Diversity of bird's communities on dumpsite and sewage stabilization ponds of Moshi Municipal, Kilimanjaro, Tanzania

Urban development is rapidly expanding across the globe and is a major driver of environmental change. It is important to understand how bird species responds to urbanization. Therefore I conducted a qualitative study of birds associated with waste sites such as dumpsite and sewage stabilization ponds was carried out on Moshi municipal. The study assessed the diversity between dumpsite and sewage stabilization ponds using the “Timed species count” method. A total of 15 bird families and 17 species were recorded at both sites. 13 species in 12 bird families at dumpsite and 14 species in 13 bird families at sewage stabilization pond were recorded respectively. There was significant difference in species diversity within the two sites (p<0.05) because of good breeding sites at sewage stabilization ponds which include a wide variety of resources, high productivity and moderate levels of disturbance compared to dumpsite. This study was carried out to enhance conservation awareness. These site serve as biodiversity reservoirs, urban planners should involve interdisciplinary team to make decisions from an ecological perspective when designing urban areas. From this micro-survey It is worth concluding that waste stabilization ponds contains number of resource that attracts bird’s species, as birds are bio indicators of ecosystem health

Effects of Road Traffic Congestion on Economic Activities of Dar es Salaam Region in Tanzania

The general objective of this study was to examine the effects of road traffic congestion on economic activities of Dar es Salaam Region in Tanzania. The findings show that congestion is caused by narrow roads, bad road conditions, rainfall, non-operating traffic lights, double parking, inadequate feeder-roads, road accidents, road work, many pedestrians crossing the road and many bumps in the roads. Also, congestion on average increases costs of fuel by Tsh. 32,167.00 paid from bus drivers’ pocket and reduces productive time of workers by 2.5 hours. Similarly, employees with formal employment got up between 3:00am and 4:00am early in the morning to avoid road congestion but due to unreliable transport services employee with income of Tsh. 90,000.00 spend 39% of the income as fare because they pay twice in a single journey. However, during their return home they are easily caught in congestion as they get home late at 22:00pm. Therefore, congestion affects the economy by reducing the turnover, profit margin and sales of individuals and in aggregates the economic activities of Dar es Salaam region. This study recommends that, roads be enlarged and pedestrian bridges, feeder-roads and bumps be constructed in a way that reduces congestion. Keywords: Road Traffic Congestion and Economic Activities DOI: 10.7176/JESD/12-6-05 Publication date:March 31st 202

Efficiency of antenatal care and childbirth services in selected primary health care facilities in rural Tanzania : a cross-sectional study

Background: Cost studies are paramount for demonstrating how resources have been spent and identifying opportunities for more efficient use of resources. The main objective of this study was to assess the actual dimension and distribution of the costs of providing antenatal care (ANC) and childbirth services in selected rural primary health care facilities in Tanzania. In addition, the study analyzed determining factors of service provision efficiency in order to inform health policy and planning. Methods: This was a retrospective quantitative cross-sectional study conducted in 11 health centers and dispensaries in Lindi and Mtwara rural districts. Cost analysis was carried out using step down cost accounting technique. Unit costs reflected efficiency of service provision. Multivariate regression analysis on the drivers of observed relative efficiency in service provision between the study facilities was conducted. Reported personnel workload was also described. Results: The health facilities spent on average 7 USD per capita in 2009. As expected, fewer resources were spent for service provision at dispensaries than at health centers. Personnel costs contributed a high approximate 44% to total costs. ANC and childbirth consumed approximately 11% and 12% of total costs; and 8% and 10% of reported service provision time respectively. On average, unit costs were rather high, 16 USD per ANC visit and 79.4 USD per childbirth. The unit costs showed variation in relative efficiency in providing the services between the health facilities. The results showed that efficiency in ANC depended on the number of staff, structural quality of care, process quality of care and perceived quality of care. Population-staff ratio and structural quality of basic emergency obstetric care services highly influenced childbirth efficiency. Conclusions: Differences in the efficiency of service provision present an opportunity for efficiency improvement. Taking into consideration client heterogeneity, quality improvements are possible and necessary. This will stimulate utilization of ANC and childbirth services in resource-constrained health facilities. Efficiency analyses through simple techniques such as measurement of unit costs should be made standard in health care provision, health managers can then use the performance results to gauge progress and reward efficiency through performance based incentives

Student Awareness of their Future Careers in Tanzania: A Case of One Private and Two Public Universities in Dar es Salaam

Career awareness is important in ensuring that individuals choose right career and are motivated in their studies. This study assessed career awareness among university students in Tanzania. Specifically, the study assessed the nature of students’ awareness about career choices; the effect of lacking career awareness and strategies of overcoming the challenge of lack of career awareness. To address these objectives, the study utilized 88 university students and 5 lecturers selected from three universities in Dar es Salaam region. Clustered and purposive sampling approaches were used in selecting respondents. They responded to a questionnaire and data were analyzed descriptively using SPSS. The findings revealed that majority of the respondents acquired career awareness at secondary level of education. Role models and professionals were the main source of career awareness to students. Poor performance and suppression of inborn talents were among the effects of lacking career awareness. To overcome the challenge, higher learning institutions should initiate career awareness programmes, the government should review curricula and parents should provide career guidance to their children. It is concluded that, a collaborative role from different stakeholders in ensuring young generations are well guided on their future careers could yield better results

Modeling laminar flow between a fixed impermeable disk and a porous rotating disk

We formulate a mathematical model that governs operations of many engineering systems particularly the ceiling fan to explain the fluid flow between the fixed impermeable and the porous rotating disks. The model is based on the continuity and the Navier-Stokes equations which are reduced into a set of coupled ordinary differential equations through transformation by similarity variables. The coupled ordinary differential equations are solved using perturbation techniques and the series solution obtained is improved by Paté&apos;s approximation. Our results meet the supposition that, with laminar flow regime, suction increases with increasing speed of rotation of the rotating porous disk and these are shown on the graphical representations

Microsatellite (SSR) Analysis on Genetic Diversity of (Coffea canephora) Germplasm in Kagera Region, Tanzania

Coffea canephora (Robusta) is one of the two important coffee species grown in Tanzania for commercial purpose. Robusta coffee contributes 40 - 50% of the total coffee production in Tanzania. However, the production of Robusta coffee in Tanzania has been hampered by coffee wilt disease. Despites the importance of Robusta coffee in Tanzania, its genome has not thoroughly researched. A study was conducted to investigate the molecular diversity of cultivated and wild coffee found in Kagera region in Tanzania. One hundred twenty four genotypes (124) of cultivated and wild coffee were analyzed by simple sequence repeat (SSR) marker techniques using 12 microsatellite markers. Genetic diversity, similarity or dissimilarity, genetic distances between individuals and genetic differentiation between populations was analyzed. Findings indicate high genetic variations among cultivated and wild coffee genotypes ranging between 20 and 83%. Polymorphism was 80% among SSR markers with 8 loci. Two distinctive genetic groups were identified. The first genetic group comprised four distinctive genetic groups one to four.The second genetic group consisted of four genetic groups, five to eight. Wild coffee genotypes had similarities to some of cultivated C. canephora in groups one to four implying that some cultivated C. canephora originates from wild coffee. Groups’ five to eight comprise genotypes from cultivated C. canephora. Detailed study is needed to compare the identified eight (8) genetic groups of C. canephora in Kagera region in Tanzania with the already know groups worldwide

The Ecorat project: development of ecologically-based rodent management for the southern African region

Mulungu, L.S., Belmain, S.R., Dlamini, N., Eiseb, S., Kirsten, F., Mahlaba, T., Makundi, R., Malebane, P., Von Maltitz, E., Massawe, A., Monadjem, A., Taylor, P., Tutjavi, V

Survival and recruitment of the multimammate mouse, Mastomys natalensis (Smith 1834), in a rice agro-ecosystem

We investigated the recruitment and survival of the multimammate mouse, Mastomys natalensis, within irrigated rice and fallow field habitats at different time periods related to rice crop growth stages. Capture-Mark-Recapture data were collected for M . natalensis each month from June 2010 to May 2012, and both recruitment and survival were estimated in relation to land use (irrigated rice or fallow field) within the agro-ecosystem. Higher recruitment and survival were observed in rice fields than in fallow fields suggesting the relationship was compensatory when there was a higher quality food resource. In terms of management, farmers in the study area should implement management strategies in rice fields at both transplanting and maturity stages of crop growth in order to maintain recruitment and survival at low levels

Relationships between seasonal changes in diet of multimammate rat (Mastomys natalensis) and its breeding patterns in semi-arid areas in Tanzania

The diet and breeding patterns of Mastomys natalensis in semi-arid areas of Isimani division, Iringa region, Tanzania were investigated in maize fields and fallow land. The aim was to investigate the influence of diet on breeding patterns of M. natalensis. Removal trapping was used to capture rodents and analyse diet categories while Capture-mark-release trapping was used to investigate breeding patterns of female M. natalensis. Mastomys natalensis comprised 94%of the total capture, and the remaining 6% comprised of six other species. Statistical analysis of food preferences indicated that both vegetative materials and seeds were significantly higher in the overall diet of M. natalensis compared with other food materials. Significant differences in the proportions of vegetativematerials and seeds were found between seasons (dry, wet), but not between habitats (fallow, maize). There was a clear seasonal pattern in the proportion of reproductively active females with peaks in April and troughs in October. The proportion of vegetative materialswas highest during thewet season and correlated positively with reproductive activity, suggesting that vegetative materials contain certain compounds (e.g. 6-MBOA) that trigger reproductive activity in M. natalensis. The breeding activity of M. natalensis in semi-arid areas might, thus, be reduced by limiting access to fresh vegetative food (e.g. young sprouting grass)