AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ENTREPRENEURIAL ORIENTATION AND STRATEGIC LEARNING CAPABILITY IN THE SELECTED NIGERIAN PUBLIC SECTOR

This study examines the association between entrepreneurial orientation and strategic learning capability using organic structure, market responsiveness and mode of strategy formation as mediating variable. It explicates how public organisations generate strategic knowledge and use such knowledge to enhance their business operations. Using a survey design, 450 questionnaires were distributed among 12 governmental agencies and 228 questionnaires were retrieved. The data were analyzed using regression analysis. The findings indicate a strong association between entrepreneurial orientation and strategic learning capability. Also, when the mediating variables were simultaneously entered with the independent variable as a predictor of strategic learning capability, they all made the criterion variable stronger and show that the relationships are statistically significant. The study concludes that being entrepreneurially oriented in public organisations will lead to strategic learning capability and recommends that managers consciously and actively encourage policies and actions that are entrepreneurial in order to foster strategic learning capability, strategic change and organisational effectiveness

Management of collaboration for agricultural innovation systems: a case of constraints among stakeholders in the North West Province, South Africa

The objective of this paper is to identify constraints hindering collaboration among stakeholders for agricultural innovation system in the North West Province of South Africa. A total sample size of 205 respondents is selected for the study. The study first identifies the characteristics of stakeholders involved in the agricultural innovation system in the North West Province. Data are collected through a structured questionnaire on personal characteristics and constraints hindering collaboration in agricultural innovation system among stakeholders. The data are subjected to analysis using the Statistical Product and Service Solution (SPSS). Descriptive statistics such as frequency distribution, percentages and one way ANOVA are used for analysis. The results revealed that gender has an influence on the adoption of agricultural innovation in the North West Province; farming decisions are dominated by men rather than women, extension agents (65%), researchers (68%), farmers (51%), input dealers (73%) and marketers (70%). One way analysis of variance results shows no difference in constraint among AIS stakeholders in North West Province. The F value for constraint shows that there is no significant difference among stakeholders in the North West Provinc

The Anti-Thyroglobulin and Anti-Thyroperoxidase Auto Antibodies Comparative Mean Titer Values In Infertile Compared To Ferlile Euthyroid Women

OBJECTIVE: This study was carried out to determine the anti-thyroglobulin and anti-thyroperoxidase serum auto-antibody levels as primary markers and their immunological correlates as indicators of the cause of infertility and the recurrent spontaneous abortion in some Euthyroid Nigerian women. DESIGN: A total of two hundred and ninety (290) Euthyroid female volunteers were recruited having filled a designed questionnaire to obtain their informed consents. Thereafter, following the Ethics group recommendations, blood samples were collected from each of the one hundred and sixty four (164) women in the control groups, a week after their menses. The control groups recruited are as follows: (46) nulligravida, (58) multiparous non-pregnant women and (60) pregnant women in their first trimester, served as the third control group. There were one hundred and twenty six (126) infertile women in the test group, made up of (34) primary infertile, (46) secondary infertile and recurrent spontaneous aborters respectively. The assays of anti-thyroglobulin and anti-microsomal (thyroid peroxidase-anti-TPO) antibodies were determined, using individual agglutination kits and the diagnostic ELISA kits (enzyme linked immuno-sorbent assay) from meridian Bioscience Europe.   RESULT / OUTCOME: This study had therefore established the significant presence of anti-thyroglobulin and anti-thyroperoxidase as immune species marker in the serum of some Euthyroid Nigerian women experiencing reproductive failure compared to the women in the control group. The serum anti-thyroglobulin (Tg-Ab) and anti-microsomal (anti-thyroperoxidase (TPO- Ab) auto antibodies showed that serum anti-thyroglobulin (Tg-Ab) level was significantly higher in the women in the secondary infertile (809.65+ 3.23 U/ml ) than that of the primary infertile group with 539.59+3.79 U/ml  as well as the recurrent spontaneous aborter group with 490.00+3.20 U/ml. This are compared with the control women in the nulligravida with (42.48+3.16 U/ml), multiparous (32.02+ 2.82 U/ml)   and the pregnant (31.90+ 2.77 U/ml) groups. The anti-thyroperoxidase (TPO-Ab) mean titer of the study group was equally higher and significant (P < 0.05) compared to the women in the control group. Keywords: Anti-thyroglobulin (Tg Ab) , anti-thyroperoxidase (TPO Ab), pregnancy, primary infertility and Recurrent Spontaneous Abortions

Biodiesel Washing Water Treatment Using Zeolite and Activated Carbon as Adsorbents

Biodiesel production was produced from the transesterification of palm oil and methanol using KOH catalyst. The process variables considered are methanol to oil mole ratio of 4 – 6 and catalyst concentration of 0.2 – 1.0 wt/wt% Oil, at constant reaction temperature of 60℃ and constant reaction time of 60 minutes. Response surface plot showed that maximum yield of biodiesel (92 %) was obtained at 0.4 wt/wt% catalyst concentration and methanol/oil mole ratio of 7. The conventional activated carbon and zeolite produced were used separately as adsorbents in the treatment of biodiesel washing water. Comparatively, zeolite produced displayed better adsorption property compared to the conventional activated carbon in removing the six heavy metals considered from the biodiesel washing water. For instance, Chromium concentration of 0.0096 mg/L was reduced to 0.0023 mg/L after adsorption treatment with activated carbon (76 % efficiency), while the concentration was reduced to 0.0010 mg/L after the adsorption treatment with zeolite (89 % efficiency)

DETERMINANTS OF BROILER PRODUCTION AND ITS EFFECTS ON POVERTY STATUS AMONG CIVIL SERVANTS IN JOS METROPOLIS, PLATEAU STATE, NIGERIA

The research was carried out to analyze broiler production as a sustainable tool in reducing poverty among civil servants in Plateau State, Nigeria. The specific objectives were to: determine the profitability of broiler production; evaluate the poverty status and the effect of broiler income on the poverty status of the civil servants; identify the socio-economic factors influencing the level of broiler production; and describe the constraints of broiler production. Data from 120 members of Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN) who are civil servants, were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Majority of the civil servants that engaged in broiler farmers were women. Findings revealed that the influx of new entrants into broiler production in recent times was due to the ban on importation of frozen poultry product by the Federal Government of Nigeria which create high demand-supply gap. The civil servants’ broiler producers earned a profit margin of 58% and return on investment of ₦1.67 per Naira invested. This resulted into reduced FGT poverty indices. The level of broiler production were significantly determined by sex, level of education and experience at different level of probability. Likewise, the poverty status of the civil servants were significantly affected by salary and income from broiler production at 1 and 5 % levels of probability. Major constraints in broiler production were high cost of feed and vaccines. Government ban on importation of poultry meat is plausible and should be further imbibed by the Nigerian citizens to consume home grown poultry meat

Lamivudine-Induced Liver Injury

BACKGROUND: Lamivudine is a nucleoside analogue antiretroviral drug, known for its low toxicity at clinically prescribed dose. However, the toxicity or mechanism of toxicity and target tissue effects during prolonged administration of higher doses were hardly given sufficient laboratory attention. AIM: The present work was designed to investigate the biochemical and histopathological changes in the liver of rat administered with prolonged doses of lamivudine. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Lamivudine in multiple doses of five ranging from 4 mg/kg to 2500 mg/kg were administered, in vitro, by injection into the air-sac of 10–day old fertile embryonated eggs of Gallus domesticus. Also, female rats of the Wistar strain received oral doses, up to 500 mg/kg singly or repeatedly for 15 or 45 days, respectively. Spectrophotometric techniques were employed to monitor activities of the aminotransferases (ALT and AST), γ–glutamyltransferase (GGT) and total protein concentration in serum while activities of glutathione S–transferase (GST), GGT and superoxide dismutase (SOD) as well as concentrations of malondialdehyde (MDA) and protein were determined in liver. Histopathological studies were carried out on liver. Data were analysed using ANOVA and were considered significant when p < 0.05. RESULTS: The LD50 for the drug calculated from the incubation experiment was 427 mg/kg. Total serum protein concentration significantly reduced while enzymes activities significantly increased at 500 mg/kg only among the repeat-dosed rats. Hepatic GGT, GST and SOD activities as well as MDA concentration were significantly elevated at 20 mg/kg. Histopathological studies showed multifocal lymphoid cell population in the liver sinusoid of the chicken and hydropic degeneration of hepatocytes were recorded among rats repeatedly exposed to the drug respectively at doses ≥ 100 mg/kg

Design and Construction of an Arduino - Based Solar Power Parameter-Measuring System with Data Logger

Accurate monitoring and measurement of solar photovoltaic panel parameters are important for solar power plant analysis to evaluate the performance and predict the future energy generation. There are always challenges of getting such data readily available due to huge amount of money to be spent on state of the art equipment or the purchase of reliable satellite weather data. This study aimed at the development of a cost-effective parameter-measuring system for a solar photovoltaic panel using Arduino microprocessor board. The systems measure five parameters, including voltage, current, light intensity, temperature, and pressure. The hardware circuit was designed to link different sensors with the Arduino board and the measured data were in turn were documented into a computer for further analysis. The accuracy of the constructed device was ascertained by comparing the measured parameters with that of conventional standard measuring instruments which shows good agreement. The measured parameters show that the output energy generation from solar photovoltaic panel largely depends on the solar irradiance and temperatur

Determinants of Depression among University Students in Nigeria

الملخص: تبحث الدراسة محددات الاكتئاب بين طلاب الجامعات في نيجيريا، وقد اُستخدم المنهج الوصفي من خلال تطبيق استبيان في هذه الدراسة. شملت عيّنة الدراسة جميع طلاب الجامعات في نيجيريا، وتكونت عينة الدراسة من 1050 طالبًا جامعيًا. قام الباحثون بإعداد استبانة خاصة للدراسة، باستخدام نمط الاستجابات المغلقة. أظهرت النتائج أن العمر والدخل عوامل مهمة في مستوى الاكتئاب لدى طلاب الجامعات في نيجيريا، بينما نوع الأسرة لم يكن له تأثير، وعليه فقد جاءت التوصيات على أنه يجب على إدارة الجامعة تحسين خدمات الصحة العقلية من خلال زيادة التثقيف الصحي للكشف المبكر والسيطرة على حالات الاكتئاب بين الطلاب.Abstract: The study examined the determinants of depression among university students in Nigeria. Additionally, descriptive research design of survey type was used in this study. The population for this study comprised of all Nigeria undergraduate students. The sample for the study was 1,050 undergraduates. The instrument used for this study was a self-constructed, structured close ended questionnaire. Findings revealed that age and income were significant determinants of depression among university students in Nigeria while family type is not. It was therefore recommended that the University management should strengthen mental health services through health education to enable early detection and management of depression among students