Investigating the dynamics of bank credit in Nigeria: The role of bank consolidation

This paper examines the dynamics of deposit money banks (DMB) credit and the role of consolidation in credit growth in Nigeria using vector error correction model and Granger causality test. The empirical investigation involved DMBs that have maintained a unique name and some market characteristics before and after the 2004 banking sector consolidation. Using quarterly data from 1999Q1 - 2013Q2 of the selected DMBs, the results show a positive relationship between post-consolidation credit supply growth and the real gross domestic product. The results also show that despite the onesided positive causality from credit supply to economic growth, the total contribution of the consolidated credit growth to real activity was not significant. The paper, therefore, recommends that in order to improve the credit channel of monetary policy transmission, policy makers should take into account how the banks react to such policies

Evaluation of Some Properties of Soils Affected by Diesel Oil Pollution in Uyo, Niger Delta Area, Nigeria

Soil pollution due to oil spill is a common problem in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. This necessitated the experiment to determine the effect of diesel oil pollution on some soil properties in Uyo within the Niger Delta region of Nigeria.  The experiment was conducted at the University of Uyo Teaching and Research Farm in 2009. It was laid out in a completely randomized design (CRD) in triplicates.  The size of the experimental plot was 60.7m2, sub-divided into three sub-plots each measuring 20.24m2. Each sub-plot was divided into five experimental units receiving the following treatments: 0 (control), 8, 11.5, 14.5 and 22.0 litres of diesel oil, which was converted into 0.0%, 1.39%, 2.50%, 3.45% and 5.06%. The results at two weeks after oil application (2WAOA) showed significant decrease in soil pH from  4.90 in the control  to 4.35 in 5.06% pollution levels resulting in soil reaction being rated as extremely acid in oil polluted soils compared to the control with soil/reaction being rated as very strongly acid. There was depletion in total nitrogen and basic cations such as Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+ and K+. at 2WAOA. Carbon/nitrogen ratio increased in all the treatments, with the highest pollution level (5.06%) having 114.33±1.41. Percent base saturation increased inconsistently across the treatments with the highest being 56.96±0.003% (for 2.50% pollution) and the lowest being 44.24±0.008% (for 5.06% pollution level). The results at 18WAOA showed varying degrees of increase in the soil pH. The control plot had the pH of 6.39±0.002 and the highest pollution level of 5.06% had the pH of 6.05±0.2. The soil reaction at 18 WAOA was rated slightly acid compared to extremely acid in 2WAOA. There were varying degrees of increase in organic carbon in all the treatments. Total nitrogen also increased at 18WAOA, the increase ranged from 50-80%. Carbon/Nitrogen ratio was significantly reduced (? < 0.05) across the treatments.  Basic cations and percent base saturation increased across the treatments at 18WAOA. Correlation between concentrations of diesel oil in the soil and some soil properties at 2WAOA and 18 WAOA showed that at 2 WAOA soil pH, total N and percent base saturation showed negative correlation, while organic carbon and carbon/nitrogen ratio showed positive correlation. At 18 WAOA, organic carbon and total N, showed positive correlation, while soil pH, carbon/nitrogen ratio and percent base saturation showed negative correlation. Keywords: Evaluation, Soil Properties, Oil polluted, Niger Delta Area, Nigeri

Tibial impacts and muscle activation during walking, jogging and running when performed overground, and on motorised and non-motorised treadmills.

Purpose To examine tibial acceleration and muscle activation during overground (OG), motorised treadmill (MT) and non-motorised treadmill conditions (NMT) when walking, jogging and running at matched velocities. Methods An accelerometer recorded acceleration at the mid-tibia and surface EMG electrodes recorded rectus femoris (RF), semitendinosus (ST), tibialis anterior (TA) and soleus (SL) muscle activation during OG, MT and NMT locomotion whilst walking, jogging and running. Results The NMT produced large reductions in tibial acceleration when compared with OG and MT conditions across walking, jogging and running conditions. RF EMG was small-moderately higher in the NMT condition when compared with the OG and MT conditions across walking, jogging and running conditions. ST EMG showed large and very large increases in the NMT when compared to OG and MT conditions during walking whilst SL EMG found large increases on the NMT when compared to OG and MT conditions during running. The NMT condition generated very large increases in step frequency when compared to OG and MT conditions during walking, with large and very large decreases during jogging and very large decreases during running. Conclusions The NMT generates large reductions in tibial acceleration, moderate to very large increases in muscular activation and large to very large decreases in cycle time when compared to OG and MT locomotion. Whilst this may decrease the osteogenic potential of NMT locomotion, there may be uses for NMTs during rehabilitation for lower limb injuries

Credit Risk Management in Nigerian Banks (2005 – 2015)

This study examines credit risk management in Nigerian banks. Content analysis approach was used to examine 15 banks over a ten years period. Findings from the study revealed that credit risk architecture significantly affects loan recovery of selected banks in Nigeria. Also GDP, NPL, interest rate and unemployment significantly affects the credit risk structure of banks in Nigeria. However inflation had insignificant effect on the credit risk structure of banks in Nigeria. We recommend that banks should enhance their credit risk architecture to always include collateral review and management, facility performance monitoring, quality reviews classification and risk portfolio reporting. Again, banks credit granting decision should be based on the result of risk assessment client’s solvency, available collateral, and transaction compliance with policies. Keywords: Credit risk, Credit structure, and Content analysis, Credit Risk Architecture

Effect of Branched and Straight Chained Alcohols on Performance of Crude oil Demulsifiers

Unwanted crude oil emulsions occur in many stages of oil production,  transportation, and processing. The huge cost resulting from corrosion of transport system and production facilities, because of the presence of water is a major challenge to the oil industry and the global economy. However, the addition of alcohols to demulsifiers has been reported to enhance their efficiency in removing water from emulsions. There is therefore the need to identify the best type of alcohols and optimize this process of addition.  Consequently in this work, the effect of different straight and branched chain alcohols on the performance enhancement of demulsifiers was investigated using four different crude oil emulsion samples. The results showed that straight alcohols performed better when compared to branched chain alcohols under all conditions of temperature. This may be due to their slow mobility particularly in stable emulsions.Keywords: Crude Oil, Emulsion, Emulsifiers, Demulsifiers, Alcohols

Suitability Evaluation of Pedons from Some Agricultural Communities on the Niger River Flood Plains in Bayelsa State, Nigeria

Farmers under modern agriculture are expected to have direct or indirect knowledge of soil chemical and physical characteristics as well as their suitability for intended uses. This, however, is lacking in Bayelsa State, hence this study examined the potentials and limitations of some lower Niger River plain soils of southern Nigeria and their suitability for maize production. Based on landform differences, landscape segments were separated into three mapping units per location while profile pits were dug in each unit and morphologically described. Horizon differentiation guided soil sample collection followed by laboratory analysis. Silt loam dominated soil texture while Ca dominated the exchange complex but exchangeable bases concentration was generally low. Organic C, total N and available P concentrations were closely related and low which was attributed to land clearing and frequent bush burning. Excessive rainfall and inadequate length of day were the most limiting factors under climatic factors while temperature and relative humidity were highly suitable. The ELM3 and TFN3 pedons flooded each year by Nun and Forcados Rivers, respectively, were marginally suitable S3f. Texturally, ELM1, ELM2 and TFN1 were highly suitable (S1) while ELM3, TFN2 and TFN3 were moderately suitable (S2). Due to insufficient length of dry days and wetness challenges owing to excessive rainfall, all pedons were placed under actually not suitable but potentially suitable (N1) class. Improvement measures recommended included planting early in the dry spell to avoid excessive wetness and making available more dry days as well as organic matter conservation, avoiding frequent land clearing and bush burning.&nbsp

The value of serum C reactive protein in the assessment of severity of HIV infection among children in a resource limited setting

Background: Human immuno-deficiency virus (HIV) infection has devastating impact especially on well-being of children. Management of HIV infected children in resource-limited countries poses significant difficulties. The role of C-reactive protein as a potentially useful/cost-effective tool for assessing severity of HIV infection is yet to be established. The relationship between serum C-reactive protein and severity of HIV infection among children aged 6 months to 12 years was evaluated.Methods: Authors recruited 85 children each on combined antiretrovirals for ≥3 months, and apparently healthy HIV-negative controls. Severity of HIV infection was assessed by classification into immunologic categories 1, 2, 3 and clinical categories N, A, B, C according to the Centre for Disease Control revised classification system. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used for serum CRP estimation. CD4 count was estimated by flow cytometry. Data analysis was with Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 20.Results: Response rate was 160 (94.1%) with mean age of participants being 8.50±3.36 years. Male to female ratio was 1.35:1. Lymphadenopathy was the commonest clinical feature in 26 (32.50%) participants, 59 (73.75%) participants were asymptomatic, and 52 (65.00%) were immunologic stage 1. Median serum CRP of HIV infected group and controls were 4.2 (1-13.9) mg/l and 0.5 (0.2-1.9) mg/l respectively. There was an association between Clinical and immunolological stages of infection and levels of serum CRP, p values = 0.001 and 0.002 respectively.Conclusions: The serum level of CRP may predict the severity of HIV infection among children

"Physical education", "health and physical education", "physical literacy" and "health literacy": Global nomenclature confusion.

The title “physical education” (PE) is the traditional taxonomy used to represent the education discipline. Health and physical education (HPE) is regarded to be an all-encompassing health-dimensional title that has been recently embraced by various education systems around the world. Hence, it can be argued that PE and HPE are often used interchangeably by educationalists, portraying a similar meaning and understanding. This can be regarded as internationally confusing, as historically PE and HPE have represented different and at times paradoxical discourses and ideologies. Amongst the ambiguity of which title to use, PE or HPE, new terms of branding such as “physical literacy” and “health literacy” have re/emerged. The purpose of this interpretivist study is to identify if associated terms used for the original PE label are a help or hindrance to practitioners? Participants were asked an open-ended question relating to PE nomenclatures. The data gathered were analysed and findings confirmed that practitioner confusion does exist. It is suggested that children are first and foremost “physically educated”; therefore a strong, clear and comprehensive grounding in quality PE is essential for teachers and students

Neurobehavioral and Immunohistochemical Assessment of the Cerebellum in Adult Male Albino Wistar Rats Following Cannabis Sativa Administration

Reports abound on the use and effects of Cannabis sativa. High consumption may result in schizophrenia. It put some consumers in a state of coma, while some become unconscious after its consumption. Besides, it restores emotional stability in others and fills some consumers with a sense of wellbeing. Epidemiologic data suggest that Cannabis sativa use is a serious public health problem because it is highly addictive and is associated with a variety of neurological complications. The cerebellum is implicated in locomotor  activity and is richly endowed with cannabinoid-1, CB1 receptors; there was the need to assess the microstructure of the cerebellum and to evaluate locomotor activity on an animal model  following consumption of Cannabis sativa via various routes of administration. Graded doses of various preparations of Cannabis sativa were administered daily for 28 days as follows: Group B: 0.41 mg/kg, 0.2 mg/kg, and 0.13 mg/kg body weight of soxtlet extract of Cannabis sativa via oral ingestion. Group C: 4grams, 2grams and 1grams of grounded dried leaves of Cannabis sativa via inhalation.  Group D: A mixture of 8grams, 4grams and 2 grams of grounded dried leaves of Cannabis sativa and 90grams of animal feed in each case. Group A served as the control while rats in Group E were given 1gm of 10% Tween 80 via oral ingestion. Before and after 28 days of administration of Cannabis sativa, the  open field maze and Morris water maze experiments on neurobehavioral were carried out. Data were expressed as means ± standard error of the mean (M±SEM) and subjected to one way analysis of variance (ANOVA) using PRIMER, EXE, version 3.01. Significant difference between means was assessed by Student-Newman-Keuls post hoc test. 95% level of significance (P = .05) was used for the statistical analysis; while Microsoft excel 2010 package was used for graphs and error bars.  The findings of this study thus suggest that the extract of Cannabis sativa obtained via soxtlet extraction technique has a mild and lesser psychoactive effect compared to other preparations of Cannabis sativa, thus presents a better method to be adopted in preparation of medical Cannabis. Keywords: Cannabis sativa. Cerebellum.  Albino  Wistar rat