• International Journal of Knowledge Content Development & Technology
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.49-65
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• 2022

This study examined e-resources usage among polytechnic students in Southwest Nigeria. A descriptive research design was adopted for this study and the population consisted of polytechnic students from The Polytechnic, Ibadan and Federal Polytechnic, Ede. There were 9671 students from both polytechnics. A multi-stage sampling technique was employed with a sample fraction of 5% was drawn from the total number of students in each faculty amounting to 381. A structured questionnaire was the major instrument used for data collection and the questionnaire was pre-tested using Cronbach-alpha to determine the reliability co-efficient. Data obtained was analyzed using SPSS. The study found that the students from both polytechnics are aware of the e-resources and that the e-resources were mainly used for research, class assignment and to update knowledge. The problem such as epileptic power supply, poor internet connection and so on was identified. The study concluded that polytechnic students could benefit immensely from the enormous usage of e-resources particularly for teaching, learning and research. Based on the findings, recommendations were made.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.225-233
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• 2017

Chicken production remains the foremost endeavor in the Nigerian livestock industry. However, disease incidence has been a major constraint on the growth of this subsector. This study assessed health management practices and disease incidence in smallholder chicken production enterprise in Southwest Nigeria using data from a farm survey of 240 farmers selected using a multistage sampling technique from 5 of 6 states in Southwest Nigeria. The study showed that vaccination was given by 96.8% of the famers, 97.8% dewormed their chickens, and 92.9% disinfected the coops against diseases. However, 37% of the farmers regularly consulted veterinarians, 25.7% consulted them during disease outbreaks, and 34.2% occasionally consulted veterinarians. Infectious bursal disease (IBD), coccidiosis, and chronic respiratory disease (CRD) were the major diseases reported by 17.1%, 12.9%, and 7.1% of the farmers, respectively. Mortality rate was 37.8%, although this varied with disease. However, there was a growth of 157.4% in stock size between the establishment of the farms and the survey period.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.233-238
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• 2007

Intestinal helminths and schistosomiasis among school children were investigated in an urban and some rural communities of Ogun State, southwest Nigeria. Fecal samples of 1,059 subjects (524 males, 535 females) aged 3-18 years were examined using direct smear and brine concentration methods between June 2005 and November 2006. The pooled prevalence of infection was 66.2%. Ascaris lumbricoides showed the highest prevalence (53.4%) (P < 0.001) followed by hookworms (17.8%), Trichuris trichiura (10.4%), Taenia sp. (9.6%), Schistosoma mansoni (2.3%), Strongyloides stercoralis (0.7%), Schistosoma haematobium (0.6%), and Enterobius vermicularis (0.3%). The prevalences of A. lumbricoides, hookworms, Taenia sp., S. mansoni, and S. stercoralis in the urban centre were similar (P > 0.05) to those in the rural communities. The fertile and infertile egg ratios of A. lumbricoides in the urban centre and the rural communities were 13: 1 and 3.7: 1, respectively. Each helminth had similar prevalences among both genders (P > 0.05). The prevalence of A. lumbricoides increased significantly with age (P < 0.001). The commonest double infections were Ascaris and hookworms, while the commonest triple infections were Ascaris, hookworms, and Trichuris. The study demonstrates the need for urgent intervention programmes against intestinal helminthiases and schistosomiasis in the study area.

• Journal of Information Science Theory and Practice
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.49-63
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• 2016

The emergence of the World Wide Web (WWW) has changed the scholarly publishing system. Today, Open Access (OA) scholarly publishing offers free access and wide dissemination for research findings anytime and anywhere as an additional value for scholarly content. Despite the potentials of OA publishing, its adoption and use is still low.This paper determines factors influencing the adoption and use of OA publishing by academic staff in universities in Nigeria using an adapted Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use Technology (UTAUT). The study applies methodological triangulation by combining quantitative and qualitative approaches. The empirical data were collected from 317 academic staff in universities in southwest Nigeria. The questionnaire forms were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (IBM-SPSS) 19.0 version to generate descriptive statistics, Analysis of Variance, and Hierarchical Multiple Regression. Thematically, analysis also applies to the interviews. The results show that awareness, attitude, performance expectancy, Internet self-efficacy, and facilitating conditions significantly influenced the adoption and use of OA publishing. The study also reveals that due to lack of OA policy, most of the respondents did not know about OA. The findings further establish that all predictors and moderating variables jointly contributed 64.4% total variance towards the adoption and use of OA publishing. One of the implications of this study is that there is a need for adequate facilities to support adoption and use of OA publishing. The findings inform the proposed framework for improving and evaluating the adoption and use of OA publishing. The findings also have theoretical, societal, and methodological significance to all stakeholders.

• Mycobiology
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.215-217
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• 2009

Sixty four samples of cocoa beans replicated in quadruplicates were collected from five warehouses from southwest Nigeria and examined for fungal loads, ergosterol and eohratoxin A The levels of all the variables obtained were further used as indices for cocoa grading into food quality, FoQ (erg < 5 mg/kg; OTA < $1{\mu}g$/kg), feed quality, FeQ (erg = $5{\sim}10\;mg$/kg; OTA in the range of $1.1{\sim}3.11{\mu}g$/kg), Screen for mycotoxin, SFM (erg = $10{\sim}20\;mg$/kg; OTA from $3.12{\mu}g$/kg and above) with fuel quality, FuQ having erg > 20 mg/kg and OTA > $6.12{\mu}g$/kg. Using these ergosterol indices, 18.75% of the cocoa beans examined was classified with the FoQ, 18.75% with the FuQ while 31.25% was classified with both the FeQ and the SFM, respectively. In conclusion, ergosterol can be used as a rapid index to grade fermented, dried cocoa beans meant for export.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.147-156
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• 2013

Multiple use forestry is capable of generating income for forest based communities through Non-Timber forest products (NTFPs) which provide food, medicine, materials for domestic use and cash income for communities adjoining forest areas in developing countries. This study evaluates the economics of producing ginger rhizomes under teak canopy in a multiple land use system during 2007 and 2008 in even aged teak plantations in Ibadan and Ife, Nigeria. Twelve $6m^2$ sample plots were randomly selected in Completely Randomized Block Design within and outside the plantation. Average ginger rhizome of (50-60 g) were planted on the slightly tilled soil. NPK 15:15:15 was applied at 180 kg/ha on a split unit dose. ANOVA, Profitability, Benefit-Cost (B/C) ratio were used to analyze data. Results showed no significant differences between sites in ginger rhizome yield, (0.089 and 0.718, ${\rho}{\leq}0.05$) in 2007 and 2008 respectively. Average yield were higher outside teak canopy in both sites and treatments, (Ibadan -40.05 g>32.9 g, Ife -67.6 g>25.2 g and Ibadan -41.3 g>31.5 g, Ife -66.8 g>25.0 g) with and without NPK respectively. NPK had no effect on yields within teak plantation, (Ibadan -31.5<32.9 g, Ife -25 g<25.2 g). Ginger rhizome production was viable financially without inorganic fertilizer during second cropping season within and outside plantation (B/C=1.02, 1.09) respectively. Ginger could be raised profitably under teak canopy, however, studies on insolation requirement of ginger under teak canopy and other tree plantations are recommended.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.180-194
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• 2023

This study characterize, classify and evaluates the function of topography on spatial variability of some selected soil properties to assist in designing land management that support uniform agricultural production. The study site, an agricultural land, was part of the derived savanna zone in southwest Nigeria. Four soil profile pits each were established along two delineated toposequence and described following the FAO/UNESCO guidelines. Samples were collected from the identified genetic horizons. Properties of four soil series developed on different positions of the two delineated Toposequence viz upper, middle, lower slopes and valley bottom positions respectively were studied. The soil samples were analysed for selected physical and chemical properties and data generated were subjected to descriptive and inferential statistics. The results showed that soil colour, depth and texture varied in response to changes in slope position and drainage condition. The sand content ranged from 61 to 90% while the bulk density ranged between 1.06 g cm^-3 to 1.68 g cm^-3. The soils were neutral to very strongly acid with low total exchangeable bases. Available phosphorus value were low while the extractable micronutrient concentration varied from low to medium. Soils of Asejire and Iwo series mapped in the study area were classified as Typic isohyperthermic paleustult, Apomu series as Plinthic isohyperthermic paleustult and Jago series as Aquic psamment (USDA Soil Taxonomy). These soils were correlated as Lixisol, Plinthic Lixisol and Fluvisol (World Reference Based), respectively. Major agronomic constraints of the soils associations mapped in the study area were nutrient availability, nutrient retention, slope, drainage, texture, high bulk density and shallow depth. The study concluded that the soils were not homogenous, shows moderate spatial variation across the slope, had varying potentials for sustainable agricultural practices, and thus, the agronomic constraints should be carefully addressed and managed for precision agriculture.

• The Journal of Economics, Marketing and Management
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.7-23
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• 2015

Women are more disadvantaged than men in many fronts and this confines them to informal sector livelihood activities. Any attempt to improve women's economic status will require information on the organization, cost and returns to investment in the livelihood activities in which they predominate. This is the issue for this study which compared yield performance in artisanal fishing and fresh fish marketing. Primary data collected through multi-stage sampling method were analyzed using inferential statistics, budgeting and regression models. Empirical findings revealed that about 75.0% of fisher folks either had no formal education or acquired only primary school education while 50.0% of marketers had secondary school education. The budgeting model revealed fisher-folks' and marketers' annual net profit to be N2,882,626.00 and N640,227.00, respectively. Profit from fishing was significantly higher than that of fish marketing. At 53.2% for fishing and 40.3% for marketing, returns to investment was better in fishing. Regression model results showed the significant factors influencing returns to each livelihood strategy to include fishing ground, distance covered and years of experience. The major constraint faced by operators of both livelihoods groups was insufficient credit. Despite this, the livelihood strategies were shown to be profitable ventures which contributed to households' consumption expenditure. Organizing women informal sector operators into groups to enhance access to government support and formal credit are recommended for improving livelihood strategy performance.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.60 no.11
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• pp.28.1-28.6
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• 2018

Background: Preventing oxidative stress in heat stressed animals may be possible by increasing antioxidant defence via exogenous administration of antioxidant substrate and/or its precursors. The study aimed to investigate the effect of Soursop juice in mitigating oxidative stress induced by heat stress in rabbit. Methods: Sixty mixed breed rabbit bucks aged 12-18 months old with the average weight of $1826{\pm}8.35$ g/rabbit, randomly allotted to experimental treatments of four replicates each, in a completely randomized design during high-temperature humidity index in Ado Ekiti, Southwest Nigeria. Soursop juice (SSJ) was administered via oral drenched daily per kg body weight (BW), to designated treatment 1 to 5; $0.55mlkg^{-1}BW$ distilled water (control), $0.55mlkg^{-1}BW$ SSJ, $1.11mlkg^{-1}BW$ SSJ, $1.67mlkg^{-1}BW$ SSJ and $2.22mlkg^{-1}BW$ SSJ, respectively. Fastened blood samples were collected at days 28 and 56, and assay for serum protein, cholesterol, triglycerides, superoxide dismutase, catalase, reduced glutathione and lipid peroxidation using standard procedures. Result: Result revealed that SSJ demonstrated hypocholesterolemic effect in a dose-dependent manner throughout the study. Effect of chronic administration of SSJ to heat stressed rabbits proved beneficial, as SSJ reduced serum lipid peroxidation and enhanced antioxidant activity over 8 weeks. Conclusion: Administration of soursop juice to heat-stressed bucks at $2.22mlkg^{-1}BW$ offered optimum antioxidant defense against oxidative stress.