Development of Conceptual Motivational Framework to Improve Construction Labour Productivity in the U.K.

The theoretical study presents vital motivational factors influencing labour productivity and understanding the relationship between motivation, social compliance, and labour productivity for decision-making. Labour motivation is essential because the quality of labour performance depends upon motivation. Labour who put forth more effort makes a big difference in company productivity. The construction industry in the U.K. is to become Europe’s largest construction market by 2030. However, the trend of construction industry productivity in the U.K. has been low relative to other industries resulting in a skilled labour shortage, project delays, high construction costs, and low productivity growth as foreign migrants execute most projects. The U.K. serves as a security for the concerns of Middle Eastern and other war-torn countries, including the effects of the Ukraine war. It is the largest market for U.S.A. service exports, thus accepting more migrants. Therefore, demands for housing projects are ever-increasing, leading to a rise in construction projects that present opportunities for research to improve productivity through motivation by enhancing social compliance. The findings indicate that motivation mediates social compliance and labour productivity and that the essential way to motivate labour is by upholding social compliance. The present study conducts a comprehensive literature review to identify motivational factors influencing labour productivity. The findings developed a conceptual motivational framework that indicates a positive relationship between motivation, social compliance, and labour productivity. The next level is to test the framework on construction sites empirically through pragmatism philosophy with quantitative and qualitative approaches

Heavy metal and proximate composition associated with the composting of cassava (Manihot esculenta) peels used in the cultivation of mushrooms in Ghana

Changes in the heavy metal content and proximate composition during the 28 day composting of cassava peels used in the cultivation of the oyster mushrooms Pleurotus ostreatus strain EM-1 was studied. Significant dry weight variations of cellulose, hemicellulose and fat contents were observed from day 0 to 12. Decreases from day 12 to 28 had the values of 15.4, 57.6 and 56.12%, respectively, while lignin, protein and crude fibre values showed a gradual increase from day 0 to 28, with maximum values of 23.73, 49 and 73%, respectively. Cyanide content however showed a reduction from the initial 3.89 to 2.01 mg/L by day 12 and a marginal increase of 16 by day 28. This was however not detected in the mushroom harvested. The levels of heavy metal content in composted cassava peels in decreasing order was iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), lead (Pb) and copper (Cu) while that for uncomposted cassava was Fe, Zn, Pb, Mn and Cu. Levels of Cu, Mn, Pd and Zn in mushroom samples analysed were in agreement with reported values in literature. Of all the heavy metals examined, iron accumulated excessively, indicating that P. ostreatus strain EM-1 is a good bio-accumulator of Fe.Keywords: Cassava, composting, heavy metals, productionAfrican Journal of Biotechnology, Vol 13(22) 2208-221

Synthesis and in vitro Bioactivity of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Conjugates of Combretastatin A-4

Combretastatin A-4 (CA-4) (1) is a plant-derived anticancer agent binding to the tubulin colchicine site. Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) are readily taken up by cancer cells and have been used to improve cell targeting. In the present study, four CA-4-PUFA conjugates were synthesized by coupling combretastatin A-4 (1) with several polyunsaturated fatty acids. The conjugates (2a-d) were characterized using spectroscopic methods. Their cytotoxicity was evaluated against human breast cancer cells (MCF-7) and the inhibition of tubulin polymerization was determined in vitro. All conjugates influenced tubulin polymerization with the arachidonic acid conjugate (2c) displaying cytotoxicity similar in potency to the natural product CA-4 (1)

Nondestructive Measurement of Magnetic Permeability

Conventional techniques for measuring magnetic permeability using permeameters require either a thin strip or a ring to be cut from a sample of the material. Obviously, this type of measurement is destructive in nature and cannot be used for in-situ permeability measurements. In this paper, we describe a technique that can be used to measure the permeability of flat plates nondestructively. The method uses a closed-form solution for the on-axis field that is transmitted through the ferromagnetic plate by an axisymmetric coil with a rectangular cross-section, energized by a DC (or very low frequency) current

Adjunct n-3 Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Treatment in Tuberculosis Reduces Inflammation and Improves Anemia of Infection More in C3HeB/FeJ Mice With Low n-3 Fatty Acid Status Than Sufficient n-3 Fatty Acid Status

Populations at risk for tuberculosis (TB) may have a low n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) status. Our research previously showed that post-infection supplementation of n-3 long-chain PUFA (LCPUFA) in TB without TB medication was beneficial in n-3 PUFA sufficient but not in low-status C3HeB/FeJ mice. In this study, we investigated the effect of n-3 LCPUFA adjunct to TB medication in TB mice with a low compared to a sufficient n-3 PUFA status. Mice were conditioned on an n-3 PUFA-deficient (n- 3FAD) or n-3 PUFA-sufficient (n-3FAS) diet for 6 weeks before TB infection. Postinfection at 2 weeks, both groups were switched to an n-3 LCPUFA [eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)/docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)] supplemented diet and euthanized at 4- and 14- days post-treatment. Iron and anemia status, bacterial loads, lung pathology, lung cytokines/chemokines, and lung lipid mediators were measured. Following 14 days of treatment, hemoglobin (Hb) was higher in the n-3FAD than the untreated n-3FAS group (p = 0.022), whereas the n-3FAS (drug) treated control and n-3FAS groups were not. Proinflammatory lung cytokines; interleukin-6 (IL-6) (p = 0.011), IL-1a (p = 0.039), MCP1 (p = 0.003), MIP1- a (p = 0.043), and RANTES (p = 0.034); were lower, and the antiinflammatory cytokine IL-4 (p=0.002) and growth factor GMCSF (p=0.007) were higher in the n-3FAD compared with the n-3FAS mice after 14 days. These results suggest that n-3 LCPUFA therapy in TB-infected mice, in combination with TB medication, may improve anemia of infection more in low n-3 fatty acid status than sufficient status mice. Furthermore, the low n-3 fatty acid status TB mice supplemented with n-3 LCPUFA showed comparatively lower cytokine-mediated inflammation despite presenting with lower pro-resolving lipid mediators

International Perspectives on Nonformal Education

The New England Regional Meeting of the Comparative and International Education Society was held on the campus of the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, on 3 May, 1979. The conference was co-sponsored by the Division of Community Education, Springfield College, and the Center for International Education, School of Education, University of Massachusetts. The theme of the conference was International Perspectives on Nonformal Education. The papers delivered ranged in topics from the use of traditional art forms and poetry as a medium of nonformal education to the discussion of the philosophical foundations underlying the field. Case studies of specific nonformal education projects helped to highlight the conference. A total fifteen papers were delivered, all of which are included in their original form in this document. The papers represent the views of the authors and not necessarily those of the organizers

Development of a local antibiogram for a teaching hospital in Ghana

BACKGROUND: Antimicrobial resistance threatens adequate healthcare provision against infectious diseases. Antibiograms, combined with patient clinical history, enable clinicians and pharmacists to select the best empirical treatments prior to culture results. OBJECTIVES: To develop a local antibiogram for the Ho Teaching Hospital. METHODS: This was a retrospective cross-sectional study, using data collected on bacterial isolates from January-December 2021. Samples from urine, stool, sputum, blood, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were considered as well as, aspirates and swabs from wound, ears and vagina of patients. Bacteria were cultured on both enrichment and selective media including blood agar supplemented with 5% sheep blood and MacConkey agar, and identified by both the VITEK 2 system and routine biochemical tests. Data on routine culture and sensitivity tests performed on bacterial isolates from patient samples were retrieved from the hospital's health information system. Data were then entered into and analysed using WHONET. RESULTS: In all, 891 pathogenic microorganisms were isolated from 835 patients who had positive culture tests. Gram-negative isolates accounted for about 77% of the total bacterial species. Escherichia coli (246), Pseudomonas spp. (180), Klebsiella spp. (168), Citrobacter spp. (101) and Staphylococcus spp. (78) were the five most isolated pathogens. Most of the bacterial isolates showed high resistance (>70%) to ampicillin, piperacillin, ceftazidime, ceftriaxone, cefotaxime, penicillin G, amoxicillin, amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, ticarcillin/clavulanic acid and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. CONCLUSIONS: The isolates from the various samples were not susceptible to most of the antibiotics used in the study. The study reveals the resistance patterns of E. coli and Klebsiella spp. to some antibiotics on the WHO 'Watch' and 'Reserve' lists. Using antibiograms as part of antimicrobial stewardship programmes would optimize antibiotic use and preserve their efficacy