Using Marketing Performance Appraisal to Develop Bank Marketing Strategy

The 'strategic posture' of banks depends partly on the competitive environment, partly on its allocation of marketing resources. Strategic posture is determined in the context of the strengths, limitations, and corporate objectives of the bank. This paper presents different marketing strategies for bankers, suggesting that the selection of appropriate strategy should be based on the internal conditions and external forces facing the firm. The selected strategy should then be implemented by a prudent marketing plan. If a bank's marketing strategy is to be effective, due attention should be given to the marketing organizational structure and its department responsibilities. Finally, the study suggests several alternative criteria for evaluating the performance of the selected marketing strategy. Dynamic conditions and strategic objectives should be continually appraised in order that bankers might retain the market advantag

Water-in-Oil-in-Water multiple emulsions of ibuprofen for paediatrics using african walnut seed oil

Many prolonged-release dosage forms have employed multiple emulsions (MEs) systems. Hence, this study formulated water-in-oil-in-water (w/o/w) MEs of ibuprofen using African walnut seed oil (AWSO) for paediatrics use. The MEs were prepared by a two-step emulsification method, using Span 80® and Tween 80® as primary and secondary emulsifiers, respectively. The MEs were evaluated by their physical properties, drug entrapment efficiency, stability and drug release profile. From the study, stable MEs of ibuprofen (100 mg / 5 ml) can be prepared with 25 % w/v Span 80® as the primary emulsifier, and 8, 10 or 12 % w/v Tween 80® as the secondary emulsifier. The optimum ratios of oil to water in the primary emulsion were 1:1 and 3:2, while that of primary emulsion to external aqueous phase were 1:1 and 1:2. The amount of the ibuprofen released from the MEs was ≤ 35.6 % at 5 hours. The study offers ibuprofen emulsions which may require once daily dosing compared to other available paediatric dosage forms of the drug which require three to four times dosing daily. It also provides information on AWSO as a possible drug carrier in the formulation of w/o/w MEs of ibuprofen for paediatrics

Consumer Purchase Behaviour in a Frequently bought product Category: Investigation and measure of Brand loyalty.

Past research has predominantly relied on models without incorporating heterogeneity as part of their methodological tools. This research investigates different ways of modeling brand loyalty using a competing risk model that incorporate brand loyalty and study its time dependence. We introduce previous models by including switch-specific hazard functions, repeat purchases, marketing mix Variables, unobserved heterogeneity and mover- stage type loyalty. An empirical example based on household purchases of disposable products is provided to illustrate the modeling approach. Results indicate that ignoring heterogeneity will lead to biased inferences concerning time dependence of brand loyalty. Keywords: Heterogeneity, Mover-Stayer loyalty, Hazard function, and Marketing mi

A FRAMEWORK FOR A CLOUD-BASED ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORDS SYSTEM FOR NIGERIA

  In most countries of the developed world, one of the integral components of Health Information System (HIS) is Electronic Health Records (EHR). With advances in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and the rise in the adoption of cloud computing approaches in the health sector of these countries by a substantial number of health institutions, cloud servers are now remote repository of EHRs. However, in Nigeria and many other developing countries, health information of patients is still predominantly paper-based medical records. This manual method is not scalable in terms of storage, prone to error, insecure, susceptible to damage and degradation over time, highly unavailable, time consuming in accessing and with no visible audit trail and version history to mention but a few. In this paper, a framework for a cloud-based electronic health records system that is capable of storage, retrieval and updating of patients’ medical records for Nigeria is proposed. The framework provides for various medical stakeholders in a health institution and patients to access the EHR system via a web portal by using a variety of devices in the contextual scenario whereby the health institution is migrating from paper-based patient record documentation to an EHR system

Adherence to antiretroviral therapy among HIV-infected prisoners : a systematic review and meta-analysis

Data on antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence among prison inmates are limited and not previously synthesized in a systematic manner. The objective of this study was to provide accurate and up-to-date ART adherence estimates among prison inmates. We searched electronic databases for all studies reporting adherence as a primary or secondary outcome among prison inmates. A random-effects model was used to pool adherence rates; sensitivity, heterogeneity and publication bias were assessed. Eleven studies involving 2895 HIV-infected prison inmates were included. The studies were carried out between 1992 and 2011 and reported between 1998 and 2013. A pooled analysis of all studies indicated a pooled estimate of 54.6% (95% confidence interval 48.1–60.9%) of prison inmates had adequate (≥95%) ART adherence. The adherence estimates were significantly higher among cross-studies and studies that used self-reported measures. In summary, our findings indicate that optimal adherence remains a challenge among prison inmates. It is crucial to monitor ART adherence and develop appropriate interventions to improve adherence among these population

Distillery Wastewater Decontamination by the Fenton Advanced Oxidation Method

This study evaluated the effect of Fenton advanced oxidation process on the treatment of an industrial wastewater (distillery). The comparison of the effects of Fe2+ loadings, H2O2 dosages (2%(v/v)and 4%(v/v)), reaction temperature and reaction time, established optimum efficiency in terms of BOD and COD reductions. The best operating conditions for the treatment of the distillery wastewater containing 43.85 mg/L BOD concentration and 274.28 mg/L COD concentration in the raw effluent was 2% H2O2 dosage at constant loadings of Fe2+ (1.5 g), 80 oC pretreatment temperature, and 1 h reaction time. At this optimized condition, the BOD content reduced to about 35 mg/L (about 21% removal) and COD content reduced to about 53 mg/L (about 81% removal). There was a complete removal of the initial colour present in the wastewater after the treatment process. The process proved the ability to effectively reduce the COD content which when high in industrial wastewaters can lead to serious impacts to the environmen

Effect Of Air Pollution On Concentrations Of Lead, Cadmium And Chromium In Ready To Eat Foods In Some Major Towns Of South-Western Nigeria

The concentrations of heavy metals in Ready-to-Eat foods offered for sale in some major towns of South-West Nigeria were assessed.   Ready-to-Eat food samples were collected in triplicate from various vendors’ locations with varying degree of air pollution measured by traffic flow.   The samples were dried, milled, digested to ash and analysed for cadmium, lead, and chromium using Graphite-furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer.   Results showed that Lead concentration in Ready-to-Eat food ranged between 3.8 and 23.6mg/100g of sample.   Fried ready to eat foods were also found to contain higher Lead (6.9-23.6mg/100g of sample) and Cadmium concentrations (2.7-28.3/100g of sample) than non-fried ones.   Deposition of Cadmium was noticeable in samples obtained from industrial locations.   Chromium concentrations in all the locations (2.1-38.5mg/100g of sample) tend to approach acute toxicity values. The findings point to deposition of heavy metals on ready to eat foods at levels that could be hazardous on a long-term basis. Keywords: Air Pollution, Concentration, Lead, Cadmium, Chromium, South-West Nigeria

Construction practitioners’ perception of key drivers of reputation in mega-construction projects

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to commence the discourse on the non-inclusiveness of the dynamics of reputation within the construction industry by identifying and examining the key product and process drivers of reputation in mega-construction projects. Design/methodology/approach: Data was collected through an exploratory sequential mixed methods approach which commences with a qualitative study and culminates with a quantitative study to identify product and process drivers of reputation in mega-construction projects. Findings: The findings suggest that “project quality”, “robust social and environmental sustainability plan”, “project team competence and interpersonal relationship” and “project process efficacy” are the four key drivers influencing the reputation of mega-construction projects. Research limitations/implications: The findings of this study are solely based on the perception of UK construction practitioners; therefore, the results may only be considered valid in this context. The identification of these key drivers provides a pathway where stakeholders, professionals and organisations can identify and prioritise critical issues associated with enhancing and sustaining the reputation of mega-construction projects. Originality/value: Findings of this research make a significant contribution to the discourse on the concept of reputation within the construction industry by identifying its specific drivers of reputation

Sensory Evaluation of Ogbono (Irvingia Gabonensis) Soup Formulations

Particle size of dikanut seeds milled using attrition and hammer mills were submitted for sensory evaluation in three ogbono soup formulations.   Sensory attributes of the freshly prepared ogbono soup classified by the three formulas, percent dikanut concentration and temperature of soup preparation were assessed.   Consumer test showed preference for Oguntona’s formula and consumer’s acceptability was optimized when dikanut concentration lies between 10 – 11%.  Objective measurement (consistency index) correlated well with subjective response (overall acceptability).   A model was developed relating consistency index to temperature of preparation and dikanut concentration. Keywords: Dikanut seeds, soup, sensory formulation