Innovations

Background– In therapeutic areas – the treatment methods for kidney stones have been developed over the years, providing with more than one option to treat the kidney stones. The success rates of the same have been compared and statistically tested to understand the effectiveness of each method and draw conclusions about choosing the best. Objective –This study aims at comparing different methods of treating Kidney Stones and establishing which is the most successful. Methodology and Data – In this study, data published in 1986 in “The British Medical Journal” has been worked upon. Of the 1052 renal calculi patients, 350 received open surgery, 350 underwent percutaneous, nephrolithotomy, 328 underwent extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL), and 24 underwent both ESWL and percutaneous nephrolithotomy. It was considered a success by a treatment if it could either remove the stones or reduce them to less than 2mm after three months. The same data has been analyzed using descriptive statistics and Chi-square test of independence using MS Excel. Results and Discussion – Analysis shows that there exists a significant association between success in treatment and type of treatment, and also it has been observed between success and size of kidney stone. The modes of total cases and success cases have been compared to see that they vary for different kidney stone size groups, and for the overall case. 

Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, faces significant challenges due to its rapid population growth, characterised by a fertility rate of 5.1 and population doubling every 29 years. These demographic trends have contributed to high poverty (over 40%), youth unemployment (33%), maternal mortality (1,047 per 100, 000), low literacy (62%), and unequal resource distribution. These challenges may likely put significant pressure on Nigeria’s resources and infrastructure.Without early policy interventions, these pressures could impede sustainable economic development. This study explores Nigeria’s population dynamics, focusing on historical trends, current patterns, and future impacts on economic development. The research employs autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) models, error correction estimation (ECM), and statistical forecasting to analyse the short- and long-term impacts of demographic factors on Nigeria’s GDP growth. the findings reveal that population factors significantly influence economic performance, with inflation playing a variable role depending on management strategies. Notably, labour force participation and foreign direct investment (FDI) are essential drivers of growth, while past economic trends also shape future performance. The ARDL/ECM models explain 95.13% of GDP growth variation, confirming the importance of addressing long-term demographic and economic factors. The study concludes that proactive policy interventions are necessary to leverage demographic trends for sustainable economic benefits. Recommendations include controlling inflation, investing in human capital, developing infrastructure, and promoting stable domestic and foreign direct investment. Policymakers must incorporate past economic dynamics into their strategies to ensure sustainable growth and effectively manage Nigeria’s demographic transitions.  

Nigeria, a developing country with huge population increase is facing energy crisis. Thus, to meet energy demand, the country has committed to building a nuclear power plant (NPP). This review aims to systematically evaluate research evolution and issues with NPP in Nigeria. Peer reviewed journal publications were accessed from Google Scholar and SCOPUS databases. They were identified, screened and evaluated using set inclusion- exclusion criteria. Among the included studies, 23.5% are ‘Review’ articles, while 76.5% are ‘Research articles’. Different aspects of issues related to deployment of NPP were identified. Majority (47%) dealt with potential of NPP electricity generation and its emission mitigation. 35.3% dealt with environment and safety issues of NPP, including atmospheric dispersion (normal operation and accidental release) and seismicity; while 17.7% focuses on resources including human resources development, technical, political, financial and others. 92.3% of the corresponding or lead authors are affiliated or have other affiliations with foreign universities, almost all of which have operational NPP. South Africa accounts for 38.5% and India, 15.4% of the authors’ foreign affiliations. This indicates the need for Nigerian researchers to collaborate with those in nuclear advanced countries.  

This study aims to determine the external and internal factors that influence the success of fruit rojak food SMEs (fruit rojak SMEs), formulate alternative strategies, and determine the priorities of fruit rojak SME business development strategies. The basic analytical descriptive method is used. Determining the location of the research is done deliberately. Determination of key informants using convenience sampling techniques. Data collection techniques are carried out using observation, interview, recording, and triangulation of sources. The data analysis methods used include EFE and IFE Matrix, Grand Strategy Matrix, SWOT Matrix, and QSPM. The competitive position of fruit rojak SMEs is in the position of Strength-Opportunity (S-O). The priority strategy recommended to be applied to fruit rojak SMEs is a strategy to improve quality and product development to increase consumer loyalty. The synergy of the Grand Strategy matrix, SWOT matrix, and QSPM has a narrowed/focused strategy work structure. The results of this study can be used as input for other food SMEs in developing strategies to gain competitive advantage in the market  

This research paper investigates the role of customer-perceived value (CPV) in augmented reality (AR) environments. Augmented reality, characterized by integrating digital information into the real-world environment, has gained significant attention across various industries. As businesses increasingly leverage AR to enhance customer experiences, understanding the factors contributing to customer perceived value becomes crucial for sustained success. This paper explores the dimensions of CPV within AR environments and identifies strategies to optimize these perceptions for improved customer satisfaction and loyalty.  

This study investigated decision-making processes in multilevel governance and the local community's voice on the reorganization of the Guji Zone in South Ethiopia. The study employed qualitative approaches to collect and interpretive methods to analyze the data. The research sample was selected from government officials, community leaders, representatives, local residents, and Non-governmental organizations to get an insight into the decision. Convenience sampling was utilized for representatives of the Guji people in the council of the Caffee Oromia region based on their roles, influences, and involvement in decision-making processes. The participants were identified purposively to triangulate their views on the decision-making processes to reorganize East Borana Zone by reshuffling districts from Guji and Bale zones and removing Guji Zone from the previous capital, Nagele town. Moreover, interpretive and participant observation was employed to describe their feelings and involvement in the decisions. The researcher evaluated the utilized processes of decision-making in multilevel governance, the voices of local communities under participatory governance, and the institutional framework to reorganize the East Borana Zone in south Oromia.  

The multilevel urban governance depends on urban leadership effectiveness. It is a multi-dimensional in approach that in campus shared vision and mission, leadership communication skill, team development, collective decision making, quartile-model of urban change leadership, urban leadership intelligence among other things.  The state of multilevel urban leadership will also be incomplete without measuring the role of leadership. Hence, the study examined urban leadership effectiveness in multilevel urban governance using the components of multifaceted urban leadership effectiveness. Descriptive and explanatory research types were employed. The sample was 828 determined using proportionate formulas from multilevel public sectors of Addis Ababa. Descriptive statistics, correlationand regression were used to analyze data. The study discussed and come-up with the conclusions that, multilevel urban leaders are modestly effective. Knowledge and understanding about designed city vision and mission, functional team development, leadership stability, collective decision making and communication skill are found moderately effective. However, urban leadership intelligence and the 4I leadership dimensions are poorly practiced. Therefore, the city administration should have to take a remedial action on urban leadership development initiatives, urban leadership competency framework (fundamental, core and functional competencies) should urgently be in-placed, the city government must launch leadership accreditation and certification work unit, and the city administration should work onleadership stabile placement, and Addis Ababa leadership academy must also design modular training to capacitate multilevel leaders of the city.  

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of corporate social responsibility on corporate image of selected manufacturing firms in North-West, Nigeria. The specific objectives were to: (i) determine the extent to which philanthropic responsibility of the selected manufacturing firms affect their corporate image, (ii) determine the extent to which ethical responsibility of the firms affect their corporate image, and (iii) determine the extent to which economic responsibility of the firms affect their corporate image. Research hypotheses were formulated and they aligned with the objectives. The study adopted descriptive survey research design. The population comprised 7,321,737 adults dwelling in the seven state capitals of the North-West geopolitical zone of Nigeria.The sample size of 384 was determined using Yamane’s formula.The instrument was validated by research experts and experienced academics in the area of study to ensure content validity. Cronbach’s Alpha was used to test the reliability of the research instrument which resulted in a reliability threshold of 0.7. Multiple regressions were used to test the hypotheses at 5% level of significance. The result of the analysis showed that philanthropic responsibility, ethical responsibility and economic responsibility of the selected manufacturing firms have significant and positive effect on their corporate image. The study, therefore, recommend that: Firms in Nigeria through philanthropic responsibility should assist, donate and help stakeholders. Also, firms should again be ethically responsible to their stakeholders in good morals and principles. Finally, firms should design and develop economic sustainability, local content development and value addition to stakeholders.