Analysing the support systems for refugees in southern Africa: the case of Botswana

The purpose of this study was to analyse the support systems for refugees in Southern Africa with specific reference to the Republic of Botswana. Qualitative framework as described by Lofland and Lofland (1984), Schensus and Schensus (1992) was used to conduct the investigation. Interviews were conducted with thirty refugees who currently living in Botswana as a refugee or asylum seeker. Focus group discussion was also held with twenty-six refugee workers. Interview findings were derived using Glaser and Straus' (1976) and Van Maanen, (1979) constant comparative method of qualitative analysis and were grouped into four major categories. Among the most significant findings were that the subjects agreed that on paper and by design, there are structures for providing the different services to refugees but refugees are not provided with adequate services. The second finding is that the support systems for refugees in Botswana are more focused on the provision of material support with little attention given to the psychosocial needs of the refugees. The third finding is that the Botswana government withheld some of the Articles of the 1951 UN refugee Convention, which deal with the socio-economic rights of refugees in Botswana. The fourth finding is that refugee workers need specialised training to enable them to address a wide rage of psychosocial issues affecting refugees. Last major finding is that there is no established clear system of service delivery in the participating agencies. The researcher concluded that because of trauma and stress experienced by refugees and refugee workers, there is a need to improve on the psychosocial support provided to refugees and refugee workers in Botswana by improving the knowledge and skills of refugee workers and promoting refugee participation. The researcher recommends two urgent actions that should be taken. First, the refugee management in Botswana need to improve on its service quality control mechanism, including evaluating its legal and operational framework. Second, psychosocial components need to be integrated into every aspect of the refugee programmes. This will support recovery for the many traumatised refugees and refugee workers in Botswana.Social workDPHIL (SOCIAL WORK

Haemotrophic mycoplasmas in South American camelids in Switzerland

The red blood cell parasite 'Candidatus Mycoplasma haemolamae', formerly Eperythrozoon, is known to be widespread in South American camelids in the USA, causing anaemia in affected animals. Up to now, haemotrophic mycoplasmas were not observed in South American camelids in Europe; however, they were known in a herd of alpacas in Switzerland and to identify them as 'Candidatus M. haemolamae'. Possible ways of transmission are discussed

Extracellular K(+) rapidly controls NaCl cotransporter phosphorylation in the native distal convoluted tubule by Cl(-) -dependent and independent mechanisms.

High dietary potassium (K(+) ) intake dephosphorylates and inactivates the NaCl cotransporter (NCC) in the renal distal convoluted tubule (DCT). Using several ex vivo models, we show that physiological changes in extracellular K(+) , similar to those occurring after a K(+) rich diet, are sufficient to promote a very rapid dephosphorylation of NCC in native DCT cells. Although the increase of NCC phosphorylation upon decreased extracellular K(+) appears to depend on cellular Cl(-) fluxes, the rapid NCC dephosphorylation in response to increased extracellular K(+) is not Cl(-) -dependent. The Cl(-) -dependent pathway involves the SPAK/OSR1 kinases, whereas the Cl(-) independent pathway may include additional signalling cascades. A high dietary potassium (K(+) ) intake causes a rapid dephosphorylation, and hence inactivation, of the thiazide-sensitive NaCl cotransporter (NCC) in the renal distal convoluted tubule (DCT). Based on experiments in heterologous expression systems, it was proposed that changes in extracellular K(+) concentration ([K(+) ]ex ) modulate NCC phosphorylation via a Cl(-) -dependent modulation of the with no lysine (K) kinases (WNK)-STE20/SPS-1-44 related proline-alanine-rich protein kinase (SPAK)/oxidative stress-related kinase (OSR1) kinase pathway. We used the isolated perfused mouse kidney technique and ex vivo preparations of mouse kidney slices to test the physiological relevance of this model on native DCT. We demonstrate that NCC phosphorylation inversely correlates with [K(+) ]ex , with the most prominent effects occurring around physiological plasma [K(+) ]. Cellular Cl(-) conductances and the kinases SPAK/OSR1 are involved in the phosphorylation of NCC under low [K(+) ]ex . However, NCC dephosphorylation triggered by high [K(+) ]ex is neither blocked by removing extracellular Cl(-) , nor by the Cl(-) channel blocker 4,4'-diisothiocyano-2,2'-stilbenedisulphonic acid. The response to [K(+) ]ex on a low extracellular chloride concentration is also independent of significant changes in SPAK/OSR1 phosphorylation. Thus, in the native DCT, [K(+) ]ex directly and rapidly controls NCC phosphorylation by Cl(-) -dependent and independent pathways that involve the kinases SPAK/OSR1 and a yet unidentified additional signalling mechanism

Digital supply chain management in the videogames industry: a systematic literature review

As industries mature, they rely more heavily on supply chain management (SCM) to ensure effective operations leading to greater levels of organisational performance. SCM has been widely covered in many industrial areas and, in line with other burgeoning sectors such as Tourism, an industry focus provides the opportunity to look in-depth at the context-based factors that affect SCM. Developments in digital distribution and rapid technological innovations have resulted in an increased focus on Digital Supply Chains (DSCs), which bring about significant changes to how consumers, customers, suppliers, and manufacturers interact, affecting supply chain design and processes. Through a systematic review of the Videogames Industry Supply Chain Management literature, which serves as a pertinent contextual example of a DSC, we look at how supply chains are affected by structural, market and technological change, such as increased platformisation, disintermediation and the proliferation of digital distribution. We distil these findings into a new research agenda, which identifies themes in line with extant DSC research, provides a series of relevant practice recommendations and identifies opportunities for future research

Prevalence and PCR-based follow-up of hemotropic mycoplasma infections in dogs in Switzerland

Hemotropic mycoplasmas (hemoplasmas) have been reported in several mammalian species. In dogs, two species have been described: Mycoplasma haemocanis and ‚Candidatus Mycoplasma haematoparvum’. Infections can lead to hemolytic anemia, but the clinical importance of the two canine hemoplasma species needs to be further investigated. No data on the presence of canine hemoplasmas in Switzerland has been published, but the tick Rhipicephalus sanguineus, a proposed vector for canine hemoplasmas, is occasionally encountered in the canton Ticino. The aim of the present study was to investigate the importance of M. haemocanis and ‘Candidatus M. haematoparvum’ in the Swiss dog population. Blood samples from 889 dogs were analyzed with two sensitive real-time PCR assays. For phylogenetic analyses, the 16S rRNA genes of four isolates were sequenced. Overall, hemoplasma infections were rarely detected in Swiss dogs: M. haemocanis was found in eight (0.9%) and ‘Candidatus M. haematoparvum’ in three (0.3%) tested dogs. The sequenced isolates revealed ≥ 99.8% identity to published sequences. Only two infected dogs showed mild anemia. In one ‘Candidatus M. haematoparvum’ and two M. haemocanis infected animals a chronic carrier status of three to 13 months was demonstrated. Interestingly, the majority of the infected dogs had paid visit to regions where R. sanguineus is frequently found. According to our results, canine hemoplasma infections play only a subordinate role in dogs in Switzerland. Haemotrope Mykoplasmen (Haemoplasmen) wurden bei diversen Säugetieren beschrieben. Beim Hund sind Mycoplasma haemocanis und ‚Candidatus Mycoplasma haematoparvum’ bekannt. Infektionen können zu einer hämolytischen Anämie führen; die klinische Bedeutung der beiden Erreger bedarf jedoch weiterer Untersuchungen. Es existieren bislang keine Daten über das Vorkommen von caninen Haemoplasmen in der Schweiz. Die Zecke Rhipicephalus sanguineus, die als Vektor in Frage kommt, kann gelegentlich im Kanton Tessin gefunden werden. Das Ziel der vorliegenden Studie war es, die Bedeutung von M. haemocanis und ‘Candidatus M. haematoparvum’ in der Schweizer Hundepopulation zu untersuchen. Blutproben von 889 Hunden wurden mittels zwei sensitiver real-time PCR Methoden analysiert. Von vier Isolaten wurde für phylogenetische Analysen das 16S rRNA Gen sequenziert. Insgesamt wurden Haemoplasmen- Infektionen nur bei wenigen Hunden detektiert: M. haemocanis wurde in acht (0.9%) und ‘Candidatus M. haematoparvum’ in drei (0.3%) der getesteten Tiere gefunden. Die sequenzierten Isolate zeigten ≥ 99.8% Übereinstimmung mit publizierten Sequenzen. Nur zwei der infizierten Hunde zeigten eine leichtgradige Anämie. Bei einem ‘Candidatus M. haematoparvum’- und zwei M. haemocanis-infizierten Tieren konnte ein chronisches Trägerstadium über einen Zeitraum von bis zu 13 Monaten gezeigt werden. Interessanterweise hatte die Mehrheit der infizierten Hunde Regionen bereist, in denen R. sanguineus häufig vorkommt. Gemäss unseren Resultaten spielen canine Haemoplasmen-Infektionen bei Hunden in der Schweiz nur eine untergeordnete Rolle

Founding the Constitution of Uganda : Essays and Materials

The book is divided into three parts, the first of which deals with Constitutionalism generally. The second part is dedicated to civil liberties and economic rights, namely, fundamental human rights, land and taxation. The last part of the book is dedicated to the Judiciary and its performance as the guardian of the Constitution. A synoptic table of the 1967 Constitution and the DC is included for purposes of general structural comparison

Women's Law and Grassroots Justice in Uganda

This posthumous publication is a collection of essays some of which are based on the author's research work while others record her thoughts on issues she regarded as important. The materials, which were written between 1991 and 1996, cover a range of subjects that have been tied together under the theme of women, law and justice in Uganda. They represent the author's central concerns, interests and views as they developed over the years

Cordycepin-hypersensitive growth links elevated polyphosphate levels to inhibition of poly(A) polymerase in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

To identify genes involved in poly(A) metabolism, we screened the yeast gene deletion collection for growth defects in the presence of cordycepin (3'-deoxyadenosine), a precursor to the RNA chain terminating ATP analog cordycepin triphosphate. Deltapho80 and Deltapho85 strains, which have a constitutively active phosphate-response pathway, were identified as cordycepin hypersensitive. We show that inorganic polyphosphate (poly P) accumulated in these strains and that poly P is a potent inhibitor of poly(A) polymerase activity in vitro. Binding analyses of poly P and yeast Pap1p revealed an interaction with a k(D) in the low nanomolar range. Poly P also bound mammalian poly(A) polymerase, however, with a 10-fold higher k(D) compared to yeast Pap1p. Genetic tests with double mutants of Deltapho80 and other genes involved in phosphate homeostasis and poly P accumulation suggest that poly P contributed to cordycepin hypersensitivity. Synergistic inhibition of mRNA synthesis through poly P-mediated inhibition of Pap1p and through cordycepin-mediated RNA chain termination may thus account for hypersensitive growth of Deltapho80 and Deltapho85 strains in the presence of the chain terminator. Consistent with this, a mutation in the 3'-end formation component rna14 was synthetic lethal in combination with Deltapho80. Based on these observations, we suggest that binding of poly P to poly(A) polymerase negatively regulates its activity

ANALISIS FAKTOR-FAKTOR YANG MEMPENGARUHI PROFITABILITAS PADA BANK MUAMALAT INDONESIA PADA BANK MUAMALAT INDONESIA PERIODE 2014-2022

Bank Muamalat is the first bank in Indonesia to use the concept of Sharia banking and officially operated on May 1, 1992 until now. The existence of Bank Muamalat, which is known as the pioneer of the establishment of Islamic banking in Indonesia, certainly deserves to be assessed for the health of its financial performance. Profitability is one of the right indicators to measure company performance because a company's ability to make a profit can be a benchmark for a company's performance. Bank Indonesia has determined that one of the measures of profitability of a bank is Return on Asset (ROA). The financial ratios that affect ROA are CAR, FDR, NPF and BOPO. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of NPF, FDR and BOPO on the Profitability (ROA) of Bank Muamalat Indonesia. This research uses a quantitative approach with an associative type of research. The sampling technique used is non probability sampling by purposive sampling. The sample in this study is data on the quarterly financial ratio report of PT Bank Muamalat Indonesia starting from the first quarter of 2014 – third quarter of 2022 with a total of 35 samples. The results showed that NPF did not have a significant effect on profitability (ROA), FDR had a positive and significant effect on profitability (ROA) and BOPO had a negative and significant effect on profitability (ROA) and NPF, FDR and BOPO simultaneously had a positive and significant effect on profitability (ROA)