46 research outputs found
DOES WORKING CAPITAL MANAGEMENT AFFECT THE PROFITABILITY OF CONSUMER GOODS MANUFACTURING FIRMS IN NIGERIA?
The study examined the effect of working capital management on profitability of consumer goods manufacturing firms in Nigeria between the periods 2009 to 2018. The study adopted ex-post-facto design to generate data from the audited financial statements of the selected companies. The population of the study comprised 24 listed consumer goods manufacturing companies, out of which 10 were purposively selected based on the availability of data. The surrogates for independent variables were Account Payable Period (APP), Account Receivable Period (ARP), Inventory Turnover Period (INVTP), Cash Conversion Cycle (CCC) and Sales Growth (SG) as a control variable while the proxy for profitability was Return on Asset (ROA). Descriptive and inferential statistics coupled with multiple regressions were adopted to analyze the data. The Random Effects Generalized Least Square showed that ARP, INVTP, CCC had a negative and significant relationship with ROA while APP, SG had a positive and insignificant relationship with ROA. The study concluded that timely collection of debts and shorter inventory turnover period with cash conversion cycle enhance profitability of consumer goods manufacturing companies. Hence, the study suggested that the management of the companies should implement efficient working capital management for improved profitability.
 
COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF GENOTYPING AND CULTURE-BASED TECHNIQUES FOR FUNGAL KERATITIS DETECTION
The study aims to compare the direct polymerase chain reaction with microbial culture for the detection and fungal pathogens in infectious keratitis. A total of 81 corneal ulcers were culture and analyzed prospectively. PCR was performed with all corneal scrapping with fungal and bacteria specific primers. PCR products were analysed and compared with the culture results using standard methods. Of the 81 samples, 80 were positive by PCR, 51 for fungi and 29 for bacteria. Out of 51 PCR positive samples, 22 samples were culture positive and 29 were culture negative. The majority of PCR genotyped samples matched the positive culture results. The positive detection rate of 80/81 (98.8%) with high suspicion of fungal keratitis and positive detection rate of direct PCR 50/51(98.0%) were observed. The sensitivities for the diagnosis of fungal keratitis with direct PCR and culture were 98.0% (50/51) and 43.1% (22/51) (p< 0.001) whereas the specificities were 100.0% (2/2) and 100.0% (1/1) respectively. The time required to complete the direct PCR was only 3 hours. The direct PCR assay is a rapid diagnostic technique with high sensitivity and specificity for infectious keratitis and it is expected to have impact on the diagnosis and treatment of infectious keratitis.
 
Households Demand Analysis For Processed Fruits In Abeokuta Metropolis of Ogun State, Nigeria
Abstract This study hypothesized that demand for for processed fruits is price inelastic i
Optimal Stochastic control theory and its’ application to Landmark University Development ventures and investment model
This paper deal with optimal stochastic control theory and its’ application to Landmark University
Development ventures and investments model. Here Stochastic Differential Equations (SDE) is considered as
an ordinary differential equations (ODE) driven by white noise and we justified the connection between the Ito’s
integral and white noise in the case of non-random integrands interpreted as cost functions
What influences slum residents’ choices of healthcare providers for common illnesses? Findings of a Discrete Choice Experiment in Ibadan, Nigeria
In Silico Evaluation of Inhibitors of Plasmodium Falciparum AP2-I Transcription Factor and Plasmodium Falciparum Bromodomain Protein 1
Recent treatment failures observed for Artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) have raised concerns about the efficacy of the front-line drug to treat
malaria and the need to develop a new antimalarial drug regimen. Plasmodium falciparum Apicomplexan Apetala 2 Invasion (PfAP2-I) transcription factor
(TF) is a protein that regulates the expression of a subset of gene families involved in Plasmodium falciparum red blood cell (RBC) invasion. PfAP2-I
associates with several chromatin proteins, including the Plasmodium falciparum bromodomain protein 1 (PfBDP1) and that complex formation is associated
with transcriptional regulation. Inhibiting PfAP2-I TF and PfBDP1 with small molecules represents a potential new antimalarial therapeutic target to combat
drug resistance, which this study aims to achieve
Patient characteristics associated with COVID-19 positivity and fatality in Nigeria: retrospective cohort study
Objective: Despite the increasing disease burden, there is
a dearth of context-specific evidence on the risk factors for
COVID-19 positivity and subsequent death in Nigeria. Thus,
the study objective was to identify context-specific factors
associated with testing positive for COVID-19 and fatality
in Nigeria.
Design Retrospective cohort study.
Setting: COVID-19 surveillance and laboratory centres in
36 states and the Federal Capital Territory reporting data to
the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control.
Participants: Individuals who were investigated for SARSCoV-2 using real-time PCR testing during the study period
27 February–8 June 2020.
Methods: COVID-19 positivity and subsequent mortality.
Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed
to identify factors independently associated with both
outcome variables, and findings are presented as adjusted
ORs (aORs) and 95% CIs.
Results: A total of 36 496 patients were tested for
COVID-19, with 10 517 confirmed cases. Of 3215
confirmed cases with available clinical outcomes, 295
died. Factors independently associated with COVID-19
positivity were older age (p value for trend<0.0001), male
sex (aOR 1.11, 95%CI 1.04 to 1.18) and the following
presenting symptoms: cough (aOR 1.23, 95% CI 1.13 to
1.32), fever (aOR 1.45, 95% CI 1.45 to 1.71), loss of smell
(aOR 7.78, 95% CI 5.19 to 11.66) and loss of taste (aOR
2.50, 95% CI 1.60 to 3.90). An increased risk of mortality
following COVID-19 was observed in those aged ≥51
years, patients in farming occupation (aOR 7.56, 95% CI
1.70 to 33.53) and those presenting with cough (aOR 2.06,
95% CI 1.41 to 3.01), breathing difficulties (aOR 5.68, 95%
CI 3.77 to 8.58) and vomiting (aOR 2.54, 95% CI 1.33 to
4.84).
Conclusion: The significant risk factors associated with
COVID-19 positivity and subsequent mortality in the
Nigerian population are similar to those reported in studies
from other countries and should guide clinical decisions for
COVID-19 testing and specialist care referrals
Cassava trait preferences of men and women farmers in Nigeria: implications for breeding
Nigeria is the world’s largest cassava producer, hosting a diverse array of cassava farmers and processors. Cassava breeding programs prioritize “common denominator” traits in setting breeding agendas, to impact the largest possible number of people through improved varieties. This approach has been successful, but cassava adoption rates are less than expected, with room for improvement by integrating traits in demand by farmers and processors. This paper aims to inform breeding priority setting, by examining trait and varietal preferences of men and women cassava farmer/processors. Men and women in eight communities in Southwest and Southeast Nigeria were consulted using mixed methods. Women and men had significantly different patterns of cassava use in the Southwest. Fifty-five variety names were recorded from the communities demonstrating high genetic diversity maintained by growers, especially in the Southeast. High yield, early maturity, and root size were most important traits across both regions, while traits women and men preferred followed gender roles: women prioritized product quality/cooking traits, while men placed higher priority on agronomic traits. Trait preference patterns differed significantly between the Southeast and Southwest, and showed differentiation based on gender. Patterns of access to stem sources were determined more by region and religion than gender
Prevalence of symptoms, comorbidities, fibrin amyloid microclots and platelet pathology in individuals with Long COVID/Post-Acute Sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC)
BackgroundFibrin(ogen) amyloid microclots and platelet hyperactivation previously reported as a novel finding in South African patients with the coronavirus 2019 disease (COVID-19) and Long COVID/Post-Acute Sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC), might form a suitable set of foci for the clinical treatment of the symptoms of Long COVID/PASC. A Long COVID/PASC Registry was subsequently established as an online platform where patients can report Long COVID/PASC symptoms and previous comorbidities.MethodsIn this study, we report on the comorbidities and persistent symptoms, using data obtained from 845 South African Long COVID/PASC patients. By using a previously published scoring system for fibrin amyloid microclots and platelet pathology, we also analysed blood samples from 80 patients, and report the presence of significant fibrin amyloid microclots and platelet pathology in all cases.ResultsHypertension, high cholesterol levels (dyslipidaemia), cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) were found to be the most important comorbidities. The gender balance (70% female) and the most commonly reported Long COVID/PASC symptoms (fatigue, brain fog, loss of concentration and forgetfulness, shortness of breath, as well as joint and muscle pains) were comparable to those reported elsewhere. These findings confirmed that our sample was not atypical. Microclot and platelet pathologies were associated with Long COVID/PASC symptoms that persisted after the recovery from acute COVID-19.ConclusionsFibrin amyloid microclots that block capillaries and inhibit the transport of O2 to tissues, accompanied by platelet hyperactivation, provide a ready explanation for the symptoms of Long COVID/PASC. Removal and reversal of these underlying endotheliopathies provide an important treatment option that urgently warrants controlled clinical studies to determine efficacy in patients with a diversity of comorbidities impacting on SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 severity. We suggest that our platelet and clotting grading system provides a simple and cost-effective diagnostic method for early detection of Long COVID/PASC as a major determinant of effective treatment, including those focusing on reducing clot burden and platelet hyperactivation