Impact of Macroeconomic Policies on Sudanese Economic Growth: Empirical Evidence via Switching Regression

This paper focuses on assessing the impact of macroeconomic policies on the expansion and contraction of Sudanese real GDP as well as the computation of the number and the expected duration of each for the period of the period 1960Q1-2017Q4. The main tools of analysis are Simple switching regression and Markov switching regression are. The unemployment growth rate is the regime-switching variable in addition to the growth rates of the nominal effective exchange rate, real money supply, current government expenditure, and development expenses as non-switching variables. Markov-switching regression also outweighs simple switching regression in terms of Akaike information criterion, and transition probabilities. Results show that monetary policy was effective between the period of 1960Q1-1976Q4 adding 1.2% of real value. This however is; contrary to the period 1977Q1-1997Q4 where 60% of real value has been lost and improved significantly in the course of 1998Q1-2017Q4, hence, missing only 1%. The effect of the unemployment rate on growth at the period of contraction is almost four-time of the expansion. The positive effect of development expenses combined with the negative impact of current expenditure on the growth rate reveals the efficacy of monetary policy over fiscal. The exchange rate operates as a shock absorber. The expected duration, and the probability of staying in contraction last more than the expansion

Optimal Indirect Tax Revenues and Economic Growth in Sudan Economy: A Threshold Regression Approach

Indirect taxes play a fundamental role in revenue collection in Sudan. This role is under investigation by estimating an optimum level beyond which they make vulnerable the acceleration of economic growth. A threshold regression was used for estimation which covers the period 1970 – 2017. The model contains real GDP (Y) as the dependent variable and indirect taxes as a threshold variable. The unemployment rate (UR), the external gap (GAP2), and the real effective exchange rate (REER) are the non-threshold variables. The main research findings indicate that the average indirect tax ratio is more than three times the direct tax ratio and constitutes about 55.3% of the total revenue collection compared to 18% of the direct tax. These findings suggest that the optimum threshold is 7.46% above which indirect taxes exert a negative impact on economic growth. It is clear that resorting to indirect taxes fosters the maximum economic growth at the threshold that corresponds to the year 1982. This year is considered to be the most economically stable year (elected as a base year). Here the non-threshold variables i.e. external gap represents 0.03% of its mean value, while real exchange rate and employment rate are less than their mean values. This paper focuses on restructuring the tax system which is highly recommended to shift the balance in favor of direct taxes so as to curb price rises, attain social and economic balance, and reduce income inequality. Economic policies have to be focused on tackling unemployment especially among young graduates and disguised unemployment. Here, monitory policy can stimulate demand and put the economy back on track, as well as a fiscal policy through taxation and government spending. A favorable economic environment conducive for investment and jobs creation ought to be one of the priorities. Job description and irradiation of nepotism can help much in reducing unemployment. Export diversification and improved range of merchandized, recapitalization of the export-import (EXIM) bank for smooth credit provision, revision of rules & tariffs, creation of single window for customs clearance, and the stable exchange rate should be the main concern of the government

The effects of Visual Stability Index (VSI) on fresh and hardened properties of Self Consolidating Concrete (SCC) under accelerated curing condition

Self-consolidating concrete, also known as self-compacting concrete (SCC), is a highly flowable concrete that spreads into place and fills formwork without the need for mechanical vibration. SCC reduces the time and labor cost needed for concrete placement. This study is part of the proposed project by Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) carried out by University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) to develop four new SCC mixtures (two Class P-SCC (precast) and two Class A-SCC (general use), and insure they meet the minimum strength and durability requirements for TDOT Class P and Class A mixtures. The objectives of the study presented in this thesis are to analyze effects of visual stability index (VSI) on both fresh and hardened properties of Class P-SCC concrete under the accelerated curing using SURE CURE system. In addition, the relationship between VSI and fresh segregation of SCC is investigated. Finally, the results of this study are evaluated to recommend performance specifications for Class P-SCC for TDOT adoption of SCC standard operating procedure

Study of genetic diversity in Sudanese sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) germplasm using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers

The random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers were used to assess genetic diversity in Sesame indicum (L.). RAPD technique was carried out in a set of 10 sesame germplasm collected from different regions of Sudan. A total of 64 polymorphisms (6.4 polymorphic markers per primer) out of 75 reproducible products (7.5 fragments per primer) were obtained from the 10 primers used. The number of bands per primer ranged from 4 to 13, whereas the number of polymorphic bands ranged from 3 to12, corresponding to 66.6% of the amplification products. Low level of genetic similarity was observed in the collected accessions. Unique bands were observed with the 10 primers. UPGMA clustering resulted in two major groups

An Epidemiological Study of Sheep and Goat pox Outbreaks in the Sudan

Sheep and goat pox Outbreaks occurred in different geographic areas of Sudan and most strikingly, were highly species specific. Two outbreaks in Gedarif State in June. 2013 affected no goats and outbreak in Khartoum state in March. 2015 affected no sheep despite communal herding; affected goats were vaccinated with 0240 strain. Clinically, the disease was characterized by fever, depression and eruption of generalized pox lesions. Mortality rate ranged between 5.2 and 6.7% with a mean of 6.1%. Isolation of viruses succeed on Lamb testes cell culture at passage four, the diseases were diagnosed using virus neutralisation test and polymerase chain reaction. Sheeppox and goatpox isolates grew well in lamb testes and Vero cells. In MDBK however, both viruses induced slight CPE that reached 60% in 9 days. On the other hand, both isolates induced no CPE in chick embryo fibroblast cells. Virus isolation attempts failed on chorioallantoic membrane of embryonated chicken eggs

ENHANCEMENT OF ADVENTITIOUS SHOOT REGENERATION IN SESAME (SESAMUM INDICUM L.) CULTIVAR PROMO KY USING ETHYLENE INHIBITORS

Ethylene produced by tissue, callus and plantlets in closed vessels may lead to abnormal plantlet growth and branching in vitro. Silver nitrate (AgNO3) and Cobalt chloride (CoCl2) are known as ethylene inhibitors. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the in vitro regeneration capacity of sesame cultivar Promo KY when exposed to culture media containing ethylene inhibitors. A protocol is presented for direct adventitious shoot organogenesis and complete plant regeneration. MS medium enriched with 1.0 mg/L Benzyl adenine (BA) induced adventitious shoot in axenic seedling-derived shoot tips. Addition of ethylene inhibitors AgNO3 (0.5- 5.0 mg/L) enhanced number of shoots from 2.7 to 3.7 shoot/explant as well as shoot length from 1.3 to 2.9 cm . In the case of a medium comprising of MS salts with Naphthyl-Acetic Acid (NAA) 0.05 mg/L, 63 root/explant was observed and root emergence occur after 25 days of culture. Addition of 3.0 mg/L AgNO3 improved root initiation to 79 root/explants and root emerged after 14 days. Addition of 5.0 mg/L CoCl2 increase the root length from 3.5 cm to 17 cm. These promotive effects may result from a reduction in ethylene concentration or inhibition of ethylene action. The results found in this study may be used to improve the multiple shoot and rooting efficiency of Sesame cultivars and possibly of other plant species

Epidemiology of strongyle nematode infections and first report of benzimidazole resistance in Haemonchus contortus in goats in South Darfur State, Sudan

Background Since pastoralists in South Darfur, Sudan, had complained about lack of albendazole (ABZ) efficacy to control nematodes in goats, the frequency of infection with gastrointestinal helminths was studied before in vivo faecal egg count reduction tests (FECRT) were conducted using ABZ orally either at the dose recommended for sheep, 5 mg/kg body weight (bw) or at 10 mg/kg bw. Experiments included goats naturally infected with gastrointestinal nematodes or experimentally infected with local Haemonchus contortus isolates. Three study areas (Nyala, Beleil and Kass) were visited in autumn or winter. Results Out of 478 screened goats, 82.4% were infected with gastrointestinal helminths and 82% were shedding eggs of strongyle nematodes with 90% of the strongyle larvae representing Haemonchus spp. A FECRT using naturally infected goats (n = 225: 71 untreated, 104 and 50 treated with 5 and 10 mg ABZ/kg bw, respectively) detected reduced ABZ efficacy in Nyala and Kass. Paired and unpaired FECRT calculations detected reductions of 72–92% with samples taken at 8 days post treatment with 5 mg ABZ/kg bw and of 85–94% with 10 mg ABZ/kg bw. The FECRT based on day 14 post treatment samples showed reductions of 69–77% with 5 mg/kg and of 75–87% with 10 mg ABZ/kg bw. In Beleil, ABZ efficacy was 95%. In the egg hatch test EC50 values for Nyala and Kass ranged from 0.12–0.24 μg thiabendazole/ml, corresponding to benzimidazole resistant phenotypes. Only Haemonchus spp. larvae were present after treatments in coprocultures. When the efficacy was evaluated experimentally using isolates of H. contortus from Nyala and Kass, the 5 mg ABZ/kg dose revealed reductions of 76–78% on day 8 and of 62–70% on day 14 with the unpaired method. Using 10 mg ABZ/kg, the FECR was still only 77–82%. Conclusions Both, in vivo and in vitro methods detected resistant H. contortus populations in goats from South Darfur State. The time point 14 days post treatment was more sensitive for detection of ABZ resistance than 8 days post treatment. This is the first report on the occurrence of anthelmintic resistance in Sudan confirming that anthelmintic resistance selection is occurring in African subsistence farming systems

Leading extremity influence on mandibular fractures distribution in HSEEU «UMSA» Ukrainian students

Ethnic aspect is described together with superior-inferior asymmetry in part in the work about pharyngeal airways usage at different orthognathic procedures , constructs for mandibular vascularization, pH influence on composite materials , overdenture retaining by symphyseal single implant . Also there exists an evaluation of the accuracy of computer-guided mandibular fracture reduction/. Chewing efficiency and electromyographic activity of mas seter muscle with three designs of implant-supported mandibular overdentures was assessed and compared by Egyptian dentists in Mansoura university. We met two works about comparison between three dimensional and standard miniplates in the mandibular angle fractures management. On the contrary, one work is dedicated to one miniplate comparison with two in the fixation of isolated fractures of the mandibular angle

Helping Mothers Survive Bleeding after Birth Training Join project between University of Gezira, Jhpiego- affiliated with Johns Hopkins University, Sudanese American Medical Association (SAMA), Sudanese Obstetrical and Gynaecological Society

Abstract:The post partum haemorrhage (PPH) Project of Sudan should consider facilitation of implementation of a more comprehensive and innovative program to address prevention, identification and management of PPH with the goal of improving the quality of care and health outcomes related to PPH.The Master Trainer Course was held at the University of Gezira (U of G) followed by Champion courses and Clinical Mentor orientation sessions in 5 hospitals (4 rural and 1 urban). There are additional 5 hospitals in Gezira state where providers have yet to receive the Champions course. The additional courses are planned in March and April of 2016. 23 Master Trainers were mentored in help mother survive (HMS). The PPH Project Director based at UofG and additional 2 more trainers were introduced to the principles of HMS training and the low dose high frequency (LDHF) approach was adopted. 155 providers participated in a bleeding after birth (BAB) Champions Course. 106 of the participants were village midwives who received selected updates around child birth to address gaps identified during the opening role play. Updates included being patient during second stage of labour, no pulling of fetus, delivering babies to mothers, abdomen/skin to skin, drying the baby immediately, changing the wet cloth and covering the baby with dry cloth while on mothers’ abdomen, not to hold babies upside down, not to separate babies from mothers after cutting the cord. No cord milking, evacuation of birth canal in the name of “cleaning” it, no routine episiotomy or pulling the placenta without counter pressure and few others.34 providers from 5 hospitals (4 rural and 1 urban) were oriented as clinical mentors. They will conduct peer mentorship at respective hospitals as well as the downward type of mentorship to midwives at health centers and village midwives from respective community neighborhoo