Effect of Investment Diversification in Real Estate on the Financial Performance of Retirement Benefits Schemes in Kenya

Purpose: Prudence investment calls for investment diversification so as to subvert the tendon of subpar performances. The study investigated the effect of investment diversification in real estate on the financial performance of the retirement benefits schemes in Kenya. The study further investigated the moderating effect of the foreign exchange rate on the relationship between the independent and the dependent variable. Methodology: The study embraced a descriptive research design and the study population constituted of 87 retirement benefits schemes. The stratified random sampling technique used resulted into having 72 units of analysis. Primary and secondary quantitative data were employed in this study. The primary data was collected using questionnaires, whereas the secondary data was collected via data observation schedules. Data analysis was through the regression model enshrined in the statistical package for social sciences version 20. Findings: The hypothesis testing led to the rejection of H01, and H02. The rejection H01 confirmed that investment diversification in real estate has a significant positive effect on the financial performance of the retirement benefits schemes in Kenya. The rejection of H02 confirmed that foreign exchange rate has a significant positive moderating effect on the relationship between investment diversification in real estate and the financial performance of the retirement benefits schemes in Kenya. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The study supported the Modern Portfolio Theory (MPT) which advocates for investors to build optimal investment portfolios out of the risky assets at their disposal through diversification so as to arrive at an optimal investment portfolio. The concept of investment diversification is essential since it presents investors with an opportunity of not losing everything, since when one asset within their portfolio fails, the loss may be borne by the other assets within the same investment portfolio which will have posted positive returns on investment. The study recommends that the retirement benefits authority should devise policies which support investment diversification in the retirement benefits schemes

CHEMICAL COMPOSITION, EVALUATION OF RADICAL SCAVENGING AND ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITIES OF ESSENTIAL OIL LEAVES OF MENTHA LONGIFOLIA (L.) HUDSON SUBSP. SCHIMPERI (BRIQ.) BRIQ. CULTIVATED IN ADEN GOVERNMENT, YEMEN

شمل هذا البحث دراسة التركيب الكيميائي والأنشطة المنظفة للجذور الحرة والمضادة للبكتيريا في الزيت العطري المستخرج من أوراق نبات النعناع (subsp. schimperi. Mentha longifolia (Briq.) Briq (L.) Hudson) المزروع في محافظة عدن- اليمن. كشف تحليل الغاز الكروماتوغرافيا/مطياف الكتلة للزيت العطري المستخلص بالتقطير المائي عن ثمانية عشر مركبًا تمثل 100% من إجمالي الزيت، وكانت المكونات الرئيسية المكتشفة هي بوليجون (46.3624%) وأوكاليبتول (10.5653%) ومنثون (9.5726%). أشار تحديد إجمالي الفينولات والفلافونويدات إلى محتوى 11.653 مجم GAE / جم و 12.310 مجم QE / جم على التوالي. أظهر النشاط المضاد للأكسدة الذي تم إجراؤه باستخدام جذور DDPH بأن تركيز العينة اللازم لتثبيط 50% من جذور DPPH كان 28.3837 ميكروجرام / مل= IC50، ممَّ يشير إلى نشاط قوي مضاد للأكسدة. فيما يتعلق بالنشاط المضاد للبكتيريا، فقد أظهر الزيت العطري نشاطًا واسع النطاق مضادًا للبكتيريا يتراوح بين المتوسط إلى القوي ضد أربع سلالات بكتيرية تم اختبارها هي: Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213 و Enterococcus faecalis  ATCC 29212  و Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 وPseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853 . كانت Staphylococcus. aureus هي السلالة الأكثر حساسية للزيت العطري ولها أكبر منطقة تثبيط (25 ± 1). يمكن القول أن النوع المزروع من نبات Mentha longifolia (L.) Hudson, subsp. Schimperi، يحتاج لمزيد من الدراسات لتطوير المضادات الحيوية والمواد الحافظة الغذائية.This is the first report on the chemical composition, radical scavenging and antibacterial activities of essential oil obtained from the leaves of cultivated Mentha longifolia (L.) Hudson, subs. schimperi (Briq.) Briq., in Aden-Yemen. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis of the hydro-distillated essential oil revealed eighteen compounds representing 100 % of total oil. The main components detected were pulegone (46.3624%), eucalyptol (10.5653%), and menthone (9.5726%). Determination of the total content of phenols and flavonoids revealed the presence of 11.653 mg GAE /g and 12.310 mg QE/g, respectively. The antioxidant activity performed using DDPH radical showed that the sample concentration necessary to inhibit 50% of DPPH radicals (IC50) was 28.3837 μg/mL, indicating a strong antioxidant activity. Regarding the antibacterial activity, the essential oil showed moderate-to-strong broad-spectrum antibacterial activity against the four tested bacterial strains (Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213, Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853). S. aureus was the most sensitive strain to the essential oil with the largest inhibition zone (25±1). Cultivated Mentha longifolia (L.) Hudson, subs. schimperi may be a valuable candidate for further studies for the development of antibiotics and food preservatives

Factors associated with signs of temporomandibular pain : an 11-year-follow-up study on Finnish adults

AbstractBackground: Pain in the temporomandibular region is a main complaint causing disability and distress among temporomandibular disorders sufferers.Objectives: The aim of the study was, over an 11-year follow-up on Finnish adult population, to investigate the prevalence of clinically assessed pain-related temporomandibular disorder (TMD) signs, i.e. temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and masticatory muscles (MM) pain on palpation, and their association with sociodemographic background and denture status.Methods: The data were based on the nationally representative Finnish Health 2000 and Health 2011 Surveys (BRIF8901). The sample comprised 1210 adults who underwent clinical oral examinations including TMD signs assessment. Statistical evaluations included chi-square tests and logistic regressions.Results: The prevalence of palpatory MM pain decreased from 9.5% at baseline to 4.6% in the follow-up. Cross-sectionally, presence of palpatory MM pain significantly associated with gender (p Conclusion: Palpatory MM pain is relatively prevalent in adults, yet with a favourable prognosis. Women and people with low education are more susceptible groups. Previous experience of palpatory MM pain increases the risk of exhibiting it later in life.Abstract Background: Pain in the temporomandibular region is a main complaint causing disability and distress among temporomandibular disorders sufferers. Objectives: The aim of the study was, over an 11-year follow-up on Finnish adult population, to investigate the prevalence of clinically assessed pain-related temporomandibular disorder (TMD) signs, i.e. temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and masticatory muscles (MM) pain on palpation, and their association with sociodemographic background and denture status. Methods: The data were based on the nationally representative Finnish Health 2000 and Health 2011 Surveys (BRIF8901). The sample comprised 1210 adults who underwent clinical oral examinations including TMD signs assessment. Statistical evaluations included chi-square tests and logistic regressions. Results: The prevalence of palpatory MM pain decreased from 9.5% at baseline to 4.6% in the follow-up. Cross-sectionally, presence of palpatory MM pain significantly associated with gender (p < .001, p = .002) and educational level (p < .001, p = .001) in both years, and with age (p = .006) and denture status (p = .022) at baseline. The prevalence of palpatory TMJ pain increased from 2.1% at baseline to 3.5% in the follow-up. Presence of palpatory TMJ pain significantly associated with gender in both years (p = .012, p = .032). Female gender, lower education and palpatory MM pain at baseline predicted palpatory MM pain in the follow-up. Conclusion: Palpatory MM pain is relatively prevalent in adults, yet with a favourable prognosis. Women and people with low education are more susceptible groups. Previous experience of palpatory MM pain increases the risk of exhibiting it later in life

Low-grade inflammation as a potential mediator between depressive symptoms and temporomandibular pain : an 11-year follow-up study on Finnish adults

AbstractBackground: Low-grade inflammation and depressiveness have been associated with chronic pain conditions.Objective: To examine whether low-grade inflammation mediates the association between depressive symptoms and temporomandibular (TM) pain in Finnish adults based on the Health 2000/2011 Surveys (BRIF8901).Methods: The sample comprised subjects who underwent clinical TM pain examination (pain on palpation of the masticatory muscles and temporomandibular joints) in 2000 and 2011 and responded to questions on TM pain symptoms in 2011. The serum level of hs-CRP was obtained in both years, and depressiveness was assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory-21 (BDI-21) in 2000 and BDI-13 in 2011. Four subgroups were formed based on the presence of TM pain: No pain, pain in 2000-only, pain in the 2011-only, and pain in both-years. Analyses included Rao Scott’s chi-square test cross-sectionally, and multinomial logistic regression longitudinally with the level of hs-CRP and BDI-21 score in 2000 as predictors. Mediation was tested using Hayes A. Processv3.5.Results: Higher BDI-21/-13 and hs-CRP levels corresponded to higher prevalences of TM pain in both years. Longitudinally, in men, higher hs-CRP level predicted TM pain in 2000-only and TM pain in both-years. Higher BDI-21 score predicted having TM pain in 2011-only. In women, higher BDI-21 score predicted TM pain in 2000-only and having TM pain in both-years. Both BDI-21 and hs-CRP had a direct effect on TM pain outcome with no mediation detected.Conclusions: While depressiveness may increase the risk of chronic TM pain in women, the risk in men is increased by low-grade inflammation.Abstract Background: Low-grade inflammation and depressiveness have been associated with chronic pain conditions. Objective: To examine whether low-grade inflammation mediates the association between depressive symptoms and temporomandibular (TM) pain in Finnish adults based on the Health 2000/2011 Surveys (BRIF8901). Methods: The sample comprised subjects who underwent clinical TM pain examination (pain on palpation of the masticatory muscles and temporomandibular joints) in 2000 and 2011 and responded to questions on TM pain symptoms in 2011. The serum level of hs-CRP was obtained in both years, and depressiveness was assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory-21 (BDI-21) in 2000 and BDI-13 in 2011. Four subgroups were formed based on the presence of TM pain: No pain, pain in 2000-only, pain in the 2011-only, and pain in both-years. Analyses included Rao Scott’s chi-square test cross-sectionally, and multinomial logistic regression longitudinally with the level of hs-CRP and BDI-21 score in 2000 as predictors. Mediation was tested using Hayes A. Processv3.5. Results: Higher BDI-21/-13 and hs-CRP levels corresponded to higher prevalences of TM pain in both years. Longitudinally, in men, higher hs-CRP level predicted TM pain in 2000-only and TM pain in both-years. Higher BDI-21 score predicted having TM pain in 2011-only. In women, higher BDI-21 score predicted TM pain in 2000-only and having TM pain in both-years. Both BDI-21 and hs-CRP had a direct effect on TM pain outcome with no mediation detected. Conclusions: While depressiveness may increase the risk of chronic TM pain in women, the risk in men is increased by low-grade inflammation