Exploring the Link between Total Quality Management and Business Performance

The study examined the influence of total quality management on business performance in manufacturing industry in Nigeria with a particular reference to Nestle Nigeria Plc. The broad objective of this study was to examine how leadership, supply quality management, employee participation, recognition and reward and quality system management predicted business performance. The study employed survey research. Primary data was used for the study with questionnaire as research instrument. The subjects were two hundred employees from Nestle Nigeria Plc. The six hypotheses formulated for this study were tested using multiple Regression and Pearson correlation. The findings for this study revealed that leadership, supply quality management, employee participation, recognition and reward and quality system management jointly and independently predicted business performance. Based on the findings of the study, it is recommended that management should try to update themselves on the various TQM practices so as to face the competitive environment. Keywords: Total Quality Management, Business Performance, Employee Participation, Recognition and Rewar

A Case of Bacterial Postpartum Metritis in a 4-Year Old Duroc Sow

The attention of the Animal Health team of Swine Research Unit of Swine and Rabbit Research Programme of National Animal Production Research Institute (NAPRI) was drawn to a farrowing pen with a complaint of pus discharge from the vulva of a Duroc sow which farrowed 9 piglets 10 days earlier. Microbiological survey identified the presence of Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus and Proteus species from the sterile vaginal swab was taken from the sow. Antibiogram revealed the susceptibility of the three identified bacteria to ofloxacin, streptomycin and gentamicin in the order of increasing susceptibility. Staphylococcus species was also found to be susceptible to ciprofloxacin while Proteus species was susceptible to augmentin® and chloramphenicol. All the three species of bacteria were resistant to nitrofuratoin, rocephin® and ampiclox®. The sow was treated with deep intramuscular administration of streptomycin at 20 mg/kg once daily for 5 days and 10 IU of oxytocin once daily for 2 days. There was expulsion of macerated feotus about 24 hours following administration of the last dose of oxytocin and the macerated feotus was properly disposed and the entire pen was cleaned and disinfected. The vulva was noticed to be completely devoid of the mucous discharges after the course of the antibiotic regimen.Key words: Metritis, Postpartum, Duroc, Sow, NAPRI

Whole cassava root meal from TME419 cassava variety can support performance and health of growing rabbits as dietary energy source

A total of thirty-six (36) growing (6-8 weeks old) New Zealand and Haliquine rabbits of both sexes were used to evaluate performance and health status of rabbits fed fermented whole cassava root meal (WCRM, TME419 Cassava variety) with enzyme supplementation. The rabbits were allotted to experimental groups in a 3 x 2 factorial arrangement comprising three fermentation durations (0, 3 and 5days) and inclusion of enzyme (0, 0.5%) as factors in a randomized complete block design. The diets were designated as D0- (Basal diet (WCRM) without ensiling and no enzyme supplementation), D0+ (Basal diet (WCRM) without ensiling with enzyme supplementation), D3- (Basal diet (WCRM) with three days ensiling without enzyme supplementation), D3+ (Basal diet (WCRM) with three days ensiling with enzyme supplementation), D5- (Basal diet (WCRM) with five days ensiling without enzyme supplementation) and D5+ (Basal diet (WCRM) with five days ensiling with enzyme supplementation). The performance, hematological and serum biochemical indices were not significantly (P>0.05) influenced by fermentation and enzyme inclusion. It is therefore concluded that TME419 cassava variety can be fed to growing rabbits without fermentation or enzyme inclusion

Identifying early symptoms associated with a diagnosis of childhood, adolescent and young adult cancers: a population-based nested case-control study

Background: Childhood, teenage and young adult (CTYA, 0–24 years) cancers are rare and diverse, making timely diagnosis challenging. We aim to explore symptoms and symptom combinations associated with a subsequent cancer diagnosis and to establish their timeframe. Methods: Using the QResearch Database, we carried out a matched nested case-control study. Associations between pre-specified symptoms encountered in primary care and a subsequent diagnosis of any cancer were explored using conditional logistic regression. Median diagnostic intervals were used to split symptoms into “late” and “early” timeframes to identify relevant early symptoms. Results: 3186 cases and 50,576 controls were identified from a cohort of 3,424,771 CTYA. We identified 12 novel associations, of which hemiparesis [OR 90.9 (95%CI 24.7-335.1), PPV = 1.6%], testicular swelling [OR 186.7 (95%CI 86.1-404.8), PPV = 2.4%] and organomegaly [OR 221.6 (95%CI 28.3-1735.9), PPV = 5.4%] had significant positive predictive values (PPV). Limb pain, a known marker of serious illness in children, was a recurrent early symptom across cancer subtypes. Similar clinical presentations were observed across childhood and TYA cancers. Discussion: Using the largest cohort to date, we provide novel information on the time-varying predictive utility of symptoms in the diagnosis of CTYA cancers. Our findings will help to raise clinical and public awareness of symptoms, stratify those at higher-risk and ultimately aid earlier diagnosis

Search for nearby stars among proper motion stars selected by optical-to-infrared photometry. I. Discovery of LHS 2090 at spectroscopic distance of d=6pc

We present the discovery of a previously unknown very nearby star - LHS 2090 at a distance of only d=6 pc. In order to find nearby (i.e. d < 25 pc) red dwarfs, we re-identified high proper motion stars ($\mu >$ 0.18 arcsec/yr) from the NLTT catalogue (Luyten \cite{luyten7980}) in optical Digitized Sky Survey data for two different epochs and in the 2MASS data base. Only proper motion stars with large $R-K_s$ colour index and with relatively bright infrared magnitudes ($K_s<10$) were selected for follow-up spectroscopy. The low-resolution spectrum of LHS 2090 and its large proper motion (0.79 arcsec/yr) classify this star as an M6.5 dwarf. The resulting spectroscopic distance estimate from comparing the infrared $JHK_s$ magnitudes of LHS 2090 with absolute magnitudes of M6.5 dwarfs is $6.0\pm1.1$ pc assuming an uncertainty in absolute magnitude of $\pm$0.4 mag.Comment: 3 pages, 1 figure, accepted for publication in Astronomy and Astrophysics Letter

Preliminary experience in the management of tracheobronchial foreign bodies in Lagos, Nigeria

Aspiration of tracheobronchial foreign bodies commonly affects young children, is potentially life threatening and requires early intervention for extraction. Access to facilities and skill manpower for bronchoscopic extraction is however limited in Nigeria. The aim of this study is to describe the experience in our institution with bronchoscopic removal of tracheobronchial foreign bodies and highlight the challenges encountered. This is a retrospective study of all patients referred to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital with a diagnosis of tracheobronchial foreign body within the period of February 2008 and February 2013. Data extracted from the medical records were age, sex, time interval between aspiration and presentation, location of tracheobronchial foreign body, bronchoscopic technique, complications and outcome. A total of 24 patients were referred and confirmed at bronchoscopy to have tracheobronchial foreign bodies. Mean age was 6.6 + 5 years. Male to female ratio was 1:1. Delayed presentation was common with 22 patients (91.7%) presenting more than 24 hours after aspiration. Aspirated material was inorganic in 17 patients (70.8%) and organic in 7 patients (29.2%). Location of tracheobronchial foreign bodies was right main bronchus in 16 patients (66.7%), left main bronchus in 6 patients (25%) and the trachea in 2 patients (8.3%). Challenges to speedy and safe removal of the foreign bodies were delayed presentation and a limited range of bronchoscopic equipment early in the series which caused prolonged procedures and increased complications. Two mortalities occurred early in the series; one from airway obstruction and the other from respiratory failure caused by tracheobronchial oedema. Extraction of tracheobronchial foreign bodies was faster, more complete and safer later in the series due to a wider range of bronchoscopy equipment which included both flexible and rigid videobronchoscopy with the use of optical forceps. This preliminary experience suggests that an adequate armamentarium of bronchoscopy equipment is required to increase the chances of complete extraction, speed up the procedure and reduce the risk of complications of Tracheobronchial Foreign Bodies in our environment. Delayed presentation increases the difficulty of the procedure so earlier referral of these patients would help reduce the risk involved in  their management.Key words: Bronchoscopy, Tracheobronchial Foreign Bodies, Lagos, Nigeri

Perbaikan Fasilitas Rumah Kos Dengan Menggunakan Integrasi Metode Service Quality Dan Quality Function Deployment

Kota Malang menjadi salah satu kota yang memiliki perguruan tinggi dengan daya tampung yang cukup tinggi. Hal tersebut menjadi faktor banyaknya pendatang yang menjadi mahasiswa baru di universitas tersebut. Oleh karena itu, mereka membutuhkan tempat tinggal selama mereka menempuh studi di perguruan tinggi. Dalam penelitian ini, objek yang digunakan sebagai penelitian adalah rumah kos di Jalan Kertowaluyo, Kelurahan Ketawanggede, Lowokwaru, Kota Malang.Dari hasil survei awal yang dilakukan, didapatkan kekurangan dari segi kualitas dan kuantitas fasilitas yang disediakan. Dalam penelitian ini digunakan integrasi Service Quality dan Quality Function Deployment. Dari hasil Service Quality dapat diketahui 16 atribut yang menjadi voice of customeryang kemudian dilakukan analisis gap yaitu kelengkapan fasilitas kamar kos, tempat parkir yang lus, kebersihan kamar mandi, jumlah kamar mandi yang cukup,kasur, bantal, dan guling yang nyaman, kebersihan lingkungan rumah kos, kesesuaian biaya kos dengan fasilitas yang didapatkan, penjaga kos membersihkan lingkungan rumah kos setiap pagi, tindakan tanggap penjaga kos saat air kamar mandi habis, penjaga kos yang cekatan dalam melayani kebutuhan penghuni kos, keamanan lingkungan rumah kos, pagar digembok saat jam malam, tempat parkir yang aman, lemari dan meja yang kokoh, keramahan penjaga kos, penjaga kos yang bersedia memberi perawatan pada penghuni kos yang sakit. Berdasarkan hasil analisis Quality Function Deployment, prioritas utama rekomendasi perbaikan yang dapat dilakukan yaitu menyediakan fasilitas rumah kos dengan jumlah dan kualitas yang sama

A review of methods for the analysis of diagnostic tests performed in sequence

Background: Many clinical pathways for the diagnosis of disease are based on diagnostic tests that are performed in sequence. The performance of the full diagnostic sequence is dictated by the diagnostic performance of each test in the sequence as well as the conditional dependence between them, given true disease status. Resulting estimates of performance, such as the sensitivity and specificity of the test sequence, are key parameters in health-economic evaluations. We conducted a methodological review of statistical methods for assessing the performance of diagnostic tests performed in sequence, with the aim of guiding data analysts towards classes of methods that may be suitable given the design and objectives of the testing sequence. Methods: We searched PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science for relevant papers describing methodology for analysing sequences of diagnostic tests. Papers were classified by the characteristics of the method used, and these were used to group methods into themes. We illustrate some of the methods using data from a cohort study of repeat faecal immunochemical testing for colorectal cancer in symptomatic patients, to highlight the importance of allowing for conditional dependence in test sequences and adjustment for an imperfect reference standard. Results: Five overall themes were identified, detailing methods for combining multiple tests in sequence, estimating conditional dependence, analysing sequences of diagnostic tests used for risk assessment, analysing test sequences in conjunction with an imperfect or incomplete reference standard, and meta-analysis of test sequences. Conclusions: This methodological review can be used to help researchers identify suitable analytic methods for studies that use diagnostic tests performed in sequence