Outsourcing in Cooperatives in Tanzania: Assessing the Contribution of Outsourcing on Organisational Performance

This study was designed to explore the contribution of outsourcing on organisational performance  and why cooperatives are undertaking outsourcing projects .Also; this article examines the relationships between outsourcing strategies and organizational performance. The results show that cooperative organisations were unfamiliar with outsourcing and outsourcing strategies. The study also found that cooperative organisation undertook outsourced activities in order to reduce cost, improve delivery and reliability of services as well as to make use of resources not available in the organisation. In addition, Cooperatives outsourced services in order to reduce manpower need in the organisation, focus on core organisational competencies as well as making organisational financial resources for profitable core activities. Keywords: Outsourcing, cooperatives and organisational performance

Oligomeric Amyloid-? Peptide on Sialylic Lewisx–Selectin Bonding at Cerebral Endothelial Surface

Introduction: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a chronic neurodegenerative disorder, which affects approximately 10% of the population aged 65 and 40% of people over the age 80. Currently, AD is on the list of diseases with no effective treatment. Thus, the study of molecular and cellular mechanisms of AD progression is of high scientific and practical importance. In fact, dysfunction of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) plays an important role in the onset and progression of the disease. Increased deposition of amyloid b peptide (A?) in cerebral vasculature and enhanced transmigration of monocytes across the BBB are frequently observed in AD brains and are some of the pathological hallmarks of the diseases. Since the transmigration of monocytes across the BBB is both a mechanical and a biochemical process, the expression of adhesion molecules and mechanical properties of endothelial cells are the critical factors that require investigation.Methods: Because of recent advances in the biological applications of atomic force microscopy (AFM), we applied AFM with cantilever tips bio-functionalized by sLex in combination with the advanced immunofluorescent microscopy (QIM) to study the direct effects of A?42 oligomers on the selectins expression, actin polymerization, and cellular mechanical and adhesion properties in cerebral endothelial cells (mouse bEnd3 line and primary human CECs) and find a possible way to attenuate these effects. Results: QIM results showed that A?42 increased the expressions of P-selectin on the cell surface and enhanced actin polymerization. Consistent with our QIM results, AFM data showed that A?42 increased the probability of cell adhesion with sLex-coated cantilever and cell stiffness. These effects were counteracted by lovstatin, a cholesterol-lowering drug.  Surprisingly, the apparent rupture force of sLex-selectin bonding was significantly lower after treatment with A?42, as compared with the control (i.e. no treatment). Similar results were also obtained when cells were treated with latruculin A (F-actin-disrupting drug). These results suggest that the decrease in the apparent rupture force of sLex-selectin bonding is the consequence of the dissociation of adhesion between the cytoskeleton and the bilayer membrane induced by A?42. The major causes of excess mortality in the first group were neoplams (30.6%), hypertension (23.8%), and myocardial infarction (22.6%). The effects of radiation influenced mortality in the second group were 2-2.5 times lower than the first group. Conclusion: The studies of the effects of A?42 on the adhesion properties of cerebral endothelial cells and how pharmacological agents (e.g. statin) counteract these effects should prove to provide insights into the mechanism of inflammation in Alzheimer’s brains and the design of therapeutic treatments of the disease

GAMBARAN EAR LOBE CREASE (ELC) PADA PASIEN PENYAKIT JANTUNG KORONER DIPOLIKLINIK JANTUNG RSU GMIM PANCARAN KASIH MANADO TAHUN 2019

Penyakit Jantung Koroner (PJK) disebabkan oleh penyempitan atau penyumbatan pembuluh arteri yang mengalirkan darah ke otot jantung. Ear Lobe Crease (ELC) adalah penanda eksternal independen yang bisa diidentifikasi sebagai penanda aterosklerotik.. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui gambaran Ear Lobe Crease (ELC) pada Pasien Penyakit Jantung Koroner di Poliklinik Jantung RSU GMIM Pancaran Kasih Manado berdasarkan umur, jenis kelamin, dan riwayat penyakit penyerta hipertensi, diabetes mellitus, dislipidemia, dan obesitas. Desain Penelitian yang digunakan adalah epidemiologi deskriptif, dilaksanakan di Poliklinik Jantung RSU GMIM Pancaran Kasih Manado pada bulan September - November 2019. Sampel dalam penelitian ini yaitu 99 responden. Instrumen penelitian menggunakan checklist dan alat perekam. Pengambilan sampel menggunakan teknik non random probability sampling dengan metode purposive sampling. Analisis penelitian menggunakan analisis deskriptif dan  uji chi square. Hasil dari penelitian ini menunjukan bahwa pasien penyakit jantung koroner memiliki ELC 72 (73%)  dengan letak yang paling dominan berada pada kedua telinga dengan persentase 30 (30%). Berdasarkan uji chi square p = 0,010; p = 0,030; p = 0,053. Nilai ini menyimpulkan bahwa hipertensi, diabetes mellitus, dan dislipidemia < α = 0,05 maka terdapat kaitan yang bermakna antara riwayat penyakit penyerta dari penyakit jantung koroner dengan ear lobe crease. Kata kunci : Penyakit Jantung Koroner, Ear Lobe Crease ABSTRACTCoronary Heart Disease (CHD) is caused by narrowing or blockage of arteries that drain blood to the heart muscle. Ear Lobe Crease (ELC) is an independent external marker that can be identified as an atherosclerotic marker. This study aims to determine the description of Ear Lobe Crease (ELC) in Patients Coronary Heart Disease at Heart Polyclinic of GMIM Pancaran Kasih Hospital Manado based on age, sex, and history of accompanying hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, and obesity. The research design used was descriptive epidemiology, carried out at the Heart Polyclinic of GMIM Pancaran Kasih Manado Hospital in September - November 2019. The sample in this study was 99 respondents. The research instrument uses a checklist and a recording device. Sampling using non random probability sampling technique with purposive sampling method. Research analysis using descriptive analysis and chi square test. The results of this study indicate that coronary heart disease patients have an ELC of 72 (73%) with the most dominant location being in both ears with a percentage of 30 (30%). Based on the chi square test p = 0.010; p = 0.030; p = 0.053. This value concluded that hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and dyslipidemia <α = 0.05 then there was a significant relationship between the history of comorbidities of coronary heart disease with ear lobe crease. Keywords: Coronary Heart Disease, Ear Lobe Creas

Protostellar Outflows in L1340

We have searched the L1340 A, B, and C clouds for shocks from protostellar outflows using the H_2 2.122 μm near-infrared line as a shock tracer. Substantial outflow activity has been found in each of the three regions of the cloud (L1340 A, L1340 B, and L1340 C). We find 42 distinct shock complexes (16 in L1340 A, 11 in L1340 B, and 15 in L1340 C). We were able to link 17 of those shock complexes into 12 distinct outflows and identify candidate source stars for each. We examine the properties (A_V, T_(bol), and L_(bol)) of the source protostars and compare them to the properties of the general population of Class 0/I and flat spectral energy distribution protostars and find that there is an indication, albeit at low statistical significance, that the outflow-driving protostars are drawn from a population with lower A_V, higher L_(bol), and lower T_(bol) than the general population of protostars

An overview of the natural gas sector in Tanzania - Achievements and challenges

In the recent years, Tanzania has discovered a lot of natural gas reserves which are expected to influence positively the socio-economic and political development of the nation. It provides the potential opportunities to government, domestic and foreign companies and thelocal community. However, the main objective of any natural resource management is to assist the country to realizethe actual economic growth of its people. This paper, therefore, is intended to provide the overview of the natural gas sector in Tanzania. It analyses natural gas history, reserves, extraction and supply; infrastructure; market and pricing; and it moreover, evaluates the achievements and challenges facing the natural gas industry development

Multisystem proteinopathy due to VCP mutations: A review of clinical heterogeneity and genetic diagnosis

In this work, we review clinical features and genetic diagnosis of diseases caused by mutations in the gene encoding valosin-containing protein (VCP/p97), the functionally diverse AAA-ATPase. VCP is crucial to a multitude of cellular functions including protein quality control, stress granule formation and clearance, and genomic integrity functions, among others. Pathogenic mutations i