Terrorism and Global Domestic Insurgency Nexus: A Case of Boko Haram Insurgency in Nigeria

The paper examines the link between Non-state armed Islamist groups’ terrorism and global domestic insurgency, using Nigeria as a case study. It adopts a combination of deprivation – frustration – aggression theory, social learning and social identity theories as its framework of analysis. The primary focus of inquiry is on secondary data, purposively sampled from books, journals articles, and reports of periodicals, internet and existing statistics. Qualitative research and secondary data analysis method were adopted. Using discourse, descriptive and explanatory techniques, the paper attempts to establish the relationship between Non-state armed Islamist groups’ support and Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria. Findings from the study show that Boko Haram’s insurgency is connected with the Non-state armed Islamist groups’ support, cooperation and collaboration. Moreover, Boko Haram insurgency is also a direct consequence of cumulative deprivation and frustration caused by inequality, economic deprivation, poverty, unemployment, corruption and bad governance in Nigeria. The paper concludes by suggesting that transitional joint military taskforce should be established with neighboring countries, while the issues of governance, socio-cultural and economic factors that cause poverty, inequality and deprivation should be addressed through good governance

Coulomb and quenching effects in small nanoparticle-based spasers

We study numerically the effect of mode mixing and direct dipole-dipole interactions between gain molecules on spasing in a small composite nanoparticles with a metallic core and a dye-doped dielectric shell. By combining Maxwell-Bloch equations with Green's function formalism, we calculate lasing frequency and threshold population inversion for various gain densities in the shell. We find that gain coupling to nonresonant plasmon modes has a negligible effect on spasing threshold. In contrast, the direct dipole-dipole coupling, by causing random shifts of gain molecules' excitation frequencies, hinders reaching the spasing threshold in small systems. We identify a region of parameter space in which spasing can occur considering these effects.Comment: 7 pages, 6 figure

Relationship of Proportion Independent Commissioners on Company Risk and Management Risk Committee as a Moderation

The objective of this paper is looking for correlation of both proportion independent commissioners and presence of a risk management committee (RMC) which influences company risk. Company risk, proxy in trade accounts receivable and inventories. Accounts receivable and inventories have a possibility of errors in valuation, which can increase financial reporting risk. The samples used manufacturing industries, various industrial sectors; automotive sub-sectors ten numbers that listing on IDX or Indonesia Stock Exchange based on the outcome of purposive sampling for 3 years of research namely 2015-2017. The data taken from financial annual report and logistic regression analysis. The outcome of the logistic regression describes that portion of independent commissioners are significantly definite related to company risk. RMC variable is proven to strengthen the influence of relation both of proportions independent commissioners on company risk. Keywords: Risk Management, Independent Commissioners, and Automotive Industry DOI: 10.7176/EJBM/11-21-10 Publication date:July 31st 201

Obstetric outcome in pregnancies with borderline versus normal amniotic fluid index

Background: Amniotic fluid is an indicator of placental function on the fetal development. It is regulated by several systems, including transmembraneous pathway, fetal production (fetal urine and lung fluid) and uptake (fetal swallowing), and the balance of fluid movement via osmotic gradients. The amniotic fluid index is the most commonly used method of measuring amniotic fluid. An AFI between 5 to 8 cms is borderline oligohydraminos. To compare the fetal and maternal outcome in pregnancies with borderline amniotic fluid index (5 to 8 cms) and normal AFI.Methods: This prospective cohort study was carried out on 94 pregnant patients attending the antenatal clinic of MES Medical College, Perinthalmanna between January 1st and December 31st 2016. Women with a singleton pregnancy in the third trimester were enrolled into the study. Of these 47 cases were in the normal AFI group and 47 cases in the borderline group. Adequate information was obtained from the patient’s medical record and the groups were compared on maternal and fetal complications.Results: The study results showed that more cases with borderline AFI had their non stress test to be nonreactive (59.6% versus 23.4%) and was associated with more fetal heart rate abnormalities (51% versus 17%). The number of meconium stained amniotic fluid (48.9% versus 19.1%) and caesarean deliveries (51.1% versus 21.2%) were also more among the borderline group.Conclusions: Findings indicated that there are more adverse fetal and maternal outcome among the borderline AFI group

Impact of Information Technology Security System on Patronage of Private Beaches in Eti-Osa Local Government of Lagos State

Tourism is a significant contributor to the economic growth and cultural enrichment of Lagos State, particularly in the Eti-Osa Local Government area. Private beaches play a crucial role in coastal tourism development, attracting millions of visitors each year for business, leisure, and recreational purposes. However, the area faces several challenges such as over-congestion during peak periods, insufficient infrastructural facilities, pollution, and occasional flooding, which can affect the safety and security of tourists. To address these issues and ensure a safe and secure environment for visitors, the integration of robust information technology security systems is essential. This study aims to examine the relationship between IT security measures and the patronage of private beaches by exploring the perceptions and experiences of beachgoers and operators. A total of 150 valid questionnaires were collected from respondents of the two major beaches in the area, representing an average number of customers over time. The data were analyzed using percentages and descriptive statistics. The study found that most respondents agreed that adequate security systems would strengthen the security of the beach and increase their patronage, leading to referrals to the destination. The study recommended the monitoring and transmission of information using gadgets like Closed Circuit Television (CCTV), Walkie Talkies, and Electric Security Alarms

The Effect of Corporate Governance Culture of Banks Financial Performance in Nigeria

This paper examines the effect of corporate governance culture of banks financial performance in Nigeria. The increased incidence of bank failure in the recent period generated the current literature on quality of bank assets and also emphasized good governance as means of achieving banks objectives. This study made use of secondary data obtained from the financial reports of nine (19) banks for a period of ten (10) years (2006- 2016). Data were analyzed using multiple regression analysis. Findings revealed that poor asset quality (defined as the ratio of non-performing loan to credit) and loan deposit ratios negatively affect financial performance and vice visa in the banking sector. It is recommended that banks must strive to be a model for the advanced world in any substantial form they desire which could be in form of developing unique governance strategy that would be reckoned with globally and quicken the pace of applying international accounting conventions in all its financial operations (i.e. IFRS). Keywords: Agency theory, Corporate Governance, Corporate Governance Culture, Financial Performance, Stakeholders theory

Private Sector Microcredit Programmes, Financial Inclusion and Sectoral Entrepreneurship: Evidence and Insights From Nigeria

Given the growing interest in microcredit operations, especially in the developing economies and the need to investigate the varied interrelationships between sectoral microcredit operations and economic growth of nations, this study examines the nature and direction of causal relationships that prevail between classified sectoral microcredit allocations and sectorally classified entrepreneurship contributions to Nigeria’s economic growth. Secondary data were sourced from Central Bank of Nigeria covering the period 1992 to 2011. Augmented Dickey-Fuller and Unit Root and the Standard Granger Causality techniques were employed in processing the data. The results of the study show that the time series variables are stationary. Out of the five classified sectors of economic activity – agriculture/forestry, other mining/quarrying, manufacturing/food processing, real estate/construction and transport/commerce, significant unidirectional causality only prevails in the other mining/quarrying sector with   causality running from contributions of other mining/quarrying in Nigeria’s GDP to microcredit allocations to that sector. The rest other sectors failed the causality test at 0.05 level, although transport/commerce sector records a near significance level of 0.055. The study concludes that: (i) In the sectors where microcredit operations have become significant and/or near significant, they only function to service rather than promote entrepreneurial activities, (ii) For majority of the sectors, entrepreneurship ventures are largely independent of microcredit institution’s operations. Consequently, the study recommends diversified product development and intensified marketing of microfinance service products on the part of the participating institutions. Further recommended is that the government should, through all legal and institutional means, strengthen the enforcement of credit contracts in general and microcredit operations in particular. This measure is justified in order to minimize the incidence of delinquent credit exposures, guarantee continued microcredit operations and long run survival of microcredit operating institutions in Nigeria. Key Words: Microcredits Allocation, Financial Inclusion, Sectoral Entrepreneurship

Development of titanium dioxide nanowire incorporated poly(vinylidene fluoride–trifluoroethylene) scaffolds for bone tissue engineering applications

Critical size bone defects that do not heal spontaneously are among the major reasons for the disability in majority of people with locomotor disabilities. Tissue engineering has become a promising approach for repairing such large tissue injuries including critical size bone defects. Three-dimension (3D) porous scaffolds based on piezoelectric polymers like poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene) (P(VDF-TrFE)) have received a lot of attention in bone tissue engineering due to their favorable osteogenic properties. Owing to the favourable redox properties, titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanostructures have gained a great deal of attention in bone tissue engineering. In this paper, tissue engineering scaffolds based on P(VDF-TrFE) loaded with TiO2 nanowires (TNW) were developed and evaluated for bone tissue engineering. Wet-chemical method was used for the synthesis of TNW. Obtained TNW were thoroughly characterized for the physicochemical and morphological properties using techniques such as X-Ray diffraction (XRD) analysis and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Electrospinning was used to produce TNW incorporated P(VDF-TrFE) scaffolds. Developed scaffolds were characterized by state of art techniques such as Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), XRD and Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analyses. TEM analysis revealed that the obtained TiO2 nanostructures possess nanofibrous morphology with an average diameter of 26 ± 4 nm. Results of characterization of nanocomposite scaffolds confirmed the effective loading of TNW in P(VDF-TrFE) matrix. Fabricated P(VDF-TrFE)/TNW scaffolds possessed good mechanical strength and cytocompatibility. Osteoblast like cells showed higher adhesion and proliferation on the nanocomposite scaffolds. This investigation revealed that the developed P(VDF-TrFE) scaffolds containing TNW can be used as potential scaffolds for bone tissue engineering applications.This work was supported by the French PIA project « Lorraine university d’excellence » reference ANR-15-IDEX-04-LUE. This article was also made possible by the NPRP9-144-3-021 grant funded by Qatar National Research Fund (a part of Qatar Foundation). The statements made here are the sole responsibility of the authors. Open Access funding was provided by the Qatar National Library