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AbstractOver decades, public procurement in Tanzania experienced critical reforms; however, not much is known about the reforms and hence there is a dearth of comprehensive reviews about them. The current study reviews existing literature relating to public procurement reforms, practices, and compliance in Tanzania. By employing a systematic literature review, the study draws upon 65 publications from Scopus and Google Scholar databases. Findings unveil that the implementation of public procurement laws and regulations has significantly improved transparency, accountability, and fairness in public procurement undertakings. The foundation for a well-organized institutional framework that emphasizes decentralization, standardization, and governance over public procurement has also been established by these reforms. Despite these positive contributions, certain reforms have introduced challenges due to interference and uncoordinated efforts that hamper public procurement activities. The study exclusively focuses on journal articles from Scopus and Google Scholar, excluding other publication forms like book reviews and conference proceedings. While acknowledging this limitation, the article serves as the pioneering systematic review profiling public procurement reforms in Tanzania, shedding light on professional dilemmas and compliance issues. Given the limited literature on the subject, this study enriches the existing knowledge and offers valuable insights for scholars, procurement practitioners, public entities, and stakeholders.

Kappaphycus alvarezii seaweed was widely cultivated in Southeast Sulawesi. However, due to deteriorating water quality, E. denticulatum is gradually becoming its successor. This study aimed to observe three aspects: the activities of Eeucheuma. denticulatum farming based on nine criteria, the adoption level of the Standard Operational Procedure (SOP), and to outline tasks to increase the production of E. denticulatum. The study involved interviewing 59 seaweed farmers using questionnaires. The results showed that among the nine criteria observed, four—seed selection, transportation of seeds, cultivation method, and maintenance monitoring—fall into the highly adopted category, exceeding 70%. One criterion, cultivation method, falls within the medium adoption range (50-69%). Three criteria—farmer profile, farm unit profile, and postharvest documentation and traceability—remain in the low adoption category (

INTRODUCTION: One session of high energy extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) was found to improve the healing of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) after reconstruction in animal and human studies. This study investigated the effects of three and six sessions of low energy ESWT on graft incorporation and knee functions post ACL reconstruction in humans. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty participants with ACL injuries were recruited and assigned equally into three groups with 10 participants per group (n=10). Participants in the control group received physiotherapy alone without low energy ESWT. Participants in the 3ESWT group underwent three sessions of low energy ESWT (one session per week) combined with physiotherapy, and participants in the 6ESWT group received six sessions of low energy ESWT (one session per week) combined with physiotherapy. However, five participants were lost to follow-up. Evaluations of graft incorporation of the tibial tunnel using magnetic resonance (MRI) and Lysholm score were carried out before ACL reconstruction and after six months post ACL reconstruction. RESULTS: The number of grafts with partial incorporation in the tibia tunnel in 6ESWT was significantly higher compared with the number of grafts with non-incorporation at six months post-operatively, X2 (1, N=9) =5.44, p =0.02. However, there was no significant difference between frequencies of graft incorporation in tibia tunnel in the control and 3ESWT groups, X2 (1, N=7) =3.57, p =0.06 and X2 (1, N=9) =2.78, p =0.10, respectively at 6 months post- operatively. Lysholm scores were significantly higher at 6 months post ACL reconstruction compared to the baseline value for each group (p

This study analyzes the impact of foreign aid on foreign direct investment (FDI) in Latin America. Using the Feasible Generalized Least Squares panel estimation methodology with 1996-2017 panel data from 19 countries, this study finds that the impact of foreign aid on FDI in Latin America is insignificant. However, when total aid is disaggregated into bilateral aid and multilateral aid, it is found that multilateral aid significantly boosts FDI, but bilateral aid does not. These results lend credence to the hypothesis that multilateral aid (which is likely to be aligned with the non-political developmental orientation of the multilateral donor organizations) is channeled into legitimate development projects that raise the productivity of capital, which helps attract more FDI to the recipient countries. However, bilateral aid (which is often dictated by the geo-political strategic self-interests of the donor countries) can get funneled into non-productive projects. The study also finds that the other significant drivers of FDI in the sample countries include economic freedom, quality of governance, market size, rate of return, infrastructure, and human capital. These results appear robust across several model specifications.Keywords: Foreign aid, foreign direct investment, Latin AmericaJEL Classifications: F35, F21DOI: https://doi.org/10.32479/ijefi.7520

The spread of infectious diseases is rampant. The emergence of new infections, the irrational use of antibiotics in medicine and their widespread use in agriculture contribute to the emergence of microorganisms that are resistant to antimicrobial drugs. By 2050, mortality from antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria is projected to increase up to 10 million people per year, which will exceed mortality from cancer. Mutations in bacteria and viruses are occurring faster than new drugs and vaccines are being introduced to the market. In search of effective protection against infections, new strategies and approaches are being developed, one of which is the use of innate immunity activators in combination with etiotropic chemotherapy drugs. Muramyl peptides, which are part of peptidoglycan of cell walls of all known bacteria, regularly formed in the body during the breakdown of microflora and considered to be natural regulators of immunity. Their interaction with intracellular receptors launches a sequence of processes that ultimately leads to the increased expression of genes of MHC molecules, pro-inflammatory mediators, cytokines and their soluble and membrane-associated receptors. As a result, all subpopulations of immunocompetent cells are activated: macrophages and dendritic cells, neutrophils, T-, B- lymphocytes and natural killer cells for an adequate response to foreign or transformed antigens, manifested both in the regulation of the inflammatory response and in providing immunological tolerance. Muramyl peptides take part in the process of hematopoiesis, stimulating production of colony-stimulating factors, which is the basis for their use in the treatment of oncological diseases. In this review we highlight clinical trials of drugs based on muramyl peptides, as well as clinical efficacy of drugs mifamurtide, lycopid, liasten and polimuramil. Such a multifactorial effect of muramyl peptides and a well-known mechanism of activity make them promising drugs in the treatment and preventing of infectious, allergic and oncological diseases, and in the composition of vaccines.

We will present the design, growth, fabrication, electronic control and packaging of the InAs/InP quantum dot (QD) multi-wavelength lasers (MWLs) developed by AEP of NRC in Canada. Their key technical specifications include L-I-V curves, optical and RF beating spectra, relative intensity noise (RIN), and optical phase noise of each individual wavelength channel, as well as timing jitter are investigated. Data bandwidth transmission capacity of 5.376 Tbit/s and 10.3 Tbit/s respectively in the PAM-4 and 16-QAM modulation formats are demonstrated by only using a single QD MWL chip. We have also developed a novel monolithic InAs/InP QD dual-wavelength (DW) DFB laser as a compact optical beat source to generate millimeter-wave (MMW) signals. Because of using a common cavity, highly coherent and correlated optical modes with optical linewidth as low as 15.83 kHz, spectrally pure MMW signals around 46.8 GHz with a linewidth down to 26.1 kHz were experimentally demonstrated. By using this QD DW-DFB laser, a 1Gbaud (2Gbps) MMW over-fiber transmission link is demonstrated with PAM-4 signals. The results show that the demonstrated device is suitable for high speed high capacity MMW fiber-wireless integrated fronthaul of 5G networks.

The natural cause of the decline in population numbers and the mortality rate are not limited to the size of the population but rather to the qualitative aspects of life, age structure and other characteristics. If attention is directed to the causes leading to deaths from diseases and accidents in detail, then all countries need mortality data to prepare plans for the community, whether in health or community living aspects. Mortality is important to the extent to which health services and health awareness are provided in any society. This study examined the time trend of the mortality level in Najaf governorate in Iraq over the past nine years (2007 to 2015), to determine the size and annual rates of mortality and determine their levels of decline or increase and to indicate some of the causes of those deaths. While the reason for choosing this period depended on the data of the Ministry of Health, Directorate of Health of Najaf Governorate in coordination with the Directorate of Statistics of Najaf Governorate and their use of data and vital records in hospitals and forensic medicine. Tourism in Iraq stands to be a major growth sector. Iraqi tourism is currently underdeveloped and in a state of neglect, due to decades of war, closed regimes and recurrent instability and insecurity. Iraqi cities need to develop and stabilize and begin to meet their tremendous potential making Iraq a global tourism destination and gaining the associated economic benefits. There have been nascent efforts to begin promoting and developing tourism, despite the problems in Iraq and especially in the midst of conflict. In the face of social chaos and obvious dangers, the challenges are great. The Iraq Tourism Board has recruited more than 2,000 employees in 14 centers throughout the country, who are engaged in checking hotels, restaurants and commercial licenses. As the Iraqi and global economy recovers, however, it is clear that there is potential for new investment in the Iraq tourism sector.

Many recent FDI studies have focused on the effects of corruption on FDI inflows. Theoretically, corruption can act as either a grabbing hand by raising uncertainty and transaction costs, which should impede FDI, or a helping hand by “greasing” the wheels of commerce in the presence of weak regulatory framework, which should facilitate FDI. This study analyzes the impact of corruption on FDI inflows in East Asia and South Asia – two regions that have recently received huge FDI inflows. Using GLS methodology with 1995-2011 panel data, this study finds that the impact of corruption on FDI is significantly negative and robust, which validates the “grabbing hand” hypothesis. It is also found that, even after accounting for the economic fundamentals, East Asia seems to enjoy a locational advantage in attracting FDI vis-à-vis South Asia. These results further our knowledge of the FDI dynamics, which policymakers should find helpful in devising pro-FDI strategies.

This paper presented a concept of single degree of freedom (SDOF) electromagnetic vibration energy harvester device. This technique enable system to operate at wideband frequency range, low frequency and has multi-resonance frequencies. Each mechanical system operates at difference frequency where each system is attached with electromagnetic transducer components. the device is developed based on the parameter factors of vibration transmissibility from external vibration sources into the device through mathematical modelling. A prototype was tested by using vibration exciter and normal human walking. the fabricated device had showed multi-resonant behavior at 4.26 and 8.34 Hz during test. From experiment results, they have showed capability to operate at wide bandwidth frequency from 1.9 until 18.5 Hz at a periodic excitation of 0.04 g. the highest amount of rms voltage that has been produced about 108 mV with a maximum 78 µW average power across the 150 Ω load resistance. So, it has proven the dual-moving mechanical concept with low damping value in system has increased the operating bandwidth frequency and also increased the amount of output voltage from device.

Peningkatan bilangan warga tua (60 tahun ke atas) di beberapa negara Asia Tenggara termasuk Malaysia dan Indonesia semakin membimbangkan. Kepadatan penduduk warga tua di Malaysia dijangka akan meningkat kepada 2.2 juta orang pada tahun 2020. Statistik juga menunjukkan bahawa kadar kelahiran terus menurun beberapa dekad kebelakangan ini. Statistik ini menghuraikan satu fenomena global berkaitan dengan anak dewasa yang menjaga ibu bapa tua mereka. Fenomena anak dewasa yang menggalas beban penjagaan (kerjaya, menjaga keluarga sendiri, dan menjaga ibu bapa tua) kurang dikaji dan diperbincangkan. Artikel ini meninjau pengalaman penjagaan yang dilalui oleh anak dewasa (wanita) yang menjaga warga tua dengan menggunakan teori peranan. Pengumpulan data telah dilaksanakan terhadap 8 orang responden menggunakan kaedah temu bual mendalam dan 399 orang responden menggunakan kaedah tinjauan. Hasil kajian daripada kedua-dua pendekatan menunjukkan bahawa wanita lebih banyak terlibat dalam penjagaan warga tua. Ibu bapa tua juga mengharapkan bantuan dan sokongan daripada anak perempuan. Fenomena ini boleh memberi implikasi kepada kerjaya wanita, keluarga dan pembangunan negara. Artikel ini merumuskan bahawa dalam era globalisasi, majikan perlu mengambil kira masa anjal di tempat kerja, peningkatan sistem sokongan formal dan informal bagi membantu wanita dalam mengharungi dilema dan cabaran penjagaan warga tua, anak, keluarga dan kerjaya wanita, di samping untuk mencapai masyarakat penyayang dan budaya ikram yang boleh dipupuk seiring dengan pembangunan negara maju.A drastic increase in the number of elderly people (above 60 years) in several countries in Southeast Asia including Malaysia and Indonesia has raised concerns. The numbers of elderly population in Malaysia are projected to grow to 2.2 million by the year 2020. Statistics also shows that the birth rate in Malaysia has been decreasing in the last few decades. Both these statistics describe a global phenomenon relating to the caring for elderly parents by adult children. Challenges faced by adult children who are taking care of their elderly parents (i.e., career, care of their own family, and care of elderly parents) have not been analysed or discussed widely. This article discusses the experience of adult children (daughters) who are taking care of their elderly parents by using role theory. The data collection was done using in-depth interview method on 8 respondents and the survey method on 399 respondents both of which were conducted by enumerators. The survey and in-depth interview results show that daughters are more involved in caring for their elderly parents. The elderly parents also expect help and support from their daughters more than from their sons. This phenomenon will have negative implications on women's career, family and nation development. This article concludes that employers should take into consideration more flexible hours, increase formal and informal support for the working women who are caring for their elderly parents and family in achieving our goal as a caring society in a developed nation.

Background Because of yellow fever’s serious impact on health, vaccination is the principal strategy to control the disease. Administration of the yellow fever vaccine to breastfeeding women should be before they complete 9 months post-delivery, in order to prevent transmission of the yellow fever vaccine virus to their infants through breast feeding. This study aimed to confirm whether the excretion of yellow fever vaccine virus is in milk of vaccinated breastfeeding mothers and to confirm the probable transmission to their infants through breast milk. Methods Samples were taken as follows: one serum specimen was taken 3-14 days after the date of the vaccination, and breast milk specimens were taken at four different time points between 3-4 days apart. Specimens were obtained from eight nursing mothers, who received the YVF vaccine (17DD). Mothers were asymptomatic before and after the vaccine administration but their infants developed symptoms after administration. Maternal serum samples were tested for YFV specific IgM antibodies through immuno-fluorescent assay (IFA). RNA was extracted from serum and breast milk specimens and YFV RNA screened using real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results In total, five mothers (62.5%) were positive for YFV and two mothers (25%) had YFV RNA in serum. Among milk specimens, YFV RNA was detected during the four different mentioned collection times as follows (positive milk specimens/total milk specimens): 3/8 (37.5 %), 4/6 (66.6%) and 1/4(25%). RNA was completely undetectable in the last collection time. Conclusions YFV transmission from mothers to their babies through breast-feeding was highly probable indicated by the temporal relationship to mother’s YF vaccination.

This study investigates the relationship between an ability-based measure of emotional intelligence (EI) and responses to the COVID-19 virus (RCV) of employed students at a university in the United States. We test our model with questionnaire data from 143 participants. Data analysis including confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling using LISREL suggests that EI is positively associated with RCV. Implications for management, directions for future research, and limitations of the study are discussed. Keywords: Intelligence, Emotional intelligence, Non-cognitive intelligence, Responses to COVID-19, INTRODUCTION The coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease initially discovered in Wuhan, China in December 2019 (CDC, 2021). Due to the highly contagious nature of COVID-19, the World Health [...]

Background: Rickettsial infections are often neglected and poorly recognized by physicians in many tropical and subtropical regions. Despite a number of recent reports describing rickettsial diseases in new locations and the discovery of new rickettsiae, medical science and research have largely neglected the diagnosis and antimicrobial treatment of rickettsial infections in subtropical and tropical areas; thus, much remains to be discovered. This study aimed to detect and characterize spotted fever group (SFG) rickettsiae in ixodid ticks infesting domestic ruminants in Khartoum State. Methods: Polymerase chain reaction targeting both genes that encode for citrate synthase (gltA) and outer membrane protein (ompA) was performed for the presence of SFG rickettsia followed by sequence and phylogenetic analysis. Results: Of the 202 ticks examined for the presence of SFG rickettsia, gltA gene was detected in 4 samples (2%). Furthermore, gltA‐positive samples were used to amplify the ompA gene, in which only two samples yielded positive results. Sequence and phylogenetic analysis of the positive samples revealed four different species of SFG rickettsiae: Rickettsia aeschlimannii, Rickettsia rhipicephali, Rickettsia massiliae and Rickettsia raoultii. Conclusions: These results indicated the presence of SFG rickettsia in Sudanese ticks. This also indicates that humans have an opportunity to acquire these infections. It is important to keep in mind the need for careful consideration of rickettsial infections in individuals with a fever of unknown origin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Bronchiectasis is a chronic debilitating but neglected pulmonary disease. It is associated with substantial health related burden and health care costs. However, the biochemical parameters related to disease severity have not been sufficiently assessed. Objective: Aim of the present study to find out any association between serum albumin and disease severity of non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis. Methods This was a cross-sectional observational study of 33 subjects with non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis at department of Respiratory Medicine, National Institute of Diseases of the Chest and Hospital (NIDCH) from December 2019 to March 2021. After taking informed written consent BSI score be calculated and blood was taken for to measure serum albumin. Data was collected through questionnaire. After completion of the data collection, analysis was done with the help of Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 22. Results Mean age of the study subjects was 43.36 ± 15.65 years with a range of 21 -76 years and more likely to be men (60.6%). History of previous pulmonary tuberculosis found in 48.5% subjects as associated conditions and pseudomonas aeruginosa (21.2%) was the most common organisms in sputum culture. 87.9% of the study subjects had history of exacerbation within last 12 months and 60.6% were hospitalized within last 2 years. More than half (54.6%) of the study subjects had severe, 33.3% had moderate and 12.1% had mild bronchiectasis with the mean BSI score of 9.00 ± 3.05. Mean serum albumin was 3.22 ± 0.84 g/dl. Albumin had a significant negative correlation with BSI score (r = -0.457 and p = 0.008). Conclusion The serum albumin had moderate correlation with disease severity of non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bluetongue (BT) is an arthropod‐borne viral disease that primarily affects ruminants in tropical and temperate regions. In the present study, a cross‐sectional survey was conducted to define the seroprevalence of Bluetongue virus and to identify the possible risk factors correlated with BTV seropositivity among cattle, sheep, and goats during the period 2015‐2016 in Gadarif State. A total of 420 cattle, 877 sheep, and 641 goat serum samples were collected randomly from 12 localities. Information about age, sex, breed, area ecology, and location was obtained for each sample. Bluetongue seroprevalence was estimated using competitive enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (cELISA). The overall seroprevalence of BTV was 92.9% (390/420), 76.4% (670/877), and 85.3% (547/641) among cattle, sheep, and goats, respectively. Multivariate analysis followed univariate analysis showed that there was a significant difference (p < 0.05) between location, area ecology and age groups of cattle, sheep, and goats, and seropositivity to BTV. In addition, a significant association (p < 0.05) was observed between sex and seropositivity to BTV in sheep. In conclusion, BTV antibodies are highly prevalent in Gadarif State and susceptible livestock are at risk of exposition with BTV. Consequently, these animals have protection against specific BTV serotypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, two materials were synthesized: La0.5Ca0.5MnO3 and novel rGO-La0.5Ca0.5MnO3. The solid-state reactions and hydrothermal methods were used to synthesize these nanocomposites. The specific capacitances of La0.5Ca0.5MnO3 nanocomposite were estimated at scan rates of (1 and 90 mV/s), resulting in values of (779.26, and 41.06) Fg−1. Reduced graphene oxide gave the specific capacitance of (491.75 and 140.44) Fg−1 at the scan rates of (1 and 50 mV/s). The novel rGO-La0.5Ca0.5MnO3 nanocomposite gave the reportable specific capacitance of (1014.62 and 81.86) Fg−1 at the scan rates of (1 and 90 mV/s). The XRD pattern displayed crystallized nanoparticles exhibiting five distinct diffraction peaks at (112), (022), (220), (024), and (224) directions, which correspond to the hexagonal crystal structure. The insertion of electrons into the anti-bonding Mn orbital causes the Mn–O bond length to expand, shifting the diffraction peaks of LCM toward higher 2 theta angles. Five diffraction peaks were observed in the crystallized reduced graphene oxide (rGO), with two intense peaks at (002) and (200) at 2 theta angles of 26.591° and 44.640°. The material's surface morphology exhibits a hexagonal structure upon examination. The occurrence of wrinkles in reduced graphene oxide (rGO) is a common observation in 2D materials, primarily because of rGO's negative thermal expansion. Nanopoles in LCM and RLCM exhibit a distinct cube-like shape. The cubes are created through a combination of isotropic compression and thermal reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]