The Adoption of e-Procurement and its impact on the Procurement Performance of Selected Telecommunication Companies in Rwanda

Adoption of newer technology & implementing the systems has become the need of time in the midst of competitive environment. Effectiveness, efficiency, innovation are related to the speed of customer service, which is demanded in service industry, like telecommunication industry. Supply Chain Management (SCM) contributes in the performance of both buyers as well as suppliers. Adoption of e-Procurement contributes in improved customer services, customer satisfaction by improving employee contribution through procurement performance. This study highlights the factors affecting the adoption of e-Procurement, & how this e-Procurement affected the procurement performance of New Artel, Rwanda. The study includes employees of New Artel, Rwanda, data collected using structured questionnaire was analysed statistically using SPSS 17, shows positive benefits of adoption of e-Procurement on procurement performance of New Artel, Rwanda. Keywords: e-Procurement, TAM, Performance, Telecommunication, Supply Chain Managemen

Children’s Experience With Water Scarcity In Rural Rakai, Uganda

This article presents findings on children’s experience in accessing and utilizing water in two sub-counties of Kagamba and Lwanda; one extremely water-scarce and the other relatively water plenty in Rakai district, Uganda. We answer the following question: How do children in a water-scarce context experience water and what does it mean for their wellbeing? A survey was conducted among school-going children aged 11-17 years (N=405), combined with focus group discussions with children and women. Access to adequate safe water was the fifth most frequently mentioned component of wellbeing. A majority of the children affirmed that water scarcity was the biggest threat to their wellbeing. Water scarcity posed both direct and indirect threats; the direct threat resulting from long distances and risks at the water point. Indirectly, the poor quality of water increased susceptibility to water-related illness. A majority of the children experienced a water problem in their home and were unhappy living in such a situation. Unhappiness also resulted from reduction of playing time, punishment and body aches. Fetching water made up the bulk of the chores performed by children, making it a drudgery due to using heavy water vessels, long distances covered and the number of trips to the water point per day. Childhood, in the context of domestic water scarcity encompasses vulnerability. It hence requires protection through the improvement of domestic water access, both in terms of quantity and quality

Effects of methanol leaf extracts of Loranthus micranthus Linn from three host plants on some biochemical indices of diabetic rats

Purpose: To evaluate the effects of Loranthus micranthus leaf extracts from three host plants on the blood glucose, lipid profile and other biochemical indices of diabetic rats. Methods: The extracts of L. micranthus from Persea americana, Irvingia gabonensis and Cola acuminata were administered (orally at 200 mg/kg for 14 days) to alloxan-induced diabetic rats with glibenclamide serving as the standard drug. The fasting blood glucose (FBG), lipid profile, hematological indices and liver enzyme functions of the rats were determined. Phytochemical analysis of the extracts was carried out by standard methods. Results: The extracts reduced (p < 0.05) the FBG, low density lipoprotein (LDL), triglycerides and increased (p < 0.05) high density lipoprotein (HDL) and hematological parameters of the rats. However, there was no increase (p > 0.05) in liver enzymes. Phytochemical screening showed abundance of flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins and terpenoids. Conclusion: The study revealed that L. micranthus extracts from the three host plants possess antidiabetic, hypolipidemic and anti-anemic activities. Keywords: Anemia, Dyslipidemia, Enzymes, Hyperglycemia, Loranthus micranthus, Mistleto

A survey on fopid controllers for lfo damping in power systems using synchronous generators, facts devices and inverter-based power plants

In recent decades, various types of control techniques have been proposed for use in power systems. Among them, the use of a proportional–integral–derivative (PID) controller is widely recognized as an effective technique. The generalized type of this controller is the fractional-order PID (FOPID) controller. This type of controller provides a wider range of stability area due to the fractional orders of integrals and derivatives. These types of controllers have been significantly considered as a new approach in power engineering that can enhance the operation and stability of power systems. This paper represents a comprehensive overview of the FOPID controller and its applications in modern power systems for enhancing low-frequency oscillation (LFO) damping. In addition, the performance of this type of controller has been evaluated in a benchmark test system. It can be a driver for the development of FOPID controller applications in modern power systems. Investigation of different pieces of research shows that FOPID controllers, as robust controllers, can play an efficient role in modern power systems

Willingness to HPV self-sampling for cervical cancer screening and its predictors among women attending outpatient clinics in Meru District, Arusha Region, Northern Tanzania

Background: The ability for women to self-collect human papillomavirus (HPV) samples can potentially reduce the risk of cervical cancer and increase screening coverage. Objectives: To assess the willingness to HPV self-sampling for cervical cancer screening and its predictors among women attending outpatient clinics in Arusha region, northern Tanzania. Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 706 women aged 18-55 years in Meru District Hospital and Usa River Health Centre from March to April 2019. Face-to-face intervies were conducted using a questionnaire. Data analysis was performed using Stata version 14.0. The log-binomial regression was used to determine factors associated with willingness to self-collection of HPV samples. Results: Majority (70%) of the women were willing to self-collection of HPV samples for cervical cancer screening and was associated with attending Meru District hospital (PR=2.02, 95%CI 1.77-2.31); good knowledge about cervical cancer warning signs (PR=1.11, 95%CI 1.01-1.22), prevention (PR=1.13, 95%CI 1.04-1.20), and symptoms (PR=1.61, 95%CI 1.33-1.93); and having formal employment (PR=1.22, 95%CI 1.07-1.37). Conclusion: The majority of women were willing to self-collect HPV samples for cervical cancer screening. Self-collection is, therefore, an acceptable and viable means of screening for cervical cancer, which has great implications for Tanzania from a health policy perspective. Keywords: Cervical cancer; HPV testing; HPV self-collection; Tanzania

Constituents of the Essential Oil of Suregada zanzibariensis Leaves are Repellent to the Mosquito, Anopheles gambiae s.s.

In traditional African communities, repellent volatiles from certain plants generated by direct burning or by thermal expulsion have played an important role in protecting households against vectors of malaria and other diseases. Previous research on volatile constituents of plants has shown that some are good sources of potent mosquito repellents. In this bioprospecting initiative, the essential oil of leaves of the tree, Suregada zanzibariensis Verdc. (Angiospermae: Euphobiaceae) was tested against the mosquito, Anopheles gambiae s.s. Giles (Diptera: Culicidae) and found to be repellent. Gas chromatography (GC), GC-linked mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and, where possible, GC-co-injections with authentic compounds, led to the identification of about 34 compounds in the essential oil. About 56% of the constituents were terpenoid ketones, mostly methyl ketones. Phenylacetaldehyde (14.4%), artemisia ketone (10.1%), (1S)-(-)-verbenone (12.1%) and geranyl acetone (9.4%) were the main constituents. Apart from phenylacetaldehyde, repellent activities of the other main constituents were higher than that of the essential oil. The blends of the main constituents in proportions found in the essential oil were more repellent to An. gambiae s.s. than was the parent oil (p < 0.05), and the presence of artemisia ketone in the blend caused a significant increase in the repellency of the resulting blend. These results suggested that blends of some terpenoid ketones can serve as effective An. gambiae s.s. mosquito repellents