bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Democracy and Perceived Public Confidence in The Judiciary: Roles of Socio-Economy and Gender
Authors: Okafor Chiedozie Okechukwu , Chienweze Uzochukwu Chukwuka , Abu Hassan Salawu , Umoh Nanji Rimdan 
Published: June 2020

The study investigated public perception of the judiciary as a fair plank of justice system in Nigeria democracy based on an analysis of the Enugu State Judiciary. Two hundred and sixteen (216) residents of Enugu State from 9 local government areas participated in the study. Participants comprised males and females categorized into 5 social groups - top civil servants above grade level 12, political office holders in the local government and the capital city; petti traders, the unemployed and the underemployed youths. Participants’ age ranged between 25 and 55 years with a mean age of 33.72 years. Data collection was aided by use of Judicial Perception Questionnaire (JPQ) developed by the researchers.Data analysis using two-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) indicate significant influence of political class on perception of judiciary as a fair plank of justice system in Nigeria, F(1,212) = 8.15, p<.05. The study revealed non-significant influence of gender and non-significant interaction of political class and gender on the perception of the judiciary as a fair plank of justice system in Nigeria.The results were discussed in terms of their implications for citizen’s attitude change and unbiased judicial reform in Enugu State and Nigeria in general.
Key words: Judiciary; Democracy; Public perception; corruption; Enugu State
Assessment of Adequacy, Availability and Extent of Utilization of Instructional Materials in the Teaching of Business Studies in Secondary Schools in Anambra State
Authors: Obidile Jacinta Ifeoma , Obi Oluchi Chinazor 
Published: June 2020

The need to improve the teaching and learning of Business Studies in secondary schools necessitated this study to assess the adequacy, availability and extent of utilization of instructional materials in the teaching and learning of Business Studies in secondary schools in Anambra State. Three research questions guided the study. The population of the study comprised 305 business studies teachers from 257 public secondary schools in Anambra State. Purposive and Cluster sampling were used to select 85 Secondary schools and 120 Business Studies teachers respectively. Instruments for data collection were standardized checklist and structure questionnaire. The checklist was used by the researchers to assess the adequacy of the instructional materials used in the teaching of business studies while the structured questionnaire was used to determine the availability and extent of utilization of instructional materials in the teaching of business studies. The questionnaire was validated by five experts with a reliability coefficient of 0.86. Data collected were analysed using Frequency, Percentage, Mean and Standard Deviation. Findings from the study revealed that instructional materials required in the teaching of Business Studies in secondary schools were not adequately provided. Also, that most of the instructional materials were available but not adequate and they were lowly utilized. Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended among others that government and philanthropists should support public secondary schools and made available, adequate number of the instructional materials needed for effective teaching and learning of business studies.
Key Words – assessment; adequacy; availability; utilization; instructional materials; business studies
Feminism and human rights in Utoh-Ezeajugh’s Our Wives Have Gone Mad Again and Femi Osofisan’s Yungba-Yungba and the Dance Contest
Authors: Ibanga Grace Itoro 
Published: June 2020

This paper examines the concept of feminism and human rights as captured in Tracie Utoh-Ezeajugh’s Our Wives Have Gone Mad Again and Femi Osofisan’s Yungba-Yungba and the Dance Contest. Feminism is a reaction by the womenfolk to societal misrepresentation whereby patriarchy classifies women as docile, passive, men-haters, witches, etc. Feminism is the clamouring of women’s rights on the platform of equality of sexes. It is an intellectual or political movement with a driving force for the recognition of the legal claims of women to their rights as are available in their societies; which are predominately enjoyed by men alone. Feminism purposes to investigate the nature of gender inequality. The term “gender” is an aspect of the collective unconscious of a complex human experience. It is an archetypal element that demands rituals, sex, aggression, social status gender affects power and authority. It is unsurprising; therefore, that patriarchy employs power and authority to dominate over women. This is because men believe they are the lords umpiring over the use of woman. And that is why feminism portrays women’s and men’s social functions, challenges, experience, interest and feminist politics in different fields of study as anthropology and sociology, communication, media studies, psychoanalysis, home economics, literature and education.
Keywords: Feminism, Human rights, Sexual objectification, Patriarchy, Womenfolk
Online self-disclosure among students of higher institutions of learning in Ibadan Metropolis, Nigeria
Authors: Egbokhare Olayinka Abimbola , Mobolaji Adeola Obafemi 
Published: June 2020

The popularity of social network sites has influenced communication behaviour in a variety of contexts. Thus, this study examined the online behaviour of social media users as regards self-disclosure, motivations and gratifications. The study adopted Social Penetration Theory by Irwin Altman and Dalmas Taylor and data were gathered through questionnaire from randomly selected 330 respondents and from purposively selected 16 respondents in two sessions of Focus GroupDiscussion (FGD) among the students of University of Ibadan and the Polytechnic Ibadan. Although some respondents agreed that relationship management (56.1%) and need for self-expression (60.3%) motivated them to self-disclose on Facebook and Instagram, most disagreed that reciprocity (65.0%), mutual self-disclosure (78.2%), social validation (66.3%) and show off (78.6%) motivated them. Also, most respondents agreed that they sought gratifications from intimate relationship (56.1%), killing boredom (55.4%), seeking people’s opinions (67.3%) and maintaining online conversation (58.0%). However, qualitative data revealed that most respondents were motivated by and also sought gratifications from many of the factors aforementioned for online self-disclosure. Therefore, this study recommended that social media users should be orientated on the proper use of social media as it is obvious that many of them lack the requisite online literacy knowledge; with this, social media users will make use of the platform without risking their privacy.
Keywords: Online self-disclosure, Facebook, Instagram, SPT, Social media users
Costumes as depiction of cultural identity in Pedro Agbonifo-Obaseki’s Idia
Authors: Eromosele Owens Patricia 
Published: June 2020

In Nigeria, costumes present interesting vistas for exploring cultural identity. They have social implications and at times are politically implicated. This may be attributed to Nigeria’s multi-cultural atmosphere that makes costumes a reflection of the cultural identity of the people. Nigerian performances in festivals and play productions provide a platform to study and appreciate this phenomenon. Using the participant observation and literary methods, this article interrogates how costumes can depict the cultural identity of a people. It appropriates the dynamics of costumes as depiction of indigenous identity, using a play production of Pedro Agbonifo-Obaseki’s Idia as directed by Israel Wekpe under the aegis of the Edo State Chapter of National Association of Nigerian Theatre Arts Practitioners (NANTAP) at the University of Benin in 2013. The study reveals that costume promotes the cultural worldview of the people it represents. The conclusion reached is that costumes in Nigeria must depart from such outside influences that undermine their ability to communicate indigenous identity.
Keywords: Costume, Cultural identity, Idia, Play production, Nonverbal communication
Aestheticism in visual symbols: catalysts for theatre patronage in contemporary play production
Authors: Orji Bernard Eze 
Published: June 2020

Theatre practice in Nigeria like the world over is in a state of constant flux due to the ever emerging new trends. New concepts, styles, forms are continuously on demand as a result of the insatiable human tastes in performance and coupled with a civilization in which technological advancement and human creativity are not left out in its wake. The emergence of the social media has come to add more pressure on the live theatre from where the film medium stopped. Nigerian theatre patrons and sponsors have little or nothing to do again at the theatre at least, not with mobile phones such as i-phones, i-pads, tabs, blackberry and android, serving as forms of entertainment on the go. Therefore, wooing and keeping the live theatre audience will take extra energy and this can only be achieved if the visual appeal trend is revolutionized with a quantum deployment of visual aesthetics. The beauty of play production is ensconced in visual symbolism since theatre communication makes use of two of the human senses principally – the visual and the aural. These senses are in the main, complementary and supportive, its functions are numerous to the point that a theatre performance will be close to being meaningless without their application– be it in its superfluity, moderateness or aesthetically immoderate. This article, therefore, articulates those visual symbols required by a director and his or her production team to capture and sustain his or her audience in a theatre. Having employed a qualitative research approach, the paper established that visual symbols such as lighting, scenery, costume, sound, and makeup are ready tools at the disposal of the director in achieving the visual aesthetics of a theatre production so as to keep his or her audience and continuously enjoy their patronage.
Keywords: Aesthetics, Visual Symbols, Contemporary Theatre Production, Theatre Director
Song texts as instruments of communication in “Alaga Iduro” and “Alaga Ijokoo” musical performances during engagement ceremonies
Authors: Oladipo Olufunmilola Temitayo 
Published: June 2020

Alaga (Iduro and Ijokoo) are masters of Yoruba traditional marriage ceremonies. Through various musical performances, they conduct Yoruba traditional marriage ceremonies. The article notates and examines song texts as instruments of communication in Alaga (Iduro and Ijoko) musical performances. During traditional ceremonies may be integrated with events, either to set the mood for actions or to provide an outlet for expressing the feelings they generate. Masters of marriage ceremonies, through songs reveal various stages of nuptial performances. The article concludes by analyzing the import of the Alaga song texts to Yoruba marriage rites.
Keywords: Song texts, Instruments of communication, Musical performances, Engagement ceremonies, Alaga
Issues in preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV: a liberal humanist reading of Song of a Goat
Authors: Mordi Dennis A. 
Published: June 2020

This article examines the issues in preventing mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV in rural communities in Nigeria. It assesses the cultural practices that propel mother-to-child-transmission (MTCT) vis-à -vis their implications on development. It uses J.P Clark’s play, Song of a Goat as a premise to argue that the dramatic characters in the play as well as traditional symbols and idiolects embody diverse tropes which touch on the components of PMTCT such as stigmatisation, gender inequality and discrimination of persons living with HIV. It further contends that the in/action of the dramatic characters in the play’s plot as well as some aspects of the thematic thrusts convey diverse perspectives which community workers should consider in designing, with participation of beneficiary communities, communication strategies for effective public health awareness campaign and PMTCT intervention programmes. The paper uses liberal humanism as a theoretical bastion to maintain that cultural practices are catalysts that are capable of increasing or reducing PMTCT across rural communities in Nigeria. It concludes that intervention workers should as well look in the direction of play-texts to understand the cultural dynamics at play in apprehending the extant realities in communities and working with the people to reflect on their contexts with a view to forging ways that can instigate behavioural change.
Keywords: PMTCT, Liberal humanism, Dramatic characters, HIV, Impotence, Infidelity
Dance and content issues: implications for contemporary indigenous dance in Nigeria
Authors: Abakporo Princewill C. 
Published: June 2020

Many traditional dances have witnessed downturn in patronage to occasion academic debates geared towards reviving interest in indigenous performances and live theatres in Nigeria. It is within this context that this article closely look at content issues in Nigerian indigenous dance from a diachronic perspective and observed that the seeming dwindling patronage for certain Nigerian indigenous dances is as a result of the inability of indigenous dance creators and performers to package indigenous dance products to reflect popular tastes in contemporary times. Also, it is observed that content issues in art are indicators that human society is constantly in a state of flux and that as humanity responds to these changing realities; art must do the same to remain relevant to the society within a particular period. Drawing on this, the study concludes that Nigerian indigenous dance space could be enlivened when its contents are at par with dominant societal realities and respond to prevailing societal conditions within the time of its creation while retaining its structures and form as a cultural document for the people. It recommended that the approach, packaging, and performance of indigenous dances from formalist and philosophical aesthetic consciousness will aid in the malleability of traditional dance contents to satisfy changing societal and audience needs.
Keywords: Traditional dance, Indigenous dance art, Nigeria Content issues, Patronage
High Aluminium Concentration and Soil Acid Saturation Reduce Germination, Emergence and Seedling Establishment of Groundnut
Authors: Shezi N. , Adjetey J.A. 
Published: June 2020

Studies on crop responses to soil acidity have largely neglected the germination and seedling establishment stages. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of soil acidity, including aluminium per se and acid saturation, on germination, emergence and establishment of groundnut seeds. Germination was carried out on groundnut cultivars Harts, Jasper and Rambo under 0, 50, 100 and 200 μM Al applied as Al2 (SO4)3.18H2O at pH between 4.2 and 4.5. Seedling emergence and establishment were examined in 0, 3 and 6 g of dolomitic lime per kg of soil, representing control, 50% lime requirement and 100% lime requirement, respectively. High Al concentration of 200 μM reduced germination, germination velocity index and seminal root length but had no influence on mean germination time of all groundnut cultivars. There were highly significant differences (P<0.001) in seedling emergence between non-limed and limed soils. Root length and mass were significantly (P<0.05) reduced at high soil acidity but the cultivar Rambo was least susceptible. We conclude that the germination, emergence and establishment stages were negatively affected by high Al levels and acid saturation but the cultivars showed different tolerance levels to high acid saturation, and proper liming can ameliorate the problems associated with these growth stages.
Key words: acid saturation, aluminium, establishment, peanuts, tolerance
On the Stochastic Optimal Control Model of the Investments of Defined Contribution (DC) Pension Funds
Authors: Latunde T. , Esan O.O. , Richard J.O. , Dare D.D. 
Published: June 2020

One of the major problems faced in the management of pension funds and plan is how to allocate and control the future flow of contribution likewise the proportion of portfolio value and investments in risky assets. In this work, optimal investment for a stochastic model of a Defined contribution (DC) is investigated such that the model design is analysed yielding an optimized expected utility of the members’ terminal wealth. An optimized solution is derived using the Hamilton Jacobi equation in solving the problem of investment strategy formulated by Constant absolute risk aversion (CARA). However, to consider the changes that occur in the dimension of optimal solutions in optimization problems, mostly, the optimal behaviour of parameters, the sensitivity analysis is considered. Thus, the analysis of the model is carried out herein by utilising the approach of the sensitivity analysis of parameters. This is carried out by using Maple software and varying the values of some model parameters such that the behaviour of each parameter relating to the pension funds invested in the risky assets is determined. The results are presented graphically and using tables thus discussed such that pension investors and stakeholders are advised.
Keywords: Stochastic; DC Pension funds; Sensitivity analysis; Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman equation; Optimal investment
Effect of Magnetic Field and Moringa Seed Powder on Wastewater Treatment
Authors: Yusuf K.O. , Obalowu R.O. , Abubakar A. 
Published: June 2020

This study was conducted to determine the effect of magnetic field (MF) and moringa seed powder (MSP) on wastewater treatment. Wastewater causes environmental and river pollution that are harmful to aquatic animals and toxic to man. Domestic wastewater was collected from the bathroom, University of Ilorin male hostel (Compound G). The wastewater was divided into four portions. First portion was allowed to flow through MF (100 mT) for 40, 60 and 80s. Second portion, 4 litres of the wastewater was poured into 5 litres capacity containers and 100, 150 and 200 mg/L of MSP was added to each container with 2 replicates. Third portion, 100, 150 and 200 mg/L of MSP was added to the wastewater after the wastewater was passed through MF for 40, 60 and 80 s and the fourth portion was the control experiment. Physical, chemical and bacteriological properties of the wastewater were determined after 2 hours. The range of reduction in turbidity for MSP, MF, combination of MSP and MF compared with the control experiment were 3.08-18.46, 9.00-23.08 and 20.03-23.08%, respectively. Reductions of total coliform were 84.21-88.42%, 36.84-47.37% and 75.26-87.89%. The range in reduction ammonia nitrate for MSP, MF, combination of MSP and MF compared with control experiment were 2.96-9.63, 0.00-1.48 and 6.67-8.89%. The values of BOD were 0.82-7.14, 0.82-2.45 and 2.24-8.37%. The results indicated that combination of MF and MSP reduced physicochemical and bacteriological properties of the wastewater. Combination of MSP and MF is recommended for treating wastewater before discharging into rivers.
Keywords: wastewater, wastewater treatment, moringa, magnetized wastewater, water pollution
Extracellular Calcium and Induction of Uterine Muscle Contraction by Aqueous Ethanolic Leaf Extract of <I>Mucuna pruriens</I>
Authors: Francis B. , Uchendu C.N. 
Published: June 2020

Calcium (Ca2+) serves as an essential signaling molecule in biological systems, regulating a wide range of cellular processes of which uterine smooth muscle contraction is among. The present study was designed to evaluate the involvement of Ca2+ on isolated uterine muscle contraction induced by aqueous ethanolic leaf extract of Mucuna pruriens (M. pruriens). Uterine muscle contraction induced by the extract was concentration-dependent and was completely abolished (100%; P<0.05) in nominally Ca2+ -free physiological salt solution and in solutions containing (EGTA 1.5 mmol), lanthanium chloride (1.5 and 3 mmol), caffeine (3and 4.4 mmol) and verapamil (0.007-0.14 μmol). It is concluded that the inability of the extract to produce contractions in Ca2+ -free media, indicates that it lacks the ability to mobilize calcium from intracellular storage sites. Hence, its uterine stimulatory property is therefore solely dependent on extracellular Ca2+.
Keywords: Calcium, Mucuna pruriens, Uterus, Contraction.
Assessment of Cardiovascular Changes among Indoor and Outdoor Cleaners in a Tertiary Institution in Delta State, South-South Nigeria
Authors: Ovuakporaye S.I. , Ojieh A.E. , Okumagba M.T. 
Published: June 2020

This study is aimed at assessing cardiovascular changes amongst indoor and outdoor cleaners in Delta State University, Abraka. A total of one hundred (100) cleaners were randomly selected for the study, comprising of fifty (50) indoor and fifty (50) outdoor cleaners. Data were collected and the digital sphygmomanometerwas used to measure blood pressure and pulse rate of subjects. Results obtained ranged from 93/73mmHg – 177/102mmHg, 62 – 102beats/min and 85/50- 139/90mmHg, 60- 107beats/min for indoor and outdoor cleaners respectively. The result showed that the mean blood pressure was higher in indoor cleaner than outdoor cleaners and the mean pulse rate of outdoor cleaners was higher than that of indoor. Also, age was positively correlated with pulse rate and systolic blood pressure while the duration of work per day was correlated negatively with blood pressure and pulse rate. The study has established that blood pressure was higher among indoor cleaner than outdoor cleaner, while pulse rate was higher among outdoor cleaner than indoor cleaners. The study has also strengthened the need for cleaners to put on protective devices to reduce exposure to air pollution and encourage cleaners to undergo regular medical check.
Keywords: Assessment, cardiovascular changes, indoor and outdoor cleaners
Evaluation of Antimicrobial Efficacy of Ethanol Extracts of Fresh <i>Citrus sinensis</i> (Sweet Orange) Seeds against Selected Bacterial Strains
Authors: Oikeh E.I. , Oviasogie F.E. , Omoregie E.S. 
Published: June 2020

The antibacterial activities of fresh Citrus sinensis seed oil and non-oil extract are investigated in this study. Gram positive (Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis) and Gram negative (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp.) bacterial strains are used in this study and antibacterial activity is estimated using the agar well diffusion method. Zones of inhibition were measured and the minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bacteriostatic concentrations were determined. The results show that the non-oil extract had better antibacterial activities against Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis and Escherichia coli compared to the oil extract (zones of inhibition at 200 μg/ml of 12 mm, 8 mm and 2 mm respectively for the nonoil extract; 4 mm, 6 mm, 0 mm respectively for the seed oil). The seed oil however had better antibacterial activity compared to the non-oil extract in Salmonella spp. (zones of inhibition at 200 μg/ml of 8 mm for the seed oil compared to 4 mm for the non-oil extract). Pseudomonas aeruginosa showed similar susceptibility to both extracts at both concentrations studied (zones of inhibition of 4 mm and 2 mm for both extracts at 200 μg/ml and 100 200 μg/ml respectively). Minimum inhibitory concentrations ranged from 50 – 100 μg/ml while minimum bacteriostatic concentrations ranged from 100 – 200 μg/ml. We conclude from our findings that both extracts hold promise in the development of antimicrobial therapeutics.
Keywords: Citrus sinensis, Antibacterial, minimum inhibitory concentration, minimum bacteriostatic concentration