Talent Management as a Determinant of Firm Performance: A Conceptual Approach

This study attempted to clarify the growing concept of strategic talent management and highlights its effect on organizational performance. This study employed archival method and as such extant literature was reviewed and collated for development of propositions. These propositions were developed based on the findings from the literature. Regardless of the increasing reputation talent management has and more than ten years of discussion as well as publicity, the idea behind talent management is still vague. Huge ambiguity still exists in the meaning and latitude of the concept. The recent expression ‘talent management’ has been initiated in the last decade. The term "Talent Management" was initiated recently to provide a single solution for the issues relating to the attraction and retention of qualified workforce. Talent management is beset with misunderstandings, doubts and lack of clarity, implying that the subject is not grounded in practice and thus reinforcing why it is viewed by many experts as a puzzle. Also, the effect talent management has on the outcome of an organization remains an issue particularly wherever only high ranked staff are considered the talents in an organization. This paper advocates the continuous training of personnel to obtain the required level of capacity of employees. The work-force who is involved in the talent management program is expected to be more innovative and contribute excellently to the success of the organization

Two genotypes of Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae virulence identified in West Africa

Bacterial leaf blight (BLB) caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo), is a very destructive rice disease worldwide. The aim of the present study was to examine if the Xoo virulence pathotypes obtained using phenotypic pathotyping could be confirmed using molecular approach. After screening of 60 Operon primers with genomic DNA of two Xoo isolates (virulent pathotype, Vr and mildly virulent pathotype, MVr), 12 Operon primers that gave reproducible and useful genetic information were selected and used to analyze 50 Xoo isolates from 7 West African countries. Genetic analysis revealed two major Xoo virulence molecular type (Mt) which were Mta and Mtb with Mta having two subgroups (Mta1 and Mta2). Mta1 (Vr1) subgroup genotype has occurrence in six countries and Mta2 (Vr2) in three countries while Mtb genotype characterized mildly virulence (MVr) Xoo isolates present in five countries. The study revealed possible linkage and correlation between phenotypic pathotyping and molecular typing of Xoo virulence. Durable resistance rice cultivars would need to overcome both Mta and Mtb Xoo virulence genotypes in order to survive after their deployment into different rice ecologies in West Africa

Electricity Theft Prediction on Low Voltage Distribution System Using Autoregressive

Electricity consumers tend to avoid the payment of electricity dues through various methods such as tampering with energy meter and illegal tapping via direct connection to the distribution feeder. This has led to huge revenue losses by the electricity supplying corporation and the related government or private agencies. A new approach of detecting electricity theft on low voltage distribution systems, either single or three phase, based on the advanced signal processing using linear prediction is presented in this paper. Consumer data were analyzed using Autoregressive (AR) model in order to predict the quantity of power consumed within the specified interval and consequently, compare the result obtained with the actual data recorded against the consumer under study. Thus the model developed was used to predict power consumption at 30minutes interval ahead, thereby facilitating the detection of electricity theft if there is a wide variation between the actual and the predicted data

Alkylating efficiency of sodium azide on pod yield, nut size and nutrition composition of Samnut 10 and Samnut 20 varieties of groundnut (Arachis hypogea L.)

Mutation has been utilised to improve growth and yield of many food crops, but only little effort has been made to ascertain the nutritional advantages in such improved crops. The present study evaluates the alkylating efficiency of sodium azide of different concentrations on pod yield, nut size and nutritional composition of two groundnut varieties. Dry seeds of groundnut (Arachis hypogea L.); Samnut 10 and Samnut 20 varieties obtained from the Ministry of Agriculture, Ilorin, Kwara State of Nigeria were treated with different sodium azide concentrations (10, 20, 30, 40 and 50mM) for 12 hours. Seeds soaked in distilled water for 12 hours were used as control for each variety. The treated seeds and control were sown in planting bags in randomized complete block design with three replicates. Alkylating effects of the treatments were studied on pod parameters and nut size while proximate analysis was carried out on the nuts to determine their nutritional composition. The results showed that sodium azide treatment of 50 mM produced significantly taller plants with more branches and leaves. Analysis of collected data revealed that sodium azide is effective in achieving significantly earlier- maturing plants with higher pod yield, bigger nut size and heavier nuts. All concentrations of Sodium azide applied induced significant higher crude protein and fat with respect to control in samnut 10 while 50 mM yielded highest protein and fat in samnut 20 variety. Generally, nutritional values of the studied groundnut were improved by sodium azide treatments with respect to protein and fat content which are the most important constituents in groundnut utilization as food or raw material for edible oil. The study concluded that the alkylating effect of sodium azide was effective on pod yield, nut size and other nut characteristics of groundnut and could be employed to improve protein, crude fat and other nutrition contents of the nuts for human and animal consumption as well as industrial applications.Key words: Alkylating effect, nutrition composition, sodium-azid

New consumer load prototype for electricity theft monitoring

Illegal connection which is direct connection to the distribution feeder and tampering of energy meter has been identified as a major process through which nefarious consumers steal electricity on low voltage distribution system. This has contributed enormously to the revenue losses incurred by the power and energy providers. A Consumer Load Prototype (CLP) is constructed and proposed in this study in order to understand the best possible pattern through which the stealing process is effected in real life power consumption. The construction of consumer load prototype will facilitate real time simulation and data collection for the monitoring and detection of electricity theft on low voltage distribution system. The prototype involves electrical design and construction of consumer loads with application of various standard regulations from Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), formerly known as Institution of Electrical Engineers (IEE). LABVIEW platform was used for data acquisition and the data shows a good representation of the connected loads. The prototype will assist researchers and power utilities, currently facing challenges in getting real time data for the study and monitoring of electricity theft. The simulation of electricity theft in real time is one of the contributions of this prototype. Similarly, the power and energy community including students will appreciate the practical approach which the prototype provides for real time information rather than software simulation which has hitherto been used in the study of electricity theft

Psychological adaptation and recovery in youth with sarcoma: a qualitative study with practical implications for clinical care and research

Objectives: This study explored factors that play a role in psychological adaptation and recovery of young people with sarcoma. / Design: Qualitative study. / Setting: National Health Service hospitals in the UK. / Methods: Using purposive sampling, participants were recruited for semistructured interviews over the telephone or face to face in order to answer questions about how cancer impacted various domains of their life. Data were analysed using a framework approach. / Results: Thirty participants, aged 15–39 years with primary sarcoma diagnosis provided in-depth accounts of their experience. Emerging themes from the interviews were grouped into two overarching themes that relate to one’s adaptation to illness: individual level and environmental level. The qualitative nature of our study sheds light on meaningful connections between various factors and their role in one’s psychological adaptation to sarcoma. We devised a visual matrix to illustrate how risk and protective factors in adaptation vary between and within individuals. / Conclusions: This study demonstrates that young people with sarcoma report an array of both positive and negative factors related to their illness experience. The route to recovery is a multifactorial process and a one-size-fits-all approach to psychosocial care proves inadequate. We propose that moving beyond the latent constructs of resilience and psychopathology towards a dynamic model of psychological adaptation and recovery in this population can result in optimisation of care. We offer some recommendations for professionals working with young people with sarcoma in clinic and research

Evaluation and potential of Double Immunodifusion Gel Assay for serological characterization of rice yellow mottle virus isolates in West Africa

Rice yellow mottle virus is not only highly infectious to rice plants but also a highly variable pathogen. Forty-two isolates were obtained from five countries in West Africa. Utilizing 26 polyclonal antisera, the serological diversity of these isolates was determined using Double Immunodifusion Gel Assay. All the antisera were classified into three serogroups, PSg-1a, PSg-1b and PSg-2. Antisera belonging to PSg- 1a, PSg-1b and PSg-2 serogroups had diagnostic potential of 86-90%, 69-76% and 52-64%, respectively, for the 42 RYMV isolates analyzed using a dilution of up 1:200. Moreover, all isolates were separated into three serogroups, Sg-1a, Sg-1b and Sg-2. The first two groups are widely distributed across West Africa. The high diagnostic potential exhibited by the 26 RYMV polyclonal antisera indicates that Double Immunodifusion Gel Assay is useful and reliable for diagnosing RYMV. As the use of ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay) is expensive and unavailable in most of the national agricultural research institute in West Africa, they can adopt Double Immunodifusion Gel Assay for the identification and characterization of Rice yellow mottle virus isolates. This is the first phylogenetic analysis report on the use of Double Immunodifusion Gel Assay to characterize Rice yellow mottle virus isolates in West Africa

Genetic Analysis of Effect of Heat Stress on Genomic DNA from Cowpea ( Vigna unguiculata (L) Walp.)

Aims: Genetic analysis was used to study the effect of heat st ress on young seedlings of cowpea ( Vigna unguiculata (L) Walp.). Study Design: Four different colors of cowpea seeds (white, dirty w hite, deep brown and light brown) were obtained from GeneBank of International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) Ibadan, Nigeria. Seeds from each of the cowpea four colors we re first pre-germinated and young seedlings subjected to DNA extraction. Extracted DNA subjected to different temperature treatments at 75°C and 100°C for one hour and control not heated. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Chemical Sciences Afe Babalola University Ado Ekiti, Nigeria between January 2015 and June 2015. Methodology: UV wavelength absorption spectrum analysis (A 200 – A 960 ) was carried out on control DNA and DNA heated at 75°C and 100°C respectively. Cl uster analysis of optical density (OD) data was carried out to establish the relationship between co ntrol DNA and heat treated DNA (75°C and 100°C). Results: DNA concentrations of Vigna unguiculata (L) Walp. were between 0.40 to 1.15 mg/ml, 0.33 to 0.84 mg/ml, and 0.26 to 0.89 mg/ml for control a nd heat treatments of 75°C and 100°C respectively. DNA UV absorption spectra of control and heat treatments of 75°C and 100°C were generally different due to differential UV wavelengt h absorption. Cluster analysis revealed three different clusters (cluster 1, cluster 2 and cluster 3) among control DNA and heat treated DNA. Cluster 1 comprised of V1-control, V1-75°C and V1-10 0°C, with V1-75°C and V1-100°C having similar characters. Cluster 2 was made up of V4-control, V4-75°C and V4-100°C, with V4-75°C and V4-100°C having the same characters. Cluster 3 was largel y characterized by dissimilar DNA extracts of V3-75°C, V2-control, V3-100°C, V2-100°C, V 3-control and V2-75°C. Conclusion: Genetic diversity among individual Vigna unguiculata (L) Walp. accession DNA as obtained in this study could possibly be as a result of variations in heat tolerance among dissimilar cowpea genomic composition