ASSESSMENT OF TOURISTS PERCEPTION AND SATISFACTION OF TANZANIA DESTINATION

Tourism industry is very much affected with the perception that tourists carry with them about destination. Perceptions are always considered in relation to expectations and the dynamic nature of tourists’ perceptions calls for regular assessment. This is because they are the basis that tourists use to evaluate the quality of services that was delivered. This study thus aimed at assessing the international tourists’ perception on various attributes in Tanzania and examining their general satisfaction with Tanzania. It is quantitative in nature and utilized a survey research design. A total of 286 self-administered questionnaires were used in the analyses. These circuits are the Northern circuit (N), the Southern circuit (S), the Western Circuit (W), the Coastal circuit (C), and Zanzibar. Descriptive statistics (Frequencies, Percentages, Means, and Standard Deviations) and inferential statistics (one sample t-test) were performed to assess tourists’ perception and satisfaction with Tanzania on culture, wildlife, landscape, accommodation, restaurants, security and safety, infrastructure, and tour guidance. Findings shows that Tanzania is doing relatively well on the basic factor endowments such as culture, wildlife, landscape, and accommodation facilities, but fairly poor on tour guidance, tourism infrastructure, and restaurants. From a marketing managerial perspective, the findings should assist the tourism policy makers and practitioners to guide or develop tourists’ products by addressing areas where Tanzania as a destination has proven to be weak while improving further areas of strength which are basically the basic factor of endowments

ASSESSMENT OF TOURISTS PERCEPTION AND SATISFACTION OF TANZANIA DESTINATION

Tourism industry is very much affected with the perception that tourists carry with them about destination. Perceptions are always considered in relation to expectations and the dynamic nature of tourists’ perceptions calls for regular assessment. This is because they are the basis that tourists use to evaluate the quality of services that was delivered. This study thus aimed at assessing the international tourists’ perception on various attributes in Tanzania and examining their general satisfaction with Tanzania. It is quantitative in nature and utilized a survey research design. A total of 286 self-administered questionnaires were used in the analyses. These circuits are the Northern circuit (N), the Southern circuit (S), the Western Circuit (W), the Coastal circuit (C), and Zanzibar. Descriptive statistics (Frequencies, Percentages, Means, and Standard Deviations) and inferential statistics (one sample t-test) were performed to assess tourists’ perception and satisfaction with Tanzania on culture, wildlife, landscape, accommodation, restaurants, security and safety, infrastructure, and tour guidance. Findings shows that Tanzania is doing relatively well on the basic factor endowments such as culture, wildlife, landscape, and accommodation facilities, but fairly poor on tour guidance, tourism infrastructure, and restaurants. From a marketing managerial perspective, the findings should assist the tourism policy makers and practitioners to guide or develop tourists’ products by addressing areas where Tanzania as a destination has proven to be weak while improving further areas of strength which are basically the basic factor of endowments

An exegesis of the parable of the Good Samaritan (Lk 10:25–35) and its relevance to the challenges caused by COVID-19

The article is on the exegesis of the parable of the Good Samaritan (Lk 10:25–35) and its relevance to the challenges that are being posed by COVID-19. Through the historicalcritical approach, the article has concluded that the parable is relevant in troubleshooting the challenges that are caused by COVID-19, such as discrimination, stigma, hate and stereotypes. The article sees COVID-19 as teaching humanity the important lesson that no one can live in isolation, however powerful or economically strong they are. Therefore, there is a need to take the opportunity of being a neighbour. Neighbourhood is understood as offering services to those in need and COVID-19 has presented a chance to the entire world to help someone with needs. A need-based world requires neighbours and this makes the parable relevant. Contribution: This article is a reflection of the challenges that are currently faced by people in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is within the scope of this theological journal that issues of identity, relationships, and theological reflection should be addressed, hence the article fits well within this scope.http://www.hts.org.zapm2021New Testament Studie

Neural and behavioural changes in male periadolescent mice after prolonged nicotine-MDMA treatment

The interaction between MDMA and Nicotine affects multiple brain centres and neurotransmitter systems (serotonin, dopamine and glutamate) involved in motor coordination and cognition. In this study, we have elucidated the effect of prolonged (10 days) MDMA, Nicotine and a combined Nicotine-MDMA treatment on motor-cognitive neural functions. In addition, we have shown the correlation between the observed behavioural change and neural structural changes induced by these treatments in BALB/c mice.We observed that MDMA (2 mg/Kg body weight; subcutaneous) induced a decline in motor function, while Nicotine (2 mg/Kg body weight; subcutaneous) improved motor function in male periadolescent mice. In combined treatment, Nicotine reduced the motor function decline observed in MDMA treatment, thus no significant change in motor function for the combined treatment versus the control. Nicotine or MDMA treatment reduced memory function and altered hippocampal structure. Similarly, a combined Nicotine-MDMA treatment reduced memory function when compared with the control. Ultimately, the metabolic and structural changes in these neural systems were seen to vary for the various forms of treatment. It is noteworthy to mention that a combined treatment increased the rate of lipid peroxidation in brain tissue

Phenotypic and molecular detection of Aeromonads infection in farmed Nile tilapia in Southern highland and Northern Tanzania

This research article published by Elsevier Ltd., 201

Current State of Modern Biotechnological-Based Vaccines for Aquaculture: A Systematic Review.

This research article published by Hindawi, 2019This systematic review describes what "the cutting edge vaccines for are". The focus is on types of high tech biotechnological based vaccines, target gene or antigen in developing these vaccines, and challenge model fish species used in vaccines efficacy testing. Vaccines delivery methods, immune response, and their efficacy, adjuvant or carrier systems used, and the overall experimental setup or design of the vaccines under investigation are also described. The search for the original papers published between 2009 and 2018 was conducted in June of 2018, using the PubMed and Google scholar electronic database. Twenty-three (23/4386) studies were included in the final assembly using PRISMA guidelines (Protocol not registered). Recombinant protein vaccines were the highly experimented type of the modern biotechnological based vaccines identified in the selected studies (16/23; 70%). Outer membrane proteins (OMPs) of different -barrels were shown to be a potential antigenic entity for vaccines (57%). Intraperitoneal route with conventional carries or adjuvants was the highly applied delivery system while very few studies used herbal based vaccine adjuvants and nanomaterial as a vaccine carrier. Variation was observed in terms of protection levels in the selected studies. The experimental designs partly contributed to the observed variation. Therefore, recombinant vaccines that use new carrier system technologies and delivered through oral route in feeds would have been of great value for use in the prevention and control of infections in fish. Despite the usefulness as academic tools to identify what is important in pathogenicity of the etiological agent to the host fish, these vaccines are only economically viable in very high-value animals. Therefore, if vaccination is a good option for group, then simple autogenous vaccines based on accurate typing and evidence-based definition of the epidemiological unit for their use would be the most viable approach in terms of both efficacy and economic feasibility especially in low and middle-income countries (LMIC)

Present status of aquaculture and the challenge of bacterial diseases in freshwater farmed fish in Tanzania; A call for sustainable strategies

This research article published by Elsevier, 2020Aquaculture provides significant contributions to household food security, as the capture of wild fish from lakes, dams, and oceans do not meet the current demand for animal protein in Tanzania. Sustainable aquaculture requires well-established regulatory systems and extension services for good pond management practices and maintaining fish health by fish farmers. Fish farming is practiced widely in Tanzania, from small-to large-scale ponds and these farming systems are moving from extensive normal operations (low input demand) to intensive farming (high input demand). However, the industry is largely still operating at a subsistence level with low production. Bacterial infections have been occurring in these fish farms and will continue to be an issue of concern into the future. This review highlights the current challenges, successes, and prospects towards a sustainable aquaculture industry in Tanzania, including: limited extension services mirroring the limited knowledge by farmers regarding pond management practices; the inadequacy of funds to carry out fish disease research or implement a surveillance system; little expertise in fish disease diagnosis and treatment; and poor management options. To minimize disease outbreaks and optimize production in the future, we suggest a strengthening of extension services, augmented with on-farm knowledge transfer. Emphasis should be on pond management practices and fish disease management; the creation of a well-functioning fish disease surveillance system; and strengthening collaborative research on aquaculture between the government research institutions and academia. Establishing small cooperative fish farmer groups within the Aquaculture Association of Tanzania (AAT) for easy access to information is also recommended

Virulence pattern of circulating aeromonads isolated from farmed Nile tilapia in Tanzania and novel antibiotic free attenuation of Aeromonas hydrophila strain TZR7-2018

This research article published by Elsevier B.V., 2020Aeromonads are gram-negative, rod-shaped, facultative anaerobes bacteria known to cause motile aeromonads septicemia diseases (MAS) in warm freshwater farmed fish. Outbreaks are associated with pathogenicity of aeromonads in fish which is partly contributed by virulence characteristics of the etiological agent. The objective of this study was to assess the virulence characteristics of the previously isolated and identified aeromonads, and attenuate potential Aeromonas hydrophila strain TZR7-2018 to serve as local vaccine candidate. Six virulence genes and other virulence characteristics were molecularly and phenotypically assessed both using in-vitro and in-vivo approaches. Attenuation of A. hydrophila parent strain TZR7-2018+ was performed by passaging through thermal continuous sub-culturing 40 times in Tryptic soy agar (TSA). Bacterin was prepared by formalin inactivation from the same parent strain. Humoral responses were assayed using quantitative serological agglutination test (qSAT) while protective efficacy was measured through relative percent survival (RPS). A total 240 Nile tilapia fingerlings with an average weight of 8.1 ± 0.4 g were used in all in-vivo studies. The presence of aerolysin (aer), cytotoxic enterotoxin (act), elastase (ahy), haemolysin (hly), serine (ser) and polar flagella (fla) genes were determined using PCR. Out of 201 isolates, 75.1 % (151/201) of the aeromonads possessed virulence genes (120=A. hydrophila and 31=Aeromonas veronii). The virulence gene pattern of aer/hly/fla was the most prominent with the prevalence of 12.6 %. The attenuated strain TZR7-2018− showed reduced: colon size, multiplication rate, cell size and loss in; haemolysis, motility and capsule. Humoral responses increased gradually and reached maximum at day 28 in both attenuated and bacterin formulation given through intraperitoneal (IP) injection and immersion (IM). A RPS of 82.3 %, 71.4 % and 85.1 %, were recorded to the attenuated vaccine given through IP and IM and bacterin provided through IP respectively. Therefore the attenuated strain TZR7-2018− obtained through thermal continuous subculture technique and the bacterin proved to be efficacious and can serve as vaccine candidate

Effect on bone turnover markers of once-yearly intravenous infusion of zoledronic acid versus daily oral risedronate in patients treated with glucocorticoids

Objective. Long-term glucocorticoid use is accompanied by rapid bone loss; however, early treatment with bisphosphonates prevents bone loss and reduces fracture risk. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of two bisphosphonates, i.v. zoledronic acid (ZOL) versus oral risedronate (RIS), on bone turnover markers (BTMs) in subjects with glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIO). Methods. Patients were randomly stratified according to the duration of pre-study glucocorticoid therapy [prevention subpopulation (ZOL, n = 144; RIS, n = 144) ≤3 months, treatment subpopulation (ZOL, n = 272; RIS, n = 273) >3 months]. Changes in β-C-terminal telopeptides of type 1 collagen (β-CTx), N-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (NTx), procollagen type 1 N-terminal propeptide (P1NP) and bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BSAP) from baseline were measured on day 10 and months 3, 6 and 12. Results. At most time points, there were significantly greater reductions (P < 0.05) in the concentrations of serum β-CTx, P1NP and BSAP and urine NTx in subjects on ZOL compared with RIS in both males and females of the treatment and prevention subpopulations. In pre- and post-menopausal women, there were significantly greater reductions in the concentrations of BTMs with ZOL compared with RIS. At 12 months, ZOL had significantly greater reductions compared with RIS (P < 0.05) for β-CTx, P1NP, BSAP and NTx levels, independent of glucocorticoid dose. Conclusions. Once-yearly i.v. infusion of ZOL 5 mg was well tolerated in different subgroups of GIO patients. ZOL was non-inferior to RIS and even superior to RIS in the response of BTMs in GIO patients. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, http://clinicaltrials.gov, NCT0010062

Fabrication and Assessment of ZnO Modified Polyethersulfone Membranes for Fouling Reduction of Bovine Serum Albumin

ZnO/PES composite membranes were fabricated by phase inversion method using DMAc as a solvent. The structure of ZnO was investigated using TEM, SEM, XRD, and TGA. TEM images of ZnO nanoparticles were well-defined, small, and spherically shaped with agglomerated nanoparticles particles of 50 nm. The SEM and XRD results were an indication that ZnO nanoparticles were present in the prepared ZnO/PES composites membranes. Contact angle measurements were used to investigate surface structures of the composite membranes. The amount of ZnO nanoparticles on PES membranes was varied to obtain the optimal performance of the composite membranes in terms of pure water flux, flux recovery, and fouling resistance using the protein bovine serum albumin (BSA) as a model organic foulant. The results showed that addition of ZnO to PES membranes improved the hydrophilicity, permeation, and fouling resistance properties of the membranes. Pure water flux increased from a low of 250 L/m2h for the neat membrane to a high of 410 L/m2h for the composite membranes. A high flux recovery of 80–94% was obtained for the composite membranes. The optimal performance of the composite membranes was obtained at 1.5 wt% of ZnO