Total Quality Management, Entrepreneurial Orientation and Small Enterprises' Performance in Abuja, Nigeria- A Research

The influences and combined effects of Total Quality Management (TQM), Entrepreneurial Orientation (EO) on small entreprise’s performance is the main concern of this paper as has been evident in the literature. Though, research findings on the relationship between these variables (TQM and EO) were reported in isolation. Yet, the finding is often described as contradictory and inconclusive. Therefore, this study investigated the combined effect of total quality management and entrepreneurial orientation on SMEs performance in Abuja, Nigeria. Data was collected from 171 owners/managers of small entreprises and analyzed using SPSS and PLS-SEM statistical tool of analysis. Findings revealed that has significant positive effect on small enterprise’s performance. On the other hand, EO has significant negative effect on small enterprise’s performance. Research implications were provided to small enterprises’ owners/managers on the need to adopt TQM practices to strengthen the effect of EO on performance of small enterprises. Future researchers can examine the model using different sample sizes or apply the model in an entirely new research context

Assessing the Job Selection Criteria of Accounting Students: a Normative Approach

This research assessed to what extent final-year Muslim accounting students in Malaysia considered Islamic principles when choosing a job after graduation. 356 final-year Muslim accounting students in four Malaysian universities were surveyed using an open-ended job selection scenario. The result shows that reality does not live up to the ideal. Only 16% of the respondents apply Islamic principles in making a job selection decision. The remaining 84% are more concerned with other criteria such as personal interests, salary considerations, and company reputation

Data report: IODP Expedition 339 Site U1391: an improved splice and preliminary age model on the basis of XRF data

With the objective to reconstruct past primary production on the southwest Portuguese margin at orbital and millennial timescales through the Pleistocene, we chose to compare two sites recovered during Expedition 339 at similar latitude but different distances to the coast (Sites U1385 and U1391). Site U1385 has a well-established chronology, but for Site U1391 no isotope data are yet available. In order to develop a correct chronology without isotope data, we performed XRF analysis of cores from Holes U1391A and U1391B between 76.51 and 205.77 mbsf. With these data, in particular using log(Ca/Ti) and log(Ca/Fe), it was possible to enhance the Site U1391 splice and to establish an age model based on the correlation to the well-defined and robust Site U1385 age model.UID/Multi/04326/2019;info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Harmful effects of carbamazepine on the postnatal development of the rat ventral prostate

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Carbamazepine (CBZ) is a first-line antiepileptic drug (AED), although it is also used for the treatments of psychiatric disorders and neuropathic pain. The CBZ utilization has been associated with male reproductive damage, including hormonal alterations, sexual dysfunction and reduction of sperm quality. The wide and long-term use of the CBZ is a common schedule in children and adolescents and alters the testosterone level in adult rats and humans. The objective of this work was to evaluate the CBZ side effects on the ventral prostate of rats from pre-puberty to sexual maturation, since the prostate is an androgen-dependent organ.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Twenty three day-old male albino Wistar rats received CBZ diluted in propylene glycol (20 mg/Kg/i.p via). The treatment lasted 20, 40 and 70 days, according to the different stages of the rat sexual maturation. At the end of each treatment period, ventral prostates were removed and histologically processed. The prostate sections were submitted to the histopathological, morphological and stereological analyses using image analysis system.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Reductions of the glandular epithelium, glandular lumen and fibromuscular stroma volume of the ventral prostate were observed in adult rats treated with CBZ since the weaning. Triggering and degranulation of mast cells were observed in the fibromuscular stroma of prepubertal and pubertal CBZ treated rats.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The results suggest a direct effect of the CBZ on rat ventral prostate, evidenced by increase of mast cell and macrophage populations during pre-puberty and puberty causing a ventral prostate accentuated damage in the adult phase.</p

Maternal and perinatal outcome in instrumental vaginal deliveries over 5 years: a retrospective study

Background: Due to fear of trauma and less skill, use of instrumental vaginal delivery (IVD) is decreasing every year and incidence of caesarean section is increasing. Caesarean section is a major surgery associated with increased morbidity and mortality. This study evaluates the incidence of instrumental vaginal delivery and associated maternal and perinatal outcome. Methods: This observational retrospective study was carried out in full term antenatal patients in labour with vertex presentation who had undergone operative vaginal deliveries during the study period from January 2017 to December 2021 at G.C.S. Hospital. Data were obtained from the hospital records and analysed which included the age, parity, incidence, indication, the APGAR scores of the babies and complications in the patient. Results: Incidence of instrumental deliveries was found to be 1.98%. Most common indications for IVD were prolonged second stage of labour followed by foetal distress and post-dated pregnancy. Most common maternal complication was perineal tears and most common perinatal complication was neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission. Conclusions: The decision to proceed with an operative vaginal delivery when a spontaneous vaginal delivery is not possible must be based upon maternal and foetal factors. Most common maternal complications were perineal tears, cervical tears, episiotomy extension, vaginal laceration and atonic postpartum hemorrhage (PPH). Most common neonatal complications were NICU admission most commonly for neonatal hyperbilirubinemia.

Rapid drug-susceptibility testing of Mycobacterium tuberculosis clinical isolates to first-line antitubercular drugs by nitrate reductase assay: A comparison with proportion method

AbstractObjective/backgroundEarly initiation of therapy in patients with tuberculosis is imperative for its control. Conventional methods of susceptibility testing such as the proportion method (PM) require visual detection and counting of colonies that takes up to 6weeks. Rapid and simple phenotypic methods that have been endorsed by the World Health Organization can serve as alternatives.MethodsIn this study, we evaluated the colorimetric nitrate reductase assay, which utilizes the detection of nitrate reduction as an indicator of growth much earlier compared with PM (within 7–14days). The susceptibility of 75 clinical isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis to four first-line antitubercular drugs was tested by nitrate reductase assay and compared with the standard PM. In this assay, inoculation was done on both drug-free and drug-containing Löwenstein–Jensen medium containing sodium nitrate. After incubation for 7–14days, reduction to nitrite was taken as an indicator of growth, which was detected by color change on addition of Griess reagent.ResultsAgreement between nitrate reductase assay and PM was 100% for rifampicin, 97.30% for isoniazid, 93.30% for streptomycin, and 98.60% for ethambutol. Cost/isolate with this assay was found to be approximately two times lesser than that of PM. All results were obtained in 7–14days by nitrate reductase assay, which was significantly rapid compared with 42days taken for obtaining results by PM.ConclusionNitrate reductase assay can be used as a rapid and inexpensive method for drug-susceptibility testing of M. tuberculosis for first-line antitubercular drugs without compromising accuracy of standard methods

Establishing convergent validity of a medication literacy assessment instrument for use within the Nigerian setting

Purpose: To establish convergent validity of a previously designed medication literacy instrument for use in Nigeria. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Zaria, Kaduna State from May to August 2021, with structured instruments administered to conveniently sampled members of the public via one-on-one interviews to collect data. These instruments included a previously designed medication literacy assessment instrument and the Newest Vital Sign United Kingdom version (NVS-UK) health literacy assessment questionnaire. Data obtained was reported using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: Three hundred respondents were interviewed, majority of whom were females (51 %) and aged between 15 – 25 (76.6 %). The percentage of correct responses to the NVS-UK questions ranged from 22 to 58.3 %, while the total number of NVS-UK questions answered correctly by respondents ranged from 0 to 6 with a mean of 2.2 ± 1.7. Respondents’ NVS-UK scores were associated with their highest level of education completed (p = 0.001). The NVS-UK showed adequate internal consistency (Cronbach’s Alpha = 0.7) and validation of the developed medication literacy instrument against the NVS-UK demonstrated a Spearman’s rho correlation coefficient of 0.42. Conclusion: The designed instrument is valid and can be used to assess medication literacy within the country