Challenges And Factors Associated With Poor Glycemic Control Among Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients At Nekemte Referral Hospital, Western Ethiopia.

Background: Diabetes is increasing at an alarming rate throughout the world, and ~80% of diabetics live in developing countries. Similar to the rest of sub-Saharan African countries, Ethiopia is experiencing a significant burden of diabetes, with increased prevalence, complications, and mortality, as well as life threatening disabilities. Reasons for poor glycemic control among type 2 diabetes patients are complex and multivariable. Hence, this study aimed to identify challenges and factors associated with poor glycemic control among type 2 diabetes patients. Method: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted among type 2 diabetic patients attending the diabetic clinic of Nekemte Referral Hospital (NRH) from February 1 to April 30, 2018. Fasting blood glucose levels of the last three clinic visits were obtained and the mean fasting blood glucose measurement was used to determine the level of glycemic control. Analysis included both descriptive and inferential statistics with SPSS version 20.0. Predictor variable P10 years) (AOR=3.94, 95% CI=1.51-27.83, P=0.012), inadequate physical exercise (AOR=3.19, 95% CI=1.05-19.84, P=0.019), and smoking (AOR=4.51, 95% CI=0.00-0.50, P=0.022) were independent predictors of poor glycemic control on multivariable logistic regression analysis. Conclusion: Nearly two-thirds of patients had poorly controlled diabetes. Age, exercise, level of education, duration of the treatment, and smoking were significantly associated with poor glycemic control. Health facilities should provide continuous education, and barriers of glycemic control should be explored with further research

Reverse Logistics Practices and Their Effect on Competitiveness of Food Manufacturing Firms in Kenya

Increased global warming and environmental degradation, has caused concern for governments, societies and business organizations even in Kenya. Kenya’s, manufacturing industry is one of the main contributors to economic growth. Unfortunately, it has also caused environmental deterioration. Consequently business managers have increasingly begun to realize the need to be environmentally accountable for their activities. Reverse logistics is a green supply chain management practice that enables companies to manage wastes and improve their competitiveness as their environmental efficiency is enhanced. This research aims to examine the relationship between reverse logistics and competitiveness of food manufacturing firms in Kenya. To fully understand this issue the research investigates the reverse logistics practices adopted by the various companies and then examines whether these practices have any effect on firm competitiveness of food manufacturers in Kenya. A cross- sectional survey was conducted among 130 food manufacturing firms that are listed in the Kenya Association of Manufacturers directory. The response rate was 73.8%. Primary data was collected through questionnaires. Factor analysis was used examine the construct validity while multivariate liner regression was employed to test criterion validity. The results of this research indicated that, the adoption of reverse logistics practices would enhance the competitiveness of Kenya’s food manufacturing firms. Further this study found that due to lack of awareness on the importance of sustainability, there is a low level of adoption of reverse logistics practices in Kenya. This study recommends that organizational managers should appreciate the environmental issues and adopt reverse logistics practices. This is important as it would curb waste, enhance cost savings thus increasing competitiveness. This study further recommends that the government and all stakeholders in the manufacturing sector should carry out public awareness campaigns on the importance of environmental conservation as it would encourage the locals to become active drivers towards the adoption of reverse logistics practices. Keywords: Green Supply Chain, Reverse Logistics, Firm Competitiveness, Food Manufacturing Firms, Keny

Challenges of Performance Appraisal Implementation and their Effects on Service Delivery in Public Secondary Schools in Githunguri Sub-county of Kiambu County, Kenya

Performance contract in public service is a freely negotiated performance agreement between the Government, acting as the owner of a Government Agency, and the management of the agency. It is part of the broader public reforms aimed at improving efficiency and effectiveness in the management of public services. In so doing, the process clearly specifies the intentions, obligation and responsibilities of the two parties, that is, the employer and the employee. In Kenya, performance appraisal came into effect in the last two years despite constant resistance from teachers through their unions. The introduction of performance appraisal in the education sector followed public concerns of deteriorating standards of education. It is for this reason that the study sought to evaluate the existing challenges in the implementation of performance appraisal and their effect on service delivery in public secondary schools in Githunguri Sub-county of Kiambu County, Kenya. The specific objectives of the study were to establish; the influences of inadequate training, conflict between appraisers and appraisees and dishonesty in awarding scores, on the implementation of performance contract in public secondary schools in Githunguri Sub-county of Kiambu County, Kenya. The study adopted a survey research design. The target population for the study was 31 public secondary schools, 31 principals and 604 public secondary school teachers employed by the Teachers Service Commission.The study adopted stratified sampling and simple random techniques to select 20 schools to form part of the sample. Purposive sampling technique was then employed to select all the 20 principals of the sampled schools. Stratified sampling technique was also employed to divide teachers into four departments namely: mathematics and science, languages, humanities and technical. Simple random sampling was then employed to select 160 teachers to form part of the sample. Data from sampled principals was collected using an interview guide while data from sampled teachers was collected using a questionnaire. Data collected was analysed using both qualitative and quantitative techniques. Findings from the study revealed that implementation of performance appraisal in public secondary schools in Githunguri Sub-county of Kiambu County, Kenya are bedeviled by myriad of challenges which ultimately affect service delivery in the schools. The study recommended the need to educate teachers and all stakeholders on the importance of implementing the system. Care should be taken to avoid the scenario where the system is viewed as punishing teachers. The system should rather be seen to reward teachers who attain their set goals. Improvements should also be made incorporating teachers as well as all stakeholders’ views to further improve the tools. All the appraisers should be adequately trained on the use of the tools to ensure that they are not used as a formality or to settle differences

Supply Chain Tracing and Anti-Counterfeiting with Distributed Ledger Technology

In recent times, there has been a rampant proliferation of counterfeit products that has left a trail of devastation in the manufacturing sectors. The repercussions of this extend to companies, impacting their brand reputation, revenue streams and overall profitability. Industries like agriculture, banking, electronics, and high-value deliveries uses the emergence of blockchain technology as a powerful tool to discern between authentic and counterfeit items. Its potential as a means to curtail the influx of fake products in the market is substantial. Blockchain technology, at its core, operates as a decentralized and distributed digital ledger system, meticulously recording transactions within interconnected blocks across multiple databases. The inherent security of this technology ensures the immutability of these blocks, rendering them invulnerable to alteration or hacking. By leveraging blockchain technology, consumers can independently verify the authenticity of a product, eliminating the need for reliance on third-party intermediaries. Incorporating recent technological advancements, the utilization of Quick Response (QR) codes offers a robust approach to combat the proliferation of counterfeit goods. The integration of blockchain technology with QR codes serves as a means to uphold the integrity of products. This innovative system securely stores product details and unique codes in the form of blocks,  where QR codes play a pivotal role in collecting and matching these unique codes with entries in the blockchain database. If the QR code matches with entries in the database, the user receives a confirmation of the product's authenticity; otherwise, an alert is triggered, signaling the presence of a counterfeit product

The Influence of Investment Public Relations Strategy on the Performance of Large Motor Vehicle Dealers in Nairobi, Kenya

The Motor Vehicle Companies in Nairobi, Kenya have played a major role in the contribution to job creation and economic development. Despite their role in economic development, these dealers face intense competition from imported second-hand vehicles. The purpose of the study was to investigate the value of investment public relations strategy on the performance of Large Motor Vehicle dealers in Nairobi, Kenya. The specific objectives of the study included; to establish the effects of; resource investment strategy and inter-reliance strategy on the performance of Large Motor Vehicle dealers in Nairobi, Kenya. A descriptive research design was used where the target population was 15 large motor vehicle firms operating in Nairobi, which are members of the Kenya Motor Industry Association. The unit of analysis was the large motor vehicle dealers while the unit of observation was the four strategic public relations strategies including; openness, stakeholder involvement, investment and commitment strategy. The study used primary data sources and secondary data. Primary data was collected using open ended and closed questionnaires. Content and construct validity was achieved though seeking expert opinion. Reliability was ascertained using Cronbach Alpha coefficient. Descriptive statistics and multiple regressions were used to analyze the quantitative data while qualitative data was analyzed using content analysis. Data was analyzed using tables and figures.The study findings confirmed that majority of the large motor vehicle dealers in Nairobi had improved firm performance as a result of the implementation of investment public relation strategy which guarantees the effectiveness of strategic public relations. This proves that majority of the large motor vehicle dealers in Nairobi applied investment public relations strategies in their operations to ensure their improved performance. Finally, the study recommended that the management of the Large Motor Vehicle dealers need to monitor their financial investment in public relations to guarantee value for money

Thomson and Compton scattering with an intense laser pulse

Our paper concerns the scattering of intense laser radiation on free electrons and it is focused on the relation between nonlinear Compton and nonlinear Thomson scattering. The analysis is performed for a laser field modeled by an ideal pulse with a finite duration, a fixed direction of propagation and indefinitely extended in the plane perpendicular to it. We derive the classical limit of the quantum spectral and angular distribution of the emitted radiation, for an arbitrary polarization of the laser pulse. We also rederive our result directly, in the framework of classical electrodynamics, obtaining, at the same time, the distribution for the emitted radiation with a well defined polarization. The results reduce to those established by Krafft et al. [Phys. Rev. E 72, 056502 (2005)] in the particular case of linear polarization of the pulse, orthogonal to the initial electron momentum. Conditions in which the differences between classical and quantum results are visible are discussed and illustrated by graphs

Temporary Acceleration of Electrons While Inside an Intense Electromagnetic Pulse

A free electron can temporarily gain a very significant amount of energy if it is overrun by an intense electromagnetic wave. In principle, this process would permit large enhancements in the center-of-mass energy of electron-electron, electron-positron and electron-photon interactions if these take place in the presence of an intense laser beam. Practical considerations severely limit the utility of this concept for contemporary lasers incident on relativistic electrons. A more accessible laboratory phenomenon is electron-positron production via an intense laser beam incident on a gas. Intense electromagnetic pulses of astrophysical origin can lead to very energetic photons via bremsstrahlung of temporarily accelerated electrons