An Empirical Assessment of the Relationship of Marketing Communication Mix and Performance of Business Organizations

In the business world, companies use different marketing activities to communicate with their environment. These are as a result of past experiences, habits or certain influences. Marketing efficiency of a communication mix as well as analyzing the effect of using a specific marketing communication activity on different business performance determinants is usually neglected. This paper focuses on the correlation between communication activities and the business performance of company through two aspects: - The frequency of using a specific marketing communication activity and its correlation to business performance determinants; and the correlation between the number of marketing communication activities that a company uses and its business performance determinants. Statistically significant relationships (positive and negative) were found among some marketing communications and business performance variables. This helped in interpreting which marketing communications activity a company should use in order to increase customer loyalty, which activity helps raise net profit, and how many marketing communications activities a company should employ to optimize business performance mix. With this, managers and owners of small and medium sized enterprises obtain basic guidelines when building their marketing communication mix

In-Vitro antibacterial activity of bioactive plant extracts against methicillin-resistant strains of staphylococcus aureus

Methanol extract of leaves of five different Nigerian plants were tested for activity against three drug resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus by the agar well diffusion and broth microdilution techniques. The S. aureus strains were composed of two clinical isolates and one reference strain. Promising antimicrobial activity was displayed by three of the five plants tested. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the extracts ranged from 25 mg/ml to 100 mg/ml. The clinical isolates had comparable level of sensitivity to the three most active extracts. Both were also more susceptible to the extracts than the reference strain. Phytochemical analyses showed that secondary plant constituents were present in varied concentrations in all the extracts

Physiologic Evidences Of Good Tolerance Of Concurrent Rumen Fistulation And Duodenal Cannulation In West African Dwarf Sheep

Twelve adult West African Dwarf (WAD) sheep of mean age and body weight of 18 ± 1.19 months and 14.69 ± 256 kg body weight respectively were used to study the compatibility of concurrent rumen fisulation and duodenal cannulation with normal life. The compatibility with norma life was assessed by differences in body weight, voluntary feed intake, rectal temperature and some haematological and biochemical parameters for a period of eight weeks between test and contro groups. During the sudyperiod, all the six animals survived the surgery. There was no significant (p < 0.05) dfference in body weight between the test and control groups for the entire study period (week 1-8). The mean rectal temperature of the test group was significantly (p < 0.05) higher than the control group on week 1(44.6 ± 3.150C), week 2 (43.26 ± 414 0C) and week 3 (41.15 ± 6620C) after implantation. Packed cell volume (PCV) and erythrocyte count (EC) were significantly reduced in the test group within the frst three weeks (33.19 ± 141 to 24.45 ± 1.39%and 7.01 ± 134 to 437 ± 1.58 x 106μl) respectively. On the contrary, total leukocyte count (TLC), and neutrophils were significantly higher in the test group between weeks 1 to 3 (12.48 ± 435 and 31.09 ± 3.67 respectvely) compared to the control (8.06 ± 0.95 and 23.41 ± 2.09 respecvely. Lymphocytes were insignificantly higher in the test group while voluntary feed intake was insigniicantly reduced in the test group throughout the eight weeks. Biochemical analyses revealed that serum creatinine was signicantly higher in the test group at week 1 (3.62 ± 1.18) and week 2 (3.08 ± 1.44) afer surgery. There was however, no significant difference in serum total proteins during the study period. Serum potassium concentrations were sgniicantly decreased inthe test group at week 1 (4.96 ± 1.03 to 1.34 ± 0.04). Sodum was also signcanty reduced (146.08 ± 3.78 to 96.03 ± 6.21) but on week 3 post impantation (PI). On the other hand, serum globulin was significantly higher in the test group throughout the study period. Gross observationsof incision sites showed adhesions characterized by coalesced tissue granulations. The study has shown that the use of polymetric materials in fabricating rumen fistulae and duodenal cannuale could pave way for increased routine nutritional studies in ruminants particularly in developing countries where the availability of these materials constitute great limitationto research involving rumen studies. Keywords: Duodenal cannulation, Rumen fistulation, West African Dwarf shee

Transfer of Multidrug Resistance among Bacteria Isolated from Industrial Wastes

One hundred and twenty two (122) bacterial isolates belonging to the genera Micrococcus, Streptococcus, Pseudomonas, Actinomyces, Bacillus, Corynebacterium, Brucella, Shigella, Hafnia, Proteus and Salmonella were isolated from four different industrial waste sites. Thirty five (28.68%) of these were resistant to two or more antibiotics. Of these, multiple drug resistant species of Pseudomonas and Proteus were chosen as donors in resistance transfer studies with selected susceptible environmental and clinical isolates as recipients. Results showed that the drug resistance is transferable among environmental isolates and from environmental to clinical isolates. Following treatment with sodium dodecyl sulphate in a resistance curing protocol, thirty one (88. 57%) of the resistant isolates lost resistance to all the antimicrobial drugs to which they were previously resistant. These findings suggest that the resistance may be plasmid-mediated and promiscuous. The possible public health implication of this is discussed.Keywords: Industrial wastes, Bacterial isolates, Antimicrobial resistance, Resistance transfer, Curin

The Prevalence of Orthostatic Hypotension in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients in a Diabetic Clinic in Enugu South-East Nigeria

BACKGROUND: Orthostatic Hypotension is a serious and common complication of diabetes mellitus.AIMS: To determine the prevalence and risk factors of Orthostatic Hypotension in type 2 diabetic patients in a diabetes mellitus clinic in Enugu South-East Nigeria.METHOD AND MATERIALS: A structured questionnaire was administered to the eligible and consenting seventy type 2 diabetes mellitus patients.The supine and erect blood pressures of each patient were recorded. The patients with Orthostatic Hypotension were compared with those withoutOrthostatic Hypotension for different clinical and biochemical parameters.STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: The data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 19 software. Odds ratio was calculated for the presence of Orthostatic Hypotension amongst thevariables and p-value &lt;0.05 was considered statistically significant.RESULTS: The prevalence of Orthostatic Hypotension in type 2 diabetic patients was 23.3%. Orthostatic Hypotension had statistically significant association with the presence of peripheral neuropathy, retinopathyand proteinuria.CONCLUSIONS: Orthostatic Hypotension is a common complication in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients seen at Enugu. It is recommended thatmeasurement of erect and supine blood pressures should be part of the standard care of type 2 diabetic patients.  KEY WORDS: Prevalence, orthostatic, hypotension, Enugu, Nigeri

Comparative Efficacy of Toltrazuril, Amprolium and Embazine Fort® against Mixed Eimeria Species Infection in Broilers

Nigerian Veterinary Journal, Vol. 32(3): 2011; 214 - 21

Chitosan-based nanoparticles sustenance and potentiation of the antibacterial effect of ampicillin against drug resistance among strains of Escherichia coli

The study seeks to evaluate nanoparticles based on chitosan for enhanced delivery of ampicillin in plasmid-mediated drug resistance. Serial dilutions of a mixed population of E. coli was plated on nutrient agar and streaked on Replica-plate 25 random colonies using MacConkey agar with or without ampicillin (100 µg/ml) daily for 96 h. Nanoparticles were prepared by cross-linking chitosan with sodium tripolyphosphate with ampicillin trihydrate adsorbed. Three different batches were prepared for optimization. The nanoparticles were optimized based on encapsulation efficiency, in vitro drug release, pH stability and microbiological assay using two laboratory strains of E. coli. Increased resistance to ampicillin due to possible plasmid transfer was established in vitro after 96 h. The encapsulation efficiency of the three batches was between 21-57 %. The drug release showed a burst effect and slow extended release over 8 h and reached a peak of about 19 % release at the 6 and 7 h in Batch A, B and C. The pH of the particles was stable over a period of 6 d. The nanoparticles containing only 0.075 mg of ampicillin dropped in an agar well plate inoculated with 1 ml of E. coli J62 lac pro trp hispFlac::Tn3 (AmpR) gave an IZD of ≥ 25 mm. Chitosan nanoparticles holds good potentials in potentiating the antibacterial effect of ampicillin against possible plasmid-mediated drug resistanc

An assessment of the eye care workforce in Enugu State, south-eastern Nigeria

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The availability and distribution of an appropriate eye care workforce are fundamental to reaching the goals of "VISION 2020: The right to sight", the global initiative for the elimination of avoidable blindness launched jointly by the World Health Organization and the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness with an international membership of nongovernmental organizations, professional associations, eye care institutions and corporations. Periodic evaluation of these parameters is important in the journey towards achieving these goals. The objectives of the study were to determine the availability and distribution of human resources for eye care delivery in Enugu Urban, south-eastern Nigeria.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The study was designed as a cross-sectional descriptive survey, the setting for which was all public and privately owned eye care facilities in Enugu Urban, Enugu State, south-eastern Nigeria, in October 2006. The health map of Enugu Urban and the hospital register of the Public Health Department of the Enugu State Ministry of Health were used to identify the eye health care facilities in Enugu Urban. A structured, pretested, researcher-administered questionnaire was used to capture data on cadre and distribution of the eye care personnel in these facilities.</p> <p>Relevant population data were obtained from the Enugu Regional Office of the National Population Commission. Descriptive statistical analysis was used to generate percentages and proportions. Eye care personnel-to-population ratios were calculated and compared to World Health Organization recommendations.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Out of Enugu State's population of three million, Enugu Urban accounts for 22%. The population of Enugu Urban is distributed between the three-component Local Government Areas comprising Enugu North (31%), Enugu South (30%) and Enugu East (39%). There are 45 eye care facilities (public: 31 (69%); private: 14 (31%)) employing 252 eye care workers (public: 226 (90%); private: 26 (10%)) aged 18 to 63 (mean = 36.1 years, SD = 2 years) comprising males (36: 14%) and females (216: 86%), giving a male-to-female sex ratio of 1:6. The available eye care workforce is unevenly distributed between Enugu North (128: 51%), Enugu South (65: 26%) and Enugu East (59: 23%) Local Government Areas.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Using broad and crude World Health Organization standards for minimum provider-to-population ratios, there is a sufficient eye care workforce in Enugu Urban. However, the maldistribution of the workforce creates a major barrier to uptake of eye care services. Policy modifications could reverse this maldistribution.</p

Profile of Canine Cases in Government Veterinary Clinics in Imo State, Nigeria (1986 - 2000)

A retrospective study of canine cases presented to Veterinary clinics in Imo State (1986-2000) was conducted using case files. Information sought included date of case presentation, breed, sex, age and type of case. During the study period 2,766 dogs were presented for treatment. Of these, 98.4% (2,721) were Nigerian local breeds and 1.8%, exotic breeds. Also, forty different cases were handled in these dogs. The result of the study indicated low mean annual case load, with parasites (endo, 47.29%, ecto, 9.68% and blood protozoan 8.88%) dominating (66% of all cases). These were closely followed by surgical and other related cases (14.75%). Other medical cases such as allergic dermatitis, poisoning and unknown etiologies constituted 2% and 10% respectively. There was a significant variation (