Strategic Management Factors Affecting Performance of Thermal Power Generation Companies in Kenya
Electricity has played a central role in the economic development of countries since the wake of industrialization of nations and the demand for this strategic commodity and input has undergone a significant growth. This has caused researchers to become more focused on the factors affecting price and production costs and seek solutions to increase the efficiency in power generation. The general objective of this research study was to establish the strategic management factors affecting performance of thermal power generation companies in Kenya. Four key strategic management factors were selected for this study that affects performance of thermal power companies in Kenya which formed the specific objective of the study, they include; cost of fuel, customer relationship management (CRM), quality management and competitive strategy. The finding of this study was to assist shareholders in decision making process in terms of the investment to engaged in, government in reviewing and formulating policies in the energy sector and managers in focusing on their competitive areas while seeking solutions in there weaker areas in terms of performance. Literatures and theories were reviewed to seek various opinions and views from different authors in the area under study. Three theories of resourced based view, Stakeholder and resource dependency theories were considered. The conceptual frame work presents the relationship that exists between dependent and independent variables. The study criticized some of the literatures and presented the research gap where this study seeks to fulfill. The research study applied a descriptive research design. The target population was the 80 employees of Rabai Power Limited comprising of the four departments of operation, maintenance, procurement and administration. The sample size of 67 respondents out of the total population was obtained using the Slovin?s formula for sample determination. This was equivalent to 84% of the target population which was drawn using simple stratified random sampling technique to promote the need for efficiency and representativeness from various departments. Both primary and secondary data technique was used to collect data for the purpose of analyzing these factors that affect performance.
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Studies on the leaf epidermis and midrib of some species of vernonia schreb. in Nigeria
The leaf epidermis and midrib of Vernonia amygdalina, V. cinerea, V. perrottetii and V. adoensis were studied following standard proceedures and features were observed with the aid of compound microscope. To the authors’ knowledge, the leaf and midrib anatomical features of V. adoensis and V. perrottetii are being comprehensively and adequately documented for the first time. The results obtained revealed that the four species were hypoamphistomatic with anomocytic type of stomata. Stomata Index (%) was higher at the lower epidermis than the upper epidermis with V. amygdalina having 35.00 as the highest and V. perrottetii having 31.00 as the lowest. Similarly, the highest width (µm) of stomata was found in the upper epidermis of V. adoensis having an average of 73.22 ± 21.77 while the lowest was 22.46 ± 2.47 as found in the lower epidermis of V. adoensis. Highest stomata length (µm) of 81.46 ± 22.38 was also recorded in upper leaf epidermis of V. adoensis while lowest length of 30.43 ± 4.26 was recorded in its lower epidermis. In the four species, epidermal cells were predominantly irregular in shapes with predominantly sinuous anticlinal and periclinal walls. In another vein, the midribs were oblong in outline consisting of collateral and open bundles arranged in ring-like pattern except in V. perrottetii in which the bundles were concentric, amphicribral, collateral and close. Based on the overwhelming similarities that existed among the four taxa, it was established that there exist interspecies relationship among them. In conclusion, it was opined that the minor and discontinuous differences in the anatomical features of the four species are insufficient to adjudge their rearrangement and repositioning to separate genus and that their present taxonomic status are unbiased and warranted.
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Studies on the Nuclear Activities Effects and it’s Impact on the Marine Life of the Arabian Gulf Region.
Paper in the work presents the first comprehensive and complete report on the concentration of on natural radioactivity measurements, other fissionable isotopes and the hazard parameters in the NORM samples from different marine environment Samples of the Arabian Gulf region (Beach Muddy/Sands, Arabian Gulf Water, Shells and Different types of Marine Fish) collected along the eastern coastline of the State of Kuwait. All samples were measured using gamma spectrometry technique, with high purity germanium detector. The results show that the average activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K, 137Cs and 60Co for Kuwaiti Environmental Marine Samples are lower than the worldwide average value. The worldwide average values (32, 45 and 420) for 226Ra, 232Th and 40K, respectively. The activity concentration of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K, 137Cs and 60Co for Kuwaiti Environmental Marine Samples ranged between [(0.18 - 10.43) Bq/kg with average of 3.26 ± 0.80 Bq/kg, (-0.23 – 3.63) Bq/kg with average of 1.15 ± 0.67 Bq/kg, (1.27 - 110.92) Bq/kg with average of 43.62 ± 1.7 Bq/kg, (0.50 - 10.61) Bq/kg with average of 3.11 ± 0.34 Bq/kg and (ND – 0.35) Bq/kg with average of 0.01 ± 0.01 Bq/kg] respectively. Marine Environment Samples of the Arabian Gulf region in Kuwait have been investigated. Samples were collected along the eastern coastline of the State of Kuwait. All samples were collected from different beach sites in Kuwait. These samples were collected randomly from different locations in these sites (from north to south along the eastern coastline of Arabian Gulf). According to the Kuwaiti samples, the estimated range for (Radium Equivalent Rate, External Hazard Index, Internal Hazard Index, Absorbed Dose, annual effective dose, Gamma Index, Alpha Index) is [(0.79 – 21.80) Bq/kg with average of 8.26 ± 1.90 Bq/kg, (0.00 – 0.06) Bq/kg with average of 0.02 ± 0.01 Bq/kg, (0.00 – 0.09) Bq/kg with average of 0.03 ± 0.01 Bq/kg,(0.36 - 10.68) Bq/kg with average of 4.04 ± 0.86 Bq/kg, (0.44 – 13.10) Bq/kg with average of 4.96 ± 1.06 Bq/kg, (0.00 – 0.08) Bq/kg with average of 0.03 ± 0.01 Bq/kg and (0.00 – 0.05) Bq/kg with average of 0.02 ± 0.00 Bq/kg], respectively. The estimated hazard parameters in all Kuwaiti samples are lower than the recommended limits for occupationally worker. From this study, it was noticed that the average activity concentrations of 226Ra series, 232Th series, 40K, 137Cs and 60Co for Kuwaiti Environmental Marine Samples are lower than the worldwide average value. Results obtained are discussed and compared with the international recommended data.
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Study of adsorption of copper Cu (II) ions from wastewater using neem (Azadirachta Indica) leaf powder
Heavy metal copper is the third most widely used metal in industries next to aluminium and iron. It finds its use in various industries like electroplating industries, battery manufacture, smelting, ship building, electrical transmission, construction of transportation vehicles, construction industry etc. The permissible limit of copper in water for human consumption as per World Health Organisation (WHO) is 0.05 to 1 mg/lit. Beyond this limit, the presence of Cu (II) ions is carcinogenic and toxic to human health. Therefore, there is a need to remove copper from waste effluents before allowing it to enter into any water body. The present study deals with the removal of copper by adsorption on neem leaves (Azadirachta indica) in batch experiment, by low-cost and high-capacity removal of Cu(II) ions from wastewaters. The influence of contact time, adsorbent dosage, effect of pH of solution and temperature effect were studied. Adsorption mechanism is found to follow the ‘Freundlich’ adsorption isotherm, indicating a multi layer adsorption process. Percentage removal of Cu (II) ions is found to be 88.516% at pH 3 for 0.1gm of Neem Leaf powder (NLP) dosage. The results obtained from this study shows that Neem leaf powder is an effective and economical adsorbent for copper removal from industrial wastewater.
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Study of Doppler broadening by using four beams of light
In this work Doppler barding in measurements used to allow free Doppler absorption. The measurable velocity (m.s-1) was in the range of -5.2x107 to5.2x107. The maximum measurable velocity (m.s-1) was found to be limited by the signal-to-noise ratio. The intensity spectrum broadened linearly when velocity (m.s-1). At the same time, the spectral amplitude decreased and eventually approached the noise level. Increasing the laser power or improving the transducer sensitivity can extend the maximum. In contrast, the minimum measurable velocity (m.s-1) increased. Immediate, which represents the velocity sensitivity of the system, was limited by the frequency resolution of the system(-1.5x1014 Hz). Increasing the number of piezoelectric transducer cell (PZT) points can improve the minimum.
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Study of the Natural Rejection Capacity of Six Plantain Cultivars (musa spp.), Collected in Five Areas of Maniema Province under Kindu Conditions
To evaluate the natural rejection capacity of six plantain cultivars collected in five territories in the province of Maniema, in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The trial was conducted using an experimental system of subdivided plots and observations were made on the number of naturally formed shoots, the diameter, the height of the pseudo-trunk and the leaf area of the plant. The correlation between the number of shoots and these three parameters was calculated. The results obtained were as follows: 8.17 ± 2.72 shoots were produced in the control, 8.50 ± 2.62 in the sawdust and 8.26 ± 2.68 in the decomposed rice husks. The averages per cultivar for all fertilisers and per cultivar were 9.37 ± 0.11 for C6 (Otangala); followed by 8.76 ± 0.65 for C4 ((Mbonjilo) ; 8.43 ± 0.12 for C5 (Kambelekete) ; 8.03 ± 0.48 for C1 (Kyankola)1 ; 7.89 ± 0.19 for C3 (Mbudi 2) and 7.37 ± 0.48 for C2 (Mbudi 1). It was found that these numbers of rejections do not differ statistically between fertilisers and between cultivars. The correlation coefficients are therefore generally low or mogged, negative or positive. The data are heterogeneous within fertilisers and homogeneous within each cultivar.
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Study on a method of understanding-efficiency-based in network
This paper expounds processes of read understood and information transferred from epistemology and ontology according to customers’ requirements of knowledge service. It points out that method frames of content contrast were to access knowledge points via study on definition of knowledge and forms of semantic description. Some literatures would be contrasted with couple to couple by computer technology in order to raise read understanding efficiency.
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Study the levels of adiponectin, FSH, LH and Sex hormones in Type 2 diabetes (NIDDM)
Background: The hypothalamic/pituitary/gonadal (HPG)axis is central to the mammalian reproductive system. Pulsatile release of GnRH from neurons in the hypothalamus stimulates the secretion of LH and FSH from gonadotropes in the anterior pituitary. It has long been recognized that reproductive function is closely associated with energy balance, and metabolic dysregulation is linked with reproductive abnormalities (Lu et al.,2008). Compare the differences in levels of adiponectin, FSH, LH, testosterone and estradiol between the diabetic patients and control group and in diabetic patients according to the durations of disease for both males and females groups .Also study the relationship between adiponectin and hormones for both gender and for both diabetic groups and control also in diabetic patients according to the durations of disease. The statistical analysis of this study showed that patients with Type 2 diabetes of both males and females had significantly lower in adiponectin levels than control group (P<0.05),but this level of adiponectin significantly higher in females than males for both diabetic groups and control (p<0.05) ,while the levels of FSH and LH had significantly higher in diabetes group than control (p<0.05) ,also significantly higher in females than males for both diabetic groups and control (P< 0.05). The result of hormonal analysis show there were no significant differences in estradiol and testosterone between diabetic groups and control (p > 0.05). According to the durations of disease, the results show significant elevation in adiponectin level in third duration of disease for both males and females groups as compared with first and second duration (P <0.004), while the levels of FSH, LH ,estradiol and testosterone show no significant differences among duration(P>0.05).
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Studying the relationship between organizational structure and effectiveness in Kerman province Red Crescent
The extent of success by organization can be considered in their effectiveness and this would not achieve unless a proper structure. Informing organizational effectiveness and measuring its relationship with organizational structure as an affecting factor on organizational effectiveness, one can identify an ideal extent of structural elements relevant to organizational internal and external conditions. By revising and modifying such elements and by making structure effectiveness, one can accelerate moving toward aims and can increase organizational effectiveness. Present study evaluates the relationship between organizational structure and effectiveness in Kerman province Red Crescent. Research method is survey-type and questionnaire is the tool to gather data. Its population consists of managers and staff of Kerman province Red Crescent. The statistical sample included 189 managers and employees of the organizational and sampling method is an objective one. The studied variables include organizational effectiveness, organizational structure, concentration, formalization and complexity. The findings show that there is a relationship between organizational effectiveness and organizational structure. Such relations are as follow: the relationship between effectiveness and complexity is directly significant, it is adverse significant between effectiveness and concentration and it is directly significant between effectiveness and formalization.
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Surveying of the factors that influence the social alienation among university students themselves, with emphasis on religiosity (case study, Guilan-e-Gharb PNU)
The term alienation which Raymond Williams calls it as one of the most difficult vocabulary words, and as one of the main concepts in sociology, psychology and social psychology have been introduced, Is widely used in social science to explain the forms and types of actions and reactions to events, facts, psychological and social pressures and is hardly associated with people’s life. Regarding to the importance of the topic in this research by using field method, techniques and survey questionnaire sought answers to this question” what are the social factors affecting student alienation?” The study sample is Guilan-e-Gharb PNU students which about 382 persons of them have been surveyed as the sample of the study. In order to answer the main question of this study, the relationship between variables such as social trust, social participation, social cohesion, devoutness and economic-social base as independent variables and its relationship with the students' alienation as the dependent variable was analyzed. The results indicate that among all the independent variables with the dependent variable, there was a direct and significant relationship. The relationship of these variables is moderate.
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