the disease pathology