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The responsibility of the government of any economy cannot be overemphasized. Likewise, the resources generated and infrastructural development helps to boost the economic growth of any nation. There has been overdependency of Nigerian economy on the oil sector, the major source of revenue. However, this sector has experienced several challenges ranging from devaluation in naira and fall in prices of crude oil in the international market. This serves as a revelation for the Nigerian government to seek an additional source of income. To this end, the main aim of this paper is to examine the impact of total tax revenue on agricultural performance in Nigeria. The study uses Engel and Granger approach to cointegration to establish the long- and short-run behavior, it was found that a positive and significant relationship exists between revenue obtained in the agricultural sector, capital in agricultural sector proxy by loan and agricultural output, while employment and total tax generated are not significant in the short run. In the long run, employment, capital and total revenue are statistically significant with agricultural output, while tax is insignificant. The implication of the result showed that tax has not yielded desirable result in promoting the agricultural sector in Nigeria. To promote pro-poor growth, long-run employment and improve overall welfare, there is a need to incorporate benefit from tax into agricultural performance. The study recommends among others the need for a systemic approach, given a significant percentage of the total tax generated to boost the development of the agricultural sector.

Healthy soils provide the foundation for sustainable agriculture. However, soil health degradation has been a significant challenge for agricultural sustainability and environmental quality in water-limited environments, such as arid and semi-arid regions. Soils in these regions is often characterized by low soil organic matter (SOM), poor fertility, and low overall productivity, thus limiting the ability to build SOM. Soil health assessment frameworks developed for more productive, humid, temperate environments typically emphasize building SOM as a key to soil health and have identified the best management practices that are often difficult to implement in regions with water limitations. This study reviewed existing soil health assessment frameworks to assess their potential relevance for water-limited environments and highlights the need to develop a framework that links soil health with key ecosystem functions in dry climates. It also discusses management strategies for improving soil health, including tillage and residue management, organic amendments, and cropping system diversification and intensification. The assessment of indicators sensitive to water management practices could provide valuable information in designing soil health assessment frameworks for arid and semi-arid regions. The responses of soil health indicators are generally greater when multiple complementary soil health management practices are integrated, leading to the resilience and sustainability of agriculture in water-limited environments.

Background This study aims to compare the topical administration of bupivacaine hydrochloride and lidocaine hydrochloride with epinephrine in alleviating post-tonsillectomy pain. Post-tonsillectomy pain has remained a challenge to both patient and doctors, and local anaesthetic agents applied to the tonsillar fossae post-operatively look promising. Methods One hundred and twenty ASA I or II children aged 2–15 years of consenting parents undergoing adenoidectomy and/or tonsillectomy were enrolled in the study. This was a randomized double-blind study in which the children were allocated into either of two groups to receive 5 ml of 0.125% bupivacaine or equal volume of lidocaine plus 1:200,000 adrenaline-soaked swab applied directly on the tonsillar floor within the fossae and/or nasopharynx after haemostasis was secured for 5 min before discontinuation of anaesthesia. Results Patients in the bupivacaine group had better extubating condition ( p  = 0.0001). There was no difference in the time to eye opening in both groups ( p -value 0.316). Patients in the lidocaine group had a time to first analgesic request between 1 and 6 h, whereas in the bupivacaine group, about 25 patients (44% of the group) had a time to first analgesic request that exceeded 6 h (6–10 h). The only complication recorded in both groups following oral feeds was vomiting, and there was no difference in both groups ( p  = 0.968). Overall parental satisfaction was better with bupivacaine group ( p  = 0.00001). Conclusion Topical application of bupivacaine was associated with better extubation conditions and parental satisfaction when compared to topical lidocaine plus adrenaline while both demonstrated similar time to eye opening, analgesic request, haemodynamic parameters and incidence of complications.

Background: Insertion of laryngeal mask airway (LMA) with propofol in children may cause hypotension, laryngospasm and apnoea. Ketamine and fentanyl have been combined separately with propofol to prevent depression of cardiovascular system during LMA insertion, especially in paediatric patients. Ketamine-fentanyl and propofol-fentanyl combinations have analgesic effect, prevent coughing and apnoea and regarded as agents of choice for LMA insertions. However, the cardiovascular effects of the two admixtures for LMA insertions have not been fully assessed in children. We compared the haemodynamic effects of ketamine-fentanyl and propofol-fentanyl combinations for LMA insertion in paediatric patients who underwent herniotomy in our facility. Patients and Methods: This comparative study was conducted on 80 children aged 1-15 years, ASA physical Statuses I and II, who had herniotomy under general anaesthesia. The patients were randomised into two groups (A and B) of 40 patients each and LMA was inserted following administrations of the two different drug combinations. Patients in Group A received pre-mixed ketamine 2 mg/kg and fentanyl 2 μg/kg while the patients in Group B received pre-mixed propofol 2.5 mg/kg and fentanyl 2 μg/kg. The blood pressure and incidence of apnoea were determined in the two groups during and after the LMA insertion. Results: The haemodynamic states of the patients were not comparable statistically as the heart rate, systolic, diastolic and mean arterial blood pressure were significantly higher and stable in the ketamine-fentanyl group than the propofol-fentanyl group (P < 0.05). The incidence of apnoea was significantly lower in the ketamine-fentanyl group compared with propofol-fentanyl group (P = 0.045), but post-anaesthesia discharge scores were similar, with no significant difference in both groups (P = 0.241). Conclusion: The use of ketamine-fentanyl combination for LMA insertion in paediatric patients was associated with better haemodynamic changes and lower incidence of apnoea when compared with propofol-fentanyl combination.

Increasing depletion of material resources and concern for the environment has led to the great quest for degradable and environmentally sustainable material in various industries in recent years. Application of Waste Vegetable oils as a renewable and biodegradable binder material was explored in this work. Block samples were prepared with 10% liquid binder of vegetable oil, compacted with 75 impact blows and thermally cured in a conventional oven at temperature ranges of 160-200°C. This study explores the effectiveness of waste cooking oil as a novel binder in the production of building block, called WasteVege block. Important parameters such as optimum binder content, optimum curing temperature, and optimum curing age were established. The mechanical and physical properties of the product were examined, the result shows that compressive strength in ranges of 5 - 34 MPa was achieved, initial rate of absorption (IRA), water absorption, efflorescence, and wet/dry durability of the product exhibit acceptable values within the threshold of required standards.

This paper examined the effects of value relevance of financial statements on firms share price in Nigeria. In achieving the objectives of this research, the fact book from the Nigerian Stock Exchange Market and the audited financial statement of listed banks spanning the period 2010-2014 were used. Also, a total of 15 listed banks in the Nigerian stock exchange market were selected and analyzed for the study using the purposive sampling method. However, in analyzing the research hypotheses, the study adopted the use of both descriptive statistics and the use of Fixed Effects Panel data method of data analysis technique. Findings from the study showed that a significant positive relationship existed between earnings per share (EPS) and Last day share price (LDSP). The study recommends the need for banks in the country to improve on the quality of earnings reported, since it has a stronger ability to explaining share prices of firm. Keywords: value relevance, financial statements, Nigerian, earnings per share, last day share, price, book value per share, accounting information. JEL Classification: M41, G21

Soil degradation and limited water availability are major constraints to crop production in semi-arid regions. Researchers and policymakers have promoted cropping system intensification through cover cropping and compost application as promising strategies to enhance soil fertility, enhance water regulation, and overall agroecosystem resilience. However, their combined effects on nitrogen (N), soil water dynamics, soil health, and aggregate-associated carbon (C) and N storage in soil aggregates and overall soil health remain poorly understood in water-limited systems. A study was conducted to i) optimize soil inorganic N extraction methods for assessing plant-available N, ii) evaluate compost and cover crop impacts on soil water storage, evapotranspiration, and crop water productivity, iii) identify biological, biochemical, and physical indicators of soil health that are both management-sensitive and functionally linked to soil water functions across intensification strategies iv) quantify soil C&N storage across various aggregate classes and their linkages with sorghum yield.Cropping system intensification, which involves increasing the diversity, frequency, or biomass production of crops within a rotation, has been promoted as a strategy to sustainably improve productivity and resource use efficiency. This approach aims to enhance soil fertility, improve water regulation, and strengthen overall agroecosystem resilience without expanding cultivated land. Cover cropping, a key form of cropping system intensification, has emerged as a particularly promising strategy to build soil health in semiarid systems. Cover crop treatments at Clovis included pea (Pisum sativum L.), oat (Avena sativa L.), canola (Brassica napus L.), mixtures of pea + oat (POM), pea + canola (PCM), pea + oat + canola (POCM), a six-species mixture (SSM; pea + oat + canola + hairy vetch; Vicia villosa Roth + forage radish; Raphanus sativus L. + barley; Hordeum vulgare L.), and a no-cover crop (NCC). Compost was also evaluated as a complementary management practice, applied at 16.8 Mg ha⁻¹ or not applied (0 Mg ha⁻¹). As a rich source of organic matter and nutrients, compost has the potential to stimulate microbial activity, improve soil structure, and enhance water storage. Together, cropping system intensification and compost represent complementary approaches that, when integrated, strengthen soil health and water management in water-limited environments. Soil samples were collected during the summers of 2022–2024. In Chapter 3, the study further expanded to Akron, CO, where compost was applied at 22.9 Mg ha⁻¹ under two crop rotations: wheat/forage pea and wheat/fallow. This dual-site design allowed for evaluating the combined effects of compost and cropping system intensification across contrasting semiarid environments and management histories, thereby supporting the development of a soil health framework for water-limited environments.The first two objectives were focused on water and nitrogen use efficiency. In the first study, we compared the N extraction efficiency of five approaches: distilled water (DW) at room temperature (25 °C), and 1 M and 2 M KCl extractions conducted either cold (25 °C) or hot (100 °C for 4 h). Results showed that hot 1 M KCl extraction best captured compost-enhanced N availability, particularly during peak growing periods, extracting 25–440% more inorganic N than cold 1 M KCl in compost-amended soils. However, no difference was observed between cold and hot 1 M KCl extractions prior to compost application. Compost consistently increased inorganic N compared to no compost. The second objective was focused on the evaluation of three cover crop treatments (fallow, pea, and SSM) with and without compost in the sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) phase of a winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)–sorghum–fallow (WSF) rotation showed that compost increased soil water content and boosted sorghum yield by 22–29% compared to no compost, thereby improving CWP. The diverse mixture (SSM) conserved more water at sorghum harvest but depleted water earlier in the season due to greater demand, whereas pea and NCC showed smaller seasonal changes. Two years of observations and simulations with the Root Zone Water Quality Model 2 (RZWQM2) supported these findings, with the model reproducing field dynamics and achieving RMSE values of 0.02 to 0.05 cm³ cm⁻³ for soil water and 1.12 to 3.22 °C for soil temperature.The third and fourth objectives were focused on soil health assessment and their linkages with key ecosystem functions. For example, range of physical, chemical, and biological indicators of soil health was compared under varying cropping intensities and compost amendments at two semi-arid locations (Clovis, NM and Akron, CO) in the third objective. The results showed strong effects of compost on multiple soil properties. Compost application increased microbial abundance by 63–268%, particulate organic matter-C by 211%, mineral-associated organic matter-C by 63%, and enhanced labile C and inorganic N relative to no-compost. These effects were more pronounced at the long-term compost site. Cover cropping, particularly with diverse mixtures, modestly improved microbial activity and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi abundance, with stronger responses when combined with compost. While some indicators exhibited site-specific sensitivity, the most consistently responsive across both sites were potentially mineralizable C, total fatty acid methyl esters (FAME), and total labile N. Principal component analysis further identified FAME, total labile N, particulate organic matter-C, and saturated hydraulic conductivity as the minimum data set indicators for semi-arid environments. The fourth objective focused on soil aggregate dynamics and was evaluated across the full set of eight cover crop treatments (fallow, pea, oat, canola, POM, PCM, POCM, and SSM) with and without compost. Findings indicated that compost increased soil organic carbon (SOC) across all aggregate size classes, with 8–11% greater SOC in mineral-associated fractions, and shifted the distribution toward microaggregate and mineral fractions, promoting SOC stabilization, although soil organic nitrogen declined. Compost also modestly increased sorghum yield by 14% in 2023 and 4% in 2024, while cover crop effects were limited.Overall, this study demonstrated that compost is the primary driver of soil health improvements in semi-arid systems, consistently enhancing nutrient cycling, microbial activity, water retention, and SOC stabilization. Cover crops contributed modest, context-dependent benefits shaped by species composition and seasonal water use. Integrating compost with cropping system intensification offers a sustainable pathway to enhance soil functions, improve productivity, and strengthen the resilience of water-limited agroecosystems.

Studies in behavioral finance have shown that human behavior often diverges from the rationality assumed by economists, as their decisions can occasionally be swayed by their emotional and psychological states. Given this concern, the study examines psychological factors influencing individual decision-making in the South African financial market. A structured questionnaire was used in collecting data from 414 participants who are individual investors actively involved in trading in the Johannesburg stock exchange market with the application of the random sampling method. The main objective of this study is to explore the psychological variables or biases that determine the investment decision-making of individual investors. Furthermore, this paper investigates psychological factors such as Anchoring, Herding, Overconfidence and Representative biases in investment decision-making. Findings revealed that all the variables, overconfidence, herding, anchoring and representative heuristics have a relationship with each other but the only variable that influences the individual investment decision is the representative heuristic while less consideration is given to another variable. The results of this study would help financial advisors understand the high importance of psychological factors and help them integrate behavioral insights into investment strategies. This will in turn help them provide better services to their clients. It will also help individual investors to acknowledge and understand the psychological factors influencing investment decisions and how to take note of them to make better decisions. Policymakers can consider the implications of psychological biases on market stability.

Studies in behavioral finance have shown that human behavior often diverges from the rationality assumed by economists, as their decisions can occasionally be swayed by their emotional and psychological states. Given this concern, the study examines psychological factors influencing individual decision-making in the South African financial market. A structured questionnaire was used in collecting data from 414 participants who are individual investors actively involved in trading in the Johannesburg stock exchange market with the application of the random sampling method. The main objective of this study is to explore the psychological variables or biases that determine the investment decision-making of individual investors. Furthermore, this paper investigates psychological factors such as Anchoring, Herding, Overconfidence and Representative biases in investment decision-making. Findings revealed that all the variables, overconfidence, herding, anchoring and representative heuristics have a relationship with each other but the only variable that influences the individual investment decision is the representative heuristic while less consideration is given to another variable. The results of this study would help financial advisors understand the high importance of psychological factors and help them integrate behavioral insights into investment strategies. This will in turn help them provide better services to their clients. It will also help individual investors to acknowledge and understand the psychological factors influencing investment decisions and how to take note of them to make better decisions. Policymakers can consider the implications of psychological biases on market stability.

Oral interpreting in the setting of diverse languages and multicultural congregants is often understood as integrating the message's content to the receiver. Like any communication or campaign, preaching or sermon takes people's multiple contexts seriously. The one who provides the best insight into understanding \"the other,\" traditionally speaking, could be an interpreter in a multilingual context. Nonetheless, there are reflections, replications, and the loss of spiritual communication with sermonic translation and interpretive dialogue. Sometimes, the sermon the preacher delivers is only the one the congregation hears through the interpreter. In other occurrences, however, interpreting can lead not only to distorted messages but also to dissatisfied audiences and preachers being overshadowed by the pranks of the interpreter. Understanding the context of litotes and hyperbolism embedded in rhetoric and the features of the language, no matter how eloquent the preacher is, an understatement, overemphasis, or repetition of words by the interpreter can make or mar the sermon (speech). Using a qualitative methodology, this paper explores the divergences and conventional assumptions about preachers' interpreters as influenced by spirituality, culture, and language from an empirical and theoretical perspective. Biased translation and the basis of reality suppressing or devaluing spiritual/sacred communication are examined. The results indicate that the interpretation of the declaration of guilt, the history of the congregation, spirituality, attitudes, morals, customs, specific practices, the education of the interpreter, and the environment form intertwined interpreting and misinterpretation. The paper concludes by re-examining these qualities and rearticulating them into a preliminary theory for practice, distinguished from theory, which could enhance the development of more sustainable multilingual interpretation in South African Pentecostal churches.