ENTREPRENEURIAL MONEY MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND COMPETITIVE OUTCOMES OF SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES

This study aimed at determining the effect of entrepreneurial money management practices on competitive outcomes of small and medium enterprises. The specific objectives of the study were to; assess the entrepreneurial money management practices of small and medium enterprises, determine the competitive outcomes of small and medium enterprises and to determine the relationship between entrepreneurial money management practices and competitive outcomes of small and medium enterprises. The study used both descriptive, cross-sectional and correlation research designs. The target population was 324 SMEs trading in Trans Nzoia county out of which 179 were sampled to participate in this study. The sampling method used was stratified and simple random sampling. The research instruments reliability test had a Cronbach alpha value of 0.825 which was above the threshold. The study findings indicated that entrepreneurial money management practices among SMEs was moderately embraced affecting their competitive outcomes. The study results also indicated that competitive outcomes of SMEs were dismal affecting their graduation into large enterprises. It was also found that there existed a positive significant relationship between entrepreneurial money management practices and competitive outcomes of SMEs. The study concluded that for SMEs to realize their competitive outcomes of increasing their respective product portfolio and increased revenue, it’s imperative that they apply entrepreneurial money management practices of prioritized financing, budgeting and adequate working capital to graduate SMEs to large enterprises. The study recommended that SMEs to allocate the realized financial resource prudently to exploit opportunities available to them to remain competitive. The study also recommended that SMEs should prioritize on innovations to differentiate themselves in the overcrowded market by expanding their bundle of product portfolio and also the government to formulate workable SME policies which impart entrepreneurial money management practices to improve SME performance. Keywords: Entrepreneurial, Money Management Practices, Competitive Outcomes, Small  and Medium Enterprises

ROLE OF ENTREPRENEUR’S COMPETENCE ON GROWTH OF SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES

The study endeavored to determine the role of entrepreneur’s competence on growth of small and medium enterprises. The specific objectives of the study were to; establish entrepreneur’s competence small and medium enterprises in Bungoma County, examine the growth of small and medium enterprises in Bungoma county and to determine the relationship between entrepreneur’s competence and growth of small and medium enterprises. The study used a combination of descriptive, cross-sectional and correlation research designs and data was gathered using a self-administered questionnaire on 201 SMEs. Data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The resource-based theory was used to guide this research. The study findings indicated that the grand mean for entrepreneur’s competence was low with a mean of 2.23 with a SD of 0.50. The implications of the findings is that SMEs operators in Bungoma county lack the prerequisite entrepreneurial skills and knowledge  affecting their growth save for resource mobilization. It was also found that the grand mean for growth of SMEs was low with a mean of 1.96 and SD of 0.58. The implication of the findings was that SMEs  were performing dismally  affecting their graduation/transition  to the next higher level. The study results also found that there was a significant relationship between entrepreneur’s competence and growth of SMEs with p. value 0.000. The study concluded that SMEs should embrace relevant competence skills to enable them operated growth oriented enterprises which can graduate to higher levels thereby contributing to improved social and economic life of the operators and the nation at large. The study recommended that owner managers of SMEs to attend trainings on resource mobilization and innovation so as to acquire adequate resource mobilization and innovation skills and differentiate themselves in the market place to grow their enterprises. The study further recommended that government to put in place entrepreneurship policy to nurture business startups through mentorship, motivation and attitude change as they walk through entrepreneurship journey. Keywords: Entrepreneur’s Competence, Growth, Small and Medium Enterprise

Anaerobic Co-digestion of Dairy Manure with Canola Meal

There has been an increase of confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs) generating large amounts of manure. When this manure is not handled properly, it generates greenhouse gases (GHGs), odors and water pollution. Anaerobic digestion (AD) is touted as an acceptable approach to address manure management and associated environmental problems. Biogas production from manure alone is limited by low volumes of biogas yield, thus it has a poor economic reputation. Co-digestion of dairy manure with other agricultural wastes has emerged as a promising strategy to enhance the economic viability of AD. Among the agricultural wastes, canola meal (a by-product from extraction of oil from canola seed) was considered as a potential candidate for co-digestion with dairy manure. The purpose of this research was to investigate the suitability and appropriate ratios of canola meal for anaerobic co-digestion with dairy manure. In this study, various proportions of canola meal: dairy manure (100:0, 10:90, 40:60, 20:80, 0:100) by volume-basis were co-digested in 0.5 L batch bioreactors at a temperature of 35?1 ?c for 25 d. Two types of canola meal were used in the study; high oil content (HOC) and low oil content (LOC) canola meal with oil contents of 8.0% and 2.5%, respectively. For HOC, the total solids (TS) were high organic loading (HOL, 7.5?2% TS) and low organic loading (LOL, 4.5?2% TS). LOC trials were done at HOL only. In addition, the pretreatment of the canola meal with caustic solution and digestion at high temperature (60?2?C) were evaluated. Results from this study indicated that at HOL, canola meal is not a viable candidate for anaerobic co-digestion with manure as it lowers biogas production. Manure only digestion performed better than bioreactors augmented with canola meal. The specific methane yield was 352 L/kg VS for manure only and 84 L/kg VS for LOC canola meal only digestion. Nonetheless, at LOL, both 10% and 20% HOC canola meal resulted in increased specific methane of 535 L/kg VS and 445 L/kg VS, respectively. This is 78% and 48% higher than 300 L/kg VS obtained in manure only digestion. Hence, canola meal is beneficial in dairy manure co-digestion at LOL. At all organic loading levels, canola meal alone digestion had the lowest cumulative biogas production (0.9 L per 0.35 L bioreactor) and specific methane yield (83 L/kg VS). For HOL, the cumulative biogas yield and specific methane yield decreased as the canola meal ratio increased, while at LOL, the decrease was only noted for bioreactors with 40% canola meal. This is suspected to be caused by elevated levels of total volatile fatty acids (VF As) of more than 4000 mg/L. Two factors are suspected to impact the accumulation of VF As: the ratio of canola-to-manure in the bioreactor and the organic loading or oil content in the canola meal. In future it will be necessary to look into ways of overcoming the inhibition caused by elevated VF As

INFLUENCE OF ENTREPRENURIAL WORKING ENVIRONMENT ON EMPLOYEE PRODUCTIVITY AMONG SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES

The purpose of the study was to determine the influence of entrepreneurial   working environment on employee productivity among small and medium enterprises in Kitale town, Kenya. The specific objectives of the study were to; examine    entrepreneurial working environment, establish employee productivity   and to find out the relationship between entrepreneurial working environment and employee productivity among small and medium enterprises in Kitale town. The study used  both descriptive, cross-sectional and correlation research designs. A total of 14 SME  hotels  with  a total of 92 regular employees were sampled   to participate in the study. The sampling method used was census since the population was small. The research instruments reliability test  had a cronbatch’s alpha value of  0.884 which was above the threshold. The results indicated that SMEs hotels have not embraced entrepreneurial working environments in their work places which will allow employees to be motivated to exploit their potential and improve on productivity. The study results also showed that employee productivity is low implying that they may not be achieving their set targets which affects performance of  SMEs hotels. The study results also revealed that there was a significant relationship between entrepreneurial working environment and employee productivity. The study recommendations were;the SMEs hotels are facing stiff competition from world class hotels, to remain relevant  and in productive operations, they should embrace creation of entrepreneurial environment where their employees will feel motivated  and valued. The SMEs hotels  should consider recruiting entrepreneurial human resources who will easily utilize their unique skills and talents to benefit the enterprises they work with and the  county government of Trans Nzoia  and national government should draft a policy to provide incentives to  SMEs hotels while operating in  uncertain business environments.. Keywords: Entrepreneurial Environment, Productivity, Small and Medium Enterprises, Employee, Hote

Strategic planning in turbulent environment: A Conceptual View

The literature view forms a starting point for further research on the strategic planning in turbulent context. Strategic planning, for organisations to match the pace of changes in the business environment, remains a challenge and an area of discussion by researchers andpractitioners. This paper defines strategic planning and explores its importance over the years. There are differences on the content and the number of steps found in strategic planning, leaving readers with questions like: What are the primary steps in the strategic planning and how does the process flow? What literature is available on this field? Is strategic planning still relevant to organisations in a turbulent environment? In an attempt to address these questions,the authors analyse and discuss theories and empirical findings advanced by various researchers and the conceptual framework of strategic planning; outlining gaps likely to elicit further research interest.Keywords: strategic planning process, turbulent environment, organisations, strategy formulation and implementation, organisational performance

Vaginal microbiota in women with spontaneous preterm labor versus those with term labor in Kenya: a case control study

Background: Preterm birth is a global problem with about 12% of births in sub-Saharan Africa occurring before 37 weeks of gestation. Several studies have explored a potential association between vaginal microbiota and preterm birth, and some have found an association while others have not. We performed a study designed to determine whether there is an association with vaginal microbiota and/or placental microbiota and preterm birth in an African setting. Methods: Women presenting to the study hospital in labor with a gestational age of 26 to 36 weeks plus six days were prospectively enrolled in a study of the microbiota in preterm labor along with controls matched for age and parity. A vaginal sample was collected at the time of presentation to the hospital in active labor. In addition, a placental sample was collected when available. Libraries were constructed using PCR primers to amplify the V6/V7/V8 variable regions of the 16S rRNA gene, followed by sequencing with an Illumina MiSeq machine and analysis using QIIME2 2022.2. Results: Forty-nine women presenting with preterm labor and their controls were enrolled in the study of which 23 matched case–control pairs had sufficient sequence data for comparison. Lactobacillus was identified in all subjects, ranging in abundance from \u3c 1% to \u3e 99%, with Lactobacillus iners and Lactobacillus crispatus the most common species. Over half of the vaginal samples contained Gardnerella and/or Prevotella; both species were associated with preterm birth in previous studies. However, we found no significant difference in composition between mothers with preterm and those with full-term deliveries, with both groups showing roughly equal representation of different Lactobacillus species and dysbiosis-associated genera. Placental samples generally had poor DNA recovery, with a mix of probable sequencing artifacts, contamination, and bacteria acquired during passage through the birth canal. However, several placental samples showed strong evidence for the presence of Streptococcus species, which are known to infect the placenta. Conclusions: The current study showed no association of preterm birth with composition of the vaginal community. It does provide important information on the range of sequence types in African women and supports other data suggesting that women of African ancestry have an increased frequency of non-Lactobacillus types, but without evidence of associated adverse outcomes

Type 1 Diabetes and Cytomegalovirus Infection: Cytokine and T Lymphocytes Profile in Pointe Noire, Congo

Background: Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease characterized by the destruction of beta cells in the pancreatic islets of Langerhans. This study aimed to investigate the T lymphocyte pathway involved in cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in T1D patients in the context of. in Pointe Noire Method: We conducted an analytical case-control study over 6 months between June and November 2022. A total of 234 subjects were enrolled, including 68 (T1D +CMV+) cases, 62 (T1D +CMV-) cases, and 104 healthy subjects as the control group (healthy controls). The plasma concentrations of CD4, CD8, CD28, IL2, IL4, and IL10 were measured using ELISA. Linear regression analysis was performed to explore the correlation between T lymphocyte types (CD4, CD8, and CD28) and interleukins. Results: In the case group, the average age was 20.85±0.63 years for (T1D+CMV+) cases, 21.88±4.07 years for (DT1+CMV-) and 31.95±2.13 years for healthy controls. Men were the majority in the study, representing 55.38%, with a male-to-female ratio of 1:2. Plasma concentrations of different types of lymphocytes were higher in the case group compared to the controls CD4 (7,21±0,23 vs 5,71±3,27 vs 2,07±0,14; p<0,0001); CD8 (13,73±0,91 vs 10,01±1,88 vs 1,27±0,14 p <0,0001); CD28 (45.95±2.18 vs 14.39±1.99 vs 7.97±1.96; p<0,0001); IL2 (1048.0±43.47 vs 252.0±10.91 vs 52.91±23.95; p<0,0001); IL4 (474.3±18.45 vs 279.3±169.2 vs 194.9±136.2); IL10 (275.0±134.0 vs 206.0±84.77 vs 44.62±7.22; p <0,0001), and (CD4, CD8, CD28, IL2, IL4, and IL10) showed significant elevation in the case group compared to the controls. The study also revealed a direct correlation between CD4 and CD28. Conclusion: These findings suggest that CMV infection worsens T1D by promoting the increase in CD4, CD8, and CD28 lymphocytes as well as plasma concentrations of interleukins (IL2, IL4, and IL10), and no correlation was observed with CD8

Organic maize and bean farming enhances free-living nematode dynamics in sub-Saharan Africa

Published online: 03 Jan 2022Despite their important ecological roles for soil health and soil fertility, free-living nematodes (FLN) have received relatively limited research attention. The present study evaluated the community structure and diversity of FLN in a field setting. The experiments were conducted in on-farm and on-station field plots sown to maize (Zea mays) and beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) under four cropping practices. These farming systems included organic (compost and biopesticide use), conventional (synthetic fertilizer and pesticide applications), farmer practice (organic and synthetic amendments) and a control (non-amended plots). Nineteen genera of free living nematodes, belonging to bacterivores, fungivores, omnivores and predators were recorded. Among these, bacterivores (Cephalobidae and Rhabditidae) were the most dominant group in the organic systems when compared to the conventional and control systems. Farming systems influenced the abundance and diversity of free living nematodes, with the organic farming system having higher values of maturity, enrichment and structural indices than other farming systems. This would indicate greater stability in soil health and improved soil fertility. This implies that the organic farming systems play a key role in improving the biodiversity and population buildup of FLN, compared with other systems. Our study helps to improve our understanding of how farming systems influence soil biodynamics, while studies on the longer-term effects of organic and conventional farming systems on the build-up or reduction of free living nematodes for improved ecosystem services are needed

Invited review: Sustainability of the US dairy industry

The US dairy industry has realized tremendous improvements in efficiencies and milk production since the 1940s. During this time, farm and total cow numbers have decreased and average herd size has increased. This intensification, combined with the shift to a largely urban public, has resulted in increased scrutiny of the dairy industry by social and environmental movements and increased concern regarding the dairy industry's sustainability. In response to these concerns, a group of scientists specializing in animal welfare, nutrient management, greenhouse gas emissions, animal science, agronomy, agricultural engineering, microbiology, and economics undertook a critical review of the US dairy industry. Although the US dairy system was identified as having significant strengths, the consensus was that the current structure of the industry lacks the resilience to adapt to changing social and environmental landscapes. We identified several factors affecting the sustainability of the US dairy industry, including climate change, rapid scientific and technological innovation, globalization, integration of societal values, and multidisciplinary research initiatives. Specific challenges include the westward migration of milk production in the United States (which is at odds with projected reductions in precipitation and associated limitations in water availability for cattle and crops), and the growing divide between industry practices and public perceptions, resulting in less public trust. Addressing these issues will require improved alignment between industry practices and societal values, based upon leadership from within the industry and sustained engagement with other interested participants, including researchers, consumers, and the general public

Is there an association between placental inflammatory lesions and vaginal microbiota in preterm labour? A case control study

Background: Preterm birth continues to be a significant contributor to neonatal mortality and morbidity despite diverse unique interventional strategies. There is need for better understanding of differences and influences of the now characterized vaginal microbiome on terminal inflammatory effects in the uterine microenvironment in term and preterm labour to improve on current strategies. How the existence of a postulated placenta microbiome also affects this understanding should be considered. Objectives: The aim of this study was to explore the association between the maternal vaginal microbiota and placental inflammatory lesions in preterm labour and to determine the presence of a placenta microbiome. Methods: In this nested study, we enrolled 36 case and control placentas in a 1:1 ratio matched for age and parity from women delivering preterm between 26 to 36 weeks gestation. The profile of bacteria in the vaginal tract and placenta was characterized and compared through 16S rRNA sequencing. All histologic inflammatory lesions were graded and staged as per recommended latest consensus guidelines on reporting placental lesions. Results: Preterm placentas were associated with greater rates of inflammation (43.3%) compared to term placentas (23.3%). Acute histologic chorioamnionitis accounted for the greatest proportion with higher rates in preterm (33.3%) than term placentas (6.67%). Placenta microbial samples had a sequence read success rate of only 5.7% bearing similarity to oral, environmental and vaginal tract bacteria. Conclusion: (1) Acute histologic chorioamnionitis was associated with preterm labour. (2) There is lack of evidence to support the existence of a placenta microbiome