Baynoon Centre for Studies and Development (BCSD): OJS
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Diagnostic Markers for Early Detection of Neonatal Sepsis
Get PDFBackground: Neonatal sepsis (NS) is a major health problem throughout the world. The diagnosis of sepsis is challenging due to the non-specific nature of the clinical presentation, the variety of other neonatal disorders with the differential diagnostic workup, lack of sensitivity and specificity of available diagnostic procedures, and the delay in the results of blood cultures in addition to high negative results reported. The diagnosis of suspected sepsis has to be based on clinical symptoms together with biochemical parameters. A diagnostic marker with high diagnostic sensitivity and specificity would be a valuable tool for decreasing the burden of neonatal sepsis
Purpose: Evaluate the validity of interleukin-6 (IL-6) in the early diagnosis of neonatal sepsis or the use of a combination of diagnostic markers, C-reactive protein (CRP), and IL-6.
Methods: The study included 30 patients with NS (Group I) and 30 healthy newborns as control (Group II) were admitted to Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) from January 2017 to June 2017. All neonates were subjected to history taking, clinical examination, and laboratory investigations including complete blood count (CBC), blood culture and sensitivity testing, CRP, and IL-6.
Results: the most causative organism of neonatal sepsis in NICU was Klebsiella spp. followed by CONS. IL-6 results with cut-off value 50pg/ml, the sensitivity was 100%, the specificity was 90.32%, the positive predictive value of 90.63%, negative predictive value, and the diagnostic accuracy was 95.16. Moreover, IL-6 levels are significantly higher statistically in NS patients than controls.
Conclusion: This study validated the diagnostic capability of IL-6 and showed that the combination of CRP and IL-6 as a panel for the early diagnosis of NS could enhance the sensitivity in the diagnosis of NS and may provide a new diagnostic strategy for NS patients
Antibiotic Susceptibility and Biofilm Formation of Clinical Isolates of Pseudomonas Species from Wounds Specimens
Get PDFPurpose: The aim of the study is to investigate biofilm forming capacity and the antibiotic susceptibility profile of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains isolated from clinical wound specimen.
Method: A total number of 60 wound specimens were submitted to the bacteriology laboratory of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital for investigation, and screened for Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The strains were identified on the basis of cultural characteristics, Gram staining, biochemical tests such as citrate, urease, indole, fermentation of sugar using triple sugar agar. The biofilm forming capacity of the strains are tested using the test tube method after standardizing the strains to approximately standard inoculated into a cooked meat broth. The growth rate of Pseudomonas aeruginosa clinical strains after 48 hours incubation are measured by taking the absorbance using Densi-Check. The strain growth rate is also checked. Biofilm formation at the liquid interface (pellicle) is qualitatively scored from the first to the last strain. The clinical significance of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm forming capacity and resistance to antibiotics which could result to none healing, delayed healing, foul smell of wound infection are checked for the experiment.
Results: The analysis of the study shows that the strains are more susceptible to Ciprofloxacin and Streptomycin while the strains are less susceptible to Orfloxacin and Gentamycin.
Conclusion: the data derived from human clinical studies make clear that biofilm have an important adverse effect on wound healing. Despite this, more fundamental scientific studies are required to understand what biofilm do to normal wound healing processes from cellular and immunological perspective
Ownership Structure and Financial Performance of Listed Firms in Kenya: Mediation Role of Corporate Diversification
Get PDFPurpose: The study aimed at examining the mediating role of corporate diversification between ownership structure and financial performance of listed firms in Kenya.
Methodology/Approach/Design: As guided by explanatory research design, 65 listed firms from 2003 to 2017 were targeted. However, panel data of 35 firms were considered after excluding suspended and delisted as far as the study period is concerned.
Results: The panel regression analysis finding indicated that corporate diversification positively and significantly mediated between institutional ownership and financial performance (β = .005, p-value = .000). Furthermore, there was a negative but statistically significant mediation effect of corporate diversification between foreign ownership and financial performance (β = -.0019, p-value = .023). These mediation effects existed despite the direct effect between institutional and as well foreign ownership and financial performance being statistically insignificant.
Practical Implications: The study, therefore, suggested to the management of listed firms to ensure proper implementation of corporate diversification as it transmits the effect of ownership structure on financial performance. More importantly, policymakers are suggested to streamline taxation of foreign investors, tackle malpractices in the firm leading to embezzlement of investor funds. Future studies need to enlarge the scope to incorporate unlisted firms as well as firms listed in different stock exchanges in East Africa. Other types of ownership structure as managerial, family and state need to be analyzed. In addition, other forms and measures of corporate diversification could be investigated by future researchers.
Originality/Value: To attain the main objective, the study used panel regression analysis and path diagrams to examine the effect of ownership structure on financial performance via corporate diversification
The Impact of Participative Decision-Making on Organizational Commitment: A Study among Employees of Mobile Telecom Companies in Yemen
Get PDFPurpose: The study aimed at examining the relationship between participative decision-making and organizational commitment among employees working in mobile telecom companies in Yemen.
Approach/Methodology/Design: This study is descriptive-analytical. The study population comprised the employees working at the four mobile telecom companies in Sana'a, Yemen's capital city (Yemen Mobile, Sabafon, MTN and Y-Telecom). One hundred twenty questionnaires were collected and were valid for the data analysis. Different statistical tools, including regression analysis and correlation coefficients, were applied, and data were analyzed using SPSS.
Findings: The regression analysis output shows a significant positive relationship between participative decision-making and affective commitment (β = 0.48, p < 0.001). Furthermore, the regression analysis shows a significant positive relationship between participative decision making and continuance commitment (β = 0.59, p < 0.001). In addition, the significance of regression analysis tested using the regression coefficients shows a significant positive relationship between participative decision-making and normative commitment (β = 0.72, p < 0.001).
Practical Implications: The study recommends that the companies managers need to motivate and inspire their employees to actively participate in the decision-making process to enhance their level of organizational commitment.
Originality/value: The study presents evidence from a new setting where insufficient analysis has been performed to investigate the direct relationship between the variables tested
The Effect of Investment, Exports, and Interest Rates on the Gross Domestic Product of the Republic Of Yemen: An Econometric Analysis
Get PDFPurpose: The study aims to examine the effect of investment, exports, and interest rates on the gross domestic product of the Republic of Yemen.
Approach/Methodology/Design: This study is based on secondary data. Data on the gross domestic product, interest rate, gross capital formation were obtained and analyzed using the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) technique, Wald test, Serial Correlation LM Test. The data were presented the
Findings: The results through the use of the (E-VIEWS) program showed that there is a direct statistically significant relationship at a level of 5% between investment and gross domestic product. This means that if investment increases by 1%, it will lead to an increase in GDP by 28.63%. The result also showed that the dummy variable relationship to the GDP is direct and statistically significant. The level of significance is 5%, that is, by increasing the dummy variable by 1%, it leads to an increase in GDP by 25.13%. As long as the interest rate was on an inverse relationship and statistically significant at a significant level (10%), this means that an increase in interest rates by 1% would lead to a decrease in GDP rates by 19.54%. In addition, there is a positive relationship between exports and GDP and a statistical significance at level 5%. This means that an increase in exports by 1% leads to an increase in GDP by 69.76%.
Practical Implications: The investment could be double more than what the results showed in the case of political and economic stability. Improving legislation is also a significant aspect. There is an urgent need to focus on investment in infrastructure. In addition, increasing exports improve the gross domestic product. Based on the results, it is recommended to real invest instead of placing capital in banks as increasing interest rates lead to lower gross domestic output.
Originality/value: The analysis indicates that there is a direct statistical and significant relationship between total investment and gross domestic product at a significant level of 5%, as whenever the investment increased by 1%, this led to an increase in the gross domestic product by about 28.63%
Feminization of Agatha Christie´s Character Hercule Poirot through His Appearance, Personality, Age and Cat Symbolism
Get PDFThis article aims to analyze how Agatha Christie’s character Hercule Poirot is feminized through several aspects, namely his appearance and character, his age and recurring cat symbolism. All the aspects and their examples were collected from Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot stories employing close reading as a method. By the use of several academic papers focused mainly on the topic of gender stereotypes in connection to the presented examples from Agatha Christie’s works, the central argument is that the character of the male detective Hercule Poirot is strongly feminized. Although this theory is already widely accepted, this article focuses on its less frequently discussed aspects, namely cat symbolism and age-related feminization
Effects of Reflective Inquiry Teaching Method on Students’ Academic Achievement in Domestic Installation Module in Technical Colleges of Yobe State, Nigeria
Get PDFPurpose: The study investigated the effects of reflective inquiry teaching method on students’ academic achievement in domestic installation modules in technical colleges of Yobe State, Nigeria.
Methodology/Approach/Design: The study is quasi-experimental in design. A pre-test and post-test were conducted for both control and experimental groups. Two classes from four Technical Colleges were selected to give a sample size of 88. Electrical Installation and Maintenance Work Trade Achievement Test (EIMWTAT) was used to generate data for the study. The instrument was validated by three experts in the Department of Electrical Technology Education, Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola. To determine the reliability of the instrument, Cronbach’s Alpha was used and a reliability coefficient of 0.91 was obtained. Mean statistics was used to answer the research questions, while the null hypotheses were tested using t-test at 0.5 level of significance.
Results: The study revealed that reflective inquiry teaching method improves student academic achievement when compared with the demonstration teaching method. It further revealed that reflective inquiry teaching method is not gender biased as both male and female students performed effectively in domestic installation. The study concluded that when students are taught domestic installation using reflective enquiry method, they performed better than when taught using conventional method.
Practical Implications: The results of the study may have implications for teaching staff in Technical Colleges of Yobe State, Nigeria. Based on the results of the study, the reflective method can be applied in the teaching and learning of domestic installation, industrial installation and electrical installation and maintenance works in technical colleges.
Originality/Value: The study innovates by experimenting with the effect of reflective inquiry in teaching Domestic Installation Module in Technical Colleges of Yobe State, Nigeria. From the analysis, the reflective inquiry was found effective in teaching domestic installation as students’ academic achievement was significantly high. By this, the use of reflective inquiry in the teaching of domestic installation, which is now being introduced, is highly commendable
School Leadership Effectiveness and Students’ Academic Achievement in Secondary Schools of Guraghe Zone SNNPR
Get PDFPurpose: The main purpose of this study was to assess the school leadership effectiveness and students’ academic achievement in government secondary schools’ of Guraghe Zone, SNNPR, Ethiopia.
Methodology/Approach/Design: Co-relational research design and a quantitative research method were employed. The sample size included 225 secondary school teachers, principals, head departments and 2298 students’ grade ten national examination results from 10 public secondary schools. Both primary and secondary data were used for this study.
Results: The results showed that there is a positive and significant relationship between Leadership effectiveness and students’ academic achievement (r=.653*, p<.0.041). The participants indicated that setting a clear school vision, promoting professional practice, developing a mechanism for teachers to share their experience impact students’ academic achievement. Moreover, the results showed that the principal’s effectiveness involves the teaching staff and enhances student achievement. Furthermore, the study indicated that there were positive and significant relationships (r=.653*, p<.0.041) in the mean academic achievement among the sampled secondary school and the two years CGPA of 2009-2010E.C.`Q
Practical Implications: The findings might have practical implications for concerned authorities. Schools and teachers should apply the recommendations of the study to bring improvement in students’ achievement.
Originality/Value: There was an association with a significant relationship that existed between school leadership effectiveness and students’ academic achievement. Moreover, the focus should be on the development of qualified and experienced teachers with strong school leadership effectiveness abilities to improve learning and students’ achievement
Appraising the Learning protocol of English Writing as a Fraction of English for Medical Purposes (EMP) in Faculty Members
Get PDFPurpose: The aim is to examine the effectiveness of the model applied during the teaching of academic writing in EMP. The study also investigates the participants' perceptions and impressions about applying the new teaching model and the material for the delivery of EMP and EMAP.
Methodology/Approach/Design: This comparative study was conducted in 2020 at the Kashan University of Medical Sciences. A questionnaire was constructed consisting of 80 records, planned in five groups based on Premise Base and Conducive. The dialogue items were also applied to find out whether the participants benefited from the media-based attitude supplements in their learning of academic English writing classes. Data were released on chosen variables, their occupation, year of education, and knowledge of writing techniques.
Results: The results of the study indicate that there were no important statistical differences at (a = 0.05) in the use of educational techniques. There are statistically important differences at (a = 0.05) in using educational techniques units because of the year of teaching adaptable in favor of the third and fourth-year academics. The findings also show that there are statistically significant differences at (a= 0.05) in using technique units due to the practice with other variables, in favor of academics with no techniques used to practice. The designed mean and Standard Deviations in six regions each comprising five declarations approved from the highest to the lowest in educational writing.
Practical Implications: The study presents practical implications for teachers. The results of the study might be of use for better handling of medical English lessons.
Originality/Value: The techniques can thus assist higher education programmers to identify, track, monitor, and treat at the university to educate, for teaching and learning medicine to strive in educating specialized writing. Given the benefits, it seems indispensable to apply the advantages of the survey, because studying hard to develop the technique, and implementing them in academic writing education is a theory
Glycemic Control and Knowledge among Children and Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus: A Cross-sectional Study
Get PDFPurpose: The aim of this study is to evaluate the long-term glycemic control by glycosylated hemoglobin level (HbA1c) and to assess knowledge about the diabetic regimen. The results of glycemic control in this study were compared with the results of a study conducted in 2018 that targeted almost a similar population.
Study Design: A Cross-Sectional Study.
Subjects and Methods: The study was conducted in October 2012 to December 2012 in a major referral Diabetic Centre. Diabetic children aged 8 to 18 years old who were attending the referral diabetic clinics were included in the study (n = 90). Knowledge of diabetes management was evaluated by using a semi-structured questionnaire and HbA1c results were obtained from medical records, available for only 71. Later, these Glycated Hemoglobin HbA1c results were compared with the results of a recent study carried out among Sudanese diabetic children and adolescents in 2018.
Results: Out of 71 diabetic children 78.9% were of poor glycemic control with mean HbA1c 10.36±2.14. On the other hand, the majority had good knowledge about the diabetic treatment including insulin administration, its storage conditions, and also the effect of exercise on blood glucose. However, almost 18.8% of studied participants did not know hypoglycemia symptoms, and about 11% of these patients were unaware of hypoglycemia management.
Conclusion: The study has indicated that a significant percentage of studied diabetic children and adolescents had poor glycemic control. Although children’s knowledge about insulin therapy was good, further study must be conducted to investigate factors related to glycemic control among children with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM).