The Role of Marketing Research on the Performance of Business Organizations

In recent years a market oriented corporate culture increasingly has been corseted a key element of superior corporate performance. Although organizational innovation is believed to be a potential mediator of this market orientation- corporate performance relationship, much of the evidence to date remain anecdotal or speculative. In this context the researcher takes a component wise approach and examines how three component of market research affects the two core components of organizational innovativeness enroot to affecting corporate performance. Using the data, the researchers empirically test and substantiate innovations mediating role in the market research performance relationship of an organization. The study was conducted in federal capital territory, Abuja, North-central Nigeria with the use questionnaire and interview to collect data that was statistically analyzed using statistical package for social science (SPSS). The result of the study showed that marketing research process plays a significant role in the performance of business organizations which means that there is a positive relationship between marketing research and the performance of business organizations. In view of this, we recommend that business organization should provide adequate fund on market research, provision of suitable and adequate facilities to enhance business environment and make it more responsive to the needs of customers and development strategies should be placed to enhance staff performance and increase their contribution to the organization. Keywords: Marketing Research, Marketing Research Process, Performance, Organization, Abuja, Nigeri

Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated from birds affected by natural outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) in Nigeria

A study was undertaken to examine the isolation rate of Klebsiella pneumoniae from birds affected by natural outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) that occurred in Nigeria between December, 2006 and July, 2007. A total of 100 birds from 114 commercial, backyard and free range flocks infected with H5N1 virus within the study period were sampled. A total of 600 tissues (heart, lung, spleen, liver, trachea and intestine), 100 each from the 100 birds were collected for bacteriology. Data generated was entered into Microsoft excel, while descriptive statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS (Version 12.01). Klebsiella pneumoniae was isolated from 9 (1.5%) samples. The organism was isolated from the liver, lungs and trachea of commercial layers and turkeys. During the HPAI outbreaks, Klebsiella pneumoniae was isolated from 9 different flocks with a total of 21,805 birds, mortality rate of (7.3%) and proportionate mortality rate of (2.5%). The bacterium was not isolated from H5N1 free flocks which served as control. The result of this study indicated that Klebsiella pneumoniae may have acted as a secondary pathogen to aggravate the clinical signs during H5N1 outbreaks that occurred in Nigeria

Salmonella Gallinarum Infection in Poultry Affected by Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus H5N1 in Nigeria

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) is a viral disease affecting almost all domestic and wild birds (Easterday et al., 1997; Alexander, 1999). The species of animals affected by avian influenza include birds, seal,whales, humans, horses and swine (Websters et al., 1992). Avian influenza virus belongs to the Family Orthomyxoviridae which include the genera influenza A, B and C. Avian influenza virus codes for 10 proteinsincluding haemagglutinin (H), neuraminidase (N), protein matrix, RNP among others (Alexander, 1999; Swayne, 2003). There are 16 H and 9 N subtypes (Fouchier et al., 2005). Avian influenza depresses thehost immune system thereby paving ways for opportunistic microbes to invade and exert an exacerbative effect resulting in high mortality in affected flocks (Aleksandr et al., 2004). Salmonella gallinarum isa Gram negative rod, non lactose fermenting organism of the Family Enterobacteriaceae. It is the etiologic agent of fowl typhoid which causes a serious threat to poultry industry particularly in tropical Latin America and many parts of Africa (Hall, 1977). The disease affects a variety of birds such as ducks, pheasants, quails, chickens, guinea fowls, turkeys and ostriches and it is a common problem in Nigeria (Oboegbulem et al., 1980). This study was aimed at isolating Salmonella gallinarum as well ashighlighting the possible complicating role of the organism in natural outbreaks of HPAI (H5N1) that occurred in Nigeria

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This study empirically examined the energy access and household income in Sub-Saharan African countries between 1990 and 2015. The study employed five variables: energy access, per capita income, energy price, FDI and trade openness, as well as panel unit root test using two criteria to test stationarity. Panel cointegration test was also conducted to test long-run cointegration between the variables employed. Panel granger causality test was employed to check the degree of causality between the dependent and explanatory variables and Auto Regressive Distributive Lag method of estimation was employed to check the long-run and short-run relationships between the variables. The results of the panel unit root test from the LLC and IPS methods show that the order of integrations is mixed with some of the variables being stationary at levels (household income, Foreign Direct Investment and Trade Openness) and first difference (Energy Access and Fuel Price) at the same time. The result of Pedroni cointegration test indicated the bivariate long-run cointegration equation between the variables employed except for EA and GDPPC. The panel granger causality test revealed that there is causality between these three variables (EA, GDPPC and FUELP) and the direction of causality only flows from these variables to energy access. The ARDL result revealed that all explanatory variables accounted for 60% variation of energy access in SSA. However, the study made the following policy implications: energy policy needs to be orientated in favor of expanding the supply of energy to reach an enhanced degree of sustainable economic growth and development, and governments in this region can subsidize energy products to increase its consumption and promote the welfare of their citizens.??? ??????? ?? ???? ??????????? ???????????? ???????? ???????? ? ????????? ??????????? ? ??????? ??????????? ?????? ?????? 1990. ? 2015. ??????. ??????? ?? ?????????? ??? ?????????: ??????? ????????, ??????? ?? ????? ??????????, ?????? ????????, ?????? ???????? ??????? ? ?????????? ????????, ??? ? ???? ?????????? ???????, ????????? ??? ????????? ?? ????????? ??????????????. ??????, ????????? ?? ???? ????????????? ?? ?? ?? ????????? ????????? ????????????? ?????? ?????????? ?????????. ?????????? ???? ?????????? ?? ?????? ???????? ?? ?? ?? ????????? ?????? ?????????? ?????? ???????? ? ?????????????? ?????????, ??? ?? ????? ??????????????? ?????????????? ??????? ???????? ?? ???????? ?????????? ? ???????????? ?????? ?????? ?????????. ????????? ????? ?????????? ??????? ????????? ???????? Levin-Lin-Chu (LLC) ? Im-Pesaran-Shin (IPS) ???????? ?? ?? ?????????? ??????????? ????????? ?? ????? ??????????? ???? ?? ??????????? ?? ??????? (?????? ???????????, ?????? ???????? ??????? ? ?????????? ????????) ? ????? ???????? (??????? ???????? ? ?????? ??????) ? ???? ???????. ????????? ??????? ?????? ???????????????? ????? ??????? ?? ????????????: ????????? ??????????????? ????????? ?????? ?????????? ????????? ???? ????????? ??????? ???????? ? ??? ?? ????? ??????????. ?????????? ???? ?????????? ??????? ?? ?? ??????? ????????? ?????? ??? ??? ????????? (??????? ????????, ??? ?? ????? ?????????? ? ?????? ??????), ? ?????? ?????????? ??? ???? ?? ???? ????????? ?? ???????? ????????. ???????? ?????? ??????????????? ?????????????? ??????? ?????? ?? ?? ??? ????????????? ????????? ???? 60% ?????????? ???????? ???????? ? ???????????? ??????. ???????, ??????? ?? ????? ?? ???????? ???????????: ?????????? ???????? ????? ?? ???? ???????????? ? ?????? ????????? ???????????? ????????? ?? ?? ?? ???????? ???? ?????? ???????? ?????????? ????? ? ???????, ? ????? ? ???? ??????? ?? ??????? ?? ????????????? ????????? ?? ?? ?? ???????? ???????? ? ??????????? ?????????? ???????

Factor Analysis of Poultry Birds De-Feathering Machines

Some concerns had been expressed over the success rate of the De-feathering machine (DM) in Nigeria. Therefore, it is imperative to evaluate DM in selected poultry farms in Ekiti State, Nigeria, and consider the factors that inhibit their viability. This study seeks to verify the success rate and identify factors that pose challenges to DM and provide a solution to their intercorrelations. Kendall Coefficient of Concordance (KCC) and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was the design framework used to investigate the identified factors that influence DM. The KCC was used to analyse the data matrix generated by 12 Judges who ranked the twenty-eight identified factors that influenced DM in ascending order, upon which basis an index of concordance in ranking among the judges was computed as w = 0.70. PCA was used to further analysed questionnaires crafted with the twenty-eight well-ordered factors, purposively selected, using statistisXL version 2021.2 software. Also, the result obtained by PCA indicates that factor reduction was achieved from twenty-eight variables to seven clusters using a scree plot graph.  Furthermore, Cost of Material cluster 5 (consisting of dual factors; ‘stainless steel’ and ‘material selection’) wielded the highest factors loading of 0.847 and 0.779 respectively. This study has helped to justify unsatisfactory DM operating costs among poultry farmers in Nigeria and [email protected] clarify challenges associated with the high cost of material selection in DM design

Determinants of food demand among urban households in Minna Metropolis, Niger State, Nigeria

Agricultural products including rice, yam and cowpea play significant roles in the food consumption of urban dwellers. However, increase in crop production cost has continued to threaten urban food price in Nigeria. This study analyzed the determinants of demand for food commodities among urban households in Minna metropolis. Data were collected from 110 household heads of urban residences, which were selected through a three-stage random sampling technique. Data collected for the study were analyzed using multiple regression technique. The results showed that rice, yam and cowpea were price in-elastic. The cross-price elasticities for rice, yam and cowpea were -0.132, 0.028 and 0.005 respectively. The computed own price, cross price and income elasticity of demand for rice were –0.308, -0.132 and 0.018 respectively. For yam, the computed values were -1.262, 0.028 and 0.289 respectively. While for cowpea, these values were -0.530, 0.005 and 0.002 respectively. For the income elasticity, rice and cowpea were proven to be normal goods and yam as a luxury good. The social protection strategies in form of food aids policy should be put into action to minimize the inflationary pressure on food items in the urban areas

Trade Facilitation and Agriculture Sector Performance in Sub-Saharan Africa: Insightful Policy Implications for Economic Sustainability

This study investigates the impact of trade facilitation though costs, documents, and time to import and export—on agricultural sector performance (ASP) for a panel of 33 Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries from 2005 to 2019. The empirical analysis is based on a dynamic system of generalized method of moments. The following findings are established. First, higher import costs, documents, and time significantly improve ASP, while exports negatively impact ASP. Second, while import costs promote trade in agricultural products through substitution effects, export costs impede it. Third, among other factors, improvements in human capital, gross fixed capital formation, population growth, and trade openness significantly improve agricultural sector performance. Fourth, the results of the robustness check further emphasize the importance of TF on ASP from various dimensions. The study concludes that improving TF procedures by reducing costs, documents, and time in cross-border trade remains crucial to boosting agriculture sector performance in SSA

Global burden of 288 causes of death and life expectancy decomposition in 204 countries and territories and 811 subnational locations, 1990–2021: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021

BACKGROUND Regular, detailed reporting on population health by underlying cause of death is fundamental for public health decision making. Cause-specific estimates of mortality and the subsequent effects on life expectancy worldwide are valuable metrics to gauge progress in reducing mortality rates. These estimates are particularly important following large-scale mortality spikes, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. When systematically analysed, mortality rates and life expectancy allow comparisons of the consequences of causes of death globally and over time, providing a nuanced understanding of the effect of these causes on global populations. METHODS The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2021 cause-of-death analysis estimated mortality and years of life lost (YLLs) from 288 causes of death by age-sex-location-year in 204 countries and territories and 811 subnational locations for each year from 1990 until 2021. The analysis used 56 604 data sources, including data from vital registration and verbal autopsy as well as surveys, censuses, surveillance systems, and cancer registries, among others. As with previous GBD rounds, cause-specific death rates for most causes were estimated using the Cause of Death Ensemble model-a modelling tool developed for GBD to assess the out-of-sample predictive validity of different statistical models and covariate permutations and combine those results to produce cause-specific mortality estimates-with alternative strategies adapted to model causes with insufficient data, substantial changes in reporting over the study period, or unusual epidemiology. YLLs were computed as the product of the number of deaths for each cause-age-sex-location-year and the standard life expectancy at each age. As part of the modelling process, uncertainty intervals (UIs) were generated using the 2·5th and 97·5th percentiles from a 1000-draw distribution for each metric. We decomposed life expectancy by cause of death, location, and year to show cause-specific effects on life expectancy from 1990 to 2021. We also used the coefficient of variation and the fraction of population affected by 90% of deaths to highlight concentrations of mortality. Findings are reported in counts and age-standardised rates. Methodological improvements for cause-of-death estimates in GBD 2021 include the expansion of under-5-years age group to include four new age groups, enhanced methods to account for stochastic variation of sparse data, and the inclusion of COVID-19 and other pandemic-related mortality-which includes excess mortality associated with the pandemic, excluding COVID-19, lower respiratory infections, measles, malaria, and pertussis. For this analysis, 199 new country-years of vital registration cause-of-death data, 5 country-years of surveillance data, 21 country-years of verbal autopsy data, and 94 country-years of other data types were added to those used in previous GBD rounds. FINDINGS The leading causes of age-standardised deaths globally were the same in 2019 as they were in 1990; in descending order, these were, ischaemic heart disease, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and lower respiratory infections. In 2021, however, COVID-19 replaced stroke as the second-leading age-standardised cause of death, with 94·0 deaths (95% UI 89·2-100·0) per 100 000 population. The COVID-19 pandemic shifted the rankings of the leading five causes, lowering stroke to the third-leading and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease to the fourth-leading position. In 2021, the highest age-standardised death rates from COVID-19 occurred in sub-Saharan Africa (271·0 deaths [250·1-290·7] per 100 000 population) and Latin America and the Caribbean (195·4 deaths [182·1-211·4] per 100 000 population). The lowest age-standardised death rates from COVID-19 were in the high-income super-region (48·1 deaths [47·4-48·8] per 100 000 population) and southeast Asia, east Asia, and Oceania (23·2 deaths [16·3-37·2] per 100 000 population). Globally, life expectancy steadily improved between 1990 and 2019 for 18 of the 22 investigated causes. Decomposition of global and regional life expectancy showed the positive effect that reductions in deaths from enteric infections, lower respiratory infections, stroke, and neonatal deaths, among others have contributed to improved survival over the study period. However, a net reduction of 1·6 years occurred in global life expectancy between 2019 and 2021, primarily due to increased death rates from COVID-19 and other pandemic-related mortality. Life expectancy was highly variable between super-regions over the study period, with southeast Asia, east Asia, and Oceania gaining 8·3 years (6·7-9·9) overall, while having the smallest reduction in life expectancy due to COVID-19 (0·4 years). The largest reduction in life expectancy due to COVID-19 occurred in Latin America and the Caribbean (3·6 years). Additionally, 53 of the 288 causes of death were highly concentrated in locations with less than 50% of the global population as of 2021, and these causes of death became progressively more concentrated since 1990, when only 44 causes showed this pattern. The concentration phenomenon is discussed heuristically with respect to enteric and lower respiratory infections, malaria, HIV/AIDS, neonatal disorders, tuberculosis, and measles. INTERPRETATION Long-standing gains in life expectancy and reductions in many of the leading causes of death have been disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, the adverse effects of which were spread unevenly among populations. Despite the pandemic, there has been continued progress in combatting several notable causes of death, leading to improved global life expectancy over the study period. Each of the seven GBD super-regions showed an overall improvement from 1990 and 2021, obscuring the negative effect in the years of the pandemic. Additionally, our findings regarding regional variation in causes of death driving increases in life expectancy hold clear policy utility. Analyses of shifting mortality trends reveal that several causes, once widespread globally, are now increasingly concentrated geographically. These changes in mortality concentration, alongside further investigation of changing risks, interventions, and relevant policy, present an important opportunity to deepen our understanding of mortality-reduction strategies. Examining patterns in mortality concentration might reveal areas where successful public health interventions have been implemented. Translating these successes to locations where certain causes of death remain entrenched can inform policies that work to improve life expectancy for people everywhere. FUNDING Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Knowledge Management System and Tools Required for Effective KM Take-up and Activities in Organisations in Nigeria

Knowledge management (KM) has become an integral and invaluable asset to organisational productivity in the 21st century. Observations have, however, shown that many organisations in Nigeria do not have knowledge management system (KMS) and do no practise KM; and in cases where KM practices exist, there seems to be indifference on the part of members in using the KMS. Perhaps, this could be due to lack of adequate awareness about the importance of KM practices and or the KM tools required for its effective take-up. This study, therefore, seeks to highlight and examine KMS and the tools required for effective KM take-up and activities in organisations in Nigeria. The methodology for the study was qualitative; relevant literature on the subject matter were reviewed. Findings from the reviewed literature showed that, despite the monolithic roles KM practices have on organisational output and productivity; developing nations like Nigeria have not adequately embraced its practices. Therefore, it is recommended that more research, writings and other fora like seminars and workshops, should be used to raise awareness about KM practices and that the formalised bureaucratic posture of organisations toward KM should be revamped to enable members up their willingness to create, share, receive and use knowledge