THE INFLUENCE OF GENERAL INTELLIGENCE AND SOCIAL INTELLIGENCE ABILITY ON STUDENTS ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT

In this study, the objective was to test the intelligence ability and social intelligence of school students. Standardized questionnaire was used to measure the study variables including social intelligence test, intelligent ability, social intelligence on scholastic achievement for class 10 students in Nairob, Kenya. In this study, data is collected from students on the intelligence ability and social intelligence along with scholastic achievement using the exam score. The findings are that intelligence ability (beta=.786, P<.05) and social intelligence (beta=.978, P<.05) has positive significant effects on student’s scholastic achievement. The two factors explain 54.5% change in the scholastic achievement of students. Our second important finding are that intelligence (beta=.542, P<.05) and social intelligence (beta=.657, P<.05) has positive and significant influence on students’ academic achievement. These factors explain 43.4% change in the dependent variable. Third main findings are that there is no significant difference between male and female students in terms of mean score of intelligence ability and mean score of social intelligence

Competitive Intelligence Practices and Performance of Airlines in Kenya:Case of Air Kenya Express Limited

The airline industry in Kenya has been described by industrious operational wastefulness and poor financial performance. These shortcomings have been linked to poor adaption of competitive intelligence strategies by the airline companies. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of competitive intelligence practices on the performance of Airlines in Kenya. Specifically, the study sought; to establish the connection between product intelligence practices and performance of Air Kenya Express Ltd; to explore whether markets intelligence practices affect the performance of Air Kenya Express Ltd; to survey whether technology intelligence practices influence performance of Air Kenya Express Ltd; and to establish the impact of strategic alliance intelligence practices on performance of Air Kenya Express Ltd. The study employed a descriptive research design. The study target population was 150 employees of Air Kenya Express Limited head office in Nairobi. A sample of 25% was selected from within each group in proportions using stratified random sampling method to select 38 respondents. Questionnaires which contained both open and close-ended questions were used. Descriptive analysis was used to analyze the data collected, which included both qualitative and quantitative data. For further analysis of responses, tables and figures were used. Relationship between variables and their strength was shown using multiple regression analysis. The study findings revealed that the four independent variables explain 84.6% of the performance of Air Kenya Express Kenya Limited as shown by the R squared. The regression results revealed that market intelligence, product intelligence, technological intelligence and strategic alliance intelligence strategies has a positive and significant influence on performance of Airlines in Kenya. The findings of the study will enable Airline management to comprehend the significance of competitive intelligence and how extraordinary firms can accomplish competitive advantage. The study findings will also contribute greatly in the formulation of policies on competitive intelligence practices. Keywords: competitive intelligence practices, performance, airline

The Effects of Income Diversification and Non –Performing Assets on Interest Spread among the Kenyan Commercial Banks.

Banking institutions plays a major role in a country’s and global economy. An efficient financial intermediation has a direct impact on effectiveness of investable resource mobilization, and thus, economic development. A major indicator of efficiency in banking sector is the interest rate spread which indicates the level of financial sector’s development. Therefore, a major goal in financial sector deepening and financial liberalization is the narrowing down of interest spread.  In Kenya various structural changes intended to lower interest rate spread were initiated by the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) since interest rate liberalization in early 1990s, but as documented in various Monetary Policy Statement issues and acknowledged by the Industry players and policy makers, interest rate spread remained high. But commercial banks have undergone a lot of changes characterized by new business models anchored on enhanced technologies and innovativeness; income diversification and others, in order to help them in reducing interest rate spread. Therefore this study sought to establish the effect of income diversification and non-performing assets on interest rate spread among Kenyan commercial banks. While few studies had been conducted in this subject, none had captured the post economic crisis period in a broad way. Further, income diversifications, a product of commercial bank evolution in the period under study, received little attention. The study used quarterly bank-specific, industry specific and macroeconomic data between 2004 and 2014. Random effect regression analysis was used to meet the objective.  Regression results indicated a 0.11 percent fall in spread following a 1 percent increase in the proportion of non-interest income to total income. No significant relationship was observed between spread and non-performing assets. But market concentration and operation cost had significant positive relationship. On the other hand, increased illiquidity in commercial banks reduced spread. The study recommends focus on operational efficiency, income diversification, market competition, reduced return’s appetite and scaled credit information sharing. Keywords: Income Diversification; Nonperforming Assets; Interest rate spread; Banking Institution

Resource Isolating Mechanisms and Sustainable Competitive Advantage Among Commercial Banks in Kenya

Kenyan commercial banks are facing intense rivalry within the industry due to dynamic changes in the external environment. For survival in the industry, it is important that banks respond to the changes in the external environment. Sustainable competitive advantage has become the core focus of corporate strategy, has increasingly gained much attention in strategic management and is a concept which enables organizations to survive in the long-run. The main purpose of this study was to establish the effect of resource isolating mechanism on sustainable competitive advantage among commercial banks in Kenya. The specific objectives in this study were to ascertain the effect of economic deterrence, identification of rival competitive advantage and exploitation of opportunities on sustainable competitive advantage among commercial banks in Kenya. Descriptive and explanatory research designs were employed in the study. The research targeted all the commercial banks in Kenya. Purposive sampling was used to select a sample of 160 respondents from the key departments of Finance, Sales and Marketing, Strategy and Operations of all the forty (40) commercial banks’ headquarters in Kenyan capital Nairobi. The data collection instrument used was semi-structured questionnaire. The variable characteristics were summarized using descriptive statistics. Agreement to the most frequent responses to the statements on the study variables ranged between moderate and high extent. Based on results of hypotheses testing, there exists a positive effect of resource isolating mechanism on sustainable competitive advantage

Analysis to Action: A Guidebook For Conflict-Sensitive USAID Programming in Africa

https://nsuworks.nova.edu/hcas_dcrs_facbooks/1039/thumbnail.jp

Antimicrobial resistance among migrants in Europe: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Rates of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are rising globally and there is concern that increased migration is contributing to the burden of antibiotic resistance in Europe. However, the effect of migration on the burden of AMR in Europe has not yet been comprehensively examined. Therefore, we did a systematic review and meta-analysis to identify and synthesise data for AMR carriage or infection in migrants to Europe to examine differences in patterns of AMR across migrant groups and in different settings. METHODS: For this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, and Scopus with no language restrictions from Jan 1, 2000, to Jan 18, 2017, for primary data from observational studies reporting antibacterial resistance in common bacterial pathogens among migrants to 21 European Union-15 and European Economic Area countries. To be eligible for inclusion, studies had to report data on carriage or infection with laboratory-confirmed antibiotic-resistant organisms in migrant populations. We extracted data from eligible studies and assessed quality using piloted, standardised forms. We did not examine drug resistance in tuberculosis and excluded articles solely reporting on this parameter. We also excluded articles in which migrant status was determined by ethnicity, country of birth of participants' parents, or was not defined, and articles in which data were not disaggregated by migrant status. Outcomes were carriage of or infection with antibiotic-resistant organisms. We used random-effects models to calculate the pooled prevalence of each outcome. The study protocol is registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42016043681. FINDINGS: We identified 2274 articles, of which 23 observational studies reporting on antibiotic resistance in 2319 migrants were included. The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or AMR infection in migrants was 25·4% (95% CI 19·1-31·8; I2 =98%), including meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (7·8%, 4·8-10·7; I2 =92%) and antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (27·2%, 17·6-36·8; I2 =94%). The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or infection was higher in refugees and asylum seekers (33·0%, 18·3-47·6; I2 =98%) than in other migrant groups (6·6%, 1·8-11·3; I2 =92%). The pooled prevalence of antibiotic-resistant organisms was slightly higher in high-migrant community settings (33·1%, 11·1-55·1; I2 =96%) than in migrants in hospitals (24·3%, 16·1-32·6; I2 =98%). We did not find evidence of high rates of transmission of AMR from migrant to host populations. INTERPRETATION: Migrants are exposed to conditions favouring the emergence of drug resistance during transit and in host countries in Europe. Increased antibiotic resistance among refugees and asylum seekers and in high-migrant community settings (such as refugee camps and detention facilities) highlights the need for improved living conditions, access to health care, and initiatives to facilitate detection of and appropriate high-quality treatment for antibiotic-resistant infections during transit and in host countries. Protocols for the prevention and control of infection and for antibiotic surveillance need to be integrated in all aspects of health care, which should be accessible for all migrant groups, and should target determinants of AMR before, during, and after migration. FUNDING: UK National Institute for Health Research Imperial Biomedical Research Centre, Imperial College Healthcare Charity, the Wellcome Trust, and UK National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Healthcare-associated Infections and Antimictobial Resistance at Imperial College London

Surgical site infection after gastrointestinal surgery in high-income, middle-income, and low-income countries: a prospective, international, multicentre cohort study

Background: Surgical site infection (SSI) is one of the most common infections associated with health care, but its importance as a global health priority is not fully understood. We quantified the burden of SSI after gastrointestinal surgery in countries in all parts of the world. Methods: This international, prospective, multicentre cohort study included consecutive patients undergoing elective or emergency gastrointestinal resection within 2-week time periods at any health-care facility in any country. Countries with participating centres were stratified into high-income, middle-income, and low-income groups according to the UN's Human Development Index (HDI). Data variables from the GlobalSurg 1 study and other studies that have been found to affect the likelihood of SSI were entered into risk adjustment models. The primary outcome measure was the 30-day SSI incidence (defined by US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria for superficial and deep incisional SSI). Relationships with explanatory variables were examined using Bayesian multilevel logistic regression models. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02662231. Findings: Between Jan 4, 2016, and July 31, 2016, 13 265 records were submitted for analysis. 12 539 patients from 343 hospitals in 66 countries were included. 7339 (58·5%) patient were from high-HDI countries (193 hospitals in 30 countries), 3918 (31·2%) patients were from middle-HDI countries (82 hospitals in 18 countries), and 1282 (10·2%) patients were from low-HDI countries (68 hospitals in 18 countries). In total, 1538 (12·3%) patients had SSI within 30 days of surgery. The incidence of SSI varied between countries with high (691 [9·4%] of 7339 patients), middle (549 [14·0%] of 3918 patients), and low (298 [23·2%] of 1282) HDI (p < 0·001). The highest SSI incidence in each HDI group was after dirty surgery (102 [17·8%] of 574 patients in high-HDI countries; 74 [31·4%] of 236 patients in middle-HDI countries; 72 [39·8%] of 181 patients in low-HDI countries). Following risk factor adjustment, patients in low-HDI countries were at greatest risk of SSI (adjusted odds ratio 1·60, 95% credible interval 1·05–2·37; p=0·030). 132 (21·6%) of 610 patients with an SSI and a microbiology culture result had an infection that was resistant to the prophylactic antibiotic used. Resistant infections were detected in 49 (16·6%) of 295 patients in high-HDI countries, in 37 (19·8%) of 187 patients in middle-HDI countries, and in 46 (35·9%) of 128 patients in low-HDI countries (p < 0·001). Interpretation: Countries with a low HDI carry a disproportionately greater burden of SSI than countries with a middle or high HDI and might have higher rates of antibiotic resistance. In view of WHO recommendations on SSI prevention that highlight the absence of high-quality interventional research, urgent, pragmatic, randomised trials based in LMICs are needed to assess measures aiming to reduce this preventable complication

Pooled analysis of WHO Surgical Safety Checklist use and mortality after emergency laparotomy

Background The World Health Organization (WHO) Surgical Safety Checklist has fostered safe practice for 10 years, yet its place in emergency surgery has not been assessed on a global scale. The aim of this study was to evaluate reported checklist use in emergency settings and examine the relationship with perioperative mortality in patients who had emergency laparotomy. Methods In two multinational cohort studies, adults undergoing emergency laparotomy were compared with those having elective gastrointestinal surgery. Relationships between reported checklist use and mortality were determined using multivariable logistic regression and bootstrapped simulation. Results Of 12 296 patients included from 76 countries, 4843 underwent emergency laparotomy. After adjusting for patient and disease factors, checklist use before emergency laparotomy was more common in countries with a high Human Development Index (HDI) (2455 of 2741, 89.6 per cent) compared with that in countries with a middle (753 of 1242, 60.6 per cent; odds ratio (OR) 0.17, 95 per cent c.i. 0.14 to 0.21, P <0001) or low (363 of 860, 422 per cent; OR 008, 007 to 010, P <0.001) HDI. Checklist use was less common in elective surgery than for emergency laparotomy in high-HDI countries (risk difference -94 (95 per cent c.i. -11.9 to -6.9) per cent; P <0001), but the relationship was reversed in low-HDI countries (+121 (+7.0 to +173) per cent; P <0001). In multivariable models, checklist use was associated with a lower 30-day perioperative mortality (OR 0.60, 0.50 to 073; P <0.001). The greatest absolute benefit was seen for emergency surgery in low- and middle-HDI countries. Conclusion Checklist use in emergency laparotomy was associated with a significantly lower perioperative mortality rate. Checklist use in low-HDI countries was half that in high-HDI countries.Peer reviewe