Pastoral Development Strategies In The Sahel and East Africa: Can the Mistakes be Corrected?

There is much controversy on the definition given to those people who raise livestock on the natural vegetation. Differences in the degree of their dependence on livestock and livestock products for food, as well as differences in the patterns of their movements, create the controversy. Pure-pastoralists , nomadic pastoralists , semi - pastoralists , semi-nomadic , transhumant , and semisedentary are but some of the many terms used in the literature to describe them (see, for example, Johnson, 1969; Jacobs, 1965; McGee, 1986; Horowitz, 1981). To avoid much of the confusion created by the use of these terms, we use the definition of pastoralists as . . . people who derive most of their income or sustenance from keeping domestic livestock in conditions where most of the feed that their livestock eat is natural forage rather than cultivated fodders and pastures , and who ... devote the bulk of their own, and their families\u27, working time and energy to looking after their livestock rather than to other economic activities (Sandford, 1983:1). Pastoralists occupy most of the arid and semi-arid regions of Africa as the ecological conditions of these areas are mostly unfavorable for cultivation (McGee, 1986)

Krooninen junktionaalinen stomatiitti lymfosyyttikertymineen : diagnoosin spesifiointi immunohistokemiallisin menetelmin

Oral lichen planus (OLP) on yleisen ihotaudin lichen planuksen suun limakalvojen manifestaatio. Krooninen junktionaalinen stomatiitti (KJS) on suhteellisen tuntematon tauti, jolle on tunnusomaista epiteelinalaisen strooman lymfaattinen infiltraatio. Lymfaattinen infiltraation esiintyminen on myös OLP:n diagnostisena kriteerinä. OLP:n ja KJS:n erotusdiganoosi on epäselvä ja taudit voivat olla jopa saman taudin eri muotoja. Värjäsimme 10 OLP- ja 10 KJS näytettä tutkiaksemme näiden mahdollisia eroja. Käytimme seuraavia markkereita CD1-a, CD3, CD4, CD5, CD8 ja CD20. Luokittelimme tulokset neliportaisen asteikon perusteella ja käytimme Fishern exact testiä tilastolliseen analyysiin. CD20 positiivisia B-lymfosyyttejä oli enemmän KJS:ssä kuin OLP:ssä, pääosin lymfaattisten follikkelirakkuloiden johdosta. CD4 positiiviset T-lymfosyytit olivat enemmistönä OLP:ssä kun verrattiin niiden suhdetta CD8 positiivisiin T-lymfosyytteihin. Erot olivat tilastollisesti merkittäviä. Tulosten perusteella OLP:n ja KJS:n lymfaattisessa infiltraatiossa on eroavaisuuksia, joskin lopullisen selvyyden saavuttamiseksi lisätutkimukset olisivat tarpeen

Measurement of Total Plasma Homocysteine, Folic Acid, Vitamin B12 and Vitamin D3 Levels among Osteoporotic Women in Duhok City

الخلفية والاهداف: الدراسات الحديثة تشير الى انه المستويات العالية للحامض الاميني هوموسيستين له علاقة مباشرة بزيادة نسبة خطر الاصابة بتنخر العظام التي تؤدي الی الکسور لدى المسنين خاصة النساء (بعد سن اليأس). و تشير ايضا ان مستوى هذا الحمض الاميني مرتبط بشكل اساسي بمستويات كل من فيتامين بي 12, فيتامين دي 3 و حامض الفوليك. زيادة نسبة الهوموسيستين في بلازما الدم وكذلك انخفاض ملحوظ في مستويات كل من حامض الفوليك, فيتامين بي 12 و فيتامين دي 3 يشير الى زيادة احتمالية حدوث هشاشة وفقدان قوام العظام. لذلك, تهدف هذه الدراسة الى تحديد مستوى الهوموسيستين في الدم, ففي حالة زيادة نسبة الهوموسيستين عن الحد الطبيعي (أکثر من 15 ????mol/L) وانخفاض مستوى كل من حامض الفوليك, فيتامين بي 12 و فيتامين دي3 تتنبأ بسوء تشخيص حالة العظام و هشاشته وبالتالي الکسور. طريقة العمل: اجريت دراسة مقطعية على (90) امرأة تتراوح أعمارهن بين (45 – 85) سنة في عامي 2017 – 2018. تم استخدام جهاز (ديكسا) للحصول على المعلومات حول قيمة (تي – سكور) المسجلة من حاسبة الجهاز الموجود في مركز دهوك للامراض الروماتيزمية واعادة التأهيل الطبي.في هذه الدراسة تم استخدام برنامج (اس بي اس اس ) الاصدار رقم (23) لغرض الحصول على أنه هل هناك علاقة أحصائية بين اجمالي الهوموسيستين في بلازما الدم و معاملات الدراسة الاخرى. النتائج: يرتبط فرط الهوموسيستين في الدم بتشوهات الهيكل العظمي وهشاشة في العظام. في هذه الدراسة اختبرنا ما إذا كانت مستويات الهوموسيستين والإنزيمات الحرجة في عملية أيضه مثل فيتامين بي 12 و فيتامين دي 3 و حامض الفوليك التي لهم علاقة بكثافة المعادن في العظام التي تقاس بجهاز ديكسا للمرضى (بعد انقطاع الطمث) المشاركين في هذا البحث. تم الوصول الى النتائج على انه الهمومسيستين على علاقة ( p اقل من 0.001) وثيقة مع كل من العمر, قياس الخصر, حامض الفوليك, فيتامين بي 12, وفيتامين دي 3 و كذلك مع مجاميع (تي – سكور) و أيظا له علاقة مع كل من ( p اقل من 0.005) مع كل من كالسيوم الدم, مؤشر كتلة الجسم و اجمالي الدهون في الجسم. الاستنتاجات: يبدو أن الحمض الاميني الهوموسيستين هو مؤشّر على تطور مرض هشاشة العظام بين مجتمع الدراسة (النساء المسنات في مدينة دهوك). البيانات الحالية تشير إلى وجود علاقة كبيرة بين فيتامين بي 12, فيتامين دي 3 و حامض الفوليك وتمعدن العظام. توثق بياناتنا الفرضية القائلة بأن الحمض الاميني الهوموسيستين قد يلعب دورًا في التسبب في تطور حالة هشاشة العظام وكسورها.Background and objectives: Recent studies suggest that high homocysteine levels are associated with an increased risk of fractures. Homocysteine levels are known to be influenced by vitamin B12, vitamin D3 and folic acid status. Elevated plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) and deficiencies of folate and vitamin B12 are associated with risk of osteoporosis and bone loss. Therefore, this study aims to examine whether high plasma levels of homocysteine and low plasma levels of folate, vitamin B12 and vitamin D3 predicted a bad prognosis of bone health or not. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted on (90) women whose ages were between (45–85 years old) in 2017–2018. Recorded information on T – score values were obtained from computerized DEXA machine at the Duhok Rheumatic disease and Rehabilitation center. Independent t – test by (SPSS version 23) program was used to estimate relationship and risk assessment among study parameters comparing to levels of plasma total homocysteine (tHcy). Results: Hyperhomocysteinemia is associated with skeletal abnormalities and osteoporosis. We tested whether levels of homocysteine and critical co-enzymes of homocysteine metabolism, such as vitamin B12, D3 and folate which are related to bone mineral density (BMD) measured by DEXA. The current data demonstrates that homocysteine is highly significant (P value < 0.01) with each of age, waist circumferences (C. W.), vitamin B12, folic acid, vitamin D3 and T- score quartiles, also significant (P value < 0.05) with Body Mass Index (BMI), calcium (Ca+) and Total Body Fat percent (TBF %). Conclusions: Homocysteine seems to be a predictor for development of osteoporosis among study population (elderly menopaused women in Duhok city). The present data suggest a major association between folate, vitamin B12, vitamin D3 and bone mineralization. Our data documented the hypothesis that homocysteine may play a role in the pathogenesis of osteoporotic fractures

Essays on Economic and Behavioral Consequences of CSR Reporting Regulations

In recent years, an increasing number of countries have passed corporate social responsibility (CSR) reporting regulations for all or a subset of listed firms. An important feature of the CSR reporting regulations worldwide is that the regulations are relatively soft in the sense that most countries pass disclosure regulations that contain ‘comply-or-explain’ provisions. This dissertation contains three distinct studies that collectively examine economic and behavioral consequences of CSR reporting regulations. Study One surveys a large empirical evidence in accounting, finance, economics, law and management to evaluate the impact of CSR reporting regulations on (i) reporting quality, (ii) capital-markets and (iii) firm behavior. The survey indicates that CSR reporting regulations generate significant costs for affected firms around legislative events leading up to the CSR regulations. The survey also indicates that the CSR reporting regulations cause significant changes in firm behavior, and lead to improved social and environmental performance of affected firms. However, reporting and disclosure quality remain low. Based on this, Study Two experimentally investigates how comply-or-explain disclosure regulations affect managers’ disclosure recommendations of a negative event affecting the firm’s underlying economics. Results reveal that managers are more likely to make disclosure of a negative event in a comply-or-explain regulatory system relative to a voluntary regime. In addition, the impact of comply-or-explain regulation on managers’ disclosure judgements is larger when the firm’s prior disclosure policy is unknown than when it is known to be biased toward no disclosure. Finally, Study Three reports the results of an experiment examining investors’ reactions to the incorporation of CSR performance measures in regulated financial reports relative to reporting CSR measures in standalone CSR reports. Results show that reporting CSR measures in standalone CSR reports triggers stronger reactions from investors, such that the influence of CSR information on investors’ firm value estimates are stronger when CSR information is reported in a separate report relative when integrated in a financial report. Further, more investors misclassified CSR information as assured when integrated in a financial report relative to when reported in a separate report. Consequently, misclassifying investors rated credibility of CSR information higher and derived higher firm value estimates compared to investors who correctly classify this information as non-assured. Overall, studies in this dissertation inform the international CSR reporting regulations and standard-setting process.Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, School of Business School, 202

Effects of Foreign Banks Presence on Emerging Economies: Evidence from Tanzania

Foreign banks presence has increased rapidly since 1990 where emerging economies lifted restrictions in their financial systems. Currently the ownership of foreign banks in many developing countries is more than 50%. Academically the positive effects of foreign banks participation are widely accepted in these emerging markets. However unlike studies of foreign investment in real sectors, little has been done to understand the negative effects from foreign banks to domestic banks and society in general. The importance of such understanding is crucial, especially after the break out of the global financial crisis and pandemic Covid 19 which raises certain concerns regarding the market – driven model of these emerging markets. The paper highlights this trend and survey the existing literature in order to explore the effects of foreign banks presence in emerging economies paying particular attention to Tanzania banking sector. It has been observed that; Competition and efficiency, stability and access to credits are among the effects that have been influenced by foreign banks participation. The descriptive results also revealed that foreign banks perform better in term of ROA and ROE than domestic banks in Tanzania during 2017 – 2021, but the performance of foreign banks is unstable and risky as compared to domestic banks. Keywords: Foreign banks presence, Domestic banks, Emerging Economies, Return on Asset, Return on Equity. DOI: 10.7176/RJFA/14-12-04 Publication date:June 30th 202

SELF-REPORTED HEALTH, ILLNESS AND SELF-CARE AMONG DOCTORS OF MEERUT

Abstract: This document provides insight on lifestyle and healthcare status of doctors based on key findings from a survey conducted in Meerut City, (U.P.) India. Objectives: 1.To study the lifestyle pattern among the doctors of Allopathy and Ayurveda & teachers of local private Medical college, local private Dental college. 2. To study the (self-reported) prevalence of common non-communicable diseases in the same. 3. To know the pattern of healthy lifestyle practices adopted by the doctors. Material & Methods: The Cross-sectional study was conducted with the help of a pre-designed and pre-tested questionnaire which was filled by the faculty of local private Medical College, Dental college, Ayurvedic doctors and local practicing doctors of allopathy and Ayurveda. Verbal consent was implied. A purposive sample of 240 doctors [60 each from Medical and Dental colleges and 60 each from allopathy private practitioners (p.p.allo.) and ayurvedic private practitioners (p.p.ayur.)] were given the questionnaire-and response rate was 84%. The data was entered in Microsoft excel 2007 to know the frequency of the various lifestyle pattern. Results: 47.5% of the doctors had raised B.M.I. (Body Mass Index- more than 25); 21% of the doctors were smokers, 10% were current drinkers and 32% were hypertensive. Only 2.5% were found to be diabetic in our study. About 52% of the doctors exercised regularly. 32.5% were trained for yoga. Conclusion:This study implies that a large proportion of doctors themselves do not follow the healthy lifestyle and are having lifestyle diseases like obesity, hypertension etc. Interestingly, there was not much difference between doctors doing private practice or teaching in Medical/Dental College

Collaboration, wealth and value creation, SMEs’ halal products communities, and information systems

This paper takes the form of a general review. It introduces the notion of government-industry collaboration and information sharing in the Halal industry that work together for achieving common goals such as in economic, health, environmental, and social well-being – moving towards making living more meaningful, productive, fruitful and profound. Technological empowerment – in particular inter-organizational information systems (IS) and information sharing – is regarded as the key driver for supporting a sustainable economic development at the global, regional and local levels. Through IS, it is viable and essential to establish a global knowledge base, shared, used, enhanced and contributed to by a variety of experts and professionals throughout the world in different fields toward achieving common goals. The paper raises awareness of relevant government-industry collaboration initiatives, leveraging on the strategic use of IS to promote individual and community growth as well as to facilitate sustainable development. As there are five main components of an IS – hardware, software,data, procedures/processes, and people – this also mean that many different skills and effective change management programs are required to ensure users’ acceptance, leadership commitment and business processes between organizations are improved in ensuring ISs are effective in delivering the business goals of participating partners and collaborators