The Nexus Between Total Quality Management, Job Satisfaction and Employee Work Engagement in the Food and Beverage Multinational Company in Nigeria

Adopting total quality management (TQM) program in an organisation may have consequences not only for organisational outcomes but also for employee work behaviour. Therefore, this study investigates the conceptual and empirical link between TQM practices, job satisfaction, and employee work engagement. Cross-sectional survey design, quota, proportionate and simple random sampling were used to draw 300 participants from the study population, out of which 190 responded and n = 183(61%) usable responses to the questionnaire designed for the purpose from employees of a food and beverage multinational company in Lagos metropolis were obtained. Regression and correlation analyses were used to analyse the study data. Significant positive relationship was found between dimensions of TQM practices (leadership and management support, employee participation, training, reward and recognition, and customer focus), job satisfaction and employee work engagement. After controlling for sex, age and experience, job satisfaction and TQM practices construct jointly and independently predicted employee work engagement. Also, job satisfaction partially mediated the relationship between TQM practices and work engagement. The implications of soft TQM implementation on employee job satisfaction for achieving highly engaged workforce are discussed

Derived Models for the Prediction of Cole’s and Dip Parameters for Velocity Gradients Determination in Open Natural Channels

Measurement of vertical velocity in open channel hydraulics is a very reasonable exercise that attracts peculiar results in stream flow. Observations were made on set of values obtained from calibration of models on continuous longitudinal stream flow. They showed that, there emanated effects of eddy currents. The exercise is characterized by downward trend in the velocity gradient resulting in a dip. However, at the early stage of flow development, a stage corresponding to the bed region, where little or no flow occurs, there had been what should be referred to as hypothetic zero flow region. There is vertical relationship between flow pattern developing and the position from the bed and free surface. Local scouring is induced around structural elements such as a bridge pier, an abutment at the lower region eddies and adjourning loose embankment areas. Occurrence is as a result of interaction between turbulent flow and sediment particles at the bed. The entrainment of sediment particles from the bed is probabilistic and definitely dependent upon flow characteristics and strongly influenced by instantaneous shear stresses developed along stream movement. The computed values of Cole's and Dip parameters for vertical velocities estimation were 0.77 and 0.78 respectively. For accurate measurement of vertical velocity profiles, a constant (א) has been introduced in models for velocity gradient determinationא) .) This coefficient has the estimated value of 3.6 - using mathematical iteration methods advanced by Jacobi and Hardy Cross. The proposed models (PIDMWLEL and PIDMWLL) are recommended to be most suitable for predicting velocity profile in open channels, when aspect ratios are greater than five (5) and ten (10). Keywords: Appearance; calibration; channel; flow velocit

Enzyme-Based Electrochemical Glutamate Biosensors

Glutamate, a major excitatory neurotransmitter in the mammalian central nervous system, plays a vital role in many physiological processes and is one of the key neurotransmitters of interest in psychopharmacology. It is involved in many normal and abnormal behaviors related to neurological and psychiatric disorders. The glutamate system has been proposed to play a significant role in various neurological and psychiatric disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, autism, schizophrenia, depression, drug addiction, and more. The design, construction, and optimization of enzyme-based electrochemical biosensors for in vivo and in vitro detection of glutamate are active areas of interdisciplinary research. For example, various glutamate biosensors have been developed for monitoring dynamic levels of extracellular glutamate in the living brain tissue adding to the current medical knowledge of these complex neurotransmitter systems and ultimately impacting treatment plans. In addition to biological sciences and clinical medicine, glutamate biosensors have been used in environmental monitoring, in the fermentation industry, and in the food industry for determination of monosodium glutamate (MSG), a common flavor-enhancing food additive

Neurofibromas as bilateral cystic chest wall swellings.

A 35 year old male farmer presented with soft bilateral posterior chest wall swellings. He had no similar swellings elsewhere. There were no associated symptoms, except cosmetic deformity and discomfort when he lies on his back. A clinical diagnosis of posterior chest wall lipomata was made. However at surgery, the two tumours were completely cystic. Following total excision, histology of the two tumours revealed cystic degeneration of neurofibromas. His postoperative recovery was uneventful. The importance of this report is to emphasize the need for histological examinination of all excised human tissues, which is not always the case in most of our rural areas and to document the discovery of such a rare clinical entity in our centre. This rare entity should be borne in mind when considering the differential diagnosis of benign cystic chest wall tumours.Key words: neurofibromatosis, cystic swelling, posterior, chest, wall

Re-thinking instructional strategies for enhancing gender equity in learning primary science: let’s try cooperative small group instructional mode

The study investigated the effect of cooperative small group instructional mode on the cognitive achievement of boys and girls in primary science. Eighty-two pupils (41 girls and 41 boys) were drawn from 2 randomly selected primary schools and from 2 intact primary 5 classes in Uyo Local Government Education Authority. The subjects were exposed to 5 weeks of instruction in selected science concepts from primary 5 curriculum module. Two modes of instruction used were the cooperative small group and the whole class instructional modes. Instrument for collecting the data was the Primary Science Achieve ment Test (PSAT). Data analysis involved the use of t-test statistic. Results revealed no statistically significant difference in the achievement of boys and girls in primary science. The paper claims that cooperative small group instructional mode could remove gender bias in female pupils’ achievement in science.Keywords: cooperative small group instruction, gender bias in achievement, science achievemen

Profit Efficiency Analysis of Cassava Production in Enugu State, Nigeria

This study analyzed the profit efficiency of smallholder cassava farmers in Enugu state, Nigeria. The study employed a multi-stage random sampling technique in selecting 240 cassava farm households who are registered in the Enugu State Fadama III project during the 2019 farming season. Data were collected using copies of structured questionnaire and interview schedule. Collected data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics (stochastic frontier profit function model). Results showed that the majority (73.3%) of the household heads were male, with a mean age of 52 years. Additionally, the majority (78.5%) of the respondents were married, mean farm size of respondents was 0.3125 ha, mean duration of formal schooling was 9 years, and personal savings was the major (83.1%) source of capital among respondents. The results further showed that profit efficiency ranged between 34.19 and 99.98%, while mean efficiency was 73% with the 27% loss in profit attributed to a combination of technical and allocative inefficiencies. Also, educational level and years of farming experience were the major significant factors which influence profit efficiency positively. Findings from this study could be relevant for policy formulation by government

Energy Demand Assessment Between Exercising and Non-Exercising Young Female Collegiate During a Single Exercise Bout

Balancing energy requirement with energy availability during determination for any exercise is of importance to performance. This study was set up to evaluate the influence of regular exercise on energy demand for a given exercise bout among exercising and non-exercising young female College students from University of Lagos using the different energy determining equations available. Sixty volunteer young female students were grouped into two: exercising (Ex-Sub) and non-exercising (NonEx-Sub) subjects. Their heights, weights, ages were recorded, while their blood glucose and blood pressure levels, as well as heart rates were measured before and after the exercise. Two minutes warm-up on the cycle ergometer at 40 km/hr was allowed while gradually increasing the speed to 70km/hr lasting for five minutes. Using the Heart Rate and the estimated VO2max (VO2) the energy demand was determined. The basal systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and heart rate were significantly lower in Ex-Sub compared with NonEx-Sub. Although, both ExSub and NonEx-Sub recorded a significantly lower SBP after exercise, Ex-Sub result before and after the exercise were significantly lower compared with that of NonEx-Sub. Both ExSub and NonEx-Sub recorded a significant reduction in heart rate after the exercise. The basal and after exercise heart rate in Ex-Sub was significantly lower, while both the estimated VO2max and energy demands were significantly higher in ExSub compared to NonEx-Sub. Regular exercise confers an advantage by modifying cardiovascular parameters with an added advantage on efficient and reduced energy utilization in the exercising subjects

An Assessment of the Effectiveness of Open Market Operations Instrument of Monetary Policy Management in Nigeria

This study empirically examined the effectiveness of Open Market Operations (OMO) instrument of monetary policy management in Nigeria. In doing this, the study adopted the monetarist theory as the basis for measuring the effectiveness of OMO instrument of monetary policy management in Nigeria. The investigation was carried out using the Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) method of estimation. Unit Root and Co-integration tests were performed on all the variables and the results revealed that the variables have long run relationship and are suitable for OLS estimation. The empirical results indicated a significant relationship between monetary policy instruments such as open market operations, required reserve and monetary policy rate with broad money supply which is the proximate target for monetary policy management. This implies that Open Market Operations has been an effective instrument of monetary policy management in Nigeria. The study further showed that monetary policy rate could serve as a veritable instrument for the control of money supply and effective monetary policy management in the economy. It is recommended, among others, that the CBN should review periodically the performance of monetary policy with a view to enhancing the effectiveness of monetary policy instruments in order to achieve macroeconomic stability. Keywords: OMO, Monetary policy effectiveness, Macroeconomic stability, Nigeria

Energy Demand Assessment Between Exercising and Non-Exercising Young Female Collegiate During a Single Exercise Bout

Balancing energy requirement with energy availability during determination for any exercise is of importance to performance. This study was set up to evaluate the influence of regular exercise on energy demand for a given exercise bout among exercising and non-exercising young female College students from University of Lagos using the different energy determining equations available. Sixty volunteer young female students were grouped into two: exercising (Ex-Sub) and non-exercising (NonEx-Sub) subjects. Their heights, weights, ages were recorded, while their blood glucose and blood pressure levels, as well as heart rates were measured before and after the exercise. Two minutes warm-up on the cycle ergometer at 40 km/hr was allowed while gradually increasing the speed to 70km/hr lasting for five minutes. Using the Heart Rate and the estimated VO2max (VO2) the energy demand was determined. The basal systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and heart rate were significantly lower in Ex-Sub compared with NonEx-Sub. Although, both ExSub and NonEx-Sub recorded a significantly lower SBP after exercise, Ex-Sub result before and after the exercise were significantly lower compared with that of NonEx-Sub. Both ExSub and NonEx-Sub recorded a significant reduction in heart rate after the exercise. The basal and after exercise heart rate in Ex-Sub was significantly lower, while both the estimated VO2max and energy demands were significantly higher in ExSub compared to NonEx-Sub. Regular exercise confers an advantage by modifying cardiovascular parameters with an added advantage on efficient and reduced energy utilization in the exercising subjects