Towards Industrialisation in Tanzania: Drivers and Barriers to Green Manufacturing

For the industrialization efforts to be fruitful and sustainable, they should be coupled with Green Manufacturing (GM) which simply implies clean manufacturing. This study analyses the drivers and barriers to GM in Tanzania. It specifically analyses the drivers and barriers to GM and ranks them for prioritisation. The study made the use of cross-sectional primary data which were collected using interviewer administered questionnaires from a random sample of 185 manufacturing firms in two purposively selected regions of Dodoma and Mwanza in Tanzania. In the analysis, the Binary Logistic regression was used to estimate the drivers and barriers to GM using the STATA software. The results showed that some of the significant drivers to green manufacturing include; firm size, firms resources, current legislation, incentives, and public pressure, The significant barriers included high short term costs, low customer demand, technological risk, lack of awareness and unclear benefits. It was also found that the highest ranked driver to GM was the firm size and the highest ranked barrier to GM was the short term costs. The study finally recommends that the relevant authorities should prioritize on the significant drivers and barriers to GM so that the move towards industrialisation in Tanzania can be more fruitful and sustainable.

Download Full-text

MO376CLINICAL OUTCOMES OF ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY FOLLOWING SNAKE BITE INJURIES

Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation ◽

10.1093/ndt/gfab082.0030 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 36 (Supplement_1) ◽

Author(s):

Weerakit Naweera ◽

Thapat Wannarong

Keyword(s):

Acute Kidney Injury ◽

Logistic Regression ◽

Kidney Injury ◽

Binary Logistic Regression ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Renal Recovery ◽

Binary Logistic Regression Analysis ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Hospital Arrival ◽

Russell’S Viper

Abstract Background and Aims Snakebite is a common animal bite injury in tropical countries. Acute kidney injury (AKI) is an important complication in snakebite patients. This study aimed to comprehensively investigate the clinical profiles and outcomes of patients following hematotoxin-related snakebite associated with kidney impairment. Method We conducted a hospital-based, cross-sectional study of 238 patients with hematotoxin-related snakebite injuries. Data were retrieved from the King Narai Hospital Registry from October 2014 to August 2020. The prevalence of complications associated with snakebite injuries, including acute kidney injury (AKI) and its severity, was determined. Univariate and Multivariate predictors of AKI diagnosis were evaluated using binary logistic regression analysis Results A total of 238 patients, with 63.4% men, median (IQR) age 49.8 (39-61) years and median duration from injury to a hospital arrival of 1 hour (0.5-2) hours, were injured by Green pit viper (85.7%), Russell’s viper (12.6%) and Malayan pit viper (1.7%). AKI mostly occurred in Russell’s viper group 66.7%. An AKI was reported in thirty (12.6%, 95% CI: 8.7 % - 17.5%) patients, with the severity of 66.7% stage one, 6.7% stage two, 26.6% stage three by KDIGO classifications, and 13.3% requiring hemodialysis. Complete renal recovery was seen in twenty-two patients (73.3%), while partial renal recovery was 23.3%. Other complications included 84.4 % limb cellulitis, 4.6% significantly bleeding, 2.5% hypotension, 25.6% prolonged venous clotting time (VCT), 46.7% prolonged prothrombin time (PT), and 14.3% prolonged partial thromboplastin time (PTT). Of total patients, 60.1% were treated with anti-venom. Mortality was relatively low (0.4%). In multivariable logistic regression analyses, AKI was significantly associated with time to hospital arrival more than 3 hours (p = 0.04), Russell’s viper bitten (p = 0.01), clinical bleeding (p = 0.01), and prolonged PT (p < 0.01). Conclusion The prevalence of AKI in patients bitten by hematotoxin snakes was 12.6%, mostly from Russell’s viper. Factors associated with AKI outcomes were time to hospital arrival more than 3 hours, Russell’s viper bitten, clinical bleeding, and prolonged PT. Besides, one-fourth of AKI patients turned to chronic kidney disease.

Download Full-text

Mediation by Organizational Design in the Influence of Organizational Ambidexterity on the Performance of Large Manufacturing Firms in Kenya

Journal of Management and Strategy ◽

10.5430/jms.v11n4p10 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (4) ◽

pp. 10

Author(s):

Patrick M. Mutisya ◽

Peter K'Obonyo ◽

Kennedy Ogollah ◽

James M. Njihia

Keyword(s):

Organizational Performance ◽

Organizational Design ◽

Dynamic Capabilities ◽

Manufacturing Firms ◽

Primary Data ◽

Organizational Ambidexterity ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Mediating Role ◽

Study Results

The aim of this study was to establish the role of organizational design in the organizational ambidexterity - performance relationship among large manufacturing firms (LMFs) in Kenya. The studies linking ambidexterity to organizational performance are few and with mixed findings. The few studies indicate that there is no clear ambidexterity - organizational performance relationship. The research was founded on dynamic capabilities and configurations theories. Based on the reviewed literature, a conceptual model and hypotheses were formulated. The study was guided by positivist philosophy. The population of the research was the entire 107 Kenyan large manufacturing firms (LMFs). Cross-sectional research design was used. Primary data in respect of predictor variables was used and was collected using a structured questionnaire. The respondents were the senior managers of the large manufacturing firms (LMFs) in Kenya; namely Chief Executive Officers/Managing Directors (CEOs/MDs) or General Managers (GMs), or Heads of departments (HODs). Descriptive statistics, correlations, linear, multiple and hierarchical regressions were applied in the data scrutiny and interpretation. The study results showed partial organizational design mediating role in the organizational ambidexterity - performance association of LMFs in Kenya. The study findings are useful to practitioners and managers of LMFs, policymakers in government as well as scholars and researchers. The study recommends further studies on the mediating role of organizational design, different variable operationalization, diversify respondents and context as well as longitudinal study.

Download Full-text

A predictive model for early diagnosis of keratoconus

10.21203/rs.2.21162/v3 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

GRACIA CASTRO-LUNA ◽

ANTONIO PÉREZ-RUEDA

Keyword(s):

Logistic Regression ◽

Predictive Model ◽

Early Stage ◽

Corneal Thickness ◽

Binary Logistic Regression ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Bivariate Analysis ◽

Diagnostic Model ◽

Binary Logistic Regression Model ◽

Cross Sectional

Abstract Background: The diagnosis of keratoconus in the early stages of the disease is necessary to initiate an early treatment of keratoconus. Furthermore, to avoid possible refractive surgery that could produce ectasias. This study aims to describe the topographic, pachymetric and aberrometry characteristics in patients with keratoconus, subclinical keratoconus and normal corneas. Additionally to propose a diagnostic model of subclinical keratoconus based in binary logistic regression models Methods: The design was a cross-sectional study. It included 205 eyes from 205 patients distributed in 82 normal corneas, 40 early-stage keratoconus and 83 established keratoconus. The rotary Scheimpflug camera (Pentacam® type) analyzed the topographic, pachymetric and aberrometry variables. It performed a descriptive and bivariate analysis of the recorded data. A diagnostic and predictive model of early-stage keratoconus was calculated with the statistically significant variables Results: Statistically significant differences were observed when comparing normal corneas with early-stage keratoconus/ in variables of the vertical asymmetry to 90º and the central corneal thickness. The binary logistic regression model included the minimal corneal thickness, the anterior coma to 90º and posterior coma to 90º. The model properly diagnosed 92% of cases with a sensitivity of 97.59%, specificity 98.78%, accuracy 98.18% and precision 98.78%Conclusions: The differential diagnosis between normal cases and subclinical keratoconus depends on the mínimum corneal thickness, the anterior coma to 90º and the posterior coma to 90º.

Download Full-text

Association between the non-HDL-cholesterol to HDL-cholesterol ratio and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in Chinese children and adolescents: a large single-center cross-sectional study

10.21203/rs.3.rs-63438/v3 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Shouxing Yang ◽

Jinwei Zhong ◽

Mengsi Ye ◽

Lei Miao ◽

Guangrong Lu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Logistic Regression ◽

Regression Analysis ◽

Children And Adolescents ◽

Binary Logistic Regression ◽

Hdl Cholesterol ◽

Chinese Children ◽

Binary Logistic Regression Analysis ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Alcoholic Fatty Liver ◽

Chinese Children And Adolescents

Abstract Background: The non-HDL-cholesterol to HDL-cholesterol (NHDLC/HDLC) ratio is closely related to a variety of dyslipidemia-related diseases. This study aimed to inspect the relationship between the NHDLC/HDLC ratio and non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFLD) in children and adolescents.Methods: In this cross-sectional survey, a total of 7,759 eligible Chinese children and adolescents (5,692 boys and 2,067 girls) received routine medical examinations. The anthropometric and laboratory data of the subjects were collected. NAFLD was diagnosed by liver ultrasonography. Binary logistic regression analysis was performed on the NHDLC/HDLC ratio, NHDLC, HDLC and NAFLD. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was exploited to compare the diagnostic significance of the above parameters for NAFLD.Results: The total prevalence of NAFLD was 4.36%, and the prevalence in boys was higher than that in girls (5.61% vs. 1.9%, P < 0.001). The prevalence of NAFLD was positively correlated with the NHDLC/HDLC ratio (P < 0.001). The binary logistic regression analysis demonstrated that the OR was 8.61 (95% CI, 5.90-12.57, P < 0.001) in tertile 3 (highest NHDLC/HDLC ratio) compared with tertile 1 (lowest NHDLC/HDLC ratio). After adjustment for age, sex, body mass index (BMI), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), uric acid (UA), total bilirubin (TB), fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and Homeostasis Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR), the OR for tertile 3 (OR=1.83, 95% CI, 1.04-3.22, P = 0.035) was still significantly higher than that of tertile 1. The area under the curve (AUC) of the NHDLC/HDLC ratio of boys was 0.787, which was significantly greater than that of NHDLC and HDLC (0.719 and 0.726, P < 0.001). For girls, the AUC of the NHDLC/HDLC ratio was 0.763, which was also significantly greater than that of NHDLC (0.661, P < 0.001). Furthermore, the cutoff point of the NHDLC/HDLC ratio was 2.475 in boys and 2.695 in girls. In addition, the AUC of the NHDLC/HDLC ratio was 0.761 in subjects with normal ALT levels (ALT ≤ 40 U/L), which was significantly higher than that of NHDLC (0.680, P < 0.001) and HDLC (0.724, P = 0.007). For subjects with elevated ALT levels (ALT > 40 U/L), the AUC of the NHDLC/HDLC ratio (0.746) was also significantly greater than that of NHDLC (0.646, P < 0.001)Conclusions: The NHDLC/HDLC ratio was positively correlated with NAFLD in Chinese children and adolescents. It may serve as an effective indicator to help identify NAFLD in children and adolescents.

Download Full-text

Short-Term Debt and Financial Performance of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises in Buganda Region, Uganda

International Journal of Finance & Banking Studies (2147-4486) ◽

10.20525/ijfbs.v9i4.910 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (4) ◽

pp. 58-69

Author(s):

Henry Mugisha ◽

Job Omagwa ◽

James Kilika

Keyword(s):

Financial Performance ◽

Small And Medium Enterprises ◽

Low Cost ◽

Linear Regression Analysis ◽

Sampling Technique ◽

Primary Data ◽

Short Term ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Capital Shortage ◽

Qualitative Approaches

Short-term debt is regarded as an important source of financing for Small and Medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This is because it can be easily accessed and useful during times of emergent working capital shortage. However, short-term debt is the least researched among the components of capital structure, which explains why its contribution to the financial performance of small and medium-sized businesses still lacks empirical validation especially in the Ugandan context. This paper sought to determine the effect of short-term debt on financial performance of Small and Medium Enterprises in Uganda. The study adopted a descriptive cross-sectional research design to collect and analyse the data. Stratified random sampling technique was used to select SMEs while purposive sampling technique was used to select one key respondent from each of the sampled 453 SMEs in Uganda. Primary data was collected using survey questionnaire. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics and simple linear regression analysis. The findings indicted that short-term debt had a negative and significant effect on financial performance of SMEs as measured by return on assets. The study provides empirical evidence to support the propositions in the extant literature that short-term debt significantly hampers financial performance of SMEs. The study recommends that SMEs should adopt low cost operation procedures to improve profitability. This would lead to accumulated profits that can be used for investment purposes as a means of driving growth among the SMEs without resorting to borrowing. This paper suggests that further research should be conducted to establish the justification for the negative and significant effect of short-term debt on financial performance using qualitative approaches.

Download Full-text

A model of visual limitation in patients with keratoconus

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-020-76489-1 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Antonio Pérez-Rueda ◽

Gracia Castro-Luna

Keyword(s):

Visual Acuity ◽

Logistic Regression ◽

Operating Characteristic ◽

Spherical Aberration ◽

Area Under The Curve ◽

Binary Logistic Regression ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Binary Logistic Regression Model ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Corrected Visual Acuity

Abstract This paper aims to calculate a relevance model of visual limitation (V.L.) in keratoconus patients based on refractive and topographic parameters. A cross-sectional study was carried out in Torrecárdenas Hospital, Almería, Spain, between February 2018 and July 2019. It included 250 keratoconus patients. Two groups were created according to a grading system of V.L. based on RETICS (Red Temática de Investigación Cooperativa en Salud) classification: keratoconus patients with no V.L. (best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA) ≤ 0.05 logMAR) and keratoconus patients with V.L. (BSCVA > 0.05 logMAR). Correlations and a binary logistic regression were established. V.L. was correlated with maximum curvature (r = 0.649, p < 0.001) and root mean square higher-order aberrations (HOARMS) (r = 0.625, p < 0.001). Binary logistic regression included V.L. as the dependent variable and spherical equivalent, HOARMS, spherical aberration and interaction between the anterior and posterior vertical coma as independent variables. The model was a good fit. Area under the curve (A.U.C.) of receiver operating characteristic (R.O.C.) curve was 0.924, sensitivity 91.90%, specificity 83.60%, accuracy 88.94%; and precision 91.17%. Binary logistic regression model of V.L. is a good fit model to predict the early loss of visual acuity in keratoconus patients.

Download Full-text

P.1.30 Assessment of sick building syndrome among employees in the commercial centers in Niš, serbia

Occupational and Environmental Medicine ◽

10.1136/oem-2019-epi.231 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 76 (Suppl 1) ◽

pp. A85.2-A85

Author(s):

Bojana Miladinovic ◽

Maja Nikolic ◽

Aleksandra Stankovic ◽

Sci Visa Tasic

Keyword(s):

Logistic Regression ◽

Room Temperature ◽

Ventilation System ◽

Sick Building Syndrome ◽

Binary Logistic Regression ◽

Static Electricity ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Quality Of Working Life ◽

Dry Air ◽

Sick Building

Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) is a diseases associated with indoor air quality accompanied with various nonspecific symptoms that occur in the occupants of a building. This syndrome has been the subject of serious scientific investigation in the past years, but there are not enough studies in transition countries.The aim of this study was to investigate the symptoms of the syndrome among employees in the commercial centers in Niš, Serbia.MethodsThe cross-sectional study was conducted amongst employees of two commercial centers in the city of Niš, Serbia. In this study the MM-040EA questionnaire was used with two additional questions and 1152 employed were interviewed during the period of three years. Data extracted from the questionnaires were analyzed using the chi-square test and binary logistic regression.ResultsThe prevalence of SBS was high. The most common symptoms reported by employees included high room temperature (74.9%), stuffy air (73.5%), and dry air (75.7%), while rare complaints were towards static electricity (47.3%) and low room temperature (45.2%). Binary logistic regression showed that too low room temperature (p=0.002), dry air (p=0.015), static electricity (p=0.007) and noise (p=0. 024) were the most important factors for the high symptoms score. A relatively small number of sick absence (13.4%) was found among subjects working in the investigated commercial centers.ConclusionThe high prevalence of SBS symptoms in the environment of commercial centers was almost associated with factors of unpleasant microclimate. So improvement of environmental conditions such as increasing the efficiency of the ventilation system, increasing fresh air flow in the sector and noise prevention , as well as enhancing the quality of working life will motivate the employees and increase productivity in the workplace. The occupational health care workers play an important role in educating of workers and their employers.

Download Full-text

Procurement planning as a strategic tool for public procurement effectiveness: Experience from selected public procuring entities in Dodoma city, Tanzania

Journal of Public Procurement ◽

10.1108/jopp-05-2020-0047 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽

Author(s):

Ismail Abdi Changalima ◽

Gift Onesmo Mushi ◽

Shadrack Samwel Mwaiseje

Keyword(s):

Logistic Regression ◽

Regression Model ◽

Logistic Regression Model ◽

Public Procurement ◽

Binary Logistic Regression ◽

Binary Logistic Regression Model ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Content Type ◽

Survival And Development ◽

Procurement Planning

Purpose The significance of the public procurement function is on the survival and development of procuring entities and that of a nation at large. This study aims to focus on examining the influence of procurement planning on the effectiveness of public procurement, experience from selected public procuring entities in Dodoma city, Tanzania. Design/methodology/approach A cross-sectional design was adopted from which data were collected from 146 respondents who were purposively chosen from several public procuring entities located at Dodoma city in the United Republic of Tanzania by using a survey structured questionnaire and analysed through a binary logistic regression model. Findings Findings revealed that procurement planning as a strategic function significantly influences the effectiveness of public procurement. The binary logistic regression model included the implementation of prepared procurement plans (p = 0.039), the involvement of users as stakeholders and important institutional actors in public procurement (p = 0.033), compliance to procurement laws and regulations when planning (p = 0.016) and adequacy of budget (p = 0.042) as predictors of procurement planning were tested to be significantly related to the effectiveness of public procurement. It was concluded that public procuring entities can achieve public procurement effectiveness through procurement planning. Social implications The implications and policy recommendations of the findings of this study would be useful to procurement practitioners mostly in public procuring entities. Originality/value This study contributes to adding knowledge to the existing body of knowledge on procurement planning as an imperative activity in public procurement in Tanzania.

Download Full-text

Short-term residential care for dementia patients: predictors for utilization and expected quality from a family caregiver's point of view

International Psychogeriatrics ◽

10.1017/s1041610209009193 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 21 (4) ◽

pp. 703-710 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Carolin Donath ◽

Angelika Winkler ◽

Elmar Gräßel

Keyword(s):

Family Caregivers ◽

Residential Care ◽

Qualitative Content Analysis ◽

Binary Logistic Regression ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Point Of View ◽

Binary Logistic Regression Analysis ◽

Short Term ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Dementia Patients

ABSTRACTBackground: Short-term residential care (SRC) has proved to be effective in reducing the burden on family caregivers of dementia patients. Nevertheless, little is known about the factors which influence its usage or the expectations of family caregivers regarding quality. In this paper we address the following questions: (i) which variables of the care situation, the caregivers and their attitudes act as predictors for the utilization of SRC facilities? (ii) What are the views of caregivers about the quality of SRC?Methods: The cross-sectional study was carried out as an anonymous written survey of family caregivers of dementia patients in four regions of Germany. With a 20% response it was possible to analyze the quantitative and qualitative data from 404 and 254 family caregivers respectively. Predictors for utilization were evaluated using binary logistic regression analysis. The answers to questions of quality were evaluated using qualitative content analysis.Results: Significant predictors for the utilization of SRC are the assessment of the helpfulness of SRC and the caregiver's knowledge of the accessibility of SRC facilities. Family caregivers who had already used SRC most frequently expressed the wish for “good care” in SRC facilities, followed by a program of suitable activities for dementia patients.Conclusions: In order to increase the rate of utilization, family caregivers must be convinced of the relevant advantages of using SRC facilities. The staff should be trained in caring for dementia patients and appropriate activities should be available.

Download Full-text

Indigenous Employment Policy and Foreign-Owned Corporation Employee’s Well-Being in Liberia

JOURNAL OF SOCIAL SCIENCE RESEARCH ◽

10.24297/jssr.v14i0.8108 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 14 ◽

pp. 3146-3160

Author(s):

Taofik Olatunji Bankole ◽

Daniel Denny Gray ◽

Abiodun Oluwaseun Oyebode ◽

Gbelimu Elizabeth Lawal

Keyword(s):

Social Insurance ◽

Binary Logistic Regression ◽

Well Being ◽

The State ◽

Primary Data ◽

Employment Policy ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Explanatory Variables ◽

Course Of Action ◽

Foreign Corporations

Every country institutes policy to take a course of action in favour of its citizens’ welfare. The view of indigenization policy in alignment with employment and workers treatment in Liberia takes different dimension. Liberia problem of unemployment cannot be compared to its underemployment and bad working conditions. The Liberian Indigenous policy has not reaped its fruit with marginalization, exploitation dispossession and poverty in commonplace. This study addresses the ineffectiveness of the indigenous employment policy and the state of workers’ well-being in foreign corporations in Liberia. This study adopts cross sectional method, and employs primary data. Information from 400 employees working with foreign-owned corporation was extracted from survey conducted in 2018 by the authors on the state of welfare of foreign-owned corporations’ employees in Liberia. The key explanatory variables are healthcare, social insurance, safety measures, stable job assignment, stable work hour, promotion on the job, and job security. The binary logistic regression was applied using version 22 of SPSS to examine association between the response and explanatory variables. The outcomes of this study showed that indigenous environmental policy was significant with worker’s well-being (p<0.05). The study concluded that indigenous employment policy has significant influence on the foreign-owned corporation workers’ well-being in Liberia.

Download Full-text