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AbstractResponse to customers' needs is considered a key to success of micro and small food agro-processing enterprises. However, these firms tend lose customers as a result of fast changing customers' tastes and preferences in the market. Arguments are directed on the learning culture of micro and small food processing enterprises to appropriately capture and provide for the requirements of customers. This paper assessed the learning orientation of micro and small food agro-processing enterprises by specifically determine the extent to which learning orientation influence the response of micro and small food agro-processing firms to the customers' needs. The study employed quantitative method approach and a cross sectional survey design. A stratified sampling technique was used in the study, whereby data were collected using structured questionnaire from 302 owner-managers in Arusha, Morogoro and Dar es Salaam regions in Tanzania. The collected data were analysed using descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression. The findings revealed statistically significant relationship between learning orientation and response of micro and small food agro-processing enterprises to customers' needs. More specifically, commitment to learning was found to be positive significant related to response to customers' needs. Again, open-mindedness was found to be positive and significant related to response to customers' needs. Furthermore, the relationship between shared vision and response to customers' needs was found to be positive and significant. The results provide an implication that, enterprises with strong learning orientation are in better position to respond to customers' needs than enterprises with low learning orientation. This shows that, to be able to appropriately respond to the needs of the customers, the entrepreneurs need to put commitment in learning, open-up for new ideas and information and have a shared-vision which provide a clear direction for learning. This study advocates for policy makers and trainers to establish relevant tools to support learning environment for the micro and small enterprises to improve response to the varying needs of customers in the market.

This research article examined the primary healthcare managers' managerial competency in enabling and managing changes. The study was conducted in Tanzania. This study used a cross-sectional research approach. A census sampling approach was used to gather data from one hundred and two healthcare managers. Utilizing SPSS version 25, statistical product and service solutions were used to analyze the data that had been gathered. Results show that, about the indicators within the preparation for change, implementation of change, evaluation of change, and leadership qualities concerning lead changes constructs, respectively, (73.53%), (65.69%), and (76.47%) of the healthcare managers are competent, and (26.47%), (34.31%), and (23.53%) are less competent. The study concludes that primary healthcare managers in Tanzania have shown both levels of competence and less competent practices in facilitating and managing changes.

AbstractSmallholder farmers have for a long time preferred to sell at the farm gate, where the prices have been very low compared to market places. This has been fueled by several challenges related to market participation. The purpose of this study is therefore aiming at developing an empirical understanding that uncovers whether digital technology can mediate the relationship between entrepreneurial networks and market participation. Entrepreneurship and digital technology are novel concepts in agriculture, especially for smallholder farmers. Therefore, this study presents new insights on how the challenges of market participation can be solved through entrepreneurial networks and digital technology. The study used validated items adopted from previous studies, from which the structured questionnaires were distributed to 298 smallholder farmers. In addition, structural equation modelling (SEM) was used to analyse relationships in which digital technology was found to be a mediator of the relationship between entrepreneurial networks and market participation among smallholder farmers. Further, the study suggests that smallholder farmers can overcome challenges and increase market participation if they change their attitudes through training conducted by rural extension officers and embrace digital technologies by designing new or joining existing entrepreneurial networks.

Inshore waters are crucial for fisheries since such areas show a wide range of variations in ecology, mostly considered to shape biotic ecosystems. Despite major fishing activities off Bintulu coast located along the South China Sea operating in the inshore areas and significantly contributing to local fisheries’ economy by Pukat Tarik (dragnet), temporal exchange of fisheries composition in terms of ecological parameters has been little studied. Therefore, temporal changes in pull net fisheries composition and assemblages in relation to the ecological parameters in the inshore waters of Bintulu coast, Sarawak, were observed from May 2016 to April 2017. A total of 63 species belonging to 15 orders of 40 families were recorded, and 11 species found ubiquitous. Species diversity (H´) was recorded higher (2.61) in northeast monsoon, and lower (0.51) in inter-monsoon season, yet the species richness and diversity did not show temporal differences (p>0.05). Among the species Kurtus indicus was recorded the most abundant (58% of the total catch) followed by Photopectoralis bindus (15%) and Opisthopterus tardoore (7%); and the species abundance showed significant temporal differences (p

This paper examines the relationship between financial development and private sector investment in the post-financial sector liberalization episode in Tanzania. The proxies for financial development were the financial market depth index and financial institutions depth index. Applying Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) technique, the results show the nexus between financial development and private sector investment in Tanzania. We find that the financial market depth index has a positive and significant impact on private sector investment in the long run but not in the short run. This is linked to the underdevelopment of capital markets in Tanzania at present. Similarly, we find that the financial institution depth index positively and significantly impacts private sector investment in both the long and short run. The degree of openness of the economy recorded a positive and significant impact on private investment in both periods suggesting that it has played a critical role in the financial development and growth of the private sector in Tanzania. In contrast, we observe that the real exchange rate has recorded a negative and significant impact on private investment in the long and short run. This suggests that appreciation of the real exchange rate had a negative impact on private investment. We recommend increasing financial openness and reinforcing the financial regulatory reforms to widen and deepen the financial system that can effectively support the mobilization of short, medium, and long-term finance for private sector investment.

Biodiesel is a possible remedy to the present toxic, finite sources and ever-diminishing crude fuels. Nonedible and locally available (Azadirachta indica) neem seed oil (NSO) as a second-generation feedstock was transformed into biodiesel using calcined banana ash (CBA) derived from banana peels blended with lithium calcium oxide iron (III) sulphate Li-CaO/Fe2 (SO4)3 catalyzed transesterification. Transesterification process was employed to minimize the free fatty acid (FFA) content of NSO to afford 99.8% yield under the condition of the reaction oil/methanol ratio 8 : 1, followed by addition of 1.7%wt calcined banana peels ash and 1.3%wt Li-CaO/Fe2(SO4)3 catalysts in 53 min, a notable time. It is important to note that the physicochemical properties of biodiesel in this study such as initial boiling points, flash point, pour point, cloud point, density, kinematic viscosity, final boiling points, and cetane index met ASTM D-6751 and EN 14214 standards. Decomposition profile of CBA was displayed by thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), whereas in-depth analysis by scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (X-RF), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) revealed that the high efficiency displayed by a catalyst from banana ash calcined at 650°C was due to the presence of potassium carbonate (K2CO3), a calcium magnesium silicate (CaMgSiO4), and potassium sodium sulphate (KNaSO4) contents that accounted for the high basicity of up to 11.09. Additionally, the nitrogen adsorption/desorption studies revealed that CBA interestingly exhibits a high BET surface area of 411.2 m2/g and promising mesopores (3.014 nm). The catalyst also displayed better recyclability evidenced by the fact that it was able to be reused after five successive runs with better recyclability of 75%. Based on the aforementioned properties, this work, therefore, opens an avenue for developing a supreme heterogeneous catalyst from available banana peels ash.

Alternative splicing (AS) defects that adversely affect gene expression and function have been identified in diabetic hearts; however, the mechanisms responsible are largely unknown. Here, we show that the RNA-binding protein RBFOX2 contributes to transcriptome changes under diabetic conditions. RBFOX2 controls AS of genes with important roles in heart function relevant to diabetic cardiomyopathy. RBFOX2 protein levels are elevated in diabetic hearts despite low RBFOX2 AS activity. A dominant-negative (DN) isoform of RBFOX2 that blocks RBFOX2-mediated AS is generated in diabetic hearts. DN RBFOX2 interacts with wild-type (WT) RBFOX2, and ectopic expression of DN RBFOX2 inhibits AS of RBFOX2 targets. Notably, DN RBFOX2 expression is specific to diabetes and occurs at early stages before cardiomyopathy symptoms appear. Importantly, DN RBFOX2 expression impairs intracellular calcium release in cardiomyocytes. Our results demonstrate that RBFOX2 dysregulation by DN RBFOX2 is an early pathogenic event in diabetic hearts.

Objectives: Biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles using the fungus Aspergillus niger, isolated from the soil for the purpose of studying its ability to produce nanoparticles. Methods: Grown in a liquid fermentation medium in glass flasks for ten days. The biosynthesis process was detected by observing the color changes of the filtrate. The properties of silver nanoparticles were determined by UV-measurement. Use SEM to discover the size, shape and distribution of nanoparticles. The chemical groups responsible for the biosynthesis and encapsulation of nanoparticles were detected using FTIR for both the fungal biomass filtrate and the resulting particles, after turning them into powder. Silver nanoparticles produced from mushrooms using the Well-Diffusion-Method showed antibacterial activity against MDRbacteria for both Gram-positive and Gram-negative Bacteria, which are: (E. coli, K. Pneumonia, S. aureus, and P. aeruginosa), at two concentrations (50, 100). μg/ml) for AgNPs. Results: The biosynthesis was detected by observing the color changes of the filtrate from transparent to light yellow to dark brown. The properties of silver nanoparticles were determined by measurement (UV). Which showed absorbance values at wavelengths (450 nm). The results showed SEM The shape was spherical with dimensions ranging from (17.84-64.03) nanometers. Conclusions: The fungus Aspergillus niger showed the ability to biosynthesise silver nanoparticles after 24 hours of incubation of the fungal filtrate treated with AgNO3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the managerial competency of healthcare managers is very important. However, more evidence is needed on the managerial competency of primary healthcare facility managers in low- and middleincome countries. This research examined the managerial competency of primary healthcare facility managers in the selected District Councils in Tanzania. This research is grounded on positivism philosophy, a cross-sectional survey descriptive research design, a complete enumeration sampling strategy, and a survey used to collect primary data from 102 public primary healthcare facility managers located in Kondoa, Iramba, and Sumbawanga District Councils in Tanzania. The study used version 25 of SPSS to analyze the data and adopted the MCAP framework to examine the managerial competency of primary healthcare facility managers. For the communication and relationship management domain, 74.5% were competent, while 25.5% were less than fully competent. Likewise, 65.68% of them were competent, while 34.32% needed to be more competent in the knowledge of the healthcare environment domain. 62.74% and 37.26% of the primary healthcare facility managers were competent and less than competent in operations, administration, and resources management. Correspondingly, 67.65% and 32.35% of primary healthcare facility managers needed to be more competent in evidence-informed decision-making. Similarly, 74.55% and 25.45% were competent and less competent in enabling and managing change. The study used primary data and contributed recently well-worth and highly demanded knowledge on the managerial competency of healthcare managers in the LMICs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]