Host country institutions and firm-level R&D influences: an analysis of European Union FDI in China

The paper investigates the effects of institutions and their interaction with firms’ research & development (R&D) levels on foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows in China based on a sample of 680 European Union (EU) firms over the period of 1998–2008. Employing panel data estimation approaches and further augmented with the cross-validation technique, our results indicate that EU FDI in China is influenced by the host country’s institutions, rendering support to the institutional theory. Our analysis indicates that the rule of law, institutional reforms and the interaction between institutional reforms and R&D have significant effects on FDI inflows in China. Further analysis suggests that the coefficient for the interaction between the rule of law and R&D is positive and significant after World Trade Organisation (WTO) entry implying that the effects of reforms following the WTO entry much outweigh the impact of rule of law in EU firms’ decisions to invest in China. We also find evidence that EU firms tend to adjust their FDI levels in China in an attempt to reach the desired investment level

Mobile telecommunication networks choice among Ghanaians

The paper investigates the factors influencing customers choice of telecommunication network in Ghana. The survey design was employed to enable the researchers perform statistical analysis. Questionnaire consisting of Likert scale question was used to collect the primary data. Multiple regression analysis was performed to ascertain the factors influencing customers’ choice of telecommunication networks. The study found six factors that influence customers to choose a particular network. These factors include; brand awareness, brand image, perceived quality, price, convenience and brand loyalty. The study concludes that all the six factors contribute to the factors that drive consumer choice of telecommunications service in Ghana

Brand community integration and customer satisfaction of social media network sites among students

© 2017 Growing Science Ltd. All rights reserved and by the authors. The aim of the study was to examine how consumers integrate into brand communities on social media network sites (SNSs) and how it affects overall satisfaction of social media sites users among students. The study depends on the service-dominant logic (SDL) to develop the constructs for hypotheses testing. The study used a cross-sectional survey research design. The data were collected using a web-based survey of university of Nairobi Students. In all, a total of 608 students participated in the survey. The data was analyzed using structural equation modeling with AMOS software. The results revealed that frequency of usage of SNSs and duration of usage positively affect the self - perceived relevance of SNSs. Also, the self-perceived relevance leads to building brand community which finally leads to customer satisfaction. The research was limited to only students of Nairobi and selecting students in itself, which is a limitation as well as limiting it to university of Nairobi. The younger or the millennial are not the only users of SNSs. We have older generations as well, who also use SNSs for various activities such as professional development among others. Understanding why consumers of social media network site would integrate brand community is seminal for both local and foreign firms doing business in a developing country. This would enable marketing practitioners to craft marketing strategies best for community brand building

Costs of reproductive health services provided by four Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG) hospitals

The Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG) is a large faith-based NGO which currently serves an estimated 35 percent of the Ghanaian population, mainly in remote rural areas. This study built capacity within the CHAG secretariat to calculate the economic cost and cost recovery levels of selected reproductive health services in four CHAG-affiliated hospitals. Techniques learned in the study are applicable to most costing problems, not just to reproductive health. Information obtained in the study forms the basis for negotiating reimbursement under the Ghana National Health Insurance Scheme, and for setting cost recovery and containment policies. CHAG senior managers plan to train other association hospitals in the technique

Rupture of sinus of valsalva aneurysm: Case report

Sinus of Valsalva aneurysms are uncommon. Aortic sinus aneurysm may be complicated by endocarditis or rupture. A 26 year old native Ghanaian presented with dyspnoea, raised jugular venous pressure (JVP), tender hepatomegaly, peripheral oedema, a thrill and a continuous murmur at the upper left sternal edge. Two-dimensional doppler echocardiography with colour flow mapping revealed a large aneurysm of the right sinus of Valsalva (4cm diameter) that abutted the right ventricular out-flow tract with distortion of the pulmonary valve. Colour flow revealed left to right shunting of blood from the aortic root into the right atrium. A year later he presented with a febrile illness, weight loss, night sweats and wasdiagnosed as having culture negative infective endocarditis. Following a course of antibiotics, he underwent successful cardiopulmonary bypass surgery with repair of the ruptured aneurysm of the right sinus of Valsalva

The influence of internal corporate governance mechanisms on capital structure decisions of Chinese listed firms

Purpose: This paper examines the effects of internal corporate governance mechanisms on the capital structure decisions of Chinese listed firms. Design/Methodology: Using a large and more recent dataset consisting of 2386 Chinese listed firms over the period from 1998 to 2012, we employ panel data and use different statistical methods (OLS, fixed effects, and system GMM) to analyse the effects of firm-specific and corporate governance influences on capital structure. Findings: We find that the proportion of independent directors and ownership concentration exert significant influence on the level of Chinese long-term debt ratios after controlling for firm-specific determinants and split share reforms. Further analysis separating our sample into state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and privately- owned enterprises (POEs) suggests that ownership concentration in the hands of the state leads to decrease in debt ratios. Implications: The finding implies that concentrated ownership in the hands of the state appears more efficient compared to their private counterparts in their monitoring role. Original Value: This study extends prior literature, which has concentrated disproportionately on firm-specific influences on capital structure, to the effects of within-firm governance mechanisms on capital structure decisions. The paper contributes to the agency theory-capital structure discourse in an emerging country context where corporate governance system appears weak

Characterization of Soil-Water Retention with Coarse Fragments in the Densu Basin of Ghana

The presence of coarse fragments can have profound impact on soil moisture retention characteristics. The study was conducted to assess the effects of coarse fragments on the moisture retention characteristics of 16 soil series, developed over five different parent materials in the Densu basin. Soil profiles were excavated at five locations, to depths within 1.5 m in the field. Undisturbed soil core samples and disturbed samples were taken in triplicates from the major genetic horizons of each soil type within the effective root depth of 1 m. Coarse fragments content of soil more than 2 mm was measured on mass basis by sieving through a 2-mm mesh. Soil moisture retention was determined using the pressure plate apparatus at suctions of pF 1 (1.0 kPa), pF 2 (10.0 kPa), pF 2.5 (33.0 kPa) and pF 3 (100.0 kPa) for the undisturbed and pF 4.2 (1500 kPa) for the disturbed samples.The volumetric moisture content between field capacity (FC) pF 2.5 (33.0 kPa) and permanent wilting pointing (PWP) pF 4.2 (1500.0 kPa) was used to evaluate the available water content (AWC) by volume and then converted to root zone available water capacity (RZAWC) in millimetres (mm) assuming an effective root depth of 1 m within the basin. Results showed that soils formed over granite and its associations have high percentage of coarse fragments while soils developed over phyllites and its associations have high clay percentage. Soil organic matter was high in the topsoil of all profiles, ranging from 0.81 to 4.44% compared with the horizons below, and the bulk density of the topsoils were less than the limiting value of 1.6 Mg m-3. Site-specific moisture retention characteristics of the various soil series have been delineated. It was evident from the analyses that soils containing high clay content gave high RZAWC values compared with soils with high coarse fragments. Most of the topsoils of the profiles gave high RZAWC values compared with sub-layers with high amounts of coarse fragments. Critical water for plants establishment within the basin in the surface layer was quite favourable

Formulation, characterisation and stabilisation of buccal films for paediatric drug delivery of omeprazole

This study aimed to develop films for potential delivery of omeprazole (OME) via the buccal mucosa of paediatric patients. Films were prepared using hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC), methylcellulose (MC), sodium alginate (SA), carrageenan (CA) and metolose (MET) with polyethylene glycol (PEG 400) as plasticiser, OME (model drug) and L-arg (stabiliser). Gels (1% w/w) were prepared at 40°C using water and ethanol with PEG 400 (0–1% w/w) and dried in an oven (40°C). Optimised formulations containing OME and L-arg (1:1, 1:2 and 1:3) were prepared to investigate the stabilisation of the drug. Tensile properties (Texture analysis, TA), physical form (differential scanning calorimetry, DSC; X-ray diffraction, XRD; thermogravimetric analysis, TGA) and surface topography (scanning electron microscopy, SEM) were investigated. Based on the TA results, SA and MET films were chosen for OME loading and stabilisation studies as they showed a good balance between flexibility and toughness. Plasticised MET films were uniform and smooth whilst unplasticised films demonstrated rough lumpy surfaces. SA films prepared from aqueous gels showed some lumps on the surface, whereas SA films prepared from ethanolic gels were smooth and uniform. Drug-loaded gels showed that OME was unstable and therefore required addition of L-arg. The DSC and XRD suggested molecular dispersion of drug within the polymeric matrix. Plasticised (0.5% w/w PEG 400) MET films prepared from ethanolic (20% v/v) gels and containing OME: L-arg 1:2 showed the most ideal characteristics (transparency, ease of peeling and flexibility) and was selected for further investigation

Prevalence of red blood cell antibodies among transfused patients at Komfo Anokye teaching (Kath) hospital, Ghana

Red blood cell (RBC) alloimmunisation is a common problem in transfused patients because of the possibility of haemolytic reaction and limited availability of compatible blood. In highincome countries, pre-transfusion antibody screening is performed routinely. In Ghana, patients are transfused with ABO Rh ‘D’ compatible blood without screening for immune antibodies. We therefore studied the prevalence and specificities of RBC antibodies in transfused patients at Komfo Anokye Teaching hospital, Ghana. The study was cross-sectional, involving previously transfused patients who required another transfusion. Participants’ basic data on demography and transfusion history were recorded. Blood samples were screened and subsequently typed for RBC antibodies using a column gel agglutination test. A total of 106 transfused patients, 52 male and 54 females were enrolled. The patients had previously received a median of 4 RBC units (range 1-14). Of these, ten patients (9.4%) had 11 RBC alloantibodies, whose specificities were 2 anti-K; 2 anti-C; one each of anti-D, -E, -M, and -S; and 3 were pan-reactive. The number of transfusion episodes was significantly associated with the rate of alloimmunisation (p=0.000). In conclusion the overall alloimmunisation rate in the study was 9.4% and this was significantly associated with increasing number of transfusion episodes. Antibodies were mainly directed against antigens in the Rhesus system and K antigen. We recommend that antibody screening be incorporated into routine pre-transfusion testing procedures in Ghana. Keywords: Alloimmunisation, multi transfusion, Alloantibod