1,450 research outputs found
Education and Training in St. Vincent and the Grenadines: A Partially Annotated Bibliography
Full text linkThis bibliography on “Education and Training in St. Vincent and the Grenadines” has been specifically prepared for the UWI School of Continuing Studies’ St. Vincent and the Grenadines Conference. It covers all aspects of education and training in St. Vincent and the Grenadines including: Academic achievement,economics of education, educational infrastructure, literacy and mathematics education
The Influence of the External Environment on the Performance of Publicly Quoted Companies in Kenya
No full textThe Influence of the External Environment on the Performance of Publicly Quoted
Companies in KenyaThis study investigated the effect of the external environment on corporate performance. Based
on a survey of 23 companies listed on the Nairobi Stock Exchange, three environmental
dimensions of complexity, dynamism and munificence were used to describe Kenya’s business
environment. Performance implications of these environmental dimensions were then examined.
The study reports that for the surveyed companies, varying degrees of external environmental
complexity, dynamism, and munificence exist which tend to be mostly manifested in economic
factors, competitive rivalry, market factors, technological factors, regulatory factors as well as
threat of new entrants. Consequently, these factors appeared to have great influence in the
companies’ strategic decision making. However, the overall results for the effect of external
environment on corporate performance were statistically not significant. Based on the findings,
implications of the study and suggestions for further study are presented
Vieillissement et usage des technologies. Une perspective identitaire et relationnelle
No full textAGEING AND USE OF TECHNOLOGIES An identity and relational perspective Vincent Caradec In this review of the relationship between the aged and technology, the author first looks at the specialized literature for points of articulation between these two worlds. He then tries to identify the diversity of uses in a specific population: retired couples between the ages of 60 and 70. He argues that the heterogeneity of populations and the resulting variety of uses should be taken into account.VIEILLISSEMENT ET USAGE DES TECHNOLOGIES Une perspective identitaire et relationnelle Vincent Caradec Afin de faire le point sur le rapport des personnes âgées et des technologies, l'auteur cherche d'abord à repérer dans les littératures spécialisées les points d'articulation entre les deux univers démographique et technique. Il s'applique ensuite à appréhender la diversité des usages dans une population spécifique : les retraités de 60 à 70 ans vivant en couple. L'auteur plaide pour une prise en compte de l'hétérogénéité des populations et de celle des usages qui en découle.Caradec Vincent. Vieillissement et usage des technologies. Une perspective identitaire et relationnelle. In: Réseaux, volume 17, n°96, 1999. Communication et personnes agées. pp. 45-95
Product Innovation and Performance of a Kenyan Medium Sized Company
No full textInnovation has been touted to be the central catalyst of entrepreneurship. This view has dominated research in start-ups as well as small and medium enterprises. Therefore, the relationship between innovation and firm performance has been a subject of interest to many researchers and policy makers. Through a longitudinal approach, this study investigated the influence of product innovation on the performance of Haco Tiger Brands, a medium sized fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) company in Kenya’s East Africa market. The study looked at the product innovation activities within the company for a period of 7 years for a total of 35 products across the five major brand categories of the company. Using a secondary data capture form, data on sales revenues for both the company and innovated products for the past 7 years was obtained. Data on the innovated products launch time and type of innovation was also obtained. Using time series and linear regression analysis, the results indicate that the total company sales revenues less innovation grew at a slower rate of 50% as compared to growth when product innovation sales revenues were included in the total company sales revenues accounting for a faster sales growth rate of 76%. The influence of product innovation on performance was statistically significant (p<0.05) accounting for 92.19% variation in performance. These findings provide irrefutable empirical basis that product innovations have significant revenue growth rates, hence the need for managers of medium sized companies to invest in research and development to sustain product innovation and spur growth. The results sit well within theory and other empirical studies with additional contribution to methodology. Based on the study limitations, further areas for research have been suggested
Dual nuclear roles of an essential scavenger decapping enzyme
No full textThe broad findings of the current work focus on mammalian DcpS and provide an analysis of its role in pre-mRNA splicing, transcription, and its requirement in mouse development. Mutagenesis and heterokaryon assays reveal an N-terminal nuclear localization sequence and a central nuclear export sequence that account for its nucleocytoplasmic dynamics. Cell-based reporter assays reveal two novel DcpS nuclear roles that explain its prevalent nuclear presence. A cell-based mRNA assay, which detects reporter splicing patterns, indicates DcpS knockdown leads to pre-mRNA processing deficiency in the first intron. DcpS or Cbp20 overexpression partially and completely corrects this defect, respectively. Catalytically inactive DcpS displaces the Cbp20-cap interaction by competition in a reconstituted system. These results suggest DcpS is a positive regulator of pre-mRNA splicing and is in line with the idea that DcpS knockdown predictably upregulates intracellular cap structure levels. Another cell-based translation assay, which detects reporter enzyme activity, shows DcpS chemical repression or knockdown stimulates cap-dependent translation and reduces 4EBP1 protein level. The unexpected opposite effect on translation suggests DcpS catalysis does not directly regulate protein synthesis as previously thought. DcpS chemical repression by a competitive inhibitor leads to 4EBP1 and 4EBP2 transcriptional reductions that correlate with their steady state mRNA levels. These results point toward an additional DcpS nuclear role in transcription of specific targets. On a final note, the failure to generate DcpS homozygous progeny as early as 6 days post coitum (dpc) indicates this gene is essential for mouse embryogenesis. DcpS heterozygous intercross yields approximately two heterozygotes for each wildtype during 9.5 dpc and postnatal period. DcpS heterozygotes are normal with respect to fertility. Western blots show DcpS is ubiquitously expressed in an adult tissue panel comprised of brain, liver, kidney, and heart. The present study identifies at least two nuclear roles of DcpS in pre-mRNA first intron splicing and in transcription, and its essential role in mouse development.Ph.D.Includes bibliographical referencesIncludes vitaby Vincent She
Organizational Resources and Performance of Kenyan State Corporations
Full text linkOrganizational resources have been posited to influence organizational performance. However, this position has been largely tautological with need for more empirical grounding. The postulations of resource based theory confer a significant effect of resources on organizational performance only when they possess some strategic characteristics. In spite of this postulation, comparative management advances an argument that management is sensitive to the context in which it is practiced; hence empirical testing of the postulation is inconclusive. This study tested the influence of organizational resources on the performance of Kenyan state corporations. Through a crosssectional descriptive survey, data on resources and performance were obtained from 63 Kenyan state corporations and analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The findings report a statistically significant relationship between aggregated organizational resources and performance. However, organizational resources could only explain 8.3 percent of performance of Kenyan state corporations. Results of the independent effect of disaggregated organizational resources indicated statistically significant effect of tangible, human and intangible resources on performance. Statistically not significant results were reported for the effect of organizational capabilities on performance. The findings provide partial empirical support for the Resource Based Theory by supporting the postulations that resources possessed by an organization influence performance by establishing the independent contributions of each resource to performance. It has offered direction for dayto- day managerial practice as well as policy direction at both organizational and government levels. At managerial level, practitioners may consider strengthening resource integration, renewal as well as recombination for stellar performance. Government policy should be focused towards encouraging resource acquisition, integration, configuration, and combination that would have a stronger influence on performance. From the limitations of the study, areas for further research have been pointed out
An Interrogation into Strategy-Technology Linkage at the Department of Immigration Services, Kenya
Full text linkThere exists a debate on the nature of strategy-technology linkage. Consensus is lacking on whether strategy informs technology, whether technology informs strategy, whether strategy and technology develop independently but match at a later stage, and whether there is no linkage between strategy and technology. This study aimed to find out the extant nature of strategy-technology linkage at the Department of Immigration Services, Kenya. Through a case study research design, primary data were obtained through personal interviews using a structured interview guide. The interviewees were top level managers comprising of the Director of Immigration Services and Assistant Directors of Immigration Services in charge of regions namely: Coast, Eastern, North Eastern, South Rift/Nairobi, North Rift/Western and Nyanza. The study also made use of secondary data from documents in the Department. The data gathered were then analyzed using thematic content analysis. The findings revealed presence of strategytechnology linkage at the Department of Immigration Services, Kenya. The nature cuts across the four thematic areas, but leans more towards strategy informing technology. Incidences supportive of the finding that technology informs strategy, strategy and technology develop independently but match at a later stage and no linkage between strategy and strategy were found but not as recurrent as those of strategy informing technology. The study findings largely support postulations of Configuration and Resource Based theories. The study concludes that strategy informs technology at the Department of Immigration Services, Kenya. For policy making, the study recommends the Department of Immigration Services expends more effort to develop a robust strategy that will inform appropriate technology with selective juxtapositions of technology informing strategy where necessary. For practice, the study recommends strategy-technology linkage that fits the environmental setting with a keen eye on the ever changing environment. The study acknowledged limitations on the contextual setting, design, data collection and analysis methods. The design was a case study which means findings might not be generalized. Data collection was through interviews and analysis was through content analysis, both viewed as largely subjective. Interviews were administered to only the top management within the department. Lower cadres were not represented. The study suggests for further research on the subject through different contextual settings, different designs and different instruments
Westindia haxairei Vincent, new species
No full textWestindia haxairei Vincent new species Figs. 1–6 Type material. Holotype; male: Dominican Republic, Monseñor Nouel department, Road El Blanco to Constanza pK 10, Reserva Scientifica Ebano Verde, alt. 1360m. N 19 ° 10.729 ’ W 70 ° 30.988 ’; 15.viii. 2007; attracted to UV light, J. Haxaire and O. Paquit leg.; genital prep. BV 372; Barcode SampleID/GenBank Acc.: BEVI 0552/ KF 930933: Deposited in the Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle (MNHN, Paris). Allotype, female: same data as the holotype; genital prep. BV 373; Barcode SampleID/GenBank Acc.: BEVI 0554/ KF 930920. Deposited in the Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle (MNHN, Paris). Paratypes: 5 males and 4 females, same data as the holotype, 2 males with a barcode sequence available (SampleID/GenBank Acc.: BEVI 0553/ KF 930928, BEVI 0555/ KF 930922). Deposited in collections of the first author except for two specimens deposited respectively in the Natural History Museum (NHM, London) and the National Museum of Natural History (USNM, Washington D.C.); 2 males, same data as the holotype but collected on 08.viii. 2007, in collection of the first author; 2 males, Dominican Republic, La Vega department, Road Valle Nuevo to Constanza Km 10, alt. 2015m. N 18 ° 50.123 ’ W 70 ° 41.677 ’; 05.viii. 2007; attracted to UV light, J. Haxaire and O. Paquit leg., in collection of the first author. 2 males and 2 females, Dominican Republic, Monseñor Nouel, Cordillera Central, Casavito, 1050-1280m, vii. 1999; 2 males and 2 females, Dominican Republic, Monseñor Nouel, Cordillera Central, La Palma de Constanza, 600m, vii. 1999; R. Marx leg., in Museum Witt (München). 1 male Dominican Republic, Constanza, 1200m, 21.XI. 1995, Westphal leg., in coll W. Speidel (München). Description. Male (Fig. 1) Wingspan 57–65 mm; forewing length 26–30 mm. Head Antennal scape spherical, pedicel narrow. Antennae monofiliform with 87 flagellomeres; dorsal and ventral surfaces black, delimited by a thin white line, except for the apical twenty flagellomeres white dorsally, and for the proximal ten segments with white scale patches on the distal end of each segment. The apical third with few bristles. Frons, head and labial palpi orange powdered with yellow. Thorax. All thorax, legs excepted, is orange powdered with yellow, as the result of the presence of long orange scales tipped with yellow, giving an orange powdered with yellow hue to the whole head and thorax. Ventral and dorsal surface the same color. Femur of all legs orange. Tibia and tarsi of the middle and hind legs black with dorsal surface streaked with two white longitudinal lines; area around the hindtibial spurs white. Fore-tibia and tarsi with a single white longitudinal line dorsally, tibia orange ventrally. Tarsal claw toothed. Forewing. Dorsum - Ground color orange with the central area more strongly colored with a vivid red hue, the proximal two thirds with opalescent scattered scales. The forewing is crossed by two transversal ivorywhite bands bordered by thick black lines. Antemedian band narrower in its central area; the postmedian band starts from the costa parallel to the antemedian band, then turns to reach the external margin of the wing in its middle; this second section of the band is strongly narrowed in its middle, where the black lines become almost fused, and it becomes wider when reaching the fringe which is white toward the anal angle and black toward the apex. The costa is marked by brownish scales. The central area of the forewing, between the two ivory-white bands, with three longitudinal grey streaks, slightly converging basally. The central grey coloration is surrounded by a thin yellowish area. Ventrum—Colors more vivid than on the dorsal face. The antemedian band is poorly contrasted, the postmedian interrupted at the costa and the three grey streaks not visible. Hindwing Dorsum - White and semihyaline. The anal area is slightly marked in grey; the costal area is grey with a similarly colored indentation toward the tip of the discal cell. Ventrum - Same coloration than dorsal face, but for the costa orange at its base and becoming grey toward its apex. Discoidal lunula grey. Abdomen. Tergites A 1–4 covered by long vivid reddish orange scales. The posterior tergites with shorter scales and a slightly stronger coloration. Each spiracle is marked with black scales, forming a regular punctuation along the pleurites. Sternites uniformly vivid orange. Ventral surface identical in color. Male genitalia (Figs. 2–3; 5–6) Tegumen and Uncus narrow and elongated. Uncus with a pointed apex slightly curved ventrally. It is covered by long bristles laterally. Anal tube slightly sclerotized laterally. Scaphium sclerotized, concave and tongue-shaped (Fig. 5). Transtilla subrectangular. Valves large, symmetrical, bifid with a deep notch (Fig. 6). The dorsal branch is long and curved with a very pointed tip. Ends of the ventral branch with two digitiform processes: one broad and rounded, the other fine and curved with some bristle at the end. Vinculum with a short pointed saccus. Juxta slightly sclerotized with a U-shaped excavation on the ventral margin. Phallus long, slightly curved. Caecum penis short and rounded. Vesica with a single lobe lacking cornuti (Fig. 3). Female. The female is identical to the male but for the absence of a dense tuft of golden bristles on the ventral face of the flagellomeres. Female genitalia (Fig. 4). Tergite A 7 twice as wide as tergite A 6, slightly sclerotized and rectangular. Sternite A 7 large with a strong V-shaped posterior indentation. Pseudopapillae entirely joined and covered with short bristles. Ductus bursae uniformly sclerotized, elongated, ribbon shaped, curved near the insertion of the corpus bursae which shape is pyriform, wrinkled and without signum. There is a protuberance close to the insertion of the ductus bursae. The ductus seminalis is short, opening into a large wrinkled and rounded bulla seminalis. Papillae anales trapeziform, uniformly covered with long bristles. Dorsal pheromone glands with a pair of long unbranched tubes. Variation. The postmedian band exhibits some variations in the extent of its central contraction. Some specimens display a 1 mm interruption of this band whereas in others the contraction is almost absent allowing a continuous ivory-white coloration. Etymology. The new species is dedicated to our colleague Jean Haxaire. Distribution, phenology and biology. W. haxairei seems restricted to middle elevation localities of the central cordillera in the Dominican Republic. All the specimens known to us were collected in July and August, and this species was not collected during previous sampling in the same area during April/ May 2004, suggesting that Westindia is a mid-summer flier. The early stages and foodplants are unknown.Published as part of Vincent, Benoit, Hajibabaei, Mehrdad & Rougerie, Rodolphe, 2014, A striking new genus and species of tiger-moth (Lepidoptera: Erebidae, Arctiinae, Arctiini) from the Caribbean, with molecular and morphological analysis of its systematic placement, pp. 289-300 in Zootaxa 3760 (2) on pages 293-296, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3760.2.8, http://zenodo.org/record/22435
Challenges of Implementing Consortium Strategy in Development Projects at ViAgroforestry, Kenya
Full text linkConsortium strategy involves an arrangement in which organizations develop, utilize and amalgamate structures, cultures, and operational systems to support competitiveness in delivery of service in a dynamic environment. This study sought to investigate challenges of implementing consortium strategy and measures to mitigate the challenges at ViAgroforestry, Kenya. Through a case study design both primary and secondary data were gathered through personal interviews and analysis of relevant documents respectively. Content analysis was used to analyze data. The study established that, both internal and external factors affected effective consortium strategy implementation at ViAgroforestry. The external factors that affected strategy implementation included social-cultural, political, economic, and technological factors. The internal factor included leadership and management styles, competency of employees among the partner organizations, lack of employee commitment to consortium operation, lack of adequate financial resources, unclear implementation guidelines and inconsistency in deployment of employees to support consortium. The mitigation measures to deal with the challenges include building employee competencies and confidence, setting up and reinforcing clear guidelines for selecting, recruiting and exiting partners in the consortium, mobilization of adequate financial resources, enhanced integration of Information Communication Technology (ICT) within the operating systems, and democratic style of management among partners. It was recommended that ViAgroforestry, Kenya should align organizational structure, provide adequate resources, build employee competencies and set and reinforce clear guidelines for operations while integrating ICT in its operations for effective consortium strategy implementation. In view of the limitations of the study, further research has been suggested on evaluating performance of consortium strategy implementation at ViAgroforestry, Kenya
Intelligence gouvernementale et sciences sociales
No full textGovernement Intelligence and Social Sciences.
Vincent Spenlehauer [95-128].
After the second world war, in France, the bridges between social sciences and public policies have been strongly shaped by a central-state-controlled apparel of socio-economic expertise of which the most famous modus operandi were «planning», «PPBS», «policy evaluation». The author draws a historical sketch of this apparel, analyzes its present contradictions, and suggests that French social scientists should now think of softening their autonomist position toward public action.Intelligence gouvernementale et sciences sociales.
Vincent Spenlehauer [95-128].
Après 1945 en France, les rapports entre sciences sociales et action publique ont été fortement conditionnés par la constitution et les évolutions d'un appareil d'expertise socio-économique interne à l'État central et dont les expressions les plus fameuses sont «planification», «rationalisation des choix budgétaires», «évaluation des politiques publiques». L'auteur rend compte de la vie de cet appareil d'expertise, décrit les contradictions qui en minent la pertinence gouvernementale, et suggère que les sciences sociales auraient aujourd'hui tout à gagner à édulcorer leur positionnement autonomiste vis-à-vis de l'action publique.Spenlehauer Vincent. Intelligence gouvernementale et sciences sociales. In: Politix, vol. 12, n°48, Quatrième trimestre 1999. Les savants et le politique, sous la direction de Pierre Serna. pp. 95-128
- …
