ROLE OF FUNCTIONAL METABOLITES IN HEAT STRESS RESPONSES OF SORGHUM BICOLOR (L) MOENCH., AN AGROFORESTRY COMPATIBLE CROP

Plant response to stress is critical and can be harnessed for greater yield increases in productive agriculture.Agriculture is susceptible to climate variability which impacts largely on food security by changing the balanceamong the key determinants of crops and yield. Enormous genetic diversity for stress tolerance such as HeatShock Protein (HSP) genes exist in this plant species. Recent advances in sequencing technologies have rapidlyunfolded the molecular genetic basis for heat stress responses in plants. In this regard, the role of heat-responsiveHSP70 genes in Sorghum bicolor is investigated. The genome sequence of S. bicolor, retrieved from Heat ShockProtein Information Resource (HSPIR), database was studied using bioinformatics tools. Sequence analysisrevealed 11 and 12 pairs of paralogous, for HSP70, indicating ancestral duplication and the crucial role in theexpansion of S. bicolor HSP gene family. Hydropathy pattern of proteins sequence suggested that the proteinmight belong to hydrolase or transferase class and the prediction of disorder region of HSP70. The benefitsderivable by integrating this species into Agri-silviculture due to its adaption tendencies under adverse climaticchanges are also highlighted

Socio-demographic determinants of adolescent fertility in Zambia

Background: Adolescent fertility is a major health concern because it is associated with higher morbidity and mortality for both the mother and child. In Zambia, the total fertility rate is very high. As a result, adolescent childbearing is also high to an extent that at the age of 19 years 59% of adolescent females have had births. In order to curb these alarming statistics, we need to highlight and understand the varied factors involved. As such, the purpose of this study was to identify the socio-demographic determinants of adolescent fertility in Zambia. Data Source and Methods: The analyses done at three levels were based on a sample of 1,598 which comprised of married and unmarried female adolescents aged 15-19 years extracted from Zambia Demographic and Health Survey, 2007 data set. Multivariate logistic regression model was applied to identify socio-demographic determinants of adolescent fertility. Results: Out of the 1,598 adolescent females, 30 percent of married and 3.7 percent of unmarried adolescents were pregnant. The major factors associated with adolescent fertility were age, age at first marriage, education, marital status, use of contraceptives and access to radio. The odds for increased adolescent fertility were significantly higher among adolescents aged 18-19 years who were married and used contraceptives. Adolescents with primary education, in employment and dwelling in the rural areas had higher likelihood of adolescent fertility than their counterparts. Conclusion: Adolescents getting married have fertility and reproductive health implications. Thus, policies should be put in place to increase the minimum age required for marriage, improve access to contraceptive information and services. Furthermore, family planning programs focusing on adolescents, especially those dwelling in the rural areas are needed to reduce adolescent fertility. In addition, sexually active adolescents should be encouraged to use contraceptives correctly and consistently. Lastly, female adolescents should be encouraged to attain secondary and higher education; this will lower the levels of adolescent fertility

Effect of Entrepreneurship policies on industrialization in Selected states in South-East, Nigeria

Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa and enormously endowed with huge mineral resources which if properly harnessed can transform the country to one of the most economically developed countries in the world. However, the formulation and implementation of development policies by successive governments in Nigeria, had not resulted in the industrialization of the country and attainment of economic development. Descriptive and inferential statistics were employed in analysis of data. The study found that entrepreneurship policies F(1, 133)=2.003, Adj.R2 = .007, P>0.05 have no significant effect on industrialization in Abia state. It also reveals that entrepreneurship policies F(1, 120)=.082, Adj. R2=-.008, P>0.05 have no significant effect on industrialization in Imo state. However, entrepreneurship policies F(1, 140)=30.062, Adj. R2 =.172, P<0.05 was found to have significant effect on industrialization in Anambra state. The study recommends among others that effective implementation and constant monitoring entrepreneurship to ensure attainment of industrialization. Keywords: Entrepreneurship policies, economic development, industrialization, SMEs DOI: 10.7176/JPID/52-06 Publication date: January 31st 202

Women Organizations Agenda Setting and Policy Outputs in The Education Sectors of Ghana And Liberia

Women organizations agenda setting ensure that women issues are given priority in the policy process leading policy outputs that address sectors that of special interest to women. The education sectors of countries are regarded as priority sector given that educates one of the key parameters for measuring human development in countries. Ghana and Liberia currently rank low in the global human development index. The study examined the effect of women organizations agenda setting on policy outputs in the education sectors of Ghana and Liberia. Survey design was adopted, while the population of study was women organizations in Ghana and Liberia. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The study found that women organizations agenda setting has joint significant positive effect F(1, 677)=8453.559, Adj. R2=0.962, p<0.05 on policy outputs in the education sectors in Ghana and Liberia. However, the effect is more positive in Liberia than in Ghana. Government of both countries need to adopt quota system that would ensure greater representation of women legislature and decision making roles to ensure improved impact of women agenda setting roles on policy outputs. Key words: women organizations, agenda setting, education sector, policy outputs DOI: 10.7176/PPAR/10-2-06 Publication date: February 29th 202

Organizational Climate and its Implication on Engagement of Staff: A Library Perspective

ABSTRACT Purpose: this work examined the place of OC in determining employees’ engagement in the libraries of publicly owned universities in Anambra State. Specifically, the study ascertained the nexus between Support Climate and Vigour in the studied institutions. Design/methodology/approach: survey research design was deployed for the study which was carried out in Anambra State, Nigeria. The population of the study consisted of 107 Library Staff in Nnamdi Azikiwe University and Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Anambra State. A complete enumeration method was deployed to capture all the opinions of the respondents. The data collection was done through a structured questionnaire, A total of 107 copies of the questionnaire was distributed, 97 was collected, but only 95 copies were used for the analysis Data analysis was done using simple regression, and hypothesis tested at a 5% level of significance. Findings: the result revealed that a positive relationship exists between Support Climate and Vigour (R = .982). It is indicated that a 96% change in Vigour is explained by changes in the Support Climate in the selected libraries in Anambra State, Nigeria (R-Square = .964; F-statistics = 2471.410 P-value \u3c 000). Originality/Value: This study concludes that for the Staff of libraries in the studied schools to perform their duty with vigour, they have to perceive that the institutions and their management truly cares, supports and shows concern for the employees. This is therefore, the value this study adds to literature and research as it concerns libraries in Anambra State, Nigeria

Impact of Fixed Medium-Term National Development Plans and Structural Adjustment Program on Aggregate Economic Activity in Nigeria

Nigeria adopted and implemented four fixed medium-term national development plans between 1960 and 1985 with a view to ultimately achieving optimum societal wellbeing. However, due to the economic problems of the 1980s, an extensive structural adjustment program (SAP) was put in place in 1986. Among other things, SAP was meant to restructure and diversify the Nigerian economy. This paper empirically analyzes the impact of the four plans and the structural adjustment program on aggregate economic activity in Nigeria. The study employs a growth equation that contains major macroeconomic variables such as credit to private sector, foreign direct investment and foreign trade as well as dummy variables that capture eras of the four fixed medium-term national development plans and the structural adjustment program. Contemporary econometric techniques of co integration and autoregressive modeling form part of the methodology for this study. The study is based on annual time series data from 1960 to 2009 obtained from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). The estimates of the study, among other things, reveal that the fixed medium-term national development plans in general had no significant impact on aggregate economic activity in Nigeria whereas the structural adjustment program had some significant positive impact on aggregate economic activity in the country. Thus there is need for optimum state planning in the country, especially if the planning is for fixed medium-term. In general, there is need for optimal management of the country’s economy. Keywords: Development planning, Econometrics, Structural adjustment program, Time series, Nigeria

Incidence and management of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides canker on Jatropha curcas L. in Ibadan, southwestern Nigeria

The Impact of fungal pathogens on man is enormous, stretching from infecting humans to destroying a third of all food crops annually thereby causing economic losses and impacting global poverty. As a result, fungal disease incidence was assessed under natural field infection and data were collected randomly from 12 months old jatropha seedlings with cankers. Colletotrichum spp. isolated from the diseased sampled were interacted with known fungi and bacteria biocontrol agents. The experiment was carried out on completely randomized design (CRD) in the laboratory. Data were analyzed using ANOVA and statistically different means were separated using LSD (p≤0.05). The dual culture interaction proved that all the BCA used, possessed antagonistic potential, and could serve best for prophylactic protection. Plant diseases may be suppressed by the activities of one or more plant-associated microbes hence keeping them in check below threshold levels. This will help to maintain the quality and abundance of food, thereby mitigating hunger. Negative environmental consequences caused by excessive use and misuse of agrochemicals, requires that healthier and costeffective approaches to disease management should be adopted. Keywords: Biodiesel; Agrochemicals; Biocontrol agent; Dual culture; Pathogen

Organizational climate and employee engagement: A commercial bank perspective in Southeast Nigeria

Purpose: This study aimed to ascertain the role organizational climate could play in galvanizing the employees of commercial banks in southeast Nigeria for better performance through exhibiting greater engagement to their jobs and organizations. Research methodology: Survey Research Design was employed for the study. The study population consisted of 988 employees of 50 randomly selected commercial banks in the region studied. Data were elicited through a structured questionnaire while the analysis was carried out using Simple Regression Analysis and hypothesis tested at a 5% level of significance. Results: The findings showed that there is a statistically significant relationship between Distributive Justice Climate and Job Satisfaction in Microfinance Banks in South-East Nigeria (r = .962; R-Square = .926; F = 5865.689; p-value<.05) and that there is a statistically significant relationship existing between Open Communication Climate and Positive Meaning in Microfinance Banks in South-East Nigeria (r = .982; R-Square = .965; F = 13000.304; p-value<.05). Limitations: Because of the concentration of commercial banks in Anambra state, most of the banks selected for the study through a random method were from Anambra State. This could affect the generalizability of the findings. Contribution: This study contributed to the already existing body of knowledge on Organizational Climate and Employee Engagement. The study also revealed empirical results of the relationship between the variables of the study, specifically in commercial banks in South-East Nigeria

Investigating the Determinants of Productivity Growth of The Small Scale Garment Industrial Cluster In Aba, Nigeria.

Classical agglomeration theory posits that production is facilitated when there is a clustering of economic activities. Although, the theory failed to explain which of the economic activity will lead to the formation of the cluster, the theory also failed to explain what determines productivity growth in such a cluster. Hence this study investigates the determinants of industrial cluster productivity growth in the production activity using the small scale garment industrial cluster in Aba, Nigeria. This study employed the questionnaire for its data collection from a sample of 300 small scale garment operators in Aba. The Multi-criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) and simple percentage statistics were used for the analysis. The study found the major determinants of productivity growth of the small scale garment industrial cluster in Aba to include; small market for the products, high competition from imported foreign goods, low quality of products, tax policy, multiplicity of taxes, levies and other rates, and high rate of infrastructural decay. Based on the findings of this study, we recommend that government should prioritize industrial cluster development in its development policies through improving her tax policies. Flexible trade regulations and infrastructural development should be embarked on for industrial sector productivity growth

Investigation of the Current-Voltage Characteristics of CdS/CdTe-Based Solar Cells Using Model Calculations

CdTe can be grown as n-type or p-type although the p-type can also be formed by converting n-CdTe to p-CdTe through the well known CdCl­2 treatment, which is an important step taken to improve the conversion efficiency of CdTe solar cells. However, the assumption by most researchers is that CdTe is always a p-type material and so can only form a p-n junction with its n-CdS counterpart. This is not always the case as n-n heterojunction + Schottky junction can be formed when an n-CdTe is involved, with group I metals such as Au and Cu as back metal contact. In this work, p-n junction model and Schottky junction model are presented. In order to verify the junction type formed by various CdS/CdTe-based solar cells reported in the literature, current-voltage data of these experimental results are simulated with the junction models using MATLAB programming platform and compared so as to find out the junction model that best describes each experimental result. Diode parameters such as ideality factor, barrier height, and series resistance were adjusted during the simulation. The junction models are found to be in good agreement with some of the experimental results