Fiscal Decentralization and Fiscal Autonomy in Tanzanian Local Government Authorities: A Review of Existing Literature and Empirical Evidence

Local governments are very important in providing public social service, such as water, health, education and road infrastructures to citizens. In order to ensure efficient provision of these public services, local governments need to be having strong mechanism of governance. Fiscal decentralization in relation to the local government is considered as an important means of the system of governance. Local government authorities collect roughly five percent of all public revenues and are accountable for about twenty percent of public spending. With the understanding of the significant role of local governments, policy and decision makers need to ensure strong and stable local financial management system. Also, strong efforts need to be directed to internal revenues mobilization.Principally, local government recurrent expenditure is supposed to be covered by local government’s internal revenues but surprisingly more than ninety percent of the same is covered by inter-governmental transfers which in one way or another might interferes fiscal autonomy of the local government. Decision and policy makers are argued to enhance sources of revenues in local governments to enable them to bridge fiscal vertical gap between revenue generated and total local recurrent expenditure. Also proper designing of local government fiscal policy should take into account the component of inter-governmental transfers. Keywords: Fiscal Decentralization, Fiscal Autonomy, Local Government, Social Services, Inter-governmental Transfer

Fiscal Decentralization and Fiscal Autonomy in Tanzanian Local Government Authorities: A Review of Existing Literature and Empirical Evidence

Local governments are very important in providing public social service, such as water, health, education and road infrastructures to citizens. In order to ensure efficient provision of these public services, local governments need to be having strong mechanism of governance. Fiscal decentralization in relation to the local government is considered as an important means of the system of governance. Local government authorities collect roughly five percent of all public revenues and are accountable for about twenty percent of public spending. With the understanding of the significant role of local governments, policy and decision makers need to ensure strong and stable local financial management system. Also, strong efforts need to be directed to internal revenues mobilization. Principally, local government recurrent expenditure is supposed to be covered by local government’s internal revenues but surprisingly more than ninety percent of the same is covered by inter-governmental transfers which in one way or another might interferes fiscal autonomy of the local government. Decision and policy makers are argued to enhance sources of revenues in local governments to enable them to bridge fiscal vertical gap between revenue generated and total local recurrent expenditure. Also proper designing of local government fiscal policy should take into account the component of inter-governmental transfers. Keywords: Fiscal Decentralization, Fiscal Autonomy, Local Government, Social Services, Inter-governmental Transfe

Pazopanib Selectively Inhibits Choroidal Vascular Endothelial Cell Proliferation and Promotes Apoptosis

Exudative age related macular degeneration (AMD) is related to active choroidal neovascularization (CNV) and formation of disciform scars. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) mediated choroidal vascular endothelial cell (CVECs) proliferation is characteristic of CNV. Intravitreal injections of bevacizumab, ranibizumab and aflibercept (anti-VEGF monoclonal antibodies) are used to treat exudative AMD. Pazopanib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, inhibits neovascularization through blockade of intracellular tyrosine kinase VEGF receptor and platelet-derived growth factor receptor. In this in vitro investigation, we evaluated the inhibitory consequences of escalating doses of pazopanib on proliferation of VEGF-enriched CVECs to establish a safe dosage range. VEGF (50 ng/mL) enriched CVECs were treated with escalating doses of pazopanib (10, 50,100 and 250 µM). Cell proliferation rates (WST-1 assay), cell viability (trypan blue exclusion assay), and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were measured at 48h, 72h and 1 week. Intracellular caspase 3 levels and morphological changes were recorded. VEGF enriched CVECs showed a significant decrease in cell proliferation rates after one week of treatment with increasing doses of pazopanib (10, 50,100 and 250 µM) treatment i.e. 87.8%, 43.0%, 38.1% and 9.3% compared to controls (p<0.001). Similarly, trypan blue exclusion assay revealed a decrease in cell viability as 81.8%, 81.0%, 53.4% and 8.7%, respectively (p<0.05). Further, pazopanib actively inhibited proliferation of VEGF-enriched CVECs, with 1.32, 1.92, 1.92 and 4.1-fold increase (p<0.01) in intracellular caspase 3 levels. VEGF-enriched CVECs treated with escalating doses of pazopanib decreased cell viability and increased caspase 3 levels in a time and dose dependent manner

Dramatic Resolution of Recalcitrant Cystoid Macular Edema after Concurrent Intravitreal Injection of Bevacizumab and Triamcinolone

Background: Cystoid macular edema (CME), a common complication of branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO), is associated with a significant vision loss. Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) therapy is the gold standard of treatment, while grid macular photocoagulation has also been used as an adjuvant in patients with CME secondary to BRVO. More recent efforts were successful by the use of intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide. We proposed a concurrent use of intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide and intravitreal bevacizumab in the treatment of CME secondary to BRVO. Case presentation: We described an 82-year-old female with a BRVO in the right eye who developed associated CME. Repeated injections of intravitreal bevacizumab and modified grid macular laser treatment were ineffective. A concurrent treatment with intravitreal bevacizumab and triamcinolone acetonide resulted in complete and dramatic resolution of CME with a favorable visual outcome. Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) demonstrated a significant decrease in central subfield thickness (CST) from 764μm to 253μm, without any post-procedure complications or recurrence of macular edema with complete recovery of visual acuity at 6-month follow-up. Conclusion: Early concurrent treatment with intravitreal anti-VEGF therapy (e.g. intravitreal bevacizumab) and intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide is likely to be more effective than intravitreal anti-VEGF agents alone or grid macular photocoagulation in the management of CME associated with BRVO

Studies on the mechanisms of resistance in pearl millet genotypes to downy mildew disease

Studies on histopathological, anatomical, and biochemical differences between resistant and susceptible pearl millet genotypes in relation to downy mildew disease were undertaken at the ICRISAT Ada center, Hyderabad. Indirect sporangial germination by producing zoospores was observed. Loaspwe germ tubs penetrated the leaves directly through the epidermal cells, with or without appressarla and very rarely through stomata

Identification and characterization of cucumber mosaic and bean yellow mosaic viruses affecting Chickpea (cicer arietinum.L.) in India

Two mechanically transmissible viruses; viz., cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) and bean yellow mosaic virus (BYMV) were found to naturally infect chickpeas. These were identified by studying their host range, biophysi cal properties, insect transmission, electron microscopy and serology. Also elite chickpea germplasm accessions were screened for resistance to these viruses...

Limitations in assessing nerve growth factor levels in aqueous humor samples from human eyes

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Nerve growth factor (NGF) helps in the healing and survival of ganglion cells, photoreceptors, and optic nerve after injury and has been implicated to have a role in pathophysiology of glaucoma. So far, in animal studies, injury to iris in vitro has revealed an increase in NGF levels in aqueous. There is a great interest in investigating the levels of NGF in human aqueous in glaucomatous eyes, as suggested by animal studies, to gain a better understanding of the pathophysiology of glaucoma.</p> <p>Findings</p> <p>In this study, we examined the presence of NGF levels in aqueous humor collected from human eyes and the limitations in determining the NGF levels in human samples. NGF was assessed by ELISA immunoassay in undiluted aqueous samples collected from 32 consecutive patients undergoing surgery for cataract (control) or primary open angle glaucoma (POAG). Recombinant NGF was used as positive control. NGF levels were below undetectable levels in aqueous humor from eyes with POAG and controls by immunoassay. Less than 10% of samples had detectable NGF levels and these were considered outliers.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our result highlights the undetectable levels of NGF in human aqueous samples.</p

Functional microperimetry and SD-OCT confirm consecutive retinal atrophy from optic nerve pit

A congenital anomaly, optic nerve pit is often associated with serous retinal detachment involving macula. Long standing serous detachment leads to outer retinal atrophy and decrease in visual sensitivity. Recently, spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) has been reported to demonstrate a communication between the optic nerve sheath and the subretinal space. Vitreous cavity is proposed as an alternate source of fluid for accumulation in the subretinal space. We imaged a patient with optic nerve pit with Spectralis OCT and report the findings seen including the presence of an area of peripapapillary retinal atrophy, due to the spontaneous resolution of associated long-standing retinal detachment