Haematological changes due to bovine fascioliasis

This study determined the haematological changes due to the infection of fascioliasis in cattle. The haematological indices of blood samples collected from purposely selected Fasciola-infected and noninfected cattle were analyzed using standard methods. Statistical analysis revealed high significant differences between the packed cell volume (PCV), haemoglobin (Hb) and red blood cells (RBC) of infected and non-infected cattle (p<0.05). Significant differences existed between the white blood cells (WBC), mean cellular volume (MCV) and mean cellular haemoglobin (MCH) of both groups (p<0.05). No significant difference was observed between the mean cellular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) of the infected cattle and the control. There was notable reduction in PCV, Hb and RBC with increase in worm load and a multiple regression analysis revealed significant negative correlation between worm load and RBC, Hb and PCV with correlation coefficient values, r = -0.616, -0.592 and -0.615, respectively. Levels of neutrophils, eosinophils, monocytes and lymphocytes increased progressively as worm load increased. Only basophils showed no change. Multiple regression analysis confirmed a statistically significant positive correlation between eosinophils and worm load (r = 0.575) and between neutrophils and worm load (r = 0.601). Lymphocytes had no significant positive correlation with worm load (r = 0.070), while monocytes had no significant negative correlation with worm load (r = - 0.062). The implications of the above findings are discussed.Keywords: Fascioliasis, haematology, haemoglobin, neutrophils, eosinophils, monocytesAfrican Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 12(15), pp. 1828-183

Key issues in innovation and knowledge management in the finance and construction sectors

In today's dynamic global trading environment it is vital that firms develop dynamic capabilities allowing them to stay ahead of the competition. It is generally accepted that innovation can provide a firm with sustainable competitive advantage. Tacit knowledge, the type which resides in humans and organisational routines, has also been identified as a means of sustainable competitive advantage. An examination of how teams, units and organisations build dynamic capabilities from innovations through harnessing and exploiting knowledge for organisational benefits will be made. A comparison will be made between the UK construction and finance industries. The UK construction industry is often seen as underachieving in terms of meeting its own needs and those of its client. In contrast, the finance sector is perceived as being highly innovative one of the UK's most profitable industries. Current innovation and knowledge management practices in both industries will be examined, plus the relationships between Innovation and Knowledge Management in each sector will be analysed using a new conceptual framework. The key challenges likely to be faced by the researcher as well as proposed research methodology are also documented. Evidence from the literature points to innovation as a complex social process. Similarly, it is suggested that a robust research methodology for uncovering complex social processes in innovation and knowledge management will benefit from the employment of qualitative research approaches

Knowledge sharing maturity model for Jordanian construction sector

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to present a maturity model developed to assess knowledge sharing (KS) for the Jordanian construction sector. Design/methodology/approach The research was conducted in three stages. The first stage consisted of the review of literature and documenting variables from the literature that highlight influence on KS in organizations. The second stage was designed for maturity model development by identifying the cultural factors that affect KS in the Jordanian construction sector through questionnaires and interviews. Factor analysis was used to find possible relationships between the cultural variables followed by semi-structured interviews. In the third stage the initial maturity model was refined through another set of semi-structured interviews. Findings The model presented in the paper includes three levels of maturity. The first level identifies whether the variable barely exists in company’s KS practices. The second level shows the occasional techniques which the company uses to increase KS activities. The final level demonstrates the importance of the variable in affecting KS as being fundamentally ingrained in the company’s vision, mission, strategy and operations. Originality/value The research has developed a model that can be used to measure the KS in an organization. Although the model has been applied to the construction industry, it can easily be modified to fit in the other sectors

Evaluation of equity in informal land development systems in two Nigerian cities

The informal land development system in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is perceived to promote equity and could be leveraged to support sustainable urban development and management. However, scanty empirical evidence exists on the extent of the system’s provision of equity to support policy formulation and practice in the region. Based on stakeholder workshops, focus group discussions and questionnaire surveys, this study analyses the system’s provision of equity in Nigeria. The study finds all categories of people undertake informal developments. Consistent with literature, this finding reflects wide patronage of the informal land development system and its relevance. Nevertheless, contrary to the existing perception, the system’s provision of equity is low. The study recommends for the institution of pro-poor and gender sensitive land development and management policies and programmes to increase the levels of equity to support the achievement of the country’s sustainable urban development and management agenda

The Challenges with Developing and Applying Knowledge, Skills and Competences (KSC) in the Nigerian Engineering and Construction Industry (NECI)

In Nigeria, the construction industry contributes over 3% of the annual gross domestic product and is the fourth highest employer of labour in Nigeria. Despite its contributions and the huge potential of the Nigerian Engineering and construction industry (NECI), inadequate attention is given to its significance in driving the Nigerian economy. Knowledge, skills, and competences are the main critical success factor of the construction industry. Several challenges are responsible for sloth of the NECI. This study explored these challenges evident in developing and applying knowledge, skills, and competences (KSC) in management of the NECI. The NECI employs an extremely diverse range of workers from extensive and various backgrounds, who are deployed to be managed and supervised. Ineffective management caused by lack of updated KSC, has been identified in academic literatures as a major setback in the NECI. This study identified and extensively discussed these challenges through a review of literature and data from the NECI. The data, on which this study was based, was sourced from 155 completed and usable survey questionnaires and 30 semi-structured interviews with registered engineering and construction professionals in Nigeria. Participants were drawn from membership database of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, practicing in both private and public sectors

Prevalence of malaria parasites and anaemia in pregnant and non pregnant women in Aba and Okigwe towns of southeast Nigeria

A study of the prevalence of Malaria parasites in pregnant women attending pre - natal care in Government hospitals in two major towns (Aba and Okigwe) in Southeast Ngeria was carried out.Blood was collected by vein puncture rom 500 pregnant women in different trimesters (300 from Aba and 200 from Okigwe) and 200 non - pregnant women, 100 from each town. Presence of Malaria parasite was observed microscopically on thin and thick blood smears prepared from each sample. Personal data were collected both orally and from maternity records of the women. The results were analysed statisticaly using the Chi - square tes. Only the ring trophozoite and gametocyte forms of Plasmodium falciparum were observed in the infected samples. A total of 270 (54 %) pregnant women out of the 500 examined were infeced with P. falciparum whie 66(33 %)of the non - pregnant women sampled were infected. This represents a significant difference. Aba had 158 (52.6 %) out of the 300 pregnant women examined infected while Okgwe had 112(56 %)of the 200 pregnant women examined infected. There was no signficant dference between the results obtained in the two towns. (P > 005). Peak prevalence was observed in the first trimester 64.1 % (100 out of 156) whe 3rd trmester showed the lowest 45 % (68 of150). Prevalence was also highest in primgraviidae and women in second pregnancy (67.96 %). Multiparous women (3rdpregnancy and above) had 39.31 % . Age was significant. Anaemia (Hb. < 11g/dl) was observed in 385 (77 % ) of the 500 pregnantwomen examined. Of the 270 inectedwomen 254(94.07 %)were anaemic. Anaemia was significantly higher inwomen with higher parastemia (Z.cal. = 9.06). The implicatons of this result on the epidemiology of malaria are discussed. Keywords: Prevalence, Malaria, Pregnancy, Women, Anaemia, PlasmodiumAnimal Research International Vol. 3 (3) 2006 pp. 508-51

The effect of cross-cultural uncertainty and complexity within multicultural construction teams

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to examine challenges faced by senior construction managers in managing cross-cultural complexity and uncertainty. The rationale was to identify the key strategies that are considered essential for managing cross-cultural complexity and uncertainty. Design/methodology/approach - Interviews with 20 senior construction managers, ten in Kenya and ten in the UK, were recorded, transcribed and entered into the qualitative research software NVivo. Validity and reliability were achieved by first assessing the plausibility in terms of already existing knowledge on some of the cultural issues raised by participants. The findings were presented to the participants through workshops and group discussions. Findings - The emerging key issues suggested that project leaders need to learn how to control their own characteristics and to use them selectively. An effective multicultural construction project team should focus on team output and attributes that characterise a multicultural team as a social entity. Practical implications - Findings indicate that the role of construction project managers has significantly changed over the past two decades. In order to deal with cross-cultural uncertainty, project leaders must have superior multicultural and interpersonal skills when managing global multicultural heavy engineering projects. Originality/value - The research shows that leaders of global construction project teams need a good understanding of their culture, environment and the value of their individual contributions. © Emerald Group Publishing Limited