The determinants of firm growth and profitability : Comparative case study between stable and high growth firms in Nigeria

Firm growth has been receiving a lot of attention from researchers over the years. This is because of their significant contribution to the economy through job creation and economic development. However, there is still no single theory that can adequately explain the growth of new ventures (Gibb & Davies 1990). This research aims to find out the factors that contribute to firm growth and profitability in emerging economies. The research is approached by first reviewing the previous literatures on firm growth with a specific focus on four categories of growth variables: founder characteristics, strategy, finance, and business environment. Each of the growth variables are examined in detail to find out how they contribute to firm growth as well as interact with each other. The theory concludes by examining the relationship between growth and profitability because only a few studies have investigated this relationship (Davidsson et al. 2005). The empirical data was collected in five semi-structured interviews. The case companies of the research are Printivo, Wakanow, Jobberman, Drinks.ng, and OList. The founder/CEO of the firms provided the research data. The results of this study revealed that founder characteristics is the most important growth factor, it influences all other variables. The thesis also identified several growth challenges in emerging economies and suggests ways for managers to navigate them

Temperature control in a multi-tubular fixed bed Fischer-Tropsch reactor using encapsulated phase change materials

The Fischer-Tropsch synthesis is a highly exothermic, indirect, catalytic, gas (syngas) liquefaction chemical process. Temperature control is particularly critical to the process in order to ensure longevity of the catalyst, optimise the product distribution, and to ensure thermo-mechanical reliability of the entire process. This thesis proposes and models the use of encapsulated, phase change material, in conjunction with a supervisory temperature control mechanism, as diluents for the catalytic, multi-tubular fixed bed reactor in order to help mitigate the heat rejection challenges experienced in the process. The modelling was done using the Finite Element Analysis (FEA) software, COMSOL Multiphysics. In the main, three studies were considered in this thesis. In the first study, a two dimensional quasi-homogeneous, reactor model, without and with the dissipation of the enthalpy of reaction into a near isothermal phase change material (silica encapsulated tin metal) heat sink, in a wall-cooled, single-tube fixed bed reactor was implemented and the results were presented. The encapsulated phase change material was homogeneously mixed with the active catalyst pellets. The thermal buffering provided by the phase change material were found to induce up to 7% increase in selectivity towards the C5+ and a 2.5% reduction in selectivity towards CH4. Although there was a reduction in the conversion per pass of the limiting reactant and hydrocarbon productivity due to a reduction in reactor temperature, it was observed that for a unit molar reduction in the productivity of C5+, there was a corresponding 1.5 moles reduction in methane production. In the second study, a modified, one dimensional, α-model was derived which accounted for the heat sink effect of the phase change material diluent. The resulting, less computationally cumbersome, yet sufficiently accurate model was benchmarked against the more rigorous two-dimensional quasi-homogeneous model in order to check its fidelity in predicting the reactor performance. As in the first case study, a homogeneous distribution of the phase change material and active catalyst pellets was assumed. The α-model was able to approximate the reactor temperature profile of the 2D-quasi-homogeneous reactor model to within 4% error, and consistently, slightly over-predicted the limiting reactant conversion by about 3%. Based on these comparisons, the α-model was deemed sufficiently accurate to predict the reactor performance in place of the 2D model for the optimisation simulation in the third study. The third case study entailed simultaneously maximising the production of long chain hydrocarbon molecules and ensuring proper heat rejection from the reacting system, two desirable yet often conflicting operational requirements. The homogeneous distribution of the active catalyst pellets and the phase change material diluents was abandoned for a multi-zonal axial distribution in which, individual zones of the catalyst bed were diluted to varying extents. The best dilution and distribution “recipe” was determined using optimisation techniques and the previously derived modified α-model. The multi-zonal axial dilution of the catalyst bed brought about a marked increase (up to 19%) in the productivity of the long chain hydrocarbons, while ensuring a more judicious use of the catalyst bed in contrast to the homogeneous catalyst/phase change material arrangement in the previous two studies. The latent enthalpy of the metallic phase change material combined with its good thermal conductivity helped push the limits of the catalyst bed by increasing the conversion per pass beyond the typical 20-30% reported in literature, with less likelihood of either early catalyst deactivation or thermal unreliability of the reacting system. In the main, it was observed that the overall productivity of the desired C5+ could be enhanced by reducing the quantity of the catalyst pellets by a pre-defined reactor volume. In addition, the reactor productivity benefits from a highly active zone situated at the reactor entrance, immediately followed by a less reactive zone. This arrangement has the effect of ramping the reaction rate (and in effect the reactor temperature) early on, and this is kept in check by the less reactive zone immediately adjacent to the reactive one at the reactor entrance

Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Inclusive Education; Case Study of Young Person with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Nigeria

This thesis explores the impact of knowledge and attitude in the practice of inclusive education in Lagos State, Nigeria through the case study of a young person with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in a mainstream primary school. The study looked at how the inclusive education policy adopted by the country in their National education policy (2004, 2008) is formulated and implemented in schools. The study identified the mechanisms that were constraining the process of inclusive education at the different levels of the social systems in which the schools are embedded and the reasons for the poor implementation of the policy. The survey of the teachers which was carried out by questionnaire revealed that their knowledge and understanding of Autism Spectrum Disorder is generally low. The age and qualification of the teachers were linked to the level of knowledge of ASD. The interviews of the key professionals around the young person with ASD confirmed the link between the age and qualifications of the professionals to their knowledge and attitudes towards young people with ASD and disabilities in general. The professionals, including the teachers who have knowledge and understanding of ASD are not sharing them with those who do not have because of the lack of leadership at the school, local authority and the national level needed in promoting inclusive education. The education administrators at the local authority level who are supposed to monitor the implementation of the policy in schools are constrained by their low level of knowledge and negative attitude. The Federal ministry of education that is responsible for the special needs education in the country stopped at the formulation of the policy without clear guidance on its implementation at the different levels of local authority and school. The study concluded with recommendations for the implementation of the recently formulated Special Needs Education Policy that is accompanied by guidelines. The negative attitudes from the cultural beliefs and values can be addressed through knowledge and understanding of SEND. The knowledge is needed by all involved in education of people with special needs as this will enhance their practice of inclusive education. This knowledge that the country needs is already available through the professionals and teachers that were trained in the teacher training colleges and universities specially designated for that purpose. The training of teachers can be done by the teachers and professionals who have the knowledge of the different types of SEND. All the education administrators from the school, local authority level up to the national level that are responsible for the implementation of the policy need the knowledge that can come through training and continuing professional development as well as multi-agency approach to management of people with disabilities

Immunogenetic analysis of HLA Class II in premalignant disease of the cervix and correlation with HPV status

The human papilloma virus (HPY) infection has a causal association with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and cervical cancer. However, pre-malignant or malignant transformation is not always observed with HPY infection. lILA molecules are important in the regulation of the immune response to foreign antigens. The role of genetic variation at the HLA class II loci (DR and DQ) in CIN was investigated in 176 British Caucasian patients and 420 controls (normal cervical cytology and negative for HPY 16, 18, 31 and 33). HLA DQB 1 *03 typing was performed by a novel polymerase chain reactionrestriction fragment length polymorphism method (A-RFLP). The technique uses PCR to mutate the first base of codon 40 (DQ alleles) from T to G to create an artificial restriction site for an enzyme, MluI, which distinguishes DQB 1 *03 from other alleles and is confirmed by digestion of amplified DNA with MluI. Further HLA DR-DQ typing was performed by PCR DNA amplification and oligonucleotide probe typing. HPY types (16, 18, 31 & 33) were detected by using type-specific oligonucleotide primers and PCR. The alleles of the DQB 1 *03, DRB 1 *04 and DRB 1 * 11 groups were strongly associated with susceptibility to CIN. Specifically the haplotypes DRB 1 *040 I-DQB 1 *0301 and DRBl*1101-DQB1*0301 were significant and indicated susceptibility. The DQBl*03 locus was more contributory to this association than the DRB 1 loci. A weak protective effect was shown for the haplotype DRB 1 *0 10 I-DQB 1 *0501. Positive correlation was also observed for HPY-positive CIN, suggesting that specific HLA alleles may be important in determining the immune response to HPY antigens and the risk for CIN after HPY infection. Immunoaffinity purification of the susceptibility and protective HLA ~ molecules was performed and the naturally processed peptides were eluted and sequenced by Edman degradation. The data obtained was used for motif prediction of HPY 16 E6, E7, Ll and L2 sequences that may be capable of binding to these HLA molecules. Motif prediction as well as the binding affinity of predicted peptide motifs for HLA D RB 1 *0401 and DRB 1 *0 10 1 was accomplished using the published data' on the naturally bound peptide sequences bound to these HLA molecules. The results revealed significant differences in both the number and binding affinity of the HPV 16 derived peptides to the protective and susceptibility HLA molecules. These results should help in the rational design of vaccines against HPV

Modelling resilience to extreme climate events: A household-based study of flood disaster in Nigeria

This article examines the relationship between households’ flood resilience and predictors of their resilience in Nigeria, with a view to improving their flood risk management capacities. This study utilises a quantitative research design whereby a cross-sectional survey method is used to randomly select 512 households for questionnaire administration through a multistage sampling procedure. Data was analysed using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). The study shows that environmental, institutional, and socio-economic factors have statistically significant positive effects on household flood resilience, while the behavioural factor has a negative effect. The highest predictor of households’ resilience to flood disaster is the socio-economic factor. The implication is that low socio-economic status indicates a high level of poverty that worsens households’ flood resilience. This suggests that the poor do not have the needed economic resources and social nets to prevent, adapt to, and/or transform from the impact of flood disaster

Proximate composition, mineral elements and phytochemical contents of seed powder and extract of Picralima nitida as a phyto-additive in poultry diets

The phytochemical, proximate and mineral compositions of seed powder and aqueous extract of Picralima nitida as a medicinal plant was investigated. Picralima nitida pods were sourced from Ago Owu Farm Settlement, Ikoyi, Osun State, Nigeria, broken to remove the seeds which were processed into powder form and subsequently extracted using aqueous solution. The percentage yield after extraction was 27.25%. Proximate composition (%) of Picralima nitida seed powder (PnSP) and aqueous Picralima nitida Seed Extract (PnSE) were: crude protein (13.92±5.23% and 16.44±4.13%), ether extract (7.13±1.42% and 2.08±0.15%), crude fibre (7.15±4.26% and 15.00±0.18%), ash (6.82±3.74% and 4.97±0.06%), nitrogen free extract (58.09±5.27% and 51.70±2.82%) respectively. The seed powder and extract of P. nitida showed good contents of macro and micro elements. The seed powder had higher contents of most mineral elements except manganese (4.25±0.45 mg/kg), molybdenum (0.03±0.00 mg/kg) and sulphur (0.04±0.00 mg/kg) which were higher in PnSE. Saponin (267.11±4.37 mg/100g), tannin (6.84±0.41 mg/100g), flavonoid (5.47±0.84 mg/100g), alkaloid (295.19±2.80 mg/100g) and oxalate (124.35±3.78 mg/100g) were highest in PnSE compared to the PnSP. It could be concluded that Picralima nitida has adequate nutrients, minerals and bioactive secondary metabolites that could be exploited for use as a phyto-additive in poultry diets

Carcass characteristics and serum metabolites of finishing broiler chickens fed 8% crude fibre diets at three energy levels with or without enzyme

This study evaluated the carcass characteristics and serum metabolites of broiler finishers fed 8% CF diets with or without Roxazyme®G2G inclusion at three energy levels maintained at constant, calorie: protein ratio, for 56 days. One hundred and forty-four unsexed Obamarshal day-old broiler chickens were allotted to six dietary treatments at 24 birds per treatment of three replicates. The six treatments diet were produced from three basal diets for each phase at caloric concentrations of 2600, 2800 and 3000 ME (kcal/kg) to which 0 and 200 mg of Roxazyme®G2G were added per kg diet. Each replicate group was provided feed and water ad libitum in the deep litter and battery cage cells during the starter and finisher phases each of 28-day period respectively. Carcass parameters, gut length, organ weights and serum metabolites were measured according to established standard methods. Data were subjected to one-way analysis of variance in accordance with 2x3 factorial arrangement and means separated by Duncan Multiple Range Test (DMRT) at P < 0.05. Results showed that carcass yield of the birds fed 8% CF diet at 2600 ME (kcal/kg) diet with enzyme was comparable to those on 2800 and 3000 ME (kcal/kg) diets with or without enzyme. Gizzard fat, abdominal fat, serum glucose and cholesterol were also minimized in birds fed 2600 ME diet in addition to enzyme. Serum total protein, albumin, urea and creatinine were not significantly (P > 0.05) affected by treatment diets. It was therefore, concluded that higher dietary ME levels with or without enzyme increased carcass fat, blood glucose and cholesterol levels which must be considered in broiler chicken production for the health benefit of broiler consumers. Thus, it is recommended to produce broiler chickens on 8% CF diet at 2600 ME (kcal/kg) diet with the supplemental Roxazyme®G2G in order to reduce carcass fat, blood cholesterol and glucose without compromising carcass yield