Critical motivational factors for enhancing employee performance in construction firms based on correlation and principal component analyses

Over the years, construction firms have often hinged their success on the effective motivation of their employees so as to ensure productivity and improved performance. Previous studies noted that various factors affect the motivational level of employees with regards to work performance. However, due to the difference in employee needs, not all motivational factors have influence on employees’ performance. This study sets out to assess the influence of motivational factors on the performance of employees in construction firms. The study aim was achieved through the identification and assessment of critical motivational factors (intrinsic and extrinsic) in the Nigerian construction firms. Perceptual data was collected from employees of selected construction firms using a structured questionnaire. Data collected was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Motivational factors were ranked based on respective mean scores from the most to the least influential. Extrinsic motivational factors such as promotion when due, availability of resources and provision of transportation for employees were found to be the most influential factors on performance. Whereas, constant supervision was found to have the least influence on performance. Findings of the study provides construction firms with empirical data on factors that influence the motivation level of employees with a view to optimizing employee productivity. It is recommended that construction firms should pay close attention to the peculiar needs of respective employees which aids in optimizing organizational performance. Keywords: Motivation, Employee performance, construction firms, critical factor

Real Time Optimal Implementation Of Stabilizing Controller For Inverted Pendulum

This paper present real time control of an inverted pendulum. The system is inherently unstable, nonlinear and under-actuated system. The dynamic model of the system was derived based on Lagrange approach and it was linearized about an appropriate operating point by the use of Taylor’s series approximation. Linear Quadratic Regulator (LQR) controller was designed to stabilize the system in an upright position. The robustness of the control algorithm was tested based on disturbance rejection. Simulation and Experimental results show a good performance was achieved and the controller is robust to external disturbances

Comparative study of the properties of ordinary portland cement concrete and binary concrete containing Metakaolin made from Kankara Kaolin in Nigeria

The study explored metakaolin as alternative material to cement. It compares the properties of Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) concrete and binary concrete containing metakaolin as partial replacement of OPC. Two set of concrete samples; one with 10% Metakaolin (MK) replacing OPC by weight, and the other without MK (100% OPC) as control, were produced. The samples were tested for compressive and tensile strengths at 7, 14, 28 and 90 days. The result revealed that the slump of the binary concrete was 26% lower than the control. However, the compressive and tensile strengths of binary concrete were higher than those of control by 10.8% and 11.9% at 28days, and by 21.6% and 34.5% at 90 days, respectively. Therefore, the MK produced from Kankara Kaolin can be used as Pozzolan to improve the strengths of concrete.Keywords: Pozzolana, binary concrete, OPC concrete, metakaoli

Performance of metakaolin based geopolymer concrete at elevated temperature

Due to the carbon dioxide emission arising from the production of cement, alternative concrete that is environmentally friendly such as metakaolin geopolymer concrete have been developed. However, the performance of metakaolin based geopolymer concrete (MKGC) when exposed to aggressive environment particularly elevated temperature has not been investigated. Therefore, this paper assessed the performance of MKGC exposed to elevated temperatures. MKGC cube specimens of grade 25 were produced using a mix ratio of 1:1.58:3.71.After preparing the specimens, they were placed in an electric oven at a temperature of 60oC for 24 hours. Thereafter, the specimens were stored in the laboratory at ambient temperature for 28 days. The specimens were then exposed to elevated temperatures of 200, 400, 600 and 800oC. After exposure to elevated temperatures, the MKGC specimens were subjected to compressive strength, water absorption and abrasion resistance tests. Results show that at 600 and 800oC, the MKGC lost a compressive strength of 59.69% and 71.71% respectively. Higher water absorption and lower abrasion resistance were also observed. Keywords: Cement, Compressive Strength, Metakaolin Concrete, Elevated Temperature

Structural Integrity of A 2-Storey Building Using None Destructive Testing Method

The paper assessed the condition of the existing two-storey building of six classrooms in Government Girls Day Secondary School, Gumel, Jigawa State. The method of Non Destructive Testing (NDT) using a rebound hammer was adopted. Five structural elements(slabs, beams, columns, staircases and foundations) were assessed. The cumulative average strength of the five structural elements was 32.7 RN. Results revealed that despite signs of physical defects on the building such as cracks, exposed column reinforcement bars, etc. it was still considered safe for use. The study recommended that to prevent the building from deteriorating further, periodic structural assessment and good maintenance practice should be carried out. This is to prolong the life span of the building and prevent any threat to the building users and third parties. Keywords: Non-destructive test, Rebound hammer, structural integrity, structural component

Consumption and Consumer Preference for Poultry Meat Types in Ibadan Metropolis

The study examined consumption and consumer preference for poultry meat types in Ibadan metropolis. Multi-stage sampling technique was used to select the respondents for the study.Primary data were collected with the aid of questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics and multinomial logit regression. The result of the study revealed that majority of the respondents were male (52.7%) within the age bracket of 21-30 (36.7%).Most of them are married (49.3%) with tertiary education (59.3%) and household size of 1-5 (81.3%).The study also revealed the availability of four poultry meat types which are broiler (98.6%),cockerel (98.6%), layer (96.7%) and turkey (96.7%).The respondents show different level of  preference for the meat types recording total of  94.7% for broilers,93.3% for cockerel and turkey while 90% was recorded for layers.The multinomial logit regression shows that broiler is the most preferred with 40% followed by turkey (33.3%), layers (14.7%) and cockerel (12%).The result also revealed that age,educational level, availability of substitute,sex, appearance of meat and taste are significant factors that influence consumer preference for poultry meat types.The study therefore recommend that poultry farmers should go into the production of the birds that are highly  preferred and mostly consumed by their customers to boost their income as well as livelihood. Keywords: Consumption, Consumer Preference, Poultry Meat Types.

Knowledge Management and its Effects on Financial Performance: Evidence from Dangote Flour Mills, Ilorin

This paper summarizes the arguments and counterarguments within the scientific discussion on the issue of knowledge management and their impact on the financial performance of economic entities. It is determined that despite the key role of knowledge both for the development of the country (which in the 21st century is based mainly on knowledge) and to increase the value of the company, today companies do not fully use arrays of knowledge and data, which forms barriers to increase competitiveness in the strategic perspective

Microbiological quality of anti-tuberculosis drugs commonly used at dots centres and pharmacies within Kaduna Metropolis, Kaduna, Nigeria

Medicinal drugs of low-quality likely due to microbial contamination can result in increased morbidity and mortality thereby reducing the human population and may also result in emergence of resistant strain organisms in the environment. Studies suggest that there are a lot of counterfeit and substandard anti-tuberculosis drugs in circulation especially in Africa that are used for the treatment and control of tuberculosis whose damage on public health were mostly underestimated. Research on microbiological quality of anti-TB drugs is regrettably inadequate and scarce with most of the researches focused only on determining the active pharmaceutical ingredients of the drugs. This research aimed at assessing the microbiological quality of the anti-TB drugs used at DOTS Centres and Pharmacies within Kaduna metropolis, specifically to determine the total aerobic microbial count, total combined yeast and mould counts, the presence of indicator organisms; Escherichia coli, Salmonella species, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa as well as the susceptibility of the isolates to standard antibiotics. A stratified random sampling was used. A total of fifty-two (52) samples comprising of Rifampicin, Pyrazinamide, Isoniazid, Ethambutol and 4FDC were collected for the study. Methods specified in the United States Pharmacopoeia (USP, 2019) under the test for specified organisms and enumeration test were adopted for this research work. The study conducted established that the anti-TB drugs used at DOTS centres and Pharmacies within Kaduna metropolis, Kaduna, Nigeria do not contain any of the indicator organisms but some of the selected anti-TB drugs are contaminated with other strains of microorganisms with some not meeting the requirement for total aerobic microbial count and total yeast and mould count. The microbial contaminants found include species of; Bacillus, Klebsiella, Enterobacter, Penicillium, Fusarium, Alterneria, Curvularia, Aspergillus, Candida and Sporotricum. Some of the selected isolates obtained from the selected anti-TB drugs were not susceptible to the standard antibiotics used; Augmentin, Chloramphenicol, Ciprofloxacin, Gentamicin, Amoxicillin and Ofloxacin, with highest resistance recorded in Amoxicillin for all the bacterial isolates. However, all the Candida species were susceptible to the antifungal drugs; Ketoconazole, Fluconazole, Clotrimazole and Itraconazole

Economic Analysis of Yam Processing in Oyo State

The study examined the economics analysis of yam processing in Oyo state. Multi-stage sampling technique was used to select the respondents for the study. Primary data were collected with the aid of questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics, profitability and budgetary analysis. The result of the study shows that majority of the respondents were female(70.8%) within the age bracket of 41-60(52.5%).Most of them are married(90%)with primary education(34.2%) and household size of 6-12(74.2%).The study identified two yam products  and the various steps in the production of the two products.The profitability analysis shows a net return of  6000 naira per 250kg of yam processed into yam flour which is the major product of yam processing in the area.0.38 rate of return was realized from 250kg bag of yam which implies 38k returns on one naira spent investment. A gross ratio of 0.73 was also recorded and this implies the business is profitable. Factors such as climate change, inadequate credit facilities, poor road network among others are major factors that hinder the processing activities in the area. The study therefore recommends that government should construct feeder roads, provide processing facilities and proper storage facilities to the processors to improve their production and enhance food security. Keywords: yam processing, profitability, yam products, gross rati

Feeding behaviour, food consumption indices and infestation of the tiger moth, Atteva Sciodoxa, on Eurycoma Longifolia Jack (Tongkat Ali).

Atteva sciodoxa is a serious pest of Eurycoma longifolia Jack (Tongkat Ali ) plants in Malaysia. The larvae feed gregariously by building communal webs on terminal shoots. Observations in this study showed infestation levels between 65.0±2.03 and 92.6±1.13% with a population intensity of 2.4±0.28 and 9.5±0.77 larvae per leaf on a plantation plot in Setiu, Terengganu. The infestation was observed from 0.5 to 9.0 year old E. longifolia plantation with plant height of 45.2±1.25 to 151.2±5.44 cm. The highest food ingestibility and efficiency of conversion of digested food was 75.2±0.32% and 67.8±0.74% respectively, in the fifth instar larvae while the highest efficiency of conversion of ingested food and approximate digestibility was 37.0±1.21% and 63.1±0.73%, respectively in the third instar larvae. The food ingestibility and efficiency of conversion of digested food increased with increasing age of larva, while the efficiency of conversion of ingested food and approximate digestibility decreased. The highest food consumption index of 0.51 mg dry leaf mg-1 larval body weight day-1 was recorded in the fourth instar larva and the highest relative growth rate was 0.16 mg larval body weight gain mg-1 larval body weight day-1 in the third instar. The overall consumption index of 0.23 and growth rate of 0.08 indicates A. sciodoxa has high food consumption and assimilation on the host plant, E. Longifolia. This reflects the extent and speed of attack the insect is capable of on tongkat Ali plants