28 research outputs found
Technological constraints to firm performance: the moderating effects of firm linkages and cooperation
Manufacturing and services SMEs in Africa face challenges and constraints exacerbated by ineffectual government policies, environmental turbulence and the near-absence of institutional support. This study investigates if informal linkages and formal cooperation are helping firms to overcome constraints to uptake of technological innovations in Nigeria.
The paper is based on quantitative data obtained from structured interviews of 631 Nigerian firms. These firms were selected using stratified random sampling from a total population of 18,906 manufacturing and services companies in the national database obtained from the National Bureau of Statistics.
The result of the binary logistic regression indicates that, while informal linkages appear to be insignificant, formal inter-firm cooperation is an effective moderator of barriers to technological innovations.
The paper focuses only on technological, rather than non-technological, innovations.
The paper recommends that, in addition to other interventions to promote diffusion of technological innovations, governments should give priority to interventions that support formal cooperation among SMEs.
Previously studies have generally looked at the impact of cooperative networks on firms' innovation uptake. This paper provides original insights into the "how" of cooperative impact, specifically with respect to helping SMEs to overcome constraints. The paper also delineates formal cooperation from informal linkage
COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF INCOME AND POVERTY STATUS OF WOMEN IN KOKORO (CORN SNACK) PRODUCTION AND ARABLE CROPS PRODUCTION IN OGUN STATE, NIGERIA
The study analyzed the poverty status of women producing Kokoro (Corn snack) and women producing arable crops in Ogun State, Nigeria. A total of 208 respondents made up of 106 women producing Kokoro (Corn snack) and 102 women producing arable crops to serve as control group were selected. The respondents were selected based on non- probability method. Purposive sampling technique with Snowball method was used. Data were obtained by structured interview schedule. Data collected were analysed using FGT poverty index, costs and return and t-test statistics. The results indicated that 34.9kg of maize were processed into 128 dozens of Kokoro (Corn snack) per production run over an average of five (5) days, with six (6) production runs per month for nine months for the period of the research. The mean Kokoro (Corn snack) production cost was N42, 769.41/ respondent/ month with average revenue of N92, 253.60/ respondent/ month and net income of N49, 484.19/ respondent/ month. Income from Kokoro (Corn snack) production accounted for 53.4% of the total household income of N721,323.67 of an average woman engaged in Kokoro (Corn snack) production while farm income accounted for 67.9% of the total household income of N418, 935.10 of an average woman producing arable crops. The study also revealed that households of Kokoro (Corn snack) producers had mean per capita household income of N282.32 per person per day which was significantly higher (p<0.01) than those of women producing arable crops, N191.29 per person per day. Thus Kokoro (Corn snack) production has the potentials to enhance income and reduce poverty among households of rural women. The study thus recommends promotion of value- adding activities, such as maize processing into Kokoro as a means of enhancing income and reduces poverty among the rural folks.
 
CONSTRUCTED WETLAND SYSTEMS VEGETATED WITH DIFFERENT MACROPHYTES IN THE TREATMENT OF INDUSTRIAL WASTE WATER EFFLUENT
Wastewater effluents generated from the soft drink industry contain pollutants which are higher than what is acceptable for the discharge in the water bodies in Nigeria. This result in environmental unbalance which causes adverse health issues. In this study, the performance of two macrophytes (Phragmites karkaa and Typha domingensis) in a sub-surface vertical flow constructed wetland was investigated. One hundred litres of wastewater effluent obtained from an Industry (Seven Up Bottling company in Ibadan, Nigeria) was appliedto the systems and the properties of the waste water effluent as well as the performance of the treatment tankswith respect to parameters such as; pH; TDS; TSS; DO; BOD5; turbidity; nitrate and phosphate were evaluated.The treatment performance of the systems was evaluated for a retention period of 6, 12 and 18 days. It wasobserved that parameters such as pH, BOD5; and TSS did not conform to the acceptable limits; they had valuesgreater than those prescribed in the standards for discharge. The value for BOD5 was 652 mg/l and after sixdays retention in the vegetated tanks had reduced by at least 98%. The unvegetated control setup only reducedthe BOD5 by 40.18% after the first six days of treatment. The performance of the Phragmites karka and theTypha domingensis in the removal of organic substances and solid pollutants were similar with both plantseffectively removing the pollutants. However, Typha domingensis performed better than Phragmites karakain removing organic pollutants and Phragmites karka gives clearer water than Typha domingensis in terms ofturbidity
LC-MS analysis, computational investigation, and antimalarial studies of Azadirachta indica fruit
Malaria is a deadly disease that continues to pose a threat to children and maternal well-being. This study was designed to identify
the chemical constituents in the ethanolic fruit extract of Azadirachta indica, elucidate the pharmacological potentials of identified phytochemicals
through the density functional theory method and carry out the antimalarial activity of extract using chemosuppression and curative models.
The liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis of the ethanolic extract was carried out, followed by the density functional
theory studies of the identified phytochemicals using B3LYP and 6-31G (d, p) basis set. The antimalarial assays were performed using the
chemosuppression (4 days) and curative models. The LC-MS fingerprint of the extract led to the identification of desacetylnimbinolide, nimbidiol,
O-methylazadironolide, nimbidic acid, and desfurano-6α-hydroxyazadiradione. Also, the frontier molecular orbital properties, molecular
electrostatic potential, and dipole moment studies revealed the identified phytochemicals as possible antimalarial agents. The ethanolic extract
of A indica fruit gave 83% suppression at 800 mg/kg, while 84% parasitaemia clearance was obtained in the curative study. The study provided
information about the phytochemicals and background pharmacological evidences of the antimalarial ethnomedicinal claim of A indica fruit.
Thus, isolation and structure elucidation of the identified phytochemicals from the active ethanolic extract and extensive antimalarial studies
towards the discovery of new therapeutic agents is recommended for further studies.The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).https://journals.sagepub.com/home/bbiam2024ChemistryNon
Toxic iron species in lower-risk myelodysplastic syndrome patients:course of disease and effects on outcome
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Blockchains and the disruption of the sharing economy value chains
Against the backdrop of debates and rising public sentiments against “Big Tech,” this paper takes a conceptual approach to explore the possibilities for blockchain technologies to disrupt the governance of the sharing economy value chains. Unlike centralized trust systems employed by multisided digital platforms, blockchains employ a decentralized, open-source system. Data can be shared, verified, and monitored using a consensus mechanism across multiple nodes. We bring insights and discussions from the extant literature to elucidate two guiding principles of the sharing economy value chains: resource optimization and data monetization. Against this backdrop, we propose a conceptual framework that compares traditional digital platforms' governance mechanisms and value drivers with block-chained enabled platforms, where resource optimization and data monetization are driven by decentralized platform co-owners rather than single platform owners. We offer case illustrations to explicate this framework and how it signposts a new, disruptive model for the governance of the collaborative economy, especially in developing countrie
Can university-industry-government collaborations drive a 3-D printing revolution in Africa? A triple helix model of technological leapfrogging in additive manufacturing
Copyright © 2022 The Authors. The protracted disruption of Covid-19 pandemic on global supply chains has renewed calls for a new model of manufacturing that removes the need for centralised high-volume production and large inventory stocking. Drawing ideas from the Triple Helix model of university-industry-government innovation, this paper analyses the prospects for a 3D manufacturing revolution in Africa, a continent which was was disproportionately affected in the rounds of international border restrictions imposed in response to the Omicron variant of the virus. Taking a conceptual approach supported with case illustrations, the paper reviews the evolution of 3D printing technologies, the disruptive impact they have had on the traditional supply chain and the global expansion of the 3D printing market. Highlighting the favourable conditions for technological leapfrogging within the African context, the paper proposes a new integrative framework that explains how the emergence of new hybrid organisations from the Triple Helix can drive a promising manufacturing future for the continent -with small and medium enterprises playing a key role
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Can university-industry-government collaborations drive a 3-D printing revolution in Africa? A triple helix model of technological leapfrogging in additive manufacturing
The protracted disruption of Covid-19 pandemic on global supply chains has renewed calls for a new model of manufacturing that removes the need for centralised high-volume production and large inventory stocking. Drawing ideas from the Triple Helix model of university-industry-government innovation, this paper analyses the prospects for a 3D manufacturing revolution in Africa, a continent which was was disproportionately affected in the rounds of international border restrictions imposed in response to the Omicron variant of the virus. Taking a conceptual approach supported with case illustrations, the paper reviews the evolution of 3D printing technologies, the disruptive impact they have had on the traditional supply chain and the global expansion of the 3D printing market. Highlighting the favourable conditions for technological leapfrogging within the African context, the paper proposes a new integrative framework that explains how the emergence of new hybrid organisations from the Triple Helix can drive a promising manufacturing future for the continent -with small and medium enterprises playing a key role
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