Complementarity of Equity and Debt Capital on Profitability of Quoted Consumer Goods Firms in Nigeria

This study ascertained the complementarity of equity and debt capital of quoted consumer goods companies in Nigeria from 2011-2021. Specifically, the study determined the effect of shareholders’ equity and total liabilities on return on assets, return on equity and earnings per share. Purposive sampling technique was employed to select fourteen (14) consumer goods companies from a population of twenty three (23) quoted consumer goods firms in Nigeria. Panel data were used in this study, which were obtained from the annual reports and accounts of sample firms for the periods 2011-2021. Ex-Post Facto research design was employed. Descriptive statistics of the dataset from the sample firms were described using the mean, standard deviation, minimum and maximum values of the data for the study variables. Inferential statistics using Multicollinearity test, Pearson correlation coefficient and Panel least square regression analysis were applied to test the hypotheses of the study. The results showed that shareholders’ equity has a positive and significant effect on ROA, ROE and EPS respectively at 5% level of significance, while total liabilities has a negative and significant effect on ROA, ROE and EPS, however, significant at 5% level of significance. This study recommended amongst others that an appropriate mix of equity and debt capital should be adopted in order to increase the profitability of consumer goods firms

falciparum dihydrofolate reductase and

Trends in drug resistance codons in Plasmodiu

The Genotypic and Phenotypic Stability of Plasmodium falciparum Field Isolates in Continuous In Vitro Culture.

The Plasmodium falciparum in vitro culture system is critical for genotypic and phenotypic analyses of the parasites. For genotypic analysis, the genomic DNA can be obtained directly from the patient blood sample or from culture adapted parasites whereas for phenotypic analysis, immediate ex vivo or in vitro culture adapted parasites are used. However, parasite biology studies have not investigated whether culture adaptation process affects genotypic and/or phenotypic characteristics of the parasites in short- or long-term cultures. Here, we set out to study the dynamics and stability of parasite genetic and phenotypic profiles as field isolate parasites were adapted in continuous cultures. Parasites collected from three different patients presenting with uncomplicated malaria were adapted and maintained in drug-free continuous cultures. Aliquots from the continuous cultures were collected every 24-48 hours for analyses. Each aliquot was treated as a separate parasite sample. For genetic analysis, microsatellite (MS) typing and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analyses of 23 drug resistance markers were done. The 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC50) for some of the samples were also established for four antimalarial drugs. Samples from each patient (parasite-line) were compared as they were passed through the continuous culture. Data revealed genotypic and phenotypic profiles for the three parasite-lines fluctuated from one generation to the next with no specific pattern or periodicity. With few exceptions, multilocus analysis revealed samples from each parasite-line had high genetic diversity with unique haplotypes. Interestingly, changes in MS and SNP profiles occurred simultaneously. The difference in the IC50s of samples in each parasite-line reached statistical significance. However, phenotypic changes did not correspond or correlate to genotypic changes. Our study revealed parasite genetic and phenotypic characteristics fluctuates in short- and long-term cultures, which indicates parasite genetic information obtained even in short cultures is likely to be different from the natural infection parasites

Phylogeny tree diagram for SNP data.

<p>Phylogeny tree constructed using SNP haplotypes of samples in H63 parasite-line. The SNP haplotype profiles are shown in <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0143565#pone.0143565.s003" target="_blank">S3 Table</a>. Bayesian algorithm was used to infer the number of genetically related clusters from the individual SNP haplotype profiles generated using the 30-drug resistance SNPs.</p

Median-joining network diagram for MS data.

<p>Diagram showing relationship of the different parasite generations in H63 parasite-line samples. The multilocus MS haplotypes profiles were constructed for each of the parasite generations using the 12 MS markers located across the <i>P</i>. <i>falciparum</i> genome. The 26 generations of the cultured <i>P</i>. <i>falciparum</i> field isolates analyzed formed 18 unique 12-loci microsatellite haplotypes. For allele sizes please refer to <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0143565#pone.0143565.s004" target="_blank">S4 Table</a>. Each circle in the network represents a unique MS haplotype with the size of the circle being proportional to the number of isolates showing that particular haplotype. The red dots are hypothetical median vectors generated by the software to connect existing haplotypes within the network with maximum parsimony.</p

The role of Pfmdr1 and Pfcrt in changing chloroquine, amodiaquine, mefloquine and lumefantrine susceptibility in western-Kenya P. falciparum samples during 2008-2011.

Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) in the Pfmdr1, and Pfcrt, genes of Plasmodium falciparum may confer resistance to a number of anti-malaria drugs. Pfmdr1 86Y and haplotypes at Pfcrt 72-76 have been linked to chloroquine (CQ) as well as amodiaquine (AQ) resistance. mefloquine (MQ) and lumefantrine (LU) sensitivities are linked to Pfmdr1 86Y. Additionally, Pfcrt K76 allele carrying parasites have shown tolerance to LU. We investigated the association between Pfmdr1 86/Pfcrt 72-76 and P. falciparum resistance to CQ, AQ, MQ and LU using field samples collected during 2008-2011 from malaria endemic sites in western Kenya. Genomic DNA from these samples was genotyped to examine SNPs and haplotypes in Pfmdr1 and Pfcrt respectively. Additionally, immediate ex vivo and in vitro drug sensitivity profiles were assessed using the malaria SYBR Green I fluorescence-based assay. We observed a rapid but steady percent increase in wild-type parasites with regard to both Pfmdr1 and Pfcrt between 2008 and 2011 (p<0.0001). Equally, a significant reciprocate decrease in AQ and CQ median IC50 values occurred (p<0.0001) during the same period. Thus, the data in this study point to a significantly rapid change in parasite response to AQ and CQ in the study period. This may be due to releasing of drug pressure on the parasite from reduced use of AQ in the face of increased Artemisinin (ART) Combination Therapy (ACT) administration following the intervention of the Global Fund in 2008. LU has been shown to select for 76K genotypes, thus the observed increase in 76K genotypes coupled with significant cross resistance between LU and MQ, may herald emergence of tolerance against both drugs in future

Frequency of <i>Pfcrt</i> 72-76 haplotype and <i>Pfmdr1</i> N86Y SNP.

<p>A. <i>Pfcrt</i> 72-76 haplotype frequency per year; B. <i>Pfmdr1</i> N86Y SNP frequency per year. Statistical significance was determined by Chi-square.</p

Median IC_50s for CQ, AQ, LU and MQ per Year during 2008–2011.

<p>Medians were calculated in Graphpad prism Version 5. Statistical significance was determined using Kruskal Wallis H test.</p