| Scopus | 2-s2.0-57049185124 | Evaluation of some physico-chemical properties of Shea-butter (Butyrospermum paradoxum) related to its value for food and industrial utilisation | Chukwu O., Adgidzi P.P. | 2008 | International Journal of Postharvest Technology and Innovation | 1 | 3 | 10.1504/IJPTI.2008.021466 | Agricultural Engineering Department, Federal University of Technology, PMB 65, Minna, Niger State, Nigeria | Chukwu, O., Agricultural Engineering Department, Federal University of Technology, PMB 65, Minna, Niger State, Nigeria; Adgidzi, P.P., Agricultural Engineering Department, Federal University of Technology, PMB 65, Minna, Niger State, Nigeria | The physical and chemical properties of edible oils influence their suitability for use in food and other process industries. The aim of this study was to determine the physico-chemical properties and proximate composition of Shea-butter oil. Results obtained showed that Shea-butter has the following chemical properties: acid value (3.825), iodine number (43.27), peroxide value (12.85), saponification value (196.90) and unsaponifiable matter (6.23%). Other physico-chemical properties quantified were moisture content (1.37%), ash content (1.26%), total fat (75.03%), carbohydrate content (22.34%), refractive index (1.452), relative density (0.906) and melting point (27°C). These results showed that the physico-chemical properties and proximate composition of Shea-butter are comparable with the properties of groundnut oil which is widely used for cooking and industrial food processes. Copyright © 2008 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd. | Chemical properties; Edible oil; Physico-chemical properties; Sheabutter | Arachis; Butyrospermum; Vitellaria paradoxa | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-81855175823 | Evaluation of the thermochemical properties for tropospheric ozone reactions | Igbafe A.I., Omhenke S.A. | 2010 | International Journal of Engineering Research in Africa | 1 | None | 10.4028/www.scientific.net/JERA.1.39 | Air Pollution Climatology and Energy Research Group, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria | Igbafe, A.I., Air Pollution Climatology and Energy Research Group, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria; Omhenke, S.A., Air Pollution Climatology and Energy Research Group, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria | The thermochemical properties of varieties of species involved in the formation and consumption or destruction of tropospheric ozone during chemical reactions have been established. Ozone in the troposphere is produced during the day-time; hence it is a photochemically induced transformation process. This compound acts as precursor specie in many atmospheric transformations and constitutes a baseline component worth investigating. This study utilized electronic structure methods of computational model chemistries to evaluate for Gibbs free energies and enthalpies of formation and reactions of the various species. Ten prominent gas-phase and aqueous-phase reactions were analysed using five computational approaches consisting of four ab initio methods and one density functional theory (DFT) method. The computed energy values in comparison to those obtained through experimental approaches yielded an error of mean absolute deviation of 0.81%. The most relevant species that tend to enhance the production of ozone in the troposphere were O* and H2O2 for the gas-phase and aqueous-phase reactions respectively. Chemical equilibrium analysis indicated that the ozone formation and consumption reactions are more favourable in colder regions and at winter. © (2010) Trans Tech Publications, Switzerland. | Chemical reaction equilibrium; Thermochemical properties; Tropospheric ozone | Ab initio method; Atmospheric transformation; Chemical equilibriums; Chemical reaction equilibrium; Computational approach; Computational model; Density functional theory methods; Energy value; Enthalpies of formation; Experimental approaches; Gasphase; Mean absolute deviations; Ozone formation; Thermochemical properties; Transformation process; Tropospheric ozone; Chemical reactions; Computational methods; Density functional theory; Electronic structure; Troposphere; Ozone | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84882946114 | Impact of intestinal microorganisms and protozoan parasites on drinking water quality in Harare, Zimbabwe | Dalu T., Barson M., Nhiwatiwa T. | 2011 | Journal of Water Sanitation and Hygiene for Development | 1 | 3 | 10.2166/washdev.2011.049 | Aquatic Ecology Research Group, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, P. O. Box MP 167, Mount Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe | Dalu, T., Aquatic Ecology Research Group, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, P. O. Box MP 167, Mount Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe; Barson, M., Aquatic Ecology Research Group, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, P. O. Box MP 167, Mount Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe; Nhiwatiwa, T., Aquatic Ecology Research Group, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, P. O. Box MP 167, Mount Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe | The presence of microorganisms and their potential impacts on drinking water from boreholes, bowsers, lakes, rivers, springs, taps and wells was investigated in peri-urban settlements around Harare. Escherichia coli, Salmonella sp., Vibrio cholerae and faecal streptococci were present in all water sources except for the boreholes and bowsers. Rivers, lake and wells showed the greatest diversity of 10, 5 and 6 species and relative density (rd) of 90.9, 83.4 and 61.67% respectively for the protozoan parasites. Cryptosporidium was identified in groundwater sources; wells (rd = 8.3%) and springs (rd = 41.7%) and identified in tap water (rd = 6.23%) and the Mukuvisi River downstream (rd = 8.3%). Entamoeba histolytica, Cyclospora, Isospora belli, Trichuris trichiura and Giardia lamblia were found in all water sources. Eggs/larvae of intestinal parasites; Ascaris lumbricoides, Strongyloides, Rhabditis, Taenia sp. and Schistosoma mansoni were identified in different water sources. Faecal coliform levels had a significant effect on the water sources' water quality with p = 0.018 in all sites except for the borehole whilst faecal streptococci had no significant impact with p = 0.513. The presence of at least one microbial pathogenic organism and parasites in most of the water sources poses a threat to the water quality and is a human health risk in the study areas. © IWA Publishing 2011. | Coliforms; Drinking water; Harare; Microorganisms; Parasites; Protozoa | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000209108100013 | Assessing the impact of TB/HIV services integration on TB treatment outcomes and their relevance in TB/HIV monitoring in Ghana | Ansa, Gloria Akosua,Siddiqi, Kamran,Walley, John D.,Wei, Xiaolin | 2012 | INFECTIOUS DISEASES OF POVERTY | 1 | None | 10.1186/2049-9957-1-13 | Chinese University of Hong Kong, University of Ghana, University of Leeds, University of York - UK | "Ansa, Gloria Akosua: University of Ghana","Siddiqi, Kamran: University of York - UK","Walley, John D.: University of Leeds","Wei, Xiaolin: Chinese University of Hong Kong" | Background: The impact of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) on tuberculosis (TB), and the implications for TB and HIV control, is a public health challenge in Ghana - almost a quarter (23%) of all TB cases were HIV positive in 2010. The integration of TB/HIV services has therefore emerged as an essential component of the national response to TB and HIV. The aim is to reduce fragmentation, improve access, enhance efficiency and improve quality of care. Ghana's TB/HIV policy comprises three linked sets of activities: effective implementation of the Stop TB Strategy for TB control, improved HIV prevention and care, and the implementation of additional TB/HIV activities. Different models of service delivery with increasing integration of TB/HIV activities are expected to provide greater access to more comprehensive care. The objective of this paper is to assess the impact of TB/HIV integration on TB treatment outcomes and to explore the usefulness of TB treatment outcomes as TB/HIV indicators.
Methods: A before-and-after study to observe the introduction of TB/HIV activities into TB programmes in three hospitals with different levels of integration was conducted. Anonymised patient data was collated from TB registers from each facility, and analysed to determine if TB treatment outcomes changed significantly after integration.
Results: TB treatment success was 50% (95% CI 49 - 52) prior to, and 69% (95% CI 65 - 73) after, integration (chi(2) 43.96, p < 0.00). Treatment success increased from 43% to 53% at the one-stop shop (OSS), from 69% to 78% at the partially integrated site (PIS) and substantially from 46% to 78% at the referral site (RS) (chi(2) 64.54; p<0.01). Defaults and cases transferred out reduced from 14.3% and 15.3% prior to integration, to 1.4% and 9.0% after integration, respectively, accounting for a significant increase in treatment success. Death rates remained high at 18% in all cases studied and 25% in HIV-associated cases after integration.
Conclusion: TB/HIV integration may improve TB treatment success, but its exact impact is difficult to ascertain due to non-specificity and design limitations. TB mortality may be more useful as an indicator for monitoring TB/HIV activities in Ghana. | HIV,indicator,INTEGRATION,"one-stop shop","partial integration",REFERRAL,"TREATMENT OUTCOME",TUBERCULOSIS | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000204015300006 | The impact of Internet usage: A case study of Delta State (Nigeria) tertiary institutions | Ekruyota, G. O.,Oroke, G. U.,Ureigho, R. J. | 2006 | SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AND ESSAYS | 1 | 2 | None | Delta State Polytechn | None | The Internet is one of the greatest recent advancement in the world of information technology and has become a useful instrument that has fostered the process of making the world a global village. However, despite the added benefits of the Internet to learning, teaching and research, there is no provision of effective Internet services in most of the tertiary institutions in Delta State. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of the Internet for learning, teaching and research in institutions of higher learning in Delta State. Questionnaires were administered to students and staff in four tertiary institutions within the State. The results from the analysis of the responses showed that students and staff use Internet mainly for on-line chatting (24.89%) and e-mail (24.16%). The use of Internet as a source of research materials ranked third (23.21%). This study concludes that research would significantly improve through proper enlightenment, formal training on the use of Internet and provision of effective Internet services in tertiary institutions in Delta State. | E-MAIL,INSTITUTIONS,INTERNET,RESEARCH | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77954165371 | Effect of weight and draught on the performance of disc plough on sandy-loam soil | Olatunji O.M., Davies R.M. | 2009 | Research Journal of Applied Sciences, Engineering and Technology | 1 | 1 | None | Department of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering, Rivers State University of Science and Technology, P.M.B. 5080, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria; Department of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce I | Olatunji, O.M., Department of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering, Rivers State University of Science and Technology, P.M.B. 5080, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria; Davies, R.M., Department of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Bayelsa State, Nigeria | In this research, the relationship between depth of cut, increase in weight of disc plough as well as the draught has been investigated using dimensional analysis on a sandy loam soil. The experiment was conducted on a site with three different moisture contents level at five different speeds (0.83, 1.39, 1.94, 2.5 and 2.78ms-1). It was observed that the depth of penetration increase with an increase in draught and increase in soil moisture content. From the site, the depth of cut was minimum at 4.9% and maximum at 9.4% moisture content. The result obtained from the validation shows that the model can be used effectively to determine the depth of cut in sandy loam soil and also the draught-speed relationship obtained from this work can be used to predict the power requirement of the disc plough in other soil types. The draught increase linearly with the depth of cut as predicted from the model. The result of the soil properties after tillage showed increase with shear strength, bulk density and depth. © Maxwell Scientific Organization, 2009. | Bulk density; Depth; Disc plough; Moisture content; Sandy-loam; Shear strength | Bulk density; Depth; Disc plough; Moisture content; Sandy-loam; Agriculture; Moisture determination; Shear strength; Soil conditioners; Soil moisture; Geologic models | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84882999295 | Evaluating performance of vertical flow constructed wetland under various hydraulic loading rates in effluent polishing | Maina C.W., Mutua B.M., Oduor S.O. | 2011 | Journal of Water Sanitation and Hygiene for Development | 1 | 2 | 10.2166/washdev.2011.025 | Department of Agricultural Engineering, Egerton University, P.O. Box 536 - 20115, Nairobi, Kenya; Department of Biological Sciences, Egerton University, P.O. Box 536 - 20115, Nairobi, Kenya | Maina, C.W., Department of Agricultural Engineering, Egerton University, P.O. Box 536 - 20115, Nairobi, Kenya; Mutua, B.M., Department of Agricultural Engineering, Egerton University, P.O. Box 536 - 20115, Nairobi, Kenya; Oduor, S.O., Department of Biological Sciences, Egerton University, P.O. Box 536 - 20115, Nairobi, Kenya | The discharge of untreated wastewater or partially treated effluent and runoff from agricultural fields into water bodies is a major source of surface water pollution worldwide. To mitigate this problem, wastewater treatment using wastewater stabilization ponds and constructed wetlands have been promoted. The performance of such wastewater treatment systems is strongly dependent on their hydraulics, which if not properly considered during design or operation, may result in the partially treated effluent being discharged into water bodies. This paper presents results from a study that was carried out to evaluate the performance of a vertical flow constructed wetland system under varying hydraulic loading regimes. The influent and effluent samples from the constructed wetland were collected and analysed for physical, chemical and biological parameters of importance to water quality based on recommended standard laboratory methods. The data collected was useful in determining the treatment efficiency of the wetland. The hydraulic loading rate applied ranged between 0.014 and 0.174 m/day. Phosphorus reduction for the different hydraulic loading rates ranged between 92 and 47% for lowest and highest loading rates applied respectively. However, ammonium nitrogen reduction was not significantly affected by the different hydraulic loading rates, since the reduction ranged between 97 and 94%. © IWA Publishing 2011. | Constructed wetland; Hydraulic loading rates; Hydraulics; Treatment efficiency | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-57049084462 | Environmental impact prediction of air quality in a food processing environment | Chukwu O. | 2008 | International Journal of Postharvest Technology and Innovation | 1 | 3 | 10.1504/IJPTI.2008.021469 | Department of Agricultural Engineering, Federal University of Technology, PMB 65, Minna, Niger State, Nigeria | Chukwu, O., Department of Agricultural Engineering, Federal University of Technology, PMB 65, Minna, Niger State, Nigeria | An impact study of food processing factory in Nigeria on air quality of its environment was studied using a factorial experiment. The effects of three primary air pollutants (by-products of the food processing): nitrogen (IV) oxide (NO2), carbon (IV) oxide (CO2) and sulphur (IV) oxide (SO2) on formation of acid rain also studied. These factors and their interactions in the predictive model showed significant impact on hydrogen ion concentration [H+], which is the key intrinsic parameter of acid rain. However, SO2 had higher detrimental influence than the other pollutants. Statistical analysis of the experimental data showed that the predictive model is adequate for obtaining optimum conditions. Validation of the model gave a correlation coefficient of 0.9999 between the measured and predicted values. Copyright © 2008 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd. | Acid rain; Air quality; Environmental impact; Food processing industry | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84878852594 | Post-occupancy evaluation of residential satisfaction in Lagos, Nigeria: Feedback for residential improvement | David Jiboye A. | 2012 | Frontiers of Architectural Research | 1 | 3 | 10.1016/j.foar.2012.08.001 | Department of Architecture, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria | David Jiboye, A., Department of Architecture, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria | This study is a post-occupancy evaluation of residential satisfaction in Oniru Estate, Lagos, Nigeria. It conceived residents' satisfaction as a measure of people's attitudes towards certain aspects of their residential environment. The very important role of certain physical quality or characteristics of the environment as a dominant predictor of satisfaction is emphasized. Apart from the measurement of residential satisfaction through post-occupancy evaluation, it also utilized respondents' satisfaction scores as indices for evaluating the performance of residential development in the study area. Analysis was done using Chi-square statistics (. p=0.05 with a level of significance of 0.000) to confirm the relationship between the quality of housing physical environment and level of residents' satisfaction. The results show and confirm that the quality of certain physical characteristics in the housing environment is imperative thereby influencing the level of residents' housing satisfaction. The need to consider relevant inputs emanating from the end-users or occupants of residential developments in the planning, design and development of satisfactory dwellings is highlighted. © 2012 Higher Education Press Limited Company. | Evaluation; Housing; Nigeria; Residential improvement; Satisfaction | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79251521079 | Evaluation of phytochemicals and antioxidants of four botanicals with antihypertensive properties | Asaolu M.F., Asaolu S.S., Adanlawo I.G. | 2010 | International Journal of Pharma and Bio Sciences | 1 | 2 | None | Department of Biochemistry, University of Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria; Department of Chemistry, University of Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria | Asaolu, M.F., Department of Biochemistry, University of Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria; Asaolu, S.S., Department of Chemistry, University of Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria; Adanlawo, I.G., Department of Biochemistry, University of Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria | Evaluation of phytochemicals and antioxidants levels were conducted in the dry leaves of aqueous and methanolic extracts of Vernonia amygdalina, Carica papaya, Persea americana and Cnidosculous aconitifolius. Methanolic extract was found to contain the highest value for sterols, tannin, saponin, flavonoids, alkaloids, phenols, phlobatannins, anthraquinones, triterpenes and cardiac glycosides. However, oxalate and phytate were absent in both aqueous and methanolic extracts. The results also showed that leave extracts of these plants are good sources of antioxidants as revealed by the presence of these antioxidants in these plant but with highest values in the methanolic extract. Conclusively, the presence of some of these phytochemicals and antioxidants explained the hypotensive action of these plants in cardiovascular diseases. | Antioxidants; Aqueous; Extracts; Methanolic; Phytochemicals | alkaloid; alpha tocopherol; anthraquinone derivative; antihypertensive agent; antioxidant; ascorbic acid; cardiac glycoside; Carica papaya extract; carotene; catalase; Cnidoscolous aconitifolius extract; flavonoid; glutathione peroxidase; methanol; oxalic acid; Persea americana extract; phenol derivative; phlobatannin; phytate; phytosterol; plant extract; saponin; sterol; tannin; tannin derivative; triterpene; unclassified drug; Vernonia amygdalina extract; antihypertensive activity; antioxidant activity; article; avocado; biocatalysis; cardiovascular disease; Cnidoscolous aconitifolius; concentration (parameters); controlled study; drug determination; drug screening; enzyme activity; oxidative stress; papaya; phytochemistry; plant leaf; shrub; Vernonia; vernonia amygdalina | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84899519898 | Performance evaluation of refrigeration units in natural gas liquid extraction plant | Ujile A.A., Amesi D. | 2014 | Journal of Thermodynamics | 1 | 1 | 10.1155/2014/863408 | Department of Chemical/Petrochemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Rivers State University of Science and Technology, PMB 5080, Port Harcourt 50000, Nigeria | Ujile, A.A., Department of Chemical/Petrochemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Rivers State University of Science and Technology, PMB 5080, Port Harcourt 50000, Nigeria; Amesi, D., Department of Chemical/Petrochemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Rivers State University of Science and Technology, PMB 5080, Port Harcourt 50000, Nigeria | This paper has applied thermodynamics principles to evaluate the reliability of 390 m3/hr natural gas processing plant. The thermodynamics equations were utilized in the evaluation, characterization, and numerical simulation of key process parameters in natural gas liquid extraction plant. The results obtained show the comparison of the coefficient of performance, compression ratio, isentropic work, actual work, electrical power requirements, cooling water consumption in intercoolers, compressor power output, compressor capacity, and isentropic, volumetric, and mechanical efficiency of the two-stage refrigeration unit with a flash gas economizer and these were compared with the designed specifications. The second law of thermodynamics was applied in analyzing the refrigeration unit and the result shows that exergetic losses or lost work due to irreversibility falls within operating limit that is less than 1.0%. Similarly, the performance of expansion turbine (expander) parameters was monitored and the results indicate a considerable decrease in turbine efficiencies as the inlet gas pressure increases resulting in an increased power output of the turbine leading to a higher liquefaction rate. © 2014 Awajiogak Anthony Ujile and Dirina Amesi. | None | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84876586787 | High-performance aqueous asymmetric electrochemical capacitors based on graphene oxide/cobalt(ii)-tetrapyrazinoporphyrazine hybrids | Lekitima J.N., Ozoemena K.I., Jafta C.J., Kobayashi N., Song Y., Tong D., Chen S., Oyama M. | 2013 | Journal of Materials Chemistry A | 1 | 8 | 10.1039/c2ta01325h | Department of Chemistry, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa; Energy Materials, Materials Science and Manufacturing, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Pretoria 0001, South Africa; Department of Physics, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa; Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8578, Japan; Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Santa Cruz CA, United States; Department of Material Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Nishikyo-ku, Kyoto 615-8520, Japan | Lekitima, J.N., Department of Chemistry, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa; Ozoemena, K.I., Department of Chemistry, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa, Energy Materials, Materials Science and Manufacturing, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Pretoria 0001, South Africa; Jafta, C.J., Energy Materials, Materials Science and Manufacturing, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Pretoria 0001, South Africa, Department of Physics, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa; Kobayashi, N., Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8578, Japan; Song, Y., Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Santa Cruz CA, United States; Tong, D., Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Santa Cruz CA, United States; Chen, S., Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Santa Cruz CA, United States; Oyama, M., Department of Material Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Nishikyo-ku, Kyoto 615-8520, Japan | A novel asymmetric electrochemical capacitor (AEC) with high energy and power densities has been developed using a graphene oxide/cobalt(ii) tetrapyrazinoporphyrazine composite (GO/CoTPyzPz) as the positive electrode and graphene oxide/carbon black (GO/CB) as the negative electrode in a neutral aqueous Na<inf>2</inf>SO<inf>4</inf> electrolyte. The excellent specific capacitance, energy and power densities (∼500 F g-1, 44 W h kg-1 and 31 kW kg-1) coupled with long cycle life, excellent short response time, and low equivalent series resistance clearly indicate that this new material has great potential for the development of low-cost and 'green' aqueous AECs that operate at high energy and power densities. Interestingly, the energy density of the GO/CoTPyzPz//GOCB based AEC falls within the range usually observed for nickel metal hydride (NiMH) batteries (30-100 W h kg-1), but more importantly, shows better power performance than NiMH batteries (0.25-1 kW kg-1) widely used in hybrid vehicles such as Toyota Prius and Honda Insight. © 2013 The Royal Society of Chemistry. | None | Capacitors; Electric resistance; Hybrid vehicles; Electrochemical capacitor; Equivalent series resistance; Negative electrode; Nickel metal hydride battery; Positive electrodes; Power performance; Short response time; Specific capacitance; Graphene | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33745443538 | Monitoring environmental complexities and changes: Some lessons from small firms | Temtime Z.T. | 2006 | International Journal of Globalisation and Small Business | 1 | 3 | 10.1504/IJGSB.2006.010612 | Department of Management, University of Botswana, P.O. Box 70471, Gaborone, Botswana | Temtime, Z.T., Department of Management, University of Botswana, P.O. Box 70471, Gaborone, Botswana | The process of gathering and interpreting pertinent information from the environment and introducing the results into the business planning process is referred to as environmental scanning. This paper investigates the practices and perceptions of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in monitoring environmental complexities and changes through the use of different scanning sources and frequency. Data were collected from 44 SMEs in Botswana through questionnaire and analysed using simple descriptive statistics. The findings indicated that SMEs in Botswana do monitor their environment and use all the major scanning sources with different degrees of frequency. Though more importance is attached to the customer/ market, competition and economic sectors, owner-managers in Botswana tend to rely more on impersonal (written) and internal sources as opposed to personal (informal) and external sources to analyse an increasingly uncertain sector. This is in contrast to previous findings, since information from these sources is less reliable for analysing unstable, turbulent and hard-to-measure sectors than personal and external sources. The use of inappropriate scanning sources could be partially attributed to the fact that most SMEs in Botswana do not have an integrated management information system designed to capture, store and analyse environmental data for use in strategic decision-making processes. Further implications for SMEs and future research are highlighted. Copyright © 2006 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd. | Botswana; Developing countries; Environmental complexities; Environmental scanning; Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs); Strategic uncertainty | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79953061837 | Improving the performance of two-stroke motorcycle with tuned adjustable exhaust pipe | Obodeh O., Ogbor A.D. | 2009 | Research Journal of Applied Sciences, Engineering and Technology | 1 | 2 | None | Department of Mechanical Engineering, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma Edo State, Nigeria | Obodeh, O., Department of Mechanical Engineering, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma Edo State, Nigeria; Ogbor, A.D., Department of Mechanical Engineering, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma Edo State, Nigeria | Engine performance is strongly dependent on gas dynamic phenomena in intake and exhaust systems. Careful design of the manifolds enables the engineer to manipulate the characteristics. The basic exhaust tuning mechanisms was described w ith respect to a two-stroke single-cylinder engine. Tuned adjustable exhaust pipe for use on two-stroke motorcycle was designed and tested. The dynamometer used incorporated a flywheel of appropriate moment of inertia to simulate the mass of the motorcycle and rider. The test procedure involved measurement of the flywheel speed during an acceleration phase resulting from opening the throttle. Calculation of the instantaneous flywheel acceleration gave a measure of the torque and power characteristics. The airflow based values of delivery ratio; trapping efficiency and charging efficiency were not measured directly but were culled from the fuel flow values and the Spindt computation of the exhaust gas analysis. Experimental test results were presented for power output, specific fuel consumption and engine-out emissions. The tuned exhaust system was found to improve fuel economy of the engine by 12%. The major engine-out emissions, HC and CO were reduced by a minimum of 27.8% and 10.7% respectively. An improved power output of 15.8% increase was achieved. As a bonus, it w as also found that the exhaust noise was reduced. © Maxwell Scientific Organization, 2009. | Motorcycle; Performance characteristics; Tuned exhaust pipe | Acceleration phase; Charging efficiency; Delivery ratio; Dynamic phenomena; Engine performance; Engine-out emissions; Exhaust noise; Exhaust pipes; Exhaust systems; Experimental test; Fuel flow; Gas analysis; Intake and exhaust; Moment of inertia; Performance characteristics; Power characteristic; Power out put; Single-cylinder engines; Specific fuel consumption; Test procedures; Trapping efficiencies; Tuned exhaust pipe; Tuning mechanism; Engine cylinders; Flywheels; Fuel economy; Fuels; Gas fuel analysis; Machine design; Motorcycles; Pipe; Testing; Wheels; Exhaust systems (engine) | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84861792865 | Impact of demographic and psychosocial factors on hysterosalpingography pain and discomfort | Ugwu A.C., Imo A.O., Erondu O.F. | 2009 | African Journal of Primary Health Care and Family Medicine | 1 | 1 | 10.4102/phcfm.v1i1.40 | Department of Medical Radiography and Radiological Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus, Anambra State, Nigeria; Department of Radiology, Ebonyi State University, Teaching Hospital, Nigeria; Department of Physics (Medical Physics), Rivers Sta | Ugwu, A.C., Department of Medical Radiography and Radiological Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus, Anambra State, Nigeria; Imo, A.O., Department of Radiology, Ebonyi State University, Teaching Hospital, Nigeria; Erondu, O.F., Department of Physics (Medical Physics), Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Nigeria | Background: Hysterosalpingography (HSG) is an important diagnostic procedure in the investigation of infertility. It is the radiographic delineation of uterine and tubal cavities and is part of the diagnostic evaluation of conjugal infertility.1 This diagnostic procedure is associated with high levels of anxiety, pain and stress from various causes. This study was designed to investigate the impact of demographic and psychosocial factors on HSG pain and discomfort. Method: One hundred hysterosalpingography referrals were recruited for this study. Verbal detector scales were used to assess pain perception, Likert scales were used to assess the psychosocial variables, while visual analogue scales were used to assess discomfort. Pearson's correlations were conducted. Tests were two-tailed, with p < 0.05 indicating statistical signifi cance. Results: Some of the patients (34%) indicated that the administration of analgesics prior to the procedure reduced the pain and discomfort associated with the procedure. Mean ± standard deviation of pain and discomfort were 2.82 ± 0.77 and 6.36 ± 2.19 respectively. Age correlated signifi cantly with pain perception (r = -0.22, P < 0.05), while pain correlated signifi cantly with perception of discomfort (r = -0.46, P < 0.05). Conclusion: Age signifi cantly correlated with pain. This is a factor that could be harnessed for clinical use. © 2009. The Authors. | Discomfort; Hysterosalpingography; Infertility; Pain; Radiographic delineation | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79952527503 | Evaluation of antibacterial activity of Piliostigma thonningiin (crude extract) and fractions 1-3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 against Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) | Daniyan S.Y., Galadima M., Ijah U.J.J., Odama L.E., Yusuf A.Y., Jigam A.A., Abbas Y. | 2010 | Research Journal of Pharmaceutical, Biological and Chemical Sciences | 1 | 4 | None | Department of Microbiology, Federal Univerity of Technology, P.M.B. 65, Minna, Nigeria; Department of Biochemistry, Federal Univerity of Technology, P.M.B. 65, Minna, Nigeria; Department of Microbiology, Kogi State University, Ayigba, Nigeria; Department | Daniyan, S.Y., Department of Microbiology, Federal Univerity of Technology, P.M.B. 65, Minna, Nigeria; Galadima, M., Department of Microbiology, Federal Univerity of Technology, P.M.B. 65, Minna, Nigeria; Ijah, U.J.J., Department of Microbiology, Federal Univerity of Technology, P.M.B. 65, Minna, Nigeria; Odama, L.E., Department of Microbiology, Kogi State University, Ayigba, Nigeria; Yusuf, A.Y., Department of Microbiology, National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development(NIPRD) Idu, Abuja, Nigeria; Jigam, A.A., Department of Biochemistry, Federal Univerity of Technology, P.M.B. 65, Minna, Nigeria; Abbas, Y., Department of Microbiology, National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development(NIPRD) Idu, Abuja, Nigeria | Aim of this study is to investigate the antibacterial activity of traditional Nigeria medicines with special interest in anti-methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) activity. Hexane, ethylacetate, methanol and aqueous extracts of this plant was prepared. Agar dilution, agar-well diffusion tests and MIC's were used to investigate antibacterial activity. Out of 4 extract that were evaluated for antibacterial activity using agar dilution technique only hexane extract gave the highest inhibition against all the MRSA isolates. Crude extract and fractions showed the highest levels of antibacterial activity overall with MIC's against MRSA in the range of 1.0 and 2.0mg/ml. The presence of antibacterial activity in extracts and fractions of leaves of P. thonningii plants traditionally used to treat skin infections, are reported for the first time. Extracts from P. thonningii, also used to treat wounds, had the widest spectrum of antibacterial activity. | Antibacterial; MRSA; Nigeria; Traditional medicines | Piliostigma thonningiin extract; plant extract; unclassified drug; vancomycin; agar dilution; antibacterial activity; article; bacterium isolate; diffusion; drug isolation; medicinal plant; methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus; minimum inhibitory concentration; Nigeria; nonhuman; Piliostigma thonningiin; plant leaf; methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus; Piliostigma; Piliostigma thonningii | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33744914994 | Usefulness of histological evaluation of excised nasopharyngeal tumour in a 12-year-old Nigerian boy mimicking adenoids | Alabi B.S., Rafindadi A.H., Saeed N., Anka A. | 2006 | International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology Extra | 1 | 2 | 10.1016/j.pedex.2006.02.001 | Department of Otolaryngology, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Federal Medical Centre, Gusau, Nigeria; Department of Pathology, Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, Nigeria; Departments of Surgery and ENT, Federal Medical Centre, Gusau | Alabi, B.S., Department of Otolaryngology, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Federal Medical Centre, Gusau, Nigeria; Rafindadi, A.H., Department of Pathology, Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, Nigeria; Saeed, N., Departments of Surgery and ENT, Federal Medical Centre, Gusau, Nigeria; Anka, A., Departments of Surgery and ENT, Federal Medical Centre, Gusau, Nigeria | Background/aim: Juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma (JNA) is the commonest benign nasopharyngeal tumour, which tends to bleed is found exclusively in male adolescents. This case was seen at the Federal Medical Centre, Gusau, Nigeria, a relatively new tertiary health institution in North Western Nigeria in May 2005, this is to stress the importance of excision biopsy for tumours rather than incisional biopsy in an environment with limited facilities. Results: This 12-year-old male Nigerian boy presented with nasal obstruction, obstructive sleep apnoea and nasal speech previously treated by the native doctors. The tumour was diagnosed based on clinical, posterior rhinoscopy and plain radiological findings and it was surgically excised via a transpalatal approach and histological evaluation of the excised tumour revealed juvenile angiofibroma. Conclusions: The management is discussed with reference to the literature and the limitation of diagnostic facilities is highlighted in a developing country setting and the need for complete surgical excision rather than incisional biopsy especially in the unwary. © 2006 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. | Histology; Juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma; Male adolescents; Posterior rhinoscopy; Transpalatal approach | adenoid; article; biopsy technique; case report; clinical feature; computer assisted tomography; developing country; diagnostic value; ear nose throat surgery; endoscopy; excision; health care facility; histopathology; human; intermethod comparison; male; medical literature; nasopharynx fibroma; nasopharynx tumor; Nigeria; nose obstruction; school child; sleep apnea syndrome; surgical approach; tertiary health care | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84863748844 | Prediction of reservoir performance in multi-well systems using modified hyperbolic model | Adeboye Y.B., Ubani C.E., Oribayo O. | 2011 | Journal of Petroleum Exploration and Production Technology | 1 | 04-Feb | 10.1007/s13202-011-0009-3 | Department of Petroleum and Gas Engineering, University of Lagos, Akoka, Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria; Department of Petroleum and Gas Engineering, University of Port-Harcourt, Port-Harcourt, Nigeria; Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Lagos, Akoka | Adeboye, Y.B., Department of Petroleum and Gas Engineering, University of Lagos, Akoka, Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria; Ubani, C.E., Department of Petroleum and Gas Engineering, University of Port-Harcourt, Port-Harcourt, Nigeria; Oribayo, O., Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Lagos, Akoka, Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria | Decline curve analyses are usually based on empirical Arps' equations: exponential, hyperbolic and harmonic decline. The applicable decline for the purpose of reservoir estimates is usually based on the historical trend that is seen on the well or reservoir performance. This remains an important tool for the reservoir engineer, so that the practice of decline curve analysis has been developed over the years through both theoretical and empirical considerations. Despite the fact that the fundamental principles are well known and understood, there are aspects which can still lead to a range of forecast and reserve estimates that until now have not been investigated. In this work, a model was developed considering the effect of well aggregation and interference in multi-well systems. This approach accounts for the entire production history of the well and the reservoir, and thus reduces the influence of well interference effects on decline curve analysis. It provides much better estimates of reserves in multi-well systems. The models were validated with field data from different wells. Production decline data from different wells in a reservoir were analyzed and used to demonstrate the application of the developed model. © 2011 The Author(s). | Decline curve; Forecast; Interference; Reserve estimates; Well aggregation | Arps' equation; Decline curve analysis; Decline curves; Developed model; Field data; Forecast; Fundamental principles; Historical trends; Hyperbolic models; Prediction of reservoir; Reserve estimates; Reservoir engineers; Reservoir performance; Well interference; Estimation; Oil well production; Wave interference; Wells; Forecasting | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77953457644 | Phytochemical and anti inflammatory evaluation of Khaya grandifoliola stem bark extract | Falodun A., Poh C.F., Adelusi S.A., Emmanuel O. | 2009 | International Journal of PharmTech Research | 1 | 4 | None | Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria; Department of Pharmacology, College of Health Sciences, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Yenagoa, Nigeria | Falodun, A., Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria; Poh, C.F., Department of Pharmacology, College of Health Sciences, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Yenagoa, Nigeria; Adelusi, S.A., Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria; Emmanuel, O., Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria | The ethnomedicinal application of Khaya grandifoliola stem bark in Africa as remedy against rheumatoid arthritis is attracting attention in view of the global focus on herbal medicine as alternatives to orthodox drugs. And this necessitated this study.The methanolic extract of the plant was subjected to phytochemical screening testing for alkaloids, tannins, saponins and flavonoids as secondary metabolites. Anti inflammatory activity of the methanolic extract was examined using carrageenan, and serotonin -induced, paw oedema and xylene induced ear oedema. The methanolic extract significantly inhibited the carrageenan-induced paw oedema from the first hour to the fifth hour at a dose of 200mg/kg while a dose of 500 mg/kg significantly inhibited the carrageenan-induce paw oedema after 3 hours of carrageenan challenge. Whereas in the serotonin induced paw oedema test, the extract significantly reduces the paw oedema at the 120th minute at the dose of 200 mg/kg and at 90th minute at the dose of 500 mg/kg. For the xylene induced oedema there was a 28.6 % inhibition at 200 mg/kg and 57.1% at 500 mg/kg. The result of the study revealed that the methanolic extract of K.grandifoliola was active at different doses tested. This gives justification to the use of the plant as anti inflammatory medicinal plant. | Anti inflammatory activity; Carrageenan-induced paw moedema; Khaya grandifoliola; Phytochemical analysis | alkaloid; carrageenan; dexamethasone; indometacin; Khaya grandifoliola extract; methanol; plant extract; saponin; serotonin; tannin; unclassified drug; xylene; Africa; animal experiment; animal model; antiinflammatory activity; article; bark; controlled study; drug dose comparison; Khaya grandifoliola; medicinal plant; nonhuman; otitis; paw edema; phytochemistry; plant stem; rat; time; traditional medicine; treatment outcome | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84873508667 | High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method development and validation indicating assay for ciprofloxacin hydrochloride | Ali S.A., Mmuo C.C., Abdulraheem R.O., Abdulkareem S.S., Alemika E.T., Sani M.A., Ilyas M. | 2011 | Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical Science | 1 | 8 | None | Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Maiduguri, Nigeria; Department of Food Science and Technology, University of Maiduguri, Nigeria; Department of Chemistry, Federal Polytechnic, Damaturu, Yobe State, Nigeria; Department of Pharmaceutica | Ali, S.A., Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Maiduguri, Nigeria; Mmuo, C.C., Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Maiduguri, Nigeria; Abdulraheem, R.O., Department of Food Science and Technology, University of Maiduguri, Nigeria; Abdulkareem, S.S., Department of Chemistry, Federal Polytechnic, Damaturu, Yobe State, Nigeria; Alemika, E.T., Department of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, University of Jos, Jos, Nigeria; Sani, M.A., Department of Heamatology, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Nigeria; Ilyas, M., Department of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria | A new simple, rapid, selective, precise and accurate isocratic reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography assay has been developed for the estimation of Ciprofloxacin Hydrochloride in tablet formulation. The separation was achieved by using C-18 column (LichroCART® 125x4mm, 5μm) coupled with a guard column of silica in mobile phase methanol: buffer (0.025M Orthophosphoric acid with the pH adjusted to 3.0±0.1 with triethylamine) (40:60v/v). The flow rate was 2.0ml/min and the drug was detected using UV detector at the wavelength of 278nm. The retention time was within 1.753 - 1.757 minutes. The method was validated as per ICH guidelines. The proposed method was found to be accurate, repeatability and consistent. It was successfully applied for the analysis of the drug in marketed formulation and could be effectively used for the routine analysis of formulation containing the drug without any alteration in the chromatography conditions. | Ciprofloxacin; HPLC; Liquid chromatography | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84875947281 | Evaluation of the antimicrobial activities of crude extract of Cryptolepis sanguinolenta and Crateva adansonii leaves and their interactions | Agboke A.A., Attama A.A., Momoh M.A. | 2011 | Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical Science | 1 | 10 | None | Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Incorporating Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria; Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical | Agboke, A.A., Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Incorporating Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria; Attama, A.A., Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu, Nigeria; Momoh, M.A., Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu, Nigeria | Activities of crude extract of Cryptolepis Sanguinolen and Crateva Adansonii leaves and their interactions were evaluated.Crude methanol extracts of Crateva adansonii and Cryptolepis sanguinolenta leaves were obtained by cold maceration. Antimicrobial activities of the extracts were carried out against six bacteria ie Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhii, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Bacillus subtilis and two fungi which includes Aspergillus niger and Candida albicans using agar dilution method MICs of methanol extract of Crateva adansonii against the six bacteria are Pseudomonas aeruginosa -12.5 mg/ml, Escherichia coli - 6.25 mg ml, Salmonella typhi - 12.5 mg/ml, Staphylococcus aureus - 2.5 mg/ml, Klebsiella pneumonia - 6.25 mg/ml, Bacillus subtilis - 12.5 mg/ml, fungi Aspergillus niger - 12.5 mg/ml, Candida albicans - 12.5 mg/ml. While the MICs of methanol extract of Cryptolepis sanguinolenta against the six bacteria. Pseudomonas aeruginosa - 12.5 mg/ml, Escherichia coli - 6.25 mg ml, Salmonella typhii - 12.5 mg/ml, Staphylococcus aureus - 12.5 mg/ml, Klebsiella pneumoni - 12.5 mg/ml. Bacillus subtilis - 6.25 mg/ml and for fungi Aspergillus niger - 12.5 mg/ml, Candida albicans - 6.25 mg/ml. Combined activity of the two plant extracts against Escherichia coil, klebsiella pneumoniae, Bacillus subtilis and Candida albicans was carried out at the ratios of 1:1, 2:1 and 1:2 of extracts of Crateva adansonii and Cryptolepis sanguinolenta respectively. Combination 1:2 and 2:1 were found to be effective and able to inhibit Escherichia coli and Candida albicans. The result of this work shows that the extracts of Cryptolepis sanguinolenta and Cranteva Adansonii have both antifungal and antibacterial effects and their combination is effective in some bacterial and fungal infection most especially Candida albicans infection. | Antibacteria; Antifungal; Combination interactions; Crateva adansonii; Crude extracts; Cryptolepis sanginolenta | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77953426613 | Evaluation of analgesic and anti-inflammatory compounds from Stereospermum kunthianum (Bignoniaceae) | Ching F.P., Falodun A., Omogbai E.K.I., Okpo S.O., Ozolua R.I., Choudhary M.I. | 2009 | International Journal of PharmTech Research | 1 | 4 | None | Department of Pharmacology, College of Health Sciences, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Yenagoa, Nigeria; Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria; Department of Pharmacology and Tox | Ching, F.P., Department of Pharmacology, College of Health Sciences, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Yenagoa, Nigeria; Falodun, A., Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria; Omogbai, E.K.I., Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria; Okpo, S.O., Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria; Ozolua, R.I., Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria; Choudhary, M.I., H.E.J. Research Institute of Chemistry, International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences, University of Karachi, Karachi 75270, Pakistan | Stereospermum kunthianum (Bignoniaceae) is a woody shrub of the Sudano-Guinea savannah regions of Africa where the plant parts are used to treat various ailments including inflammatory conditions (rheumatoid arthritis) and pain. In continuation of our study of the anti inflammatory activity of this plant, we subjected the compounds previously isolated and characterized to pharmacological evaluation using different models of inflammation. The analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of the isolated compounds were studied using the Randall-Selitto and formalin-induced pain tests. At the dose of 20 mg/kg, Stereostin, Stereospermin (p<0.0001) and Stereospermiside (p<0.05) significantly increased the carrageenan-induced pain threshold compared to the distilled water treated animals. Similarly, at the same doses the three compounds significantly (p<0.0001) inhibited both phases of the formalin-induce pain with a more pronounced effect on the second phase than in the first phase. The results obtained show that the compounds from Stereospermum kunthianum possess analgesic and antiinflammatory activities. This paper reports for the first time the biological activity of these compounds from Stereospermum kunthianum stem bark. | Analgesic; Anti-inflammatory activities; Compounds; Stereospermin; Stereospermiside; Stereospermum kunthianum; Stereostin | carrageenan; formaldehyde; indometacin; morphine; plant glycoside; sodium chloride; stereospermin; stereospermiside; stereostin; unclassified drug; water; analgesia; animal behavior; animal experiment; animal model; antiinflammatory activity; article; Bignoniaceae; controlled study; female; licking; male; mouse; nonhuman; pain; pain threshold; rat; Stereospermum kunthianum; treatment outcome | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77954550586 | Safety evaluations of aqueous stem bark extract of Lophira lanceolata in sprague dawley rats | Etuk E., Muhammad A.A. | 2010 | International Journal of Research in Pharmaceutical Sciences | 1 | 1 | None | Department of Pharmacology, College of Health Sciences, Usm anu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria | Etuk, E., Department of Pharmacology, College of Health Sciences, Usm anu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria; Muhammad, A.A., Department of Pharmacology, College of Health Sciences, Usm anu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria | Lophira lanceolata extract is widely used to enhance sexual performance among the male population in Sokoto state, Nigeria. The efficacy of this extract to enhance sexual behaviours in experimental animals has been reported. This study was conducted to evaluate the safety of oral administration of the plant extract in Sprague dawley rats. Various concentrations (500, 1000, 3000 and 5000mg/kg body weight of aqueous stem bark extract of Lophira lanceolata were administered orally to four groups of rats to test for acute toxicity. Also, the effects of oral administration of the extract at 1000, 1500 and 2000 mg/kg body weight for 28 days on the body weight, some haematological and biochemical parameters of the animals were investigated. The result showed that, a single oral dose treatment with up to 5000mg/kg of the extract did not cause any dead or observable adverse effect in the rats. In the repeated dose study, the extract produced an increase in the body weight gain of the rats. The total white blood cell count and haemoglobin level were elevated. These were considered to be beneficial and indicative of safety. The plant extract at 1500 and 2000mg/kg body weight produced a slight increase in the serum transaminases enzymes. The histology of the liver and kidney were normal while the testes showed some pathological lesions. These results have shown that, repeated administration of appropriate dose of the extract may have some beneficial effects on the blood system but a high dose may damage the testes thereby causing infertility. Consumers should therefore be aware of these health risks and avoid over consumption of the extract. © Pharmascope Foundation. | Lophira lanceolata; Parameters; Sexual stimulant; Toxicity | aminotransferase; hemoglobin; Lophira lanceolata extract; plant extract; unclassified drug; aminotransferase blood level; animal experiment; aqueous solution; article; bark; biochemistry; body weight; controlled study; drug safety; hematological parameters; leukocyte count; Lophira lanceolata; male; nonhuman; rat; testis; tree; weight gain | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-78650196138 | Organizational retention strategies and employee performance of Zenith Bank in Nigeria | Eseme Gberevbie D. | 2010 | African Journal of Economic and Management Studies | 1 | 1 | 10.1108/20400701011028167 | Department of Political Science, Covenant University, Ota, Nigeria | Eseme Gberevbie, D., Department of Political Science, Covenant University, Ota, Nigeria | PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to empirically examine employee-retention strategies and performance in the Nigerian banking sector over the period 2000-2005, with focus on Zenith Bank in Nigeria. The sector is unique in terms of its contribution to Nigeria's gross domestic product. Design/methodology/approachThe survey research design involving the use of questionnaire and structured interview to obtain primary and secondary data from relevant books, journals and the internet were adopted. The paper also adopted the χ2-analytical technique to test for significant relationship between variables. FindingsThe study revealed that it is more profitable for organizations to put in place appropriate employee-retention strategies such as good organization's image, staff participation in decision making, enhanced and regular salary package, and humane treatment of employees as strategies for organizational performance. Practical implicationsParticularly, organizations are likely to experience frequent employee turnover for as long as they fail to put in place appropriate employee-retention strategies, which is capable of preventing enhanced performance. Originality/valueThis paper provides insight into what could enhance the performance of organizations in their quest for quality service delivery and profitability. Its findings could also be a source of motivation to organizations in other sectors in the area of employee performance. © 2010, © Emerald Group Publishing Limited. | Banking; Employees; Human resource management; Nigeria; Organizational performance; Retention | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77958113181 | The impact of the choice on termination of pregnancy act of 1996 (act 92 of 1996) on criminal abortions in the mthatha area of South Africa | Meel B.L., Kaswa R.P. | 2009 | African Journal of Primary Health Care and Family Medicine | 1 | 1 | 10.4102/phcfm.v1i1.36 | Faculty of Health Sciences, Walter Sisulu University, South Africa | Meel, B.L., Faculty of Health Sciences, Walter Sisulu University, South Africa; Kaswa, R.P., Faculty of Health Sciences, Walter Sisulu University, South Africa | Background: The Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Act of 1996 (Act 92 of 1996) allows abortions to be legally carried out in South Africa. It is not clear how many people are utilising this service. Mthatha is a poverty-stricken area with a high rate of illiteracy. The available infrastructure, such as roads, health facilities and communication, is poor. Method: This was a retrospective, descriptive study carried out at the Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital in Mthatha. The registered criminal abortion cases recorded between 1993 and 2006 were analysed. Results: There were 51 cases of criminal abortions recorded from 1993 to 2006. Of these, 32 were aborted in the fi rst trimester of pregnancy and the rest were in the second trimester. No signifi cant gender differences were observed among aborted babies. 10 of the foetuses were male and nine were female. The highest number (nine) of abortions was recorded in 1993 and in 2005. The highest number of criminal abortions (11) took place in May. Most cases (35) were concealed births and were discovered accidentally either by the public or the police. Conclusion: The Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Act of 1996 (Act 92 of 1996) had no impact on criminal abortions in the Mthatha area of South Africa. © 2009. The Authors. | Choice on termination of pregnancy act of 1996 (Act 92 of 1996); Criminal abortion; Foetuses; South africa; Termination | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-72649104663 | Chesapeake bay impact structure deep drilling project completes coring | Gohn G.S., Koeberl C., Miller K.G., Reimold W.U., Abramov O., Aleman Gonzalez W., Bach N., Blazejak A., Browning J., Bruce T., Budet C., Bybell L., Cobbs Jr. E., Cobbs III E., Cockell C., Corland B., Durand C., Dypvik H., Eckberg J., Edwards L., Eichenaue | 2006 | Scientific Drilling | 1 | 3 | 10.2204/iodp.sd.3.07.2006 | Geological Survey, 926A National Center, Reston, VA, United States; University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, United States; University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany | Gohn, G.S., Geological Survey, 926A National Center, Reston, VA, United States; Koeberl, C., University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Miller, K.G., Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, United States; Reimold, W.U., University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany; Abramov, O.; Aleman Gonzalez, W.; Bach, N.; Blazejak, A.; Browning, J.; Bruce, T.; Budet, C.; Bybell, L.; Cobbs Jr., E.; Cobbs III, E.; Cockell, C.; Corland, B.; Durand, C.; Dypvik, H.; Eckberg, J.; Edwards, L.; Eichenauer, S.; Elbra, T.; Elmore, A.; Glidewell, J.; Gohn, G.; Gronstal, A.; Harris, A.; Heidinger, P.; Hester, S.-C.; Horton, W.; Jones, K.; Julson, A.; King, D.; Kirshtein, J.; Koeberl, C.; Kohout, T.; Kraemer, T.; Kring, D.; Kulpecz, A.; Kunk, M.; Larson, D.; Limpitlaw, U.; Lowit, M.; McKeown, N.; McLaughlin, P.; Miller, K.; Mizintseva, S.; Morin, R.; Morrow, J.; Murray, J.; Ormö, J.; Ortiz Martinez, R.; Petruny, L.; Pierce, H.; Plescia, J.; Powars, D.; Pusz, A.; Queen, D.B.; Queen, D.G.; Reimold, U.; Sanford, W.; Seefelt, E.; Self-Trail, J.; Vanko, D.; Voytek, M.; Wade, B.; Wade, J.; Webster, D.; Zinn, B.; Zivkovic, V. | [No abstract available] | None | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77957292294 | Innovation and performance improvement in the South African wine industry | Wood E., Kaplan D. | 2005 | International Journal of Technology and Globalisation | 1 | 42433 | None | Graduate School of Business University of Cape Town, Portswood Road, Greenpoint, 8000, South Africa | Wood, E., Graduate School of Business University of Cape Town, Portswood Road, Greenpoint, 8000, South Africa; Kaplan, D., Graduate School of Business University of Cape Town, Portswood Road, Greenpoint, 8000, South Africa | South Africa’s wine industry was ill-prepared for the highly competitive, brand-conscious consumer markets it encountered on re-entry into international markets. The bulk of production was basic quality wine. Wine marketing expertise was concentrated among smaller independent wine producers and a few large wholesalers. The paper examines innovation in different segments of the industry and the extent to which it is being effectively supported by networking and knowledge exchange. Most producers have significantly improved quality and product ranges. But many producers are weak in the area of marketing, though some segments have achieved considerable success in this area. Respected institutions to support marketing and brand development and knowledge exchange between producers contribute to ongoing improvement in this area. © 2005 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd. | industry networks; innovation; performance improvement; South Africa; wine industry | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000208053300005 | Evaluate experiences: a qualitative technique to complement quantitative impact assessments | Carter, Jonathan | 2009 | JOURNAL OF DEVELOPMENT EFFECTIVENESS | 1 | 1 | 10.1080/19439340902727628 | Human Sciences Research Council-South Africa | None | Impact evaluations, whether of aid, development interventions or policy interventions, help hold donors and policy makers accountable for promises made and provide a means to legitimise recommendations for future interventions. Quantitative approaches are the order of the day but do not fully capture the complex and nuanced characteristics of communities important to understand the full effects of interventions and/or identify required interventions. This article describes a cost-effective approach to capturing large volumes of qualitative data in anecdotal form that can help inform interventions and approaches to research. Data collected by using the technique in a poor, urban, mixed race settlement in South Africa are reviewed and used to provide recommendations on research in poverty. For reasons consistent with the theoretical framework explained, recommendations are limited to three: consider carefully intergenerational dynamics when researching poor areas; be responsible about differences in value scales; and be conscious of how differently the researched see the world. A discussion using the method in mixed methods research is provided. | "anecdote circles",COST-EFFECTIVE,"IMPACT ASSESSMENT","QUALITATIVE EVALUATION",AFRICA,DYNAMICS | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84921369967 | Effects of selected corporate governance characteristics on firm performance: Empirical evidence from Kenya | Ongore V.O., K’Obonyo P.O. | 2011 | International Journal of Economics and Financial Issues | 1 | 3 | None | Kenya Revenue Authority, Nairobi, Kenya; Business Administration, University of Nairobi, Kenya | Ongore, V.O., Kenya Revenue Authority, Nairobi, Kenya; K’Obonyo, P.O., Business Administration, University of Nairobi, Kenya | This paper examines the interrelations among ownership, board and manager characteristics and firm performance in a sample of 54 firms listed at the Nairobi Stock Exchange (NSE). These governance characteristics, designed to minimize agency problems between principals and agents are operationalized in terms of ownership concentration, ownership identity, board effectiveness and managerial discretion. The typical ownership identities at the NSE are government, foreign, institutional, manager and diverse ownership forms. Firm performance is measured using Return on Assets (ROA), Return on Equity (ROE) and Dividend Yield (DY). Using PPMC, Logistic Regression and Stepwise Regression, the paper presents evidence of significant positive relationship between foreign, insider, institutional and diverse ownership forms, and firm performance. However, the relationship between ownership concentration and government, and firm performance was significantly negative. The role of boards was found to be of very little value, mainly due to lack of adherence to board member selection criteria. The results also show significant positive relationship between managerial discretion and performance. Collectively, these results are consistent with pertinent literature with regard to the implications of government, foreign, manager (insider) and institutional ownership forms, but significantly differ concerning the effects of ownership concentration and diverse ownership on firm performance. © 2011, Econjournals. All rights reserved. | Agency theory; Firm performance; Managerial discretion; Ownership concentration; Ownership identity; Ownership structure | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84863861090 | In-vivo antimalarial and toxicological evaluation of Chrozophora senegalensis A. Juss (euphorbiaceae) extracts | Jigam A.A., Abdulrazaq U.T., Egbuta M.N. | 2011 | Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical Science | 1 | 10 | None | Malaria and Trypanosomiasis Research Unit, Department of Biohemistry, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Nigeria | Jigam, A.A., Malaria and Trypanosomiasis Research Unit, Department of Biohemistry, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Nigeria; Abdulrazaq, U.T., Malaria and Trypanosomiasis Research Unit, Department of Biohemistry, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Nigeria; Egbuta, M.N., Malaria and Trypanosomiasis Research Unit, Department of Biohemistry, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Nigeria | The antiplasmodial, analgesic, antiinflammatory and chronic dose effects of methanolic extract of Chrozophora senegalenesis A. Juss were studied in mice. Plasmodium berghei (NK 65 chloroquine sensitive strain) was inoculated into eighteen mice assigned to 3 groups of 6 mice each . Group I was treated with 75mg/kg bw C. Senegalensis, group II with 5mg/kg bw chloroquine phosphate (standard) and group III with 20ml/kg bw normal saline (Control). Anagelsia and antiinflammation were analysed by the Acetic acid induced abdominal constriction in mice and egg albumin induced paw oedema in rats respectively. Another set of 40 mice were divided into two groups of twenty each (test and control) and some serum parameters studied. The test animals were gavaged with extract while controls were given normal saline over a period of 5 weeks. C. senegalensis suppressed parasitemia in mice by 51.80%, had 37.05% anagelsia, and 60.92% anti-inflammatory activity. Body weights, packed cell volume and serum triacylglycerides significantly (p<0.05) decreased in mice given C. senegalensis while serum glucose, Aspartate amino transferase (AST), Alanine amino Transferase (ALT) and Alkaline phosphase (ALP) increased significantly (p<0.05) in the test mice over the study period. In conclusion, C.senegalensis is effective in the management of malaria but long term consumption can predispose to adverse physiological effects. | Analgesia; Antiinflammation; Chrozophora senegalensis; Physiological; Plasmodium berghei; Serum | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84887586286 | Performance and safety of the second-generation female condom (FC2) versus the Woman's, the VA worn-of-women, and the Cupid female condoms: A randomised controlled non-inferiority crossover trial | Beksinska M.E., Piaggio G., Smit J.A., Wu J., Zhang Y., Pienaar J., Greener R., Zhou Y., Joanis C. | 2013 | The Lancet Global Health | 1 | 3 | 10.1016/S2214-109X(13)70054-8 | Maternal, Adolescent and Child Health (MatCH), Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Department of Medical Statistics, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; School of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; Department of Epidemiology and Social Science on Reproductive Health, Shanghai Institute of Planned Parenthood Research, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Joanis Consulting, Kennesaw, GA, United States | Beksinska, M.E., Maternal, Adolescent and Child Health (MatCH), Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Piaggio, G., Department of Medical Statistics, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Smit, J.A., Maternal, Adolescent and Child Health (MatCH), Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, School of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; Wu, J., Department of Epidemiology and Social Science on Reproductive Health, Shanghai Institute of Planned Parenthood Research, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Zhang, Y., Department of Epidemiology and Social Science on Reproductive Health, Shanghai Institute of Planned Parenthood Research, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Pienaar, J., Maternal, Adolescent and Child Health (MatCH), Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Greener, R., Maternal, Adolescent and Child Health (MatCH), Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Zhou, Y., Department of Epidemiology and Social Science on Reproductive Health, Shanghai Institute of Planned Parenthood Research, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Joanis, C., Joanis Consulting, Kennesaw, GA, United States | Background: New designs of female condom have been developed to reduce costs and improve acceptability. To secure regulatory approvals, clinical studies are needed to verify performance. We aimed to assess the functional performance and safety of three new condom types-the Woman's Condom, the VA worn-of-women (wow) Condom Feminine, and the Cupid female condom-against the existing second-generation female condom (FC2). Methods: We did a randomised controlled, non-inferiority, four-period crossover trial at three sites in Shanghai, China, and one site in Durban, South Africa, between May 1, 2011, and Jan 31, 2012. Participants aged 18-45 years who were sexually active, monogamous, not pregnant, and not sex workers, were eligible for inclusion if they were literate, had no known allergies to the study products; used a reliable, non-barrier method of contraception, and had no visible or reported sexually transmitted infections. We used a computer-generated randomisation sequence with a Williams square design of size four to assign patients (1:1:1:1) to the FC2 control device, or the Woman's, VA wow, or Cupid condoms, with 12 potential allocations. Randomisation was stratified by site. Participants were not masked to condom type, but allocation was concealed from study investigators. The primary non-inferiority endpoints were total clinical failure and total female condom failure, with a non-inferiority margin of 3%. Women were asked to use five of each condom type and were interviewed after use of each type. We also assessed safety data for each type. We did both per-protocol and intention-to-treat analyses. We calculated frequencies and percentages for each failure event and estimated differences in performance with a generalised estimating equation model. This study is registered, number DOH-27-0113-4271. Findings: 616 women were assessed for eligibility, of whom 600 were randomly assigned to condom-type order (30, 120, and 150 women in the three sites in China, and 300 women in the site in South Africa). 572 women completed follow-up, with at least one condom of each type. Total female condom failure was 3·43% for FC2, 3·85% for the Woman's Condom (difference 0·42%, 90% CI -1·42 to 2·26), 3·02% for VA wow (-0·42%, -1·86 to 1·32), and 4·52% for Cupid (1·09%, -0·60 to 2·78); total clinical failure was 2·88%, 3·05% (0·17%, -1·48 to 1·81), 2·49% (-0·25%, -1·75 to 1·26), and 3·87% (0·99%, -0·55 to 2·52), respectively. Only two (<1%) participants, in South Africa, reported serious adverse events, unrelated to use of the study products. Interpretation: Non-inferiority was shown for all condom failure events for the three new devices versus the FC2, within the predefined margin. Funding: Universal Access to Female Condoms (UAFC). © 2013 Beksinska et al. Open Access article distributed under the terms CC BY-NC-ND. | None | adult; article; controlled study; cupid female condom; device safety; female; female condom; follow up; human; human experiment; penile itching; performance; priority journal; randomized controlled trial; rash; second generation female condom; VA worn of women condom; vagina pain; vagina swelling; vaginal burning sensation; vaginal pruritus; adolescent; China; crossover procedure; device failure; equipment design; middle aged; patient attitude; patient satisfaction; South Africa; young adult; Adolescent; Adult; China; Condoms, Female; Cross-Over Studies; Equipment Design; Equipment Failure; Female; Humans; Middle Aged; Patient Acceptance of Health Care; Patient Satisfaction; South Africa; Young Adult | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79955606502 | Evaluation of the activity of Zingiber officinale (Ginger) aqueous extracts on alloxan-induced diabetic rats | Ozougwu J.C., Eyo J.E. | 2011 | Pharmacologyonline | 1 | None | None | Physiology and Biomedical Research Unit, Department of Zoology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria | Ozougwu, J.C., Physiology and Biomedical Research Unit, Department of Zoology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria; Eyo, J.E., Physiology and Biomedical Research Unit, Department of Zoology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria | In view of the varied medicinal applications of Z. officinale, the effects of the increasing dosages of its aqueous extracts on alloxan-induced diabetic Rattus novergicus for possible use in the management of diabetes mellitus was evaluated. Diabetes mellitus was induced in 54 out of a total of 63 adult Rattus novergicus using 150mg/kg of alloxan monohydrate. Increasing dosages (200, 250 and 300mg/kg) of Z. officinale aqueous extracts were given to the diabetic rats for six weeks while the control rats got either normal saline (1ml) or increasing dosages of glibenclamide (2.5, 3.8 and 5.0mg/kg) during the same period. Blood glucose level, total serum lipids and total serum cholesterol were assessed with routine methods. F-LSD was employed to test significant differences (P < 0.05) among treatment means. Increasing dosages of Z. officinale aqueous extracts produced a dose-dependent significant (P < 0.05) reductions in the blood glucose levels, total serum lipid and total serum cholesterol when compared with that of the control rats. The best percentage reduction in blood glucose level, total serum lipids and cholesterol were observed at 300mg/kg. It is possible to conclude from the experimental findings that Z. officinale studied exhibited promising hypoglycaemic and hypolipidaemic activity in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. It's hypoglycaemic and hypolipidaemic effects could represent a protective mechanism against the development of hyperglycaemia and hyperlipidaemia characteristic of diabetes mellitus. | Alloxan diabetic rats; Hypoglycaemia; Hypolipidaemia; Zingiber officinale | alloxan; cholesterol; ginger extract; glibenclamide; glucose; lipid; sodium chloride; alloxan diabetes mellitus; animal experiment; animal model; aqueous solution; article; blood glucose monitoring; cholesterol blood level; controlled study; diabetes mellitus; dose response; drug dose comparison; drug dose increase; drug efficacy; drug mechanism; drug screening; glucose blood level; nonhuman; rat; treatment duration | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84875995518 | Impact of reciprocal peer-tutoring on secondary school students' achievement in large physics classes in Nigeria | Oludipe B.D. | 2009 | Ubiquitous Learning | 1 | 2 | None | Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ogun, Nigeria | Oludipe, B.D., Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ogun, Nigeria | This study investigated the impact of Reciprocal peer-tutoring on senior secondary students' Achievement in large Physics classes in Nigeria. It adopted the pretest-posttest control group quasi-experimental design. One hundred and ninetyfour intact class of students (112 males and 82females) with a mean age of 15.7 years, SD= 1.7 from four co-educational secondary schools in Edo State, Nigeria constituted the sample for the study. A Physics Achievement Test (PAT) consisting of fifty items in multiple-choice format was used for data collection. Data was analyzed using simple descriptive statistics and t-test. Results revealed that reciprocal peer tutoring improved students' achievement in Physics in large classes significantly. However, no significant effect of reciprocal peer-tutoring on gender was found. The findings from this study tend to suggest that reciprocal peer-tutoring could be a panacea for dealing with the problems of Physics achievement deficits in large class sizes. In effect, policy makers may not need to bother reducing large class sizes but encourage Physics teachers to employ reciprocal peer-tutoring to facilitate students' learning. © Common Ground, Bimbola D. Oludipe, All Rights Reserved. | Achievement; Large class size; Peer-tutoring; Physics; Reciprocal teaching; Secondary school | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-41249100615 | Evaluation of a Novel Slow-Release Paclitaxel-Eluting Stent With a Bioabsorbable Polymeric Surface Coating | Jabara R., Chronos N., Conway D., Molema W., Robinson K. | 2008 | JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions | 1 | 1 | 10.1016/j.jcin.2007.11.009 | Saint Joseph's Cardiovascular Research Institute/Saint Joseph's Hospital of Atlanta, GA, United States; DISA Vascular Ltd., Cape Town, South Africa | Jabara, R., Saint Joseph's Cardiovascular Research Institute/Saint Joseph's Hospital of Atlanta, GA, United States; Chronos, N., Saint Joseph's Cardiovascular Research Institute/Saint Joseph's Hospital of Atlanta, GA, United States; Conway, D., DISA Vascular Ltd., Cape Town, South Africa; Molema, W., DISA Vascular Ltd., Cape Town, South Africa; Robinson, K., Saint Joseph's Cardiovascular Research Institute/Saint Joseph's Hospital of Atlanta, GA, United States | Objectives: We sought to evaluate a new second-generation drug-eluting stent (DES), comprising a slow-release biodegradable polylactide coglycolide (PLGA) polymer and low-dose paclitaxel on a thin-strut cobalt chromium stent platform, in a clinically relevant animal model. Background: Our previous work demonstrated subacute vascular toxicity and necrosis triggering late excess neointima in pig coronaries, with a moderate paclitaxel dose eluted from an erodible polymer. The use of slower-releasing absorbable polymers with lower doses of paclitaxel is expected to minimize such adverse outcomes. Methods: Three types of stents were implanted in pig coronary arteries using quantitative coronary angiography to optimize stent apposition: bare-metal stents (BMS); absorbable, slow-release polymer-coated-only stents (POLY); and absorbable polymer-based paclitaxel-eluting stents (PACL). The dose density of paclitaxel was 0.15 μg/mm2 with in vitro studies demonstrating a gradual elution over the course of 12 to 16 weeks. Animals underwent angiographic restudy and were terminated at 1 and 3 months for complete histopathologic and histomorphometric analyses. Results: At 1 month, intimal thickness varied significantly according to stent type, with the lowest level for the PACL group compared with the BMS and POLY groups (0.06 ± 0.02 mm vs. 0.17 ± 0.07 mm, 0.17 ± 0.08 mm, respectively, p < 0.001); histological percent area stenosis was 18 ± 4% for PACL compared with 27 ± 7% for BMS and 30 ± 12% for POLY, respectively (p = 0.001). At 3 months, PACL showed similar neointimal thickness as BMS and POLY (0.09 ± 0.05 mm vs. 0.13 ± 0.10 mm and 0.11 ± 0.03 mm respectively, p = 0.582). Histological percent area stenosis was 23 ± 8% for PACL versus 23 ± 11% for BMS and 23 ± 2% for POLY, respectively (p = 1.000). Conclusions: This study shows favorable vascular compatibility and efficacy for a novel DES that elutes paclitaxel in porcine coronary arteries. These results support the notion that slowing the release rate and lowering the dose of paclitaxel favorably influences the vascular biological response to DES implant, decreasing early toxicity and promoting stable healing while still suppressing neointima formation. © 2008 American College of Cardiology Foundation. | None | acetylsalicylic acid; chromium; clopidogrel; cobalt; heparin; metal; paclitaxel; polyglactin; polymer; acute toxicity; angiocardiography; animal experiment; animal model; animal tissue; artery intima proliferation; article; biocompatibility; biodegradability; biological activity; bleeding; blood vessel compliance; controlled drug release; controlled study; coronary artery; drug efficacy; drug eluting stent; elution; heart catheterization; heparinization; histopathology; in vitro study; low drug dose; material coating; morphometrics; nonhuman; preoperative care; priority journal; quantitative analysis; stenosis; vascular necrosis; Animals; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; Coated Materials, Biocompatible; Coronary Disease; Coronary Vessels; Disease Models, Animal; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Carriers; Drug-Eluting Stents; Lactic Acid; Paclitaxel; Polyglycolic Acid; Prosthesis Design; Swine | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84952970756 | Evaluation of the Khula enterprise in the promotion of SMMEs in South Africa | van Scheers L., Radipere S. | 2008 | Journal for Global Business Advancement | 1 | 4 | 10.1504/JGBA.2008.019938 | School of Business Management, University of South Africa, PO Box 329, Unisa 0003, South Africa | van Scheers, L., School of Business Management, University of South Africa, PO Box 329, Unisa 0003, South Africa; Radipere, S., School of Business Management, University of South Africa, PO Box 329, Unisa 0003, South Africa | The research indicated that accessing funds for SMMEs is not a problem but the procedures and the requirements to be met for the banks such as 10% contribution is acting negatively towards them. Although much has been written on the causes of failures on SMMEs, however, the most worrying factor from this research is the lack of basic skills in executing business and shortage of funds. The research established that for Khula Enterprise to meet SMMEs requirements, it must have an information management system that is effective in the promotion of the customer center strategy. It must also specialise in the provision of finance to a particular sector as each enterprise needs differ from the other enterprise. The peculiarity of South African history requires a unique solution for the society’s unique problem. © 2008 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd. | black economic empowerment; business failure; business skills; educational background; entrepreneur; Khula Enterprise; managerial skills; SME sector; SMME; types of business | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84856399269 | The importance of preferential flow in controlling groundwater recharge in tropical Africa and implications for modelling the impact of climate change on groundwater resources | Cuthbert M.O., Tindimugaya C. | 2010 | Journal of Water and Climate Change | 1 | 4 | 10.2166/wcc.2010.040 | School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, United Kingdom; Ministry of Water and Environment, PO Box 19, Entebbe, Uganda | Cuthbert, M.O., School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, United Kingdom; Tindimugaya, C., Ministry of Water and Environment, PO Box 19, Entebbe, Uganda | An improved water table fluctuation technique for estimating recharge is applied to a sustained (10-year) groundwater level monitoring record in Uganda, a rare dataset for tropical Africa, and compared against results from soil moisture balance models (SMBMs) and unsaturated flow models. The results show that recharge is directly proportional to rainfall (long-term average rainfall is around 1200 mm/a), even during times when high soil moisture deficits are anticipated. This indicates that preferential and/or localized flow mechanisms dominate the recharge behaviour. SMBMs and unsaturated flow models, based on uniform flow governed by the Richards equation, are shown to be inappropriate for estimating recharge in this location underlain by lateritic soils. Given the large spatial coverage of lateritic soils both globally and in tropical Africa, and despite the convenience of physically based uniform flow models and, in particular, SMBMs, concern is raised over the use of such models for recharge estimation, and thus for exploring future trends due to climate or land use change, unless backed up by sufficient hydraulic data to enable the recharge processes to be confirmed. More research is needed to assess how widespread preferential flow may be within other major soil groups and climate zones. © IWA Publishing 2011. | Climate change; Groundwater recharge; Soil moisture balance model; Uganda; Water table fluctuation method | Ground water recharge; Moisture balance; Preferential flows; Recharge estimation; Soil moisture deficits; Uganda; Unsaturated flows; Water table fluctuations; Climate change; Climate models; Estimation; Geologic models; Groundwater flow; Groundwater resources; Rain; Soil moisture; Tropics; Recharging (underground waters) | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84859762024 | Community-specific evaluation of tool affordances in wild chimpanzees | Gruber T., Muller M.N., Reynolds V., Wrangham R., Zuberbühler K. | 2011 | Scientific Reports | 1 | None | 10.1038/srep00128 | School of Psychology, University St Andrews, St Andrews, KY16 9JP, United Kingdom; Budongo Conservation Field Station, Masindi, Uganda; Department of Anthropology, University of New Mexico, MSC01-1040, Albuquerque, NM 87131, United States; Magdalen College, Oxford University, Oxford, OX1 4AU, United Kingdom; Department of Anthropology, Harvard University, 11 Divinity Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138, United States; Kibale Chimpanzee Project, c/o MUBFS, Fort Portal, Uganda | Gruber, T., School of Psychology, University St Andrews, St Andrews, KY16 9JP, United Kingdom, Budongo Conservation Field Station, Masindi, Uganda; Muller, M.N., Department of Anthropology, University of New Mexico, MSC01-1040, Albuquerque, NM 87131, United States, Kibale Chimpanzee Project, c/o MUBFS, Fort Portal, Uganda; Reynolds, V., Budongo Conservation Field Station, Masindi, Uganda, Magdalen College, Oxford University, Oxford, OX1 4AU, United Kingdom; Wrangham, R., Department of Anthropology, Harvard University, 11 Divinity Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138, United States, Kibale Chimpanzee Project, c/o MUBFS, Fort Portal, Uganda; Zuberbühler, K., School of Psychology, University St Andrews, St Andrews, KY16 9JP, United Kingdom, Budongo Conservation Field Station, Masindi, Uganda | The notion of animal culture, defined as socially transmitted community-specific behaviour patterns, remains controversial, notably because the definition relies on surface behaviours without addressing underlying cognitive processes. In contrast, human cultures are the product of socially acquired ideas that shape how individuals interact with their environment. We conducted field experiments with two culturally distinct chimpanzee communities in Uganda, which revealed significant differences in how individuals considered the affording parts of an experimentally provided tool to extract honey from a standardised cavity. Firstly, individuals of the two communities found different functional parts of the tool salient, suggesting that they experienced a cultural bias in their cognition. Secondly, when the alternative function was made more salient, chimpanzees were unable to learn it, suggesting that prior cultural background can interfere with new learning. Culture appears to shape how chimpanzees see the world, suggesting that a cognitive component underlies the observed behavioural patterns. | None | animal; article; cognition; comparative study; evaluation; human; learning; Pan troglodytes; psychological aspect; social behavior; tool use; Uganda; Animals; Cognition; Humans; Learning; Pan troglodytes; Social Behavior; Tool Use Behavior; Uganda | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84874789959 | Influence of aluminium microstructure on corrosion and Corrosion inhibitor performance in acidic medium | Umoren S.A., Li Y., Wang F.H. | 2010 | Journal of Materials and Environmental Science | 1 | 3 | None | State Key Laboratory for corrosion and Protection, Institute of Metal Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 62 Wencui Road, Shenyang 110016, China; Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Uyo, P.M.B 1017, Uyo, Nigeria | Umoren, S.A., State Key Laboratory for corrosion and Protection, Institute of Metal Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 62 Wencui Road, Shenyang 110016, China, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Uyo, P.M.B 1017, Uyo, Nigeria; Li, Y., State Key Laboratory for corrosion and Protection, Institute of Metal Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 62 Wencui Road, Shenyang 110016, China; Wang, F.H., State Key Laboratory for corrosion and Protection, Institute of Metal Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 62 Wencui Road, Shenyang 110016, China | The corrosion behaviour of aluminium with two different microstructures namely polycrystalline (pc-Al) and microcrystalline aluminium coating (mc-Al) fabricated from the polycrystalline Al target by magnetron sputtering in 0.1M H2SO4 solution was studied. The corrosion inhibiting effect of polyacrylamide (PA) was also investigated. Results show that surface microcrystallization increases the corrosion susceptibility of aluminium leading to increase in the kinetics of the anodic dissolution. PA was found to reduce the corrosion rates of both Al samples. Inhibition efficiency of PA was concentration dependent and was more pronounced on the mc-Al specimen. | Aluminium; Microcrostructure; Polyacrylamide | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84855490751 | The value of intervening for intimate partner violence in South African primary care: Project evaluation | Joyner K., Mash R.J. | 2011 | BMJ Open | 1 | 2 | 10.1136/bmjopen-2011-000254 | Stellenbosch University, Division of Nursing, Cape Town, South Africa; Stellenbosch University, Division of Family Medicine and Primary Care, Cape Town, South Africa | Joyner, K., Stellenbosch University, Division of Nursing, Cape Town, South Africa; Mash, R.J., Stellenbosch University, Division of Family Medicine and Primary Care, Cape Town, South Africa | Objectives: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is an important contributor to the burden of disease in South Africa. Evidence-based approaches to IPV in primary care are lacking. This study evaluated a project that implemented a South African protocol for screening and managing IPV. This article reports primarily on the benefits of this intervention from the perspective of women IPV survivors. Design: This was a project evaluation involving two urban and three rural primary care facilities. Over 4-8 weeks primary care providers screened adult women for a history of IPV within the previous 24 months and offered referral to the study nurse. The study nurse assessed and managed the women according to the protocol. Researchers interviewed the participants 1 month later to ascertain adherence to their care plan and their views on the intervention. Results: In total, 168 women were assisted and 124 (73.8%) returned for follow-up. Emotional (139, 82.7%), physical (115, 68.5%), sexual (72, 42.9%) and financial abuse (72, 42.9%) was common and 114 (67.9%) were at high/severe risk of harm. Adherence to the management plan ranged from testing for syphilis 10/25 (40.0%) to consulting a psychiatric nurse 28/58 (48.3%) to obtaining a protection order 28/28 (100.0%). Over 75% perceived all aspects of their care as helpful, except for legal advice from a non-profit organisation. Women reported significant benefits to their mental health, reduced alcohol abuse, improved relationships, increased self-efficacy and reduced abusive behaviour. Two characteristics seemed particularly important: the style of interaction with the nurse and the comprehensive nature of the assessment. Conclusion: Female IPV survivors in primary care experience benefit from an empathic, comprehensive approach to assessing and assisting with the clinical, mental, social and legal aspects. Primary care managers should find ways to integrate this into primary care services and evaluate it further. | None | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-71949084298 | Evaluation of community intervention with pit latrines for trachoma control in Ghana, Mali, Niger and Nigeria | Rotondo L.A., Ngondi J., Rodgers A.F., King J.D., Kamissoko Y., Amadou A., Jip N., Cromwell E.A., Emerson P.M. | 2009 | International Health | 1 | 2 | 10.1016/j.inhe.2009.08.001 | The Carter Center, 1 Copenhill Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30307, United States; International Trachoma Initiative, Task Force for Global Health, 325 Swanton Way, Decatur, GA 30030, United States; Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Institute of Public Health, University of Cambridge, Robinson Way, Cambridge, United Kingdom; The Carter Center, Private Bag, Accra, Ghana; The Carter Center, Quartier du Fleuvre 228, Bamako, Mali; The Carter Center, Quartier Terminus, Niamey, Niger; The Carter Center, P.O. Box 772, Jos, Nigeria; University of Michigan Medical School, 1301 Catherine Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States | Rotondo, L.A., The Carter Center, 1 Copenhill Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30307, United States, International Trachoma Initiative, Task Force for Global Health, 325 Swanton Way, Decatur, GA 30030, United States; Ngondi, J., The Carter Center, 1 Copenhill Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30307, United States, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Institute of Public Health, University of Cambridge, Robinson Way, Cambridge, United Kingdom; Rodgers, A.F., The Carter Center, Private Bag, Accra, Ghana, University of Michigan Medical School, 1301 Catherine Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States; King, J.D., The Carter Center, 1 Copenhill Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30307, United States; Kamissoko, Y., The Carter Center, Quartier du Fleuvre 228, Bamako, Mali; Amadou, A., The Carter Center, Quartier Terminus, Niamey, Niger; Jip, N., The Carter Center, P.O. Box 772, Jos, Nigeria; Cromwell, E.A., The Carter Center, 1 Copenhill Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30307, United States; Emerson, P.M., The Carter Center, 1 Copenhill Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30307, United States | Trachoma is the leading cause of preventable blindness worldwide and is controlled with an integrated strategy of treatment and prevention which includes latrine provision and promotion. We aimed to evaluate the latrine uptake, construction, and usage in villages participating in latrine promotion programmes supported by The Carter Center in Ghana, Mali, Niger and Nigeria where 113 457 new latrines have been reported from 2002 to 2008. In each country a two stage cluster random sampling design was used to select villages and households for evaluation. Household heads were interviewed using a standardised structured questionnaire and latrines were inspected. The sample included 1154 households (Ghana: 326; Mali: 293; Niger: 300; and Nigeria: 235). Overall, 813 (70.5%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 65.7-74.8) had pit latrines, ranging from 30.3% of households in Niger to over 92.0% of households in Ghana and Mali. Of those with latrines 762 (93.7%) were found to be usable and 659 (86.5%) were in use. Overall 659/1154 (57.1%) of households in the targeted communities were using latrines at least 12 months after latrine promotion was initiated. Latrine promotion had been successful increasing access to sanitation in different country contexts and demonstrates the target population are willing to construct, use and maintain household latrines. © 2009 Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. | Household latrines; SAFE strategy; Sanitation coverage; Sanitation promotion; Trachoma; West Africa | Africa; article; blindness; Chlamydia trachomatis; community care; cost; disease carrier; disease transmission; endemic disease; environmental sanitation; feces; fly; Ghana; health program; health promotion; health survey; home environment; household; human; infection control; major clinical study; Mali; Niger; Nigeria; priority journal; rural health care; rural hygiene; sanitation; structured questionnaire; trachoma; vector control | None |
| None | None | Longitudinal evaluation of Ocimum and other plants effects on the feeding behavioral response of mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in the field in Tanzania | Kweka E.J., Mosha F.W., Lowassa A., Mahande A.M., Mahande M.J., Massenga C.P., Tenu F., Lyatuu E.E., Mboya M.A., Temu E.A. | 2008 | Parasites and Vectors | 1 | 1 | 10.1186/1756-3305-1-42 | Tropical Pesticides Research Institute, Division of Livestock and Human Disease Vector Control, P.O. Box 3024, Arusha, Tanzania; KCM College of Tumaini University, P.O. Box 2240, Moshi, Tanzania; Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute, P.O. Box 661, Arusha, Tanzania; National Institute for Medical Research, Ubwari Field Station, P.O.Box 81, Muheza, Tanzania; Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nagasaki University, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, Japan | Kweka, E.J., Tropical Pesticides Research Institute, Division of Livestock and Human Disease Vector Control, P.O. Box 3024, Arusha, Tanzania, KCM College of Tumaini University, P.O. Box 2240, Moshi, Tanzania; Mosha, F.W., KCM College of Tumaini University, P.O. Box 2240, Moshi, Tanzania; Lowassa, A., Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute, P.O. Box 661, Arusha, Tanzania; Mahande, A.M., Tropical Pesticides Research Institute, Division of Livestock and Human Disease Vector Control, P.O. Box 3024, Arusha, Tanzania, KCM College of Tumaini University, P.O. Box 2240, Moshi, Tanzania; Mahande, M.J., Tropical Pesticides Research Institute, Division of Livestock and Human Disease Vector Control, P.O. Box 3024, Arusha, Tanzania; Massenga, C.P., Tropical Pesticides Research Institute, Division of Livestock and Human Disease Vector Control, P.O. Box 3024, Arusha, Tanzania; Tenu, F., National Institute for Medical Research, Ubwari Field Station, P.O.Box 81, Muheza, Tanzania; Lyatuu, E.E., Tropical Pesticides Research Institute, Division of Livestock and Human Disease Vector Control, P.O. Box 3024, Arusha, Tanzania; Mboya, M.A., Tropical Pesticides Research Institute, Division of Livestock and Human Disease Vector Control, P.O. Box 3024, Arusha, Tanzania; Temu, E.A., Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nagasaki University, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, Japan | Background. The use of repellent materials from plants against nuisance insects is common with great potential to compliment existing malaria control programmes and this requires evaluation in the field. Ocimum plant species, Ocimum suave (Willd) and O. kilimandscharicum (Guerke) materials and their essential oils extracted by steam distillation were evaluated in the field and experimental huts for repellence, exophily and feeding inhibition effects against three mosquito species, Anopheles arabiensis (Patton), An. gambiae ss (Giles) and Culex quinquefasciatus (Say). The protective effect of essential oils from Ocimum plants were compared with N, N-diethly-3- methylbenzamide (DEET), a standard synthetic repellent. Also, the protective effect of fumigation by burning of repellent plants; Ocimum suave, Ocimum kilimandscharicum, Azadirachta indica, Eucalyptus globules and Lantana camara were tested in experimental huts and selected local houses. Results. In the field, protection by Ocimum plants from mosquito bites was high and there was small variation among different mosquito species. Protection efficiency was 93.4%, 91.98% and 89.75% for An. arabiensis while for Cx. quinquefaciatus it was 91.30%, 88.65% and 90.50% for DEET, Ocimum suave and O. kilimandscharicum respectively. In the experimental hut, deterrence induced by burning of Ocimum and other plants ranged from 73.1.0% to 81.9% for An. arabiensis and 56.5% to 67.8% for Cx. quinquefaciatus, while feeding inhibition was 61.1% to 100% for An. arabiensis and 50% to 100% for Cx. quinquefaciatus. Evaluations under field conditions confirmed high protective efficacy, enhanced feeding inhibition and house entry inhibition (Deterrence). Conclusion. This study shows the potential of Ocimum suave and Ocimum kilimandscharicum crude extracts and whole plants of Ocimum suave, Ocimum kilimandscharicum, Azadirachta indica, Eucalyptus globules and Lantana camara for use in protecting against human biting while the burning of plants reduces significantly the indoor resting mosquitoes. | None | Ocimum basilicum extract; Anopheles; anopheles arabiensis; Anopheles gambiae; article; basil; Culex quinquefasciatus; feeding behavior; infection control; Tanzania; Anopheles arabiensis; Azadirachta indica; Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus; Culicidae; Diptera; Eucalyptus; Hexapoda; Lantana camara; Ocimum; Ocimum kilimandscharicum; Ocimum suave | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84944789912 | Effect of educational outreach timing and duration on facility performance for infectious disease care in Uganda: A trial with pre-post and cluster randomized controlled components | Burnett S.M., Mbonye M.K., Naikoba S., Stella Z.-M., Kinoti S.N., Ronald A., Rubashembusya T., Willis K.S., Colebunders R., Manabe Y.C., Weaver M.R. | 2015 | PLoS ONE | 10 | 9 | 10.1371/journal.pone.0136966 | Accordia Global Health Foundation, Washington, DC, United States; Infectious Diseases Institute, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda; Center for Human Services, University Research Co. LLC, Bethesda, MD, United States; Department of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada; Department of Epidemiology and Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium; Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium; Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States; International Training and Education Center for Health (I-TECH), Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States; PATH, Seattle, WA, United States; Save the Children, Kampala, Uganda; International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Uganda Country Office, Wandegeya, Uganda; Fio Corporation, Toronto, ON, Canada; University of Manchester, Institute for Development Policy and Management, Manchester, United Kingdom; U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention, Rockville, MD, United States | Burnett, S.M., Accordia Global Health Foundation, Washington, DC, United States, Department of Epidemiology and Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium, PATH, Seattle, WA, United States; Mbonye, M.K., Infectious Diseases Institute, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda, Department of Epidemiology and Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium; Naikoba, S., Infectious Diseases Institute, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda, Department of Epidemiology and Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium, Save the Children, Kampala, Uganda; Stella, Z.-M., Infectious Diseases Institute, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda, International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Uganda Country Office, Wandegeya, Uganda; Kinoti, S.N., Center for Human Services, University Research Co. LLC, Bethesda, MD, United States, Fio Corporation, Toronto, ON, Canada; Ronald, A., Department of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada; Rubashembusya, T., Infectious Diseases Institute, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda, University of Manchester, Institute for Development Policy and Management, Manchester, United Kingdom; Willis, K.S., Accordia Global Health Foundation, Washington, DC, United States, U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention, Rockville, MD, United States; Colebunders, R., Department of Epidemiology and Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium, Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium; Manabe, Y.C., Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States; Weaver, M.R., International Training and Education Center for Health (I-TECH), Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States | Background: Classroom-based learning is often insufficient to ensure high quality care and application of health care guidelines. Educational outreach is garnering attention as a supplemental method to enhance health care worker capacity, yet there is little information about the timing and duration required to improve facility performance. We sought to evaluate the effects of an infectious disease training program followed by either immediate or delayed on-site support (OSS), an educational outreach approach, on nine facility performance indicators for emergency triage, assessment, and treatment; malaria; and pneumonia. We also compared the effects of nine monthly OSS visits to extended OSS, with three additional visits over six months. Methods: This study was conducted at 36 health facilities in Uganda, covering 1,275,960 outpatient visits over 23 months. From April 2010 to December 2010, 36 sites received infectious disease training; 18 randomly selected sites in arm A received nine monthly OSS visits (immediate OSS) and 18 sites in arm B did not. From March 2011 to September 2011, arm A sites received three additional visits every two months (extended OSS), while the arm B sites received eight monthly OSS visits (delayed OSS). We compared the combined effect of training and delayed OSS to training followed by immediate OSS to determine the effect of delaying OSS implementation by nine months. We also compared facility performance in arm A during the extended OSS to immediate OSS to examine the effect of additional, less frequent OSS. Results: Delayed OSS, when combined with training, was associated with significant pre/post improvements in four indicators: outpatients triaged (44% vs. 87%, aRR = 1.54, 99% CI = 1.11, 2.15); emergency and priority patients admitted, detained, or referred (16% vs. 31%, aRR = 1.74, 99% CI = 1.10, 2.75); patients with a negative malaria test result prescribed an antimalarial (53% vs. 34%, aRR = 0.67, 99% CI = 0.55, 0.82); and pneumonia suspects assessed for pneumonia (6% vs. 27%, aRR = 2.97, 99% CI = 1.44, 6.17). Differences between the delayed OSS and immediate OSS arms were not statistically significant for any of the nine indicators (all adjusted relative RR (aRRR) between 0.76-1.44, all p>0.06). Extended OSS was associated with significant improvement in two indicators (outpatients triaged: aRR = 1.09, 99% CI = 1.01; emergency and priority patients admitted, detained, or referred: aRR = 1.22, 99% CI = 1.01, 1.38) and decline in one (pneumonia suspects assessed for pneumonia: aRR: 0.93; 99% CI = 0.88, 0.98). Conclusions: Educational outreach held up to nine months after training had similar effects on facility performance as educational outreach started within one month post-training. Six months of bimonthly educational outreach maintained facility performance gains, but incremental improvements were heterogeneous. Copyright: © 2015 Burnett et al. | None | Article; case management; clinical assessment; controlled study; emergency health service; fever; health care facility; health care quality; human; infection control; malaria; medical education; outcome assessment; pneumonia; randomized controlled trial; Uganda | None |
| WoS | WOS:000343734600001 | Learning from developing countries in strengthening health systems: an evaluation of personal and professional impact among global health volunteers at Addis Ababa University's Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital (Ethiopia) | Aboneh, Ephrem A.,Busse, Heidi,Tefera, Girma | 2014 | GLOBALIZATION AND HEALTH | 10 | None | 10.1186/s12992-014-0064-x | Addis Ababa University, University of Wisconsin Madison, University of Wisconsin System | "Aboneh, Ephrem A.: Addis Ababa University","Busse, Heidi: University of Wisconsin Madison","Busse, Heidi: University of Wisconsin System","Tefera, Girma: University of Wisconsin Madison","Tefera, Girma: University of Wisconsin System" | Background: The positive impact of global health activities by volunteers from the United States in low-and middle-income countries has been recognized. Most existing global health partnerships evaluate what knowledge, ideas, and activities the US institution transferred to the low-or middle-income country. However, what this fails to capture are what kinds of change happen to US-based partners due to engagement in global health partnerships, both at the individual and institutional levels. "Reverse innovation" is the term that is used in global health literature to describe this type of impact. The objectives of this study were to identify what kinds of impact global partnerships have on health volunteers from developed countries, advance this emerging body of knowledge, and improve understanding of methods and indicators for assessing reverse innovation.
Methods: The study population consisted of 80 US, Canada, and South Africa-based health care professionals who volunteered at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital in Ethiopia. Surveys were web-based and included multiple choice and open-ended questions to assess global health competencies. The data were analyzed using IBRM SPSS (R) version 21 for quantitative analysis; the open-ended responses were coded using constant comparative analysis to identify themes.
Results: Of the 80 volunteers, 63 responded (79 percent response rate). Fifty-two percent of the respondents were male, and over 60 percent were 40 years of age and older. Eighty-three percent reported they accomplished their trip objectives, 95 percent would participate in future activities and 96 percent would recommend participation to other colleagues. Eighty-nine percent reported personal impact and 73 percent reported change on their professional development. Previous global health experience, multiple prior trips, and the desire for career advancement were associated with positive impact on professional development.
Conclusion: Professionally and personally meaningful learning happens often during global health outreach. Understanding this impact has important policy, economic, and programmatic implications. With the aid of improved monitoring and evaluation frameworks, the simple act of attempting to measure "reverse innovation" may represent a shift in how global health partnerships are perceived, drawing attention to the two-way learning and benefits that occur and improving effectiveness in global health partnership spending. | Africa,COLLABORATION,"global health","Health systems partnership","reverse innovation","Twinning partnership",PARTNERSHIPS | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84944315308 | Impact of climate change on brackish water aquaculture development in the coastal areas of Niger Delta | Akinrotimi O.A., Edun O.M. | 2015 | International Journal of Agricultural Research | 10 | 2 | 10.3923/ijar.2015.44.53 | African Regional Aquaculture Center, Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research, P.M.B. 5122, Buguma, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria | Akinrotimi, O.A., African Regional Aquaculture Center, Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research, P.M.B. 5122, Buguma, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria; Edun, O.M., African Regional Aquaculture Center, Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research, P.M.B. 5122, Buguma, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria | The issue of climate change has generated a lot of concern among the general public in Niger Delta region in recent time. It has been described in different ways by many people based on their views, perception and understanding. However, little considerations have been given to the impact of climate change on brackish water aquaculture in the coastal areas of Niger Delta. This study therefore, review critically, based on existing literature and field experience, the causes of climate change, impact of climate change on aquaculture production such as: increase in temperature, flooding of ponds, increase in water turbidity, heavy siltation of pond bottom, introduction of new species, collapse of farms infrastructure and fluctuations in salinity levels. Also, various adaptation and mitigation strategies that will ameliorate the impact of climate change in aquaculture operations, namely: reduction in human activities that are inimical to stable climate, selection of good site suitable for fish farming, provision of shading materials for fish cultured in tanks, raising of pond dykes, good management practices and improvement of monitoring and early warning systems are explicitly elucidated. As these strategies will go a long way in minimizing the impact of this menace, in the brackish water zone of the region. Moreover, efforts should be made by relevant institutions and agencies to come up with coordinated plans and policies that will reduce the effects of climate change on brackish water aquaculture in the coastal areas of Niger Delta. © 2015 Academic Journals Inc. | Climate; Coastal environment; Fish; Fish farming; Niger Delta | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79961175993 | Available feedstuffs such as palm performance of broilers fed varying levels of palm kernel cake | Bello K.M., Oyawoye E.O., Bogoro S.E., Dass U.S. | 2011 | International Journal of Poultry Science | 10 | 4 | 10.3923/ijps.2011.290.294 | Animal Production Programme, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, Nigeria | Bello, K.M., Animal Production Programme, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, Nigeria; Oyawoye, E.O., Animal Production Programme, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, Nigeria; Bogoro, S.E., Animal Production Programme, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, Nigeria; Dass, U.S., Animal Production Programme, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, Nigeria | The high cost of conventional feed ingredients has necessitated the investigation into unconventional readily Kernel Meal (PKM). The study was conducted to determine the effect of using different levels of PKM in broilers chicks diet on performance, cost effectiveness, blood chemistry and carcass characteristics. Two hundred (200) day old Anak 2000 broiler chicks were in a completely randomized design allocated to five dietary treatments (0, 10, 20, 30 and 40% PKM) in four replicates. The birds were fed isonitrogenous and isocaloric diets containing 21% crude protein and 2700 kcal/kgME at the starter phase and 23% CP and 3000 kcal/kgME for the Finisher phase. The result showed that the feed intake and daily weight gain increases significantly (p<0.05) with increase in PKM inclusion up to 30% while the FCR were similar to the control. Performance in terms of daily weight gain and FCR indicated that birds on PKM diet perform equally well as those on the control diets. Similarly, the feed cost/kg weight gains were slightly better on the PKM based diet than the control. The result of the blood biochemical analysis showed there was no significant treatment effect on all the haematological parameters measured, which indicates that PKM does not contain any anti nutritional factor. Similarly, the carcass analysis showed non-significance effect of level of PKM on most of the organs except the heart, gall bladder and back weight. The gall bladder and back weight showed significant (p<0.05) increase with increase in PKM inclusion level while the heart weight was not following any particular pattern. These findings show that PKM can be included at 30% level in the diet of broilers without a negative effect on performance, carcass yield and blood constituents. © Asian Network for Scientific Information, 2011. | Blood biochemistry; Broilers; Carcass characteristics; Palm kernel cake; Performance | Aves | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84878992794 | Evaluation of the undergraduate physics programme at indira gandhi national open university: A case study | Mishra A., Vijayshri, Garg S. | 2009 | International Review of Research in Open and Distance Learning | 10 | 6 | None | BJB College, Bhubaneswar, India; Indira Gandhi National Open University, India; National University of Lesotho, South Africa | Mishra, A., BJB College, Bhubaneswar, India; Vijayshri, Indira Gandhi National Open University, India; Garg, S., National University of Lesotho, South Africa | The undergraduate science programme was launched at the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) in 1991-92 with an enrolment of 1,210 students. The programme was well received, and enrolments increased over the years. However,the success rates have not kept pace with enrolment. In this paper, the authors report the results of an evaluation of the undergraduate physics programme at IGNOU. The evaluation, the first of its type for this programme, adapted the major tenets of the CIPP model. The findings are based on the responses from a randomly chosen sample of 509 learners across India. The methods employed for the study include records, document, and database analysis, surveys, and case studies. Although the University has enhanced access to higher science education, the attrition rate is high (73%), and the success rate is low. The authors recommend that the University review and reorient its strategies for providing good quality, learner-centred higher education in science subjects. The programme should address the concerns of the learners about the effectiveness of the student support systems, the difficulty level, and the learner-friendliness of study materials with the goal of achieving long-term sustainability while maintaining parity with the conventional system. The need for improving the presentation of the courses and simplifying the mathematical details is emphasised. | Open learning; Physics; Science education | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000208237600006 | An Evaluative Study of a Distance Teacher Education Program in a University in Ghana | Sampong, Kwasi Addo | 2009 | INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF RESEARCH IN OPEN AND DISTANCE LEARNING | 10 | 4 | None | Cent Univ Coll | None | The study used an adaptation of Provus' discrepancy evaluation model to evaluate a distance teacher education program in the University of Cape Coast, the premier teacher education institution in Ghana. The study involved comparing performance data of the program as perceived by students and faculty/administrators to standards prepared from the program's design. Performance data was obtained by administering two survey instruments to a random sample of students and faculty/administrators. Discrepancies between performance and standards were reported. The study concluded that although there were some discrepancies between program standards and performance the program is fulfilling its purpose of upgrading the professional and academic performance of a large number of teachers in the public K-8 schools in Ghana. | None | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84928714381 | Understanding the impact of hazardous and harmful use of alcohol and/or other drugs on ARV adherence and disease progression | Kader R., Govender R., Seedat S., Koch J.R., Parry C. | 2015 | PLoS ONE | 10 | 5 | 10.1371/journal.pone.0125088 | Alcohol Tobacco and Other Drug Research Unit, Medical Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa; Centre for Social Science Research, Department of Sociology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Department of Psychiatry, University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, South Africa; Institute for Drug and Alcohol Studies, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States | Kader, R., Alcohol Tobacco and Other Drug Research Unit, Medical Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa; Govender, R., Centre for Social Science Research, Department of Sociology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Seedat, S., Department of Psychiatry, University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, South Africa; Koch, J.R., Institute for Drug and Alcohol Studies, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States; Parry, C., Alcohol Tobacco and Other Drug Research Unit, Medical Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa, Department of Psychiatry, University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, South Africa | The objective of this study was to understand the impact of hazardous and harmful use of alcohol and/or other drugs on ARV adherence and disease progression among HIV patients. A cross-sectional study design was used. A total of 1503 patients attending HIV clinics in Cape Town, South Africa were screened for problematic substance use. A sub-sample of 607 patients (303 patients who screened positive for problematic substance use and 304 who did not) participated in this study. Hazardous or harmful alcohol use and problematic drug use predicted missing and stopping ARVs which, in turn, was associated with a decrease in CD4 counts and more rapid HIV-disease progression and poorer health outcomes in people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). The findings of this study underscore the need for an integrated approach to managing substance-use disorders in PLWHA. © 2015 Kader et al. | None | antiretrovirus agent; acquired immune deficiency syndrome; adult; alcohol abuse; Article; CD4 lymphocyte count; controlled study; cross-sectional study; disease course; drug abuse; drug treatment failure; female; human; human cell; Human immunodeficiency virus infected patient; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; major clinical study; male; patient attitude; patient compliance; prediction; South Africa; substance abuse; treatment response | 5U2GPS001137, CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79960446073 | Impact of water harvesting ponds on household incomes and rural livelihoods in Minjar Shenkora district of Ethiopia | Teshome A., Adgo E., Mati B. | 2010 | Ecohydrology and Hydrobiology | 10 | 42404 | 10.2478/v10104-011-0016-5 | Amhara Agricultural Reseach Institute, P.O. Box 527, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia; Bahir Dar University, P.O. Box 1289, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia; Management of Agricultural Water in Eastern and Southern Africa (IMAWESA), P.O. Box 39063-00623, Nairobi, Kenya | Teshome, A., Amhara Agricultural Reseach Institute, P.O. Box 527, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia; Adgo, E., Bahir Dar University, P.O. Box 1289, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia; Mati, B., Management of Agricultural Water in Eastern and Southern Africa (IMAWESA), P.O. Box 39063-00623, Nairobi, Kenya | This paper presents the fndings of the socio-economic impact of household-level water harvesting technology. Before water harvesting was introduced, onions were not grown in the area due to lack of seedlings. Thus onion seedlings were grown on 100 m 2 plots using water from the ponds in the dry season, then sold or planted under rainfed conditions during the rainy season. The results obtained show that the average net income from onion seedlings was 155 US$ per 100 m 2 plot, while those from bulb onions grown rainfed in the feld was 1848 US$ per ha, making the contribution to farmer incomes by onions alone about 2003 US$ per year which is higher than from rainfed teff and wheat combined. | Net incomes; Onions seedlings; Rainfed agriculture; Socio-economic assesment; Water harvesting | crop production; household income; irrigation; pond; rainfed agriculture; rural economy; rural society; socioeconomic impact; water resource; water technology; Ethiopia; Minjar Shenkora; Allium cepa; Eragrostis tef; Triticum aestivum | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84872167285 | Lactation performance of multiparous holstein cows fed a restricted total mixed ration plus legume and grass hay mixture | Muya M.C., Nherera R.V., Khekana T., Ramapuptla T. | 2011 | Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances | 10 | 14 | 10.3923/javaa.2011.1779.1784 | Animal Production Institute, Agricultural Research Council, South Africa; Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Pretoria, South Africa | Muya, M.C., Animal Production Institute, Agricultural Research Council, South Africa; Nherera, R.V., Animal Production Institute, Agricultural Research Council, South Africa; Khekana, T., Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Pretoria, South Africa; Ramapuptla, T., Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Pretoria, South Africa | This study was done to evaluate the effects of restricting Total Mixed Ration (TMR)and supplying Eragrostis curvula and Medicago sativa hay mixture adlib on lactation performance of mid-lactation multiparous Holstein cows. Twenty Holstein cows, averaging 598±73 kg body weight and 100 days in milk were assigned to either a 100% TJ\1R diet (control) or a 75% TMR-restricted diet. Cows on the 75% TMR-restricted diet had adlib access to E. curvula and M. sativa hay mixture (1: 1). The experiment included 2 weeks adaptation period and 4 weeks samphng period. Cows were milked twice daily. Total Dry Matter Intake (DMI), DMI as BW%, daily CP intake and intake of net energy for lactation were higher (p<O.05) for cows on the 100% TMR than for cows on the 75% TMR. Cows in 75% TMR consumed 12.5% less total DM and 14.2% less kg DM as of BW% than cows ni 100% TMR Intake of NDF was not affected (p>0.05) by treatment. Milk yield, milk fat% and yield (kg day-1) did not differ between treatments and averaged 29.2 kg day-1,3.70% and 1.08 kg, respectively. Feed efficiency ranged from 1.22-1.37 and tended to be higher (p<0.10) with 75% TMR diet. Efficiency of nitrogen and phosphorous utilisation was not affected (p>0.05) by treatments. Results suggest that TMR restriction to 75% during mid-lactation does not negatively impact milk production. © Medwell Journals, 2011. | None | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84930613407 | Implementation of an electronic monitoring and evaluation system for the antiretroviral treatment programme in the Cape Winelands District, South Africa: A qualitative evaluation | Myburgh H., Murphy J.P., Van Huyssteen M., Foster N., Grobbelaar C.J., Struthers H.E., McIntyre J.A., Hurter T., Peters R.P.H. | 2015 | PLoS ONE | 10 | 5 | 10.1371/journal.pone.0127223 | Anova Health Institute, Paarl, Western Cape Province, South Africa; Anova Health Institute, Johannesburg, Gauteng Province, South Africa; School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Natural Science, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, Western Cape Province, South Africa; School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, Western Cape Province, South Africa | Myburgh, H., Anova Health Institute, Paarl, Western Cape Province, South Africa; Murphy, J.P., Anova Health Institute, Johannesburg, Gauteng Province, South Africa; Van Huyssteen, M., School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Natural Science, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, Western Cape Province, South Africa; Foster, N., School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, Western Cape Province, South Africa; Grobbelaar, C.J., Anova Health Institute, Paarl, Western Cape Province, South Africa; Struthers, H.E., Anova Health Institute, Johannesburg, Gauteng Province, South Africa; McIntyre, J.A., Anova Health Institute, Johannesburg, Gauteng Province, South Africa, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, Western Cape Province, South Africa; Hurter, T., Anova Health Institute, Paarl, Western Cape Province, South Africa, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, Western Cape Province, South Africa; Peters, R.P.H., Anova Health Institute, Johannesburg, Gauteng Province, South Africa | Background: A pragmatic three-tiered approach to monitor the world's largest antiretroviral treatment (ART) programme was adopted by the South African National Department of Health in 2010. With the rapid expansion of the programme, the limitations of the paper-based register (tier 1) were the catalyst for implementation of the stand-alone electronic register (tier 2), which offers simple digitisation of the paper-based register. This article engages with theory on implementation to identify and contextualise enabling and constraining factors for implementation of the electronic register, to describe experiences and use of the register, and to make recommendations for implementation in similar settings where standardisation of ART monitoring and evaluation has not been achieved. Methods: We conducted a qualitative evaluation of the roll-out of the register. This comprised twenty in-depth interviews with a diverse sample of stakeholders at facility, sub-district, and district levels of the health system. Facility-level participants were selected across five sub-districts, including one facility per sub-district. Responses were coded and analysed using a thematic approach. An implementation science framework guided interpretation of the data. Results & Discussion: We identified the following seven themes: 1) ease of implementation, 2) perceived value of an electronic M&E system, 3) importance of stakeholder engagement, 4) influence of a data champion, 5) operational and logistical factors, 6) workload and role clarity, and 7) importance of integrating the electronic register with routine facility monitoring and evaluation. Interpreting our findings through an implementation theory enabled us to construct the scaffolding for implementation across the five facility-settings. This approach illustrated that implementation was not a linear process but occurred at two nodes: at the adoption of the register for roll-out, and at implementation at facility-level. Conclusion: In this study we found that relative advantage of an intervention and stakeholder engagement are critical to implementation. We suggest that without these aspects of implementation, formative and summative outcomes of implementation at both the adoption and coalface stages of implementation would be negatively affected. © 2015 Myburgh et al. | None | antiretrovirus agent; Article; catalyst; conceptual framework; electronic medical record; health care; human; public health service; qualitative analysis; register; South Africa; standardization; thematic analysis | AID-674-A-12-00015, USAID, United States Agency for International Development |
| None | None | Influences of castration on the performance of landmine-detection rats (Cricetomys gambianus) | Edwards T.L., Cox C., Weetjens B., Poling A. | 2015 | Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and Research | 10 | 4 | 10.1016/j.jveb.2015.04.002 | Anti-Persoonsmijnen Ontmijnende Product Ontwikkeling, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania; Department of Psychology, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI, United States | Edwards, T.L., Anti-Persoonsmijnen Ontmijnende Product Ontwikkeling, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania; Cox, C., Anti-Persoonsmijnen Ontmijnende Product Ontwikkeling, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania; Weetjens, B., Anti-Persoonsmijnen Ontmijnende Product Ontwikkeling, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania; Poling, A., Anti-Persoonsmijnen Ontmijnende Product Ontwikkeling, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania, Department of Psychology, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI, United States | Anti-Persoonsmijnen Ontmijnende Product Ontwikkeling has employed pouched rats as mine-detection animals for approximately 10years in sub-Saharan Africa, where the species is indigenous, and now plans to deploy the rats in areas where they are not indigenous. To prevent the possible introduction of an invasive species in those regions, all rats must be castrated before deployment. The research described in the present article was conducted to determine whether castration affects the performance of pouched rats as mine-detection animals. Five sex-, age-, and performance-matched pairs of pouched rats, 3 male pairs and 2 female pairs, were randomly divided into 2 groups: the experimental group undergoing castration procedures and the control group remaining out of training for the same duration as the experimental group. No statistically significant differences were found between the performance of experimental and control groups after the intervention despite high statistical power to detect such a difference, and equivalence tests suggest that any possible effects are of no practical significance. © 2015 Elsevier Inc. | Castration; Landmines; Mine-detection animals; Neutering; Pouched rats (Cricetomys gambianus); Scent detection | Animalia; Cricetomys gambianus; Rattus | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84893334876 | Effects of job evaluation on decisions involving pay equity | Chaneta I. | 2014 | Asian Social Science | 10 | 4 | 10.5539/ass.v10n4p145 | Arts and Social Studies, University of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe | Chaneta, I., Arts and Social Studies, University of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe | Job evaluation's purpose is to compare all the jobs in the organisation, one with another, with the aim of producing a rank order. This rank order may be then be subdivided into groups of jobs of the same size which can, if desired, be placed within pay ranges or grades. While this approach is clearly more appropriate to large organisations, even in small organisations judgements have to be made about how one job compares with another, otherwise no decision can be made about relative pay and status. So, in effect, even where there is no formal method of job evaluation, jobs are evaluated in any case. It is really a question of how analytical the organisation wants to be. | Analytical; Appropriate; Pay ranges; Rank order; Relative pay; Subdivided | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84948771504 | Higher breastfeeding performance index is associated with lower risk of illness in infants under six months in Ethiopia | Haile D., Biadgilign S. | 2015 | International Breastfeeding Journal | 10 | 1 | 10.1186/s13006-015-0057-2 | Bahir Dar University, Department of Reproductive Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia; Independent Public Health Research Consultants, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | Haile, D., Bahir Dar University, Department of Reproductive Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia; Biadgilign, S., Independent Public Health Research Consultants, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | Background: Breastfeeding performance index is an explanatory attempt to summarize key breastfeeding practices by summarizing the different dimensions of breastfeeding practices into a single summary variable. Breastfeeding performance index is used to assess optimal breastfeeding practices by constructing a single composite index that includes timely initiation of breastfeeding, prelacteal feeding, current breastfeeding status, bottle feeding, any liquid given(except medicine) in the last 24h, formula given in the last 24h, any solid food given in the last 24h. This study aimed to assess optimal breastfeeding practices of 0-6 month infants using breastfeeding performance index (BPI) and its association with childhood illness in Ethiopia. Methods: A secondary data analysis was carried out based on the Ethiopia Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS) 2011 data. The BPI was created using seven components by giving equal weight for all components during scoring. The data were described using descriptive statistics and analyzed using multivariable logistic regression. Results: The prevalence of low, medium, and high BPI was 18.41, 57.96 and 23.63% respectively. The mean BPI score was 4.38 (SD 1.25; 95% CI 4.31, 4.45). Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that those infants who had low BPI score were 2.22 times (AOR=2.22; 95% CI 1.20, 4.11) and medium BPI category had 2.15 times at higher odds (AOR=2.15; 95% CI 1.23, 3.75) of developing diarrhea compared to infants in the highest BPI category. Being in the lower BPI category was significantly associated with higher odds of having fever (AOR=1.73; 95% CI 1.06, 2.80). Being in the medium index category was also associated with higher odds of having short and rapid breaths (AOR=2.02; 95% CI 1.01, 4.04). Conclusion: More than 80% of the infants did not receive optimal breastfeeding practices based on the Breastfeeding Performance Index. Lower BPI was statistically associated with diarrhea, fever and short and rapid breaths illness in the last 2 weeks. This study implicates the importance of optimal breastfeeding to reduce childhood illness. © 2015 Haile and Biadgilign. | Breastfeeding; DHS; Ethiopia; Index; Infants | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84879584016 | Enhancing self-regulated learning in teaching spoken communication: Does it affect speaking efficacy and performance? | Aregu B.B. | 2013 | Electronic Journal of Foreign Language Teaching | 10 | 1 | None | Bahir Dar University, Ethiopia | Aregu, B.B., Bahir Dar University, Ethiopia | The study examines the effects of enhancing self-regulated learning in the teaching of spoken communication on speaking efficacy and performances among second year students attending spoken and written communication lessons in the College of Business and Economics of Bahir Dar University. In this study, two sections consisting of 91 participants were included. To gather data, scales, tests, and diaries were used. Descriptive statistics, paired t-test, independent samples t-test, and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) were applied to analyze the quantitative data. On the other hand, the qualitative data were analysed using such steps as looking for themes and coding, categorizing codes of similar content, and writing summary and interpretation. The outputs of the ANCOVA show that 56% of the variance in speaking performance and 39% of the variance in speaking efficacy are accounted for by the self-regulated learning intervention controlling for initial differences. The qualitative analysis also indicated that the experimental group improved its speaking efficacy and performances. Overall, the results reveal that the experimental group surpasses the control group in both speaking efficacy and performances. The results imply that attention needs to be paid to the enhancement of self-regulated learning in the process of teaching spoken communication. © Centre for Language Studies National University of Singapore. | None | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84906545171 | The evaluation of pioneering bioethanol projects in nigeria following the announcement and implementation of the nigerian biofuel policy and incentives | Ohimain E.I. | 2015 | Energy Sources, Part B: Economics, Planning and Policy | 10 | 1 | 10.1080/15567249.2010.512904 | Bioenergy and Environmental Biotechnology Unit, Biological Science Department, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Amassoma, 560001 Bayelsa State, Nigeria | Ohimain, E.I., Bioenergy and Environmental Biotechnology Unit, Biological Science Department, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Amassoma, 560001 Bayelsa State, Nigeria | Nigeria has joined the bioenergy production bandwagon in an attempt to reduce fossil fuel consumption, decentralize its energy sources and increase the renewable and cleaner energy share of the nations energy consumption. Following the release and implementation of the Nigerian Biofuel Policy and Incentives, 20 new bioethanol projects have commenced with an additional 13 projects in the offing. These projects qualify to be accorded pioneer status and its attendant benefits because they are directly involved in the production of fuel ethanol from locally sourced biomass feedstocks. We examined the projects based on the nominal ethanol yield from the various feedstocks and found that some of the projects were misevaluated in terms of feedstock requirement to produce the desired ethanol output. In such instances, we provided a more realistic estimate, which the project proponents could adapt in order to meet the designed ethanol production output. This study provided the very first attempt to evaluate pioneering bioethanol projects in Nigeria. Such information is typically not available in public domains in Nigeria. The study also highlighted the importance of policy for the promotion of biofuel, and actualization of environmental and sustainable development goals. © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. | bioethanol; biofuel policy; biorefineries; incentives; pioneer | Biomass; Energy utilization; Ethanol; Feedstocks; Bioenergy productions; Biofuel policies; Biomass feedstock; Biorefineries; Cleaner energies; Ethanol production; incentives; pioneer; Bioethanol | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84959542660 | Drive performance for able-bodied and disabled golfers | Kenny I.C., Campbell M.J., Surmon S., Bressan L. | 2015 | International Journal of Sports Science and Coaching | 10 | 4 | None | Biomechanics Research Unit, University of Limerick, Ireland; Centre for Human Performance Sciences, Stellenbosch University, South Africa | Kenny, I.C., Biomechanics Research Unit, University of Limerick, Ireland; Campbell, M.J., Biomechanics Research Unit, University of Limerick, Ireland; Surmon, S., Centre for Human Performance Sciences, Stellenbosch University, South Africa; Bressan, L., Centre for Human Performance Sciences, Stellenbosch University, South Africa | Golf is a popular leisure and competitive activity for individuals with disabilities. The current golf handicap system does not take into account the possible challenges of playing golf with any form of physical disability. The aim of this study was to examine golf driving performance measures, comparing golfers with various types of physical disabilities to able-bodied golfers. Through drive shot ball launch analysis, this study compared amputees (single leg, below and above knee), deaf, visually impaired, polio, Les Autres and arthrogryposis golfers to able-bodied golfers with similar golf handicaps. Twenty-seven able-bodied (handicap category 3, 12.4 ± 7.0) and 15 disabled (handicap category 3, 18.2 ± 9.2) hit 10 drives each. Able-bodied golfers presented longer but less accurate drives (208.1 m carry, 4.6 m lateral deviation), and concomitant higher club head and ball velocity than disabled golfers (157.6 m carry, 6.O m lateral deviation) [p<O.OO1]. The apparent difference in outcome performance cannot be fully accounted for by the small difference in golf handicap score, thus disabled golfers appear to be penalised/disadvantaged by the current golf handicap classification rules. | Amputee; Arthrogryposis; Deaf; Disabled golf; Golf shot performance analysis; Lés Autres; Post-polio syndrome | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-58849128160 | Diclofenac Potassium Attenuates Dysmenorrhea and Restores Exercise Performance in Women With Primary Dysmenorrhea | Chantler I., Mitchell D., Fuller A. | 2009 | Journal of Pain | 10 | 2 | 10.1016/j.jpain.2008.08.006 | Brain Function Research Group, School of Physiology, University of Witwatersrand, Parktown, Johannesburg, South Africa | Chantler, I., Brain Function Research Group, School of Physiology, University of Witwatersrand, Parktown, Johannesburg, South Africa; Mitchell, D., Brain Function Research Group, School of Physiology, University of Witwatersrand, Parktown, Johannesburg, South Africa; Fuller, A., Brain Function Research Group, School of Physiology, University of Witwatersrand, Parktown, Johannesburg, South Africa | We assessed the efficacy of diclofenac potassium, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, in alleviating menstrual pain and restoring exercise performance to that measured in the late-follicular phase of the menstrual cycle. Twelve healthy young women with a history of primary dysmenorrhea completed, in a random order, laboratory exercise-testing sessions when they were in the late-follicular (no menstruation, no pain) phase of the menstrual cycle and when they were experiencing dysmenorrhea and receiving, in a double-blinded fashion, either 100 mg of diclofenac potassium or placebo. We assessed the women's leg strength (1-repetition maximum test), aerobic capacity (treadmill walking test), and ability to perform a functional test (task-specific test). Compared with placebo, diclofenac potassium significantly decreased dysmenorrhea on the day of administration (Visual Analog Scale, P < .001 at all times). When receiving placebo for menstrual pain, the women's performance in the tests was decreased significantly, compared with when they were receiving diclofenac potassium for menstrual pain (P < .05) and compared with when they were in the late-follicular phase of the menstrual cycle (P < .05 for treadmill test, P < .01 for task-specific test and 1-repetition maximum test). Administration of diclofenac potassium for menstrual pain restored exercise performance to a level not different from that achieved in the late-follicular phase of the cycle. Perspective: In women with primary dysmenorrhea, menstrual pain, if untreated, decreases laboratory-assessed exercise performance. A recommended daily dose of a readily available nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, diclofenac potassium, is effective in relieving menstrual pain and restoring physical performance to levels achieved when the women were in the late-follicular (no menstruation, no pain) phase of the menstrual cycle. © 2009 American Pain Society. | Menstrual pain; nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; physical performance | cataflam d; diclofenac potassium; placebo; unclassified drug; aerobic capacity; article; clinical article; clinical trial; controlled clinical trial; controlled study; drug efficacy; dysmenorrhea; exercise; female; follicular phase; human; leg; muscle strength; task performance; treadmill exercise; visual analog scale; walking; Administration, Oral; Adolescent; Analysis of Variance; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; Diclofenac; Double-Blind Method; Dysmenorrhea; Exercise; Female; Humans; Menstrual Cycle; Physical Endurance; Treatment Outcome; Young Adult | None |
| WoS | WOS:000281862300002 | The correlates of HIV testing and impacts on sexual behavior: evidence from a life history study of young people in Kisumu, Kenya | Izugbara, Chimaraoke O.,Kabiru, Caroline W.,Luke, Nancy,Zulu, Eliya M. | 2010 | BMC PUBLIC HEALTH | 10 | None | 10.1186/1471-2458-10-412 | Brown University, African Inst Dev Policy AFIDEP, African Populat & Hlth Res Ctr | "Luke, Nancy: Brown University", | Background: HIV counseling and testing is considered an important component of HIV prevention and treatment. This paper examines the characteristics of young males and females at the time of first reported HIV test, including the influence of recent sexual partnerships, and investigates how HIV testing and the cumulative number of tests are associated with sexual behaviors within six months of testing.
Methods: The study uses data from a random sample of youth aged 18-24 years living in Kisumu, Kenya, who were interviewed using a 10-year retrospective life history calendar. Cox regression models were used to examine the correlates of the timing of first HIV test. Variance-correction models for unordered repeated events were employed to examine whether having an HIV test in the previous six months and the cumulative number of tests predict unsafe sexual practices in a given month.
Results: Sixty-four percent of females and 55% of males reported at least one HIV test in the last 10 years and 40% of females were pregnant the month of first test. Significant correlates of first HIV test included marital aspirations among non-pregnant females, unprotected sex in the previous six months among pregnant females, and concurrency in the previous six months among males. Having a recent HIV test was associated with a decreased likelihood of unprotected sex among ever-pregnant females, an increased likelihood of unprotected sex and "risky" sexual partnerships among never-pregnant females, and an increased likelihood of concurrency among males. Repeated HIV testing was associated with a lower likelihood of concurrency among males and involvement in "risky" sexual partnerships among males and never-pregnant females.
Conclusions: The high rate of pregnancy at first test suggests that promotion of HIV testing as part of prevention of mother-to-child transmission is gaining success. Further research is warranted to examine how and why behavior change is influenced by client-versus provider-initiated testing. The influence of different sexual partnership variables for males and females suggests that interventions to assess risk and promote testing should be gender-and relationship-specific. The findings also suggest that encouraging repeat or routine testing could potentially increase the uptake of safer sexual behaviors. | ,ADOLESCENTS,BOTSWANA,CALENDAR,CLIENTS,"CONDOM USE",FERTILITY,HIGH-RISK,POPULATION,PREVALENCE,SERVICES | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-83455224710 | Comparison of the performance, haematology and serum chemistry of Weaner pigs fed palm kernel cake with and without enzyme supplementation | Oluwafemi R.A., Akpodiete O.J. | 2011 | Electronic Journal of Environmental, Agricultural and Food Chemistry | 10 | 10 | None | College of Agriculture, Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo state, Nigeria; Dept. of Animal Science, Delta State University, Asaba Campus, Nigeria | Oluwafemi, R.A., College of Agriculture, Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo state, Nigeria; Akpodiete, O.J., Dept. of Animal Science, Delta State University, Asaba Campus, Nigeria | The effects of Palm kernel Cake with or without enzyme supplementation on the performance, haematology and serum chemistry of weaner pigs were compared in a study, which lasted for eighty four days. Thirty weaner pigs of the Large White x Duroc crossbreed with average initial live weight range of 10.5 to 14kg allotted into five groups were used. Five experimental diets in which Palm Kernel cake was used as replacement for maize were formulated as follows: Diet 1 (control) had 0% PKC and no enzyme inclusion, Diet 2 had 40% PKC and with enzyme, Diet 3 had 40% PKC and without enzyme, Diet 4 had 60% PKC with enzyme while Diet 5 had 60% PKC without enzyme. The animals were randomly assigned to the dietary treatments in a Complete Randomized Design (CRD). The enzyme - Hemicel® was mixed with the PKC portion at the rate of 600g/ton before incorporation into the diets. Performance characteristics measured include: average daily gains (kg), average daily feed intake (kg), feed cost/gain (N), haematological and serological characteristics among others. The results showed that there were significant (P<0.05) differences in average daily gain (ADG), average total weight gain (ATWG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR). The Red Blood Cell (RBC) of weaner pigs in treatment 4 (60%PKC + Enzyme) was significantly (P<0.05) higher than the others while the mean haemoglobin (Hb) values were significantly (P<0.05) different among the treatment means. The Serum levels of Albumin and the Urea of the experimental animals were not affected by the experimental diets but the total protein was highest (P<0.05) for weaners in treatment 3 (40% PKC without enzyme) than those fed the remaining dietary treatments. There was however no deleterious effect of the dietary treatments on the experimental animals throughout the study period. Therefore up to 60% inclusion level of palm kernel cake with or without enzyme supplementation could be used as replacement for maize in weaner pig's ration. | Enzyme; Haematology; Palm kernel cake; Serum chemistry; Weaner pigs | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84927545929 | The effects of drought and shade on the performance, morphology and physiology of ghanaian tree species | Amissah L., Mohren G.M.J., Kyereh B., Poorter L. | 2015 | PLoS ONE | 10 | 4 | 10.1371/journal.pone.0121004 | Council for Scientific and Industrial Research-Forestry Research Institute of Ghana, KNUST, Kumasi, Ghana; Forest Ecology and Forest Management Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, Netherlands; College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana | Amissah, L., Council for Scientific and Industrial Research-Forestry Research Institute of Ghana, KNUST, Kumasi, Ghana, Forest Ecology and Forest Management Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, Netherlands; Mohren, G.M.J., Forest Ecology and Forest Management Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, Netherlands; Kyereh, B., College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana; Poorter, L., Forest Ecology and Forest Management Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, Netherlands | In tropical forests light and water availability are the most important factors for seedling growth and survival but an increasing frequency of drought may affect tree regeneration. One central question is whether drought and shade have interactive effects on seedling growth and survival. Here, we present results of a greenhouse experiment, in which seedlings of 10 Ghanaian tree species were exposed to combinations of strong seasonal drought (continuous watering versus withholding water for nine weeks) and shade (5% irradiance versus 20% irradiance). We evaluated the effects of drought and shade on seedling survival and growth and plasticity of 11 underlying traits related to biomass allocation, morphology and physiology. Seedling survival under dry conditions was higher in shade than in high light, thus providing support for the "facilitation hypothesis" that shade enhances plant performance through improved microclimatic conditions, and rejecting the trade-off hypothesis that drought should have stronger impact in shade because of reduced root investment. Shaded plants had low biomass fraction in roots, in line with the trade-off hypothesis , but they compensated for this with a higher specific root length (i.e., root length per unit root mass), resulting in a similar root length per plant mass and, hence, similar water uptake capacity as high-light plants. The majority (60%) of traits studied responded independently to drought and shade, indicating that within species shade- and drought tolerances are not in trade-off, but largely uncoupled. When individual species responses were analysed, then for most of the traits only one to three species showed significant interactive effects between drought and shade. The uncoupled response of most species to drought and shade should provide ample opportunity for niche differentiation and species coexistence under a range of water and light conditions. Overall our greenhouse results suggest that, in the absence of root competition shaded tropical forest tree seedlings may be able to survive prolonged drought. © 2015 Amissah et al. | None | Albizia zygia; Aningeria robusta; Antiaris toxicaria; Article; controlled study; drought; drought stress; drought tolerance; Entandrophragma angolense; environmental impact assessment; Ghanaian; greenhouse effect; growth rate; kapok; leaf area; leaf water potential; microclimate; morphological trait; nonhuman; Pericopsis elata; Piptadeniastrum africanum; plant growth; plant parameters; plant physiology; plant response; plant structures; root length; seasonal variation; shade; species coexistence; species differentiation; stem length; Sterculia rhinopetala; stomatal conductance; Strombosia pustulata; survival prediction; survival rate; tree; Turraeanthus africanus | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84929223634 | Impact of maternal HIV seroconversion during pregnancy on early mother to child transmission of HIV (MTCT) measured at 4-8 weeks postpartum in South Africa 2011-2012: A national population-based evaluation | Dinh T.-H., Delaney K.P., Goga A., Jackson D., Lombard C., Woldesenbet S., Mogashoa M., Pillay Y., Shaffer N. | 2015 | PLoS ONE | 10 | 5 | 10.1371/journal.pone.0125525 | Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Center for Global Health, Division of Global HIV/AIDS, Atlanta, GA, United States; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for HIV, Hepatitis, STD, and Tuberculosis Prevention, Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States; Medical Research Council, Pretoria, South Africa; Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Kalafong Hospital, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa; Medical Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa; School of Public Health, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa; US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Center for Global Health, Division of Global HIV/AIDS, Pretoria, South Africa; National Department of Health, Pretoria, South Africa; World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland; United Nations Children's Fund, New York, United States | Dinh, T.-H., Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Center for Global Health, Division of Global HIV/AIDS, Atlanta, GA, United States; Delaney, K.P., Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for HIV, Hepatitis, STD, and Tuberculosis Prevention, Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States; Goga, A., Medical Research Council, Pretoria, South Africa, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Kalafong Hospital, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa; Jackson, D., Medical Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa, United Nations Children's Fund, New York, United States; Lombard, C., School of Public Health, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa; Woldesenbet, S., School of Public Health, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa; Mogashoa, M., US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Center for Global Health, Division of Global HIV/AIDS, Pretoria, South Africa; Pillay, Y., National Department of Health, Pretoria, South Africa; Shaffer, N., World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland | Background: Mother-to-child transmission of HIV (MTCT) depends on the timing of HIV infection. We estimated HIV-seroconversion during pregnancy (HSP) after having a HIV-negative result antenatally, and its contribution to early MTCT in South Africa (SA). Methods and Findings: Between August 2011 and March 2012, we recruited a nationally representative sample of mother-infant pairs with infants aged 4-to-8 weeks from 578 health facilities. Data collection included mother interviews, child health-card reviews, and infant dried-blood-spots sample (iDBS). iDBS were tested for HIV antibodies and HIV-deoxyribonucleic-acid (HIV-DNA). HSP was defined as maternal self-report of an HIV-negative test during this pregnancy, no documented use of antiretroviral drugs and a matched HIV sero-positive iDBS. We used 20 imputations from a uniform distribution for time from reported antenatal HIV-negative result to delivery to estimate time of HSP. Early MTCT was defined based on detection of HIV-DNA in iDBS. Estimates were adjusted for clustering, nonresponse, and weighted by SA's 2011 live-births. Results: Of 9802 mother-infant pairs, 2738 iDBS were HIV sero-positive, including 212 HSP, resulting in a nationally weighted estimate of 3.3% HSP (95% Confidence Interval: 2.8%-3.8%). Median time of HIV-seroconversion was 32.8weeks gestation;28.3% (19.7%- 36.9%) estimated to be >36 weeks. Early MTCT was 10.7%for HSP (6.2%-16.8%) vs. 2.2% (1.7%-2.8%) for mothers with known HIV-positive status. Although they represent 2.2% of all mothers and 6.7% of HIV-infected mothers, HSP accounted for 26% of early MTCT. Multivariable analysis indicated the highest risk for HSP was among women who knew the baby's father was HIV-infected (adjusted-hazard ratio (aHR) 4.71; 1.49-14.99), or who had been screened for tuberculosis (aHR 1.82; 1.43-2.32). Conclusions: HSP risk is high and contributes significantly to early MTCT. Identification of HSP by repeat-testing at 32 weeks gestation, during labor, 6 weeks postpartum, in tuberculosis-exposed women, and in discordant couples might reduce MTCT. © 2015, Public Library of Science. All rights reserved. | None | DNA; Human immunodeficiency virus antibody; adult; Article; controlled study; disease transmission; female; gestational age; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; infant; infection rate; infection risk; live birth; major clinical study; mother to child transmission; pregnancy; puerperium; self report; seroconversion; South Africa; virus transmission | CDC, Medical Research Council; 1U2GPS001137-02, MRC, Medical Research Council; 1U2GPS001137-03, MRC, Medical Research Council |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79959314835 | Performance of starter broilers fed raw pigeon pea [Cajanus Cajan (L.) Millsp.] seed meal diets supplemented with lysine and or methionine | Amaefule K.U., Ukpanah U.A., Ibok A.E. | 2011 | International Journal of Poultry Science | 10 | 3 | 10.3923/ijps.2011.205.211 | Department of Animal Nutrition and Forage Science, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, P.M.B. 7267, Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria | Amaefule, K.U., Department of Animal Nutrition and Forage Science, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, P.M.B. 7267, Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria; Ukpanah, U.A., Department of Animal Nutrition and Forage Science, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, P.M.B. 7267, Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria; Ibok, A.E., Department of Animal Nutrition and Forage Science, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, P.M.B. 7267, Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria | Performance of starter broilers fed raw Pigeon Pea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.] Seed Meal (PSM) diets supplemented with lysine and or methionine was determined with 270 unsexed broilers. The experimental design was 2 x 4 factorial in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD), with each dietary treatment replicated three times and 10 broilers per replicate. The factors were inclusion level of raw PSM (30 and 40%) and amino acid supplementation (no supplementation, lysine, methionine and lysine + methionine). There was a conventional maize-soybean diet as positive control while raw PSM without supplementation was the negative control. Lysine and methionine supplementation were 0.10 and 0.25%, respectively. Performance criteria measured were weight gain, feed intake, Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR), Protein Efficiency Ratio (PER) and live weight at 4'h week. Results showed that broilers fed methionine or lysine + methionine supplemented diets had significantly (p<0.05) higher live weight, live weight gain, feed intake and significantly (p<0.05) lower protein intake than broilers fed diet supplemented with lysine. Amino acid supplementation significantly (p<0.05) affected only live weight and daily weight gain of broilers. The diet of 40% raw PSM significantly (p<0.05) increased cost per kg feed and daily feed cost more than 30% PSM diet. It was concluded that starter broilers could be fed up to 40% raw Pigeon Pea Seed Meal (PSM) diet without adverse effect on performance of starter birds. However, the diet of 30% PSM should be supplemented with methionine and that of 40% with lysine + methionine. © Asian Network for Scientific Information, 2011. | Lysine; Methionine; Performance; Raw pigeon pea seed meal; Starter broilers | Aves; Cajanus cajan; Glycine max; Zea mays | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84878453373 | The effects of two strategic anthelmintic treatments on goat performance under extensive management in a semi-arid area of South Africa | Bakunzi F.R., Motsei L.E., Nyirenda M., Ndou R.V., Mwanza M. | 2013 | Life Science Journal | 10 | 2 | None | Centre of Animal Health Studies, North West University, Mafikeng Campus, Private Bag X2046, Mmabatho 2735, South Africa | Bakunzi, F.R., Centre of Animal Health Studies, North West University, Mafikeng Campus, Private Bag X2046, Mmabatho 2735, South Africa; Motsei, L.E., Centre of Animal Health Studies, North West University, Mafikeng Campus, Private Bag X2046, Mmabatho 2735, South Africa; Nyirenda, M., Centre of Animal Health Studies, North West University, Mafikeng Campus, Private Bag X2046, Mmabatho 2735, South Africa; Ndou, R.V., Centre of Animal Health Studies, North West University, Mafikeng Campus, Private Bag X2046, Mmabatho 2735, South Africa; Mwanza, M., Centre of Animal Health Studies, North West University, Mafikeng Campus, Private Bag X2046, Mmabatho 2735, South Africa | A study was carried out in a semi-arid area of the North West province of South Africa from September 2004 to September 2005 to determine the effects anthelmintic treatment before or during the rains on the performance of 60 indigenous female goats. The performance parameters studied were body weight, packed cell volume and faecal nematode egg output. Anthelmintic treatment of goats before and during the rains significantly reduced faecal egg output, and improved body weight and packed cell volume. Overall, anthelmintic treatment before the rains was equal to or better for all the three performance parameters when compared to treatment during the rains. Both treatments yielded better performance in comparison to the control. | Anthelmintic treatment; Goat production; Semi-arid area; Strategic control | Capra hircus | None |
| None | None | Predicting the impact of temperature change on the future distribution of maize stem borers and their natural enemies along East African mountain gradients using phenology models | Mwalusepo S., Tonnang H.E.Z., Massawe E.S., Okuku G.O., Khadioli N., Johansson T., Calatayud P.-A., Le Ru B.P. | 2015 | PLoS ONE | 10 | 6 | 10.1371/journal.pone.0130427 | CHIESA Project, Icipe - African Insect Science for Food and Health, Nairobi, Kenya; Department of Mathematics, University of Dar es Salaam, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Department of General Studies, Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; NSBB Project, Icipe - African Insect Science for Food and Health, Nairobi, Kenya; IRD/CNRS UMR IRD 247 EGCE, Laboratoire Evolution Génomes Comportement et Ecologie, CNRS, Gif sur Yvette Cedex, France; Université Paris-Sud 11, Orsay, France | Mwalusepo, S., CHIESA Project, Icipe - African Insect Science for Food and Health, Nairobi, Kenya, Department of Mathematics, University of Dar es Salaam, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, Department of General Studies, Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Tonnang, H.E.Z., CHIESA Project, Icipe - African Insect Science for Food and Health, Nairobi, Kenya; Massawe, E.S., Department of Mathematics, University of Dar es Salaam, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Okuku, G.O., NSBB Project, Icipe - African Insect Science for Food and Health, Nairobi, Kenya; Khadioli, N., NSBB Project, Icipe - African Insect Science for Food and Health, Nairobi, Kenya; Johansson, T., CHIESA Project, Icipe - African Insect Science for Food and Health, Nairobi, Kenya; Calatayud, P.-A., CHIESA Project, Icipe - African Insect Science for Food and Health, Nairobi, Kenya, IRD/CNRS UMR IRD 247 EGCE, Laboratoire Evolution Génomes Comportement et Ecologie, CNRS, Gif sur Yvette Cedex, France, Université Paris-Sud 11, Orsay, France; Le Ru, B.P., CHIESA Project, Icipe - African Insect Science for Food and Health, Nairobi, Kenya, IRD/CNRS UMR IRD 247 EGCE, Laboratoire Evolution Génomes Comportement et Ecologie, CNRS, Gif sur Yvette Cedex, France, Université Paris-Sud 11, Orsay, France | Lepidopteran stem borers are among the most important pests of maize in East Africa. The objective of the present study was to predict the impact of temperature change on the distribution and abundance of the crambid Chilo partellus, the noctuid Busseola fusca, and their larval parasitoids Cotesia flavipes and Cotesia sesamiae at local scale along Kilimanjaro and Taita Hills gradients in Tanzania and Kenya, respectively. Temperature-dependent phenology models of pests and parasitoids were used in a geographic information system for mapping. The three risk indices namely establishment, generation, and activity indices were computed using current temperature data record from local weather stations and future (i.e., 2055) climatic condition based on downscaled climate change data from the AFRICLIM database. The calculations were carried out using index interpolator, a sub-module of the Insect Life Cycle Modeling (ILCYM) software. Thin plate algorithm was used for interpolation of the indices. Our study confirmed that temperature was a key factor explaining the distribution of stem borers and their natural enemies but other climatic factors and factors related to the top-down regulation of pests by parasitoids (host-parasitoid synchrony) also played a role. Results based on temperature only indicated a worsening of stem borer impact on maize production along the two East African mountain gradients studied. This was attributed to three main changes occurring simultaneously: (1) range expansion of the lowland species C. partellus in areas above 1200 m.a.s.l.; (2) increase of the number of pest generations across all altitudes, thus by 2055 damage by both pests will increase in the most productive maize zones of both transects; (3) disruption of the geographical distribution of pests and their larval parasitoids will cause an improvement of biological control at altitude below 1200 m.a.s.l. and a deterioration above 1200 m.a.s.l. The predicted increase in pest activity will significantly increase maize yield losses in all agroecological zones across both transects but to a much greater extent in lower areas. © 2015 Mwalusepo et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. | None | altitude; calculation; Chilo; climate change; controlled study; Cotesia; data base; deterioration; down regulation; geographic distribution; geographic information system; Kenya; life cycle; maize; model; natural enemy; Noctuidae; parasitoid; phenology; plant yield; species; stem borer; Tanzania; weather | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84939238050 | Verbal autopsy: Evaluation of methods to certify causes of death in Uganda | Mpimbaza A., Filler S., Katureebe A., Quick L., Chandramohan D., Staedke S.G. | 2015 | PLoS ONE | 10 | 6 | 10.1371/journal.pone.0128801 | Child Health and Development Centre, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda; Infectious Diseases Research Collaboration, Kampala, Uganda; Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, Geneva, Switzerland; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States; London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom | Mpimbaza, A., Child Health and Development Centre, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda, Infectious Diseases Research Collaboration, Kampala, Uganda; Filler, S., Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, Geneva, Switzerland; Katureebe, A., Infectious Diseases Research Collaboration, Kampala, Uganda; Quick, L., Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States; Chandramohan, D., London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Staedke, S.G., Infectious Diseases Research Collaboration, Kampala, Uganda, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom | To assess different methods for determining cause of death from verbal autopsy (VA) questionnaire data, the intra-rater reliability of Physician-Certified Verbal Autopsy (PCVA) and the accuracy of PCVA, expert-derived (non-hierarchical) and data-driven (hierarchal) algorithms were assessed for determining common causes of death in Ugandan children. A verbal autopsy validation study was conducted from 2008-2009 in three different sites in Uganda. The dataset included 104 neonatal deaths (0-27 days) and 615 childhood deaths (1-59 months) with the cause(s) of death classified by PCVA and physician review of hospital medical records (the 'reference standard'). Of the original 719 questionnaires, 141 (20%) were selected for a second review by the same physicians; the repeat cause(s) of death were compared to the original,and agreement assessed using the Kappa statistic.Physician reviewers' refined non-hierarchical algorithms for common causes of death from existing expert algorithms, from which, hierarchal algorithms were developed. The accuracy of PCVA, non-hierarchical, and hierarchical algorithms for determining cause(s) of death from all 719 VA questionnaires was determined using the reference standard. Overall, intra-rater repeatability was high (83% agreement, Kappa 0.79 [95% CI 0.76-0.82]). PCVA performed well, with high specificity for determining cause of neonatal (>67%), and childhood (>83%) deaths, resulting in fairly accurate cause-specific mortality fraction (CSMF) estimates. For most causes of death in children, non-hierarchical algorithms had higher sensitivity, but correspondingly lower specificity, than PCVA and hierarchical algorithms, resulting in inaccurate CSMF estimates. Hierarchical algorithms were specific for most causes of death, and CSMF estimates were comparable to the reference standard and PCVA. Inter-rater reliability of PCVA was high, and overall PCVA performed well. Hierarchical algorithms performed better than non-hierarchical algorithms due to higher specificity and more accurate CSMF estimates. Use of PCVA to determine cause of death from VA questionnaire data is reasonable while automated data-driven algorithms are improved. © 2015, Public Library of Science. All rights reserved. This is an open access article, free of all copyright, and may be freely reproduced, distributed, transmitted, modified, built upon, or otherwise used by anyone for any lawful purpose. The work is made available under the Creative Commons CC0 public domain dedication. | None | algorithm; Article; autopsy; cause of death; childhood mortality; controlled study; intrarater reliability; measurement accuracy; measurement repeatability; medical record review; newborn death; questionnaire; sensitivity and specificity; Uganda; Ugandan; validation study; verbal autopsy | CDC, United States Agency for International Development; USAID, United States Agency for International Development |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84941284389 | Impacts of community-based natural resource management on wealth, food security and child health in Tanzania | Pailler S., Naidoo R., Burgess N.D., Freeman O.E., Fisher B. | 2015 | PLoS ONE | 10 | 7 | 10.1371/journal.pone.0133252 | Clark University, Economics Department, Worcester, MA, United States; World Wildlife Fund, Washington, DC, United States; UNEP-World Conservation Monitoring Center, Cambridge, United Kingdom; Centre for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate, Natural History Museum, Copenhagen, Denmark; ASB Partnership for the Tropical Forest Margins, World Agroforestry Centre, Nairobi, Kenya; Gund Institute for Ecological Economics, Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, United States | Pailler, S., Clark University, Economics Department, Worcester, MA, United States; Naidoo, R., World Wildlife Fund, Washington, DC, United States; Burgess, N.D., UNEP-World Conservation Monitoring Center, Cambridge, United Kingdom, Centre for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate, Natural History Museum, Copenhagen, Denmark; Freeman, O.E., ASB Partnership for the Tropical Forest Margins, World Agroforestry Centre, Nairobi, Kenya; Fisher, B., World Wildlife Fund, Washington, DC, United States, Gund Institute for Ecological Economics, Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, United States | Community-based natural resource management (CBNRM) is a major global strategy for enhancing conservation outcomes while also seeking to improve rural livelihoods; however, little evidence of socioeconomic outcomes exists. We present a national-level analysis that empirically estimates socioeconomic impacts of CBNRM across Tanzania, while systematically controlling for potential sources of bias. Specifically, we apply a difference-indifferences model to national-scale, cross-sectional data to estimate the impact of three different CBNRM governance regimes on wealth, food security and child health, considering differential impacts of CBNRM on wealthy and poor populations. We also explore whether or not longer-standing CBNRM efforts provide more benefits than recently-established CBNRM areas. Our results show significant improvements in household food security in CBNRM areas compared with non-CBNRM areas, but household wealth and health outcomes in children are generally not significantly different. No one CBNRM governance regime demonstrates consistently different welfare outcomes than the others. Wealthy households benefit more from CBNRM than poor households and CBNRM benefits appear to increase with longer periods of implementation. Perhaps evidence of CBNRM benefits is limited because CBNRM hasn't been around long enough to yield demonstrable outcomes. Nonetheless, achieving demonstrable benefits to rural populations will be crucial for CBNRM's future success in Tanzania. Copyright: © 2015 Pailler et al. | None | Article; child; child health; community based natural resource management; conservation biology; environmental management; food security; forest management; government; health survey; household; human; outcome assessment; poverty; socioeconomics; Tanzania; wealth; wildlife conservation | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79955035060 | Reproductive performances and survival of Washera sheep under traditional management systems at yilmanadensa and Quarit districts of the Amhara National Regional State, Ethiopia | Taye M., Abebe G., Lemma S., Gizaw S., Mekoya A., Tibbo M. | 2011 | Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances | 10 | 9 | 10.3923/javaa.2011.1158.1165 | College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Bahir Dar University, P.O. Box 830, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia; Hawassa University, P.O. Box 5, Awassa, Ethiopia; Debreberhan Agricultural Research Center, P.O. Box 112, Debre Berhan, Ethiopia; International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), P.O. Box 5689, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), P.O. Box 5466, Hadya Aleppo, Syria, Ethiopia | Taye, M., College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Bahir Dar University, P.O. Box 830, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia, Hawassa University, P.O. Box 5, Awassa, Ethiopia; Abebe, G., Hawassa University, P.O. Box 5, Awassa, Ethiopia; Lemma, S., Debreberhan Agricultural Research Center, P.O. Box 112, Debre Berhan, Ethiopia; Gizaw, S., Debreberhan Agricultural Research Center, P.O. Box 112, Debre Berhan, Ethiopia; Mekoya, A., Debreberhan Agricultural Research Center, P.O. Box 112, Debre Berhan, Ethiopia; Tibbo, M., International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), P.O. Box 5689, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), P.O. Box 5466, Hadya Aleppo, Syria, Ethiopia | On-farm data were collected to evaluate reproductive performance and survival of Washera sheep raised under traditional smallholder production systems in the North-Western highlands of the Amhara National Regional State, Ethiopia. The data were from flocks of 110 households from October, 2004 to September, 2007. Mean age and weight at first lambing were 464.2±14.0 days and 24.7±0.5 kg, respectively. None of the fixed effects considered affected age at first lambing although, weight at first lambing was affected (p<0.05) by district and parity. Ewes from primiparous ewes and from Quarit district had heavier weight at their first lambing. Lambing interval (269±6.2 days) was affected by district, lambing season, parity and birth type. The average number of lambs per ewe lambing was 1.19±0.02 and varied (p<0.0001) with lambing year and postpartum ewe body weight. Mean postpartum ewe body weight was 31.0±0.2 kg and influenced (p<0.01) by district, year, season, parity and type of birth. Cumulative survival from birth to 30, 90, 180, 270 and 365 days was 98.4±0.6, 93.6±0.9, 91.2±1.1, 90.0±l .2 and 89.9±1.2 days, respectively. Except at the age of 30 days, district, season, birth type and birth weight affected (p<0.05) survival. No interactions between any fixed effects were significant and thus were removed from the model. Postpartum ewe body weight as a covariate did not affect litter size. The higher survival rate indicates that the area is of low disease load and the farmers practice to decrease lamb mortality need to be encouraged and improved. The influence of different fixed effects on reproductive performances indicated that through different management and breeding practices it is possible to increase the productivity of these breed of sheep. © Medwell Journals, 2011. | Ethiopia; Postpartum; Reproduction; Smallholder production; Survival; Washera breed | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84926217410 | Development and evaluation of pictograms on medication labels for patients with limited literacy skills in a culturally diverse multiethnic population | Kheir N., Awaisu A., Radoui A., El Badawi A., Jean L., Dowse R. | 2014 | Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy | 10 | 5 | 10.1016/j.sapharm.2013.11.003 | College of Pharmacy, Qatar University, P.O. Box 2317, Doha, Qatar; Qatar Petroleum, Doha, Qatar; Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa | Kheir, N., College of Pharmacy, Qatar University, P.O. Box 2317, Doha, Qatar; Awaisu, A., College of Pharmacy, Qatar University, P.O. Box 2317, Doha, Qatar; Radoui, A., College of Pharmacy, Qatar University, P.O. Box 2317, Doha, Qatar; El Badawi, A., College of Pharmacy, Qatar University, P.O. Box 2317, Doha, Qatar; Jean, L., Qatar Petroleum, Doha, Qatar; Dowse, R., Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa | Background: Much of the migrant workforce in Qatar is of low literacy level and does not understand Arabic or English, presenting a significant challenge to health care professionals. Medicine labels are typically in Arabic and English and are therefore poorly understood by these migrant workers. Objective: To develop pictograms illustrating selected medicine label instructions and to evaluate comprehension of the pictograms or conventional text supported with verbal instructions in foreign workers with low literacy skills. Methods: A range of common labeling instructions were identified and pictograms depicting these were developed using visual concepts and ideas from the literature. The process involved a consultative approach with input from the researchers, a local graphic artist, and members of the target population. The final set was evaluated for comprehension in participants who were randomized to one of three study groups: text plus verbal instructions, pictogram-only label, and pictogram with verbal instructions. One-way ANOVA and Chi-square tests were used to assess differences between group variables. Statistical significance was set at P≤0.05. Results: Of 23 label instructions screened, 11 were selected for the study. A total of 123 participants took part in this study. Pictogram plus verbal instructions group achieved better results in interpreting the majority of the label instructions (P≤0.05). The best interpreted pictograms with verbal instructions included: "Take two tablets three times a day," "Take one tablet in the morning and one tablet at night," and "Instill one drop in the eye." The worst interpreted pictograms with verbal instructions were: "Do not take with dairy products" and "Do not use by mouth." Some pictograms were difficult to interpret even when accompanied with verbal instructions, suggesting the need to thoroughly pilot them among users prior to implementation. Conclusion: Medication labels consisting of simple pictorials supported by verbal instructions were better comprehended by individuals with low literacy skills than labels with written plus verbal instructions in a language that the individual did not understand. Further, pictogram-only labels were the least comprehended types of medicine labels among the participants. © 2014 Elsevier Inc. | Labels; Low literacy; Medicines; Pharmacy; Pictogram; Qatar | adult; comprehension; drug labeling; ethnic group; evaluation study; health literacy; human; medical information; migration; patient education; procedures; Qatar; young adult; Adult; Comprehension; Drug Labeling; Ethnic Groups; Health Communication; Health Literacy; Humans; Patient Education as Topic; Qatar; Transients and Migrants; Young Adult | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84856885740 | Impact of conflict on agricultural production in the Niger-Delta: Evidence from Cross River State, Nigeria | Ofem N.I., Ndifon H.M., Angba A.O., Effiong J.B., Akinmosin O.C. | 2012 | Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment | 10 | 1 | None | Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Calabar, P. M. B. 1115, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria | Ofem, N.I., Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Calabar, P. M. B. 1115, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria; Ndifon, H.M., Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Calabar, P. M. B. 1115, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria; Angba, A.O., Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Calabar, P. M. B. 1115, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria; Effiong, J.B., Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Calabar, P. M. B. 1115, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria; Akinmosin, O.C., Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Calabar, P. M. B. 1115, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria | The study determined the impact of conflicts on agricultural production in the Niger Delta of Nigeria with specific evidence from Cross River State. The state was purposively selected because of its high rate of communal conflict. A multi-staged sampling procedure was employed and respondents were randomly sampled from two different communities where conflicts have occurred over time. A total of 60 respondents were used for the study. Data were collected from respondents using personal interviews, with the aid of structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics as well as inferential statistics (ordered probit regression) were used to analyze data. Results from the descriptive analysis revealed that a greater percentage of the respondents (63.33%) were farmers, 41.67% were youths between the ages of 21 and 40 years, majority (56.67%) had low educational attainments and there was a high level of unemployment (90%) in the area, while 25 percent of the respondents earned as low as N30,000 or less per-annum. The results of the hypotheses tested revealed that there is a significant relationship between conflicts and respondents' socio-economic characteristics such as age, occupation, marital status, family size, education and employment status while gender, income and infrastructure were not significant. The result also showed a significant but negative relationship between agricultural GDP and conflict. Therefore, the study noted that strategies and programmes aimed at addressing the socio-economic needs of the people and investments in agriculture were required to stem the spate of conflicts in the Niger-Delta region of Nigeria. | Agricultural production; Clashes; Communal; Conflict; Impact; Niger-delta; Probit; Regression; Violence | adult; age; agricultural worker; article; community dynamics; conflict; crop production; educational status; family size; female; human; interview; male; marriage; Nigeria; occupation; social status; structured questionnaire; unemployment | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-80053194766 | Participatory evaluation of drought tolerant maize varieties using mother-baby trial model: A case study in the forest-Savannah transition zone of Ghana | Asumadu H., Ewool M.B., Obeng-Antwi K. | 2011 | Journal of Agronomy | 10 | 2 | 10.3923/ja.2011.68.73 | CSIR-Crops Research Institute, P.O. Box 3785, Kumasi, Ghana | Asumadu, H., CSIR-Crops Research Institute, P.O. Box 3785, Kumasi, Ghana; Ewool, M.B., CSIR-Crops Research Institute, P.O. Box 3785, Kumasi, Ghana; Obeng-Antwi, K., CSIR-Crops Research Institute, P.O. Box 3785, Kumasi, Ghana | Maize is one of the world's three primary cereal crops and also one of the most popular food crops on the domestic market in Ghana. Erratic rainfall pattern in the Forest-Savannah transition zone of Ghana for the past decade has caused shortfalls in rainfall amounts resulting in low maize production and productivity. The Maize Breeding Programme at the Crops Research Institute, Ghana, in collaboration with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan, Nigeria identified high yielding and drought tolerant open-pollinated and hybrid maize varieties for evaluation and eventual release to farmers. The mother-baby trial model was adopted for the evaluation of these varieties in the major season of 2009 in three farming communities in the target agro-ecology. The Farmers variety showed poor yield performance in both the mother and baby trials and in the ranking of varieties by farmers and researchers in both early and medium maturity groups. Almost all the improved varieties were appreciated by both researchers and farmers. The yields of the drought tolerant varieties in both normal and drought affected environments were higher than the farmers variety in both cases. The two most promising drought tolerant varieties, TZE-W Pop STR QPM CO and IWD C2 S YN F2 out-yielded the Farmers' variety by as much as 23 to 90% across locations. Therefore, these varieties were recommended by the Maize Breeding Programme at the Crops Research Institute to the National Variety Release Committee of Ghana for release to farmers in 2010. © 2011 Asian Network for Scientific Information. | Baby trial; Drought tolerant maize; Mother trial; Preference; Selection | Zea mays | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79953238332 | Evaluation of plough disc performance on sandy loan soil at different soil moisture levels | Olatunji O.M. | 2011 | Electronic Journal of Environmental, Agricultural and Food Chemistry | 10 | 3 | None | Department of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering, Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Nkpolu, P.M.B. 5080, Port Harcourt, Nigeria | Olatunji, O.M., Department of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering, Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Nkpolu, P.M.B. 5080, Port Harcourt, Nigeria | In this research work, dimensional analysis was used to model the relationship between depth of cut, weight of disc plough and draught on a sandy loam soil. Field experiment was carried out on a site with three different moisture content levels at five different plough speeds (0.83, 1.39, 1.94, 2.4 and 2.78m/s). It was observed that the depth of penetration of plough disc increased with an increased draught and soil moisture content. The depth of cut was minimum at 4.9% and maximum at 9.4% moisture content. The result obtained from the validation shows that the model can be used effectively to determine the depth of cut in sandy loam soil at different soil moisture levels. Also the draught-speed relationship obtained from this work can be used to predict the power requirement of the disc plough in other soil types. The draught increase linearly with the depth of cut as predicted from the model. The result of the soil properties after tillage operation showed increased shear strength, bulk density and depth of cut. | Bulk density; Depth of cut; Disc plough; Moisture content; Sandly-loam; Shear strength | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84904211853 | Evaluation and optimization of steam and lye peeling processes of sweet potato (Ipomea batatas) using response surface methodology (RSM) | Oladejo A.O., Sobukola O.P., Awonorin S.O., Adejuyigbe S.B. | 2014 | International Journal of Food Engineering | 10 | 2 | 10.1515/ijfe-2013-0051 | Department of Agricultural and Food Engineering, University of Uyo, P.M.B 1017, Uyo, Nigeria; Department of Food Science and Technology, Federal University of Agriculture, P.M.B. 2240, Abeokuta, Nigeria; Department of Mechanical Engineering, Federal Unive | Oladejo, A.O., Department of Agricultural and Food Engineering, University of Uyo, P.M.B 1017, Uyo, Nigeria; Sobukola, O.P., Department of Food Science and Technology, Federal University of Agriculture, P.M.B. 2240, Abeokuta, Nigeria; Awonorin, S.O., Department of Food Science and Technology, Federal University of Agriculture, P.M.B. 2240, Abeokuta, Nigeria; Adejuyigbe, S.B., Department of Mechanical Engineering, Federal University of Agriculture, P.M.B. 2240, Abeokuta, Nigeria | Sweet potato of uniform sizes and shape were subjected to steam peeling (temperature 80- 100°C and peeling time 5-15 min) and lye peeling (sodium hydroxide concentration 8-12%, temperature 80-100°C and peeling time 3-5 min). Response surface methodology was used to analyze and optimize the process parameters in each case. For steam peeling, the peel loss and unpeeled surface area were 6.85 and 28.16%, respectively, while optimum peeling conditions where temperature and peeling time of 100°C and 5 min, respectively, for minimum peel loss and unpeeled surface area. For lye peeling, however, the peel loss and unpeeled surface area were 13.19 and 13.35%, respectively, and optimum peeling conditions were lye concentration, temperature and peeling time of 8.89%, 100°C and 4.75 min, respectively, for minimum peel loss and unpeeled surface area. The models developed in each case (R-squared of 0.9225 and 0.8428; 0.5929 and 0.8346) were adequate in producing responses as a function of the independent variables. From the optimized values and results obtained, lye peeling was more suitable for sweet potato. | Lye peeling; Optimization; Peel loss; Steam; Sweet potato; Unpeeled surface area | Optimization; Steam; Surface properties; Independent variables; Process parameters; Response surface methodology; Sodium hydroxide concentration; Surface area; Sweet potato; Uniform size; Wood | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84873487542 | Impact that the Nguni cattle project have on the livelihood of the beneficiaries in North West province South Africa | Cwaile L., Antwi M.A., Oladele O.I. | 2012 | Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment | 10 | 42433 | None | Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, North-West University Mafikeng Campus, Private Bag X2046, Mmabatho 2735, South Africa | Cwaile, L., Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, North-West University Mafikeng Campus, Private Bag X2046, Mmabatho 2735, South Africa; Antwi, M.A., Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, North-West University Mafikeng Campus, Private Bag X2046, Mmabatho 2735, South Africa; Oladele, O.I., Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, North-West University Mafikeng Campus, Private Bag X2046, Mmabatho 2735, South Africa | This study examined the impact that the Nguni cattle project have on the livelihood of the beneficiaries in North West province South Africa. Structured questionnaire was used to collect data and analyzed with Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (version 18) using frequency counts, percentages and multiple regression. It was found that majority of the Nguni project participants were male (71.2%), married (56%); above 60 years of age (34.3%); 41% had primary education; 67% of the respondents had between 1 to 4 dependants. Their participation had led to increased access to financial, physical, natural, and social capital. Participants were generally favourably disposed to the project and many indicated that constraints in meeting their livelihoods have reduced greatly due to capital acquisition by the project beneficiaries. Significant determinants of total livelihood after project were total hectares (t = -2.90), number of employees (t = 2.14), income (t = -3.25) and attitude (t = 2.33). Significant determinants of constraints were educational level (t = 2.16), farming experience (t = -1.85), total size of hectares (t = -3.14), income (t =-2.56) and contact with extension agent (t = 2.86); while significant determinants of attitude were household size (t = 2.24), total size of hectares (t = 1.69), and contact with extension agent (t = 1.73). | Capital; Cattle; Farmers; Livelihoods; Nguni; North-West; South Africa | adult; aged; agricultural worker; article; cattle; education; female; financial management; grazing management; health program; household; human; major clinical study; male; multiple linear regression analysis; nguni cattle project; nonhuman; South Africa; structured questionnaire | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84946077792 | The joint impact of stock market and corruption on economic growth and development in Nigeria: Evidence from cointegration and vecm analysis | Nageri I.K., Nageri I.S., Amin A. | 2015 | Serbian Journal of Management | 10 | 2 | 10.5937/sjm10-7507 | Department of Banking and Finance, Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin, P.M.B 1601, Ilorin Kwara State, Nigeria; Department of Finance, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria; Department of Business Administration, Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin, Nigeria | Nageri, I.K., Department of Banking and Finance, Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin, P.M.B 1601, Ilorin Kwara State, Nigeria; Nageri, I.S., Department of Finance, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria; Amin, A., Department of Business Administration, Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin, Nigeria | This paper studies the effect of capital market on economic growth in the presence of corruption in the Nigerian context. We employed the use of cointegration and Vector Error Correction Model (VECM). We find out that both corruption and capital market has long run associationship with economic development in Nigeria but has no short run relationship. This simply means that there is short run gain and long run pain for the Nigerian economy if corruption and capital market are not checked and well regulated respectively in Nigeria. We therefore recommend that government should strengthen the anti-graft agencies and equip them technologically and make them independent, educate the public on the problems associated with corrupt practices and the economic implication especially through the capital market and encourage local investors to invest in the capital market to improve liquidity and profitability of the Nigerian capital market. | Capital market; Co-integration; Corruption; Vector Error Correction | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84859597483 | Comparison of egg production performance and egg quality traits of pearl and black strains of guinea fowl in a humid rain-forest zone of Nigeria | Obike O.M., Oke U.K., Azu K.E. | 2011 | International Journal of Poultry Science | 10 | 7 | 10.3923/ijps.2011.547.551 | Department of Animal Breeding and Physiology, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, P.M.B. 7267, Abia State, Nigeria | Obike, O.M., Department of Animal Breeding and Physiology, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, P.M.B. 7267, Abia State, Nigeria; Oke, U.K., Department of Animal Breeding and Physiology, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, P.M.B. 7267, Abia State, Nigeria; Azu, K.E., Department of Animal Breeding and Physiology, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, P.M.B. 7267, Abia State, Nigeria | Data on 272 eggs collected from Pearl (175 eggs) and Black (97 eggs) adult guinea fowl strains were analyzed to determine the egg production performance and egg quality characteristics of the birds. Data generated were analyzed using Student's t-test. The external egg quality traits measured were egg weight, egg length, egg width, shell weight, shell thickness and egg shape index. Internal egg quality traits studied include egg mass, yolk weight, yolk height, yolk diameter, yolk index, albumen weight, albumen height and albumen diameter and albumen index. The production performance traits measured were egg number and Hen-Day Production (HDP). In addition, weekly body weight of the hens was also recorded. Egg number was significantly (p<0.05) different between the two strains. The mean values were 22.71±0.30 and 12.84±0.29, respectively for Pearl and Black. Although there was no significant difference (p>0.05) between HDP of the two strains, the Black strain had higher HDP in all the weeks except in weeks 1, 5 and 6. Among the internal traits, albumen diameter differed significantly (p<0.05) between Pearl and Black with mean values of 61.27±2.02 mm and 66.97±1.20 mm, respectively. Effect of strain was not observed for all the other egg traits measured. However, the significant difference (p<0.05) observed for egg number and albumen diameter between the strains suggests at least some degree of genetic dissimilarity, which implies that the strains could be used to improve egg production and egg quality characteristics of guinea fowl in the study region. © Asian Network for Scientific Information, 2011. | Albumen diameter; Egg number; Egg quality traits; Guinea fowl; Strain | Aves | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84859166968 | Performance and organ weights of laying hens fed diets containing graded levels of sun-dried cocoa bean shell (CBS) | Emiola I.A., Ojebiyi O.O., Akande T.O. | 2011 | International Journal of Poultry Science | 10 | 12 | None | Department of Animal Nutrition and Biotechnology, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Nigeria | Emiola, I.A., Department of Animal Nutrition and Biotechnology, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Nigeria; Ojebiyi, O.O., Department of Animal Nutrition and Biotechnology, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Nigeria; Akande, T.O., Department of Animal Nutrition and Biotechnology, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Nigeria | Response of laying hens fed different levels of cocoa bean shell (CBS) was investigated using eighty 18-weeks old shaver Brown pullets in a six weeks feeding trial. Five rations were formulated by addition of 0, 15, 20, 25 and 30% cocoa bean shell and allocated to five groups of bird (16 birds/group) in a completely randomized design of experiment. Each group was further subdivided into eight replicates of 2 birds per replicate. The control diet was a maize-soybean meal based diet formulated to meet the nutrient requirement of a laying bird with no sun-dried cocoa bean shell (CBS), diets 2, 3, 4 and 5 contained 15, 20, 25 and 30 percent sun-dried cocoa been shell, respectively. Compared with the control diet, average daily feed intake (ADFI), egg production per bird per week as well as percent hen day production (HDP, %) were lower in diet 2 (15% CBS) (P < 0.05). Increasing the level of CBS from 0 to 30% in the diets resulted in linear decreases in ADFI, egg production per week and percent HDP (P < 0.05). Intake of theobromine increased with increasing level of inclusion of cocoa bean shell in the diets. The weights of the spleen, kidney and ovary were similar in birds fed the control diet, diet 2 (15% CBS) and diet 3 (20% CBS) (P > 0.05). However, the weights of the spleen, kidney and ovary were depressed in birds fed diets 4 (25%) and 5 (30%) compared with those that received the control diet (P<0.05). The weights of the liver, spleen, kidney and ovary were significantly (P < 0.05) influenced by addition of sun-dried CBS. It was concluded that cocoa been shell cannot be included in the layers diet up to 15%, a lower level might be tolerated. © Asian Network for Scientific Information, 2011. | Cocoa been shell; Feed intake; Percent hen day; Pullets; Theobromine | Aves; Glycine max; Theobroma cacao; Zea mays | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79960734506 | Performance and nutrient utilization of growing rabbits fed graded levels of raw Bambara groundnut [Vigna subterranean (L.) Verde] offal diets | Amaefule K.U., Mbonu U.E., Amaka V. | 2011 | Pakistan Journal of Nutrition | 10 | 5 | 10.3923/pjn.2011.463.469 | Department of Animal Nutrition and Forage Science, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture,Umudike, P.M.B. 7267, Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria | Amaefule, K.U., Department of Animal Nutrition and Forage Science, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture,Umudike, P.M.B. 7267, Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria; Mbonu, U.E., Department of Animal Nutrition and Forage Science, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture,Umudike, P.M.B. 7267, Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria; Amaka, V., Department of Animal Nutrition and Forage Science, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture,Umudike, P.M.B. 7267, Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria | Performance and nutrient utilization of growing rabbits (N=30) fed graded levels of raw Bambara groundnut [Vigna subterranean (L.) Verde] offal (BGO) diets were determined in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). There were five treatments each replicated three times with two rabbits per replicate. The inclusion levels of BGO in the diets were 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20%. Measurements were live weight, weight gain, feed and nutrient intakes, feed conversion ratio, feed cost and carcass quality. Also measured were nutrients voided, nutrient retention and apparent digestibility coefficient of nutrients. Results showed that 15% BGO diet improved daily weight gain (19.16 g), final live weight (1.18 kg), feed conversion ratio (2.56) and lowered cost per kg live weight gain (Naira 76.55) of rabbits than other diets. Increased level of BGO in the diets resulted in a significant (p<0.05) decrease in total feed cost. Rabbits fed 20% BGO diet had higher CP (18.92 g) and CF (11.31 g) intakes, significantly (p<0.05) higher faecal DM (98.58 g), OM (88.97 g) and faecal nitrogen (0.04 g) than rabbits fed other diets. The diet of 20% BGO also depressed coefficient of apparent digestibility of ether extract (85.28%), CF (65.80%), crude ash and NFE (89.54%) compared to other diets. It was concluded that growing rabbits could be fed diets containing up to 15% BGO to enhance daily weight gain and reduce feed cost, which would not adversely affect nutrient intake, coefficient of apparent digestibility and nutrient utilization. © Asian Network for Scientific Information, 2011. | Bambara groundnut offal; Nutrient utilization; Performance; Rabbits | nitrogen; animal experiment; article; ash; body growth; body weight; carcass; controlled study; cost; dietary fiber; dietary intake; digestion; feeding; female; food intake; food preservation; male; nonhuman; nutrient uptake; peanut; protein intake; rabbit; randomization; weight gain; Bambara; Oryctolagus cuniculus; Vigna subterranea | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79959323429 | Effects of zinc supplementation on laying performance, serum chemistry and Zn residue in tibia bone, liver, excreta and egg shell of laying hens | Idowu O.M.O., Ajuwon R.O., Oso A.O., Akinloye O.A. | 2011 | International Journal of Poultry Science | 10 | 3 | 10.3923/ijps.2011.225.230 | Department of Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Science and Livestock Production, University of Agriculture, P.M.B. 2240, Abeokuta, Nigeria; Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Wellness Sciences, Cape Peninsula University of Technol | Idowu, O.M.O., Department of Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Science and Livestock Production, University of Agriculture, P.M.B. 2240, Abeokuta, Nigeria; Ajuwon, R.O., Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Wellness Sciences, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Bellville Campus, Bellville 7535, South Africa; Oso, A.O., Department of Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Science and Livestock Production, University of Agriculture, P.M.B. 2240, Abeokuta, Nigeria; Akinloye, O.A., Department of Biochemistry, University of Agriculture, P.M.B. 2240, Abeokuta, Nigeria | The effect of different sources of Zinc (Zn) in the diets of laying birds was investigated in a 10 weeks trial. Diets were formulated to include Zinc Oxide (ZnO), Zinc Sulphate (ZnSO4), Zinc Carbonate (ZnCO3) and Zinc Proteinate (ZnP) in which Zn in each diet was supplied at 140 mgKg-' diet. Responses measured included performance, some serum biochemistry, Zn residues in tibia bone, liver, excreta and egg shell. Significant (p<0.05) differences were recorded among the treatment means in final body weight, feed intake, egg production and feed conversion ratio. Birds fed control diet significantly (p<0.05) consumed more feed than the birds on ZnP and other inorganic Zn sources. Birds on ZnP supplemented diet recorded significantly (p<0.05) higher egg production, this was however similar to the group fed ZnSO4 supplemented diet. Egg qualities were not significantly (p>0.05) different due to Zn sources except HU values. Serum glucose, SGPT and creatinine concentrations did not vary (p>0.05) due to Zn sources while serum protein, uric acid, SGOT and serum Zn concentrations were consistently lowered (p<0.05) in the control group. Birds on ZnP supplemented diet showed marked significant (p<0.05) difference in the value of Zn residue in tibia bone, liver and excreta of the chickens. The values of the stress indicators were consistently more pronounced in the control group than birds on Zn supplemented diets. For better laying performance, higher Zn retention and alleviation of stress, 140 ppm of Zn in bioplex form (Zn proteinate) was recommended for laying chickens in the tropics. © Asian Network for Scientific Information, 2011. | Laying hens; Residues; Zinc salts | Aves; Gallus gallus | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84893709135 | Epidemiology, public health impact and control methods of the most neglected parasite diseases in Ethiopia: A review | Dawit G., Shishay K. | 2014 | World Journal of Medical Sciences | 10 | 2 | 10.5829/idosi.wjms.2014.10.2.81231 | Department of Animal Science and Eco-tourism Management, Aksum University, Shire, Ethiopia | Dawit, G., Department of Animal Science and Eco-tourism Management, Aksum University, Shire, Ethiopia; Shishay, K., Department of Animal Science and Eco-tourism Management, Aksum University, Shire, Ethiopia | Toxoplasmosis, leishmaniasis and hydatidosis are the most neglected, an important public health problem and of economic importance, affecting largely the poorest of the poor, mainly in developing countries. Toxoplasmosis is a problematic zoonosis, particularly in vulnerable groups such as pregnant women and immunodeficient patients. Toxoplasma gondii was first isolated in the early 1900s from an African rodent (i.e. Ctenodactylus gundi). Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite, infecting humans and almost all warm-blooded animals. Toxoplasmosis is the most common disease complication, next to tuberculosis, among HIV seropositive admissions and deaths in Ethiopia. Leishmaniasis is a major vector-borne disease caused by obligate intramacrophage protozoa of the genus Leishmania and transmitted by the bite of phlebotomine female sand flies. Currently, leishmaniasis shows a wider geographic distribution and increased global incidence. Environmental, demographic and human behaviors contribute to the changing landscape for zoonotic cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis. The primary reservoir hosts of Leishmania are sylvatic mammals such as forest rodents, hyraxes and wild canids and dogs are the most important species among domesticated animals in the epidemiology. HIV/AIDS co-infection in the north-western, visceral leishmaniasis focus in Ethiopia has the highest known HIV co-infection rate in the world. Hydatidosis is a major parasitic disease caused by the larval stage of the dog tapeworm Echinococcus granulosus and is characterized by the formation of single or multiple cysts (hydatid cysts) varying in size. Dogs are particularly important in zoonotic transmission due to their close relationships with humans. Ethiopia has been noted for a high prevalence of hydatid disease since 1970s during which it was reported that the disease occurs in all parts of the country. Likewise, studies conducted recently in abattoirs of various locations have indicated that hydatidosis is widespread in Ethiopia with great economic and public health significance. Therefore, it is highly imperative public health education to build up public awareness about the sources of infection, control and prevention method for overcoming neglected tropical diseases. © IDOSI Publications, 2014. | Ethiopia; Hydatidosis; Leishmaniasis; Neglected; Toxoplasmosis | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79957565234 | Evaluation of dried leaf meal of an ethnomedicinal plant-neem-on linear growths and reproductive tract morphometry of rabbit does | Ogbuewu I.P., Okoro V.M., Okoli I.C., Iloeje M.U. | 2011 | Electronic Journal of Environmental, Agricultural and Food Chemistry | 10 | 4 | None | Department of Animal Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, P.M.B.1526, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria | Ogbuewu, I.P., Department of Animal Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, P.M.B.1526, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria; Okoro, V.M., Department of Animal Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, P.M.B.1526, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria; Okoli, I.C., Department of Animal Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, P.M.B.1526, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria; Iloeje, M.U., Department of Animal Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, P.M.B.1526, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria | Linear body changes and reproductive tract morphometric characteristics of rabbit does fed graded levels of neem leaf meal (NLM) based diets for 16 weeks were investigated. Thirty-six does were divided into 4 treatment groups of 9 rabbits each and the groups were randomly assigned to the 4 treatment diets with diet 1(control) containing no NLM while diet 2, 3 and 4 contained 5%, 10% and 15% NLM respectively, in a completely randomized design experiment. The ovarian weights of does on the control group was significantly (p<0.05) lower than the other three groups. Paired oviductal weights of the group fed control diet (standard diet) were significantly (p<0.05) heavier than the groups fed 5% and 10% NLM diets, but similar (p>0.05) to the group fed 15% NLM diet. The length of uterine horn and weight of cervix of the control rabbits were significantly (p<0.05) affected by the treatment diets. The weight of whole reproductive tract of the rabbits on 0% NLM were significantly (p<0.05) lower than the groups fed 5% and 10% NLM diets, but similar (p>0.05) to the group on 15% NLM diet. All the other parameters were similar (p>0.05) among the various treatment groups. The results suggest that rabbit does could tolerate up to 15% NLM without deleterious effects on body linear parameters and reproductive tract morphometry. | Growth; Neem; Rabbit; Reproductive tract | Azadirachta indica; Oryctolagus cuniculus | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84857867903 | Physiological response of broiler chickens to neem (Azadirachta indica) and akakapenpen (Rauvolfia vomitoria) decoctions: Performance and carcass characteristics | Zanu H.K., Kagya-Agyemang J.K., Kwenin W.K.J., Bonsu F.R.K., Antwi E., Ateni S. | 2011 | International Journal of Poultry Science | 10 | 9 | 10.3923/ijps.2011.730.733 | Department of Animal Science Education, University of Education, Winneba, P.O. Box 40, Mampong-Ashanti, Ghana | Zanu, H.K., Department of Animal Science Education, University of Education, Winneba, P.O. Box 40, Mampong-Ashanti, Ghana; Kagya-Agyemang, J.K., Department of Animal Science Education, University of Education, Winneba, P.O. Box 40, Mampong-Ashanti, Ghana; Kwenin, W.K.J., Department of Animal Science Education, University of Education, Winneba, P.O. Box 40, Mampong-Ashanti, Ghana; Bonsu, F.R.K., Department of Animal Science Education, University of Education, Winneba, P.O. Box 40, Mampong-Ashanti, Ghana; Antwi, E., Department of Animal Science Education, University of Education, Winneba, P.O. Box 40, Mampong-Ashanti, Ghana; Ateni, S., Department of Animal Science Education, University of Education, Winneba, P.O. Box 40, Mampong-Ashanti, Ghana | A 6-week feeding trial was conducted on One hundred and eighty (180) Cobb broilers to evaluate the effects of Neem (Azadirachta indica) decoction (AID) and Akakapenpen (Rauvolfia vomitoria) decoction (RVD) on body weight gain, carcass and organ characteristics and haematological values of broiler chickens. The leaves of Azadirachta indica and Rauvolfia vomitoria were harvested and dried in the sun until they became crispy but still greenish in coloration. They were washed and then boiled (40 g of chopped leaves in 9L of water). The decoctions were placed in separate sterilized bottles ready for use and were offered ad libitum. The birds were randomly distributed to the treatments with twenty (20) birds per replicate, with each treatment replicated three times in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). The total replacement of antibiotics and coccidiostat resulted in non-significant depression (p<0.05) in final body weight and weight gain in experimental birds. However, feed intake was slightly affected (p<0.05) by administration of RVD to broilers. There was no significant effect of decoctions on water intake, feed conversion efficiency and mortality. Decoction had no significant influence on the dressing percentage, weights of crop (full), heart, proventriculus (full), intestines (full), feet and head. Decoction however, significantly affected gizzard (both full and empty), crop (empty), liver, kidney and proventriculus (empty). Liver and gizzard weights significantly increased with the inclusion of AID and RVD in water. Apart from WBC and Lymphocytes which were significantly influenced by decoction, the other blood parameters did not show any significant difference. This study suggests that AID and RVD replacement to antibiotics and coccidiostat may have beneficial effects on body weight gain and feed conversion efficiency. Total comparative profit derived from replacing antibiotics + coccidiostat with AID and RVD resulted in economic gains. © Asian Network for Scientific Information, 2011. | Azadirachta indica; Broiler chickens; Decoctions; Rauvolfia vomitoria | Aves; Azadirachta indica; Gallus gallus; Rauvolfia; Rauvolfia vomitoria | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79960426080 | Sex influence on performance of West African Dwarf goats | Idiong N.B., Udom G.N. | 2011 | Electronic Journal of Environmental, Agricultural and Food Chemistry | 10 | 6 | None | Department of Animal Science, Akwa Ibom State University, Obio Akpa Campus, Nigeria; Department of Crop Science, University of Uyo, Nigeria | Idiong, N.B., Department of Animal Science, Akwa Ibom State University, Obio Akpa Campus, Nigeria; Udom, G.N., Department of Crop Science, University of Uyo, Nigeria | The performance of thirty West African Dwarf goats (15 males and 15 females) intensively fed on five fodder diets were compared, to determine the influence of animal sex on the parameters studied. The parameters evaluated were feed intake, apparent digestibility, body weight, body weight gains, feed conversion ratio and reproductive performance. Mean intake values for male and female goats were 2.03kg and 2.77kg respectively, indicating that the experimental does consumed more feed than the bucks. Significant differences (p<0.05) were observed in apparent dry matter digestibility with the females exhibiting superiority over the males. Similar results were recorded for body weight and feed conversion ratio. Effect of sex on weight gain was not significant (p>0.05). However, male goats exhibited puberty characteristics earlier than females. The mean live weight at puberty were 7.81kg and 8.68kg for the bucks and does respectively. | Dwarf goats; Sex; West African | Animalia; Capra hircus | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79955638746 | Growth performances and cost analysis of weaner rabbits fed varying dietary levels of crude protein supplemented with tridax procumbens | Mmereole F.U.C., Egoh J.O., Obinne J.I. | 2011 | Pakistan Journal of Nutrition | 10 | 2 | None | Department of Animal Science, Delta State University, Asaba Campus, Asaba-Delta State, Nigeria; Department of Agricultural Education, Federal College of Education (Technical), Asaba-Delta State, Nigeria | Mmereole, F.U.C., Department of Animal Science, Delta State University, Asaba Campus, Asaba-Delta State, Nigeria; Egoh, J.O., Department of Animal Science, Delta State University, Asaba Campus, Asaba-Delta State, Nigeria; Obinne, J.I., Department of Agricultural Education, Federal College of Education (Technical), Asaba-Delta State, Nigeria | Growth performance and cost benefit implications of feeding weaner rabbits on concentrate diets supplemented with T. procumbens ad lib. was investigated in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) experiment comprising four treatment groups. Thirty-six weaner rabbits were involved in the experiment. Nine rabbits randomly assigned to each of the four treatment groups consisting of the following: Diet 1 = 12% CP with Tridax, Diet 2 = 14% CP with Tridax, Diet 3 = 16% CP with Tridax and Diet 4 = 16% CP without Tridax as the control. The treatments were replicated thrice. The feeding trial lasted for fourty-two days during which data on body weight and weight gains, feed intake and Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) were collected. The data collected were subjected to cost/benefit evaluation and statistical analysis using S.A.S. (2002) software package. Dietary treatments produced significant (p<0.05) effects on feed consumption, body weights and weight gains, FCR, production costs and profit margins. Rabbits fed concentrate diets containing 14% CP+ Tridax supplement had the best feed conversion ratio, least production cost/per kg of body weight gain and highest profit margin than the other treatments. Based on the results, therefore, it is advisable to produce rabbits on diets formulated on 14% CP supplemented with Tridax ad lib if the producer's objective is to maximize profit. © Asian Network for Scientific Information, 2011. | Crude protein level; Growth performance; Profit margin; Rabbits; Tridax supplement | protein; animal experiment; article; body weight; controlled study; cost benefit analysis; diet supplementation; female; food composition; food intake; growth; male; nonhuman; plant; rabbit; statistical analysis; tridax procumbens; weight gain; Oryctolagus cuniculus; Tridax; Tridax procumbens | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79951755323 | Evaluation of the dietary inclusion of Aloe Vera as an alternative to antibiotic growth promoter in broiler production | Mmereole F.U.C. | 2011 | Pakistan Journal of Nutrition | 10 | 1 | 10.3923/pjn.2011.1.5 | Department of Animal Science, Delta State University, Asaba Campus-Asaba, Delta State, Nigeria | Mmereole, F.U.C., Department of Animal Science, Delta State University, Asaba Campus-Asaba, Delta State, Nigeria | An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary inclusion of Aloe vera as an alternative to antibiotic growth promoter on the performance and the haematological characteristics of the broiler chickens. The experiment involved one hundred and twenty day-old Abor-Acre broiler chicks which were distributed to three treatment groups. The treatment groups comprised the following: T1 = control (basal feed), T2 = basal feed + Aloe vera, T3 = basal feed + Teramycin soluble powder (antibiotic growth promoter). Fourty day-old chicks were assigned to each treatment group in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) and each treatment was replicated four times with each replicate having ten birds. The experiment lasted 56 days (8 weeks) during which the following parameters were collected:- initial body weight at day old, weekly body weights and body weight gains. At the end of the experiment, 8 birds were randomly collected from each experimental group and bled to obtain blood samples to determine the blood characteristics of the birds. All the data collected were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) using SAS (2002) package. Results obtained indicated that body weights and body weight gains were significantly (p>0.05) higher in the birds fed diets containing Aloe vera supplement (T2) than the birds fed control diet (T1) but there were no significant (p<0.05) differences T2 and T3. With respect to the results of the haematological analysis, it was observed that while the blood characteristics of the birds in T1 did not significantly (p>0.05) differ from those birds in T2, there were significant (p<0.05) differences between the birds in T2 and T3. Based on these results, it was concluded that while those birds in T2 compared very well with the birds placed on antibiotics growth promoter (T3) in respect of growth parameters, the birds on T2 (Aloe vera supplement) showed remarkable superiority in blood characteristics over the birds in T3 (antibiotics supplement). This is an indication that Aloe vera can be used to replace antibiotics growth promoters while avoiding the development of drug resistance associated with antibiotic growth promoters. © Asian Network for Scientific Information, 2011. | Aloe vera; Dietary inclusion; Drug resistance; Growth promoters; Haematological parameters | Aloe vera leaf powder; antibiotic agent; growth promotor; herbaceous agent; teramycin; unclassified drug; analysis of variance; animal experiment; animal food; animal tissue; article; bird; blood analysis; blood sampling; body weight; broiler; chick; chicken; controlled study; diet supplementation; drug resistance; hematological parameters; nonhuman; physical performance; plant leaf; randomization; weight gain; Aloe vera; Aves; Gallus gallus | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-34547212751 | Effect of replacement of maize with earth ball (Icacinia manni) meal on the performance of broiler chickens | Umoren U.E., Isika M.A., Asanga E.P., Ezeigwe P.N. | 2007 | Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences | 10 | 14 | None | Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Calabar, Nigeria; Department of Animal Production and Health, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Swaziland, Swaziland | Umoren, U.E., Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Calabar, Nigeria; Isika, M.A., Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Calabar, Nigeria, Department of Animal Production and Health, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Swaziland, Swaziland; Asanga, E.P., Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Calabar, Nigeria; Ezeigwe, P.N., Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Calabar, Nigeria | The aim of the study was to assess the replacement value of earth ball for maize in broiler diets. A feeding trial was conducted for eight weeks using 220 unsexed Anak 2000 broiler chickens in a completely randomized design to assess the effect of replacement of maize with Icacinia manni meal at 0, 15, 30, 45 and 60% on the performance. The diets were isonitrogenous and isocaloric, containing 24% crude protein and 3095 Kcal kg -1 ME in the starter ration and 21% crude protein and 3204 Kcal kg -1 ME in the finisher mash. The birds were randomly distributed into 5 treatments with two replicates containing 22 birds each making a total of 44 birds per treatment. Results showed that in the starter phase, dietary treatments had significantly (p<0.05) least feed intake, body weight gain in the 45 and 60% Icacinia manni meal diets, but not significantly (p>0.05) different in mortality and feed conversion ratio. Significant differences (p<0.05) were also observed in feed intake and body weight gain in the finisher phase. Birds on 0 and 15% Icacinia manni meal diets consumed more feed and were heavier (p<0.05) than those on 30, 45 and 60% Icacinia meal diets. Mortality and feed conversion ratio were not significantly different (p>0.05) at the finisher phase. Birds on 0 and 15% Icacinia meal inclusion exhibited significantly (p<0.05) higher dressed weight, kidney, liver, lung, shank, intestine, neck and gizzard weights. The study concludes that Icacinia manni meal could replace maize up to 15% in broiler diets without deleterious effect on performance, which holds great potential as feed ingredient in poultry nutrition. © 2007 Asian Network for Scientific Information. | Carcass; Feeding trial; Icacinia manni meal; Organ mass; Performance | animal; animal food; article; chicken; feeding behavior; growth, development and aging; maize; physiology; Animal Feed; Animals; Chickens; Feeding Behavior; Zea mays; Aves; Gallus gallus; Zea mays | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-80053089228 | Performance and carcass characteristics of broiler finishers fed acidifier based diets | Ogunwole O.A., Abu O.A., Adepoju I.A. | 2011 | Pakistan Journal of Nutrition | 10 | 7 | 10.3923/pjn.2011.631.636 | Department of Animal Science, University of lbadan, lbadan, Oyo State, Nigeria | Ogunwole, O.A., Department of Animal Science, University of lbadan, lbadan, Oyo State, Nigeria; Abu, O.A., Department of Animal Science, University of lbadan, lbadan, Oyo State, Nigeria; Adepoju, I.A., Department of Animal Science, University of lbadan, lbadan, Oyo State, Nigeria | Effects of supplementing diets with Biotronics SE (an acidifier) in replacement of Oxytetracycline- HCI (Antibiotic Growth Promoter) (AGP) on performance and carcass characteristics of broiler chickens was investigated using 128 Marshall Strain day old broilers. The birds were randomly allotted to four treatments with each treatment made of a duplicate of 16 chicks per replicate. Four isocaloric and isonitrogenous diets (A: control diet without Oxytetracycline-HCI and Biotronics SE®; Diet B had 0.1% Oxytetracycline-HCI only, Diet C contained 0.3% Biotronics SE® only while Diet D contained 0.1% Oxytetracycline HCI and 0.3% Biotronics SE®) were formulated and each diet was offered in mash form to their respective birds from day 21 until week 7. At day 49, four chickens from each replicate were selected and sacrificed for the determination of carcass characteristics. Weight gain and feed intake were significantly higher (p<0.05) for birds on dietary treatment D. Variations in values obtained for the final body weight and mortality indices were however similar (p>0.05). Biotronics supplementation significantly improved (p<0.05) feed conversion ratio, live weight gain and bled weight. Other carcass and internal organs weights were not significantly (p>0.05) affected by the inclusion of AGP or acidifier in the diets. Biotronics SE can suitably replace AGP in broilers diets. © Asian Network for Scientific Information, 2011. | Antibiotic growth promoter; Biotronics SE®; Broiler; Carcass characteristics; Performance; Supplementation | oxytetracycline; animal experiment; animal food; article; broiler; carcass; chick; controlled study; diet supplementation; food intake; growth rate; nonhuman; organ weight; poultry farming; task performance; therapy effect; treatment duration; weight gain; Aves; Gallus gallus | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-82855181273 | The performance of broiler birds fed varying levels of roasted Pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan) Seed Meal | Ani A.O., Okeke G.C. | 2011 | Pakistan Journal of Nutrition | 10 | 11 | None | Department of Animal Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria | Ani, A.O., Department of Animal Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria; Okeke, G.C., Department of Animal Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria | Two experiments were carried out to investigate the effect of roasted Pigeonpea Seed Meal (PSM) on growth performance of broiler birds. Two hundred and forty day-old commercial unsexed broiler chicks (Anak strain) were used in experiment 1, while 168 four-week old broiler birds from experiment 1 were used in experiment 2. Birds in experiments 1 and 2 were divided into 6 groups. Experiment 1 birds were randomly assigned to six isoenergetic and isonitrogenous broiler starter diets containing 0, 6.5, 13.0, 19.5, 26.0 and 32.5% roasted PSM. Experiment 2 birds were also randomly assigned to 6 isoenergetic and isonitrogenous broiler finisher diets containing 0, 5.5, 10.5, 16.0, 21.5 and 27.0% roasted PSM. Parameters considered were weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, protein efficiency ratio, dressed carcass weight and carcass dressing percent. Results (Experiment 1) showed that there were significant differences (p<0.05) among treatments in average daily weight gain, average daily feed intake and feed conversion ratio. Feed intake, weight gain and efficiency of feed utilization declined at the 32.5% level of roasted PSM inclusion. However, there were no significant differences (p>0.05) among treatments in all the parameters considered in experiment 2. The results showed conclusively that roasted PSM can be included in broiler starter and finisher diets at 26% and 27% levels, respectively without any adverse effect on broiler birds. © Asian Network for Scientific Information, 2011. | Broiler birds; Effect; Growth performance; Roasted pigeon pea seed meal | animal experiment; animal food; animal tissue; article; broiler; carcass; controlled study; dietary intake; food composition; nonhuman; nutritional assessment; nutritional requirement; nutritional value; roasted pigeonpea seed meal; test meal; weight gain | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84934765105 | Productive and reproductive performance of holstein-friesian cows under farmer’s management in Hossana town, Ethiopia | Kebede H. | 2015 | International Journal of Dairy Science | 10 | 3 | 10.3923/ijds.2015.126.133 | Department of Animal Sciences, Wachemo University, P.O. Box 667, Hossana, Ethiopia | Kebede, H., Department of Animal Sciences, Wachemo University, P.O. Box 667, Hossana, Ethiopia | The study was conducted on 154 Holstein-Friesian (HF) cows maintained under farmer’s managemental system in Hossana city (Ethiopia). A total of 80 HF owners were randomly selected and interviewed with structured questionnaire to assess the productive and reproductive performance of Holstein-Friesian cows. The results of the study showed that the mean milk yield/day/cow was 8.38±0.47 L, lactation length was 252.25±5.31 days, peak yield was11.39±0.58 L and lactation milk yield was 2149.19±143.80 L, number of services per conception was 1.8±0.09, age at first calving was 36.48±0.55 month, calving to first service interval was 212.70±18.12 days and calving interval was 462.87±19.48 days for HF cows. The constraints of dairy production in the study areas including feed shortage (1st), high feed cost (2nd), disease (3rd), scarce information about feeding (4th), high medicament cost (5th), scarcity of timely veterinary services (6th), lack of capital (7th), low price of milk (8th), heat detection (9th) and ineffici nt AI services (10th) were found to be the top challenges for dairy practice in the area. Therefore, strategies designed to solve the existing problem should be important by involving all stakeholders in the formulation and implementation of improvement strategies. © 2015 Academic Journals Inc. | Holstein-Friesian; Hossana city; Productive; Reproductive performances | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84859183527 | Ground prosopis juliflora pod as feed ingredient in poultry diet: Effects on laying performance and egg quality | Girma M., Urge M., Animut G. | 2011 | International Journal of Poultry Science | 10 | 11 | None | Department of Animal Sciences, Wollo University, P.O. Box 1145, Ethiopia; School of Animal and Range Sciences, Haramaya University, P.O. Box 138, Ethiopia | Girma, M., Department of Animal Sciences, Wollo University, P.O. Box 1145, Ethiopia; Urge, M., School of Animal and Range Sciences, Haramaya University, P.O. Box 138, Ethiopia; Animut, G., School of Animal and Range Sciences, Haramaya University, P.O. Box 138, Ethiopia | One hundred and eighty 26-week old Bovans Brown commercial layers were used to determine the performance and economic of layers fed with ration containing Ground Prosopis Juliflora Pods (GPJP) at levels of 0 (T 1), 10 (T 2), 20 (T 3) and 30% (T 4) of the total ration. The experiment was arranged in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with four treatments, each replicated three times with 15 birds per replicate. The experiment lasted 12 weeks. Hens were individually weighed at the start and end of the experiment. Data on Dry Matter Intake (DMI), Hen Day Egg Production (HDEP), egg weight and egg mass were recorded daily. Egg quality parameters (egg shell weight and thickness, albumen weight and height, Haugh unit and egg yolk weight and color) were determined at an interval of 3 days on 6 eggs per replicate. GPJP contained 12.1% CP, 7.3% ether extract, 14.4% crude fiber and 82.3 μg/100 g beta-carotene. DMI and HDEP was lower (p<0.05) for T 4 than T 1 and T 2 and that of egg mass was significantly lower (p<0.05) for T 4 than T 1 (DMI: 111.4, 111.8, 110.5 and 105.4 g/day (SEM = 1.92); HDEP: 67.2, 67.7, 62.7 and 60.0% (SEM = 0.02); egg mass: 44.0, 43.8, 41.3 and 39.6 g/day (SEM = 1.49) for T 1, T 2, T 3 and T 4, respectively). Body weight change and feed conversion ratio was not impacted (p>0.05) by treatment. Except for egg yolk color which was greater (p<0.05) for T 4 than other treatments, all quality parameters were similar among treatments. Therefore, based on the results of the current study, the 10% GPJP inclusion level in the ration of layers is more economical. Although 30% GPJP inclusion level in the ration of layers improved egg yolk color and it appeared to result in reduction of egg production and egg mass. Therefore, up to 20% GPJP inclusion in layers ration is recommendable based on the performance of the birds, although the treatment with 10% GPJP in the ration seems to be more economical. ©Asian Network for Scientific Information. | Bovans Brown; Egg mass; Egg quality; Ground Prosopis juliflora pods | Aves; Prosopis juliflora | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79955598430 | Evaluation of the tubers and oil of Cyperus rotundus Linn (CYPERACEAE) | Emelugo B.N., Umerie S.C., Okonkwo I.F., Achufusi J.N. | 2011 | Pakistan Journal of Nutrition | 10 | 2 | None | Department of Applied Biochemistry, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, P.M.B 5025, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria; Department of Agriculture and Bioresource Engineering, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, P.M.B 5025, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria; Department of Biology, Nwa | Emelugo, B.N., Department of Applied Biochemistry, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, P.M.B 5025, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria; Umerie, S.C., Department of Applied Biochemistry, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, P.M.B 5025, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria; Okonkwo, I.F., Department of Agriculture and Bioresource Engineering, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, P.M.B 5025, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria; Achufusi, J.N., Department of Biology, Nwafor Orizu College of Education, Nsugbe, Anambra State, Nigeria | The proximate analysis of Cyperus rotundus tubers were evaluated and the composition was found to be: 9.0±0.80, 1.75±0.55, 9.50±0.86, 7.87±0.92, 17.48±1.04 and 63.60±1.52% for moisture, crude protein, oil, ash, crude fibre and carbohydrate respectively. The quality of the oil extracted by Soxhlet was assessed in terms of acid value, free fatty acid content, iodine value, saponification value and specific gravity. Results showed that the oil has a low iodine number thus placing it as a non-drying oil, stable and reduced degree of unsaturation. The saponification value and the heat of combustion, implicated the oil as non-edible but can be used for making alkyd resin, shampoo and soaps. The phytochemical constituents; terpenoids, tannins and flavonoids are also implicated in the allelopathic properties of the tubers. © Asian Network for Scientific Information, 2011. | Characterization; Cyperus rotundus tubers; Oil extraction; Proximate evaluation | carbohydrate; fatty acid; flavonoid; iodine; resin; shampoo; soap; tannin derivative; terpenoid derivative; vegetable oil; vegetable protein; article; ash; biochemical composition; combustion; controlled study; Cyperus; Cyperus rotundus; heat; moisture; nonhuman; physical chemistry; plant fiber; plant morphology; quality control; relative density; saponification; tuber; Cyperus rotundus | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79951515024 | Mathematical Analysis of an HIV/AIDS Model: Impact of Educational Programs and Abstinence in Sub-Saharan Africa | Bhunu C.P., Mushayabasa S., Kojouharov H., Tchuenche J.M. | 2011 | Journal of Mathematical Modelling and Algorithms | 10 | 1 | 10.1007/s10852-010-9134-0 | Department of Applied Mathematics, Modelling Biomedical Systems Research Group, National University of Science and Technology, P. O. Box AC 939, Ascot, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe; Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB3 OES, United Kingdom; Department of Mathematics, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019-0408, United States; Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada | Bhunu, C.P., Department of Applied Mathematics, Modelling Biomedical Systems Research Group, National University of Science and Technology, P. O. Box AC 939, Ascot, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB3 OES, United Kingdom; Mushayabasa, S., Department of Applied Mathematics, Modelling Biomedical Systems Research Group, National University of Science and Technology, P. O. Box AC 939, Ascot, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe; Kojouharov, H., Department of Mathematics, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019-0408, United States; Tchuenche, J.M., Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada | We formulate a deterministic HIV/AIDS model to theoretically investigate how counselling and testing coupled with the resulting decrease in sexual activity could affect the HIV epidemic in resource-limited communities. The threshold quantities are determined and stabilities analyzed. Theoretical analysis and numerical simulations support the idea that increase in the number of sexually inactive HIV positive individuals who voluntarily abstain from sex has a positive impact on HIV/AIDS control. Results from this theoretical study suggest that effective counselling and testing have a great potential to partially control the epidemic (especially when HIV positive individuals either willingly withdraw from risky sexual activities or disclose their status beforehand) even in the absence of antiretroviral therapy (ART). Therefore, more needs to be done in resource-limited settings, such as sub-Saharan Africa, as far as the HIV/AIDS epidemic is concerned and a formalized information, education, and communication strategy should be given prominence in educational campaigns. © 2010 Springer Science+Business Media B.V. | Abstinence; HIV/AIDS; Reproduction number; Resource-limited; Testing and counselling | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84939517196 | Effect of different stocking density on nutrient utilization, growth performance and survival of African catfish (Clarias gariepinus, Burchell, 1822) fry in recirculatory system | Kareem O.K., Olanrewaju A.N. | 2015 | Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Science | 10 | 5 | 10.3923/jfas.2015.400.404 | Department of Aquaculture and Fisheries Management, University of Ibadan, Ibada, Nigeria; Federal College of Freshwater Fisheries Technology, P.M.B 1060, Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria | Kareem, O.K., Department of Aquaculture and Fisheries Management, University of Ibadan, Ibada, Nigeria; Olanrewaju, A.N., Federal College of Freshwater Fisheries Technology, P.M.B 1060, Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria | Management of C. gariepinus fry in recirculating tank is one modern technique applied for fish culture in Nigeria. Since, this system is gaining popularity nationwide there is a dare need to investigate appropriate stocking density as already established for both concrete tanks and earthen pond system. Clarias gariepinus fry (0.14±0.01 g) were reared in indoor recirculating tanks (60.5 m3) at three different stocking rates 5000, 8000 and 12000 fry/tank as treatment LD, MD and HD respectively for a period of eight weeks. The experiment was duplicated and fish were fed 45% crude protein diet at 5% in four installments daily. The mean body weight gain and SGR decreased with increasing stocking density. The best growth performance (weight gain, length gain and SGR) was achieved in treatment LD. The lowest FCR (1.04±0.01) value was obtained in HD but show no significant difference (p>0.05) to other treatments. Percentage survival of the fish was significantly (p<0.05) affected by the stocking density with the highest value recorded in LD (86.8%). Waterquality parameters were within the recommended ranges throughout the experimental period. From this study, the stocking density of 5000 fry m-3 is recommended for efficient feed utilization, optimum growth performance and survival in a re-circulatory culture system. © 2015 Academic Journals Inc. | Fish seed; Growth performance; Recirculating system; Stocking density | finfish; growth rate; growth response; recirculating system; stock assessment; stocking density; survival; Clarias gariepinus | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33745807956 | Improving the laboratory diagnosis of TB in Ghana: The impact of a quality assurance system | Addo K.K., Dan-Dzide M., Yeboah-Manu D., Owusu-Darko K., Caulley P., Minamikawa M., Bonsu F., Lienhardt C., Akpedonu P., Ofori-Adjei D. | 2006 | International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease | 10 | 7 | None | Department of Bacteriology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, Legon, Ghana; National Public Health Reference Laboratory, Korle-Bu, Ghana; National Tuberculosis Control Programme, Korle-Bu, Ghana; West African TB Research Initiative, Dakar, Senegal; Department of Bacteriology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, Box LG 581, Legon, Ghana | Addo, K.K., Department of Bacteriology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, Legon, Ghana, Department of Bacteriology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, Box LG 581, Legon, Ghana; Dan-Dzide, M., Department of Bacteriology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, Legon, Ghana; Yeboah-Manu, D., Department of Bacteriology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, Legon, Ghana; Owusu-Darko, K., Department of Bacteriology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, Legon, Ghana; Caulley, P., National Public Health Reference Laboratory, Korle-Bu, Ghana; Minamikawa, M., Department of Bacteriology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, Legon, Ghana; Bonsu, F., National Tuberculosis Control Programme, Korle-Bu, Ghana; Lienhardt, C., West African TB Research Initiative, Dakar, Senegal; Akpedonu, P., Department of Bacteriology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, Legon, Ghana; Ofori-Adjei, D., Department of Bacteriology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, Legon, Ghana | SETTING: Greater Accra region, Ghana. OBJECTIVE: To establish a pilot quality assurance (QA) system in sputum smear microscopy and to evaluate its impact. DESIGN: Quarterly supporting visits were paid to participating laboratories between 2000 and 2002. Fifteen examined slides were selected randomly from each laboratory during the visits and blindly re-assessed. Feedback was given promptly to the various laboratories. Training and stakeholder workshops were organised whenever necessary. RESULTS: General improvements in smear preparation and staining as well as the reading ability of the laboratory personnel included in the study were observed. The average marks for specimen quality, staining ability, smear cleanness, thickness, size and evenness increased from 64%, 79%, 69%, 46%, 67% and 60% in the last quarter of 2000 to 81%, 90%, 86%, 79%, 80% and 74%, respectively, 24 months after the establishment of the QA system. Within the same period, the rate of false-positives and -negatives decreased from respectively 14.8% and 20.5% to 0%, and agreements in positivity grade increased from 74% to 95%. The performance of the participating laboratories in keeping the laboratory registers up to date also improved. CONCLUSION: The QA system needs to be extended to the rest of the country. © 2006 The Union. | Ghana; Pilot system; Quality assurance; Sputum smear microscopy | article; false negative result; false positive result; Ghana; health care quality; human; job performance; laboratory diagnosis; medical education; priority journal; sputum smear; tuberculosis; Ghana; Humans; Laboratory Techniques and Procedures; Pilot Projects; Quality Assurance, Health Care; Tuberculosis | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-82855181272 | Biological evaluation of Thaumatococcus danielli waste protein | Elemo B.O., Adu O.B., Ogunrinola O.O., Efuwape T.O., Olaleye K.O., Kareem A.A. | 2011 | Pakistan Journal of Nutrition | 10 | 11 | None | Department of Biochemistry, Lagos State University, P.M.B. 01, LASU, Ojo, Lagos, Nigeria | Elemo, B.O., Department of Biochemistry, Lagos State University, P.M.B. 01, LASU, Ojo, Lagos, Nigeria; Adu, O.B., Department of Biochemistry, Lagos State University, P.M.B. 01, LASU, Ojo, Lagos, Nigeria; Ogunrinola, O.O., Department of Biochemistry, Lagos State University, P.M.B. 01, LASU, Ojo, Lagos, Nigeria; Efuwape, T.O., Department of Biochemistry, Lagos State University, P.M.B. 01, LASU, Ojo, Lagos, Nigeria; Olaleye, K.O., Department of Biochemistry, Lagos State University, P.M.B. 01, LASU, Ojo, Lagos, Nigeria; Kareem, A.A., Department of Biochemistry, Lagos State University, P.M.B. 01, LASU, Ojo, Lagos, Nigeria | Potential application of T. danielli waste as a raw material in livestock feed formulation had been suggested in earlier reports. In this study, the nutritional quality of protein in Thaumatococcus danielli seed and pericarp was evaluated using 16 male waster rats (20-25 g). The animals were randomly assigned to 4 groups and were maintained on four isocaloric diets, namely: casein, seed, pericarp and nitrogen-free diets, for 10 days. Daily weight gain and feed intake over the last 7 days were measured. Feacal, carcass, and feed nitrogen contents were also determined at the end of the feeding trial. Protein Efficiency Ratio (PER), Net Protein Retention (NPR), Biological Value (BV), Net Protein Utilization (NPU) and True Digestibility (TD), were thereafter calculated. Mean weight gain was significantly lower (p>0.05) in the rats fed the T. danielli pericarp feed (-2.60±0.80 g) than those placed on the seed (5.46±0.71 g). PER (-2.11±0.09); TD (59.37±1.72%); BV (16.96±1.61%); NPU (76.13±1.01%); and NPR (2.53±0.22) values were also significantly lower (p<0.01) in the pericarp than in the seed (2.19±0.23, 82.02±1.25%, 58.04±11.54%, 90.86±1.25% and 4.54±0.43 respectively). The quality of T. danielli seed protein compared favourably with that of the casein based diet. There was no significant difference (p>0.05) in the BV, PER, and NPU values between the casein based and the T. danielli based diets. The NPR value of the seed was significantly higher (p<0.05) compared to the casein diet. © Asian Network for Scientific Information, 2011. | Protein quality; Thaumatococcus danielli; Under-utilized crops; Waste utilization | casein; nitrogen; protein; animal experiment; animal tissue; article; carcass; controlled study; dietary intake; food composition; food intake; growth inhibition; male; nonhuman; nutritional assessment; nutritional value; pericarp; plant; plant seed; rat; test meal; Thaumatococcus danielli; weight gain | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-47249092753 | Impact of insecticide spray regimes on insect abundance in cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) in North Eastern Nigeria | Sharah H.A., Ali E.A. | 2008 | International Journal of Agriculture and Biology | 10 | 3 | None | Department of Crop Protection, University of Maidguri, P.M.B 1069, Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria; College of Agriculture, P.M.B. 1427, Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria | Sharah, H.A., Department of Crop Protection, University of Maidguri, P.M.B 1069, Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria; Ali, E.A., College of Agriculture, P.M.B. 1427, Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria | Field experiment was carried in Maiduguri during two cropping seasons to assess crop - pest cycle in relation to pest control using insecticides in cowpea [(Vigna unguiculata L. (Walp)]. The factional experiment considered two types of insecticides (Decis: deltamethrin and Nogos: dichlorvos) and nine (9) spraying regimes. The four stages in the phenology (pre-flowering (vegetative), flowering, podding & maturation) were monitored closely until harvest. Flower and pod drops were significantly different between control and treated plots and the cost: benefit ratios also followed similar trends. Pest species were more abundant at the pre-flowering and maturation in all the treatments, whether chemically treated or not. A total of 14,400 insect species were counted from the 50 observations in the two seasons and grouped into six orders, listed in order of abundance. Thysanoptera topped the list and diptera was the least in abundance. Insect populations were higher in the untreated (control) plots than in all the two-sprayed fields with 18.3% and 10.3% more between the un-sprayed (control; T0) and the complete controlled (T8) for Decis and Nogos treated plots, respectively. A significant interaction existed between insecticides types and spray regimes as there was low insect number per plant in Decis-treated plots than in Nogos treated plots. Flower and flower drops, pods and pods drops and cost: benefit ratios were significantly different with spaying regimes irrespective of the chemicals. Decis treated fields had better protection from Nogos treated fields. | Cost:benefit ratio; Crop phenology; Crop-pest cycle; Flowering; Insecticides; Pest abundance; Podding stages; Spraying regimes | Diptera; Hexapoda; Thysanoptera; Vigna unguiculata | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84935090382 | Evaluation of antimicrobial potential of a galactose-specific lectin in the skin mucus of african catfish (clarias gariepinus, burchell, 1822) against some aquatic microorganisms | Olayemi O.O., Adenike K., Ayinde A.D. | 2015 | Research Journal of Microbiology | 10 | 4 | 10.3923/jm.2015.132.144 | Department of Biochemistry, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun, Nigeria; Department of Microbiology, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun, Nigeria | Olayemi, O.O., Department of Biochemistry, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun, Nigeria; Adenike, K., Department of Biochemistry, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun, Nigeria; Ayinde, A.D., Department of Microbiology, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun, Nigeria | A galactose-specific lectin purified from the skin mucus of African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) was tested for antimicrobial activities against microbial pathogens isolated from the catfish pond water with a view to examining the involvement of the protein in the host defense mechanism. Standard methods of microbial isolation and identification were employed and disc-diffusion method was used for the anti-microbial assay. Anti-microbial evaluation of standard antibiotics ampicillin and nystatin were used as comparative study. The microbial load of the fish pond water was high, with highest total bacterial count of 7.1×10<inf>8</inf> CFU mL-1 and fungal count of 6.7×103 CFU mL-1. Twelve bacterial species and 14 fungi species were isolated and identified from the pond water. The lectin specifically agglutinated different Gram-negative bacteria, such as Aeromonas hydrophila, Alcaligenes faecalis, Klebsiella edwardsii and Vibrio metschnikovii but had no effect on Gram-positive bacteria. It inhibited strongly the growth of A. hydrophila, A. faecalis, Bacillus cereus, B. polymyxa, K. pneumoniae, K. edwardsii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and V. metschnikovii. In the same manner, the lectin inhibited the mycelia growth of yeast, Kluyveromyces marxianus and a phytopathogenic fungus, Fusarium oxysporum. The ability of skin mucus lectin to agglutinate and inhibit the growth of bacteria and fungi will make available effective defense mechanism for the African catfish against invading microbes. © 2015 Academic Journals Inc. | African catfish; Agglutination; Antimicrobial; Lectin; Pathogens; Skin mucus | Aeromonas hydrophila; Alcaligenes faecalis; Bacillus cereus; Bacteria (microorganisms); Clarias gariepinus; Fungi; Fusarium oxysporum; Klebsiella; Klebsiella pneumoniae; Kluyveromyces marxianus; Negibacteria; Polymyxa; Posibacteria; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Vibrio metschnikovii | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84864859953 | Impact-based cost-benefit analysis model for management of crude oil contaminated agricultural soil | Ogugua V.N., Egolum C.C., Onyike N.B., Onwurah I.N.E. | 2012 | International Journal of Environment and Waste Management | 10 | 03-Feb | 10.1504/IJEWM.2012.048373 | Department of Biochemistry, University of Nigeria, Enugu State, Nigeria; Department of Estate Management, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Anambra State, Nigeria; Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology, Abia State University, Abia State, Nigeria; Polluti | Ogugua, V.N., Department of Biochemistry, University of Nigeria, Enugu State, Nigeria; Egolum, C.C., Department of Estate Management, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Anambra State, Nigeria; Onyike, N.B., Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology, Abia State University, Abia State, Nigeria; Onwurah, I.N.E., Pollution Control and Biotechnology Unit, Department of Biochemistry, University of Nigeria, Enugu State, Nigeria | Evaluating the compensation payable to farmers whose farms/farmlands have been rendered unproductive due to oil spill requires adequate scientific research and improved decision-making. This work proposes a bacterial-based mathematical framework as a decision-support system for evaluating crude oil spill impact on agricultural soil. The rate of 'in situ' biodegradation of the crude oil predicts the half-life of the spilled crude oil in the soil ecosystem while the inherent toxicity of the spilled oil provided the impact value (E), which was integrated into a version of Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA) model referred to as Impact-Based Cost-Benefit Analysis (IBCBA) that can be used for computing the adequate compensation payable. Scientific research initiatives that may engender integrated management of crude oil-contaminated agricultural soil are highlighted. © 2012 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd. | Adaptive management; Biodegradation rate; Oil-polluted soil; Valuation | Adaptive Management; Agricultural soils; Analysis models; Biodegradation rate; Impact value; In-situ; Integrated management; Mathematical frameworks; Scientific researches; Agriculture; Biodegradation; Cost effectiveness; Crude oil; Decision support systems; Microbiology; Oil spills; Resource valuation; Soil pollution; Soils; Solid wastes; Waste management; Geologic models | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84941911390 | Evaluation of some heavy metals concentration in River Argungu | Obaroh I.O., Abubakar U., Haruna M.A., Elinge M.C. | 2015 | Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Science | 10 | 6 | 10.3923/jfas.2015.581.586 | Department of Biological Sciences, Kebbi State University of Science and Technology, P.M.B. 1144, Aliero Birniin Kebbi, Nigeria; Department of Biological Sciences, Usmanu Danfodio Univeresity, Sokoto, Sokoto State, Nigeria; Department of Fisheries and Aqu | Obaroh, I.O., Department of Biological Sciences, Kebbi State University of Science and Technology, P.M.B. 1144, Aliero Birniin Kebbi, Nigeria; Abubakar, U., Department of Biological Sciences, Usmanu Danfodio Univeresity, Sokoto, Sokoto State, Nigeria; Haruna, M.A., Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Federal University Dutse, P.M.B. 7156Jigawa State, Nigeria; Elinge, M.C., Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, Kebbi State University of Science and Technology, P.M.B. 1144, Aliero, Birniin Kebbi, Nigeria | Pollution of inland water ways is largely as a result of human activities along the river banks. Some heavy metals concentrations of River Argungu were evaluated due to its close proximity to the town. The study lasted for 12 months (March, 2014-February, 2015) using Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence (ED-XRF) Analysis. Nickel and copper were highest during the month of July with mean values of 1.02±0.02 and 1.81±0.23 mg L-1, respectively, lead and chromium were highest during the month of September with mean values of 13.12±0.18 and 0.14±0.05 mg L-1, respectively. The Mean±SD of eight heavy metals assessed indicated that, nickel, iron, lead and cadmium detected were observed to be higher than the permissible limit (nickel 0.02, iron 0.30, lead 0.01 and cadmium 0.003 mg L-1) throughout the study period. Zinc was however, lower than the permissible limit of World Health Organization (WHO) throughout the period of the study. Most of the highest concentrations of heavy metals observed were at the onset and during the rainy season. The high concentrations of some heavy metals observed in the river could be as a result of human activities mostly concentrated at the river banks and run-off during the rainy season. This study infers that, some fish species could be threaten as a result of the high concentrations of most of the heavy metals, thus the need for an efficient and sustainable fisheries management to control human activities along the river bank. © 2015 Academic Journals Inc. | Analysis; Composition; Concentration; Water samples; X-ray | anthropogenic effect; concentration (composition); fishery management; heavy metal; human activity; river bank; river pollution; river water; sustainability; X-ray; Argungu River; Nigeria | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84945940863 | Evaluation of spatial and temporal characteristics of wind and wind resources: A case study of some nigerian cities | Ngene B.U., Agunwamba J.C., Tenebe I.T., Emenike P.C. | 2015 | International Journal of Applied Engineering Research | 10 | 19 | None | Department of Civil Engineering, Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria; Department of Civil Engineering, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria | Ngene, B.U., Department of Civil Engineering, Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria; Agunwamba, J.C., Department of Civil Engineering, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria; Tenebe, I.T., Department of Civil Engineering, Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria; Emenike, P.C., Department of Civil Engineering, Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria | Wind Energy available in 24 Nigeria cities is estimated using monthly wind speed data. The country is grouped into zones, namely: Coastal, Inland, Middle Belt and far Northern regions for effective characterization into areas of similar climatic conditions. To analyze the wind data, a check on the reliability is made to ensure adequacy for the estimation of spatial and temporal characteristics of the nation’s wind resources. The long-term average wind speed, standard deviation, coefficient of variation, shape and scale factors and wind power densities are estimated for each city and averaged for zones. From the results generated, the classification of the 24 stations into class 1-7 is made. Classification indicates class 1 for the weakest location for siting of wind power generators to class 7 the strongest possible site for electric energy generator site. Sites with high altitude mostly in the Northern part of the country, such as Jos, Minna, Sokoto, Gusau, Katsina and Kano show potentials for investment in wind power generators. In the southern part of the country, possible offshore wind generator is advocated. For cities such as Ikeja, Enugu and Ikom, generators may be considered though not very economical when average yearly wind speed is the subject. © Research India Publications. | Seasons and characteristics; Wind power; Wind speed; Zones | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84956619412 | The impact of prior information on estimates of disease transmissibility using bayesian tools | Moser C.B., Gupta M., Archer B.N., White L.F. | 2015 | PLoS ONE | 10 | 3 | 10.1371/journal.pone.0118762 | Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States; National Institute for Communicable Diseases, National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg, South Africa | Moser, C.B., Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States; Gupta, M., Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States; Archer, B.N., National Institute for Communicable Diseases, National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg, South Africa; White, L.F., Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States | The basic reproductive number (R0) and the distribution of the serial interval (SI) are often used to quantify transmission during an infectious disease outbreak. In this paper, we present estimates of R0 and SI from the 2003 SARS outbreak in Hong Kong and Singapore, and the 2009 pandemic influenza A(H1N1) outbreak in South Africa using methods that expand upon an existing Bayesian framework. This expanded framework allows for the incorporation of additional information, such as contact tracing or household data, through prior distributions. The results for the R0 and the SI from the influenza outbreak in South Africa were similar regardless of the prior information (R 0 = 1.36 -1.46,μ = 2.0-2.7,μ = mean of the SI). The estimates of R0 and μ for the SARS outbreak ranged from 2.0-4.4 and 7.4-11.3, respectively, and were shown to vary depending on the use of contact tracing data. The impact of the contact tracing data was likely due to the small number of SARS cases relative to the size of the contact tracing sample. © 2015 Moser et al. | None | 2009 H1N1 influenza; Article; basic reproduction number; Bayes theorem; contact examination; disease transmission; epidemic; Hong Kong; household; human; sample size; serial interval; severe acute respiratory syndrome; Singapore; South Africa; statistical model; statistical parameters; Bayes theorem; computer simulation; confidence interval; epidemic; Influenza A virus (H1N1); Influenza, Human; severe acute respiratory syndrome; statistics and numerical data; transmission; virology; Bayes Theorem; Computer Simulation; Confidence Intervals; Contact Tracing; Disease Outbreaks; Hong Kong; Humans; Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype; Influenza, Human; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome; Singapore; South Africa | NIGMS, National Institute of General Medical Sciences |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-36348983375 | Evaluation of the yield of Lentinus squarrosulus (Mont) singer on selected economic tree species | Ayodele S.M., Akpaja E.O., Anyiador F. | 2007 | Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences | 10 | 23 | None | Department of Botany, Delta State University, Abraka, Delta State, Nigeria; Department of Botany, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria | Ayodele, S.M., Department of Botany, Delta State University, Abraka, Delta State, Nigeria; Akpaja, E.O., Department of Botany, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria; Anyiador, F., Department of Botany, Delta State University, Abraka, Delta State, Nigeria | Sawdust from seven economic trees (Mansonia altissima, Piptadeniastrum africanum, Nesogordonia papaverifera, Combretodendron macrocarpum, Terminalia sp., Khaya ivorensis and Brachystegia nigerica were used to cultivate Lentinus squarrosulus (Mont) Singer. The highest mycelial density was observed in the sawdust of Mansonia altissimia and lowest in Piptadeniastrum africanum. Time of premodial emergence, fresh weight of mushroom and number of flushes varied from one sawdust to the other. The best sawdust for the growth of this mushroom among the sawdust of the economic trees was that of Combretodendron macrocarpum. © 2007 Asian Network for Scientific Information. | Economic trees; Evaluation; Lentinus squarrosulus; Yield | analysis of variance; article; economics; Lentinus; microbiology; physiology; tree; Analysis of Variance; Economics; Lentinula; Trees; Basidiomycota; Brachystegia; Khaya ivorensis; Lentinus; Lentinus squarrosulus; Mansonia altissima; Nesogordonia; Piptadeniastrum africanum; Terminalia | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84858827980 | Comparing levels of use of project plans and performance of traditional contract and design-build construction projects in Nigeria | Idoro G. | 2012 | Journal of Engineering, Design and Technology | 10 | 1 | 10.1108/17260531211211863 | Department of Building, University of Lagos, Akoka, Nigeria | Idoro, G., Department of Building, University of Lagos, Akoka, Nigeria | Purpose: The prominent role of traditional contract and design-build methods in the procurement of projects and the importance of planning in the success of the projects prompt this study. The study evaluates the levels of use of project documents and their influence on the outcome of projects procured by the two methods. The purpose of this paper is to assist stakeholders in comparing the documents prepared and the performance of projects procured by traditional contract and design-build methods. Design/methodology/approach: The study adopted a questionnaire survey approach to achieve its purpose. A field survey of 84 projects made up of 42 traditional contract projects and 42 design-build projects selected by purposive sampling was conducted. Three categories of variables namely: procurement method, project planning and project outcome were used. Data were collected with the aid of structured questionnaires and analysed to derive and compare the levels of use of selected project plans, levels of project inception, design, tendering, construction and overall planning in projects procured by traditional contract and design-build methods using percentage, mean and t-test. Findings: The results reveal that the levels of project stage and overall planning in projects procured by the two methods investigated are the same. However, the levels of use of specific plans and project outcome in the two categories of projects are significantly different. The study considers the difference in the levels of use of project plans to be responsible for the lower delivery time and cost of projects procured by traditional contract method and higher quality standards in projects procured by design-build method. Originality/value: The paper has revealed the level of efforts put into the planning of projects procured by traditional contract and design-build methods and their influence on the performance of the projects. The results will make project stakeholders aware of how to improve their efforts, thereby improving the outcome of the projects. © Emerald Group Publishing Limited. | Construction industry; Contracts; Document management; Nigeria; Procurement management; Project management; Project performance; Project planning | Document management; Nigeria; Procurement management; Project performance; Project planning; Construction industry; Contracts; Information services; Project management; Surveys; Model buildings | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79954480944 | Strategic flexibility and market performance of SMEs in Nigeria | Asikhia O. | 2011 | International Journal of Management and Enterprise Development | 10 | 1 | 10.1504/IJMED.2011.039659 | Department of Business Studies, College of Business and Social Sciences, Covenant University, Ota, Canaan Land, Km. 10, Idiroko, P.M.B. 1023, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria | Asikhia, O., Department of Business Studies, College of Business and Social Sciences, Covenant University, Ota, Canaan Land, Km. 10, Idiroko, P.M.B. 1023, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria | The study determines the relationship between strategic flexibility and market performance of small-and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria. This paper presents primary data collected by self-administered questionnaires involving a sample of 476 respondents from different regions of Nigeria. The data were subjected to descriptive statistical and correlation analysis as well as structural equation modelling. This study reveals that strategic flexibility relates positively and significantly with market performance variables and that marketing competence and competitive intensity moderate the strategic flexibility - performance relationship of the SMEs. The empirical evidence of this paper affects major aspects of SMEs' management and relevant recommendations are made. Copyright © 2011 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd. | Competitive intensity; Enterprise development; Market performance; Marketing competence; Nigeria; Small-and medium-scale enterprises; SMEs; Strategic flexibility | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79960952091 | Evaluation of some heavy metals in tilapia nicolitica found in selected rivers in Bayelsa state | Godwin J., Vaikosen N.E., Njoku C.J., Sebye J. | 2011 | Electronic Journal of Environmental, Agricultural and Food Chemistry | 10 | 7 | None | Department of Chemical Sciences, Niger Delta University Wilberforce Island, Bayelsa State, Nigeria; Department of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Niger Delta University Wilberforce Island, Bayelsa State, Nigeria; Department of | Godwin, J., Department of Chemical Sciences, Niger Delta University Wilberforce Island, Bayelsa State, Nigeria; Vaikosen, N.E., Department of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Niger Delta University Wilberforce Island, Bayelsa State, Nigeria; Njoku, C.J., Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Niger Delta University Wilberforce Island, Bayelsa State, Nigeria; Sebye, J., Department of Chemical Sciences, Niger Delta University Wilberforce Island, Bayelsa State, Nigeria | There are numerous environmental problems associated with up-stream petroleum operations. Various drilling chemicals containing heavy metals are used and thereby released into the aquatic environment. Some of these metals are toxic and bio-accumulate in aquatic organism.Tilapia fish (tilapia nicolitica sp.) was collected from four fishing communities in Bayelsa State which had witnessed oil exploration and exploitation activities since early 1970s to date. Dry samples from studied locations were separated into flesh, gills and head. These parts were dry-ashed and analysed with spectrochemical methods for the heavy metals Cadmium, Cobalt, Lead, Nickel and Vanadium. The concentrations ranges were; Cadmium 0.09 mgKg -1 - 5.50 mgKg -1, Cobalt 5-10 mgKg -1 - 11-70 mgKg -1, Lead 1.20 mgKg -1 - 61.20 mgKg -1 and Nickel 2.10 mgKg -1 - 13.0 mgKg -1. Vanadium was below detection limit of 0.05 mgKg -1. The gills and head were found to have higher concentrations of the metals than the flesh in most of the samples. | Aquatic environment; Bioaccumulation; Cichlid fish; Dry-ashing; Spectrochemical methods; Toxicity | Cichlidae; Tilapia | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84949792518 | Design, Synthesis, and Evaluation of Novel Ferroquine and Phenylequine Analogues as Potential Antiplasmodial Agents | Jacobs L., De Kock C., De Villiers K.A., Smith P.J., Smith V.J., Van Otterlo W.A.L., Blackie M.A.L. | 2015 | ChemMedChem | 10 | 12 | 10.1002/cmdc.201500349 | Department of Chemistry and Polymer Science, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland, South Africa; Department of Pharmacology, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X2 Rondebosch, Cape Town, South Africa | Jacobs, L., Department of Chemistry and Polymer Science, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland, South Africa; De Kock, C., Department of Pharmacology, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X2 Rondebosch, Cape Town, South Africa; De Villiers, K.A., Department of Chemistry and Polymer Science, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland, South Africa; Smith, P.J., Department of Pharmacology, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X2 Rondebosch, Cape Town, South Africa; Smith, V.J., Department of Chemistry and Polymer Science, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland, South Africa; Van Otterlo, W.A.L., Department of Chemistry and Polymer Science, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland, South Africa; Blackie, M.A.L., Department of Chemistry and Polymer Science, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland, South Africa | 7-Chloroquinoline-based antimalarial drugs are effective in the inhibition of hemozoin formation in the food vacuole of the Plasmodium parasite, the causative agent of malaria. We synthesized five series of ferroquine (FQ) and phenylequine (PQ) derivatives, which display good in vitro efficacy toward both the chloroquine-sensitive (CQS) NF54 (IC50: 4.2 nm) and chloroquine-resistant (CQR) Dd2 (IC50: 33.7 nm) strains of P. falciparum. Several compounds were found to have good inhibitory activity against β-hematin formation in an NP-40 detergent assay, with IC50 values ranging between 10.4 and 19.2 μm. © 2015 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim. | ferroquine; malaria; oxalamide; phenylequine; β-hematin | antimalarial agent; aromatic amine; artesunate; beta hematin; chloroquine; ethyl 2 [[2 (7 chloroquinolin 4 ylamino)ethyl] [2 [(dimethylamino)methyl]benzyl]amino] 2 oxoacetate; ethyl 2 [[3 (7 chloroquinolin 4 ylamino)propyl] [2 [(dimethylamino)methyl]benzyl]amino] 2 oxoacetate; ferroquine; hematin; n 1 (7 chloroquinolin 4 yl) n 2 [2 [(dimethylamino)methyl]benzyl]butan 1,4 diamine; n 1 (7 chloroquinolin 4 yl) n 2 [2 [(dimethylamino)methyl]benzyl]hexan 1,6 diamine; n 1 (7 chloroquinolin 4 yl) n 2 [2 [(dimethylamino)methyl]ferrocenylmethyl]ethan 1,2 diamine; n 1 (7 chloroquinolin 4 yl) n 3 [2 [(dimethylamino)methyl]ferrocenylmethyl]propan 1,3 diamine; n 1 (7 chloroquinolin 4 yl) n 4 [2 [(dimethylamino)methyl]ferrocenylmethyl]butan 1,4 diamine; n 1 (7 chloroquinolin 4 yl) n 5 [2 [(dimethylamino)methyl]benzyl]pentan 1,5 diamine; n 1 (7 chloroquinolin 4 yl) n 5 [2 [(dimethylamino)methyl]ferrocenylmethyl]penta 1,5 diamine; n 1 (7 chloroquinolin 4 yl) n 6 [2 [(dimethylamino)methyl]benzyl]hexan 1,6 diamine; n 1 (7 chloroquinolin 4 yl) n 6 [2 [(dimethylamino)methyl]ferrocenylmethyl]hexane 1,6 diamine; n 1 [2 (7 chloroquinolin 4 ylamino)ethyl] n 2 [2 [(dimethylamino)methyl]benzyl]oxalamide; n 1 [2 (7 chloroquinolin 4 ylamino)ethyl] n 2 [2 [(dimethylamino)methyl]ferrocenylmethyl]oxalamide; n 1 [2 (7 chloroquinolin 4 ylamino)ethyl] n 4 [2 [(dimethylamino)methyl]ferrocenylmethyl]oxalamide; n 1 [3 (7 chloroquinolin 4 ylamino)ethyl] n 3 [2 [(dimethylamino)methyl]benzyl]oxalamide; n 1 [3 (7 chloroquinolin 4 ylamino)ethyl] n 3 [2 [(dimethylamino)methyl]ferrocenylmethyl]oxalamide; n 1 [4 (7 chloroquinolin 4 ylamino)ethyl] n 4 [2 [(dimethylamino)methyl]benzyl]oxalamide; n 1 [4 (7 chloroquinolin 4 ylamino)ethyl] n 4 [2 [(dimethylamino)methyl]ferrocenylmethyl]oxalamide; n 1 [5 (7 chloroquinolin 4 ylamino)ethyl] n 5 [2 [(dimethylamino)methyl]ferrocenylmethyl]oxalamide; n 1 [6 (7 chloroquinolin 4 ylamino)ethyl] n 6 [2 [(dimethylamino)methyl]benzyl]oxalamide; n 1 [6 (7 chloroquinolin 4 ylamino)ethyl] n 6 [2 [(dimethylamino)methyl]ferrocenylmethyl]oxalamide; phenylequine derivative; unclassified drug; unindexed drug; antimalarial activity; antimalarial drug resistance; Article; carbon nuclear magnetic resonance; cross resistance; drug design; drug efficacy; drug screening; drug synthesis; follow up; hydrogen bond; IC50; in vitro study; infrared spectroscopy; nonhuman; Plasmodium falciparum; priority journal; proton nuclear magnetic resonance; X ray diffraction | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-82755182066 | Physico-chemical and sensory evaluation of market yoghurt in Nigeria | Olugbuyiro J.A.O., Oseh J.E. | 2011 | Pakistan Journal of Nutrition | 10 | 10 | None | Department of Chemistry, College of Science and Technology, Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria | Olugbuyiro, J.A.O., Department of Chemistry, College of Science and Technology, Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria; Oseh, J.E., Department of Chemistry, College of Science and Technology, Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria | This study examined the quality of some yoghurts made and sold in the Nigerian market. Nine commercially available brands of yoghurt drinks which represent seven different manufacturers were randomly selected. The samples included seven plain yoghurt and two fruit yoghurt samples. All yoghurt samples were analyzed for chemical properties (moisture%, ash %, total solids, SNF, fat, pH and titratable acidity) and the organoleptic tests (color, thickness, appearance, body, texture, taste, smell, flavor and over all acceptability). The results of the study showed that the physico-chemical composition of the manufactured yogurts was different. The pH values of the samples ranged between 3.70-4.33 which were reasonably suitable for yoghurt marketed in tropical areas. No direct relationship was observed between pH values and titratable acidity. There was marked variation in the % fat content of the products. The results of the sensory evaluation revealed that flavor with respect to taste and smell had significant influence (p<0.05) on overall acceptability of yogurt product. So, the yogurt manufacturers need to improve on the sensory properties in particular flavor and taste for better consumer acceptability. Also, they may improve on packaging by labeling to specifications that precisely represent the content and type. © Asian Network for Scientific Information, 2011. | Chemical evaluation; Consumer acceptance; Sensory properties; Yogurt | yoghurt; acidity; article; controlled study; flavor; food analysis; food composition; food industry; food quality; moisture; Nigeria; organoleptic property; pH; physical chemistry; reference value; sensory analysis; taste; tropics | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84929400224 | Computational evaluation of the effect of structural parameters of 3-flouro thiophene and 3-thiophene malonic acid on corrosion inhibition efficiency of mild steel in acidic media | Usman B., Maarof H., Abdallah H.H., Aziz M. | 2015 | International Journal of Electrochemical Science | 10 | 4 | None | Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, UTM Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta'azim, Malaysia; Advanced Membrane Technology Centre, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, UTM Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta'azim, Malaysia; Department of P | Usman, B., Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, UTM Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta'azim, Malaysia, Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Bayero University, Kano. P. M. B, Kano, Nigeria; Maarof, H., Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, UTM Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta'azim, Malaysia; Abdallah, H.H., Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, UTM Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta'azim, Malaysia, Department of Chemistry, Education College, Salahaddin University, Erbil, Iraq; Aziz, M., Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, UTM Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta'azim, Malaysia, Advanced Membrane Technology Centre, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, UTM Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta'azim, Malaysia | The effect of the substituent's, halide and carboxylic group on thiophene compounds, namely 3-flourothiophene (3FT) and 3-thiophene malonic acid (3TMA) on the corrosion inhibition efficiency of mild steel in acidic media has been predicted using quantitative structure activity relationship (QSAR) model and quantum chemical calculation. The results from QSAR model show that 3TMA exhibit higher corrosion inhibition efficiency of 85.3 and 91.7%, which may be due to the increase in length of the malonic acid then 3FT which tends to exhibit higher electron withdrawing ability as a result of the fluorine substitution and hence lower corrosion inhibition efficiency of 40.6 and 42.1% respectively. Similarly the molecular structure of the compounds was investigated using density functional theory (DFT) calculation with 6-311G++(d,p) basis set. Quantum chemical parameters were calculated, the results show that QSAR model can be used to predict the corrosion inhibition performance of a compound prior to experimental. © 2015 The Authors. | 3-Flourothiophene; 3-Thiophene malonic acid; Corrosion inhibition; DFT; QSAR | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84953337190 | Synthesis, photo physical studies and evaluation of ruthenium(II) complexes of polypyridyl ligands as sensitizer for DSSCs | Mkhohlakali A.C., Ajibade P.A. | 2015 | International Journal of Electrochemical Science | 10 | 12 | None | Department of chemistry, Faculty of Science and Agriculture, University of Fort Hare, Private Bag X 1314, Alice, South Africa | Mkhohlakali, A.C., Department of chemistry, Faculty of Science and Agriculture, University of Fort Hare, Private Bag X 1314, Alice, South Africa; Ajibade, P.A., Department of chemistry, Faculty of Science and Agriculture, University of Fort Hare, Private Bag X 1314, Alice, South Africa | In the research on TiO2 nanocrystalline sensitization, ruthenium(II) complexes have received considerable attention in order to get efficient dyes for DSSCs. In this study, we report the synthesis of ruthenium(II) complexes formulated as [Ru(L1)(L2)(NCS)2], [Ru(L3)(L1)((NCS)2] where L1= 1,10-phenanthroline-4,7-disulphonic acid, L2= 2,2'-bipyridine-4,4'-dicarboxylic acid and L3 = 1,10-phenanthroline-2,9-dicarboxy aldehyde. The compounds were characterized by 1H-NMR, FTIR, UV-Vis and fluorescence spectroscopy. The complexes exhibited a broad metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) absorption bands in the range 510-531 nm and intense (π-π*) transitions between 240-380 nm. Some of these complexes showed emission maxima up to 680 nm. The compounds were used sensitizers to fabricate solar cells and an overall conversion efficiencies of 0.2-1.06 % under standard 1 sun 1.5 AM illumination (100 mWcm-2) with open circuit voltage 0.53, and 0.6, 0.48 V, short circuit current density up to 3.4 mAcm-2 and fill factor up to 0.6 were obtained. © 2015 The Authors. | DSSCS; Open voltage solar cell efficiency; Photo physical properties; Ruthenium(II) polypyridyl complexes; Short circuit current voltage | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84929955236 | Performance of bonded boards using lignin-based resins | Oluwasina O.O., Lajide L., Owolabi B.J. | 2015 | Wood Material Science and Engineering | 10 | 2 | 10.1080/17480272.2014.923044 | Department of Chemistry, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria | Oluwasina, O.O., Department of Chemistry, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria; Lajide, L., Department of Chemistry, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria; Owolabi, B.J., Department of Chemistry, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria | Abstract: Lignin was extracted from some underutilized plant materials using soda–anthraquinone and soda–anthraquinone–ethanol pulping chemicals. Soda–anthraquinone–ethanol gave higher lignin yield, ranging from 44.47% to 50.41% versus 39.40% to 47.92% of soda-anthraquinone. The isolated lignin was used as a partial substitution for phenol in preparation of lignin-phenol-formaldehyde. The free formaldehyde of the resins ranges from 0.25% to 0.67% versus 1.23% of phenol-formaldehyde (PF) resin used as control. The bonding effectiveness of the resin was evaluated when used as glue for board preparation. The density of the board ranges from 333.54 Kg/m3 to 363.84 Kg/m3. The result revealed that Musa sapientum-, Musa parasidiaca- and Tithonia diversifolia- soda–anthraquinone-derived resins, and soda-anthraquinone–ethanol-derived resin of M. parasidiaca and T. diversifolia had boards with better modulus of rupture (MOR) and modulus of elasticity (MOE) than the board obtained using PF resin. © 2014 Taylor & Francis. | Board; characterization; lignin; plants; pulping; resin | Aromatic compounds; Characterization; Ethanol; Formaldehyde; Ketones; Lignin; Phenols; Board; Bonding effectiveness; Free formaldehydes; Lignin-phenol-formaldehyde; Partial substitution; Phenol formaldehyde; plants; pulping; Resins | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-82755171146 | Evaluation of protein and amino acid composition of selected spices grown in the Middle belt region of Nigeria | Aremu M.O., Alade P., Nweze C.C. | 2011 | Pakistan Journal of Nutrition | 10 | 10 | None | Department of Chemistry, Nasarawa State University, P.M.B. 1022, Keffi, Nigeria; Department of Biochemistry, Nasarawa State University, P.M.B. 1022, Keffi, Nigeria | Aremu, M.O., Department of Chemistry, Nasarawa State University, P.M.B. 1022, Keffi, Nigeria; Alade, P., Department of Chemistry, Nasarawa State University, P.M.B. 1022, Keffi, Nigeria; Nweze, C.C., Department of Biochemistry, Nasarawa State University, P.M.B. 1022, Keffi, Nigeria | A study was conducted to determine the suitability of six different spices (pepper, garlic, ginger, onion, curry leaf and tomatoes) with a view to appraising their nutritive values. For this purpose, crude protein and amino acid composition were determined using standard analytical techniques. The result gave crude protein content in percentage as; pepper (20.11), garlic (19.94), ginger (11.43), onion (10.36), curry leaf (25.67) and tomatoes (19.83). The Total Amino Acid (TAA) of pepper, garlic, ginger, onion, curry leaf and tomatoes were: 48.40, 66.25, 39.21, 40.21, 78.08 and 40.30 g/100g crude protein, respectively. The order of calculated isoelectric point (pI) was curry leaf > garlic > pepper > onion = tomatoes > ginger while that of Predicted Protein Efficiency Ratio (P-PER) was garlic > curry leaf > ginger > pepper > onion > tomatoes. The contents of Essential Amino Acid (EAA) in all the spice samples are generally lower than FAO/WHO recommended values except curry leaf which had a balance content of all the EAAs and garlic that was adequate only in Leu and Phe + Tyr based on FAO/WHO provisional pattern. So curry leaf is considered to be a valuable protein source for the human diet. © Asian Network for Scientific Information, 2011. | Amino acids; Crude protein; Nigeria; Spices | amino acid; leucine; phenylalanine; tyrosine; vegetable protein; amino acid analysis; amino acid composition; article; controlled study; food quality; garlic; ginger; isoelectric point; Murraya koenigii; Nigeria; nonhuman; nutritional value; onion; pepper; prediction; protein content; protein diet; tomato | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79955596902 | Titrimetric evaluation of cyanogens in parts of some Nigerian cassava species | Etonihu A.C., Olajubu O., Ekanem E.O., Bako S.S. | 2011 | Pakistan Journal of Nutrition | 10 | 3 | None | Department of Chemistry, Nasarawa State University, P.M.B. 1022, Keffi, Nigeria; Raw Materials Research and Development Council, Abuja, Nigeria; Chemistry Programme, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, P.M.B. 0248, Bauchi, Nigeria | Etonihu, A.C., Department of Chemistry, Nasarawa State University, P.M.B. 1022, Keffi, Nigeria; Olajubu, O., Raw Materials Research and Development Council, Abuja, Nigeria; Ekanem, E.O., Chemistry Programme, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, P.M.B. 0248, Bauchi, Nigeria; Bako, S.S., Department of Chemistry, Nasarawa State University, P.M.B. 1022, Keffi, Nigeria | In this study, Tropical Manihot Selection TMS 30572 fresh cassava samples from Kubwa (in Abuja) and Agbara (in Ogun State) of Nigeria were evaluated for cyanogens using titrimetric method. The variations in the cyanide concentrations from different parts of the plant were significant at p<0.05 and of the order leave> peel> tuber (flesh)> stem. The average cyanide contents, respectively for the Abuja and Agbara samples ranged from 32.85±1.55 ppm to 36.17±11.80 ppm for stems; 50.24±0.18 ppm to 74.38±0.41 ppm for tubers; 74.38±0.41 ppm to 84.96±1.70 ppm for peels and 105.21±0.95 ppm to 118.00±13.70 ppm for leaves. © Asian Network for Scientific Information, 2011. | Cassava parts; Cyanogens; Nigeria | cyanide; article; cassava; controlled study; food analysis; Nigeria; nonhuman; plant leaf; plant stem; titrimetry; Manihot; Manihot esculenta | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84945926134 | Ru(II) and Co(II) complexes of bis(pyrazolyl)pyridine and pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic acid: Synthesis, photo physical studies and evaluation of solar cell conversion efficiencies | Motaung M.P., Ajibade P.A. | 2015 | International Journal of Electrochemical Science | 10 | 10 | None | Department of Chemistry, University of Fort Hare, Private Bag X1314, Alice, South Africa | Motaung, M.P., Department of Chemistry, University of Fort Hare, Private Bag X1314, Alice, South Africa; Ajibade, P.A., Department of Chemistry, University of Fort Hare, Private Bag X1314, Alice, South Africa | We report the synthesis of two nitrogen chelating ligands: 2,6-bis(pyrazolyl)pyridine (L1); 2,6-bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl)pyridine (L2) and their corresponding ruthenium(II) and cobalt(II) complexes formulated as [RuL1L(NCS)2] (C1), [RuL2L(NCS)2] (C2), [CoL1L(NCS)2] (C3) and [CoL2L(NCS)2] (C4) where L= pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic acid. The synthesis of the ligands were confirmed by 1HNMR spectroscopy and FTIR spectra studies confirmed the bonding of the Ru and Co ions to the ligands via the nitrogen atoms. Electronic absorption spectra indicates the geometries around the metal ions are six coordinate octahedral in which L1 or L2 acts as tridentate chelating ligands. In the cyclic voltammetry, cobalt(II) complexes exhibited lager redox potentials as compared to the ruthenium(II) complexes. The conversion efficiencies of the fabricated solar cells using the complexes as sensitizers showed that [RuL2L(NCS)2], C2 on TiO2 semiconductor produced the highest open-circuit photovoltage (Voc) of 87.3 × 10-3 mV, short-circuit photocurrent (Jsc) of 0.022 mA/cm-2 and the solar conversion efficiency was 101 × 10-5 %. © 2015 The Authors. | Conversion efficiency; Dye sensitizer; Dye-sensitized solar cells; Electrochemistry; Photo physical studies | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84859912382 | Psychosocial impact of dental aesthetics among university undergraduates [Impact psychosocial de l'esthétique dentaire sur les étudiants en premiére année d'université] | Kolawole K.A., Ayeni O.O., Osiatuma V.I. | 2012 | International Orthodontics | 10 | 1 | 10.1016/j.ortho.2011.12.003 | Department of Child Dental Health, Faculty of Dentistry, Obafemi Awolowo University, 220005 Ile-Ife, Nigeria; Department of Preventive Dentistry, Obafemi Awolowo University, Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile-Ife, Nigeria; Department of Child Dental Health, | Kolawole, K.A., Department of Child Dental Health, Faculty of Dentistry, Obafemi Awolowo University, 220005 Ile-Ife, Nigeria; Ayeni, O.O., Department of Preventive Dentistry, Obafemi Awolowo University, Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile-Ife, Nigeria; Osiatuma, V.I., Department of Child Dental Health, Obafemi Awolowo University, Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile-Ife, Nigeria | Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the impact of dental appearance on the psychosocial well-being of young adults in a university community. Methods: The participants were a sample (165) of first year University undergraduates who completed the Psychosocial Impact of Dental Aesthetics Questionnaire (PIDAQ), a condition- specific Oral-Health-Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL) measure and another self-rating instrument, the Perception of Occlusion Scale (POS). Self- and examiner-perceived dental aesthetics were determined using the Aesthetic Component (AC) scale of the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN) and a modification of the Dental Aesthetic Index (DAI). Results were analysed using non-parametric tests (Kruskall Wallis). Statistical significance was set as p < 0.05. Results: Participants with varying degrees of self- and examiner- perceived dental aesthetics according to the AC of IOTN and the POS demonstrated statistically significant differences in well-being based on the PIDAQ subscale scores (p < 0.05), with the dental self-confidence subscale demonstrating the strongest difference. No significant differences were observed between the modified DAI groups. Conclusion: Differences in the quality of life of individuals with varying degrees of dental aesthetics and different levels of treatment need were identified by the PIDAQ. The most significant impact of impaired aesthetics being on dental self-confidence. © 2011 CEO. | Dental aesthetics; Quality of life | adolescent; adult; article; dental procedure; female; human; male; malocclusion; Nigeria; nonparametric test; orthodontics; psychological aspect; quality of life; questionnaire; self concept; student; university; Adolescent; Adult; Esthetics, Dental; Female; Humans; Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need; Male; Malocclusion; Nigeria; Quality of Life; Questionnaires; Self Concept; Statistics, Nonparametric; Students; Universities; Young Adult | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84880124415 | Impact of tuberculosis on mortality among HIV-infected patients receiving antiretroviral therapy in Uganda: A prospective cohort analysis | Chu R., Mills E.J., Beyene J., Pullenayegum E., Bakanda C., Nachega J.B., Devereaux P.J., Thabane L. | 2013 | AIDS Research and Therapy | 10 | 1 | 10.1186/1742-6405-10-19 | Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada; Biostatistics Unit, St Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, 3rd Floor Martha, 50 Charlton Avenue East, Hamilton, ON L8N 4A6, Canada; University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada; AIDS Support Organization (TASO), Kampala, Uganda; Department of Medicine, Centre for Infectious Diseases, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa; Departments of Epidemiology and International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States; Hamilton Health Sciences, Population Health Research Institute, Hamilton, Canada | Chu, R., Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada, Biostatistics Unit, St Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, 3rd Floor Martha, 50 Charlton Avenue East, Hamilton, ON L8N 4A6, Canada; Mills, E.J., Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada; Beyene, J., Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada; Pullenayegum, E., Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada, Biostatistics Unit, St Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, 3rd Floor Martha, 50 Charlton Avenue East, Hamilton, ON L8N 4A6, Canada; Bakanda, C., AIDS Support Organization (TASO), Kampala, Uganda; Nachega, J.B., Department of Medicine, Centre for Infectious Diseases, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa, Departments of Epidemiology and International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States; Devereaux, P.J., Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada, Hamilton Health Sciences, Population Health Research Institute, Hamilton, Canada; Thabane, L., Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada, Biostatistics Unit, St Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, 3rd Floor Martha, 50 Charlton Avenue East, Hamilton, ON L8N 4A6, Canada | Background: Tuberculosis (TB) disease affects survival among HIV co-infected patients on antiretroviral therapy (ART). Yet, the magnitude of TB disease on mortality is poorly understood.Methods: Using a prospective cohort of 22,477 adult patients who initiated ART between August 2000 and June 2009 in Uganda, we assessed the effect of active pulmonary TB disease at the initiation of ART on all-cause mortality using a Cox proportional hazards model. Propensity score (PS) matching was used to control for potential confounding. Stratification and covariate adjustment for PS and not PS-based multivariable Cox models were also performed.Results: A total of 1,609 (7.52%) patients had active pulmonary TB at the start of ART. TB patients had higher proportions of being male, suffering from AIDS-defining illnesses, having World Health Organization (WHO) disease stage III or IV, and having lower CD4 cell counts at baseline (p < 0.001). The percentages of death during follow-up were 10.47% and 6.38% for patients with and without TB, respectively. The hazard ratio (HR) for mortality comparing TB to non-TB patients using 1,686 PS-matched pairs was 1.37 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.08 - 1.75), less marked than the crude estimate (HR = 1.74, 95% CI: 1.49 - 2.04). The other PS-based methods and not PS-based multivariable Cox model produced similar results.Conclusions: After controlling for important confounding variables, HIV patients who had TB at the initiation of ART in Uganda had an approximate 37% increased hazard of overall mortality relative to non-TB patients. © 2013 Chu et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | Antiretroviral therapy; HIV; Propensity score methods; Prospective cohort study; Tuberculosis; Uganda | anti human immunodeficiency virus agent; adolescent; adult; antiviral therapy; article; CD4 lymphocyte count; clinical trial; cohort analysis; female; hazard ratio; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infected patient; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; major clinical study; male; mortality; priority journal; propensity score; proportional hazards model; prospective study; tuberculosis; Uganda; world health organization | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-20744437324 | The effectiveness of media use in health education: Evaluation of an HIV/AIDS television campaign in Ethiopia | Farr A.C., Witte K., Jarato K., Menard T. | 2005 | Journal of Health Communication | 10 | 3 | 10.1080/10810730590934244 | Department of Communication, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States; Center for Communication Programs, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States; Development Studies Associates, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States; Department of Communication, North Carolina State University, 201K Winston Hall, Raleigh, NC 27695-8104, United States | Farr, A.C., Department of Communication, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States, Department of Communication, North Carolina State University, 201K Winston Hall, Raleigh, NC 27695-8104, United States; Witte, K., Center for Communication Programs, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States; Jarato, K., Development Studies Associates, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Menard, T., Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States | An effective vehicle to change behaviors is entertainment education. To demonstrate entertainment education effects, researchers must first indicate that participants have been exposed to their program. Exposure to effective programs has been associated with increases in knowledge about program topics, attitude change, and self-efficacious perceptions. The purpose of this study was to develop and test a new exposure technique that accurately and precisely determines direct exposure levels to Ethiopia's Journey of Life. Overall, the study found very high listenership, storyline recall, liking of the program, and strong desire to change behavior while maintaining low error rates in terms of verbatim recall of storylines and reported listener ship to a fictitious program. Copyright © Taylor & Francis Inc. | None | accuracy; adult; article; controlled study; error; Ethiopia; female; health education; human; male; mass medium; recall; television; Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Adult; Ethiopia; Female; Health Behavior; Health Education; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Humans; Male; Mental Recall; Radio; Television | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84964589439 | Development of a fuzzy logicbased model for monitoring cardiovascular risk | Idowu P.A., Ajibola S.O., Balogun J.A., Ogunlade O. | 2015 | International Journal of Healthcare Information Systems and Informatics | 10 | 4 | 10.4018/IJHISI.2015100103 | Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria; Department of Physiological Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria | Idowu, P.A., Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria; Ajibola, S.O., Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria; Balogun, J.A., Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria; Ogunlade, O., Department of Physiological Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria | Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are top killers with heart failure as one of the most leading cause of death in both developed and developing countries. In Nigeria, the inability to consistently monitor the vital signs ofpatients has led to the hospitalization and untimely death of many as a result of heartfailure. Fuzzy logic models have found relevance in healthcare services due to their ability to measure vagueness associated with uncertainty management in intelligent systems. This study aims to develop a fuzzy logic modelfor monitoring heart failure risk using risk indicators assessed from patients. Following interview with expert cardiologists, the different stages ofheartfailure was identified alongside their respective indicators. Triangular membership functions were used to fuzzify the input and output variables while the fuzzy inference engine was developed using rules elicited from cardiologists. The model was simulated using the MATLAB® Fuzzy Logic Toolbox. Copyright © 2015, IGI Global. | Cardiovascular disease; Fuzzy logic; Heart failure; Monitoring system; Risk modeling | Cardiology; Computer circuits; Developing countries; Diseases; Fuzzy logic; Intelligent systems; Membership functions; Reconfigurable hardware; Risk assessment; Cardio-vascular disease; Healthcare services; Heart failure; Logic-based modeling; Monitoring system; Risk model; Triangular membership functions; Uncertainty management; Fuzzy inference | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84884689244 | Performance evaluation of routing protocols in wireless mesh networks | Edwin Sejake M., Polite Ncube Z., Gasela N. | 2013 | Life Science Journal | 10 | SPL.ISSUE10 | None | Department of Computer Science, North West University, Mafikeng Campus, South Africa | Edwin Sejake, M., Department of Computer Science, North West University, Mafikeng Campus, South Africa; Polite Ncube, Z., Department of Computer Science, North West University, Mafikeng Campus, South Africa; Gasela, N., Department of Computer Science, North West University, Mafikeng Campus, South Africa | Wireless Mesh Networks (WMNs) are the set of wireless nodes that can communicate with each other and forwarding each other's packets. WMNs are multi-hop networks consisting of routers, gateways and mobile nodes. WMNs act as a key technology for next generation WMNs. Because of their low cost and relative ease of deployment, they are an attractive paradigm and are advantageous to other wireless networks. The aim of WMNs is to guarantee connectivity. WMNs build a multihop wireless backbone to interconnect isolated Local Area Networks and to extend backhaul access to users not within range of typical access points. This research has carried out current/existing literature in WMNs. It has analysed routing protocols such as AODV, DSR, GRP, OLSR and TORA used in WMNs where AODV and DSR are reactive routing protocols, OLSR and GRP are proactive routing protocols and TORA is a hybrid routing protocol. The routing protocols have been analysed with the performance metrics of throughput and delay under the simulation of ftp traffic. The simulator used is OPNET. With the help of OPNET, results show that in terms of ftp traffic load, TORA has very long delay. For throughput, OLSR outperforms the other routing protocols. | Delay; ftp traffic; Routing protocols; Throughput; WMN | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84880287523 | Towards an OPNET modeler based performance comparison of routing protocols in mobile Ad-hoc networks using voice over IP traffic | Mbougni M., Polite Ncube Z., Oukouomi Noutchie S.C. | 2013 | Life Science Journal | 10 | 3 | None | Department of Computer Science, North West University, Mafikeng Campus, South Africa; Department of Mathematics, North West University, Mafikeng Campus, South Africa | Mbougni, M., Department of Computer Science, North West University, Mafikeng Campus, South Africa; Polite Ncube, Z., Department of Computer Science, North West University, Mafikeng Campus, South Africa; Oukouomi Noutchie, S.C., Department of Mathematics, North West University, Mafikeng Campus, South Africa | With the increasing use of mobile devices and advances in wireless technologies, Mobile Ad-hoc Network (MANET) has drawn great attention for being part of ubiquitous networks. MANET is an autonomous collection of mobile and/or fixed nodes that can communicate together over relatively bandwidth constrained wireless links, and the network topology may change rapidly and unpredictably over time. Unlike the conventional network, MANET is decentralized radio wireless network that can be established in situations where no infrastructure exists or where deployment of infrastructure is expensive or inconvenient. As a result, routing protocols play a crucial role in managing the formation, configuration, and maintenance of the topology of the network. There has been an extensive research on performance analysis of routing protocols in MANETs. However, most of the work done on the performance evaluation of routing protocols is done using the Constant Bit Rate (CBR) traffic. This paper presents the performance analysis of MANETs routing protocols such as Ad hoc on Demand Distance Vector (AODV), Dynamic Source Routing (DSR), Temporary Ordered Routing Algorithm (TORA), and Optimized Link State Routing (OLSR) using Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) traffic. The performance metrics used for the analysis of these routing protocols are delay and throughput. The overall results show that the proactive routing protocol (OLSR) performs better in terms of delay and throughput than the reactive Suares Clovis Oukouomi Noutchie. | MANET; Routing protocols; VoIP | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77953789602 | The effect of rice yellow mottle virus infection on the performance of rice (oryza sativa l.) relative to time of infection under screenhouse condition | Onwughalu J.T., Abo M.E., Okoro J.K., Onasanya A., Sere Y. | 2010 | Journal of Applied Sciences | 10 | 13 | None | Department of Crop and Environmental Protection, University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Nigeria; National Cereals Research Institute Badeggi, University of Agriculture, P.M.B. 8, Bida, Nigeria; Plant Pathology Unit, Africa Rice Center (AfricaRice), 01 BP 203 | Onwughalu, J.T., Department of Crop and Environmental Protection, University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Nigeria; Abo, M.E., National Cereals Research Institute Badeggi, University of Agriculture, P.M.B. 8, Bida, Nigeria; Okoro, J.K., Department of Crop and Environmental Protection, University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Nigeria; Onasanya, A., Plant Pathology Unit, Africa Rice Center (AfricaRice), 01 BP 2031, Cotonou, Benin Republic, Nigeria; Sere, Y., Plant Pathology Unit, Africa Rice Center (AfricaRice), 01 BP 2031, Cotonou, Benin Republic, Nigeria | The study on the resistance of Gigante, Moroberekan and Bouake 189 rice varieties was investigated against the Rice yellow mottle virus (RYMV) infection relative to time of infection under screenhouse controlled condition. Rice varieties, Moroberekan, Gigante and Bouake 189, were inoculated with RYMV isolate at seedling, tillering, booting and flowering growth stages. Gigante, Moroberekan and Bouake 189 gave mean yield losses of 12.68, 78.06 and 94.4%, respectively at booting and seedling infection stages. The No. of grains plant-1 is mostly affected at booting infection stage in Bouake 189 and at seedling infection stage in Moroberekan. No significant difference in No. of empty spikelets plant-1 due to infection at different growth stages among the three varieties. Plant height was significantly affected by virus infection at seedling stage of the three varieties and other growth stages of Bouake 189. The highest yield loss of 94.4% obtained in Bouake 189 at seedling and booting infection stages establishes the fact that yield losses to RYMV are strongly influenced by host cultivars as well as time of virus infection. The study revealed that the period from seedling and booting represents the most vulnerable phase to RYMV infection in rice growth stages. This information would strongly assist breeding programmes in the development of durable resistant rice cultivars to RYMV disease. © 2010 Asian Network for Scientific Information. | Growth stages; Indica; Japonica; Resistance; Rice variety; Rice yellow mottle virus | Breeding programmes; Controlled conditions; Different growth stages; Growth stages; Indica; Japonica; Rice (Oryza sativa L.); Rice variety; Electric resistance; Plants (botany); Viruses | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79957836221 | Evaluation of the biological effects of leaf extracts of jatropha curcas against sitophilus zeamais (coleoptera: Curculionidae) | Jide-Ojo C., Ojo O.O. | 2011 | Electronic Journal of Environmental, Agricultural and Food Chemistry | 10 | 5 | None | Department of Crop Science and Horticulture, Yola, Nigeria; Chevron Biotechnology Centre, Federal University of Technology, Yola, Nigeria | Jide-Ojo, C., Department of Crop Science and Horticulture, Yola, Nigeria; Ojo, O.O., Chevron Biotechnology Centre, Federal University of Technology, Yola, Nigeria | This study assessed the grain protectant potentials of leaf extracts of Jatropha curcas. Its effects on inhibition of oviposition as well as F1 progeny production by S. zeamis on grains pre-treated with graded doses of the plant extracts were examined. The results obtained showed that the extract significantly inhibited oviposition in a dose dependent manner. About 26.62% and 76.49% inhibition of oviposition were obtained for the lowest (5% w/v) and highest (100% w/v) concentrations of the extract tested repsetcively. The same trend was observed for F1 progeny production with suppression of 10.88% and 77.69% obtained for 5% w/v and 100% w/v respectively. The study further examined the insecticidal and antifeedant effects of the plant extract. Results obtained showed that a dose-dependent insectidical and antifeedant effects were observed. The lowest incidence of insect mortality and higher number of grain damage were observed in grains pre-treated with the lowest of plant extract while the highest incidence of insect mortality and lowest grain damage was observed in grains pre-treated with the highest concentration (100% w/v) of plant extract. Future work will examine the potentials of other extracts of J. curcas. | Biological effects; Evaluation; Jatropha curcas; Leaf; Sitophilus zeamais | Coleoptera; Curculionidae; Hexapoda; Jatropha curcas; Sitophilus zeamais | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84856928867 | Okra performance and soil and water conservation as influenced by poultry manure and organic mulch amendments | Uwah D.F., Ukoha G.O., Iyango J. | 2012 | Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment | 10 | 1 | None | Department of Crop Science, University of Calabar, P. M. B. 1115, Calabar, Nigeria | Uwah, D.F., Department of Crop Science, University of Calabar, P. M. B. 1115, Calabar, Nigeria; Ukoha, G.O., Department of Crop Science, University of Calabar, P. M. B. 1115, Calabar, Nigeria; Iyango, J., Department of Crop Science, University of Calabar, P. M. B. 1115, Calabar, Nigeria | There is growing interest in intensive dry season vegetable crop cultivation by peasant farmers in south eastern Nigeria, but little research information to guide them on appropriate soil and water management for restoring, replenishing, conserving and maintaining soil fertility for optimum profit on their fragile soils. A two-year field experiment was conducted during the dry seasons of 2009/2010 and 2010/2011 on the acidic coastal plain soils at Calabar, to evaluate various rates of poultry manure (PM) (0, 5, 10 and 15 t/ha) and organic mulch (0, 2, 4 and 6 t/ha) for optimum yield of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench) and their combined effect on weed growth and soil chemical and physical properties. The PM and mulch application reduced soil bulk density, increased soil moisture retention capacity and lowered weed infestation. They also raised the soil pH, organic matter content, total N, available P and exchangeable K, Ca and Mg status of the soil. The growth and fresh pod yield of okra peaked at 10 t/ha PM and 4 t/ha mulch rates. These rates increased fresh pod weight by 94 and 57% and mean fresh pod yield by 160 and 115%, respectively, compared with the unamended control plots. Poultry manure at 10 t/ha plus 4 t/ha organic mulch had the best effects on soil bulk density reduction and fresh pod yield of okra. | Okra; Organic mulch; Poultry manure; Soil properties; Weed density; Yield | calcium; magnesium; nitrogen; organic matter; phosphorous acid; potassium; article; bulk density; coastal plain; environmental protection; manure; mulch; nonhuman; okra; pH; plant growth; plant yield; pod; soil fertility; soil management; soil moisture; soil property; temperature; water management; weed; Abelmoschus; Abelmoschus esculentus | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-13244273800 | Evaluation of syphilis in patients with HIV infection in Nigeria | Nnoruka E.N., Ezeoke A.C.J. | 2005 | Tropical Medicine and International Health | 10 | 1 | 10.1111/j.1365-3156.2004.01344.x | Department of Dermatology, Univ. of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria; Department of Chemical Pathology, Univ. of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria; Department of Dermatology, College of Medicine, Univ. of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, PMB 01 | Nnoruka, E.N., Department of Dermatology, Univ. of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria, Department of Dermatology, College of Medicine, Univ. of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, PMB 01129, Enugu, Nigeria; Ezeoke, A.C.J., Department of Chemical Pathology, Univ. of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria, Department of Chemical Pathology, College of Medicine, Univ. of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, PMB 01129, Enugu, Nigeria | OBJECTIVE: To document the manifestations of syphilis among patients with concurrent HIV infection over a 12-month period. METHOD: Descriptive, cross-sectional, hospital-based study of all adult patients with syphilis and HIV infection who attended the skin clinic of the University of Nigeria, Teaching Hospital, Enugu, between July 2000 and June 2001. A standardized questionnaire was used to record age, sex, marital status, occupation and risk factor for HIV infection; initial site of onset of rash/ulcers, duration of the illness, any concomitant affection of mucosa, hair and nails as well as treatments received by each patient prior to presentation. Morphological distribution of lesions, mucosal surface (conjuctival, vulval and rectal) examinations and documentation of concomitant disorders with HIV were noted by the examining dermatologist. Lesional biopsy and dark-field microscopy were undertaken to confirm diagnosis where serologic (non-treponemal and treponemal specific) tests for syphilis were inconsistent with clinical suspicion. Each patient had a routine chest x-ray, mantoux and purified protein derivative (PPD) status taken. RESULTS: Thirty-one patients (21 males) with concurrent syphilis and HIV were seen during the study period. Primary syphilis was diagnosed in nine (29%), secondary syphilis in 20 (64.5%) and latent syphilis in two (6.5%). Neurosyphilis was not observed. Prevalence of syphilis for these patients with concurrent HIV was 2.1%. Mean duration of syphilis was 3.9 months ± 1.4 and lesions of greatest concern occurred mainly on the genitalia. The glans penis was affected in 10 (32.3%) cases, the penile shaft in seven (22.6%), the oral cavity in five (16.1%), the rectum in six (19.4%) and the vulva in three (0.9%) cases. Nine (29.1%) patients had a history of primary syphilitic chancre, 19 (61.3%) had a past history of sexually transmitted disease (STD) - particularly genital ulcers - while three (9.7%) could not recall any past history of STD. Eighteen (59.3%) had a history of unprotected sex, 16 (51.7%) had multiple sexual partners, four (13.3%) had had oral sex, and one anal sex (3.3%); none admitted to being bisexual. Other relevant risk factors for HIV transmission were blood transfusion within 5 years for three (9.7%) and intravenous drug use in two (6.5%). Some patients had more than one condition as a potential source of exposure. Serological tests were weakly reactive in 17 (48.4%), strongly reactive in nine (29%) and non-reactive in five (16.1%) patients. Three patients exhibited prozone phenomenon. Treatment comprised the syndromic approach, which currently is advocated for use in primary healthcare centres without facilities for aetiological diagnosis of sexually transmitted infections. CONCLUSION: Our cases with concurrent syphilis and HIV/AIDS had unusual manifestations, responded to treatment more slowly and died sooner than cases described in Western literature due to generally lower levels of health. | HIV/AIDS; Serology; Syndromic management; Syphilis associations; West Africa | benzathine penicillin; tuberculin; disease prevalence; disease transmission; human immunodeficiency virus; syphilis; adolescent; adult; article; biopsy; bisexuality; blood transfusion; clinical article; clinical feature; comorbidity; controlled study; disease association; disease duration; disease severity; female; fluorescent treponema antibody test; genital system disease; genital ulcer; hair disease; health care facility; health center; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; intravenous drug abuse; male; medical documentation; microscopy; mortality; mouth cavity; mouth inflammation; mucosa inflammation; nail disease; neurosyphilis; Nigeria; penis glans; physical examination; prevalence; primary health care; questionnaire; rash; recall; rectum disease; risk factor; safe sex; serodiagnosis; serology; sexual behavior; sexually transmitted disease; skin ulcer; syphilis; teaching hospital; thorax radiography; Treponema pallidum; tuberculin test; unprotected sex; venereal disease reaction test; vulva disease; Adolescent; Adult; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Chancre; Cross-Sectional Studies; Developing Countries; Female; HIV Infections; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Nigeria; Penicillin G, Benzathine; Risk Factors; Sexual Behavior; Syphilis; Treatment Outcome; Africa; Eastern Hemisphere; Nigeria; Sub-Saharan Africa; West Africa; World; Glans; Human immunodeficiency virus; RNA viruses; Treponema; Treponema pallidum | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84880491753 | Real exchange rate misalignment and economic performance in Namibia | Eita J.H., Jordaan A.C. | 2013 | Corporate Ownership and Control | 10 | 3 E,CONT4 | None | Department of Economics, Monash University (South African Campus), Private Bag X60, Roodepoort, 1725, South Africa; Department of Economics, University of Pretoria, South Africa | Eita, J.H., Department of Economics, Monash University (South African Campus), Private Bag X60, Roodepoort, 1725, South Africa; Jordaan, A.C., Department of Economics, University of Pretoria, South Africa | This paper estimates the real exchange rate misalignment and investigates its impact on economic performance and competitiveness of Namibia for the period 1970 to 2011 using cointegrated vector autoregression methods. The results show that there were periods of overvaluation and undervaluation of the real exchange rate. The analysis reveals that misalignment has a negative impact on the competitiveness and performance of the economy. Maintaining the real exchange rate out of equilibrium reduces economic performance and competitiveness. This suggests that policy makers should monitor the real exchange rate regularly and make the exchange rate policy part of trade promotion strategy. | Autoregressions; Economic performance; Namibia; Trade promotion strategy | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84942134942 | Beer, wood, and welfare - The impact of improved stove use among dolo-beer breweries | Grimm M., Peters J. | 2015 | PLoS ONE | 10 | 8 | 10.1371/journal.pone.0132603 | Department of Economics, University of Passau, Passau, Germany; International Institute of Social Studies, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands; Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA), Bonn, Germany; Rheinisch-Westfälisches Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung (RWI), Essen, Germany; African Microeconomic Research Unit (AMERU), University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa | Grimm, M., Department of Economics, University of Passau, Passau, Germany, International Institute of Social Studies, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands, Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA), Bonn, Germany; Peters, J., Rheinisch-Westfälisches Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung (RWI), Essen, Germany, African Microeconomic Research Unit (AMERU), University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa | Local beer breweries in Burkina Faso absorb a considerable amount of urban woodfuel demand. We assess the woodfuel savings caused by the adoption of improved brewing stoves by these micro-breweries and estimate the implied welfare effects through the woodfuel market on private households as well as the environmental effect. We find substantial wood savings among the breweries, 36% to 38% if they fully switch to an improved stove. In absolute amounts, they save about 0.176 kg of fuelwood per litre of dolo brewed. These savings imply huge reductions in CO<inf>2</inf>-emissions and reduce the overall demand for woodfuel, which is predominantly used by the poorer strata for cooking purposes. We provide estimates for the price decrease that might result from this and show that the urban poor are likely to benefit. Thus, the intervention under study is an example for a green growth intervention with pro-poor welfare gains - something green growth strategies should look for. Copyright: © 2015 Grimm, Peters. | None | fuel; adult; air pollution; Article; beer; beer brewery; biomass production; brewing; commercial phenomena; cooking; cost control; environmental impact; female; household; human; industrial area; industrial production; industry; middle aged; stove use; welfare; wood | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84875754510 | The impact of biases in mobile phone ownership on estimates of human mobility | Wesolowski A., Eagle N., Noor A.M., Snow R.W., Buckee C.O. | 2013 | Journal of the Royal Society Interface | 10 | 81 | 10.1098/rsif.2012.0986 | Department of Engineering and Public Policy, Carnegie Mellon University, 5000 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15221, United States; College of Computer and Information Science, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, United States; Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, 677 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, United States; Malaria Public Health Cluster, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust-University of Oxford Collaborative Programme, PO Box 43630-00100, Nairobi, Kenya; Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Churchill Hospital, Old Road, Oxford OX3 7LJ, United Kingdom; Center for Communicable Disease Dynamics, Harvard School of Public Health, 677 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, United States | Wesolowski, A., Department of Engineering and Public Policy, Carnegie Mellon University, 5000 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15221, United States; Eagle, N., College of Computer and Information Science, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, United States, Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, 677 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, United States; Noor, A.M., Malaria Public Health Cluster, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust-University of Oxford Collaborative Programme, PO Box 43630-00100, Nairobi, Kenya, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Churchill Hospital, Old Road, Oxford OX3 7LJ, United Kingdom; Snow, R.W., Malaria Public Health Cluster, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust-University of Oxford Collaborative Programme, PO Box 43630-00100, Nairobi, Kenya, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Churchill Hospital, Old Road, Oxford OX3 7LJ, United Kingdom; Buckee, C.O., Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, 677 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, United States, Center for Communicable Disease Dynamics, Harvard School of Public Health, 677 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, United States | Mobile phone data are increasingly being used to quantify the movements of human populations for a wide range of social, scientific and public health research. However, making population-level inferences using these data is complicated by differential ownership of phones among different demographic groups that may exhibit variable mobility. Here, we quantify the effects of ownership bias on mobility estimates by coupling two data sources from the same country during the same time frame. We analyse mobility patterns from one of the largest mobile phone datasets studied, representing the daily movements of nearly 15 million individuals in Kenya over the course of a year. We couple this analysis with the results from a survey of socioeconomic status, mobile phone ownership and usage patterns across the country, providing regional estimates of population distributions of income, reported airtime expenditure and actual airtime expenditure across the country. We match the two data sources and show that mobility estimates are surprisingly robust to the substantial biases in phone ownership across different geographical and socioeconomic groups. © 2013 The Authors. | Human mobility; Mobile phone; Socio-economic status | Demographic groups; Health research; Human mobility; Human population; Mobile phone datasets; Mobile phone datum; Mobility pattern; Socio-economic status; Cellular telephones; Economics; Estimation; Mobile phones; Population dynamics; Population statistics; Telephone sets; E-learning; article; human; income; Kenya; migration; mobile phone; ownership bias; social problem; social status; biological model; epidemiology; motor activity; physiology; socioeconomics; statistics; utilization review; Cellular Phone; Humans; Kenya; Models, Biological; Motor Activity; Selection Bias; Socioeconomic Factors | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-71749119345 | Toxicological evaluation of dietary fumonisin B1 on serum biochemistry of growing pigs | Gbore F.A., Egbunike G.N. | 2009 | Journal of Central European Agriculture | 10 | 3 | None | Department of Environmental Biology and Fisheries, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba - Akoko, Nigeria; Animal Physiology Laboratory, Department of Animal Science, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria | Gbore, F.A., Department of Environmental Biology and Fisheries, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba - Akoko, Nigeria; Egbunike, G.N., Animal Physiology Laboratory, Department of Animal Science, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria | Twenty-four male Large White weanling pigs of 8-9 weeks of age averaging 6.94±0.26 kg were used to evaluate the effect of dietary fumonisin B1 (FB1) on serum biochemical parameters. The animals were randomly assigned to 4 dietary treatments containing 0.2, 5.0, 10.0 and 15.0 mg FB1/kg constituting the control, diets 1, 2 and 3 respectively, in a 6-month feeding trial. Blood sample was collected from the ear vein of each animal at the end of the feeding trial for biochemical analyses. Animals fed the control diet and diet 1 had significantly (P<0.05) higher serum total protein, albumin and globulin concentrations as well as the serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activities and serum cholesterol concentrations than those on diets 2 and 3, while the serum triglyceride concentrations of the animals fed diets 1 and 2 were significantly (P<0.05) lower than those fed diet 3 but significantly (P<0.05) higher than those fed the control diet. The study revealed that chronic ingestion of dietary FB1 ≥10.0 mg kg-1 may result in significant alterations of serum biochemical parameters in growing pigs suggesting chronic gastrointestinal or hepatic disease. | Fumonisin B1; Growing pigs; Serum biochemistry | Animalia; Pieris brassicae; Suidae | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79955608495 | New product development from tigernut (cyperus esculentus) and their sensory, proximate and microbiological evaluation | Ukwuru M.U., Ibeneme C.L., Agbo G.I. | 2011 | Pakistan Journal of Nutrition | 10 | 2 | None | Department of Food Science and Technology, Federal Polytechnic, Idah, P.M.B. 1037, Kogi State, Nigeria | Ukwuru, M.U., Department of Food Science and Technology, Federal Polytechnic, Idah, P.M.B. 1037, Kogi State, Nigeria; Ibeneme, C.L., Department of Food Science and Technology, Federal Polytechnic, Idah, P.M.B. 1037, Kogi State, Nigeria; Agbo, G.I., Department of Food Science and Technology, Federal Polytechnic, Idah, P.M.B. 1037, Kogi State, Nigeria | Tigernut tubers were processed in different ways to formulate two new products: product 1 -Orange Tigernut Beverage (OTB) and product 2 - Tigernut Drink (TD). OTB was formulated from a blend of Orange Juice (OJ) and Tiger Nut Milk (TM) by substitution at ratio (OJ:TM) 100:0, 80:20, 60:40, 50:50, 40:60, 20:80 and 0:100. TD was formulated by drying tigernut tuber (8% moisture) and milling to obtain a powder. Spices were added. TD samples were obtained by reconstituting the powdered tigernut with cold water at a concentration of 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25% (w/v). The samples were evaluated for their sensory, proximate composition and microbiological status. Significant differences (p<0.05) existed between samples under various parameters. All the samples of OTB were highly acceptable but the sample (OJ:TM) 40:60 received the highest (8.3) over all acceptability. In TD, reconstituting the sample from 20 to 25% (w/v) was most (8.3-8.6) acceptable. Carbohydrate (38-50%) and moisture (39-60%) were quantitatively the major component of OTB. The samples were deficient in crude fiber. Samples (OJ:TM) 40:60 and 20:80 with carbohydrate (46%), protein (2%), ash (2-3%) and fat (3-4%) had the highest nutrient values. The reconstituted TB sample of 25% (w/v) had the highest (carbohydrate 46%, fat 22%, Ash and protein 2% respectively) nutrient level with carbohydrate, fat and moisture forming its major component. Crude fiber in TB was higher than that in OTB. A direct relationship existed between the microbial content of OTB and the rate of substitution. Microbial content ranged from no growth to 102 cfu/ml, which was not critical to the wholesomeness of the products. The TD samples showed no microbial growth thereby confirming the wholesomeness of the samples. © Asian Network for Scientific Information, 2011. | Microbiological status; Product development; Proximate composition; Sensory characteristics; Tiger nut | article; ash; beverage; carbohydrate analysis; controlled study; Cyperus; Cyperus esculentus; fat content; food composition; food processing; food storage; microbiological examination; milk; moisture; nonhuman; nutritional value; orange juice; protein content; quantitative analysis; sensory analysis; Cyperus esculentus | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-83255188950 | Impact of insecticide-treated bed nets on malaria transmission indices on the south coast of Kenya | Mutuku F.M., King C.H., Mungai P., Mbogo C., Mwangangi J., Muchiri E.M., Walker E.D., Kitron U. | 2011 | Malaria Journal | 10 | None | 10.1186/1475-2875-10-356 | Department of Environmental Studies, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States; Center for Global Health and Diseases, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States; Centre for Geographic Medicine Research-Coast, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kilifi, Kenya; Division of Vector Borne and Neglected Tropical Diseases (DVBNTD), Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation, Nairobi, Kenya; Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States; Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States | Mutuku, F.M., Department of Environmental Studies, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States; King, C.H., Center for Global Health and Diseases, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States; Mungai, P., Center for Global Health and Diseases, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States; Mbogo, C., Centre for Geographic Medicine Research-Coast, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kilifi, Kenya; Mwangangi, J., Centre for Geographic Medicine Research-Coast, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kilifi, Kenya; Muchiri, E.M., Division of Vector Borne and Neglected Tropical Diseases (DVBNTD), Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation, Nairobi, Kenya; Walker, E.D., Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States; Kitron, U., Department of Environmental Studies, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States, Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States | Background: Besides significantly reducing malaria vector densities, prolonged usage of bed nets has been linked to decline of Anopheles gambiae s.s. relative to Anopheles arabiensis, changes in host feeding preference of malaria vectors, and behavioural shifts to exophagy (outdoor biting) for the two important malaria vectors in Africa, An. gambiae s.l. and Anopheles funestus. In southern coastal Kenya, bed net use was negligible in 1997-1998 when Anopheles funestus and An. gambiae s.s. were the primary malaria vectors, with An. arabiensis and Anopheles merus playing a secondary role. Since 2001, bed net use has increased progressively and reached high levels by 2009-2010 with corresponding decline in malaria transmission. Methods. To evaluate the impact of the substantial increase in household bed net use within this area on vector density, vector composition, and human-vector contact, indoor and outdoor resting mosquitoes were collected in the same region during 2009-2010 using pyrethrum spray catches and clay pots for indoor and outdoor collections respectively. Information on bed net use per sleeping spaces and factors influencing mosquito density were determined in the same houses using Poisson regression analysis. Species distribution was determined, and number of mosquitoes per house, human-biting rates (HBR), and entomological inoculation rate (EIR) were compared to those reported for the same area during 1997-1998, when bed net coverage had been minimal. Results: Compared to 1997-1998, a significant decline in the relative proportion of An. gambiae s.s. among collected mosquitoes was noted, coupled with a proportionate increase of An. arabiensis. Following > 5 years of 60-86% coverage with bed nets, the density, human biting rate and EIR of indoor resting mosquitoes were reduced by more than 92% for An. funestus and by 75% for An. gambiae s.l. In addition, the host feeding choice of both vectors shifted more toward non-human vertebrates. Besides bed net use, malaria vector abundance was also influenced by type of house construction and according to whether one sleeps on a bed or a mat (both of these are associated with household wealth). Mosquito density was positively associated with presence of domestic animals. Conclusions: These entomological indices indicate a much reduced human biting rate and a diminishing role of An. gambiae s.s. in malaria transmission following high bed net coverage. While increasing bed net coverage beyond the current levels may not significantly reduce the transmission potential of An. arabiensis, it is anticipated that increasing or at least sustaining high bed net coverage will result in a diminished role for An. funestus in malaria transmission. © 2011 Mutuku et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | None | insecticide; insecticide; Anopheles arabiensis; Anopheles gambiae; article; bed net; disease transmission; female; inoculation; Kenya; malaria; male; nonhuman; animal; Anopheles; comparative study; disease carrier; disease transmission; evaluation; feeding behavior; housing; human; insect bite; Kenya; malaria falciparum; methodology; mosquito; parasitology; pathogenicity; physiology; Plasmodium falciparum; population density; regression analysis; season; statistics; utilization review; Animals; Anopheles; Feeding Behavior; Female; Housing; Humans; Insect Bites and Stings; Insect Vectors; Insecticide-Treated Bednets; Insecticides; Kenya; Malaria, Falciparum; Male; Mosquito Control; Plasmodium falciparum; Population Density; Regression Analysis; Seasons; Statistics as Topic | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84874927947 | Evaluation of the performance of a new freeze desalination technology | Mtombeni T., Maree J.P., Zvinowanda C.M., Asante J.K.O., Oosthuizen F.S., Louw W.J. | 2013 | International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology | 10 | 3 | 10.1007/s13762-013-0182-7 | Department of Environmental, Water and Earth Sciences, Tshwane University of Technology, 175 Nelson Mandela Drive, Arcadia, Pretoria, South Africa; Aqua-Simon UG, Rabenslücke 40, 24944 Flensburg, Germany; Marlow Aquatec (Pty) LTD, 1100 Church Street, Colbyn, Pretoria, South Africa | Mtombeni, T., Department of Environmental, Water and Earth Sciences, Tshwane University of Technology, 175 Nelson Mandela Drive, Arcadia, Pretoria, South Africa; Maree, J.P., Department of Environmental, Water and Earth Sciences, Tshwane University of Technology, 175 Nelson Mandela Drive, Arcadia, Pretoria, South Africa; Zvinowanda, C.M., Department of Environmental, Water and Earth Sciences, Tshwane University of Technology, 175 Nelson Mandela Drive, Arcadia, Pretoria, South Africa; Asante, J.K.O., Department of Environmental, Water and Earth Sciences, Tshwane University of Technology, 175 Nelson Mandela Drive, Arcadia, Pretoria, South Africa; Oosthuizen, F.S., Aqua-Simon UG, Rabenslücke 40, 24944 Flensburg, Germany; Louw, W.J., Marlow Aquatec (Pty) LTD, 1100 Church Street, Colbyn, Pretoria, South Africa | The use of desalination technologies which produce concentrated brines is acutely limited by inadequate waste brine disposal mechanisms such that the brine does not contaminate fresh water resources. The treatment of highly saline brine using freeze desalination technique trade marked as HybridICE™ technology was investigated at pilot scale. The capacity of the HybridICE™ process to generate fresh water by freeze desalination of brine was investigated in this study. Brine samples to feed into the HybridICE process unit were prepared in tanks with volume capacities between 1. 0 and 10. 0 m3 by dissolving common salt into tape water. The effects of refrigerant temperature, initial brine concentration, energy consumption were evaluated in relation to product ice quality. Feed brine samples were processed in batches in a closed system where it was continuously re-circulated to generate product ice and more concentrated residual small volume of brine stream. The quality of ice produced could be turned into potable water it terms of its low total dissolved salts and conductivity. The salt removal, based on the average chloride concentration in the ice samples, was 96 %. The energy utilization efficiency amounted to an average of ZAR 10. 0/m3 water assuming energy cost of ZAR 0. 39/kWh. The HybridICE™ technology was shown to be a better option than other desalination technologies currently in use, in terms of energy utilization and cleaner by-products. © 2013 Islamic Azad University (IAU). | Brine; Desalination; Freeze desalination; Heat exchanger; Heat transfer; Impurity | Brine concentration; Chloride concentrations; Concentrated brines; Desalination technologies; Energy utilization efficiency; Fresh water resources; Refrigerant temperature; Total dissolved salts; Chlorine compounds; Desalination; Energy utilization; Heat exchangers; Heat transfer; Ice; Impurities; Potable water; Quality control; Technology; Waste disposal; Water filtration; Water resources; Brines | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84883422763 | CEO compensation and performance of state owned enterprises in South Africa | Ngwenya S., Khumalo M. | 2012 | Corporate Ownership and Control | 10 | 0.041666666667 | None | Department of Finance, Risk Management and Banking, University of South Africa, UNISA, 0003, South Africa | Ngwenya, S., Department of Finance, Risk Management and Banking, University of South Africa, UNISA, 0003, South Africa; Khumalo, M., Department of Finance, Risk Management and Banking, University of South Africa, UNISA, 0003, South Africa | The study investigates the relationship between CEO compensation and performance of State Owned Enterprises (SOEs) in South Africa, using data for the period 2009 to 2011. The results indicated that there exist no positive relationship between CEO compensation and SOEs performance as measured by return on assets. The results also indicated a positive relationship between CEO compensation (base salary) and the size of SOEs as measured by total revenue and number of employees. The results suggest that board members of SOEs in South Africa should hold CEOs accountable for the performance of SOEs, and should not pay huge salaries and bonuses to non performing CEOs. | CEO compensation; Corporate governance; SOE performance; South Africa | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-82755164141 | Organoleptic assessment of the performance of some cultivars of ipomoea batatas in the development of selected snack products | Ojinnaka M.C., Onwuka G.I. | 2011 | Pakistan Journal of Nutrition | 10 | 10 | None | Department of Food Science and Technology, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, P.M.B. 7267, UmuahiaAbiaState, Nigeria | Ojinnaka, M.C., Department of Food Science and Technology, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, P.M.B. 7267, UmuahiaAbiaState, Nigeria; Onwuka, G.I., Department of Food Science and Technology, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, P.M.B. 7267, UmuahiaAbiaState, Nigeria | Baking tests were conducted with sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) composite paste at 20% level of substitution with wheat flour to determine their potentials in producing acceptable snack products. Studies conducted shows there was no significant difference (p>0.05) in the specific volume of the baked bread samples but there was significant difference (p<0.05) in the loaf volume and loaf weight of the sweet potato bread samples. Bread samples from cultivars TIS 87/0087 and TIS 8441 were found to be significantly different (p<0.05) from the others in terms of their loaf weight with 357.98 g and 357.03 g respectively. Sensory analysis conducted showed there were significant differences (p<0.05) in the sweet potato chips produced in terms of texture. Cultivar Ex-Igbariam was the least preferred in terms of texture compared with the other cultivars with 3.95. There was no significant difference (p>0.05) in the taste of the sweet potato cake samples. In terms of texture, cake sample from cultivar TIS 25320P0P - 13 was the least preferred but all the cake samples were generally accepted by the panelist. Most of the cultivars performed well in the food product assessment. © Asian Network for Scientific Information, 2011. | Cultivar; Paste; Snack products; Sweet potato | article; baking; bread; controlled study; cooking; cultivar identification; fast food; food; food analysis; food preference; food processing; food texture; organoleptic property; pastry; potato chips; sensory analysis; sweet potato | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79960402524 | Quality evaluation of weaning food produced from blend of ofada rice (Oryza sativa) and bambara groundnut (Voandzeia subterranean L.) | Adebayo-Oyetoro A.O., Olatidoye O.P., Ogundipe O.O., Balogun O.I., Faboya A.O. | 2011 | Electronic Journal of Environmental, Agricultural and Food Chemistry | 10 | 6 | None | Department of Food Technology, Yaba College of Technology, Nigeria | Adebayo-Oyetoro, A.O., Department of Food Technology, Yaba College of Technology, Nigeria; Olatidoye, O.P., Department of Food Technology, Yaba College of Technology, Nigeria; Ogundipe, O.O., Department of Food Technology, Yaba College of Technology, Nigeria; Balogun, O.I., Department of Food Technology, Yaba College of Technology, Nigeria; Faboya, A.O., Department of Food Technology, Yaba College of Technology, Nigeria | Ofada rice and bambara ground nut were processed into flour, mixed in the ratios of 90:10, 80:20 and 70:30 respectively and chemical, functional, rheological and sensory properties were evaluated. Data obtained indicated a decreasing trend with increases in the level of substitution with respects to water absorption and swelling capacities while the bulk density increases with increase in level of substitution. Proximate composition data indicated an increasing level of protein, fat, ash, 19.64-21.10%; 4.78-6.1% and 1.78-2.0% respectively. Carbohydrate content decreased with increasing level of substitution with bambara nut (64.5-58.8%).The peak viscosity of unsubtituted flour was significantly higher them other samples (p<0.05). Similar trends were obtained with respect to breakdown. Apart from adding value and varieties to meal due to textural improvement, fortifying ofada rice with bambara flour at 20% level would produce a more nutritionally balance and acceptable product which will reduce problem of food security among children in Nigeria where malnutrition due protein deficiency is prevalent. | Bambara nut; Functional properties; Ofada rice; Rheological properties; Weaning food | Arachis hypogaea; Bambara; Oryza sativa; Voandzeia | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-82855169419 | Effect of cures and storage periods on the Sensory and microbial evaluation of smoke-dried, vacuum packaged rabbit meat products | Iwanegbe I., Iwanegbe A.I., Ebabhamiegbebho P.A., Bello Y.O. | 2011 | Pakistan Journal of Nutrition | 10 | 11 | None | Department of Food Technology, Auchi Polytechnic, P.M.B. 13, Auchi, Nigeria; National Food Reserved Agency (NFRA), Lokoja Branch, P.M.B. 1105, Nigeria; Department of Animal Science, University of Benin, Benin; Department of Hospitality Management, Nigeria | Iwanegbe, I., Department of Food Technology, Auchi Polytechnic, P.M.B. 13, Auchi, Nigeria; Iwanegbe, A.I., National Food Reserved Agency (NFRA), Lokoja Branch, P.M.B. 1105, Nigeria; Ebabhamiegbebho, P.A., Department of Animal Science, University of Benin, Benin; Bello, Y.O., Department of Hospitality Management, Nigeria | Sensory and microbial determination of cured smoke-dried rabbit meat products were carried out under different storage conditions. Sensory attributes were determined using the 9-point Hedonic scale. Sensory evaluation of rabbit meat products in terms of overall acceptance showed there was no significant difference (p>0.05) between freshly processed unpackaged products and packaged products, stored under refrigeration temperature at 8±2·C. At p<0.05 there was significant difference between product flavour obtained from different cure types. Packaged products were also preferred to the freshly processed unpackaged products from the various cures as a result of vacuum packaging ability to prevent surface dehydration and exclude oxygen from products. Cured smoke-dried, vacuum packaged rabbit meat products could be stored under ambient temperature (26±2·C). However, products stored under refrigeration temperature (8±2·C) had stable colour than products under ambient temperature (26±2·C). The results showed that microbial population (bacterial and fungi) in rabbit meat products were significantly different (p<0.001) because of the type of treatments (Storage periods, storage temperatures, different cure). © Asian Network for Scientific Information, 2011. | Cures; Meat curing; Nitrite; Rabbit; Vacuum package | nitrate; sodium chloride; sugar; article; Bacillus subtilis; bacterium identification; controlled study; curing; environmental temperature; flour; food packaging; food processing; freezing; male; nonhuman; rabbit meat; room temperature; shelf life; Staphylococcus aureus; storage temperature; vacuum | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79955611712 | Evaluation Of The Proximate, Pasting And Sensory Characteristics Of Cassava Flour (Fufu) Fortified With Pigeon Pea Flour | Akoja S.S., Mohammed A.O. | 2011 | Pakistan Journal of Nutrition | 10 | 2 | None | Department of Food Technology, The Federal Polytechnic, P.M.B. 50, llaro, Nigeria | Akoja, S.S., Department of Food Technology, The Federal Polytechnic, P.M.B. 50, llaro, Nigeria; Mohammed, A.O., Department of Food Technology, The Federal Polytechnic, P.M.B. 50, llaro, Nigeria | The nutritious value of Fufu-fermented cassava flour was improved through supplementation with 10, 20, 30 and 40% pigeon pea flour and the products were subjected to proximate composition, pasting characteristics and sensory tests, with 100% cassava flour as control. The results showed that the pigeon pea Fufu flour contained 7.70% protein, 0.27% fat, 1.08% ash at 10% level of inclusion and this increased to 16.45, 0.54 and 1.24% for protein, fat and ash respectively at 40% level of inclusion. Meanwhile, the carbohydrate contents decreased from 90.28 to 80.81% at 10% and 40% inclusion of pigeon pea flour respectively. Pasting characteristic decreased with increased pigeon pea inclusion. Peak viscosity decreased from 341.92 to 219.80 (RVU) final viscosity from 301.71 to 191.00 (RVU), setback value from 82.29 to 58.21 (RVU) likewise the peak time from 4.93 to 4.33 min at 10% and 40% level of inclusion of pigeon pea respectively. There was a slight significant difference in overall acceptability between 10% level of inclusion and the control (100% cassava flour). © Asian Network for Scientific Information, 2011. | Fufu; Pasting characteristics and sensory evaluation; Pigeon pea flour | carbohydrate; fat; protein; article; ash; cassava; controlled study; flour; food analysis; food composition; food control; food handling; food processing; food quality; nonhuman; nutrient content; nutritional status; nutritional value; pigeonpea; viscosity; Cajanus cajan; Manihot esculenta | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-82755182077 | Effect of different pot sizes and growth media on the agronomic performance of jatropha curcas | Geply O.A., Baiyewu R.A., Adegoke I.A., Ayodele O.O., Ademola I.T. | 2011 | Pakistan Journal of Nutrition | 10 | 10 | None | Department of Forest Product Development and Utilization, Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria, P.M.B. 5054, Jericho Hill, Ibadan, Nigeria | Geply, O.A., Department of Forest Product Development and Utilization, Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria, P.M.B. 5054, Jericho Hill, Ibadan, Nigeria; Baiyewu, R.A., Department of Forest Product Development and Utilization, Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria, P.M.B. 5054, Jericho Hill, Ibadan, Nigeria; Adegoke, I.A., Department of Forest Product Development and Utilization, Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria, P.M.B. 5054, Jericho Hill, Ibadan, Nigeria; Ayodele, O.O., Department of Forest Product Development and Utilization, Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria, P.M.B. 5054, Jericho Hill, Ibadan, Nigeria; Ademola, I.T., Department of Forest Product Development and Utilization, Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria, P.M.B. 5054, Jericho Hill, Ibadan, Nigeria | This research study was carried out to investigate the effect of different pot sizes and growth media on the growth of Jatropha curcas. Two different pot sizes (5 cm by 10 cm) for big pot sizes and (21/2 cm by 21/2 cm by 6 cm) for small pot sizes and 3 different growth media made up of Top Soil, River Sand and Sawdust were used. Relative comparison in Jatropha curcas plant agronomic parameter such as plant height, stem girth and number of leaves, was determined and the values were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS). The result of the analysis shows a significant difference in the combination factor of treatment and weeks, for plant height, stem girth and number of leaves. From the mean value, River Sand in big pot (RB) has the highest value in height and girth with 7.2217 cm, 0.9950 mm respectively. While the highest number of leave was counted from Top Soil in big pot (TB) with 6.7333 cm. Based on the agronomic result obtained in this study, it can therefore be concluded that the best soil media for growing Jatropha curcas is River Sand and the best pot size is big pot (5 cm by 10 cm). © Asian Network for Scientific Information, 2011. | Agronomic; Height; Jatropha curcas; River sand; Stem girth | agricultural parameters; agronomy; article; controlled study; culture medium; Jatropha curcas; nonhuman; plant growth; plant height; plant leaf; plant leaf number; plant parameters; plant stem; pot size; river sand; sand; sawdust; soil analysis; stem girth; surface soil; top soil | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79957848401 | Nutritional evaluation of date palm (phoenix dactylifera) seeds and fruit as source of feeds in aquaculture | Sotolu A.O., Kigbu A.A., Oshinowo J.A. | 2011 | Electronic Journal of Environmental, Agricultural and Food Chemistry | 10 | 5 | None | Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries, Nasarawa State University, Shabu-Lafia campus, Lafia, Nigeria; Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Management, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria | Sotolu, A.O., Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries, Nasarawa State University, Shabu-Lafia campus, Lafia, Nigeria; Kigbu, A.A., Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries, Nasarawa State University, Shabu-Lafia campus, Lafia, Nigeria; Oshinowo, J.A., Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Management, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria | The present study was conducted to find out the nutritional values of Phoenix dactylifera (Date palm) flesh and seeds to be used as components in fish feeds for enhanced feed utilization efficiency. Dried (DD) and Semi-dried (SD) date fruits were purchased from Lafia main market. The samples were separated, milled and analyzed for proximate components and mineral elements using standard methods of the AOAC. Physical assessment of the samples showed that the weight (%) of flesh was found to be higher than weight of seed for both dried (DD) and semidried (SD) dates (90.38±2.58, 9.62± 1.80 and 94.69±2.15, 5.31±1.60) respectively. Proximate analysis showed that dry matter contents were higher in flesh of DD and SD (95.90±0.12% and 96.93±0.07% respectively) while their respective seeds yielded 94.82 ±0.4 and 94.22±0.30%. Results further showed that the crude protein and carbohydrate were found to be higher in the flesh of both DD and SD than their seeds (P<0.05) while ash, crude fibre and crude lipids were significantly higher (P<0.05) in the seeds than flesh of the dates. The estimated energy value was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the seeds {1198.70±2.20 and 1007.58±1.00 (KJ/100g)} than the flesh {1183.45±3.10 and 992.67±2.10 (KJ/100g)} of DD and SD respectively. Mineral analysis indicated that both seeds and flesh of dates contain appreciable concentrations (mg/100g) of Ca; Mg; P; K; Na; Fe; Cu and Zn. However, moisture level affects mostly mineral composition of date and other nutrients. It could be inferred from the present study generally, that date flesh would serve a good source of fish feed additives while its seeds would best be used as a source of energy for improved feed utilization efficiency. | Additives; Date palm; Feed utilization efficiency; Flesh; Seed | Phoenix dactylifera | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84868319452 | A descriptive study on health workforce performance after decentralisation of health services in Uganda | Lutwama G.W., Roos J.H., Dolamo B.L. | 2012 | Human Resources for Health | 10 | None | 10.1186/1478-4491-10-41 | Department of Health Studies, Unisa and IMA World Health Sudd Health Project, IMA World Health, 500 Main Street, PO Box 429, New Windsor, MD, 21776, United States; Department of Health Studies, PO Box 392, Pretoria, Unisa 0003, South Africa | Lutwama, G.W., Department of Health Studies, Unisa and IMA World Health Sudd Health Project, IMA World Health, 500 Main Street, PO Box 429, New Windsor, MD, 21776, United States; Roos, J.H., Department of Health Studies, PO Box 392, Pretoria, Unisa 0003, South Africa; Dolamo, B.L., Department of Health Studies, PO Box 392, Pretoria, Unisa 0003, South Africa | Background: Uganda, like many developing countries, is committed to achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015. However, serious challenges prove to hamper the attainment of these goals, particularly the health related MDGs. A major challenge relates to the human resources for health. The health system in Uganda was decentralised in the 1990s. Despite the health sector reforms, the services have remained significantly deficient and performance of health workers is thought to be one of the contributing factors. The purpose of this study was, therefore, to investigate the performance of health workers after decentralisation of the health services in Uganda in order to identify and suggest possible areas for improvement.Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive survey, using quantitative research methods was utilised. A structured self-administered questionnaire was used to collect quantitative data from 276 health workers in the districts of Kumi, Mbale, Sironko and Tororo in Eastern Uganda. The health workers included doctors, clinical officers, professional nurses and midwives. The sample was selected using stratified random sampling. The data was analysed using SPSS version 18.0 and included both univariate and bivariate analysis. The results were presented in tabular and text forms.Results: The study revealed that even though the health workers are generally responsive to the needs of their clients, the services they provide are often not timely. The health workers take initiatives to ensure that they are available for work, although low staffing levels undermine these efforts. While the study shows that the health workers are productive, over half (50.4%) of them reported that their organisations do not have indicators to measure their individual performance. The findings indicate that the health workers are skilled and competent to perform their duties. In general, the results show that health workers are proficient, adaptive, proactive and client-oriented.Conclusion: Although Uganda is faced with a number of challenges as regards human resources for health, the findings show that the health workers that are currently working in the health facilities are enthusiastic to perform. This may serve as a motivator for the health workers to improve their performance and that of the health sector. © 2012 Lutwama et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | Decentralisation; Health sector reforms; Health workers; Health workforce; Performance | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84878956174 | Pre-eclampsia: Evaluation of patient's care in a in South African hospital | Modiba L.M. | 2013 | Life Science Journal | 10 | 1 | None | Department of Health Studies, University of South Africa, 0003, South Africa | Modiba, L.M., Department of Health Studies, University of South Africa, 0003, South Africa | The purpose of the study was to evaluate the care and outcomes given to pre-eclamptic patients treated in a public hospital in South Africa. Findings: The age distribution of patients in this study is similar to other reports and suggests that pre-eclampsia is probably a disease of young women. Most of pre-eclamptic is probably a disease of young women. Most of the women in the study were less than 21 years old (51.4%). Also, the primigravida were more likely to develop eclampsia compared to the multigravida (p value 0.05; RR = 1.45). Discussions: Although pre-eclampsia is not preventable, deaths and morbidity from this disease can be prevented thorough early detection, careful monitoring and treatment of the disorder. Therefore, in order to decrease pre-eclampsia related mortality and morbidity appropriate prenatal care must be available to all women irrespective of their social and financial background. Pre-eclampsia is also a unique syndrome of pregnancy that is potentially dangerous for both mother and fetus; close supervision and timely delivery should be provided to all pre-eclamptic women. Conclusion: Preeclampsia remains a continuing problem in developing countries. The incidence of pre-eclampsia at this institution is one of the highest in the world. The major avoidable contributing is lack of or absence of antenatal care. In South Africa like other countries there is shortage of staff due to brain drain, leading to long waiting of patients before being seen by doctors or midwives. | Caesarean section; Morbidity; Mortality; Pre-eclampsia; Pregnancy; South Africa | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84943549368 | Evaluation of orange fleshed sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) varieties for yield and yield contributing parameters in the humid tropics of Southwestern Ethiopia | Mekonnen B., Tulu S., Nego J. | 2015 | Journal of Plant Sciences | 10 | 5 | 10.3923/jps.2015.191.199 | Department of Horticulture and Plant Sciences, Jimma University College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, P.O. Box 307, Jimma, Ethiopia | Mekonnen, B., Department of Horticulture and Plant Sciences, Jimma University College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, P.O. Box 307, Jimma, Ethiopia; Tulu, S., Department of Horticulture and Plant Sciences, Jimma University College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, P.O. Box 307, Jimma, Ethiopia; Nego, J., Department of Horticulture and Plant Sciences, Jimma University College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, P.O. Box 307, Jimma, Ethiopia | Five orange fleshed sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) varieties: four collected from Adami Tulu Agricultural Research Center and one local variety with orange flesh were evaluated at field condition to identify the highest yielding and adaptable variety. The five varieties: Beletech (192026 II), Birtukanie (Saluboro), Kulfo (Lo-323), Tulla (CIP 420027) and a local variety were used as treatments and arranged in randomized complete block design with three replications. Data collected on yield and yield contributing parameters were analyzed using the GLM procedure of SAS version 9.2. Variety had significantly affected root diameter, marketable tuberous root yield and total tuberous root yield. Significantly the highest root diameter (4.9 cm), marketable tuberous root yield (0.78 t ha-1) and total tuberous root yield (0.88 t ha-1) were obtained from variety Tulla. The result of the correlation analysis also revealed that root diameter and number of tuberous roots per plant were significantly and positively correlated with marketable and total tuberous root yield. Likewise marketable tuberous root yield was also significantly and positively correlated with total tuberous root yield. This indicated sweet potato producers targeting tuberous roots should use root diameter, number of tuberous roots per plant and marketable tuberous root yield as selection criteria. Likewise, these yield and yield contributing parameters are important selection parameters which can serve as indicators of adaptability of the sweet potato to the study area and can also be utilized for making improvement in tuberous root yield of sweet potato. Besides, yield is an important agronomic index that shows the adaptability of a variety to its growing environment and accordingly variety Tulla outperformed the three improved OFSP varieties and the local variety in yield and yield contributing parameters. Therefore, variety Tulla (CIP 420027) was identified as the highest yielding and adaptable OFSP variety under the rain fed condition in the humid tropics of Southwestern Ethiopia at Jimma and potentially combats VAD at community level. © 2015 Academic Journals Inc. | Beta carotene; OFSP varieties; Root diameter; Southwestern Ethiopia; Yield | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-80054099170 | Evaluation of the role of location and distance in recruitment in respondent-driven sampling | McCreesh N., Johnston L.G., Copas A., Sonnenberg P., Seeley J., Hayes R.J., Frost S.D.W., White R.G. | 2011 | International Journal of Health Geographics | 10 | None | 10.1186/1476-072X-10-56 | Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom; Department of International Health and Development, Center for Global Health Equity, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Canal Street, New Orleans, LA 70112, United States; Research Department of Infection and Population Health, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom; MRC/UVRI Uganda Research Unit on AIDS, Entebbe, Uganda; School of International Development, University of East Anglia, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, United Kingdom; Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, CB3 0ES, United Kingdom | McCreesh, N., Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom; Johnston, L.G., Department of International Health and Development, Center for Global Health Equity, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Canal Street, New Orleans, LA 70112, United States; Copas, A., Research Department of Infection and Population Health, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom; Sonnenberg, P., Research Department of Infection and Population Health, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom; Seeley, J., Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom, MRC/UVRI Uganda Research Unit on AIDS, Entebbe, Uganda, School of International Development, University of East Anglia, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, United Kingdom; Hayes, R.J., Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom; Frost, S.D.W., Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, CB3 0ES, United Kingdom; White, R.G., Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom | Background: Respondent-driven sampling(RDS) is an increasingly widely used variant of a link tracing design for recruiting hidden populations. The role of the spatial distribution of the target population has not been robustly examined for RDS. We examine patterns of recruitment by location, and how they may have biased an RDS study findings.Methods: Total-population data were available on a range of characteristics on a population of 2402 male household-heads from an open cohort of 25 villages in rural Uganda. The locations of households were known a-priori. An RDS survey was carried out in this population, employing current RDS methods of sampling and statistical inference.Results: There was little heterogeneity in the population by location. Data suggested more distant contacts were less likely to be reported, and therefore recruited, but if reported more distant contacts were as likely as closer contacts to be recruited. There was no evidence that closer proximity to a village meeting place was associated with probability of being recruited, however it was associated with a higher probability of recruiting a larger number of recruits. People living closer to an interview site were more likely to be recruited.Conclusions: Household location affected the overall probability of recruitment, and the probability of recruitment by a specific recruiter. Patterns of recruitment do not appear to have greatly biased estimates in this study. The observed patterns could result in bias in more geographically heterogeneous populations. Care is required in RDS studies when choosing the network size question and interview site location(s). © 2011 McCreesh et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | None | cohort analysis; heterogeneity; probability; recruitment (population dynamics); sampling; spatial distribution; village; article; cohort analysis; epidemiology; human; Human immunodeficiency virus 1; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; male; patient selection; probability; questionnaire; rural population; social stigma; Uganda; Bias (Epidemiology); Cohort Studies; Epidemiologic Research Design; HIV Seropositivity; HIV-1; Humans; Male; Patient Selection; Probability; Questionnaires; Rural Population; Sampling Studies; Social Stigma; Uganda | None |
| None | None | Formalization of water allocation systems and impacts on local practices in the Hingilili sub-catchment, Tanzania | Komakech H.C., van der Zaag P., Mul M.L., Mwakalukwa T.A., Kemerink J.S. | 2012 | International Journal of River Basin Management | 10 | 3 | 10.1080/15715124.2012.664774 | Department of Integrated Water Systems and Governance, UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education, PO Box 3015, DA, Delft, Netherlands; Department of Water Resources, Delft University of Technology, PO Box 5048, 2600, GA, Delft, Netherlands; UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education, PO Box 3015, DA, Delft, Netherlands; District Water Engineer, Karatu District Council, PO Box 190, Karatu, Tanzania | Komakech, H.C., Department of Integrated Water Systems and Governance, UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education, PO Box 3015, DA, Delft, Netherlands, Department of Water Resources, Delft University of Technology, PO Box 5048, 2600, GA, Delft, Netherlands; van der Zaag, P., UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education, PO Box 3015, DA, Delft, Netherlands, District Water Engineer, Karatu District Council, PO Box 190, Karatu, Tanzania; Mul, M.L., Department of Integrated Water Systems and Governance, UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education, PO Box 3015, DA, Delft, Netherlands; Mwakalukwa, T.A., Department of Water Resources, Delft University of Technology, PO Box 5048, 2600, GA, Delft, Netherlands; Kemerink, J.S., Department of Integrated Water Systems and Governance, UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education, PO Box 3015, DA, Delft, Netherlands | Water scarcity caused by increased demands often leads to competition and conflict over water in many river catchments in Sub-Saharan Africa. At the local level, water users have in many places been able to solve water allocation problems by crafting institutions based on customs and traditions. These self-governing arrangements are not necessarily fair or good, but are able to adapt to the changing resource context. Simultaneously, many African governments have adopted new policies and laws, and established new institutions to achieve equitable and sustainable management of water resources. The formalization of the property right to water is often part of the recipe. This paper analyses the impact of one such government-led formalization process on local water allocation practices. Based on a field study in the Hingilili sub-catchment, Tanzania, we find that government interventions do not achieve the goal of equitable and sustainable water management. However, we find that the principle of good neighbourhood that still exists between the highland and lowland farmers in Hingilili could form a base to reconcile diverging water interests between the highland and lowland farmers. The paper shows that the concept of bricolage [Cleaver, F., 2002. Reinventing institutions: bricolage and the social embeddedness of natural resourcemanagement. TheEuropean Journal ofDevelopmentResearch, 14 (2), 11-30] is useful to demonstrate the need for new institutions to be sufficiently embedded in existing local practices to succeed, but this is not a sufficient condition. The hydraulic position of the various actors (upstream or downstream) must also be taken into account, and may be considered a driver for institutional innovation. © 2012 International Association for Hydro-Environment Engineering and Research. | Bricolage; Canal irrigation; Conflicts; Cooperation; Property right; Water allocation | canal; catchment; innovation; irrigation; river water; water management; water resource; Tanzania | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84939157007 | Patterns of lymph node pathology; fine needle aspiration biopsy as an evaluation tool for lymphadenopathy: A retrospective descriptive study conducted at the Largest Hospital in Africa | Reddy D.L., Venter W.D.F., Pather S. | 2015 | PLoS ONE | 10 | 6 | 10.1371/journal.pone.0130148 | Department of Internal Medicine, Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute (RHI), Department of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Division of Anatomical Pathology, School of Pathology, National Health Laboratory Service, Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa | Reddy, D.L., Department of Internal Medicine, Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Venter, W.D.F., Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute (RHI), Department of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Pather, S., Division of Anatomical Pathology, School of Pathology, National Health Laboratory Service, Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa | Background Lymphadenopathy is a common clinical presentation of disease in South Africa (SA), particularly in the era of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and tuberculosis (TB) co-infection. Methods Data from 560 lymph node biopsy reports of specimens from patients older than 12 years at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital (CHBAH) between 1 January 2010 and 31 December 2012 was extracted from the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS), division of Anatomical Pathology. Cytology reports of lymph node fine needle aspirates (FNAs) performed prior to lymph node biopsy in 203 patients were also extracted from the NHLS. Consent was not obtained from participants for their records to be used as patient information was anonymized and de-identified prior to analysis. Results The majority of patients were female (55%) and of the African/black racial group (90%). The median age of patients was 40 years (range12-94). The most common indication for biopsy was an uncertain diagnosis (more than two differential diagnoses entertained), followed by a suspicion for lymphoma, carcinoma and TB. Overall, malignancy constituted the largest biopsy pathology group (39%), with 36% of this group being carcinoma and 27% non-Hodgkin lymphoma. 22% of the total sampled nodes displayed necrotizing granulomatous inflammation (including histopathology and cytology demonstrating definite, and suspicious for mycobacterial infection), 8% comprised HIV reactive nodes; in the remainder no specific pathology was identified (nonspecific reactive lymphoid hyperplasia). Kaposi sarcoma (KS) accounted for 2.5% of lymph node pathology in this sample. Concomitant lymph node pathology was diagnosed in four cases of nodal KS (29% of the subset). The co-existing pathologies were TB and Castleman disease. HIV positive patients constituted 49% of this study sample and the majority (64%) of this subset had CD4 counts less than 350 cells/ul. 27% were HIV negative and in the remaining nodes, the HIV status of patients was unknown. The most common lymph node pathologies in HIV positive patients were Mycobacterial infection (31%), HIV reactive nodes (15%), non-Hodgkin lymphoma (15%) and nonspecific reactive lymphoid hyperplasia (15%). Only 8.7% were of Hodgkin lymphoma. In contrast, the most common lymph node pathologies in HIV negative patients were nonspecific reactive lymphoid hyperplasia (45%), carcinoma (25%) and Mycobacterial infection (11%). In this group, non-Hodgkin lymphoma and Hodgkin lymphoma constituted 9% and 8%, respectively. There were more cases of high-grade non-Hodgkin lymphoma in the HIV positive group compared to the HIV negative group. FNA and lymph node biopsy had statistically significant good agreement with regard to Hodgkin lymphoma (K 0.774, SE 0.07, 95% CI 0.606-0.882, p=0.001), non-Hodgkin lymphoma (K 0.640, SE 0.07, 95% CI 0.472- 0.807, p=0.001), carcinoma (K 0.723, SE 0.069, 95% CI 0.528-0.918, p=0.001), and mycobacterial infection (K 0.726, SE 0.07, 95% CI 0.618-0.833, p=0.001). Conclusions The most common lymph node pathologies in CHBAH are malignancies, nonspecific reactive lymphoid hyperplasia, necrotizing granulomatous inflammation and HIV reactive nodes. The distribution of disease differs in HIV positive patients. Overall, adequate FNA samples of lymph nodes have been found to have good correlation with lymph node biopsy findings in our setting. Copyright: © 2015 Reddy et al. | None | adolescent; adult; Africa; African; aged; Article; Black person; carcinoma; child; clinical evaluation; differential diagnosis; female; fine needle aspiration biopsy; granulomatous inflammation; histopathology; human; human tissue; lymphadenopathy; major clinical study; male; middle aged; nonhodgkin lymphoma; patient information; retrospective study; school child; tuberculosis; young adult; Human immunodeficiency virus | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84947057579 | The impact of public access venue information and communication technologies in Botswana public libraries | Totolo A., Renken J., Sey A. | 2015 | Evidence Based Library and Information Practice | 10 | 3 | None | Department of Library and Information Studies, Faculty of Humanities, University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana; Management and Information Systems, Centre for Development Informatics, University of Manchester Manchester, England, United Kingdom; Technology and Social Change Group, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States | Totolo, A., Department of Library and Information Studies, Faculty of Humanities, University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana; Renken, J., Management and Information Systems, Centre for Development Informatics, University of Manchester Manchester, England, United Kingdom; Sey, A., Technology and Social Change Group, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States | Objective - A study on the impact of Public Access Venue (PAV) Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) was conducted in Botswana libraries with Internet connections. The main objective was to determine the impact of ICTs in public libraries. Methods -Using the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework as a theoretical lens, the study used semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions to investigate the impact of PAV ICTs in 4 study sites, resulting in data from a total of 39 interviews and 4 focus groups. Methods -Using the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework as a theoretical lens, the study used semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions to investigate the impact of PAV ICTs in 4 study sites, resulting in data from a total of 39 interviews and 4 focus groups. Results - The results of the study show that PAV ICTs had a positive impact on users in the areas of education and economic benefits. Within educational and economic impacts, social benefits were also found, pertaining to the use of social media and the Internet for formal and informal communication. The study also revealed a slight difference between school going users and non-school going elderly users where the use and acquisition of computer skills was concerned. Elderly non-school going users tended to rely on venue staff for skills more than the younger school going users. Conclusion - The study recommends that PAV facilities should be improved in terms of skills offered and resources availed so as to appeal to both the younger school going generation and the older non-school going users. It is also recommended that education on ICT be improved to help curb rising unemployment in Botswana; such skills would enhance the income generation skills of the unemployed users as well as school leavers. © 2015 Totolo, Renken, and Sey. | None | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-62249133727 | The relationships among gender, strategic capabilities, and performance of small retail firms in Ghana | Boohene R. | 2009 | Journal of African Business | 10 | 1 | 10.1080/15228910802701601 | Department of Management, School of Business, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana | Boohene, R., Department of Management, School of Business, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana | The study examines the direct and indirect effects of gender on business strategies, firm resources, business owners' skills, and performance of small firms in Ghana. Small businesses comprise about 90% of all enterprises and are recognized as a crucial and integral component of economic development aimed at sustained poverty reduction in Ghana. The ability of these firms to contribute to economic development is influenced by their business strategies, determined by the firm's resources and owner-manager's business skills. Structured questionnaires from 600 owner-managers of small retail shops in the Accra Metropolitan area were analyzed. Structural equation modeling using partial least-squares was used to examine the relationships between gender, business strategies, firm resources, business owners' skills, and performance. Results show that the gender of the owner-managers has a direct influence on business performance, resources, and skills; a partial influence on business strategies; and an indirect influence on performance through business strategies. The findings suggest that assistance programs aimed at addressing business performance should target gender differences to enhance women business owners' strategies, resources, and skills. | Gender; Ghana; Resources; Skills; Strategy | corporate strategy; economic development; firm ownership; gender issue; least squares method; metropolitan area; Africa; Ghana; Sub-Saharan Africa; West Africa | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33751165076 | Customer-focus and business performance: The study of food and beverages organizations in Nigeria | Nwokah N.G., Maclayton D.W. | 2006 | Measuring Business Excellence | 10 | 4 | 10.1108/13683040610719281 | Department of Marketing, Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt, Nigeria | Nwokah, N.G., Department of Marketing, Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt, Nigeria; Maclayton, D.W., Department of Marketing, Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt, Nigeria | Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to assess the impact of customer-focus on the performance of the organisation. While many empirical works have centered on customer-focus, the generalisability of its impact on performance of the food and beverages organisations in the Nigeria context has been under-researched. Design/methodology/approach - The paper adopted a triangulation methodology (quantitative and qualitative approach). Data were collected from key informants using a research instrument. Returned instruments were analyzed using non-parametric correlation through the use of the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 10. Findings - The paper validated the earlier instruments but did not find any strong association between customer-focus and business performance in the Nigerian context using the food and beverages organisations for the study. The reasons underlying the weak relationship between customer-focus and business performance of the food and beverages organizations are government policies, new product development, diversification, innovation and devaluation of the Nigerian currency. One important finding of this paper is that customer-focus leads to business performance through some moderating variables. Practical implications - The paper recommends that the Nigerian Government should ensure a stable economy and make economic policies that will enhance existing business development in the country. Also, organisations should have performance measurement systems to detect the impact of investment on customer-focus with the aim of knowing how the organization works. Originality/value - This paper significantly refines the body of knowledge concerning the impact of customer-focus on the performance of the organization, and thereby offers a model of customer-focus and business performance in the Nigerian context for marketing scholars and practitioners. This model will, no doubt, contribute to the body of existing literature of customer-focus. | Beverages; Business performance; Customer orientation; Food industry; Nigeria | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84941553650 | Performance, compliance and reliability of Waste stabilization pond: Effluent discharge quality and environmental protection agency standards in Ghana | Owusu-Ansah E.D.-G.J., Sampson A., Amponsah S.K., Abaidoo R.C., Hald T. | 2015 | Research Journal of Applied Sciences, Engineering and Technology | 10 | 11 | None | Department of Mathematics, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana; Department of Biochemistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana; College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana; Epidemiology and Risk Assessment, Division of Microbiology and Risk Assessment, National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Morkhoj Bygade, Soborg, Denmark | Owusu-Ansah, E.D.-G.J., Department of Mathematics, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana; Sampson, A., Department of Biochemistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana; Amponsah, S.K., Department of Mathematics, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana; Abaidoo, R.C., College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana; Hald, T., Epidemiology and Risk Assessment, Division of Microbiology and Risk Assessment, National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Morkhoj Bygade, Soborg, Denmark | Measuring performance has been arguerably, one of the metric with many facets with different school of thoughts, as there exist different approaches of measuring it. Several of the existing approaches measure such metric by comparison with standards esherined in policy documents and as a result, takes less look to its compliance and reliability of values being matched to an established standards. This study seeks to integrate reliability and compliance into measuring of performance of Waste Stabilization Pond (WSP) and Treatment Plant (TP) as well as to generate the appropriate standard chart tables using the Ghana Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved discharge values for physico-chemical and some biological parameters to account for these shortfalls on over reliance of EPA discharge standards. Probability distribution density function was applied on the lognormal distribution function to establish the relationship between the statistical coefficient of variation and the coefficient of reliability based on rth moment about the origin in the moment of generation function to generate the functions of the mean and standard deviation, properties of the standard Z normal distribution were used to establish the coefficient of reliability relationship depending on the coefficient of variation influenced by the standard of deviation. Discharge values of Physico-chemical Parameters measured from the WSP were found be performing acceptably based on the EPA standards, whereas only four of the TP were acceptable. Discharge Values of physico-chemical and biological parameters which are found to be accepted under comparison with EPA standards were found to have compliance levels below what is generally accepted for Waste Stabilization Ponds (WSP) designed compliance. Based on these shortcomings, reference charts were develop to serve as reference points in assessing the various characteristics of compliance and performance of WSPs in Ghana on (28) physico-chemical and biological parameters. These charts are intended to make it easier to assess the performance of WSPs and its corresponding reliability and compliance level to compensate for overreliance on EPA standards alone. © Maxwell Scientific Organization, 2015. | Coefficient of reliability; Coefficient of variation; Effluent quality discharge; EPA standards; Lognormal distribution; Performance and compliance; Probability of reliability; Waste stabilization ponds | None | None |
| None | None | The impact of human mobility on HIV transmission in Kenya | Isdory A., Mureithi E.W., Sumpter D.J.T. | 2015 | PLoS ONE | 10 | 11 | 10.1371/journal.pone.0142805 | Department of Mathematics, University of Dar es Salaam, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Department of Mathematics, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden | Isdory, A., Department of Mathematics, University of Dar es Salaam, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Mureithi, E.W., Department of Mathematics, University of Dar es Salaam, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Sumpter, D.J.T., Department of Mathematics, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden | Disease spreads as a result of people moving and coming in contact with each other. Thus the mobility patterns of individuals are crucial in understanding disease dynamics. Here we study the impact of human mobility on HIV transmission in different parts of Kenya. We build an SIR metapopulation model that incorporates the different regions within the country. We parameterise the model using census data, HIV data and mobile phone data adopted to track human mobility. We found that movement between different regions appears to have a relatively small overall effect on the total increase in HIV cases in Kenya. However, the most important consequence of movement patterns was transmission of the disease from high infection to low prevalence areas. Mobility slightly increases HIV incidence rates in regions with initially low HIV prevalences and slightly decreases incidences in regions with initially high HIV prevalence. We discuss how regional HIV models could be used in public-health planning. This paper is a first attempt to model spread of HIV using mobile phone data, and we also discuss limitations to the approach. © 2015 Isdory et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. | None | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84940577071 | Evaluation of residual stress in stainless steel 316L and Ti6Al4V samples produced by selective laser melting | Yadroitsev I., Yadroitsava I. | 2015 | Virtual and Physical Prototyping | 10 | 2 | 10.1080/17452759.2015.1026045 | Department of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering, Central University of Technology, Free State, South Africa | Yadroitsev, I., Department of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering, Central University of Technology, Free State, South Africa; Yadroitsava, I., Department of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering, Central University of Technology, Free State, South Africa | Selective laser melting (SLM) has great potential in additive manufacturing because it enables the production of full-density complex parts with the desired inner structure and surface morphology. High temperature gradients as a result of the locally concentrated energy input lead to residual stresses, crack formation and part deformation during processing or after separation from the supports and the substrate. In this study, an X-ray diffraction technique and numerical simulation were used for investigating the residual stress in SLM samples fabricated from stainless steel 316L and Ti6Al4V alloy. Conclusions regarding directions and values of stresses in SLM objects are given. © 2015 Taylor & Francis. | numerical simulation; residual stress; selective laser melting; stainless steel; titanium alloy | 3D printers; Alloy steel; Computer simulation; Melting; Numerical models; Residual stresses; Titanium alloys; X ray diffraction; Additive Manufacturing; Energy inputs; High temperature gradient; Inner structure; Selective laser melting; Stainless steel 316L; Ti-6Al-4V alloy; X-ray diffraction techniques; Stainless steel | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77954821177 | The health profile and impact assessment of waste scavengers (Rag Pickers) in Port Harcourt, Nigeria | Wachukwu C.K., Mbata C.A., Nyenke C.U. | 2010 | Journal of Applied Sciences | 10 | 17 | None | Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Nkpolu-Oroworukwo, Port Harcourt, Nigeria; College of Health Science and Technology, Port Harcourt, Nigeria | Wachukwu, C.K., Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Nkpolu-Oroworukwo, Port Harcourt, Nigeria; Mbata, C.A., Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Nkpolu-Oroworukwo, Port Harcourt, Nigeria; Nyenke, C.U., College of Health Science and Technology, Port Harcourt, Nigeria | The objective of this study was to determine the health profile and impact assessment of waste scavengers in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. To isolate and identify the potential pathogens that degrade the waste, samples were collected from 7 dumpsites and one control site. Serial dilutions of the samples were carried out and aliquots (0.1 mL) of the diluted samples were inoculated into appropriate media. Similarly, blood, stool, urine and nasal swabs were collected from 80 waste scavengers and 20 control subjects. The blood samples were used for the determination of haematological parameters and widal test, while urine, stool and nasal swabs were used for microbiological analysis. Five genera of bacteria were isolated from the waste dumpsites, which include Staphylococcus sp., Escherichia coli, Salmonella sp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Bacillus sp. while the control sites showed growth of Bacillus sp., only. The culture result from waste scavengers also showed similar organisms, such as Staphylococcus aureus, E. coli and Salmonella sp. There was significant decrease in the haemoglobin levels, haematocrit and Neutrophil counts of rag pickers as compared with the control subjects (p<0.05). Mean values for waste scavenger were Hb 12.12±1.85g dL1, HCT 36.33±16.7% and Neutrophil 33.33±14.06%, while control subjects were Hb 14.48±04g dL1, HCT 42.66±9.47% and Neutrophil 56.55±16.83%. The AST for waste scavengers was slightly increased, while the other LFT values were decreased compared to the control subjects. It can be inferred that waste scavengers serve as vehicles for the transmission of certain pathogens that degrade waste, thereby, constituting some public health hazards. © 2010 Asian Network for Scientific Information. | Health profile; Impact assessment; Microbial degradation; Rag pickers; Waste dumpsite; Waste scavengers | Impact assessments; Microbial degradation; Microbiological analysis; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Rag pickers; Staphylococcus aureus; Staphylococcus sp; Waste dumpsite; Bacteriology; Biodegradation; Blood; Escherichia coli; Health; Health hazards; Salmonella; Vehicle transmissions; Solid wastes | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84939475067 | Evaluation of pregnant women susceptible to cytomegalovirus infection in Maiduguri, Nigeria | Nasir I.A., Usman Y., Babayo A. | 2015 | Research Journal of Microbiology | 10 | 7 | 10.3923/jm.2015.336.342 | Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, PMB 228, Gwagwalada, FCT Abuja, Nigeria; Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Ahmadu Bello University, PMB 05, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria; Department of Medical Microbiology | Nasir, I.A., Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, PMB 228, Gwagwalada, FCT Abuja, Nigeria; Usman, Y., Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Ahmadu Bello University, PMB 05, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria; Babayo, A., Department of Medical Microbiology, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Tecahing Hospital, PMB 0117, Bauchi, Bauchi State, Nigeria | Cytomegalovirus (CMV) screening in pregnancy has not been recommended during antenatal clinic days in Nigeria and most countries of the world. However, CMV has been widely accepted as, the viral etiology with the greatest propensity for congenital transmission. Due to CMV ubiquity, seronegative women are highly susceptible to CMV infection and thus, has increased risk of maternal infections and possibly congenital transmission. In view of this, this study aimed to determine the seroprevalence of women, who are anti-CMV IgG seronegative, thus susceptible to CMV infections. We made use of NovalisaTM anti-CMV IgG ELISA kit to screen 182 blood samples of pregnant women attending antenatal clinics of University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH), Maiduguri, Nigeria. Structured questionnaire was used to collect participants’ sociodemographic data. A total of 38 out of 182 subjects were anti-CMV IgG seronegative making a seroprevalence of 20.9%. There was significant statistical association between seronegativity and subjects’ education level and history of previous blood transfusion (p<0.05) but not with age, parity, gravida and gestation age (p>0.05). Findings from our evaluation indicated that many pregnant women were anti-CMV IgG seronegative and thus susceptible to maternal CMV infections. These women have high risk of contacting primary CMV infections and might eventually pose danger to their unborn fetuses in the absence of appropriate preventive. © 2015 Academic Journals Inc. | Antenatal screening; Cytomegalovirus; Pregnant women; Seronegative; Susceptible | Cytomegalovirus | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84956647229 | Mother-to-child HIV-1 transmission events are differentially impacted by breast milk and its components from HIV-1-infected women | Shen R., Achenbach J., Shen Y., Palaia J., Rahkola J.T., Nick H.J., Smythies L.E., McConnell M., Fowler M.G., Smith P.D., Janoff E.N. | 2015 | PLoS ONE | 10 | 12 | 10.1371/journal.pone.0145150 | Department of Medicine (Division of Gastroenterology), University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States; Mucosal and Vaccine Research Program Colorado (MAVRC), University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO, United States; Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, United States; Denver Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Denver, CO, United States; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States; Makerere University, Johns Hopkins University Research Collaboration, Kampala, Uganda; Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Birmingham, AL, United States; Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, United States | Shen, R., Department of Medicine (Division of Gastroenterology), University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States; Achenbach, J., Mucosal and Vaccine Research Program Colorado (MAVRC), University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO, United States; Shen, Y., Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, United States; Palaia, J., Mucosal and Vaccine Research Program Colorado (MAVRC), University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO, United States; Rahkola, J.T., Mucosal and Vaccine Research Program Colorado (MAVRC), University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO, United States, Denver Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Denver, CO, United States; Nick, H.J., Department of Medicine (Division of Gastroenterology), University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States, Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, United States; Smythies, L.E., Department of Medicine (Division of Gastroenterology), University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States; McConnell, M., Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States; Fowler, M.G., Makerere University, Johns Hopkins University Research Collaboration, Kampala, Uganda; Smith, P.D., Department of Medicine (Division of Gastroenterology), University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Birmingham, AL, United States; Janoff, E.N., Mucosal and Vaccine Research Program Colorado (MAVRC), University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO, United States, Denver Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Denver, CO, United States | Breast milk is a vehicle of infection and source of protection in post-natal mother-to-child HIV-1 transmission (MTCT). Understanding the mechanism by which breast milk limits vertical transmission will provide critical insight into the design of preventive and therapeutic approaches to interrupt HIV-1 mucosal transmission. However, characterization of the inhibitory activity of breast milk in human intestinal mucosa, the portal of entry in postnatal MTCT, has been constrained by the limited availability of primary mucosal target cells and tissues to recapitulate mucosal transmission ex vivo. Here, we characterized the impact of skimmed breast milk, breast milk antibodies (Igs) and non-Ig components from HIV-1- infected Ugandan women on the major events of HIV-1 mucosal transmission using primary human intestinal cells and tissues. HIV-1-specific IgG antibodies and non-Ig components in breast milk inhibited the uptake of Ugandan HIV-1 isolates by primary human intestinal epithelial cells, viral replication in and transport of HIV-1- bearing dendritic cells through the human intestinal mucosa. Breast milk HIV-1-specific IgG and IgA, as well as innate factors, blocked the uptake and transport of HIV-1 through intestinal mucosa. Thus, breast milk components have distinct and complementary effects in reducing HIV-1 uptake, transport through and replication in the intestinal mucosa and, therefore, likely contribute to preventing postnatal HIV-1 transmission. Our data suggests that a successful preventive or therapeutic approach would require multiple immune factors acting at multiple steps in the HIV-1 mucosal transmission process. | None | immunoglobulin; immunoglobulin A; immunoglobulin antibody; immunoglobulin G; adult; antibody specificity; Article; breast milk; cell transport; child; clinical article; controlled study; dendritic cell; disease association; female; human; human cell; Human immunodeficiency virus 1; Human immunodeficiency virus 1 infection; immune response; intestine epithelium cell; intestine mucosa; molecular dynamics; nonhuman; virus identification; virus isolation; virus replication; virus transmission; young adult | AI083127, NIH, National Institutes of Health; AI083615, NIH, National Institutes of Health; AI093151, NIH, National Institutes of Health; AI106395, NIH, National Institutes of Health; AI41361, NIH, National Institutes of Health; DK064400, NIH, National In |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84943176148 | Estimating PMTCT's impact on heterosexual HIV transmission: A mathematical modeling analysis | Khanna A.S., Roberts S.T., Cassels S., Ying R., John-Stewart G., Goodreau S.M., Baeten J.M., Murnane P.M., Celum C., Barnabas R.V., Moodley D. | 2015 | PLoS ONE | 10 | 8 | 10.1371/journal.pone.0134271 | Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States; Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States; Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States; Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States; Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States; Department of Anthropology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States; Department of Geography, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, United States; College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States; Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, United States; University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | Khanna, A.S., Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States; Roberts, S.T., Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States, Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States; Cassels, S., Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States, Department of Geography, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, United States; Ying, R., Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States; John-Stewart, G., Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States, Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States, Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States; Goodreau, S.M., Department of Anthropology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States; Baeten, J.M., Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States, Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States; Murnane, P.M., College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States; Celum, C., Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States, Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States; Barnabas, R.V., Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States, Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, United States; Moodley, D., University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | Introduction Prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission (PMTCT) strategies include combined short-course antiretrovirals during pregnancy (Option A), triple-drug antiretroviral treament (ART) during pregnancy and breastfeeding (Option B), or lifelong ART (Option B+). The WHO also recommends ART for HIV treatment and prevention of sexual transmission of HIV. The impact of PMTCT strategies on prevention of sexual HIV transmission of HIV is not known. We estimated the population-level impact of PMTCT interventions on heterosexual HIV transmission in southwestern Uganda and KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, two regions with different HIV prevalence and fertility rates. Materials and Methods We constructed and validated dynamic, stochastic, network-based HIV transmission models for each region. PMTCT Options A, B, and B+ were simulated over ten years under three scenarios: 1) current ART and PMTCT coverage, 2) current ART and high PMTCT coverage, and 3) high ART and PMTCT coverage. We compared adult HIV incidence after ten years of each intervention to Option A (and current ART) at current coverage. Results At current coverage, Options B and B+ reduced heterosexual HIV incidence by about 5% and 15%, respectively, in both countries. With current ART and high PMTCT coverage, Option B+ reduced HIV incidence by 35% in Uganda and 19% in South Africa, while Option B had smaller, but meaningful, reductions. The greatest reductions in HIV incidence were achieved with high ART and PMTCT coverage. In this scenario, all PMTCT strategies yielded similar results. Discussion Implementation of Options B/B+ reduces adult HIV incidence, with greater effect (relative to Option A at current levels) in Uganda than South Africa. These results are likely driven by Uganda's higher fertility rates. © 2015 Khanna et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. | None | antiretrovirus agent; Article; breast feeding; CD4 lymphocyte count; fertility; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; Human immunodeficiency virus prevalence; incidence; mathematical model; pregnant woman; South Africa; Uganda; vertical transmission; virus transmission | KL2TR000421, NIH, National Institutes of Health; P30AI027757, NIH, National Institutes of Health; R00 HD057533, NIH, National Institutes of Health; R01 DA033875, NIH, National Institutes of Health; R24 HD042828, NIH, National Institutes of Health; RC4 AI0 |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77953397096 | Impact of immunosuppression on radiographic features of HIV related pulmonary tuberculosis among Nigerians | Desalu O.O., Olokoba A., Danfulani M., Gambo Z., Salawu F., Damburam A., Midala J. | 2009 | Turk Toraks Dergisi | 10 | 3 | None | Department of Medicine, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Nigeria; Department of Radiology Usman Dan Fodio, University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, Nigeria; Department of Medicine, Federal Medical Centre Yola, Adamawa State, Nigeria; Departmen | Desalu, O.O., Department of Medicine, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Nigeria; Olokoba, A., Department of Medicine, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Nigeria; Danfulani, M., Department of Radiology Usman Dan Fodio, University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, Nigeria; Gambo, Z., Department of Medicine, Federal Medical Centre Yola, Adamawa State, Nigeria; Salawu, F., Department of Medicine, Federal Medical Centre Yola, Adamawa State, Nigeria; Damburam, A., Department of Medicine, Federal Medical Centre Yola, Adamawa State, Nigeria; Midala, J., Department of Hematology, Federal Medical Centre Yola, Adamawa State, Nigeria | Objective: The impact of immunosuppression on radiographic manifestation of HIV related pulmonary tuberculosis among Nigerians was studied. Material and Method: We recruited 127 cases of HIV related pulmonary tuberculosis at the Federal Medical Centre Yola Adamawa state, Nigeria. Demographic information, smoking history and results of sputum smear for AAFB, chest radiographic findings and blood CD4 counts were obtained. Subjects were subdivided into two groups: Group I (CD4 count < 200cell/mm3) and Group II (CD4 count ≥ 200cell/mm3). Results: Of the 127 subjects, 74 were males and 53 were females. The mean age of the subjects was 35.1±8.4 years and the mean CD4 count was 166±100 cell/mm3. There were 93(73.2%) in Group I and 34(26.8%) in Group II. Mediastinal lymphadenopathy, middle and lower lung zone involvement, bilateral lung involvement, miliary or disseminated patterns as well as normal chest radiographs were found more frequently in Group I. Cavitations, upper lung zone involvement, pleural effusion and bilateral lung infiltrate were found more frequently in Group II. Conclusion: Severe immunosuppression was significantly associated with atypical radiological findings of TB, while mild immunosuppression was significantly associated with typical pulmonary tuberculosis. The physician needs to be aware of the impact of immunosuppression on radiographic manifestation of HIV related pulmonary tuberculosis. | AIDS manifestation; HIV; Immunosuppression; Nigerians; Radiographic; Tuberculosis | acid fast bacterium; adult; article; CD4 lymphocyte count; cigarette smoking; controlled study; disease association; disease severity; female; human; human cell; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; immune deficiency; lung cavitation; lung infiltrate; lung tuberculosis; lymphadenopathy; major clinical study; male; mediastinum lymph node; miliary tuberculosis; Nigeria; pleura effusion; sputum smear; thorax radiography | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84873205152 | Bayesian evaluation of informative hypotheses in SEM using Mplus: A black bear story | van de Schoot R., Verhoeven M., Hoijtink H. | 2013 | European Journal of Developmental Psychology | 10 | 1 | 10.1080/17405629.2012.732719 | Department of Methods and Statistics, Utrecht University, PO Box 80.140, NL-3508 TC, Utrecht, Netherlands; Optentia Research Program, North-West University, Vanderbijlpark, South Africa; Child and Adolescent Studies, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands | van de Schoot, R., Department of Methods and Statistics, Utrecht University, PO Box 80.140, NL-3508 TC, Utrecht, Netherlands, Optentia Research Program, North-West University, Vanderbijlpark, South Africa; Verhoeven, M., Child and Adolescent Studies, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands; Hoijtink, H., Department of Methods and Statistics, Utrecht University, PO Box 80.140, NL-3508 TC, Utrecht, Netherlands | Half in jest we use a story about a black bear to illustrate that there are some discrepancies between the formal use of the p-value and the way it is often used in practice. We argue that more can be learned from data by evaluating informative hypotheses, than by testing the traditional hypothesis. All criticisms of classical hypothesis testing aside, the best argument for evaluating informative hypotheses is that many researchers want to evaluate their expectations directly, but have been unable to do so because the statistical tools were not yet available. It will be shown that a Bayesian model selection procedure can be used to evaluate informative hypotheses in structural equation models using the software Mplus. In the current paper we introduce the methodology using a real-life example taken from the field of developmental psychology about depressive symptoms in adolescence and provide a step-by-step description so that the procedure becomes more comprehensible for applied researchers. As this paper illustrates, this methodology is ready to be used by any researcher within the social sciences. © 2013 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC. | Bayes factor; Depression; Informative hypothesis; Mplus; Order restricted inference; Structural equation modelling | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84862222142 | Evaluation of the growth enhancement ability of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain isolated from the rhizosphere of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) | Adegunloye D.V., Adetuyi F.C. | 2012 | Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment | 10 | 2 | None | Department of Microbiology, Federal University of Technology, P. M. B. 704, Akure, Nigeria | Adegunloye, D.V., Department of Microbiology, Federal University of Technology, P. M. B. 704, Akure, Nigeria; Adetuyi, F.C., Department of Microbiology, Federal University of Technology, P. M. B. 704, Akure, Nigeria | Seven bacteria species were isolated from rhizosphere of three cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) seedlings grown in the screenhouse of the Department of the Crop, Soil and Pest Management, the Federal University of Technology, Akure. The isolated bacteria included Clostridium welchii, Bacillus cereus, Bacillus polymyxa, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Micrococcus sp. and Serratia marcescens. The growth-promoting and biocontrol potential of one of the isolated bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa was investigated by growing cowpea in soil. Three experiments were set up: A cowpea planted in unsterilized soil, B cowpea planted in sterilized soil and C cowpea coated with cells of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were planted in sterilized soil, respectively. The appearance, stem girth, above ground stem and the number of leaves formed by the different plants were the parameters used and observation commenced from three days after planting to a period of three weeks. Plant C germinated properly without infection and showed a steady increase in stem girth from 0.15 to 0.19 mm over the period of three weeks. Plant B increased in stem girth from 0.13 to 0.17 mm. In plant A germination was not observed on the third day, however, the stem girth ranged between 0.01mm after the sixth day to 0.13 mm after 3 weeks. The height of the plant A, B, and C increased from 2.0 to 9.0 cm, from 2.8 to 14.0 cm and from 4.0 to 14.5 cm, respectively. The number of leaves was 2-5 for plant A, 2-12 for plant B and 3-15 for C, this was for a period of three weeks. Three out of the four seeds coated with Pseudomonas aeruginosa developed into healthy stems while in the untreated seeds only two seeds germinated. Therefore, Pseudomonas aeruginosa produce substances that could enhance the growth of cowpea. | Cowpea; Enhancement; Evaluation; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Rhizosphere | article; bacterial growth; bacterial strain; bacterium isolation; cowpea; germination; nonhuman; plant leaf; plant stem; plantation; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; rhizosphere | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84953299304 | Field evaluation of malaria microscopy, rapid malaria tests and loop-mediated isothermal amplification in a rural hospital in south Western Ethiopia | Cuadros J., Pérez-Tanoira R., Prieto-Pérez L., Martin-Martin I., Berzosa P., González V., Tisiano G., Balcha S., Ramos J.M., Górgolas M. | 2015 | PLoS ONE | 10 | 11 | 10.1371/journal.pone.0142842 | Department of Microbiology, Universitary Hospital Príncipe de Asturias, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain; Department of Medicine and Laboratory, Gambo Rural General Hospital, Kore, West-Arsi, Gambo, Ethiopia; Division of Infectious Diseases, Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Madrid, Spain; Department of Medicine, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain; Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland; Medical Entomology Unit, Department of Parasitology, National Centre of Microbiology, Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain; National Centre of Tropical Medicine, Health Insitute Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital General Universitario of Alicante.Miguel Hernández University, Elche, Alicante, Spain | Cuadros, J., Department of Microbiology, Universitary Hospital Príncipe de Asturias, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain; Pérez-Tanoira, R., Department of Medicine and Laboratory, Gambo Rural General Hospital, Kore, West-Arsi, Gambo, Ethiopia, Division of Infectious Diseases, Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Madrid, Spain, Department of Medicine, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain, Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland; Prieto-Pérez, L., Department of Medicine and Laboratory, Gambo Rural General Hospital, Kore, West-Arsi, Gambo, Ethiopia, Division of Infectious Diseases, Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Madrid, Spain, Department of Medicine, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain; Martin-Martin, I., Department of Medicine and Laboratory, Gambo Rural General Hospital, Kore, West-Arsi, Gambo, Ethiopia, Medical Entomology Unit, Department of Parasitology, National Centre of Microbiology, Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain; Berzosa, P., National Centre of Tropical Medicine, Health Insitute Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; González, V., National Centre of Tropical Medicine, Health Insitute Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Tisiano, G., Department of Medicine and Laboratory, Gambo Rural General Hospital, Kore, West-Arsi, Gambo, Ethiopia; Balcha, S., Department of Medicine and Laboratory, Gambo Rural General Hospital, Kore, West-Arsi, Gambo, Ethiopia; Ramos, J.M., Department of Medicine and Laboratory, Gambo Rural General Hospital, Kore, West-Arsi, Gambo, Ethiopia, Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital General Universitario of Alicante.Miguel Hernández University, Elche, Alicante, Spain; Górgolas, M., Department of Medicine and Laboratory, Gambo Rural General Hospital, Kore, West-Arsi, Gambo, Ethiopia, Division of Infectious Diseases, Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Madrid, Spain, Department of Medicine, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain | Background In up to one third of the hospitals in some rural areas of Africa, laboratory services in malaria diagnosis are limited to microscopy by thin film, as no capability to perform thick film exists (gold standard in terms of sensitivity for malaria diagnosis). A new rapid molecular malaria diagnostic test called Loop-mediated isothermal DNA amplification (LAMP) has been recently validated in clinical trials showing exceptional sensitivity and specificity features. It could be a reliable diagnostic tool to be implemented without special equipment or training. Objective The objective of this proof of concept study was to confirm the feasibility of using LAMP technique for diagnosis of malaria in a rural Ethiopian hospital with limited resources. Methodology/Principal Findings This study was carried out in Gambo General Hospital, West Arsi Province (Ethiopia), from November 1st to December 31st 2013. A total of 162 patients with a non-focal febrile syndrome were investigated. The diagnostic capability (sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive and negative predictive values) of rapid malaria tests and microscopy by thin film was evaluated in comparison with LAMP. Eleven (6.79%) out of the 162 patients with fever and suspected malaria, tested positive for LAMP, 3 (1.85%) for rapid malaria tests and none of the eleven cases was detected by thin film microscopy. Conclusions/Significance LAMP can be performed in basic rural laboratories without the need for specialized infrastructure and it may set a reliable tool for malaria control to detect a low level parasitemia. © 2015 Cuadros et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. | None | artemether plus benflumetol; adolescent; adult; aged; Article; child; concept analysis; controlled study; diagnostic equipment; diagnostic test accuracy study; Ethiopia; Ethiopian; feasibility study; female; fever; hospital service; human; human cell; intermethod comparison; loop mediated isothermal amplification; major clinical study; malaria; malaria rapid test; male; microscopy; nonhuman; predictive value; preschool child; prevalence; rural health care; school child; sensitivity and specificity; syndrome; young adult | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-80051949350 | Indicators of wetland acidification and their relevance to environmental impact assessment | Ohimain E.I. | 2011 | International Journal of Environment and Sustainable Development | 10 | 2 | 10.1504/IJESD.2011.041973 | Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Design, School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, North Carolina A and T State University, 1601 E. Market St., Greensboro, NC 27411, United States; Bioenergy and Environmental Biotechnology Researc | Ohimain, E.I., Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Design, School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, North Carolina A and T State University, 1601 E. Market St., Greensboro, NC 27411, United States, Bioenergy and Environmental Biotechnology Research Unit, Biological Science Department, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Amassoma, Bayelsa State, Nigeria | Developments in most tropical coastlines are often hampered by acidification, which occurs when sedimentary pyrites are disturbed during construction activities. Acidification causes vegetation die back, fish mortality, heavy metal pollution, corrosion of concrete, steel and other metallic structures. The aim of this study is to develop tools for predicting the likelihood of acidification occurring in advance prior to project implementation. The study found that acidification indicators including land forms, acidophilic bacteria, soil and water properties, mangrove vegetation, and hydrology and sedimentation pattern are useful tools for predicting acidification. The study concludes by providing keys for the identification of problem soils and recommended the mainstreaming of acidification related issues into the overall EIA process. Copyright © 2011 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd. | Acid sulphate soils/sediments; Acidification; Acidithiobacillus sp.; Dredging; Environment; Indicators; Mangrove; Niger delta; Oil exploration | Acidithiobacillus; Bacteria (microorganisms) | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77956880965 | Evaluation of blood reservation and use for caesarean sections in a tertiary maternity unit in south western Nigeria | Akinola O.I., Fabamwo A.O., Tayo A.O., Rabiu K.A., Oshodi Y.A., Onyekwere C.A. | 2010 | BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth | 10 | None | 10.1186/1471-2393-10-57 | Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, Lagos State, Nigeria | Akinola, O.I., Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, Lagos State, Nigeria; Fabamwo, A.O., Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, Lagos State, Nigeria; Tayo, A.O., Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, Lagos State, Nigeria; Rabiu, K.A., Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, Lagos State, Nigeria; Oshodi, Y.A., Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, Lagos State, Nigeria; Onyekwere, C.A., Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, Lagos State, Nigeria | Background: Haemorrhage from obstetric causes is the most common cause of maternal mortality in the developing world. Prevention of mortality from haemorrhage will necessarily involve prompt blood transfusions among other life saving measures. There are however limited stocks of fresh or stored blood in many health care facilities in Sub Saharan Africa. Caesarean section has been identified as a common indication for blood transfusion in obstetrics practice and its performance is often delayed by non availability of blood in our centre. An evaluation of blood reservation and use at caesarean sections in a tertiary maternity unit in Lagos, south western Nigeria should therefore assist in formulating the most rational blood transfusion policies.Methods: Case records of 327 patients who had elective and emergency caesarian sections at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital between 1 stOctober and 31 stDecember 2007 were reviewed. Data pertaining to age, parity, booking status, type and indication for Caesarean section, pre- and post-operative packed cell volume, blood loss at surgery, units of blood reserved in the blood bank, unit(s) of blood transfused and duration of hospital stay was extracted and the data analysed.Results: There were 1056 deliveries out of which 327 (31%) were by Caesarean section. During the study period, a total of 654 units of blood were reserved in the blood bank and subsequently made available in theatre. Out of this number, only 89 (13.6%) were transfused to 41 patients. Amongst those transfused, twenty-six (54%) were booked and 31 (75.6%) had primary caesarian section. About 81% of those transfused had emergency caesarean section. The most common indication for surgery among those transfused were placenta praevia (9 patients with 21 units of blood) and cephalo-pelvic disproportion (8 patients with 13 units).Conclusion: Even though a large number of units of blood was reserved and made available in the theatre at the time of operation, majority of the patients operated did not need blood transfusion. Provision of a mini- blood bank within the obstetric unit and careful patient categorization will ensure timely availability of blood for surgery without necessarily tying down stock in the central blood bank. © 2010 Akinola et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | None | adult; article; bleeding; blood bank; blood transfusion; cesarean section; female; hospital department; hospital subdivisions and components; human; labor complication; Nigeria; pregnancy; university hospital; uterus bleeding; utilization review; age; blood storage; cephalopelvic disproportion; elective surgery; emergency surgery; erythrocyte concentrate; hospitalization; major clinical study; operation duration; parity; placenta previa; postoperative period; preoperative period; retrospective study; tertiary health care; Adult; Blood Banks; Blood Loss, Surgical; Blood Transfusion; Cesarean Section; Female; Hospital Units; Hospitals, University; Humans; Nigeria; Obstetric Labor Complications; Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Hospital; Pregnancy; Uterine Hemorrhage | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77952900333 | Shamba Maisha: A pilot study assessing impacts of a micro-irrigation intervention on the health and economic wellbeing of HIV patients | Pandit J.A., Sirotin N., Tittle R., Onjolo E., Bukusi E.A., Cohen C.R. | 2010 | BMC Public Health | 10 | None | 10.1186/1471-2458-10-245 | Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine, United States; Department of Medicine, San Diego School of Medicine, University of California, United States; Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, United States; Centre for Microbiology Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kenya | Pandit, J.A., Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine, United States; Sirotin, N., Department of Medicine, San Diego School of Medicine, University of California, United States, Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, United States; Tittle, R., Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine, United States; Onjolo, E., Centre for Microbiology Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kenya; Bukusi, E.A., Centre for Microbiology Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kenya; Cohen, C.R., Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine, United States | HIV/AIDS negatively impacts poverty alleviation and food security, which reciprocally hinder the rapid scale up and effectiveness of HIV care programs. Nyanza province has the highest HIV prevalence (15.3%), and is the third highest contributor (2.4 million people) to rural poverty in Kenya. Thus, we tested the feasibility of providing a micro-irrigation pump to HIV-positive farmers in order to evaluate its impact on health and economic advancement among HIV-positive patients and their families. Methods. Thirty HIV-positive patients enrolled in the Family AIDS Care and Education Services (FACES) program in Kisumu, Kenya were provided a micro-financed loan to receive an irrigation pump and farming guidance from KickStart, the developer of the pump. Economic data, CD4 counts, household health and loan repayment history were collected 12 months after the pumps were distributed. Results. Mean annual family income increased by $1,332 over baseline. CD4 counts did not change significantly. Though income increased, only three (10%) participants had paid off more than a quarter of the loan. Conclusions. We demonstrated the feasibility of an income-generating micro-irrigation intervention among HIV-positive patients and the collection of health and economic data. While family income improved significantly, loan repayment rates were low- likely complicated by the drought that occurred in Kenya during the intervention period. © 2010 Pandit et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | None | agriculture; article; economics; financial management; health status; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; income; information processing; pilot study; socioeconomics; Agriculture; Financial Support; Focus Groups; Health Status; HIV Infections; Humans; Income; Pilot Projects; Socioeconomic Factors | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79955941535 | Phytochemical and antibacterial evaluations of the stem bark of Newbouldia laevis against isolates from infected wounds and eyes | Akerele J.O., Ayinde B.A., Ngiagah J. | 2011 | Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research | 10 | 2 | None | Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Nigeria; Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria | Akerele, J.O., Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Nigeria; Ayinde, B.A., Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria; Ngiagah, J., Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Nigeria | Purpose: To examine the phytochemical constituents and verify the ethnomedical claim of Newbouldia laevis (P.Beauv.) Seeman ex Bureau Bignoniaceae in treating septic wounds and eye problems. Methods: Applying standard methods, the phytochemical constituents of the stem bark were examined while the antibacterial potentials of the methanol extract of the stem bark and its organic solvent fractions were tested on clinical bacterial isolates from infected wounds and eyes using the agar - well diffusion method. Ciprofloxacin and gentamicin were used as standard controls. The time-kill kinetics of the methanol stem bark extract and ciprofloxacin were determined using isolates of Staphyloccocus aureus. Results: Phytochemical screening of the stem bark revealed the presence of flavonoids, tannins, saponins and alkaloids with no traces of cyanogenic glycosides. The 65 bacterial pathogens isolated included Proteus mirabilis (26.0 %) and Pseudomonas aeurginosa (17.4 %) from non-diabetic patients' wounds; Staphylococcus aureus (32.0 %) and Escherichia coli (16.0%) from diabetic patients' wounds; Staphylococcus aureus (35.3%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (35.3 %) from infected eyes. The chloroform fraction was observed to be more active on Gram- negative organisms while the aqueous fraction was more active on Gram-positive organisms. Time-kill kinetics of Staphylococcus aureus showed that the extract was bactericidal (99.9 % killing) at MIC and 2 x MIC after 24 and 3 hours, respectively. Conclusion: The study has established that the stem bark of Newbouldia laevis has antibacterial activities against bacterial isolates from infected wounds and eyes as claimed in ethnomedicinal practice. © Pharmacotherapy Group, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Benin, Benin City, 300001 Nigeria. | Antibacterial; Eye isolates; Newbouldia laevis; Phytochemical; Wound isolates | alkaloid; antiinfective agent; chloroform; ciprofloxacin; flavonoid; gentamicin; methanol; Newbouldia laevis extract; plant extract; saponin; tannin; unclassified drug; water; agar diffusion; antibacterial activity; article; bactericidal activity; bacterium isolate; bark; Bignoniaceae; concentration response; controlled study; drug screening; Escherichia coli; eye infection; fractionation; minimum inhibitory concentration; Newbouldia laevis; nonhuman; phytochemistry; Proteus mirabilis; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Staphylococcus aureus; traditional medicine; wound infection | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-24744462263 | Evaluation of dika nut mucilage (Irvingia gabonensis) as binding agent in metronidazole tablet formulations | Odeku O.A., Patani B.O. | 2005 | Pharmaceutical Development and Technology | 10 | 3 | 10.1081/PDT-54477 | Department of Pharmaceutics and Industrial Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria | Odeku, O.A., Department of Pharmaceutics and Industrial Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Patani, B.O., Department of Pharmaceutics and Industrial Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria | Dika nut mucilage obtained from the nuts of Irvingia gabonensis (O'Rorke) Bail (family Irvingiaceae) has been evaluated as a binding agent in metronidazole tablet formulations in comparison with gelatin BP. The compressional properties of metronidazole formulations were analyzed using density measurements and the Heckel equations as assessment parameters, whereas the mechanical properties of the tablets were assessed using the tensile strength (T), brittle fracture index (BFI), and the friability of the tablets. The drug release properties of the tablets were assessed using disintegration and dissolution times of the tablets. The results obtained indicate that formulations containing dika nut mucilage as binding agent show faster onset of plastic deformation under compression pressure than those containing gelatin. The tensile strength of the tablets increased with increase in concentration of the binding agents, whereas the BFI and friability values decreased. Furthermore, tablets containing dika nut mucilage generally showed lower tensile strength but higher brittleness and friability than those containing gelatin. The results also showed that tablets containing dika nut mucilage generally showed higher disintegration and dissolution times than those containing gelatin BP. The results suggest that dika nut mucilage could be useful in achieving various tablet strength and drug release properties. Copyright © 005 Taylor & Francis Inc. | Binding agent; Dika nut mucilage; Gelatin; Metronidazole; Tablet | adhesive agent; gelatin; metronidazole; article; concentration (parameters); dika nut mucilage; drug release; drug solubility; irvingia gabonensis; mucilage; plant; priority journal; tablet compression; tablet disintegration; tablet formulation; tensile strength; Adhesives; Cellulose; Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; Metronidazole; Tablets; Technology, Pharmaceutical; Tensile Strength | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84946839797 | Paralympic sprint performance between 1992 and 2012 | Grobler L., Ferreira S., Terblanche E. | 2015 | International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance | 10 | 8 | 10.1123/ijspp.2014-0560 | Dept of Sport Science, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa | Grobler, L., Dept of Sport Science, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa; Ferreira, S., Dept of Sport Science, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa; Terblanche, E., Dept of Sport Science, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa | The Paralympic Games have undergone many changes since their inception in 1960, one being the advances made in runningspecific prostheses (RSPs) for track athletes with lower-limb amputations. Purpose: To investigate the sprinting-performance changes in athletes with lower-limb amputations since 1992 to assess whether the influence of developments in RSP technology is evident. Methods: The results of the Olympic and Paralympic Games ranging between 1992 and 2012 for the 100-m and 200-m were collected, and performance trends, percentage change in performance, and competition density (CD) were calculated. Results: The results indicate that the greatest performance increases were seen in athletes with lower-limb amputations (T42 = 26%, T44 = 14%). These performance improvements were greater than for Olympic athletes (<3%), as well as Paralympic athletes from other selected classes (<10%). The T42 and T44 classes also showed the lowest CD values. Discussion: These results suggest that although there is an overall trend for improved Paralympic sprint performances, RSP technology has played a noteworthy role in the progression of performances of athletes with amputations. It is also hypothesized that the difference in the performance improvements between the T42 and T44 classes is due to the level of disability and therefore the extent to which technology is required to enable locomotion. Conclusion: It is evident that RSP technology has played a significant role in the progression of performances in athletes with lower-limb amputations. © 2015 Human Kinetics, Inc. | Amputees; Performance trends; Running-specific prosthesis; Sprinting; Technology | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-76749157199 | Evaluation of the anticonvulsant property of Russelia equisetiformis (Schlecht & Chan) | Emmanuel A.O., Janet M.M., Ayoka A.O. | 2010 | Journal of Natural Remedies | 10 | 1 | None | Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, College of Medicine, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Osogbo, Nigeria; Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Department of Physiologic | Emmanuel, A.O., Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, College of Medicine, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Osogbo, Nigeria; Janet, M.M., Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Ayoka, A.O., Department of Physiological Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Ife, Ile-ife, Nigeria | Fits or convulsions are extremely common symptoms in childhood most especially in inflammatory conditions such as malaria and viral infections, tonsillitis and cases of epileptic conditions. Most of the available drugs used in the control of this symptom usually present adverse reactions. Alternative medicine is one of the interesting areas, which is getting more popular and increasingly attractive world wide. In searching for herbal remedy that is safe and efficacious, we therefore, evaluate the anticonvulsant effects of methanol Russelia equisetiformis extracts (MERE). Anticonvulsant activity was evaluated in the picrotoxin (PCT) and strychnine (STC) - induced convulsions in mice. MERE (100-400mg/kg), significantly (p<0.05) protected mice against picrotoxin - induced seizures. However, the extract did not confer protection against (STC) - induced seizures. n-Hexane fraction (10 mg kg-1), showed the highest percentage level of protection (80%) against picrotoxin-induced seizures, with none of the fractions showing protection against (STC) - induced convulsion. Although, the data obtained in the present study, do not provide convulsive evidence, it would appear that R.equisetiformis crude extract (MERE), and its n-hexane fraction produce the observed anticonvulsant activity by enhancing GABAergic neurotransmission, and/or facilitating GABAergic action in the brain. In general, the average onset of convulsion was delayed, while the average duration of convulsion was markedly reduced. These findings, suggest therefore, that the plant could serve as a supplementary therapy for the management and/or control of childhood convulsions and epilepsy. | Anticonvulsants; Russelia equisetiformis extract fractions | acetic acid ethyl ester; anticonvulsive agent; butanol; diazepam; dichloromethane; hexane; picrotoxin; plant extract; Russelia equisetiformis extract; strychnine; unclassified drug; animal experiment; animal model; anticonvulsant activity; anticonvulsant therapy; article; controlled study; convulsion; dose response; drug dose comparison; drug efficacy; drug screening; latent period; male; mortality; mouse; nonhuman; Russelia equisetiformis; Scrophulariaceae; seizure; survival rate; Mus; Russelia equisetiformis; Strychnos toxifera | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84863952922 | Psychosocial impact of caring for children with cerebral palsy on the family in a developing country | Ogwumike O.O., Adeniyi F.A., Obidiegwu C.J. | 2012 | Journal of Pediatric Neurology | 10 | 2 | 10.3233/JPN-2012-0556 | Department of Physiotherapy, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Nigeria | Ogwumike, O.O., Department of Physiotherapy, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Nigeria; Adeniyi, F.A., Department of Physiotherapy, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Nigeria; Obidiegwu, C.J., Department of Physiotherapy, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Nigeria | Having a child with cerebral palsy (CP) in developing countries of the world is particularly burdensome. This study investigated psychosocial impact on the family caring for a child with CP, examined possible association of severity of gross motor function impairment on the psychosocial impact and compared impact scores of families with CP child with that of families with no CP child. Participants consisted of 117 parents/caregivers of children with CP and 117 parents/caregivers of children without CP whose children attended purposively selected secondary and tertiary health institutions in South-West region of Nigeria. Impact on family (IOF) scale was used to assess psychosocial impact while gross motor function classification system for CP was used to rate severity of motor function impairment in children with CP. Participants were mostly of low income 59 (25.2%) and middle income 85 (36.3%) categories. Children were mostly in the 1-3 year age range 116 (49.6%). Birth asphyxia was most reported cause of CP and no social support service was reported. Significantly higher mean subscale and total IOF scores were observed in families with CP child (37.4 ± 8.91) compared with families with no CP child (20.8 ± 4.98) P=0.000. Significant differences did not exist in mean total IOF scores and severity of motor function impairment in children with CP (P=0.16). Presence of a child with CP imposes tremendous psychosocial challenges on the family irrespective of severity of motor function impairment. Implementation of an effective and accessible social support system by Nigerian policy makers is imperative. © 2012 - IOS Press and the authors. All rights reserved. | Cerebral palsy; children; family; psychosocial impact | adult; article; caregiver; cerebral palsy; child; child care; developing country; disease severity; family; female; Gross Motor Function Classification System; handicapped child; health care policy; human; impact on family scale; infant; major clinical study; male; Nigeria; parent; perinatal asphyxia; psychological aspect; psychometry; rating scale; scoring system; social support | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-78650440404 | Impact of Parthenium hysterophorus on grazing land communities in north-eastern Ethiopia | Nigatu L., Hassen A., Sharma J., Adkins S.W. | 2010 | Weed Biology and Management | 10 | 3 | 10.1111/j.1445-6664.2010.00378.x | Department of Plant Sciences, Haramaya University, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia; School of Land, Crop and Food Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia | Nigatu, L., Department of Plant Sciences, Haramaya University, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia; Hassen, A., Department of Plant Sciences, Haramaya University, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia; Sharma, J., Department of Plant Sciences, Haramaya University, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia; Adkins, S.W., School of Land, Crop and Food Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia | An investigation into the impact of Parthenium hysterophorus infestation was conducted in 2007 in the north-eastern grazing lands of Ethiopia. Data on the above-ground and seedbank species diversity were collected from five areas, each having sites with low, medium, or high levels of weed infestation. A total of 72 species was found in all areas. They were categorized into grass species (23), other species (48), or P. hysterophorus for ease of interpretation. A regression analysis showed a highly significant, but negative, relationship between the above-ground species diversity and evenness with P. hysterophorus abundance. The mean cover abundance for the three infestation levels was 33.4% for P. hysterophorus, 41.0% for the grass species, and 26.5% for the other species. The most dominant grass species under all infestation levels were Cynodon dactylon, Urochloa panicoides, and Chloris gayana, while Andropogon abyssinicus and Eragrostis spp. were dominant under the low and medium infestation levels, respectively, and Hyparrhenia hirta was dominant under the low infestation level. Among the other species, Solanum nigrum was the most dominant under the low infestation level and Datura stramonium and Xanthium spp. were the most dominant under the medium and high infestation levels, respectively. The above-ground dry biomass of P. hysterophorus increased between the low and high infestation levels, while that of the grass or other species reduced in the high, as compared to the low, infestation level. Although the grass species density decreased significantly with successive increases in the P. hysterophorus infestation level, no such trend could be seen for the other species. Within the soil seed bank, the viable seed density for the grass species, other species, and P. hysterophorus were 25.7, 5.8, and 68.5%, respectively. Similarly, the soil seed bank under the low-, medium-, and high-infestation sites was dominated by P. hysterophorus, which contributed 25.1, 65.4, and 87.4% of the viable seed bank, respectively. Although the overall similarity between the above-ground vegetation composition and the soil seed bank was low, it was similar at the low-infested site. Thus, the invasion by P. hysterophorus was found to critically endanger the biodiversity of the grazing lands, particularly for the different grass and forbs species in the area. These changes might adversely affect not only future agriculture, but also food security, unless appropriate practises are developed and implemented for P. hysterophorus management. © 2010 The Authors. Journal compilation © 2010 Weed Science Society of Japan. | Biodiversity; Cover abundance; Dry weight; Grazing lands; Parthenium hysterophorus; Species evenness | Andropogon; Chloris gayana; Cynodon dactylon; Datura stramonium; Eragrostis; Hyparrhenia hirta; Parthenium hysterophorus; Solanum nigrum; Urochloa panicoides; Xanthium | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79953797150 | Evaluation and pharmacovigilance of projects promoting cultivation and local use of Artemisia annua for malaria | Willcox M.L., Burton S., Oyweka R., Namyalo R., Challand S., Lindsey K. | 2011 | Malaria Journal | 10 | None | 10.1186/1475-2875-10-84 | Department of Primary Health Care, University of Oxford, United Kingdom; Research Initiative for Traditional Antimalarial Methods, Oxford, United Kingdom; Department of Medical Anthropology, University of Oxford, United Kingdom; Rural Extension for Africa's Poor (REAP), PO Box 6173, Kondele, Kisumu, Kenya; Anamed Uganda, Masaka, Uganda; Anamed International, Winnenden, Germany | Willcox, M.L., Department of Primary Health Care, University of Oxford, United Kingdom, Research Initiative for Traditional Antimalarial Methods, Oxford, United Kingdom; Burton, S., Research Initiative for Traditional Antimalarial Methods, Oxford, United Kingdom, Department of Medical Anthropology, University of Oxford, United Kingdom; Oyweka, R., Rural Extension for Africa's Poor (REAP), PO Box 6173, Kondele, Kisumu, Kenya; Namyalo, R., Anamed Uganda, Masaka, Uganda; Challand, S., Research Initiative for Traditional Antimalarial Methods, Oxford, United Kingdom, Anamed International, Winnenden, Germany; Lindsey, K., Research Initiative for Traditional Antimalarial Methods, Oxford, United Kingdom, Anamed International, Winnenden, Germany | Background: Several non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are promoting the use of Artemisia annua teas as a home-based treatment for malaria in situations where conventional treatments are not available. There has been controversy about the effectiveness and safety of this approach, but no pharmacovigilance studies or evaluations have been published to date. Method. A questionnaire about the cultivation of A. annua, treatment of patients, and side-effects observed, was sent to partners of the NGO Anamed in Kenya and Uganda. Some of the respondents were then selected purposively for more in-depth semi-structured interviews. Results: Eighteen partners in Kenya and 21 in Uganda responded. 49% reported difficulties in growing the plant, mainly due to drought. Overall about 3,000 cases of presumed malaria had been treated with A. annua teas in the previous year, of which about 250 were in children and 54 were in women in the first trimester of pregnancy. The commonest problem observed in children was poor compliance due to the bitter taste, which was improved by the addition of sugar or honey. Two miscarriages were reported in pregnant patients. Only four respondents reported side-effects in other patients, the commonest of which was vomiting. 51% of respondents had started using A. annua tea to treat illnesses other than malaria. Conclusions: Local cultivation and preparation of A. annua are feasible where growing conditions are appropriate. Few adverse events were reported even in children and pregnant women. Where ACT is in short supply, it would make sense to save it for young children, while using A. annua infusions to treat older patients who are at lower risk. An ongoing pharmacovigilance system is needed to facilitate reporting of any adverse events. © 2011 Willcox et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | None | antimalarial agent; sugar; Artemisia annua; article; bitter taste; child; diarrhea; drought; drug eruption; drug induced headache; drug surveillance program; feasibility study; female; first trimester pregnancy; health promotion; honey; human; interview; Kenya; malaria; male; plant breeding; pruritus; questionnaire; risk; spontaneous abortion; tea; Uganda; vomiting | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-36348987743 | The impact of war experiences and physical abuse on formerly abducted boys in Northern Uganda | Amone-P'Olak K., Garnefski N., Kraaij V. | 2007 | African Journal of Psychiatry (South Africa) | 10 | 2 | None | Department of Psychology, Gulu University, PO Box 166, Gulu, Uganda; Division of Clinical and Health Psychology, University of Leiden, Leiden, Netherlands | Amone-P'Olak, K., Department of Psychology, Gulu University, PO Box 166, Gulu, Uganda; Garnefski, N., Department of Psychology, Gulu University, PO Box 166, Gulu, Uganda; Kraaij, V., Division of Clinical and Health Psychology, University of Leiden, Leiden, Netherlands | Objective: In this article, war experiences and the impact of physical abuse on formerly abducted boys in Northern Uganda are assessed. Method: In a cross-sectional self-report design, Impact of Events Scale - Revised (IES-R), War Experiences Checklist questionnaires were administered to 216 formerly abducted boys between August and November 2004 and data from records at three rehabilitation centres were retrospectively assessed and analysed. Results: The boys were exposed to war events, participated in atrocities, were physically abused, and manifested many signs and symptoms of post traumatic stress. Consequently, many were psychologically distressed at the time of the study. Conclusions: The psychosocial intervention activities proposed include teaching better coping skills, entrepreneurial skills training, and provision of micro credit facilities. | Physical abuse; Psychosocial intervention; PTS; Uganda; War | adolescent; adult; article; child abuse; coping behavior; cross-sectional study; distress syndrome; experience; human; Impact of Events Scale; major clinical study; male; posttraumatic stress disorder; psychosocial care; questionnaire; school child; self report; Uganda; war | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84948705704 | Predictors of late HIV diagnosis among adult people living with HIV/AIDS who undertake an initial CD4 T Cell evaluation, northern Ethiopia: A case-control study | Beyene M.B., Beyene H.B. | 2015 | PLoS ONE | 10 | 10 | 10.1371/journal.pone.0140004 | Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia; Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | Beyene, M.B., Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia; Beyene, H.B., Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | Introduction Early HIV testing and timely initiation of ART is critical for the improved quality of life of PLWHIV. Having identified a higher rates of Late HIV diagnosis, this study was aimed to determine Determinants of late diagnosis of HIV among adult HIV patients in Bahir Dar, Northern Ethiopia. Methods A case control study was conducted between January 2010 to December 2011 at Bahir Dar Felege Hiwot Referral Hospital. The study subjects consisted of 267 cases and 267 controls. Cases were adult people living with HIV/AIDS whose initial CD4 T cell count was< 200/μ of blood. Controls were those with a CD4 T cell count of greater than 200/ μl. Trained staff nurses were involved in data collection using a semi-structured questionnaire. Data was entered and analyzed using SPSS version 20. Descriptive statistics and Binary logistic regression were performed. Results Subjects who hold a certificate and above (AOR = 0.26; 95% CI = 0.13. 0.54), being initiated by friends, families and other socials to undertake HIV testing (AOR = 0.65; 95% CI = 0.29, 1.48), who reported a medium and high knowledge score about HIV/AIDS and who undertake HIV testing while visiting a clinic for ANC (AOR = 0.40; 95% CI = 0.19, 0.83) were less likely to be diagnosed late. Subjects who undertake HIV testing due to providers' initiation (AOR = 1.70; 95%CI = 1.08, 2.68), who reported a medium internalized stigma (AOR = 4.94; 95% CI = 3.13, 7.80) and who reported a high internalized stigma score towards HIV/ AIDS (AOR = 16.64; 95% CI = 8.29, 33.4) had a high odds of being diagnosed late compared to their counterparts. Conclusion Internalized stigma, low knowledge level about HIV/AIDS, not to have attended formal education and failure to undertake HIV testing by own initiation were significant determinant factors associated with Late HIV diagnosis. Education about HIV/AIDS, promotion of general education, and encouraging people to motivate their social mates to undertake HIV testing are highly recommended. © 2015 Beyene, Beyene. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. | None | acquired immune deficiency syndrome; adult; Article; case control study; CD4+ T lymphocyte; controlled study; Ethiopia; female; health promotion; HIV test; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; major clinical study; male; motivation; patient education; prediction; quality of life; questionnaire; scoring system; stigma | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84869228594 | Knowledge and performance of the Ethiopian health extension workers on antenatal and delivery care: A cross-sectional study | Medhanyie A., Spigt M., Dinant G., Blanco R. | 2012 | Human Resources for Health | 10 | None | 10.1186/1478-4491-10-44 | Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Mekelle University, Mekelle, Ethiopia; CAPHRI, School for Public Health and Primary Care, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands; Department of Medicine, University of Alcala de Henares, Madrid, Spain; Department of General Practice, Tromso University, Tromso, Norway | Medhanyie, A., Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Mekelle University, Mekelle, Ethiopia, CAPHRI, School for Public Health and Primary Care, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands, Department of Medicine, University of Alcala de Henares, Madrid, Spain; Spigt, M., CAPHRI, School for Public Health and Primary Care, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands, Department of General Practice, Tromso University, Tromso, Norway; Dinant, G., CAPHRI, School for Public Health and Primary Care, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands; Blanco, R., Department of Medicine, University of Alcala de Henares, Madrid, Spain | Background: In recognition of the critical shortage of human resources within health services, community health workers have been trained and deployed to provide primary health care in developing countries. However, very few studies have investigated whether these health workers can provide good quality of care. This study investigated the knowledge and performance of health extension workers (HEWs) on antenatal and delivery care. The study also explored the barriers and facilitators for HEWs in the provision of maternal health care.Methods: In conducting this research, a cross-sectional study was performed. A total of 50 HEWs working in 39 health posts, covering a population of approximately 195,000 people, were interviewed. Descriptive statistics was used and a composite score of knowledge of HEWs was made and interpreted based on the Ethiopian education scoring system.Results: Almost half of the respondents had at least 5 years of work experience as a HEW. More than half (27 (54%)) of the HEWs had poor knowledge on contents of antenatal care counseling, and the majority (44 (88%)) had poor knowledge on danger symptoms, danger signs, and complications in pregnancy. Health posts, which are the operational units for HEWs, did not have basic infrastructures like water supply, electricity, and waiting rooms for women in labor. On average within 6 months, a HEW assisted in 5.8 births. Only a few births (10%) were assisted at the health posts, the majority (82%) were assisted at home and only 20% of HEWs received professional assistance from a midwife.Conclusion: Considering the poor knowledge of HEWs, poorly equipped health posts, and poor referral systems, it is difficult for HEWs to play a key role in improving health facility deliveries, skilled birth attendance, and on-time referral through early identification of danger signs. Hence, there is an urgent need to design appropriate strategies to improve the performance of HEWs by enhancing their knowledge and competencies, while creating appropriate working conditions. © 2012 Medhanyie et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | Antenatal care; Community health workers; Health extension workers; Maternal health care; Primary health care | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79957474462 | Chemical evaluation of the nutritive value of Pentaclethra macrophylla tenth (African oil bean) seeds | Alinnor I.J., Oze R. | 2011 | Pakistan Journal of Nutrition | 10 | 4 | 10.3923/pjn.2011.355.359 | Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry, Federal University of Technology, P.M.B. 1526, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria | Alinnor, I.J., Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry, Federal University of Technology, P.M.B. 1526, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria; Oze, R., Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry, Federal University of Technology, P.M.B. 1526, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria | Pentaclethra macrophylla benth (African oil bean) seeds were analyzed for their nutritive values. The result showed that Pentaclethra macrophylla seeds have moisture content 11.87%, ash content 2.95%, crude fat content 46.95%, crude protein content 20.95%, crude fibre content 2.50%, carbohydrate content 14.79%, available energy 2344.56 kJ. The mineral content of the analyzed samples showed that Pentaclethra macrophylla seeds were rich in iron of value 140.97 mg/100 g. The analysis indicates that potassium is the most abundant mineral. The high Ca/P ratio indicates that Pentaclethra macrophylla is a very good food source. © Asian Network for Scientific Information, 2011. | Mineral compositions; Nutritive values; Pentaclethra macrophylla | iron; potassium; article; ash; carbohydrate analysis; controlled study; dietary fiber; fat content; food composition; legume; moisture; nonhuman; nutritional value; pentaclethra macrophylla; plant seed; protein content; Pentaclethra macrophylla | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84868145132 | The coagulation performance of okra mucilage in an industrial effluent by turbidimetry | Ani J.U., Nnaji N.J., Okoye C.O.B., Onukwuli O.D. | 2012 | International Journal of Chemical Sciences | 10 | 3 | None | Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria; Department of Chemical Engineering, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria | Ani, J.U., Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria; Nnaji, N.J., Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria; Okoye, C.O.B., Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria; Onukwuli, O.D., Department of Chemical Engineering, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria | The determination of coagulation rate constants was achieved by monitoring changes in the concentration of the coagulating suspension with time. These coagulation rate constants were obtained by turbidimetric studies on fibre-cement industry effluent (FCIE). The gravimetric method of measuring the concentration of suspended particles is tedious and thus not suitable for routine evaluations of coagulation kinetics. The coagulation rate constants were obtained from the slopes of first and second order plots of the coagulation reactions using aluminum sulphate and okra mucilage (OMUC) as coagulants. The work further examined the suitability of OMUC as a novel coagulant for the removal of colloids from FCIE. | Coagulation rate constant; Colloids; Fibre-cement; Nephelometric; Orthokinetic | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33744929627 | Traditional healers, treatment delay, performance status and death from TB in rural South Africa | Barker R.D., Millard F.J.C., Malatsi J., Mkoana L., Ngoatwana T., Agarawal S., De Valliere S. | 2006 | International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease | 10 | 6 | None | Department of Respiratory Medicine, King's College Hospital, London, United Kingdom; Jane Furse Memorial Hospital, Jane Furse, Limpopo Province, South Africa; Division of Infectious Diseases, St. Louis University Hospital, St. Louis, MI, United States; Department of Respiratory Medicine, King's College Hospital, Bessemer Rd, London SE5 9PJ, United Kingdom | Barker, R.D., Department of Respiratory Medicine, King's College Hospital, London, United Kingdom, Department of Respiratory Medicine, King's College Hospital, Bessemer Rd, London SE5 9PJ, United Kingdom; Millard, F.J.C., Department of Respiratory Medicine, King's College Hospital, London, United Kingdom; Malatsi, J., Jane Furse Memorial Hospital, Jane Furse, Limpopo Province, South Africa; Mkoana, L., Jane Furse Memorial Hospital, Jane Furse, Limpopo Province, South Africa; Ngoatwana, T., Jane Furse Memorial Hospital, Jane Furse, Limpopo Province, South Africa; Agarawal, S., Department of Respiratory Medicine, King's College Hospital, London, United Kingdom; De Valliere, S., Department of Respiratory Medicine, King's College Hospital, London, United Kingdom, Jane Furse Memorial Hospital, Jane Furse, Limpopo Province, South Africa, Division of Infectious Diseases, St. Louis University Hospital, St. Louis, MI, United States, Department of Respiratory Medicine, King's College Hospital, Bessemer Rd, London SE5 9PJ, United Kingdom | BACKGROUND: People in sub-Saharan Africa frequently consult traditional healers before reaching the government health services (GHS). This can lead to delays in starting effective anti-tuberculosis chemotherapy. To our knowledge, no studies have shown a direct relationship between visiting traditional healers, increased morbidity and death from TB. METHODS: All patients starting on anti-tuberculosis chemotherapy at a rural hospital in South Africa in 2003 were included in the study. TB nurses interviewed the patients and established how long they had had symptoms before treatment was started, whether they had visited traditional healers before coming to the hospital, their performance status and, later, whether they had died. RESULTS: Of 133 patients, those who attended a traditional healer took longer to access anti-tuberculosis chemotherapy (median 90 days, range 0-210) than those who went directly to the GHS (median 21, range 0-120). Patients who visited a traditional healer had worse performance status (P < 0.001), and were more likely to die (24/77 [31%] vs. 4/33 [12%], P = 0.04). CONCLUSION: Treatment delay due to visiting traditional healers can have dire consequences for patients with TB. Efforts are required to engage with health care practitioners outside the government sector to improve the prospects for patients with TB. © 2006 The Union. | Death; Karnofsky performance status; Sub-Saharan Africa; TB; Traditional medicine; Treatment | adolescent; adult; aged; article; female; health service; health status; human; major clinical study; male; priority journal; therapy delay; traditional medicine; tuberculosis; Humans; Medicine, Traditional; Rural Health; South Africa; Time Factors; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84949664163 | Decision support for evaluating player performance in rugby union | Calder J.M., Durbach I.N. | 2015 | International Journal of Sports Science and Coaching | 10 | 1 | None | Department of Statistical Sciences, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa | Calder, J.M., Department of Statistical Sciences, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa; Durbach, I.N., Department of Statistical Sciences, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa | Many professional rugby teams collect extensive data on player performance, but the synthesis of this data into overall evaluations and subsequent selections is still largely left to the expert but unassisted judgment of coaching staff. Decision support systems are designed to assist this process by providing a framework for making decisions in a structured, transparent way. In this article we develop a decision support tool to assist performance evaluation in rugby. The method considers player performance over a range of attributes and addresses uncertainty both in the assessment of performance and in preferences for certain aspects of the game over others. We illustrate the approach using data collected for the 2008 and 2009 Super Rugby tournament. | Performance Analysis; Player Evaluation; Rugby Football; Sport Analytics | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-81155150391 | The single match approach to strike rate adjustments in batting performance measures in cricket | Lemmer H.H. | 2011 | Journal of Sports Science and Medicine | 10 | 4 | None | Department of Statistics, University of Johannesburg, Auckland Park, South Africa | Lemmer, H.H., Department of Statistics, University of Johannesburg, Auckland Park, South Africa | Batting performance measures containing strike rate adjustments take into account the important fact that if two batsmen had scored the same number of runs in a match, the one with the better strike rate had performed best. But match conditions can influence the batting and bowling performances of cricket players. On a good pitch a batsman can get a good score at a high strike rate, but if the pitch was bad, a similar good score is normally accompanied by a much lower strike rate. The main objective of this study is to propose a method that can be used to make batsmen's scores comparable despite the fact that playing conditions might have been very different. The number of runs scored by a batsman is adjusted by comparing his strike rate with the overall strike rate of all the players in the specific match. These adjusted runs are then used in the most appropriate formula to calculate the average of the batsman. The method is illustrated by using the results of the Indian Premier League 2009 Twenty20 Series played during May and June 2009. The main conclusion is that the traditional average is not the most appropriate measure to compare batsmen's performances after conclusion of a short series. © Journal of Sports Science and Medicine. | Batting average; Indian premier league; Ratings; Sports | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84908126776 | Predictors of death and production performance of layer chickens in opened and sealed pens in a tropical savannah environment | Shittu A., Raji A.A., Madugu S.A., Hassan A.W., Fasina F.O. | 2014 | BMC Veterinary Research | 10 | 1 | 10.1186/s12917-014-0214-7 | Department of Theriogenology and Animal Production, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria; Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria; Department of Producti | Shittu, A., Department of Theriogenology and Animal Production, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria; Raji, A.A., Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria; Madugu, S.A., Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria, Plot 223D, Cadastral Zone B6, Mabushi, Abuja, Nigeria; Hassan, A.W., Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria; Fasina, F.O., Department of Production Animal Studies, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, South Africa | Background: Layer chickens are exposed to high risks of production losses and mortality with impact on farm profitability. The harsh tropical climate and severe disease outbreaks, poor biosecurity, sub-minimal vaccination and treatment protocols, poor management practices, poor chick quality, feed-associated causes, and unintended accidents oftentimes aggravate mortality and negatively affect egg production. The objectives of this study were to estimate the probability of survival and evaluate risk factors for death under different intensive housing conditions in a tropical climate, and to assess the production performance in the housing systems. Results: Daily mean mortality percentages and egg production figures were significantly lower and higher in the sealed pens and open houses (P < 0. 001) respectively. The total mean feed consumption/bird/day was similar for the open sided and sealed pens but the mean feed quantity per egg produce was significantly lower in the sealed pens ((P < 0.005). Seasons differently impacted on mortality with the hot-dry season producing significantly higher risk of mortality (61 times) and reduced egg production. Other parameters also differed except the egg production during the cold-dry season. Layers in sealed pens appear to have higher probability of survival and the Kaplan-Meir survival curves differed for each pen; ≥78 weeks old layer have higher probability of survival compared with the younger chickens and the 19-38 weeks age category are at highest risk of death (P < 0.001). The hazard-ratio for mortality of layers raised in sealed pens was 0.568 (56.8%).Conclusion: Reasons for spiked mortality in layer chickens may not always be associated with disease. Hot-dry climatic environment is associated with heat stress, waning immunity and inefficient feed usage and increase probability of death with reduced egg production; usage of environmentally controlled building in conditions where environmental temperature may rise significantly above 25°C will reduce this impact. Since younger birds (19-38 weeks) are at higher risk of death due to stress of coming into production, management changes and diseases, critical implementation of protocols that will reduce death at this precarious period becomes mandatory. Whether older chickens' better protection from death is associated with many prophylactic and metaphylactic regimen of medications/vaccination will need further investigation. © 2014 Shittu et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | Egg production; Mortality; Survival modeling; Tropical climate | Gallus gallus; animal; animal housing; chicken; eating; egg laying; female; heat; physiological stress; physiology; risk factor; season; survival; tropic climate; Animals; Chickens; Eating; Female; Hot Temperature; Housing, Animal; Oviposition; Risk Factors; Seasons; Stress, Physiological; Survival Analysis; Tropical Climate | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84939549793 | Evaluation of growth performance and body composition of Clarias gariepinus for graded level inclusion of soybean waste | Orire A.M., Ozoadibe T.N. | 2015 | Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Science | 10 | 5 | 10.3923/jfas.2015.384.391 | Department of Water Resources, Aquaculture and Fisheries Technology, Federal University of Technology, P.M.B. 65, Minna, Nigeria | Orire, A.M., Department of Water Resources, Aquaculture and Fisheries Technology, Federal University of Technology, P.M.B. 65, Minna, Nigeria; Ozoadibe, T.N., Department of Water Resources, Aquaculture and Fisheries Technology, Federal University of Technology, P.M.B. 65, Minna, Nigeria | Soybean waste has always been treated as waste product from soybean milk or cheese production despite its high nutrient profile. It is in view of this, a feeding, trial was conducted to evaluate its (soybean waste or soymilk residue) utilization as replacement for fish meal in the diet of Clarias gariepinus fingerlings (1.09±0.23 g). Twenty fishes were randomly distributed in 15 tanks in replicate and fed varied inclusion levels of soybean waste at 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100%. The results showed significant differences (p<0.05) among the growth parameters. However, diet containing 25% soybean waste gave the best growth performance in terms of mean weight gain, specific growth rate, protein efficiency ratio and food conversion ratio. The use of soybean waste meal has the potentials to improve the growth performance and body composition of fish. © 2015 Academic Journals Inc. | Clarias gariepinus; Fish meal; Growth; Soybean waste | diet; fish culture; growth rate; soybean; waste; Clarias gariepinus; Glycine max; Pisces | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84869145589 | Growth performance of Oreochromis niloticus (Pisces: Cichlidae) in fertilized, tropical earthen ponds | Ekpenyong E., Ada F., Idung J. | 2012 | Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment | 10 | 04-Mar | None | Department of Zoology and Environmental Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Calabar, Nigeria; Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, Cross River University of Technology, Calabar, Nigeria | Ekpenyong, E., Department of Zoology and Environmental Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Calabar, Nigeria; Ada, F., Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, Cross River University of Technology, Calabar, Nigeria; Idung, J., Department of Zoology and Environmental Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Calabar, Nigeria | The effect of cow dung, chicken manure and NPK on the production of Oreochromis niloticus was investigated in earthen ponds which were prepared thus: no liming, no fertilization (NL/NF), liming and fertilization with cow droppings (L/Cow), liming and fertilization with chicken droppings (L/Chick) and liming and fertilization with NPK (L/NPK). Best fish growth was recorded in the limed, NPK-fertilized (L/NPK) ponds while productivity values (Gross and Net) were highest in the limed, chicken droppings fertilized (L/Chick) ponds. Growth parameters decreased with age of fish while significant differences (P<0.05) were observed between treatments. | Culture; Fish; Organic and inorganic manure | age; article; growth; manure; nonhuman; Oreochromis niloticus; pond; Cichlidae; Oreochromis niloticus; Pisces | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84888117442 | The roles of degree of competition and types of business strategies in adopting multiple performance measurement practices: Some reflections from bangladesh | Khan H.U.Z., Ahmed R., Halabi A.K. | 2010 | Research in Accounting in Emerging Economies | 10 | None | 10.1108/S1479-3563 | East West University, Dhaka, Bangladesh; Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia; James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia; University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa | Khan, H.U.Z., East West University, Dhaka, Bangladesh, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia; Ahmed, R., James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia; Halabi, A.K., University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa | Aim-This empirical study explores the association between competition, business strategy, and the uses of a multiple performance measurement system in Bangladesh manufacturing firms. Design/methodology-The study uses a questionnaire survey of 50 manufacturing companies. Data were analyzed using multiple regression analysis and other descriptive statistics. Findings-The results suggest that greater emphasis on multiple measures for performance evaluation is associated with businesses that are facing high competition. The practices of multiple performance measures are also significantly related to the types of business strategy being followed. Specifically, firms pursuing a prospector strategy have relied more on multiple performance measures to rate business performance than the firms pursuing a defender strategy. Practical implications-The article notes that the designers of performance measurement systems need to consider contingent factors that affect an organizations' control system. Originality/value-Substantiating the connection between contingent variables and the use of multiple performance measures in manufacturing firms facilitate a better acceptance of firms' tendency toward new measurement tools. The study contributes to the performance measurement and contingency literature since it presents empirical evidence of the state of multiple performance measures with organizational contingent variables using a developing country's manufacturing sector data. Copyright © 2010 by Emerald Group Publishing Limited. | Bangladesh; Firms' strategy; Manufacturing sector; Market competition; Multiple performance measures | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84942767778 | A century of tuberculosis epidemiology in the northern and southern hemisphere: The differential impact of control interventions | Hermans S., Horsburgh C.R., Jr., Wood R. | 2015 | PLoS ONE | 10 | 8 | 10.1371/journal.pone.0135179 | Desmond Tutu HIV Centre, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Department of Global Health, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Institute for Global Health and Development, Amsterdam, Netherlands; Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Makerere University, College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda; Department of Epidemiology, Boston University, School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States; Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Department of Clinical Research, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom | Hermans, S., Desmond Tutu HIV Centre, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa, Department of Global Health, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Institute for Global Health and Development, Amsterdam, Netherlands, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Makerere University, College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda; Horsburgh, C.R., Jr., Department of Epidemiology, Boston University, School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States; Wood, R., Desmond Tutu HIV Centre, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa, Department of Clinical Research, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom | Background: Cape Town has one of the highest TB burdens of any city in the world. In 1900 the City of Cape Town, New York City and London had high mortality of tuberculosis (TB). Throughout the 20th century contemporaneous public health measures including screening, diagnosis and treatment were implemented in all three settings. Mandatory notification of TB and vital status enabled comparison of disease burden trajectories. Methods: TB mortality, notification and case fatality rates were calculated from 1912 to 2012 using annual TB notifications, TB death certifications and population estimates. Notification rates were stratified by age and in Cape Town by HIV status (from 2009 onwards). Results: Pre-chemotherapy, TB mortality and notification rates declined steadily in New York and London but remained high in Cape Town. Following introduction of combination chemotherapy, mean annual case fatality dropped from 45-60% to below 10% in all three settings. Mortality and notification rates subsequently declined, although Cape Town notifications did not decline as far as those in New York or London and returned to pre-chemotherapy levels by 1980. The proportional contribution of childhood TB diminished in New York and London but remained high in Cape Town. The advent of the Cape Town HIV-epidemic in the 1990s was associated with a further two-fold increase in incidence. In 2012, notification rates among HIV-negatives remained at pre-chemotherapy levels. Conclusions: TB control was achieved in New York and London but failed in Cape Town. The TB disease burden trajectories started diverging before the availability of combination chemotherapy in 1952 and further diverged following the HIV epidemic in 1990. Chemotherapy impacted case fatality but not transmission, evidenced by on-going high childhood TB rates. Currently endemic TB results from high on-going transmission, which has been exacerbated by the HIV epidemic. TB control will require reducing transmission, which is inexorably linked to prevailing socio-economic factors. | None | age distribution; Article; bacterial load; bacterial transmission; BCG vaccination; chemotherapy; childhood disease; death certificate; disease association; disease exacerbation; fatality; human; Human immunodeficiency virus; incidence; mortality; Northern Hemisphere; social status; South Africa; Southern Hemisphere; survival; tuberculosis; tuberculosis control; United Kingdom; United States; vital statistics | R01AI058736-02, NIH, National Institutes of Health |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84947262801 | Effects of different missing data imputation techniques on the performance of undiagnosed diabetes risk prediction models in a mixed-ancestry population of South Africa | Masconi K.L., Matsha T.E., Erasmus R.T., Kengne A.P. | 2015 | PLoS ONE | 10 | 9 | 10.1371/journal.pone.0139210 | Division of Chemical Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS), University of Stellenbosch, Cape Town, South Africa; Non-Communicable Diseases Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa; Department of Biomedical Technology, Faculty of Health and Wellness Sciences, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Cape Town, South Africa; Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa | Masconi, K.L., Division of Chemical Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS), University of Stellenbosch, Cape Town, South Africa, Non-Communicable Diseases Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa; Matsha, T.E., Department of Biomedical Technology, Faculty of Health and Wellness Sciences, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Cape Town, South Africa; Erasmus, R.T., Division of Chemical Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS), University of Stellenbosch, Cape Town, South Africa; Kengne, A.P., Non-Communicable Diseases Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa | Background. Imputation techniques used to handle missing data are based on the principle of replacement. It is widely advocated that multiple imputation is superior to other imputation methods, however studies have suggested that simple methods for filling missing data can be just as accurate as complex methods. The objective of this study was to implement a number of simple and more complex imputation methods, and assess the effect of these techniques on the performance of undiagnosed diabetes risk prediction models during external validation. Methods. Data from the Cape Town Bellville-South cohort served as the basis for this study. Imputation methods and models were identified via recent systematic reviews. Models' discrimination was assessed and compared using C-statistic and non-parametric methods, before and after recalibration through simple intercept adjustment. Results. The study s.ample consisted of 1256 individuals, of whom 173 were excluded due to previously diagnosed diabetes. Of the final 1083 individuals, 329 (30.4%) had missing data. Family history had the highest proportion of missing data (25%). Imputation of the outcome, undiagnosed diabetes, was highest in stochastic regression imputation (163 individuals). Overall, deletion resulted in the lowest model performances while simple imputation yielded the highest C-statistic for the Cambridge Diabetes Risk model, Kuwaiti Risk model, Omani Diabetes Risk model and Rotterdam Predictive model. Multiple imputation only yielded the highest C-statistic for the Rotterdam Predictive model, which were matched by simpler imputation methods. Conclusions. Deletion was confirmed as a poor technique for handling missing data. However, despite the emphasized disadvantages of simpler imputation methods, this study showed that implementing these methods results in similar predictive utility for undiagnosed diabetes when compared to multiple imputation. © 2015 Masconi et al. | None | adult; Article; Cambridge Diabetes Risk model; cohort analysis; controlled study; diabetes mellitus; family history; female; human; Kuwaiti Risk model; male; Omani Diabetes Risk model; prediction; risk assessment; Rotterdam Predictive model; South Africa; statistical analysis | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84940388598 | Theory-informed interventions to improve the quality of tuberculosis evaluation at Ugandan health centers: A quasi-experimental study | Chaisson L.H., Katamba A., Haguma P., Ochom E., Ayakaka I., Mugabe F., Miller C., Vittinghoff E., Davis J.L., Handley M.A., Cattamanchi A. | 2015 | PLoS ONE | 10 | 7 | 10.1371/journal.pone.0132573 | Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, San Francisco General Hospital, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States; School of Medicine, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda; Infectious Diseases Research Collaboration, Kampala, Uganda; National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme, Uganda Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States; Curry International Tuberculosis Center, San Francisco General Hospital, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States; University of California San Francisco Center for Vulnerable Populations, San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center, San Francisco, CA, United States | Chaisson, L.H., Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, San Francisco General Hospital, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States; Katamba, A., School of Medicine, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda, Infectious Diseases Research Collaboration, Kampala, Uganda; Haguma, P., Infectious Diseases Research Collaboration, Kampala, Uganda; Ochom, E., Infectious Diseases Research Collaboration, Kampala, Uganda; Ayakaka, I., Infectious Diseases Research Collaboration, Kampala, Uganda; Mugabe, F., National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme, Uganda Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda; Miller, C., Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States; Vittinghoff, E., Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States; Davis, J.L., Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, San Francisco General Hospital, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States, Infectious Diseases Research Collaboration, Kampala, Uganda, Curry International Tuberculosis Center, San Francisco General Hospital, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States; Handley, M.A., Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States, University of California San Francisco Center for Vulnerable Populations, San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center, San Francisco, CA, United States; Cattamanchi, A., Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, San Francisco General Hospital, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States, Infectious Diseases Research Collaboration, Kampala, Uganda, Curry International Tuberculosis Center, San Francisco General Hospital, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States | Background: Tuberculosis (TB) remains under-diagnosed in many countries, in part due to poor evaluation practices at health facilities. Theory-informed strategies are needed to improve implementation of TB evaluation guidelines. We aimed to evaluate the impact of performance feedback and same-day smear microscopy on the quality of TB evaluation at 6 health centers in rural Uganda. Methods: We tested components of a multi-faceted intervention to improve adherence to the International Standards for Tuberculosis Care(ISTC): performance feedback and same-day smear microscopy. The strategies were selected based on a qualitative assessment guided by the Theory of Planned Behavior and the PRECEDE model. We collected patient data 6 months before and after the introduction of each intervention component, and compared ISTC adherence in the pre- and post-intervention periods for adults with cough ≥ 2 weeks' duration. Results: The performance feedback evaluation included 1,446 adults; 838 (58%) were evaluated during the pre-intervention period and 608 (42%) during the post-intervention period. Performance feedback resulted in a 15% (95%CI +10% to +20%, p<0.001) increase in the proportion of patients receiving ISTC-adherent care. The same-day microscopy evaluation included 1,950 adults; 907 (47%) were evaluated during the pre-intervention period and 1,043 (53%) during the post-intervention period. Same-day microscopy was associated with a 14% (95%CI +10% to +18%, p<0.001) increase in the proportion of patients receiving ISTC-adherent care. Conclusions: Performance feedback and same-day microscopy should be considered along with ISTC training as part of a multi-faceted intervention to improve the quality of TB evaluation in other high TB burden countries. © 2015 Chaisson et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. | None | adult; Article; female; fluorescence microscopy; health care quality; human; major clinical study; male; medical audit; middle aged; patient care; performance feedback; practice guideline; protocol compliance; quasi experimental study; rural area; total quality management; tuberculosis; Ugandan | MRC, National Institutes of Health; P60MD006902, NIH, National Institutes of Health; R21 AI096158, NIH, National Institutes of Health; UL1 TR000004, NIH, National Institutes of Health; National Institutes of Health |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84925655100 | Evaluating the impact of the community-based health planning and services initiative on uptake of skilled birth care in Ghana | Johnson F.A., Frempong-Ainguah F., Matthews Z., Harfoot A.J.P., Nyarko P., Baschieri A., Gething P.W., Falkingham J., Atkinson P.M. | 2015 | PLoS ONE | 10 | 3 | 10.1371/journal.pone.0120556 | Division of Social Statistics and Demography, Centre for Global Health, Population, Poverty and Policy, University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton, United Kingdom; Regional Institute for Population Studies, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana; GeoData Institute, University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton, United Kingdom; Ghana Statistical Service, Head Office Building, Accra, Ghana; Spatial Ecology and Epidemiology Group, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Tinbergen Building, South Parks Road, Oxford, United Kingdom; Geography and Environment, University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton, United Kingdom | Johnson, F.A., Division of Social Statistics and Demography, Centre for Global Health, Population, Poverty and Policy, University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton, United Kingdom; Frempong-Ainguah, F., Regional Institute for Population Studies, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana; Matthews, Z., Division of Social Statistics and Demography, Centre for Global Health, Population, Poverty and Policy, University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton, United Kingdom; Harfoot, A.J.P., GeoData Institute, University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton, United Kingdom; Nyarko, P., Ghana Statistical Service, Head Office Building, Accra, Ghana; Baschieri, A., Division of Social Statistics and Demography, Centre for Global Health, Population, Poverty and Policy, University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton, United Kingdom; Gething, P.W., Spatial Ecology and Epidemiology Group, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Tinbergen Building, South Parks Road, Oxford, United Kingdom; Falkingham, J., Division of Social Statistics and Demography, Centre for Global Health, Population, Poverty and Policy, University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton, United Kingdom; Atkinson, P.M., Geography and Environment, University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton, United Kingdom | Background: The Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) initiative is a major government policy to improve maternal and child health and accelerate progress in the reduction of maternal mortality in Ghana. However, strategic intelligence on the impact of the initiative is lacking, given the persistant problems of patchy geographical access to care for rural women. This study investigates the impact of proximity to CHPS on facilitating uptake of skilled birth care in rural areas. Methods and Findings: Data from the 2003 and 2008 Demographic and Health Survey, on 4,349 births from 463 rural communities were linked to georeferenced data on health facilities, CHPS and topographic data on national road-networks. Distance to nearest health facility and CHPS was computed using the closest facility functionality in ArcGIS 10.1. Multilevel logistic regression was used to examine the effect of proximity to health facilities and CHPS on use of skilled care at birth, adjusting for relevant predictors and clustering within communities. The results show that a substantial proportion of births continue to occur in communities more than 8 km from both health facilities and CHPS. Increases in uptake of skilled birth care are more pronounced where both health facilities and CHPS compounds are within 8 km, but not in communities within 8 km of CHPS but lack access to health facilities. Where both health facilities and CHPS are within 8 km, the odds of skilled birth care is 16% higher than where there is only a health facility within 8km. Conclusion: Where CHPS compounds are set up near health facilities, there is improved access to care, demonstrating the facilitatory role of CHPS in stimulating access to better care at birth, in areas where health facilities are accessible. © 2015 Johnson et al. | None | adolescent; adult; Article; child health care; community care; demography; female; Ghana; health care; health care availability; health care facility; health care planning; health care policy; health care quality; human; maternal care; public health problem; rural health care; skilled birth care; social status; cross-sectional study; factual database; health care planning; male; maternity ward; middle aged; newborn; pregnancy; questionnaire; utilization; young adult; Adolescent; Adult; Birthing Centers; Community Health Planning; Cross-Sectional Studies; Databases, Factual; Female; Ghana; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Male; Middle Aged; Pregnancy; Rural Health Services; Surveys and Questionnaires; Young Adult | Res-167-25-0343, ESRC, Economic and Social Research Council |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84941801892 | HIV/AIDS-related stigma in South African alcohol-serving venues and its potential impact on HIV disclosure, testing and treatment-seeking behaviours | Velloza J., Watt M.H., Choi K.W., Abler L., Kalichman S.C., Skinner D., Pieterse D., Sikkema K.J. | 2015 | Global Public Health | 10 | 9 | 10.1080/17441692.2014.1001767 | Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States; Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States; Department of Psychology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, United States; Unit for Research on Health and Society, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, South Africa | Velloza, J., Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States; Watt, M.H., Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States; Choi, K.W., Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States, Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States; Abler, L., Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States; Kalichman, S.C., Department of Psychology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, United States; Skinner, D., Unit for Research on Health and Society, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, South Africa; Pieterse, D., Unit for Research on Health and Society, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, South Africa; Sikkema, K.J., Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States, Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States | Alcohol-serving venues in South Africa are sites for high-risk behaviours that may lead to HIV transmission. Prevention and treatment interventions are sorely needed in these settings, but HIV-related stigma may limit their effectiveness. This study explored expressions of stigma among alcohol-serving venue patrons in Cape Town and examined the potential impact of stigma on HIV disclosure, testing and treatment-seeking behaviours. A total of 92 in-depth interviews with male and female, black and coloured patrons were conducted. Transcripts were analysed via memo-writing and diagramming techniques. Many participants mentioned knowing other patrons living with HIV/AIDS (PLWH), and this visibility of HIV impacted expressions of HIV-related stigma. Participants discussed four forms of HIV-related stigma in the venues: fearing PLWH, fearing HIV acquisition, blaming others for spreading HIV and isolating PLWH. HIV visibility and expressions of HIV-related stigma, particularly fear of isolation, influenced participants' willingness to disclose their status. HIV-related stigma in the venues also appeared to indirectly influence testing and treatment-seeking behaviour outside the venue. Results suggest that efforts to change norms and reduce expressions of HIV-related stigma in alcohol-serving venues are necessary to successfully deliver tailored HIV prevention interventions and increase uptake of HIV testing and care in this important social setting. © 2015 Taylor & Francis. | alcohol; alcohol-serving venue; HIV-related stigma; qualitative; South Africa | adult; Article; ethnic group; female; help seeking behavior; high risk behavior; HIV test; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; interview; major clinical study; male; priority journal; social status; South Africa; South African; stigma | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84940488699 | The impact of a community awareness strategy on caregiver treatment seeking behaviour and use of artemether-lumefantrine for febrile children in rural Kenya | Wasunna B., Okiro E.A., Webster J., Todd J., Snow R.W., Jones C. | 2015 | PLoS ONE | 10 | 7 | 10.1371/journal.pone.0130305 | Eastern and Southern Africa Centre of International Parasite Control (ESACIPAC), Kenya Medical Research Institute, P.O. Box 54840-00200, Nairobi, Kenya; Department of Public Health Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Centre for Geographic Medicine Research-Coast (CGMRC), P.O. Box 43640-00100 GPO, Nairobi, Kenya; Centre for Tropical Medicine, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom; Disease Control Department, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), London, Keppel Street, London, United Kingdom; Department of Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom, Keppel Street, London, United Kingdom; Health Systems and Social Science Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Centre for Geographic Medicine Research-Coast (CGMR-C), P.O. Box 230, Kilifi, Kenya | Wasunna, B., Eastern and Southern Africa Centre of International Parasite Control (ESACIPAC), Kenya Medical Research Institute, P.O. Box 54840-00200, Nairobi, Kenya; Okiro, E.A., Department of Public Health Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Centre for Geographic Medicine Research-Coast (CGMRC), P.O. Box 43640-00100 GPO, Nairobi, Kenya, Centre for Tropical Medicine, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom; Webster, J., Disease Control Department, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), London, Keppel Street, London, United Kingdom; Todd, J., Department of Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom, Keppel Street, London, United Kingdom; Snow, R.W., Department of Public Health Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Centre for Geographic Medicine Research-Coast (CGMRC), P.O. Box 43640-00100 GPO, Nairobi, Kenya, Centre for Tropical Medicine, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom; Jones, C., Centre for Tropical Medicine, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom, Disease Control Department, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), London, Keppel Street, London, United Kingdom, Health Systems and Social Science Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Centre for Geographic Medicine Research-Coast (CGMR-C), P.O. Box 230, Kilifi, Kenya | Background: Access to prompt and effective treatment is the cornerstone for malaria control. Population Services International in collaboration with the Ministry of Health launched a malaria behaviour change communication intervention in Nyanza province, Kenya. The initiative aimed to improve: symptom recognition and prompt access to government health facilities for febrile children; effective treatment with the recommended first-line drug artemether-lumefantrine (AL) in public health facilities and adherence to the AL regimen. Methods: Pre- and post-intervention cross-sectional household surveys were used to evaluate the impact of the intervention on prompt and correct use of AL for febrile children below five years of age. The primary outcome was the proportion of children below five years of age with fever in the last 14 days accessing AL within 48 hours of fever onset. Results: There was an increase from 62.8% pre-intervention to 79.4% post-intervention (95% CI: 11.1, 22.1) in caregivers who reported seeking formal treatment promptly (on the same day, or next day) for their febrile children. However, there was a decrease in the use of government health facilities in the post-intervention period. There was a small increase in the proportion of children accessing AL within 48 hours of fever onset [18.4% vs 23.5% (0.1-10.0)]. Conclusion: The findings of this evaluation demonstrate that interventions that target only one sector may have a limited impact on improvements in prompt and effective treatment where multiple sources of treatments are sought for febrile illness. Additionally, the context in which an intervention is implemented is likely to influence the process and outcomes. © 2015 Wasunna et al. | None | amodiaquine; artemether plus benflumetol; chloroquine; dihydroartemisinin plus piperaquine; pyrimethamine plus sulfadoxine; quinine; Article; behavior change; caregiver; child; childhood disease; community care; cross-sectional study; female; fever; health care access; health care facility; health care utilization; health promotion; help seeking behavior; human; Kenya; major clinical study; malaria; male; medication compliance; outcome assessment; patient compliance; rural area | 092654, Wellcome Trust |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79960472927 | The general information about the impact of water hyacinth on Aba Samuel dam, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: Implications for ecohydrologists | Ingwani E., Gumbo T., Gondo T. | 2010 | Ecohydrology and Hydrobiology | 10 | 42404 | 10.2478/v10104-011-0014-7 | Ethiopian Civil Service College, P.O. Box 5648, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Ethiopian Civil Service College, P.O. Box 5648, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Department of Urban and Regional Planning, University of Venda, P Bag x5050, Thohoyandou 0950, South Africa | Ingwani, E., Ethiopian Civil Service College, P.O. Box 5648, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Gumbo, T., Ethiopian Civil Service College, P.O. Box 5648, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Gondo, T., Department of Urban and Regional Planning, University of Venda, P Bag x5050, Thohoyandou 0950, South Africa | The water hyacinth, Eichhorrnia crassipes, has been widely recognized as the worst aquatic weed the world over and of increasing importance in Africa, Ethiopia inclusive. The aim of the research was to highlight the devastating impact of the water hyacinth on aquatic life and human activities on Aba Samuel Dam and to underline prospects of its beneficial use. Delphi technique and on-site observations were used. Eutrophication was found to be the main cause of the proliferation of the plant. However, a majority of its potential uses were identified. The absence of a distinct Ministry of Environment is retarding the efforts in fighting causes of water hyacinth spreading. Community awareness has also been identified as a vital component in eradication of water hyacinth. This research is of significant relevance to environmentalists and ecohydrologists in formulating appropriate strategies and policies for hampering proliferation of the weed. | Aquatic weeds; Ecohydrology; Eutrophication; Invasive species; Sustainability; Water quality | ecohydrology; ecological impact; eutrophication; invasive species; observational method; plant; policy analysis; research work; strategic approach; sustainability; water quality; Aba Samuel Dam; Addis Ababa; Ethiopia; Eichhornia crassipes | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-70449125672 | The role of human resource systems and competitive strategies in hospitality organizational performance in Kenya | Onyango F.E., Monica A., Edwin O., Roselyne O. | 2009 | International Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Administration | 10 | 2 | 10.1080/15256480902851131 | Faculty of Science, Department of Ecotourism, Maseno University, P.O. Box 333, Maseno40105, Kenya; Memorial University of Newfoundland, NL, Canada | Onyango, F.E., Faculty of Science, Department of Ecotourism, Maseno University, P.O. Box 333, Maseno40105, Kenya; Monica, A., Faculty of Science, Department of Ecotourism, Maseno University, P.O. Box 333, Maseno40105, Kenya; Edwin, O., Faculty of Science, Department of Ecotourism, Maseno University, P.O. Box 333, Maseno40105, Kenya; Roselyne, O., Memorial University of Newfoundland, NL, Canada | The past decade has witnessed increased scholarly interest in the effects of human resource systems on organizational performance. However, the focus has now shifted towards the nature and causes of these outcomes. Consequently, a consensus is emerging that informed understanding of the interaction between organizational strategy and human resources will be significant in accounting for these empirical outcomes. A cursory glance at the human resource practices in Kenyan hotels suggested limited evidence of the use of functional flexibility and greater reliance on numerical flexibility. In Kenya, there is no readily available record of empirical research done on choices of employment systems along criteria similar to functional and numerical flexibilities. This study is aimed at investigating the relationships between human resource systems, competitive strategies, and business performance in the Kenyan hotel industry. The research was conducted in Nairobi and Mombasa whereby the population mainly comprised managerial and non-managerial employees drawn from the hotels selected in the aforementioned cities. Purposive sampling was used to select hotels while stratified sampling was applied to obtain 160 participants to whom questionnaires were administered. Data was analyzed using chi-square goodness of fit test, Kruskal-Wallis one-way analysis of variance, and descriptive statistics. The research revealed that functionally flexible human resource systems in conjunction with differentiation strategies are associated with high organizational performance, whereas numerically flexible human resource systems and cost reduction strategies are linked with low organizational performance. Additionally, the research equally found out that independent hotels pursued numerically flexible human resource systems in conjunction with cost reduction strategies whereas chain hotels applied functionally flexible human resource systems and differentiation/focus strategies. | Human resource systems; Kenya; Mombasa; Nairobi | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-46849096098 | The effects of therapeutic management approach on depressive symptomatology and cognitive task performance among the physically challenged students of rehabilitation centre, Ibadan, Nigeria | Busari A.O., Eniola M.S. | 2008 | Anthropologist | 10 | 1 | None | Federal College of Education Special, Oyo, Nigeria; Department of Special Education, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria | Busari, A.O., Federal College of Education Special, Oyo, Nigeria; Eniola, M.S., Department of Special Education, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria | This study investigated therapeutic management approach of depressive symptomatology on the performance of Cognitive task among the special need students of rehabilitation centre, Ibadan, Nigeria (male one hundred and eleven and female eight-nine), A self constructed validated questionnaire was used to generate data. The t-test statistics was employed to test the three research hypotheses formulated while the adjusted post-mean score was performed on the achievement test scores. Findings indicated that there were significant differences in the signs and symptoms of depression exhibited by the experimental and the control groups. Further, better cognitive task performance by the experimental group due to reduction in the level of signs and symptoms of depression was revealed. © Kamla-Raj 2008. | Cognitive task; Depressive symptomatology; Physically challenged; Therapeutic management | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-80054994564 | Morphological and yield evaluation of some Capsicum pepper lines in two agro-ecological zones of Ghana | Nkansah G.O., Ayarna A., Gbokie T.J. | 2011 | Journal of Agronomy | 10 | 3 | 10.3923/ja.2011.84.91 | Forest and Horticultural Crops Research Centre-Kade, Institute of Agricultural Research, University of Ghana, College of Agriculture and Consumer Sciences, Legon Accra, Ghana | Nkansah, G.O., Forest and Horticultural Crops Research Centre-Kade, Institute of Agricultural Research, University of Ghana, College of Agriculture and Consumer Sciences, Legon Accra, Ghana; Ayarna, A., Forest and Horticultural Crops Research Centre-Kade, Institute of Agricultural Research, University of Ghana, College of Agriculture and Consumer Sciences, Legon Accra, Ghana; Gbokie, T.J., Forest and Horticultural Crops Research Centre-Kade, Institute of Agricultural Research, University of Ghana, College of Agriculture and Consumer Sciences, Legon Accra, Ghana | In this study, lines were evaluated different ecological zones to select those best suited for farmers and other stakeholders in the horticultural industry. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of Capsicum species for their morphological, growth and yield in two different ecological zones of Ghana in two seasons (2008 and 2009). Ten pepper lines (ICPN16-1, ICPN16-2, ICPN16-3, ICPN16-4, ICPN16-5, ICPN16-6, ICPN16-7, ICPN16-8, ICPN16-9, ICPN16-10) and one local variety (Legon 18) were planted in a randomised complete block design with three replications in two ecological zones (Forest and Coastal Savanna zones). The results indicated that Line ICPN16-7 recorded the highest yield at the two ecological zones and in both years while the standard variety Legon 18 had the lowest yield. Fruit number per plant ranged from 56-267. Lines ICPN16-7, 4, 3, 6, 10 and 8 recorded veiy high yields above 201 ha -1. ICPN-3, 7, 6 and 4 were selected for export based on their fruit colour and yield. The trial also showed that yield in the forest zone was higher than those recorded in the Coastal Savanna zone. From the studies, pepper lines ICPN-7, 4, 3, 6, 10 can be recommended for production in both the forest and savanna ecological zones. © 2011 Asian Network for Scientific Information. | Capsicum pepper; Export; Forest; Qualitative characteristics; Reproductive characters; Savanna zones; Stakeholders | Capsicum | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84919696749 | Performance evaluation of condensation-irrigation solar system under arid climate conditions | Chouaib W., Chaibi M.T. | 2014 | International Journal of Energy Technology and Policy | 10 | 2 | 10.1504/IJETP.2014.066330 | Forest Sciences Centre 2030, 2424 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Institut National de Recherche, en Génie Rural Eaux et Forêts, BP 10, Ariana, Tunisia; Human Resources, Science and Technology Department, Pan African Univesrity, African Union Commission Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | Chouaib, W., Forest Sciences Centre 2030, 2424 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC, Canada, Institut National de Recherche, en Génie Rural Eaux et Forêts, BP 10, Ariana, Tunisia; Chaibi, M.T., Institut National de Recherche, en Génie Rural Eaux et Forêts, BP 10, Ariana, Tunisia, Human Resources, Science and Technology Department, Pan African Univesrity, African Union Commission Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | Scarcity of water, major critical concern in arid areas, has led to the use of low-quality irrigation water in agriculture in most of arid climate areas. The quality of water used for agriculture has to be reduced to a sustainable level that is also adapted to the environment. This paper presents the performance of a pilot condensation irrigation (CI) solar system in Tunisia under arid climate conditions. The objective of this study was to investigate the potential of this combined solar system for producing fresh water as an alternative source for irrigation in the greenhouse used for tomato growth. The preliminary testing of the CI system performance showed that moisture amounts in the buried pipes remain high for the sunny and cloudy days and dew condensation is processing mainly at night and early morning times. The produced fresh water satisfies about 15% the maximum crop water requirements during the growth period where tomato crops are most sensitive to water deficit. Based on experimental results, recommendations for system improvements design are suggested. Copyright © 2014 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd. | Evapo-condensation; Performance system; Solar desalination; Subsurface irrigation; System design | agriculture; arid environment; condensation; desalination; evaporation; irrigation system; performance assessment; solar power; Tunisia; Lycopersicon esculentum | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-82755185855 | The growth performance of young Archachatina marginata Swaison (African Giant Snail) fed with mulberry (Morus alba) and siam-weed (Chromoleana odorata) leaf meal supplementary diet | Imran G.T., Ogungbile I.A., Oyeleye B. | 2011 | Pakistan Journal of Nutrition | 10 | 9 | None | Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria, P.M.B. 5054, Jericho, Ibadan, Nigeria | Imran, G.T., Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria, P.M.B. 5054, Jericho, Ibadan, Nigeria; Ogungbile, I.A., Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria, P.M.B. 5054, Jericho, Ibadan, Nigeria; Oyeleye, B., Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria, P.M.B. 5054, Jericho, Ibadan, Nigeria | Two of the most costly sources of protein ingredients in livestock feed are soya and fishmeals. These ingredients are now becoming scarce due to their multiple uses, hence the needs for sourcing for substitutes. A six weeks Completely Randomised Design experiment was conducted at the FRIN Snailery unit, Ibadan to evaluate the growth perfomance of Archachatina marginata Swaison on mulberry and chromoleana leafmeals. Thirty (30) young snails of 3-5 weeks old were fed with mulberry and siam-weed leafmeals in addition to the unripe pawpaw fruit. Concentrate feed containing soya and fish meals serves as the control. Average feed intakes, body weight gain, shell length and circumference of snails were the parameters assessed. The results showed that highest feed intake and feed conversion ratio were obtained in chromoleana leafmeal treatment but snails fed with mulberry leafmeal performed best in terms of average body weight gain, shell length and circumference of snails. This indicated that leaves of some tropical plants especially especially mulberry and siam-weed could be used as a good substitutes in snail supplementary ration and help to reduce the cost of production in snail farming. © Asian Network for Scientific Information, 2011. | Chromoleana leafmeals; Fishmeals; Mulberry; Siam-weed; Soya | Archachatina marginata; article; body weight; Chromoleana odorata; controlled study; cost; crude protein content; diet supplementation; feeding; fish; food composition; food intake; growth rate; mulberry; nonhuman; nutrient content; nutritional value; plant leaf; protein content; snail; soybean; weed; weight gain | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79551684533 | Blood transfer devices for malaria rapid diagnostic tests: Evaluation of accuracy, safety and ease of use | Hopkins H., Oyibo W., Luchavez J., Mationg M.L., Asiimwe C., Albertini A., González I.J., Gatton M.L., Bell D. | 2011 | Malaria Journal | 10 | None | 10.1186/1475-2875-10-30 | Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics, Lumumba Avenue, Kampala, Uganda; Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Idi-Araba, Lagos, Nigeria; Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, Filinvest Compo | Hopkins, H., Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics, Lumumba Avenue, Kampala, Uganda; Oyibo, W., Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Idi-Araba, Lagos, Nigeria; Luchavez, J., Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, Filinvest Compound, Alabang, Muntinlupa, Philippines; Mationg, M.L., Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, Filinvest Compound, Alabang, Muntinlupa, Philippines; Asiimwe, C., Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics, Lumumba Avenue, Kampala, Uganda; Albertini, A., Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics, Avenue de Budé, Geneva, Switzerland; González, I.J., Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics, Avenue de Budé, Geneva, Switzerland; Gatton, M.L., Queensland Institute of Medical Research, QLD, Australia; Bell, D., Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics, Avenue de Budé, Geneva, Switzerland, Global Malaria Programme, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland | Background. Malaria rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) are increasingly used by remote health personnel with minimal training in laboratory techniques. RDTs must, therefore, be as simple, safe and reliable as possible. Transfer of blood from the patient to the RDT is critical to safety and accuracy, and poses a significant challenge to many users. Blood transfer devices were evaluated for accuracy and precision of volume transferred, safety and ease of use, to identify the most appropriate devices for use with RDTs in routine clinical care. Methods. Five devices, a loop, straw-pipette, calibrated pipette, glass capillary tube, and a new inverted cup device, were evaluated in Nigeria, the Philippines and Uganda. The 227 participating health workers used each device to transfer blood from a simulated finger-prick site to filter paper. For each transfer, the number of attempts required to collect and deposit blood and any spilling of blood during transfer were recorded. Perceptions of ease of use and safety of each device were recorded for each participant. Blood volume transferred was calculated from the area of blood spots deposited on filter paper. Results. The overall mean volumes transferred by devices differed significantly from the target volume of 5 microliters (p < 0.001). The inverted cup (4.6 microliters) most closely approximated the target volume. The glass capillary was excluded from volume analysis as the estimation method used is not compatible with this device. The calibrated pipette accounted for the largest proportion of blood exposures (23/225, 10%); exposures ranged from 2% to 6% for the other four devices. The inverted cup was considered easiest to use in blood collection (206/226, 91%); the straw-pipette and calibrated pipette were rated lowest (143/225 [64%] and 135/225 [60%] respectively). Overall, the inverted cup was the most preferred device (72%, 163/227), followed by the loop (61%, 138/227). Conclusions. The performance of blood transfer devices varied in this evaluation of accuracy, blood safety, ease of use, and user preference. The inverted cup design achieved the highest overall performance, while the loop also performed well. These findings have relevance for any point-of-care diagnostics that require blood sampling. © 2011 Hopkins et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | None | edetic acid; glass; article; blood; blood sampling; calibration; device; diagnostic accuracy; diagnostic test; diagnostic test accuracy study; filter; health auxiliary; health care personnel; health program; human; laboratory diagnosis; major clinical study; malaria; Nigeria; paper; parasite examination; patient care; Philippines; point of care testing; rapid diagnostic test; reliability; Uganda; blood safety; evaluation; instrumentation; methodology; reproducibility; Blood Safety; Blood Specimen Collection; Diagnostic Tests, Routine; Health Personnel; Humans; Malaria; Nigeria; Philippines; Reproducibility of Results; Uganda | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84929998737 | Impact of exposure to intimate partner violence on CD4+ and CD8+ T cell decay in HIV infected women: Longitudinal study | Jewkes R., Dunkle K., Jama-Shai N., Gray G. | 2015 | PLoS ONE | 10 | 3 | 10.1371/journal.pone.0122001 | Gender and Health Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa; School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand, Gauteng, South Africa; Office of the President, South African Medical Research Council, Western-Cape, South Africa | Jewkes, R., Gender and Health Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa, School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand, Gauteng, South Africa; Dunkle, K., Gender and Health Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa; Jama-Shai, N., Gender and Health Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa, School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand, Gauteng, South Africa; Gray, G., Office of the President, South African Medical Research Council, Western-Cape, South Africa | Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a risk factor for HIV acquisition in many settings, but little is known about its impact on cellular immunity especially in HIV infected women, and if any impact differs according to the form of IPV. We tested hypotheses that exposure to IPV, non-partner rape, hunger, pregnancy, depression and substance abuse predicted change in CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell count in a dataset of 103 HIV infected young women aged 15-26 enrolled in a cluster randomised controlled trial. Multiple regression models were fitted to measure rate of change in CD4 and CD8 and including terms for age, person years of CD4+/CD8+ T-cell observation, HIV positivity at baseline, and stratum. Exposure variables included drug use, emotional, physical or sexual IPV exposure, non-partner rape, pregnancy and food insecurity. Mean CD4+ T cell count at baseline (or first HIV+ test) was 567.6 (range 1121-114). Participants were followed for an average of 1.3 years. The magnitude of change in CD4 T-cells was significantly associated with having ever experienced emotional abuse from a current partner at baseline or first HIV+ test (Coeff -132.9 95% CI -196.4, -69.4 p<0.0001) and drug use (Coeff -129.9 95% CI -238.7, -21.2 p=0.02). It was not associated with other measures. The change in CD8 T-cells was associated with having ever experienced emotional abuse at baseline or prior to the first HIV+ test (Coeff -178.4 95%CI -330.2, -26.5 p=0.02). In young ART-naive HIV positive women gender-based violence exposure in the form of emotional abuse is associated with a faster rate of decline in markers of cellular immunity. This highlights the importance of attending to emotional abuse when studying the physiological impact of IPV experience and the mechanisms of its impact on women's health. © 2015 Jewkes et al. | None | adolescent; adult; age; Article; CD4 lymphocyte count; CD4+ T lymphocyte; CD8+ T lymphocyte; CD8+ T lymphocyte count; cellular immunity; controlled study; depression; drug use; emotional abuse; female; follow up; food insecurity; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infected patient; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; hunger; longitudinal study; lymphocyte count; major clinical study; mental health; partner violence; pregnancy; randomized controlled trial; rape; substance abuse | MRC, South African Medical Research Council; MH 64882-01, NIMH, South African Medical Research Council; P30 AI050409, South African Medical Research Council |
| WoS | WOS:000286143100001 | Turning around an ailing district hospital: a realist evaluation of strategic changes at Ho Municipal Hospital (Ghana) | Dedzo, McDamien,Kegels, Guy,Marchal, Bruno | 2010 | BMC PUBLIC HEALTH | 10 | None | 10.1186/1471-2458-10-787 | Ghana Health Service, Inst Trop Med | "Dedzo, McDamien: Ghana Health Service", | Background: There is a growing consensus that linear approaches to improving the performance of health workers and health care organisations may only obtain short-term results. An alternative approach premised on the principle of human resource management described as a form of 'High commitment management', builds upon a bundles of balanced practices. This has been shown to contribute to better organisational performance. This paper illustrates an intervention and outcome of high commitment management (HiCom) at an urban hospital in Ghana. Few studies have shown how HiCom management might contribute to better performance of health services and in particular of hospitals in low and middle-income settings.
Methods: A realist case study design was used to analyse how specific management practices might contribute to improving the performance of an urban district hospital in Ho, Volta Region, in Ghana. Mixed methods were used to collect data, including document review, in-depth interviews, group discussions, observations and a review of routine health information.
Results: At Ho Municipal Hospital, the management team dealt with the crisis engulfing the ailing urban district hospital by building an alliance between hospital staff to generate a sense of ownership with a focus around participative problem analysis. The creation of an alliance led to improving staff morale and attitude, and contributed also to improvements in the infrastructure and equipment. This in turn had a positive impact on the revenue generating capacity of the hospital. The quick turn around in the state of this hospital showed that change was indeed possible, a factor that greatly motivated the staff. In a second step, the management team initiated the development of a strategic plan for the hospital to maintain the dynamics of change. This was undertaken through participative methods and sustained earlier staff involvement, empowerment and feelings of reciprocity. We found that these factors acted as the core mechanisms underlying the changes taking place at Ho Municipal Hospital.
Conclusions: This study shows how a hospital management team in Ghana succeeded in resuscitating an ailing hospital. Their high commitment management approach led to the active involvement and empowerment of staff. It also showed how a realist evaluation approach such as this, could be used in the research of the management of health care organisations to explain how management interventions may or may not work. | ,AFRICA,CARE,CLIMATE,COMMITMENT,CULTURE,HEALTH,"HUMAN-RESOURCE MANAGEMENT","PERCEIVED ORGANIZATIONAL SUPPORT",PERFORMANCE,POLICY | None | None |
| None | None | Evaluation of cervical cancer screening programs in Côte d'Ivoire, Guyana, and Tanzania: Effect of HIV status | Anderson J., Wysong M., Estep D., Besana G., Kibwana S., Varallo J., Sun K., Lu E. | 2015 | PLoS ONE | 10 | 9 | 10.1371/journal.pone.0139242 | Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD, United States; Jhpiego, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States; Jhpiego/Tanzania, Johns Hopkins University, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania | Anderson, J., Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD, United States; Wysong, M., Jhpiego, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States; Estep, D., Jhpiego, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States; Besana, G., Jhpiego/Tanzania, Johns Hopkins University, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Kibwana, S., Jhpiego, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States; Varallo, J., Jhpiego, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States; Sun, K., Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD, United States; Lu, E., Jhpiego, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States | Background: HIV infection increases a woman's risk for cervical cancer, and cervical cancer incidence and mortality rates are higher in countries with high HIV prevalence and limited resources for screening. Visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA) allows screening and treatment of cervical lesions in a single-visit approach (SVA), but data on its performance in HIV-infected women are limited. This study's objective was to examine cervical cancer screening using VIA/SVA in programs serving HIV-infected women. Methods: A VIA/SVA program with cryotherapy for VIA-positive lesions was implemented in Côte d'Ivoire, Guyana, and Tanzania from 2009 to 2012. The effect of HIV status on VIA positivity and on presence of cryotherapy-eligible lesions was examined using a cross-sectional study design, with Chi-square tests for comparisons and constructed multivariate logistic regression models. A P-value of < 0.05 was significant. Findings: VIA was performed on 34,921 women, 10% (3,580) were VIA positive; 2,508 (85%) eligible women received cryotherapy during the same visit; only 234 (52%) of those who postponed returned for treatment; 622 (17%) VIA-positive women had lesions too large to be treated with cryotherapy and were referred for excisional treatment. In multivariate analysis-controlling for HIV status, location of the screening clinic, facility location, facility type, and country-compared to HIV-uninfected/unknown women, HIV-infected women had higher odds of being VIA positive (OR 1.95, 95% CI 1.76, 2.16, P<0.0001) and of having large lesions requiring referral (OR 1.93, 95% CI 1.49, 2.51, P< 0.0001). Minor treatment complications occurred in 19 of 3,032 (0.63%) women; none required further intervention. Conclusions: This study found that compared to HIV-uninfected/unknown women, HIV-infected women had nearly twice the odds of being VIA-positive and to require referral for large lesions. SVA was safe and resulted in significant reductions in loss to follow-up. There is increased need for excisional treatment in countries with high HIV prevalence. © 2015 Anderson et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. | None | adult; Article; cancer screening; clinical effectiveness; clinical evaluation; cryotherapy; female; health care facility; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infected patient; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; major clinical study; rural area; screening test; Tanzania; treatment response; urban area; uterine cervix cancer | None |
| None | None | Statistical methodology for the evaluation of vaccine efficacy in a phase III multi-centre trial of the RTS,S/AS01 malaria vaccine in African children | Lievens M., Aponte J.J., Williamson J., Mmbando B., Mohamed A., Bejon P., Leach A. | 2011 | Malaria Journal | 10 | None | 10.1186/1475-2875-10-222 | GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals, Wavre, Belgium; Centre de Recerca en Salut Internacional de Barcelona (CRESIB), Hospital Clínic, Universitat de Barcelona, Spain; KEMRI/CDC Research and Public Health Collaboration, Kisumu, Kenya; National Institute for Medical Research, Dar es salaam, Tanzania; Ifakara Health Institute, Ifakara, Tanzania; KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Program, Kilifi, Kenya | Lievens, M., GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals, Wavre, Belgium; Aponte, J.J., Centre de Recerca en Salut Internacional de Barcelona (CRESIB), Hospital Clínic, Universitat de Barcelona, Spain; Williamson, J., KEMRI/CDC Research and Public Health Collaboration, Kisumu, Kenya; Mmbando, B., National Institute for Medical Research, Dar es salaam, Tanzania; Mohamed, A., Ifakara Health Institute, Ifakara, Tanzania; Bejon, P., KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Program, Kilifi, Kenya; Leach, A., GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals, Wavre, Belgium | Background: There has been much debate about the appropriate statistical methodology for the evaluation of malaria field studies and the challenges in interpreting data arising from these trials. Methods. The present paper describes, for a pivotal phase III efficacy of the RTS, S/AS01 malaria vaccine, the methods of the statistical analysis and the rationale for their selection. The methods used to estimate efficacy of the primary course of vaccination, and of a booster dose, in preventing clinical episodes of uncomplicated and severe malaria, and to determine the duration of protection, are described. The interpretation of various measures of efficacy in terms of the potential public health impact of the vaccine is discussed. Conclusions: The methodology selected to analyse the clinical trial must be scientifically sound, acceptable to regulatory authorities and meaningful to those responsible for malaria control and public health policy. Trial registration. © 2011 Lievens et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | None | malaria vaccine; rts s as 01; unclassified drug; malaria vaccine; Africa; article; child; clinical assessment; clinical evaluation; controlled study; disease severity; double blind procedure; drug efficacy; fever; follow up; groups by age; human; immunization; infant; major clinical study; malaria; malaria control; newborn; outcome assessment; parasitemia; phase 3 clinical trial; preschool child; randomized controlled trial; risk assessment; statistical analysis; Africa; biostatistics; clinical trial; controlled clinical trial; immunization; immunology; malaria; methodology; treatment outcome; vaccination; Africa; Biostatistics; Child; Child, Preschool; Double-Blind Method; Humans; Immunization, Secondary; Infant; Malaria; Malaria Vaccines; Treatment Outcome; Vaccination | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84880451968 | Legitimacy or good governance: What drives carbon performance in Australia | Qian W. | 2013 | Corporate Ownership and Control | 10 | 0.125 | None | Governance and Sustainability, School of Commerce, University of South Australia, SA5001, South Africa | Qian, W., Governance and Sustainability, School of Commerce, University of South Australia, SA5001, South Africa | Previous studies present diverse views on carbon performance. The legitimacy perspective posits that external forces from a wide range of stakeholders drives environmental performance change, while the governance perspective posits that strong internal governance structure leads to performance improvement. This study empirically examines the validity of these different perspectives. Using data released by top polluting companies included in the Australian National Greenhouse and Energy Reports (NGER), the study finds that better governance structures are significantly associated with higher carbon performance, but there is no significant relationship between external carbon disclosure and carbon performance. The results suggest that future policy needs to focus more on ensuring strong corporate governance system and encouraging the integration of environmental aspects into governance agenda. | Carbon disclosure; Carbon performance; Corporate governance; Environmental sensitivity; Legitimacy | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84946962360 | Comparative validation of five quantitative rapid test kits for the analysis of salt iodine content: Laboratory performance, user-and field-friendliness | Rohner F., Kangambèga M.O., Khan N., Kargougou R., Garnier D., Sanou I., Ouaro B.D., Petry N., Wirth J.P., Jooste P. | 2015 | PLoS ONE | 10 | 9 | 10.1371/journal.pone.0138530 | GroundWork LLC, Crans-près-Céligny, Switzerland; Laboratoire National de Santé Publique, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso; Micronutrient Initiative, Ottawa, Canada; UNICEF, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso; Direction de la Nutrition, Ministère de Santé, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso; Iodine Global Network South Africa, Cape Town, South Africa; Centre of Excellence for Nutrition, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa | Rohner, F., GroundWork LLC, Crans-près-Céligny, Switzerland; Kangambèga, M.O., Laboratoire National de Santé Publique, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso; Khan, N., Micronutrient Initiative, Ottawa, Canada; Kargougou, R., UNICEF, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso; Garnier, D., UNICEF, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso; Sanou, I., Laboratoire National de Santé Publique, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso; Ouaro, B.D., Direction de la Nutrition, Ministère de Santé, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso; Petry, N., GroundWork LLC, Crans-près-Céligny, Switzerland; Wirth, J.P., GroundWork LLC, Crans-près-Céligny, Switzerland; Jooste, P., Iodine Global Network South Africa, Cape Town, South Africa, Centre of Excellence for Nutrition, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa | Background Iodine deficiency has important health and development consequences and the introduction of iodized salt as national programs has been a great public health success in the past decades. To render national salt iodization programs sustainable and ensure adequate iodization levels, simple methods to quantitatively assess whether salt is adequately iodized are required. Several methods claim to be simple and reliable, and are available on the market or are in development. Objective This work has validated the currently available quantitative rapid test kits (quantRTK) in a comparative manner for both their laboratory performance and ease of use in field settings. Methods Laboratory performance parameters (linearity, detection and quantification limit, intra-and inter-assay imprecision) were conducted on 5 quantRTK. We assessed inter-operator imprecision using salt of different quality along with the comparison of 59 salt samples from across the globe; measurements were made both in a laboratory and a field setting by technicians and non-technicians. Results from the quantRTK were compared against iodometric titration for validity. An 'ease-of-use' rating system was developed to identify the most suitable quantRTK for a given task. Results Most of the devices showed acceptable laboratory performance, but for some of the devices, use by non-technicians revealed poorer performance when working in a routine manner. Of the quantRTK tested, the iCheck1 and I-Reader1 showed most consistent performance and ease of use, and a newly developed paper-based method (saltPAD) holds promise if further developed. Conclusions User-and field-friendly devices are now available and the most appropriate quantRTK can be selected depending on the number of samples and the budget available. © 2015 Rohner et al. | None | formic acid; iodine; potassium iodate; potassium iodide; sodium chloride; analytic method; Article; clinical effectiveness; comparative study; controlled study; function test kit; iodination; iodine deficiency; laboratory test; limit of detection; limit of quantitation; portable equipment; quantitative analysis; rapid test; rapid test kit; validation study | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84928920460 | Cost evaluation of reproductive and primary health care mobile service delivery for women in two rural districts in South Africa | Schnippel K., Lince-Deroche N., Van Den Handel T., Molefi S., Bruce S., Firnhaber C. | 2015 | PLoS ONE | 10 | 3 | 10.1371/journal.pone.0119236 | Health Economics and Epidemiology Research Office, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Johannesburg, South Africa; Right to Care, Johannesburg, South Africa | Schnippel, K., Health Economics and Epidemiology Research Office, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Johannesburg, South Africa; Lince-Deroche, N., Health Economics and Epidemiology Research Office, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Johannesburg, South Africa; Van Den Handel, T., Right to Care, Johannesburg, South Africa; Molefi, S., Right to Care, Johannesburg, South Africa; Bruce, S., Right to Care, Johannesburg, South Africa; Firnhaber, C., Health Economics and Epidemiology Research Office, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Johannesburg, South Africa, Right to Care, Johannesburg, South Africa | Background: Cervical cancer screening is a critical health service that is often unavailable to women in under-resourced settings. In order to expand access to this and other reproductive and primary health care services, a South African non-governmental organization established a van-based mobile clinic in two rural districts in South Africa. To inform policy and budgeting, we conducted a cost evaluation of this service delivery model. Methods: The evaluation was retrospective (October 2012-September 2013 for one district and April-September 2013 for the second district) and conducted from a provider cost perspective. Services evaluated included cervical cancer screening, HIV counselling and testing, syndromic management of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), breast exams, provision of condoms, contraceptives, and general health education. Fixed costs, including vehicle purchase and conversion, equipment, operating costs and mobile clinic staffing, were collected from program records and public sector pricing information. The number of women accessing different services was multiplied by ingredients-based variable costs, reflecting the consumables required. All costs are reported in 2013 USD. Results: Fixed costs accounted for most of the total annual costs of the mobile clinics (85% and 94% for the two districts); the largest contributor to annual fixed costs was staff salaries. Average costs per patient were driven by the total number of patients seen, at $46.09 and $76.03 for the two districts. Variable costs for Pap smears were higher than for other services provided, and some services, such as breast exams and STI and tuberculosis symptoms screening, had no marginal cost. Conclusions: Staffing costs are the largest component of providing mobile health services to rural communities. Yet, in remote areas where patient volumes do not exceed nursing staff capacity, incorporating multiple services within a cervical cancer screening program is an approach to potentially expand access to health care without added costs. © 2015 Schnippel et al. | None | Article; breast examination; cancer screening; condom use; contraception; female; health care cost; health care delivery; health service; HIV education; HIV test; human; mobile clinic; Papanicolaou test; personnel management; preventive health service; primary health care; reproductive health; retrospective study; rural area; sexually transmitted disease; South Africa; uterine cervix cancer | 674-A-00-08- 00007-00, USAID, United States Agency for International Development |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84941312733 | Ion imprinted polymer based electrochemical sensor for environmental monitoring of copper(II) | Abu-Dalo M.A., Salam A.A., Nassory N.S. | 2015 | International Journal of Electrochemical Science | 10 | 8 | None | Jordan University of Science and Technology, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Department of Chemistry, P.O. Box 3030, Irbid, Jordan; Institute of Continuing Education, Bayero University Kano, P.M.B 3011, Kano, Nigeria | Abu-Dalo, M.A., Jordan University of Science and Technology, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Department of Chemistry, P.O. Box 3030, Irbid, Jordan; Salam, A.A., Institute of Continuing Education, Bayero University Kano, P.M.B 3011, Kano, Nigeria; Nassory, N.S., Jordan University of Science and Technology, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Department of Chemistry, P.O. Box 3030, Irbid, Jordan | Plasticized membranes using copper-carboxybenzotriazole have been prepared and explored as Cu2+-selective electrochemical sensors. Effects of three different plasticizers: bis(2-ethylhexyl)sebacate (BEHS), dibutylphthalate (DBP) and Dioctylphthalate (DOP) were studied, optimized and evaluated. Optimum performance was observed with membrane having the following composition: PVC (61%): DBP (35%): IIP (4%). The optimized membrane was used for construction of liquid electrochemical sensor. The sensor was found to work satisfactorily in the concentration range between 1.0×10-1-1.0×10-5M with a Nerstian slope value of about 28.1mV/decade. Wide pH range (3-8), fast response time (22s) and long lifetime (~ 2 months) indicate the potential of the proposed sensors in the determination of copper II ions in synthetic and wastewater samples with excellent recoveries (94%- 109%). Potentiometric selectivity coefficient values were determined by separate solution method (SSM), and good selectivity for Cu2+ over most interfering ions was achieved. © 2015 The Authors. | Copper-carboxybenzotriazole; Electrochemical sensor; Environmental monitoring; Ion imprinted polymer | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84866134258 | Economic evaluation of task-shifting approaches to the dispensing of anti-retroviral therapy | Foster N., McIntyre D. | 2012 | Human Resources for Health | 10 | None | 10.1186/1478-4491-10-32 | Health Economics Unit, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Observatory, Cape Town, South Africa | Foster, N., Health Economics Unit, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Observatory, Cape Town, South Africa; McIntyre, D., Health Economics Unit, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Observatory, Cape Town, South Africa | Background: A scarcity of human resources for health has been identified as one of the primary constraints to the scale-up of the provision of Anti-Retroviral Treatment (ART). In South Africa there is a particularly severe lack of pharmacists. The study aims to compare two task-shifting approaches to the dispensing of ART: Indirectly Supervised Pharmacist's Assistants (ISPA) and Nurse-based pharmaceutical care models against the standard of care which involves a pharmacist dispensing ART.Methods: A cross-sectional mixed methods study design was used. Patient exit interviews, time and motion studies, expert interviews and staff costs were used to conduct a costing from the societal perspective. Six facilities were sampled in the Western Cape province of South Africa, and 230 patient interviews conducted.Results: The ISPA model was found to be the least costly task-shifting pharmaceutical model. However, patients preferred receiving medication from the nurse. This related to a fear of stigma and being identified by virtue of receiving ART at the pharmacy.Conclusions: While these models are not mutually exclusive, and a variety of pharmaceutical care models will be necessary for scale up, it is useful to consider the impact of implementing these models on the provider, patient access to treatment and difficulties in implementation. © 2012 Foster and McIntyre; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | Anti-retroviral therapy; Pharmaceutical care models; Skills mix; Task-shifting | None | None |
| None | None | Impact of malaria control on mortality and anemia among Tanzanian children less than five years of age, 1999-2010 | Smithson P., Florey L., Salgado S.R., Hershey C.L., Masanja H., Bhattarai A., Mwita A., McElroy P.D. | 2015 | PLoS ONE | 10 | 11 | 10.1371/journal.pone.0141112 | Ifakara Health Institute, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; ICF International, Rockville, MD, United States; United States Agency for International Development, U.S. President's Malaria Initiative, Washington, DC, United States; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. President's Malaria Initiative, Atlanta, GA, United States; National Malaria Control Programme, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania | Smithson, P., Ifakara Health Institute, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Florey, L., ICF International, Rockville, MD, United States; Salgado, S.R., United States Agency for International Development, U.S. President's Malaria Initiative, Washington, DC, United States; Hershey, C.L., United States Agency for International Development, U.S. President's Malaria Initiative, Washington, DC, United States; Masanja, H., Ifakara Health Institute, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Bhattarai, A., Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. President's Malaria Initiative, Atlanta, GA, United States; Mwita, A., National Malaria Control Programme, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; McElroy, P.D., Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. President's Malaria Initiative, Atlanta, GA, United States | Background: Mainland Tanzania scaled up multiple malaria control interventions between 1999 and 2010. We evaluated whether, and to what extent, reductions in all-cause under-five child mortality (U5CM) tracked with malaria control intensification during this period. Methods: Four nationally representative household surveys permitted trend analysis for malaria intervention coverage, severe anemia (hemoglobin <8 g/dL) prevalence (SAP) among children 6-59 months, and U5CM rates stratified by background characteristics, age, and malaria endemicity. Prevalence of contextual factors (e.g., vaccination, nutrition) likely to influence U5CM were also assessed. Population attributable risk percentage (PAR%) estimates for malaria interventions and contextual factors that changed over time were used to estimate magnitude of impact on U5CM. Results: Household ownership of insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) rose from near zero in 1999 to 64% (95% CI, 61.7-65.2) in 2010. Intermittent preventive treatment of malaria in pregnancy reached 26% (95% CI, 23.6-28.0) by 2010. Sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine replaced chloroquine in 2002 and artemisinin-based combination therapy was introduced in 2007. SAP among children 6-59 months declined 50% between 2005 (11.1%; 95% CI, 10.0-12.3%) and 2010 (5.5%; 95% CI, 4.7-6.4%) and U5CM declined by 45% between baseline (1995-9) and endpoint (2005-9), from 148 to 81 deaths/1000 live births, respectively. Mortality declined 55% among children 1-23 months of age in higher malaria endemicity areas. A large reduction in U5CM was attributable to ITNs (PAR%= 11) with other malaria interventions adding further gains. Multiple contextual factors also contributed to survival gains. Conclusion: Marked declines in U5CM occurred in Tanzania between 1999 and 2010 with high impact from ITNs and ACTs. High-risk children (1-24 months of age in high malaria endemicity) experienced the greatest declines in mortality and SAP. Malaria control should remain a policy priority to sustain and further accelerate progress in child survival. | None | artemisinin; chloroquine; pyrimethamine plus sulfadoxine; anemia; Article; attributable risk; bed net; child; childhood mortality; disease severity; endemic disease; female; human; infant; infection prevention; major clinical study; malaria; malaria control; male; population risk | None |
| None | None | Effect of paying for performance on utilisation, quality, and user costs of health services in Tanzania: A controlled before and after study | Binyaruka P., Patouillard E., Powell-Jackson T., Greco G., Maestad O., Borghi J. | 2015 | PLoS ONE | 10 | 8 | 10.1371/journal.pone.0135013 | Ifakara Health Institute, Plot 463, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Chr. Michelsens Institutt, Jekteviksbakken 31, Bergen, Norway | Binyaruka, P., Ifakara Health Institute, Plot 463, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Patouillard, E., London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Powell-Jackson, T., London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Greco, G., London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Maestad, O., Chr. Michelsens Institutt, Jekteviksbakken 31, Bergen, Norway; Borghi, J., London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom | Background: Despite widespread implementation across Africa, there is limited evidence of the effect of payment for performance (P4P) schemes in low income countries on the coverage of quality services and affordability, consistent with universal health coverage objectives. We examined the effect of a government P4P scheme on utilisation, quality, and user costs of health services in Tanzania. Methods: We evaluated the effects of a P4P scheme on utilisation of all maternal and child immunization services targeted by the scheme, and non-targeted general outpatient service use.We also evaluated effects on patient satisfaction with care and clinical content of antenatal care, and user costs. The evaluation was done in 150 facilities across all 7 intervention districts and 4 comparison districts with two rounds of data collection over 13-months in January 2012 and February 2013. We sampled 3000 households of women who had delivered in the 12 months prior to interview; 1500 patients attending health facilities for targeted and non-targeted services at each round of data collection. Difference-in-difference regression analysis was employed. Findings: We estimated a significant positive effect on two out of eight targeted indicators. There was an 8.2% (95% CI: 3.6% to 12.8%) increase in coverage of institutional deliveries among women in the intervention area, and a 10.3%(95% CI: 4.4% to 16.1%) increase in the provision of anti-malarials during pregnancy. Use of non-targeted services reduced at dispensaries by 57.5 visits per month among children under five (95% CI: -110.2 to -4.9) and by 90.8 visits per month for those aged over five (95% CI: -156.5 to -25.2). There was no evidence of an effect of P4P on patient experience of care for targeted services. There was a 0.05 (95% CI: 0.01 to 0.10) increase in the patient satisfaction score for non-targeted services. P4P was associated with a 5.0% reduction in those paying out of pocket for deliveries (95% CI: -9.3% to -0.7%) but there was no evidence of an effect on the average amount paid. Conclusion: This study adds to the very limited evidence on the effects of P4P at scale and highlights the potential risks of such schemes in relation to non-targeted service use. Further consideration of the design of P4P schemes is required to enhance progress towards universal health coverage, and close monitoring of effects on non-targeted services and user costs should be encouraged. © 2015 Binyaruka et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. | None | Africa; Article; controlled study; health care cost; health care delivery; health care facility; health care quality; health care utilization; health insurance; health service; human; immunization; major clinical study; outpatient care; patient satisfaction; performance; prenatal care; Tanzania | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84877590894 | Breeding practices and reproductive performance of traditionally managed indigenous sheep and goat in Ilu Abba Bora zone of Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia | Urgessa D., Duguma B., Demeke S., Tolamariam T. | 2013 | Global Veterinaria | 10 | 6 | 10.5829/idosi.gv.2013.10.6.64163 | Illu Abba Bora Zone Office of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mettu, Ethiopia; Department of Animal Sciences, College of Agriculture, Jimma University, P.O. Box 307, Jimma, Ethiopia | Urgessa, D., Illu Abba Bora Zone Office of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mettu, Ethiopia; Duguma, B., Department of Animal Sciences, College of Agriculture, Jimma University, P.O. Box 307, Jimma, Ethiopia; Demeke, S., Department of Animal Sciences, College of Agriculture, Jimma University, P.O. Box 307, Jimma, Ethiopia; Tolamariam, T., Department of Animal Sciences, College of Agriculture, Jimma University, P.O. Box 307, Jimma, Ethiopia | The aim of this study was to assess the breeding practices and reproductive performance of sheep and goats in three districts of Ilu Aba Bora Zone, Ethiopia. A total of 270 (90 from each district) households were randomly selected for the study and the heads of the households were interviewed using pre-tested, structured questionnaire. Findings of the study indicated that 26% of respondents had breeding rams and bucks, while 74% of them share breeding rams and bucks with their neighbors. Breeding was predominantly uncontrolled. Kidding/lambing occurred all the year round with 37.8 and 38.1% of lambs and kids were dropped in wet season. Coat color, body conformation and pedigree performance were considered as the most important criteria in selecting breeding rams and bucks showing significant (P<0.05) difference between districts. Age at puberty was 5-8 months in sheep and 5-6 months in goats. The average age at first parturition was 10-11 months in 43 and 52%of sheep and goats, respectively. Parturition interval was 9-10 months in 62 and 61.9% of sheep and goats, respectively. About 59, 38 and 1.5% respondents reported that ewes give single, twine and triple births, respectively, while 58, 40 and 1.1% of respondents revealed that does give single, twine and triple births, respectively. The study observed that reproductive performance of sheep and goats was generally found to be low. Thus, small ruminant productivity would be improved if adequate attention is paid to alleviate the technical constraints, increase adoption of improved technologies and appropriate delivery of extension messages. © IDOSI Publications, 2013. | Age at first lambing/kidding; Breeding; Goats; Puberty; Selection; Sheep | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84935519516 | Potential impact of co-infections and co-morbidities prevalent in Africa on influenza severity and frequency: A systematic review | Cohen A.L., McMorrow M., Walaza S., Cohen C., Tempia S., Alexander-Scott M., Widdowson M.-A. | 2015 | PLoS ONE | 10 | 6 | 10.1371/journal.pone.0128580 | Influenza Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States; Influenza Program, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa; United States Public Health Service, Rockville, MD, United States; Centre for Respiratory Diseases and Meningitis, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, Sandringham, South Africa; School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Division of Applied Research and Technology (DART), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Cincinnati, OH, United States; University of Illinois, Springfield, IL, United States | Cohen, A.L., Influenza Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States, Influenza Program, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa, United States Public Health Service, Rockville, MD, United States; McMorrow, M., Influenza Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States, United States Public Health Service, Rockville, MD, United States; Walaza, S., Centre for Respiratory Diseases and Meningitis, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, Sandringham, South Africa, School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Cohen, C., Centre for Respiratory Diseases and Meningitis, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, Sandringham, South Africa, School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Tempia, S., Influenza Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States, Influenza Program, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa, Centre for Respiratory Diseases and Meningitis, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, Sandringham, South Africa; Alexander-Scott, M., Division of Applied Research and Technology (DART), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Cincinnati, OH, United States, University of Illinois, Springfield, IL, United States; Widdowson, M.-A., Influenza Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States | Infectious diseases and underlying medical conditions common to Africa may affect influenza frequency and severity. We conducted a systematic review of published studies on influenza and the following co-infections or co-morbidities that are prevalent in Africa: dengue, malaria, measles, meningococcus, Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PCP), hemoglobinopathies, and malnutrition. Articles were identified except for influenza and PCP. Very few studies were from Africa. Sickle cell disease, dengue, and measles co-infection were found to increase the severity of influenza disease, though this is based on few studies of dengue and measles and the measles study was of low quality. The frequency of influenza was increased among patients with sickle cell disease. Influenza infection increased the frequency of meningococcal disease. Studies on malaria and malnutrition found mixed results. Age-adjusted morbidity and mortality from influenza may be more common in Africa because infections and diseases common in the region lead to more severe outcomes and increase the influenza burden. However, gaps exist in our knowledge about these interactions. | None | 2009 H1N1 influenza; Africa; Article; beta thalassemia; cohort analysis; comorbidity; dengue; disease association; disease severity; frequency analysis; human; immunogenicity; influenza; influenza A (H3N2); influenza B; kwashiorkor; malaria; malnutrition; marasmus; measles; meningococcemia; mixed infection; morbidity; mortality; nonhuman; observational study; outcome assessment; Pneumocystis jiroveci; Pneumocystis pneumonia; prevalence; risk factor; sickle cell anemia; systematic review; time series analysis; Neisseria meningitidis; Pneumocystis jirovecii | CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention |
| WoS | WOS:000275305700001 | A realist evaluation of the management of a well-performing regional hospital in Ghana | Dedzo, McDamien,Kegels, Guy,Marchal, Bruno | 2010 | BMC HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH | 10 | None | 10.1186/1472-6963-10-24 | Inst Trop Med, Volta Reg Hlth Directorate | None | Background: Realist evaluation offers an interesting approach to evaluation of interventions in complex settings, but has been little applied in health care. We report on a realist case study of a well performing hospital in Ghana and show how such a realist evaluation design can help to overcome the limited external validity of a traditional case study.
Methods: We developed a realist evaluation framework for hypothesis formulation, data collection, data analysis and synthesis of the findings. Focusing on the role of human resource management in hospital performance, we formulated our hypothesis around the high commitment management concept. Mixed methods were used in data collection, including individual and group interviews, observations and document reviews.
Results: We found that the human resource management approach (the actual intervention) included induction of new staff, training and personal development, good communication and information sharing, and decentralised decision-making. We identified 3 additional practices: ensuring optimal physical working conditions, access to top managers and managers' involvement on the work floor. Teamwork, recognition and trust emerged as key elements of the organisational climate. Interviewees reported high levels of organisational commitment. The analysis unearthed perceived organisational support and reciprocity as underlying mechanisms that link the management practices with commitment. Methodologically, we found that realist evaluation can be fruitfully used to develop detailed case studies that analyse how management interventions work and in which conditions. Analysing the links between intervention, mechanism and outcome increases the explaining power, while identification of essential context elements improves the usefulness of the findings for decision-makers in other settings (external validity). We also identified a number of practical difficulties and priorities for further methodological development.
Conclusion: This case suggests that a well-balanced HRM bundle can stimulate organisational commitment of health workers. Such practices can be implemented even with narrow decision spaces. Realist evaluation provides an appropriate approach to increase the usefulness of case studies to managers and policymakers. | ,ATTITUDES,COMMITMENT,CULTURE,HEALTH-SERVICES,"HUMAN-RESOURCE MANAGEMENT",MODELS,"PERCEIVED ORGANIZATIONAL SUPPORT","THEORY-DRIVEN PERSPECTIVE",VALIDITY,"WORK SYSTEMS" | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84929208462 | The fishery performance indicators: A management tool for triple bottom line outcomes | Anderson J.L., Anderson C.M., Chu J., Meredith J., Asche F., Sylvia G., Smith M.D., Anggraeni D., Arthur R., Guttormsen A., McCluney J.K., Ward T., Akpalu W., Eggert H., Flores J., Freeman M.A., Holland D.S., Knapp G., Kobayashi M., Larkin S., MacLauchlin | 2015 | PLoS ONE | 10 | 5 | 10.1371/journal.pone.0122809 | Institute for Global Food Systems, University of Florida, PO Box 110240, Gainesville, FL, United States; School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, University of Washington, Box 355020, Seattle, WA, United States; World Bank, 1818 H Street NW, Washington, DC, United States; Department of Economics, University of Washington, Box 353330, Seattle, WA, United States; Department of Industrial Economics, University of Stavanger, Stavanger, Norway; Marine Resource Economics, Oregon State University, Hatfield Marine Science Center, 2030 Marine Science Drive, Newport, OR, United States; Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Box 90328, Durham, NC, United States; Sustainable Fisheries Partnership, JL. Palem Putri IX/NO. 1, Taman Yasmin V, Bogor, Indonesia; MRAG Ltd., 18 Queen Street, London, United Kingdom; Department of Economics and Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Aas, Norway; South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI) - Aquatic Sciences, PO Box 120, Henley Beach, SA, Australia; United Nations University-World Institute for Development Economics Research, C/O Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER), University of Ghana, P.O BOX LG 74, Legon, Ghana; Department of Economics, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden; Sustainable Fisheries Partnership, Block1, #5 El Rio Vista Phase 5, Davao City, Philippines; Department of Agricultural Economics, Mississippi State University, PO Box 5187, Mississippi State, MS, United States; Conservation Biology Division, Northwest Fisheries Science Centre, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2725 Montlake Blvd, Seattle, WA, United States; Institute of Social and Economic Research, University of Alaska Anchorage, 3211 Providence Drive, Anchorage, AK, United States; Environment and Natural Resource Management, The World Bank, 1818 H St. NW, Washington, DC, United States; Department of Food and Resource Economics, University of Florida, PO Box 110240, Gainesville, FL, United States; South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, 4055 Faber Place Dr., Suite 201, North Charleston, SC, United States; School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts, University of California Merced, 5200 North Lake Road, Merced, CA, United States; Marine Economic Development, Level 1 83-85 Victoria Rd, Devonport, Aukland, New Zealand; University of Stavanger, Stavanger, Norway; Department of Environmental and Natural Resource Economics, University of Rhode Island, 205 Kingston Coastal Institute, One Greenhouse Road, Kingston, RI, United States | Anderson, J.L., Institute for Global Food Systems, University of Florida, PO Box 110240, Gainesville, FL, United States; Anderson, C.M., School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, University of Washington, Box 355020, Seattle, WA, United States; Chu, J., World Bank, 1818 H Street NW, Washington, DC, United States; Meredith, J., Department of Economics, University of Washington, Box 353330, Seattle, WA, United States; Asche, F., Department of Industrial Economics, University of Stavanger, Stavanger, Norway; Sylvia, G., Marine Resource Economics, Oregon State University, Hatfield Marine Science Center, 2030 Marine Science Drive, Newport, OR, United States; Smith, M.D., Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Box 90328, Durham, NC, United States; Anggraeni, D., Sustainable Fisheries Partnership, JL. Palem Putri IX/NO. 1, Taman Yasmin V, Bogor, Indonesia; Arthur, R., MRAG Ltd., 18 Queen Street, London, United Kingdom; Guttormsen, A., Department of Economics and Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Aas, Norway; McCluney, J.K., School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, University of Washington, Box 355020, Seattle, WA, United States; Ward, T., South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI) - Aquatic Sciences, PO Box 120, Henley Beach, SA, Australia; Akpalu, W., United Nations University-World Institute for Development Economics Research, C/O Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER), University of Ghana, P.O BOX LG 74, Legon, Ghana; Eggert, H., Department of Economics, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden; Flores, J., Sustainable Fisheries Partnership, Block1, #5 El Rio Vista Phase 5, Davao City, Philippines; Freeman, M.A., Department of Agricultural Economics, Mississippi State University, PO Box 5187, Mississippi State, MS, United States; Holland, D.S., Conservation Biology Division, Northwest Fisheries Science Centre, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2725 Montlake Blvd, Seattle, WA, United States; Knapp, G., Institute of Social and Economic Research, University of Alaska Anchorage, 3211 Providence Drive, Anchorage, AK, United States; Kobayashi, M., Environment and Natural Resource Management, The World Bank, 1818 H St. NW, Washington, DC, United States; Larkin, S., Department of Food and Resource Economics, University of Florida, PO Box 110240, Gainesville, FL, United States; MacLauchlin, K., South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, 4055 Faber Place Dr., Suite 201, North Charleston, SC, United States; Schnier, K., School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts, University of California Merced, 5200 North Lake Road, Merced, CA, United States; Soboil, M., Marine Economic Development, Level 1 83-85 Victoria Rd, Devonport, Aukland, New Zealand; Tveteras, S., University of Stavanger, Stavanger, Norway; Uchida, H., Department of Environmental and Natural Resource Economics, University of Rhode Island, 205 Kingston Coastal Institute, One Greenhouse Road, Kingston, RI, United States; Valderrama, D., Department of Food and Resource Economics, University of Florida, PO Box 110240, Gainesville, FL, United States | Pursuit of the triple bottom line of economic, community and ecological sustainability has increased the complexity of fishery management; fisheries assessments require new types of data and analysis to guide science-based policy in addition to traditional biological information and modeling.We introduce the Fishery Performance Indicators (FPIs), a broadly applicable and flexible tool for assessing performance in individual fisheries, and for establishing cross-sectional links between enabling conditions, management strategies and triple bottom line outcomes. Conceptually separating measures of performance, the FPIs use 68 individual outcome metrics-coded on a 1 to 5 scale based on expert assessment to facilitate application to data poor fisheries and sectors-that can be partitioned into sectorbased or triple-bottom-line sustainability-based interpretative indicators. Variation among outcomes is explained with 54 similarly structured metrics of inputs, management approaches and enabling conditions. Using 61 initial fishery case studies drawn from industrial and developing countries around the world, we demonstrate the inferential importance of tracking economic and community outcomes, in addition to resource status. © 2015, Public Library of Science. All rights reserved. | None | Article; ecology; economic aspect; environmental aspects and related phenomena; environmental factor; environmental sanitation; environmental sustainability; exogenous environmental factor; fish stock; fishery; fishery management; Fishery Performance Indicator; general environmental performance; harvest sector performance; human rights; post harvest sector performance; triple bottom line | USAID, United States Agency for International Development |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84953218301 | Evaluation of xpert® MTB/RIF assay in induced sputum and gastric lavage samples from young children with suspected tuberculosis from the MVA85A TB vaccine trial | Bunyasi E.W., Tameris M., Geldenhuys H., Schmidt B.-M., Luabeya A.K.K., Mulenga H., Scriba T.J., Hanekom W.A., Mahomed H., McShane H., Hatherill M. | 2015 | PLoS ONE | 10 | 11 | 10.1371/journal.pone.0141623 | Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Department of Health, Western Cape Province, Division of Community Health, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa; Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom | Bunyasi, E.W., Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Tameris, M., Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Geldenhuys, H., Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Schmidt, B.-M., Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Luabeya, A.K.K., Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Mulenga, H., Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Scriba, T.J., Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Hanekom, W.A., Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Mahomed, H., Department of Health, Western Cape Province, Division of Community Health, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa; McShane, H., Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom; Hatherill, M., Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa | Objective Diagnosis of childhood tuberculosis is limited by the paucibacillary respiratory samples obtained from young children with pulmonary disease. We aimed to compare accuracy of the Xpert1 MTB/RIF assay, an automated nucleic acid amplification test, between induced sputum and gastric lavage samples from young children in a tuberculosis endemic setting. Methods We analyzed standardized diagnostic data from HIV negative children younger than four years of age who were investigated for tuberculosis disease near Cape Town, South Africa [2009-2012]. Two paired, consecutive induced sputa and early morning gastric lavage samples were obtained from children with suspected tuberculosis. Samples underwent Mycobacterial Growth Indicator Tube [MGIT] culture and Xpert MTB/RIF assay. We compared diagnostic yield across samples using the two-sample test of proportions and McNemar's χ2 test; and Wilson's score method to calculate sensitivity and specificity. Results 1,020 children were evaluated for tuberculosis during 1,214 admission episodes. Not all children had 4 samples collected. 57 of 4,463[1.3%] and 26 of 4,606[0.6%] samples tested positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis on MGIT culture and Xpert MTB/RIF assay respectively. 27 of 2,198[1.2%] and 40 of 2,183[1.8%] samples tested positive [on either Xpert MTB/RIF assay or MGIT culture] on induced sputum and gastric lavage samples, respectively. 19/1,028[1.8%] and 33/1,017[3.2%] admission episodes yielded a positive MGIT culture or Xpert MTB/RIF assay from induced sputum and gastric lavage, respectively. Sensitivity of Xpert MTB/RIF assay was 8/30[26.7%; 95% CI: 14.2-44.4] for two induced sputum samples and 7/31[22.6%; 11.4-39.8] [p = 0.711] for two gastric lavage samples. Corresponding specificity was 893/893[100%;99.6-100] and 885/890[99.4%;98.7-99.8] respectively [p = 0.025]. Conclusion Sensitivity of Xpert MTB/RIF assay was low, compared to MGIT culture, but diagnostic performance of Xpert MTB/RIF did not differ sufficiently between induced sputum and gastric lavage to justify selection of one sampling method over the other, in young children with suspected pulmonary TB. ©2015 Dickinson-Copeland et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. | None | adolescent; Article; bacterium culture; bacterium identification; coughing; culture medium; disease duration; failure to thrive; female; human; major clinical study; male; mycobacterial growth indicator tube culture; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; Mycobacterium tuberculosis test kit; rapid test; sensitivity and specificity; South Africa; sputum analysis; sputum smear; stomach lavage; tuberculosis; weight reduction | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84896727045 | Health systems performance assessment in low-income countries: Learning from international experiences | Tashobya C.K., da Silveira V.C., Ssengooba F., Nabyonga-Orem J., Macq J., Criel B. | 2014 | Globalization and Health | 10 | 1 | 10.1186/1744-8603-10-5 | Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp, Nationalestraat 155, Antwerp, B 2000, Belgium; Ministry of Health, 6 Lourdel Road Nakasero, P.O Box 7272, Kampala, Uganda; Makerere School of Public Health, Mulago Hill, P.O Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda; WHO Regional Uganda for Africa, P.O Box 6, Brazaville, Congo; Institute of Research Health and Society, Catholic University of Louvain, Promenade de l'Alma, 31 bte B1.41.03, Brussels B-12000, Belgium | Tashobya, C.K., Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp, Nationalestraat 155, Antwerp, B 2000, Belgium, Ministry of Health, 6 Lourdel Road Nakasero, P.O Box 7272, Kampala, Uganda; da Silveira, V.C., Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp, Nationalestraat 155, Antwerp, B 2000, Belgium; Ssengooba, F., Makerere School of Public Health, Mulago Hill, P.O Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda; Nabyonga-Orem, J., WHO Regional Uganda for Africa, P.O Box 6, Brazaville, Congo; Macq, J., Institute of Research Health and Society, Catholic University of Louvain, Promenade de l'Alma, 31 bte B1.41.03, Brussels B-12000, Belgium; Criel, B., Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp, Nationalestraat 155, Antwerp, B 2000, Belgium | Background: The study aimed at developing a set of attributes for a 'good' health system performance assessment (HSPA) framework from literature and experiences in different contexts and using the attributes for a structured approach to lesson learning for low-income countries (LICs).Methods: Literature review to identify relevant attributes for a HSPA framework; attribute validation for LICs in general, and for Uganda in particular, via a high-level Ugandan expert group; and, finally, review of a selection of existing HSPA frameworks using these attributes.Results: Literature review yielded six key attributes for a HSPA framework: an inclusive development process; its embedding in the health system's conceptual model; its relation to the prevailing policy and organizational set-up and societal context; the presence of a concrete purpose, constitutive dimensions and indicators; an adequate institutional set-up; and, its capacity to provide mechanisms for eliciting change in the health system. The expert group contextualized these attributes and added one on the adaptability of the framework.Lessons learnt from the review of a selection of HSPA frameworks using the attributes include: it is possible and beneficial to involve a range of stakeholders during the process of development of a framework; it is important to make HSPA frameworks explicit; policy context can be effectively reflected in the framework; there are marked differences between the structure and content of frameworks in high-income countries, and low- and middle-income countries; champions can contribute to put HSPA high on the agenda; and mechanisms for eliciting change in the health system should be developed alongside the framework.Conclusion: It is possible for LICs to learn from literature and the experience of HSPA in other contexts, including HICs. In this study a structured approach to lesson learning included the development of a list of attributes for a 'good' HSPA framework. The attributes thus derived can be utilized by LICs like Uganda seeking to develop/adjust their HSPA frameworks as guidelines or a check list, while taking due consideration of the specific context. The review of frameworks from varied contexts, highlighted varied experiences which provide lessons for LICs. © 2014 Tashobya et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | Health systems; Low-income countries; Performance assessment framework; Uganda | conceptual framework; developing world; guideline; health policy; health services; low income population; performance assessment; policy analysis; policy approach; article; conceptual framework; empowerment; health care financing; health care management; health care organization; health care policy; health care quality; health care system; health system performance assessment; lowest income group; medical information system; performance measurement system; priority journal; total quality management; Uganda; developing country; health care delivery; health care quality; human; international cooperation; methodology; poverty; review; Uganda; Delivery of Health Care; Developing Countries; Humans; Internationality; Poverty; Quality Assurance, Health Care; Uganda | None |
| None | None | Impacts of population pressure and poverty alleviation strategies on common property resource availability in rural Tanzania | Madulu N.F. | 2005 | African Journal of Environmental Assessment and Management | 10 | None | None | Institute of Resource Assessment, University of Dar es Salaam, P.O. Box 35097, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania | Madulu, N.F., Institute of Resource Assessment, University of Dar es Salaam, P.O. Box 35097, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania | This paper outlines the linkages between population pressure and common property resources availability in Tanzania. It examines on whether population pressure has an influence on diminishing common property resources at the local level and establishes the coping mechanisms of the local communities in response to new circumstances and changing environment. In the course of discussion, an attempt has been made to assess the extent to which population pressure have influenced availability of common property resources at the local level; and identify policy implications and alternatives strategies to cope with diminishing common property resources. Further analysis have been made of the extent to which poverty alleviation strategies at the local level influence non-sustainable use and degradation of common property resources. These issues require a closer examination of the circumstances under which population; development and environment linkages manifest themselves. Whereas the population has shown a continuous increase, there is less information about the rate at which the common property resources are diminishing in response to changing demographic conditions. Similarly, the impacts of various poverty alleviation strategies on diminish common property resources at the local level are not well documented. Small and large-scale mining operations in Mabuki and Maganzo villages has been used as an example to illustrate the transformation in the way local communities use and manage common property resources. The identified long-term implications of the various practices to include increased environmental degradation; accelerated food insecurity, increased poverty, diminishing common property resources, increased land use conflicts, and creation of a landless class at the village level. These implications require policy commitment and support to enable sustainable utilization of common property resources. | Commons property resources; Community conservation; Globalization; Partnership management; Population pressures; Poverty | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-65149083096 | Transferability of management innovation to Africa: A study of two multinational companies' performance management system in Nigeria | Mamman A., Baydoun N., Adeoye B. | 2009 | Global Business Review | 10 | 1 | 10.1177/097215090801000101 | International and Comparative Management, Institute for Development Policy and Management, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, United Kingdom; School of E-Business and Quality Management, ETQM College, Dubai, United Arab Emirates; KPMG Professio | Mamman, A., International and Comparative Management, Institute for Development Policy and Management, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, United Kingdom; Baydoun, N., School of E-Business and Quality Management, ETQM College, Dubai, United Arab Emirates; Adeoye, B., KPMG Professional Services, 18A Temple Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, Nigeria | Horwitz et al. (2006: 807) have argued that the debate regarding convergence/divergence perspectives in the cross-cultural diffusion of human resource management (HRM) practices is a somewhat simplistic one.™ The authors are of the view that because convergent similarity of HRM practice exists at a nominal level, the notions of hybridization and crossvergence are better in explaining HRM practices and their diffusion across countries. While the authors focused on exploring explanations of the differences in HRM practices, the article provocatively challenges researchers and experts to explore the question of whether Multinational Companies (MNCs) should adapt Human Resource Management Innovation (HRMI) and if so, why? And how? The main aim of this article is to investigate the following questions: (a) Given that MNCs transfer HRMI to developing countries, which policy should guide the transfer (polycentric or ethnocentric?); and (b) Given that host-country nationals (HCNs) are not passive recipients of HRMI, what are the implications of the policy (polycentric or ethnocentric) for MNCs? The result of our investigation and the review of literature suggest that the MNCs™ performance management (PM) policies are partially ethnocentric, but the practice, as perceived by some HCNs (employees), is polycentric. For example, some HCNs perceive some degree of nepotism and patronage in the system. Also, many felt that their line managers were biased against them. Similarly, a significant number of HCNs felt that their views are not taken into account during PM review and they do not receive feedback from their managers. The implications of the findings are then discussed. | None | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84904339730 | 'There are a lot of new people in town: But they are here for soccer, not for business' a qualitative inquiry into the impact of the 2010 soccer world cup on sex work in South Africa | Richter M.L., Scorgie F., Chersich M.F., Luchters S. | 2014 | Globalization and Health | 10 | 1 | 10.1186/1744-8603-10-45 | International Centre for Reproductive Health, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Ghent University, De Pintelaan 185, Ghent 9000, Belgium; African Centre for Migration and Society, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Centre for Health Policy, School of Public Health, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Centre for International Health, Burnet Institute 85 Commercial Road, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia; Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia | Richter, M.L., International Centre for Reproductive Health, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Ghent University, De Pintelaan 185, Ghent 9000, Belgium, African Centre for Migration and Society, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Scorgie, F., Centre for Health Policy, School of Public Health, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Chersich, M.F., International Centre for Reproductive Health, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Ghent University, De Pintelaan 185, Ghent 9000, Belgium, Centre for Health Policy, School of Public Health, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Luchters, S., International Centre for Reproductive Health, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Ghent University, De Pintelaan 185, Ghent 9000, Belgium, Centre for International Health, Burnet Institute 85 Commercial Road, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia, Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia | Background: Sports mega-events have expanded in size, popularity and cost. Fuelled by media speculation and moral panics, myths proliferate about the increase in trafficking into forced prostitution as well as sex work in the run-up to such events. This qualitative enquiry explores the perceptions of male, female and transgender sex workers of the 2010 Soccer World Cup held in South Africa, and the impact it had on their work and private lives.Methods: A multi-method study design was employed. Data consisted of 14 Focus Group Discussions, 53 sex worker diaries, and responses to two questions in surveys with 1059 male, female and transgender sex workers in three cities.Results: Overall, a minority of participants noted changes to the sex sector due to the World Cup and nothing emerged on the feared increases in trafficking into forced prostitution. Participants who observed changes in their work mainly described differences, both positive and negative, in working conditions, income and client relations, as well as police harassment. The accounts of changes were heterogeneous - often conflicting in the same research site and across sites.Conclusions: No major shifts occurred in sex work during the World Cup, and only a few inconsequential changes were noted. Sports mega-events provide strategic opportunities to expand health and human rights programmes to sex workers. The 2010 World Cup missed that opportunity. © 2014 Richter et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | 2010 Soccer World Cup; Prostitution; Sex work; Sports mega-events; Trafficking | human rights; morality; parallel economy; perception; prostitution; sport; trafficking; working conditions; behavioral response; health impact; social impact; strategic approach; adult; article; female; female worker; human; male; multimethod study; police; priority journal; prostitution; qualitative research; sexual harassment; sexual minority; soccer; social participation; South Africa; sporting event; threat; transsexuality; work environment; young adult; Article; assault; health program; health survey; human relation; human rights; income; legal aspect; perception; sex trafficking; sexual behavior; social aspect; South Africa; transgender; human trafficking; information processing; prostitution; psychology; statistics and numerical data; South Africa; Adult; Female; Focus Groups; Human Trafficking; Humans; Male; Prostitution; Qualitative Research; Sex Workers; Soccer; South Africa; Young Adult | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77953814667 | Reproductive health services for populations at high risk of HIV: Performance of a night clinic in Tete province, Mozambique | Lafort Y., Geelhoed D., Cumba L., Lzaro C.D.D.M., Delva W., Luchters S., Temmerman M. | 2010 | BMC Health Services Research | 10 | None | 10.1186/1472-6963-10-144 | International Centre for Reproductive Health, University Ghent, Ghent, Belgium; Provincial Health Directorate, Ministry of Health, Tete, Mozambique; South African Centre for Epidemiological Modelling and Analysis, Stellenbosch University, South Africa | Lafort, Y., International Centre for Reproductive Health, University Ghent, Ghent, Belgium; Geelhoed, D., International Centre for Reproductive Health, University Ghent, Ghent, Belgium; Cumba, L., Provincial Health Directorate, Ministry of Health, Tete, Mozambique; Lzaro, C.D.D.M., Provincial Health Directorate, Ministry of Health, Tete, Mozambique; Delva, W., International Centre for Reproductive Health, University Ghent, Ghent, Belgium, South African Centre for Epidemiological Modelling and Analysis, Stellenbosch University, South Africa; Luchters, S., International Centre for Reproductive Health, University Ghent, Ghent, Belgium; Temmerman, M., International Centre for Reproductive Health, University Ghent, Ghent, Belgium | Background. Different models exist to provide HIV/STI services for most-at-risk populations (MARP). Along the Tete traffic corridor in Mozambique, linking Malawi and Zimbabwe, a night clinic opening between 4 and 10 PM was established targeting female sex workers (FSW) and long-distance truck drivers (LDD). The clinic offers free individual education and counselling, condoms, STI care, HIV testing, contraceptive services and outreach peer education. To evaluate this clinic model, we assessed relevance, service utilisation, efficiency and sustainability. Methods. In 2007-2009, mapping and enumeration of FSW and LDD was conducted; 28 key informants were interviewed; 6 focus group discussions (FGD) were held with FSW from Mozambique and Zimbabwe, and LDD from Mozambique and Malawi. Clinic outputs and costs were analysed. Results. An estimated 4,415 FSW work in the area, or 9% of women aged 15-49, and on average 66 trucks stay overnight near the clinic. Currently on average, 475 clients/month visit the clinic (43% for contraception, 24% for counselling and testing and 23% for STI care). The average clinic running cost is US$ 1408/month, mostly for human resources. All informants endorsed this clinic concept and the need to expand the services. FGD participants reported high satisfaction with the services and mentioned good reception by the health staff, short waiting times, proximity and free services as most important. Participants were in favour of expanding the range of services, the geographical coverage and the opening times. Conclusions. Size of the target population, satisfaction of clients and endorsement by health policy makers justify maintaining a separate clinic for MARP. Cost-effectiveness may be enhanced by broadening the range of SRHR-HIV/AIDS services, adapting opening times, expanding geographical coverage and targeting additional MARP. Long-term sustainability remains challenging and requires private-public partnerships or continued project-based funding. © 2010 Lafort et al. | None | adolescent; adult; article; attitude to health; female; health care delivery; health care quality; health education; health service; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; male; middle aged; motor vehicle; Mozambique; organization and management; patient satisfaction; prostitution; sexual behavior; statistics; traffic and transport; utilization review; vulnerable population; Adolescent; Adult; After-Hours Care; Attitude to Health; Contraception Behavior; Efficiency, Organizational; Female; Health Education; Health Services Accessibility; HIV Infections; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Motor Vehicles; Mozambique; Patient Satisfaction; Prostitution; Quality of Health Care; Reproductive Health Services; Transportation; Utilization Review; Vulnerable Populations; Young Adult | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-34250209073 | Nature-based tourism and poverty alleviation: Impacts of private sector and parastatal enterprises in and around Kruger National Park, South Africa | Spenceley A., Goodwin H. | 2007 | Current Issues in Tourism | 10 | 42403 | 10.2167/cit305.0 | International Centre for Responsible Tourism, South Africa; Transboundary Protected Areas Research Initiative, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag X3, 2050 Wits, South Africa; International Centre for Responsible Tourism, University of Greenwich, Greenwich, United Kingdom | Spenceley, A., International Centre for Responsible Tourism, South Africa, Transboundary Protected Areas Research Initiative, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag X3, 2050 Wits, South Africa; Goodwin, H., International Centre for Responsible Tourism, University of Greenwich, Greenwich, United Kingdom | International programmes and national policies around the world have identified tourism as an appropriate mechanism for sustainable development, poverty alleviation and biodiversity conservation. To evaluate the impact of nature-based tourism on the poor, socio-economic assessments were undertaken at enterprises based within South African protected areas. Comparisons were made between local economic interventions reported by enterprises and neighbouring community member's perceptions of their initiatives. Socioeconomic impacts evaluated included employment, gender equality, procurement, corporate social responsibility, dependency on tourism and access to markets. The studies demonstrate that isolated efforts from individual tourism companies have little tangible impact on the majority of people living in highly populated rural communities but impacts are substantial for the few people who directly benefit. Implications of these findings for future socio-economic initiatives through tourism, and options to increase net benefits to the poor are explored. © 2007 A. Spenceley and H. Goodwin. | Kruger National Park; Poverty; Private nature reserve; Protected area; Socioeconomic; South Africa; SUNTAT | accessibility; biodiversity; economic impact; ecotourism; poverty alleviation; private sector; protected area; socioeconomic conditions; socioeconomic impact; state owned enterprise; sustainable development; Africa; Kruger National Park; South Africa; Southern Africa; Sub-Saharan Africa | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84947460103 | The invasive American weed parthenium hysterophorus can negatively impact malaria control in Africa | Nyasembe V.O., Cheseto X., Kaplan F., Foster W.A., Teal P.E.A., Tumlinson J.H., Borgemeister C., Torto B. | 2015 | PLoS ONE | 10 | 9 | 10.1371/journal.pone.0137836 | International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, Box 30772, Nairobi, Kenya; Center for Medical, Agricultural, and Veterinary Entomology, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, 1700 Southwest 23 Drive, Gainesville, FL, United States; Kaplan Schiller Research LLC., PO Box 13853, Gainesville, FL, United States; Department of Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology, Ohio State University, 318W 12th Avenue, Columbus, OH, United States; Center for Chemical Ecology, Department of Entomology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States; Center for Development Research (ZEF), University of Bonn, Walter-Flex-Str. 3, Bonn, Germany | Nyasembe, V.O., International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, Box 30772, Nairobi, Kenya; Cheseto, X., International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, Box 30772, Nairobi, Kenya; Kaplan, F., Center for Medical, Agricultural, and Veterinary Entomology, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, 1700 Southwest 23 Drive, Gainesville, FL, United States, Kaplan Schiller Research LLC., PO Box 13853, Gainesville, FL, United States; Foster, W.A., Department of Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology, Ohio State University, 318W 12th Avenue, Columbus, OH, United States; Teal, P.E.A., Center for Medical, Agricultural, and Veterinary Entomology, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, 1700 Southwest 23 Drive, Gainesville, FL, United States; Tumlinson, J.H., Center for Chemical Ecology, Department of Entomology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States; Borgemeister, C., International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, Box 30772, Nairobi, Kenya, Center for Development Research (ZEF), University of Bonn, Walter-Flex-Str. 3, Bonn, Germany; Torto, B., International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, Box 30772, Nairobi, Kenya | The direct negative effects of invasive plant species on agriculture and biodiversity are well known, but their indirect effects on human health, and particularly their interactions with disease-transmitting vectors, remains poorly explored. This study sought to investigate the impact of the invasive Neotropical weed Parthenium hysterophorus and its toxins on the survival and energy reserves of the malaria vector Anopheles gambiae. In this study, we compared the fitness of An. gambiae fed on three differentially attractive mosquito host plants and their major toxins; the highly aggressive invasive Neotropical weed Parthenium hysterophorus (Asteraceae) in East Africa and two other adapted weeds, Ricinus communis (Euphorbiaceae) and Bidens pilosa (Asteraceae). Our results showed that female An. gambiae fitness varied with host plants as females survived better and accumulated substantial energy reserves when fed on P. hysterophorus and R. communis compared to B. pilosa. Females tolerated parthenin and 1-phenylhepta-1, 3, 5-triyne, the toxins produced by P. hysterophorus and B. pilosa, respectively, but not ricinine produced by R. communis. Given that invasive plants like P. hysterophorus can suppress or even replace less competitive species that might be less suitable host-plants for arthropod disease vectors, the spread of invasive plants could lead to higher disease transmission. Parthenium hysterophorus represents a possible indirect effect of invasive plants on human health, which underpins the need to include an additional health dimension in risk-analysis modelling for invasive plants. | None | alkaloid; parthenin; phenylheptatriyne; plant toxin; ricinine; unclassified drug; adult; Africa; Anopheles gambiae; Article; Asteraceae; Bidens pilosa; controlled study; Euphorbiaceae; female; intraspecific competition; invasive species; malaria control; Neotropics; nonhuman; Parthenium hysterophorus; Ricinus communis; toxin analysis; weed | ARS, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases; RO1A1077722, NIAID, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases; USDA, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84873990157 | Evaluation of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) germplasm lines for tolerance to drought | Fatokun C.A., Boukar O., Muranaka S. | 2012 | Plant Genetic Resources: Characterisation and Utilisation | 10 | 3 | 10.1017/S1479262112000214 | International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Oyo Road, PMB 5320, Ibadan, Nigeria | Fatokun, C.A., International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Oyo Road, PMB 5320, Ibadan, Nigeria; Boukar, O., International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Oyo Road, PMB 5320, Ibadan, Nigeria; Muranaka, S., International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Oyo Road, PMB 5320, Ibadan, Nigeria | Cowpea is an important grain legume crop in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) where, on a worldwide basis, the bulk is produced and consumed. The dry savanna area of SSA is where cowpea is mostly grown under rain-fed conditions. The crop is therefore prone to drought which may occur early, mid and/or late in the cropping season. Compared with many other crops, cowpea is drought tolerant, even though drought is still a major constraint limiting its productivity in SSA. Increasing the level of drought tolerance in existing cowpea varieties grown by farmers would enable them to obtain more and stable yield from their cowpea fields. As a first step towards enhancing drought tolerance in existing cowpea varieties, 1288 lines were selected randomly from cowpea germplasm collections maintained at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, and evaluated for their drought tolerance at Ibadan. Drought was imposed by withdrawal of irrigation from 5 weeks after sowing. On average, drought reduced the number of days to flower by 12 d, and the mean grain yield per plant was also reduced by 67.28%. A few of the cowpea lines stayed green for up to 6 weeks after irrigation was stopped, even though some of these produced no pods when the study was terminated. Further evaluation in the screenhouse of 142 selected drought-tolerant lines helped to identify six lines that could be potential parents for developing breeding lines with enhanced drought tolerance. © NIAB 2012. | black-eyed pea; cowpea; delayed leaf senescence; drought tolerance; genetic diversity; germplasm evaluation | Pisum sativum; Vigna unguiculata | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77953020195 | Strategic assessment of the magnitude and impacts of sand mining in Poyang Lake, China | de Leeuw J., Shankman D., Wu G., de Boer W.F., Burnham J., He Q., Yesou H., Xiao J. | 2010 | Regional Environmental Change | 10 | 2 | 10.1007/s10113-009-0096-6 | International Institute for Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (ITC), P.O. Box 6, 7500 AA Enschede, Netherlands; International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), P.O. Box 30709, Nairobi, Kenya; Department of Geography, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0322, United States; School of Resources and Environmental Science, Wuhan University, 129 Luoyu Road, 430079 Wuhan, China; Resource Ecology Group, Wageningen University, Droevendaalsesteeg 3a, 6708 PB Wageningen, Netherlands; International Crane Foundation, P.O. Box 447, Baraboo, WI 53913, United States; State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, North Zhongshan Road 3663, Shanghai 200062, China; SERTIT, Strasbourg University, Pole API, Boulevard Sebastien Brant, BP 10413, 67412 Illkirch, France | de Leeuw, J., International Institute for Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (ITC), P.O. Box 6, 7500 AA Enschede, Netherlands, International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), P.O. Box 30709, Nairobi, Kenya; Shankman, D., Department of Geography, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0322, United States; Wu, G., School of Resources and Environmental Science, Wuhan University, 129 Luoyu Road, 430079 Wuhan, China; de Boer, W.F., Resource Ecology Group, Wageningen University, Droevendaalsesteeg 3a, 6708 PB Wageningen, Netherlands; Burnham, J., International Crane Foundation, P.O. Box 447, Baraboo, WI 53913, United States; He, Q., State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, North Zhongshan Road 3663, Shanghai 200062, China; Yesou, H., SERTIT, Strasbourg University, Pole API, Boulevard Sebastien Brant, BP 10413, 67412 Illkirch, France; Xiao, J., International Institute for Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (ITC), P.O. Box 6, 7500 AA Enschede, Netherlands, School of Resources and Environmental Science, Wuhan University, 129 Luoyu Road, 430079 Wuhan, China | Planning for the extraction of aggregates is typically dealt with at a case to case basis, without assessing environmental impacts strategically. In this study we assess the impact of sand mining in Poyang Lake, where dredging began in 2001 after sand mining in the Yangtze River had been banned. In April 2008 concern over the impact on the biodiversity led to a ban on sand mining in Poyang Lake until further plans could be developed. Planning will require consideration of both sand extraction in relation to available sediment resources and also environmental impacts within the context of future demand for sand in the lower Yangtze Valley. We used pairs of near-infrared (NIR) Aster satellite imagery to estimate the number of vessels leaving the lake. Based on this we calculated a rate of sand extraction of 236 million m3 year-1 in 2005-2006. This corresponds to 9% of the total Chinese demand for sand. It qualifies Poyang Lake as probably the largest sand mining operation in the world. It also indicates that sand extraction currently dominates the sediment balance of the lower Yangtze River. A positive relation between demand for sand and GDP, revealed by historic data from the USA, suggests that the current per capita demand for sand in China might increase in the near future from 2 to 4 m3 year-1. We review various environmental impacts and question whether it will be possible to preserve the rich biodiversity of the lake, while continuing at the same time satisfying the increasing Chinese demand for sand. Finally we review alternative options for sand mining, in order to relieve the pressure from the Poyang Lake ecosystem. © 2009 Springer-Verlag. | Biodiversity; Environmental impact; Hydrology; Sand mining; Sediment balance | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-36849093892 | Evaluation of maize yield in an on-farm maize-soybean and maize-Lablab crop rotation systems in the Northern Guinea savanna of Nigeria | Okogun J.A., Sanginga N., Abaidoo R.C. | 2007 | Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences | 10 | 21 | None | International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Oyo Road, Ibadan, Nigeria; Department of Agronomy, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Tropical Soil Biology and Fertility Institute of CIAT (TSBF-CIAT), P.O. Box 30677, Nairobi, Kenya; IITA, c/o | Okogun, J.A., International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Oyo Road, Ibadan, Nigeria, Department of Agronomy, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria, IITA, c/o L.W. Lamboum and Co., 26 Dingwall Rd., Croydon CR9 3EE, United Kingdom; Sanginga, N., Tropical Soil Biology and Fertility Institute of CIAT (TSBF-CIAT), P.O. Box 30677, Nairobi, Kenya; Abaidoo, R.C., International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Oyo Road, Ibadan, Nigeria | An attempt was made to solving the problem of shortfall of fertilizer to maize production in the Northern Guinea Savanna (NGS) of Nigeria by harnessing the potentials of legume/cereal crop rotation in on-farm trials. The yield of maize that succeeded two soybean varieties and Lablab in a two-cycle of soybean/maize and Lablab/maize crop rotation in NGS Nigeria was assessed in researcher-managed and farmer-managed plots. Though maize that followed the soybean received between 5 kg N ha-1 from improved soybean variety (TGx 1448-2E) and 17 kg N ha-1 from farmer soybean variety (Samsoy-2) as N balance, this did not significantly (p = 0.05) affect the maize yields. The soybean shed 90-100% of its leaves at physiological maturity which resulted in about 110 kg N ha-1 N uptake. This source of N might be one of the factors responsible for the increase in maize yield that followed soybean (20 to 24%) compared with continuous maize yield plot. Maize yield in previous Lablab plot was significantly (p = 0.05) higher than in all other treatments. Maize yield in farmer-managed plot ranged between 0.13 and 4.53 t ha -1, maize yield in researcher-managed plot was over 200% higher than maize yield in farmer-managed plot because of poor crop management on the part of the farmer. © 2007 Asian Network for Scientific Information. | Biological nitrogen fixation; Fertilizer; Maize; Northern Guinea savanna; Rotation; Soybean | nitrogen; agriculture; article; biological model; chemistry; crop; growth, development and aging; maize; metabolism; methodology; Nigeria; nitrogen fixation; soil; soybean; Agriculture; Crops, Agricultural; Models, Biological; Nigeria; Nitrogen; Nitrogen Fixation; Soil; Soybeans; Zea mays; Glycine max; Lablab; Zea mays | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-70350042192 | The International Olympic Committee (IOC) consensus statement on periodic health evaluation of elite athletes | Ljungqvist A., Jenoure P., Engebretsen L., Alonso J.M., Bahr R., Clough A., de Bondt G., Dvorak J., Maloley R., Matheson G., Meeuwisse W., Meijboom E., Mountjoy M., Pelliccia A., Schwellnus M., Sprumont D., Schamasch P., Gauthier J.-B., Dubi C., Stupp H., | 2009 | International SportMed Journal | 10 | 3 | None | IOC, Medical Commission, Lausanne, Switzerland; Sports Medicine, Basel and Neuchâtel, Switzerland; Orthopaedic Centre, University of Oslo, Oslo Sports Trauma Centre, Norwegian School of Sports Sciences, Oslo, Norway; Medical Department of Royal Spanish Athletic Federation, Madrid, Spain; Oslo Sports Trauma Research Center, Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, Oslo, Norway; Sports Dentistry, University College London, and Oral Health, University of Essex, United Kingdom; Belgian Olympic and Interfederal Committee (BOIC), Brussels, Belgium; Department of Neurology, Spine Unit Schulthess Clinic, Zurich, Switzerland; PrivIT Inc. and PrivIT Healthcare Inc., London, ON, Canada; Stanford University Department of Athletics, United States; Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada; University Hospital Center of Vaud, Lausanne, Switzerland; University of Guelph, McMaster University Medical School, Canada; Institute of Sports Medicine and Science of the Italian National Olympic Committee, Rome, Italy; UCT/MRC Research Unit for Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, South Africa; Faculty of Law, University of Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel, Switzerland; IOC, Lausanne, Switzerland | Ljungqvist, A., IOC, Medical Commission, Lausanne, Switzerland; Jenoure, P., Sports Medicine, Basel and Neuchâtel, Switzerland; Engebretsen, L., Orthopaedic Centre, University of Oslo, Oslo Sports Trauma Centre, Norwegian School of Sports Sciences, Oslo, Norway; Alonso, J.M., Medical Department of Royal Spanish Athletic Federation, Madrid, Spain; Bahr, R., Oslo Sports Trauma Research Center, Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, Oslo, Norway; Clough, A., Sports Dentistry, University College London, and Oral Health, University of Essex, United Kingdom; de Bondt, G., Belgian Olympic and Interfederal Committee (BOIC), Brussels, Belgium; Dvorak, J., Department of Neurology, Spine Unit Schulthess Clinic, Zurich, Switzerland; Maloley, R., PrivIT Inc. and PrivIT Healthcare Inc., London, ON, Canada; Matheson, G., Stanford University Department of Athletics, United States; Meeuwisse, W., Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada; Meijboom, E., University Hospital Center of Vaud, Lausanne, Switzerland; Mountjoy, M., University of Guelph, McMaster University Medical School, Canada; Pelliccia, A., Institute of Sports Medicine and Science of the Italian National Olympic Committee, Rome, Italy; Schwellnus, M., UCT/MRC Research Unit for Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, South Africa; Sprumont, D., Faculty of Law, University of Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel, Switzerland; Schamasch, P., IOC, Lausanne, Switzerland; Gauthier, J.-B., IOC, Lausanne, Switzerland; Dubi, C., IOC, Lausanne, Switzerland; Stupp, H., IOC, Lausanne, Switzerland; Thill, C., IOC, Lausanne, Switzerland | [No abstract available] | None | None | None |
| None | None | Economic evaluation of an alternative drug to sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine as intermittent preventive treatment of malaria in pregnancy | Sicuri E., Fernandes S., Macete E., González R., Mombo-Ngoma G., Massougbodgi A., Abdulla S., Kuwawenaruwa A., Katana A., Desai M., Cot M., Ramharter M., Kremsner P., Slustker L., Aponte J., Hanson K., Menéndez C. | 2015 | PLoS ONE | 10 | 4 | 10.1371/journal.pone.0125072 | ISGlobal, Barcelona Ctr. Int. Health Res. (CRESIB), Hospital Clínic - Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Manhiça Health Research Center (CISM), Manhiça, Mozambique; Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné(CERMEL), Albert Schweitzer Hospital, Lambaréné, Gabon; Institute of Tropical Medicine, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany; Faculté des Sciences de la Santé (FSS), Université d'Abomey Calavi, Cotonou, Benin; Ifakara Health Institute, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), Center for Global Health Research, Kisumu, Kenya; Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, United States; Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Kisumu, Kenya; Institut de Recherche Pour le Développement (IRD), Paris, France; Université René Descartes, Paris, France; Department of Medicine I, Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria | Sicuri, E., ISGlobal, Barcelona Ctr. Int. Health Res. (CRESIB), Hospital Clínic - Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Fernandes, S., London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Macete, E., Manhiça Health Research Center (CISM), Manhiça, Mozambique; González, R., ISGlobal, Barcelona Ctr. Int. Health Res. (CRESIB), Hospital Clínic - Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain, Manhiça Health Research Center (CISM), Manhiça, Mozambique; Mombo-Ngoma, G., Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné(CERMEL), Albert Schweitzer Hospital, Lambaréné, Gabon, Institute of Tropical Medicine, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany; Massougbodgi, A., Faculté des Sciences de la Santé (FSS), Université d'Abomey Calavi, Cotonou, Benin; Abdulla, S., Ifakara Health Institute, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Kuwawenaruwa, A., Ifakara Health Institute, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Katana, A., Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), Center for Global Health Research, Kisumu, Kenya; Desai, M., Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, United States, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Kisumu, Kenya; Cot, M., Institut de Recherche Pour le Développement (IRD), Paris, France, Université René Descartes, Paris, France; Ramharter, M., Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné(CERMEL), Albert Schweitzer Hospital, Lambaréné, Gabon, Institute of Tropical Medicine, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany, Department of Medicine I, Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Kremsner, P., Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné(CERMEL), Albert Schweitzer Hospital, Lambaréné, Gabon, Institute of Tropical Medicine, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany; Slustker, L., Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, United States, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Kisumu, Kenya; Aponte, J., ISGlobal, Barcelona Ctr. Int. Health Res. (CRESIB), Hospital Clínic - Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain, Manhiça Health Research Center (CISM), Manhiça, Mozambique; Hanson, K., London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Menéndez, C., ISGlobal, Barcelona Ctr. Int. Health Res. (CRESIB), Hospital Clínic - Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain, Manhiça Health Research Center (CISM), Manhiça, Mozambique | Background: Intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy (IPTp) with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) is recommended in HIV-negative women to avert malaria, while this relies on cotrimoxazole prophylaxis (CTXp) in HIV-positive women. Alternative antimalarials are required in areas where parasite resistance to antifolate drugs is high. The cost-effectiveness of IPTp with alternative drugs is needed to inform policy. Methods: The cost-effectiveness of 2-dose IPTp-mefloquine (MQ) was compared with IPTp-SP in HIV-negative women (Benin, Gabon, Mozambique and Tanzania). In HIV-positive women the cost-effectiveness of 3-dose IPTp-MQ added to CTXp was compared with CTXp alone (Kenya, Mozambique and Tanzania). The outcomes used were maternal clinical malaria, anaemia at delivery and non-obstetric hospital admissions. The poor tolerability to MQ was included as the value of women's loss of working days. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) were calculated and threshold analysis undertaken. Results: For HIV-negative women, the ICER for IPTp-MQ versus IPTp-SP was 136.30 US$ (2012 US$) (95%CI 131.41; 141.18) per disability-adjusted life-year (DALY) averted, or 237.78 US$ (95%CI 230.99; 244.57), depending on whether estimates from Gabon were included or not. For HIV-positive women, the ICER per DALY averted for IPTp-MQ added to CTXp, versus CTXp alone was 6.96 US$ (95%CI 4.22; 9.70). In HIV-negative women, moderate shifts of variables such as malaria incidence, drug cost, and IPTp efficacy increased the ICERs above the cost-effectiveness threshold. In HIV-positive women the intervention remained cost-effective for a substantial (up to 21 times) increase in cost per tablet. Conclusions: Addition of IPTp with an effective antimalarial to CTXp was very cost-effective in HIV-positive women. IPTp with an efficacious antimalarial was more cost-effective than IPTp-SP in HIV-negative women. However, the poor tolerability of MQ does not favour its use as IPTp. Regardless of HIV status, prevention of malaria in pregnancy with a highly efficacious, well tolerated antimalarial would be cost-effective despite its high price. Trials Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT 00811421; Pan African Trials Registry PACTR2010020001429343 and PACTR2010020001813440. © 2015, Public Library of Science. All rights reserved. | None | cotrimoxazole; mefloquine; pyrimethamine plus sulfadoxine; adult; anemia; Article; Benin; controlled study; cost effectiveness analysis; disability adjusted life year; drug cost; drug efficacy; drug safety; drug tolerability; economic evaluation; female; Gabon; hospital admission; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; Kenya; major clinical study; malaria; malaria control; monotherapy; Mozambique; outcome assessment; pregnancy; pregnancy outcome; quality of life; Tanzania; working time | None |
| WoS | WOS:000338029800001 | Quality of Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision Services during Scale-Up: A Comparative Process Evaluation in Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania and Zimbabwe | Aduda, Dickens S. Omondi,Bertrand, Jane,Castor, Delivette,Cherutich, Peter,Fimbo, Bennett,Harvey, Steven A.,Hatzold, Karin,Jennings, Larissa,Njeuhmeli, Emmanuel,Perry, Linnea,Rech, Dino,Samkange, Christopher A. | 2014 | PLoS ONE | 10 | 6 | 10.1371/journal.pone.0079525 | Johns Hopkins University, Tulane University, United States Agency for International Development (USAID), University of Zimbabwe, Ctr HIV & AIDS Prevent Studies, Impact Res & Dev Org, Minist Hlth & Social Welf, Natl AIDS & Sexually Transmitted Infect Control P, US Agcy Int Dev | "Bertrand, Jane: Tulane University","Castor, Delivette: United States Agency for International Development (USAID)","Harvey, Steven A.: Johns Hopkins University","Jennings, Larissa: Johns Hopkins University","Njeuhmeli, Emmanuel: United States Agency for International Development (USAID)","Perry, Linnea: Tulane University","Samkange, Christopher A.: University of Zimbabwe", | Background: The rapid expansion of voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) has raised concerns whether health systems can deliver and sustain VMMC according to minimum quality criteria.
Methods and Findings: A comparative process evaluation was used to examine data from SYMMACS, the Systematic Monitoring of the Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision Scale-Up, among health facilities providing VMMC across two years of program scale-up. Site-level assessments examined the availability of guidelines, supplies and equipment, infection control, and continuity of care services. Direct observation of VMMC surgeries were used to assess care quality. Two sample tests of proportions and t-tests were used to examine differences in the percent of facilities meeting requisite preparedness standards and the mean number of directly-observed surgical tasks performed correctly. Results showed that safe, high quality VMMC can be implemented and sustained at-scale, although substantial variability was observed over time. In some settings, facility preparedness and VMMC service quality improved as the number of VMMC facilities increased. Yet, lapses in high performance and expansion of considerably deficient services were also observed. Surgical tasks had the highest quality scores, with lower performance levels in infection control, pre-operative examinations, and post-operative patient monitoring and counseling. The range of scale-up models used across countries additionally underscored the complexity of delivering high quality VMMC.
Conclusions: Greater efforts are needed to integrate VMMC scale-up and quality improvement processes in sub-Saharan African settings. Monitoring of service quality, not just adverse events reporting, will be essential in realizing the full health impact of VMMC for HIV prevention. | ,"HIV PREVENTION",MEN,SAFETY,TRIAL | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79952945983 | Perceived organizational politics as a moderator of the relationship between performance management processes and organizational justice perceptions: A study of few selected state corporations in Kenya | Gachunga H.G. | 2011 | International Journal of Knowledge, Culture and Change Management | 10 | 8 | None | Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Kenya | Gachunga, H.G., Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Kenya | In this study the moderating effects of perceived organizational politics (POPS) on performance management processes are studied. It was hypothesized that the strength of the relationship between performance management processes and organizational justice dimensions was dependent on perceived organizational politics. In a sample of over 900 employees drawn from employees working for state corporations in Kenya it was found that POPS has a moderating effect on performance evaluation processes and specifically on the procedural justice dimension of organizational justice. The study adopted multiple regression analysis. The implications of this research and directions for future research are discussed in this paper. © Common Ground, Hazel Gachoka Gachunga, All Rights Reserved. | Organizational justice; Perceived organizational politics; Performance management | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84905509530 | Glyphosate-based herbicides on weeds management and maize performance under conservation agriculture practices in eastern Kenya | Micheni A., Mburu D., Kanampiu F., Mugai N., Kihanda F. | 2014 | International Journal of Agricultural Resources, Governance and Ecology | 10 | 3 | 10.1504/IJARGE.2014.064001 | Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, P.O. Box 27-60100, Embu, Kenya; Faculty of Agriculture, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, P.O. Box 62000-00200, Nairobi, Kenya; International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre, P.O. Box 1041-00621, Nairobi, Kenya; Department of Horticulture, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, P.O. Box 62000-00200, Nairobi, Kenya | Micheni, A., Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, P.O. Box 27-60100, Embu, Kenya; Mburu, D., Faculty of Agriculture, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, P.O. Box 62000-00200, Nairobi, Kenya; Kanampiu, F., International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre, P.O. Box 1041-00621, Nairobi, Kenya; Mugai, N., Department of Horticulture, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, P.O. Box 62000-00200, Nairobi, Kenya; Kihanda, F., Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, P.O. Box 27-60100, Embu, Kenya | A three-season research study was conducted at Embu Agricultural Research Station farm to determine the effect of glyphosate-based herbicides on weeds management and maize (Zea mays L.) performance under zero-tillage conservation agriculture practice. Glyphosate herbicide sprays were prepared from Roundup Turbo product at the rate of 2.5 L ha-1 and Roundup Weathermax at 1.5, 2.5 and 3.0 L ha-1 rates. Significant (p ≤ 0.05) differences in weeds management were observed under the tested rate of Roundup Turbo compared to un-weeded control plots. The average grain yield from conventionally tilled plots was 3.6 t ha-1. This did not differ significantly from those of herbicide-managed plots. Low-grain yield (0.1 t ha-1) was observed from un-weeded plots compared to those from zero-tilled plots that had also exhibited significantly (p ≤ 0.05) higher net-benefits. The study concluded that the application of herbicides improves weeds control and maize performance. Copyright © 2014 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd. | Agricultural resources; Conventional tillage; Glyphosate herbicide; Maize performance; Net-benefits; Weed control; Zero tillage | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77957164487 | Multi-centred mixed-methods PEPFAR HIV care & support public health evaluation: Study protocol | Harding R., Simms V., Penfold S., McCrone P., Moreland S., Downing J., Powell R.A., Mwangi-Powell F., Namisango E., Fayers P., Curtis S., Higginson I.J. | 2010 | BMC Public Health | 10 | None | 10.1186/1471-2458-10-584 | King's College London, Cicely Saunders Institute Department of Palliative Care, Policy and Rehabilitation School of Medicine at Guy's, King's and St Thomas' Hospitals Bessemer Road, London SE5 9PJ, United Kingdom; King's College London, Department of Health Service and Population Research, Institute of Psychiatry Box P024, De Crespigny Park, London, SE5 8AF, United Kingdom; Futures Group One Thomas Circle, NW, Washington, DC 20005, United States; African Palliative Care Association, PO Box 72518, Kampala, Uganda; University of Aberdeen Department of Public Health, School of Medicine Polwarth Building Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, United Kingdom; MEASURE Evaluation Project Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, CB 8120 Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States | Harding, R., King's College London, Cicely Saunders Institute Department of Palliative Care, Policy and Rehabilitation School of Medicine at Guy's, King's and St Thomas' Hospitals Bessemer Road, London SE5 9PJ, United Kingdom; Simms, V., King's College London, Cicely Saunders Institute Department of Palliative Care, Policy and Rehabilitation School of Medicine at Guy's, King's and St Thomas' Hospitals Bessemer Road, London SE5 9PJ, United Kingdom; Penfold, S., King's College London, Cicely Saunders Institute Department of Palliative Care, Policy and Rehabilitation School of Medicine at Guy's, King's and St Thomas' Hospitals Bessemer Road, London SE5 9PJ, United Kingdom; McCrone, P., King's College London, Department of Health Service and Population Research, Institute of Psychiatry Box P024, De Crespigny Park, London, SE5 8AF, United Kingdom; Moreland, S., Futures Group One Thomas Circle, NW, Washington, DC 20005, United States; Downing, J., African Palliative Care Association, PO Box 72518, Kampala, Uganda; Powell, R.A., African Palliative Care Association, PO Box 72518, Kampala, Uganda; Mwangi-Powell, F., African Palliative Care Association, PO Box 72518, Kampala, Uganda; Namisango, E., African Palliative Care Association, PO Box 72518, Kampala, Uganda; Fayers, P., University of Aberdeen Department of Public Health, School of Medicine Polwarth Building Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, United Kingdom; Curtis, S., MEASURE Evaluation Project Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, CB 8120 Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States; Higginson, I.J., King's College London, Cicely Saunders Institute Department of Palliative Care, Policy and Rehabilitation School of Medicine at Guy's, King's and St Thomas' Hospitals Bessemer Road, London SE5 9PJ, United Kingdom | Background: A public health response is essential to meet the multidimensional needs of patients and families affected by HIV disease in sub-Saharan Africa. In order to appraise curret provision of HIV care and support in East Africa, and to provide evidence-based direction to future care programming, and Public Health Evaluation was commissioned by the PEPFAR programme of the US Government. Methods/Design: This paper described the 2-Phase international mixed methods study protocol utilising longitudinal outcome measurement, surveys, patient and family qualitative interviews and focus groups, staff qualitative interviews, health economics and document analysis. Aim 1) To describe the nature and scope of HIV care and support in two African countries, including the types of facilities available, clients seen, and availability of specific components of care [Study Phase 1]. Aim 2) To determine patient health outcomes over time and principle cost drivers [Study Phase 2]. The study objectives are as follows. 1) To undertake a cross-sectional survey of service configuration and activity by sampling 10% of the facilities being funded by PEPFAR to provide HIV care and support in Kenya and Uganda (Phase 1) in order to describe care currently provided, including pharmacy drug reviews to determine availability and supply of essential drugs in HIV management. 2) To conduct patient focus group discussions at each of these (Phase 1) to determine care received. 3) To undertake a longitudinal prospective study of 1200 patients who are newly diagnosed with HIV or patients with HIV who present with a new problem attending PEPFAR care and support services. Data collection includes self-reported quality of life, core palliative outcomes and components of care received (Phase 2). 4) To conduct qualitative interviews with staff, patients and carers in order to explore and understand service issues and care provision in more depth (Phase 2). 5) To undertake document analysis to appraise the clinical care procedures at each facility (Phase 2). 6) To determine principle cost drivers including staff, overhead and laboratory costs (Phase 2). Discussion: This novel mixed methods protocol will permit transparent presentation of subsequent dataset results publication, and offers a substantive model of protocol design to measure and integrate key activities and outcomes that underpin a public health approach to disease management in a low-income setting. © 2010 Harding et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | None | article; clinical trial; cost; cross-sectional study; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; information processing; interview; Kenya; methodology; multicenter study; outcome assessment; public health; social support; Uganda; Costs and Cost Analysis; Cross-Sectional Studies; Focus Groups; HIV Infections; Humans; Interviews as Topic; Kenya; Outcome Assessment (Health Care); Public Health; Research Design; Social Support; Uganda | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84929484502 | Evaluation of the diagnostic accuracy of CareStart G6PD deficiency Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) in a malaria endemic area in Ghana, Africa | Adu-Gyasi D., Asante K.P., Newton S., Dosoo D., Amoako S., Adjei G., Amoako N., Ankrah L., Tchum S.K., Mahama E., Agyemang V., Kayan K., Owusu-Agyei S. | 2015 | PLoS ONE | 10 | 4 | 10.1371/journal.pone.0125796 | Kintampo Health Research Centre, P O Box 200, Kintampo, Brong Ahafo, Ghana | Adu-Gyasi, D., Kintampo Health Research Centre, P O Box 200, Kintampo, Brong Ahafo, Ghana; Asante, K.P., Kintampo Health Research Centre, P O Box 200, Kintampo, Brong Ahafo, Ghana; Newton, S., Kintampo Health Research Centre, P O Box 200, Kintampo, Brong Ahafo, Ghana; Dosoo, D., Kintampo Health Research Centre, P O Box 200, Kintampo, Brong Ahafo, Ghana; Amoako, S., Kintampo Health Research Centre, P O Box 200, Kintampo, Brong Ahafo, Ghana; Adjei, G., Kintampo Health Research Centre, P O Box 200, Kintampo, Brong Ahafo, Ghana; Amoako, N., Kintampo Health Research Centre, P O Box 200, Kintampo, Brong Ahafo, Ghana; Ankrah, L., Kintampo Health Research Centre, P O Box 200, Kintampo, Brong Ahafo, Ghana; Tchum, S.K., Kintampo Health Research Centre, P O Box 200, Kintampo, Brong Ahafo, Ghana; Mahama, E., Kintampo Health Research Centre, P O Box 200, Kintampo, Brong Ahafo, Ghana; Agyemang, V., Kintampo Health Research Centre, P O Box 200, Kintampo, Brong Ahafo, Ghana; Kayan, K., Kintampo Health Research Centre, P O Box 200, Kintampo, Brong Ahafo, Ghana; Owusu-Agyei, S., Kintampo Health Research Centre, P O Box 200, Kintampo, Brong Ahafo, Ghana | Background: Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency is the most widespread enzyme defect that can result in red cell breakdown under oxidative stress when exposed to certain medicines including antimalarials. We evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of CareStart G6PD deficiency Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) as a point-of-care tool for screening G6PD deficiency. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 206 randomly selected and consented participants from a group with known G6PD deficiency status between February 2013 and June 2013. A maximum of 1.6ml of capillary blood samples were used for G6PD deficiency screening using CareStart G6PD RDT and Trinity qualitative with Trinity quantitative methods as the "gold standard". Samples were also screened for the presence of malaria parasites. Data entry and analysis were done using Microsoft Access 2010 and Stata Software version 12. Kintampo Health Research Centre Institutional Ethics Committee granted ethical approval. Results: The sensitivity (SE) and specificity (SP) of CareStart G6PD deficiency RDT was 100% and 72.1% compared to Trinity quantitative method respectively and was 98.9% and 96.2% compared to Trinity qualitative method. Malaria infection status had no significant (P=0.199) change on the performance of the G6PD RDT test kit compared to the "gold standard". Conclusions: The outcome of this study suggests that the diagnostic performance of the CareStart G6PD deficiency RDT kit was high and it is acceptable at determining the G6PD deficiency status in a high malaria endemic area in Ghana. The RDT kit presents as an attractive tool for point-of- care G6PD deficiency for rapid testing in areas with high temperatures and less expertise. The CareStart G6PD deficiency RDT kit could be used to screen malaria patients before administration of the fixed dose primaquine with artemisinin-based combination therapy. © 2015 Adu-Gyasi et al. | None | artemisinin; artemisinin plus primaquine; primaquine; unclassified drug; adolescent; adult; Africa; aged; Article; capillary blood; child; controlled study; cross-sectional study; diagnostic accuracy; diagnostic procedure; diagnostic test accuracy study; female; glucose 6 phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency; gold standard; high temperature; human; major clinical study; malaria; malaria rapid test; male; point of care testing; randomized controlled trial; Rapid Diagnostic Test; screening test; sensitivity and specificity; Trinity qualitative method | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84929429757 | Electrochemical evaluation and DFT studies of 2-(4-chlorophenyl)-3-hydroxy-4,6-dioxo-8-phenyl-4,6-dihydropyrimido[2,1-b][1,3]thiazine-7-carbonitrile of carbon steel corrosion in hydrochloric acid | Belayachi M., Serrar H., El Assyry A., Oudda H., Boukhris S., Ebn Touhami M., Zarrouk A., Hammouti B., Ebenso E.E., El Midaoui A. | 2015 | International Journal of Electrochemical Science | 10 | 4 | None | Laboratoire des procèdes de séparation, Faculté des Sciences, Université Ibn Tofail, BP 133, Kenitra, Morocco; Laboratoire de Synthèse Organique, Organométallique et Théorique, Faculté des Sciences, Université Ibn Tofail, BP 133, Kenitra, Morocco; Laboratoire d'Optoélectronique et de Physico-chimie des Matériaux, Unité associée au CNRST, Département de Physique,Université Ibn Tofail, B.P. 133, Kénitra, Morocco; Laboratoire Matériaux, Electrochimie et Environnement, Faculté des Sciences, Université Ibn Tofail, Kenitra, Morocco; LCAE-URAC18, Faculté des Sciences, Université Mohammed 1er, Oujda, Morocco; Chemistry Department, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Material Science Innovation and Modelling (MaSIM) Research Focus Area, Faculty of Agriculture, Science and Technology, North-West University, Mafikeng Campus, Private Bag X2046, Mmabatho, South Africa | Belayachi, M., Laboratoire des procèdes de séparation, Faculté des Sciences, Université Ibn Tofail, BP 133, Kenitra, Morocco; Serrar, H., Laboratoire de Synthèse Organique, Organométallique et Théorique, Faculté des Sciences, Université Ibn Tofail, BP 133, Kenitra, Morocco; El Assyry, A., Laboratoire d'Optoélectronique et de Physico-chimie des Matériaux, Unité associée au CNRST, Département de Physique,Université Ibn Tofail, B.P. 133, Kénitra, Morocco; Oudda, H., Laboratoire des procèdes de séparation, Faculté des Sciences, Université Ibn Tofail, BP 133, Kenitra, Morocco; Boukhris, S., Laboratoire de Synthèse Organique, Organométallique et Théorique, Faculté des Sciences, Université Ibn Tofail, BP 133, Kenitra, Morocco; Ebn Touhami, M., Laboratoire Matériaux, Electrochimie et Environnement, Faculté des Sciences, Université Ibn Tofail, Kenitra, Morocco; Zarrouk, A., LCAE-URAC18, Faculté des Sciences, Université Mohammed 1er, Oujda, Morocco; Hammouti, B., LCAE-URAC18, Faculté des Sciences, Université Mohammed 1er, Oujda, Morocco, Chemistry Department, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Ebenso, E.E., Material Science Innovation and Modelling (MaSIM) Research Focus Area, Faculty of Agriculture, Science and Technology, North-West University, Mafikeng Campus, Private Bag X2046, Mmabatho, South Africa; El Midaoui, A., Laboratoire des procèdes de séparation, Faculté des Sciences, Université Ibn Tofail, BP 133, Kenitra, Morocco | In present study corrosion inhibition property of 2-(4-chlorophenyl)-3-hydroxy-4,6-dioxo-8-phenyl-4,6-dihydropyrimido[2,1-b][1,3]thiazine-7-carbonitrile (CHPPC) in 1.0 M HCl was investigated using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, potentiodynamic polarization and DFT studies. From electrochemical measurements it is observed that inhibition efficiency increases with CHPPC concentration and maximum efficiency (98.9) was obtained at 1.0 mM. The potentiodynamic study reveals that pyrimidothiazine derivative is a mixed type inhibitor with predominant cathodic action. EIS plot indicates that the addition of inhibitor increases the charge-transfer resistance (R<inf>ct</inf>) and decreases the double-layer capacitance (C<inf>dl</inf>) of the corrosion process, these observation reveal that investigated pyrimidothiazine derivative inhibits carbon steel corrosion by adsorption mechanism. Adsorption of pyrimidothiazine derivative on carbon steel surface obeys the Langmuir adsorption isotherm. The effect of temperature on the corrosion rate was investigated and some thermodynamic parameters were also calculated in order to explain the mechanism of adsorption. A theoretical study of the corrosion inhibition efficiency of this pyrimidothiazine derivative, was carried out using density functional theory (DFT) at the B3LYP/6-31G(d) level of theory. © 2015 The Authors. | Corrosion inhibition; DFT; Electrochemical techniques; Pyrimidothiazine derivative; Steel | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77951092096 | Comparative performance of the REGA subtyping tool version 2 versus version 1 | Abecasis A.B., Wang Y., Libin P., Imbrechts S., de Oliveira T., Camacho R.J., Vandamme Anne-Mieke A.-M. | 2010 | Infection, Genetics and Evolution | 10 | 3 | 10.1016/j.meegid.2009.09.020 | Laboratory for Clinical and Epidemiological Virology, REGA Institute for Medical Research, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Minderbroedersstraat 10, Leuven, Belgium; Centro de Malária e Outras Doenças Tropicais, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Portugal; Africa Centre for Health and Population Studies, Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa; Laboratory of Virology, Hospital de Egas Moniz, Centro Hospitalar de Lisboa Ocidental, Portugal | Abecasis, A.B., Laboratory for Clinical and Epidemiological Virology, REGA Institute for Medical Research, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Minderbroedersstraat 10, Leuven, Belgium, Centro de Malária e Outras Doenças Tropicais, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Portugal; Wang, Y., Laboratory for Clinical and Epidemiological Virology, REGA Institute for Medical Research, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Minderbroedersstraat 10, Leuven, Belgium; Libin, P., Laboratory for Clinical and Epidemiological Virology, REGA Institute for Medical Research, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Minderbroedersstraat 10, Leuven, Belgium; Imbrechts, S., Laboratory for Clinical and Epidemiological Virology, REGA Institute for Medical Research, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Minderbroedersstraat 10, Leuven, Belgium; de Oliveira, T., Africa Centre for Health and Population Studies, Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa; Camacho, R.J., Centro de Malária e Outras Doenças Tropicais, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Portugal, Laboratory of Virology, Hospital de Egas Moniz, Centro Hospitalar de Lisboa Ocidental, Portugal; Vandamme Anne-Mieke, A.-M., Laboratory for Clinical and Epidemiological Virology, REGA Institute for Medical Research, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Minderbroedersstraat 10, Leuven, Belgium | The REGA HIV-1 subtyping tool is a phylogenetic-based method for subtyping HIV-1 genomic sequences that was published in 2005. The subtyping tool combines phylogenetic approaches with recombination detection methods. Recently, version 2 was released (http://www.bioafrica.net/rega-genotype/html/index.html) as an improvement of version 1. Version 2 implements a Decision-Tree-based algorithm that was not implemented in version 1. We wanted to compare the two versions on a large sequence dataset to assess the improvements of version 2 and to verify whether features lost during updating the tool needed to be recovered. We analysed the results of the two versions in the genotyping of 4676 HIV-1 pol sequences. We compared those results to a manual approach, used in previous studies. Our results show that version 2 has an overall better sensitivity but especially for the detection of subtypes A, B, D, F, G and CRF14_BG and CRF06_CPX. For the other subtypes, no significant differences were observed in the sensitivity of versions 1 and 2. The overall increase in sensitivity was however accompanied by a decrease in the specificity for the detection of subtype B. This is the main limitation of version 2. However, while the number of false negatives decreased by 53 samples, the number of false positives increased only by 5 samples from version 1 to 2. The performance of the REGA HIV-1 subtyping tool was considerably improved from one version to the other. Our results are very valuable and allow us to make suggestions for further improvement of the tool for a version 3 release. © 2009 Elsevier B.V. | HIV-1; Subtyping | algorithm; article; controlled study; decision tree; false negative result; false positive result; gene sequence; genotype; human; Human immunodeficiency virus 1; phylogeny; priority journal; sensitivity and specificity; structural gene; virus typing; Algorithms; Automatic Data Processing; False Negative Reactions; False Positive Reactions; Genetic Variation; Genome, Viral; HIV Infections; HIV-1; Humans; Pattern Recognition, Automated; Phylogeny; pol Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus; Recombination, Genetic; Sensitivity and Specificity; Sequence Analysis; Human immunodeficiency virus 1 | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79952713801 | Evaluation of changes in pasting properties of ogi during storage | Bolaji O.T., Awonorin S.O., Olalusi P.A., Adepoju P.A. | 2011 | Electronic Journal of Environmental, Agricultural and Food Chemistry | 10 | 1 | None | Lagos State polytechnic, Dept of Food science, Shagamu Road, Ikorodu, Lagos, Nigeria; University Of Agriculture Dept Food science and Technology, Abeokuta ogun state, Nigeria; Federal University of Technology, Dept of Agriculture Engineering, Akure Ondo S | Bolaji, O.T., Lagos State polytechnic, Dept of Food science, Shagamu Road, Ikorodu, Lagos, Nigeria; Awonorin, S.O., University Of Agriculture Dept Food science and Technology, Abeokuta ogun state, Nigeria; Olalusi, P.A., Federal University of Technology, Dept of Agriculture Engineering, Akure Ondo State, Nigeria; Adepoju, P.A., Lagos State polytechnic, Dept of Food science, Shagamu Road, Ikorodu, Lagos, Nigeria | This study was conducted to investigate the effect of storage temperature on pasting properties of ogi. This was processed using traditional method and stored at different temperatures (27±3°C, 5 ±2°C, -10±3°C and -20 ±3°C) for a period of 12 weeks, this was repeated for another 12 weeks. Ogi samples were subsequently dried in cabinet drier at temperature of 47±3°C. The peak and final viscosity of ogi stored at the ambient temperature (27±3°C), witnessed a noticeable reduction from week four (4) of storage. Storage at temperature of 5 ±2°C, -10±3°C and -20 ±3°c conditions maintained the hold strength throughout the storage period. There was significant difference (p<. 0.05) in the values of breakdown viscosity. The setback viscosity values were consistently maintained in storage condition of 5 ±2°C, -10±3°C and -20 ±3°C throughout the period of storage but a consistent reduction was observed in ogi stored at 27±3°C. The range of pasting temperature for ogi samples throughout the period of storage was between 76 and 79°C. The cooking time ranged from 4.80 and 5.70 minutes. The study showed that gelling stability and pasting ability tend to witness reduction with increase in storage period at ambient temperature (27±3°C) and 5±2°C if the storage period is increased beyond that used in this research work. | Final viscosity storage temperature; Peak time set back viscosity; Peak viscosity | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84961361626 | CD4 enumeration technologies: A systematic review of test performance for determining eligibility for antiretroviral therapy | Peeling R.W., Sollis K.A., Glover S., Crowe S.M., Landay A.L., Cheng B., Barnett D., Denny T.N., Spira T.J., Stevens W.S., Crowley S., Essajee S., Vitoria M., Ford N. | 2015 | PLoS ONE | 10 | 3 | 10.1371/journal.pone.0115019 | London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Centre for Biomedical Research, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Department of Immunology/Microbiology, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, United States; Pangaea Global AIDS Foundation, Oakland, CA, United States; UK NEQAS for Leucocyte Immunophenotyping, Sheffield, United Kingdom; Duke Human Vaccine Institute and Center for HIV/AIDS, Immunology and Virology Quality Assessment Center, Durham, NC, United States; Division of AIDS, STD, andTB Laboratory Research, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States; University of the Witwatersrand, Parktown, South Africa; Director Health Programs, ELMA Philanthropies, New York, NY, United States; Clinton Health Access Initiative, Boston, MA, United States; World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland | Peeling, R.W., London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Sollis, K.A., London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Glover, S., London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Crowe, S.M., Centre for Biomedical Research, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Landay, A.L., Department of Immunology/Microbiology, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, United States; Cheng, B., Pangaea Global AIDS Foundation, Oakland, CA, United States; Barnett, D., UK NEQAS for Leucocyte Immunophenotyping, Sheffield, United Kingdom; Denny, T.N., Duke Human Vaccine Institute and Center for HIV/AIDS, Immunology and Virology Quality Assessment Center, Durham, NC, United States; Spira, T.J., Division of AIDS, STD, andTB Laboratory Research, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States; Stevens, W.S., University of the Witwatersrand, Parktown, South Africa; Crowley, S., Director Health Programs, ELMA Philanthropies, New York, NY, United States; Essajee, S., Clinton Health Access Initiative, Boston, MA, United States; Vitoria, M., World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland; Ford, N., World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland | Background: Measurement of CD4+ T-lymphocytes (CD4) is a crucial parameter in the management of HIV patients, particularly in determining eligibility to initiate antiretroviral treatment (ART). A number of technologies exist for CD4 enumeration, with considerable variation in cost, complexity, and operational requirements. We conducted a systematic review of the performance of technologies for CD4 enumeration. Methods and Findings: Studies were identified by searching electronic databases MEDLINE and EMBASE using a pre-defined search strategy. Data on test accuracy and precision included bias and limits of agreement with a reference standard, and misclassification probabilities around CD4 thresholds of 200 and 350 cells/μl over a clinically relevant range. The secondary outcome measure was test imprecision, expressed as % coefficient of variation. Thirty-two studies evaluating 15 CD4 technologies were included, of which less than half presented data on bias and misclassification compared to the same reference technology. At CD4 counts <350 cells/μl, bias ranged from -35.2 to +13.1 cells/μl while at counts >350 cells/μl, bias ranged from -70.7 to +47 cells/μl, compared to the BD FACSCount as a reference technology. Misclassification around the threshold of 350 cells/μl ranged from 1-29% for upward classification, resulting in under-treatment, and 7-68% for downward classification resulting in overtreatment. Less than half of these studies reported within laboratory precision or reproducibility of the CD4 values obtained. Conclusions: A wide range of bias and percent misclassification around treatment thresholds were reported on the CD4 enumeration technologies included in this review, with few studies reporting assay precision. The lack of standardised methodology on test evaluation, including the use of different reference standards, is a barrier to assessing relative assay performance and could hinder the introduction of new point-of-care assays in countries where they are most needed. © 2015, Public Library of Science. All rights reserved. | None | antiretrovirus agent; Article; CD4 lymphocyte count; CD4+ T lymphocyte; flow cytometry; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; measurement accuracy; measurement precision; microscopy; outcome assessment; probability; reproducibility; systematic review; volumetry | WHO, World Health Organization |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84956859258 | Banning Fisheries Discards Abruptly Has a Negative Impact on the Population Dynamics of Charismatic Marine Megafauna | Fondo E.N., Chaloupka M., Heymans J.J., Skilleter G.A. | 2015 | PLoS ONE | 10 | 12 | 10.1371/journal.pone.0144543 | School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, B0risbane, QLD, Australia; Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute, Mombasa, Kenya; Scottish Association for Marine Science, Oban, United Kingdom | Fondo, E.N., School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, B0risbane, QLD, Australia, Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute, Mombasa, Kenya; Chaloupka, M., School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, B0risbane, QLD, Australia; Heymans, J.J., Scottish Association for Marine Science, Oban, United Kingdom; Skilleter, G.A., School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, B0risbane, QLD, Australia | Food subsidies have the potential to modify ecosystems and affect the provision of goods and services. Predictable Anthropogenic Food Subsidies (PAFS) modify ecosystems by altering ecological processes and food webs. The global concern over the effects of PAFS in ecosystems has led to development of environmental policies aimed at curbing the production or ultimately banning of PAFS. However, the effects of reducing or banning PAFS are not known. We explore the consequences of PAFS removal in a marine ecosystem under two scenarios: 1) gradual reduction, or 2) an abrupt ban, using a mass balance model to test these hypotheses The reduction or loss of PAFS will: i) modify trophic levels and food webs through effects on foraging by opportunistic species, ii) increase the resilience of opportunistic species to food shortages, and iii) modify predatorprey interactions through shifts in prey consumption. We found that PAFS lower the trophic levels of opportunistic scavengers and increase their food pathways. Scavengers are able to switch prey when PAFS are reduced gradually but they decline when PAFS are abruptly banned. PAFS reduction to a certain minimal level causes a drop in the ecosystems stability. We recommend gradual reduction of PAFS to a minimal level that would maintain the ecosystems stability and allow species exploiting PAFS to habituate to the food subsidy reduction. © 2015 Fondo et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. | None | controlled study; fishery; food web; foraging; marine environment; model; population dynamics; species; trophic level | None |
| None | None | Cluster-randomized study of intermittent preventive treatment for malaria in infants (IPTi) in southern Tanzania: Evaluation of impact on survival | Armstrong Schellenberg J.R.M., Maokola W., Shirima K., Manzi F., Mrisho M., Mushi A., Alonso P., Mshinda H., Tanner M., Schellenberg D.M. | 2011 | Malaria Journal | 10 | None | 10.1186/1475-2875-10-387 | London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Ifakara Health Institute, Ifakara, Tanzania; National Institute for Medical Research, Muheza, Tanzania; Barcelona Centre for International Health Research (CRESIB), Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Manhiça (CISM), Maputo, Mozambique; Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland | Armstrong Schellenberg, J.R.M., London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom, Ifakara Health Institute, Ifakara, Tanzania; Maokola, W., Ifakara Health Institute, Ifakara, Tanzania; Shirima, K., Ifakara Health Institute, Ifakara, Tanzania; Manzi, F., Ifakara Health Institute, Ifakara, Tanzania; Mrisho, M., Ifakara Health Institute, Ifakara, Tanzania; Mushi, A., Ifakara Health Institute, Ifakara, Tanzania, National Institute for Medical Research, Muheza, Tanzania; Alonso, P., Barcelona Centre for International Health Research (CRESIB), Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain, Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Manhiça (CISM), Maputo, Mozambique; Mshinda, H., Ifakara Health Institute, Ifakara, Tanzania; Tanner, M., Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland; Schellenberg, D.M., London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom | Background: Intermittent Preventive Treatment for malaria control in infants (IPTi) consists of the administration of a treatment dose of an anti-malarial drug, usually sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine, at scheduled intervals, regardless of the presence of Plasmodium falciparum infection. A pooled analysis of individually randomized trials reported that IPTi reduced clinical episodes by 30%. This study evaluated the effect of IPTi on child survival in the context of a five-district implementation project in southern Tanzania. [Trial registration: clinical trials.gov NCT00152204]. Methods. After baseline household and health facility surveys in 2004, five districts comprising 24 divisions were randomly assigned either to receive IPTi (n = 12) or not (n = 12). Implementation started in March 2005, led by routine health services with support from the research team. In 2007, a large household survey was undertaken to assess the impact of IPTi on survival in infants aged two-11 months through birth history interviews with all women aged 13-49 years. The analysis is based on an "intention-to-treat" ecological design, with survival outcomes analysed according to the cluster in which the mothers lived. Results: Survival in infants aged two-11 months was comparable in IPTi and comparison areas at baseline. In intervention areas in 2007, 48% of children aged 12-23 months had documented evidence of receiving three doses of IPTi, compared to 2% in comparison areas (P < 0.0001). Over the three years of the study there was a marked improvement in survival in both groups. Between 2001-4 and 2005-7, mortality rates in two-11 month olds fell from 34.1 to 23.6 per 1,000 person-years in intervention areas and from 32.3 to 20.7 in comparison areas. In 2007, divisions implementing IPTi had a 14% (95% CI -12%, 49%) higher mortality rate in two-11 month olds in comparison with non-implementing divisions (P = 0.31). Conclusion: The lack of evidence of an effect of IPTi on survival could be a false negative result due to a lack of power or imbalance of unmeasured confounders. Alternatively, there could be no mortality impact of IPTi due to low coverage, late administration, drug resistance, decreased malaria transmission or improvements in vector control and case management. This study raises important questions for programme evaluation design. © 2011 Schellenberg et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | None | antimalarial agent; diphtheria pertussis tetanus vaccine; measles vaccine; article; controlled study; evaluation; false negative result; health care facility; health service; health survey; household; human; infant; intention to treat analysis; malaria; mortality; outcome assessment; preventive medicine; randomization; randomized controlled trial; survival; Tanzania; vector control | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84928910645 | The impact of gender norms on condom use among HIV-Positive adults in Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa | Fladseth K., Gafos M., Newell M.L., McGrath N. | 2015 | PLoS ONE | 10 | 4 | 10.1371/journal.pone.0122671 | London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Medical Research Council Clinical Trials Unit, University College London, London, United Kingdom; Africa Centre for Health and Population Studies, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Mtubatuba, South Africa; Faculty of Medicine and of Social and Human Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom | Fladseth, K., London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Gafos, M., Medical Research Council Clinical Trials Unit, University College London, London, United Kingdom; Newell, M.L., Africa Centre for Health and Population Studies, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Mtubatuba, South Africa, Faculty of Medicine and of Social and Human Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom; McGrath, N., Africa Centre for Health and Population Studies, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Mtubatuba, South Africa, Faculty of Medicine and of Social and Human Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom | Critical to preventing the spread of HIV is promoting condom use among HIV-positive individuals. Previous studies suggest that gender norms (social and cultural constructions of the ways that women and men are expected to behave) may be an important determinant of condom use. However, the relationship has not been evaluated among HIV-positive women and men in South Africa. We examined gender norms and condom use at last sex among 550 partnerships reported by 530 sexually-active HIV-positive women (372) and men (158) who had sought care, but not yet initiated antiretroviral therapy in a high HIV-prevalence rural setting in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa between January 2009 and March 2011. Participants enrolled in the cohort study completed a baseline questionnaire that detailed their socio-demographic characteristics, socio-economic circumstances, religion, HIV testing history and disclosure of HIV status, stigma, social capital, gender norms and self-efficacy. Gender norms did not statistically differ between women and men (p = 0.18). Overall, condoms were used at last sex in 58% of partnerships. Although participants disclosed their HIV status in 66% of the partnerships, 60% did not have knowledge of their partner's HIV status. In multivariable logistic regression, run separately for each sex, women younger than 26 years with more equitable gender norms were significantly more likely to have used a condom at last sex than those of the same age group with inequitable gender norms (OR = 8.88, 95% CI 2.95-26.75); the association between condom use and gender norms among women aged 26+ years and men of all ages was not statistically significant. Strategies to address gender inequity should be integrated into positive prevention interventions, particularly for younger women, and supported by efforts at a societal level to decrease gender inequality. © 2015 Fladseth et al. | None | antiretrovirus agent; adolescent; adult; age distribution; Article; cohort analysis; condom use; controlled study; female; gender bias; help seeking behavior; HIV test; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infected patient; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; major clinical study; male; middle aged; prevalence; questionnaire; religion; rural area; self concept; sex difference; sex role; sexual behavior; social capital; social status; South Africa; stigma; young adult | #065377/Z01/H, Wellcome Trust; #WT083495MA, Wellcome Trust |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84943175517 | Evaluation of integrated community case management in eight districts of Central Uganda | Mubiru D., Byabasheija R., Bwanika J.B., Meier J.E., Magumba G., Kaggwa F.M., Abusu J.O., Opio A.C., Lodda C.C., Patel J., Diaz T. | 2015 | PLoS ONE | 10 | 8 | 10.1371/journal.pone.0134767 | Malaria Consortium, Kampala, Uganda; Keeping Children and Mothers Alive, UNICEF Uganda, Kampala, Uganda; Epidemiology and Health Policy and Practice, Columbia University, Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, United States; Health Section, Programme Division, UNICEF Headquarters, New York, NY, United States | Mubiru, D., Malaria Consortium, Kampala, Uganda; Byabasheija, R., Keeping Children and Mothers Alive, UNICEF Uganda, Kampala, Uganda; Bwanika, J.B., Malaria Consortium, Kampala, Uganda; Meier, J.E., Malaria Consortium, Kampala, Uganda; Magumba, G., Malaria Consortium, Kampala, Uganda; Kaggwa, F.M., Keeping Children and Mothers Alive, UNICEF Uganda, Kampala, Uganda; Abusu, J.O., Keeping Children and Mothers Alive, UNICEF Uganda, Kampala, Uganda; Opio, A.C., Keeping Children and Mothers Alive, UNICEF Uganda, Kampala, Uganda; Lodda, C.C., Keeping Children and Mothers Alive, UNICEF Uganda, Kampala, Uganda; Patel, J., Epidemiology and Health Policy and Practice, Columbia University, Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, United States; Diaz, T., Health Section, Programme Division, UNICEF Headquarters, New York, NY, United States | Objective: Evidence is limited on whether Integrated Community Case Management (iCCM) improves treatment coverage of the top causes of childhood mortality (acute respiratory illnesses (ARI), diarrhoea and malaria). The coverage impact of iCCM in Central Uganda was evaluated. Methods: Between July 2010 and December 2012 a pre-post quasi-experimental study in eight districts with iCCM was conducted; 3 districts without iCCM served as controls. A two-stage household cluster survey at baseline (n = 1036 and 1042) and end line (n = 3890 and 3844) was done in the intervention and comparison groups respectively. Changes in treatment coverage and timeliness were assessed using difference in differences analysis (DID). Mortality impact was modelled using the Lives Saved Tool. Findings: 5,586 Village Health Team members delivered 1,907,746 treatments to children under age five. Use of oral rehydration solution (ORS) and zinc treatment of diarrhoea increased in the intervention area, while there was a decrease in the comparison area (DID = 22.9, p = 0.001). Due to national stock-outs of amoxicillin, there was a decrease in antibiotic treatment for ARI in both areas; however, the decrease was significantly greater in the comparison area (DID = 5.18; p<0.001). There was a greater increase in Artemisinin Combination Therapy treatment for fever in the intervention areas than in the comparison area but this was not significant (DID = 1.57, p = 0.105). In the intervention area, timeliness of treatments for fever and ARI increased significantly higher in the intervention area than in the comparison area (DID = 2.12, p = 0.029 and 7.95, p<0.001, respectively). An estimated 106 lives were saved in the intervention area while 611 lives were lost in the comparison area. Conclusion: iCCM significantly increased treatment coverage for diarrhoea and fever, mitigated the effect of national stock outs of amoxicillin on ARI treatment, improved timeliness of treatments for fever and ARI and saved lives. Copyright: © 2015 Mubiru et al. | None | amoxicillin; antimalarial agent; artemisinin; cotrimoxazole; insecticide; oral rehydration solution; zinc; adolescent; adult; Article; bed net; case management; child; child health care; childhood mortality; cluster analysis; controlled study; demography; diarrhea; early intervention; female; fever; health care delivery; health survey; help seeking behavior; human; integrated health care system; major clinical study; malaria; male; middle aged; preschool child; quasi experimental study; respiratory tract disease; respiratory tract infection; social status; Uganda; urban rural difference; young adult | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33749480619 | The impact of meaning in life and life goals on adherence to a tuberculosis medication regimen in South Africa | Corless I.B., Nicholas P.K., Wantland D., McInerney P., Ncama B., Bhengu B., McGibbon C., Davis S. | 2006 | International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease | 10 | 10 | None | Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), Institute of Health Professions, Boston, MA, United States; University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States; University of KwaZulu Natal, Durban, South Africa; University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB, Canada; Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States; MGH Institute of Health Professions, CNY 36 1st Ave, Boston, MA 02129, United States | Corless, I.B., Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), Institute of Health Professions, Boston, MA, United States, MGH Institute of Health Professions, CNY 36 1st Ave, Boston, MA 02129, United States; Nicholas, P.K., Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), Institute of Health Professions, Boston, MA, United States; Wantland, D., University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States; McInerney, P., University of KwaZulu Natal, Durban, South Africa; Ncama, B., University of KwaZulu Natal, Durban, South Africa; Bhengu, B., University of KwaZulu Natal, Durban, South Africa; McGibbon, C., Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), Institute of Health Professions, Boston, MA, United States, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB, Canada; Davis, S., Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States | SETTING: Out-patient tuberculosis (TB) clinics in Durban, South Africa. OBJECTIVE: Health care provider concerns about persons with active TB defaulting on medications led to a study of adherence among persons receiving anti-tuberculosis therapy and, specifically, the relationships between meaning in life, life goals, sense of coherence, social support, symptom presence and intensity, and adherence in individuals diagnosed with TB. DESIGN: A cross-sectional, descriptive design was used to gather self-reported data from TB-infected individuals who were enrolled in out-patient clinics. Data were collected from 159 Zulu and/or English-speaking persons who agreed to participate in the study. RESULTS: A significant relationship was found between higher life goals and adherence to TB treatment (P = 0.027). Analysis of variance revealed that higher meaning in life ratings were significantly associated with older age (P = 0.007). Having children and children living in the same household were significantly associated with low meaning in life ratings (P = 0.006 and P ≤ 0.001, respectively), indicating that these individuals were more concerned about basic matters of home and sustenance. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study indicate that meaning in life and life goals may be useful for identifying individuals who will require additional support in adhering to anti-tuberculosis treatment. © 2006 The Union. | Adherence; Life goals; Meaning in life; South Africa; Tuberculosis | tuberculostatic agent; adult; aged; article; controlled study; demography; female; health care personnel; human; life; lung tuberculosis; male; outpatient department; patient compliance; priority journal; social support; South Africa; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Goals; Humans; Life; Male; Middle Aged; Patient Compliance; Social Support; Social Values; South Africa; Tuberculosis; Value of Life | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84874994953 | Performance evaluation of potassium dichromate and potassium chromate inhibitors on concrete steel rebar corrosion | Omotosho O.A., Okeniyi J.O., Ajayi O.O. | 2010 | Journal of Failure Analysis and Prevention | 10 | 5 | 10.1007/s11668-010-9375-2 | Mechanical Engineering Department, Covenant University, P.M.B.1023, Ota, Nigeria | Omotosho, O.A., Mechanical Engineering Department, Covenant University, P.M.B.1023, Ota, Nigeria; Okeniyi, J.O., Mechanical Engineering Department, Covenant University, P.M.B.1023, Ota, Nigeria; Ajayi, O.O., Mechanical Engineering Department, Covenant University, P.M.B.1023, Ota, Nigeria | This study investigated the performance of potassium dichromate and potassium chromate inhibitors on the corrosion of steel rebar in concrete partially immersed in sulfuric acid and sodium chloride medium. The open circuit potential corrosion monitoring technique was employed for the acidic and marine simulating environments, and potential readings were taken in accordance with ASTM C 876. Inhibiting quality and uniformity of the inhibitors were then analyzed using an extreme value statistical modeling approach of the Weibull probability density distribution for determining the most efficient inhibitor. In the inhibitor concentrations used, the statistically analyzed experimental results identified 0.145 M potassium chromate as exhibiting the best inhibiting quality in sulfuric acid whereas the synergetic admixture of 0.032 M potassium dichromate and 0.097 M potassium chromate was predicted as showing the lowest probability of corrosion risk in sodium chloride solution. However, the overall probabilistic results rated potassium chromate as the best inhibitor compared to potassium dichromate in most of the other concentrations investigated in the study, especially in concrete structures exposed to saline environments. © ASM International 2010. | Corrosion inhibitors; Extreme value; Passive/active corrosion; Performance; Weibull density distribution | Density distributions; Extreme value; Inhibitor concentration; Open circuit potential; Passive/active; Performance; Potassium dichromates; Sodium chloride solution; Chromates; Concretes; Corrosion; Potassium; Probability density function; Sodium chloride; Sulfuric acid; Weibull distribution; Corrosion inhibitors | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84953265639 | Time to ART initiation among patients treated for rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis in khayelitsha, South Africa: Impact on mortality and treatment success | Daniels J.F., Khogali M., Mohr E., Cox V., Moyo S., Edginton M., Hinderaker S.G., Meintjes G., Hughes J., De Azevedo V., Van Cutsem G., Cox H.S. | 2015 | PLoS ONE | 10 | 11 | 10.1371/journal.pone.0142873 | Medecins Sans Frontieres, Khayelitsha, Cape Town, South Africa; Medecins Sans Frontieres, Luxembourg; Human Sciences Research Council, HIV/AIDS, STIs and TB Programme, Cape Town, South Africa; International Union Against TB and Lung Disease, Paris, France; School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway; Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine and Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; City of Cape Town Department of Health, Cape Town, South Africa; Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Research, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Division of Medical Microbiology and Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa | Daniels, J.F., Medecins Sans Frontieres, Khayelitsha, Cape Town, South Africa; Khogali, M., Medecins Sans Frontieres, Khayelitsha, Cape Town, South Africa; Mohr, E., Human Sciences Research Council, HIV/AIDS, STIs and TB Programme, Cape Town, South Africa; Cox, V., Medecins Sans Frontieres, Luxembourg; Moyo, S., International Union Against TB and Lung Disease, Paris, France; Edginton, M., Human Sciences Research Council, HIV/AIDS, STIs and TB Programme, Cape Town, South Africa; Hinderaker, S.G., School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Meintjes, G., University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway; Hughes, J., Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine and Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; De Azevedo, V., City of Cape Town Department of Health, Cape Town, South Africa; Van Cutsem, G., Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Research, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Cox, H.S., Division of Medical Microbiology and Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa | Setting Khayelitsha, South Africa, with high burdens of rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis (RR-TB) and HIV co-infection. Objective To describe time to antiretroviral treatment (ART) initiation among HIV-infected RR-TB patients initiating RR-TB treatment and to assess the association between time to ART initiation and treatment outcomes. Design A retrospective cohort study of patients with RR-TB and HIV co-infection not on ART at RRTB treatment initiation. Results Of the 696 RR-TB and HIV-infected patients initiated on RR-TB treatment between 2009 and 2013, 303 (44%) were not on ART when RR-TB treatment was initiated. The median CD4 cell count was 126 cells/mm3. Overall 257 (85%) patients started ART during RR-TB treatment, 33 (11%) within 2 weeks, 152 (50%) between 2-8 weeks and 72 (24%) after 8 weeks. Of the 46 (15%) who never started ART, 10 (21%) died or stopped RR-TB treatment within 4 weeks and 16 (37%) had at least 4 months of RR-TB treatment. Treatment success and mortality during treatment did not vary by time to ART initiation: treatment success was 41%, 43%, and 50% among patients who started ART within 2 weeks, between 2-8 weeks, and after 8 weeks (p = 0.62), while mortality was 21%, 13% and 15% respectively (p = 0.57). Mortality was associated with never receiving ART (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 6.0, CI 2.1-18.1), CD4 count 100 (aHR 2.1, CI 1.0-4.5), and multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) with second-line resistance (aHR 2.5, CI 1.1-5.4). Conclusions Despite wide variation in time to ART initiation among RR-TB patients, no differences in mortality or treatment success were observed. However, a significant proportion of patients did not initiate ART despite receiving 4 months of RR-TB treatment. Programmatic priorities should focus on ensuring all patients with RR-TB/HIV co-infection initiate ART regardless of CD4 count, with special attention for patients with CD4 counts 100 to initiate ART as soon as possible after RR-TB treatment initiation. © 2015 Daniels et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. | None | antiretrovirus agent; rifampicin; adult; age distribution; Article; CD4 lymphocyte count; clinical effectiveness; cohort analysis; controlled study; drug resistant tuberculosis; female; high risk population; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; major clinical study; male; mixed infection; mortality; newborn; outcome assessment; retrospective study; South Africa; treatment duration; tuberculosis | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79957445336 | Evaluation of lemon grass (Cymbopogon citrates) oil and pure natural honey on the shelf life of cheese | Belewu M.A., Belewu K.Y., Ganiyu R.O. | 2011 | Electronic Journal of Environmental, Agricultural and Food Chemistry | 10 | 4 | None | Microbial Biotechnology and Dairy Science Laboratory, Department of Animal production, University of Ilorin, Nigeria | Belewu, M.A., Microbial Biotechnology and Dairy Science Laboratory, Department of Animal production, University of Ilorin, Nigeria; Belewu, K.Y., Microbial Biotechnology and Dairy Science Laboratory, Department of Animal production, University of Ilorin, Nigeria; Ganiyu, R.O., Microbial Biotechnology and Dairy Science Laboratory, Department of Animal production, University of Ilorin, Nigeria | The efficacy of Lemon grass oil (Cymbopogon citrates), pure natural honey and whey in extending the shelf life of West African soft cheese was evaluated in a completely randomized design model. The treatments include Lemon grass oil (A). Pure natural honey (B); and the Control (Whey (C). The nutritional composition revealed increased dry matter content for Treatments A and B which are similar (p>0.05) but significantly higher than the control (C). The crude fat was significantly higher in the control (C) and least in Treatments B and A in that order. The Lemon grass oil treated sample (A) had the highest crude protein content while the crude protein content of B and C was 15.64% and 12.62% respectively. The ash content ranged between 4.51 and 1.17% and it was greatest for Treatment A, greater in the control (C) and great in Treatment B. The Influence of Lemon grass oil on the cheese was noticed, with lowest bacterial count (21cfu/g ×103). However, the highest total bacterial count of 140cfu/g ×103 was recorded for the Control treatment (C) while honey treated sample had 73cfu/g ×103. Contrarily, the fungal count of honey treated sample (B) was 12cfu/g × 102 followed closely by A (10cfu/g × 102) Lemon grass oil and 30cfu/g × 102 for C. Isolation of various bacterial and fungi from the samples revealed the presence of Lactobacillus cocci, Lactobacillus planterium, Micrococcus luteus, Aspergillus niger and Rhizopus oryzae in the Control sample (C). With the exception of Micrococcus luteum which was negative in the honey treated sample (B) other aforementioned fungi and bacterial species are found to be positive /present. It is enough to note that Lemon grass oil prevent the cheese against Micrococcus luteus, Lactobacillus planterium and Rhizopus oryzae.The presence of antmicrobial activity of Lemon grass oil may be responsible for increasing the shelf life of the cheese sample. It could be concluded from this study that preservation of cheese with Lemon grass oil enhanced the nutritional quality and shelf life of the sample. | Lemon grass oil; Microbial count; Proximate composition; Pure natural honey; Shelf life | Aspergillus niger; Bacteria (microorganisms); Cymbopogon; Cymbopogon citratus; Fungi; Lactobacillus; Micrococcus; Micrococcus luteus; Rhizopus; Rhizopus oryzae | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84941670445 | A cluster randomised trial introducing rapid diagnostic tests into registered drug shops in Uganda: Impact on appropriate treatment of malaria | Mbonye A.K., Magnussen P., Lal S., Hansen K.S., Cundill B., Chandler C., Clarke S.E. | 2015 | PLoS ONE | 10 | 7 | 10.1371/journal.pone.0129545 | Ministry of Health, Box 7272, Kampala, Uganda; School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda; Centre for Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Disease Control, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Department of Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom | Mbonye, A.K., Ministry of Health, Box 7272, Kampala, Uganda, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda; Magnussen, P., Centre for Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark; Lal, S., Department of Disease Control, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Hansen, K.S., Department of Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Cundill, B., Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Chandler, C., Department of Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Clarke, S.E., Department of Disease Control, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom | Background: Inappropriate treatment of malaria is widely reported particularly in areas where there is poor access to health facilities and self-treatment of fevers with anti-malarial drugs bought in shops is the most common form of care-seeking. The main objective of the study was to examine the impact of introducing rapid diagnostic tests for malaria (mRDTs) in registered drug shops in Uganda, with the aim to increase appropriate treatment of malaria with artemisininbased combination therapy (ACT) in patients seeking treatment for fever in drug shops. Methods: A cluster-randomized trial of introducing mRDTs in registered drug shops was implemented in 20 geographical clusters of drug shops in Mukono district, central Uganda. Ten clusters were randomly allocated to the intervention (diagnostic confirmation of malaria by mRDT followed by ACT) and ten clusters to the control arm (presumptive treatment of fevers with ACT). Treatment decisions by providers were validated by microscopy on a reference blood slide collected at the time of consultation. The primary outcome was the proportion of febrile patients receiving appropriate treatment with ACT defined as: malaria patients with microscopicallyconfirmed presence of parasites in a peripheral blood smear receiving ACT or rectal artesunate, and patients with no malaria parasites not given ACT. Findings: appropriate ACT treatment was 72·9% versus 33·7% in the control arm; a difference of 36·1% (95% CI: 21·3-50·9), p<0·001. The majority of patients with fever in the intervention arm accepted to purchase an mRDT (97·8%), of whom 58·5% tested mRDT-positive. Drug shop vendors adhered to the mRDT results, reducing over-treatment of malaria by 72·6% (95% CI: 46·7-98·4), p<0·001) compared to drug shop vendors using presumptive diagnosis (control arm). Conclusion: Diagnostic testing with mRDTs compared to presumptive treatment of fevers implemented in registered drug shops substantially improved appropriate treatment of malaria with ACT. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01194557. A total of 15,517 eligible patients (8672 intervention and 6845 control) received treatment for fever between January-December 2011. The proportion of febrile patients who received © 2015 Mbonye et al. | None | artemisinin; artesunate; adolescent; adult; Article; blood smear; child; controlled study; drug response; female; fever; geographic distribution; health care availability; health impact assessment; health service; help seeking behavior; human; major clinical study; malaria; malaria rapid test; male; microscopy; middle aged; nonhuman; outcome assessment; parasite control; patient assessment; pharmacy; preschool child; randomized controlled trial; Uganda | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84931031651 | Evaluation of intensity of urinary schistosomiasis in biase and yakurr local government areas of cross river state, nigeria after two years of integrated control measures | Adie H.A., Oyo-Ita A., Okon O.E., Arong G.A., Atting I.A., Braide E.I., Nebe O., Emanghe U.E., Otu A.A. | 2015 | Research Journal of Parasitology | 10 | 2 | 10.3923/jp.2015.58.65 | Ministry of Health, Calabar, Nigeria; Department of Zoology and Environmental Biology, University of Calabar, Nigeria; Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Uyo/University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Uyo, Nigeria; Federal Univer | Adie, H.A., Ministry of Health, Calabar, Nigeria; Oyo-Ita, A., Ministry of Health, Calabar, Nigeria; Okon, O.E., Department of Zoology and Environmental Biology, University of Calabar, Nigeria; Arong, G.A., Department of Zoology and Environmental Biology, University of Calabar, Nigeria; Atting, I.A., Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Uyo/University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Uyo, Nigeria; Braide, E.I., Federal University, Lafia, Nasarawa State, Nigeria; Nebe, O., Federal Ministry of Health, Abuja, Nigeria; Emanghe, U.E., Department of Medical Microbiology/Parasitology, University of Calabar, Nigeria; Otu, A.A., Department of Internal Medicine, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria | A parasitological mapping of urinary schistosomiasis using filtration method was conducted in Biase and Yakurr LGAs of Cross River State, Nigeria by the Neglected Tropical Diseases Control unit in collaboration with the schistosomiasis/soil transmitted helminths unit of the Federal Ministry of Health, Nigeria in November 2012. The results of the study revealed a mean urinary schistosomiasis prevalence of 49% for the six schools under study in Biase and 30% for the six schools under study in Yakurr LGA. The mean ova load was 0.9 for males and 0.8 for females in the two LGAs. Integrated control measures put in place, included chemotherapy of infected individuals with praziquantel and health education on the predisposing factors responsible for the transmission of urinary schistosomiasis. An evaluation of the interventions was carried out in November 2014, after two rounds of treatment with Praziquantel and intensive education were given. Urine samples were collected from 600 school children, 300 from each of the two LGAs. The evaluation study using the urine filtration technique revealed a mean schistosomiasis prevalence of 0% for the six schools under study in Biase and 0.02% for the six schools under study in Yakurr LGA with mean ova load reduced to 0.3 for males and 0 for females in the two LGAs. Data analysis with SPSS package revealed a 100% participation of all selected school children in 12 schools (6 in each LGA). Statistical analysis showed that there was no significant difference in the prevalence between male and female (p>0.005). A student t-test showed a significant difference between prevalence rates in 2012 and the results in 2014 (p>0.005). The spatial distribution showed that endemic schools were distributed within marshy areas where rice was cultivated in the two LGAs. These results showed that with wide scale integrated control measures, urinary schistosomiasis can be eliminated or reduced to a disease of no public health importance. © 2015, Academic Journals Inc. | Evaluation; Integrated control measures; Intensity; Urinary schistosomiasis | praziquantel; adolescent; Article; child; disease predisposition; drug efficacy; female; health education; human; infection control; infection rate; major clinical study; male; Nigeria; parasite load; parasite transmission; prevalence; schistosomiasis; school child; student; treatment duration; urinalysis; Vermes | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-48249110296 | HIV/AIDS and cultural practices in western Kenya: The impact of sexual cleansing rituals on sexual behaviours | Ayikukwei R., Ngare D., Sidle J., Ayuku D., Baliddawa J., Greene J. | 2008 | Culture, Health and Sexuality | 10 | 6 | 10.1080/13691050802012601 | Moi University, AMPATH Program, Eldoret, Kenya; Population and Family Health, Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya; Department of Medicine, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, United States | Ayikukwei, R., Moi University, AMPATH Program, Eldoret, Kenya; Ngare, D., Population and Family Health, Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya; Sidle, J., Department of Medicine, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, United States; Ayuku, D., Population and Family Health, Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya; Baliddawa, J., Population and Family Health, Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya; Greene, J., Department of Medicine, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, United States | This paper reports on an exploratory study examining the role of sexual cleansing rituals in the transmission of HIV among the Luo community in western Kenya. Data were collected using both in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. The study population consisted of 38 widows, 12 community elders and 44 cleansers. Data were collected on non-behavioural causes, behavioural causes and behavioural indicators associated with sexual rituals. Content analysis revealed five central themes: the effect of the ritual on sexual behaviours; factors contributing to the continued practice of the ritual, including a sub-theme on the commercialization of the ritual; the inseparable relationship between the sanctity of sex, prosperity and fertility of the land; and the effects of modernization on the ritual, including a sub-theme on the effects of mass media on HIV-prevention awareness campaigns. Causal factors of unchanging sexual behaviours are deeply rooted in traditional beliefs, which the community uphold strongly. These beliefs encourage men and women to have multiple sexual partners in a context where the use of condoms is rejected and little HIV testing is carried out. | HIV/AIDS; Kenya; Sex cleansers; Sexual rituals; Widows | acquired immune deficiency syndrome; adult; aged; article; awareness; commercial phenomena; condom; cultural anthropology; cultural value; female; health program; health promotion; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; infection prevention; interview; Kenya; male; mass medium; priority journal; ritual; safe sex; sexual behavior; social belief; virus transmission; Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Ceremonial Behavior; Cultural Characteristics; Developing Countries; Female; Grief; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; HIV Infections; Humans; Hygiene; Kenya; Male; Marriage; Middle Aged; Mortuary Practice; Sex Education; Sexual Behavior; Socialization; Unsafe Sex; Widowhood | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84927799281 | Drafting's improvement of 3000-m running performance in elite athletes: Is it a placebo effect? | Zouhal H., BenAbderrahman A., Prioux J., Knechtle B., Bouguerra L., Kebsi W., Noakes T.D. | 2015 | International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance | 10 | 2 | 10.1123/ijspp.2013-0498 | Movement, Sport, and Health Sciences Laboratory, University of Rennes 2, Rennes, France; Higher Inst of Sport and Physical Education of Tunis, University of Manouba, Tunis, Tunisia; Inst of General Practice and for Health Services Research, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; MRC/UCT Research Unit for Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, University of Cape Town, Sports Science Institute of South Africa, Cape Town, South Africa | Zouhal, H., Movement, Sport, and Health Sciences Laboratory, University of Rennes 2, Rennes, France; BenAbderrahman, A., Higher Inst of Sport and Physical Education of Tunis, University of Manouba, Tunis, Tunisia; Prioux, J., Movement, Sport, and Health Sciences Laboratory, University of Rennes 2, Rennes, France; Knechtle, B., Inst of General Practice and for Health Services Research, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Bouguerra, L., Movement, Sport, and Health Sciences Laboratory, University of Rennes 2, Rennes, France; Kebsi, W., Movement, Sport, and Health Sciences Laboratory, University of Rennes 2, Rennes, France; Noakes, T.D., MRC/UCT Research Unit for Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, University of Cape Town, Sports Science Institute of South Africa, Cape Town, South Africa | Purpose: To determine the effect of drafting on running time, physiological response, and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) during 3000-m track running. Methods: Ten elite middle- and long-distance runners performed 3 track-running sessions. The 1st session determined maximal oxygen uptake and maximal aerobic speed using a lightweight ambulatory respiratory gas-exchange system (K4B<inf>2</inf>). The 2nd and the 3rd tests consisted of nondrafting 3000-m running (3000-mND) and 3000-m running with drafting for the 1st 2000 m (3000-mD) performed on the track in a randomized counterbalanced order. Results: Performance during the 3000-mND (553.59 ± 22.15 s) was significantly slower (P < .05) than during the 3000-mD (544.74 ± 18.72 s). Cardiorespiratory responses were not significantly different between the trials. However, blood lactate concentration was significantly higher (P < .05) after the 3000-mND (16.4 ± 2.3 mmol/L) than after the 3000-mD (13.2 ± 5.6 mmol/L). Athletes perceived the 3000-mND as more strenuous than the 3000-mD (P < .05) (RPE = 16.1 ± 0.8 vs 13.1 ± 1.3). Results demonstrate that drafting has a significant effect on performance in highly trained runners. Conclusion: This effect could not be explained by a reduced energy expenditure or cardiorespiratory effort as a result of drafting. This raises the possibility that drafting may aid running performance by both physiological and nonphysiological (ie, psychological) effects. © 2015 Human Kinetics, Inc. | Endurance; Highly trained; Pacing; Rating of perceived exertion; Track running | lactic acid; adult; biomechanics; blood; endurance; energy metabolism; exercise; heart rate; human; lung ventilation; male; oxygen consumption; perception; physiology; placebo effect; psychology; running; Adult; Biomechanical Phenomena; Energy Metabolism; Heart Rate; Humans; Lactic Acid; Male; Oxygen Consumption; Perception; Physical Endurance; Physical Exertion; Placebo Effect; Pulmonary Ventilation; Running | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-34247150733 | Growth and subsequent egg production performance of Shika-Brown pullets fed graded levels of cooked Lablab purpureus beans | Abeke F.O., Ogundipe S.O., Sekoni A.A., Dafwang I.I., Adeyinka I.A., Oni O.O., Abeke A. | 2007 | Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences | 10 | 7 | None | National Animal Production Research Institute, Ahmadu Bello University, Shika, Zaria, Nigeria; National Agric Extension and Research Liaison Services, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria | Abeke, F.O., National Animal Production Research Institute, Ahmadu Bello University, Shika, Zaria, Nigeria; Ogundipe, S.O., National Animal Production Research Institute, Ahmadu Bello University, Shika, Zaria, Nigeria; Sekoni, A.A., National Agric Extension and Research Liaison Services, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria; Dafwang, I.I., National Animal Production Research Institute, Ahmadu Bello University, Shika, Zaria, Nigeria; Adeyinka, I.A., National Animal Production Research Institute, Ahmadu Bello University, Shika, Zaria, Nigeria; Oni, O.O., National Animal Production Research Institute, Ahmadu Bello University, Shika, Zaria, Nigeria; Abeke, A., National Animal Production Research Institute, Ahmadu Bello University, Shika, Zaria, Nigeria | The lablab seeds were cooked for 30 min, sundried for three days and thereafter milled and incorporated into chickens' diets. Six treatments, comprising of six dietary levels of lablab at 0.0, 7.5, 15.0, 22.5, 30.0 and 37.5%, respectively was fed during the grower's phase. Results obtained for the growers phase indicate that final weight (g/bird), weight gain (g/bird) and feed cost (N kg-1) decreased significantly (p<0.05) as the level of lablab increased in the diet. Feed intake (g/bird and g/bird/day) as well as feed cost (N/bird) and total cost (N/bird) also decreased significantly (p<0.05) as the level of lablab increased in the diet up to 22.5% inclusion level before increasing as the level of lablab in the diets continued to increase. The level of lablab in the diet had no effect on mortality throughout the experimental period. In addition haematological parameters such as Packed Cell Volume (PCV), Haemoglobin (Hb) and Total Protein (TP) were not significantly (p<0.05) affected by feeding diets containing graded levels of cooked lablab beans to pullets. Results obtained during the laying phase indicates that feeding lablab seed meal up to 22.5% in the diets at the growers stage had no significant adverse effect (p<0.05) on final weight, feed intake, feed efficiency, percent henday and henhoused egg production, percent production at peak, kilogramme feed per twelve eggs, feed cost per twelve eggs, Haugh Unit and yolk index. However, age of birds at first egg, age at 50% production and age at peak egg production were increased significantly (p>0.05) with increase in the level of lablab seed meal in the growers diets. © 2007 Asian Network for Scientific Information. | Beans; Chicken diets; Egg production; Lablab purpureus | animal; animal food; article; chemistry; chicken; cooking; eating; egg; female; growth, development and aging; legume; metabolism; weight gain; Animal Feed; Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Animals; Chickens; Cookery; Eating; Eggs; Fabaceae; Female; Weight Gain; Aves; Gallus gallus; Lablab; Lablab purpureus | None |
| None | None | Design, implementation and evaluation of a national campaign to distribute nine million free LLINs to children under five years of age in Tanzania | Bonner K., Mwita A., McElroy P.D., Omari S., Mzava A., Lengeler C., Kaspar N., Nathan R., Ngegba J., Mtung'E R., Brown N. | 2011 | Malaria Journal | 10 | None | 10.1186/1475-2875-10-73 | National Malaria Control Programme, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, PO Box 9083, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; President's Malaria Initiative, American Embassy, PO Box 9123, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; ITN Cell, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, PO Box 3430, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Health Interventions Unit, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, PO Box 4002, Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland; Ifakara Health Institute, PO Box 78373, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; World Vision Tanzania, PO Box 6399, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Population Services International, PO Box 33500, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania | Bonner, K., National Malaria Control Programme, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, PO Box 9083, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Mwita, A., National Malaria Control Programme, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, PO Box 9083, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; McElroy, P.D., President's Malaria Initiative, American Embassy, PO Box 9123, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Omari, S., National Malaria Control Programme, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, PO Box 9083, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, ITN Cell, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, PO Box 3430, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Mzava, A., National Malaria Control Programme, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, PO Box 9083, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, ITN Cell, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, PO Box 3430, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Lengeler, C., Health Interventions Unit, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, PO Box 4002, Basel, Switzerland, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland; Kaspar, N., President's Malaria Initiative, American Embassy, PO Box 9123, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Nathan, R., Ifakara Health Institute, PO Box 78373, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Ngegba, J., World Vision Tanzania, PO Box 6399, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Mtung'E, R., Population Services International, PO Box 33500, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Brown, N., National Malaria Control Programme, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, PO Box 9083, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, ITN Cell, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, PO Box 3430, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania | Background: After a national voucher scheme in 2004 provided pregnant women and infants with highly subsidized insecticide-treated nets (ITNs), use among children under five years (U5s) in mainland Tanzania increased from 16% in 2004 to 26.2% in 2007. In 2008, the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare planned a catch-up campaign to rapidly and equitably deliver a free long-lasting insecticidal net (LLIN) to every child under five years in Tanzania. Methods. The ITN Cell, a unit within the National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP), coordinated the campaign on behalf of the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare. Government contractors trained and facilitated local government officials to supervise village-level volunteers on a registration of all U5s and the distribution and issuing of LLINs. The registration results formed the basis for the LLIN order and delivery to village level. Caregivers brought their registration coupons to village issuing posts during a three-day period where they received LLINs for their U5s. Household surveys in five districts assessed ITN ownership and use immediately after the campaign. Results: Nine donors contributed to the national campaign that purchased and distributed 9.0 million LLINs at an average cost of $7.07 per LLIN, including all campaign-associated activities. The campaign covered all eight zones of mainland Tanzania, the first region being covered separately during an integrated measles immunization/malaria LLIN distribution in August 2008, and was implemented one zone at a time from March 2009 until May 2010. ITN ownership at household level increased from Tanzania's 2008 national average of 45.7% to 63.4%, with significant regional variations. ITN use among U5s increased from 28.8% to 64.1%, a 2.2-fold increase, with increases ranging from 22.1-38.3% percentage points in different regions. Conclusion: A national-level LLIN distribution strategy that fully engaged local government authorities helped avoid additional burden on the healthcare system. Distribution costs per net were comparable to other public health interventions. Particularly among rural residents, ITN ownership and use increased significantly for the intended beneficiaries. The upcoming universal LLIN distribution and further behaviour change communication will further improve ITN ownership and use in 2010-2011. © 2011 Bonner et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | None | measles vaccine; article; bed net; caregiver; child care; financial management; government; health care cost; health care planning; health program; health survey; human; immunization; long lasting insecticidal net; malaria; measles; prevalence; registration; Tanzania; bed; economics; evaluation; female; health care policy; health care survey; instrumentation; malaria; methodology; mosquito; organization and management; preschool child; Tanzania; utilization review; Bedding and Linens; Child, Preschool; Female; Health Care Surveys; Health Policy; Humans; Insecticide-Treated Bednets; Malaria; Mosquito Control; Ownership; Tanzania | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33745047510 | Performance measures reflecting impact of the Workplace Challenge Programme | Sebego C. | 2006 | Measuring Business Excellence | 10 | 2 | 10.1108/13683040610668693 | National Productivity Institute, Midrand, South Africa | Sebego, C., National Productivity Institute, Midrand, South Africa | Purpose - The paper aims to examine the impact of the Workplace Challenge (WPC) Programme within the National Productivity Institute (NPI), which is a supply-side initiative of the Department of Trade & Industry (DTI) and established to meet the competitive challenges presented by South Africa's re-entry into the global market. It aims to encourage government, business and labour to participate in a consultative process, to improve the performance of local industry. Disparties exisat between the variables that are being measured under the dimensions of Quality, Speed, Cost and Morale at all levels (i.e. cluster, region and national), and as such, the results cannot be aggregated together to determine an overall impact. The common measures will assist with providing valid and reliable reporting to the DTI. Design/methodology/approach - Ten companies were randomly selected out of a total population of about 120 companies participating in the WPC for interviews and discussions about the topic. Findings - It became evident during data collection that most companies do not align the green area measurements with the overall business objectives. A better way to integrate WPC impact into the company strategies is needed to present a cohesive picture all the time. The research indicated that the broad WPC objectives exists in terms of increased employee and customer satisfaction could be achieved. Employee satisfaction is achieved by: improved management decision making (effectiveness), because WPC change management process encourages consultation of the floor workers; involvement and consultation in turn leads to improved motivation/morale of the workers. Customer satisfaction is achieved by: improved product efficiency results in good quality benefits, and improved process efficiency results in good delivery and lower costs. Practical implications - The outcome of this research will be used to provide a clear and practical guideline for implementation of properly designed performance measurements in order to report productivity improvement resulting from the WPC programme. By doing this, we are also assisting the companies to assess the true benefits of joining the programme. The author's view is that, this rule of thumb should be followed when reporting on the measures: the goal must be to strive for adequate but valid measures instead of highly accurate but invalid measures. Research limitations/implications - The research focuses only on the NPI's WPC Programme. The key strategies for best operating practice will be used as the reference for determining world-class performance. The research does not assess the role of the organisational leadership and the company strategies, nor take the duration of companies on the WPC Programme into account. Originality/;value - This is the first opportunity in the WPC to investigate the uniform measures that would indicate the impact of the programme on the participating companies reliably. In the author's view, this research paper provides the platform and a guide for an informed dialogue on elevating the issues to a common level, describing the real constraints, the factors that must be considered when determining common performance measures and a sensible approach to a complex topic. © Emerald Group Publishing Limited. | Best practice; Cost effectiveness; Operations management; Performance measures; Productivity rate; Waste minimization | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84883733820 | The performance of children prenatally exposed to HIV on the A-not-B task in Kilifi, Kenya: A preliminary study | Abubakar A., Holding P., Van Baar A., Newton C.R.J.C., Van de Vijver F.J.R., Espy K.A. | 2013 | International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health | 10 | 9 | 10.3390/ijerph10094132 | Neuroassessment, Centre for Geographic Medicine Research, Box 230, Kilifi 80108, Kenya; Department of Cross-Cultural Psychology, Tilburg University, P.O. Box 90153, Tilburg 5000 LE, Netherlands; Child and Adolescent Studies, Utrecht University, P.O. Box 80125, Utrecht 3508 TC, Netherlands; International Centre for Behavioral Studies, P.O. Box 34307, Mombasa 80118, Kenya; Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7JX, United Kingdom; Department of Cross-Cultural Psychology, Tilburg University, P.O. Box 90153, Tilburg 5000 LE, Netherlands; Department of Psychology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, United States | Abubakar, A., Neuroassessment, Centre for Geographic Medicine Research, Box 230, Kilifi 80108, Kenya, Department of Cross-Cultural Psychology, Tilburg University, P.O. Box 90153, Tilburg 5000 LE, Netherlands, Child and Adolescent Studies, Utrecht University, P.O. Box 80125, Utrecht 3508 TC, Netherlands; Holding, P., Neuroassessment, Centre for Geographic Medicine Research, Box 230, Kilifi 80108, Kenya, International Centre for Behavioral Studies, P.O. Box 34307, Mombasa 80118, Kenya; Van Baar, A., Child and Adolescent Studies, Utrecht University, P.O. Box 80125, Utrecht 3508 TC, Netherlands; Newton, C.R.J.C., Neuroassessment, Centre for Geographic Medicine Research, Box 230, Kilifi 80108, Kenya, Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7JX, United Kingdom; Van de Vijver, F.J.R., Department of Cross-Cultural Psychology, Tilburg University, P.O. Box 90153, Tilburg 5000 LE, Netherlands; Espy, K.A., Department of Psychology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, United States | The aim of the study was to investigate early executive functioning in young children from 6-35 months of age. The study involved 319 randomly selected children from the community, 17 HIV exposed but uninfected children and 31 HIV infected ARV-naive children. A variation of the A-not-B task was used. While there were no group differences in total correct, perseverative errors, nor maximum error run, a significant percentage of children were unable to complete the task as a consequence of the children becoming overtly distressed or refusing to continue. In a multivariate analysis we observed that the significant predictors of non-completion were HIV exposure (both infected and exposed) and being under 24 months of age. These patterns of results indicate that future work with a broader array of tasks need to look at the association of HIV and EF tasks and potential contribution of factors such as emotion regulation, persistence and motivation on performance on EF tasks. © 2013 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. | A-not-B task; Children; Executive functions; HIV; Kenya | child development; cognition; human immunodeficiency virus; infectious disease; multivariate analysis; vertical transmission; A not B task; article; body weight; child; clinical article; community; controlled study; cross-sectional study; education; executive function; female; human; Human immunodeficiency virus; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; infant; Kenya; male; measurement error; prenatal exposure; preschool child; task performance; Coast Province; Kenya; Kilifi; Child, Preschool; Executive Function; Female; HIV; HIV Infections; Humans; Infant; Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; Kenya; Maternal-Fetal Exchange; Neuropsychological Tests; Pregnancy; Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects | None |
| WoS | WOS:000291851000001 | Two-year evaluation of Intermittent Preventive Treatment for Children (IPTc) combined with timely home treatment for malaria control in Ghana | Ahorlu, Collins K.,Koram, Kwadwo A.,Seake-Kwawu, Atsu,Weiss, Mitchell G. | 2011 | MALARIA JOURNAL | 10 | None | 10.1186/1475-2875-10-127 | Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Basel, University of Ghana, Keta Dist Hlth Management Team, Swiss Tropical & Public Health Institute | "Ahorlu, Collins K.: Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research","Ahorlu, Collins K.: University of Ghana","Koram, Kwadwo A.: Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research","Koram, Kwadwo A.: University of Ghana","Weiss, Mitchell G.: University of Basel", | Background: Intermittent preventive treatment (IPT) has recently been accepted as an important component of the malaria control strategy. Intermittent preventive treatment for children (IPTc) combined with timely treatment of malaria related febrile illness at home to reduce parasite prevalence and malaria morbidity in children aged between six and 60 months in a coastal community in Ghana. This paper reports persistence of reduced parasitaemia two years into the intervention. The baseline and year-one-evaluation findings were published earlier.
Objective: The main objective in the second year was to demonstrate whether the two interventions would further reduce parasite prevalence and malaria-related febrile illness in the study population.
Methods: This was an intervention study designed to compare baseline and evaluation findings without a control group. The study combined home-based delivery of intermittent preventive treatment for children (IPTc) aged 6 - 60 months and home treatment of suspected febrile malaria-related illness within 24 hours. All children aged 6 - 60 months received home-based delivery of intermittent preventive treatment using amodiaquine + artesunate, delivered at home by community assistants every four months (6 times in 24 months). Malaria parasite prevalence surveys were conducted before the first and after the third and sixth IPTc to the children. The evaluation surveys were done four months after the third and sixth IPTc was given.
Results: Parasite prevalence which reduced from 25% to 3.0% at year-one evaluation had reduced further from 3% to 1% at year-two-evaluation. At baseline, 13.8% of the children were febrile (axilary temperature of >= 37.5 degrees C) compared to 2.2% at year-one-evaluation while 2.1% were febrile at year-two-evaluation.
Conclusion: The year-two-evaluation result indicates that IPTc given three times in a year (every four months) combined with timely treatment of febrile malaria illness, is effective to reduce malaria parasite prevalence in children aged 6 to 60 months in the study community. This must give hope to malaria control programme managers in sub-Saharan Africa where the burden of the disease is most debilitating. | ,AFRICA,ANEMIA,DELIVERY,INFANTS,"PLACEBO-CONTROLLED TRIAL",RANDOMIZED-TRIAL,"ROUTINE VACCINATIONS","SOUTHERN GHANA",SULFADOXINE-PYRIMETHAMINE,TRANSMISSION | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84926365570 | Evaluation of two influenza surveillance systems in South Africa | Budgell E., Cohen A.L., McAnerney J., Walaza S., Madhi S.A., Blumberg L., Dawood H., Kahn K., Tempia S., Venter M., Cohen C. | 2015 | PLoS ONE | 10 | 3 | 10.1371/journal.pone.0120226 | Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom; Influenza Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, United States; Influenza Program, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa; Centre for Respiratory Diseases and Meningitis, National Institute for Communicable Diseases of the National Health Laboratory Services, Johannesburg, South Africa; Department of Science and Technology/National Research Foundation:Vaccine-Preventable Diseases, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Department of Medicine, Pietermaritzburg Metropolitan Hospital Complex and University of KwaZulu Natal, South Africa; MRC/Wits Rural Public Health and Health Transitions Research Unit (Agincourt), School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Johannesburg, South Africa; CTS Global, Inc., Los Angeles, United States; Zoonoses Research Unit, Department of Medical Virology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa; Schools of Public Health and Pathology, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa | Budgell, E., Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom, Centre for Respiratory Diseases and Meningitis, National Institute for Communicable Diseases of the National Health Laboratory Services, Johannesburg, South Africa; Cohen, A.L., Influenza Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, United States, Influenza Program, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa; McAnerney, J., Centre for Respiratory Diseases and Meningitis, National Institute for Communicable Diseases of the National Health Laboratory Services, Johannesburg, South Africa; Walaza, S., Centre for Respiratory Diseases and Meningitis, National Institute for Communicable Diseases of the National Health Laboratory Services, Johannesburg, South Africa; Madhi, S.A., Centre for Respiratory Diseases and Meningitis, National Institute for Communicable Diseases of the National Health Laboratory Services, Johannesburg, South Africa, Department of Science and Technology/National Research Foundation:Vaccine-Preventable Diseases, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Blumberg, L., Centre for Respiratory Diseases and Meningitis, National Institute for Communicable Diseases of the National Health Laboratory Services, Johannesburg, South Africa; Dawood, H., Department of Medicine, Pietermaritzburg Metropolitan Hospital Complex and University of KwaZulu Natal, South Africa; Kahn, K., MRC/Wits Rural Public Health and Health Transitions Research Unit (Agincourt), School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Johannesburg, South Africa; Tempia, S., Influenza Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, United States, Influenza Program, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa, CTS Global, Inc., Los Angeles, United States; Venter, M., Centre for Respiratory Diseases and Meningitis, National Institute for Communicable Diseases of the National Health Laboratory Services, Johannesburg, South Africa, Zoonoses Research Unit, Department of Medical Virology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa; Cohen, C., Centre for Respiratory Diseases and Meningitis, National Institute for Communicable Diseases of the National Health Laboratory Services, Johannesburg, South Africa, Schools of Public Health and Pathology, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa | Background: The World Health Organisation recommends outpatient influenza-like illness (ILI) and inpatient severe acute respiratory illness (SARI) surveillance. We evaluated two influenza surveillance systems in South Africa: one for ILI and another for SARI. Methodology: The Viral Watch (VW) programme has collected virological influenza surveillance data voluntarily from patients with ILI since 1984 in private and public clinics in all 9 South African provinces. The SARI surveillance programme has collected epidemiological and virological influenza surveillance data since 2009 in public hospitals in 4 provinces by dedicated personnel. We compared nine surveillance system attributes from 2009-2012. Results: We analysed data from 18,293 SARI patients and 9,104 ILI patients. The annual proportion of samples testing positive for influenza was higher for VW (mean 41%) than SARI (mean 8%) and generally exceeded the seasonal threshold from May to September (VW: weeks 21-40; SARI: weeks 23-39). Data quality was a major strength of SARI (most data completion measures >90%; adherence to definitions: 88-89%) and a relative weakness of the VW programme (62% of forms complete, with limited epidemiologic data collected; adherence to definitions: 65-82%). Timeliness was a relative strength of both systems (e.g. both collected >93% of all respiratory specimens within 7 days of symptom onset). ILI surveillance was more nationally representative, financially sustainable and expandable than the SARI system. Though the SARI programme is not nationally representative, the high quality and detail of SARI data collection sheds light on the local burden and epidemiology of severe influenza-associated disease. Conclusions: To best monitor influenza in South Africa, we propose that both ILI and SARI should be under surveillance. Improving ILI surveillance will require better quality and more systematic data collection, and SARI surveillance should be expanded to be more nationally representative, even if this requires scaling back on information gathered. © 2015, Public Library of Science. All rights reserved. | None | Article; controlled study; disease surveillance; flu like syndrome; health survey; human; influenza; major clinical study; program acceptability; seasonal variation; sensitivity and specificity; severe acute respiratory syndrome; South Africa; strain identification; system analysis; virus strain | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84859187717 | Exploring the impacts of social networking sites on academic relations in the university | Rambe P. | 2011 | Journal of Information Technology Education:Research | 10 | 1 | None | Office of International Academic Programmes, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa | Rambe, P., Office of International Academic Programmes, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa | Social networking sites (SNS) affordances for persistent interaction, collective generation of knowledge, and formation of peer-based clusters for knowledge sharing render them useful for developing constructivist knowledge environments. However, notwithstanding their academic value, these environments are not necessarily insulated from the exercise of academic/ power. Despite a growing corpus of literature on SNS's capacity to enhance social capital formation, foster trust, and connect interactants in remote locations, there is a dearth of research on how SNS potentially leverages academic /power relations in university settings. Mindful of the unsubstantiated nexus between power relations, knowledge construction, and academic appropriation of SNS, unraveling the impact of SNS on lecturer-student and student-peer power relations in the university can illuminate the understanding of this academic connection/puzzle. This work employs Critical Theory of Technology (CTT) and virtual case study method to explore the influence of SNS use on power relations of lecturers, students, and their peers in a blended (Facebook-enhanced) Information Technology course at a middle-sized South African university. The findings demonstrate that academic appropriation of SNS differentially empower academics and students at different times, and students employ various forms of sophisticated authorial language to territorialise power in their interactions with lecturers and peers. Academics and instructional designers are urged to examine different forms of language employed in lecturer-student and student-peer discourses to grasp student learning needs and to foster meaningful, knowledge-rich learning environments. | Academic relations; Critical theory of technology; Differential power; Meaningful learning; Social networking sites | Academic relations; Affordances; Differential power; Instructional designer; Knowledge construction; Knowledge environment; Knowledge-sharing; Learning environments; Meaningful learning; Power relations; Remote location; Social capitals; Social networking sites; Student learning; Study methods; Engineering education; Information technology; Social sciences computing; Students; Teaching; Social networking (online) | None |
| None | None | The economic impact of malignant catarrhal fever on pastoralist livelihoods | Lankester F., Lugelo A., Kazwala R., Keyyu J., Cleaveland S., Yoder J. | 2015 | PLoS ONE | 10 | 1 | 10.1371/journal.pone.0116059 | Paul G. Allen School for Global Animal Health, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, United States; Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania; Tanzanian Wildlife Research Institute, Arusha, Tanzania; School of Economics, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, United States | Lankester, F., Paul G. Allen School for Global Animal Health, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, United States, Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom; Lugelo, A., Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania; Kazwala, R., Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania; Keyyu, J., Tanzanian Wildlife Research Institute, Arusha, Tanzania; Cleaveland, S., Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom; Yoder, J., School of Economics, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, United States | This study is the first to partially quantify the potential economic benefits that a vaccine, effective at protecting cattle against malignant catarrhal fever (MCF), could accrue to pastoralists living in East Africa. The benefits would result from the removal of household resource and management costs that are traditionally incurred avoiding the disease. MCF, a fatal disease of cattle caused by a virus transmitted from wildebeest calves, has plagued Maasai communities in East Africa for generations. The threat of the disease forces the Maasai to move cattle to less productive grazing areas to avoid wildebeest during calving season when forage quality is critical. To assess the management and resource costs associated with moving, we used household survey data. To estimate the costs associated with changes in livestock body condition that result from being herded away from wildebeest calving grounds, we exploited an ongoing MCF vaccine field trial and we used a hedonic price regression, a statistical model that allows estimation of the marginal contribution of a good's attributes to its market price. We found that 90 percent of households move, on average, 82 percent of all cattle away from home to avoid MCF. In doing so, a herd's productive contributions to the household was reduced, with 64 percent of milk being unavailable for sale or consumption by the family members remaining at the boma (the children, women, and the elderly). In contrast cattle that remained on the wildebeest calving grounds during the calving season (and survived MCF) remained fully productive to the family and gained body condition compared to cattle that moved away. This gain was, however, short-lived. We estimated the market value of these condition gains and losses using hedonic regression. The value of a vaccine for MCF is the removal of the costs incurred in avoiding the disease. © 2015 Lankester et al. | None | Africa; age; Article; body constitution; Bovinae; cattle farming; controlled study; economic evaluation; female; gender; heart weight; heifer; high risk population; human; income; infection control; infection risk; livestock; male; malignant catarrhal fever; marketing; milk production; nonhuman; pasture; resource management; vaccination; Bos | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84956597471 | Decreasing the burden of type 2 diabetes in South Africa: The impact of taxing sugar-sweetened beverages | Manyema M., Veerman J.L., Chola L., Tugendhaft A., Labadarios D., Hofman K. | 2015 | PLoS ONE | 10 | 11 | 10.1371/journal.pone.0143050 | PRICELESS SA-MRC/Wits Rural Public Health and Health Transitions Research Unit (Agincourt), School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; School of Public Health, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia; Population Health, Health Systems and Innovation (PHHSI), Human Sciences Research Council, Capetown, South Africa | Manyema, M., PRICELESS SA-MRC/Wits Rural Public Health and Health Transitions Research Unit (Agincourt), School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Veerman, J.L., School of Public Health, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia; Chola, L., PRICELESS SA-MRC/Wits Rural Public Health and Health Transitions Research Unit (Agincourt), School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Tugendhaft, A., PRICELESS SA-MRC/Wits Rural Public Health and Health Transitions Research Unit (Agincourt), School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Labadarios, D., Population Health, Health Systems and Innovation (PHHSI), Human Sciences Research Council, Capetown, South Africa; Hofman, K., PRICELESS SA-MRC/Wits Rural Public Health and Health Transitions Research Unit (Agincourt), School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa | Introduction Type 2 diabetes poses an increasing public health burden in South Africa (SA) with obesity as the main driver of the epidemic. Consumption of sugar sweetened beverages (SSBs) is linked to weight gain and reducing SSB consumption may significantly impact the prevalence of obesity and related diseases. We estimated the effect of a 20% SSB tax on the burden of diabetes in SA. Methods and Findings We constructed a life table-based model in Microsoft Excel (2010). Consumption data from the 2012 SA National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, previously published own- and cross-price elasticities of SSBs and energy balance equations were used to estimate changes in daily energy intake and its projected impact on BMI arising from increased SSB prices. Diabetes relative risk and prevalent years lived with disability estimates fromthe Global Burden of Disease Study andmodelled disease epidemiology estimates from a previous study were used to estimate the effect of the BMI changes on diabetes burden. Diabetes cost estimates were obtained from the South African Council forMedical Schemes. Over 20 years, a 20% SSB tax could reduce diabetes incident cases by 106 000 in women (95%uncertainty interval (UI) 70 000-142 000) and by 54 000 inmen (95%UI: 33 000-80 000); and prevalence in all adults by 4.0% (95% UI: 2.7%-5.3%). Cumulatively over twenty years, approximately 21 000 (95%UI: 14 000-29 000) adult T2DM-related deaths, 374 000 DALYs attributed to T2DM (95%UI: 299 000-463 000) and over ZAR10 billion T2DM healthcare costs (95%UI: ZAR6.8-14.0 billion) equivalent to USD860 million (95%UI: USD570 million-USD1.2 billion) may be averted. Conclusion Fiscal policy on SSBs has the potential tomitigate the diabetes epidemic in South Africa and contribute to the National Department of Health goals stated in the National NCD strategic plan. © 2015 Manyema et al.This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. | None | Article; beverage; body mass; caloric intake; cost of illness; disability; disability adjusted life year; epidemic; health care concepts; health care cost; incidence; life table method; life years gained; mortality; non insulin dependent diabetes mellitus; prevalence; sensitivity analysis; South Africa; sugar sweetened beverage; tax | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79955832040 | Palliative care making a difference in rural Uganda, Kenya and Malawi: Three rapid evaluation field studies | Grant L., Brown J., Leng M., Bettega N., Murray S.A. | 2011 | BMC Palliative Care | 10 | None | 10.1186/1472-684X-10-8 | Primary Palliative Care Research Group, Medical School, University of Edinburgh, Teviot Place, Edinburgh EH8 9AG, United Kingdom; Eastern Virginia Medical School, 431 New Hampshire Avenue, Norfolk, VA 23508, United States; Cairdeas International Palliative Care Trust and Head of Palliative Care, Mulago Hospital and Makerere University, C/o Hospice Africa Uganda, PO BOX 7757, Kampala, Uganda; 44c Sussex Way, London, N7 6RS, United Kingdom | Grant, L., Primary Palliative Care Research Group, Medical School, University of Edinburgh, Teviot Place, Edinburgh EH8 9AG, United Kingdom; Brown, J., Eastern Virginia Medical School, 431 New Hampshire Avenue, Norfolk, VA 23508, United States; Leng, M., Cairdeas International Palliative Care Trust and Head of Palliative Care, Mulago Hospital and Makerere University, C/o Hospice Africa Uganda, PO BOX 7757, Kampala, Uganda; Bettega, N., 44c Sussex Way, London, N7 6RS, United Kingdom; Murray, S.A., Primary Palliative Care Research Group, Medical School, University of Edinburgh, Teviot Place, Edinburgh EH8 9AG, United Kingdom | Background: Many people live and die in pain in Africa. We set out to describe patient, family and local community perspectives on the impact of three community based palliative care interventions in sub-Saharan Africa. Methods: Three palliative care programmes in Uganda, Kenya and Malawi were studied using rapid evaluation field techniques in each country, triangulating data from three sources: interviews with key informants, observations of clinical encounters and the local health and social care context, and routine data from local reports and statistics. Results: We interviewed 33 patients with advanced illness, 27 family carers, 36 staff, 25 volunteers, and 29 community leaders and observed clinical care of 12 patients. In each site, oral morphine was being used effectively. Patients valued being treated with dignity and respect. Being supported at home reduced physical, emotional and financial burden of travel to, and care at health facilities. Practical support and instruction in feeding and bathing patients facilitated good deaths at home. In each country mobile phones enabled rapid access to clinical and social support networks. Staff and volunteers generally reported that caring for the dying in the face of poverty was stressful, but also rewarding, with resilience fostered by having effective analgesia, and community support networks. Conclusions: Programmes were reported to be successful because they integrated symptom control with practical and emotional care, education, and spiritual care. Holistic palliative care can be delivered effectively in the face of poverty, but a public health approach is needed to ensure equitable provision. © 2011 Grant et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | None | morphine; analgesia; article; bath; care and caring; caregiver; death; evaluation; family; feeding; female; finance; health care facility; home; human; human dignity; interview; Kenya; major clinical study; Malawi; male; mobile phone; observation; palliative therapy; poverty; reward; social care; social support; spiritual care; Uganda | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84929497624 | Low parasitemia in submicroscopic infections significantly impacts malaria diagnostic sensitivity in the highlands of Western Kenya | Lo E., Zhou G., Oo W., Afrane Y., Githeko A., Yan G. | 2015 | PLoS ONE | 10 | 3 | 10.1371/journal.pone.0121763 | Program in Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of California at Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States; Centre for Vector Biology and Control Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kisumu, Kenya | Lo, E., Program in Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of California at Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States; Zhou, G., Program in Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of California at Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States; Oo, W., Program in Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of California at Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States; Afrane, Y., Centre for Vector Biology and Control Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kisumu, Kenya; Githeko, A., Centre for Vector Biology and Control Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kisumu, Kenya; Yan, G., Program in Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of California at Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States | Asymptomatic malaria infections represent a major challenge in malaria control and elimination in Africa. They are reservoirs of malaria parasite that can contribute to disease transmission. Therefore, identification and control of asymptomatic infections are important to make malaria elimination feasible. In this study, we investigated the extent and distribution of asymptomatic malaria in Western Kenya and examined how varying parasitemia affects performance of diagnostic methods including microscopy, conventional PCR, and quantitative PCR. In addition, we compared parasite prevalence rates and parasitemia levels with respect to topography and age in order to explore factors that influence malaria infection. Over 11,000 asymptomatic blood samples from children and adolescents up to 18 years old representing broad areas of Western Kenya were included. Quantitative PCR revealed the highest parasite positive rate among all methods and malaria prevalence in western Kenya varied widely from less than 1% to over 50%. A significantly lower parasitemia was detected in highland than in lowland samples and this contrast was also observed primarily among submicroscopic samples. Although we found no correlation between parasitemia level and age, individuals of younger age group (aged <14) showed significantly higher parasite prevalence. In the lowlands, individuals of aged 5-14 showed significantly higher prevalence than those under age 5. Our findings highlight the need for a more sensitive and time-efficient assay for asymptomatic malaria detection particularly in areas of low-transmission. Combining QPCR with microscopy can enhance the capacity of detecting submicroscopic asymptomatic malaria infections. © 2015 Lo et al. | None | adolescent; adult; age; Article; child; controlled study; diagnostic test accuracy study; disease severity; disease transmission; false negative result; gender; gene dosage; human; intermethod comparison; Kenya; limit of detection; malaria falciparum; microscopy; parasite load; polymerase chain reaction; prevalence; quantitative analysis; school child; sensitivity and specificity | D43TW001505, NIH, National Institutes of Health; R01 A1050243, NIH, National Institutes of Health; R01AI094580, NIH, National Institutes of Health |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84933035582 | Earth observation in support of malaria control and epidemiology: MALAREO monitoring approaches | Franke J., Gebreslasie M., Bauwens I., Deleu J., Siegert F. | 2015 | Geospatial Health | 10 | 1 | 10.4081/gh.2015.335 | Remote Sensing Solutions GmbH, Baierbrunn, Germany; School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; Nazka mapps bvba, Hever, United Kingdom; EUROSENSE, Wemmel, Belgium; Biology Department II, GeoBioCenter, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Planegg, Germany | Franke, J., Remote Sensing Solutions GmbH, Baierbrunn, Germany; Gebreslasie, M., School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; Bauwens, I., Nazka mapps bvba, Hever, United Kingdom; Deleu, J., EUROSENSE, Wemmel, Belgium; Siegert, F., Remote Sensing Solutions GmbH, Baierbrunn, Germany, Biology Department II, GeoBioCenter, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Planegg, Germany | Malaria affects about half of the world’s population, with the vast majority of cases occuring in Africa. National malaria control programmes aim to reduce the burden of malaria and its negative, socioeconomic effects by using various control strategies (e.g. vector control, environmental management and case tracking). Vector control is the most effective transmission prevention strategy, while environmental factors are the key parameters affecting transmission. Geographic information systems (GIS), earth observation (EO) and spatial modelling are increasingly being recognised as valuable tools for effective management and malaria vector control. Issues previously inhibiting the use of EO in epidemiology and malaria control such as poor satellite sensor performance, high costs and long turnaround times, have since been resolved through modern technology. The core goal of this study was to develop and implement the capabilities of EO data for national malaria control programmes in South Africa, Swaziland and Mozambique. High- and very high resolution (HR and VHR) land cover and wetland maps were generated for the identification of potential vector habitats and human activities, as well as geoinformation on distance to wetlands for malaria risk modelling, population density maps, habitat foci maps and VHR household maps. These products were further used for modelling malaria incidence and the analysis of environmental factors that favour vector breeding. Geoproducts were also transferred to the staff of national malaria control programmes in seven African countries to demonstrate how EO data and GIS can support vector control strategy planning and monitoring. The transferred EO products support better epidemiological understanding of environmental factors related to malaria transmission, and allow for spatio-temporal targeting of malaria control interventions, thereby improving the cost-effectiveness of interventions. © Copyright M. Eckardt et al. | Disease monitoring; Health; Malaria risk; Remote sensing; Vector control | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84862227694 | Impacts of maize intercropping with ryegrass and alfalfa on environment in fields with nitrogen fertilizer over-dose | Nie S.-W., Chen Y.-Q., Egrinya E.A., Sui P., Huang J.-X. | 2012 | Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment | 10 | 2 | None | Research Center of Circular Agriculture, China Agriculture University, Beijing 100193, China; National Soil Fertility, Fertilizer Effects long-term Monitoring Net work-Zhengzhou Fluvo-aquic Stn, Key Field Scientific Observation Station of Zhengzhou Fluvo- | Nie, S.-W., Research Center of Circular Agriculture, China Agriculture University, Beijing 100193, China, National Soil Fertility, Fertilizer Effects long-term Monitoring Net work-Zhengzhou Fluvo-aquic Stn, Key Field Scientific Observation Station of Zhengzhou Fluvo-aquic Soils Ecology Environment, Ministry of Agrl, Inst of Plant nutrient and Environmental Resources, Henan Academy of Agrl Sci, Zhengzhou 450002, China; Chen, Y.-Q., Research Center of Circular Agriculture, China Agriculture University, Beijing 100193, China; Egrinya, E.A., Department of Soil Science Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry and Wildlife Resources Management, University of Calabar, Nigeria; Sui, P., Research Center of Circular Agriculture, China Agriculture University, Beijing 100193, China; Huang, J.-X., Research Center of Circular Agriculture, China Agriculture University, Beijing 100193, China | Accumulation of nitrate in soil increases the risk of nitrate leaching and hence ground water nitrate pollution. The impact of maize intercropping with ryegrass and alfalfa on environment in farming systems has been little studied in China. Using the life cycle assessment (LCA) method, we analyzed the effects of different cropping systems (sole maize (CK), maize + ryegrass (CRT), and maize + alfalfa (CAT)) on the environment. The comprehensive index of environmental impacts varied in the order, sole maiz>maize + ryegrass>maize + alfalfa, with corresponding values of 0.1421, 0.1353 and 0.1299, respectively. The results showed that intercropping maize with alfalfa and ryegrass could reduce the adverse effects of over- application of nitrogen fertilizer on the environment. The study further demonstrated that the LCA method may be a convenient and effective approach for analyzing the environmental impact of fertilizer management in agricultural fields. | Environment impact; Intercropping; Life cycle assessment; Nitrogen fertilizer | nitrogen fertilizer; pesticide; acidification; alfalfa; article; controlled study; cropping system; ecotoxicity; environmental impact; eutrophication; fertilizer application; field study; greenhouse effect; human; intercropping; life cycle assessment; Lolium; maize; nonhuman; plant seed; soil pollution; water pollution | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84942921309 | JMS: An open source workflow management system and web-based cluster front-end for high performance computing | Brown D.K., Penkler D.L., Musyoka T.M., Bishop O.T. | 2015 | PLoS ONE | 10 | 8 | 10.1371/journal.pone.0134273 | Research Unit in Bioinformatics (RUBi), Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa | Brown, D.K., Research Unit in Bioinformatics (RUBi), Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa; Penkler, D.L., Research Unit in Bioinformatics (RUBi), Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa; Musyoka, T.M., Research Unit in Bioinformatics (RUBi), Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa; Bishop, O.T., Research Unit in Bioinformatics (RUBi), Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa | Complex computational pipelines are becoming a staple of modern scientific research. Often these pipelines are resource intensive and require days of computing time. In such cases, it makes sense to run them over high performance computing (HPC) clusters where they can take advantage of the aggregated resources of many powerful computers. In addition to this, researchers often want to integrate their workflows into their own web servers. In these cases, software is needed to manage the submission of jobs from the web interface to the cluster and then return the results once the job has finished executing. We have developed the Job Management System (JMS), a workflow management system and web interface for high performance computing (HPC). JMS provides users with a user-friendly web interface for creating complex workflows with multiple stages. It integrates this workflow functionality with the resource manager, a tool that is used to control and manage batch jobs on HPC clusters. As such, JMS combines workflow management functionality with cluster administration functionality. In addition, JMS provides developer tools including a code editor and the ability to version tools and scripts. JMS can be used by researchers from any field to build and run complex computational pipelines and provides functionality to include these pipelines in external interfaces. JMS is currently being used to house a number of bioinformatics pipelines at the Research Unit in Bioinformatics (RUBi) at Rhodes University. JMS is an open-source project and is freely available at https://github.com/RUBi-ZA/JMS. © 2015 Brown et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. | None | analytical parameters; Article; bioinformatics; cluster analysis; computer interface; computer program; data base; high performance computing cluster; information processing; Job Management System; mathematical computing; resource management; scientist; web browser; work environment; workflow | 93690, National Research Foundation |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-35948957044 | Tillage effects on growth performance of Hevea seedling rootstock and some fertility indices of sandy acid soil in the humid forest area of Nigeria | Okore I.K., Akpobome F.A., Tijani-Eniola H., Oghide E.A. | 2007 | Journal of Rubber Research | 10 | 2 | None | Rubber Research Institute of Nigeria, P. M. B 1049, Benin City, Nigeria; Department of Agronomy, University of Ibadan, Nigeria | Okore, I.K., Rubber Research Institute of Nigeria, P. M. B 1049, Benin City, Nigeria; Akpobome, F.A., Rubber Research Institute of Nigeria, P. M. B 1049, Benin City, Nigeria; Tijani-Eniola, H., Department of Agronomy, University of Ibadan, Nigeria; Oghide, E.A., Rubber Research Institute of Nigeria, P. M. B 1049, Benin City, Nigeria | Vast amount of resources are devoted annually for the establishment of Hevea seedling rootstock nursery through conventional tillage, despite global disposition of conservative tillage. A field experiment was carried out to evaluate the effect of tillage methods, namely, plough+harrow, plough only, bed and without tillage on the growth performance of Hevea brasiliensis (natural rubber) seedling rootstock and the nutrient status of sandy acid soil in a forest area (Benin) of Nigeria for two years. In both cropping years (2003/2004 and 2004/2005), the effect of tillage methods on seedling height and stem girth did not differ significantly (P ≥ 0.05). However, seedling dry matter and budding success (69.8 g/tree and 78% on the average, respectively) were significantly higher in the ploughed plots. The plots with no tillage, followed by raised seedbed treatments, had significantly higher values of organic C, available P and exchangeable bases with low levels of Al3+ and H + at 0 cm-15 cm depth. Having recorded no significant difference in crop performance between the nil-tillage and plough+harrow plots, but higher soil nutrient levels in the treatments without tillage for two years; it could be predicted that land preparation without tillage, in addition to ploughing only or raised seed-bed was a better alternative to plough+harrow which often caused soil degradation in the sandy acid soil of high rainfall areas. | CEC; Growth performance; Hevea seedling; Natural rubber; Nigeria; Nursery; Organic C; Rootstock; Tillage practices | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-46449125231 | Bacterial biosensors for rapid and effective monitoring of biodegradation of organic pollutants in wastewater effluents | Olaniran A.O., Motebejane R.M., Pillay B. | 2008 | Journal of Environmental Monitoring | 10 | 7 | 10.1039/b805055d | School of Biochemistry, Genetics, Microbiology and Plant Pathology, Faculty of Science and Agriculture, University of KwaZulu-Natal (Westville Campus), Private Bag X54001, Durban, 4000, South Africa | Olaniran, A.O., School of Biochemistry, Genetics, Microbiology and Plant Pathology, Faculty of Science and Agriculture, University of KwaZulu-Natal (Westville Campus), Private Bag X54001, Durban, 4000, South Africa; Motebejane, R.M., School of Biochemistry, Genetics, Microbiology and Plant Pathology, Faculty of Science and Agriculture, University of KwaZulu-Natal (Westville Campus), Private Bag X54001, Durban, 4000, South Africa; Pillay, B., School of Biochemistry, Genetics, Microbiology and Plant Pathology, Faculty of Science and Agriculture, University of KwaZulu-Natal (Westville Campus), Private Bag X54001, Durban, 4000, South Africa | Significant amounts of toxic substances which are hazardous to animals, plants, microorganisms, and other living organisms including humans are released annually into aquatic and terrestrial environments, mostly from improper wastewater discharges. Early detection of such pollutants in wastewater effluents and proper monitoring before their final release into the environment is therefore necessary. In this study, two whole-cell bacterial biosensors were constructed by transforming competent cells of Shigella flexneri and Shigella sonnei with pLUX plasmids and evaluated for their potential to monitor wastewater samples undergoing degradation by measuring bioluminescence response using a microplate luminometer. Both bacterial biosensors were found to be extremely sensitive to the wastewater samples, with different patterns, concomitant with those of the COD removals demonstrated at the different days of the degradation. Generally higher bioluminescence values were obtained at the later days of the degradation period compared to the initial values, with up to 571.76% increase in bioluminescence value obtained at day 5 for 0.1% (v/v) effluent concentration. Also, a steady decrease in bioluminescence was observed for the bacterial biosensors with increasing time of exposure to the wastewater effluent for all the sampling days. These biosensor constructs could therefore be applicable to indicate the bioavailability of pollutants in a way that chemical analysis cannot, and for in situ monitoring of biodegradation. This has great potential to offer a risk assessment strategy in predicting the level of bioremediation required during municipal wastewater treatment before their final discharge into the aquatic milieu. © The Royal Society of Chemistry. | None | article; biodegradation; bioluminescence; biosensor; chemical analysis; controlled study; ecotoxicology; nonhuman; organic pollution; priority journal; Shigella flexneri; Shigella sonnei; waste water; water analysis; Biodegradation, Environmental; Biosensing Techniques; Environmental Monitoring; Shigella; Waste Disposal, Fluid; Animalia; Bacteria (microorganisms); Shigella flexneri; Shigella sonnei | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-37849019619 | Performance optimization of a membrane assisted passive sampler for monitoring of ionizable organic compounds in water | Chimuka L., Nemutandani T., Cukrowska E., Tutu H. | 2008 | Journal of Environmental Monitoring | 10 | 1 | 10.1039/b713072d | School of Chemistry, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2050, South Africa; School of Environmental Sciences, University of Venda, Thohoyandou, 0950, South Africa | Chimuka, L., School of Chemistry, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2050, South Africa; Nemutandani, T., School of Environmental Sciences, University of Venda, Thohoyandou, 0950, South Africa; Cukrowska, E., School of Chemistry, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2050, South Africa; Tutu, H., School of Chemistry, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2050, South Africa | A thin-walled silicone rubber hollow fibre membrane has been developed as a passive sampler. The inside of the tube is filled with an aqueous solution at an appropriate pH. The tube is sealed at both ends and then immersed in a water sample. In order for the ionizable permeating compounds to be trapped in the aqueous receiving phase, the pH is adjusted such that the compounds are ionized and trapped. The major advantages are its simplicity, low cost and high selectivity, since only ionizable organic compounds are trapped. Additionally, the sampler uses no organic solvent. By adjusting the pH of the acceptor phase, it is possible to control the extraction process and whether the sampler is used in the kinetic or equilibrium regime. Since it is very selective, no further clean-up of the extract is required. The membrane assisted passive sampler has been tested for extraction of chlorophenols under laboratory conditions. The extraction process was found to be linear over a 72 h sampling period. Selectivity of the passive sampler in river water was demonstrated and the extraction process was independent of sample concentration, even at lower concentration levels of analytes. However, the sample matrix in some river water samples led to incomplete trapping, thereby reducing the amount trapped in the acceptor phase. Detection limits (three times signal to noise ratio) were dependant on sample matrix and type of detection system and ranged from 0.05 μg L-1 to about 1 μg L-1 with a UV photodiode detector in water samples from one river and 1.0 μg L-1 to 20 μg L-1 in another but with an ordinary UV detector. The enrichment factors in river water were 28 for 2-chlorophenol and 44 for 2,4-dichlorophenol over a 72 h sampling period. 4-chlorophenol was poorly extracted and its enrichment factor was 3. © The Royal Society of Chemistry. | None | 2,4 dichlorophenol; 4 chlorophenol; organic compound; river water; aqueous solution; article; extraction; pH; pollution monitoring; priority journal; sampler; water contamination; water pollutant; water pollution; water sampling; Chlorophenols; Environmental Monitoring; Rivers; Silicone Elastomers; Water Pollutants, Chemical | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84860830558 | Embracing the mobile phone technology: Its social and linguistic impact with special reference to Zimbabwean Ndebele | Nkomo D., Khumalo L. | 2012 | African Identities | 10 | 2 | 10.1080/14725843.2012.657832 | School of Languages, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa; Department of Linguistics, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa | Nkomo, D., School of Languages, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa; Khumalo, L., Department of Linguistics, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa | Mobile phone technology has revolutionised the art of communication across all societies. Access to this form of communication has made personal contact much easier than before, with mobile phone networks in many countries now reaching rural areas where fixed telephones were rare. However, the popularity of mobile phones and mobile text messaging has come to evoke excessive hype and hysteria about the kinds of cultural, social and psychological impacts that the new technology is having. Central among these is the concern about the way that standard use of language and conventional linguistic and communicative practices are affected. The mobile phone presents one area of study in which language change is evident. This article highlights how the mobile phone has been embraced among the Ndebele speaking people of Zimbabwe by discussing, among other things, the SMS language, turn-taking in telephone conversation and naming around the mobile phone. Having done that, it argues that the gadget is not solely responsible for all the undesirable linguistic and communicative developments mainly because mobile phone users are at times able to control technology. © 2012 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC. | communication; culture; mobile phone; Ndebele language; SMS | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-60849127577 | The risk-adjusted performance of companies with female directors: A South African case | Msweli-Mbanga P., Mkhize H. | 2007 | South African Journal of Economic and Management Sciences | 10 | 2 | None | School of Management Studies, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa; School of Economics and Finance, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | Msweli-Mbanga, P., School of Management Studies, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa; Mkhize, H., School of Economics and Finance, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | The objective of this research was to examine the effects of female directors on the risk-adjusted performance of firms listed on the JSE Securities Exchange of South Africa (the JSE). The theoretical underpinning for the relationship between representation of female directors and the risk-adjusted performance of companies was based on institutional theory. The hypothesis that there is no difference between the risk-adjusted performance of companies with female directors and that of companies without female directors was rejected. Implications of the results are discussed and suggestions for future research presented. | None | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84883370799 | The perceived impact of restructuring on service quality in a health care environment | Ntsatsi L., Brijball Parumasur S. | 2012 | Corporate Ownership and Control | 10 | 1 E,CONT4 | None | School of Management, University of KwaZulu-Natal (Westville Campus), Private Bag X54001, Durban, 4000, South Africa | Ntsatsi, L., School of Management, University of KwaZulu-Natal (Westville Campus), Private Bag X54001, Durban, 4000, South Africa; Brijball Parumasur, S., School of Management, University of KwaZulu-Natal (Westville Campus), Private Bag X54001, Durban, 4000, South Africa | This study evaluates health care employees perceptions of service quality in a hospital environment after the process of restructuring and assesses whether their perceptions are influenced by biographical profiles. A sample of 143 clinical and non-clinical employees from three of the largest regional hospitals within the Ministry of Health in Lesotho was drawn using cluster sampling. Data was collected using an adapted version of SERVQUAL whose psychometric properties were statistically determined. Data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The results indicate that employees were fairly convinced that the process of transformation undertaken in the health care organization led to enhanced service quality in terms of improved empathy, assurance, responsiveness, tangibles and reliability, although in varying degrees and, reflect areas for improvement. | Assurance; Business strategies; Empathy; Integrated delivery network; Reliability; Responsiveness; Service quality; Tangibles | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-69849099187 | Impact of social stigma on the process of obtaining informed consent for genetic research on podoconiosis: A qualitative study | Tekola F., Bull S., Farsides B., Newport M.J., Adeyemo A., Rotimi C.N., Davey G. | 2009 | BMC Medical Ethics | 10 | 1 | 10.1186/1472-6939-10-13 | School of Public Health, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Falmer, Sussex, United Kingdom; Centre for Research on Genomics and Global Health, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, United States; Ethox Center, Division of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Oxford, United Kingdom | Tekola, F., School of Public Health, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Falmer, Sussex, United Kingdom, Centre for Research on Genomics and Global Health, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, United States; Bull, S., Ethox Center, Division of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Oxford, United Kingdom; Farsides, B., Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Falmer, Sussex, United Kingdom; Newport, M.J., Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Falmer, Sussex, United Kingdom; Adeyemo, A., Centre for Research on Genomics and Global Health, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, United States; Rotimi, C.N., Centre for Research on Genomics and Global Health, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, United States; Davey, G., School of Public Health, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | Background. The consent process for a genetic study is challenging when the research is conducted in a group stigmatized because of beliefs that the disease is familial. Podoconiosis, also known as 'mossy foot', is an example of such a disease. It is a condition resulting in swelling of the lower legs among people exposed to red clay soil. It is a very stigmatizing problem in endemic areas of Ethiopia because of the widely held opinion that the disease runs in families and is untreatable. The aim of this study was to explore the impact of social stigma on the process of obtaining consent for a study on the genetics of podoconiosis in Southern Ethiopia. Methods. We adapted a rapid assessment tool validated in The Gambia. The methodology was qualitative involving focus-group discussions (n = 4) and in-depth interviews (n = 25) with community members, fieldworkers, researchers and staff of the Mossy Foot Treatment and Prevention Association (MFTPA) working on prevention and treatment of podoconiosis. Results. We found that patients were afraid of participation in a genetic study for fear the study might aggravate stigmatization by publicizing the familial nature of the disease. The MFTPA was also concerned that discussion about the familial nature of podoconiosis would disappoint patients and would threaten the trust they have in the organization. In addition, participants of the rapid assessment stressed that the genetic study should be approved at family level before prospective participants are approached for consent. Based on this feedback, we developed and implemented a consent process involving community consensus and education of fieldworkers, community members and health workers. In addition, we utilized the experience and established trust of the MFTPA to diminish the perceived risk. Conclusion. The study showed that the consent process developed based on issues highlighted in the rapid assessment facilitated recruitment of participants and increased their confidence that the genetic research would not fuel stigma. Therefore, investigators must seek to assess and address risks of research from prospective participants' perspectives. This involves understanding the issues in the society, the culture, community dialogues and developing a consent process that takes all these into consideration. © 2009 Tekola et al. | None | adult; aged; article; community medicine; consensus; controlled study; Ethiopia; fear; female; field work; Gambia; genetics; health care personnel; health education; human; informed consent; major clinical study; male; medical research; medical society; motivation; patient decision making; patient participation; perception; podoconiosis; qualitative research; risk assessment; stigma; clay; community care; confidentiality; economics; elephantiasis; ethics; genetic predisposition; information processing; middle aged; patient selection; psychological aspect; questionnaire; research subject; risk factor; social psychology; soil; trust; verbal communication; aluminum silicate; Adult; Aged; Aluminum Silicates; Community Health Services; Confidentiality; Elephantiasis; Ethiopia; Female; Focus Groups; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Genetic Research; Humans; Informed Consent; Male; Middle Aged; Narration; Patient Selection; Qualitative Research; Questionnaires; Research Subjects; Risk Factors; Soil; Stereotyping; Trust | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84941992325 | Evaluating the impact of Zimbabwe's prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission program: Population-level estimates of HIV-free infant survival pre-option A | Buzdugan R., McCoy S.I., Watadzaushe C., Dufour M.-S.K., Petersen M., Dirawo J., Mushavi A., Mujuru H.A., Mahomva A., Musarandega R., Hakobyan A., Mugurungi O., Cowan F.M., Padian N.S. | 2015 | PLoS ONE | 10 | 8 | 10.1371/journal.pone.0134571 | School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA, United States; Centre for Sexual Health and HIV/AIDS Research Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe; School of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States; Ministry of Health and Child Care, Harare, Zimbabwe; University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe; Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, Harare, Zimbabwe; Children's Investment Fund Foundation, London, United Kingdom; Research Department of Infection and Population Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom | Buzdugan, R., School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA, United States; McCoy, S.I., School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA, United States; Watadzaushe, C., Centre for Sexual Health and HIV/AIDS Research Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe; Dufour, M.-S.K., School of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States; Petersen, M., School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA, United States; Dirawo, J., Centre for Sexual Health and HIV/AIDS Research Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe; Mushavi, A., Ministry of Health and Child Care, Harare, Zimbabwe; Mujuru, H.A., University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe; Mahomva, A., Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, Harare, Zimbabwe; Musarandega, R., Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, Harare, Zimbabwe; Hakobyan, A., Children's Investment Fund Foundation, London, United Kingdom; Mugurungi, O., Ministry of Health and Child Care, Harare, Zimbabwe; Cowan, F.M., Centre for Sexual Health and HIV/AIDS Research Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe, Research Department of Infection and Population Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom; Padian, N.S., School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA, United States | Objective: We estimated HIV-free infant survival and mother-to-child HIV transmission (MTCT) rates in Zimbabwe, some of the first community-based estimates from a UNAIDS priority country. Methods: In 2012 we surveyed mother-infant pairs residing in the catchment areas of 157 health facilities randomly selected from 5 of 10 provinces in Zimbabwe. Enrolled infants were born 9-18 months before the survey. We collected questionnaires, blood samples for HIV testing, and verbal autopsies for deceased mothers/infants. Estimates were assessed among i) all HIV-exposed infants, as part of an impact evaluation of Option A of the 2010 WHO guidelines (rolled out in Zimbabwe in 2011), and ii) the subgroup of infants unexposed to Option A. We compared province-level MTCT rates measured among women in the community with MTCT rates measured using program monitoring data from facilities serving those communities. Findings: Among 8568 women with known HIV serostatus, 1107 (12.9%) were HIV-infected. Among all HIV-exposed infants, HIV-free infant survival was 90.9% (95% confidence interval (CI): 88.7-92.7) and MTCT was 8.8% (95% CI: 6.9-11.1). Sixty-six percent of HIV-exposed infants were still breastfeeding. Among the 762 infants born before Option A was implemented, 90.5%(95% CI: 88.1-92.5) were alive and HIV-uninfected at 9-18 months of age, and 9.1% (95%CI: 7.1-11.7) were HIV-infected. In four provinces, the community-based MTCT rate was higher than the facility-based MTCT rate. In Harare, the community and facility-based rates were 6.0% and 9.1%, respectively. Conclusion: By 2012 Zimbabwe had made substantial progress towards the elimination of MTCT. Our HIV-free infant survival and MTCT estimates capture HIV transmissions during pregnancy, delivery and breastfeeding regardless of whether or not mothers accessed health services. These estimates also provide a baseline against which to measure the impact of Option A guidelines (and subsequently Option B+). | None | antiretrovirus agent; adolescent; adult; Article; blood sampling; breast feeding; community; controlled study; cross-sectional study; delivery; female; health care access; health care facility; HIV test; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; infant; major clinical study; monitoring; practice guideline; pregnancy; questionnaire; survival rate; vertical transmission; Zimbabwe | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84953379172 | Organizational impact of the introduction of a new portable syringe pump for iloprost therapy in Italian hospital settings | Restelli U., Faggioli P., Scolari F., Gussoni G., Valerio A., Sciascera A., Croce D., Mazzone A. | 2015 | Current Drug Therapy | 10 | 2 | None | School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Centre for Research on Health Economics, Social and Health Care Management, Carlo Cattaneo University - LIUC, Castellanza (Varese), Italy; Department of Internal Medicine, Ospedale Civile di Legnano, Legnano (Milan), Italy; Research Department, FADOI Foundation Italian Scientific Society of Internal Medicine, Milan, Italy | Restelli, U., School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, Centre for Research on Health Economics, Social and Health Care Management, Carlo Cattaneo University - LIUC, Castellanza (Varese), Italy; Faggioli, P., Department of Internal Medicine, Ospedale Civile di Legnano, Legnano (Milan), Italy; Scolari, F., Centre for Research on Health Economics, Social and Health Care Management, Carlo Cattaneo University - LIUC, Castellanza (Varese), Italy; Gussoni, G., Research Department, FADOI Foundation Italian Scientific Society of Internal Medicine, Milan, Italy; Valerio, A., Research Department, FADOI Foundation Italian Scientific Society of Internal Medicine, Milan, Italy; Sciascera, A., Department of Internal Medicine, Ospedale Civile di Legnano, Legnano (Milan), Italy; Croce, D., School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, Centre for Research on Health Economics, Social and Health Care Management, Carlo Cattaneo University - LIUC, Castellanza (Varese), Italy; Mazzone, A., Research Department, FADOI Foundation Italian Scientific Society of Internal Medicine, Milan, Italy | Purpose: The study aims at assessing the organizational and economic impact related to the use of a new portable syringe pump (Pompa Infonde®, Italfarmaco S.p.A., Cinisello Balsamo, Italy) at a hospital level. Methodology: Based on the HTA approach, the analysis assessed the organizational and economic impact of the new device at hospital level, using the traditional methods of Iloprost infusion as comparator. After a pilot evaluation, the organizational impact was assessed within 24 Italian hospitals. Structured interviews were conducted with clinicians and nurses. According to the Hospital-Based HTA approach, a questionnaire assessed the impact on human resources, training activities, internal meetings, spaces needed, facilities, clinical practice implications. Using Activity Based Costing approach, the economic evaluation was performed within the pilot center “Ospedale Civile” of Legnano, Italy. Findings: The new device leads to a positive managerial impact, with a substantial reduction of time to monitor patients by nurses. This resulted in a better management of human resources and in a reduction in nursing cost. Although a mild negative impact on training time for personnel, the structured interviews allowed the identification of three main areas of positive impact: (i) efficiency of internal processes, (ii) clinical pathways, (iii) synergies between wards. Originality: The organizational impact of Pompa Infonde®, showed that it is an efficient alternative to traditional methods, with benefits in the management of patients administered with Iloprost. © 2015 Bentham Science Publishers. | Hospital; Italy; Medical device; Organizational impact; Prevention; Rehabilitation | iloprost; anticoagulant therapy; Article; clinical assessment; clinical pathway; clinical practice; comorbidity; controlled study; cost control; device comparison; economic evaluation; health care cost; health care management; health care planning; health personnel attitude; hospital purchasing; human; infusion pump; mental health organization; nurse training; nursing cost; outpatient care; patient autonomy; patient education; patient monitoring; peristaltic pump; personnel management; pilot study; primary medical care; priority journal; productivity; structured interview; time; treatment planning; computer program; economic evaluation; portable syringe pump; pump; purchasing; questionnaire; staff training | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84901335748 | Genotypic and Functional Impact of HIV-1 Adaptation to Its Host Population during the North American Epidemic | Cotton L.A., Kuang X.T., Le A.Q., Carlson J.M., Chan B., Chopera D.R., Brumme C.J., Markle T.J., Martin E., Shahid A., Anmole G., Mwimanzi P., Nassab P., Penney K.A., Rahman M.A., Milloy M.-J., Schechter M.T., Markowitz M., Carrington M., Walker B.D., Wag | 2014 | PLoS Genetics | 10 | 4 | 10.1371/journal.pgen.1004295 | Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada; Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada; Microsoft Research, Los Angeles, CA, United States; KwaZulu-Natal Research Institute for Tuberculosis and HIV, Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa; British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, Vancouver, BC, Canada; University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, United States; Cancer and Inflammation Program, Laboratory of Experimental Immunology, Leidos Biomedical Research Inc., Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD, United States; Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, United States; San Francisco Department of Public Health, San Francisco, CA, United States; New York Blood Center, New York, NY, United States; Fenway Community Health, Boston, MA, United States; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States | Cotton, L.A., Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada; Kuang, X.T., Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada; Le, A.Q., Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada; Carlson, J.M., Microsoft Research, Los Angeles, CA, United States; Chan, B., Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada; Chopera, D.R., Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada, KwaZulu-Natal Research Institute for Tuberculosis and HIV, Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa; Brumme, C.J., British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Markle, T.J., Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada; Martin, E., Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada, British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Shahid, A., Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada; Anmole, G., Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada; Mwimanzi, P., Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada; Nassab, P., Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada; Penney, K.A., Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada; Rahman, M.A., Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada; Milloy, M.-J., British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, Vancouver, BC, Canada, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Schechter, M.T., University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Markowitz, M., Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, United States; Carrington, M., Cancer and Inflammation Program, Laboratory of Experimental Immunology, Leidos Biomedical Research Inc., Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD, United States, Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, United States; Walker, B.D., Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, United States; Wagner, T., San Francisco Department of Public Health, San Francisco, CA, United States; Buchbinder, S., San Francisco Department of Public Health, San Francisco, CA, United States; Fuchs, J., San Francisco Department of Public Health, San Francisco, CA, United States; Koblin, B., New York Blood Center, New York, NY, United States; Mayer, K.H., Fenway Community Health, Boston, MA, United States, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States; Harrigan, P.R., British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, Vancouver, BC, Canada, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Brockman, M.A., Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada, Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada, British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Poon, A.F.Y., Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada, British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, Vancouver, BC, Canada, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Brumme, Z.L., Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada, British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, Vancouver, BC, Canada | HLA-restricted immune escape mutations that persist following HIV transmission could gradually spread through the viral population, thereby compromising host antiviral immunity as the epidemic progresses. To assess the extent and phenotypic impact of this phenomenon in an immunogenetically diverse population, we genotypically and functionally compared linked HLA and HIV (Gag/Nef) sequences from 358 historic (1979-1989) and 382 modern (2000-2011) specimens from four key cities in the North American epidemic (New York, Boston, San Francisco, Vancouver). Inferred HIV phylogenies were star-like, with approximately two-fold greater mean pairwise distances in modern versus historic sequences. The reconstructed epidemic ancestral (founder) HIV sequence was essentially identical to the North American subtype B consensus. Consistent with gradual diversification of a "consensus-like" founder virus, the median "background" frequencies of individual HLA-associated polymorphisms in HIV (in individuals lacking the restricting HLA[s]) were ∼2-fold higher in modern versus historic HIV sequences, though these remained notably low overall (e.g. in Gag, medians were 3.7% in the 2000s versus 2.0% in the 1980s). HIV polymorphisms exhibiting the greatest relative spread were those restricted by protective HLAs. Despite these increases, when HIV sequences were analyzed as a whole, their total average burden of polymorphisms that were "pre-adapted" to the average host HLA profile was only ∼2% greater in modern versus historic eras. Furthermore, HLA-associated polymorphisms identified in historic HIV sequences were consistent with those detectable today, with none identified that could explain the few HIV codons where the inferred epidemic ancestor differed from the modern consensus. Results are therefore consistent with slow HIV adaptation to HLA, but at a rate unlikely to yield imminent negative implications for cellular immunity, at least in North America. Intriguingly, temporal changes in protein activity of patient-derived Nef (though not Gag) sequences were observed, suggesting functional implications of population-level HIV evolution on certain viral proteins. © 2014 Cotton et al. | None | CD4 antigen; Gag protein; HLA A antigen; Nef protein; HLA antigen; adult; amino acid sequence; article; cellular immunity; codon; controlled study; down regulation; functional genomics; gene frequency; genetic distance; genetic polymorphism; genotype; HLA system; human; Human immunodeficiency virus 1; major clinical study; male; microbial diversity; North America; nucleic acid base substitution; nucleotide sequence; phylogeny; protein determination; protein expression; protein function; unindexed sequence; virus cell interaction; virus load; virus replication; virus transmission; adaptation; genetics; genotype; Human immunodeficiency virus 1; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; molecular genetics; Adaptation, Physiological; Amino Acid Sequence; Genotype; HIV Infections; HIV-1; HLA Antigens; Humans; Male; Molecular Sequence Data; North America; Phylogeny; Polymorphism, Genetic | MOP-93536, CIHR, National Institutes of Health; NIDA, National Institutes of Health; RO1DA011591, NIH, National Institutes of Health; RO1DA021525, NIH, National Institutes of Health |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79960451830 | Environmental impact of coffee processing effluent on the ecological integrity of rivers found in gomma woreda of Jimma zone, Ethiopia | Kebede Y.K., Kebede T., Assefa F., Amsalu A. | 2010 | Ecohydrology and Hydrobiology | 10 | 42404 | 10.2478/v10104-011-0019-2 | Soil and Water Management Research Division, Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, P.O. Box 28019, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Soil and Water Management Research Division, Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, P.O. Box 192, Jimma, Ethiopia; Biology Department, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Geography and Environmental Studies Department, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 150223, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | Kebede, Y.K., Soil and Water Management Research Division, Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, P.O. Box 28019, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Kebede, T., Soil and Water Management Research Division, Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, P.O. Box 192, Jimma, Ethiopia; Assefa, F., Biology Department, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Amsalu, A., Geography and Environmental Studies Department, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 150223, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | The physico-chemical parameters of coffee effluent consists of very high amount of BOD (2200 mg dm -3), TDS (1810 mg dm -3), NO 3 (26.4 mg dm -3), NH 4 + (12.6 mg dm -3), low pH (4.3) and zero DO values. Despite the reduction of these values by dilution effect of river water, BOD values as high as 1900 mg dm -3 and 1700 mg dm -3 were found at the downstream sites of Bore and Fite rivers. For biological assemblage study, 6047 macroinvertebrates representing 27 different taxa were identified from riffle sampling sites. The average Shannon and equitability indices and total EPT taxa were reduced at the downstream sites. The habitat score of the study sites was in the range of 27% (very poor) up to 84% (excellent). | Coffee effluent; Environmental impact; Gomma; Macroinvertebrates | ammonium; biochemical oxygen demand; dissolved matter; dissolved oxygen; ecological impact; effluent; environmental impact; freshwater ecosystem; Index of Biotic Integrity; industrial waste; macroinvertebrate; nitrate; parameterization; pH; physicochemical property; Ethiopia; Jimma | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77957242163 | Field evaluation of polymer capacitive humidity sensors for bowen ratio energy balance flux measurements | Savage M.J. | 2010 | Sensors | 10 | 8 | 10.3390/s100807748 | Soil-Plant-Atmosphere Continuum Research Unit, School of Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 3201, South Africa | Savage, M.J., Soil-Plant-Atmosphere Continuum Research Unit, School of Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 3201, South Africa | The possibility of reliable, reasonably accurate and relatively inexpensive estimates of sensible heat and latent energy fluxes was investigated using a commercial combination thin-film polymer capacitive relative humidity and adjacent temperature sensor instrument. Long-term and unattended water vapour pressure profile difference measurements using low-power combination instruments were compared with those from a cooled dewpoint mirror hygrometer, the latter often used with Bowen ratio energy balance (BREB) systems. An error analysis, based on instrument relative humidity and temperature errors, was applied for various capacitive humidity instrument models. The main disadvantage of a combination capacitive humidity instrument is that two measurements, relative humidity and temperature, are required for estimation of water vapour pressure as opposed to one for a dewpoint hygrometer. In a laboratory experiment using an automated procedure, water vapour pressure differences generated using a reference dewpoint generator were measured using a commercial model (Dew-10) dewpoint hygrometer and a combination capacitive humidity instrument. The laboratory measurement comparisons showed that, potentially, an inexpensive model combination capacitive humidity instrument (CS500 or HMP50), or for improved results a slightly more expensive model (HMP35C or HMP45C), could substitute for the more expensive dewpoint hygrometer. In a field study, in a mesic grassland, the water vapour pressure measurement noise for the combination capacitive humidity instruments was greater than that for the dewpoint hygrometer. The average water vapour pressure profile difference measured using a HMP45C was highly correlated with that from a dewpoint hygrometer with a slope less than unity. Water vapour pressure measurements using the capacitive humidity instruments were not as accurate, compared to those obtained using a dewpoint hygrometer, but the resolution magnitudes for the profile difference measurements were less than the minimum of 0.01 kPa required for BREB measurements when averaged over 20 min. Furthermore, the longer-term capacitive humidity measurements are more reliable and not dependent on a sensor bias adjustment as is the case for the dewpoint hygrometer. A field comparison of CS500 and HMP45C profile water vapour pressure differences yielded a slope of close to unity. However, the CS500 exhibited more variable water vapour pressure measurements mainly due to its increased variation in temperature measurements compared to the HMP45C. Comparisons between 20-min BREB sensible heat fluxes obtained using a HMP45C and a dewpoint hygrometer yielded a slope of almost unity. BREB sensible heat fluxes measured using a HMP45C were reasonably well correlated with those obtained using a surface-layer scintillometer and eddy covariance (slope of 0.9629 and 0.9198 respectively). This reasonable agreement showed that a combination capacitive humidity instrument, with similar relative humidity (RH) and temperature error magnitudes of at most 2% RH and 0.3 °C respectively, and similar measurement time response, would be an adequate and less expensive substitute for a dewpoint hygrometer. Furthermore, a combination capacitive humidity instrument requires no servicing compared to a dewpoint hygrometer which requires a bias adjustment and mirror cleaning each week. These findings make unattended BREB measurements of sensible heat flux and evaporation cheaper and more reliable with the system easier to assemble and service and with reduced instrument power. © 2010 by the authors. | Eddy covariance; Energy balance fluxes; Humidity measurement; Humidity resolution; Surface-layer scintillometer | Bowen ratio energy balances; Capacitive humidity sensors; Difference measurements; Eddy covariance; Humidity measurements; Laboratory measurements; Relative humidity and temperatures; Surface-layer scintillometer; Atmospheric humidity; Energy balance; Error analysis; Heat flux; Humidity sensors; Hygrometers; Instrument errors; Measurements; Mirrors; Moisture meters; Pressure measurement; Scintillation; Temperature measurement; Vapor pressure; Water vapor; Capacitive sensors; polymer; water; article; chemistry; energy metabolism; evaluation; heat; humidity; pressure; temperature; theoretical model; vapor pressure; water vapor; Energy Metabolism; Evaluation Studies as Topic; Hot Temperature; Humidity; Models, Theoretical; Polymers; Pressure; Steam; Temperature; Vapor Pressure; Water | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84942098446 | Market structure-performance hypothesis in Kenyan banking industry | Giorgis Sahile S.W., Tarus D.K., Cheruiyot T.K. | 2015 | International Journal of Emerging Markets | 10 | 4 | 10.1108/IJoEM-12-2012-0178 | Specialized Financial & Promotional Institution (SFPI), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Department of Finance and Accounting, Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya; School of Business & Economics, Moi Universty, Eldoret, Kenya | Giorgis Sahile, S.W., Specialized Financial & Promotional Institution (SFPI), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Tarus, D.K., Department of Finance and Accounting, Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya; Cheruiyot, T.K., School of Business & Economics, Moi Universty, Eldoret, Kenya | Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to test market structure-performance hypothesis in banking industry in Kenya. Specifically, the structure-conduct-performance (SCP) and market efficiency hypotheses were examined to determine how market concentration and efficiency affect bank performance in Kenya. Design/methodology/approach – The study used secondary data of 44 commercial banks operating from 2000 to 2009. Three proxies to measure bank performance were used while market concentration and market share were used as proxies for market structure. Market concentration was measured using two concentration measures; the concentration ratio of the four largest banks (CR<inf>4</inf>) and Herfindahl-Hirschman Index, while market share was used as a proxy for efficiency. The study made use of generalized least square regression method. Findings – The empirical results confirm that market efficiency hypothesis is a predictor of firm performance in the banking sector in Kenya and rejects the traditional SCP hypothesis. Thus, the results support the view that efficient banks maximize profitability. Practical implications – The study provides insights into the role of efficiency in enhancing profitability in commercial banks in Kenya. It has managerial implication that profitable banks ought to be efficient and dispels the notion of collusive behavior as a precursor for profitability. Originality/value – The paper fills an important gap in the extant literature by proving insights into what determines bank profitability in banking sector in Kenya. Although this area is rich in research, little work has been conducted in the developing economies and in particular no study in the knowledge has addressed this critical issue in Kenya. © 2015, Emerald Group Publishing Limited. | Banks; Efficiency; Kenya; Market structure; Performance | None | None |
| None | None | Evaluation of giant African pouched rats for detection of pulmonary tuberculosis in patients from a high-endemic setting | Reither K., Jugheli L., Glass T.R., Sasamalo M., Mhimbira F.A., Weetjens B.J., Cox C., Edwards T.L., Mulder C., Beyene N.W., Mahoney A. | 2015 | PLoS ONE | 10 | 10 | 10.1371/journal.pone.0135877 | Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland; Ifakara Health Institute, Bagamoyo, Tanzania; Anti-Persoonsmijnen Ontmijnende Product Ontwikkeling (APOPO), Morogoro, Tanzania; Department of Psychology, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States; Amsterdam Institute for Global Health and Development, Amsterdam, Netherlands | Reither, K., Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland, Ifakara Health Institute, Bagamoyo, Tanzania; Jugheli, L., Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland, Ifakara Health Institute, Bagamoyo, Tanzania; Glass, T.R., Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland; Sasamalo, M., Ifakara Health Institute, Bagamoyo, Tanzania; Mhimbira, F.A., Ifakara Health Institute, Bagamoyo, Tanzania; Weetjens, B.J., Anti-Persoonsmijnen Ontmijnende Product Ontwikkeling (APOPO), Morogoro, Tanzania; Cox, C., Anti-Persoonsmijnen Ontmijnende Product Ontwikkeling (APOPO), Morogoro, Tanzania; Edwards, T.L., Anti-Persoonsmijnen Ontmijnende Product Ontwikkeling (APOPO), Morogoro, Tanzania, Department of Psychology, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States; Mulder, C., Anti-Persoonsmijnen Ontmijnende Product Ontwikkeling (APOPO), Morogoro, Tanzania, Amsterdam Institute for Global Health and Development, Amsterdam, Netherlands; Beyene, N.W., Anti-Persoonsmijnen Ontmijnende Product Ontwikkeling (APOPO), Morogoro, Tanzania; Mahoney, A., Anti-Persoonsmijnen Ontmijnende Product Ontwikkeling (APOPO), Morogoro, Tanzania, Department of Psychology, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States | Background: This study established evidence about the diagnostic performance of trained giant African pouched rats for detecting Mycobacterium tuberculosis in sputum of well-characterised patients with presumptive tuberculosis (TB) in a high-burden setting. Methods: The TB detection rats were evaluated using sputum samples of patients with presumptive TB enrolled in two prospective cohort studies in Bagamoyo, Tanzania. The patients were characterised by sputum smear microscopy and culture, including subsequent antigen or molecular confirmation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and by clinical data at enrolment and for at least 5-months of follow-up to determine the reference standard. Seven trained giant African pouched rats were used for the detection of TB in the sputum samples after shipment to the APOPO project in Morogoro, Tanzania. Results: Of 469 eligible patients, 109 (23.2%) were culture-positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis and 128 (27.3%) were non-TB controls with sustained recovery after 5 months without anti- TB treatment. The HIV prevalence was 46%. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the seven rats for the detection of culture-positive pulmonary tuberculosis was 0.72 (95% CI 0.66-0.78). An optimal threshold could be defined at ≥2 indications by rats in either sample with a corresponding sensitivity of 56.9% (95% CI 47.0-66.3), specificity of 80.5% (95% CI 72.5-86.9), positive and negative predictive value of 71.3% (95% CI 60.6-80.5) and 68.7%(95% CI 60.6-76.0), and an accuracy for TB diagnosis of 69.6%. The diagnostic performance was negatively influenced by low burden of bacilli, and independent of the HIV status. Conclusion: Giant African pouched rats have potential for detection of tuberculosis in sputum samples. However, the diagnostic performance characteristics of TB detection rats do not currently meet the requirements for high-priority, rapid sputum-based TB diagnostics as defined by the World Health Organization. Copyright: © 2015 Reither et al. | None | adult; animal experiment; animal model; area under the curve; Article; cohort analysis; controlled study; diagnostic accuracy; endemic disease; female; follow up; human; Human immunodeficiency virus; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; lung tuberculosis; major clinical study; male; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; nonhuman; predictive value; prevalence; prospective study; rat; receiver operating characteristic; sensitivity and specificity; sputum culture; sputum smear; Tanzania | None |
| None | None | Maturation and Mip-1β production of cytomegalovirus-specific T cell responses in Tanzanian children, adolescents and adults: Impact by HIV and Mycobacterium tuberculosis co-infections | Portevin D., Moukambi F., Mpina M., Bauer A., Haraka F., Chachage M., Metzger P., Saathoff E., Clowes P., Ntinginya N.E., Rachow A., Hoelscher M., Reither K., Daubenberger C.A., Geldmacher C. | 2015 | PLoS ONE | 10 | 5 | 10.1371/journal.pone.0126716 | Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland; NIMR-Mbeya Medical Research Centre, Mbeya, Tanzania; Department of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Medical Centre of the University of Munich, Munich, Germany; Ifakara Health Institute, Bagamoyo, Tanzania; German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), partner site Munich, Munich, Germany | Portevin, D., Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland; Moukambi, F., NIMR-Mbeya Medical Research Centre, Mbeya, Tanzania, Department of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Medical Centre of the University of Munich, Munich, Germany; Mpina, M., Ifakara Health Institute, Bagamoyo, Tanzania; Bauer, A., NIMR-Mbeya Medical Research Centre, Mbeya, Tanzania, Department of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Medical Centre of the University of Munich, Munich, Germany; Haraka, F., Ifakara Health Institute, Bagamoyo, Tanzania; Chachage, M., NIMR-Mbeya Medical Research Centre, Mbeya, Tanzania; Metzger, P., Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland; Saathoff, E., Department of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Medical Centre of the University of Munich, Munich, Germany, German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), partner site Munich, Munich, Germany; Clowes, P., NIMR-Mbeya Medical Research Centre, Mbeya, Tanzania, Department of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Medical Centre of the University of Munich, Munich, Germany; Ntinginya, N.E., NIMR-Mbeya Medical Research Centre, Mbeya, Tanzania; Rachow, A., Department of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Medical Centre of the University of Munich, Munich, Germany, German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), partner site Munich, Munich, Germany; Hoelscher, M., Department of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Medical Centre of the University of Munich, Munich, Germany, German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), partner site Munich, Munich, Germany; Reither, K., Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland, Ifakara Health Institute, Bagamoyo, Tanzania; Daubenberger, C.A., Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland; Geldmacher, C., Department of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Medical Centre of the University of Munich, Munich, Germany, German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), partner site Munich, Munich, Germany | It is well accepted that aging and HIV infection are associated with quantitative and functional changes of CMV-specific T cell responses. We studied here the expression of Mip-1β and the T cell maturation marker CD27 within CMVpp65-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in relation to age, HIV and active Tuberculosis (TB) co-infection in a cohort of Tanzanian volunteers (≤16 years of age, n = 108 and ≥18 years, n = 79). Independent of HIV co-infection, IFNγ+ CMVpp65-specific CD4+ T cell frequencies increased with age. In adults, HIV co-infection further increased the frequencies of these cells. A high capacity for Mip-1β production together with a CD27low phenotype was characteristic for these cells in children and adults. Interestingly, in addition to HIV co-infection active TB disease was linked to further down regulation of CD27 and increased capacity of Mip-1β production in CMVpp65-specific CD4+ T cells. These phenotypic and functional changes of CMVpp65-specific CD4 T cells observed during HIV infection and active TB could be associated with increased CMV reactivation rates. © 2015 Portevin et al. | None | CD27 antigen; macrophage inflammatory protein 1beta; adolescent; adult; age; Article; CD4+ T lymphocyte; CD8+ T lymphocyte; child; controlled study; Cytomegalovirus; down regulation; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; lymphocyte subpopulation; major clinical study; mixed infection; nonhuman; phenotype; protein expression; protein processing; protein synthesis; T lymphocyte; Tanzanian; tuberculosis; virus reactivation; Cytomegalovirus; Mycobacterium tuberculosis | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77954092700 | Evaluation of the Performance of Routine Information System Management (PRISM) framework: Evidence from Uganda | Hotchkiss D.R., Aqil A., Lippeveld T., Mukooyo E. | 2010 | BMC Health Services Research | 10 | None | 10.1186/1472-6963-10-188 | Tulane University, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA, United States; John Snow Inc., Arlington, VI, United States; John Snow Inc., Boston, MA, United States; Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda | Hotchkiss, D.R., Tulane University, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA, United States; Aqil, A., John Snow Inc., Arlington, VI, United States; Lippeveld, T., John Snow Inc., Boston, MA, United States; Mukooyo, E., Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda | Background. Sound policy, resource allocation and day-to-day management decisions in the health sector require timely information from routine health information systems (RHIS). In most low- and middle-income countries, the RHIS is viewed as being inadequate in providing quality data and continuous information that can be used to help improve health system performance. In addition, there is limited evidence on the effectiveness of RHIS strengthening interventions in improving data quality and use. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the usefulness of the newly developed Performance of Routine Information System Management (PRISM) framework, which consists of a conceptual framework and associated data collection and analysis tools to assess, design, strengthen and evaluate RHIS. The specific objectives of the study are: a) to assess the reliability and validity of the PRISM instruments and b) to assess the validity of the PRISM conceptual framework. Methods. Facility- and worker-level data were collected from 110 health care facilities in twelve districts in Uganda in 2004 and 2007 using records reviews, structured interviews and self-administered questionnaires. The analysis procedures include Cronbach's alpha to assess internal consistency of selected instruments, test-retest analysis to assess the reliability and sensitivity of the instruments, and bivariate and multivariate statistical techniques to assess validity of the PRISM instruments and conceptual framework. Results. Cronbach's alpha analysis suggests high reliability (0.7 or greater) for the indices measuring a promotion of a culture of information, RHIS tasks self-efficacy and motivation. The study results also suggest that a promotion of a culture of information influences RHIS tasks self-efficacy, RHIS tasks competence and motivation, and that self-efficacy and the presence of RHIS staff have a direct influence on the use of RHIS information, a key aspect of RHIS performance. Conclusions. The study results provide some empirical support for the reliability and validity of the PRISM instruments and the validity of the PRISM conceptual framework, suggesting that the PRISM approach can be effectively used by RHIS policy makers and practitioners to assess the RHIS and evaluate RHIS strengthening interventions. However, additional studies with larger sample sizes are needed to further investigate the value of the PRISM instruments in exploring the linkages between RHIS data quality and use, and health systems performance. © 2010 Hotchkiss et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | None | article; decision support system; evaluation; health care delivery; information system; interview; management; organization and management; quality control; questionnaire; standard; Uganda; Decision Support Systems, Management; Delivery of Health Care; Information Management; Interviews as Topic; Management Audit; Quality Control; Questionnaires; Uganda | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-67650892194 | Measurement error associated with performance testing in well-trained cyclists: Application to the precision of monitoring changes in training status | Lamberts R.P., Swart J., Woolrich R.W., Noakes T.D., Lambert M.I. | 2009 | International SportMed Journal | 10 | 1 | None | UCT/MRC Research Unit for Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Boundary Road, Newlands, South Africa; High Performance Centre, Sports Science Institute of South Africa, Boundary Road, Newlands, South Africa | Lamberts, R.P., UCT/MRC Research Unit for Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Boundary Road, Newlands, South Africa; Swart, J., UCT/MRC Research Unit for Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Boundary Road, Newlands, South Africa; Woolrich, R.W., High Performance Centre, Sports Science Institute of South Africa, Boundary Road, Newlands, South Africa; Noakes, T.D., UCT/MRC Research Unit for Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Boundary Road, Newlands, South Africa; Lambert, M.I., UCT/MRC Research Unit for Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Boundary Road, Newlands, South Africa | Small changes in performance, as low as 1%, are regarded as meaningful in well-trained cyclists. Being able to detect these changes is necessary to fine tune training and optimise performance. The typical error of measurement (TEM) in common performance cycle tests is about 2-3%. It is not known whether this TEM is lower in well-trained cyclists and therefore whether small changes in performance parameters are detectable. In this research, after familiarisation, 17 well-trained cyclists each completed three Peak Power Output (PPO) tests (including VO2max) and three 40km time trials (40km TT). All tests were performed after a standardised warm-up at the same relative intensity and under a strict testing-protocol. TEM within the PPO-test was 2.2% for VO2max and 0.9% for PPO, while TEM for the 40km TT was 0.9%. In conclusion, measurement of PPO and 40km TT time, after a standardised warm-up, has sufficient precision in well-trained cyclists to detect small meaningful changes. | Cycling; High performance; Meaningful differences; Monitoring; Precision; Testing | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84884622877 | Association of the ANRS-12126 Male Circumcision Project with HIV Levels among Men in a South African Township: Evaluation of Effectiveness using Cross-sectional Surveys | Auvert B., Taljaard D., Rech D., Lissouba P., Singh B., Bouscaillou J., Peytavin G., Mahiane S.G., Sitta R., Puren A., Lewis D. | 2013 | PLoS Medicine | 10 | 9 | 10.1371/journal.pmed.1001509 | UMRS-1018, CESP, INSERM Villejuif, France; AP-HP, Hôpital Ambroise Paré, Boulogne, France; University of Versailles-Saint Quentin, Versailles, France; Progressus, Johannesburg, South Africa; National Institute for Communicable Diseases, National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg, South Africa; AP-HP, Hôpital Bichat - Claude-Bernard, Paris, France; Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States; University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa | Auvert, B., UMRS-1018, CESP, INSERM Villejuif, France, AP-HP, Hôpital Ambroise Paré, Boulogne, France, University of Versailles-Saint Quentin, Versailles, France; Taljaard, D., Progressus, Johannesburg, South Africa; Rech, D., Progressus, Johannesburg, South Africa; Lissouba, P., UMRS-1018, CESP, INSERM Villejuif, France; Singh, B., National Institute for Communicable Diseases, National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg, South Africa; Bouscaillou, J., UMRS-1018, CESP, INSERM Villejuif, France; Peytavin, G., AP-HP, Hôpital Bichat - Claude-Bernard, Paris, France; Mahiane, S.G., Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States; Sitta, R., UMRS-1018, CESP, INSERM Villejuif, France; Puren, A., National Institute for Communicable Diseases, National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg, South Africa, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Lewis, D., National Institute for Communicable Diseases, National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg, South Africa, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa | Background:Randomized controlled trials have shown that voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) reduces HIV infection by 50% to 60% in sub-Saharan African populations; however, little is known about the population-level effect of adult male circumcision (MC) as an HIV prevention method. We assessed the effectiveness of VMMC roll-out on the levels of HIV in the South African township of Orange Farm where the first randomized controlled trial (RCT) to test the effect of VMMC on HIV acquisition was conducted in 2002-2005.Methods and Findings:The Bophelo Pele project is a community-based campaign against HIV, which includes the roll-out of free VMMC. A baseline cross-sectional biomedical survey was conducted in 2007-2008 among a random sample of 1,998 men aged 15 to 49 (survey response rate 80.7%). In 2010-2011, we conducted a follow-up random survey among 3,338 men aged 15 to 49 (survey response rate 79.6%) to evaluate the project. Participants were interviewed, blood samples were collected and tested for HIV and recent HIV infection (using the BED HIV incidence assay), and MC status was assessed through a clinical examination. Data were analyzed using multivariate and propensity statistical methods.Owing to the VMMCs performed in the context of the RCT and the Bophelo Pele project, the prevalence rate of adult MC increased from 0.12 (95% CI 0.10-0.14) to 0.53 (95% CI 0.51-0.55). Without these VMMCs, the HIV prevalence rate in 2010-2011 would have been 19% (95% CI 12%-26%) higher (0.147 instead of 0.123).When comparing circumcised and uncircumcised men, no association of MC status with sexual behavior was detected. Among circumcised and uncircumcised men, the proportion consistently using condoms with non-spousal partners in the past 12 months was 44.0% (95% CI 41.7%-46.5%) versus 45.4% (95% CI 42.2%-48.6%) with weighted prevalence rate ratio (wPRR) = 0.94 (95% CI 0.85-1.03). The proportion having two or more non-spousal partners was 50.4% (95% CI 47.9%-52.9%) versus 44.2% (95% CI 41.3%-46.9%) with wPRR = 1.03 (95% CI 0.95-1.10).We found a reduction of BED-estimated HIV incidence rate ranging from 57% (95% CI 29%-76%) to 61% (95% CI 14%-83%) among circumcised men in comparison with uncircumcised men.Conclusions:Findings suggest that the roll-out of VMMC in Orange Farm is associated with a significant reduction of HIV levels in the community. The main limitation of the study is that it was not randomized and cannot prove a causal association. The roll-out of VMMC among adults in sub-Saharan Africa should be an international priority and needs to be accelerated to effectively combat the spread of HIV.Please see later in the article for the Editors' Summary. © 2013 Auvert et al. | None | antiretrovirus agent; adolescent; adult; article; circumcision; condom use; controlled study; cross-sectional study; disease association; evaluation; follow up; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; incidence; infection rate; male; outcome assessment; prevalence; questionnaire; randomized controlled trial; sexual behavior; South Africa; Adolescent; Adult; Age Distribution; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; Circumcision, Male; Cross-Sectional Studies; Evaluation Studies as Topic; Follow-Up Studies; Health Surveys; HIV Infections; Humans; Immunoassay; Male; Middle Aged; Prevalence; Sexual Behavior; South Africa; Time Factors; Young Adult | OPP1021324, BandMGF, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84949523692 | Evaluation of an inexpensive growth medium for direct detection of Escherichia coli in temperate and sub-tropical waters | Bain R.E.S., Woodall C., Elliott J., Arnold B.F., Tung R., Morley R., Du Preez M., Bartram J.K., Davis A.P., Gundry S.W., Pedley S. | 2015 | PLoS ONE | 10 | 10 | 10.1371/journal.pone.0140997 | UNICEF, New York, NY, United States; School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom; Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Surrey, Guildford, United Kingdom; Division of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA, United States; CPI International, Santa Rosa, CA, United States; Public Health England, Bristol, United Kingdom; Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Pretoria, South Africa; Water Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States; Brightwater Diagnostics Limited, Bath, United Kingdom | Bain, R.E.S., UNICEF, New York, NY, United States; Woodall, C., School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom; Elliott, J., Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Surrey, Guildford, United Kingdom; Arnold, B.F., Division of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA, United States; Tung, R., CPI International, Santa Rosa, CA, United States; Morley, R., Public Health England, Bristol, United Kingdom; Du Preez, M., Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Pretoria, South Africa; Bartram, J.K., Water Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States; Davis, A.P., School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom; Gundry, S.W., Brightwater Diagnostics Limited, Bath, United Kingdom; Pedley, S., Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Surrey, Guildford, United Kingdom | The cost and complexity of traditional methods for the detection of faecal indicator bacteria, including E. coli, hinder widespread monitoring of drinking water quality, especially in lowincome countries and outside controlled laboratory settings. In these settings the problem is exacerbated by the lack of inexpensive media for the detection of E. coli in drinking water. We developed a new low-cost growth medium, aquatest (AT), and validated its use for the direct detection of E. coli in temperate and sub-tropical drinking waters using IDEXX Quanti-Tray®. AT was compared with IDEXX Colilert-18® and either EC-MUG or MLSB for detecting low levels of E. coli from water samples from temperate (n = 140; Bristol, UK) and subtropical regions (n = 50, Pretoria/Tshwane, South Africa). Confirmatory testing (n = 418 and 588, respectively) and the comparison of quantitative results were used to assess performance. Sensitivity of AT was higher than Colilert-18® for water samples in the UK [98.0% vs. 86.9%; p<0.0001] and South Africa [99.5% vs. 93.2%; p = 0.0030]. There was no significant difference in specificity, which was high for both media (>95% in both settings). Quantitative results were comparable and within expected limits. AT is reliable and accurate for the detection of E. coli in temperate and subtropical drinking water. The composition of the new medium is reported herein and can be used freely. © Copyright 2015 Bain et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. | None | drinking water; Africa; Article; bacterial growth; bacterial strain; bacterium detection; bacterium isolate; comparative study; controlled study; culture medium; Escherichia coli; limit of detection; measurement accuracy; nonhuman; quantitative analysis; reliability; sensitivity and specificity; tropics; water analysis; water sampling | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84908312636 | The moderating effect of self-motivation on the relationship between parent’s socio-economic background and children’s academic performance at Nigerian universities | Ekpe I., Adelaiye M.O., Adubasim E.I., Adim V.C. | 2014 | Asian Social Science | 10 | 21 | 10.5539/ass.v10n21p73 | Universiti Malaysia Kelantan, Malaysia; Department of Business Administration and Management, Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi, Bauchi State, Nigeria; Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Nigeria; Department of Management, University of Port-Harcourt, Nigeria | Ekpe, I., Universiti Malaysia Kelantan, Malaysia; Adelaiye, M.O., Department of Business Administration and Management, Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi, Bauchi State, Nigeria; Adubasim, E.I., Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Nigeria; Adim, V.C., Department of Management, University of Port-Harcourt, Nigeria | The purpose of this study is to examine the moderating effect of self-motivation on the relationship between parent’s socio-economic backgrounds on their children’s academic performance at Nigerian Universities, which has received little attention. Issues concerning University undergraduate youths have become a cause for concern among stakeholders in the project called ‘education in Nigeria’. Such issues like expulsion from school due to examination malpractice or cultism, withdrawal due to poor academic performance and production of half-baked graduates have forced many concerned people to question the role of teachers as well as parent’s socio-economic background. The paper adopted a survey methodology to solicit responses from 150 final year University students (2012/2013) of Business Faculties in the north, east and west regions of Nigeria; using stratified proportionate random sampling. After data cleaning, 130 data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and hierarchical regression. One of the results indicated that student’s self-motivation (hard work) and rich parental socio-economic background are needed to achieve academic success; though self-motivation appears to be a more critical success factor. The paper recommended that the government and the authorities of Nigerian universities should intensify effort at counselling the students on the need to study hard in order to achieve academic success rather than relying on their parents’ socio-economic background. This will improve teaching and learning in Nigerian Universities. The study is limited to University Business Faculties in Nigeria. Future studies can investigate other tertiary institutions in Nigeria. © Canadian Center of Science and Education. | Academic performance; Self-motivation; Socio-economic background | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84943257313 | Performance comparison of three rapid tests for the diagnosis of drug-resistant tuberculosis | Catanzaro A., Rodwell T.C., Catanzaro D.G., Garfein R.S., Jackson R.L., Seifert M., Georghiou S.B., Trollip A., Groessl E., Hillery N., Crudu V., Victor T.C., Rodrigues C., Lin G.S.-Y., Valafar F., Desmond E., Eisenach K. | 2015 | PLoS ONE | 10 | 8 | 10.1371/journal.pone.0136861 | University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States; University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, United States; Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa; Institute of Phthisiopneumology, Chisinau, Moldova; PD Hinduja Hospital and Medical Research Centre, Mumbai, India; Microbial Diseases Laboratory, California Department of Public Health, Richmond, CA, United States; San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, United States; University of Arkansas, Little Rock, AR, United States | Catanzaro, A., University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States; Rodwell, T.C., University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States; Catanzaro, D.G., University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, United States; Garfein, R.S., University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States; Jackson, R.L., University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States; Seifert, M., University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States; Georghiou, S.B., University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States; Trollip, A., Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa; Groessl, E., University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States; Hillery, N., University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States; Crudu, V., Institute of Phthisiopneumology, Chisinau, Moldova; Victor, T.C., Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa; Rodrigues, C., PD Hinduja Hospital and Medical Research Centre, Mumbai, India; Lin, G.S.-Y., Microbial Diseases Laboratory, California Department of Public Health, Richmond, CA, United States; Valafar, F., San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, United States; Desmond, E., Microbial Diseases Laboratory, California Department of Public Health, Richmond, CA, United States; Eisenach, K., University of Arkansas, Little Rock, AR, United States | Background: The aim of this study was to compare the performance of several recently developed assays for the detection of multi- and extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (M/XDR-TB) in a large, multinational field trial. Methods: Samples from 1,128 M/XDR-TB suspects were examined by Line Probe Assay (LPA), Pyrosequencing (PSQ), and Microscopic Observation of Drug Susceptibility (MODS) and compared to the BACTEC MGIT960 reference standard to detect M/XDR-TB directly from patient sputum samples collected at TB clinics in India, Moldova, and South Africa. Results: Specificity for all three assays was excellent: 97-100% for isoniazid (INH), rifampin (RIF), moxifloxacin (MOX) and ofloxacin (OFX) and 99-100% for amikacin (AMK), capreomycin (CAP) and kanamycin (KAN) resistance. Sensitivities were lower, but still very good: 94-100% for INH, RIF, MOX and OFX, and 84-90% for AMK and CAP, but only 48-62% for KAN. In terms of agreement, statistically significant differences were only found for detection of RIF (MODS outperformed PSQ) and KAN (MODS outperformed LPA and PSQ) resistance. Mean time-to-result was 1.1 days for LPA and PSQ, 14.3 days for MODS, and 24.7 days for MGIT. Conclusions: All three rapid assays evaluated provide clinicians with timely detection of resistance to the drugs tested; with molecular results available one day following laboratory receipt of samples. In particular, the very high specificity seen for detection of drug resistance means that clinicians can use the results of these rapid tests to avoid the use of toxic drugs to which the infecting organism is resistant and develop treatment regiments that have a higher likelihood of yielding a successful outcome. Copyright: © 2015 Catanzaro et al. | None | amikacin; capreomycin; isoniazid; kanamycin; moxifloxacin; ofloxacin; rifampicin; aged; antibiotic resistance; antibiotic sensitivity; Article; bacterium culture; bacterium isolate; child; comparative study; diagnostic accuracy; diagnostic test accuracy study; extensively drug resistant tuberculosis; female; human; India; Line Probe Assay; major clinical study; male; Microscopic Observation of Drug Susceptibility; multidrug resistant tuberculosis; Mycobacterium; nonhuman; pyrosequencing; reference value; sensitivity and specificity; tuberculosis rapid test; very elderly | U01-AI082229, NIAID, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases |
| WoS | WOS:000286342600019 | Qualitative evaluation of a physical activity-based chronic disease prevention program in a low-income, rural South African setting | de Kock, L.,Draper, C. E.,Grimsrud, A. T.,Kolbe-Alexander, T. L.,Lambert, E. V.,Nemutandani, S. M.,Rudolph, M. | 2010 | RURAL AND REMOTE HEALTH | 10 | 3 | None | University of Cape Town, University of Witwatersrand | "de Kock, L.: University of Witwatersrand","Draper, C. E.: University of Cape Town","Grimsrud, A. T.: University of Cape Town","Kolbe-Alexander, T. L.: University of Cape Town","Lambert, E. V.: University of Cape Town","Nemutandani, S. M.: University of Witwatersrand","Rudolph, M.: University of Witwatersrand" | Introduction: Chronic diseases, an increasing global concern, are prevalent in the low-income communities of South Africa, where rural health systems bear the double burden of infectious and chronic diseases. The Discovery Healthy Lifestyle Programme (DHLP) is a physical activity-based chronic disease prevention program that has been implemented in a low-income, rural setting in South Africa. The DHLP consists of both school-and primary healthcare clinic-based interventions for learners (Healthnutz) and adults (Live it Up), facilitated by teachers, nurses and community volunteers. The aim of this evaluation was to qualitatively assess the process by which the DHLP was implemented, identifying enabling factors and barriers.
Methods: Data were collected in target communities at schools and clinics from semi-structured focus groups of program leaders and members, teachers and community members (n=45), situational analyses of the school physical activity environment, informal community observations and informal interviews with program coordinators.
Results: The target communities faced socioeconomic and health inequalities and remained under-resourced and under-served. In spite of these and other challenges, the DHLP was well received by community members and stakeholders. It was valued by respondents for its health and psychosocial outcomes, evidenced by increased knowledge and awareness of the importance of physical activity and healthy lifestyles, and positively altered perceptions of physical activity. Program implementers believed the Live it Up component was growing, and this suggested the sustainability of the program. There were, however, some concerns about the fidelity of the Healthnutz intervention, due to timetabling difficulties. Despite this, teachers were positive about the program and its value for their learners, staff and school. The community characteristics of being under-resourced and under-served appeared to positively influence DHLP implementation. Local government involvement in the DHLP resulted in greater ownership of the program, which enabled successful implementation.
Conclusions: This study presents a unique opportunity to assess the implementation and sustainability requirements of programs in environments of limited resources, considerable burden of infectious and chronic diseases and extensive socioeconomic challenges. The findings suggest that through enhancement of knowledge, transfer of appropriate skills and the provision of an enabling environment, participation in physical activity can be effectively promoted in a low-income, rural setting. Physical activity interventions that promote the participation and empowerment of rural communities can be feasible and accessible, thereby assisting in addressing the growing burden of chronic diseases in low-income. | "community-based research","HEALTH PROMOTION","PHYSICAL ACTIVITY","QUALITATIVE RESEARCH",CHILDREN,COMMUNITY,ELEMENTARY-SCHOOLS,"EXERCISE PROGRAM",FITNESS,"HEALTH-PROMOTION PROGRAM",INACTIVITY,OBESITY,POPULATIONS,"SCHOOL-BASED INTERVENTION" | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000279725600004 | TRAINING NEEDS ASSESSMENT IN RESEARCH ETHICS EVALUATION AMONG RESEARCH ETHICS COMMITTEE MEMBERS IN THREE AFRICAN COUNTRIES: CAMEROON, MALI AND TANZANIA | Ateudjieu, Jerome,Baume, Cedric,Hirtle, Marie,Ikingura, Joyce,Niare, Alassane,Sprumont, Dominique,Williams, John | 2010 | DEVELOPING WORLD BIOETHICS | 10 | 2 | 10.1111/j.1471-8847.2009.00266.x | University of Fribourg, University of Geneva, University of Neuchatel, University of Ottawa, University of Yaounde I, Malaria Res & Training Ctr | "Ateudjieu, Jerome: University of Yaounde I","Sprumont, Dominique: University of Neuchatel","Williams, John: University of Ottawa", | Background:
As actors with the key responsibility for the protection of human research participants, Research Ethics Committees (RECs) need to be competent and well-resourced in order to fulfil their roles. Despite recent programs designed to strengthen RECs in Africa, much more needs to be accomplished before these committees can function optimally.
Objective:
To assess training needs for biomedical research ethics evaluation among targeted countries.
Methods:
Members of RECs operating in three targeted African countries were surveyed between August and November 2007. Before implementing the survey, ethical approvals were obtained from RECs in Switzerland, Cameroon, Mali and Tanzania. Data were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire in English and in French.
Results:
A total of 74 respondents participated in the study. The participation rate was 68%. Seventy one percent of respondents reported having received some training in research ethics evaluation. This training was given by national institutions (31%) and international institutions (69%). Researchers and REC members were ranked as the top target audiences to be trained. Of 32 topics, the top five training priorities were: basic ethical principles, coverage of applicable laws and regulations, how to conduct ethics review, evaluating informed consent processes and the role of the REC.
Conclusion:
Although the majority of REC members in the targeted African countries had received training in ethics, they expressed a need for additional training. The results of this survey have been used to design a training program in research ethics evaluation that meets this need. | Africa,CURRICULUM,"ETHICS COMMITTEES",RESEARCH,"TRAINING PROGRAM" | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000232529400007 | Communicating HIV and AIDS, what works? A report on the impact evaluation of Soul City's fourth series | GOLDSTEIN, S,Japhet, G,Scheepers, E,Usdin, S | 2005 | JOURNAL OF HEALTH COMMUNICATION | 10 | 5 | 10.1080/10810730591009853 | University of Witwatersrand | None | This article describes the evaluation of the HIV/AIDS communication aspect of the multi media Soul City, health promotion intervention in South Africa. The intervention consists of a television and radio drama and print material. The evaluation was multifaceted with a before and after national survey and a national qualitative study. M the before and after survey, change it-as measured and then multiple regression analysis was performed to assess the variables associated with the change.
The qualitative study consisted of focus group discussions, which were analysed thematically. The studies shalt, that there are numerous instances of community change and how, the change is mediated at the community level. The studies also describe the change at a number of levels of the described behaviour change model for individuals. | None | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84883830215 | Earnings per share as a measure of financial performance: Does it obscure more than it reveals? | de Wet J. | 2013 | Corporate Ownership and Control | 10 | 4 C,CONT2 | None | University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa | de Wet, J., University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa | The well-known earnings per share measure is simultaneously very popular but also potentially misleading. This study briefly discusses the popularity of EPS and then outlines three limitations, namely the inability of EPS to reflect shareholder value, EPS management and an inherent bias towards positive EPS growth. A case study approach is used to analyze the EPS growth of three listed companies and the four major components of EPS growth are identified. These are inflation, increased asset investment due to retained profit and debt, operating leverage and financial leverage. It is indicated how an "excess" EPS growth can be determined and it was found that none of the three case study companies was able to generate positive "excess" EPS growth. | Earnings management; Earnings per share (EPS); EPS growth; Financial leverage; Operating leverage; Shareholder value; Sustainable growth rate | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84878998712 | The impact of an advanced certificate in education (ACE) program on the professional practice of graduates | Aluko R. | 2009 | International Review of Research in Open and Distance Learning | 10 | 4 | None | University of Pretoria, South Africa | Aluko, R., University of Pretoria, South Africa | This paper examines the impact of a distance education program offered by the university of pretoria, south africa, on the professional practice of teachers. a pilot study was conducted using a combination of surveys and focus group interviews. findings reveal that the program was beneficial to graduates" personal development, professional practice, schools, learners, and colleagues. further, principals who participated in the study attested to the differences they observed between the graduates and other teachers who had not been exposed to such a program. suggestions for improvements included the introduction of subjects taught at school as areas of specialization, involvement of school principals in the assessment of enrolled students, visits to schools by the organizers, and exposure of students to the practical opportunities offered by the program (with portfolios that could be a part of the assessment). | Distance Education; Formative evaluation; Impact analysis; Program evaluation; Summative evaluation | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-58449125010 | Evaluation of a decentralised primary health care training programme | Mabaso S.S., van der Merwe M.M., Smith J.E. | 2008 | Africa Journal of Nursing and Midwifery | 10 | 2 | None | University of South Africa, Department of Health Studies, Pretoria, South Africa; University of South Africa (UNISA), Department of Health Studies, P.O. Box 392, Pretoria 0003, South Africa | Mabaso, S.S., University of South Africa, Department of Health Studies, Pretoria, South Africa; van der Merwe, M.M., University of South Africa (UNISA), Department of Health Studies, P.O. Box 392, Pretoria 0003, South Africa; Smith, J.E., University of South Africa (UNISA), Department of Health Studies, P.O. Box 392, Pretoria 0003, South Africa | The effectiveness of the one-year training programme for Primary Health Care (PHC) nurses of the Limpopo Province required evaluation. The competencies were assessed of the learners, who had completed this PHC programme with decentralised experiential learning opportunities. Qualified PHC nurses should be competent to stand in for medical doctors, when required to do so. This implies that patients' lives might be at stake, depending on the PHC nurses' competencies. The researchers evaluated the participants' PHC nursing competencies whilst managing patients with hypertension, using a pre-tested checklist. Through stratified sampling, twelve newly qualified nurses of a PHC training programme from six health districts in the Limpopo Province, were interviewed to identify their perceptions of the training programme, problems encountered during and after their PHC training and their perceptions as to their abilities to stand in for medical doctors' in PHC clinics. The research results show that the PHC training programme was effective as the participants were competent in most items tested, although it became evident that more attention should be given to history taking. Interviewees expressed their satisfaction with the PHC training programme but identified problems in rendering PHC services due to shortages of medication and equipment. The interviewees reportedly felt confident to stand in for doctors when required to do so in PHC clinics. | Clinical training; Experiential learning; Health assessment; Limpopo Province; Primary Health Care (PHC) training programme | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-78650099709 | Can disease control priorities improve health systems performance in South Africa? | Rispel L.C., Barron P. | 2010 | South African Medical Journal | 100 | 12 | None | Centre for Health Policy, School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa | Rispel, L.C., Centre for Health Policy, School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Barron, P., Centre for Health Policy, School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa | [No abstract available] | None | acquired immune deficiency syndrome; article; cost effectiveness analysis; disease control; health care access; health care cost; health care delivery; health care disparity; health care financing; health care personnel management; health care quality; health care system; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; medical information; performance measurement system; primary health care; South Africa; tuberculosis; Delivery of Health Care; Government Programs; Humans; Medical Assistance; Quality of Health Care; South Africa | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84865291371 | Can floral traits predict an invasive plant's impact on native plant-pollinator communities? | Gibson M.R., Richardson D.M., Pauw A. | 2012 | Journal of Ecology | 100 | 5 | 10.1111/j.1365-2745.2012.02004.x | Department of Botany and Zoology, Centre for Invasion Biology, Stellenbosch University, 7602, Matieland, South Africa; Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, 7602, Matieland, South Africa | Gibson, M.R., Department of Botany and Zoology, Centre for Invasion Biology, Stellenbosch University, 7602, Matieland, South Africa; Richardson, D.M., Department of Botany and Zoology, Centre for Invasion Biology, Stellenbosch University, 7602, Matieland, South Africa; Pauw, A., Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, 7602, Matieland, South Africa | The possession of certain floral traits can determine which insects visit a plant species. If two species possess similar floral traits that determine shared flower visitors, floral traits can be said to mediate plant-plant interactions. Such indirect interactions are important for understanding fundamental relationships of plant communities, such as competition and facilitation but thus far have only been tested within a native community context. We test whether floral-trait similarity can be used to predict interactions between an invasive plant and co-occurring native species in South Africa's Cape Floristic Region. We surveyed flower visitation at invaded and uninvaded plots across four sites and correlated floral-trait similarity between invasive and native species with both invasion impact on native flower visitation and flower visitor overlap of natives and the invasive species. Similarity of all traits (categorical and continuous) and categorical traits alone explained invasion impact (flower visitor overlap) between the native and invasive species. The majority of flower visitor overlap was attributed to the native honeybee Apis mellifera subsp. capensis. This study is the first to show that floral traits can be used to predict novel plant-plant interactions, even amongst ecologically generalized flower visitors and plants and to predict potential impacts of an invasive species on native flowering communities. However, floral traits were not useful for predicting changes in visitation to plant species. Synthesis. Results advance our understanding of the role of plant traits in ecological communities and reveal that they are important in mediating not only plant-pollinator interactions but also plant-plant interactions. Our findings also shed light on invasive-native plant interactions via pollinators and have the potential to predict certain invasion impacts. Results advance our understanding of the role of plant traits in ecological communities and reveal that they are important in mediating not only plant-pollinator interactions but also plant-plant interactions. Our findings also shed light on invasive-native plant interactions via pollinators and have the potential to predict certain invasion impacts. © 2012 British Ecological Society. | Acacia saligna; Biological invasions; Flower morphology; Fynbos; Generalist; Honeybee; Invasion ecology; Plant-insect interactions; Plant-plant interactions; Pollination syndromes | coexistence; community structure; competition (ecology); flower visiting; generalist; honeybee; intraspecific interaction; invasive species; morphology; native species; plant community; plant-pollinator interaction; pollination; South Africa | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84892590427 | The impacts of neutralized acid mine drainage contaminated water on the expression of selected endocrine-linked genes in juvenile Mozambique tilapia Oreochromis mossambicus exposed in vivo | Truter J.C., Wyk J.H.V., Oberholster P.J., Botha A.-M. | 2014 | Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety | 100 | 1 | 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2013.11.005 | Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Stellenbosch 7602, South Africa; CSIR Natural Resources and the Environment, P.O. Box 320, Stellenbosch 7599, South Africa; Department of Genetics, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Stellenbosch 7602, South Africa | Truter, J.C., Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Stellenbosch 7602, South Africa; Wyk, J.H.V., Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Stellenbosch 7602, South Africa; Oberholster, P.J., CSIR Natural Resources and the Environment, P.O. Box 320, Stellenbosch 7599, South Africa; Botha, A.-M., Department of Genetics, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Stellenbosch 7602, South Africa | Acid mine drainage (AMD) is a global environmental concern due to detrimental impacts on river ecosystems. Little is however known regarding the biological impacts of neutralized AMD on aquatic vertebrates despite excessive discharge into watercourses. The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the endocrine modulatory potential of neutralized AMD, using molecular biomarkers in the teleost fish Oreochromis mossambicus in exposure studies. Surface water was collected from six locations downstream of a high density sludge (HDS) AMD treatment plant and a reference site unimpacted by AMD. The concentrations of 28 elements, including 22 metals, were quantified in the exposure water in order to identify potential links to altered gene expression. Relatively high concentrations of manganese (~ 10. mg/l), nickel (~ 0.1. mg/l) and cobalt (~ 0.03. mg/l) were detected downstream of the HDS plant. The expression of thyroid receptor-α (trα), trβ, androgen receptor-1 (ar1), ar2, glucocorticoid receptor-1 (gr1), gr2, mineralocorticoid receptor (mr) and aromatase (cyp19a1b) was quantified in juvenile fish after 48. h exposure. Slight but significant changes were observed in the expression of gr1 and mr in fish exposed to water collected directly downstream of the HDS plant, consisting of approximately 95 percent neutralized AMD. The most pronounced alterations in gene expression (i.e. trα, trβ, gr1, gr2, ar1 and mr) was associated with water collected further downstream at a location with no other apparent contamination vectors apart from the neutralized AMD. The altered gene expression associated with the "downstream" locality coincided with higher concentrations of certain metals relative to the locality adjacent to the HDS plant which may indicate a causative link. The current study provides evidence of endocrine disruptive activity associated with neutralized AMD contamination in regard to alterations in the expression of key genes linked to the thyroid, interrenal and gonadal endocrine axes of a teleost fish species. © 2013 Elsevier Inc. | Endocrine disruption; Fish; Gene expression; Metal ions; Treated acid mine drainage | aromatase; biological marker; cobalt; endocrine disruptor; manganese; mineralocorticoid receptor; nickel; surface water; thyroid hormone receptor alpha; acid mine drainage; biomarker; cobalt; concentration (composition); endocrine disruptor; gene expression; juvenile; molecular analysis; perciform; river pollution; sludge; acid mine drainage; androgen receptor 1 gene; androgen receptor 2 gene; aromatase gene; article; concentration (parameters); controlled study; endocrine disease; environmental exposure; environmental impact; gene; gene expression; genetic association; glucocorticoid receptor 1 gene; glucocorticoid receptor 2 gene; in vivo study; juvenile animal; mineralocorticoid receptor gene; molecular biology; Mozambique; nonhuman; Oreochromis mossambicus; sludge; thyroid receptor alpha gene; waste water treatment plant; water contamination; Oreochromis mossambicus; Teleostei; Vertebrata; Endocrine disruption; Fish; Gene expression; Metal ions; Treated acid mine drainage; Acids; Animals; Endocrine System; Fish Proteins; Gene Expression Regulation; Mining; Rivers; Tilapia; Water Pollutants, Chemical | CSIR, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-80051470936 | Geochemical evaluation of Niger Delta sedimentary organic rocks: A new insight | Akinlua A., Torto N. | 2011 | International Journal of Earth Sciences | 100 | 6 | 10.1007/s00531-010-0544-z | Department of Earth Sciences, University of the Western Cape, Bellville 7535, Cape Town, South Africa; Department of Chemistry, Rhodes University, P. O. Box 94, Grahamstown 6140, South Africa; Fossil Fuels and Environmental Research Group, Department of C | Akinlua, A., Department of Earth Sciences, University of the Western Cape, Bellville 7535, Cape Town, South Africa, Fossil Fuels and Environmental Research Group, Department of Chemistry, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria; Torto, N., Department of Chemistry, Rhodes University, P. O. Box 94, Grahamstown 6140, South Africa | A geochemical evaluation of Niger Delta organic matter was carried out using supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) sample preparation procedure. Comparison of geochemical significance of gas chromatographic data of rock extracts of SFE with those of Soxhlet extraction method from previous studies was made in order to establish the usefulness of SFE in geochemical exploration. The assessment of geochemical character of the rock samples from the comparison and interpretation of other geochemical parameters were used to give more insights into understanding the source rocks characteristics of onshore and shelf portions of the Niger Delta Basin. The results of the gas chromatographic (GC) analysis of the rock extracts across the lithostratigraphic units show that Pr/Ph, Pr/nC17, Pr/nC18, CPI and odd/even preference ranged from 0.07 to 12.39, 0.04 to 6.66, 0.05 to 13.80, 0.12 to 8.4 and 0.06 to 8.12, respectively. The Rock-Eval pyrolysis data and geochemical ratios and parameters calculated from the GC data showed that most of the samples are mature and have strong terrestrial provenance while a few samples have strong marine provenance. The few marine source rocks are located in the deeper depth horizon. Pr/Ph and standard geochemical plots indicate that most of samples were derived from organic matter deposited in less reducing conditions, i. e. more of oxidizing conditions while a few samples have predominantly influence of reducing conditions. The results of trace metal analysis of older samples from Agbada Formation also indicate marine and mixed organic matter input deposited in less reducing conditions. The results obtained in this study are comparable with those obtained from previous studies when Soxhlet extraction method was used and also indicated the presence of more than one petroleum systems in the Niger Delta. © 2010 Springer-Verlag. | Extraction; Niger Delta; Organic matter; Supercritical fluid | extraction method; gas chromatography; lithostratigraphy; organic matter; oxidation; pyrolysis; sediment chemistry; source rock; trace metal; Niger Delta; Nigeria | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84872296918 | Sensitivity of narrow- and wideband LNA performance to individual transistor model parameters | Weststrate M., Mukherjee A., Sinha S., Schroter M. | 2013 | International Journal of Electronics | 100 | 1 | 10.1080/00207217.2012.680789 | Department of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa; Electron Devices and Integrated Circuits, Dresden University of Technology, Dresden, Germany | Weststrate, M., Department of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa; Mukherjee, A., Electron Devices and Integrated Circuits, Dresden University of Technology, Dresden, Germany; Sinha, S., Department of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa; Schroter, M., Electron Devices and Integrated Circuits, Dresden University of Technology, Dresden, Germany | Although it is desirable for a transistor model to be as accurate as possible, the extraction of model parameters from fabricated transistors is a time-consuming and often costly process. An investigation of the sensitivity of low-noise amplifier (LNA) performance characteristics to individual parameters of the physics-based standard HBT model HICUM/L2 was, therefore, done to gain a preliminary insight into the most important parameters for transistors used in actual circuits. This can potentially allow less strenuous accuracy requirements on some parameters which would ease the extraction process. Both a narrow- and wideband LNA configuration were investigated. It was found that the series resistance parameters have a large impact on LNA gain, S11 and noise figure performance in both cases. Since the narrow-band LNA relied heavily on the transistor characteristics to provide a proper matching, it was also very sensitive to changes in the parameters used in modelling the high-frequency current gain and depletion capacitances of the transistor. © 2013 Taylor and Francis. | HICUM; Inductive emitter degeneration; LC-ladder and capacitive feedback; Low-noise amplifier; Parameter variations; Sensitivity; Solid-state electronics devices | Capacitive feedback; Emitter degeneration; HICUM; Parameter variations; Sensitivity; Solid state electronics; Electric resistance; Sensitivity analysis; Transistors; Low noise amplifiers | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84904052572 | Impact of wellsite biostratigraphy on exploration drilling in the deepwater offshore Nigeria | Fadiya S.L. | 2014 | Journal of African Earth Sciences | 100 | None | 10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2014.06.009 | Department of Geology, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria | Fadiya, S.L., Department of Geology, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria | The application of wellsite biostratigraphic technique has aided the reconstruction of the subsurface geology in the Nigerian deepwater region. It has further aided decision making during drilling operations including the planning of well paths. Critical decisions regarding casing setting, coring point selection, overpressure zone determination and total depth picks, are easily achieved through confirmation of well prognosis and correlation to offset wells. This technique is very important in the tectonically active Nigerian deepwater region which is characterized by varying degrees of both syn-depositional and post-depositional deformation. Accurate interpretation of basin architecture, lateral variation and facies change is required before drilling. Confirmation of well prognosis during drilling operation is equally important.It has been proved that wellsite biostratigraphic technique helps to "get it right at first" when integrated with the traditional lithologic description, log signature correlation and seismic profile interpretations. The modern and rapid processing technique of calcareous nannofossil, for instance, provides 'real time' result for the exploration team for confirmation of, or adjustment to, the drilling program. The attendant contribution in saved time, cost and safe and successful drilling operation makes the technique beneficial for all operators.This paper presents practical experience of wellsite biostratigraphy application in three oil prolific Nigerian deepwater regions: the Niger Delta, Joint Development zone of Nigeria/Sao Tome and Principe area (JDZ) and Benin (Dahomey) Basin. © 2014 The Authors. | Biostratigraphy; Calcareous nannofossils; Deepwater; Exploration; Niger Delta; Wellsite | biostratigraphy; decision making; deep water; drilling; fossil assemblage; fossil record; hydrocarbon exploration; hydrocarbon reservoir; nanofossil; oil well; paleoenvironment; basin analysis; deep drilling; exploration; lithology; Atlantic Ocean; Brazil; Dahomey Basin; Gulf of Guinea; Niger Delta; Nigeria; Parana [Brazil]; Principe; Sao Tome and Principe; Sao Tome Basin | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-30444435779 | HIV impact on acute morbidity and pelvic tumor control following radiotherapy for cervical cancer | Gichangi P., Bwayo J., Estambale B., Rogo K., Njuguna E., Ojwang S., Temmerman M. | 2006 | Gynecologic Oncology | 100 | 2 | 10.1016/j.ygyno.2005.10.006 | Department of Human Anatomy and Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 2631, KNH 00202, Nairobi, Kenya; Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya; Nairobi Oncology Center, Nairobi, Kenya; Radiotherapy Unit, Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya; International Center for Reproductive Health, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium | Gichangi, P., Department of Human Anatomy and Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 2631, KNH 00202, Nairobi, Kenya; Bwayo, J., Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya; Estambale, B., Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya; Rogo, K., Nairobi Oncology Center, Nairobi, Kenya; Njuguna, E., Radiotherapy Unit, Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya; Ojwang, S., Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya; Temmerman, M., International Center for Reproductive Health, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium | Objective. To determine the impact of HIV infection on acute morbidity and pelvic tumor control following external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) for cervical cancer. Method. 218 patients receiving EBRT who also had HIV testing after informed consent was obtained were evaluated. Acute treatment toxicity was documented weekly during treatment and 1 month post-EBRT. Pelvic tumor control was documented at 4 and 7 months post-EBRT. Clinicians were blinded for HIV results. Results. About 20% of the patients were HIV-positive. Overall, 53.4% of the patients had radiation-related acute toxicity (grade 3-4). HIV infection was associated with a 7-fold higher risk of multisystem toxicity: skin, gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and genitourinary tract (GUT) systems. It was also an independent risk factor for treatment interruptions (adjusted relative risk 2.2). About 19% of the patients had residual tumor at 4 and 7 months post-EBRT. HIV infection was independently and significantly associated with 6-fold higher risk of residual tumor post-EBRT. The hazard ratio of having residual tumor after initial EBRT was 3.1-times larger for HIV-positive than for HIV-negative patients (P = 0.014). Conclusion. HIV is associated with increased risk of multisystem radiation-related toxicity; treatment interruptions and pelvic failure (residual tumor) following EBRT. HIV infection is an adverse prognostic factor for outcome of cervical cancer treatment. © 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. | Cervical cancer; HIV; Outcome; Radiotherapy | acute toxicity; adult; Africa; aged; anemia; article; controlled study; external beam radiotherapy; female; follow up; gastrointestinal toxicity; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; human tissue; informed consent; major clinical study; morbidity; pelvis tumor; priority journal; radiation injury; radical hysterectomy; risk factor; skin toxicity; urogenital system; uterine cervix cancer; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Female; HIV Infections; Humans; Middle Aged; Radiation Injuries; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79951889468 | In vivo evaluation of the release of zidovudine and polystyrene sulfonate from a dual intravaginal bioadhesive polymeric device in the pig model | Ndesendo V.M.K., Pillay V., Choonara Y.E., Du Toit L.C., Meyer L.C.R., Buchmann E., Kumar P., Khan R.A. | 2011 | Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences | 100 | 4 | 10.1002/jps.22365 | Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, University of the Witwatersrand, 7 York Road, Parktown 2193, Johannesburg, South Africa; Central Animal Services, University of the Witwatersrand, 7 York Road, Parktown 2193, Johannesburg, South Africa; Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Bertsham 2013, Johannesburg, South Africa; Manav Rachna International University, Aravali Hills, Faridabad, India | Ndesendo, V.M.K., Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, University of the Witwatersrand, 7 York Road, Parktown 2193, Johannesburg, South Africa; Pillay, V., Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, University of the Witwatersrand, 7 York Road, Parktown 2193, Johannesburg, South Africa; Choonara, Y.E., Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, University of the Witwatersrand, 7 York Road, Parktown 2193, Johannesburg, South Africa; Du Toit, L.C., Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, University of the Witwatersrand, 7 York Road, Parktown 2193, Johannesburg, South Africa; Meyer, L.C.R., Central Animal Services, University of the Witwatersrand, 7 York Road, Parktown 2193, Johannesburg, South Africa; Buchmann, E., Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Bertsham 2013, Johannesburg, South Africa; Kumar, P., Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, University of the Witwatersrand, 7 York Road, Parktown 2193, Johannesburg, South Africa; Khan, R.A., Manav Rachna International University, Aravali Hills, Faridabad, India | This study focused on determining the concentration of zidovudine (AZT) and polystyrene sulfonate (PSS) in the plasma and vaginal tissue of the large white pig from an intravaginal bioadhesive polymeric device (IBPD). Biocompatible polymers were compressed with AZT and PSS into caplet-shaped devices for insertion into the posterior fornix of the pig vagina. A total of 25 pigs were used in this study. Plasma was sampled from the jugular vein at various time points after insertion of the IBPD reaching 28 days. At day 28, the pigs were euthanized and vaginal tissue was removed and digested with subtilisin for AZT and PSS extraction. The mean concentration detected in vaginal tissue at day 28 was 1.214 ± 0.062 mg/mL for AZT and 1.400 ± 0.071 mg/mL for PSS. Plasma concentration was significantly lower for AZT (0.332 ± 0.014 mg/mL) and PSS (0.256 ± 0.013 mg/mL). This indicated higher retention of AZT and PSS within the vaginal tissue. Molecular mechanics simulations blueprinted polymer-drug-mucin force-field interactions and energies that explicated the spatial preference of AZT and PSS for the vaginal tissue. Histopathotoxicity studies revealed negative-to-mild foreign body events and results strongly suggest that the IBPD may be suitable for prolonged intravaginal drug delivery in preventing the transmission of sexually transmitted infections and HIV/AIDS. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association. | Formulation; HIV/AIDS; Intravaginal drug delivery; Molecular dynamics; Permeability; large white pig model; Pharmacokinetics; Polymeric drug delivery systems; STIs; Zidovudine; polystyrene sulfonate | mucin; polymer; polystyrenesulfonic acid; subtilisin; zidovudine; anti human immunodeficiency virus agent; biomaterial; chelating agent; polystyrene derivative; polystyrenesulfonic acid; zidovudine; acquired immune deficiency syndrome; animal experiment; animal tissue; article; biocompatibility; brain fornix; controlled study; device; drug blood level; drug delivery system; drug isolation; drug release; drug tissue level; energy; epithelium hyperplasia; female; foreign body; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; in vivo study; intravaginal bioadhesive polymeric device; jugular vein; molecular mechanics; nonhuman; sexually transmitted disease; simulation; vagina; adhesion; animal; blood; chemistry; devices; drug delivery system; intravaginal drug administration; metabolism; swine; Adhesiveness; Administration, Intravaginal; Animals; Anti-HIV Agents; Biocompatible Materials; Chelating Agents; Drug Delivery Systems; Female; Polymers; Polystyrenes; Swine; Vagina; Zidovudine | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77958084538 | Impact of the South African mental health care Act No. 17 of 2002 on regional and district hospitals designated for mental health care in Kwazulu-Natal | Ramlall S., Chipps J., Mars M. | 2010 | South African Medical Journal | 100 | 10 | None | Department of Psychiatry, Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; Department of TeleHealth, Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa | Ramlall, S., Department of Psychiatry, Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; Chipps, J., Department of TeleHealth, Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; Mars, M., Department of TeleHealth, Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa | Background: The South African Mental Health Care Act (the Act) No. 17 of 2002 stipulated that regional and district hospitals be designated to admit, observe and treat mental health care users (MHCUs) for 72 hours before they are transferred to a psychiatric hospital. Methods: Medical managers in 49 'designated' hospitals in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) were surveyed on infrastructure, staffing, administrative requirements and mental health care user case load pertaining to the Act for the month of July 2009. Results: Thirty-six (73.4%) hospitals responded to the survey; 30 (83.3%) stated that the Act improved mental health care for MHCUs through the protection of their rights, provision of least restrictive care, and reduction of discrimination; 10 (27.8%) had a psychiatric unit and, of the remaining 26 hospitals, 11 (30.6%) had general ward beds dedicated for psychiatric admissions; 16 (44.4%) had some form of seclusion facility; and 24 (66.7%) provided an outpatient psychiatric service. Seventy-six per cent of admissions were involuntary or assisted. Thirteen of the 32 (40.6%) state psychiatrists in KZN were employed at 8 of these hospitals. Designated hospitals expressed dissatisfaction with the substantial administrative load required by the Act. The Review Board had not visited 29 (80.6%) hospitals in the preceding 6 months. Conclusion: Although 'designated' hospitals admit and treat assisted and involuntary MHCUs, they do so against a backdrop of inadequate infrastructure and staff, a high administrative load, and a low level of contact with Review Boards. | None | act; article; controlled study; employee; government regulation; health care facility; health survey; hospital admission; hospital bed; hospital personnel; human; human rights; manager; mental health service; mental hospital; psychiatric department; psychiatrist; public hospital; South Africa; workload; Ethics Committees, Research; Hospitals, District; Medical Staff, Hospital; Mental Health Services; South Africa | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84891360015 | Evaluation of solar disinfection of E. coli under Sub-Saharan field conditions using a 25L borosilicate glass batch reactor fitted with a compound parabolic collector | Nalwanga R., Quilty B., Muyanja C., Fernandez-Ibañez P., McGuigan K.G. | 2014 | Solar Energy | 100 | None | 10.1016/j.solener.2013.12.011 | Dept. of Physiology and Medical Physics, Royal College of Surgeons, Dublin, Ireland; School of Biotechnology, Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland; School of Food Technology and Nutrition Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda; Plataforma Solar de Almería - CIEMAT, P.O. Box 22, 07200 Tabernas, Almería, Spain | Nalwanga, R., Dept. of Physiology and Medical Physics, Royal College of Surgeons, Dublin, Ireland, School of Biotechnology, Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland; Quilty, B., School of Biotechnology, Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland; Muyanja, C., School of Food Technology and Nutrition Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda; Fernandez-Ibañez, P., Plataforma Solar de Almería - CIEMAT, P.O. Box 22, 07200 Tabernas, Almería, Spain; McGuigan, K.G., Dept. of Physiology and Medical Physics, Royal College of Surgeons, Dublin, Ireland | The bacterial inactivation efficacy of a solar water disinfection (SODIS) reactor consisting of a 25L borosilicate glass tube fitted with a compound parabolic collector (BGTR-CPC) was assessed under equatorial weather conditions in Uganda. The SODIS BGTR-CPC was tested over a 17month period in Sub-Saharan conditions in Kampala, Uganda. The BGTR-CPC was filled with natural water from a nearby protected well. A wild strain of Escherichia coli isolated from local natural water was added to the reactor to give a starting population of between 105 and 107CFU/100ml. This spiked water was exposed to natural sunlight. Satisfactory bacterial inactivation (log10 reduction values>6 units or inactivation to below the limit of detection (<1CFU/100ml)) was observed for 11 of 13 experiments. Rainfall and overcast/cloudy conditions were factors on both of the occasions when incomplete inactivation was observed. In conclusion, the use of CPC SODIS technology is suitable for treating drinking water both at household level and institutional level in Sub-Saharan and other similar tropical climates if careful consideration of the cloud cover and rainfall is taken into account. © 2013. | Compound parabolic collector (CPC); Enhancement technologies; Point of use water treatment; Solar disinfection (SODIS) | Bacterial inactivation; Borosilicate glass batches; Compound parabolic collector; Enhancement technologies; Limit of detection; Point of use; Solar disinfection; Solar water disinfection; Batch reactors; Borosilicate glass; Escherichia coli; Rain; Disinfection; bacterium; cloud cover; disinfection; drinking water; fieldwork; glass; rainfall; silicate; solar power; water treatment; Kampala; Uganda; Bacteria (microorganisms); Escherichia coli | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-28244491530 | Field evaluation of a fast anti-Leishmania antibody detection assay in Ethiopia | Hailu A., Schoone G.J., Diro E., Tesfaye A., Techane Y., Tefera T., Assefa Y., Genetu A., Kebede Y., Kebede T., Schallig H.D.F.H. | 2006 | Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene | 100 | 1 | 10.1016/j.trstmh.2005.07.003 | Institute for Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University, Jimma Road, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Faculty of Medicine, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Koninklijk Instituut voor de Tropen, KIT Biomedical Research, Department of Parasitology, Meibergdreef 39, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, Netherlands; Gondar University, Gondar, Ethiopia; Kahsay Abera Hospital, Humera, Tigray Regional State, Ethiopia | Hailu, A., Institute for Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University, Jimma Road, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Faculty of Medicine, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Schoone, G.J., Koninklijk Instituut voor de Tropen, KIT Biomedical Research, Department of Parasitology, Meibergdreef 39, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, Netherlands; Diro, E., Gondar University, Gondar, Ethiopia; Tesfaye, A., Gondar University, Gondar, Ethiopia; Techane, Y., Kahsay Abera Hospital, Humera, Tigray Regional State, Ethiopia; Tefera, T., Kahsay Abera Hospital, Humera, Tigray Regional State, Ethiopia; Assefa, Y., Kahsay Abera Hospital, Humera, Tigray Regional State, Ethiopia; Genetu, A., Gondar University, Gondar, Ethiopia; Kebede, Y., Gondar University, Gondar, Ethiopia; Kebede, T., Faculty of Medicine, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Schallig, H.D.F.H., Koninklijk Instituut voor de Tropen, KIT Biomedical Research, Department of Parasitology, Meibergdreef 39, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, Netherlands | A fast agglutination screening test (FAST) for the detection of Leishmania antibodies in human serum samples was evaluated under harsh field conditions in northern Ethiopia. Test performance was compared with a standard serological test, namely the direct agglutination test (DAT), and with parasitology. In total, 103 suspected cases were recruited for the study. Based on parasitological examination, 49 patients were confirmed of having visceral leishmaniasis (VL) and the other 54 suspected cases were parasitologically negative. Field evaluation of FAST was possible in blood samples of 89 patients. FAST had 4 false negative results and 13 false positive results. DAT had 2 false negative results and 20 false positive results. A good degree of agreement (86.9%) was observed between FAST and DAT (κ value 0.73). In this field-based evalauation, the sensitivity and specificity of FAST were found to be 91.1% (95% CI 77.9-97.1) and 70.5% (95% CI 54.6-82.8), respectively, compared with 95.3% (95% CI 82.9-99.2) and 62.3% (95% CI 47.9-74.9) for DAT. FAST had a high predictive value of a negative test, demonstrating that FAST could be utilised to exclude rapidly non-VL patients from a large population of suspects with fever and splenomegaly in endemic areas. © 2005 Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. | DAT; Direct agglutination test; Ethiopia; FAST; Fast agglutination screening test; Visceral leishmaniasis | protozoon antibody; agglutination test; antibody detection; antibody screening; article; blood sampling; controlled study; diagnostic error; diagnostic value; endemic disease; Ethiopia; fever; field experiment; human; intermethod comparison; Leishmania; leishmaniasis; major clinical study; microbiological examination; nonhuman; parasitology; prediction; sensitivity and specificity; splenomegaly; visceral leishmaniasis; Agglutination Tests; Antibodies, Protozoan; Ethiopia; False Negative Reactions; False Positive Reactions; Humans; Leishmaniasis, Visceral; Sensitivity and Specificity; Protozoa | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-78650130086 | The impact of the National HIV Health Care Worker Hotline | Swart A., Chisholm B., Cohen K., Blockman M., Kinkel H.-F., Kredo T. | 2010 | South African Medical Journal | 100 | 12 | None | Medicines Information Centre, University of Cape Town, South Africa; Division of Clinical Pharmacology, University of Cape Town, South Africa; HIV and TB Medicine Unit, Foundation for Professional Development, Pretoria, South Africa; South African Cochrane Centre, MRC, Cape Town, South Africa | Swart, A., Medicines Information Centre, University of Cape Town, South Africa; Chisholm, B., Medicines Information Centre, University of Cape Town, South Africa; Cohen, K., Division of Clinical Pharmacology, University of Cape Town, South Africa; Blockman, M., Division of Clinical Pharmacology, University of Cape Town, South Africa; Kinkel, H.-F., HIV and TB Medicine Unit, Foundation for Professional Development, Pretoria, South Africa; Kredo, T., South African Cochrane Centre, MRC, Cape Town, South Africa | [No abstract available] | None | article; HIV education; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; information dissemination; information service; South Africa; Health Services Accessibility; HIV; HIV Infections; Hotlines; Humans; Preventive Health Services; Public Health; South Africa | None |
| WoS | WOS:000253025900010 | Evaluation of health workers' training in use of the partogram | Adeyemi, A. B.,Fatusi, A. O.,Makinde, O. N.,Onwudiegwu, U.,Orji, E. O. | 2008 | INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GYNECOLOGY & OBSTETRICS | 100 | 1 | 10.1016/j.ijgo.2007.07.020 | Obafemi Awolowo University | "Adeyemi, A. B.: Obafemi Awolowo University","Fatusi, A. O.: Obafemi Awolowo University","Makinde, O. N.: Obafemi Awolowo University","Onwudiegwu, U.: Obafemi Awolowo University","Orji, E. O.: Obafemi Awolowo University" | Objective: To assess the impact of training on use of the partogram for tabor monitoring among various categories of primary health care workers. Methods: Fifty-six health workers offering delivery services in primary health care facilities were trained to use the partogram and were evaluated after 7 months. Results: A total of 242 partograms of women in tabor were plotted over a 1-year period; 76.9% of them were correctly plotted. Community health extension workers (CHEWs) plotted 193 (79.8%) partograms and nurse/midwives plotted 49 (20.2%). Inappropriate action based on the partogram occurred in 6.6%. No statistically significant difference was recorded in the rate of correct plotting and consequent decision-making between nurse/midwives and the CHEWs. Conclusion: Lower cadres of primary health care workers can be effectively trained to use the partogram with satisfactory results, and thus contribute towards improved maternal outcomes in developing countries with scarcity of skilled attendants. (c) 2007 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. | NIGERIA,partogram,"primary health care workers","TRAINING PROGRAM",LABOR,MANAGEMENT,MIDWIVES,"ORGANIZATION PARTOGRAPH" | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33646181838 | Poor performance status is associated with early death in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis | de Vallière S., Barker R.D. | 2006 | Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene | 100 | 7 | 10.1016/j.trstmh.2005.09.007 | Pietersburg-Mankweng Hospital Complex, Private Bag X9316, Polokwane 0700, South Africa; Department of Respiratory Medicine, King's College Hospital, Camberwell, London, United Kingdom | de Vallière, S., Pietersburg-Mankweng Hospital Complex, Private Bag X9316, Polokwane 0700, South Africa; Barker, R.D., Department of Respiratory Medicine, King's College Hospital, Camberwell, London, United Kingdom | The objective of this study was to determine whether poor performance status at the start of anti-tuberculous (anti-TB) treatment is associated with early death in patients admitted to hospital with pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB). During 3 months in 2001, all adult patients admitted to eight hospitals in Limpopo Province, South Africa, and diagnosed with PTB were eligible for inclusion. At initiation of anti-TB treatment, a performance status between 0 and 4 was estimated for each patient using a modified version of the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group scoring system. Hospital records and local TB registers were reviewed to identify patients who had died during the first 2 months of treatment. In addition, it was ascertained whether a death notification had been received by the provincial administration. Fifty-three of 295 (18%) patients died within 2 months. Mortality increased from 6% in patients with the best performance status to 51% in patients with the poorest performance status. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that the hazard ratio for dying was significantly higher for patients with a performance status of 3 or 4. Poor performance status shows a strong association with early death in patients with PTB and has the potential to be a useful clinical, epidemiological and research tool. © 2005 Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. | Early death; Performance status; Pulmonary tuberculosis; South Africa | tuberculostatic agent; adult; aged; article; controlled study; death certificate; female; functional assessment; high risk patient; hospital admission; human; lung tuberculosis; major clinical study; male; medical record; mortality; multivariate analysis; proportional hazards model; register; regression analysis; scoring system; South Africa; Activities of Daily Living; Adult; Age Distribution; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Disability Evaluation; Epidemiologic Methods; Exercise; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Self Care; Sex Distribution; South Africa; Time Factors; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33644828010 | Fat adaptation followed by carbohydrate loading compromises high-intensity sprint performance | Havemann L., West S.J., Goedecke J.H., Macdonald I.A., St Clair Gibson A., Noakes T.D., Lambert E.V. | 2006 | Journal of Applied Physiology | 100 | 1 | 10.1152/japplphysiol.00813.2005 | Univ. of Cape Town/Medical Research Council Research Unit for Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, South Africa; School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Nottingham Medical School, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham, United Kingdom; UCT/MRC Research Unit for Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, Dept. of Human Biology, Univ. of Cape Town, PO Box 115, Newlands 7725, South Africa | Havemann, L., Univ. of Cape Town/Medical Research Council Research Unit for Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, South Africa; West, S.J., Univ. of Cape Town/Medical Research Council Research Unit for Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, South Africa; Goedecke, J.H., Univ. of Cape Town/Medical Research Council Research Unit for Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, South Africa, UCT/MRC Research Unit for Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, Dept. of Human Biology, Univ. of Cape Town, PO Box 115, Newlands 7725, South Africa; Macdonald, I.A., School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Nottingham Medical School, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham, United Kingdom; St Clair Gibson, A., Univ. of Cape Town/Medical Research Council Research Unit for Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, South Africa; Noakes, T.D., Univ. of Cape Town/Medical Research Council Research Unit for Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, South Africa; Lambert, E.V., Univ. of Cape Town/Medical Research Council Research Unit for Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, South Africa | The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a high-fat diet (HFD) followed by 1 day of carbohydrate (CHO) loading on substrate utilization, heart rate variability (HRV), effort perception [rating or perceived exertion (RPE)], muscle recruitment [electromyograph (EMG)], and performance during a 100-km cycling time trial. In this randomized single-blind crossover study, eight well-trained cyclists completed two trials, ingesting either a high-CHO diet (HCD) (68% CHO energy) or an isoenergetic HFD (68% fat energy) for 6 days, followed by 1 day of CHO loading (8-10 g CHO/kg). Subjects completed a 100-km time trial on day 1 and a 1-h cycle at 70% of peak oxygen consumption on days 3, 5, and 7, during which resting HRV and resting and exercising respiratory exchange ratio (RER) were measured. On day 8, subjects completed a 100-km performance time trial, during which blood samples were drawn and EMG was recorded. Ingestion of the HFD reduced RER at rest (P < 0.005) and during exercise (P < 0.01) and increased plasma free fatty acid levels (P < 0.01), indicating increased fat utilization. There was a tendency for the low-frequency power component of HRV to be greater for HFD-CHO (P = 0.056), suggestive of increased sympathetic activation. Overall 100-km time-trial performance was not different between diets; however, 1-km sprint power output after HFD-CHO was lower (P < 0.05) compared with HCD-CHO. Despite a reduced power output with HFD-CHO, RPE, heart rate, and EMG were not different between trials. In conclusion, the HFD-CHO dietary strategy increased fat oxidation, but compromised high intensity sprint performance, possibly by increased sympathetic activation or altered contractile function. Copyright © 2006 the American Physiological Society. | Endurance exercise; Fat oxidation; Heart rate variability; Muscle recruitment; Rating of perceived exertion | fatty acid; adult; article; blood sampling; carbohydrate absorption; controlled study; electromyogram; energy resource; exercise intensity; fat body; fatty acid blood level; heart rate variability; human; human experiment; lipid diet; lung gas exchange; male; motor performance; muscle contraction; muscle function; normal human; priority journal; adaptation; carbohydrate diet; clinical trial; controlled clinical trial; crossover procedure; endurance; exercise; exercise test; fat intake; heart rate; metabolism; oxygen consumption; physiology; psychomotor performance; randomized controlled trial; running; single blind procedure; skeletal muscle; Adaptation, Physiological; Adult; Cross-Over Studies; Dietary Carbohydrates; Dietary Fats; Exercise Test; Exertion; Heart Rate; Humans; Male; Muscle, Skeletal; Oxygen Consumption; Physical Endurance; Psychomotor Performance; Running; Single-Blind Method | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79952233508 | In vivo evaluation of a biodegradable donut-shaped minitablet for prolonged posterior segment drug delivery in the rabbit eye model | Choonara Y.E., Pillay V., Carmichael T.R., Meyer L.C., Du Toit L.C., Naylor S., Wanblad C. | 2011 | Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences | 100 | 5 | 10.1002/jps.22421 | University of the Witwatersrand, Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Parktown 2193, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa; University of the Witwatersrand, Division of Neurosciences, Department of Ophthalmology, Parktown 2193, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa; University of the Witwatersrand, Department of Physiology, Brian Function Research Group and Central Animal Services, Parktown 2193, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa; University of the Witwatersrand, Department of Anatomical Pathology, Parktown 2193, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa | Choonara, Y.E., University of the Witwatersrand, Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Parktown 2193, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa; Pillay, V., University of the Witwatersrand, Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Parktown 2193, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa; Carmichael, T.R., University of the Witwatersrand, Division of Neurosciences, Department of Ophthalmology, Parktown 2193, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa; Meyer, L.C., University of the Witwatersrand, Department of Physiology, Brian Function Research Group and Central Animal Services, Parktown 2193, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa; Du Toit, L.C., University of the Witwatersrand, Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Parktown 2193, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa; Naylor, S., University of the Witwatersrand, Department of Anatomical Pathology, Parktown 2193, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa; Wanblad, C., University of the Witwatersrand, Department of Anatomical Pathology, Parktown 2193, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa | This study focused on the in vivo evaluation of a biodegradable ganciclovir-loaded donut-shaped minitablet (DSMT) for controlled drug delivery in the New Zealand white albino rabbit eye model. Specialized tablet tooling was used to manufacture a poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) DSMT device that was implanted into 18 rabbits through the pars plana/peripheral retina of the right eyes of each rabbit. The left eyes were used as controls. Possible adverse effects on ocular tissues were assessed by histomorphology, slit-lamp biomicroscopy, intraocular pressure (IOP) measurements, and indirect ophthalmoscopy. The ex vivo microenvironmental vitreous pH was also monitored. Rabbits were euthanized at predetermined intervals and the residual devices, vitreous humor, and ocular tissue were retrieved and stored appropriately until further analysis. The DSMT was well tolerated up to 72 days and was still visible in the superotemporal quadrant of the eye. The mean IOP range (6-8 mmHg; N = 18) and changes in vitreous pH (7.25 ± 0.01; N = 3) correlated with baseline measurements. The DSMT displayed constant ganciclovir release at a rate of 2.02 μg/h maintained within the 50% effective dose for human cytomegalovirus retinitis (N = 3). The design simplicity and application of the biodegradable DSMT device may provide a superior alternative for prolonged rate-controlled intraocular drug delivery. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association. | Biodegradable; Ganciclovir; Intraocular drug delivery; Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid); Polymeric device; Posterior segment eye disease; Rabbit eye model | ganciclovir; polyglactin; resomer; adverse outcome; animal experiment; animal tissue; area under the curve; article; biodegradation; ciliary disk; controlled study; donut shaped minitablet; drug bioavailability; drug blood level; drug delivery system; drug elimination; drug isolation; drug release; ex vivo study; histology; in vivo study; intraocular pressure; male; nonhuman; ophthalmoscopy; pH; rabbit; retina; slit lamp; toxicity testing; vitreous body; Absorbable Implants; Animals; Antiviral Agents; Delayed-Action Preparations; Drug Delivery Systems; Equipment Design; Ganciclovir; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Lactic Acid; Male; Polyglycolic Acid; Posterior Eye Segment; Rabbits | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84876694087 | Large herbivores favour species diversity but have mixed impacts on phylogenetic community structure in an African savanna ecosystem | Yessoufou K., Davies T.J., Maurin O., Kuzmina M., Schaefer H., van der Bank M., Savolainen V. | 2013 | Journal of Ecology | 101 | 3 | 10.1111/1365-2745.12059 | African Centre for DNA Barcoding, University of Johannesburg, PO Box 524, APK Campus 2006, Johannesburg, South Africa; Department of Biology, McGill University, 1205 Avenue Docteur Penfield, Montreal, QC, Canada; Canadian Centre for DNA Barcoding, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada; Technische Universitaet Muenchen, Biodiversitaet der Pflanzen, Maximus-von-Imhof Forum 2, Freising, 85354, Germany; Imperial College London, Silwood Park Campus, Ascot, SL5 7PY, United Kingdom; Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, London, TW9 3DS, United Kingdom | Yessoufou, K., African Centre for DNA Barcoding, University of Johannesburg, PO Box 524, APK Campus 2006, Johannesburg, South Africa; Davies, T.J., Department of Biology, McGill University, 1205 Avenue Docteur Penfield, Montreal, QC, Canada; Maurin, O., African Centre for DNA Barcoding, University of Johannesburg, PO Box 524, APK Campus 2006, Johannesburg, South Africa; Kuzmina, M., Canadian Centre for DNA Barcoding, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada; Schaefer, H., Technische Universitaet Muenchen, Biodiversitaet der Pflanzen, Maximus-von-Imhof Forum 2, Freising, 85354, Germany; van der Bank, M., African Centre for DNA Barcoding, University of Johannesburg, PO Box 524, APK Campus 2006, Johannesburg, South Africa; Savolainen, V., Imperial College London, Silwood Park Campus, Ascot, SL5 7PY, United Kingdom, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, London, TW9 3DS, United Kingdom | There has been much debate on the impact of large herbivores on biodiversity, especially given that large mammals are becoming locally extinct in many places. The use of evolutionary information on community structure has typically been limited to evaluating assembly processes, for example, competition or habitat filtering, whereas a lack of long-term experiments has precluded the test of predictions considering more complex biotic interactions. Reconstructing the complete phylogeny of the trees and shrubs of the Kruger National Park from DNA data, we tested for phylogenetic signal in antiherbivory traits and compared the phylogenetic structure of communities under various degrees of herbivore pressure using experimental plots spanning several decades. We show that all antiherbivory traits examined demonstrated weak but significant phylogenetic signal, and that exclusion of large herbivores results in impoverished species diversity in restructured communities. Surprisingly, we also show that reduction in species diversity coupled with community reorganization does not necessarily result in a decrease in phylogenetic diversity, and that community responses to herbivore exclusion depend on initial structure. Synthesis. Extinction of large mammal herbivores will have cascading effects on plant diversity; however, impacts on plant community structure are contingent on initial conditions. This research has implications for best practice when managing large herbivores and natural habitats. Extinction of large mammal herbivores will have cascading effects on plant diversity; however, impacts on plant community structure are contingent on initial conditions. This research has implications for best practice when managing large herbivores and natural habitats. © 2013 The Authors. Journal of Ecology © 2013 British Ecological Society. | Determinants of plant community diversity and structure; Extinction; Functional diversity; Kruger National Park; Phylogenetics | biodiversity; community structure; evolutionary biology; extinction; herbivory; interspecific competition; mammal; phylogenetics; phylogeny; plant community; plant-herbivore interaction; savanna; shrub; species diversity; Kruger National Park; South Africa; Mammalia | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-34248169658 | Field-based evaluation of a reagent strip test for diagnosis of Schistosoma mansoni by detecting circulating cathodic antigen in urine before and after chemotherapy | Legesse M., Erko B. | 2007 | Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene | 101 | 7 | 10.1016/j.trstmh.2006.11.009 | Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | Legesse, M., Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Erko, B., Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | The sensitivity of a reagent strip test for the diagnosis of schistosomiasis by detecting circulating cathodic antigen (CCA) in urine was evaluated under field conditions using 251 stool and urine samples collected from a Schistosoma mansoni-endemic area of Ethiopia. The specificity of the test was evaluated in an area where schistosomiasis is not endemic. Stool samples were examined microscopically using duplicate Kato slides and formol-ether concentration methods. The effectiveness of the test in monitoring efficacy was also evaluated following chemotherapy. The results revealed that detection of CCA in urine using the one-step reagent strip test was superior to the stool examination methods (P < 0.05) in indicating the prevalence of the disease. Assuming the combination of parasitological test results as the gold standard, the sensitivity and specificity of the test were 82.1% and 75.9%, respectively. The results of egg counts suggested the potential use of urine CCA in indicating the intensity of infection as an alternative to parasitological methods. The sensitivity and specificity of the test were 75% and 73.7%, respectively, following chemotherapy. Diagnosis of S. mansoni infection in urine using reagent strips would provide information on the prevalence of the disease, although further study is needed to improve its sensitivity and specificity. © 2007 Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. | Circulating cathodic antigen; Ethiopia; Reagent strip; Schistosoma mansoni; Urine CCA | antigen; circulating cathodic antigen; praziquantel; unclassified drug; adolescent; adult; aged; antigen detection; article; child; controlled study; diagnostic test; drug efficacy; drug monitoring; endemic disease; Ethiopia; feces analysis; female; human; intermethod comparison; major clinical study; male; microscopy; nonhuman; prediction; prevalence; Schistosoma mansoni; schistosomiasis; sensitivity and specificity; test strip; urinalysis; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Anthelmintics; Antigens, Helminth; Child; Cross-Sectional Studies; Ethiopia; Feces; Female; Glycoproteins; Helminth Proteins; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Praziquantel; Reagent Strips; Schistosomiasis mansoni; Sensitivity and Specificity; Schistosoma mansoni | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84875808744 | Impact delamination testing of fibre reinforced polymers using Hopkinson Pressure Bars | Govender R.A., Langdon G.S., Nurick G.N., Cloete T.J. | 2013 | Engineering Fracture Mechanics | 101 | None | 10.1016/j.engfracmech.2012.07.025 | Blast Impact and Survivability Research Unit, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X3, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa | Govender, R.A., Blast Impact and Survivability Research Unit, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X3, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa; Langdon, G.S., Blast Impact and Survivability Research Unit, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X3, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa; Nurick, G.N., Blast Impact and Survivability Research Unit, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X3, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa; Cloete, T.J., Blast Impact and Survivability Research Unit, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X3, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa | High rate delamination tests are often performed using high speed servo-hydraulic or drop-weight test frames. However, impact induced stress wave propagation in the specimen, load cell and test frame often results in oscillations in the force readings which can obscure specimen response. The Hopkinson Pressure Bar provides a means of measuring impact forces and velocities that accounts for stress wave propagation, but is typically used where forces are relatively high and deflections to failure are relatively low. A modified Hopkinson Pressure Bar apparatus was developed to conduct delamination tests, based on Three Point Bend Test geometry, at impact velocities of the order of 5-10. m/s, with specimen deflections to failure approaching 10. mm. This apparatus was used to test the delamination response of Glass Fibre reinforced Polypropylene specimens, using the mixed Mode I-Mode II Single Leg Bend delamination test. The shape of the force-deflection curve differed dramatically between quasi-static and impact tests. Finite Element Analysis, using cohesive zone elements to capture delamination, was used to elucidate the different response of the quasi-static and impact delamination tests. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. | Delamination; Fibre reinforced polymer; Strain rate | Cohesive zone element; Delamination testing; Fibre reinforced polymers; Force-deflection curves; Glass fibre reinforced; Hopkinson pressure bar; Stress wave propagation; Three point bend tests; Bridge decks; Fiber reinforced plastics; Finite element method; Glass fibers; Polypropylenes; Reinforced plastics; Strain rate; Delamination | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79958069725 | Frequency and clinical genetics of familial dilated cardiomyopathy in Cape Town: Implications for the evaluation of patients with unexplained cardiomyopathy | Ntusi N.B.A., Wonkam A., Shaboodien G., Badri M., Mayosi B.M. | 2011 | South African Medical Journal | 101 | 6 | None | Cardiac Clinic and Cardiovascular Genetics Laboratory, Hatter Institute for Cardiovascular Research in Africa, Department of Medicine Groote Schuur Hospital and University of Cape Town, South Africa; College of Medicine, King Saud Bin Abdelaziz University of Medical Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Division of Human Genetics, Departments of Clinical Laboratory Sciences and Medicine, University of Cape Town, South Africa | Ntusi, N.B.A., Cardiac Clinic and Cardiovascular Genetics Laboratory, Hatter Institute for Cardiovascular Research in Africa, Department of Medicine Groote Schuur Hospital and University of Cape Town, South Africa; Wonkam, A., Division of Human Genetics, Departments of Clinical Laboratory Sciences and Medicine, University of Cape Town, South Africa; Shaboodien, G., Cardiac Clinic and Cardiovascular Genetics Laboratory, Hatter Institute for Cardiovascular Research in Africa, Department of Medicine Groote Schuur Hospital and University of Cape Town, South Africa; Badri, M., College of Medicine, King Saud Bin Abdelaziz University of Medical Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Mayosi, B.M., College of Medicine, King Saud Bin Abdelaziz University of Medical Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | Background. Studies from Europe and North America suggest that 20 - 50% of patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) may have familial disease. There is little information on the frequency and clinical genetics of familial DCM in Africa. Purpose. To determine the frequency and probable mode of inheritance of familial DCM in patients referred for investigation of the cause of DCM at a tertiary centre in Cape Town. Methods. We conducted a retrospective analysis of consecutive patients diagnosed with DCM between 1 February 1996 and 31 December 2009 to determine the frequency of familial disease. Results. Of 109 unrelated patients with DCM, 29 (26.6%) had familial disease. Their mean age of onset of cardiomyopathy (28.01 (standard deviation (SD) 15.33) years) was significantly younger than that for non-familial cases (39.1 (SD 12.6) years) (p=0.001). Male predominance (N=21, 72.4%) and racial distribution (15 (48.3%) coloured patients, 10 (34.5%) black Africans, 4 (13.8%) white individuals, and 1 (3.4%) of Indian descent) of familial DCM probands were similar to the non-familial cases. Of the 29 patients with familial DCM, 2 (7%) had at least one relative diagnosed with peripartum cardiomyopathy. Pedigree analysis of the 29 families was consistent with autosomal dominant inheritance in 72.4%, autosomal recessive inheritance in 17.2% and X-linked recessive inheritance in 10.4%. Conclusions. Familial DCM affects at least a quarter of African patients with DCM, presents at a young age, is associated with peripartum cardiomyopathy, and follows an autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance in the majority of families. Family screening for familial DCM is indicated in all cases of unexplained DCM, including patients with peripartum cardiomyopathy. | None | adult; article; autosomal dominant inheritance; autosomal recessive inheritance; clinical genetics; congestive cardiomyopathy; controlled study; electrocardiogram; familial disease; female; heart catheterization; heart left ventricle ejection fraction; heart left ventricle function; human; major clinical study; male; patient referral; pedigree analysis; peripartum cardiomyopathy; race difference; retrospective study; tertiary health care; Adult; African Continental Ancestry Group; Cardiomyopathy, Dilated; Female; Humans; Male; Pedigree; Peripartum Period; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications; Retrospective Studies; South Africa | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-80052577707 | Potential impact of reactive vaccination in controlling cholera outbreaks: An exploratory analysis using a Zimbabwean experience | Kim S.-Y., Choi Y., Mason P.R., Rusakaniko S., Goldie S.J. | 2011 | South African Medical Journal | 101 | 9 | None | Center for Health Decision Science, Department of Health Policy and Management, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States; Harvard Global Health Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, United States; Department of Health Policy and Management, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States; Biomedical Research and Training Institute, University of Zimbabwe, College of Health Sciences, Harare, Zimbabwe | Kim, S.-Y., Center for Health Decision Science, Department of Health Policy and Management, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States, Harvard Global Health Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, United States; Choi, Y., Center for Health Decision Science, Department of Health Policy and Management, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States, Harvard Global Health Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, United States; Mason, P.R., Department of Health Policy and Management, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States; Rusakaniko, S., Biomedical Research and Training Institute, University of Zimbabwe, College of Health Sciences, Harare, Zimbabwe; Goldie, S.J., Biomedical Research and Training Institute, University of Zimbabwe, College of Health Sciences, Harare, Zimbabwe | Background. To contain ongoing cholera outbreaks, the World Health Organization has suggested that reactive vaccination should be considered in addition to its previous control measures. Objectives. To explore the potential impact of a hypothetical reactive oral cholera vaccination using the example of the recent large-scale cholera outbreak in Zimbabwe. Methods. This was a retrospective cost-effectiveness analysis calculating the health and economic burden of the cholera outbreak in Zimbabwe with and without reactive vaccination. The primary outcome measure was incremental cost per disability-adjusted life year (DALY) averted. Results. Under the base-case assumptions (assuming 50% coverage among individuals aged ≥2 years), reactive vaccination could have averted 1 320 deaths and 23 650 DALYs. Considering herd immunity, the corresponding values would have been 2 920 deaths and 52 360 DALYs averted. The total vaccination costs would have been ~$74 million and ~$21 million, respectively, with per-dose vaccine price of US$5 and $1. The incremental costs per DALY averted of reactive vaccination were $2 770 and $370, respectively, for vaccine price set at $5 and $1. Assuming herd immunity, the corresponding cost was $980 with vaccine price of $5, and the programme was cost-saving with a vaccine price of $1. Results were most sensitive to case-fatality rate, per-dose vaccine price, and the size of the outbreak. Conclusions. Reactive vaccination has the potential to be a costeffective measure to contain cholera outbreaks in countries at high risk. However, the feasibility of implementation should be further evaluated, and caution is warranted in extrapolating the findings to different settings in the absence of other in-depth studies. | None | cholera vaccine; article; child; cholera; controlled study; cost control; cost effectiveness analysis; drug cost; epidemic; exploratory research; fatality; herd; human; immunity; nonhuman; quality adjusted life year; retrospective study; vaccination; Zimbabwe; Cholera; Cholera Vaccines; Cost-Benefit Analysis; Decision Support Techniques; Disease Outbreaks; Humans; Immunity, Herd; Vaccination; Zimbabwe | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33748979968 | Chemical analysis and preliminary toxicological evaluation of Garcinia mangostana seeds and seed oil | Ajayi I.A., Oderinde R.A., Ogunkoya B.O., Egunyomi A., Taiwo V.O. | 2006 | Food Chemistry | 101 | 3 | 10.1016/j.foodchem.2006.02.053 | Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Botany Department, Faculty of Science, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Veterinary Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria | Ajayi, I.A., Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Oderinde, R.A., Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Ogunkoya, B.O., Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Egunyomi, A., Botany Department, Faculty of Science, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Taiwo, V.O., Veterinary Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria | The chemical analysis and preliminary toxicological evaluation of Garcinia mangostana seeds and seed oil have been investigated in order to determine the possibility of using them for human and/or animal consumption. Proximate analysis showed that the seeds had high amount of carbohydrate and were rich in oil (21.68 ± 6.18%) but have a low protein content. The physical properties of the oil extracts showed the state to be liquid at room temperature (25 ± 1 °C) and the colour of the oil golden-orange. The specific gravity of the oil was 0.98 ± 0.01. Among the chemical properties of the oil extracts, acid value, saponification number, iodine value, percent free fatty acid and peroxide value compared well with those of conventional edible oils. The seed flour was found to be a good source of minerals. It contained considerable amounts of potassium (7071 mg/kg), magnesium (865 mg/kg) and calcium (454 mg/kg). Fatty acid composition of the seed oil indicated that the oil contained one essential fatty acids small proportions: linoleic acid (1.30%). The most prevalent fatty acids were palmitic acid (49.5%) and oleic acid (34.0%). Weanling albino rats appeared to suffer no toxicological effects when fed with G. mangostana seed oil in their diet for 8 weeks. Weekly monitoring of the rats showed good physical appearance and steady weight increase. Histological examination of sections of the heart, liver, kidney, spleen and lung revealed that the kidney of some of the rats had some degrees of pathology which included diffuse glomerular and tubular degeneration. No lesion was found in the heart and liver of the rats. The seed oil could be useful as an edible oil and for industrial applications. © 2006. | Fatty acid; Garcinia mangostana; Mineral elements; Toxicology effect | calcium; carbohydrate; fatty acid; iodine; linoleic acid; magnesium; oleic acid; palmitic acid; peroxide; potassium; vegetable oil; acidity; animal tissue; article; chemical analysis; chemical composition; color; comparative study; degeneration; diet; fluor; Garcinia mangostana; glomerulus; heart; histology; kidney; kidney tubule; lipid composition; liquid; liver; lung; monitoring; nonhuman; pathology; plant seed; rat; relative density; room temperature; saponification; spleen; toxicology; Animalia; Garcinia mangostana | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-39749093887 | Evaluation on potential of wild hosts as trap plants for managing gramineous stemborers in maize based-agroecosystem | Yewhalaw D., Getu E., Seyoum E. | 2008 | Journal of Economic Entomology | 101 | 1 | 10.1603/0022-0493(2008)101[50:EOPOWH]2.0.CO;2 | Department of Biology, Jimma University, P.O. Box 378, Jimma, Ethiopia; Department of Biology, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | Yewhalaw, D., Department of Biology, Jimma University, P.O. Box 378, Jimma, Ethiopia; Getu, E., Department of Biology, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Seyoum, E., Department of Biology, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | As part of habitat management system to control cereal stemborers, various wild hosts used as trap plants were studied during the dry season from November 2003 to March 2004 at Melkassa, central Ethiopia. Five wild hosts of the family Poaceae [Pennisetum purpurum (Schumach), Sorghum vulgare variety sudanense (Pers.), Panicum coloratura L., Sorghum arundi-naceum Stapf, and Hyperrhania rufa (Nees)] were evaluated as trap plants in maize, Zea mays L.,-based agroecosystem. The results of the study showed that maize plots surrounded by all tested wild hosts had significantly lower mean percentage of foliage damage and stemborer density than maize monocrop plots 15 m away from the treatment blocks. Interestingly, mean foliar damage and stemborer density between maize plots surrounded by wild hosts and maize monocrop plots within the treatment blocks was not significant. Percentage of tunneled stalks was significantly greater in maize monocrop plots 15 m away from the treatment blocks than in maize plots surrounded by all tested wild host plant species. Moreover, the highest mean percentage of parasitism (62%) of Chilo partellus (Swinhoe) by Cotesia flavipes (Cameron) was recorded in maize plots surrounded by P. purpureum. Therefore, the findings revealed that these wild hosts have considerable merit to be used as trap plants in the development of strategies for managing cereal stemborers in maize crops. © 2008 Entomological Society of America. | Cotesia flavipes; Maize; Stemborer; Trap plants; Wild hosts | animal; article; biological pest control; crop; ecosystem; Ethiopia; evaluation; growth, development and aging; Hymenoptera; Lepidoptera; maize; parasitology; physiology; Poaceae; population density; population dynamics; randomization; season; Animals; Crops, Agricultural; Ecosystem; Ethiopia; Hymenoptera; Lepidoptera; Pest Control, Biological; Poaceae; Population Density; Population Dynamics; Random Allocation; Seasons; Zea mays; Chilo partellus; Cotesia flavipes; Panicum; Pennisetum; Pennisetum glaucum; Pennisetum purpureum; Poaceae; Sorghum bicolor; Zea mays | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-35348933379 | Hyperoxia improves 20 km cycling time trial performance by increasing muscle activation levels while perceived exertion stays the same | Tucker R., Kayser B., Rae E., Rauch L., Bosch A., Noakes T. | 2007 | European Journal of Applied Physiology | 101 | 6 | 10.1007/s00421-007-0458-z | Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, Sports Science Institute of South Africa, P.O. Box 115, Newlands 7725, South Africa; Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland | Tucker, R., Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, Sports Science Institute of South Africa, P.O. Box 115, Newlands 7725, South Africa; Kayser, B., Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland; Rae, E., Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, Sports Science Institute of South Africa, P.O. Box 115, Newlands 7725, South Africa; Rauch, L., Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, Sports Science Institute of South Africa, P.O. Box 115, Newlands 7725, South Africa; Bosch, A., Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, Sports Science Institute of South Africa, P.O. Box 115, Newlands 7725, South Africa; Noakes, T., Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, Sports Science Institute of South Africa, P.O. Box 115, Newlands 7725, South Africa | Increasing inspiratory oxygen tension improves exercise performance. We tested the hypothesis that this is partly due to changes in muscle activation levels while perception of exertion remains unaltered. Eleven male subjects performed two 20-km cycling time-trials, one in hyperoxia (HI, FiO2 40%) and one in normoxia (NORM, FiO2 21%). Every 2 km we measured power output, heart rate, blood lactate, integrated vastus lateralis EMG activity (iEMG) and ratings of perceived exertion (RPE). Performance was improved on average by 5% in HI compared to NORM (P < 0.01). Changes in heart rate, plasma lactate concentration and RPE during the trials were similar. For the majority of the time-trials, power output was maintained in HI, but decreased progressively in NORM (P < 0.01) while it increased in both trials for the last kilometre (P < 0.0001). iEMG was proportional to power output and was significantly greater in HI than in NORM. iEMG activity increased significantly in the final kilometer of both trials (P < 0.001). This suggests that improved exercise performance in hyperoxia may be the result of increased muscle activation leading to greater power outputs. The finding of identical RPE, lactate and heart rate in both trials suggests that pacing strategies are altered to keep the actual and perceived exercise stress at a similar level between conditions. We suggest that a complex, intelligent system regulates exercise performance through the control of muscle activation levels in an integrative manner under conditions of normoxia and hyperoxia. © Springer-Verlag 2007. | Exercise; Fatigue; Hyperoxia; Pacing strategy | lactic acid; adult; article; athlete; controlled study; cycling; electromyogram; heart rate; human; human experiment; hyperoxia; hypothesis; lactate blood level; male; muscle contraction; muscle strength; normal human; physical performance; priority journal; statistical significance; vastus lateralis muscle; Adult; Athletic Performance; Bicycling; Biomechanics; Electromyography; Exertion; Heart Rate; Humans; Hyperoxia; Lactic Acid; Male; Muscle Fatigue; Muscle, Skeletal; Oxygen; Perception | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-19944416234 | Monitoring the oceanic flow between Africa and Antarctica: Report of the first GoodHope cruise | Ansorge I.J., Speich S., Lutjeharms J.R.E., Göni G.J., Rautenbach C.J.D.W., Froneman P.W., Rouault M., Garzoli S. | 2005 | South African Journal of Science | 101 | 42371 | None | Department of Oceanography, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7700, South Africa; LPO/UBO UFR Sciences, 6 ave. Le Gorgeu, 29285 Brest Cedex, France; NOAA/AOML, U.S. Department of Commerce, 4301 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami, FL 33149, United States; Geography, Geoinformatics and Meteorology Department, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa; Southern Ocean Group, Department of Zoology and Entomology, Rhodes University, P.O. Box 94, Grahamstown 6140, South Africa; Physical Oceanography Division, NOAA/AOML, 4301 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami, FL 33149, United States | Ansorge, I.J., Department of Oceanography, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7700, South Africa; Speich, S., LPO/UBO UFR Sciences, 6 ave. Le Gorgeu, 29285 Brest Cedex, France; Lutjeharms, J.R.E., Department of Oceanography, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7700, South Africa; Göni, G.J., NOAA/AOML, U.S. Department of Commerce, 4301 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami, FL 33149, United States; Rautenbach, C.J.D.W., Geography, Geoinformatics and Meteorology Department, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa; Froneman, P.W., Southern Ocean Group, Department of Zoology and Entomology, Rhodes University, P.O. Box 94, Grahamstown 6140, South Africa; Rouault, M., Department of Oceanography, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7700, South Africa; Garzoli, S., Physical Oceanography Division, NOAA/AOML, 4301 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami, FL 33149, United States | THE SOUTHERN OCEAN PLAYS A MAJOR role in the global oceanic circulation, as a component of the Meridional Overturning Circulation, and it is postulated that it has a great influence on present-day climate. However, our understanding of its complex three-dimensional dynamics and of the impact of its variability on the climate system is rudimentary. The newly constituted, international GoodHope research venture aims to address this knowledge gap by establishing a programme of regular observations across the Southern Ocean between the African and Antarctic continents. The objectives of this programme are fivefold: (1) to improve understanding of Indo-Atlantic inter-ocean exchanges and their impact on the global thermohaline circulation and thus on global climate change; (2) to understand in more detail the influence these exchanges have on the climate variability of the southern African subcontinent; (3) to monitor the variability of the main Southern Ocean frontal systems associated with the Antarctic Circumpolar Current; (4) to study air-sea exchanges and their role on the global heat budget, with particular emphasis on the intense exchanges occurring within the Agulhas Retroflection region south of South Africa, and (5) to examine the role of major frontal systems as areas of elevated biological activity and as biogeographical barriers to the distribution of plankton. We present here preliminary results on the physical and biological structure of the frontal systems using the first GoodHope transect that was completed during February-March 2004. | None | oceanic circulation; oceanic regions; Southern Ocean; World | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79960982564 | Evaluation of pain incidence and pain management in a South African paediatric trauma unit | Tiadens T., Vervat E., Albertyn R., van Dijk M., van As A.B.S. | 2011 | South African Medical Journal | 101 | 8 | None | Department of Paediatric Surgery, Erasmus MC-Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, Netherlands; Department of Paediatric Surgery, Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa | Tiadens, T., Department of Paediatric Surgery, Erasmus MC-Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, Netherlands; Vervat, E., Department of Paediatric Surgery, Erasmus MC-Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, Netherlands; Albertyn, R., Department of Paediatric Surgery, Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa; van Dijk, M., Department of Paediatric Surgery, Erasmus MC-Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, Netherlands; van As, A.B.S., Department of Paediatric Surgery, Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa | Objectives. To evaluate pain incidence and pain management in a South African paediatric trauma unit, and to compare the usefulness of 5 different assessment tools.Design. A prospective observational study, using the Numerical Rating Scale for pain (NRS pain), Numerical Rating Scale for anxiety (NRS anxiety), the Alder Hey Triage Pain Score (AHTPS), the COMFORT behaviour scale and the Touch Visual Pain Scale (TVPS). All patients were assessed at admission; those who were hospitalised were again assessed every 3 hours until discharge.Results. A total of 165 patients, with a mean age of 5.3 years (range 0 - 13), were included. NRS scores were indicative of moderate to severe pain in 13.3% of the patients, and no pain in 24% at admission. Two-thirds of the patients received no analgesics; for them, NRS pain, AHTPS and TVP scores were lower than the scores for the other children. Conclusion. Pain and anxiety incidences in this paediatric trauma unit are relatively low. Implementation of a standard pain assessment tool in the emergency department triage system can improve pain management. The AHTPS is the most promising for use in non-Western settings. | None | benzodiazepine; chloral hydrate; codeine; narcotic analgesic agent; paracetamol; adolescent; Alder Hey Triage Pain Score; analgesia; anxiety; article; child; child care; childhood injury; clinical assessment tool; COMFORT behavior scale; comparative effectiveness; controlled study; disease severity; emergency health service; feasibility study; female; human; incidence; infant; interrater reliability; major clinical study; male; Numerical Rating Scale for anxiety; pain; pain assessment; pediatric ward; process design; prospective study; psychometry; rating scale; receiver operating characteristic; scoring system; South Africa; Touch Visual Pain Scale; Adolescent; Analgesics; Chi-Square Distribution; Child; Child, Preschool; Female; Humans; Incidence; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Male; Pain; Pain Measurement; Predictive Value of Tests; Prospective Studies; Reproducibility of Results; Sensitivity and Specificity; South Africa; Triage | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-24644432106 | Evaluation of five medicinal plants used in diarrhoea treatment in Nigeria | Agunu A., Yusuf S., Andrew G.O., Zezi A.U., Abdurahman E.M. | 2005 | Journal of Ethnopharmacology | 101 | 03-Jan | 10.1016/j.jep.2005.03.025 | Department of Pharmacognosy and Drug Development, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria; Department of Human Physiology, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria; Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria | Agunu, A., Department of Pharmacognosy and Drug Development, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria; Yusuf, S., Department of Human Physiology, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria; Andrew, G.O., Department of Pharmacognosy and Drug Development, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria; Zezi, A.U., Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria; Abdurahman, E.M., Department of Pharmacognosy and Drug Development, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria | Five medicinal plants [Acacia nilotica, Acanthospermun hispidum, Gmelina arborea, Parkia biglobosa and Vitex doniana] used in diarrhoeal treatment in Kaduna State, Nigeria, were investigated. This study was carried out on perfused isolated rabbit jejunum and castor oil-induced diarrhoea in mice. The aqueous methanol extracts (0.5, 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0 mg/ml) were generally found to cause a dose-dependent response in the isolated rabbit jejunum, though this was not uniform in all the plants. Gmelina arborea and Vitex doniana showed concentration dependent relaxation at low doses (0.5, 1.0 mg/ml), but showed no significant relaxation at higher doses (2.0, 3.0 mg/ml). Other extracts showed biphasic effects. For example, Acacia nilotica at 3.0 mg/ml caused initial relaxation quickly followed by contraction. In the castor oil-induced diarrhoeal, 100% protections were shown by extracts of Acacia nilotica and Parkia biglobosa (100, 200 mg/kg) while Vitex doniana showed a dose-dependent effect. The least protection was shown by Acanthospermun hispidum, at the same dose, when compared with the other four plants. The results obtained revealed that the aqueous methanol extracts of all the five medicinal plants investigated have pharmacological activity against diarrhoea. This may explain their use in traditional medicine for the treatment of diarrhoea. © 2005 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. | Antidiarrhoeal; Castor oil; Medicinal plants; Methanol extracts; Tissue relaxation | Acacia nilotica extract; acanthospermum hispidum extract; castor oil; Gmelina arborea extract; loperamide; methanol; Parkia biglobosa extract; plant extract; unclassified drug; vitex doniana extract; Acacia; acanthospermum hispidum; animal experiment; animal model; animal tissue; article; concentration (parameters); controlled study; diarrhea; drug activity; drug effect; drug screening; gmelina arborea; intestine contraction; jejunum; male; medicinal plant; mouse; muscle relaxation; Nigeria; nonhuman; Parkia biglobosa; rabbit; Vitex doniana; Acacia; Animals; Diarrhea; Jejunum; Male; Mice; Nigeria; Phytotherapy; Plant Extracts; Plants, Medicinal; Rabbits; Vitex; Acacia nilotica; Gmelina arborea; Oryctolagus cuniculus; Parkia biglobosa; Vitex doniana | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84879606961 | Climatic stress mediates the impacts of herbivory on plant population structure and components of individual fitness | Louthan A.M., Doak D.F., Goheen J.R., Palmer T.M., Pringle R.M. | 2013 | Journal of Ecology | 101 | 4 | 10.1111/1365-2745.12090 | Department of Zoology and Physiology and Program in Ecology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, 82070, United States; Mpala Research Centre, PO Box 555, Nanyuki, 10400, Kenya; Environmental Studies Program, University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80309, United States; Department of Botany, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, 82070, United States; Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, United States; Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, 08544, United States | Louthan, A.M., Department of Zoology and Physiology and Program in Ecology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, 82070, United States, Mpala Research Centre, PO Box 555, Nanyuki, 10400, Kenya; Doak, D.F., Mpala Research Centre, PO Box 555, Nanyuki, 10400, Kenya, Environmental Studies Program, University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80309, United States; Goheen, J.R., Department of Zoology and Physiology and Program in Ecology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, 82070, United States, Mpala Research Centre, PO Box 555, Nanyuki, 10400, Kenya, Department of Botany, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, 82070, United States; Palmer, T.M., Mpala Research Centre, PO Box 555, Nanyuki, 10400, Kenya, Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, United States; Pringle, R.M., Mpala Research Centre, PO Box 555, Nanyuki, 10400, Kenya, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, 08544, United States | Past studies have shown that the strength of top-down herbivore control on plant physiological performance, abundance and distribution patterns can shift with abiotic stress, but it is still unclear whether herbivores generally exert stronger effects on plants in stressful or in nonstressful environments. One hypothesis suggests that herbivores' effects on plant biomass and fitness should be strongest in stressful areas, because stressed plants are less able to compensate for herbivore damage. Alternatively, herbivores may reduce plant biomass and fitness more substantially in nonstressful areas, either because plant growth rates in the absence of herbivory are higher and/or because herbivores are more abundant and diverse in nonstressful areas. We test these predictions of where herbivores should exert stronger effects by measuring individual performance, population size structure and densities of a common subshrub, Hibiscus meyeri, in a large-scale herbivore exclosure experiment arrayed across an aridity gradient in East Africa. We find support for both predictions, with herbivores exerting stronger effects on individual-level performance in arid (stressful) areas, but exerting stronger effects on population size structure and abundance in mesic (nonstressful) areas. We suggest that this discrepancy arises from higher potential growth rates in mesic areas, where alleviation of herbivory leads to substantially more growth and thus large changes in population size structure. Differences in herbivore abundance do not appear to contribute to our results. Synthesis. Our work suggests that understanding the multiple facets of plant response to herbivores (e.g. both individual performance and abundance) may be necessary to predict how plant species' abundance and distribution patterns will shift in response to changing climate and herbivore numbers. © 2013 The Authors. Journal of Ecology © 2013 British Ecological Society. | Aridity; Climate change; Plant distributions; Plant-herbivore interactions; Population dynamics; Savannas; Stress gradients | abundance; aridity; climate change; climate effect; fitness; phytomass; plant-herbivore interaction; population size; savanna; East Africa; Hibiscus | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-78751470672 | Postgraduate palliative care education: Evaluation of a South African programme | Ens C.D.L., Chochinov H.M., Gwyther E., Moses S., Jackson C., Thompson G., Harding R. | 2011 | South African Medical Journal | 101 | 1 | None | Faculty of Medicine, Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Manitoba FASD Centre, MB, Canada; Manitoba Palliative Care Research Unit, Department of Psychiatry, University of Manitoba, MB, Canada; Centre for Global Public Health, Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, MB, Canada; Faculty of Nursing, University of Manitoba, MB, Canada; School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Department of Palliative Care, Policy and Rehabilitation, King's College London, School of Medicine at Guy's, King's and St Thomas Hospitals Carla | Ens, C.D.L., Faculty of Medicine, Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Manitoba FASD Centre, MB, Canada; Chochinov, H.M., Manitoba Palliative Care Research Unit, Department of Psychiatry, University of Manitoba, MB, Canada; Gwyther, E., School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Moses, S., Centre for Global Public Health, Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, MB, Canada; Jackson, C., School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Thompson, G., Faculty of Nursing, University of Manitoba, MB, Canada; Harding, R., Department of Palliative Care, Policy and Rehabilitation, King's College London, School of Medicine at Guy's, King's and St Thomas Hospitals Carla | Aim. We aimed to assess the postgraduate palliative care distance education programme of the University of Cape Town (UCT) in terms of its perceived ability to influence palliative care delivery. Methods. A mixed-methods approach, consisting of two surveys using open-ended and multiple-choice options, was conducted from January to December 2007 at the UCT School of Public Health and Family Medicine. All students registered in the programme from 2000 - 2007 were invited to participate; 83 (66.4% of all eligible participants) completed the general survey, and 41 (65.7%) of the programme's graduates completed the graduate survey. The survey scores and open-ended data were triangulated to evaluate UCT's palliative care postgraduate programme. Results. General survey scores of graduates were significantly higher in 5 of the 6 categories in comparison with current students. The graduate survey indicated that curriculum and teaching strengths were in communication and dealing with challenging encounters. Graduates also stressed the need to develop a curriculum that incorporated a practical component. Conclusions. In addition to current postgraduate training, palliative care education in South Africa should be extended to undergraduate medical students, as the benefits of UCT's programme were limited to a small cohort of practitioners. | None | article; controlled study; curriculum development; education program; female; health care delivery; human; male; medical student; palliative therapy; postgraduate education; South Africa; teaching; Education, Medical, Graduate; Education, Medical, Undergraduate; Humans; Palliative Care; South Africa | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84961119304 | Understanding global change impacts on South African biomes using Dynamic Vegetation Models | Moncrieff G.R., Scheiter S., Slingsby J.A., Higgins S.I. | 2015 | South African Journal of Botany | 101 | None | 10.1016/j.sajb.2015.02.004 | Fynbos Node, South African Environmental Observation Network (SAEON), Centre for Biodiversity Conservation, Kirstenbosch Gardens, Private Bag X7, Rhodes Drive, Claremont, Cape Town, South Africa; Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland, Stellenbosch, South Africa; Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre, Senckenberg Research Institute, Natural History Museum, Senckenberganlage 25, Frankfurt am Main, Germany; Centre for Statistics in Ecology, Environment and Conservation, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X3, Rondebosch, South Africa; Department of Botany, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand | Moncrieff, G.R., Fynbos Node, South African Environmental Observation Network (SAEON), Centre for Biodiversity Conservation, Kirstenbosch Gardens, Private Bag X7, Rhodes Drive, Claremont, Cape Town, South Africa, Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland, Stellenbosch, South Africa; Scheiter, S., Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre, Senckenberg Research Institute, Natural History Museum, Senckenberganlage 25, Frankfurt am Main, Germany; Slingsby, J.A., Fynbos Node, South African Environmental Observation Network (SAEON), Centre for Biodiversity Conservation, Kirstenbosch Gardens, Private Bag X7, Rhodes Drive, Claremont, Cape Town, South Africa, Centre for Statistics in Ecology, Environment and Conservation, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X3, Rondebosch, South Africa; Higgins, S.I., Department of Botany, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand | The distribution of South African biomes is expected to be drastically altered as a result of climatic change and increasing atmospheric CO2 in the 21st century. Developing the capacity to anticipate change is of critical importance if we are to mitigate and efficiently adapt to the reorganization of South African vegetation cover. Dynamic Vegetation Models (DVMs) simulate the distribution and functioning of plant functional types (PFTs) and their interactions. Outputs include biome distribution maps, assessments of carbon cycling and the quantification of plant productivity, all of which can be produced for past, present and future conditions. DVMs were originally conceived of as analogs to general circulation models (GCMs) and applied globally, but to be unbiased globally necessitates choosing parameters and representing processes that may not be regionally appropriate. Models populated with a modified suite of PFTs and parameterized appropriately for local conditions are better suited to studies concerned with vegetation dynamics and global change impacts at the country or continent-scale. In their current form DGVMs do not include the plant types and key processes of many South African biomes. Therefore, while projections of global change impacts are available for biomes dominated by forest trees, savanna trees and grasses, little can be learned about some of our most biodiverse and threatened biomes, particularly the Fynbos and Thicket biomes, and the Succulent Karoo. We outline the limitations of existing DVMs and improvements required before reliable projections of global change impacts on South African biomes can be produced. Reparameterization of some PFTs and fire models could easily be achieved, and would lead to large improvements in model simulations. However, there remain numerous processes and facets of the ecology of South African vegetation that will limit the applicability of DVMs in their current form. © 2015 South African Association of Botanists. | Biome; CO2; Dynamic Global Vegetation Model (DGVM); Dynamic Vegetation Model (DVM); Fynbos; Global change; Plant functional type (PFT) | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-34547122887 | Field evaluation of FD-DAT, rK39 dipstick and KATEX (urine latex agglutination) for diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis in northwest Ethiopia | Diro E., Techane Y., Tefera T., Assefa Y., Kebede T., Genetu A., Kebede Y., Tesfaye A., Ergicho B., Gebre-Yohannes A., Mengistu G., Engers H., Aseffa A., Desjeux P., Boelaert M., Hailu A. | 2007 | Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene | 101 | 9 | 10.1016/j.trstmh.2007.05.002 | Gondar University, Amhara Regional State, Gondar, Ethiopia; Kahsay Abera Hospital, Tigray Regional State, Humera, Ethiopia; Biomedical Research and Training Program (BRTP), Faculty of Medicine, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Armauer Hansen Research Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Department of Control, Prevention and Elimination (CDS/CPE), Cluster of Communicable Diseases, WHO, Geneva, Switzerland; Institute of Tropical Medicine, Department of Public Health, Antwerp, Belgium; Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology (DMIP), Faculty of Medicine, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 9086, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | Diro, E., Gondar University, Amhara Regional State, Gondar, Ethiopia; Techane, Y., Kahsay Abera Hospital, Tigray Regional State, Humera, Ethiopia; Tefera, T., Kahsay Abera Hospital, Tigray Regional State, Humera, Ethiopia; Assefa, Y., Kahsay Abera Hospital, Tigray Regional State, Humera, Ethiopia; Kebede, T., Biomedical Research and Training Program (BRTP), Faculty of Medicine, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Genetu, A., Gondar University, Amhara Regional State, Gondar, Ethiopia; Kebede, Y., Gondar University, Amhara Regional State, Gondar, Ethiopia; Tesfaye, A., Gondar University, Amhara Regional State, Gondar, Ethiopia; Ergicho, B., Gondar University, Amhara Regional State, Gondar, Ethiopia; Gebre-Yohannes, A., Gondar University, Amhara Regional State, Gondar, Ethiopia; Mengistu, G., Gondar University, Amhara Regional State, Gondar, Ethiopia; Engers, H., Armauer Hansen Research Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Aseffa, A., Armauer Hansen Research Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Desjeux, P., Department of Control, Prevention and Elimination (CDS/CPE), Cluster of Communicable Diseases, WHO, Geneva, Switzerland; Boelaert, M., Institute of Tropical Medicine, Department of Public Health, Antwerp, Belgium; Hailu, A., Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology (DMIP), Faculty of Medicine, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 9086, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | Three novel diagnostic tests for visceral leishmaniasis (VL), namely FD-DAT, rK39 dipstick and KATEX, were evaluated under field conditions using 101 clinical cases suspected of having VL enrolled in a trial either by active (63 patients) or passive (38 patients) surveillance. VL was confirmed in 49 patients: 35 by both aspirate smear microscopy and NNN culture, 10 by NNN culture alone and 4 by aspirate smear microscopy alone. Based on tests performed in the field, sensitivity for FD-DAT, rK39 dipstick and KATEX was determined to be 95.3% (95% CI 82.9-99.2%), 71.7% (95% CI 56.3-83.5%) and 57.4% (95% CI 42.3-71.4%), respectively. Similarly, the specificity was determined to be 62.7% (95% CI 48.1-75.5%), 82.4% (95% CI 68.6-91.1%) and 84.3% (95% CI 70.9-92.5%), respectively. A higher sensitivity of KATEX (73.9% vs. 41.7%) and higher specificity of FD-DAT (100.0% vs. 48.6%) were demonstrated under passive case detection compared with active case detection. FD-DAT is recommended for confirmation of VL diagnosis in hospital settings, whereas its use in the field will be limited to exclude VL in clinical suspects. The sensitivity of KATEX and rK39 dipstick tests needs to be improved to promote their use as first-line diagnostic tests in the field setting of northwestern Ethiopia. © 2007 Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. | Diagnostic tests; Ethiopia; Latex agglutination test; Leishmania K39 antigen; Serology; Visceral leishmaniasis | stibogluconate sodium; agglutination test; article; assay; clinical article; confidence interval; controlled study; diagnostic test; Ethiopia; human; microscopy; sensitivity and specificity; smear; visceral leishmaniasis; Endemic Diseases; Ethiopia; Female; Humans; Latex Fixation Tests; Leishmaniasis, Visceral; Male; Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; Reproducibility of Results; Rural Health; Sensitivity and Specificity | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-27344439988 | Technological performance judged by American patents awarded to South African inventors | Pouris A. | 2005 | South African Journal of Science | 101 | 42496 | None | Institute for Technological Innovation, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa | Pouris, A., Institute for Technological Innovation, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa | PATENTS ARE ACCEPTED INTERNATIONALLY as a reflection of a country's inventive and technological achievements and are used for monitoring and assessing national systems of innovation. In South Africa, patents are one of the technological indicators monitored by the Department of Science and Technology. This article reports the results of an assessment of South Africa's technological performance based on the number of utility patents granted to South African inventors by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). The analysis shows that the country is losing ground in the international technological race. South Africa's shares in the USPTO halved from 0.13% in 1988 to a mere 0.07% in 2001. Finer analysis reveals a small shift towards modern technologies (such as biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and computers and peripherals) and Science Linkage indicators identify the areas (in particular biotechnology and pharmaceuticals) in which South Africa is producing leading-edge technologies. | None | innovation; international comparison; social indicator; technological development; Africa; Eastern Hemisphere; South Africa; Southern Africa; Sub-Saharan Africa; World | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84903942795 | Nanofluid Viscosity: A simple model selection algorithm and parametric evaluation | Nwosu P.N., Meyer J., Sharifpur M. | 2014 | Computers and Fluids | 101 | None | 10.1016/j.compfluid.2014.04.001 | National Centre for Energy Research and Development, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria; Department of Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering, University of Pretoria, South Africa | Nwosu, P.N., National Centre for Energy Research and Development, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria, Department of Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering, University of Pretoria, South Africa; Meyer, J., Department of Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering, University of Pretoria, South Africa; Sharifpur, M., Department of Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering, University of Pretoria, South Africa | In this paper, a study is undertaken to investigate the degree of variability between empirical nanofluid viscosity data and the viscosity model predictions. It is seen that there is a high degree of variability in the compared data, which suggests that a wide range of constitutive factors need to be incorporated into the models in order to adequately account for the rheological behavior of nanofluids. A selection algorithm is also proposed as a simple but effective tool for the model selection process in different nanofluidic conditions/compositions; consequently the odds of redundancy are substantially reduced. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. | Algorithm; Model; Nanofluid; Viscosity | Algorithms; Models; Viscosity; Degree of variability; High degree of variability; Model Selection; Nanofluids; Rheological behaviors; Selection algorithm; Simple modeling; Viscosity modeling; Nanofluidics | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79960394623 | The economic and poverty impacts of animal diseases in developing countries: New roles, new demands for economics and epidemiology | Rich K.M., Perry B.D. | 2011 | Preventive Veterinary Medicine | 101 | 42433 | 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2010.08.002 | Norwegian Inst. of International Affairs (NUPI), International Livestock Research Inst. (ILRI), Department of International Economics, C/O NUPI, P.O. Box 8159, 0033 Oslo, Norway; University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom; University of Oxford, United Kingdom; University of Pretoria, South Africa; c/o P.O. Box 437, Gilgil 20116, Kenya | Rich, K.M., Norwegian Inst. of International Affairs (NUPI), International Livestock Research Inst. (ILRI), Department of International Economics, C/O NUPI, P.O. Box 8159, 0033 Oslo, Norway; Perry, B.D., University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom, University of Oxford, United Kingdom, University of Pretoria, South Africa, c/o P.O. Box 437, Gilgil 20116, Kenya | Animal disease outbreaks pose significant threats to livestock sectors throughout the world, both from the standpoint of the economic impacts of the disease itself and the measures taken to mitigate the risk of disease introduction. These impacts are multidimensional and not always well understood, complicating effective policy response. In the developing world, livestock diseases have broader, more nuanced effects on markets, poverty, and livelihoods, given the diversity of uses of livestock and complexity of livestock value chains. In both settings, disease control strategies, particularly those informed by ex ante modeling platforms, often fail to recognize the constraints inherent among farmers, veterinary services, and other value chain actors. In short, context matters. Correspondingly, an important gap in the animal health economics literature is the explicit incorporation of behavior and incentives in impact analyses that highlight the interactions of disease with its socio-economic and institutional setting. In this paper, we examine new approaches and frameworks for the analysis of economic and poverty impacts of animal diseases. We propose greater utilization of " bottom-up" analyses, highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of value chain and information economics approaches in impact analyses and stressing the importance of improved integration between the epidemiology of disease and its relationships with economic behavior. © 2010 Elsevier B.V. | Decision-making; Developing countries; Poverty impacts; Value chain; Veterinary epidemiology and economics | animal; animal disease; article; developing country; economics; epidemic; human; poverty; Animal Diseases; Animals; Developing Countries; Disease Outbreaks; Humans; Poverty; Animalia | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33751549294 | High rates of HIV in surgical patients in Soweto, South Africa: impact on resource utilisation and recommendations for HIV testing | Martinson N.A., Omar T., Gray G.E., Vermaak J.S., Badicel M., Degiannis E., Steyn J., McIntyre J.A., Smith M. | 2007 | Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene | 101 | 2 | 10.1016/j.trstmh.2006.04.002 | Perinatal HIV Research Unit, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States; Department of Anatomical Pathology, National Health Laboratory Service, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Department of Surgery, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa | Martinson, N.A., Perinatal HIV Research Unit, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States; Omar, T., Department of Anatomical Pathology, National Health Laboratory Service, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Gray, G.E., Perinatal HIV Research Unit, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Vermaak, J.S., Department of Surgery, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Badicel, M., Department of Surgery, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Degiannis, E., Department of Surgery, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Steyn, J., Perinatal HIV Research Unit, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; McIntyre, J.A., Perinatal HIV Research Unit, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Smith, M., Department of Surgery, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa | Interactions between HIV and surgical diseases are relatively poorly described in high HIV prevalence settings. We report HIV prevalence and its associations in a prospective study of adults admitted to surgical units in Soweto, South Africa. Voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) for HIV was offered to surgical inpatients. Research nurses interviewed participants at enrolment and doctors reviewed records after discharge. In HIV-infected participants, CD4 counts and viral loads were ascertained. Of 1000 participants, 537 consented to VCT, of whom 176 (32.8%, 95% CI 28.8-36.9%) tested HIV positive. A history of tuberculosis (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 3.0, 95% CI 1.5-6.2) or sexually transmitted infection (AOR 2.7, 95% CI 1.8-4.2) was associated with HIV infection. Diagnoses of cutaneous abscesses (OR 3.4, 95% CI 1.4-8.1) and anorectal sepsis (OR 3.1, 95% CI 1.1-9.0) were associated with HIV and indicated advanced disease. There were no differences in rates of operative procedures, wound sepsis, investigations or length of stay by HIV status. Hospital-acquired pneumonia was more common in HIV-infected participants (P = 0.028). In conclusion, in this high HIV prevalence setting, resource utilisation is similar between HIV-infected and uninfected patients in surgical wards where high rates of HIV in young adults support routine HIV testing. WHO clinical staging of HIV should include anal sepsis as an indicator of advanced HIV disease. © 2006 Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. | Anal sepsis; Clinical staging; HIV; South Africa; Surgery; VCT | CD4 antigen; abdominal wall hernia; adult; anorectal disease; appendicitis; article; CD4+ T lymphocyte; cellulitis; controlled study; female; hemorrhoid; hospital admission; hospital infection; hospitalization; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; informed consent; injury; interview; lymphocyte count; major clinical study; male; medical record review; patient counseling; pneumonia; prevalence; prospective study; resource management; screening test; sepsis; sexually transmitted disease; skin abscess; skin disease; South Africa; staging; surgical infection; surgical patient; surgical technique; surgical ward; tuberculosis; virus load; wound infection; Adult; Aged; Cohort Studies; Female; Health Resources; HIV Infections; Hospitalization; Humans; Intraoperative Complications; Male; Middle Aged; Prevalence; Prospective Studies; South Africa; Viral Load; Wounds and Injuries | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-27344432029 | Evaluation of an optical characterization model for infrared reflectance spectroscopy of GaAs substrates | Engelbrecht J.A.A., James G.R. | 2005 | South African Journal of Science | 101 | 42496 | None | Physics Department, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, P.O. Box 77000, Port Elizabeth 6031, South Africa | Engelbrecht, J.A.A., Physics Department, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, P.O. Box 77000, Port Elizabeth 6031, South Africa; James, G.R., Physics Department, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, P.O. Box 77000, Port Elizabeth 6031, South Africa | The assessment of substrates by infrared spectroscopy was evaluated by comparing the electrical properties of GaAs substrates obtained optically with the values measured electrically. | None | gallium; infrared spectroscopy; optical method; substrate | None |
| None | None | Impact of the pharmaceutical sciences on health care: A reflection over the past 50 years | Rowland M., Noe C.R., Smith D.A., Tucker G.T., Crommelin D.J.A., Peck C.C., Rocci Jr. M.L., Besançon L., Shah V.P. | 2012 | Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences | 101 | 11 | 10.1002/jps.23295 | School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom; Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, Schools of Pharmacy and Medicine, University of California, San Francisco CA 94143, United States; Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Vienna, Vienna 1090, Austria; Department of Chemistry, University of Capetown, Capetown, South Africa; Department of Pharmacology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom; Clinical Pharmacology, University of Sheffield, The Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield S10 2JF, United Kingdom; Simcyp Ltd, Blades Enterprise Centre, John St, Sheffield S24SU, United Kingdom; UIPS, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands; ICON Development Solutions, Ellicott City, MD 21043, United States; International Pharmaceutical Federation, Andries Bickerweg 52517 JP, The Hauge, Netherlands | Rowland, M., School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom, Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, Schools of Pharmacy and Medicine, University of California, San Francisco CA 94143, United States; Noe, C.R., Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Vienna, Vienna 1090, Austria; Smith, D.A., Department of Chemistry, University of Capetown, Capetown, South Africa, Department of Pharmacology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom; Tucker, G.T., Clinical Pharmacology, University of Sheffield, The Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield S10 2JF, United Kingdom, Simcyp Ltd, Blades Enterprise Centre, John St, Sheffield S24SU, United Kingdom; Crommelin, D.J.A., UIPS, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands; Peck, C.C., Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, Schools of Pharmacy and Medicine, University of California, San Francisco CA 94143, United States; Rocci Jr., M.L., ICON Development Solutions, Ellicott City, MD 21043, United States; Besançon, L., International Pharmaceutical Federation, Andries Bickerweg 52517 JP, The Hauge, Netherlands; Shah, V.P., International Pharmaceutical Federation, Andries Bickerweg 52517 JP, The Hauge, Netherlands | During the last century, particularly the latter half, spectacular progress has been made in improving the health and longevity of people. The reasons are many, but the development of medicines has played a critical role. This report documents and reflects on the impressive contribution that those working in the pharmaceutical sciences have made to healthcare over the past 50 years. It is divided into six sections (drug discovery; absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion; pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics; drug formulation; drug regulation; and drug utilization), each describing key contributions that have been made in the progression of medicines, from conception to use. A common thread throughout is the application of translational science to the improvement of drug discovery, development, and therapeutic application. Each section has been coordinated by a leading scientist who was asked, after consulting widely with many colleagues across the globe, to identify "The five most influential ideas/concepts/developments introduced by 'pharmaceutical scientists' (in their field) over the past 50 years?" Although one cannot predict where the important breakthroughs will come in the future to meet the unmet medical needs, the evidence presented in this report should leave no doubt that those engaged in the pharmaceutical sciences will continue to make their contributions heavily felt. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. | ADME; Drug design; Drug formulation; Drug regulatory; Drug utilization; Pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics | drug metabolizing enzyme; generic drug; article; biochemistry; bioequivalence; biotechnology; drug absorption; drug bioavailability; drug design; drug development; drug disposition; drug distribution; drug excretion; drug formulation; drug metabolism; drug release; drug safety; drug utilization; health care; molecular biology; patient compliance; personalized medicine; pharmaceutics; pharmacodynamics; pharmacogenomics; pharmacokinetics; signal transduction; simulation; structure activity relation; Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; Drug Discovery; History, 20th Century; History, 21st Century; Pharmacokinetics; Pharmacology | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-57949084113 | Coupled-channel evaluations of cross sections for scattering involving particle-unstable resonances | Fraser P., Amos K., Canton L., Pisent G., Karataglidis S., Svenne J.P., Van Der Knijff D. | 2008 | Physical Review Letters | 101 | 24 | 10.1103/PhysRevLett.101.242501 | School of Physics, University of Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia; Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Padova, I-35131, Italy; Department of Physics and Electronics, Rhodes University, Grahamstown 6140, South Africa; Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MN R3T 2N2, Canada; Advanced Research Computing, Information Division, University of Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia | Fraser, P., School of Physics, University of Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia; Amos, K., School of Physics, University of Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia; Canton, L., Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Padova, I-35131, Italy; Pisent, G., Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Padova, I-35131, Italy; Karataglidis, S., Department of Physics and Electronics, Rhodes University, Grahamstown 6140, South Africa; Svenne, J.P., Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MN R3T 2N2, Canada; Van Der Knijff, D., Advanced Research Computing, Information Division, University of Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia | How does the scattering cross section change when the colliding bound-state fragments are allowed particle-emitting resonances? This question is explored in the framework of a multichannel algebraic scattering method of determining nucleon-nucleus cross sections at low energies. Two cases are examined, the first being a gedanken investigation in which n+C12 scattering is studied with the target states assigned artificial widths. The second is a study of neutron scattering from Be8, a nucleus that is particle unstable. Resonance character of the target states markedly varies evaluated cross sections from those obtained assuming stability in the target spectrum. © 2008 The American Physical Society. | None | Resonance; Targets; Cross sections; Low energies; Multi channels; Scattering cross sections; Scattering methods; Target spectrums; Target states; Scattering | None |
| WoS | WOS:000287165400017 | The contribution of South African curricula to prepare health professionals for working in rural or under-served areas in South Africa: A peer review evaluation | Cakwe, M.,CHEER,Reid, S. J. | 2011 | SAMJ SOUTH AFRICAN MEDICAL JOURNAL | 101 | 1 | None | University of Cape Town, University of Kwazulu Natal | "Cakwe, M.: University of Kwazulu Natal","Reid, S. J.: University of Cape Town" | Setting. The Collaboration for Health Equity through Education and Research (CHEER) was formed in 2003 to examine strategies that would increase the production of health professionals who choose to practise in rural and under-served areas in South Africa.
Objectives. We aimed to identify how each faculty is preparing its students for service in rural or under-served areas.
Methods. Peer reviews were conducted at all nine participating universities. A case study approach was used, with each peer review constituting its own study but following a common protocol and tools. Each research team comprised at least three reviewers from different universities, and each review was conducted over at least 3 days on site.
The participating faculties were assessed on 11 themes, including faculty mission statements, resource allocation, student selection, first exposure of students to rural and under-served areas, length of exposure, practical experience, theoretical input, involvement with the community, relationship with the health service, assessment of students and research and programme evaluation.
Results. With a few exceptions, most themes were assessed as inadequate or adequate with respect to the preparation of students for practice in rural or under-served areas after qualification, despite implicit intentions to the contrary at certain faculties.
Conclusions. Common challenges, best practices and potential solutions have been identified through this project. Greater priority must be given to supporting rural teaching sites in terms of resources and teaching capacity, in partnership with government agencies. | ,CHOICE | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84856647364 | Conceptual and procedural approaches to mathematics in the engineering curriculum: Student conceptions and performance | Engelbrecht J., Bergsten C., Kågesten A. | 2012 | Journal of Engineering Education | 101 | 1 | None | University of Pretoria, 0002 Pretoria, South Africa; Linköping University, 58183 Linköping, Sweden | Engelbrecht, J., University of Pretoria, 0002 Pretoria, South Africa; Bergsten, C., Linköping University, 58183 Linköping, Sweden; Kågesten, A., Linköping University, 58183 Linköping, Sweden | BACKGROUND Demands by engineering faculties of mathematics departments have traditionally been for teaching computational skills while also expecting analytic and creative knowledge-based skills. We report on a project between two institutions, one in South Africa and one in Sweden, that investigated whether the emphasis in undergraduate mathematics courses for engineering students would benefit from being more conceptually oriented than the traditional more procedurally oriented way of teaching. PURPOSE (HYPOTHESIS) We focus on how second-year engineering students respond to the conceptual-procedural distinction, comparing performance and confidence between Swedish and South African groups of students in answering conceptual and procedural mathematics problems. We also compare these students' conceptions on the role of conceptual and procedural mathematics problems within and outside their mathematics studies. DESIGN/METHOD An instrument consisting of procedural and conceptual items as well as items on student opinions on the roles of the different types of knowledge in their studies was conducted with groups of second-year engineering students at two universities, one in each country. RESULTS Although differences between the two countries are small, Swedish students see procedural items to be more common in their mathematics studies while the South African students find both conceptual and procedural items common; the latter group see the conceptually oriented items as more common in their studies outside the mathematics courses. CONCLUSIONS Students view mathematics as procedural. Conceptual mathematics is seen as relevant outside mathematics. The use of mathematics in other subjects within engineering education can be experienced differently by students from different institutions, indicating that the same type of education can handle the application of mathematics in different ways in different institutions. © 2012 ASEE. | Conceptual and procedural thinking; Confidence; Mathematics | Computational skills; Conceptual and procedural thinking; Confidence; Engineering curriculum; Engineering faculty; Mathematics course; South Africa; Undergraduate mathematics course; Engineering education; Knowledge based systems; Mathematical techniques; Societies and institutions; Students | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84921943604 | Magnitude of the impact of hot flashes on sleep in perimenopausal women | De Zambotti M., Colrain I.M., Javitz H.S., Baker F.C. | 2014 | Fertility and Sterility | 102 | 6 | 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2014.08.016 | Center for Health Sciences, SRI International, Menlo Park, CA, United States; Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia; Brain Function Research Group, School of Physiology, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa | De Zambotti, M., Center for Health Sciences, SRI International, Menlo Park, CA, United States; Colrain, I.M., Center for Health Sciences, SRI International, Menlo Park, CA, United States, Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia; Javitz, H.S., Center for Health Sciences, SRI International, Menlo Park, CA, United States; Baker, F.C., Center for Health Sciences, SRI International, Menlo Park, CA, United States, Brain Function Research Group, School of Physiology, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa | Objective: To quantify the impact of objectively recorded hot flashes on objective sleep in perimenopausal women. Design: Cross-sectional study. Participants underwent 1-5 laboratory-based polysomnographic recordings for a total of 63 nights, including sternal skin-conductance measures, from which 222 hot flashes were identified according to established criteria. Data were analyzed with hierarchical mixed-effect models and Spearman's rank correlations. Setting: Sleep laboratory. Patient(s): Thirty-four perimenopausal women (age ± SD: 50.4 ± 2.7 years). Intervention(s): None. Main Outcome Measure(s): Perceived and polysomnographic sleep measures (sleep quality, amount of time spent awake after sleep onset, and number of awakenings). Subjective (frequency and level of bother) and objective (frequency and amount of hot flash-associated awake time) hot-flash measures. Result(s): Women had an average of 3.5 (95% confidence interval: 2.8-4.2, range = 1-9) objective hot flashes per night. A total of 69.4% of hot flashes were associated with an awakening. Hot flash-associated time awake per night was, on average, 16.6 minutes (95% confidence interval: 10.8-22.4 minutes), which accounted for 27.2% (SD 27.1) of total awake time per night. Hot flash-associated time awake, but not hot flash frequency, was negatively associated with sleep efficiency and positively associated with waking after sleep onset. In addition, self-reported wakefulness correlated with hot flash-associated waking, suggesting that women's estimates of wakefulness are influenced by the amount of time spent awake in association with hot flashes during the night. Having more perceived and bothersome hot flashes was correlated with more perceived wakefulness and awakenings and more objective hot flash-associated time awake and hot-flash frequency. Conclusion(s): The presence of physiological hot flashes accounts for a significant proportion of total objective time awake during the night in perimenopausal women. ©2014 by American Society for Reproductive Medicine. | Hot flash; Menopause; Polysomnography; Skin conductance; Sleep | adult; arousal; Article; climacterium; cross-sectional study; electroencephalogram; female; hot flush; human; menopausal syndrome; outcome assessment; polysomnography; priority journal; skin conductance; sleep disorder; sleep quality; wakefulness; climacterium; complication; hot flush; middle aged; physiology; sleep; Sleep Wake Disorders; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Hot Flashes; Humans; Middle Aged; Perimenopause; Sleep; Sleep Wake Disorders; Wakefulness | HL103688, NIH, National Institutes of Health; U54-HD28934, NICHD, National Institutes of Health |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84856624708 | Comparative MIC evaluation of a generic ceftriaxone by broth microdilution on clinically relevant isolates from an academic hospital complex in South Africa | Lowman W., Aithma N., Coetzee J.F., Dusè A.G., Mer M. | 2012 | South African Medical Journal | 102 | 2 | None | Department of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, School of Pathology, University of the Witwatersrand; and Infection Control Services Laboratory, National Health Laboratory Services, Johannesburg, South Africa; Infection Control Services Laboratory, National Health Laboratory Services, South Africa; Department of Anaesthesiology and Critical Care, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, W Cape, South Africa; Department of Medicine, Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa | Lowman, W., Department of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, School of Pathology, University of the Witwatersrand; and Infection Control Services Laboratory, National Health Laboratory Services, Johannesburg, South Africa; Aithma, N., Infection Control Services Laboratory, National Health Laboratory Services, South Africa; Coetzee, J.F., Department of Anaesthesiology and Critical Care, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, W Cape, South Africa; Dusè, A.G., Department of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, School of Pathology, University of the Witwatersrand; and Infection Control Services Laboratory, National Health Laboratory Services, Johannesburg, South Africa; Mer, M., Department of Medicine, Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa | We evaluated the in vitro microbiological efficacy of a generic ceftriaxone product against several clinically significant organisms collected from sterile sites. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of each was determined simultaneously with the reference and the generic ceftriaxone product. Comparative analysis of MICs between the two products for each isolate was performed using both categorical (interpretive) agreement and essential (actual MIC value) agreement. A total of 260 isolates were tested. Overall, there was categorical agreement of 98.9% and essential agreement of 95.8%. The categorical agreement for all isolates (96.7 - 100%) accorded with international standards, as no very major errors were seen and the major error rate was less than 3%. Of the 90 isolates of E. coli (40), Klebsiella spp. (40) and Salmonella spp. (10), 87.6% had an MIC less than or equal to 0.12 mg/l. The generic ceftriaxone product showed equivalent efficacy by MIC determination to the reference formulation. Ceftriaxone remains a viable and useful antimicrobial agent against a variety of clinically relevant organisms in our setting. | None | ceftriaxone; extended spectrum beta lactamase; alpha hemolytic Streptococcus; antibiotic sensitivity; article; bacterium isolate; broth dilution; comparative study; drug efficacy; Enterobacteriaceae; Escherichia coli; Haemophilus influenzae; Klebsiella; minimum inhibitory concentration; nonhuman; phenotype; Salmonella; South Africa; Staphylococcus aureus; Streptococcus agalactiae; Streptococcus pneumoniae; Streptococcus pyogenes; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Bacteria; Ceftriaxone; Citrobacter; Drug Resistance, Bacterial; Escherichia coli; Haemophilus influenzae; Humans; Klebsiella; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Reproducibility of Results; Staphylococcus aureus; Viridans Streptococci | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84898811147 | Is there a 'browse trap'? Dynamics of herbivore impacts on trees and grasses in an African savanna | Staver A.C., Bond W.J. | 2014 | Journal of Ecology | 102 | 3 | 10.1111/1365-2745.12230 | Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, United States; Botany Department, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X1, Rondebosch, 7701, South Africa | Staver, A.C., Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, United States; Bond, W.J., Botany Department, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X1, Rondebosch, 7701, South Africa | Despite widespread acknowledgement that large mammal herbivory can strongly affect vegetation structure in savanna, we still lack a theoretical and practical understanding of savanna dynamics in response to herbivory. Like fire, browsing may impose height-structured recruitment limitations on trees (i.e. a 'browse trap'), but the demographics of herbivore effects have rarely been considered explicitly. Evidence that cohorts of trees in savannas may establish during herbivore population crashes and persist long term in savanna landscapes is anecdotal. Here, we use an experimental approach in Hluhluwe iMfolozi Park in South Africa, examining the response of grass biomass and tree populations to 10 years of graduated herbivore exclusion, and their subsequent response when exclosures were removed. We found that grazer exclusion increased grass biomass and that, despite presumable increases in fire intensity and grass competition, herbivore - especially mesoherbivore, including impala and nyala - exclusion resulted in increases in tree size. After herbivore reintroduction, grazers reduced grass biomass over short time-scales, but tree release from browsing persisted, regardless of tree size. Synthesis. This work provides the first experimental evidence that release from browsing trumps grazer-grass-fire interactions to result in increases in tree size that persist even after browser reintroduction. Escape from the 'browse trap' may be incremental and not strictly episodic, but, over longer time-scales, reductions in browsing pressure may lead to tree establishment events in savanna that persist even during periods of intense browsing. Explicitly considering the temporal demographic effects of browsing will be the key for a much-needed evaluation of the potential global extent of herbivore impacts in savanna. This work provides the first experimental evidence that release from browsing trumps grazer-grass-fire interactions to result in increases in tree size that persist even after browser reintroduction. Escape from the 'browse trap' may be incremental and not strictly episodic, but, over longer time-scales, reductions in browsing pressure may lead to tree establishment events in savanna that persist even during periods of intense browsing. Explicitly considering the temporal demographic effects of browsing will be the key for a much-needed evaluation of the potential global extent of herbivore impacts in savanna. © 2014 British Ecological Society. | Browse trap; Browsing; Demographic variability; Elephant; Grass; Herbivory; Large mammal; Plant-herbivore interactions; Savanna; Tree | biomass; browsing; elephant; exclusion experiment; grass; herbivore; herbivory; plant community; plant-herbivore interaction; population dynamics; recruitment (population dynamics); reintroduction; savanna; tree; Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Park; KwaZulu-Natal; South Africa; Aepyceros melampus; Mammalia; Poaceae; Tragelaphus angasii | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79953655248 | CAT-7 cable evaluation for Square Kilometre Array analogue signal transport | Langat P.K., Van Der Merwe P., Ikin T., Reader H.C. | 2011 | SAIEE Africa Research Journal | 102 | 1 | None | Department of Electrical anil Electronic Engineering, University of Stellenbosch, 7600 Stellenbosch, South Africa; Jodrell Bank Observatory, University of Manchester, Macclesfield, Cheshire, United Kingdom | Langat, P.K., Department of Electrical anil Electronic Engineering, University of Stellenbosch, 7600 Stellenbosch, South Africa; Van Der Merwe, P., Department of Electrical anil Electronic Engineering, University of Stellenbosch, 7600 Stellenbosch, South Africa; Ikin, T., Jodrell Bank Observatory, University of Manchester, Macclesfield, Cheshire, United Kingdom; Reader, H.C., Department of Electrical anil Electronic Engineering, University of Stellenbosch, 7600 Stellenbosch, South Africa | Data-cable systems are essential for an evolving Square Kilometre Array (SKA) phased array demonstrator project. Loss, dispersion and channel coupling are the characteristics of interest. We evaluate a Category 7 (CAT-7) cable system, which incorporates a 20 m CAT-7 cable, balun transformers, and ARJ45 connectors. Measurements from 30 MHz - 1.5 GHz are made using a calibrated Vector Network Analyzer (VNA). Through, Reflect, Line (TRL) as well as Short, Open, matched Load, Through (SOLT) calibration techniques were performed, which separately test the cables and the entire system performance respectively. A further measurement isolates the baluns. The connectors and baluns are mounted on customised printed circuit boards. We investigated phase dispersion, return loss, attenuation, near-end crosstalk (NEXT) and far-end crosstalk (FEXT). The best system was found to have a linear phase response in the 30 MHz to 1.4 GHz band, with NEXT and FEXT levels below -50 dB and -63 dB respectively. Such performance makes this cable class a candidale lor high-volume dala streams anlicipaled lor Ihe SKA. | Baluns; Calibration; CAT-7 cables; Connectors; EMC; Far-end crosstalk; Near-end crosstalk; Square Kilometre Array | Baluns; CAT-7 cables; Connectors; EMC; Far end crosstalk; Near end cross talks; Square Kilometre Array; Calibration; Crosstalk; Dispersions; Electric network analysis; Electric network analyzers; Electronic equipment manufacture; Microstrip devices; Printed circuit boards; Cables | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84867466705 | Impact of 20-day strike in Polokwane Hospital (18 August - 6 September 2010) | Bhuiyan M.M.Z.U., Machowski A. | 2012 | South African Medical Journal | 102 | 9 | 10.7196/SAMJ.6045 | Department of General Surgery, Polokwane Mankweng Hospital Complex, University of Limpopo, Polokwane, South Africa | Bhuiyan, M.M.Z.U., Department of General Surgery, Polokwane Mankweng Hospital Complex, University of Limpopo, Polokwane, South Africa; Machowski, A., Department of General Surgery, Polokwane Mankweng Hospital Complex, University of Limpopo, Polokwane, South Africa | Background. Doctors' strikes have a negative effect on hospital performance indicators. Hospital mortality during such strikes is the most important indicator. Objective. To determine the effects of the 2010 strike on Polokwane Hospital. Methods. Information was collected from the Hospital Information System, Polokwane Hospital Casualty Department, wards and theatres. Results. During the 20-day strike, a total of 262 patients were admitted to Polokwane Hospital, with 40 patients to the surgical department; 96 operations were performed in the hospital and 40 in the surgical department; and 50 deaths were reported in the hospital (8 deaths in the surgical department). During 20 days of a non-striking period in May 2010, there were 975 admissions to the hospital, with 125 to the surgical department. In the entire hospital, 340 operations were performed, and 79 in the surgical department. For this period, 61 deaths were reported in the hospital and 12 in the surgical department. Conclusions. The total number of patients admitted to the hospital and the surgical department during the strike was significantly lower than during a non-striking situation. Total mortality during the strike in Polokwane Hospital decreased, compared with the normal situation, but it increased when judged against emergency cases. However, when mortality was qualified by the number of admissions, it showed a significant increase. Strikes seriously and significantly affect service delivery. | None | article; death; hospital; hospital admission; hospital personnel; human; mortality; surgical ward; trade union; Emergency Service, Hospital; Hospital Mortality; Hospitalization; Hospitals, Public; Humans; Physicians; South Africa; Strikes, Employee | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84881028983 | Design of an anti-inflammatory composite nanosystem and evaluation of its potential for ocular drug delivery | Du Toit L.C., Govender T., Carmichael T., Kumar P., Choonara Y.E., Pillay V. | 2013 | Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences | 102 | 8 | 10.1002/jps.23650 | Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, University of the Witwatersrand, Parktown, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of KwaZulu Natal, Berea, Durban 4041, South Africa; Ophthalmology Division, Department of Neurosciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Parktown, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa | Du Toit, L.C., Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, University of the Witwatersrand, Parktown, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa; Govender, T., Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of KwaZulu Natal, Berea, Durban 4041, South Africa; Carmichael, T., Ophthalmology Division, Department of Neurosciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Parktown, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa; Kumar, P., Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, University of the Witwatersrand, Parktown, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa; Choonara, Y.E., Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, University of the Witwatersrand, Parktown, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa; Pillay, V., Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, University of the Witwatersrand, Parktown, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa | This study compared two specific embodiments of an ocular nanosystem (NS): one portraying a purely polymeric system, referred to as the chitosan-poly(ε-caprolactone) nanosystem, and the other based on a composite lipoidal-polymeric NS architecture utilizing phospholipids-the lipoidal-chitosan-poly(ε-caprolactone) nanosystem. Investigations undertaken were implicit to warrant inclusion in an implantable system for the intelligent treatment of inflammatory disorders (specifically ocular afflictions). Results obtained highlighted the enhanced efficacy of both NS to an indomethacin suspension in terms of tissue permeation, cell uptake, and anti-inflammatory activity. Furthermore, the size (134.3 vs. 140.7 nm); surface charge (+49.4 vs. +55.7 mV); drug incorporation efficiency (75.00% vs. 67.20%); flux across the retinal pigment epithelium-choroid-sclera (0.002951 vs. 0.001255 mg cm -2 h-1); anti-inflammatory efficacy, demonstrated by a decrease in 4-chloro-7-nitrobenzo-2-oxa-1,3-diazole complex formation (0.0031 vs. 0.0023 mmol L-1) and decrease in NFκB formation (decrease in relative optical density of 0.2027 vs. 0.2420); and enhanced inflammatory cell uptake, visualized via high-speed fluorescence and confocal microscopy, all highlighted the enhanced potential of the lipoidal system compared with the purely polymeric NS for potentially targeting inflammatory disorders of the posterior segment of the eye. Mechanics energy relationships revealed the favorable hydrophilic-lipophilic balance of the composite NS compared with the purely polymeric NS. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association. | Cell uptake; Computational modeling; Confocal microscopy; ELISA; Lipids; Liposomes; permeation; Nanoparticles; Nanotechnology; Ophthalmic drug delivery | 4 chloro 7 nitrobenzofurazan; chitosan; ganciclovir; I kappa B; indometacin; liposome; nanoparticle; nifuroxime; phospholipid; polycaprolactone; polymer; antiinflammatory activity; article; choroid; confocal microscopy; drug delivery system; drug efficacy; drug uptake; energy; enzyme linked immunosorbent assay; fluorescence; human; human cell; hydrophilicity; inflammation; lipophilicity; nanotechnology; optical density; permeability; pigment epithelium; sclera | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79955960146 | Evaluation of natural radioactivity in soil, sediment and water samples of Niger Delta (Biseni) flood plain lakes, Nigeria | Agbalagba E.O., Onoja R.A. | 2011 | Journal of Environmental Radioactivity | 102 | 7 | 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2011.03.002 | Department of Physics, Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun, Nigeria; Dept. of Radiation Biophysics, Centre for Energy Research and Training, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria | Agbalagba, E.O., Department of Physics, Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun, Nigeria; Onoja, R.A., Dept. of Radiation Biophysics, Centre for Energy Research and Training, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria | This paper presents the findings of a baseline study undertaken to evaluate the natural radioactivity levels in soil, sediment and water samples in four flood plain lakes of the Niger Delta using a hyper pure germanium (HPGe) detector. The activity profile of radionuclides shows low activity across the study area. The mean activity level of the natural radionuclides 226Ra, 232Th and 40K is 20 ± 3, 20 ± 3 and 180 ± 50 Bq kg-1, respectively. These values are well within values reported elsewhere in the country and in other countries with similar environments. The study also examined some radiation hazard indices. The mean values obtained are, 76 ± 14 Bq kg-1, 30 ± 5.5 ηGy h-1, 37 ± 6.8 μSv y-1, 0.17 and 0.23 for Radium Equivalent Activity (Raeq), Absorbed Dose Rates (D), Annual Effective Dose Rates (Eff Dose), External Hazard Index (Hex) and Internal Hazard Index (Hin) respectively. All the health hazard indices are well below their recommended limits. The soil and sediments from the study area provide no excessive exposures for inhabitants and can be used as construction materials without posing any significant radiological threat to the population. The water is radiologically safe for domestic and industrial use. The paper recommends further studies to estimate internal and external doses from other suspected radiological sources to the population of the Biseni kingdom. © 2011. | Flood plain lakes; Natural radioactivity; Niger delta; Nigeria | Absorbed dose rate; Activity levels; Activity profile; Annual effective dose; Construction materials; External dose; External hazard index; Flood plain lakes; Flood plains; Hazard indices; Industrial use; Internal hazard index; Mean values; Natural radioactivity; Natural radionuclides; Niger Delta; Nigeria; Radiological sources; Radium equivalent activity; Soil and sediment; Study areas; Water samples; Anoxic sediments; Germanium; Health hazards; Health risks; Industrial applications; Lakes; Radiation; Radiation hazards; Radioisotopes; Radiology; Radiometry; Radium; Sedimentology; Soils; Radioactivity; germanium; potassium 40; radium 226; radon; thorium 232; water; detection method; floodplain; germanium; radioactive pollution; radioactivity; radionuclide; radium isotope; sediment pollution; soil pollution; thorium isotope; absorbed dose rate; annual effective dose rate; article; external hazard index; gamma radiation; internal hazard index; lake sediment; natural radioactivity; Nigeria; radiation detection; radiation exposure; radiation hazard; radiation safety; radiological parameters; radium equivalent activity; soil; Background Radiation; Fresh Water; Geologic Sediments; Nigeria; Potassium Radioisotopes; Radiation Monitoring; Radium; Soil; Thorium; Niger Delta; Nigeria | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84898799589 | Restoration of a megaherbivore: Landscape-level impacts of white rhinoceros in Kruger National Park, South Africa | Cromsigt J.P.G.M., te Beest M. | 2014 | Journal of Ecology | 102 | 3 | 10.1111/1365-2745.12218 | Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå, 901 83, Sweden; Department of Zoology, Centre for African Conservation Ecology, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, PO Box 77000, Port Elizabeth, South Africa; Department of Biology, Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis, University of Oslo, PO Box 1066 Blindern, Oslo, 0316, Norway; Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, Umeå University, Umeå, 901 87, Sweden | Cromsigt, J.P.G.M., Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå, 901 83, Sweden, Department of Zoology, Centre for African Conservation Ecology, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, PO Box 77000, Port Elizabeth, South Africa, Department of Biology, Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis, University of Oslo, PO Box 1066 Blindern, Oslo, 0316, Norway; te Beest, M., Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, Umeå University, Umeå, 901 87, Sweden | Megaherbivores have been lost from most ecosystems world-wide, and current increases in poaching of rhino and elephant spp. threaten their status in the systems where they still occur. Although megaherbivores are said to be key drivers of ecosystem structure and functioning, empirical evidence is strongly biased to studies on African elephant. We urgently need a better understanding of the impact of other megaherbivore species to predict the consequences of megaherbivore loss. We used a unique 'recolonization experiment' to test how a megagrazer, white rhinoceros, is affecting the structure of savanna grasslands in Kruger National Park (KNP). With a 30-year record of rhinoceros distribution, we quantified how they recolonized KNP following their re-introduction. This allowed us to identify landscapes with high rhino densities and long time since recolonization versus landscapes with low rhino densities that were recolonized more recently but were otherwise biophysically similar. We recorded grassland heterogeneity on 40 transects covering a total of 30 km distributed across both landscapes. We used two proxies of grassland heterogeneity: % short grass cover and number of grazing lawn patches. Grazing lawns are patches with specific communities of prostrate-growing stoloniferous short grass species. Short grass cover was clearly higher in the high rhino impact (17.5%) than low rhino impact landscape (10.7%). Moreover, we encountered ~20 times more grazing lawns in the high rhino impact landscape. The effect of rhino on number of lawns and on short grass cover was similar to the two dominant geologies in KNP, basalt-derived versus granite-derived soils. Synthesis. We provide empirical evidence that white rhinoceros may have started to change the structure and composition of KNP's savanna grasslands. It remains to be tested if these changes lead to other ecological cascading effects. However, our results highlight that the current rhino poaching crisis may not only affect the species, but also threaten the potential key role of this megaherbivore as a driver of savanna functioning. We provide empirical evidence that white rhinoceros may have started to change the structure and composition of Kruger National Park's savanna grasslands. It remains to be tested if these changes lead to other ecological cascading effects. Our results highlight that the current rhino poaching crisis may not only affect the species, but also threaten the potential key role of this megaherbivore as a driver of savanna functioning. © 2014 British Ecological Society. | Ceratotherium simum; Consumer-resource feedbacks; Grazing lawn; Heterogeneity; Megafaunal extinctions; Megaherbivore; Plant-herbivore interactions; Rhino poaching; Role of apex consumers in ecosystem functioning; Top-down ecosystem control | community dynamics; conservation status; consumer-resource interaction; ecological impact; ecosystem function; ecosystem structure; environmental restoration; experimental study; extinction; grazing; herbivore; heterogeneity; landscape ecology; plant-herbivore interaction; poaching; population density; recolonization; reintroduction; savanna; top-down control; ungulate; Kruger National Park; South Africa; Ceratotherium simum; Loxodonta; Rhinoceros | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-78149351112 | Valvular regurgitation impact on left ventricular 2-dimensional and Doppler echocardiographic indices in patients with essential hypertension | Ajayi O.E., Abiona T.C., Balogun M.O., Ajayi A.A.L. | 2010 | Journal of the National Medical Association | 102 | 10 | None | Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria; Department of Health Studies, College of Health Sciences, Chicago State University, Chicago, IL, United States; Division of Hypertension and Clinical Pharmacolog | Ajayi, O.E., Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria; Abiona, T.C., Department of Health Studies, College of Health Sciences, Chicago State University, Chicago, IL, United States; Balogun, M.O., Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria; Ajayi, A.A.L., Department of Health Studies, College of Health Sciences, Chicago State University, Chicago, IL, United States, Division of Hypertension and Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States | Background: Blacks have both a higher hypertension prevalence and accelerated cardiac end organ damage. Because blacks also have a higher prevalence of valvular heart disease, which occurs at a younger age than for whites, we further examined the contribution of valvular regurgitation to the severity of hypertensive heart disease in Nigerians. Methods: We evaluated and compared echocardiographic indexes in 75 essential hypertensive Nigerians with (n = 48) and without (n = 27) valvular regurgitations. Demographic and echocardiographic indices, as well as the types and severity of valvular lesions were compared between the groups using bivariate logistic regression and analysis of variance. Results: The 2 groups were of similar demographics, but those with regurgitations had larger cardiac size (p < .05), greater mass (147 ± 31 vs 122 ± 32 g/m 2, p = .01) higher volume (p < .01), and left atrial size (35.6 ± 4.6 vs 33.3 ± 4.6 mm, p < .05). Atrial size, cardiac volume, and dimension were independent correlates/predictors of regurgitation occurrence. Relative wall thickness of at least 0.6 was more common in regurgitation patients. Cardiac mass was correlated to increasing age (r = 0.23, p = .043). The valvular lesions frequencies were aortic regurgitation, 8; mitral regurgitation, 22; and mixed, 18. The aortic orifice dimension was significantly different among the regurgitant cases, highest in aortic regurgitation (p = .001). Aortic orifice dimension increased with hypertension duration (p = .028). Conclusions: Regurgitant lesions are common and occur early in hypertensive Africans. Apparently mild valvular regurgitation may accentuate preclinical concentric hypertrophy in hypertensive blacks. | Cardiovascular; Hypertension; Nigeria | adult; aorta valve regurgitation; arterial wall thickness; artery diameter; article; cardiovascular risk; clinical article; clinical assessment; comparative study; controlled study; disease duration; disease severity; Doppler echocardiography; essential hypertension; female; heart left atrium; heart left ventricle ejection fraction; heart left ventricle enddiastolic volume; heart left ventricle filling; heart rate; heart size; heart volume; human; male; mitral valve regurgitation; Nigeria; priority journal; two dimensional echocardiography; Adult; African Continental Ancestry Group; Aged; Echocardiography, Doppler; Female; Heart Valve Diseases; Heart Ventricles; Humans; Hypertension; Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular; Male; Middle Aged; Nigeria; Organ Size; Ventricular Function, Left | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84930192887 | Impact of season, fuel load and vegetation cover on fire mediated nutrient losses across savanna agro-ecosystems: the case of northern Ghana | Kugbe J., Fosu M., Vlek P.L.G. | 2015 | Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems | 102 | 1 | 10.1007/s10705-014-9635-8 | Division of Ecology and Natural Resources, Center for Development Research (ZEF), University of Bonn, Walter Flex Str. 3, Bonn, Germany; Department of Agronomy, University for Development Studies, Nyamkpala, Ghana; Savanna Agricultural Research Institute, Nyankpala, P. O. Box 52, Tamale, Ghana; West African Science Service Center on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use (WASCAL), Airport-Accra, Ghana | Kugbe, J., Division of Ecology and Natural Resources, Center for Development Research (ZEF), University of Bonn, Walter Flex Str. 3, Bonn, Germany, Department of Agronomy, University for Development Studies, Nyamkpala, Ghana; Fosu, M., Division of Ecology and Natural Resources, Center for Development Research (ZEF), University of Bonn, Walter Flex Str. 3, Bonn, Germany, Savanna Agricultural Research Institute, Nyankpala, P. O. Box 52, Tamale, Ghana; Vlek, P.L.G., Division of Ecology and Natural Resources, Center for Development Research (ZEF), University of Bonn, Walter Flex Str. 3, Bonn, Germany, West African Science Service Center on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use (WASCAL), Airport-Accra, Ghana | In the subsistence-based, nutrient-poor soils, and fertilizer-limited agriculture of northern Ghana, 45–65 % of land cover is annually burned for purposes of hunting and agricultural land preparation. The effects of burn-season, fractional nutrient losses, combusted plant parts and vegetation type on the fire-mediated nutrient cycling are unclear. We estimate and compare the plant nutrient losses associated with different savanna covers in the early and late burn-seasons and fractionate the losses into actual losses, which should be the cause for concern and the losses due to particulate redistribution. The tissue-moisture and fuel-load elemental concentrations are predominant factors that determine the quantity of fire-induced nutrient losses. About 50 % of total combusted phosphorus, potassium, calcium and magnesium load; and ~99 % of the carbon and nitrogen loads are directly lost from burned sites during burns. Generally, calcium and magnesium are redistributed in particulate forms (~100 and ~90 % respectively) and not lost from the region, phosphorus and potassium are lost in both particulate (~50 and ~75 % respectfully) and non-particulate forms (~50 and ~25 % respectively), whereas the carbon and nitrogen are mostly lost in gaseous forms (~95 %). In the early-burn season high tissue-nitrogen concentration and low phosphorus-concentration renders burn vulnerable to high nitrogen-losses/emissions and low phosphorus-losses per unit burnt biomass. A comparatively high tissue moisture, however, impedes the early burns, resulting in patches of burned and unburned vegetation that reduce the occurrence of late burns and the total losses of plant-nutrients. Early burns reduce the quantity of nutrient losses towards a more secured food production. © 2014, Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht. | Burn season; Bush fire; Fire-mediated nutrient losses; Food security; Savanna | agricultural ecosystem; fertilizer application; food production; food security; fuelwood; nutrient cycling; savanna; seasonality; vegetation cover; Ghana | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84923170948 | Prognostic impact of lymph node metastasis in distal cholangiocarcinoma | Kiriyama M., Ebata T., Aoba T., Kaneoka Y., Arai T., Shimizu Y., Nagino M., Fukami Y., Miyake H., Sakamoto E., Takara D., Shirai K., Ohira S., Tojima Y., Hashimoto M., Akutagawa A., Yamaguchi R., Morofuji N., Kawahara T., Asaba Y., Mizuno S., Kawai S., Ya | 2015 | British Journal of Surgery | 102 | 4 | 10.1002/bjs.9752 | Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, Japan; Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Aichi Cancer Centre Hospital, Nagoya, Japan; Department of General Surgery, Toyohashi Municipal Hospital, Toyohashi, Japan; Department of Surgery, Ogaki Municipal Hospital, Ogaki, Japan; Department of Surgery, Anjo Kosei Hospital, Anjo, Japan; Toyota Kosei Hospital, Toyota, Japan; Japanese Red Cross Nagoya Daiichi Hospital, Nagoya, Japan; Japanese Red Cross Nagoya Daini Hospital, Nagoya, Japan; Kiryu Kosei General Hospital, Kiryu, Japan; Yamashita Hospital, Ichinomiya, Japan; Handa City Hospital, Handa, Japan; Social Insurance Chukyo Hospital, Nagoya, Japan; Chubu Rosai Hospital, Nagoya, Japan; Nagoya Ekisaikai Hospital, Nagoya, Japan; Kasugai Municipal Hospital, Kasugai, Japan; Gifu Prefectural Federation of Agricultural Cooperatives for Health and Welfare Kumiai Hospital, Takayama, Japan; Daido Hospital, Nagoya, Japan; Enshu Hospital, Hamamatsu, Japan; Shizuoka Kosei Hospital, Shizuoka, Japan; Tsushima City Hospital, Tsushima, Japan; Tokai Hospital, Nagoya, Japan; Tokai Municipal Hospital, Tokai, South Africa; Yachiyo Hospital, Anjo, Japan; Chita City Hospital, Chita, Russian Federation | Kiriyama, M., Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, Japan; Ebata, T., Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, Japan; Aoba, T., Department of General Surgery, Toyohashi Municipal Hospital, Toyohashi, Japan; Kaneoka, Y., Department of Surgery, Ogaki Municipal Hospital, Ogaki, Japan; Arai, T., Department of Surgery, Anjo Kosei Hospital, Anjo, Japan; Shimizu, Y., Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Aichi Cancer Centre Hospital, Nagoya, Japan; Nagino, M., Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, Japan; Fukami, Y., Toyota Kosei Hospital, Toyota, Japan; Miyake, H., Japanese Red Cross Nagoya Daiichi Hospital, Nagoya, Japan; Sakamoto, E., Japanese Red Cross Nagoya Daini Hospital, Nagoya, Japan; Takara, D., Kiryu Kosei General Hospital, Kiryu, Japan; Shirai, K., Yamashita Hospital, Ichinomiya, Japan; Ohira, S., Handa City Hospital, Handa, Japan; Tojima, Y., Social Insurance Chukyo Hospital, Nagoya, Japan; Hashimoto, M., Chubu Rosai Hospital, Nagoya, Japan; Akutagawa, A., Nagoya Ekisaikai Hospital, Nagoya, Japan; Yamaguchi, R., Kasugai Municipal Hospital, Kasugai, Japan; Morofuji, N., Gifu Prefectural Federation of Agricultural Cooperatives for Health and Welfare Kumiai Hospital, Takayama, Japan; Kawahara, T., Daido Hospital, Nagoya, Japan; Asaba, Y., Enshu Hospital, Hamamatsu, Japan; Mizuno, S., Shizuoka Kosei Hospital, Shizuoka, Japan; Kawai, S., Tsushima City Hospital, Tsushima, Japan; Yamamoto, H., Tokai Hospital, Nagoya, Japan; Ikuta, K., Tokai Municipal Hospital, Tokai, South Africa; Matsubara, H., Yachiyo Hospital, Anjo, Japan; Watanabe, T., Chita City Hospital, Chita, Russian Federation | Background: The aim of the study was to investigate the prognostic impact of lymph node metastasis in cholangiocarcinoma using three different classifications. Methods: Patients who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy for distal cholangiocarcinoma in 24 hospitals in Japan between 2001 and 2010 were included. Survival was calculated by means of the Kaplan-Meier method and differences between subgroups were assessed with the log rank test. The Cox proportional hazards model was used to identify independent predictors of survival. χ2 scores were calculated to determine the cut-off value of the number of involved nodes, lymph node ratio (LNR) and total lymph node count (TLNC) for discriminating survival. Results: Some 370 patients were included. The median (range) TLNC was 19 (3-59). Nodal metastasis occurred in 157 patients (42.4 per cent); the median (range) number of involved nodes and LNR were 2 (1-19) and 0-11 (0.02-0.80) respectively. Four or more involved nodes was associated with a significantly shorter median survival (1.3 versus 2.2years; P = 0.001), as was a LNR of at least 0.17 (1.4 versus 2.3years; P = 0.002). Involvement of nodes along the common hepatic artery, present in 21 patients (13.4 per cent), was also associated with a shorter survival (median 1.3 versus 2.1years; P = 0.046). Multivariable analysis among 157 node-positive patients identified the number of involved nodes as an independent prognostic factor (risk ratio 1.87; P = 0.002). Conclusion: The number of involved nodes was a strong predictor of survival in patients with distal cholangiocarcinoma. © 2015 BJS Society Ltd. | None | adult; aged; Bile Duct Neoplasms; Cholangiocarcinoma; clinical trial; conservative treatment; female; human; intrahepatic bile duct; Japan; Kaplan Meier method; lymph node; lymph node dissection; lymph node metastasis; male; middle aged; mortality; multicenter study; pancreaticoduodenectomy; pathology; procedures; prognosis; prospective study; secondary; very elderly; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Bile Duct Neoplasms; Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic; Cholangiocarcinoma; Female; Humans; Japan; Kaplan-Meier Estimate; Lymph Node Excision; Lymph Nodes; Lymphatic Metastasis; Male; Middle Aged; Organ Sparing Treatments; Pancreaticoduodenectomy; Prognosis; Prospective Studies | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84856399864 | Effects of form of leftover khat (Catha edulis) on feed intake, digestion, and growth performance of Hararghe Highland goats | Wallie M., Mekasha Y., Urge M., Abebe G., Goetsch A.L. | 2012 | Small Ruminant Research | 102 | 1 | 10.1016/j.smallrumres.2011.07.014 | East Gojjam Zone Agriculture and Rural Development Office, Debre Markos, Ethiopia; Haramaya University, School of Animal and Range Sciences, Haramaya University, Ethiopia; Ethiopia Sheep and Goat Productivity Improvement Program, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; American Institute for Goat Research, Langston University, P. O. Box 730, Langston, OK, United States | Wallie, M., East Gojjam Zone Agriculture and Rural Development Office, Debre Markos, Ethiopia, Haramaya University, School of Animal and Range Sciences, Haramaya University, Ethiopia; Mekasha, Y., East Gojjam Zone Agriculture and Rural Development Office, Debre Markos, Ethiopia; Urge, M., East Gojjam Zone Agriculture and Rural Development Office, Debre Markos, Ethiopia; Abebe, G., Ethiopia Sheep and Goat Productivity Improvement Program, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Goetsch, A.L., American Institute for Goat Research, Langston University, P. O. Box 730, Langston, OK, United States | Khat (Catha edulis) is a lucrative cash crop in many African countries and other areas of the world. Leftover khat can be used as a feedstuff for ruminants, although seasonal production limits the extent of utilization. Practical methods of feed conservation to preserve nutritional value would be beneficial. Thus, a study was conducted to investigate effects of feeding different forms of leftover khat on intake, digestion, and growth performance of a tropically adapted indigenous goat genotype of eastern Ethiopia. Twenty-four (six per treatment) individually housed Hararghe Highland yearling male goats with an initial body weight of 18. ±. 0.4. kg were used in an on-station experiment, and 32 similar yearlings with an initial body weight of 19. ±. 0.4. kg were employed under on-farm conditions. The on-farm experiment occurred at two villages, with four farmer groups (two farmers per group co-managing animals) per village. Four animals in each farmer group were subjected to each of the four different treatments. Experiments were 90 days in length, with inclusion of a subsequent 10-day period on-station to determine digestibility. Khat in fresh, dry, and silage forms was fed at 1.5% body weight (dry matter; DM), whereas control animals did not receive khat. Animals on-station consumed grass hay ad libitum and those on-farm grazed/browsed surrounding areas. Grass hay DM intake on-station was greater (P<. 0.05) without than with khat (528, 358, 387, and 368. g/day; SE = 20.3), although total DM intake was increased by feeding khat regardless of form (528, 649, 622, and 639. g/day for control, fresh, dry, and silage, respectively; SE = 22.9). Digestibility of organic matter was increased (P<. 0.05) by feeding each form of khat (62.3%, 75.7%, 75.2%, and 72.4% for control, fresh, dry, and silage, respectively; SE = 1.63). Nitrogen balance was increased by fresh and ensiled khat (P<. 0.05) (-0.54, 2.07, 0.80, and 0.86. g/day for control, fresh, dry, and silage, respectively). Average daily gain (ADG) was increased by khat regardless of form on-station (13, 49, 33, and 39. g; SE = 4.6), and on-farm ADG was less for control than for fresh and dry forms (P<. 0.05) (32, 56, 47, and 42. g for control, fresh, dry, and silage, respectively SE. =. 2.0). The ratio of ADG:DM intake on-station was lower for control than for fresh (P<. 0.05) and silage (P<. 0.05) (26, 76, 54, and 61. g/kg for control, fresh, dry, and silage, respectively; SE. =. 7.6). In conclusion, feeding leftover khat to Highland goats consuming low to moderate quality forage-based diets can increase growth performance. Khat can be preserved for use as a feedstuff throughout the year by drying or ensiling without marked effect on performance. © 2011 Elsevier B.V.. | Catha edulis; Goat; Khat; Supplementation | Animalia; Bovidae; Capra hircus; Catha edulis | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84943228551 | The hustle and bustle of city life: Monitoring the effects of urbanisation in the African lesser bushbaby | Scheun J., Bennett N.C., Ganswindt A., Nowack J. | 2015 | Science of Nature | 102 | 9 | 10.1007/s00114-015-1305-4 | Endocrine Research Laboratory, Department of Anatomy and Physiology, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, Pretoria, South Africa; Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa; National Zoological Gardens of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa; Department of Animal Ecology and Conservation, Biocentre Grindel, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany; School of Environmental and Rural Science, Zoology, University of New England, Armidale, NSW, Australia | Scheun, J., Endocrine Research Laboratory, Department of Anatomy and Physiology, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, Pretoria, South Africa, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa; Bennett, N.C., Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa; Ganswindt, A., Endocrine Research Laboratory, Department of Anatomy and Physiology, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, Pretoria, South Africa, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa, National Zoological Gardens of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa; Nowack, J., Department of Animal Ecology and Conservation, Biocentre Grindel, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany, School of Environmental and Rural Science, Zoology, University of New England, Armidale, NSW, Australia | Urbanisation has become a severe threat to pristine natural areas, causing habitat loss and affecting indigenous animals. Species occurring within an urban fragmented landscape must cope with changes in vegetation type as well as high degrees of anthropogenic disturbance, both of which are possible key mechanisms contributing to behavioural changes and perceived stressors. We attempted to elucidate the effects of urbanisation on the African lesser bushbaby, Galago moholi, by (1) recording activity budgets and body condition (body mass index, BMI) of individuals of urban and rural populations and (2) further determining adrenocortical activity in both populations as a measure of stress via faecal glucocorticoid metabolite (fGCM) levels, following successful validation of an appropriate enzyme immunoassay test system (adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) challenge test).We found that both sexes of the urban population had significantly higher BMIs than their rural counterparts, while urban females had significantly higher fGCM concentrations than rural females. While individuals in the urban population fed mainly on provisioned anthropogenic food sources and spent comparatively more time resting and engaging in aggressive interactions, rural individuals fed almost exclusively on tree exudates and spent more time moving between food sources. Although interactions with humans are likely to be lower in nocturnal than in diurnal species, our findings show that the impact of urbanisation on nocturnal species is still considerable, affecting a range of ecological and physiological aspects. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2015. | Anthropogenic disturbance; Faecal glucocorticoids; Increased weight; Provisioned food | aggregation behavior; behavioral ecology; body condition; body mass; environmental disturbance; environmental monitoring; habitat conservation; habitat fragmentation; habitat loss; hormone; immunoassay; metabolite; nocturnal activity; primate; pristine environment; record; rural population; urban area; urban population; urbanization; Africa; Animalia; Galago moholi | DA1031/3-1/2, DFG, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84941317538 | Economic and environmental evaluation of landfill gas utilisation: A multi-period optimisation approach for low carbon regions | Ahmed S.I., Johari A., Hashim H., Lim J.S., Jusoh M., Mat R., Alkali H. | 2015 | International Biodeterioration and Biodegradation | 102 | None | 10.1016/j.ibiod.2015.04.008 | Institute of Hydrogen Economy, Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, UTM, Johor Bahru, Malaysia; Process System Engineering Centre (PROSPECT), Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, UTM, Johor Bahru, Mala | Ahmed, S.I., Institute of Hydrogen Economy, Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, UTM, Johor Bahru, Malaysia, Chemical Engineering Dept., Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Bauchi, Nigeria; Johari, A., Institute of Hydrogen Economy, Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, UTM, Johor Bahru, Malaysia; Hashim, H., Process System Engineering Centre (PROSPECT), Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, UTM, Johor Bahru, Malaysia; Lim, J.S., Process System Engineering Centre (PROSPECT), Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, UTM, Johor Bahru, Malaysia; Jusoh, M., Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, UTM, Johor Bahru, Malaysia; Mat, R., Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, UTM, Johor Bahru, Malaysia; Alkali, H., Institute of Hydrogen Economy, Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, UTM, Johor Bahru, Malaysia | Landfill gas (LFG) is composed essentially of the most problematic greenhouse gases (GHGs) namely methane (50%) and carbon dioxide (45%). However, due to its methane content, LFG can be utilised as a renewable energy source, but utilising LFG is met with a lot of challenges such as choice for LFG grade (low, medium or high grade), LFG utilisation equipment (gas engines, gas turbines etc.) and product type (electricity, heat etc.). The study estimates LFG capture and develops tool for the utilisation of LFG as a renewable energy resource. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change model outcome shows that an average annual LFG capture of 17,200 tonnes was obtained for Iskandar Malaysia and the optimal results indicate that the LFG is best utilised as a medium grade LFG for combined heat and power generation using steam turbines. The profitability evaluation shows that mean annual profit of US$5.6 million has been achieved with a payback period of 12.3 years and net present value of US$111 million, which is reasonable because the project can be classified as medium to large-scale. Additionally, the study provides insight into the viability of various LFG utilisation technologies and strategies for waste disposal to landfill. © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. | Greenhouse gas; Landfill gas; Malaysia; Renewable energy; Waste | Biogas; Carbon; Carbon dioxide; Climate change; Climate models; Cogeneration plants; Energy resources; Gas turbines; Gases; Greenhouse gases; Heat engines; Investments; Land fill; Methane; Profitability; Steam turbines; Waste disposal; Wastes; Combined heat and power generation; Disposal to landfills; Environmental evaluation; Intergovernmental panel on climate changes; Landfill gas; Malaysia; Renewable energies; Renewable energy source; Renewable energy resources | 05H04, MOHE, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia; Q.J130000.2709.01K08, UTM, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia; R.J1300000.7301.4B145, UTM, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84930083290 | Minjingu phosphate rock applications increase the population of phosphate solubilising microorganisms with a positive impact on crop yields in a Kenyan Ferralsol | Ndungu-Magiroi K.W., Waswa B., Bationo A., Okalebo J.R., Othieno C., Herrmann L., Lesueur D. | 2015 | Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems | 102 | 1 | 10.1007/s10705-014-9661-6 | Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI-Kitale), P.O. Box 450, Kitale, Kenya; International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), c/o International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE), P.O. Box 823-00621, Nairobi, Kenya; Action for Integrated Rural Development, Accra, Ghana; University of Eldoret, P.O. Box 1125, Eldoret, Kenya; Tropical Soil Biology and Fertility Institute of CIAT (CIAT-TSBF), c/o World Agroforestry Centre, P.O. Box 30677, Nairobi, Kenya; CIRAD, UMR Eco&Sols - Ecologie Fonctionnelle and Biogéochimie des Sols and Agroécosystèmes (SupAgro-CIRAD-INRA-IRD), Land Development Department, Office of Science for Land Development, Paholyothin Road, Chatuchak, Bangkok, Thailand; School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University (Burwood Campus), Melbourne, Australia | Ndungu-Magiroi, K.W., Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI-Kitale), P.O. Box 450, Kitale, Kenya, University of Eldoret, P.O. Box 1125, Eldoret, Kenya, Tropical Soil Biology and Fertility Institute of CIAT (CIAT-TSBF), c/o World Agroforestry Centre, P.O. Box 30677, Nairobi, Kenya; Waswa, B., International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), c/o International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE), P.O. Box 823-00621, Nairobi, Kenya; Bationo, A., Action for Integrated Rural Development, Accra, Ghana; Okalebo, J.R., University of Eldoret, P.O. Box 1125, Eldoret, Kenya; Othieno, C., University of Eldoret, P.O. Box 1125, Eldoret, Kenya; Herrmann, L., Tropical Soil Biology and Fertility Institute of CIAT (CIAT-TSBF), c/o World Agroforestry Centre, P.O. Box 30677, Nairobi, Kenya, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University (Burwood Campus), Melbourne, Australia, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University (Burwood Campus), Melbourne, Australia; Lesueur, D., Tropical Soil Biology and Fertility Institute of CIAT (CIAT-TSBF), c/o World Agroforestry Centre, P.O. Box 30677, Nairobi, Kenya, CIRAD, UMR Eco&Sols - Ecologie Fonctionnelle and Biogéochimie des Sols and Agroécosystèmes (SupAgro-CIRAD-INRA-IRD), Land Development Department, Office of Science for Land Development, Paholyothin Road, Chatuchak, Bangkok, Thailand | Soil microbes such as plant growth promoting rhizobacteria play significant roles in the solubilisation of inorganic phosphorus (P), mineralization of organic P and in improving plant P uptake. It is known that phosphate solubilising microorganisms (PSM) populations largely vary depending on the ecosystems, the cropping systems or the soil management. The capacity of Minjingu phosphate rock (PR) to enhance the populations of native PSM under three cereal–legume rotation systems was assessed in the third season of rotation. Triple super phosphate (TSP) was used as a positive control. In comparison to the negative control, application of Minjingu PR increased the total fungal diversity and phosphate solubilising bacteria (PSB) population by 67–90 % while high rates of TSP significantly (p < 0.05) reduced bacterial diversity and populations of PSB by 46–69 %. Minjingu PR also resulted in both crop and legume yields increase (41–104 % compared to the control), which were similar to those obtained with TSP application. Cropping systems incorporating sparingly soluble P sources such as Minjingu PR into soils can stimulate the populations of native PSB and agronomic productivity. They may represent a promising way of minimizing the utilization of mineral P fertilizers. © 2014, Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht. | Fungal and bacterial diversity; Minjingu phosphate rock; PCR–DGGE; Phosphate solubilising bacteria | crop rotation; crop yield; Ferralsol; microbial activity; phosphate rock; soil microorganism; solubilization; Kenya; Bacteria (microorganisms); Rhizobiales | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-50549101705 | Impact of two rounds of mass treatment with diethylcarbamazine plus albendazole on Wuchereria bancrofti infection and the sensitivity of immunochromatographic test in Malindi, Kenya | Njenga S.M., Wamae C.N., Njomo D.W., Mwandawiro C.S., Molyneux D.H. | 2008 | Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene | 102 | 10 | 10.1016/j.trstmh.2008.04.039 | Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), P.O. Box 19464, Post Code 00202, Nairobi, Kenya; Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, United Kingdom | Njenga, S.M., Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), P.O. Box 19464, Post Code 00202, Nairobi, Kenya; Wamae, C.N., Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), P.O. Box 19464, Post Code 00202, Nairobi, Kenya; Njomo, D.W., Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), P.O. Box 19464, Post Code 00202, Nairobi, Kenya; Mwandawiro, C.S., Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), P.O. Box 19464, Post Code 00202, Nairobi, Kenya; Molyneux, D.H., Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, United Kingdom | Annual single-dose mass treatment of endemic populations with a combination of either diethylcarbamazine (DEC) or ivermectin plus albendazole is recommended as the mainstay of lymphatic filariasis elimination programmes. We evaluated the impact of two rounds of annual mass drug administration (MDA) of DEC and albendazole on bancroftian filariasis in a pilot elimination programme in an endemic area of Kenya. Overall prevalence of microfilaraemia decreased by 65.4%, whereas community microfilarial load decreased by 84% after the two MDAs. The prevalence of parasite antigenaemia determined by immunochromatographic test (ICT) declined significantly by 43.5% after the two MDAs. We also studied the effect of mass treatment on the sensitivity of the ICT. Although the sensitivity of the test before treatment was high (89.9%; κ = 0.909) sensitivity was lower after two MDAs (59.3%; κ = 0.644). The finding raises concern about the reliability of the ICT in long-term monitoring of infection and for establishing programmatic endpoints. The results of the present study indicate a relatively high effectiveness of MDA using a DEC/albendazole combination against Wuchereria bancrofti infection and, therefore, it may be a useful strategy to eliminate lymphatic filariasis in onchocerciasis-free areas. © 2008 Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. | Albendazole; Diethylcarbamazine; Kenya; Lymphatic filariasis; Mass drug administration; Wuchereria bancrofti | albendazole; diethylcarbamazine; parasite antigen; adolescent; adult; aged; article; child; chromatography; controlled study; drug efficacy; endemic disease; eradication therapy; female; health program; human; immunochromatographic test; Kenya; major clinical study; male; microfilariasis; nematodiasis; onchocerciasis; patient monitoring; pilot study; prevalence; reliability; sensitivity analysis; single drug dose; Wuchereria bancrofti; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Albendazole; Animals; Anti-Infective Agents; Antigens, Bacterial; Child; Child, Preschool; Diethylcarbamazine; Drug Therapy, Combination; Elephantiasis, Filarial; Female; Humans; Immunoassay; Kenya; Male; Microfilaria; Middle Aged; Pilot Projects; Prevalence; Sensitivity and Specificity; Wuchereria bancrofti; Wuchereria bancrofti | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33749990905 | The impact of aerial application of organophosphates on the cholinesterase levels of rural residents in the Vaalharts district, Northern Cape Province, South Africa | Dalvie M.A., London L. | 2006 | Environmental Research | 102 | 3 | 10.1016/j.envres.2006.01.008 | Occupational and Environmental Health Research Unit, Department of Public Health, Medical School, University of Cape Town, Anzio Road, Observatory, 7925 Cape Town, South Africa | Dalvie, M.A., Occupational and Environmental Health Research Unit, Department of Public Health, Medical School, University of Cape Town, Anzio Road, Observatory, 7925 Cape Town, South Africa; London, L., Occupational and Environmental Health Research Unit, Department of Public Health, Medical School, University of Cape Town, Anzio Road, Observatory, 7925 Cape Town, South Africa | A cluster of Guillaine-Barre syndrome cases in the Vaalharts region, South Africa prompted an investigation of the impact of aerial organophosphate spraying on cholinesterase levels of residents in the region. A prospective study of cholinesterase levels among residents and workers in the area and a control area was performed. Standardized red blood cell cholinesterase levels amongst participants were monitored before (round 1), during (round 2), and after (round 3) the 1996/1997 aerial spraying season. Participants were assigned environmental exposure categories based on the time since (within 10 or 30 days) and distance from (on farm, on neighboring farm, <10 km from farm) aerial pesticide application. There were 342 participants in round 1, of whom 78% participated in round 2, 62% in round 3, and 56% in all three rounds. There was an increase in cholinesterase levels in round 2 (mean increase=5.96±6.25 IU/g hemoglobin) and then a decrease in round 3 (6.17±6.51), significantly associated with environmental exposure (participants living on farm or neighboring farm and <10 km from spraying area) controlling for age, gender, alcohol dependence, and usual and recent domestic and occupational pesticide use (e.g., for round 2-round 1 cholinesterase differences, over(β, ^) (exposed group relative to unexposed)=5.72±1.21 IU/g hemoglobin, P = 0.000, R2 = 0.27, n = 171). The results show a shift in cholinesterase levels associated with residence in the spraying area, but in the direction opposite to that expected from the spraying of pesticides. Seasonal fluctuations in ambient temperature during the study may have influenced the results. © 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. | Aerial; Cholinesterase; Neurotoxic; Organophosphate; Pesticides | organophosphate; pesticide; enzyme activity; farm; organophosphate; rural society; adult; alcoholism; article; cholinesterase blood level; controlled study; environmental exposure; environmental temperature; erythrocyte; female; hemoglobin blood level; human; male; neurotoxicity; priority journal; rural area; season; sex difference; South Africa; Adult; Cholinesterases; Environmental Exposure; Erythrocytes; Female; Geography; Guillain-Barre Syndrome; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Pesticides; Phosphoric Acid Esters; Prospective Studies; Rural Population; South Africa; Africa; Cape Province; South Africa; Southern Africa; Sub-Saharan Africa | None |
| None | None | Quality assurance of aerial applications of larvicides for mosquito control: Effects of granule and catch tray size on field monitoring programs | Russell T.L., Gatton M.L., Ryan P.A., Kay B.H. | 2009 | Journal of Economic Entomology | 102 | 2 | 10.1603/029.102.0207 | Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Australian Centre for International and Tropical Health, P.O. Royal Brisbane Hospital, Herston, Brisbane, QLD 4029, Australia; Public Health Entomology Unit, Ifakara Health Institute, P.O. Box 53, Ifakara, Tanzania; School of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, University of Durham, South Road, Durham, DH1 3LE, United Kingdom; Ifakara Health Institute, P.O. Box 53, Ifakara, Tanzania | Russell, T.L., Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Australian Centre for International and Tropical Health, P.O. Royal Brisbane Hospital, Herston, Brisbane, QLD 4029, Australia, Public Health Entomology Unit, Ifakara Health Institute, P.O. Box 53, Ifakara, Tanzania, School of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, University of Durham, South Road, Durham, DH1 3LE, United Kingdom, Ifakara Health Institute, P.O. Box 53, Ifakara, Tanzania; Gatton, M.L., Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Australian Centre for International and Tropical Health, P.O. Royal Brisbane Hospital, Herston, Brisbane, QLD 4029, Australia; Ryan, P.A., Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Australian Centre for International and Tropical Health, P.O. Royal Brisbane Hospital, Herston, Brisbane, QLD 4029, Australia; Kay, B.H., Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Australian Centre for International and Tropical Health, P.O. Royal Brisbane Hospital, Herston, Brisbane, QLD 4029, Australia | Aerial applications of granular insecticides are preferable because they can effectively penetrate vegetation, there is less drift, and no loss of product due to evaporation. We aimed to 1) assess the field efficacy of VectoBac G to control Aedes vigilax (Skuse) in saltmarsh pools, 2) develop a stochastic-modeling procedure to monitor application quality, and 3) assess the distribution of VectoBac G after an aerial application. Because ground-based studies with Ae. vigilax immatures found that VectoBac G provided effective control below the recommended label rate of 7 kg/ha, we trialed a nominated aerial rate of 5 kg/ha as a case study. Our distribution pattern modeling method indicated that the variability in the number of VectoBac G particles captured in catch-trays was greater than expected for 5 kg/ha and that the widely accepted contour mapping approach to visualize the deposition pattern provided spurious results and therefore was not statistically appropriate. Based on the results of distribution pattern modeling, we calculated the catch tray size required to analyze the distribution of aerially applied granular formulations. The minimum catch tray size for products with large granules was 4 m2 for Altosid pellets and 2 m2 for VectoBac G. In contrast, the minimum catch-tray size for Altosid XRG, Aquabac G, and Altosand, with smaller granule sizes, was 1 m2. Little gain in precision would be made by increasing the catch-tray size further, when the increased workload and infrastructure is considered. Our improved methods for monitoring the distribution pattern of aerially applied granular insecticides can be adapted for use by both public health and agricultural contractors. © 2009 Entomological Society of America. | Bacillus thuringiensis variety israelensis; Catch-trays; Distribution pattern; Helicopter; S-methoprene | animal; article; Bacillus thuringiensis; biological pest control; drug effect; larva; methodology; mosquito; Animals; Bacillus thuringiensis; Culicidae; Larva; Mosquito Control; Pest Control, Biological; Aedes vigilax; Bacillus thuringiensis | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-29444435800 | Three independent biological mechanisms cause exercise-associated hyponatremia: Evidence from 2,135 weighed competitive athletic performances | Noakes T.D., Sharwood K., Speedy D., Hew T., Reid S., Dugas J., Almond C., Wharam P., Weschler L. | 2005 | Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America | 102 | 51 | 10.1073/pnas.0509096102 | University of Cape Town, Department of Human Biology, Sports Science Institute of South Africa, Newlands, 7700, South Africa; Department of General Practice and Primary Care, University of Auckland, Aukland 1020, New Zealand; Sports Medicine Practice, St. Helen's Hospital, Hobart 7216, Tasmania, Australia; Department of Cardiology, Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, United States; 161 Richdale Road, Colts Neck, NJ 07722, United States; University of Cape Town, Department of Human Biology, Sports Science Institute of South Africa, Boundary Road, Newlands, 7700, South Africa | Noakes, T.D., University of Cape Town, Department of Human Biology, Sports Science Institute of South Africa, Newlands, 7700, South Africa, University of Cape Town, Department of Human Biology, Sports Science Institute of South Africa, Boundary Road, Newlands, 7700, South Africa; Sharwood, K., University of Cape Town, Department of Human Biology, Sports Science Institute of South Africa, Newlands, 7700, South Africa; Speedy, D., Department of General Practice and Primary Care, University of Auckland, Aukland 1020, New Zealand; Hew, T., University of Cape Town, Department of Human Biology, Sports Science Institute of South Africa, Newlands, 7700, South Africa; Reid, S., Sports Medicine Practice, St. Helen's Hospital, Hobart 7216, Tasmania, Australia; Dugas, J., University of Cape Town, Department of Human Biology, Sports Science Institute of South Africa, Newlands, 7700, South Africa; Almond, C., Department of Cardiology, Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, United States; Wharam, P., Department of General Practice and Primary Care, University of Auckland, Aukland 1020, New Zealand; Weschler, L., 161 Richdale Road, Colts Neck, NJ 07722, United States | To evaluate the role of fluid and Na+ balance in the development of exercise-associated hyponatremia (EAH), changes in serum Na+ concentrations ([Na+]) and in body weight were analyzed in 2,135 athletes in endurance events. Eighty-nine percent of athletes completed these events either euhydrated (39%) or with weight loss (50%) and with normal (80%) or elevated (13%) serum [Na+]. Of 231 (11%) athletes who gained weight during exercise, 70% were normonatremic or hypernatremic, 19% had a serum [Na+] between 129-135 mmol/liter, and 11% a serum [Na+] of <129 mmol/liter. Serum [Na+] after racing was a linear function with a negative slope of the body weight change during exercise. The final serum [Na+] in a subset of 18 subjects was predicted from the amount of Na+ that remained osmotically inactive at the completion of the trial. Weight gain consequent to excessive fluid consumption was the principal cause of a reduced serum [Na+] after exercise, yet most (70%) subjects who gained weight maintained or increased serum [Na+], requiring the addition of significant amounts of Na+ (>500 mmol) into an expanded volume of total body water. This Na+ likely originated from osmotically inactive, exchangeable stores. Thus, EAH occurs in athletes who (i) drink to excess during exercise, (ii) retain excess fluid because of inadequate suppression of antidiuretic hormone secretion, and (iii) osmotically inactivate circulating Na+ or fail to mobilize osmotically inactive sodium from internal stores. EAH can be prevented by insuring that athletes do not drink to excess during exercise, which has been known since 1985. © 2005 by The National Academy of Sciences of the USA. | Endurance; Exchangeable Na+ stores; Fluid overload; Overdrinking; Syndrome of inappropriate ADH secretion | article; athlete; body weight; drinking; endurance; exercise; fluid balance; human; human experiment; hypernatremia; hyponatremia; inappropriate vasopressin secretion; normal human; priority journal; sodium balance; sodium blood level; total body water; weight reduction; Body Weight; Dehydration; Exercise; Humans; Hyponatremia; Sodium; Sports | None |
| WoS | WOS:000312313200017 | Evaluating Helping Babies Breathe: training for healthcare workers at hospitals in Rwanda | Baribwira, Cyprien,Essen, Birgitta,Musafili, Aimable,Persson, Lars-Ake,Rukundo, Alphonse | 2013 | ACTA PAEDIATRICA | 102 | 1 | 10.1111/apa.12034 | Uppsala University, Kigali Univ, Rwanda Biomed Ctr, Univ Maryland | "Essen, Birgitta: Uppsala University","Persson, Lars-Ake: Uppsala University", | Aim To evaluate the educational effectiveness of the Helping Babies Breathe programme. Methods Knowledge of trainees from two district hospitals and one tertiary referral hospital was evaluated before and after training in 2010. A postcourse practical skills evaluation was performed on a Neonatalie Newborn Simulator. Participants underwent a re-evaluation after 3 months. Results One hundred eighteen trainees completed the course. The percentages of correct answers on a written test significantly increased from 77 +/- 15% to 91 +/- 9% (p < 0.01) after training. The mean score obtained on a postcourse skill evaluation was 89 +/- 9%; 64% of the trainees achieved passing scores. Retesting 3 months later showed that knowledge remained at the same level, while practical skills decreased to 83 +/- 16%, and the pass rate dropped significantly to 43% (p < 0.01). Conclusion Healthcare workers who participate in a Helping Babies Breathe programme can significantly improve their knowledge. While such knowledge is retained for at least 3 months, skills dropped to unsatisfactory levels in that period of time, indicating the need for retraining in the interim or the acquisition of practical experience by such healthcare workers. | EDUCATION,"healthcare workers","Helping Babies Breathe",HOSPITAL,RWANDA,CARDIOPULMONARY-RESUSCITATION,COUNTRIES,"DELIVERY ROOM",KNOWLEDGE,MORTALITY,"NEONATAL RESUSCITATION PROGRAM",RESIDENTS,RETENTION,SETTINGS,"SYSTEMATIC ANALYSIS" | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000333785400022 | Assessing the population-level impact of vouchers on access to health facility delivery for women in Kenya | Abuya, Timothy,Askew, Ian,Bellows, Ben,Obare, Francis,Warren, Charlotte | 2014 | SOCIAL SCIENCE & MEDICINE | 102 | None | 10.1016/j.socscimed.2013.12.007 | None | None | Although available evidence indicates that vouchers improve service utilization among the target populations, we do not know whether increased utilization results from improved access (new clients who would not have used services without the voucher) or from shifting clients from non-accredited to contracted service providers. This paper examines whether the safe motherhood voucher program in Kenya is associated with improved access to health facility delivery using information on births within two years preceding the survey in voucher and comparison sites. Data were collected in 2010-2011 and in 2012 among 2933 and 3094 women aged 15-49 years reporting 962 and 1494 births within two years before the respective surveys. Analysis entails cross-tabulations and estimation of multilevel random-intercept logit models. The results show that the proportion of births occurring at home declined by more than 10 percentage points while the proportion of births delivered in health facilities increased by a similar margin over time in voucher sites. The increase in facility-based births occurred in both public and private health facilities. There was also a significant increase in the likelihood of facility-based delivery (odds ratios [OR]: 2.04; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.40-2.98 in the 2006 voucher arm; OR: 1.72; 95% CI: 1.22-2.43 in the 2010-2011 voucher arm) in voucher sites over time. In contrast, there were no significant changes in the likelihood of facility-based delivery in the comparison arm over time. These findings suggest that the voucher program contributed to improved access to institutional delivery by shifting births from home to health facilities. However, available evidence from qualitative data shows that some women who purchased the vouchers did not use them because of high transportation costs to accredited facilities. The implication is that substantial improvements in service uptake could be achieved if the program subsidized transportation costs as well. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. | "Health facility delivery","improving access",KENYA,"REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH","Voucher program",CARE,DEVELOPING-COUNTRIES,INCREASE,PROGRAM,SERVICES,SYSTEM | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84953354775 | Tillage impacts on net carbon flux in paddy soil of the Southern China | Chen Z.-D., Dikgwatlhe S.B., Xue J.-F., Zhang H.-L., Chen F., Xiao X.-P. | 2015 | Journal of Cleaner Production | 103 | None | 10.1016/j.jclepro.2014.05.014 | College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Key Laboratory of Farming System, Ministry of Agriculture, Beijing, China; Limpopo Department of Agriculture, Research Services, Plant Production Systems Division, Polokwane, South Africa; Hunan Soil and Fertilizer Institute, Changsha, China | Chen, Z.-D., College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Key Laboratory of Farming System, Ministry of Agriculture, Beijing, China; Dikgwatlhe, S.B., College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Key Laboratory of Farming System, Ministry of Agriculture, Beijing, China, Limpopo Department of Agriculture, Research Services, Plant Production Systems Division, Polokwane, South Africa; Xue, J.-F., College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Key Laboratory of Farming System, Ministry of Agriculture, Beijing, China; Zhang, H.-L., College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Key Laboratory of Farming System, Ministry of Agriculture, Beijing, China; Chen, F., College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Key Laboratory of Farming System, Ministry of Agriculture, Beijing, China; Xiao, X.-P., Hunan Soil and Fertilizer Institute, Changsha, China | Scientific regulation of carbon (C) flows under conservation tillage is of great significance for mitigating C emission to the atmosphere and increasing C sequestration potential in soils. The objective of this study was to assess tillage impacts on C cycle from a situ field experiment and identify potential tillage practices for C-smart technology in paddy soils of the Southern China. A field experiment was conducted during 2005-2011, including conventional tillage without residue retention (CT), conventional tillage with residue retention (CTS), rotary tillage with residue retention (RTS), and no-till with residue retention (NTS). We computed SOC concentrations, SOC stocks and C emissions from farm inputs with time, and results in values representing a change in net carbon flux under different tillage systems in a double rice (Oryza sativa L.) cropping system. The annual increase rates of SOC stocks were 452.6, 523.3, 1340.8, and 2385.4 kg ha-1 yr-1 from 2007 to 2011 under CT, CTS, RTS, and NTS, respectively. The annual C emissions under CT, CTS, RTS, and NTS were 1182.5, 1182.5, 1152.5, and 1139.2 kg C-eq ha-1 yr-1, respectively. Among the treatments, NTS treatment had the lowest net C flux with -1246.2 kg C-eq ha-1 yr-1. Taking CT as the baseline, the relative net C flux under RTS and NTS were -918.2 and -1976.1 kg C-eq ha-1 yr-1, respectively. This suggests that adoption of conservation tillage would be beneficial in the reduction of GHG emission and could be a good option for C-smart agriculture in double rice cropping regions. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. | Carbon emission; Conservation tillage; Net carbon flux; Paddy soil; Soil carbon sequestration rate | Agricultural machinery; Cultivation; Forestry; Greenhouse gases; Soil conservation; Soils; Carbon emissions; Conservation tillage; Net carbon flux; Paddy soils; Soil carbon sequestration; Agriculture | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-34548647421 | The effect of coarse edge on wool spinning performance and yarn properties | Botha A.F., Hunter L. | 2007 | South African Journal of Science | 103 | 42433 | None | CSIR Materials Science and Manufacturing, P.O. Box 1124, Port Elizabeth 6000, South Africa; Department of Textile Science, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, P.O. Box 77000, Port Elizabeth 6000, South Africa | Botha, A.F., CSIR Materials Science and Manufacturing, P.O. Box 1124, Port Elizabeth 6000, South Africa; Hunter, L., Department of Textile Science, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, P.O. Box 77000, Port Elizabeth 6000, South Africa | The interrelationship of natural fibre, yarn and fabric properties is both important and complex, and has attracted considerable research. An area which has received little attention is that concerning the effect of fibre diameter distribution, notably of relatively coarse fibres, on processing behaviour and yarn and fabric properties, except for their well-known effect on handle and prickle (scratchiness). Prickle is an unpleasant sensation sometimes experienced with garments worn next to the skin. The effect of fibre diameter distribution, of coarse fibres (or coarse edge, CE) in particular, on spinning performance and yarn properties, was investigated for 400 different wools. Multiple regression analyses were carried out to quantify the relationships between all the main fibre properties, including CE, on the one hand, and the spinning performance and yarn properties on the other hand. We found that CE had no significant effect on spinning performance and yarn properties, except for yarn neps and yarn hairiness. These findings are important for sheep breeding practices as well as for selecting the most appropriate wools when yarn of a specified quality is to be processed, because attention needs be paid only to fibre diameter, not to coarse edge. | None | regression analysis; research work; sheep; wool; Ovis aries | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-63749127277 | Performance evaluation of tillage tines operating under different depths in a sandy clay loam soil | Manuwa S.I. | 2009 | Soil and Tillage Research | 103 | 2 | 10.1016/j.still.2008.12.004 | Department of Agricultural Engineering, The Federal University of Technology, P.M.B. 704, Akure, Nigeria | Manuwa, S.I., Department of Agricultural Engineering, The Federal University of Technology, P.M.B. 704, Akure, Nigeria | The study investigated the performance of three model tillage tools (tines). The experimental tillages were made from flat 8 mm plain carbon steel. They were designated T1, T5, and T20, corresponding to tine widths of 1, 5, and 20 cm respectively. Experiments were carried out in a soil bin filled with sandy clay loam soil at average moisture content 11.5% (dry basis) and 600 kPa average cone index. The plastic limit and liquid limit and plasticity index of the soil are 20%, 31% and 11% respectively. Tests were conducted at forward speeds of 0.28, 1.0, and 2.5 m/s. Depths of operation considered were 35, 70, 150, 200 and 250 mm. Draught measurements were made for the different tines and were also calculated using soil mechanics equation. There was reasonable agreement between measured and predicted draught forces. The effects of depth of operation on draught force of the tines were studied and evaluated. It was observed that draught increased at an increasing rate with depth; the relationship was a curvilinear one best fitted by exponential function. The soil disturbance created as a result was also evaluated and reported in this paper. The parameters used to define soil disturbance of a single tine were: ridge-to-ridge distance (RRD), maximum width of soil cut (WFS), maximum width of soil throw (TDW), after furrow depth (df), height of ridge (hr) and rupture distance (f). They all increased as the depth of operation of the tool increased but less proportionately. The critical depth of the tines was also estimated. The results of analysis of variance showed that tool type and operating depth significantly affected draught at 5% level of significance (p < 0.05) and that, there was interaction between the two factors. © 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. | Depth; Draught; Soil bin; Soil disturbance; Specific draught; Tines; Velocity | Depth; Draught; Soil disturbance; Specific draught; Tines; Agricultural machinery; Agriculture; Bins; Carbon steel; Clay minerals; Regression analysis; Soil mechanics; Soils; measurement method; performance assessment; sandy clay loam; soil depth; tillage | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33847108463 | Bio-nutritional evaluations of three tropical leaf vegetables (Telfairia occidentalis, Amaranthus cruentus and Talinum triangulare) as sole dietary protein sources in rat assay | Fasuyi A.O. | 2007 | Food Chemistry | 103 | 3 | 10.1016/j.foodchem.2006.09.030 | Department of Animal Production and Health Sciences, University of Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti-State, Nigeria | Fasuyi, A.O., Department of Animal Production and Health Sciences, University of Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti-State, Nigeria | The bio-nutritional potentials of three tropical vegetable leaf meals (Telfairia occidentalis leaf meal, TOLM; Talinum triangulare leaf meal, TTLM and Amaranthus cruentus leaf meal, ACLM) were investigated using albino rat as the test animal. Some protein quality evaluation indices were measured when the three vegetable leaf meals (VLMs) were used as sole protein sources in diets fed to the experimental animals and results were compared with data obtained for a basal nitrogen free diet (diet 1) and another reference diet (diet 2) in which the protein was solely supplied by nutritional casein (pure protein). The weight gain value recorded over a 10 day experimental period for the test animals on the reference (casein) diet 2 was consistently higher (P < 0.05) than the weight gain value obtained for the animals on the 3 VLMs diets (diets 3-5). Feed intake values recorded for the rats on the VLMs were similar (P > 0.05) and significantly higher (P < 0.05) than the value obtained for rats on the reference (casein) diet. Nitrogen excreted in faeces (feacal nitrogen) was lowest (P < 0.05) for the animals in reference diet 2. However, the nitrogen excreted in urine (urinary nitrogen) was highest (P < 0.05) for the animals on reference diet 2 and lowest for animals on diet 3 (TOLM diet) (P < 0.05). The nitrogen retention (NR) value obtained for the test animals on the reference diet 2 was similar (P > 0.05) to the value obtained for animals on diet 3 (TOLM). These values were significantly higher (P > 0.05) than NR values obtained for animals on diets 4 (TTLM) and 5 (ACLM). Expectedly, the apparent nitrogen digestibility (AND), protein efficiency ratio (PER), net protein ratio (NPR), true digestibility (TD), biological value (BV) and net protein utilization (NPU) all indicated higher and better values (P < 0.05) than the corresponding values obtained for the 3 VLMs diets (diets 3-5). © 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. | Nitrogen free diet; Protein quality evaluation; Rat bioassay; Reference diet | casein; nitrogen; Amaranthus cruentus; animal experiment; article; bioassay; dietary intake; digestion; feces analysis; measurement; nitrogen urine level; nonhuman; nutritional assessment; protein intake; rat; Talinum triangulare; Telfairia occidentalis; vegetable; weight gain; Amaranthus cruentus; Animalia; Rattus; Talinum triangulare; Telfairia occidentalis | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84865268240 | Simulation study of the performance of the viterbi decoding algorithm for certain m-level line codes | Ouahada K. | 2012 | SAIEE Africa Research Journal | 103 | 3 | None | Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering Science, University of Johannesburg, South Africa | Ouahada, K., Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering Science, University of Johannesburg, South Africa | In this paper we study the performance of different classes of M-level line codes under the Viterbi decoding algorithm. Some of the presented M-level line codes inherited the state machine structure by using the technique of distance mappings which preserve the properties of binary convolutional codes. Other M-level line codes were enforced to have the state machine structure to make use of the Viterbi decoding algorithm. The technique of spectral shaping was combined with distance mappings to generate spectral distance mappings (SNDM) M-level line codes. The 2-dB gain between soft and hard decisions decoding for the different classes of M-level line codes is investigated. The standard technique for assessing the stability and the accuracy of any decoding algorithm, which is the error propagation is used to analyze the stability and the accuracy of the Viterbi decoding algorithm of the M-level line codes. The obtained results have shown advantages and outperformance of SNDM codes compared to the rest of line codes presented in this paper. Copyright © 2005 SAIEE. | Error propagation; Line codes; Soft/Hard decision; Viterbi decoder | Decoding algorithm; Error propagation; Hard decisions; Line codes; Simulation studies; Soft/Hard decision; Spectral shaping; State machine; Viterbi decoder; Viterbi decoding algorithms; Convolutional codes; Mapping; Viterbi algorithm; Decoding | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-41749112216 | Performance of a quasi-synchronous four-dimensional super-orthogonal WCDMA modulator for next generation wireless applications | Linde L.P., Staphorst L., Vlok J.D. | 2007 | South African Journal of Science | 103 | 42686 | None | Department of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa | Linde, L.P., Department of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa; Staphorst, L., Department of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa; Vlok, J.D., Department of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa | This paper presents the bit-error-rate (BER) performance of an up3 wards-expandable spectral and power efficient quasi-synchronous multi-layer-modulated (MLM) four-dimensional super-orthogonal wideband code-division multiple access (QS-4D-SO-WCDMA) modem, suitable for application in next generation WLAN and wireless cellular systems. The unique combination of the 4D-WCDMA modem configuration and super-orthogonal families of root-of-unity filtered (RUF) constant-envelope generalized-chirp-like complex spreading sequences (SO-CE-GCL-CSS), renders a spectrally and power efficient output signal with data throughput rates equivalent to that of a 16-ary quadrature amplitude modulated (16-QAM) WCDMA modulation scheme, but with the BER performance equivalent to that of BPSK/QPSK in both AWGN and fading multipath channel scenarios. | None | amplitude; error analysis; four-dimensional modeling; signal | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84875603573 | Evaluation and correlation of mammographically suspicious lesions with histopathology at Addington Hospital, Durban | Cupido B.D., Vawda F., Sabri A., Sikwila C.T. | 2013 | South African Medical Journal | 103 | 4 | 10.7196/SAMJ.6361 | Department of Radiology, Addington Hospital, Durban, South Africa; Department of Radiology, School of Surgical Disciplines, Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; Cypress Health Region Hospital, Department of Radiology, SK, Canada; University Teaching Hospital, Lusaka, Zambia | Cupido, B.D., Department of Radiology, Addington Hospital, Durban, South Africa; Vawda, F., Department of Radiology, School of Surgical Disciplines, Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; Sabri, A., Cypress Health Region Hospital, Department of Radiology, SK, Canada; Sikwila, C.T., University Teaching Hospital, Lusaka, Zambia | Background. Stereotactic core-needle biopsies (SCNBs) are a reliable alternative to surgical biopsy for microcalcifications. The positive predictive value (PPV) of SCNB has been shown to be reproducible in several studies using the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BIRADS) classification, which is the current gold standard in mammographic reporting. At this stage, no study has been done in KwaZulu-Natal to assess local outcomes against BIRADS. The current standard of care utilises vacuum-assisted breast biopsy, but is not available in a resource-constrained environment such as ours. The need, therefore, is for constant evaluation of existing practice to ensure that it is optimised for the challenges and limitations facing local radiologists. Objective. To assess the PPV of SCNB in Addington Hospital, and to compare it with that of BIRADS. Material and methods. Mammographically detected lesions were assigned to 3 categories: benign, indeterminate and suspicious. A retrospective review of 67 SCNBs was performed for lesions falling within the suspicious category, and the PPV and rates of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) were determined. Results. Our study demonstrated a PPV of 20.9%. This correlated well with international studies for BIRADS 4 and 5 lesions. DCIS accounted for 21.4% of detected malignancies, which is in keeping with current literature. Conclusion. Despite resource limitations, local outcomes were comparable with those of BIRADS. Given our fairly general categorisation of lesions, however, it should be emphasised that BIRADS allows better organisation, consistency and clarity in breast imaging reporting, as well as accurate data comparison between centres facing limitations similar to our own. | None | adult; aged; article; breast calcification; breast carcinoma; breast lesion; correlation analysis; female; histology; histopathology; human; human tissue; imaging; intraductal carcinoma; major clinical study; mammography; predictive value; retrospective study; stereotactic biopsy; stereotactic core needle biopsy; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biopsy, Needle; Breast; Breast Neoplasms; Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast; Female; Humans; Mammography; Middle Aged; Predictive Value of Tests; Radiology, Interventional; Retrospective Studies; South Africa; Stereotaxic Techniques | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-34347237636 | Impacts of a South African coastal golf estate on shrubland bird communities | Fox S.-J.C., Hockey P.A.R. | 2007 | South African Journal of Science | 103 | 42371 | None | DST/NHF Centre of Excellence, Percy FitzPatrick Institute, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa | Fox, S.-J.C., DST/NHF Centre of Excellence, Percy FitzPatrick Institute, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa; Hockey, P.A.R., DST/NHF Centre of Excellence, Percy FitzPatrick Institute, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa | Golf courses and estates are one form of development threatening coastal vegetation in South Africa's Cape Floristic Region. They occupy substantial tracts of land, fragmenting indigenous vegetation. This study investigates the effects on bird community structure and function of replacing natural Strandveld vegetation with a 170-ha golf estate in which 46 ha of Strandveld vegetation was retained in conditions ranging from pristine to moderately degraded. Bird assemblages of the remaining Strandveld patches in the golf estate were compared with those of an adjacent Strandveld conservation area. Field work was conducted during the birds' breeding season, in October and November 2005. The golf estate was more species rich overall, but many species were uncommon, several were present only as a consequence of the creation of new habitats, and species were not evenly distributed across the remaining Strandveld fragments. Bird diversity and abundance were significantly higher in the adjacent conservation area. It is estimated that more than 8500 individual birds were displaced by construction of the golf estate and four Strandveld species were not represented at all within the estate. Within the estate, species richness rose with increasing Strandveld patch size and the minimum area of continuous pristine vegetation required to maintain the natural species assemblage was estimated at 51 ha. The golf estate was characterized by a high proportion of generalist and granivorous species, but at the cost of reduced numbers of frugivores and nectarivores. Energy flow through the bird communities in the two areas was thus markedly different, and pollination and fruit dispersal potential within the golf estate were reduced substantially. Golf courses and golf estates inevitably will not substitute for the natural habitats they have replaced, but careful design with input from ecological theory can reduce the adverse effects of fragmentation. | None | abundance; bird; breeding season; coastal zone; community structure; golf course; habitat fragmentation; patch size; pristine environment; protected area; species diversity; species richness; Africa; South Africa; Southern Africa; Sub-Saharan Africa; Aves | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33746054903 | Evaluation of Clitoria, Gliricidia and Mucuna as nitrogen supplements to Napier grass basal diet in relation to the performance of lactating Jersey cows | Juma H.K., Abdulrazak S.A., Muinga R.W., Ambula M.K. | 2006 | Livestock Science | 103 | 02-Jan | 10.1016/j.livsci.2005.12.006 | Egerton University, P.O. Box 536 Njoro, Kenya; KARI Mtwapa, P.O. Box 16-80109, Mtwapa, Kenya | Juma, H.K., Egerton University, P.O. Box 536 Njoro, Kenya; Abdulrazak, S.A., Egerton University, P.O. Box 536 Njoro, Kenya; Muinga, R.W., KARI Mtwapa, P.O. Box 16-80109, Mtwapa, Kenya; Ambula, M.K., Egerton University, P.O. Box 536 Njoro, Kenya | A study was carried out at the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute Mtwapa in Coastal lowland Kenya to evaluate the effects of supplementing Napier grass variety Bana (Pennisetum purpureum) with Clitoria ternatea (Clitoria), Gliricidia sepium (Gliricidia) and Mucuna pruriens (Mucuna) on feed intake, diet digestibility and milk yield of lactating Jersey cows. Clitoria and Mucuna were compared with Gliricidia; a widely studied nitrogen supplement to roughage-based diets in dairy rations in coastal Kenya. Twelve lactating Jersey cows in their mid lactation were assigned to four groups balanced for initial milk yield and live weight in a completely randomised design. One group was fed Napier grass ad libitum and 3 kg of maize bran daily (control). The remaining three groups were fed the control diet supplemented with 8 kg of fresh Clitoria, Gliricidia or Mucuna. Mucuna had lower CP (180 g kg- 1) concentration compared to Gliricidia (232 g kg- 1) and Clitoria (218 g kg- 1). Tannin concentration was higher in Gliricidia compared to the other legumes. They were however below the critical level of 6% hence were not expected to have any negative effect on animal performance. The total dry matter intake was not affected by legume supplementation (P > 0.05). Legume supplementation had no significant effect on organic and dry matter digestibilities (P > 0.05). Nitrogen supplementation (P < 0.05) increased daily milk yield by 20%, 27.5% and 32.5% for cows fed Gliricidia, Clitoria and Mucuna respectively. Results from this study show that Mucuna and Clitoria can give similar lactation performance to Gliricidia as nitrogen supplements Napier grass basal diet. © 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. | Diet digestibility; Feed intake; Jersey cows; Milk yield; Nitrogen supplementation | Animalia; Clitoria; Clitoria ternatea; Gliricidia; Gliricidia sepium; Mucuna; Mucuna deeringiana; Mucuna pruriens; Pennisetum glaucum; Pennisetum purpureum; Zea mays | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84880783371 | Impact of inter-facility transport on maternal mortality in the free state province | Schoon M.G. | 2013 | South African Medical Journal | 103 | 8 | 10.7196/SAMJ.6828 | Free State Department of Health, South Africa; Free State University, South Africa | Schoon, M.G., Free State Department of Health, South Africa, Free State University, South Africa | Aim. In December 2011, having identified inter-facility transport as a problem in the maternity service, the Free State Department of Health procured and issued 48 vehicles including 18 dedicated to maternity care. Subsequently, a sustained reduction in mortality was observed. We probed the role of inter-facility transport in effecting this reduction in mortality. Methods. A before-after analysis was performed of data from 2 separate databases, including the district health information system and the emergency medical and rescue services call-centre database. Data were compared for a 12-month prior- and 10-month post-intervention period using descriptive and correlation statistics. Results. The maternal mortality decreased from 279/100 000 live births during 2011 to 152/100 000 live births during 2012. The mean dispatch interval decreased from 32.01 to 22.47 minutes. The number of vehicles dispatched within 1 hour increased from 84.2% to 90.7% (p<0.0001). Monthly mean dispatch interval curves closely mirrored the maternal mortality curve. Conclusion. Effective and prompt inter-facility transport of patients with pregnancy complications to an appropriate facility resulted in a reduction of maternal mortality. Health authorities should prioritise funding for inter-facility vehicles for maternity services to ensure prompt access of pregnant women to centres with skills available to manage obstetric emergencies. | None | article; correlation analysis; delivery; descriptive research; emergency health service; female; human; live birth; maternal care; maternal mortality; patient transport; perinatal mortality; public health service; rescue personnel; retrospective study; Female; Humans; Maternal Mortality; Patient Transfer; Pregnancy; Retrospective Studies; South Africa; Time Factors; Transportation of Patients | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84873244465 | Diagnosing Xpert MTB/RIF-negative TB: Impact and cost of alternative algorithms for South Africa | Schnippel K., Meyer-Rath G., Long L., Stevens W.S., Sanne I., Rosen S. | 2013 | South African Medical Journal | 103 | 2 | 10.7196/SAMJ.6182 | Health Economics and Epidemiology Research Office, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Center for Global Health and Development, Boston University, Boston, United States; Department of Molecular Medicine and Haematology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg, South Africa | Schnippel, K., Health Economics and Epidemiology Research Office, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Meyer-Rath, G., Health Economics and Epidemiology Research Office, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, Center for Global Health and Development, Boston University, Boston, United States; Long, L., Health Economics and Epidemiology Research Office, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Stevens, W.S., Department of Molecular Medicine and Haematology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg, South Africa; Sanne, I., Health Economics and Epidemiology Research Office, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, Center for Global Health and Development, Boston University, Boston, United States; Rosen, S., Health Economics and Epidemiology Research Office, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, Center for Global Health and Development, Boston University, Boston, United States | Background. Use of Xpert MTB/RIF is being scaled up throughout South Africa for improved diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB). A large proportion of HIV-infected patients with possible TB are Xpert-negative on their initial test, and the existing diagnostic algorithm calls for these patients to have sputum culture (Xpert followed by culture (X/C)). We modelled the costs and impact of an alternative diagnostic algorithm in which these cultures are replaced with a second Xpert test (Xpert followed by Xpert (X/X)). Methods. An existing population-level decision model was used. Costs were estimated from Xpert implementation studies and public sector price and salary data. The number of patients requiring diagnosis was estimated from the literature, as were rates of TB treatment uptake and loss to follow-up. TB and HIV positivity rates were estimated from the national TB register and laboratory databases. Results. At national programme scale in 2014, X/X (R969 million/year) is less expensive than X/C R1 095 million/year), potentially saving R126 million/year (USDoller17.4 million). However, because Xpert is less sensitive than culture, X/X diagnoses 2% fewer TB cases. This is partly offset by higher expected treatment uptake with X/X due to the faster availability of results, resulting in 1% more patients initiating treatment under X/X than X/C. The cost per TB patient initiated on treatment under X/X is R2 682, which is 12% less than under X/C (R3 046). Conclusions. Modifying the diagnostic algorithm from X/C to X/X could provide rapid results, simplify diagnostic processes, improve HIV/TB treatment outcomes, and generate cost savings. | None | isoniazid; rifampicin; acid fast bacterium; algorithm; article; bacterium culture; cost; diagnostic test; Human immunodeficiency virus; multidrug resistant tuberculosis; organization and management; salary; sensitivity analysis; South Africa; thorax radiography; tuberculosis; Xpert test; Algorithms; Cost of Illness; HIV Infections; Humans; Incidence; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; Prevalence; Prospective Studies; South Africa; Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-58149469926 | Costs and performance of early hearing detection programmes in Lagos, Nigeria | Olusanya B.O., Emokpae A., Renner J.K., Wirz S.L. | 2009 | Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene | 103 | 2 | 10.1016/j.trstmh.2008.07.001 | Institute of Child Health and Primary Care, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria; Institute of Child Health, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust, University College London, 30 Guilford Street, London, WC1N 1EH, United K | Olusanya, B.O., Institute of Child Health and Primary Care, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria, Institute of Child Health, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust, University College London, 30 Guilford Street, London, WC1N 1EH, United Kingdom; Emokpae, A., Massey Street Children's Hospital, Lagos, Nigeria; Renner, J.K., Department of Pediatrics, Lagos University Teaching Hospital, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Surulere, Lagos, Nigeria; Wirz, S.L., Institute of Child Health, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust, University College London, 30 Guilford Street, London, WC1N 1EH, United Kingdom | In line with global progress towards early detection of permanent congenital and early-onset hearing loss (PCEHL), the costs and performance of hospital-based and community-based infant hearing screening models were evaluated in Lagos, Nigeria. The protocol consisted of two-stage screening with transient-evoked otoacoustic emissions and automated auditory brainstem response followed by diagnostic evaluation for all infants referred after the second-stage screening. The main outcome measures were referral rates at screening, cost per baby screened, cost per case detected and yield for PCEHL. First-stage referrals were 32.2% for universal and 31.7% for targeted screening in the hospital, compared with 14.3% and 15.2%, respectively for the community-based programme. Second-stage referrals ranged from 3.3% under hospital-based universal screening to 4.9% under community-based targeted screening. The highest yields of 27.4 and 22.5 per 1000 were recorded under community-based targeted and universal screening, respectively. Screening cost per child was lowest (US$7.62) under community-based universal screening and highest (US$73.24) under hospital-based targeted screening. Similarly, cost per child detected with PCEHL was lowest (US$602.49) for community-based universal screening and highest (US$4631.33) for hospital-based targeted screening. Community-based universal screening of infants during routine immunisation clinics appears to be the most cost-effective model for early detection of PCEHL in low-income countries. © 2008 Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. | Cost-effectiveness; Early diagnosis; Hearing loss; Immunisation; Neonatal screening; Screening tests | article; community care; congenital deafness; cost effectiveness analysis; diagnostic procedure; early diagnosis; evoked brain stem auditory response; evoked otoacoustic emission; health care cost; health program; human; infant; lowest income group; major clinical study; Nigeria; patient referral; screening; Early Diagnosis; Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem; Female; Hearing Loss; Hearing Tests; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Male; Neonatal Screening; Nigeria | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-34547961289 | Evaluation of early to medium maturing open pollinated maize varieties in SADC region using GGE biplot based on the SREG model | Setimela P.S., Vivek B., Bänziger M., Crossa J., Maideni F. | 2007 | Field Crops Research | 103 | 3 | 10.1016/j.fcr.2007.05.010 | International Maize Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT), P.O. Box MP 163 Harare, Zimbabwe; CIMMYT, Apdo Postal 6-641, 06600 Mexico, D.F., Mexico; Chitedze Research Station, P.O. Box 15, Lilongwe, Malawi | Setimela, P.S., International Maize Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT), P.O. Box MP 163 Harare, Zimbabwe; Vivek, B., International Maize Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT), P.O. Box MP 163 Harare, Zimbabwe; Bänziger, M., International Maize Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT), P.O. Box MP 163 Harare, Zimbabwe; Crossa, J., CIMMYT, Apdo Postal 6-641, 06600 Mexico, D.F., Mexico; Maideni, F., Chitedze Research Station, P.O. Box 15, Lilongwe, Malawi | Analysis of multi-environment trials (METs) of genotypes (G) and genotype × environment (GE) interactions for yield performance across environments, and selection of the best genotypes is an important routine in maize breeding programs. Analysis and interpretation of METs data have been limited to analysis of variance and mean comparison among genotypes. This type of analysis has not been effective in exploiting GE interactions encountered in METs data sets. The objectives of this study were to exploit METs data sets from maize regional trails using G plus GE interaction (GGE) biplot based on the site regression (SREG) model. The GGE biplots displays graphically the relationship among test environments, genotypes and GE interactions. Grain yield data of 35 early to medium maturing open pollinated maize varieties (OPVs) from five seasons (1999-2003) across 59 locations in Southern African Development Community (SADC) were analyzed. The GGE biplots based on the SREG model indicated that yield performance of maize OPVs were under major environments and of GE interactions. The construction of GGE biplots based on SREG model analysis showed the ideal test environments that discriminate well performing maize OPVs from poor ones, the performance of each OPV in specific year, the discrimativiness versus representativeness view of the GGE biplot of the test locations across the years, the relation among OPVs relative to grain yield, the stability of OPVs across environments and which OPVs is best for what. © 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. | Genotype × environment; GGE biplots; Multi-environment trials; Site regression; Zea mays L. | Data reduction; Environmental impact; Genes; Grain (agricultural product); Regression analysis; Open pollinated maize varieties (OPV); Site regression; Crops; crop yield; data set; genotype; maize; pollination; Southern African Development Community; Zea mays | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84893381062 | Monitoring environmental change and degradation in the irrigated oases of the Northern Sahara | King C., Thomas D.S.G. | 2014 | Journal of Arid Environments | 103 | None | 10.1016/j.jaridenv.2013.12.009 | Oxford University Centre for the Environment, United Kingdom; University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa; University of Cape Town, South Africa; School of Geography and Environment, Oxford University Centre for the Environment, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QY, United Kingdom | King, C., Oxford University Centre for the Environment, United Kingdom; Thomas, D.S.G., University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa, University of Cape Town, South Africa, School of Geography and Environment, Oxford University Centre for the Environment, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QY, United Kingdom | Salinization caused by irrigation mismanagement is a major cause of desertification. Monitoring of land degradation caused by salinization and other processes has been subject to international scientific debates leading to the commitment by global decision-makers to address these threats collectively through the UNCCD. This paper discusses the experience of monitoring land and water degradation in the salinity-prone irrigated arid environments of the Northern Sahara in light of current international scientific developments affecting both conceptual and methodological approaches.The paper integrates a range of simple and accessible methods to achieve a multidisciplinary analysis including remote sensing, use of national research archives, interviews with decision-makers and direct surveys of cultivators. Revised assessments of the extent and ecological processes of salinization emerge from the analysis. As irrigated areas expand globally, the new conceptual and methodological techniques in dryland development science have the potential to enable scientists in affected areas to contribute to global efforts to monitor degradation effects caused by desiccation, salinity and human responses. © 2014. | Desertification; Dryland development science; Oases; Salinization | decision making; desertification; environmental monitoring; irrigation system; land degradation; nature-society relations; oasis; remote sensing; salinity; salinization; Sahara | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84865212509 | Error performance of concatenated superorthogonal space-time-frequency trellis coded mimo-ofdm system | Oluwafemi I.B., Mneney S.H. | 2012 | SAIEE Africa Research Journal | 103 | 3 | None | School of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa | Oluwafemi, I.B., School of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; Mneney, S.H., School of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa | In this paper, we investigate the performance of serially concatenated convolutional code with super-orthogonal space-time trellis code (SOSTTC) in orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) over frequency selective fading channels. We consider both recursive systematic convolutional code (RSC) and non-recursive convolutional code (NRC) as the outer code, and 16-state QPSK SOSTTC as the inner code. Employing these, two concatenated schemes consisting of single convolutional outer code and two serially concatenated convolutional outer codes are proposed. We evaluate the performance of the concatenated schemes by means of computer simulations with maximum a posteriori (MAP) algorithm based iterative decoding. Simulation results indicate that the performance of the proposed concatenated schemes improved significantly when compared with schemes without concatenation under the same channel condition. Copyright © 2005 SAIEE. | Coding gain; Convolutional code; Frequency selective fading channels; Iterative decoding; Orthogonal frequency division multiplexing; Super-orthogonal space-time trellis code | Channel conditions; Coding gains; Error performance; Maximum a posteriori algorithm; MIMO-OFDM systems; Recursive systematic convolutional code; Serially concatenated convolutional codes; Super-Orthogonal; Super-orthogonal space-time trellis code; Computer simulation; Convolution; Convolutional codes; Frequency selective fading; Iterative decoding; MIMO systems; Orthogonal frequency division multiplexing; Telecommunication systems; Trellis codes; Concatenated codes | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-46749158635 | Evaluation of leaf extracts of Vitex negundo L. (Family: Verbenaceae) against larvae of Culex tritaeniorhynchus and repellent activity on adult vector mosquitoes | Karunamoorthi K., Ramanujam S., Rathinasamy R. | 2008 | Parasitology Research | 103 | 3 | 10.1007/s00436-008-1005-5 | School of Environmental Health Science, Faculty of Public Health, Jimma University, P.O. Box No. 378, Jimma, Ethiopia; Department of Zoology, Annamalai University, Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu, India; Center for Research in Medical Entomology (ICMR), Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India | Karunamoorthi, K., School of Environmental Health Science, Faculty of Public Health, Jimma University, P.O. Box No. 378, Jimma, Ethiopia; Ramanujam, S., Department of Zoology, Annamalai University, Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu, India; Rathinasamy, R., Center for Research in Medical Entomology (ICMR), Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India | Petroleum ether (60-80°C) extracts of the leaves of Vitex negundo (Verbenaceae) were evaluated for larvicidal activity against larval stages of Culex tritaeniorhynchus in the laboratory. Larvae of C. tritaeniorhynchus were found more susceptible, with LC50 and LC90 values of 2.4883 and 5.1883 mg/l, respectively. Human volunteers wearing special terricot (68:32) fabrics, in the form of armbands, anklets, headbands, collar, and shoulder and pocket strips impregnated with V. negundo leaf extract were used, to test their repellent efficacy at two concentrations viz., 1.5 and 2.0 mg/cm2 under the field conditions. At 1.5-mg/cm2 concentration, more efficacies were found and 6-h complete protection against mosquito bites was provided. Complete protections for 8 h were found at 2.0 mg/cm2 against mosquitoes bites. These results clearly reveal that the V. negundo leaf extract served as a potential larvicidal agent against Japanese encephalitis vector C. tritaeniorhynchus and additionally acted as a promising repellent against various adult vector mosquitoes. © 2008 Springer-Verlag. | None | biomaterial; insecticide; larvicidal agent; Vitex negundo extract; article; concentration response; controlled study; Culex; culex tritaeniorhyncus; disease carrier; drug efficacy; epidemic encephalitis; insecticidal activity; larval stage; LC 50; mosquito; nonhuman; parasite vector; plant leaf; priority journal; Verbenaceae; Vitex; Animals; Culex; Inhibitory Concentration 50; Insect Repellents; Insecticides; Larva; Plant Extracts; Plant Leaves; Survival Analysis; Vitex; Culex tritaeniorhynchus; Japanese encephalitis virus; Verbenaceae; Vitex negundo | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-46749150922 | Laboratory evaluation of traditional insect/mosquito repellent plants against Anopheles arabiensis, the predominant malaria vector in Ethiopia | Karunamoorthi K., Mulelam A., Wassie F. | 2008 | Parasitology Research | 103 | 3 | 10.1007/s00436-008-1001-9 | School of Environmental Health Science, Public Health Faculty, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia | Karunamoorthi, K., School of Environmental Health Science, Public Health Faculty, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia; Mulelam, A., School of Environmental Health Science, Public Health Faculty, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia; Wassie, F., School of Environmental Health Science, Public Health Faculty, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia | Laboratory study was carried out to evaluate the repellent efficiency of most commonly known four traditional insect/mosquito repellent plants Wogert [vernacular name (local native language, Amharic); Silene macroserene], Kebercho [vernacular name (local native language, Amharic); Echinops sp.], Tinjut [vernacular name (local native language, Amharic); Ostostegia integrifolia], and Woira[vernacular name (local native language, Amharic); Olea europaea] against Anopheles arabiensis under the laboratory conditions. One hundred (4-5 days old) female A. arabiensis were introduced into the both 'control' and 'test' repellent chamber through the hole on top. Traditional charcoal stoves were used for direct burning. The experiment was conducted by applying the smoke into the repellent "test" mosquito cage by direct burning of 25 gm of dried plant materials (leaves and roots) until plant materials completely burned. The number of mosquitoes driving away from the "test" and "control" cage was recorded for every 5 min. In the present investigation, the results clearly revealed that the roots of S. macroserene has potent repellent efficiency (93.61%) and was the most effective. The leaves of Echinops sp. (92.47%), leaves of O. integrifolia (90.10%) and O. europaea (79.78%) were also effective. Roots of S. macroserene exhibited the highest repellent efficiency by direct burning. The present study identified these four traditional indigenous insect/mosquito repellent plant materials are very promising and can be used as safer alternative to modern synthetic chemical repellents against mosquito vectors of disease. Since people have been using these plants for some medicinal purposes, no side effects have been found. © 2008 Springer-Verlag. | None | charcoal; insect repellent; Anopheles; anopheles arabiensis; article; Asteraceae; burn; disease carrier; Ethiopia; higher plant; laboratory test; malaria; ostostegia europaea; ostostegia integrifolia; plant leaf; plant root; priority journal; silene macroserene; smoke; Animals; Anopheles; Disease Vectors; Ethiopia; Female; Insect Repellents; Olea; Plant Leaves; Plant Roots; Silene; Smoke; Anopheles arabiensis; Echinops (plant); Olea europaea; Silene | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-65549104467 | Evaluation of three years of the SAFE strategy (Surgery, Antibiotics, Facial cleanliness and Environmental improvement) for trachoma control in five districts of Ethiopia hyperendemic for trachoma | Ngondi J., Gebre T., Shargie E.B., Adamu L., Ejigsemahu Y., Teferi T., Zerihun M., Ayele B., Cevallos V., King J., Emerson P.M. | 2009 | Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene | 103 | 10 | 10.1016/j.trstmh.2008.11.023 | The Carter Center, 1 Copenhill Avenue, Atlanta, GA, United States; Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Institute of Public Health, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom; The Carter Center, P.O. Box 13373, Woreda 17, Kebele 19, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Ministry of Health, Prevention of Blindness Team, P.O. Box 1234, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; The F.I. Proctor Foundation, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States | Ngondi, J., The Carter Center, 1 Copenhill Avenue, Atlanta, GA, United States, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Institute of Public Health, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom; Gebre, T., The Carter Center, P.O. Box 13373, Woreda 17, Kebele 19, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Shargie, E.B., The Carter Center, P.O. Box 13373, Woreda 17, Kebele 19, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Adamu, L., Ministry of Health, Prevention of Blindness Team, P.O. Box 1234, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Ejigsemahu, Y., The Carter Center, P.O. Box 13373, Woreda 17, Kebele 19, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Teferi, T., The Carter Center, P.O. Box 13373, Woreda 17, Kebele 19, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Zerihun, M., The Carter Center, P.O. Box 13373, Woreda 17, Kebele 19, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Ayele, B., The Carter Center, P.O. Box 13373, Woreda 17, Kebele 19, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Cevallos, V., The F.I. Proctor Foundation, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States; King, J., The Carter Center, 1 Copenhill Avenue, Atlanta, GA, United States; Emerson, P.M., The Carter Center, 1 Copenhill Avenue, Atlanta, GA, United States | Trachoma surveys were conducted at baseline in five districts of Amhara National Regional State, Ethiopia (7478 participants in 1096 households) and at 3-year evaluation (5762 participants in 1117 households). Uptake of SAFE was assessed with programme monitoring data and interviews, and children (1-6 years) were swabbed for detection of ocular Chlamydia. At evaluation, 23 933 people had received trichiasis surgery; 93% of participants reported taking azithromycin at least once; 67% of household respondents (range 46-93) reported participation in trachoma health education; and household latrine coverage increased from 2% to 34%. In children aged 1-9 years percentage decline, by district, for outcomes was: 32% (95% CI 19-48) to 88% (95% CI 83-91) for trachomatous inflammation-follicular (TF); 87% (95% CI 83-91) to 99% (95% CI 97-100) for trachomatous inflammation-intense (TI); and 31% increase (95% CI -42 to -19) to 89% decrease (95% CI 85-93) for unclean face; and in adults percentage decline in trichiasis was 45% (95% CI -13 to 78) to 92% (95% CI 78-96). Overall prevalence of swabs positive for ocular Chlamydia was 3.1%. Although there were substantial reductions in outcomes in children and adults, the presence of ocular Chlamydia and TF in children suggests ongoing transmission. Continued implementation of SAFE is warranted. © 2008 Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. | Chlamydia; Ethiopia; Evaluation; Prevention and control; SAFE strategy; Trachoma | azithromycin; antiinfective agent; article; bacterium culture; Chlamydia trachomatis; endemic disease; environmental sanitation; Ethiopia; eye surgery; health care delivery; health education; health program; health survey; human; infection control; interview; outcome assessment; personal hygiene; prevalence; sanitation; trachoma; treatment outcome; adolescent; adult; aged; child; Chlamydia trachomatis; cluster analysis; education; environment; evaluation study; hygiene; infant; middle aged; pathology; preschool child; standards; trachoma; very elderly; young adult; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Child; Child, Preschool; Chlamydia trachomatis; Cluster Analysis; Environment; Ethiopia; Health Education; Humans; Hygiene; Infant; Middle Aged; Trachoma; Young Adult; Chlamydia; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Child; Child, Preschool; Chlamydia trachomatis; Cluster Analysis; Environment; Ethiopia; Health Education; Humans; Hygiene; Infant; Middle Aged; Trachoma; Young Adult | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-67349094587 | Evaluation of directly observed therapy for tuberculosis in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | Ntshanga S.P., Rustomjee R., Mabaso M.L.H. | 2009 | Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene | 103 | 6 | 10.1016/j.trstmh.2009.03.021 | Unit for Clinical and Biomedical TB Research, South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC), 491 Ridge Road, Overport, 4067, South Africa; Malaria Research Programme, South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC), P.O. Box 70380, Overport, 4067, South Africa | Ntshanga, S.P., Unit for Clinical and Biomedical TB Research, South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC), 491 Ridge Road, Overport, 4067, South Africa; Rustomjee, R., Unit for Clinical and Biomedical TB Research, South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC), 491 Ridge Road, Overport, 4067, South Africa; Mabaso, M.L.H., Malaria Research Programme, South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC), P.O. Box 70380, Overport, 4067, South Africa | Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), South Africa. Directly observed therapy (DOT) is a key element of the WHO's Directly Observed Treatment, Short Course (DOTS) strategy to control TB. Since the inception of DOTS in South Africa in 1996, its impact has never been assessed. We evaluated the DOT programme in the priority facilities of the four TB crises districts (EThekwini, UMgungundlovu, UMzinyathi and UThungulu) in the province of KwaZulu-Natal. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to interview TB nurses and community DOT supporters. The primary outcome used was cure rate. On average, priority facilities in districts that have high DOT coverage had better cure rates compared with those that have low DOT coverage (β = 0.818, 95% CI 0.023-1.614; P = 0.045). The fewer the number of patients allocated to a DOT supporter the higher the cure rates (β = -1.984; 95% CI -3.88 to 0.086; P = 0.041). There was no difference in cure rates between facilities with tangible reporting and recording methods and those with none. These findings suggest that cure rates can be improved if DOT is implemented appropriately. © 2009 Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. | Compliance; Directly observed therapy; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; South Africa; Treatment outcome; Tuberculosis | article; controlled study; directly observed therapy; health care facility; health program; nurse; South Africa; tuberculosis; tuberculosis control; AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections; Antitubercular Agents; Directly Observed Therapy; Female; HIV-1; Humans; Male; Program Evaluation; South Africa; Tuberculosis; Mycobacterium tuberculosis | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84896391005 | In vivo and ex vivo evaluation of a multi-particulate composite construct for sustained transbuccal delivery of carbamazepine | Adeleke O.A., Choonara Y.E., Du Toit L.C., Pillay V. | 2014 | Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences | 103 | 4 | 10.1002/jps.23884 | University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 7 York Road, Parktown 2193, Johannesburg, South Africa | Adeleke, O.A., University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 7 York Road, Parktown 2193, Johannesburg, South Africa; Choonara, Y.E., University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 7 York Road, Parktown 2193, Johannesburg, South Africa; Du Toit, L.C., University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 7 York Road, Parktown 2193, Johannesburg, South Africa; Pillay, V., University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 7 York Road, Parktown 2193, Johannesburg, South Africa | Carbamazepine (CBZ) is a leading molecule in the management of epilepsy. Surveys have revealed that a sufficient lack of therapeutically efficient CBZ transbuccal formulation exists. Therefore, this investigation was directed toward designing multiparticulate composite construct (MCC) for the transbuccal delivery of CBZ. The MCC was formulated using interphase, coparticulate- cosolvent homogenization technique, and lyophilization. In vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo investigations were performed. The mesoporous (pore width = 80.1233 Å) MCC was mechanically stable (Cyrillic capital letter Ukrainian ie D = 0.0290 J, MF = 8.5490 N/mm) and resilient (M R = 5.5040%). It demonstrated distinctive controlled release (9.9800%/h), permeation enhancing (10.8730%/h), drug loading (90.0541%), and bioadhesive (ωadh = 0.0034 J, Fdet = 1.0751 N) capacities. In vivo studies on pigs showed the ability of the MCC to effectively initiate and regulate transbuccal permeation of CBZ as visualized by outcomes of the quantitative and qualitative assessments of isolated plasma samples. Furthermore, comparisons of in vitro and in vivo data of MCC with a conventional product highlighted its capability to attain higher bioavailability and more controlled release trends. Histological and cytological investigations confirmed that the MCC is biocompatible. The mathematical model produced relevant pharmacokinetics and in vitro/in vivo correlation information. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association. | carbamazepine; controlled release; in vitro/in vivo correlation; mathematical model; permeation enhancer; polymeric drug delivery system; porous-structured; preclinical; preformulation; transbuccal | carbamazepine; placebo; adhesion; animal experiment; article; biocompatibility; cheek mucosa; composite material; controlled release formulation; controlled study; cytology; cytotoxicity assay; drug bioavailability; drug blood level; drug penetration; drug screening; drug solubility; drug stability; ex vivo study; experimental pig; female; freeze drying; histology; in vivo study; morphometrics; multiparticulate composite construct; nonhuman; particle size; physical parameters; qualitative analysis; surface property; sustained release preparation; weight; Administration, Buccal; Animals; Anticonvulsants; Biological Availability; Carbamazepine; Delayed-Action Preparations; Models, Biological; Mouth Mucosa; Porosity; Swine | National Research Foundation |
| WoS | WOS:000273194900009 | Health professionals' attitudes and misconceptions regarding podoconiosis: potential impact on integration of care in southern Ethiopia | Davey, Gail,Deribe, Kebede,Yakob, Bereket | 2010 | TRANSACTIONS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF TROPICAL MEDICINE AND HYGIENE | 104 | 1 | 10.1016/j.trstmh.2009.07.021 | Addis Ababa University, Fayyaa Integrated Dev Assoc | "Davey, Gail: Addis Ababa University","Yakob, Bereket: Addis Ababa University", | Offering long-term community care for patients with podoconiosis (endemic non-filarial elephantiasis) is challenging, and requires co-operation between patients and their families, the community and health care professionals. Health professionals who harbour misconceptions about podoconiosis or stigmatize patients are likely to deliver substandard services and propagate such attitudes within the community. In January 2007, we used a structured self-administered questionnaire to assess knowledge of and attitudes towards podoconiosis among 275 health professionals in public and private health institutions in southern Ethiopia. Nearly all (97.8%) health professionals held at least one significant misconception about the cause of podoconiosis, and 97.1% responded incorrectly to one or more questions about signs and symptoms of podoconiosis. Around half (53.9%) incorrectly considered podoconiosis to be an infectious disease and were afraid of acquiring podoconiosis while providing care. All (100%) held one or more stigmatizing attitudes towards people with podoconiosis. These high levels of misconceptions and stigmatizing attitudes suggest negative effects of health professionals, seriously undermining integration between themselves, patients and community partners. We recommend pre- and in-service training of health professionals to overcome these misconceptions, to diminish stigma and to improve integration among those offering community care of patients with podoconiosis. (c) 2009 Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. | ATTITUDE,"chronic care model",elephantiasis,ETHIOPIA,PODOCONIOSIS,STIGMA,ASSOCIATION,DISEASE,"ENDEMIC ELEPHANTIASIS","NON-FILARIAL ELEPHANTIASIS" | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-38349191053 | Comparative evaluation of the microbial community in biological processes treating industrial and domestic wastewaters | Degenaar A.P., Ismail A., Bux F. | 2008 | Journal of Applied Microbiology | 104 | 2 | 10.1111/j.1365-2672.2007.03563.x | Centre for Water and Wastewater Technology, Department of Biotechnology, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa; Centre for Water and Wastewater Technology, Department of Biotechnology, Durban University of Technology, PO Box 1334, Durban 4000, South Africa | Degenaar, A.P., Centre for Water and Wastewater Technology, Department of Biotechnology, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa; Ismail, A., Centre for Water and Wastewater Technology, Department of Biotechnology, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa; Bux, F., Centre for Water and Wastewater Technology, Department of Biotechnology, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, Centre for Water and Wastewater Technology, Department of Biotechnology, Durban University of Technology, PO Box 1334, Durban 4000, South Africa | Aims: Comparison of the microbial composition and process performance between laboratory scale processes treating domestic and vegetable oil wastewaters. Methods and Results: Two laboratory scale modified Ludzack-Ettinger processes were operated under similar operating conditions. One process was fed domestic wastewater and the other an industrial wastewater, vegetable oil effluent. Nitrogen removal capacities of the processes were similar. The industrial process exhibited a lower COD removal capacity and oxygen utilization rate, although a greater mixed liquor volatile suspended solids concentration was observed in the industrial process. Fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) with probes EUBmix, ALF1b, BET42a, GAM42a and HGC69a revealed that 81% and 72% of total cells stained with 4′, 6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) within the domestic and industrial processes respectively bound to EUBmix. This indicated a slightly lower Eubacterial population within the industrial process. The alpha-proteobacteria was the dominant community in the industrial process (31% of EUBmix), while the beta-proteobacteria dominated the domestic process (33% of EUBmix). Conclusions: The findings served to establish a difference in the microbial population between the processes. Therefore, the class alpha-proteobacteria could play a primary role in the degradation of vegetable oil effluent. Significance and Impact of the Study: This research will aid in process design and retrofitting of biological processes treating vegetable oil effluent. © 2007 The Authors. | Alpha-proteobacteria; Beta-proteobacteria; FISH; Vegetable oil effluent treatment | 4',6 diamidino 2 phenylindole; nitrogen; vegetable oil; biodegradation; chemical oxygen demand; comparative study; domestic waste; hybridization; industrial waste; microbial community; vegetable oil; waste treatment; wastewater; Alphaproteobacteria; article; Betaproteobacteria; bioprocess; chemical oxygen demand; comparative study; domestic waste; effluent; fluorescence in situ hybridization; immunocytochemistry; industrial waste; liquid; microbial community; microbial population dynamics; nonhuman; oxygen consumption; waste water management; Alphaproteobacteria; Bacterial Typing Techniques; Betaproteobacteria; Humans; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; Industrial Waste; Plant Oils; Proteobacteria; Sewage; Waste Disposal, Fluid; Alphaproteobacteria; Bacteria (microorganisms); Betaproteobacteria | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-34247483435 | Evaluation of antioxidant activity and the fatty acid profile of the leaves of Vernonia amygdalina growing in South Africa | Erasto P., Grierson D.S., Afolayan A.J. | 2007 | Food Chemistry | 104 | 2 | 10.1016/j.foodchem.2006.12.013 | Department of Botany, University of Fort Hare, P/Bag X1314, Alice, 5700, South Africa | Erasto, P., Department of Botany, University of Fort Hare, P/Bag X1314, Alice, 5700, South Africa; Grierson, D.S., Department of Botany, University of Fort Hare, P/Bag X1314, Alice, 5700, South Africa; Afolayan, A.J., Department of Botany, University of Fort Hare, P/Bag X1314, Alice, 5700, South Africa | The leaves of Vernonia amygdalina were examined for antioxidant activity and analysed for their fatty acids content. Using transesterification and GC-MS analysis, 12 fatty acids were identified, which accounted for 74.1% of the lipid content. Two essential fatty acids (EFA), linoleic and α-linolenic acid were found in abundance in the oil. Using DPPH and a ABTS radical scavenging experiments, acetone, methanol and water extracts were screened for their antioxidant activity. The methanol extract exhibited high activity, by scavenging 75-99.3% of the DPPH radicals and 96.2-100% of the ABTS{radical dot}+radicals. These values are higher than those of butylated hydroxytoluene and were less than or equal to those of catechin. The water extract was the least active; its activity ranged from 29% to 88% for DPPH radicals and 76.8-98.3% for ABTS{radical dot}+. The presence of EFA and the high antioxidant activity of the leaf extracts have validated the importance of V. amygdalina in the diet. © 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. | Antioxidant activity; Fatty acids; Free radical scavenging; Vernonia amygdalina | 1,1 diphenyl 2 picrylhydrazyl; 2,2' azinobis(3 ethylbenzothiazoline 6 sulfonic acid); acetone; antioxidant; butylcresol; catechin; fatty acid; linoleic acid; linolenic acid; methanol; oil; scavenger; sulfonic acid derivative; unclassified drug; Vernonia amydalina extract; water; antioxidant activity; article; diet; drug activity; gas chromatography; mass spectrometer; nonhuman; plant; screening; South Africa; transesterification; vernonia amygdalina; Vernonia amygdalina | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77955664975 | Synthesis and in vitro evaluation of gold(I) thiosemicarbazone complexes for antimalarial activity | Khanye S.D., Smith G.S., Lategan C., Smith P.J., Gut J., Rosenthal P.J., Chibale K. | 2010 | Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry | 104 | 10 | 10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2010.06.005 | Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa; Division of Pharmacology, University of Cape Town, Observatory 7925, South Africa; Department of Medicine, San Francisco General Hospital, University of California at San Francisco, CA 94143, United States; Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa | Khanye, S.D., Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa; Smith, G.S., Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa; Lategan, C., Division of Pharmacology, University of Cape Town, Observatory 7925, South Africa; Smith, P.J., Division of Pharmacology, University of Cape Town, Observatory 7925, South Africa; Gut, J., Department of Medicine, San Francisco General Hospital, University of California at San Francisco, CA 94143, United States; Rosenthal, P.J., Department of Medicine, San Francisco General Hospital, University of California at San Francisco, CA 94143, United States; Chibale, K., Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa | The reaction of thiosemicarbazones (TSCs) with [AuI(THT)Cl], THT=tetrahydrothiophene, has been investigated. The resulting gold(I) complexes have been characterized by a range of spectroscopic techniques: NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, microanalysis and infrared spectroscopy. The in vitro antimalarial data for gold(I) TSC complexes suggests that coordination of gold(I) to TSCs enhanced their efficacy against the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum and their inhibition of the parasite cysteine protease falcipain-2. © 2010 Elsevier Inc. | Falcipain-2; Gold(I) complexes; P. falciparum; Thiosemicarbazones | chloroquine; n [n (3 carboxyoxirane 2 carbonyl)leucyl]agmatine; tetrahydrothiophene derivative; antimalarial activity; article; in vitro study; infrared spectroscopy; mass spectrometry; microanalysis; nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy; synthesis; Antimalarials; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Gold; Inhibitory Concentration 50; Models, Chemical; Molecular Structure; Organometallic Compounds; Plasmodium falciparum; Protease Inhibitors; Thiosemicarbazones; Plasmodium falciparum | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-34250658504 | Synchronous cycles of domestic dog rabies in sub-Saharan Africa and the impact of control efforts | Hampson K., Dushoff J., Bingham J., Brückner G., Ali Y.H., Dobson A. | 2007 | Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America | 104 | 18 | 10.1073/pnas.0609122104 | Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, United States; Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, United States; Australian Animal Health Laboratory, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Geelong, Vic. 3220, Australia; Department of Agriculture, Chief Directorate Veterinary Services, Private Bag X1, Elsenburg 7607, South Africa; Virology Department, Central Veterinary Research Laboratory, P.O. Box 8067, Khartoum, Sudan | Hampson, K., Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, United States; Dushoff, J., Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, United States, Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, United States; Bingham, J., Australian Animal Health Laboratory, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Geelong, Vic. 3220, Australia; Brückner, G., Department of Agriculture, Chief Directorate Veterinary Services, Private Bag X1, Elsenburg 7607, South Africa; Ali, Y.H., Virology Department, Central Veterinary Research Laboratory, P.O. Box 8067, Khartoum, Sudan; Dobson, A., Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, United States | Rabies is a fatal neurological pathogen that is a persistent problem throughout the developing world where it is spread primarily by domestic dogs. Although the disease has been extensively studied in wildlife populations in Europe and North America, the dynamics of rabies in domestic dog populations has been almost entirely neglected. Here, we demonstrate that rabies epidemics in southern and eastern Africa cycle with a period of 3-6 years and show significant synchrony across the region. The observed period is shorter than predictions based on epidemiological parameters for rabies in domestic dogs. We find evidence that rabies prevention measures, including vaccination, are affected by disease prevalence and show that a simple model with intervention responses can capture observed disease periodicity and host dynamics. We suggest that movement of infectious or latent animals combined with coordinated control responses may be important in coupling populations and generating synchrony at the continental scale. These findings have important implications for rabies prediction and control: large-scale synchrony and the importance of intervention responses suggest that control of canine rabies in Africa will require sustained efforts coordinated across political boundaries. © 2007 by The National Academy of Sciences of the USA. | Disease dynamics; Epidemics; Infectious disease; Mathematical model; Vaccination | Africa; article; disease transmission; dog; domestic animal; epidemic; geographic distribution; infection control; mathematical model; nonhuman; priority journal; rabies; vaccination; virus infection; Africa south of the Sahara; animal; animal disease; biological model; dog; dog disease; immunology; incidence; pathology; population density; time; Animalia; Canis familiaris; virus vaccine; Africa South of the Sahara; Animals; Animals, Domestic; Dog Diseases; Dogs; Incidence; Models, Biological; Population Density; Rabies; Time Factors; Viral Vaccines | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-52649115262 | Participatory assessment of the South African abalone resource and its impact on predicted population trajectories | Edwards C.T.T., Plagányi É.E. | 2008 | South African Journal of Science | 104 | 42496 | None | Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X3, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa | Edwards, C.T.T., Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X3, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa; Plagányi, É.E., Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X3, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa | Illegal harvesting is a cause for concern in many of the world's fisheries. Over the last decade, the abalone resource in South Africa has come under severe fishing pressure, largely because of increased and unmitigated levels of poaching. The unqualified illegal exploitation of this resource is a major impediment to management, because understanding of abalone population dynamics is affected. Incorrect assessments of population abundance could lead to inadequate attempts by management to stem the decline. Here, population trends along the west coast of South Africa are investigated. A simple discrete-time logistic model was used to estimate parameters within a maximum likelihood statistical framework by fitting to available catch rate data. To address the problem of unknown levels of illegal catch, interview data were collected on non-commercial catch trends and the model was structured to allow this catch to be estimated during the fitting process. The results show that such a participatory approach to stock assessment can lead to an improved understanding of resource dynamics, illustrating the benefit this approach may have for management. | None | abundance; assessment method; catch statistics; exploitation; fishery management; fishing; gastropod; harvesting; participatory approach; population dynamics; prediction; stock assessment; Africa; South Africa; Southern Africa; Sub-Saharan Africa; Haliotidae | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-35548978030 | Critique of early models of the demographic impact of HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa based on contemporary empirical data from Zimbabwe | Gregson S., Nyamukapa C., Lopman B., Mushati P., Garnett G.P., Chandiwana S.K., Anderson R.M. | 2007 | Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America | 104 | 37 | 10.1073/pnas.0611540104 | Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Imperial College London, London W2 1PG, United Kingdom; Biomedical Research and Training Institute, Harare, Zimbabwe; Faculty of Health Sciences Research and Postgraduate Studies, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa | Gregson, S., Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Imperial College London, London W2 1PG, United Kingdom, Biomedical Research and Training Institute, Harare, Zimbabwe; Nyamukapa, C., Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Imperial College London, London W2 1PG, United Kingdom, Biomedical Research and Training Institute, Harare, Zimbabwe; Lopman, B., Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Imperial College London, London W2 1PG, United Kingdom; Mushati, P., Biomedical Research and Training Institute, Harare, Zimbabwe; Garnett, G.P., Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Imperial College London, London W2 1PG, United Kingdom; Chandiwana, S.K., Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Imperial College London, London W2 1PG, United Kingdom, Faculty of Health Sciences Research and Postgraduate Studies, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa; Anderson, R.M., Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Imperial College London, London W2 1PG, United Kingdom | Early mathematical models varied in their predictions of the impact of HIV/AIDS on population growth from minimal impact to reductions in growth, in pessimistic scenarios, from positive to negative values over a period of 25 years. Models predicting negative rates of natural increase forecast little effect on the dependency ratio. Twenty years later, HIV prevalence in small towns, estates, and rural villages in eastern Zimbabwe, has peaked within the intermediate range predicted by the early models, but the demographic impact has been more acute than was predicted. Despite concurrent declines in fertility, fueled in part by HIV infections (total fertility is now 8% lower than expected without an epidemic), and a doubling of the crude death rate because of HIV/AIDS, the rate of natural population increase between 1998 and 2005 remained positive in each socioeconomic stratum. In the worst-affected areas (towns with HIV prevalence of 33%), HIV/AIDS reduced growth by two-thirds from 2.9% to 1.0%. The dependency ratio fell from 1.21 at the onset of the HIV epidemic to 0.78, the impact of HIV-associated adult mortality being outweighed by fertility decline. With the benefit of hindsight, the more pessimistic early models overestimated the demographic impact of HIV epidemics by over-extrapolating initial HIV growth rates or not allowing for heterogeneity in key parameters such as transmissibility and sexual risk behavior. Data collected since the late 1980s show that there was a mismatch between the observed growth in the HIV epidemic and assumptions made about viral transmission. © 2007 by The National Academy of Sciences of the USA. | Dependency ratio; Population growth | acquired immune deficiency syndrome; Africa south of the Sahara; article; demography; female; fertility; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; Human immunodeficiency virus prevalence; major clinical study; male; mathematical model; population growth; prediction; priority journal; risk assessment; rural area; sexual transmission; socioeconomics; virus transmission; Zimbabwe; Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Adolescent; Adult; Africa, Southern; Demography; Developing Countries; Female; HIV Infections; HIV Seropositivity; HIV Seroprevalence; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Models, Statistical; Population; Population Dynamics; Research; Research Design; Rural Population; Socioeconomic Factors; Urban Population; Zimbabwe | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84905274923 | Recommendations for the medical evaluation of children prior to adoption in South Africa | Haeri Mazanderani A., du Plessis N., Lumb J., Feucht U., Myburgh M., Mayaphi S., Lekalakala R., Swanepoel D.W., Georgakis H., Avenant T. | 2014 | South African Medical Journal | 104 | 8 | 10.7196/SAMJ.7958 | Department of Medical Virology, Tshwane Academic Division, National Health Laboratory Service, and University of Pretoria, South Africa; Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Pretoria and Kalafong Hospital, Pretoria, South Africa; Thusanani Children's Foundation, Gauteng, South Africa; Department of Paediatrics, Kalafong Hospital and University of Pretoria, South Africa; Department of Medical Virology, Tshwane Academic Division, National Health Laboratory Service and University of Pretoria, South Africa; Department of Medical Virology, Tshwane Academic Division, National Health Laboratory Service, and University of Pretoria, South Africa; Department of Medical Microbiology, Tshwane Academic Division, National Health Laboratory Service and University of Pretoria, South Africa; Department of Communication Pathology, University of Pretoria, South Africa; Department of Neurosurgery, Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, Johannesburg, South Africa; Department of Paediatrics at Kalafong Hospital, University of Pretoria, South Africa | Haeri Mazanderani, A., Department of Medical Virology, Tshwane Academic Division, National Health Laboratory Service, and University of Pretoria, South Africa; du Plessis, N., Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Pretoria and Kalafong Hospital, Pretoria, South Africa; Lumb, J., Thusanani Children's Foundation, Gauteng, South Africa; Feucht, U., Department of Paediatrics, Kalafong Hospital and University of Pretoria, South Africa; Myburgh, M., Department of Medical Virology, Tshwane Academic Division, National Health Laboratory Service and University of Pretoria, South Africa; Mayaphi, S., Department of Medical Virology, Tshwane Academic Division, National Health Laboratory Service, and University of Pretoria, South Africa; Lekalakala, R., Department of Medical Microbiology, Tshwane Academic Division, National Health Laboratory Service and University of Pretoria, South Africa; Swanepoel, D.W., Department of Communication Pathology, University of Pretoria, South Africa; Georgakis, H., Department of Neurosurgery, Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, Johannesburg, South Africa; Avenant, T., Department of Paediatrics at Kalafong Hospital, University of Pretoria, South Africa | The current legislative framework in South Africa (SA) supports adoption as the preferred form of care for children with inadequate or no parental or family support. There are an estimated 3.8 million orphans in SA, with approximately 1.5 - 2 million children considered adoptable. As a means of improving services, newly drafted adoption guidelines from the National Department of Social Development will in future require both non-profit and private sector adoption agencies to obtain a medical report on a child prior to placement. However, no local guidelines specify what an appropriate medical examination entails or how it should be reported. For the purposes of proposing and developing such guidelines, an open forum was convened at the Institute of Pathology, University of Pretoria, in March 2013. These 'Recommendations for the medical evaluation of children prior to adoption in South Africa' emanate from this meeting. | Abandoned children; Adoption; Medical evaluation | hepatitis B surface antibody; hepatitis B surface antigen; thyrotropin; adoption; article; birth certificate; child health care; child welfare; echography; enzyme linked immunosorbent assay; fluorescent treponema antibody test; human; Human immunodeficiency virus 1; Human T cell leukemia virus 1; infection; medical assessment; medical examination; medical history; metabolic disorder; occupational therapy assessment; practice guideline; psychologic assessment; screening test; South Africa; speech therapy; university; anamnesis; child; feasibility study; physical examination; South America; standards; Adoption; Child; Feasibility Studies; Guidelines as Topic; Humans; Medical History Taking; Physical Examination; South America | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84894824260 | The impact of chronic pseudomonal infection on pulmonary function testing in individuals with cystic fibrosis in Pretoria, South Africa | Pentz A., Becker P., Masekela R., Coetzee O., Green R.J. | 2014 | South African Medical Journal | 104 | 3 | 10.7196/SAMJ.7222 | Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Pretoria, South Africa | Pentz, A., Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Pretoria, South Africa; Becker, P., Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Pretoria, South Africa; Masekela, R., Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Pretoria, South Africa; Coetzee, O., Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Pretoria, South Africa; Green, R.J., Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Pretoria, South Africa | Background. Colonisation of the airway by Pseudomonas spp. in cystic fibrosis has been reported to be an important determinant of decline in pulmonary function. Objective. To assess pulmonary function decline and the presence of bacterial colonisation in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) attending a CF clinic in a developing country. Methods. A retrospective audit of patients attending the CF clinic at Steve Biko Academic Hospital, Pretoria, South Africa, was performed. The data included spirometric indices and organisms routinely cultured from airway secretions (Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) and Staphylococcus aureus (SA)). Results. There were 29 study subjects. Analysis of variance for ranks (after determining that baseline pulmonary function, age, gender and period of follow-up were not contributing to pulmonary function decline) revealed a median decline in forced expiratory volume in 1 second, forced vital capacity and forced expiratory flow over 25 - 75% expiration of 12%, 6% and 3%, respectively, for individuals colonised by PA. There was no pulmonary function decline in individuals not colonised by PA, or in individuals colonised by SA. Conclusion. Pulmonary function decline in this South African centre is significantly influenced by chronic pseudomonal infection. Other influences on this phenomenon should be explored. | Cystic fibrosis; Pseudomonal infection; Pulmonary function decline | adolescent; adult; article; bacterial colonization; child; cystic fibrosis; forced expiratory flow; forced expiratory volume; forced vital capacity; genetic screening; human; infant; lung function; major clinical study; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; retrospective study; spirometry; sputum analysis; Staphylococcus aureus; sweat test; Child; Chronic Disease; Cystic Fibrosis; Female; Humans; Lung; Male; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Pseudomonas Infections; Retrospective Studies; South Africa; Spirometry; Staphylococcal Infections | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84899407753 | Evaluation of the visual prostate symptom score in a male population with great language diversity and limited education: A study from Namibia | Heyns C.F., Steenkamp B.A., Chiswo J., Stellmacher G.A., Förtsch H.E.A., van Der Merwe A. | 2014 | South African Medical Journal | 104 | 5 | 10.7196/SAMJ.7917 | Department of Urology, Stellenbosch University and Tygerberg Hospital, Tygerberg, Cape Town, South Africa; Department of Urology, Windhoek Central Hospital, Namibia | Heyns, C.F., Department of Urology, Stellenbosch University and Tygerberg Hospital, Tygerberg, Cape Town, South Africa; Steenkamp, B.A., Department of Urology, Stellenbosch University and Tygerberg Hospital, Tygerberg, Cape Town, South Africa; Chiswo, J., Department of Urology, Stellenbosch University and Tygerberg Hospital, Tygerberg, Cape Town, South Africa; Stellmacher, G.A., Department of Urology, Windhoek Central Hospital, Namibia; Förtsch, H.E.A., Department of Urology, Windhoek Central Hospital, Namibia; van Der Merwe, A., Department of Urology, Stellenbosch University and Tygerberg Hospital, Tygerberg, Cape Town, South Africa | Background. A visual prostate symptom score (VPSS) using pictograms was developed to assess the force of the urinary stream, urinary frequency, nocturia and quality of life (QoL). Objective. To compare the VPSS with the international prostate symptom score (IPSS) and maximum (Qmax) and average (Qave) urinary flow rates in men from diverse language groups with limited schooling. Methods. Men with lower urinary tract symptoms admitted to the urology ward at Windhoek Central Hospital, Namibia, were evaluated. Patients who were unable to complete the questionnaires alone were assisted by a doctor or nurse. Local ethics committee approval was obtained. Statistical analysis was performed using Student's t-test and Spearman's rank correlation test. Results. One hundred men (mean age 56.3 years, range 20.1 - 95.4) were evaluated over a period of one year. All the men understood one or more of 15 languages, and 30 were illiterate; 32 had <5 years of schooling, 34 had 5 - 9 years and 34 had >9 years. The VPSS took significantly less time to complete than the IPSS. There were statistically significant correlations between the total VPSS and IPSS scores, between the four VPSS questions and the corresponding IPSS questions, and between Qmax and Qave and the VPSS total and VPSS questions on the force of the urinary stream and QoL. Conclusion. The VPSS pictograms depicting the force of the urinary stream and QoL correlated significantly with Qmax and Qave, indicating that they can be used as single-item questions to rapidly assess bladder outflow obstruction in men with limited education. | None | prostate specific antigen; adult; aged; article; bladder neck stenosis; bladder stone; controlled study; creatinine blood level; cystoscopy; education; ethnic group; follow up; human; International Prostate Symptom Score; language; lower urinary tract symptom; major clinical study; male; named inventories, questionnaires and rating scales; nocturia; postvoid residual urine volume; prostate cancer; prostate hypertrophy; prostatitis; quality of life; urethra stricture; urinary frequency; urine flow rate; visual prostate symptom score; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Educational Status; Humans; Internationality; Language; Male; Middle Aged; Namibia; Prostatic Diseases; Quality of Life; Symptom Assessment; Urination; Visual Analog Scale; Young Adult | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84858800410 | Prevalence of livestock diseases and their impact on livelihoods in Central Equatoria State, southern Sudan | Malak A.K., Mpoke L., Banak J., Muriuki S., Skilton R.A., Odongo D., Sunter J., Kiara H. | 2012 | Preventive Veterinary Medicine | 104 | 04-Mar | 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2011.12.001 | Directorate of Veterinary Services, Government of Southern Sudan, Sudan; Veterinaires Sans Frontieres Belgium, P.O. Box 13986-00800, Nairobi, Kenya; International Livestock Research Institute, P.O. Box 30709-00100, Nairobi, Kenya; University of Cambridge, Department of Biochemistry, 80 Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1GA, United Kingdom | Malak, A.K., Directorate of Veterinary Services, Government of Southern Sudan, Sudan; Mpoke, L., Veterinaires Sans Frontieres Belgium, P.O. Box 13986-00800, Nairobi, Kenya; Banak, J., Veterinaires Sans Frontieres Belgium, P.O. Box 13986-00800, Nairobi, Kenya; Muriuki, S., Veterinaires Sans Frontieres Belgium, P.O. Box 13986-00800, Nairobi, Kenya; Skilton, R.A., International Livestock Research Institute, P.O. Box 30709-00100, Nairobi, Kenya; Odongo, D., International Livestock Research Institute, P.O. Box 30709-00100, Nairobi, Kenya; Sunter, J., University of Cambridge, Department of Biochemistry, 80 Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1GA, United Kingdom; Kiara, H., International Livestock Research Institute, P.O. Box 30709-00100, Nairobi, Kenya | A participatory epidemiological (PE) study was conducted in Kajo Keji and Yei Counties, Central Equatoria State, southern Sudan to assess the impact of livestock diseases on livelihoods. A serological survey of tick-borne diseases was conducted to supplement the PE study. PE data collection tools consisted primarily of focus group interviews and key informant interviews supplemented by observation. Information was collected on the social context, history and species of livestock kept. Constraints in livestock keeping were explored through description and probing. Proportional piling on the importance of different diseases and relative incidence scoring were also conducted. 243 sera were collected from cattle and tested for antibodies to Anaplasma marginale, Babesia bigemina, B. bovis, Theileria mutans and T. parva by ELISA. Additionally, 173 blood samples were collected for a PCR assay of T. parva. Livestock diseases were ranked as the most important constraint to livestock keeping. While East Coast fever was ranked as the most important disease in Kajo Keji, diarrhoea in small ruminants was reported as the most important disease in Yei. Serological analyses of the sera indicated that A. marginale, B. bigemina, T. mutans and T. parva were most prevalent. Prevalence of B. bovis was found to be low (4.0% and 7.4% in Kajo Keji and Yei, respectively). 35% of the samples screened with the T. parva p104 gene nested PCR assay were positive. The study concludes that while ECF is the most important disease in Kajo Keji, it was not the case in Yei. Additional epidemiological studies are proposed before control strategies are recommended. © 2011 Elsevier B.V. | East Coast fever; Livestock diseases; Participatory epidemiology; Prevalence; Southern Sudan | protozoon antibody; agriculture; Anaplasma marginale; animal; animal disease; article; Babesia; babesiosis; blood; bovids; cattle; cattle disease; diarrhea; economics; enzyme linked immunosorbent assay; female; human; immunology; information processing; isolation and purification; livestock; male; parasitology; polymerase chain reaction; prevalence; Sudan; Theileria; theileriosis; tick borne disease; Agriculture; Anaplasma marginale; Animals; Antibodies, Protozoan; Babesia; Babesiosis; Cattle; Cattle Diseases; Diarrhea; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Female; Focus Groups; Humans; Livestock; Male; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Prevalence; Ruminants; Sudan; Theileria; Theileriasis; Tick-Borne Diseases; Anaplasma marginale; Babesia bigemina; Bos; Bovidae; Ixodida; Theileria; Theileria mutans; Theileria parva | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84929941093 | The impact of the consumer protection act on pharmacists | Du Toit K., Van Eeden E. | 2014 | South African Medical Journal | 104 | 11 | 10.7196/SAMJ.8488 | Discipline of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa | Du Toit, K., Discipline of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; Van Eeden, E., Discipline of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa | The Consumer Protection Act of 2008 has had far-reaching consequences for suppliers of goods and services in South Africa. The implementation of the Act has important implications for all suppliers who enter into ‘consumer transactions’. This article aims to stimulate awareness of the legal consequences of the Act arising from day-to-day situations occurring in the pharmacy, and to highlight the compliance obligations that the Act creates for pharmacists. © 2014 Health & Medical Publishing Group. | None | Article; awareness; consumer; consumer protection act; economic aspect; human; jurisprudence; legal liability; monitoring; pharmacist; pharmacy; policy; practice guideline; product safety; safety; South Africa; legal liability; legislation and jurisprudence; pharmacist; Consumer Product Safety; Humans; Liability, Legal; Pharmacies; Pharmacists; South Africa | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77149124574 | Performance of a prototype malaria rapid diagnostic test versus thick film microscopy among HIV-positive subjects in rural Rakai, Uganda | Mills L.A., Kagaayi J., Shott J.P., Newell K., Bwanika J.B., Ssempijja V., Aluma S., Quinn T.C., Reynolds S.J., Gray R.H. | 2010 | Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene | 104 | 3 | 10.1016/j.trstmh.2009.07.030 | Division of Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, 1830 East Monument Street #401, Baltimore, MD 21287, United States; Rakai Health Sciences Program, Kalisizo, Rakai District, Uganda; Clinical Monitoring Research Program, SAIC-Frederick Inc., NCI-Frederick, Frederick, MD 21702, United States; Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, 6610 Rockledge Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, United States; Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 855 N. Wolfe St., Fifth Floor, Baltimore, MD 21205, United States | Mills, L.A., Division of Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, 1830 East Monument Street #401, Baltimore, MD 21287, United States, Rakai Health Sciences Program, Kalisizo, Rakai District, Uganda; Kagaayi, J., Rakai Health Sciences Program, Kalisizo, Rakai District, Uganda; Shott, J.P., Clinical Monitoring Research Program, SAIC-Frederick Inc., NCI-Frederick, Frederick, MD 21702, United States; Newell, K., Clinical Monitoring Research Program, SAIC-Frederick Inc., NCI-Frederick, Frederick, MD 21702, United States; Bwanika, J.B., Rakai Health Sciences Program, Kalisizo, Rakai District, Uganda; Ssempijja, V., Rakai Health Sciences Program, Kalisizo, Rakai District, Uganda; Aluma, S., Rakai Health Sciences Program, Kalisizo, Rakai District, Uganda; Quinn, T.C., Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, 6610 Rockledge Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, United States, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 855 N. Wolfe St., Fifth Floor, Baltimore, MD 21205, United States; Reynolds, S.J., Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, 6610 Rockledge Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, United States, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 855 N. Wolfe St., Fifth Floor, Baltimore, MD 21205, United States; Gray, R.H., Rakai Health Sciences Program, Kalisizo, Rakai District, Uganda, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 855 N. Wolfe St., Fifth Floor, Baltimore, MD 21205, United States | In this study, we report the performance of a prototype malaria rapid diagnostic test, Malaria F-test (MFT), compared with thick blood films from HIV-positive Ugandans undergoing malaria testing. In total, 21/154 samples (13.6%) were concordantly positive by both thick film and MFT and 129/154 samples (83.8%) were concordantly negative; 1 sample (0.6%) was thick film-positive but MFT-negative and 3 samples (1.9%) were thick film-negative but MFT-positive. The sensitivity of MFT was 95.5% (95% CI 77.2-99.9%) compared with thick film microscopy and the specificity was 97.7% (95% CI 93.5-99.5%). MFT was simple, rapid and effective for detection of Plasmodium falciparum among HIV-positive subjects in a rural, malaria-endemic African setting. | Africa; Diagnosis; HIV/AIDS; Malaria; Rapid diagnostic test; Uganda | artemether plus benflumetol; adolescent; adult; article; child; controlled study; diagnostic test; drug efficacy; female; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infected patient; incidence; intermethod comparison; lymphocyte count; major clinical study; malaria; malaria F test; male; microscopy; Plasmodium falciparum; sensitivity and specificity; T lymphocyte; Uganda; Adolescent; Adult; Child; Child, Preschool; Diagnostic Tests, Routine; Female; HIV Seropositivity; Humans; Malaria, Falciparum; Male; Middle Aged; Plasmodium falciparum; Sensitivity and Specificity; Uganda; Young Adult; Plasmodium falciparum | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84899459600 | Evaluation of adherence to national treatment guidelines among tuberculosis patients in three provinces of South Africa | Ershova J.V., Podewils L.J., Bronner E., Stockwell H.G., Dlamini S., Mametja L.D. | 2014 | South African Medical Journal | 104 | 5 | 10.7196/SAMJ.7655 | Division of Tuberculosis Elimination, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States; College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, United States; Tuberculosis Control and Management, National Department of Health, Pretoria, South Africa | Ershova, J.V., Division of Tuberculosis Elimination, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, United States; Podewils, L.J., Division of Tuberculosis Elimination, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States; Bronner, E., Division of Tuberculosis Elimination, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States; Stockwell, H.G., College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, United States; Dlamini, S., Tuberculosis Control and Management, National Department of Health, Pretoria, South Africa; Mametja, L.D., Tuberculosis Control and Management, National Department of Health, Pretoria, South Africa | Background. Standardised tuberculosis (TB) treatment through directly observed therapy (DOT) is available in South Africa, but the level of adherence to standardised TB treatment and its impact on treatment outcomes is unknown. Objectives. To describe adherence to standardised TB treatment and provision of DOT, and analyse its impact on treatment outcome. Methods. We utilised data collected for an evaluation of the South African national TB surveillance system. A treatment regimen was considered appropriate if based on national treatment guidelines. Multivariate log-binomial regression was used to evaluate the association between treatment regimens, including DOT provision, and treatment outcome. Results. Of 1 339 TB cases in the parent evaluation, 598 (44.7%) were excluded from analysis owing to missing outcome or treatment information. The majority (697, 94.1%) of the remaining 741 patients received an appropriate TB regimen. Almost all patients (717, 96.8%) received DOT, 443 (59.8%) throughout the treatment course and 274 (37.0%) during the intensive (256, 34.6%) or continuation (18, 2.4%) phase. Independent predictors of poor outcome were partial DOT (adjusted risk ratio (aRR) 3.1, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.2 - 4.3) and previous treatment default (aRR 2.3, 95% CI 1.1 - 4.8). Conclusion. Patients who received incomplete DOT or had a history of defaulting from TB treatment had an increased risk of poor outcomes. | None | ethambutol; isoniazid; pyrazinamide; rifampicin; streptomycin; adolescent; adult; article; child; death; directly observed therapy; disease surveillance; extrapulmonary tuberculosis; female; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; lung tuberculosis; major clinical study; male; multivariate logistic regression analysis; practice guideline; rural area; treatment outcome; treatment planning; tuberculosis; urban area; Adolescent; Adult; Child; Directly Observed Therapy; Female; Guideline Adherence; Humans; Male; Odds Ratio; South Africa; Treatment Outcome; Tuberculosis; Young Adult | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84899427203 | Human resource management practices in a medical complex in the Eastern cape, South Africa: Assessing their impact on the retention of doctors | Longmore B., Ronnie L. | 2014 | South African Medical Journal | 104 | 5 | 10.7196/SAMJ.7751 | Graduate School of Business, University of Cape Town, South Africa | Longmore, B., Graduate School of Business, University of Cape Town, South Africa; Ronnie, L., Graduate School of Business, University of Cape Town, South Africa | Background. Human resource management (HRM) practices have the potential to influence retention of doctors in the public health sector. Objective. To explore the key human resource (HR) practices affecting doctors in a medical complex in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Methods. We used an open-ended questionnaire to gather data from 75 doctors in this setting. Results. The most important HR practices were paying salaries on time and accurately, the management of documentation, communication, HR staff showing that they respected and valued the doctors, and reimbursement for conferences and special leave requests. All these practices were judged to be poorly administered. Essential HR characteristics were ranked in the following order: task competence of HR staff, accountability, general HR efficiency, occupation-specific dispensation adjustments and performance management and development system efficiency, and availability of HR staff. All these characteristics were judged to be poor. Conclusion. HRM practices in this Eastern Cape medical complex were inadequate and a source of frustration. This lack of efficiency could lead to further problems with regard to retaining doctors in public sector service. | None | adult; aged; article; female; health care personnel management; human; interpersonal communication; job characteristics; job performance; male; middle aged; physician; professional competence; professional practice; public health service; questionnaire; South Africa; team building; Adult; Aged; Female; Health Facilities; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Physicians; Questionnaires; South Africa; Staff Development | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84930034731 | Determining need for hospitalisation: Evaluation of the utility of the CRB-65 score in patients with community-acquired pneumonia presenting to an emergency department | Kabundji D.M., Musekiwa A., Mukansi M., Feldman C. | 2014 | South African Medical Journal | 104 | 11 | 10.7196/SAMJ.8150 | Helen Joseph Hospital and Division of Emergency Medicine, Department of Family Medicine, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Division of Pulmonology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa | Kabundji, D.M., Helen Joseph Hospital and Division of Emergency Medicine, Department of Family Medicine, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Musekiwa, A., Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Mukansi, M., Division of Pulmonology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Feldman, C., Division of Pulmonology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa | Background. The CRB-65 severity of illness score, used for assessing patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), may be of particular benefit in resource-constrained areas, since it relies purely on clinical parameters.Objective. To assess the potential accuracy of the CRB-65 score when used in deciding whether to hospitalise patients with CAP presenting to an emergency department (ED). Methods. Prospective, observational study in an academic hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa. Data from adult patients with radiologically confirmed CAP were analysed.Results. Overall, 152 patients were enrolled (79 females, 73 males; median age 36.5 years). Several diverse criteria had been used by the ED doctors in admission decisions, while the CRB-65 score had been used in only 3/152 patients (1.6%). Overall, 68/152 patients (44.7%) had been managed as inpatients and 84/152 (55.3%) as outpatients. If the CRB-65 had been used as the sole criterion for site-of-care decisions, 107/152 patients (70.4%) would potentially have been managed as outpatients and 45/152 (29.6%) as inpatients. Achieving a stable clinical condition took longer (p=0.037) and mortality was higher (p<0.001) in patients with higher than lower CRB-65 scores. All five patients who died were inpatients. Of these, three (60.0%) would have been classified by the CRB-65 as having an intermediate mortality risk and two (40.0%) as having a high mortality risk.Conclusions. This study demonstrates the utility of the CRB-65 score in accurately determining the need for admission of patients with CAP presenting to an ED in a resource-constrained environment. © 2014, S Afr Med J. All Rights Reserved. | None | adult; aged; Article; community acquired pneumonia; CRB 65 score; emergency ward; female; hospital based case control study; hospitalization; human; major clinical study; male; mortality; observational study; prospective study; respiratory tract disease assessment | None |
| None | None | Evaluation of indoor residual spraying with the pyrrole insecticide chlorfenapyr against pyrethroid-susceptible Anopheles arabiensis and pyrethroid-resistant Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes | Oxborough R.M., Kitau J., Matowo J., Mndeme R., Feston E., Boko P., Odjo A., Metonnou C.G., Irish S., N'Guessan R., Mosha F.W., Rowland M.W. | 2010 | Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene | 104 | 10 | 10.1016/j.trstmh.2010.07.008 | Kilimanjaro Christian Medical College of Tumaini University, P.O. Box 2240, Moshi, Tanzania; London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom; Pan-African Malaria Vector Research Consortium (PAMVERC), United Kingdom; Centre de Recherches Entomologique de Cotonou (CREC), Cotonou, Benin | Oxborough, R.M., Kilimanjaro Christian Medical College of Tumaini University, P.O. Box 2240, Moshi, Tanzania, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom, Pan-African Malaria Vector Research Consortium (PAMVERC), United Kingdom; Kitau, J., Kilimanjaro Christian Medical College of Tumaini University, P.O. Box 2240, Moshi, Tanzania, Pan-African Malaria Vector Research Consortium (PAMVERC), United Kingdom; Matowo, J., Kilimanjaro Christian Medical College of Tumaini University, P.O. Box 2240, Moshi, Tanzania, Pan-African Malaria Vector Research Consortium (PAMVERC), United Kingdom; Mndeme, R., Kilimanjaro Christian Medical College of Tumaini University, P.O. Box 2240, Moshi, Tanzania, Pan-African Malaria Vector Research Consortium (PAMVERC), United Kingdom; Feston, E., Kilimanjaro Christian Medical College of Tumaini University, P.O. Box 2240, Moshi, Tanzania, Pan-African Malaria Vector Research Consortium (PAMVERC), United Kingdom; Boko, P., Pan-African Malaria Vector Research Consortium (PAMVERC), United Kingdom, Centre de Recherches Entomologique de Cotonou (CREC), Cotonou, Benin; Odjo, A., Pan-African Malaria Vector Research Consortium (PAMVERC), United Kingdom, Centre de Recherches Entomologique de Cotonou (CREC), Cotonou, Benin; Metonnou, C.G., Pan-African Malaria Vector Research Consortium (PAMVERC), United Kingdom, Centre de Recherches Entomologique de Cotonou (CREC), Cotonou, Benin; Irish, S., London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom; N'Guessan, R., London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom, Pan-African Malaria Vector Research Consortium (PAMVERC), United Kingdom, Centre de Recherches Entomologique de Cotonou (CREC), Cotonou, Benin; Mosha, F.W., Kilimanjaro Christian Medical College of Tumaini University, P.O. Box 2240, Moshi, Tanzania, Pan-African Malaria Vector Research Consortium (PAMVERC), United Kingdom; Rowland, M.W., London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom, Pan-African Malaria Vector Research Consortium (PAMVERC), United Kingdom | Chlorfenapyr is a pyrrole insecticide with a unique non-neurological mode of action. Laboratory bioassays of chlorfenapyr comparing the mortality of pyrethroid-susceptible and -resistant Anopheles gambiae s.s. and Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes indicated that operational cross-resistance is unlikely to occur (resistance ratio ranged between 0 and 2.1). Three trials of chlorfenapyr indoor residual spraying were undertaken in experimental huts in an area of rice irrigation in northern Tanzania that supports breeding of A. arabiensis. Daily mosquito collections were undertaken to assess product performance primarily in terms of mortality. In the second trial, 250mg/m2 and 500mg/m2 chlorfenapyr were tested for residual efficacy over 6 months. Both dosages killed 54% of C. quinquefasciatus, whilst for A. arabiensis 250mg/m2 killed 48% compared with 41% for 500mg/m2; mortality was as high at the end of the trial as at the beginning. In the third trial, 250mg/m2 chlorfenapyr was compared with the pyrethroid alpha-cypermethrin dosed at 30mg/m2. Chlorfenapyr performance was equivalent to the pyrethroid against A. arabiensis, with both insecticides killing 50% of mosquitoes. Chlorfenapyr killed a significantly higher proportion of pyrethroid-resistant C. quinquefasciatus (56%) compared with alpha-cypermethrin (17%). Chlorfenapyr has the potential to be an important addition to the limited arsenal of public health insecticides for indoor residual control of A. arabiensis and pyrethroid-resistant species of mosquito. © 2010 Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. | Anopheles arabiensis; Chlorfenapyr; Culex quinquefasciatus; Indoor residual spraying; Insecticides; Vector control | chlorfenapyr; pyrethroid; pyrrole; unclassified drug; Anopheles arabiensis; article; breeding; cross resistance; Culex quinquefasciatus; insect control; insect resistance; insecticidal activity; insecticide resistance; nonhuman; pesticide spraying; Animals; Anopheles; Bedding and Linens; Culex; Housing; Insecticide Resistance; Insecticides; Malaria; Mosquito Control; Pesticide Residues; Pyrethrins; Tanzania; Anopheles arabiensis; Anopheles gambiae; Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77954216122 | Cohort trial reveals community impact of insecticide-treated nets on malariometric indices in urban Ghana | Klinkenberg E., Onwona-Agyeman K.A., McCall P.J., Wilson M.D., Bates I., Verhoeff F.H., Barnish G., Donnelly M.J. | 2010 | Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene | 104 | 7 | 10.1016/j.trstmh.2010.03.004 | Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, United Kingdom; International Water Management Institute, PMB CT 112, Cantonments, Accra, Ghana; Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, Ghana; Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, PO Box LG581, Legon, Ghana; Royal Liverpool Children's NHS Trust, Alder Hey Hospital, Eaton Road, West Derby, Liverpool L12 2AP, United Kingdom | Klinkenberg, E., Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, United Kingdom, International Water Management Institute, PMB CT 112, Cantonments, Accra, Ghana; Onwona-Agyeman, K.A., Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, Ghana; McCall, P.J., Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, United Kingdom; Wilson, M.D., Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, PO Box LG581, Legon, Ghana; Bates, I., Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, United Kingdom; Verhoeff, F.H., Royal Liverpool Children's NHS Trust, Alder Hey Hospital, Eaton Road, West Derby, Liverpool L12 2AP, United Kingdom; Barnish, G., Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, United Kingdom; Donnelly, M.J., Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, United Kingdom | The efficacy of insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) in prevention of malaria and anaemia has been shown in rural settings, but their impact in urban settings is unknown. We carried out an ITN intervention in two communities in urban Accra, Ghana, where local malaria transmission is known to occur. There was evidence for a mass or community effect, despite ITN use by fewer than 35% of households. Children living within 300 m of a household with an ITN had higher haemoglobin concentrations (0.5. g/dl higher, P=0.011) and less anaemia (odds ratio 2.21, 95% CI 1.08-4.52, P=0.031 at month 6), than children living more than 300 m away from a household with an ITN, although malaria parasitaemias were similar. With urban populations growing rapidly across Africa, this study shows that ITNs will be an effective tool to assist African countries to achieve their Millennium Development Goals in urban settings. [Registered trial number ISRCTN42261314; http://www.controlled-trials.com/ISRCTN42261314]. © 2010 Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. | Anaemia; Community impact; Ghana; Insecticide-treated nets; Malaria; Urban | hemoglobin; insecticide; anemia; article; bed net; child; cohort analysis; community; community program; female; Ghana; household; human; infant; malaria; male; parasitemia; preschool child; school child; urban area; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Anemia; Child; Cohort Studies; Family Characteristics; Female; Ghana; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Humans; Insecticides; Malaria; Male; Middle Aged; Mosquito Nets; Patient Acceptance of Health Care; Program Evaluation; Urban Health; Young Adult | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-67651034515 | The measurement and verification of the combined impact of energy efficiency and load shifting on mine pumping projects | Den Heijer W., Grobler L. | 2007 | Energy Engineering: Journal of the Association of Energy Engineering | 104 | 5 | None | North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa | Den Heijer, W., North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa; Grobler, L., North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa | Service level adjustments are essential to keep measurement and verification project baselines "updated" with the actual service level that a system provides. In the case of a DSM load shift project on a mine pumping system, it is standard procedure to use a service level adjustment based on daily kWh neutrality. The case study discussed in this article showed that the project achieved impacts in the order of 12.9 MW when the baseline was adjusted in this manner.This approach, however, rested on the assumption that system efficiencies remained unchanged since the DSM intervention was only supposed to shift the system load to other time-of-use periods outside the evening peak period.However, it was found that system efficiency did change by almost 13 percent in this project's case. A service level adjustment approach was consequently required that linked the baseline energy use to the actual service level of the system, which was the daily volume of water pumped out of the mine.The utilization of this SLA adjustment not only allowed the M&V team to determine the project impacts due to the load shift activities, but also to capture the impacts due to the increased system efficiency. The impact determined for the same month, but with a different SLA, consequently increased to 15.1 MW. | None | Energy use; Load shift; Load shifting; Measurement and verification; Project impact; Pumping projects; Pumping systems; Service levels; Standard procedures; System efficiency; System loads; Electric load management; Mining; Ocean currents; Pumps; Energy efficiency | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84901617665 | Tick-box admission forms improve the quality of documentation of surgical emergencies, but have limited impact on clinical behaviour | Laing G.L., Bruce J.L., Clarke D.L. | 2014 | South African Medical Journal | 104 | 6 | 10.7196/SAMJ.7673 | Pietermaritzburg Metropolitan Trauma Service, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa; Department of General Surgery,Nelson Mandela School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa | Laing, G.L., Pietermaritzburg Metropolitan Trauma Service, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, Department of General Surgery,Nelson Mandela School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; Bruce, J.L., Pietermaritzburg Metropolitan Trauma Service, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, Department of General Surgery,Nelson Mandela School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; Clarke, D.L., Pietermaritzburg Metropolitan Trauma Service, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, Department of General Surgery,Nelson Mandela School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa | Introduction. We used modern error theory to develop a tick-box admission form for emergency surgical patients. The tick boxes were designed to actively direct care down appropriate clinical algorithms by encouraging staff to make decisions based on recorded clinical data. Objective. To audit the effect of these tick-box forms on the quality of documentation and of the resuscitation process. Methods. We designed and implemented a standardised tick-box admission form, and audited its impact by comparing 100 emergency surgical admissions before the intervention with 100 thereafter. We assessed the quality of the documentation in both groups and analysed the effect of use of the tick-box admission form and the decision nodes on the clinical behaviour of the admitting clinicians. Results. The introduction of standardised tick-box admission forms dramatically improved the quality of documentation of acute surgical admissions. However, the impact of the decision nodes on clinical behaviour was less obvious. We demonstrated a tendency to cognitive dissonance in that, even though clinicians recorded abnormal physiological data, they did not consistently interpret this information correctly. Conclusions. Although the use of tick-box admission forms improves the quality of documentation, the impact on clinical behaviour is less certain. Quality improvement is a multifactorial endeavour, and without a pervasive culture of patient safety, tick-boxes alone may well be ineffective. | Cognitive dissonance; Patient safety; Safe practice; Tick-boxes; Violations | documentation; electronic medical record; emergency; health care quality; hospital admission; human; retrospective study; standards; statistics and numerical data; Documentation; Electronic Health Records; Emergencies; Humans; Medical Records Systems, Computerized; Patient Admission; Quality Assurance, Health Care; Retrospective Studies | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84893664337 | Performance analysis and simplified detection for two-dimensional signal space diversity with MRC reception | Paruk Z., Xu H. | 2013 | SAIEE Africa Research Journal | 104 | 3 | None | School of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Mazisi Kunene Road, Glenwood, Durban, South Africa | Paruk, Z., School of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Mazisi Kunene Road, Glenwood, Durban, South Africa; Xu, H., School of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Mazisi Kunene Road, Glenwood, Durban, South Africa | Signal space diversity (SSD) is a promising technique for obtaining diversity without increases in bandwidth, transmit power or physical hardware at the expense of increased ML detection complexity. Symbol error rate (SER) analysis of a two-dimensional system containing a single transmit antenna and N receive antennas with maximal-ratio combining (MRC) reception is presented here along with a simplied detection scheme for SSD systems. The union bound and the nearest neighbour (NN) approximation are presented in closed form, and a new, simpler SER bound for SSD systems based on the minimum Euclidean distance of a rotated constellation is presented, also in closed form. Performance of the new bound is found to be tight for low signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs), small rotation angles and when the number of receive antennas (N) is large; the new bound is also easily applied to other systems. The simplied detection scheme, while losing diversity and SER performance when N = 1, achieves a 7dB and 4dB performance improvement over non-SSD transmission at SERs of 10-3 and 10-2 for 4-QAM and 16-QAM respectively. However, when N ≥ 3, SER performance is close to indistinguishable from that of optimal ML detection while achieving complexity reductions of up to 5.77%, 70.19% and 91.77% for 4-QAM, 16-QAM and 64-QAM respectively. | Lower bound; Maximal-ratio combining; Maximum-likelihood; Signal space diversity | Low signal-to-noise ratio; Lower bounds; Maximal ratio combining (MRC); Minimum euclidean distances; Signal-space diversity; Symbol error rate (SER); Two-dimensional signals; Two-dimensional systems; Quadrature amplitude modulation; Receiving antennas; Two dimensional; Signal detection | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84893697103 | Cold spray technology for high performance frequency selective conductive structures | Hofsajer I., Botef I. | 2013 | SAIEE Africa Research Journal | 104 | 3 | None | School of Electrical and Information Engineering, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, Johannesburg Wits 2050, South Africa; School of Mechanical, Industrial and Aeronautical Engineering, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, Johannesburg Wits 2050, South Africa | Hofsajer, I., School of Electrical and Information Engineering, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, Johannesburg Wits 2050, South Africa; Botef, I., School of Mechanical, Industrial and Aeronautical Engineering, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, Johannesburg Wits 2050, South Africa | Conductive structures and interconnects can be designed to exhibit a low pass filtering characteristic. This is accomplished by making use of the skin and proximity effects which confine high frequency currents to a reduced conductor cross sectional area. The efficacy of such filtering structures can be enhanced through the use of composite multi layer conductors, each layer with specific electric and magnetic properties. The widespread implementation of this type of filter has been limited by the difficulty in the layer design, manufacture and availability of materials with the correct properties. This paper discusses how each of these obstacles may be overcome and so doing opens up a large area of new potential applications. | Cold spray technology; Dissipative filters; Proximity effect; Skin effect; Smart materials | Cold spray technology; Cross sectional area; Filtering structures; Frequency-selective; High-frequency current; Low-pass filtering; Proximity effects; Electric properties; Intelligent materials; Skin effect; Low pass filters | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-61849117968 | Probing the Universe with cosmic rays using high performance computing | Potgieter M. | 2008 | South African Journal of Science | 104 | 42686 | None | Unit for Space Physics, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa; Centre for High Performance Computing, CSIR Campus, Rosebank, Cape Town, South Africa; Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study, Mostersdrift, Stellenbosch, South Africa; Unit for Space Physics, North-West University, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa | Potgieter, M., Unit for Space Physics, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa, Centre for High Performance Computing, CSIR Campus, Rosebank, Cape Town, South Africa, Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study, Mostersdrift, Stellenbosch, South Africa, Unit for Space Physics, North-West University, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa | I REPORT ON THE RESEARCH ACTIVITIES OF the South African Centre for High Performance Computing carried out at the Unit for Space Physics at North-West University, Potchefstroom, during 2007/8. Background is given on the aims of the centre and the first three flagship projects that were selected in 2006 for computational-intensive tasks. The project in Computational Space Physics and Astrophysics, called 'Cosmic rays and us: From birth to death', is described in detail, and a summary given of research highlights so far. | None | cosmic ray; performance assessment | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77957960545 | Preliminary evaluation of the Moyo chart-a novel, low-cost, weight-for-height slide chart for the improved assessment of nutritional status in children | Sikorski C., Kerac M., Fikremariam M., Seal A. | 2010 | Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene | 104 | 11 | 10.1016/j.trstmh.2010.07.013 | University College London Medical School, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom; UCL Centre for International Health and Development, Institute of Child Health, Guilford Street, London WC1N 1EH, United Kingdom; St Paul's Millennium Medical School, University of Addis Ababa, PO Box 1271, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | Sikorski, C., University College London Medical School, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom; Kerac, M., UCL Centre for International Health and Development, Institute of Child Health, Guilford Street, London WC1N 1EH, United Kingdom; Fikremariam, M., St Paul's Millennium Medical School, University of Addis Ababa, PO Box 1271, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Seal, A., UCL Centre for International Health and Development, Institute of Child Health, Guilford Street, London WC1N 1EH, United Kingdom | The Moyo chart is a novel weight-for-height slide chart. We explore the hypothesis that it improves accuracy, speed and ease of nutritional assessment compared with traditional lookup tables. In a crossover randomised controlled trial, 61 medical students in Ethiopia diagnosed hypothetical cases of severe acute malnutrition, moderate acute malnutrition and normal nutrition in children. Mean accuracy of nutritional status diagnosis was 83.2% using the Moyo chart and 76.1% using lookup tables (P = 0.011). There was a trend towards a reduced time per correct diagnosis using the Moyo chart and 78% of participants preferred using it. These preliminary results suggest that the Moyo chart may aid frontline health workers classifying child nutritional status. © 2010 Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. | Anthropometry; Child health; Diagnosis; Ethiopia; Malnutrition; Nutrition | accuracy; anthropometric parameters; article; body height; body weight; controlled study; diagnostic accuracy; diagnostic value; Ethiopia; evaluation; human; human experiment; malnutrition; moyo chart; normal human; nutritional assessment; nutritional status; Body Height; Body Weight; Child; Child, Preschool; Cross-Over Studies; Ethiopia; Female; Humans; Infant; Male; Malnutrition; Nutrition Assessment; Nutritional Status; Program Evaluation; Reference Values | None |
| WoS | WOS:000341361700026 | The Public Health Impact of Training Physicians to Become Obstetricians and Gynecologists in Ghana | Anderson, Frank W. J.,Boothman, Erika L.,Obed, Samuel A.,Opare-Ado, Henry | 2014 | AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH | 104 | None | 10.2105/AJPH.2013.301581 | University of Ghana, University of Michigan, University of Michigan System, Kwame Nkrumah University Science & Technology, Kwame Nkrumah Univ Sci & Technol | "Anderson, Frank W. J.: University of Michigan","Anderson, Frank W. J.: University of Michigan System","Boothman, Erika L.: University of Michigan","Boothman, Erika L.: University of Michigan System","Obed, Samuel A.: University of Ghana", | Objectives. We assessed the public health effect of creating and sustaining obstetrics and gynecology postgraduate training in Ghana, established in 1989 to reverse low repatriation of physicians trained abroad.
Methods. All 85 certified graduates of 2 Ghanaian university-based postgraduate training programs from program initiation in 1989 through June 2010 were identified and eligible for this study. Of these, 7 were unable to be contacted, inaccessible, declined participation, or deceased.
Results. Of the graduates, 83 provide clinical services in Ghana and work in 33 sites in 8 of 10 regions; 15% were the first obstetrician and gynecologist at their facility, 25% hold clinical leadership positions, 50% practice in teaching hospitals, and 14% serve as academic faculty.
Conclusions. Creating capacity for university-based postgraduate training in obstetrics and gynecology is effective and sustainable for a comprehensive global approach to reduce maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. Policies to support training and research capacity in obstetrics and gynecology are an integral part of a long-term national plan for maternal health. | ,AFRICA,DEVELOPING-COUNTRIES,MODEL,POSTGRADUATE,PROGRAM,RETENTION | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-24144474579 | Measuring the impact of HIV and STIs in a community in a coal mining town, Mpumalanga, South Africa | Hurkchand H., Makuluma H., Molefe N., Molapo M. | 2005 | Journal of The South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy | 105 | 6 | None | CSIR Mining Technology, South Africa | Hurkchand, H., CSIR Mining Technology, South Africa; Makuluma, H., CSIR Mining Technology, South Africa; Molefe, N., CSIR Mining Technology, South Africa; Molapo, M., CSIR Mining Technology, South Africa | Background: A cross-sectional study was conducted in November 2001 to establish the prevalence rates of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) (Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoea) in a coalmining town in Mpumalanga. Methods: 155 adults were recruited (79 males and 76 females), by holding community meetings, and by door-to-door recruitment. Saliva and urine specimens were collected for the analysis of HIV and STI prevalence, respectively. Results: The mean age for males was 31.35 years (min = 19 yrs and max = 50 yrs) and the mean age of the female participants was 31.90 years (min = 17 yrs, max = 49 yrs). The prevalence of HIV was found to be 22.78% [95% CI (14.09-33.59)] in the males vs. 47.37% [95% CI (35.79-55.16)] in the females, [p = 0.001, OR = 3.05, 95%CI (1.49-6.26)]. The prevalence of C trachomatis was 7.90% [95% CI (2.95-16.39)] in the males vs. 12.86% [95% CI (6.05-23.00)] in the females, p = 0.324. The prevalence of N. gonorrhoea was 3.79% [95% CI (0.79-1.08)] in the males vs. 9.86% [95% CI (4.06-19.26)] in the females, p = 0.137. HIV was significantly associated with C. trachomatis, [p = 0.032, OR = 3.18, 95% CI (1.04-9.72)], but was not significant when stratified by gender. HIV was not significantly associated with N.gonorrhoea (p = 0.072) but it was significantly associated when stratified by gender, p = 0.001 for females. There were no significant associations between HIV and age (p = 0.408), even upon stratification by gender. Conclusions: HIV prevalence in this community is high, and corresponds to national figures. However, the prevalence of STIs is surprisingly low as it would be expected to be high in a migrant population. Although communities are exposed to expanding peer-education activities that encourage behaviour change, the prevalence of HIV in this group. There is an urgent need for interventions designed to treat or prevent HIV infection in women generally and in women at high risk. © The South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 2005. | Antenatal; HIV prevalence; Mining; STI prevalence | Antenatal; HIV prevalance; STI prevalance; Disease control; Population statistics; Social aspects; Viruses; Coal mines | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84861182750 | The effect of exogenous anabolic steroids on growth performance, testicular and seminal characteristics of yearling Boer goat bucks | Makae T., Greyling J.P.C., Schwalbach L.M.J., Raito M.B. | 2012 | Small Ruminant Research | 105 | 42372 | 10.1016/j.smallrumres.2012.03.005 | Department Animal, Wildlife and Grassland Sciences, University of the Free State, P.O. Box 339, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa | Makae, T., Department Animal, Wildlife and Grassland Sciences, University of the Free State, P.O. Box 339, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa; Greyling, J.P.C., Department Animal, Wildlife and Grassland Sciences, University of the Free State, P.O. Box 339, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa; Schwalbach, L.M.J., Department Animal, Wildlife and Grassland Sciences, University of the Free State, P.O. Box 339, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa; Raito, M.B., Department Animal, Wildlife and Grassland Sciences, University of the Free State, P.O. Box 339, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa | The effect of anabolic steroid treatment on young Boer goat bucks (12 months of age; mean body weight of 47.0 ± 3.8. kg) was investigated. Bucks were individually housed and randomly allocated to two treatment groups and fed a pelleted maintenance diet (8.5. MJ. ME/kg and 13% CP). Bucks in the first group (n= 9) received a weekly i.m. injection of 25. mg Deca-durabolin (testosterone) for a total period of 16 weeks. The remaining bucks (n= 10) served as the controls. At the end of the 16-week treatment phase an additional 12 week recovery monitoring phase (no treatment) was implemented. During the trial semen was collected (artificial vagina) weekly, where semen volume, colour, pH and sperm density and motility was recorded. The body parameters recorded weekly included body weight, scrotal circumference and volume. The body parameters found to be significantly (P< 0.05) affected by treatment with the anabolic steroid, was scrotal circumference and volume. This degeneration of the scrotal measurements was ascribed to the negative feedback system induced by the exogenous anabolic steroid treatment (androgenic effect). By the end of the recovery period, the difference in scrotal circumference and volume between the treatment groups had decreased to 7% - with the treated bucks still recording a significantly (P< 0.05) lower scrotal volume, compared to the control group (584.4 ± 87.3. ml vs 640.0 ± 81.0. ml respectively). Despite this reduction in scrotal circumference and volume none of the seminal parameters recorded in the trial (i.e. sperm motility, semen volume and pH, sperm concentration and percentage live sperm) were significantly affected by the steroid treatment. It would also seem as if the inhibitory effect of steroid treatment on testicular development was only temporary and that young males can recover, without any apparent loss in fertility, as measured by semen quality. The lack in body weight response could possibly be ascribed to the age of the animals and the relatively low energy content of the diet. © 2012 Elsevier B.V. | Anabolic steroids; Boer goat; Bucks; Scrotum parameters; Seminal characteristics | Animalia; Capra hircus | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84942258758 | The appropriateness of preoperative blood testing: A retrospective evaluation and cost analysis | Buley H.E., Bishop D., Rodseth R. | 2015 | South African Medical Journal | 105 | 6 | 10.7196/SAMJ.9318 | Department of Anaesthesiology and Critical Care, School of Clinical Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; Perioperative Research Group, Department of Anaesthetics and Critical Care, School of Clinical Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; Department of Outcomes Research, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, United States | Buley, H.E., Department of Anaesthesiology and Critical Care, School of Clinical Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; Bishop, D., Perioperative Research Group, Department of Anaesthetics and Critical Care, School of Clinical Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; Rodseth, R., Perioperative Research Group, Department of Anaesthetics and Critical Care, School of Clinical Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa, Department of Outcomes Research, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, United States | Background. Inappropriate preoperative blood testing can negatively contribute to healthcare costs. Objective. To determine the extent and cost implications of inappropriate preoperative blood testing in adult patients booked for orthopaedic, general or trauma surgical procedures at a regional hospital in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa (SA). Methods. We undertook a retrospective observational study using routine clinical data collected from eligible patient charts. The appropriateness of preoperative blood tests was evaluated against locally published guidelines on testing for elective and non-elective surgery. The cost of the relevant blood tests was determined using the National Health Laboratory Service 2014 State Pricing List. Results. A total of 320 eligible patient charts were reviewed over a 4-week period. Preoperative blood testing was performed in 318 patients. There was poor compliance with current departmental guidelines, with an estimated over-expenditure of ZAR81 019. Non-compliance was particularly prevalent in younger patients, patients graded as American Society of Anesthesiologists 1 and 2, and low-risk surgery groups. Conclusion. Inappropriate preoperative blood testing is common in our hospital, particularly in low-risk patients. This is associated with an increase in healthcare costs, and highlights the need for SA doctors to become more cost-conscious in their approach to blood testing practices. © 2015, South African Medical Association. All rights reserved. | None | albumin; C reactive protein; calcium; creatinine; electrolyte; magnesium; phosphate; urea; adult; aged; Article; blood cell count; blood examination; blood gas analysis; comorbidity; cost benefit analysis; erythrocyte sedimentation rate; human; international normalized ratio; liver function test; major clinical study; middle aged; observational study; preoperative evaluation; retrospective study; South Africa; surgical technique | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-68149114270 | Nutritional and phytochemical evaluation of cultivated Psathyrella atroumbonata Pegler, a Nigerian edible mushroom | Ayodele S.M., Okhuoya J.A. | 2009 | South African Journal of Science | 105 | 04-Mar | None | Department of Biological Sciences, Kogi State University, P.M.B. 1008, Anyigba, Kogi State, Nigeria; Department of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, University of Benin, P.M.B. 1154, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria | Ayodele, S.M., Department of Biological Sciences, Kogi State University, P.M.B. 1008, Anyigba, Kogi State, Nigeria; Okhuoya, J.A., Department of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, University of Benin, P.M.B. 1154, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria | A nutritional and phytochemical evaluation of cultivated Psathyrella atroumbonata Pegler was carried out at the immature and mature stages of the mushroom. The cultivated mushroom is very rich in protein and fibres compared with the wild species, and has a low lipid and sugar content. The nutrient composition is dependent upon the stage of its development and nutrient content was at a maximum at immature stage and decreased during further development. Alkaloids were detected in the mature fruit body, but not in the immature stage. However, saponins and tannins were present in both immature and mature stages. Flavonoids and anthraquinones were absent in the mushroom. The importance of these findings is discussed. | Evaluation; Nutritional; Phytochemical; Psathyrella atroumbonata | developmental stage; mushroom; nutrition; phytochemistry; protein; wild population; Agaricus bisporus; Basidiomycota; Psathyrella | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-49649120949 | Impact of enhanced tuberculosis diagnosis in South Africa: A mathematical model of expanded culture and drug susceptibility testing | Dowdy D.W., Chaisson R.E., Maartens G., Corbett E.L., Dorman S.E. | 2008 | Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America | 105 | 32 | 10.1073/pnas.0800965105 | Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, United States; Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins University, 1550 Orleans Street, Baltimore, MD 21231, United States; Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Faculty of Health Sciences, Observatory 7925, Cape Town, South Africa; Clinical Research Unit, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, Harare WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom; Department of Medicine, University of California, 505 Parnassus Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94143, United States | Dowdy, D.W., Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, United States, Department of Medicine, University of California, 505 Parnassus Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94143, United States; Chaisson, R.E., Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins University, 1550 Orleans Street, Baltimore, MD 21231, United States; Maartens, G., Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Faculty of Health Sciences, Observatory 7925, Cape Town, South Africa; Corbett, E.L., Clinical Research Unit, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, Harare WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom; Dorman, S.E., Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins University, 1550 Orleans Street, Baltimore, MD 21231, United States | South Africa has high rates of tuberculosis (TB), including multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) strains. Expanding access to culture and drug susceptibility testing (DST) for TB diagnosis may help control this epidemic, but the potential impact of existing and novel TB diagnostics is uncertain. By fitting to World Health Organization epidemiological estimates, we developed a compartmental difference-equation model of the TB/HIV epidemic among South African adults. Performing culture and DST in 37% of new cases and 85% of previously treated cases was projected to save 47,955 lives (17.2% reduction in TB mortality, 95% simulation interval (S.I.) 8.9-24.4%), avert 7,721 MDR-TB cases (14.1% reduction, 95% S.I. 5.3-23.8%), and prevent 46.6% of MDR-TB deaths (95% S.I. 32.6-56.0%) in South Africa over 10 years. Used alone, expanded culture and DST did not reduce XDR-TB incidence, but they enhanced the impact of transmission-reduction strategies, such as respiratory isolation. In South Africa, expanding TB culture and DST could substantially reduce TB, and particularly MDR-TB, mortality. Control of XDR-TB will require additional interventions, the impact of which may be enhanced by improved TB diagnosis. © 2008 by The National Academy of Sciences of the USA. | Clinical laboratory techniques; Drug resistance; Theoretical models | article; bacterium culture; disease transmission; drug sensitivity; epidemic; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; incidence; laboratory test; mathematical model; mortality; priority journal; South Africa; tuberculosis; world health organization; Disease Outbreaks; Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial; Female; HIV Infections; Humans; Male; Models, Theoretical; Retrospective Studies; South Africa; Time Factors; Tuberculosis; World Health Organization | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84910643627 | Evaluation of microsatellite markers for populations studies and forensic identification of african lions (Panthera leo) | Miller S.M., Harper C.K., Bloomer P., Hofmeyr J., Funston P.J. | 2014 | Journal of Heredity | 105 | 6 | 10.1093/jhered/esu054 | Department of Nature Conservation, Tshwane University of Technology, Private Bag X680, Pretoria, South Africa; Veterinary Genetics Laboratory, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort, South Africa; Molecular Ecology and Evolution Programme, Department of Genetics, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield, Pretoria, South Africa; Veterinary Wildlife Services, South African National Parks, Private Bag X402, Skukuza, South Africa; Lion Program, Panthera, NY, United States | Miller, S.M., Department of Nature Conservation, Tshwane University of Technology, Private Bag X680, Pretoria, South Africa, Veterinary Genetics Laboratory, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort, South Africa; Harper, C.K., Veterinary Genetics Laboratory, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort, South Africa; Bloomer, P., Molecular Ecology and Evolution Programme, Department of Genetics, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield, Pretoria, South Africa; Hofmeyr, J., Veterinary Wildlife Services, South African National Parks, Private Bag X402, Skukuza, South Africa; Funston, P.J., Department of Nature Conservation, Tshwane University of Technology, Private Bag X680, Pretoria, South Africa, Lion Program, Panthera, NY, United States | The South African lion (Panthera leo) population is highly fragmented. One-third of its wild lions occur in small (<1000 km2) reserves. These lions were reintroduced from other areas of the species' historical range. Management practices on these reserves have not prioritized genetic provenance or heterozygosity. These trends potentially constrain the conservation value of these lions. To ensure the best management and long-term survival of these subpopulations as a viable collective population, the provenance and current genetic diversity must be described. Concurrently, poaching of lions to supply a growing market for lion bones in Asia may become a serious conservation challenge in the future. Having a standardized, validated method for matching confiscated lion parts with carcasses will be a key tool in investigating these crimes. We evaluated 28 microsatellites in the African lion using samples from 18 small reserves and 1 captive facility in South Africa, two conservancies in Zimbabwe, and Kruger National and Kgalagadi Transfrontier Parks to determine the loci most suited for population management and forensic genetic applications. Twelve microsatellite loci with a match probability of 1.1×10-5 between siblings were identified for forensics. A further 10 could be added for population genetics studies. © 2014 The American Genetic Association. All rights reserved. | conservation genetic management; population genetics; wildlife forensics | African; Article; Asia; carcass; controlled study; dinucleotide repeat; DNA flanking region; forensic genetics; forensic identification; gene locus; genetic conservation; genetic variability; lion; long term survival; microsatellite marker; nonhuman; allele; population genetics; South Africa; Zimbabwe; allele; animal; DNA sequence; environmental protection; female; genetics; isolation and purification; lion; male; population genetics; procedures; DNA; microsatellite DNA; Alleles; Animals; Conservation of Natural Resources; DNA; Female; Forensic Genetics; Genetics, Population; Lions; Male; Microsatellite Repeats; Sequence Analysis, DNA; South Africa | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84942235051 | The impact of highly active antiretroviral therapy on the burden of bacterial lower respiratory tract infections in children | de Campos K.R., Granga D.D., Olorunju S., Masekela R. | 2015 | South African Medical Journal | 105 | 7 | 10.7196/SAMJnew.7820 | Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Pretoria, Steve Biko Academic Hospital, Pretoria, South Africa; Biostatistics Unit, Medical Research Council, Pretoria, South Africa; Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, School of Clinical Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa | de Campos, K.R., Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Pretoria, Steve Biko Academic Hospital, Pretoria, South Africa; Granga, D.D., Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Pretoria, Steve Biko Academic Hospital, Pretoria, South Africa; Olorunju, S., Biostatistics Unit, Medical Research Council, Pretoria, South Africa; Masekela, R., Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Pretoria, Steve Biko Academic Hospital, Pretoria, South Africa, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, School of Clinical Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa | Background. Respiratory diseases are common and associated with significant morbidity and mortality in children. Objective. To evaluate the prevalence and outcome of bacterial lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) in HIV-infected and uninfected children at a primary level hospital. Methods. A cross-sectional descriptive study of children aged 6 months - 18 years was conducted. Recruitment included HIV-positive children who had been on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) for at least 6 months. A comparator group of HIV-negative children admitted with bacterial pneumonia was included. Laboratory data collected included CD4+ T-cell counts, HIV viral load and C-reactive protein (CRP). Data collected in both groups included demographic data, immunisation status, zinc supplementation, previous LRTIs, environmental exposures and treatment. Results. Fifty-nine HIV-infected and 20 uninfected children were enrolled. The HIV-positive children were older, with a mean age of 107.2 (standard deviation 50.0) months v. 12.0 (5.8) months (p<0.005). The HIV-infected group had a mean CD4 percentage of 31.5%, and had had an average of 3.9 visits for bacterial LRTIs. All were treated with amoxicillin with no complications. In the HIV-uninfected group, cough and rapid breathing were the most common presenting symptoms, and the mean CRP level was 463.0 mg/L. The mean hospital stay was 4 days. Conclusion. HAART is effective in reducing the burden of LRTIs in HIV-positive children, even when the diagnosis is delayed. Cough and fast breathing are still the most reliable presenting symptoms of pneumonia. The majority of children still respond to amoxicillin as first-line therapy, with low complication rates. © 2015, South African Medical Association. All rights reserved. | None | Article; cross-sectional study; demography; diet supplementation; highly active antiretroviral therapy; hospitalization; human; immunization; respiratory tract infection; virus load | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84883776379 | Field evaluation of 3D geo-electrical resistivity imaging for environmental and engineering studies using parallel 2D profiles | Aizebeokhai A.P., Singh V.S. | 2013 | Current Science | 105 | 4 | None | Department of Physics, Covenant University, Ota, Nigeria; CSIR-National Geophysical Research Institute, Hyderabad 500 007, India | Aizebeokhai, A.P., Department of Physics, Covenant University, Ota, Nigeria; Singh, V.S., CSIR-National Geophysical Research Institute, Hyderabad 500 007, India | Eight parallel two-dimensional (2D) geo-electrical resistivity profiles were generated in hard-rock (Pulivendla) area of Andhra Pradesh, India using a Lund imaging multi-electrode system adopting Wen-ner array. The aim of the survey was to experiment-tally evaluate the effectiveness of using parallel 2D profiles for three-dimensional (3D) geo-electrical resistivity imaging for better understanding of aquifer geometry and its characteristics. The observed 2D apparent resistivity data were independently inverted, and then collated to 3D data set. The inversion of the resulting 3D data set was carried out using a full 3D inversion code. The 3D inverse model of resistivity images obtained are presented as horizontal depth slices. The 2D images extracted from 3D inverse models showed no distortions that are observed in 2D models obtained by 2D inversion. The 3D inverse model resis-tivity appears to be more realistic, considering the hydrogeology of the area. The unusually high resistiv-ity values observed in the 2D inverse models were not observed in the 3D inverse models. The very low near-surface inverse model resistivity observed is thought to be structurally influenced. The results, which are consistent with numerical evaluation, show that high resolution 3D geoelectrical resistivity imaging can be successfully conducted using parallel 2D profiles if appropriate survey parameters are carefully chosen. | 2D and 3D imaging; 3D inversion; Field evaluation; Parallel 2D profiles; Resistivity survey | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84942257824 | Evaluation of the diagnostic accuracy of the HemoCue device for detecting anaemia in healthy school-aged children in KwaZulu-natal, South Africa | Gwetu T.P., Chhagan M.K. | 2015 | South African Medical Journal | 105 | 7 | 10.7196/SAMJnew.7919 | Department of Public Health, School of Clinical Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa | Gwetu, T.P., Department of Public Health, School of Clinical Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; Chhagan, M.K., Department of Public Health, School of Clinical Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa | Background. The prevalence of anaemia in school-aged children is reported to be high (>10%), yet neither the onset of anaemia nor the disease causing it is easily established. Any form of anaemia, even if mild, can compromise children’s health and survival. This study was conducted to generate data to support or reject use of the HemoCue device as a potential point-of-care method for haemoglobin (Hb) assessment in field and primary healthcare settings. Objective. To assess the validity of the HemoCue in relation to the gold-standard laboratory method. Methods. A cross-sectional study of children aged 6 - 8 years, analysing the diagnostic accuracy of the HemoCue in determining Hb levels in venous blood. Agreement between the HemoCue and laboratory techniques was evaluated using the Bland-Altman plot. The intra-class correlation coefficient was used to assess within-subject variability of measured Hb. Results. A trend of underestimation of Hb values was noted. The mean Hb with the HemoCue was 11.70 g/dL and that with the laboratory method 12.19 g/dL. The mean difference between the two methods was 0.49 g/dL, with a standard deviation of 0.77 g/dL (95% confidence interval –0.59––0.38). Discrepancies >1 g/dL were identified in 14.1% of cases. Bias increased with increasing Hb values. Conclusion. The HemoCue was found to be comparable to the standard laboratory method for determining Hb concentrations in school-aged children. Its usefulness for screening healthy children was demonstrated, although a full blood count is recommended if anaemia or iron deficiency is suspected. © 2015, South African Medical Association. All rights reserved. | None | hemoglobin; anemia; Article; child; cross-sectional study; diagnostic accuracy; diagnostic test accuracy study; female; human; major clinical study; male; predictive value; preschool child; reproducibility; school child; sensitivity and specificity; South Africa | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84946720381 | Evaluation of fetal MRI in a South African referral centre | Daire A., Andronikou S., Boutall A., Constantatos S., Stewart C., Candy S.E. | 2015 | South African Medical Journal | 105 | 11 | 10.7196/SAMJ.2015.v105i11.9415 | Department of Radiology, Groote Schuur Hospital and University of Cape Town, South Africa; Departments of Radiology and Paediatrics, University of Cape Town, South Africa; Department of Radiology, University of Bristol and Bristol Royal Hospital for Children, United Kingdom; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Groote Schuur Hospital, University of Cape Town, South Africa | Daire, A., Department of Radiology, Groote Schuur Hospital and University of Cape Town, South Africa; Andronikou, S., Departments of Radiology and Paediatrics, University of Cape Town, South Africa, Department of Radiology, University of Bristol and Bristol Royal Hospital for Children, United Kingdom; Boutall, A., Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Groote Schuur Hospital, University of Cape Town, South Africa; Constantatos, S., Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Groote Schuur Hospital, University of Cape Town, South Africa; Stewart, C., Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Groote Schuur Hospital, University of Cape Town, South Africa; Candy, S.E., Department of Radiology, Groote Schuur Hospital and University of Cape Town, South Africa | Background. The Department of Radiology at Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa, has been performing fetal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) since 2007. Fetal MRI findings have not previously been analysed to correlate them with antenatal and postnatal findings. Objectives. To determine the most common indication for fetal MRI, and to correlate antenatal MRI with antenatal ultrasound (US), postnatal imaging and postmortem findings. Methods. This was a retrospective study of imaging carried out between January 2006 and December 2011. Seventy fetal MRI cases with complete antenatal and postnatal medical records were included. Antenatal US and antenatal MRI were compared, and also compared with the postnatal imaging findings. Stata 12 was used to analyse the data, and Spearman’s test to test the agreement between the results. Results. Intracranial pathology was the most common indication for fetal MRI, with ventriculomegaly being the commonest indication determined from prenatal US. There was 72% agreement between antenatal US and fetal MRI. Postnatal findings showed 28% agreement with antenatal US and 39% agreement with fetal MRI. Conclusions. Intracranial pathology was the major indication for fetal MRI. There was good agreement between prenatal US and fetal MRI but poor agreement between antenatal and postnatal findings, largely as a result of resolution of ventriculomegaly. © 2015, South African Medical Journal. All Rights Reserved. | None | adult; angioosteohypertrophy syndrome; Article; brain ventricle dilatation; chromosome aberration; congenital diaphragm hernia; controlled study; cytomegalovirus infection; Dandy Walker syndrome; demography; diagnostic error; echoencephalography; female; fetal magnetic resonance imaging; fetus; genetic counseling; gestational age; holoprosencephaly; human; Klinefelter syndrome; major clinical study; nuclear magnetic resonance imaging; pregnancy termination; prenatal diagnosis; retrospective study; South Africa; trisomy 13 | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84942241610 | Impact of an educational intervention and clinical performance dashboard on neonatal bloodstream infections | Raban M.S., Bamford C., Joolay Y., Harrison M.C. | 2015 | South African Medical Journal | 105 | 7 | 10.7196/SAMJnew.7764 | Division of Neonatal Medicine, Department of Paediatrics, University of Cape Town, South Africa; National Health Laboratory Service, Groote Schuur Hospital and Division of Medical Microbiology, Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, University of Cape Town, South Africa | Raban, M.S., Division of Neonatal Medicine, Department of Paediatrics, University of Cape Town, South Africa; Bamford, C., National Health Laboratory Service, Groote Schuur Hospital and Division of Medical Microbiology, Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, University of Cape Town, South Africa; Joolay, Y., Division of Neonatal Medicine, Department of Paediatrics, University of Cape Town, South Africa; Harrison, M.C., Division of Neonatal Medicine, Department of Paediatrics, University of Cape Town, South Africa | Background. Blood cultures are the most direct method of detecting bacteraemia. Reducing contamination rates improves the specificity and positive predictive value of the blood culture. Clinical performance dashboards have been shown to be powerful tools in improving patient care and outcomes. Objectives. To determine whether prospective surveillance of bloodstream infections (BSIs), introduction of an educational intervention and the use of a clinical performance dashboard could reduce BSIs and blood culture contamination rates in a neonatal nursery. Methods. We compared two time periods, before and after an intervention. Blood culture data were extracted from the local microbiology laboratory database. The educational intervention included the establishment of hand-washing protocols, blood culture techniques and video tools. A clinical performance dashboard was developed to demonstrate the monthly positive blood culture and contamination rates, and this was highlighted and referred to weekly at the unit staff meeting. Results. Before the intervention, 1 460 blood cultures were taken; 206 (14.1%) were positive, of which 104 (7.1% of the total) were contaminants. In the period following the intervention, 1 282 blood cultures were taken; 131 (10.2%) were positive, of which 42 (3.3% of the total) were contaminants. The number of positive blood cultures and contamination rates after the intervention were both statistically significantly reduced (p=0.002 and p<0.001, respectively). Conclusion. This study demonstrates that adopting a relatively simple educational tool, making use of a clinical performance dashboard indicator and benchmarking practice can significantly reduce the level of neonatal sepsis while also reducing contaminated blood cultures. © 2015, South African Medical Association. All rights reserved. | None | adult; Article; bacterium contamination; blood culture; bloodstream infection; clinical feature; educational status; female; human; major clinical study; male; outcome assessment; performance; predictive value | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84943158117 | Impact of transthoracic echocardiography at district hospital level | Bedeker W.F., Lachman A.S., Borkum M., Hellenberg D., Cupido C.S. | 2015 | South African Medical Journal | 105 | 10 | 10.7196/SAMJnew.8102 | Division of Family Medicine, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, South Africa; Victoria Hospital, Wynberg, Cape Town, South Africa; Department of Medicine, Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa | Bedeker, W.F., Division of Family Medicine, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, South Africa; Lachman, A.S., Victoria Hospital, Wynberg, Cape Town, South Africa; Borkum, M., Department of Medicine, Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa; Hellenberg, D., Division of Family Medicine, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, South Africa; Cupido, C.S., Victoria Hospital, Wynberg, Cape Town, South Africa | Background. The use of and demand for echocardiography (ECHO) has increased worldwide. In developed countries, this has not translated into improved access outside tertiary centres. Previous studies have favoured the appropriate use of ECHO over its clinical impact, limiting generalisability to resource-constrained settings. Objectives. To assess the impact of an ECHO service at district hospital level in Cape Town, South Africa. Methods. A prospective, cross-sectional study was performed. A total of 210 consecutive patients, referred to the ECHO clinic over a 5-month period, were recruited. Transthoracic ECHO was evaluated in terms of its indication, new information provided, correlation with the referring doctor’s diagnosis and subsequent management plan. Impact included the escalation and de-escalation of treatment, as well as usefulness without a change in management. Results. The results show that 83.8% of the patients’ management was impacted on by echocardiography. Valvular lesions were the main indication. The most frequent contribution was information provided towards the diagnosis of heart failure and assessment after myocardial infarction. Of the echocardiograms, 56.2% confirmed the referring doctor’s diagnosis, yet were still associated with a significant impact. The rational prescription of medication had the major impetus, followed by de-escalation of therapy and screening patients to determine referral to a tertiary facility. Conclusion. ECHO has a positive impact on patient management outside tertiary settings, where the definition of impact appears to be different. The value of a normal study, screening prior to upstream referral and usefulness irrespective of change have been established. This should alert policy makers against restriction of access to ECHO and promote training of personnel in its use. © 2015, South African Medical Association. All rights reserved. | None | adolescent; aged; anticoagulant therapy; aorta atherosclerosis; aorta stenosis; aorta valve regurgitation; Article; cardiomegaly; cardiomyopathy; child; cross-sectional study; echocardiograph; faintness; female; health impact assessment; heart aneurysm; heart arrhythmia; heart failure; heart infarction; heart left ventricle function; heart murmur; heart ventricle wall motion; human; ischemic heart disease; male; mitral valve regurgitation; mitral valve stenosis; thorax pain; transthoracic echocardiography; tricuspid valve regurgitation; valvular heart disease; adult; complication; echocardiography; echography; Heart Diseases; middle aged; needs assessment; patient referral; patient selection; preschool child; prospective study; public hospital; South Africa; very elderly; young adult; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Child; Child, Preschool; Cross-Sectional Studies; Echocardiography; Female; Heart Diseases; Hospitals, District; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Needs Assessment; Patient Selection; Prospective Studies; Referral and Consultation; South Africa; Young Adult | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84942255924 | Impact of fibrinolytics on the outcome of empyema in South African children | Zampoli M., Kappos A., Verwey C., Mamathuba R., Zar H.J. | 2015 | South African Medical Journal | 105 | 7 | 10.7196/SAMJnew.7796 | Division of Paediatric Pulmonology, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Cape Town, South Africa | Zampoli, M., Division of Paediatric Pulmonology, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Cape Town, South Africa; Kappos, A., Division of Paediatric Pulmonology, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Cape Town, South Africa; Verwey, C., Division of Paediatric Pulmonology, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Cape Town, South Africa; Mamathuba, R., Division of Paediatric Pulmonology, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Cape Town, South Africa; Zar, H.J., Division of Paediatric Pulmonology, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Cape Town, South Africa | Background. Childhood pneumonia is common in all countries, and empyema is one of the commonest complications. The role of routine intrapleural fibrinolytics in the management of childhood empyema is not well established in low- and middle-income countries. Methods. We did a prospective observational study of children sequentially hospitalised with empyema between December 2006 and December 2011 in South Africa (SA). Intrapleural tissue plasminogen activator (TPA), administered according to a standard protocol, was introduced in September 2009. Outcomes in children treated with TPA after 2009 were compared with the historical cohort not treated with TPA who met the treatment criteria. Results. One hundred and forty-two children with empyema, median age 17 months (interquartile range 8 - 43), were admitted during the study period. Excluding children who did not have a chest tube inserted and those in whom fibrinolysis was contraindicated, there were 99 patients, 52 of whom received fibrinolytics. Clinical characteristics and empyema aetiology were similar in those who received fibrinolysis and those who did not. Eighteen children (38.3%) not treated with TPA required surgery v. 5 (9.6%) treated with TPA (relative risk 0.25; 95% confidence interval 0.1 - 0.6). The median duration of hospitalisation was similar in both groups. Complications occurred rarely and with a similar incidence in both groups. In-hospital mortality was low, with two deaths in each group. Conclusion. Intrapleural TPA resulted in a four-fold reduction in surgery. Fibrinolytics should be used for management of empyema in children in SA. © 2015, South African Medical Association. All rights reserved. | None | cloxacillin; fibrinolytic agent; gentamicin; tissue plasminogen activator; fibrinolytic agent; tissue plasminogen activator; Article; child; empyema; enzyme linked immunosorbent assay; female; HIV test; hospitalization; human; length of stay; major clinical study; male; mortality; observational study; preschool child; prospective study; chest tube; complication; devices; drug effects; Empyema, Pleural; fibrinolytic therapy; infant; isolation and purification; microbiology; pathophysiology; pleura cavity; pneumonia; procedures; South Africa; Staphylococcus aureus; treatment outcome; Chest Tubes; Child, Preschool; Empyema, Pleural; Female; Fibrinolytic Agents; Humans; Infant; Male; Pleural Cavity; Pneumonia; South Africa; Staphylococcus aureus; Thrombolytic Therapy; Tissue Plasminogen Activator; Treatment Outcome | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84928266864 | Integrated positron emission tomography/computed tomography for evaluation of mediastinal lymph node staging of non-small-cell lung cancer in a tuberculosisendemic area: A 5-year prospective observational study | Shaw J.A., Irusen E.M., von Groote-Bidlingmaier F., Warwick J.M., Jeremic B., Du Toit R., Koegelenberg C.F.N. | 2015 | South African Medical Journal | 105 | 2 | 10.7196/SAMJ.8357 | Division of Pulmonology, Department of Medicine Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg Academic Hospital, Tygerberg, Cape Town, South Africa; Division of Nuclear Medicine, Department of Medical Imaging and Clinical Oncology, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg Academic Hospital, Tygerberg, Cape Town, South Africa; Division of Radiation Oncology, Department of Medical Imaging and Clinical Oncology, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg Academic Hospital, Tygerberg, Cape Town, South Africa | Shaw, J.A., Division of Pulmonology, Department of Medicine Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg Academic Hospital, Tygerberg, Cape Town, South Africa; Irusen, E.M., Division of Pulmonology, Department of Medicine Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg Academic Hospital, Tygerberg, Cape Town, South Africa; von Groote-Bidlingmaier, F., Division of Pulmonology, Department of Medicine Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg Academic Hospital, Tygerberg, Cape Town, South Africa; Warwick, J.M., Division of Nuclear Medicine, Department of Medical Imaging and Clinical Oncology, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg Academic Hospital, Tygerberg, Cape Town, South Africa; Jeremic, B., Division of Radiation Oncology, Department of Medical Imaging and Clinical Oncology, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg Academic Hospital, Tygerberg, Cape Town, South Africa; Du Toit, R., Division of Pulmonology, Department of Medicine Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg Academic Hospital, Tygerberg, Cape Town, South Africa; Koegelenberg, C.F.N., Division of Pulmonology, Department of Medicine Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg Academic Hospital, Tygerberg, Cape Town, South Africa | Background. Integrated positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET-CT) is a well-validated modality for assessing mediastinal lymph node metastasis in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), which determines management and predicts survival. Tuberculosis (TB) is known to lead to false-positive PET-CT findings. Objectives. To assess the diagnostic accuracy of PET-CT in identifying mediastinal lymph node involvement of NSCLC in a high TB-endemic area. Methods. Patients who underwent both PET-CT and lymph node tissue sampling for the investigation of suspected NSCLC were prospectively included in this observational study. Results were analysed per patient and per lymph node stage. A post-hoc analysis was performed to test the validity of a maximum standardised uptake value (SUVmax) cut-off for lymph node positivity. Results. PET-CT had a sensitivity of 92.6%, specificity of 48.6%, positive predictive value of 56.8% and negative predictive value (NPV) of 90.0% in the per-patient analysis. Diagnostic accuracy was 67.2%. Similar values were obtained in the per-lymph node stage analysis. TB was responsible for 21.1% of false-positive results. A SUVmax cut-off of 4.5 yielded an improvement in diagnostic accuracy from 64.0% to 84.7% compared with a cut-off of 2.5, but at the cost of decreasing the NPV from 90.6% to 83.5%. Conclusion. In a high TB-endemic area, PET-CT remains a valuable method for excluding mediastinal lymph node involvement in NSCLC. Patients with a negative PET-CT may proceed to definitive management without further invasive procedures. However, PET-CT-positive lymph nodes require pathological confirmation, and the possibility of TB must be considered. © 2015, South African Medical Association. All rights reserved. | None | adult; aged; Article; cancer staging; computer assisted emission tomography; diagnostic accuracy; diagnostic test accuracy study; female; fine needle aspiration biopsy; human; human tissue; major clinical study; male; mediastinum lymph node; middle aged; non small cell lung cancer; observational study; predictive value; prospective study; receiver operating characteristic; sensitivity and specificity; transthoracic aspiration; tuberculosis | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84948757618 | The diagnostic accuracy of integrated positron emission tomography/computed tomography in the evaluation of pulmonary mass lesions in a tuberculosis-endemic area | du Toit R., Shaw J.A., Irusen E.M., von Groote-Bidlingmaier F., Warwick J.M., Koegelenberg C.F.N. | 2015 | South African Medical Journal | 105 | 12 | 10.7196/SAMJ.2015.v105i12.10300 | Division of Pulmonology, Department of Medicine, Stellenbosch University and Tygerberg Academic Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa; Division of Nuclear Medicine, Department of Medical Imaging and Clinical Oncology, Stellenbosch University and Tygerberg Academic Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa | du Toit, R., Division of Pulmonology, Department of Medicine, Stellenbosch University and Tygerberg Academic Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa; Shaw, J.A., Division of Pulmonology, Department of Medicine, Stellenbosch University and Tygerberg Academic Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa; Irusen, E.M., Division of Pulmonology, Department of Medicine, Stellenbosch University and Tygerberg Academic Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa; von Groote-Bidlingmaier, F., Division of Pulmonology, Department of Medicine, Stellenbosch University and Tygerberg Academic Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa; Warwick, J.M., Division of Nuclear Medicine, Department of Medical Imaging and Clinical Oncology, Stellenbosch University and Tygerberg Academic Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa; Koegelenberg, C.F.N., Division of Pulmonology, Department of Medicine, Stellenbosch University and Tygerberg Academic Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa | Background. Integrated positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET-CT) is a well-validated modality for assessing pulmonary mass lesions and specifically for estimating risk of malignancy. Tuberculosis (TB) is known to cause false-positive PET-CT findings. Objective. To investigate the utility of PET-CT in the evaluation of pulmonary mass lesions and nodules in a high TB prevalence setting. Methods. All patients referred for the evaluation of a solitary pulmonary nodule or mass and who underwent PET-CT scanning over a 3-year period were included. The PET-CT findings, including maximum standardised uptake value (SUVmax), were compared with the gold standard (tissue or microbiological diagnosis). The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values and diagnostic accuracy for malignant disease were calculated according to the SUVmax cut-off of 2.5 and a proposed cut-off obtained from a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Results. Forty-nine patients (mean (standard deviation) age 60.1 (10.2) years; 29 males) were included, of whom 30 had malignancy. Using an SUVmax cut-off of 2.5, PET-CT had a sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value and diagnostic accuracy for malignancy of 93.3%, 36.8%, 70.0%, 77.8% and 71.4%, respectively. After a ROC curve analysis, a suggested SUVmax cut-off of 5.0 improved the specificity to 78.9% and the diagnostic accuracy to 86.7%, with a small reduction in sensitivity to 90.0%. Conclusions. The diagnostic accuracy of PET-CT in the evaluation of pulmonary mass lesions using the conventional SUVmax cut-off of 2.5 was reduced in a TB-endemic area. An SUVmax cut-off of 5.0 has a higher specificity and diagnostic accuracy for malignancy, with a comparable sensitivity. © 2015, South African Medical Association. All rights reserved. | PET/CT; Positron emission tomography/computed tomography; Pulmonary mass lesions; Tuberculosis-endemic area | fluorodeoxyglucose f 18; adult; Article; clinical article; computer assisted emission tomography; diagnostic test accuracy study; female; histology; human; human tissue; lung cancer; lung lesion; lung nodule; lung tuberculosis; male; predictive value; receiver operating characteristic; sensitivity and specificity | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84907705263 | Condition monitoring of medium voltage electrical cables by means of partial discharge measurements | Van Jaarsveldt H., Gouws R. | 2014 | SAIEE Africa Research Journal | 105 | 4 | None | School of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering, North-West University, Private bag X6001, Post-point 288, Potchefstroom, South Africa | Van Jaarsveldt, H., School of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering, North-West University, Private bag X6001, Post-point 288, Potchefstroom, South Africa; Gouws, R., School of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering, North-West University, Private bag X6001, Post-point 288, Potchefstroom, South Africa | The purpose of this paper is to discuss condition monitoring (CM) of medium voltage electrical cables by means of partial discharge (PD) measurements. Electrical cables are exposed to a variety of operational and environmental stressors. The stressors will lead to the degradation of the cable's insulation material and ultimately to cable failure. The premature failure of cables can cause blackouts and will have a significant effect on the safety of such a network. It is therefore crucial to constantly monitor the condition of electrical cables. The first part of this paper is focussed on fundamental theory concepts regarding CM of electrical cables as well as PD. The derivation of mathematical models for the simulation of PD is also discussed. The simulation of discharge activity is due to a single void within the insulation material of medium voltage cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) cables. The simulations were performed in the MATLAB® Simulink® environment, in order to investigate the effects of a variety of parameters on the characteristics of the PD signal. A nonintrusive CM technique was designed for the detection of PD activity within cables. The CM technique was used to measure and analyse practical PD data. Two MATLAB® programs were designed to analyse the PD data in both the time-domain and frequency-domain. © 2014, South African Institute of Electrical Engineers. All rights reserved. | Condition monitoring (CM); Cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) insulation; MATLAB® Simulink®; Partial discharge (PD); Time- and frequency domain | Crosslinked polyethylene; Electrical cables; Frequency domains; Medium voltage; Partial discharge measurements; Simulink | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84925084162 | The impact of acute preoperative beta-blockade on perioperative cardiac morbidity and all-cause mortality in hypertensive South African vascular surgery patients | Moodley Y., Biccard B.M. | 2015 | South African Medical Journal | 105 | 6 | 10.7196/SAMJ.8856 | Perioperative Research Group, Department of Anaesthetics, School of Clinical Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa | Moodley, Y., Perioperative Research Group, Department of Anaesthetics, School of Clinical Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; Biccard, B.M., Perioperative Research Group, Department of Anaesthetics, School of Clinical Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa | Background. Acute β-blockade has been associated with poor perioperative outcomes in non-cardiac surgery patients, probably as a result of β-blocker-induced haemodynamic instability during the perioperative period, which has been shown to be more severe in hypertensive patients. Objective. To determine the impact of acute preoperative β-blockade on the incidence of perioperative cardiovascular morbidity and allcause mortality in hypertensive South African (SA) patients who underwent vascular surgery at a tertiary hospital. Methods. We conducted two separate case-control analyses to determine the impact of acute preoperative β-blockade on the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs, a composite outcome of a perioperative troponin-I leak or all-cause mortality) and perioperative troponin-I leak alone. Case and control groups were compared using χ2, Fisher’s exact, McNemar’s or Student’s t-tests, where applicable. Binary logistic regression was used to determine whether acute preoperative β-blocker use was an independent predictor of perioperative MACEs/troponin-I leak in hypertensive SA vascular surgery patients. Results. We found acute preoperative β-blockade to be an independent predictor of perioperative MACEs (odds ratio (OR) 3.496; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.948 - 6.273; p<0.001) and troponin-I leak (OR 5.962; 95% CI 3.085 - 11.52; p<0.001) in hypertensive SA vascular surgery patients. Conclusions. Our findings suggest that acute preoperative β-blockade is associated with an increased risk of perioperative cardiac morbidity and all-cause mortality in hypertensive SA vascular surgery patients. © 2015, South African Medical Journal. All right reserved. | None | atenolol; carvedilol; labetalol; troponin I; adult; Article; beta adrenergic receptor blocking; cardiovascular disease; cardiovascular mortality; case control study; controlled study; female; human; hypertension; incidence; major clinical study; male; outcome assessment; perioperative period; preoperative period; scoring system; vascular surgery | D43TW000231, NIH, National Institutes of Health |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84899857757 | Integrating soil water monitoring technology and weather based crop modelling to provide improved decision support for sugarcane irrigation management | Paraskevopoulos A.L., Singels A. | 2014 | Computers and Electronics in Agriculture | 105 | None | 10.1016/j.compag.2014.04.007 | South African Sugarcane Research Institute, Private Bag X02, Mount Edgecombe 4300, South Africa | Paraskevopoulos, A.L., South African Sugarcane Research Institute, Private Bag X02, Mount Edgecombe 4300, South Africa; Singels, A., South African Sugarcane Research Institute, Private Bag X02, Mount Edgecombe 4300, South Africa | Various technologies exist to support scientific irrigation scheduling, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. Weather-based crop models are good at estimating evapotranspiration and future irrigation needs over large areas, while electronic soil water sensors are able to provide good estimates of soil water status at a given point. Synergy may be obtained by combining these technologies to enhance their usefulness for irrigation management. The objective of this study was to incorporate real-time field records of soil water status into a weather based sugarcane simulation system and to evaluate its use for supporting irrigation scheduling in 15 sugarcane fields in South Africa. Layered soil water status data from capacitance probes were converted to root zone available soil water content (ASWC) using linear scaling. Field specific calibration coefficients were derived from drainage and extraction patterns. An analysis of simulation outputs and observed cane yields suggested that yields were substantially below potential for seven out of the 15 fields. Two fields had prolonged periods of water stress due to under-irrigation, as reflected by the fact that yields from simulations based on measured soil water data were substantially below the potential yield. Yields in six fields were probably limited by poor husbandry as suggested by the fact that observed yields were well below simulated yields using measured soil water data. The system was demonstrated to commercial and small-scale farmers and extension officers during a series of workshops. The integrated system provides enhanced support for irrigation water management for sugarcane production. Farmers and extension specialists can understand the impact of irrigation practices on the soil water regime and its impact on crop growth and yield. This is a good basis for making adjustments to irrigation practices and for benchmarking crop performance and water use efficiency. It also has value for supporting irrigation scheduling decisions. © 2014 Elsevier B.V. | Cane yield; Capacitance sensor; Crop model; Irrigation scheduling; Soil water content; Weather data | Benchmarking; Capacitance; Crops; Decision support systems; Plants (botany); Scheduling; Sensors; Soil moisture; Water management; Water supply; Cane yield; Capacitance sensors; Crop model; Irrigation scheduling; Soil water content; Weather data; Irrigation | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-29544448204 | Risks associated with rockpasses in deep-level tabular mines based on historical pass performance | Joughin W.C., Stacey T.R. | 2005 | Journal of The South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy | 105 | 11 | None | SRK Consulting; University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa | Joughin, W.C., SRK Consulting; Stacey, T.R., University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa | Problems with the stability and performance of rockpasses in deeplevel mines are common. This paper presents the results of an investigation into the recorded performance of rockpasses in deeplevel gold mines. Records relevant to the geological environment in which the passes are excavated, their excavation details, and their historical performance are not at all well documented on mines. In general, the quality of data available from mines is poor. The investigation showed that very large spans frequently developed in passes during use, and that rock mass quality, the orientation of the pass with respect to the dip of the strata, and the magnitude of the stress acting normal to the axis of the pass were the main factors of influence. From the historical information obtained, the risks of instability in rockpasses are identified. © The South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 2005. | None | Deeplevel mines; Rockpasses; Data acquisition; Excavation; Geology; Gold; Risk assessment; Gold mines | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84948807634 | Dyspepsia prevalence and impact on quality of life among Rwandan healthcare workers: A cross-sectional survey | Bitwayiki R., Orikiiriza J.T., Kateera F., Bihizimana P., Karenzi B., Kyamanywa P., Walke T.D. | 2015 | South African Medical Journal | 105 | 12 | 10.7196/SAMJ.2015.v105i12.9482 | University Teaching Hospital, Butare, Rwanda; School of Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Rwanda, Butare, Rwanda; Rwanda Military Hospital, Kigali, Rwanda; Infectious Diseases Institute, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda; Department of Immunology, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland | Bitwayiki, R., University Teaching Hospital, Butare, Rwanda, School of Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Rwanda, Butare, Rwanda; Orikiiriza, J.T., Rwanda Military Hospital, Kigali, Rwanda, Infectious Diseases Institute, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda, Department of Immunology, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland; Kateera, F., Rwanda Military Hospital, Kigali, Rwanda; Bihizimana, P., University Teaching Hospital, Butare, Rwanda, School of Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Rwanda, Butare, Rwanda; Karenzi, B., Rwanda Military Hospital, Kigali, Rwanda; Kyamanywa, P., School of Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Rwanda, Butare, Rwanda; Walke, T.D., University Teaching Hospital, Butare, Rwanda, School of Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Rwanda, Butare, Rwanda | Background. Dyspepsia has been demonstrated worldwide to have major personal and societal impacts, but data on the burden of this disease in Africa are lacking. Objective. To document the prevalence of dyspepsia and its quality-of-life impact among healthcare workers (HCWs) at Butare University Teaching Hospital (BUTH), Rwanda. Methods. A cross-sectional survey among consenting HCWs at BUTH was conducted. Multilingual interviewers guided participants through validated questionnaires, including the Short-Form Leeds Dyspepsia Questionnaire (SF-LDQ), to detect the presence and frequency of dyspeptic symptoms, and the Short-Form Nepean Dyspepsia Index (SF-NDI), to examine the impact of dyspepsia on quality of life. Results. The study included 378 enrolled HCWs, all of whom provided responses to the SF-LDQ and 356 of whom responded to the SF-NDI. The prevalence of dyspepsia in the study population was 38.9% (147/378). Of these 147 HCWs, 79 (53.7%) had very mild dyspepsia, 33 (22.4%) had mild dyspepsia, 20 (13.6%) had moderate dyspepsia and 15 (10.2%) had severe dyspepsia. Females were more likely to complain of dyspepsia than males (98/206 v. 49/172; odds ratio (OR) 2.3; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.5 - 3.5; p<0.001). Participants with dyspepsia of at least mild severity had SF-NDI scores reflecting reduced quality of life when compared with non-dyspeptic participants (OR 17.0; 95% CI 5.0 - 57.1; p<0.001), with most marked effects on the ‘tension’ and ‘eating and drinking’ subdomains of the SF-NDI. Conclusion. The prevalence of dyspepsia among HCWs in Rwanda is high and is associated with lowered quality of life. © 2015, South African Medical Association. All rights reserved. | Africa; Dyspepsia; Healthcare workers; Quality of life | adult; Article; cross-sectional study; dyspepsia; female; health care personnel; heartburn; human; indigestion; major clinical study; male; middle aged; nausea; prevalence; quality of life; questionnaire; Rwandan | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84860343597 | The dynamics of urban expansion and its impacts on land use/land cover change and small-scale farmers living near the urban fringe: A case study of Bahir Dar, Ethiopia | Haregeweyn N., Fikadu G., Tsunekawa A., Tsubo M., Meshesha D.T. | 2012 | Landscape and Urban Planning | 106 | 2 | 10.1016/j.landurbplan.2012.02.016 | Arid Land Research Center, Tottori University, 1390 Hamasaka, Tottori 680-0001, Japan; Department of Land Resources Management and Environmental Protection, Mekelle University, P.O. Box 231, Ethiopia | Haregeweyn, N., Arid Land Research Center, Tottori University, 1390 Hamasaka, Tottori 680-0001, Japan, Department of Land Resources Management and Environmental Protection, Mekelle University, P.O. Box 231, Ethiopia; Fikadu, G., Department of Land Resources Management and Environmental Protection, Mekelle University, P.O. Box 231, Ethiopia; Tsunekawa, A., Arid Land Research Center, Tottori University, 1390 Hamasaka, Tottori 680-0001, Japan; Tsubo, M., Arid Land Research Center, Tottori University, 1390 Hamasaka, Tottori 680-0001, Japan; Meshesha, D.T., Arid Land Research Center, Tottori University, 1390 Hamasaka, Tottori 680-0001, Japan | This study evaluated the dynamics of urban expansion and its impacts on land use/land cover change and livelihoods of small-scale farmers living near the urban fringe of Bahir Dar in northwest Ethiopia. Aerial photos for the years 1957, 1984, and 1994 as well as field mapping using GPS for the year 2009 were employed and analyzed using GIS. Heads of 271 households affected by the expansion were interviewed to evaluate the impacts of expansion and compensation modalities in practice. Results showed that the urban area expanded annually by about 12%, 14% and 5% during the periods: 1957-1984, 1984-1994 and 1994-2009, respectively. The area showed an overall annual increment of 31%, from 279. ha in 1957 to 4830. ha in 2009. Built-up areas increased as a result of horizontal expansion, from 80. ha in 1957 to 848. ha in 1994, but also due to intensification at the expense of agricultural areas, from 80 to 155. ha, during the same period. A total of 242.2. ha of farmland was expropriated from 271 households between 2004 and 2009, and 96% of those interviewed believed that the compensation was insufficient, as the decision is influenced by the government's land ownership system. We predict that the current urban area will double by 2024. This will have far-reaching ecological, socio-economic and environmental impacts. A better understanding of the dynamics of urban growth and its associated impacts in the urban fringe can help form a basis for sustainable planning of future developments of areas experiencing urban expansion. © 2012 Elsevier B.V. | Ethiopia; Expropriation; Horizontal expansion; Intensification; Urban expansion; Urban fringe | Ethiopia; Expropriation; Horizontal expansion; Intensification; Urban expansion; Urban fringe; Agriculture; Crystal orientation; Dynamics; aerial photography; agricultural intensification; agricultural land; agricultural worker; GIS; GPS; land cover; land use change; land use planning; landownership; urban growth; Ethiopia | None |
| WoS | WOS:000267045500033 | Multidimensional evaluation of managed relocation | Ashe, Daniel M.,Brennan, E. Jean,Camacho, Alejandro,Clark, Jamie Rappaport,Early, Regan,Etterson, Julie R.,Fielder, E. Dwight,Gill, Jacquelyn L.,Gonzalez, Patrick,Hellmann, Jessica J.,McLachlan, Jason S.,Minteer, Ben A.,Polasky, Stephen,Richardson, David | 2009 | PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA | 106 | 24 | 10.1073/pnas.0902327106 | Arizona State University, Brown University, Stanford University, Stellenbosch University, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), United States Forest Service, University of British Columbia, University of California Berkeley, University of California Davis, University of California System, University of Minnesota Duluth, University of Minnesota System, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, University of Notre Dame, University of Wisconsin Madison, University of Wisconsin System, Bur Land Management, USDA Forest Serv, US Fish & Wildlife Service | "Camacho, Alejandro: University of Notre Dame","Early, Regan: Brown University","Etterson, Julie R.: University of Minnesota Duluth","Etterson, Julie R.: University of Minnesota System","Etterson, Julie R.: University of Minnesota Twin Cities","Gill, Jacquelyn L.: University of Wisconsin Madison","Gill, Jacquelyn L.: University of Wisconsin System","Gonzalez, Patrick: University of California Berkeley","Gonzalez, Patrick: University of California System","Hellmann, Jessica J.: University of Notre Dame","McLachlan, Jason S.: University of Notre Dame","Minteer, Ben A.: Arizona State University","Richardson, David M.: Stellenbosch University","Safford, Hugh D.: United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)","Safford, Hugh D.: United States Forest Service","Sala, Osvaldo E.: Brown University","Sax, Dov F.: Brown University","Schwartz, Mark W.: University of California Davis","Schwartz, Mark W.: University of California System", | Managed relocation (MR) has rapidly emerged as a potential intervention strategy in the toolbox of biodiversity management under climate change. Previous authors have suggested that MR (also referred to as assisted colonization, assisted migration, or assisted translocation) could be a last-alternative option after interrogating a linear decision tree. We argue that numerous interacting and value-laden considerations demand a more inclusive strategy for evaluating MR. The pace of modern climate change demands decision making with imperfect information, and tools that elucidate this uncertainty and integrate scientific information and social values are urgently needed. We present a heuristic tool that incorporates both ecological and social criteria in a multidimensional decision-making framework. For visualization purposes, we collapse these criteria into 4 classes that can be depicted in graphical 2-D space. This framework offers a pragmatic approach for summarizing key dimensions of MR: capturing uncertainty in the evaluation criteria, creating transparency in the evaluation process, and recognizing the inherent tradeoffs that different stakeholders bring to evaluation of MR and its alternatives. | "assisted migration","CLIMATE CHANGE","CONSERVATION BIOLOGY","conservation strategy","sustainability science","ASSISTED COLONIZATION",CLIMATE-CHANGE,DEBATE,MIGRATION | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-60049101030 | Impact of solar radiation in disinfecting drinking water contaminated with Giardia duodenalis and Entamoeba histolytica/dispar at a point-of-use water treatment | Mtapuri-Zinyowera S., Midzi N., Muchaneta-Kubara C.E., Simbini T., Mduluza T. | 2009 | Journal of Applied Microbiology | 106 | 3 | 10.1111/j.1365-2672.2008.04054.x | Biochemistry Department, University of Zimbabwe, PO Box MP 167, Mount Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe; Department of Medical Microbiology, College of Health Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe; National Institute of Health Research, Causeway, Zimbabwe; Centre for Evaluation of Public Health Interventions, College of Health Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe; Department of Biochemistry, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe | Mtapuri-Zinyowera, S., Department of Medical Microbiology, College of Health Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe; Midzi, N., National Institute of Health Research, Causeway, Zimbabwe; Muchaneta-Kubara, C.E., Department of Medical Microbiology, College of Health Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe; Simbini, T., Centre for Evaluation of Public Health Interventions, College of Health Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe; Mduluza, T., Biochemistry Department, University of Zimbabwe, PO Box MP 167, Mount Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe, Department of Biochemistry, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe | Aims: To determine the impact of natural sunlight in disinfecting water contaminated with cysts of Giardia duodenalis and Entamoeba histolytica/dispar using plastic containers. Methods and Results: Known quantities of Giardia duodenalis and Entamoeba histolytica/dispar cysts in sterile water were exposed to the sun. Containers were made of polyethylene terephthalate, eight painted black on one side, one not painted and another cut open at the top and the last was a high density polypropylene container. Viability testing was performed using vital and fluorescent dyes. The same assays were conducted under cloudy conditions. Thermal control tests were also performed using heat without ultra violet light from the sun. Results show that 99·9% of parasites was inactivated when water temperatures reached 56°C after sunlight exposure. Conclusion: Both solar radiation and heat produced by the sun have a synergistic effect in killing cysts of Giardia duodenalis and Entamoeba histolytica/dispar when temperatures rise above 50°C, with complete death at 56°C, using painted 2-l PET containers. Significance and Impact of the Study: Solar disinfection system using PET containers painted black on one side can be used to disinfect water against Giardia duodenalis and Entamoeba histolytica/dispar using natural sunlight. © 2009 The Authors. | Drinking water at point-of-use; Protozoan parasites; Solar radiation; Treatment | drinking water; fluorescent dye; plastic; polyethylene terephthalate; polypropylene; water; bacterium; cyst; disinfection; drinking water; solar radiation; temperature effect; testing method; water temperature; water treatment; adolescent; article; child; container; controlled study; cyst (resting stage); density; disinfection; Entamoeba dispar; Entamoeba histolytica; Giardia duodenalis; heat; human; major clinical study; nonhuman; parasite identification; parasite viability; preschool child; quantitative analysis; school child; solar radiation; sun; sun exposure; sunlight; thermal stimulation; ultraviolet radiation; vital stain; water contamination; water temperature; water treatment; Animals; Disinfection; Entamoeba histolytica; Fluorescent Dyes; Giardia lamblia; Spores, Bacterial; Sunlight; Water Microbiology; Water Purification; Water Supply; Entamoeba; Giardia intestinalis; Protozoa | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84896722850 | An evaluation of a new automated duplicate-sample Fischer Assay setup according to ISO/ASTM standards and analysis of the tar fraction | Roets L., Bunt J.R., Neomagus H.W.J.P., Van Niekerk D. | 2014 | Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis | 106 | None | 10.1016/j.jaap.2014.01.016 | Coal Research Group, School of Chemical and Minerals Engineering, North West-University, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa; Sasol Technology (Pty) Ltd, Box 1, Sasolburg 1947, South Africa | Roets, L., Coal Research Group, School of Chemical and Minerals Engineering, North West-University, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa; Bunt, J.R., Coal Research Group, School of Chemical and Minerals Engineering, North West-University, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa, Sasol Technology (Pty) Ltd, Box 1, Sasolburg 1947, South Africa; Neomagus, H.W.J.P., Coal Research Group, School of Chemical and Minerals Engineering, North West-University, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa; Van Niekerk, D., Sasol Technology (Pty) Ltd, Box 1, Sasolburg 1947, South Africa | The ISO 647 standard describes a method for the pyrolysis of coal that quantitatively yields water, gas, tar and char, also known as a Fischer Assay. This method has several limitations i.e. The versatility of the method is limited by the thermal properties of aluminium (the retort material); the result is operator-dependent due to manual manipulation of the retort temperature using a gas generated flame. This study evaluates an alternative method (referred to as the automated Fischer Assay setup), which operates with a pre-programmed heating curve using two stainless steel retorts in an electrical oven. Comparison of the methods indicated a lower tar yield for the automated Fischer Assay method, whilst the water yield increased and the gas and char yields were within the same ranges. The automated Fischer Assay experiments were, however, more repeatable when compared to the standard ISO method. Simulated distillation (simdis) and size-exclusion chromatography (SEC-UV) analyses of the tar fractions found no significant differences between the tars from the two methods. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) found the tars of the automated Fischer Assay method to contain more alkyl-phenolic groups, with a decrease in the mixed compounds (compounds that exhibited both aromatic and aliphatic mass peaks in the mass spectra). It is concluded that the new method is more versatile with regard to the operating temperature control and the pre-programmed heat curve. Additionally, it provides an alternative means to generate a Fischer Assay that is not limited by the thermal properties of the retort material. It is noted, that the goal of the study was not to propose a replacement to the current ISO 647 Fischer Assay method, but to establish an automated system that can be used in pyrolysis research (qualitative and quantitative studies). Results showed that this method is adequate for qualitative and quantitative pyrolysis research and can be used as an alternative, less-biased method for ISO 647. © 2014 Elsevier B.V. | Coal tar; Fischer Assay; Fischer tar; GC/MS; ISO 647; Pyrolysis | Automated systems; Gas chromatography-mass spectrometries (GC-MS); GC/MS; ISO 647; Operating temperature; Quantitative pyrolysis; Quantitative study; Simulated distillation; Coal tar; Distillation; Gas chromatography; Mass spectrometry; Pyrolysis; Size exclusion chromatography; Thermodynamic properties; Automation | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84870548482 | Fungi solubilisation of low rank coal: Performances of stirred tank, fluidised bed and packed bed reactors | Oboirien B.O., Ojumu T.V., Obayopo S.O. | 2013 | Fuel Processing Technology | 106 | None | 10.1016/j.fuproc.2012.08.011 | CSIR Materials Science and Manufacturing, PO Box, 395, Pretoria 0001, South Africa; Department of Chemical Engineering, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, P.O. Box 652, Cape Town 8000, South Africa; Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Pretoria, South Africa | Oboirien, B.O., CSIR Materials Science and Manufacturing, PO Box, 395, Pretoria 0001, South Africa; Ojumu, T.V., Department of Chemical Engineering, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, P.O. Box 652, Cape Town 8000, South Africa; Obayopo, S.O., Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Pretoria, South Africa | Coal biosolubilisation was investigated in stirred tank reactor, fluidised bed and fixed bed bioreactors with a view to highlight the advantages and shortcomings of each of these reactor configurations. The stirred aerated bioreactor and fluidised bioreactor represent slurry reactor systems enabling a comparative study. Direct comparison between these and the fixed bed bioreactor could not be carried as the corresponding particle sizes will result to a pressure drop in the fixed bed reactor. Coal solubilisation showed a higher coal weight loss in the stirred tank slurry bioreactor in comparison to the fluidised bed slurry bioreactor at 5% (w/v) coal loading and 600-850 μm coal fractions. Higher aeration is required in the fluidised bed bioreactor than in the stirred tank slurry bioreactor at constant coal loading and particle size because in fluidised bed bioreactor aeration was also used for mixing. Coal biosolubilisation in the packed bed bioreactor was minimal. The low performance was attributed to the large coal particle size fraction (1.5-2 mm) used. Minimal damage to the fungal culture was observed. However, clogging of bed by fungi resulted in channelling or misdistribution that ultimately leads to poor and unpredictable internal mass transport. © 2012 Elsevier B.V. | Fluidised bed and fixed bed reactor; Fungal solubilisation; Low rank coal; Stirred tank reactor | Coal fractions; Coal particle size; Comparative studies; Fixed bed reactor; Fixed-bed bioreactor; Fluidised bed; Fungal culture; Low rank coals; Minimal damage; Packed bed reactor; Packed-bed bioreactors; Reactor configuration; Slurry bioreactors; Slurry reactor; Solubilisation; Stirred Tank; Stirred tank reactors; Weight loss; Bioconversion; Bioreactors; Fluidization; Fluidized beds; Fungi; Packed beds; Particle size; Solubility; Tanks (containers); Coal | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33745466544 | Evaluation of nematicidal action of some botanicals on Meloidogyne incognita in vivo and in vitro | Agbenin N.O., Emechebe A.M., Marley P.S., Akpa A.D. | 2005 | Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development in the Tropics and Subtropics | 106 | 1 | None | Depart. of Crop Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria; International Institute for Tropical Agriculture, Kano Station, Nigeria | Agbenin, N.O., Depart. of Crop Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria; Emechebe, A.M., International Institute for Tropical Agriculture, Kano Station, Nigeria; Marley, P.S., Depart. of Crop Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria; Akpa, A.D., Depart. of Crop Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria | Eggmasses or larvae of Meloidogyne incognita were exposed to varying concentrations of neem leaf (fresh and dry), Borelia sp., groundnut leaf and garlic bulb. Neem leaf and garlic bulb extracts inhibited hatching of eggmasses and were lethal to larva. A comparative study of neem and garlic bulb extracts prepared at 20% concentration and applied weekly at 25 ml per pot were carried out in the screenhouse. Each pot filled with 2 kg of pasturised soil was inoculated with 2 000 larvae of M. incognita by introducing 500 g of infested soil from tomato culture raised in the screenhouse. These extracts significantly reduced root-knot infection indices on tomato when compared to the control. However, garlic extract demonstrated greater potential than neem leaf extract in the control of root-knot infection of tomato in vivo. | Borelia sp.; Botanicals; Extracts; Garlicbulb; Meloidogyne incognita; Neem leaf | Allium sativum; Arachis hypogaea; Azadirachta indica; Lycopersicon esculentum; Meloidogyne incognita | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84929579381 | Exploring the impact of habitat size on phylogeographic patterning in the overberg velvet worm peripatopsis overbergiensis (onychophora: Peripatopsidae) | Myburgh A.M., Daniels S.R. | 2015 | Journal of Heredity | 106 | 3 | 10.1093/jhered/esv014 | Department of Botany and Zoology, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland, South Africa | Myburgh, A.M., Department of Botany and Zoology, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland, South Africa; Daniels, S.R., Department of Botany and Zoology, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland, South Africa | Evolutionary relationships in the velvet worm species, Peripatopsis overbergiensis, were examined in 3 forest areas in the Overberg region of South Africa to explore the impact of historical habitat fragmentation on the population genetic structure of the species. We collected 84 P. overbergiensis specimens from Grootvadersbosch, Koppie Alleen, and Marloth Nature Reserves and sequenced all these specimens for the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) locus, whereas a subset of 13 specimens were also sequenced for the 18S rRNA locus. Phylogenetic analyses of the 20 unique COI haplotypes revealed 4 genetically distinct clades, a result that is corroborated by the haplotype network. A hierarchical analysis of genetic variation was performed on the COI haplotype data within the 2 large forested areas, Grootvadersbosch and Marloth Nature Reserves, and across all 3 of the sample localities. These results revealed low haplotypic and nucleotide diversity within the largest Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve forest and high haplotypic and nucleotide diversity within the fragmented Marloth Nature Reserve forest, whereas Koppie Alleen had the lowest haplotypic and nucleotide diversity. Across all 3 main localities statistically significant F <inf>ST</inf> values were found, together with the absence of shared haplotypes indicating the absence of maternal gene flow. Divergence time estimations based on the 20 COI haplotypes calculated in BEAST suggest a Pleistocene/Holocene divergence between the 4 clades as a result of habitat fragmentation and the aridification of the region. Our results indicate that conservation efforts should also prioritize linked, smaller fragmented habitats together with continuous habitats to maximize the genetic diversity of saproxylic fauna. © 2015 © The American Genetic Association 2015. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com. | biogeography; habitat fragmentation; velvet worm | nucleotide; RNA 18S; mitochondrial DNA; animal experiment; Article; cladistics; cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene; forest; gene; gene flow; gene locus; gene sequence; genetic variability; habitat; habitat fragmentation; haplotype; Holocene; nonhuman; Onychophora; Peripatopsis overbergiensis; phylogeny; phylogeography; Pleistocene; priority journal; animal; DNA sequence; ecosystem; environmental protection; genetic variability; genetics; invertebrate; phylogeography; population genetics; South Africa; Onychophora; Peripatopsidae; Peripatopsis; Animals; Conservation of Natural Resources; DNA, Mitochondrial; Ecosystem; Genetic Variation; Genetics, Population; Haplotypes; Invertebrates; Phylogeny; Phylogeography; Sequence Analysis, DNA; South Africa | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-34548275467 | Short-term toxicological evaluation of Terminalia catappa, Pentaclethra macrophylla and Calophyllum inophyllum seed oils in rats | Ajayi I.A., Oderinde R.A., Taiwo V.O., Agbedana E.O. | 2008 | Food Chemistry | 106 | 2 | 10.1016/j.foodchem.2007.05.093 | Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Department of Veterinary Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Department of Chemical Pathology, College of Medicine, Universit | Ajayi, I.A., Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Oderinde, R.A., Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Taiwo, V.O., Department of Veterinary Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Agbedana, E.O., Department of Chemical Pathology, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria | The purpose of this study was to evaluate the toxicological effects of feeding the oils of Calophyllum inophyllum, Pentaclethra macrophylla and Terminalia catappa to rats. The effects on physical appearance, feed intake, weight gain, plasma and tissue cholesterol and triacyglycerol levels in rats with 5% of the oils in normal rat feed were determined. Weekly monitoring of the rats showed good physical appearance and steady weight gain, with no mortality recorded for the period of the study. Haematological analysis of the rats indicated that they were not anaemic. Histopathotogical examination of the sections of the heart, liver, kidney and spleen revealed moderate (T. catappa oil) to severe fatty change and necrosis in the liver. Glomerulonephrotic changes in the kidneys of rats fed with T. catappa oil were moderate, while it was severe in the group fed with P. macrophylla oil. Severe myocardiac necrosis as well as atherosclerotic clefts in vasa vasori was observed in the vasa vasori of the hearts of rats fed with P. macrophylla oil. This change was moderate in the heart of rats fed with C. inophyllum, while no such observation was made in the group fed with T. catappa oil. There was a significant difference in the plasma cholesterol levels of the rats fed with C. inophyllum and T. catappa oils when compared with the control rats, while those fed with P. macrophylla oil had no significant difference. The oil of T. catappa appears more suitable for consumption than the oils from C. inophyllum and P. macrophylla. Fatty acid analysis of the oils showed that they have high amounts of unsaturated fatty acids with linoleic and oleic acids as the major ones. © 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. | Calophyllum inophyllum; Pentaclethra macrophylla; Terminalia catappa; Toxicological effect | calophyllum inophyllum extract; pentaclethra macrophylla extract; plant extract; Terminalia catappa extract; unclassified drug; vegetable oil; animal experiment; animal model; animal tissue; article; Calophyllum; Calophyllum inophyllum; controlled study; histopathology; medicinal plant; monitoring; nonhuman; parameter; pentaclethra macrophylla; plant seed; rat; Terminalia; toxicity testing; Calophyllum inophyllum; Pentaclethra macrophylla; Rattus; Terminalia catappa | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84929402738 | The impact of triggers on forensic acquisition and analysis of databases | Hauger W.K., Olivier M.S. | 2015 | SAIEE Africa Research Journal | 106 | 2 | None | Department of Computer Science, Corner of University Road and Lynnwood Road, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa; Department of Computer Science, University of Pretoria, Corner of University Road and Lynnwood Road, Pretoria, South Africa | Hauger, W.K., Department of Computer Science, Corner of University Road and Lynnwood Road, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa; Olivier, M.S., Department of Computer Science, University of Pretoria, Corner of University Road and Lynnwood Road, Pretoria, South Africa | An aspect of database forensics that has not received much attention in the academic research community yet is the presence of database triggers. Database triggers and their implementations have not yet been thoroughly analysed to establish what possible impact they could have on digital forensic analysis methods and processes. This paper firstly attempts to establish if triggers could be used as an anti-forensic mechanism in databases to potentially disrupt or even thwart forensic investigations. Secondly, it explores if triggers could be used to manipulate ordinary database actions for nefarious purposes and at the same time implicate innocent parties. The database triggers as defined in the SQL standard were studied together with a number of database trigger implementations. This was done in order to establish what aspects of a trigger might have an impact on digital forensic analysis. It is demonstrated in this paper that certain database forensic acquisition and analysis methods are impacted by the possible presence of non-data triggers. This is specific to databases that provide non-data trigger implementations. Furthermore, it finds that the forensic interpretation and attribution processes should be extended to include the handling and analysis of all database triggers. This is necessary to enable a more accurate attribution of actions in all databases that provide any form of trigger implementations. © 2014 IEEE. | Database forensics; Database triggers; Digital forensic analysis; Methods; Processes | Computer crime; Electronic crime countermeasures; Processing; Academic research; Analysis method; Anti-Forensics; Database triggers; Digital forensic analysis; Forensic acquisition; Forensic investigation; Methods; Database systems | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33745477598 | Evaluation of botanical mixtures for insect pests management on cowpea plants | Oparaeke A.M., Dike M.C., Amatobi C.I. | 2005 | Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development in the Tropics and Subtropics | 106 | 1 | None | Department of Crop Protection, Institute for Agricultural Research, Ahmadu Bello University, P. M. B. 1044, Zaria, Nigeria | Oparaeke, A.M., Department of Crop Protection, Institute for Agricultural Research, Ahmadu Bello University, P. M. B. 1044, Zaria, Nigeria; Dike, M.C., Department of Crop Protection, Institute for Agricultural Research, Ahmadu Bello University, P. M. B. 1044, Zaria, Nigeria; Amatobi, C.I., Department of Crop Protection, Institute for Agricultural Research, Ahmadu Bello University, P. M. B. 1044, Zaria, Nigeria | Studies were conducted at the Research Farm of the Institute for Agricultural Research, Zaria in 1999 and 2000 rainy seasons to evaluate the efficacy and synergistic activity of extracts mixtures from herbal landraces in reducing pests numbers on cowpea plants and ensuring high yield of grains. The extracts mixed in a ratio 10:10% w/w included: cashew nutshell + garlic bulb; cashew nutshell + African pepper and garlic bulb + chilli pepper. The results indicated that all the herbal extract mixtures reduced the numbers of the tested insect pests (legume flower bud thrips, legume pod borer larvae and pod sucking bugs) and pod damage as well as increased grain yields by 4 - 5 times compared to the untreated control in the two years of investigation. The synergistic advantage of mixing two different plant species in botanical formulations could play a key role in the renewed effort to control pests of agricultural crops using biopesticides. | Biopesticides; Cowpea; Extracts; Insect pests; Management; Mixtures; Synergism | Allium sativum; Anacardium occidentale; Capsicum annuum var. annuum; Insecta | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77953285960 | Laboratory evaluation of traditionally used plant-based insect repellent against the malaria vector Anopheles arabiensis patton (Diptera: Culicidae) | Karunamoorthi K., Ilango K., Murugan K. | 2010 | Parasitology Research | 106 | 5 | 10.1007/s00436-010-1797-y | Department of Environmental Health Science, Unit of Vector Biology and Control, College of Public Health and Medical Sciences, Jimma, Ethiopia; Research and Development Center, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India; Zoological Survey of India, 130, Santhome High Road, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India; Department of Zoology, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India | Karunamoorthi, K., Department of Environmental Health Science, Unit of Vector Biology and Control, College of Public Health and Medical Sciences, Jimma, Ethiopia, Research and Development Center, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India; Ilango, K., Zoological Survey of India, 130, Santhome High Road, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India; Murugan, K., Department of Zoology, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India | A laboratory study was carried out to evaluate the repellent efficacy of a methanol-leaf extract of Ethiopian traditionally used insect repellent plant viz., Lomi sar [vernacular name (local native language, Amharic); Cymbopogon citratus (DC) Stapf. (Poaceae)] against Anopheles arabiensis at four different concentrations viz., 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, and 2.5 mg/cm2. The percentage protection in relation to the dose method was performed. C. citratus extract has shown various degrees of repellency impact against A. arabiensis. It provided the maximum total percentage protection of 78.83% at 2.5 mg/cm2 and followed 68.06% at 2.0 mg/cm2 for 12 h. All four tested concentrations of C. citratus extract offered significant protection and Student's t test results shows statistically significant (p value=0.001) [1.0 mg/cm2 (t=22.89; df=4); 1.5 mg/cm2 (t=24.03; df=4); 2.0 mg/cm2 (t=36.92; df=4); 2.5 mg/cm2 (t=22.31; df=4)] difference between treated and control groups. The result suggests that it could serve as a potent insect repellent against vectors of disease. Globally, C. citratus is renowned for its therapeutic values. Above and beyond, due to its user- as well as environmental-friendly nature, it should be promoted among the marginalized populations in order to reduce man-vector contact. In addition, this appropriate strategy affords the opportunity to minimize chemical repellent usage and the risks associated with adverse side effects. At the end of the day, traditionally used plant-based insect repellents could be viable safer alternative sources for chemical insect repellents. © Springer-Verlag 2010. | None | insect repellent; Anopheles arabiensis; article; controlled study; Cymbopogon citratus; insect control; nonhuman; parasite vector; plant leaf; priority journal; protection; Animals; Anopheles; Cymbopogon; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Female; Insect Repellents; Plant Extracts; Anopheles arabiensis; Culicidae; Cymbopogon citratus; Diptera; Hexapoda; Poaceae | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84855549873 | The impact of baseline faecal egg counts on the efficacy of single-dose albendazole against Trichuris trichiura | Levecke B., Mekonnen Z., Albonico M., Vercruysse J. | 2012 | Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene | 106 | 2 | 10.1016/j.trstmh.2011.09.007 | Department of Virology, Parasitology and Immunology, Ghent University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Merelbeke, Belgium; Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences and Pathology, College of Public Health and Medical Sciences, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia; Fondazione Ivo de Carneri, Milan, Italy | Levecke, B., Department of Virology, Parasitology and Immunology, Ghent University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Merelbeke, Belgium; Mekonnen, Z., Department of Virology, Parasitology and Immunology, Ghent University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Merelbeke, Belgium, Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences and Pathology, College of Public Health and Medical Sciences, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia; Albonico, M., Fondazione Ivo de Carneri, Milan, Italy; Vercruysse, J., Department of Virology, Parasitology and Immunology, Ghent University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Merelbeke, Belgium | There is considerable variation in the efficacy of single-dose albendazole (400. mg) against Trichuris trichiura across human trials. Factors contributing to this variation have not yet been identified. We assessed the impact of mean baseline faecal egg counts (FEC) on the efficacy of single-dose albendazole against T. trichiura in five previously conducted trials. Our results suggest that efficacy measured by reduction in mean FECs decreased significantly (p < 0.0001) when mean baseline FECs increased, highlighting that this parameter should be considered as an important confounding factor for drug efficacy. [ClinicalTrials.gov Identifiers: NCT01087099 and NCT01327469]. © 2011. | Albendazole; Anthelminthics; Confounding factor; Drug resistance; Treatment outcome; Trichuris trichiura | albendazole; adolescent; adult; article; child; drug activity; drug efficacy; feces analysis; gastrointestinal transit; human; nonhuman; preschool child; school child; single drug dose; Trichuris; Albendazole; Animals; Anthelmintics; Feces; Humans; Parasite Egg Count; Treatment Outcome; Trichuriasis; Trichuris; Trichuris trichiura | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84938922774 | Performance of the local averaging handover technique in Long Term Evolution networks | Elujide I.O., Olugbara O.O., Owolawi P.A., Nepal T. | 2015 | SAIEE Africa Research Journal | 106 | 4 | None | Dept. of Information Technology, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa; Dept. of Electrical Engineering, Mangosuthu University of Technology, Durban, South Africa | Elujide, I.O., Dept. of Information Technology, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa; Olugbara, O.O., Dept. of Information Technology, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa; Owolawi, P.A., Dept. of Electrical Engineering, Mangosuthu University of Technology, Durban, South Africa; Nepal, T., Dept. of Information Technology, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa | In this paper, we investigate the performance of an alternative received signal filtering technique based on local averaging to improve the quality of handover decisions in Long Term Evolution (LTE) networks. The focus of LTE-Advance (LTE-A) networks is to provide enhanced capacity and reliability of radio access as well as broadband demand for mobile users. The necessity to maintain quality of service, especially for the delay sensitive data services and applications, has made mobility and handover decisions between the base stations in the LTE networks critical. Unfortunately, several handover decision algorithms in the LTE networks are based on the Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP) obtained as a linear averaging over the reference signals. The critical challenge with the linear averaging technique is that the limited reference signal available in the downlink packet introduces an estimation error. This estimation error is a result of the effects of linear averaging on propagation loss components in eliminating fast-fading from the received signals. Moreover, prompt and precise handover decisions cannot be based on inaccurate measurement. The standardized LTE layer 3 filtering technique is applied to the local averaged layer 1 signal to render it suitable for LTE handover decisions. The local averaging technique produces better handover than the linear averaging technique in terms of the reduced number of handover failures, improved high spectral efficiency and increased throughput, especially for cell-edge users with high speeds. The findings of this study suggest that the local averaging technique enhances mobility performance of LTE-Advance networks. | Averaging; Evolution; Filtering; Handover; Network; Signal | Balloons; Broadband networks; Fading (radio); Filtration; Mobile telecommunication systems; Networks (circuits); Quality of service; Signal filtering and prediction; Signal processing; Signaling; Wireless telecommunication systems; Averaging; Critical challenges; Evolution; Filtering technique; Handover; Handover techniques; High spectral efficiency; Mobility performance; Long Term Evolution (LTE) | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33646524027 | Evaluation of the mutagenic and antimutagenic effects of South African plants | Reid K.A., Maes J., Maes A., van Staden J., De Kimpe N., Mulholland D.A., Verschaeve L. | 2006 | Journal of Ethnopharmacology | 106 | 1 | 10.1016/j.jep.2005.11.030 | Expertise Centre of Environmental Toxicology, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (Vito), Boeretang 200, B-2400 Mol, Belgium; Research Centre for Plant Growth and Development, School of Biological and Conservation Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville 3209 Pietermaritzburg, South Africa; Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium; Natural Products Research Group, School of Chemistry, University of KwaZulu-Natal Durban, Durban, 4041, South Africa | Reid, K.A., Expertise Centre of Environmental Toxicology, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (Vito), Boeretang 200, B-2400 Mol, Belgium, Research Centre for Plant Growth and Development, School of Biological and Conservation Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville 3209 Pietermaritzburg, South Africa; Maes, J., Expertise Centre of Environmental Toxicology, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (Vito), Boeretang 200, B-2400 Mol, Belgium; Maes, A., Expertise Centre of Environmental Toxicology, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (Vito), Boeretang 200, B-2400 Mol, Belgium; van Staden, J., Research Centre for Plant Growth and Development, School of Biological and Conservation Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville 3209 Pietermaritzburg, South Africa; De Kimpe, N., Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium; Mulholland, D.A., Natural Products Research Group, School of Chemistry, University of KwaZulu-Natal Durban, Durban, 4041, South Africa; Verschaeve, L., Expertise Centre of Environmental Toxicology, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (Vito), Boeretang 200, B-2400 Mol, Belgium | Dichloromethane and 90% methanol extracts of 42 South African plants were screened for mutagenicity and antimutagenicity using the Salmonella/microsome mutagenicity assay (Ames) against Salmonella typhimurium TA98 and TA100 bacterial strains in the presence and absence of metabolic activator S9. The methanol extracts from whole plants of Helichrysum simillimum, Helichrysum herbaceum and Helichrysum rugulosum indicated mutagenicity. These are the first reported tests on the mutagenicity of Helichrysum species. Six species indicated antimutagenic properties, all in the presence of S9: methanol leaf extract of Bauhinia galpinii, and dichloromethane leaf extracts of Bauhinia galpinii, Clerodendrum myricoides, Datura stramonium, Buddleja saligna, Millettia sutherlandii and Sutherlandia frutescens. © 2005 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. | Ames test; Antimutagenicity; Mutagenicity; Traditional medicinal plants | Bauhinia galpinii extract; Buddleja saligna extract; catharanthus roseus extract; clerodendrum myricoides extract; coleonema album extract; Datura stramonium extract; dichloromethane; dioscorea dregeana extract; ekebergia capensis extract; Helichrysum herbaceum extract; Helichrysum rugulosum extract; Helichrysum simillimum extract; hypoxis hemerocallidea extract; maytenus senegalensis extract; methanol; millettia grandis extract; Millettia sutherlandii extract; Nauclea latifolia extract; olea africana extract; Phyllanthus amarus extract; phytolacca octandra extract; plant extract; pleurostylia capensis extract; rhus chirindensis extract; rhus rehrianmana extract; Sutherlandia frutescens extract; tulbaghia violaceae extract; unclassified drug; unindexed drug; uvaria chamae extract; xysmalobium undulatum extract; Ames test; angiosperm; Araliaceae; article; Asclepiadaceae; Asteraceae; bacterial strain; Bauhinia; Buddleja; Catharanthus roseus; Celastraceae; Clerodendrum; Datura stramonium; drug activity; drug effect; drug screening; Flacourtiaceae; Helichrysum; Hypoxis; Hyptis; Maytenus; medicinal plant; Meliaceae; metabolic activation; Millettia; mutagenicity; nonhuman; olive tree; Phyllanthus amarus; poison ivy; pokeweed; Rubiaceae; Rutaceae; Salmonella typhimurium; South Africa; Sterculiaceae; strophanthus; Uvaria; Antimutagenic Agents; Datura stramonium; Helichrysum; Medicine, African Traditional; Methanol; Methylene Chloride; Mutagenicity Tests; Mutagens; Plant Extracts; Plants; Salmonella typhimurium; South Africa; Apocynaceae; Araliaceae; Asteraceae; Bacteria (microorganisms); Bauhinia; Bauhinia galpinii; Buddleja; Buddleja saligna; Catharanthus roseus; Celastraceae; Clerodendrum; Coleonema album; Datura stramonium; Dioscorea dregeana; Ekebergia capensis; Flacourtiaceae; Hedera; Helichrysum; Helichrysum rugulosum; Hypoxis; Hypoxis hemerocallidea; Hyptis; Magnoliophyta; Malvaceae; Maytenus; Maytenus senegalensis; Meliaceae; Millettia; Millettia grandis; Nauclea latifolia; Olea europaea subsp. cuspidata; Phyllanthus amarus; Phytolacca octandra; Phytolaccaceae; Pleurostylia; Rhus; Rotheca myricoides; Rubiaceae; Rutaceae; Salmonella typhimurium; Strophanthus; Sutherlandia frutescens; Tulbaghia; Uvaria; Uvaria chamae; Violaceae; Xysmalobium undulatum | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84866644270 | Breaking community barriers to polio vaccination in northern nigeria: The impact of a grass roots mobilization campaign (Majigi) | Nasiru S.-G., Aliyu G.G., Gasasira A., Aliyu M.H., Zubair M., Mandawari S.U., Waziri H., Nasidi A., El-Kamary S.S. | 2012 | Pathogens and Global Health | 106 | 3 | 10.1179/2047773212Y.0000000018 | Federal Ministry of Health, Abuja, Nigeria; Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States; World Health Organization (WHO) Office, Abuja, Nigeria; Department of Preventive Medicine and Institute for Globa | Nasiru, S.-G., Federal Ministry of Health, Abuja, Nigeria; Aliyu, G.G., Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States; Gasasira, A., World Health Organization (WHO) Office, Abuja, Nigeria; Aliyu, M.H., Department of Preventive Medicine and Institute for Global Health, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States; Zubair, M., World Health Organization (WHO) Office, Abuja, Nigeria; Mandawari, S.U., World Health Organization (WHO) Office, Abuja, Nigeria; Waziri, H., World Health Organization (WHO) Office, Abuja, Nigeria; Nasidi, A., Federal Ministry of Health, Abuja, Nigeria; El-Kamary, S.S., Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States | This paper examines the impact of a community-based intervention on the trends in the uptake of polio vaccination following a community mobilization campaign for polio eradication in northern Nigeria. Uptake of polio vaccination in high-risk communities in this region has been considerably low despite routine and supplemental vaccination activities. Large numbers of children are left unvaccinated because of community misconceptions and distrust regarding the cause of the disease and the safety of the polio vaccine. The Majigi polio campaign was initiated in 2008 as a pilot trial in Gezawa, a local council with very low uptake of polio vaccination. The average monthly increase in the number of vaccinated children over the subsequent six months after the pilot trial was 1,047 [95% confidence interval (CI): 647-2045, P50.001]. An increasing trend in uptake of polio vaccination was also evident (P50.001). The outcome was consistent with a decrease or no trend in the detection of children with zero doses. The average monthly decrease in the number of children with zero doses was 6.2 (95% CI: 221 to 24, P50.353). Overall, there was a relative increase of approximately 310% in the polio vaccination uptake and a net reduction of 29% of never vaccinated children. The findings of this pilot test show that polio vaccination uptake can be enhanced by programs like Majigi that promote effective communication with the community. © W. S. Maney & Son Ltd 2012. | Majigi; Nigeria; Polio; Trend; Vaccination | poliomyelitis vaccine; article; child; controlled study; high risk population; human; Nigeria; poliomyelitis; preschool child; treatment outcome; vaccination; Adolescent; Child; Child, Preschool; Female; Humans; Immunization Programs; Infant; Male; Nigeria; Poliomyelitis; Poliovirus Vaccines; Vaccination | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77953120558 | Tropical cyclones in the SW Indian Ocean. Part 2: Structure and impacts at the event scale | Chang-Seng D.S., Jury M.R. | 2010 | Meteorology and Atmospheric Physics | 106 | 42433 | 10.1007/s00703-010-0059-y | Institute for Environment and Human Security, United Nations University, Bonn, Germany; Department of Physics, University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez, PR, United States; University of Zululand, KwaDlangezwa, South Africa | Chang-Seng, D.S., Institute for Environment and Human Security, United Nations University, Bonn, Germany; Jury, M.R., Department of Physics, University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez, PR, United States, University of Zululand, KwaDlangezwa, South Africa | The southwest Indian Ocean (5°-20°S, 45°-70°E) experiences frequent tropical cyclones (TC) in the December-March season. In this paper, TC composite and case-study structure and impacts are studied using daily oceanic and atmospheric fields from model-reanalyzed data, satellite remote sensing, and in situ station data. The TC environment is characterized according to mean track: W-, SW-, and S-moving. Case studies of TC are investigated, and impacts such as storm surge and rainfall are evaluated through comparison of 'real' and 'model' datasets in the period since 1998. The northern sub-tropical jet stream is found to influence the intensity and track of TC in the SWIO. The composite SW-moving TC maintains intensity compared to the other tracks, which decline in strength. Variability is found in TC rainfall distribution, with maximum intensity in a spiral band 1-2 days before peak intensity, based on satellite estimates. There is a re-establishment of equatorial rainfall in the case of southward moving TC after peak intensity. The W-moving TC lacks monsoon inflow compared to the recurving TC. Comparisons are made between low-resolution model-estimated rainfall, various satellite products, and station-observed rainfall. TC spiral rain-band intensity is found to be similar to that reported elsewhere in the tropics, based on a limited sample of TRMM PR data and station reports. The satellite-derived daily rainfall out-performs NCEP reanalysis due to low resolution and underestimated diabatic heating. Similarly, the circulation within a 300-km radius of the composite TC is poorly resolved by re-analysis; winds, swells, and storm surges are too low by a factor of two compared with QuikSCAT and in situ measurements. This work will offer ways to adjust operational forecasts of winds, rainfall, and swells around tropical cyclones, so that TC risk and impacts are better managed. © 2010 Springer-Verlag. | None | atmospheric structure; in situ measurement; jet stream; monsoon; precipitation intensity; QuikSCAT; seasonality; storm surge; storm track; tropical cyclone; Indian Ocean; Indian Ocean (Southwest) | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-78649894908 | Morphological evaluation of genetic evidence for a Pleistocene extirpation of eastern African impala | Reynolds S.C. | 2010 | South African Journal of Science | 106 | 42686 | 10.4102/sajs.v106i11/12.325 | Institute for Human Evolution, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, PO WITS, Johannesburg 2050, South Africa | Reynolds, S.C., Institute for Human Evolution, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, PO WITS, Johannesburg 2050, South Africa | Palaeontology typically relies on fossil studies, in particular morphological differences, to reconstruct and interpret patterns of vertebrate evolution. However, genetic studies of population histories of extant species provide data about past population events (e.g. local extinctions, recolonisations) which are equally relevant to palaeontological questions. This study used morphological traits to evaluate a hypothesis based on genetic evidence that southern African impala (Aepyceros melampus) are the founder population for all other living African impala populations, after an eastern African extirpation event dating to around 200 000 years ago. Measurements of three horn metrics and the presence or absence of a particular dental trait were compared across four regional impala samples. Eastern African impala possess a unique combination of larger horns and a significantly higher occurrence of entostyles when compared to other impala populations. These traits are likely to have characterised a small group of founding impala which recolonised this region. This pattern appears consistent with the genetic evidence that a subset of the southern African impala gave rise to the eastern African populations. Other species with complex population histories, such as wildebeest, eland, topi and hartebeest may also therefore be expected to express variation in certain morphological traits in the fossil record because of similar patterns of recolonisations. The process of local extinction and subsequent repopulation over shorter timescales (102 - 103 years) may pass unnoticed in the fossil record, and lineages may appear uninterrupted. Instead, greater morphological variation within a species may be observed, which may be misinterpreted as reflecting a speciation event, or ecophenotypic variation. Combining data from genetic studies and palaeontology may provide further clues as to how faunal dispersals within Africa shaped the morphological variation in the fossil record, and how to best interpret such differences. © 2010. The Authors. | Antelope; Entostyles; Extirpations; Founder populations; Genetic population histories; Pleistocene climate changes | climate variation; data set; dentition; dispersal; fossil record; founder effect; genetic analysis; horn; hypothesis testing; local extinction; morphology; paleontology; Pleistocene; recolonization; reconstruction; ruminant; speciation (biology); Aepyceros melampus; Alcelaphus buselaphus; Damaliscus lunatus; Tragelaphus oryx; Vertebrata | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-62949135660 | Late Quaternary dynamics of a South African floodplain wetland and the implications for assessing recent human impacts | Tooth S., Rodnight H., McCarthy T.S., Duller G.A.T., Grundling A.T. | 2009 | Geomorphology | 106 | 42433 | 10.1016/j.geomorph.2008.11.009 | Institute of Geography and Earth Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Ceredigion SY23 3DB, United Kingdom; School of Geosciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, Wits 2050, South Africa; Agricultural Research Council, Institute for Soil, Climate and Water, Private Bag X79, Pretoria 0001, South Africa | Tooth, S., Institute of Geography and Earth Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Ceredigion SY23 3DB, United Kingdom; Rodnight, H., Institute of Geography and Earth Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Ceredigion SY23 3DB, United Kingdom; McCarthy, T.S., School of Geosciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, Wits 2050, South Africa; Duller, G.A.T., Institute of Geography and Earth Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Ceredigion SY23 3DB, United Kingdom; Grundling, A.T., Agricultural Research Council, Institute for Soil, Climate and Water, Private Bag X79, Pretoria 0001, South Africa | Knowledge of the long-term geomorphological dynamics of wetlands is limited, so currently there is an inadequate scientific basis for assessing anthropogenically induced changes and for developing conservation, remediation, and/or sustainable management guidelines for these fragile ecosystems. Along the upper Klip River, eastern South Africa, geomorphological and sedimentological investigations, geochronology, and remote sensing have been used to establish the late Quaternary dynamics of some internationally important floodplain wetlands, thus providing a reference condition against which to assess the extent of recent human impacts. Optically stimulated luminescence dating reveals that the wetlands have developed over at least the last 30 ky as a result of slow meander migration (< 0.2 m y- 1), irregular cutoff events, and infrequent avulsions (approximately one every 3-6 ky) that have occurred autogenically as a natural part of meander-belt development. Following European settlement in the Klip valley (late nineteenth century), however, modifications to local flora and fauna, as well as the initiation of local wetland drainage schemes, have had major impacts. In particular, proliferation of exotic willows and associated debris jams, and the artificial excavation of a 1.2-km-long channel section across the wetlands have initiated an ongoing avulsion that is characterised by failure (gradual abandonment) of the main channel and rapid incision of a headcutting channel. Compared to the pre-settlement condition, little change in lateral migration activity has occurred, but this avulsion provides a clear example of anthropogenically accelerated change, occurring only ~ 1 ky after the last natural avulsion and in a part of the wetlands where avulsions have not occurred previously. Subsequent human interventions have included installing weirs in an attempt to control the resulting erosion and promote reflooding, but ongoing maintenance has been required. In areas that were not glaciated during the Quaternary, many other floodplain wetlands may be of similar antiquity, but the Klip River illustrates their sensitivity to direct and indirect human impacts. © 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. | Avulsion; Floodplain; Human impact; Meander; Quaternary; Wetland | anthropogenic effect; avulsion; floodplain; human activity; meander; Quaternary; wetland; Africa; Klip River; South Africa; Southern Africa; Sub-Saharan Africa; Salix | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-69149092533 | Real-time molecular monitoring of chemical environment in obligate anaerobes during oxygen adaptive response | Holman H.Y.N., Wozei E., Lin Z., Comolli L.R., Ball D.A., Borglin S., Fields M.W., Hazen T.C., Downing K.H. | 2009 | Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America | 106 | 31 | 10.1073/pnas.0902070106 | Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, One Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA 94720, United States; Virtual Institute for Microbial Stress and Survival, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, United States; Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, United States; Public Health and Environmental Engineering Laboratory, Department of Civil Engineering, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda; Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Fujian 350002, China | Holman, H.Y.N., Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, One Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA 94720, United States, Virtual Institute for Microbial Stress and Survival, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, United States; Wozei, E., Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, One Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA 94720, United States, Public Health and Environmental Engineering Laboratory, Department of Civil Engineering, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda; Lin, Z., Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, One Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA 94720, United States, Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Fujian 350002, China; Comolli, L.R., Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, One Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA 94720, United States; Ball, D.A., Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, One Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA 94720, United States; Borglin, S., Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, One Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA 94720, United States, Virtual Institute for Microbial Stress and Survival, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, United States; Fields, M.W., Virtual Institute for Microbial Stress and Survival, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, United States, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, United States; Hazen, T.C., Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, One Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA 94720, United States, Virtual Institute for Microbial Stress and Survival, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, United States; Downing, K.H., Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, One Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA 94720, United States | Determining the transient chemical properties of the intracellular environment can elucidate the paths through which a biological system adapts to changes in its environment, for example, the mechanisms that enable some obligate anaerobic bacteria to survive a sudden exposure to oxygen. Here we used high-resolution Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectromicroscopy to continuously follow cellular chemistry within living obligate anaerobes by monitoring hydrogen bond structures in their cellular water. We observed a sequence of well orchestrated molecular events that correspond to changes in cellular processes in those cells that survive, but only accumulation of radicals in those that do not. We thereby can interpret the adaptive response in terms of transient intracellular chemistry and link it to oxygen stress and survival. This ability to monitor chemical changes at the molecular level can yield important insights into a wide range of adaptive responses. | Cellular water; Desulfovibrio; Hydrogen bond; Oxygen stress; Synchrotron ftir spectromicroscopy | oxygen; radical; water; oxygen; water; adaptation; anaerobe; article; cell structure; cell survival; cellular stress response; chemical environment; controlled study; cytochemistry; Desulfovibrio vulgaris; hydrogen bond; infrared spectroscopy; molecular biology; monitoring; nonhuman; priority journal; adaptation; chemistry; Desulfovibrio vulgaris; physiological stress; physiology; Desulfovibrio; Adaptation, Physiological; Desulfovibrio vulgaris; Hydrogen Bonding; Oxygen; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; Stress, Physiological; Water | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84929307109 | Incentives and South Africa's automotive industry performance a system dynamics approach | Kaggwa M., Steyn J.L. | 2015 | SAIEE Africa Research Journal | 106 | 3 | None | Sam Tambani Research Institute, PO Box 32202, Braamfontein, South Africa; Department of Engineering and Technology Management, Graduate School of Technology Management, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield, South Africa | Kaggwa, M., Sam Tambani Research Institute, PO Box 32202, Braamfontein, South Africa; Steyn, J.L., Department of Engineering and Technology Management, Graduate School of Technology Management, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield, South Africa | Investment in robotic automotive manufacturing and inherent electronics has played a pivotal role in the growth and competitiveness of the South African automotive industry. Government's offering of incentives was intended to lessen the cost of local industry's expensive, but necessary investment. Despite the growth, industry trade balance has been declining systematically. To explain the apparent contradiction in industry performance, a model of South Africa's automotive incentives - including the Productive Asset Allowance (PAA) and the Import-Export Complementation (IEC) - was developed. Model simulations reveal that, while the IEC had a significant effect on the industry trade balance, the role of the PAA in this regard is trivial. Ultimately, the study reveals that combining strictly investment incentives with other 'non-investment' incentives can have unintended consequences for the local automotive industry. | Competitiveness; Investment incentives; Robotic automotive manufacturing; System dynamics | Commerce; Competition; Electronics industry; Investments; Manufacture; Robotics; System theory; Automotive manufacturing; Competitiveness; Complementation; Investment incentives; Model simulation; System Dynamics; System dynamics approach; Unintended consequences; Automotive industry | None |
| WoS | WOS:000281700300008 | A REVIEW OF PERFORMANCE STANDARDS TO MONITOR, EVALUATE AND ASSESS THE IMPACT OF TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER OFFICES | Gumbi, Sibongile | 2010 | SOUTH AFRICAN JOURNAL OF SCIENCE | 106 | 42924 | 10.4102/sajs.v106i7/8.323 | Smart Innovat | None | The conversion of scientific discoveries to new products and processes and their launch onto the market can be a lengthy process. Similarly, it takes many years before the impact of scientific research on society and the economy is realised and a further length of time before its performance can be measured. Higher education and research institutions, and their governments, often make significant investments into intellectual property management and technology transfer activities through legislative and policy development, human resource development, financial allocation and infrastructure improvement. Since returns on such investments are not immediately apparent, it is important to establish a means by which the impact of their efforts can be determined. In this paper, I examined the measures and indicators that could be developed by institutions and their stakeholders in order to monitor, evaluate and determine the impact of research output and outcomes on the market. | "higher education and research institutions","IMPACT ASSESSMENT","INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY","monitoring and evaluation","PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENT","RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT","TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER" | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84929598046 | Imazalil resistance in Penicillium digitatum and P. italicum causing citrus postharvest green and blue mould: Impact and options | Erasmus A., Lennox C.L., Korsten L., Lesar K., Fourie P.H. | 2015 | Postharvest Biology and Technology | 107 | None | 10.1016/j.postharvbio.2015.05.008 | Citrus Research International, 2 Baker Street, Nelspruit, South Africa; Department of Plant Pathology, University Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, South Africa; Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, University Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa | Erasmus, A., Citrus Research International, 2 Baker Street, Nelspruit, South Africa; Lennox, C.L., Department of Plant Pathology, University Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, South Africa; Korsten, L., Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, University Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa; Lesar, K., Citrus Research International, 2 Baker Street, Nelspruit, South Africa; Fourie, P.H., Citrus Research International, 2 Baker Street, Nelspruit, South Africa, Department of Plant Pathology, University Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, South Africa | Citrus green and blue mould, caused by Penicillium digitatum (PD) and Penicillium italicum (PI), respectively, are mostly controlled by means of postharvest fungicide applications. Currently, IMZ is regarded as the most effective fungicide in use. Effective IMZ concentrations that inhibit 50% (EC<inf>50</inf>) growth of nine PD and five PI isolates were assessed in vitro and the various isolates categorized according to their resistance (R) factors. Effective residue levels that provided 50% curative (ER<inf>50</inf>C) and protective (ER<inf>50</inf>P) control of these isolates were determined in vivo. All the PI isolates were sensitive, having EC<inf>50</inf> values of 0.005-0.050μgmL-1. Three PD isolates were sensitive (0.027-0.038μgmL-1), while one resistant isolate was categorized as low resistant (R-factor of 19), one as moderately resistant (R-factor of 33.2), three as resistant (R-factor of 50-57.6) and one as highly resistant (R-factor of 70.7). Sensitive PD isolates had mean ER<inf>50</inf>C and ER<inf>50</inf>P values on Valencia orange fruit of 0.29 and 0.20μgg-1, and 0.33 and 0.32μgg-1 on navel fruit, respectively. ER<inf>50</inf> values for resistant isolates did not always correlate with EC<inf>50</inf> values and ranged from 1.22 to 4.56μgg-1 for ER<inf>50</inf>C and 1.00-6.62μgg-1 for ER<inf>50</inf>P values. ER<inf>50</inf>P values for resistant isolates could not be obtained on navel orange fruit, but ER<inf>50</inf>C values (1.42-1.65μgg-1) were similar to those obtained on Valencia fruit. The PI isolates all behaved similar to the sensitive PD isolates with ER<inf>50</inf>C and ER<inf>50</inf>P values on navel and Valencia fruit <0.38μgg-1. Alternative fungicides were assessed for the control of an IMZ sensitive, resistant and highly resistant PD isolate; these included sodium ortho-phenylpenate (SOPP), thiabendazole (TBZ), guazatine (GZT), imazalil (IMZ), pyrimethanil (PYR) and Philabuster® (PLB; a combination of IMZ and PYR), fludioxonil (FLU), azoxystrobin (AZO), Graduate®A+ (GRA; a combination of FLU and AZO) and propiconazole (PPZ). Multiple fungicide resistance was shown to IMZ, GZT, TBZ and PPZ in both resistant isolates. For the sensitive isolates, IMZ, SOPP, TBZ, GZT and PLB provided best curative control, while IMZ, GZT and PLB provided best protective control. For the IMZ-resistant isolates, SOPP, PYR and PLB gave the best curative control, while none of the fungicides provided adequate protective control. © 2015 Elsevier B.V. | Azoxystrobin; Fludioxonil; Fungicide; Guazatine; Propiconazole; Pyrimethanil; Residue; Thiabendazole | Citrus; Citrus sinensis; Penicillium digitatum; Penicillium italicum | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-34748869759 | Knowledge dissemination and evaluation in a cervical cancer screening implementation program in Nigeria | Miller D., Okolo C.A., Mirabal Y., Guillaud M., Arulogun O.S., Oladepo O., Crain B., Follen M., Adewole I.F. | 2007 | Gynecologic Oncology | 107 | 1 SUPPL. | 10.1016/j.ygyno.2007.07.014 | Department of Gynecologic Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Centre, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Department of Pathology, The University of Ibadan College of Medicine, Ibadan, Nigeria; Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, United States; D | Miller, D., Department of Gynecologic Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Centre, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Okolo, C.A., Department of Pathology, The University of Ibadan College of Medicine, Ibadan, Nigeria; Mirabal, Y., Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, United States; Guillaud, M., Department of Optical Imaging, British Columbia Cancer Research Center, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Arulogun, O.S., Department of Promotion and Education, The University of Ibadan Faculty of Public Health, Ibadan, Nigeria; Oladepo, O., Department of Promotion and Education, The University of Ibadan Faculty of Public Health, Ibadan, Nigeria; Crain, B., The Center for Biomedical Engineering, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States; Follen, M., The Center for Biomedical Engineering, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States, Department of Gynecologic Oncology, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States, Departments of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, United States; Adewole, I.F., Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Ibadan College of Medicine, Ibadan, Nigeria | Objectives: Our goals were to train health professionals in Nigeria using the text, "Planning and Implementing Cervical Cancer Prevention and Control Programs: A Manual for Managers", and then evaluate the knowledge dissemination process using a pre- and post-test assessment. The manual was developed by the ACCP, WHO, IARC, PATH, Engender Health, JHPIEGO, and PAHO with funding from the Gates Foundation. It is an inclusive guide to implementation and maintenance of screen-and-treat cervical cancer prevention clinics and is ideally suited for programs operating in the developing world. Methods: Training took place at a conference in Ibadan, Nigeria. Participants included teams of physicians, nurses, bioengineers, data managers, and administrators who met in joint and parallel sessions to "train the trainers". This meeting was designed to provide both training and equipment to personnel to be involved in the implementation of a cervical cancer control initiative in Nigeria. A 36 item pre-test was administered prior to a group study sessions. A slide presentation summarized salient points before the post-test was given. The results were entered into an MS Excel spreadsheet for descriptive statistics about (1) the participants, (2) the test, (3) an examination of profession, years of work experience, years of education, and gender as predictors of two outcomes (low pre-test score and large difference between pre- and post-tests) and (4) overall performance on the exam. Results: There were 70 participants and trainers, of which 53 took the exam. Most of the examinees were physicians. Some participants did not fill out the post-test, leaving their tests inevaluable. A closer look at the test revealed eight questions that were confusing and nine that were too easy. All participant subgroups performed better on the post-test than the pre-test; the improvements were statistically significant. While profession impacted the results, profession was not statistically significant. Years of work experience, years of education, and gender did not affect test results. Conclusions: While the study suffers from a small sample size, a few ambiguous questions, and the need for pilot testing the instrument prior to the meeting, the report evaluates the manual very favorably. The authors showed a significant gain in knowledge. The manual gives "the big picture" and does so with clarity. The text and supplementary material outline the work that needs to proceed in an organized program, and the material was easily understandable in Nigeria. Future evaluations could benefit from more participants and varied learning structures. © 2007. | Cervical cancer; Cervical cancer screening; Cervical cytology; Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN); Cervical screening programs; Human papillomavirus; Squamous intraepithelial lesions (SIL); Use of the WHO manuals in training | article; cancer prevention; cancer screening; clinical practice; controlled study; female; health care personnel; health care planning; health program; human; male; medical assessment; medical education; Nigeria; physician; priority journal; statistical significance; uterine cervix cancer; world health organization; Female; Health Education; Health Occupations; Health Personnel; Humans; Mass Screening; Nigeria; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-34547783149 | Selection, performance and economic evaluation of dust palliatives on surface mine haul roads | Thompson R.J., Visser A.T. | 2007 | Journal of the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy | 107 | 7 | None | Department of Mining Engineering, University of Pretoria, South Africa; Department of Civil and Bio-systems Engineering, University of Pretoria, South Africa | Thompson, R.J., Department of Mining Engineering, University of Pretoria, South Africa; Visser, A.T., Department of Civil and Bio-systems Engineering, University of Pretoria, South Africa | Excessive dust generation from unpaved mine haul roads is a problem common to most surface mining operations. While optimal road wearing course material selection parameters reduce the inherent dust generation potential, they do not totally eliminate fugitive dust Many different classes of suppression or palliative treatments are available for mine haul roads and this paper initially ascertains basic selection guidelines, using a set of ideal dust palliative product, application andperformance parameters based on mine road-user requirements. An evaluation and modelling methodology for truck generated fugitive dust emissions is developed as a basis for the comparative assessment of dust control strategies. For water-based spraying, a watering model was developed to estimate individual mine road watering frequencies for characteriatic site parameter combinations during summer and winter operating conditions, for a required level of control or maximum dust defects. This forms the base-case scenario with which to compare the performance of other types of dust palliatives under the same conditions. Finally, a basic palliative economic evalutionmodel is introduced with the and of identifying and costing the establishment, application and maintenance rejuvenation activities associated with the use of chemical pallisatives. While palliative cost and performance is genetaily site spacific, it is shown that under certain combinations of conditios, the use of dust palliatives has the potential to deliver cost savings when compared to water-based spraying. © The Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 2007. | None | Dust generation; Dust palliatives; Fugitive dust; Computer simulation; Dust control; Open pit mining; Parameter estimation; Spraying; Mine dust | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84875436368 | Evaluation of Paracheck-Pf™ rapid malaria diagnostic test for the diagnosis of malaria among HIV-positive patients in Ibadan, South-Western Nigeria | Falade C.O., Adesina-Adewole B., Dada-Adegbola H.O., Ajayi I.O., Akinyemi J.O., Ademowo O.G., Adewole I.F., Kanki P. | 2013 | Pathogens and Global Health | 107 | 2 | 10.1179/2047773213Y.0000000077 | Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Institute for Advanced Medical Research and Training, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaeco | Falade, C.O., Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Adesina-Adewole, B., Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Dada-Adegbola, H.O., Medical Microbiology Department, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Ajayi, I.O., Department of Epidemiology, Medical Statistics, and Environmental Health, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Akinyemi, J.O., Department of Epidemiology, Medical Statistics, and Environmental Health, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Ademowo, O.G., Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria, Institute for Advanced Medical Research and Training, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Adewole, I.F., Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Kanki, P., College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria | Febrile illnesses occur frequently among HIV positive patients and these are often treated presumptively as malaria in endemic areas. Parasite-based diagnosis of malaria will eliminate unnecessary treatment, reduce drug-drug interactions and the chances for the emergence of drug resistant Plasmodium. We evaluated finger prick blood samples from 387 people living with HIV (PLWHIV) and suspected of having malaria by expert microscopy and Paracheck-Pf ™ - a histidine-rich protein-II based malaria rapid diagnostic test. The study was conducted at the PEPFAR supported AIDS Prevention Initiative in Nigeria (APIN) Clinic of the University College Hospital Ibadan, southwest Nigeria. Outcome parameters were prevalence of malaria parasitemia, sensitivity and specificity of Paracheck-Pf as well as the positive and negative predictive values for Paracheck-Pf using microscopy of Giemsa-stained blood film as gold standard. Malaria parasites were detected in 19·1% (74/387) of enrollees by microscopy and 19·3% (74/383) by Paracheck-Pf. Geometric mean parasite density was 501/μl (range 39-749 202/μl). Sensitivity and specificity of Paracheck-Pf at all parasite densities were 55·4% and 89·3% while corresponding figures at parasite densities ≥200/μl were 90·9% and 90·3%. Sensitivity and specificity at parasite densities ≥500/μl was 97·6% and 90·3%. Positive and negative predictive values for parasite density ≥200/μl were 55·4% and 98·7%, respectively. Paracheck-Pf was found to be a useful malaria diagnostic tool at parasite densities ≧200/μl facilitating appropriate clinical management. © W. S. Maney & Son Ltd 2013. | Adult; HIV; Malaria; Paracheck-RDT | amodiaquine; artemether; artemisinin; artesunate; benflumetol; chloroquine; cotrimoxazole; pyrimethamine plus sulfadoxine; adult; aged; article; blood smear; controlled study; diagnostic test accuracy study; female; hematocrit; highly active antiretroviral therapy; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infected patient; major clinical study; malaria; malaria rapid test; male; microbiological parameters; microscopy; Nigeria; parasite density; Plasmodium falciparum; pregnant woman; prevalence; prospective study; sensitivity and specificity; AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections; Amodiaquine; Anti-HIV Agents; Antimalarials; CD4 Lymphocyte Count; Cost-Benefit Analysis; Female; Guidelines as Topic; HIV Seropositivity; Humans; Malaria, Falciparum; Male; Microscopy; Nigeria; Prevalence; Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; Sensitivity and Specificity; World Health Organization | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84856514457 | Assessment of the performance of the drag and bulk transfer method in estimating sensible and latent heat fluxes in a tropical station | Adeniyi M.O., Ogunsola O.E. | 2012 | Theoretical and Applied Climatology | 107 | 04-Mar | 10.1007/s00704-011-0496-7 | Department of Physics, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria | Adeniyi, M.O., Department of Physics, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Ogunsola, O.E., Department of Physics, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria | The performance of the general bulk formulation in estimating sensible heat flux at Nigerian Micrometeorological Experimental site was assessed. Reliable sensible heat flux was estimated with the use of accurate diurnal values of transfer coefficient of sensible heat. The performances of one α, two β and a modified α formulations in the estimation of latent heat flux were also assessed at the station. The Lee and Pielke (β), modified Kondo (α), Jacquemin and Noilhan (α) and Noilhan and Planton (β) parameterizations gave good estimation of latent heat flux. The coefficient of determination (R 2) of the models between measured and estimated values were greater than 0. 7. Low diurnal mean absolute error and root mean squared error values were found between measured and estimated fluxes. All the parameterizations gave reliable latent heat flux when diurnal values of transfer coefficients of moisture were used. © 2011 Springer-Verlag. | None | estimation method; latent heat flux; parameterization; performance assessment; reliability analysis; sensible heat flux; Nigeria | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84876316413 | Soil crusting impact on soil organic carbon losses by water erosion | Maïga-Yaleu S., Guiguemde I., Yacouba H., Karambiri H., Ribolzi O., Bary A., Ouedraogo R., Chaplot V. | 2013 | Catena | 107 | None | 10.1016/j.catena.2013.03.006 | Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry, Radiochemistry and Electrochemistry (LACARE), University of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso; Laboratory of Hydrology and Water Resources, International Institute for Water and Environmental Engineering, Foundation 2iE, Burkina Faso; Géosciences Environnement Toulouse (GET), UMR 5563, IRD (Institut de Recherche pour le Développement), Université de Toulouse, UPS (OMP), CNRS, 14 Av Edouard Belin, F-31400 Toulouse, France; IRD-BIOEMCO c/o School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Rabie Saunders Building, Scottsville, 3209, South Africa; Laboratory of Physico Chemistry and Technology of Materials (LPCTM), University of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso | Maïga-Yaleu, S., Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry, Radiochemistry and Electrochemistry (LACARE), University of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, Laboratory of Hydrology and Water Resources, International Institute for Water and Environmental Engineering, Foundation 2iE, Burkina Faso; Guiguemde, I., Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry, Radiochemistry and Electrochemistry (LACARE), University of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso; Yacouba, H., Laboratory of Hydrology and Water Resources, International Institute for Water and Environmental Engineering, Foundation 2iE, Burkina Faso; Karambiri, H., Laboratory of Hydrology and Water Resources, International Institute for Water and Environmental Engineering, Foundation 2iE, Burkina Faso; Ribolzi, O., Géosciences Environnement Toulouse (GET), UMR 5563, IRD (Institut de Recherche pour le Développement), Université de Toulouse, UPS (OMP), CNRS, 14 Av Edouard Belin, F-31400 Toulouse, France; Bary, A., Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry, Radiochemistry and Electrochemistry (LACARE), University of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso; Ouedraogo, R., Laboratory of Physico Chemistry and Technology of Materials (LPCTM), University of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso; Chaplot, V., IRD-BIOEMCO c/o School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Rabie Saunders Building, Scottsville, 3209, South Africa | The Sahelian region, characterized by erratic, heavy rainfalls and low soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks, is highly vulnerable to land degradation. While water erosion is recognized as being a main mechanism of SOC losses, little research has yet been done to investigate the role which soil surface crusting might have on SOC losses. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of soil surface crusting on SOC losses. This study was conducted in Tougou Catchment (37km2), northwest of Burkina Faso, which receives a cumulative mean annual rainfall of 500mmy-1. The area is characterized by sandy soils with varying types of surface crusts. The four different crust types studied were: structural crusts (STRU), which were found under cultivated soils, which were plowed annually; perennial desiccation crusts (DES), gravel (GRAV) and erosion (ERO) crusts, generally found in the degraded semi-arid savannas. Three micro-scale runoff plot (1×1m2) replicates were installed on each of the different types of surface crusts observed in the catchment. Water and sediment samples were collected from the runoff plots after every rainfall event (n=10) of the 2011 rainy season. The sediment samples were analyzed for organic carbon (OCsed), while the water samples were examined for dissolved organic carbon (DOC). The average of organic carbon losses with sediment (OCLsed), was 0.37gCm-2y-1 for ERO, 0.36gCm-2y-1 for DES, 0.24gCm-2y-1 for STRU and 0.15gCm-2y-1 for GRAV. DOC accounted for a minute contribution to SOC losses i.e. less than 0.05%. STRU with 10.42mgCl-1 showed the highest DOC content, followed by GRAV (6.13mgCl-1), DES (5.06mgCl-1) and ERO (4.92mgCl-1). The OC enrichment ratio (ER) of sediments to that of the 0-0.1m bulk soil was less than one for DES, GRAV and ERO (0.39, 0.69 and 0.75, respectively) and reached 1.14 for STRU. This pointed to a greater SOC protection from erosion by the perennial crusts of the degraded savannas (DES, GRAV and ERO), as compared to crusts of cultivated fields. Thick, sand-enriched crusts, DES and GRAV, seemed to provide the greatest OC protection. This study pointed out a significant relationship between soils crusting on SOC erosion. It showed that the formation of loose and sandy crusts provides greater SOC protection from water erosion, which in turn may improve SOC stabilization and associated soil functions, such as soil fertility, water-holding capacity and sequestration of atmospheric carbon. © 2013 Elsevier B.V. | Enrichment ratio; Erosion; Semi-arid area; Soil organic carbon; Soil surface crust | agricultural soil; carbon sequestration; catchment; dissolved organic carbon; field; land degradation; organic soil; sandy soil; savanna; semiarid region; soil carbon; soil crust; soil fertility; soil surface; water erosion; Burkina Faso; Groundnut rosette assistor virus | None |
| None | None | Evaluation of gravid traps for the collection of Culex quinquefasciatus, a vector of lymphatic filariasis in Tanzania | Irisha S.R., Moorea S.J., Deruac Y.A., Brucea J., Camerona M.M. | 2013 | Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene | 107 | 1 | 10.1093/trstmh/trs001 | London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom; Ifakara Health Institute, Bagamoyo Research and Training Centre, Bagamoyo, Tanzania; National Institute for Medical Research, Amani Medical Research Centre, Muheza, Tanzania | Irisha, S.R., London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom; Moorea, S.J., Ifakara Health Institute, Bagamoyo Research and Training Centre, Bagamoyo, Tanzania; Deruac, Y.A., National Institute for Medical Research, Amani Medical Research Centre, Muheza, Tanzania; Brucea, J., London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom; Camerona, M.M., London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom | Background: Although several studies have suggested that gravid traps might be useful for collection of mosquitoes, particularly Culex quinquefasciatus, to monitor transmission of the nematode Wuchereria bancrofti (xenomonitoring), there has not been a study to see which of the currently available gravid traps is most effective in endemic areas. The present study evaluated the comparative efficacy for collection of Cx quinquefasciatus of four commercially available gravid traps: the CDC, Frommer Updraft, Reiter-Cummings and Harris County traps. Method: Trap evaluations were conducted in two locations in Tanzania, Ifakara and Tanga. Mosquitoes collected were identified to species, sex, and gonotrophic status. Results: In both locations, the CDC gravid trap collected the highest number of mosquitoes, the highest number of Cx quinquefasciatus, and the highest proportion of gravid mosquitoes. Although it damaged the highest proportion of mosquitoes as they passed through the trap fan, the CDC gravid trap also contained the highest number of living mosquitoes, when the traps were collected in the morning. The CDC gravid traps collected significantly more phlebotomine sandflies than the other traps and in Tanga, where they were more frequent, the highest number of biting midges. Conclusion: The effectiveness of all four gravid traps should encourage the sampling of Cx quinquefasciatus where it is an important disease vector or nuisance mosquito. The unexpected collection of phlebotomine sandflies and biting midges indicates that gravid traps might usefully collect other insects, including those of medical importance. © Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 2012. All rights reserved. | Culex quinquefasciatus; Gravid trap; Lymphatic filariasis; Tanzania | animal experiment; animal trapping; article; CDC gravid trap; clinical effectiveness; Culex quinquefasciatus; disease carrier; female; Frommer Updraft gravid trap; gravid trap; Harris County gravid trap; intermethod comparison; lymphatic filariasis; male; nonhuman; Phlebotomus; protective equipment; Reiter Cummings gravid trap; Tanzania; vector control; animal; Culex; equipment; evaluation; methodology; mosquito; Poaceae; organic compound; plant extract; Animals; Culex; Mosquito Control; Organic Chemicals; Plant Extracts; Poaceae; Tanzania | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77149161737 | Methodology to measure and verify the impacts obtained from energy efficiency activities | Den Heijer W., Grobler L. | 2010 | Energy Engineering: Journal of the Association of Energy Engineering | 107 | 2 | None | North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa | Den Heijer, W., North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa; Grobler, L., North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa | The necessity for effective and sustainable energy efficiency is now, more than ever, of critical importance for the various industrial sectors within the South African economy. The critical shortage of electricity, rising electricity costs, the Energy Efficiency Accord, the proposed Power Conservation Program (PCP), and tax incentives are but a few of the primary driving forces behind energy efficiency in South Africa's energy market. Electricity and its production cost is a risk that needs to be managed, which will effectively force industry to drive energy efficiency within itself. However, the impacts of energy efficiency often dissipate over time due to the lack of effective management information, which can only be provided through thorough measurement and verification (M&V). It should consequently go hand-in-hand with all aspects of energy efficiency projects, especially when considering the above-mentioned driving forces. The nature of energy efficiency in the industrial sector is often complex when quantifying the impacts and isolating them from energy reductions resulting from numerous other variables, such as production.This article will describe a measurement and verification methodology that is used to accurately and independently isolate, assess, and quantify the impacts obtained from energy efficiency activities in the industrial sector. These M&V results will not only be able to quantify the impacts of energy efficiency impacts under the PCP but also for the Energy Efficiency Accord, and they will form the backbone of the issuance of energy efficiency certificates to be used in trading and tax rebates. The methodology is described by means of an actual case study for a single industrial site. | None | Driving forces; Effective management; Electricity costs; Energy markets; Energy reduction; Industrial sector; Industrial sites; Measurement and verification; Power conservation; Production cost; South Africa; Sustainable energy; Tax incentive; Tax rebates; Energy conservation; Taxation; Energy efficiency | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-60649112261 | Evaluation of risk of rock fall accidents in gold mine stopes based on measured joint data | Stacey T.R., Gumede H. | 2007 | Journal of the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy | 107 | 5 | None | School of Mining Engineering, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa | Stacey, T.R., School of Mining Engineering, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa; Gumede, H., School of Mining Engineering, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa | Rock fall accidents continue to be the main causes of fatalities in the mining industry. The occurrence of rock falls in supported stopes implies a failure of the support system. The failure of the support system in turn implies a failure in design. In this paper, ethical issues associated with engineering design are discussed, with particular relevance to stope support design. A risk approach is introduced that will allow designs to be carried out that are compatible with the acceptable risk defined by the mining company management. The implementation of this approach would overcome the ethical shortcomings of current support design practices. © The Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 2007. | None | Engineering designs; Ethical issues; Mining companies; Mining industries; Rock falls; Support designs; Support systems; Accidents; Risks; Stoping; Design | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-34547770708 | Sampling: The impact on costs and decision making | Minnitt R.C.A. | 2007 | Journal of the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy | 107 | 7 | None | School of Mining Engineering, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa | Minnitt, R.C.A., School of Mining Engineering, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa | The simple act of taking a sample implies that someone will use the information contained in the analytical result to make a decision about a course of action. In the mining industry, the decisions may involve huge capital commitments for opening or closing a mine, or marginal tactical costs that involve deciding if a truckload of mineralized rock should be sent to the mill for processing, or the waste dump. Sampling is among the most fundamental activities in a mining operation, and this paper aims to examine some of the technical issues that can assist in ensuring that samples are representative and correct Insights into the scale of variability require that we disaggregate sampling variance into its component parts and evaluate each one individually. The work of Pierre Gy in understanding; the different sampling errors is the first step in establishing an optimal protocol. This must be followed by the appropriate measures to ensure the protocol is implemented such that minimal bias is introduced in the sampling process. Even with these insights the possibility exists for large unseen and hidden costs can accumulate in a mineral development because of sampling errors. These hidden costs arise due to misunderstanding of the principle factors that affect the size of sampling errors, such as the mass of the sample, the effects of splitting a sample to reduce the mass, and the influence of the nominal particle size. The handling of sample material without due regard to the sampling characteristics of the material being sampled is also a major source of sampling errors. The most significant problem Is due to the influence of the so-called volume-variance effect. This effect is a consequence of the support effect and the information effect both of which relate to the difference in size at which samples are collected and mining blocks are extracted. The information effect is a function of the availability of data at the time that decisions are made about the destinations of mineralized rock, namely the mill or the waste dump. Implementation of appropriate sampling protocols in the mineral value chain remains a challenge throughout the industry. The growing understanding and deepening appreciation of sampling theory and methods means we stand on the threshold of a new era for implementing and understanding appropriate sampling procedures and protocols. In the interests of optimal development of the national patrimony it is suggested that standardization through the identification of structural problem and continuous improvement of mining processes be instituted at a national level. © The Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 2007. | None | Capital commitments; Mineralized rock; Variance effect; Costs; Decision making; Errors; Information use; Mineral industry; Standardization; Sampling | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-52649089673 | The impact of mixed fleet hauling on mining operations at Venetia mine | Krzyzanowska J. | 2007 | Journal of the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy | 107 | 4 | None | University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa | Krzyzanowska, J., University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa | Venetia Mine, an open-pit diamond mining operation in the Limpopo Province of South Africa, currently has a mixed haul truck fleet consisting of Caterpillar 785B and C; 789C; modified 793D and 793D. Even in an ideal situation these trucks have different cycle times, which causes queuing at the loading area and their different speeds cause bunching on the ramps, leading to higher overall cycle times and lower productivity. This problem was identified but the root causes of the problem were not investigated and quantified. A time and motion study on the haul trucks was thus undertaken to measure actual cycle times and compare them to ideal cycle times as well as to observe any reasons for deviations. Ideal cycle times are partly evaluated on the basis of simulation and partly from production optimization expert input. Several areas that affect production were identified and these include: haul road conditions, the control room, dispatching programme and dispatching data management, as well as truck-shovel matching. The investigation was important in establishing control parameters for haul fleet operation since time spent queuing is production time lost, which defers waste tonnes to later in the life of mine, thus decreasing the tempo at which kimberlite is exposed. © The Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 2007. | None | Control parameters; Control rooms; Cycle times; Data management; Diamond mining; Different speeds; Haul trucks; Haul-road conditions; Loading area; Mining operations; Motion study; Open pits; Production Optimization; Production time; Root causes; South Africa; Automobiles; Control system analysis; Control theory; Diamonds; Fleet operations; Management information systems; Mine trucks; Mines; Mining; Mining engineering; Open pit mining; Parameter estimation; Solid wastes; Trucks; Time and motion study | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84862965932 | Environmental impacts of electric vehicles in South Africa | Liu X., Hildebrandt D., Glasser D. | 2012 | South African Journal of Science | 108 | 42371 | None | Centre of Material and Process Synthesis, School of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa | Liu, X., Centre of Material and Process Synthesis, School of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Hildebrandt, D., Centre of Material and Process Synthesis, School of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Glasser, D., Centre of Material and Process Synthesis, School of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa | Electric vehicles have been seen by some policymakers as a tool to target reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. 1,2 Some researchers have shown that the full environmental impact of electric vehicles depends very much on the cleanliness of the electricity grid. 3 In countries such as the USA and China, where coal-fired power plants still play a very important role in electricity generation, the environmental impact of electric vehicles is equivalent to, or even higher than that of cars running on internal combustion engines. 4,5 In this study, the environmental impacts of electric vehicles in South Africa were investigated. We found that, as the bulk of South Africa's electricity is generated from relatively low-quality coal and the advanced exhaust clean up technologies are not implemented in the current coal-fired power plants, the use of electric vehicles in South Africa would not help to cut greenhouse gas emissions now (2010) or in the future (in 2030 using the IRP 2010 Revision 2, policy-adjusted IRP scenario), and actually would lead to higher SO x and NO x emissions. © 2012. The Authors. | None | cleanup; coal-fired power plant; electric vehicle; electricity generation; emission control; emission inventory; engine; environmental impact; greenhouse gas; life cycle analysis; nitrogen oxides; policy making; pollution incidence; sulfur compound; South Africa | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84856044248 | How do HIV and AIDS impact the use of natural resources by poor rural populations? The case of wild animal products | Kaschula S.A., Shackleton C.M. | 2012 | South African Journal of Science | 108 | 42371 | None | Department of Environmental Science, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa; Earth Institute, Columbia University, New York, United States | Kaschula, S.A., Department of Environmental Science, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa, Earth Institute, Columbia University, New York, United States; Shackleton, C.M., Department of Environmental Science, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa | As a result of heightened financial and food insecurity, populations adversely affected by HIV and/or AIDS may be more likely to utilise wild natural resources to supplement their diet and livelihoods. Should this effect be pronounced, HIV and AIDS may pose a serious environmental threat. We explored the hypothesis that the presence of factors in the household, such as chronic illness in and recent mortality of individuals in a high HIV-risk age group, as well as the fostering of orphans, are associated with increased utilisation of wild animal products (WAPs) at the household level. We randomly surveyed 519 households from four sites in rural South Africa, recording household socio-economic status, the utilisation of wild animal products and health and demographic factors attributed to HIV or AIDS. Binary logistic regressions were used to test if households with markers of HIV and/or AIDS affliction were more likely to have a higher incidence and frequency of WAP utilisation relative to non-afflicted households, after adjusting for socio-economic and demographic variables. We found that, although households with markers of HIV and/or AIDS were generally poorer and had higher dependency ratios, there was no evidence to support the hypothesis that WAP harvesting was associated with either poverty, or markers of HIV and/or AIDS affliction. Our findings suggest that generalisations about a possible interaction between HIV and/or AIDS and the environment may not uniformly apply to all categories of natural resources or to all user groups. © 2012. The Authors. | None | acquired immune deficiency syndrome; animal product; consumption behavior; diet; environmental risk; food limitation; health status; human immunodeficiency virus; hypothesis testing; low income population; mortality; natural resource; nature-society relations; poverty; regression analysis; rural population; socioeconomic status; South Africa; Animalia; Human immunodeficiency virus | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-76449120950 | Measuring submaximal performance parameters to monitor fatigue and predict cycling performance: A case study of a world-class cyclo-cross cyclist | Lamberts R.P., Rietjens G.J., Tijdink H.H., Noakes T.D., Lambert M.I. | 2010 | European Journal of Applied Physiology | 108 | 1 | 10.1007/s00421-009-1291-3 | Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, P.O. Box 115, Newlands 7725, South Africa; Netherlands Olympic Committee, Netherlands Sports Confederation (NOC NSF), Arnhem, Netherlands; Department of Training Medicine and Training Physiology, Royal Dutch Army, Ministry of Defence, Utrecht, Netherlands; Institute for Physical Therapy de Boombosch, Twello, Netherlands | Lamberts, R.P., Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, P.O. Box 115, Newlands 7725, South Africa; Rietjens, G.J., Netherlands Olympic Committee, Netherlands Sports Confederation (NOC NSF), Arnhem, Netherlands, Department of Training Medicine and Training Physiology, Royal Dutch Army, Ministry of Defence, Utrecht, Netherlands; Tijdink, H.H., Institute for Physical Therapy de Boombosch, Twello, Netherlands; Noakes, T.D., Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, P.O. Box 115, Newlands 7725, South Africa; Lambert, M.I., Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, P.O. Box 115, Newlands 7725, South Africa | Recently a novel submaximal test, known as the Lamberts and Lambert submaximal cycle test (LSCT), has been developed with the purpose of monitoring and predicting changes in cycling performance. Although this test has been shown to be reliable and able to predict cycling performance, it is not known whether it can measure changes in training status. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine whether the LSCT is able to track changes in performance parameters, and objective and subjective markers of well-being. A world class cyclo-cross athlete (31 years) volunteered to participate in a 10-week observational study. Before and after the study, a peak power output (PPO) test with respiratory gas analysis (VO2max) and a 40-km time trial (40-km TT) test were performed. Training data were recorded in a training logbook with a daily assessment of well-being, while a weekly LSCT was performed. After the training period all performance parameters had improved by a meaningful amount (PPO +5.2%; 40-km TT time -2.5%; VO2max +1.4%). Increased training loads during weeks 2 and 6 and the subsequent training-induced fatigue was reflected in the increased well-being scores. Changes during the LSCT were most clearly notable in (1) increased power during the first minute of third stage, (2) increased rating of perceived exertion during second and third stages, and (3) a faster heart rate recovery after the third stage. In conclusion, these data suggest that the LSCT is able to track changes in training status and detect the consequences of sharp increases in training loads which seem to be associated with accumulating fatigue. © 2009 Springer-Verlag. | Cycling; Fatigue; Heart rate recovery; LSCT; Monitoring; Performance | adaptation; adult; article; athlete; athletic performance; bicycle; case report; endurance; exercise; exercise test; exercise tolerance; fatigue; fitness; human; leg; male; methodology; muscle fatigue; muscle strength; oxygen consumption; pathophysiology; physiology; psychological aspect; task performance; Adaptation, Physiological; Adult; Athletes; Athletic Performance; Bicycling; Exercise Test; Exercise Tolerance; Fatigue; Humans; Leg; Male; Muscle Fatigue; Muscle Strength; Oxygen Consumption; Physical Endurance; Physical Exertion; Physical Fitness; Task Performance and Analysis | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-76049094848 | Hysterosalpingographic evaluation of 998 consecutive infertile women in Jos, Nigeria | Karshima J.A., Daru P.H., Ekedigwe J.E. | 2010 | International Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics | 108 | 3 | 10.1016/j.ijgo.2009.10.013 | Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Jos, Jos, Nigeria; Department of Radiology and Diagnostic Imaging, Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos, Nigeria | Karshima, J.A., Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Jos, Jos, Nigeria; Daru, P.H., Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Jos, Jos, Nigeria; Ekedigwe, J.E., Department of Radiology and Diagnostic Imaging, Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos, Nigeria | [No abstract available] | Central Nigeria; Hysterosalpingography; Infertile women; Tuboperitoneal disease | contrast medium; adolescent; adult; age distribution; article; cannula; clinical evaluation; clinical feature; curettage; endometritis; endometrium polyp; female; female infertility; fimbria; fimbrial phimosis; fistula; gynecological examination; human; hydrosalpinx; hysterosalpingography; intrauterine contraceptive device; major clinical study; medical record review; muscle spasm; Nigeria; pelvic inflammatory disease; pelvis surgery; peritoneal cavity; pregnancy termination; prevalence; priority journal; prognosis; pubic bone; radiology; retrospective study; salpingitis; teaching hospital; urethra stenosis; uterine cervicitis; uterine cervix dilatation; uterine cervix fistula; uterine tube occlusion; uterus bicornis; uterus malformation; uterus myoma; uterus synechia; Adolescent; Adult; Female; Humans; Hysterosalpingography; Infertility, Female; Nigeria; Retrospective Studies; Young Adult | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33749344765 | Evaluation of the antidiarrhoeal activity of Byrsocarpus coccineus | Akindele A.J., Adeyemi O.O. | 2006 | Journal of Ethnopharmacology | 108 | 1 | 10.1016/j.jep.2006.03.038 | Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, P.M.B 12003, Lagos, Nigeria | Akindele, A.J., Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, P.M.B 12003, Lagos, Nigeria; Adeyemi, O.O., Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, P.M.B 12003, Lagos, Nigeria | Based on its use in traditional African medicine, the antidiarrhoeal activity of the aqueous leaf extract of Byrsocarpus coccineus, Connaraceae, was evaluated on normal and castor oil-induced intestinal transit, castor oil-induced diarrhoea, enteropooling and gastric emptying. The extract (50, 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg, p.o.) produced a significant (P < 0.05) dose dependent decrease in propulsion in the castor oil-induced intestinal transit in mice. The mean peristaltic index (%) for these doses of extract, control (distilled water; 10 ml/kg, p.o.) and morphine (10 mg/kg, s.c.) were 55.27 ± 1.86, 53.12 ± 3.73, 38.60 ± 3.79, 30.25 ± 1.27, 89.33 ± 5.62 and 20.29 ± 3.38, respectively. The effect of the extract at the highest dose was significantly (P < 0.05) lower than that of the standard drug. This effect was antagonised by yohimbine (1 mg/kg, s.c.) but not by isosorbide dinitrate (IDN, 150 mg/kg, p.o.). At 200 mg/kg, the extract produced a significant decrease in propulsion in normal intestinal transit. In a dose dependent manner, it delayed the onset of diarrhoea, produced a significant decrease in the frequency of defaecation, severity of diarrhoea and protected the mice treated with castor oil. Mean diarrhoea scores were 30.83 ± 1.72, 22.40 ± 1.71, 21.43 ± 1.32, 13.80 ± 0.33, 18.00 ± 3.94 and 7.67 ± 2.41 for control, extract (50, 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg) and morphine, respectively. This effect was not antagonized by IDN. The extract (400 mg/kg) significantly decreased the volume (ml) of intestinal fluid secretion induced by castor oil (0.60 ± 0.23) compared with 1.27 ± 0.12 for control. However, there was no significant effect on gastric emptying. The results obtained suggest that Byrsocarpus coccineus possesses antidiarrhoeal activity due to its inhibitory effect on gastrointestinal propulsion, mediated through α2 adrenoceptors, and also inhibition of fluid secretion. Preliminary phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of alkaloids, tannins, saponins, reducing sugars, glycosides and anthraquinones. © 2006 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. | Antidiarrhoeal; Byrsocarpus coccineus; Castor oil-induced diarrhoea; Intestinal transit | alpha 2 adrenergic receptor; Byrsocarpus coccineus extract; castor oil; isosorbide dinitrate; morphine; plant extract; unclassified drug; water; yohimbine; acute toxicity; animal experiment; animal model; antidiarrheal activity; article; Byrsocarpus coccineus; controlled study; diarrhea; dose response; drug activity; female; gastrointestinal motility; intestine fluid; intestine motility; intestine secretion; intestine transit time; male; medicinal plant; mouse; nonhuman; peristalsis; rat; stomach emptying; Animals; Antidiarrheals; Connaraceae; Diarrhea; Female; Gastrointestinal Transit; Male; Mice; Phytotherapy; Plant Extracts; Plant Leaves; Plant Preparations; Rats; Byrsocarpus coccineus; Connaraceae | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-74049106141 | Impact of Aspergillus section Flavi community structure on the development of lethal levels of aflatoxins in Kenyan maize (Zea mays) | Probst C., Schulthess F., Cotty P.J. | 2010 | Journal of Applied Microbiology | 108 | 2 | 10.1111/j.1365-2672.2009.04458.x | Department of Plant Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States; International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, Plant Health Division, Nairobi, Kenya; USDA-ARS, Department of Plant Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States | Probst, C., Department of Plant Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States; Schulthess, F., International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, Plant Health Division, Nairobi, Kenya; Cotty, P.J., Department of Plant Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States, USDA-ARS, Department of Plant Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States | Aims: To evaluate the potential role of fungal community structure in predisposing Kenyan maize to severe aflatoxin contamination by contrasting aflatoxin-producing fungi resident in the region with repeated outbreaks of lethal aflatoxicosis to those in regions without a history of aflatoxicosis. Methods and Results: Fungi belonging to Aspergillus section Flavi were isolated from maize samples from three Kenyan provinces between 2004 and 2006. Frequencies of identified strains and aflatoxin-producing abilities were assessed, and the data were analysed by statistical means. Most aflatoxin-producing fungi belonged to Aspergillus flavus. The two major morphotypes of A. flavus varied greatly between provinces, with the S strain dominant in both soil and maize within aflatoxicosis outbreak regions and the L strain dominant in nonoutbreak regions. Conclusions: Aspergillus community structure is an important factor in the development of aflatoxins in maize in Kenya and, as such, is a major contributor to the development of aflatoxicosis in the Eastern Province. Significance and Impact of the Study: Since 1982, deaths caused by aflatoxin-contaminated maize have repeatedly occurred in the Eastern Province of Kenya. The current study characterized an unusual fungal community structure associated with the lethal contamination events. The results will be helpful in developing aflatoxin management practices to prevent future outbreaks in Kenya. © 2009 The Society for Applied Microbiology. | Aflatoxicosis; Aspergillus flavus; Corn; Fungal community structure; Kenya | aflatoxin; community structure; fungus; identification method; maize; morphotype; mortality; statistical analysis; toxin; aflatoxicosis; article; Aspergillus flavus; community structure; food contamination; fungal community; fungal strain; fungus identification; fungus isolation; maize; morphotype; nonhuman; Aflatoxins; Aspergillus flavus; Disease Outbreaks; Food Contamination; Kenya; Soil; Soil Microbiology; Zea mays; Eastern Province [Kenya]; Kenya; Aspergillus; Aspergillus flavus; Fungi; Zea mays | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-40949137714 | Impact of postnatal depression on infants' growth in Nigeria | Adewuya A.O., Ola B.O., Aloba O.O., Mapayi B.M., Okeniyi J.A.O. | 2008 | Journal of Affective Disorders | 108 | 02-Jan | 10.1016/j.jad.2007.09.013 | Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, Lagos State University, Nigeria; Department of Mental Health, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex. Ile-Ife, Nigeria; Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, College of Health Sciences. O | Adewuya, A.O., Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, Lagos State University, Nigeria; Ola, B.O., Department of Mental Health, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex. Ile-Ife, Nigeria; Aloba, O.O., Department of Mental Health, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex. Ile-Ife, Nigeria; Mapayi, B.M., Department of Mental Health, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex. Ile-Ife, Nigeria; Okeniyi, J.A.O., Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, College of Health Sciences. Obafemi Awolowo University. Ile-Ife, Nigeria | Background: The contribution of maternal postnatal depression to infant growth and under-nutrition in Africa has not been well studied. This study aims to examine the impact of postnatal depression (PND) on infants' physical growth in the first 9 months of life in Nigeria. Methods: A longitudinal case controlled study in which 242 women (consisting of 120 depressed and 122 matched non-depressed postpartum women) had their infants' weight and length measured at the 6th week, 3rd month, 6th month and 9th month after delivery. Discontinuation with breastfeeding and illnesses like diarrhoea, persistent vomiting, fever and cough were also recorded at these periods. Results: Infants of depressed mothers had statistically significant poorer growth than infants of non-depressed mothers at the 3rd month (weight OR 3.41, 95% CI 1.30-8.52; length OR 3.28, 95% CI 1.03-10.47) and the 6th month postpartum (weight OR 4.21, 95% CI 1.36-13.20; length OR 3.34, 95% CI 1.18-9.52). Depressed mothers were more likely to stop breastfeeding earlier and their infants more likely to have episodes of diarrhoea and other infectious illnesses. Limitations: Psychiatric interview was conducted only once (at 6 weeks postpartum), our sample size was moderate and we did not account for mothers who had been depressed in pregnancy. Conclusion: Prevention of postnatal depression and close monitoring of the growth of infants of depressed mothers should be integrated into maternal and child health policies in this region. © 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. | Breastfeeding; Cross-cultural; Infants' growth; Postnatal depression | article; body weight; breast feeding education; child growth; coughing; diarrhea; disease association; female; fever; human; interview; major clinical study; Nigeria; patient monitoring; priority journal; psychologic test; puerperal depression; vomiting; Adult; Body Height; Body Weight; Breast Feeding; Case-Control Studies; Cross-Cultural Comparison; Depression, Postpartum; Developing Countries; Diarrhea, Infantile; Failure to Thrive; Female; Health Surveys; History, Ancient; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Nigeria; Risk Factors | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84897830380 | Performance of three rapid screening methods in the detection of Schistosoma haematobium infection in school-age children in Southeastern Nigeria | Caroline Okeke O., Obiageli Ubachukwu P. | 2014 | Pathogens and Global Health | 108 | 2 | 10.1179/2047773214Y.0000000128 | Department of Zoology and Environmental Biology, Parasitology Unit, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu, Nigeria | Caroline Okeke, O., Department of Zoology and Environmental Biology, Parasitology Unit, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu, Nigeria; Obiageli Ubachukwu, P., Department of Zoology and Environmental Biology, Parasitology Unit, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu, Nigeria | Background: A cross-sectional study of primary school children was conducted to evaluate and compare the performance of some rapid screening methods in the detection of Schistosoma haematobium infection in Nigeria Cement Factory (NigerCem) and Nike Lake areas of Southeastern Nigeria. Methods: Urine samples of school children were examined for macro-haematuria and tested for microhaematuria and proteinuria using reagent strips followed by egg microscopy. Self-reported haematuria was assessed using simple questionnaire. The performances of these rapid diagnoses singly and in combination were calculated using egg microscopy as gold standard. Results: The prevalence of the infection was 26.6% in NigerCem and 5.1% in Nike Lake area, classifying these areas as moderate- and low-prevalence areas (MPA and LPA); while in the subsample used for selfreported haematuria, the prevalence was 27.2 and 4.2% in MPA and LPA, respectively. The positive predictive value (PPV) of micro-haematuria was comparable in MPA (55.26%) and LPA (57.89%). Overall PPV of macro-haematuria was 87.50% in MPA and 66.70% in LPA while in the detection of heavy infection; PPV was higher in LPA (75%) than in MPA (66.67%). In LPA and MPA, combination of micro-haematuria and proteinuria, and concomitant presence of macro-haematuria, micro-haematuria, and proteinuria had PPV of 83.33 and 63.16%, and 100 versus 66.67%, respectively. Generally, the rapid screening tests had lower negative predictive values (NPVs) in MPA than in LPA. The use of simple questionnaire increased the PPV of heavy infection in MPA (77.78%). This was further increased to 80% when self-reported haematuria was combined with micro-haematuria. Conclusion: The result suggests that in MPA with chronic infections, combination of self-reported haematuria and micro-haematuria may reduce the chance of missing those who should be treated. © W. S. Maney & Son Ltd 2014. | Macro-haematuria; Predictive values; Questionnaire method; Reagent strip; Schistosoma haematobium | praziquantel; test strip; adolescent; article; child; controlled study; cross-sectional study; diagnostic accuracy; diagnostic test accuracy study; gold standard; hematuria; human; microscopy; Nigeria; parasite identification; predictive value; preschool child; prevalence; proteinuria; questionnaire; Schistosoma hematobium; schistosomiasis haematobia; school child; screening test; sensitivity and specificity; urinalysis; urine reagent strip test; animal; epidemiology; female; isolation and purification; male; mass screening; parasitology; reproducibility; Schistosoma hematobium; schistosomiasis haematobia; test strip; urine; Adolescent; Animals; Child; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Hematuria; Humans; Male; Mass Screening; Nigeria; Parasite Egg Count; Predictive Value of Tests; Prevalence; Proteinuria; Questionnaires; Reagent Strips; Reproducibility of Results; Schistosoma haematobium; Schistosomiasis haematobia; Sensitivity and Specificity | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-36749054748 | Economic impact assessment for technology: The case of improved soybean varieties in southwest Nigeria | Ogunsumi L.O., Adegbite A.A., Oyekan P.O. | 2007 | Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development in the Tropics and Subtropics | 108 | 1 | None | Institute of Agricultural Research and Training, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ibadan, Nigeria | Ogunsumi, L.O., Institute of Agricultural Research and Training, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ibadan, Nigeria; Adegbite, A.A., Institute of Agricultural Research and Training, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ibadan, Nigeria; Oyekan, P.O., Institute of Agricultural Research and Training, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ibadan, Nigeria | The Study on economic impact assessment for the production of improved soybean varieties in Nigeria was carried out in Nigeria using the agronomic data on yield of the nationally coordinated soybean research from two major zones namely the southwest and the middle belt. The study assesses the economic returns due to improved soybean varieties. Primary data were collected with the use of structured and validated questionnaires. A sample of 288 respondents was drawn from four states namely Oyo, Ogun, Kwara and Niger State at 72 respondents per state. Secondary data were collected from Agricultural Development Programme (ADP), International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Institute of Agricultural Research and Training, (IAR & T), National Cereals Research Institute (NCRI), Central Bank of Nigeria CBN and Federal Office of Statistics (FOS). An internal rate of return (IRR) of 38 percent was estimated from the stream of netted real social gains at 1985 constant. The return to investment in soybean production technology is attractive and justifies the investments made on the technologies. The policy implication is that there is under-investment in soybean production research. | Economic impact assessment; Improved varieties; Nigeria; Soybean | Glycine max | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-34247862035 | Monitoring herbaceous fuel moisture content with SPOT VEGETATION time-series for fire risk prediction in savanna ecosystems | Verbesselt J., Somers B., Lhermitte S., Jonckheere I., van Aardt J., Coppin P. | 2007 | Remote Sensing of Environment | 108 | 4 | 10.1016/j.rse.2006.11.019 | Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Department Biosystems (M3-BIORES), Group of Geomatics Engineering, Celestijnenlaan 200E, B-3001 Leuven, Belgium; CSIR - Natural Resources and the Environment - Ecosystems, P.O. Box 395 Pretoria, 0001, South Africa | Verbesselt, J., Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Department Biosystems (M3-BIORES), Group of Geomatics Engineering, Celestijnenlaan 200E, B-3001 Leuven, Belgium; Somers, B., Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Department Biosystems (M3-BIORES), Group of Geomatics Engineering, Celestijnenlaan 200E, B-3001 Leuven, Belgium; Lhermitte, S., Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Department Biosystems (M3-BIORES), Group of Geomatics Engineering, Celestijnenlaan 200E, B-3001 Leuven, Belgium; Jonckheere, I., Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Department Biosystems (M3-BIORES), Group of Geomatics Engineering, Celestijnenlaan 200E, B-3001 Leuven, Belgium; van Aardt, J., CSIR - Natural Resources and the Environment - Ecosystems, P.O. Box 395 Pretoria, 0001, South Africa; Coppin, P., Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Department Biosystems (M3-BIORES), Group of Geomatics Engineering, Celestijnenlaan 200E, B-3001 Leuven, Belgium | This paper evaluated the capacity of SPOT VEGETATION time-series to monitor herbaceous fuel moisture content (FMC) in order to improve fire risk assessment in the savanna ecosystem of Kruger National Park in South Africa. In situ herbaceous FMC data were used to assess the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI), Vegetation Dryness Index (VDI), Improved VDI (IVDI), and Accumulated Relative NDVI Decrement (ARND) during the dry season. The effect of increasing amounts of dead vegetation on the monitoring capacity of derived indices was studied by sampling mixed live and dead FMC. The IVDI was proposed as an improvement of the VDI to monitor herbaceous FMC during the dry season. The IVDI is derived by replacing NDVI with the integrated Relative Vegetation Index (iRVI), as an approximation of yearly herbaceous biomass, when analyzing the 2-dimensional space with NDWI. It was shown that the iRVI offered more information than the NDVI in combination with NDWI to monitor FMC. The VDI and IVDI exhibited a significant relation to FMC with R2 of 0.25 and 0.73, respectively. The NDWI, however, correlated best with FMC (R2 = 0.75), while the correlation of ARND and FMC was weaker (R2 = 0.60) than that found for NDVI, NDWI, and IVDI. The use of in situ herbaceous FMC consequently indicated that NDWI is appropriate as spatio-temporal information source of herbaceous FMC variation which can be used to optimize fire risk and behavior assessment for fire management in savanna ecosystems. © 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. | Fire risk; Fuel moisture content; Improved Vegetation Dryness Index (IVDI); Live and dead fuel; SPOT VEGETATION | Biomass; Correlation methods; Ecosystems; Risk analysis; Vegetation; Dead fuel; Fire risk; Fuel moisture content; Improved Vegetation Dryness Index (IVDI); Moisture; biofuel; biomonitoring; fire behavior; fire management; forest fire; hazard assessment; index method; moisture content; natural hazard; NDVI; optimization; risk assessment; satellite data; savanna; SPOT; time series analysis; Africa; Kruger National Park; South Africa; Southern Africa; Sub-Saharan Africa | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84945495083 | Environmental performance evaluation of different cutting environments when milling H13 tool steel | Mulyadi I.H., Balogun V.A., Mativenga P.T. | 2015 | Journal of Cleaner Production | 108 | None | 10.1016/j.jclepro.2015.07.024 | Mechanical Engineering Department, Andalas University, Padang, West Sumatera, Indonesia; Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering, Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, Nigeria; School of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering, University | Mulyadi, I.H., Mechanical Engineering Department, Andalas University, Padang, West Sumatera, Indonesia; Balogun, V.A., Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering, Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, Nigeria; Mativenga, P.T., School of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom | Limited availability of natural resources and the negative environmental burden of industrial processes are driving environmental awareness and resource efficiency improvements in manufacturing. Issues of concern in mechanical machining arise from the significant use of electrical energy and oil-based coolants/lubricants. Process innovation through high speed machining has enabled manufacturing cycle times to be reduced and in some cases promoted dry machining or the use of minimum quantity lubrication. However, the environmental assessment of these innovations has hardly been explored. In this study, the environmental benefits of minimum quantity lubrication environments in machining tool steel at transition speed regime through electrical energy consumption were evaluated and compared to its competitors. The work then assessed the energy using a customized electrical energy model proposed in this study and hence the environmental performance in the process level. Tool life might be of concern in selecting between MQL, dry machining and flood machining, however, this study found that in respect to total energy requirement and environmental benefits, MQL is more promising than flood machining. The work is fundamentally important in assessing the direct energy consumption and the environmental credentials of machining processes. © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. | Cutting environments; End milling; Energy consumption; Environmental burden; Tool life | Energy utilization; Environmental impact; Environmental management; Floods; Lubrication; Machining; Manufacture; Milling (machining); Steel; Tool steel; Tools; Electrical energy consumption; End milling; Environmental burdens; Environmental performance; Environmental performance evaluations; Minimum quantity lubrication; Tool life; Total energy requirement; Cutting tools | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33644520644 | Starch hydrolysis using α-amylase: A laboratory evaluation using response surface methodology | Schoonees B.M. | 2006 | International Sugar Journal | 108 | 1286 | None | Sugar Milling Research Institute, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4041, South Africa | Schoonees, B.M., Sugar Milling Research Institute, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4041, South Africa | The South African cane sugar mills use a thermostable amylase enzyme (produced by genetically modified strains of Bacillus licheniformis) to control seasonally high starch levels in juice. The recommended point of application of the enzyme is the third or fourth evaporator effect since the temperatures in these effects are high enough for the starch to remain solubilised, but low enough to prevent deactivation of the enzyme. The extended residence time and lower Brix in these effects are also believed to favour enzymatic action compared to conditions in the syrup tank. While considerable effort has been made to characterize the effect of factory parameters on the previous generation of commercially available α-amylases when they were first introduced to the cane sugar industry, not much work has been done on the thermostable enzymes, thus spurring this investigation. The effects and interaction effects of temperature, Brix, pH, starch concentration and enzyme concentration on the amount of starch hydrolysed by the enzyme in a sucrose solution were determined using statistical experimental design techniques. Experiments were conducted as batch processes, while the stirring rate, calcium content and the volume of each run were kept constant. A model was derived and corresponding response surface diagrams were used to identify trends in terms of the evaluated parameters. Some experiments were done to lend support for the model which was shown to be a good predictive tool within the experimental domain investigated. | None | Bacillus licheniformis; Enzyme concentrations; Genetically modified; Laboratory evaluation; Response surface methodology; Starch concentration; Statistical experimental design; Thermostable enzymes; Bacteriology; Batch data processing; Experiments; Hydrolysis; Starch; Sugar factories; Sugar industry; Surface properties; Amylases; Bacillus licheniformis | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-21544477256 | Quantitative determination of the group of flavonoids and saponins from the extracts of the seeds of Glinus lotoides and tablet formulation thereof by high-performance liquid chromatography | Endale A., Kammerer B., Gebre-Mariam T., Schmidt P.C. | 2005 | Journal of Chromatography A | 1083 | 42371 | 10.1016/j.chroma.2005.05.095 | Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, University of Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 8, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Division of Clinical Pharmacology, University Hospital of Tübingen, Otfried-Müller-Str. 45, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | Endale, A., Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, University of Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 8, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; Kammerer, B., Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Division of Clinical Pharmacology, University Hospital of Tübingen, Otfried-Müller-Str. 45, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; Gebre-Mariam, T., Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Schmidt, P.C., Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, University of Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 8, 72076 Tübingen, Germany | The total flavonoids and saponins of the seeds of Glinus lotoides in the crude extracts and tablet formulation thereof were quantified by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic (RP-HPLC) methods with UV detection. The saponins were analyzed after acid hydrolysis in 3 M HCl at 100°C for 1 h. Vicenin-2 and mollugogenol B were isolated and used as reference substances for the quantification of total flavonoids and saponins, respectively. The identity and purity (>97%) of the standards were confirmed by spectroscopic (UV, MS, and NMR) and chromatographic (HPLC) methods. The flavonoids and saponins of the crude extract of the seeds and tablet formulation were separated by RP-HPLC (Nucleosil RP-18 column, 250 mm × 4.6 mm) using linear gradient elution systems of acetonitrile-water-0.1 M H3PO4 for flavonoids and methanol-water for saponins. Satisfactory separation of the compounds was obtained in less than 30 and 25 min, for the flavonoids and saponins, respectively. The methods were validated for linearity, repeatability, limits of detection (LOD) and limits of quantification (LOQ). Repeatability (inter- and intra-day, n = 6 and 9, respectively) showed less than 2% relative standard deviation (RSD). The LOD and LOQ were found to be 0.075 and 0.225 mg/mL, respectively, for vicenin-2 and 0.027 and 0.082 mg/100 mL, respectively, for mollugogenol B. The content of flavonoids and saponins of six single tablets was between 95 and 103% for flavonoids and 94-98% for saponins. The validated HPLC methods were employed to standardize a fingerprint of a laboratory produced purified extract, which could be used as a secondary standard for the routine quality control. Accordingly, the purified extract was found to contain 21.3% flavonoids (vicenin-2, 10%) and 25.4% saponins (glinuside G, 14.2%). © 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. | Glinus lotoides; Glinuside G; Mollugogenol B; Quantitative determination; RP-HPLC; Vicenin-2 | Acetonitrile; Aromatic compounds; Extraction; Hydrolysis; Mass spectrometry; Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy; Purification; Seed; Ultraviolet radiation; Ultraviolet spectroscopy; Crude extracts; Limits of detection (LOD); Limits of quantification (LOQ); Relative standard deviation (RSD); Tablet formulation; High performance liquid chromatography; acetonitrile; flavonoid; Glinus lotoides extract; glinuside G; hydrochloric acid; methanol; mollugogenol B; plant extract; saponin derivative; unclassified drug; vicenin 2; vitexin 2'' o glucoside; water; analytical equipment; article; drug purity; elution; glinus lotoides; high performance liquid chromatography; hydrolysis; mass spectrometry; medicinal plant; nuclear magnetic resonance; plant seed; priority journal; quality control; reproducibility; reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography; separation technique; standard; tablet formulation; temperature; ultraviolet radiation; ultraviolet spectroscopy; validation process; Apigenin; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Flavonoids; Glucosides; Molluginaceae; Reference Standards; Saponins; Seeds; Tablets; Extractives; Flavonoids; Liquid Chromatography; Saponins; Seeds; Ultraviolet Radiation; Glinus lotoides | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-73949140661 | Impact of silica on hydrometallurgical and mechanical properties of RIP grade resins for uranium recovery | Yahorava V., Scheepers J., Kotze M.H., Auerswald D. | 2009 | Journal of the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy | 109 | 10 | None | Bateman Engineering, South Africa | Yahorava, V.; Scheepers, J.; Kotze, M.H.; Auerswald, D., Bateman Engineering, South Africa | Resin-in-pulp (RIP) technology has recently often been considered for the direct recovery of base metals and uranium from dense pulps. Implementation of RIP will eliminate the requirement for any solid-liquid separation downstream of leaching and has the potential to combine the recovery and purification steps, hence reducing both capital and operating costs. The recovery of the valuable metal is expected to be higher when RIP is used, especially where the leached solids are difficult to settle or filter, and to wash. The main concerns about the use of RIP for uranium recovery from dense pulps are the impact of silica on the resin's metallurgical performance and the operating costs that would be associated with resin loss. Although a number of resin manufacturers have been developing much improved RIP-grade resins, it is critical that the most cost-effective resin be selected. Mintek currently is doing a significant amount of work on silica fouling of RIP-grade strongbase resins in acidic leach liquors and the effect it has on the performance of the resin, including its durability. This paper describes the results of the test work done on silica fouling and its impact on plant design input data. Resin durability test work was done using various laboratory techniques, but durability was also evaluated on a relatively large scale using actual pumps, screens, and mechanical agitation. Based on the results generated, a preliminary economical evaluation was done to estimate the impact of resin loss on the overall economic viability of a specific application. Keywords: resin-in-pulp, silica fouling, resin loss, equilibrium, kinetics, elution, durability, mechanical strength, resistance to attrition. © The Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 2009. | None | Base metals; Capital and operating costs; Durability test; Economic viability; Economical evaluation; Laboratory techniques; Leach liquors; Mechanical agitation; Mechanical strength; Metallurgical performance; Plant designs; Solid-liquid separation; Cost reduction; Durability; Leaching; Mechanical properties; Metal refining; Operating costs; Resins; Silica; Transuranium elements; Uranium; Metal recovery | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-81055157615 | Investigating the performance of thermonebulisation fungicide fogging system for loaded fruit storage room using CFD model | Delele M.A., Vorstermans B., Creemers P., Tsige A.A., Tijskens E., Schenk A., Opara U.L., Nicolaï B.M., Verboven P. | 2012 | Journal of Food Engineering | 109 | 1 | 10.1016/j.jfoodeng.2011.09.030 | BIOSYST-MeBioS, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Willem de Croylaan 42, 3001 Heverlee, Belgium; Proefcentrum Fruitteelt, Fruittuinweg 1, 3800 Sint-Truiden, Belgium; Flanders Centre of Postharvest Technology, Willem de Croylaan 42, 3001 Heverlee, Belgium; South African Research Department in Postharvest Technology, University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch 7602, South Africa | Delele, M.A., BIOSYST-MeBioS, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Willem de Croylaan 42, 3001 Heverlee, Belgium, South African Research Department in Postharvest Technology, University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch 7602, South Africa; Vorstermans, B., Proefcentrum Fruitteelt, Fruittuinweg 1, 3800 Sint-Truiden, Belgium; Creemers, P., Proefcentrum Fruitteelt, Fruittuinweg 1, 3800 Sint-Truiden, Belgium; Tsige, A.A., BIOSYST-MeBioS, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Willem de Croylaan 42, 3001 Heverlee, Belgium; Tijskens, E., BIOSYST-MeBioS, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Willem de Croylaan 42, 3001 Heverlee, Belgium; Schenk, A., Flanders Centre of Postharvest Technology, Willem de Croylaan 42, 3001 Heverlee, Belgium; Opara, U.L., South African Research Department in Postharvest Technology, University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch 7602, South Africa; Nicolaï, B.M., BIOSYST-MeBioS, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Willem de Croylaan 42, 3001 Heverlee, Belgium, Flanders Centre of Postharvest Technology, Willem de Croylaan 42, 3001 Heverlee, Belgium; Verboven, P., BIOSYST-MeBioS, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Willem de Croylaan 42, 3001 Heverlee, Belgium | To study the operation of postharvest storage fungicide fogging systems, a CFD model was used. The modelling was based on an Eulerian-Lagrangian multiphase flow model. The effect of air circulation rate, circulation interval, bin design, stacking pattern and room design on deposition of fungicide was investigated. Air circulation rates of 0 m3 h-1 (no circulation), 2100 and 6800 m3 h-1 were used. Interval circulation of air was also investigated. The highest fungicide deposition was observed during fogging without circulation while the lowest deposition corresponded to fogging with the highest circulation rate. For the considered on/off combination times, the effect of circulation interval on overall average deposition and uniformity was not significantly different from the case of fogging with continuous air circulation. Bin with higher vent hole ratio and the presence of air deflector increased the amount and uniformity of deposition. Good agreement was found between measured and predicted results of deposition of fungicide particles. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. | Aerosol; Airflow; Apple; CFD; Cold storage; Pyrimethanil | Air circulation; Air deflectors; Airflow; Apple; Bin design; CFD models; Circulation rates; Fogging system; Fruit storage; Multi-phase flow models; Post-harvest storage; Pyrimethanil; Stacking patterns; Aerosols; Air; Bins; Cold storage; Computational fluid dynamics; Deposition; Fruits; Fungicides; Multiphase flow; Fog dispersal; Malus x domestica | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-34247632601 | Characterising borehole radio antenna performance using finite-difference time-domain modelling | Vogt D., Marvin A. | 2006 | South African Journal of Geology | 109 | 4 | 10.2113/gssajg.109.4.561 | CSIR, Division of Mining Technology, PO Box 91230, Auckland Park 2006, South Africa; Department of Electronics, University of York, Heslington, York YO10 5DD, United Kingdom | Vogt, D., CSIR, Division of Mining Technology, PO Box 91230, Auckland Park 2006, South Africa; Marvin, A., Department of Electronics, University of York, Heslington, York YO10 5DD, United Kingdom | Radio Tomography (RT) has proven itself as an imaging tool for base metal orebody delineation. To date, theoretical considerations of the imaging technique and inversion algorithms have concentrated on the propagation of energy from the transmit antenna to the receive antenna, while ignoring the antennas themselves. The Finite-Difference Time-Domain technique for modelling antennas has been extended to efficiently model antennas embedded in arbitrary media such as rock. The model is set up with body-of-rotation symmetry to produce models that have three dimensional accuracy, while only having two dimensional computational cost. Wire dipole antennas are efficiently modelled by the addition of a subcell extension for a thin wire coated with a thin layer of insulation. The extended code is used, both to aid in the design of an improved antenna, and to investigate how the performance of the antenna affects the imaging of RT data in particular circumstances. A completely insulated antenna is preferred because its performance is more independent of the surrounding rock. The numerical model aids in the design of an improved antenna, with the optimum combination of performance features in a physically realizable antenna. If the electronics package is placed at the end of the dipole, the electronics package can be housed in a bare metal pressure casing without significantly affecting antenna performance as a function of rock type. The model also shows how the use of RT can be influenced by the geometry of the system and particularly by the use of conductors to suspend the RT antenna: wire cable support is not recommended until full waveform inversion techniques can take into account the presence of the wire. Antenna arrays appear to be viable, but if antennas without insulation are used, the spacing between the antennas should be at least as great as the length of each antenna. © 2006 December Geological Society of South Africa. | None | accuracy assessment; algorithm; antenna; finite difference method; inverse problem; performance assessment; radio wave; three-dimensional modeling; time domain reflectometry; waveform analysis | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84884837578 | Impact of solar irradiation on cholera toxin secretion by different strains of Vibrio cholerae | Ssemakalu C.C., Woulter L.R., Pillay M. | 2013 | South African Journal of Science | 109 | 42623 | 10.1590/sajs.2013/20130061 | Department of Chemistry, Vaal University of Technology, Private Bag X201, Vanderbijlpark 1900, South Africa; Natural Resources and the Environment, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Pretoria, South Africa; Department of Biosciences, Vaal University of Technology, Vanderbijlpark, South Africa | Ssemakalu, C.C., Department of Chemistry, Vaal University of Technology, Private Bag X201, Vanderbijlpark 1900, South Africa; Woulter, L.R., Natural Resources and the Environment, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Pretoria, South Africa; Pillay, M., Department of Biosciences, Vaal University of Technology, Vanderbijlpark, South Africa | Cholera toxin is the aetiological agent of cholera - a deadly waterborne disease acquired through the consumption of untreated water contaminated with CTXÔ bacteriophage harbouring strains of V. cholerae. Solar disinfection is a re-emerging technique that relies on the ultraviolet component of sunlight to inactivate the growth of Vibrio cholerae in water, rendering the water microbiologically safe for consumption. However, studies have shown that DNA damaging agents, such as ultraviolet light, induce the replication of the CTXÔ bacteriophage with subsequent expression of the cholera toxin. In this study we investigated the impact of solar irradiation on the secretion of cholera toxin by toxigenic strains of V. cholerae in water. The cholera toxin ELISA assay, qualitative and quantitative real-time PCR as well as growth on solid media were used to determine cholera toxin secretion, DNA integrity and growth of the bacteria after 7 h and 31 h of solar irradiation. Solar irradiation in water reduced the integrity of DNA, inactivated the growth of V. cholerae and, most importantly, prevented the secretion of detectable levels of cholera toxin. This finding is encouraging for resource-poor communities that may rely on solar disinfection to alleviate the burden of cholera-related fatalities. © 2013. The Authors. Published under a Creative Commons Attribution Licence. | Cholera; Cholera toxin; SODIS; Solar disinfection; Vibrio cholerae | bacteriophage; bioassay; cholera; disinfection; DNA; genetic analysis; growth rate; real time; secretion; solar radiation; ultraviolet radiation; waterborne disease | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-26244453920 | Taxonomic re-evaluation of Leptographium lundbergii based on DNA sequence comparisons and morphology | Jacobs K., Solheim H., Wingfield B.D., Wingfield M.J. | 2005 | Mycological Research | 109 | 10 | 10.1017/S0953756205003618 | Department of Genetics, Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI), University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa; Norwegian Forest Research Institute, Skogforsk, Høgskoleveien 8, 1432 Ås, Norway; Department of Microbiology, University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch 7602, South Africa | Jacobs, K., Department of Genetics, Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI), University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa, Department of Microbiology, University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch 7602, South Africa; Solheim, H., Norwegian Forest Research Institute, Skogforsk, Høgskoleveien 8, 1432 Ås, Norway; Wingfield, B.D., Department of Genetics, Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI), University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa; Wingfield, M.J., Department of Genetics, Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI), University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa | The genus Leptographium was described in 1927 and currently includes 48 species, with L. lundbergii as the type species. In recent years, the taxonomic status of L. lundbergii has not been uniformly agreed upon and it has been the topic of considerable debate. The problem was compounded by the absence of a type specimen, and the species was epitypified at a later stage. Unfortunately, the whereabouts of the epitype is now unknown. In 1983, Wingfield & Marasas described L. truncatum, which is morphologically similar to L. lundbergii. Based on DNA comparisons and similarities in their morphology, this fungus was reduced to synonymy with L. lundbergii. The loss of the type specimen as well as variation in the morphology of strains identified as L. lundbergii prompted us to re-examine the taxonomic status of this species. A number of strains from various geographic areas were studied. These include a strain of L. lundbergii deposited at CBS by Melin in 1929 (CBS 352.29) as well as the ex-type strain of L. truncatum. The strains were compared based on morphology and comparison of multiple gene sequences. Three genes or genic regions, ITS2 and part of the 28S gene, partial β-tubulin and partial elongation factor 1-α were compared. Strains currently identified as L. lundbergii, represented a complex of species. Strains initially described as L. truncatum clustered separately from other L. lundbergii strains, could be distinguished morphologically and should be treated as a distinct taxon. L. lundbergii is provided with a new and expanded description based on a neotype designated for it. A third group was also identified as separate from the main L. lundbergii clade and had a distinct Hyalorhinocladiella-type anamorph, described here as H. pinicola sp. nov. © The British Mycological Society. | None | fungal DNA; ribosomal spacer DNA; ribosome RNA; tubulin; fungus; genetic analysis; morphology; taxonomy; article; Ascomycetes; chemistry; classification; DNA sequence; genetics; nucleotide sequence; phase contrast microscopy; phylogeny; polymerase chain reaction; sequence alignment; ultrastructure; Ascomycota; Base Sequence; DNA, Fungal; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer; Microscopy, Interference; Microscopy, Phase-Contrast; Phylogeny; Polymerase Chain Reaction; RNA, Ribosomal; Sequence Alignment; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Tubulin; Fungi; Hyalorhinocladiella; Leptographium; Leptographium lundbergii | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-67649850525 | Factors influencing irrigation technology adoption and its impact on household poverty in Ghana | Adeoti A.I. | 2008 | Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development in the Tropics and Subtropics | 109 | 1 | None | Dept. of Agricultural Economics, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria | Adeoti, A.I., Dept. of Agricultural Economics, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria | The treadle pump technology was promoted and disseminated as an alternative to traditional rope and bucket for irrigation in Ghana by the International Non-Governmental Organization, Enterprise Works. The aim is to improve output, increase incomes and consequently reduce poverty among farm households. The paper employed the Heckman two-stage and the Ordinary Least Square procedures to identify the factors that influence adoption of the technology and the impact of adoption on the poverty status of farm households. Farm and household level data were obtained from 108 farmers consisting of 52 adopters and 58 non-adopters. The results demonstrated that availability of labor and increases in number of extension visits per year are factors that increase the probability of adoption. The results also showed that increase in irrigated area has the highest impact on poverty followed by adoption of treadle pump and literacy level of farmers. | Ghana; Irrigation technology; Poverty; Treadle pump adoption | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-73949119840 | Impact of plant upgrade and DMS on the processing capability of the Tati Nickel concentrator - A case study | Morgan P. | 2009 | Journal of the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy | 109 | 11 | None | DRA Mineral Projects Ltd., Johannesburg, South Africa | Morgan, P., DRA Mineral Projects Ltd., Johannesburg, South Africa | This paper describes DRA's involvement with the expansions at Tati Nickel, Phoenix Mine, that have taken an initial plant design of 3.6 Mtpa (originally built by Murray and Roberts), up to 5 Mtpa, and eventually 12 Mtpa capacity. Initially, the plant could not achieve the design nameplate capacity for the first few years of operation, as a consequence of the notoriously hard and abrasive nickel ore affecting primarily the operation of the crusher circuit. In order to extend the life of mine, Tati' assessed and then redefined the mining plan, choosing to increase the Phoenix mine reserves to a lower cut-off grade. In order to increase nickel units produced, the concentrator had to therefore treat additional tonnage at lower head grades. Site investigations and field tests around the comminution circuits are outlined, indicated that the milling circuit could be increased to 650 tph, from the initial design of 470 tph, for a similar feed grade and recovery. A project was initiated to debottleneck the crusher circuit and achieve the new target throughput. (Project 5M). This was followed by a feasibility study of the impact of preconcentration by DMS, which after promising laboratory tests, was followed up with the installation of a 200 tph 'demonstration' plant. The success of this demonstration plant provided the impetus to expand the supply to the 5 Mtpa mill from a large preconcentration stage.A gyratory crusher (one of the largest and most powerful) will receive ore directly from the open pit operation, feeding into a secondary-tertiary crushing plant followed by a modular DMS preparation circuit. Four large DMS processing modules have been installed to treat the tonnage, with high expected rejection levels. Finally a review of the DMS process capability on an ostensibly disseminated micro-gabbro nickel ore is given, which shows the remarkable impact that preconcentration can have on an operation, both in terms of profitability and a successful process 'expansion'. The performance of the DMS plant has significantly extended the life of mine, allowing the mine to significantly reduce mine cut-off grades and curb its previously selective mining practice. © The Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 2009. | None | Comminution circuits; Crushing plants; Cut-off grade; Demonstration plants; Feasibility studies; Feed grade; Field test; Gyratory crusher; Initial design; Laboratory test; Milling circuits; Mine reserves; Nameplate capacity; Nickel ores; Open pit; Plant designs; Plant upgrades; Pre-concentration; Process capabilities; Processing capability; Processing modules; Rejection levels; Remarkable impact; Site investigations; Concentration (process); Crushed stone plants; Crushers; Crushing; Diamonds; Grinding (comminution); Mining; Nameplates; Nickel; Nickel alloys; Ores; Profitability; Siphons; Open pit mining | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84882980953 | Participants as community-based peer educators: Impact on a clinical trial site in KwaZulu-Natal | Naidoo S., Morar N.S., Ramjee G. | 2013 | South African Journal of Science | 109 | 42559 | 10.1590/sajs.2013/20130037 | HIV Prevention Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, 123 Jan Hofmeyer Road, Durban, Westville 3630, South Africa; Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom | Naidoo, S., HIV Prevention Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, 123 Jan Hofmeyer Road, Durban, Westville 3630, South Africa; Morar, N.S., HIV Prevention Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, 123 Jan Hofmeyer Road, Durban, Westville 3630, South Africa; Ramjee, G., HIV Prevention Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, 123 Jan Hofmeyer Road, Durban, Westville 3630, South Africa, Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom | Participant recruitment, retention and product adherence are necessary to measure the efficacy or effectiveness of an intervention in a clinical trial. As part of a Phase III HIV prevention trial in a rural area in Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa, a peer educator programme was initiated to aid in recruitment and retention of trial participants from the community. Enrolled trial participants who had completed at least 6 months of trial participation and who had honoured all of their scheduled trial visits within that period were approached to be peer educators. Following additional selection criteria, 24 participants were eligible to be trained as peer educators. Training topics included HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted infections, nutrition, antiretrovirals, clinical trials, and methods of disseminating this information to the community. The role of peer educators was to bring interested women from their community to the trial site for comprehensive education and information about the trial and possibly trial participation. A total of 1879 women were educated by peer educators between July 2004 and December 2006. Of these, 553 women visited the trial site for further education and screening for participation in the trial. Peer educators provided continuous education and support to women enrolled in the trial which also promoted retention, ultimately contributing to the site's 94% retention rate. Recruitment and retention efforts of trial participants are likely to be enhanced by involving trial participants as peer educators. Such trial participants are in a better position to understand cultural dynamics and hence capable of engaging the community with appropriate HIV prevention and trial-related messaging. © 2013. The Authors. | Community; Education; Peer educators; Recruitment; Trial participants | education; human immunodeficiency virus; local participation; nutrition; recruitment (population dynamics); retention; rural area; training; KwaZulu-Natal; South Africa | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-73849088678 | Quantification of the impacts of coalmine water irrigation on the underlying aquifers | Vermeulen D., Usher B., Van Tonder G. | 2009 | Journal of the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy | 109 | 7 | None | Institute for Groundwater Studies, University of the Free State, South Africa | Vermeulen, D., Institute for Groundwater Studies, University of the Free State, South Africa; Usher, B., Institute for Groundwater Studies, University of the Free State, South Africa; Van Tonder, G., Institute for Groundwater Studies, University of the Free State, South Africa | It is predicted that vast volumes of affected mine water will be produced by mining activities in the Mpumalanga coalfields of South Africa. The potential environmental impact of this excess water is of great concern in a water-scarce country like South Africa. Research over a period of more than 10 years has shown that this water can be used successfully for the irrigation of a range of crops (Annandale et al., 2002)1. There is, however, continuing concern from the local regulators regarding the long-term impact that large-scale mine water irrigation may have on groundwater quality and quantity. Detailed research has been undertaken over the last three years to supplement the groundwater monitoring programme at five different pilot sites, on both virgin soils (greenfields) and in coalmining spoils. These sites range from sandy soils to very clayey soils. The research has included soil moisture measurements, collection of in situ soil moisture over time, long-term laboratory studies of the leaching and attenuation properties of different soils and the impact of irrigation on acid rock drainage processes, and in depth determination of the hydraulic properties of the subsurface at each of these sites, including falling head tests, pumping tests and point dilution tests. This has been supported by geochemical modelling of these processes to quantify the impacts. The results indicate that many of the soils have considerable attenuation capacities and that in the period of irrigation, a large proportion of the salts have been contained in the upper portions of the unsaturated zones below each irrigation pivot. The volumes and quality of water leaching through to the aquifers have been quantified at each site. From this mixing ratios have been calculated in order to determine the effect of the irrigation water on the underlying aquifers. © The Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 2009. | Coalmines; Gypsiferous mine water; Irrigation | Acid rock drainage; Attenuation capacities; Attenuation properties; Clayey soils; Coal-mining; Coalfields; Depth determination; Geochemical modelling; Groundwater monitoring; Groundwater quality; Gypsiferous mine water; Hydraulic properties; In-situ; Irrigation waters; Laboratory studies; Mine waters; Mining activities; Mixing ratios; Pumping tests; Quality of water; Sandy soils; Soil moisture measurement; South Africa; Unsaturated zone; Aquifers; Coal deposits; Environmental impact; Groundwater resources; Hydrogeology; Irrigation; Leaching; Mine flooding; Mining; Moisture determination; Permittivity; Research; Soil moisture; Soil testing; Water quality; Water supply; Soil surveys | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84943778378 | Evaluation of human and mosquito based diagnostic tools for defining endpoints for elimination of Anopheles transmitted lymphatic filariasis in Ghana | Owusu I.O., de Souza D.K., Anto F., Wilson M.D., Boakye D.A., Bockarie M.J., Gyapong J.O. | 2015 | Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene | 109 | 10 | 10.1093/trstmh/trv070 | Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana; School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana; Centre for Neglected Diseases Control, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom | Owusu, I.O., Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana; de Souza, D.K., Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana; Anto, F., School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana; Wilson, M.D., Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana; Boakye, D.A., Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana; Bockarie, M.J., Centre for Neglected Diseases Control, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom; Gyapong, J.O., School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana | Background: The decision to stop mass drug administration (MDA) and monitor recrudescence has to be made when endpoints for elimination of lymphatic filariasis (LF) have been achieved. Highly sensitive and specific diagnostic tools are required to do this. The main objective of this study was to determine most effective diagnostic tools for assessing interruption of LF transmission. Methods: The presence of filarial infection in blood and mosquito samples was determined using five diagnostic tools: Brugia malayi-14 (BM14) antibody detection ELISA, Onchocerca gibsoni antigen (Og4C3) based ELISA, PCR, immunochromatography (ICT) card test and blood smear. The study was carried out in two communities in the Central Region of Ghana. Results: OG4C3 was found to be the most sensitive test but ICT, the second most sensitive, was the most field applicable. PCR was found to be the most specific. Thirteen out of 30 pools of anopheles mosquitoes tested positive for the DNA of Wuchereria bancrofti. Conclusions: Very low antigen prevalence in primary school children indicates that MDA is working, so children born since the intervention was put in place are not getting infected. Inclusion of xenomonitoring in monitoring the effectiveness of MDA will give a better indication as to when transmission has been interrupted especially in areas where microfilaria prevalence is lower than 1%. © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. All rights reserved. | Diagnostic tools; Ghana; Lymphatic filariasis; Transmission; Xenomonitoring | antigen; Anopheles; antibody detection; Article; blood sampling; blood smear; Brugia malayi; child; community; diagnostic test; disease elimination; disease transmission; enzyme linked immunosorbent assay; female; filariasis; Ghana; human; immunoaffinity chromatography; lymphatic filariasis; major clinical study; male; Microfilaria; mosquito; nonhuman; Onchocerca; polymerase chain reaction; preschool child; prevalence; primary school; reagin test; sample size; Wuchereria bancrofti | None |
| None | None | Evaluation of cervical visual inspection screening in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania | Ngoma T., Muwonge R., Mwaiselage J., Kawegere J., Bukori P., Sankaranarayanan R. | 2010 | International Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics | 109 | 2 | 10.1016/j.ijgo.2009.11.025 | Ocean Road Cancer Institute, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Screening Group, International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon, France | Ngoma, T., Ocean Road Cancer Institute, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Muwonge, R., Screening Group, International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon, France; Mwaiselage, J., Ocean Road Cancer Institute, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Kawegere, J., Ocean Road Cancer Institute, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Bukori, P., Ocean Road Cancer Institute, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Sankaranarayanan, R., Screening Group, International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon, France | Objective: To evaluate the feasibility and performance of screening for cervical cancer using visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA) or with Lugol's iodine (VILI) in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Methods: The accuracy of tests for detecting cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) was assessed in a cross-sectional study of 10 378 women. All women who were screened underwent colposcopy, and biopsies were offered to those with abnormal colposcopy results. Results: The positivity rates were 3.8% for VIA and 4.8% for VILI. The peak positivity rates for both visual tests were observed just after training or re-training and gradually declined thereafter. CIN 1 was diagnosed in 41 women, CIN 2-3 in 33 women, and invasive cancer in 200 women, showing high detection rates of invasive cancer. The sensitivity and specificity for the detection of CIN 2-3 lesions were 60.6% (95% confidence interval [CI], 42.1-77.1) and 98.2% (95% CI, 97.9-98.4), respectively, for VIA; and 93.9% (95% CI, 79.8-99.3) and 97.3% (95% CI, 97.0-97.6), respectively, for VILI. Two-thirds of the women detected with CIN 2-3 lesions were treated. Conclusion: Both visual screening tests are useful and accurate, especially in low-income settings. Standardization of assessment of the visual inspection techniques, continual training and supervision, and quality control measures are important for successful visual screening programs. © 2010 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics. | Cervical cancer; Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia; Early detection; Visual inspection screening | acetic acid; lugol; adult; article; cancer invasion; cancer screening; colposcopy; controlled study; diagnostic accuracy; feasibility study; female; genital system examination; histopathology; human; lowest income group; major clinical study; priority journal; sensitivity and specificity; Tanzania; uterine cervix carcinoma in situ; Acetic Acid; Adult; Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Humans; Iodides; Mass Screening; Middle Aged; Precancerous Conditions; Sensitivity and Specificity; Tanzania; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33847725116 | Evaluation of the Illovo mechanical cane cutter | Langton M.I., Smithers J.C., Bezuidenhout C.N., Lyne P.W.L. | 2007 | International Sugar Journal | 109 | 1298 | None | School of Bioresources Engineering and Environmental Hydrology, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville, 3209, South Africa; South African Sugarcane Research Institute, Private Bag X02, Mount Edgecombe, 4300, South Africa | Langton, M.I., School of Bioresources Engineering and Environmental Hydrology, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville, 3209, South Africa; Smithers, J.C., School of Bioresources Engineering and Environmental Hydrology, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville, 3209, South Africa; Bezuidenhout, C.N., School of Bioresources Engineering and Environmental Hydrology, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville, 3209, South Africa; Lyne, P.W.L., South African Sugarcane Research Institute, Private Bag X02, Mount Edgecombe, 4300, South Africa | Labour for sugarcane cutting in South Africa is expected to become scarce as a result of growth in the manufacturing sector and the effect of HTV/AIDS on the available workforce. Manual harvesting is often favoured or unavoidable because of steep slopes and the high costs associated with mechanical harvesting. A brush-cutter with a redesigned blade configuration, named the Illovo mechanical cane cutter, was developed and evaluated during a series of field trials. A range of system properties were measured during testing at Isonti farm on the South Coast in 2005, where the dusty working environment affected the cutter adversely, and an improved filter system was recommended. Currently, the durability of the blade is the most limiting factor and contributes significantly to costs. Blade wear occurs rapidly when cane is cut close to the ground, and an economic break-even point is needed to balance cutting height and blade replacement costs. Although the system is efficient, several areas are highlighted for further research to help curb excessive costs. | None | Blade configurations; Blade replacement; Break-even point; Cutting heights; Filter system; Manufacturing sector; System property; Working environment; Brushes; Costs | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84959234942 | Malaria control at a gold mine in Sadiola District, Mali, and impact on transmission over 10 years | Wragge S.-E., Toure D., Coetzee M., Gilbert A., Christian R., Segoea G., Hunt R.H., Coetzee M. | 2015 | Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene | 109 | 12 | 10.1093/trstmh/trv089 | SEMOS Gold Mine, Health Department, Sadiola, Hamdallaye ACI 2000 pres' des Assurance LAFIA, B.P.E-1194, Bamako, Mali; Wits Research Institute for Malaria, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, 7 York Avenue, Johannesburg, South Africa; Centre for Opportunistic, Tropical and Hospital Infections, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, Private Bag X4, Sandringham, South Africa | Wragge, S.-E., SEMOS Gold Mine, Health Department, Sadiola, Hamdallaye ACI 2000 pres' des Assurance LAFIA, B.P.E-1194, Bamako, Mali; Toure, D., SEMOS Gold Mine, Health Department, Sadiola, Hamdallaye ACI 2000 pres' des Assurance LAFIA, B.P.E-1194, Bamako, Mali; Coetzee, M., SEMOS Gold Mine, Health Department, Sadiola, Hamdallaye ACI 2000 pres' des Assurance LAFIA, B.P.E-1194, Bamako, Mali; Gilbert, A., Wits Research Institute for Malaria, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, 7 York Avenue, Johannesburg, South Africa, Centre for Opportunistic, Tropical and Hospital Infections, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, Private Bag X4, Sandringham, South Africa; Christian, R., Wits Research Institute for Malaria, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, 7 York Avenue, Johannesburg, South Africa, Centre for Opportunistic, Tropical and Hospital Infections, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, Private Bag X4, Sandringham, South Africa; Segoea, G., Wits Research Institute for Malaria, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, 7 York Avenue, Johannesburg, South Africa, Centre for Opportunistic, Tropical and Hospital Infections, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, Private Bag X4, Sandringham, South Africa; Hunt, R.H., Wits Research Institute for Malaria, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, 7 York Avenue, Johannesburg, South Africa, Centre for Opportunistic, Tropical and Hospital Infections, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, Private Bag X4, Sandringham, South Africa; Coetzee, M., Wits Research Institute for Malaria, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, 7 York Avenue, Johannesburg, South Africa, Centre for Opportunistic, Tropical and Hospital Infections, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, Private Bag X4, Sandringham, South Africa | Background: The SEMOS gold mine's malaria vector control programme forms part of the company's community responsibilities with the programme being managed by the mine's health department since 2005. Methods: Data from approximately 10 years of malaria vector control for the Sadiola District are given: namely malaria vector control methods used by the control programme, positive malaria case data and entomological surveys from 2006, 2011 and 2014. Results: Distribution of pyrethroid-treated bed nets and indoor residual spraying (IRS) with deltamethrin were implemented by the programme from 2005-2011. No IRS was done in 2012. Spraying with the organophosphate, pirimiphos-methyl resumed in 2013 and 2014 and was followed by a 70% drop in malaria cases in 2014. Anopheles arabiensis was the major vector present in 2006 and was susceptible to deltamethrin. In 2011 and 2014, An. gambiae s.s. was the most abundant vector with deltamethrin 24 h mortality of 68% and 19%, respectively. Conclusions: Resistance to the pyrethroid deltamethrin has increased in An. gambiae s.s. since 2011, possibly due to the scale-up in distribution of long-lasting insecticide-treated bed nets. Resistance management strategies are recommended using different classes of insecticides for IRS, and including the distribution of new-generation bed nets. © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. All rights reserved. | Anopheles gambiae complex; Insecticide resistance; Malaria transmission; Mali; Vector control | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-14844329903 | Mongoose rabies in southern Africa: A re-evaluation based on molecular epidemiology | Nel L.H., Sabeta C.T., Von Teichman B., Jaftha J.B., Rupprecht C.E., Bingham J. | 2005 | Virus Research | 109 | 2 | 10.1016/j.virusres.2004.12.003 | University of Pretoria, Microbiology and Plant Pathology, 0002 Pretoria, South Africa; Centers for Dis. Contr. and Prev., Rabies Section, MS-G33, 1600 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30333, United States; Rabies Unit, Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute, Private Bag X5, Onderstepoort 0110, South Africa; CSIRO, Australian Animal Health Laboratory, Private Bag 24, Geelong, Vic. 3220, Australia | Nel, L.H., University of Pretoria, Microbiology and Plant Pathology, 0002 Pretoria, South Africa; Sabeta, C.T., University of Pretoria, Microbiology and Plant Pathology, 0002 Pretoria, South Africa; Von Teichman, B., University of Pretoria, Microbiology and Plant Pathology, 0002 Pretoria, South Africa; Jaftha, J.B., University of Pretoria, Microbiology and Plant Pathology, 0002 Pretoria, South Africa; Rupprecht, C.E., Centers for Dis. Contr. and Prev., Rabies Section, MS-G33, 1600 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30333, United States; Bingham, J., Rabies Unit, Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute, Private Bag X5, Onderstepoort 0110, South Africa, CSIRO, Australian Animal Health Laboratory, Private Bag 24, Geelong, Vic. 3220, Australia | Relative to the developed world, rabies has been poorly studied in the vast African continent. The southern African countries of Zimbabwe and South Africa, however, are known to sustain a great diversity of lyssaviruses, with large biological variations amongst genotype 1 (rabies viruses) at present more apparent here than elsewhere on the continent. One recognized biotype of rabies virus in the subcontinent appears to be specifically adapted to a variety of mongooses, belonging to the Viverrinae subfamily (family Herpestidae) and are commonly referred to as viverrid viruses, although the term mongoose rabies would be more correct, considering the taxonomic status of the host species involved. It was our objective to study the genetic relationships of 77 rabies virus isolates of this mongoose biotype, isolated in South Africa and Zimbabwe, towards elucidation of the molecular epidemiology of this interesting group of African viruses. In our study of a 592 nucleotide sequence encompassing the cytoplasmic domain of the glycoprotein and the G-L intergenic region of the viral genomes, we provide the first comprehensive data on the molecular epidemiology of these viruses and indicate a history of extended evolutionary adaptation in this geographical domain. The molecular epidemiological observations reported here are highly unlikely to be limited to the small geographical areas of South Africa and Zimbabwe and illustrate the need for lyssavirus surveillance in the rest of sub-Saharan Africa and throughout the entire continent. © 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. | Glycoprotein; Intergenic region; Lyssaviruses; Mongoose rabies | glycoprotein; nucleotide; Africa; article; biotype; cytoplasm; epidemiological data; genetic association; genome; molecular biology; mongoose rabies; nonhuman; nucleotide sequence; priority journal; protein domain; rabies; Rabies virus; viral genetics; virus isolation; Zimbabwe; Adaptation, Biological; Animals; Antigens, Viral; DNA, Complementary; DNA, Intergenic; DNA, Viral; DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases; Epidemiology, Molecular; Evolution; Glycoproteins; Herpestidae; Mice; Molecular Sequence Data; Phylogeny; Rabies; Rabies virus; RNA, Viral; Sequence Analysis, DNA; South Africa; Viral Envelope Proteins; Viral Proteins; Zimbabwe; Herpestidae; Lyssavirus; Rabies virus; Viverridae; Viverrinae | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84891818187 | Major causes of organ condemnation for cattle and its financial impact at Wolaita Soddo municipality abattoir, southern Ethiopia | Abunna F., Hordofa D. | 2013 | Global Veterinaria | 11 | 6 | 10.5829/idosi.gv.2013.11.6.8142 | Addis Ababa University, College of Veterinary Medicine and Agriculture, Departement of Clinical Studies, P.O. Box, 34, Bishoftu, Ethiopia; Hawassa University, School of Veterinary Medicine, P.O. Box, 05, Hawassa, Ethiopia | Abunna, F., Addis Ababa University, College of Veterinary Medicine and Agriculture, Departement of Clinical Studies, P.O. Box, 34, Bishoftu, Ethiopia; Hordofa, D., Hawassa University, School of Veterinary Medicine, P.O. Box, 05, Hawassa, Ethiopia | Abattoirs provide information on the epidemiology of the diseases in livestock, in order to know the extent of the exposure of the public to certain zoonotic diseases and to estimate the financial losses incurred through condemnation of affected organs. Tracing the records of the slaughter houses from November 2010 to February 2011 was done at Wolaita Soddo Municipal abattoir to determine the causes of organ condemnation and associated financial loss. Out of 953 cattle examined 378 (39.68%) livers, 244 (25.61%) lungs, 39 (4.09%) hearts, 30 (3.15%) kidneys and 14 (1.47%) spleens were condemned. The major causes of condemnation were fasciolosis (61.1%) and hydatidosis (12.17%) for liver; hydatid diseases (62.3%) and emphysema (8.61%) for lungs; unknown causes (33.33%), pericarditis (23.08%) and hydatid cyst (23.08%) for heart; unknown causes (26.67%) and calcification (23.33%) for kidneys and hydatidosis (64.29%) for spleen. Rate of condemnations due to parasitic causes was higher in the liver (29.07%) than in the lungs (15.95%). Parasitic diseases particularly fasciolosis and hydatidosis were the major causes of economic loss through condemnation of affected organs. The total annual economic loss incurred due to organs condemnation at the study area was estimated to be 24,340 ETB (24323.49 USD). The current result suggests that a thorough investigation that leads to disease control strategy is required to reduce the economic and public health consequences. © IDOSI Publications, 2013. | Abattoir; Cattle; Ethiopia; Organ condemnation; Wolaita soddo | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000287817800001 | Parental control and monitoring of young people's sexual behaviour in rural North-Western Tanzania: Implications for sexual and reproductive health interventions | Fenwick, Angela,Stones, William,Urassa, Mark,Wamoyi, Joyce,Zaba, Basia | 2011 | BMC PUBLIC HEALTH | 11 | None | 10.1186/1471-2458-11-106 | Aga Khan University, University of London, University of Southampton, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine | "Fenwick, Angela: University of Southampton", | Background: Parenting through control and monitoring has been found to have an effect on young people's sexual behaviour. There is a dearth of literature from sub-Saharan Africa on this subject. This paper examines parental control and monitoring and the implications of this on young people's sexual decision making in a rural setting in North-Western Tanzania.
Methods: This study employed an ethnographic research design. Data collection involved 17 focus group discussions and 46 in-depth interviews conducted with young people aged 14-24 years and parents/carers of young people within this age-group. Thematic analysis was conducted with the aid of NVIVO 7 software.
Results: Parents were motivated to control and monitor their children's behaviour for reasons such as social respectability and protecting them from undesirable sexual and reproductive health (SRH) outcomes. Parental control and monitoring varied by family structure, gender, schooling status, a young person's contribution to the economic running of the family and previous experience of a SRH outcome such as unplanned pregnancy. Children from single parent families reported that they received less control compared to those from both parent families. While a father's presence in the family seemed important in controlling the activities of young people, a mother's did not have a similar effect. Girls especially those still schooling received more supervision compared to boys. Young women who had already had unplanned pregnancy were not supervised as closely as those who hadn't. Parents employed various techniques to control and monitor their children's sexual activities.
Conclusions: Despite parents making efforts to control and monitor their young people's sexual behaviour, they are faced with several challenges (e. g. little time spent with their children) which make it difficult for them to effectively monitor them. There is a need for interventions such as parenting skills building that might enable parents to improve their relationships with children. This would equip parents with the appropriate skills for positive guidance and monitoring of their children and avoid inappropriate parenting behaviour. As much as parents focus their attention on their school going daughters, there is a need to also remember the out-of-school young people as they are also vulnerable to adverse SRH outcomes. | ,ADOLESCENCE,AFRICAN-AMERICAN,DESIGN,FAMILY,HIV,MOTHERS,"RISK BEHAVIORS" | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77956693880 | Impact of variable-rate application of nitrogen on yield and profit: A case study from South Africa | Maine N., Lowenberg-DeBoer J., Nell W.T., Alemu Z.G. | 2010 | Precision Agriculture | 11 | 5 | 10.1007/s11119-009-9139-8 | Agricultural Development Programmes, P.O. Box 440, Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality, Pretoria 0001, South Africa; International Programs in Agriculture, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States; Department of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, Centre for Agricultural Management, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa; Development Bank of Southern Africa, Johannesburg, South Africa | Maine, N., Agricultural Development Programmes, P.O. Box 440, Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality, Pretoria 0001, South Africa; Lowenberg-DeBoer, J., International Programs in Agriculture, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States; Nell, W.T., Department of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, Centre for Agricultural Management, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa; Alemu, Z.G., Development Bank of Southern Africa, Johannesburg, South Africa | The response of maize (Zea mays) to banded variable-rate nitrogen (N) application over a period of 3 years (2002/3-2004/5) is analyzed. The experimental design alternated variable-rate (VR) and single-rate (SR) applications of N. The yield monitor data were spatially autocorrelated and therefore were analyzed with spatial regression methods. The baseline spatial regression model defined in this study showed that the VR treatment, treatment by year and treatment by management zone were statistically significant. Sensitivity tests were applied; the first showed that VR treatment had a yield advantage when soil depth was greater than the field average of 174 cm. The second test showed that the VR N rates applied were close to those that would maximize profit. Partial budgeting indicates that benefits from VR vary from year to year, but in this test VR was slightly more profitable than uniform rate application. Economic sensitivity testing indicates that farm size and the price of maize are the key factors in the profitability of VR N. © 2009 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC. | Precision agriculture; South Africa; Spatial regression models; Variable-rate application | agricultural economics; crop yield; experimental design; farm size; fertilizer application; maize; nitrogen; precision agriculture; profitability; regression analysis; soil depth; spatial analysis; yield response; South Africa; Zea mays | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77749264428 | Evaluation of the FAO CROPWAT model for deficit-irrigation scheduling for onion crop in a semiarid region of Ethiopia | Diro S.B., Tilahun K. | 2009 | Journal of Applied Horticulture | 11 | 2 | None | Amhara Regional Agricultural Research Institute, Sekota, Ethiopia; School of Agricultural and Wine Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Locked Bag 588, Wagga Wagga, NSW 2678, Australia | Diro, S.B., Amhara Regional Agricultural Research Institute, Sekota, Ethiopia; Tilahun, K., Amhara Regional Agricultural Research Institute, Sekota, Ethiopia, School of Agricultural and Wine Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Locked Bag 588, Wagga Wagga, NSW 2678, Australia | Deficit irrigation conserves water and minimizes adverse effects of excess irrigation. In this study, the applicability of the CROPWAT model in management of deficit irrigation was evaluated at Sekota Agricultural Research Center, Ethiopia. Water was applied using low head drippers. There were eight treatments with three replications: stress at 1st, 2nd, 3 rd, and 4th growth stages and partial stresses of 50% ETc, 75% ETc with two controls of 25% ETc and 100% ETc of the water requirement throughout the growing season. The input data for CROPWAT program were climatic, rainfall, crop and soil data. Yield reductions simulated by CROPWAT program were comparable with yield reduction measured under field condition. Model efficiency and correlation coefficients of 98% were obtained. Based on the above comparative analysis, CROPWAT program could adequately simulate yield reduction resulting from water stress. | Cropwat model; Deficit irrigation; Ethiopia; Growth stages; Onion | Allium cepa | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84860997847 | Performance and carcass characteristics of broilers fed five different commercial vitamin-mineral premixes in Ibadan, Nigeria | Ogunwole O.A., Kolade E.O., Taiwo B.A. | 2012 | International Journal of Poultry Science | 11 | 2 | None | Animal Nutrition Unit, Department of Animal Science, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria | Ogunwole, O.A., Animal Nutrition Unit, Department of Animal Science, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Kolade, E.O., Animal Nutrition Unit, Department of Animal Science, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Taiwo, B.A., Animal Nutrition Unit, Department of Animal Science, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria | The relative efficacy of five proprietary vitamin-mineral premixes on performance and carcass characteristics of broiler chickens was undertaken in a trial lasting six weeks at the Teaching and Research Farm, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria. A total of two hundred and eighty eight 1-day broiler chicks of Abor acre strain were randomly allotted to six dietary treatments of forty eight chicks per treatment. Each treatment was a triplicate of sixteen chicks per replicate. Six isocaloric and isonitrogenous diets were formulated. Diet 1 (T1) was the control without any premix. Other diets were supplemented appropriately with 0.25% Daramvita (T2), Biorganics (T3), Hinutrients (T4), Optimix (T5) and DSM Nutripoults (T6). The experimental diets were offered to the respective birds with water given ad libitum. The design of the experiment was a completely randomized design. The feed conversion ratio of birds on T3, T4, T5 and T6 were 2.64, 2.58, 2.61 and 2.57 respectively and were significantly different (p<0.05) from those on T1 (3.62) and T2 (3.35). The obtained live, bled and defeathered weights and dressing percentage values of broilers varied significantly (p<0.05) with the type of vitamin-mineral premix used while values of other primal cuts were statistically similar (p>0.05). Performance and carcass indices indicated variable potency and efficacy of the evaluated proprietary vitamin-mineral premixes in Ibadan, Nigeria. © Asian Network for Scientific Information, 2012. | Broiler production; Dressing percentage; Premix efficacy and potency; Primal cuts; Proprietary vitamin-mineral premixes | Aves; Gallus gallus | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84859116370 | Evaluation of the antioxidant potentials of ten leafy vegetables extracts commonly consumed by the Ghanaian population | Achel D.G., Mills R., Otchere J., Seyram E., Achoribo E., Adu-Bobi N.A.-K., Donkor S., Boatin R., Adom T., Adaboro R.M., Gomda Y. | 2012 | Electronic Journal of Environmental, Agricultural and Food Chemistry | 11 | 2 | None | Applied Radiation Biology centre, Reseach Scientist and Centre Manager Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, Ghana | Achel, D.G., Applied Radiation Biology centre, Reseach Scientist and Centre Manager Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, Ghana; Mills, R., Applied Radiation Biology centre, Reseach Scientist and Centre Manager Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, Ghana; Otchere, J., Applied Radiation Biology centre, Reseach Scientist and Centre Manager Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, Ghana; Seyram, E., Applied Radiation Biology centre, Reseach Scientist and Centre Manager Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, Ghana; Achoribo, E., Applied Radiation Biology centre, Reseach Scientist and Centre Manager Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, Ghana; Adu-Bobi, N.A.-K., Applied Radiation Biology centre, Reseach Scientist and Centre Manager Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, Ghana; Donkor, S., Applied Radiation Biology centre, Reseach Scientist and Centre Manager Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, Ghana; Boatin, R., Applied Radiation Biology centre, Reseach Scientist and Centre Manager Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, Ghana; Adom, T., Applied Radiation Biology centre, Reseach Scientist and Centre Manager Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, Ghana; Adaboro, R.M., Applied Radiation Biology centre, Reseach Scientist and Centre Manager Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, Ghana; Gomda, Y., Applied Radiation Biology centre, Reseach Scientist and Centre Manager Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, Ghana | Ten traditional leafy vegetables commonly consumed by Ghanaians have been evaluated for their antioxidant potential based on their polyphenolic and flavonoid contents. Among the plants studied the methanol extracts of Ocimum basilicum (akokobesa), and Amaranthus incurvatus (aleefo) exhibited the highest phenolic content of 16.4 mg GAE/g dw and 11.3mg dw GAE/g respectively. The highest phenolic content for water extracts were seen in Manihot esculenta (cassava; 9.29mg GAE/g dw) and Hibiscus sabdariffa (shuuré; 7.28mg GAE/g dw) and C esculanta (7.11 mg GAE/g dw). The methanol extracts of H. sabdariffa (Shuuré), Vernonia amygdalina (bitter leaves), Manihot esculenta (cassava leaves) and Ocimum basilicum (akokobesa) recorded the highest flavonoid content (FC) of 99.14 μg QE/g dw, 70.20μg QE/g dw, 70.08μg QE/g dw and 63.37μg QE/g dw respectively. For the FC of the aqueous extracts the order was; A. incurvatus > H. sabdariffa > Talinum triangulare> Colocasia esculenta > M. esculenta > V. amygdalina> O. basilicum > Solanum macrocarpon > Launaea taraxacifolia > Corchorus olitorius. A good positive correlation r 2= 0.663 was observed between polyphenolic content and antioxidant values for the aqueous extracts, however, no correlation was found between flavonoids, polyphenolics and total antioxidants. The study indicates that the leafy vegetables consumed by Ghanaians are potentially rich sources of dietary polyphenolic compounds and antioxidants, and might contribute important health and nutraceutical benefits to consumers. | Antioxidants; Free-radicals; Health benefits; Leafy vegetables; Phytochemicals | Amaranthus; Amaranthus hybridus; Colocasia esculenta; Corchorus olitorius; Gymnanthemum amygdalinum; Hibiscus sabdariffa; Launaea; Manihot esculenta; Ocimum; Ocimum basilicum; Solanum; Solanum macrocarpon; Talinum triangulare; Vernonia amygdalina | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-36348985543 | Evaluation of the Arkansas method of urine testing for isoniazid in South Africa | Hanifa Y., Mngadi K., Lewis J., Fielding K., Churchyard G., Grant A.D. | 2007 | International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease | 11 | 11 | None | Aurum Institute for Health Research, Johannesburg, South Africa; Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Aurum Institute for Health Research, 47 Main Street, Marshalltown, 2107, South Africa | Hanifa, Y., Aurum Institute for Health Research, Johannesburg, South Africa, Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa, Aurum Institute for Health Research, 47 Main Street, Marshalltown, 2107, South Africa; Mngadi, K., Aurum Institute for Health Research, Johannesburg, South Africa; Lewis, J., Aurum Institute for Health Research, Johannesburg, South Africa, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Fielding, K., London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Churchyard, G., Aurum Institute for Health Research, Johannesburg, South Africa, Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Grant, A.D., London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom | SETTING: A South African hospital serving gold mine employees. OBJECTIVE: To determine the sensitivity and specificity of the Arkansas method for detecting isoniazid (INH) metabolites among South African adults and to examine the effect of smoking status on positive results. DESIGN: Urine specimens were collected from in-patients taking INH as part of tuberculosis treatment at 6, 12 and 24 h after a directly observed 300 mg oral dose. As a control group, a single urine specimen was collected from surgical in-patients not taking INH. Specimens were tested for INH using a commercially available dipstick. RESULTS: A total of 153 patients on INH and 60 controis were recruited. The sensitivity of the test was 93.3% (95%CI 88.1-96.8) at 6 h post INH, 93.4% (95%CI 88.2-96.8) at 12 h and 77% (95%CI 69.1-83.7) at 24 h. The specificity of the test was 98.3% (95%CI 91.1->99.9). There was no association between smoking status and colour change of positive results. CONCLUSIONS: This test is a useful method of monitoring adherence to TB treatment or preventive therapy among South Africans. However, it is less than 100% sensitive, especially with increasing time post dose, which should be taken into consideration when interpreting results for individual patients. © 2007 The Union. | Adherence; Africa; Isoniazid; Tuberculosis | drug metabolite; isoniazid; tuberculostatic agent; adult; article; cigarette smoking; controlled study; female; human; major clinical study; male; medical assessment; priority journal; sensitivity and specificity; South Africa; tuberculosis; United States; urinalysis; Adult; Antitubercular Agents; Cross-Sectional Studies; Humans; Isoniazid; Male; Middle Aged; Patient Compliance; Sensitivity and Specificity; Smoking; South Africa; Tuberculosis | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84930402354 | Comparison of artificial neural network and response surface methodology performance on fermentation parameters optimization of bioconversion of cashew apple juice to gluconic acid | Osunkanmibi O.B., Owolabi T.O., Betiku E. | 2015 | International Journal of Food Engineering | 11 | 3 | 10.1515/ijfe-2015-0072 | Biochemical Engineering Laboratory, Department of Chemical Engineering, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria | Osunkanmibi, O.B., Biochemical Engineering Laboratory, Department of Chemical Engineering, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria; Owolabi, T.O., Biochemical Engineering Laboratory, Department of Chemical Engineering, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria; Betiku, E., Biochemical Engineering Laboratory, Department of Chemical Engineering, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria | The study examined the impact and interactions of cashew apple juice (CAJ) concentration, pH, NaNO<inf>3</inf> concentration, inoculum size and time on gluconic acid (GA) production in a central composite design (CCD). The fermentation process and parameters involved were modeled and optimized using artificial neural network (ANN) and response surface methodology (RSM). The ANN model established the optimum levels as CAJ of 250 g/l, pH of 4.21, NaNO<inf>3</inf> of 1.51 g/l, inoculum size of 2.87% volume and time of 24.41 h with an actual GA of 249.99 g/l. The optimum levels predicted by RSM model for the five independent variables were CAJ of 249 g/l, pH of 4.6, NaNO<inf>3</inf> of 2.29 g/l, inoculum size of 3.95% volume, and time of 38.9 h with an actual GA of 246.34 g/l. The ANN model was superior to the RSM model in predicting GA production. The study demonstrated that CAJ could serve as the sole carbon source for GA production. © 2015 by De Gruyter 2015. | Cashew apple juice; fermentation; fungi; gluconic acid; modeling; optimization | Carbon; Fruit juices; Fruits; Fungi; Models; Neural networks; Optimization; Surface properties; Cashew apple juice; Central composite designs; Fermentation process; Gluconic acids; Independent variables; Parameters optimization; Response surface methodology; Sole carbon source; Fermentation; Anacardium occidentale; Fungi; Malus x domestica | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84857281840 | Chemical evaluation of African palm weevil, Rhychophorus phoenicis, larvae as a food source | Elemo B.O., Elemo G.N., Makinde M.A., Erukainure O.L. | 2011 | Journal of Insect Science | 11 | None | 10.1673/031.011.14601 | Biochemistry Department, Lagos State University, Lagos, Nigeria; Food Technology Division, Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Lagos, Nigeria; School of Medicine, Ross University, Portsmouth, Dominica | Elemo, B.O., Biochemistry Department, Lagos State University, Lagos, Nigeria; Elemo, G.N., Food Technology Division, Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Lagos, Nigeria; Makinde, M.A., School of Medicine, Ross University, Portsmouth, Dominica; Erukainure, O.L., Food Technology Division, Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Lagos, Nigeria | The chemical properties of the African palm weevil, Rhychophorus phoenicis (F.) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), larvae were evaluated using standard methodology. The chloroform-methanol extract yielded 37.12% on a dry basis. The oil was liquid at room temperature with a flash point of 36.0 °C. Analysis of the physical constants indicated values of 192.25 Wijs and 427.70 mg KOH/g as iodine and saponification, respectively. Fatty acid analysis of the extracted oil showed the presence of unsaturated fatty acids at low levels. Palmitic acid and stearic acid constituted 35.3 and 60.5% of the oil, respectively. The usual behaviour of the oil at room temperature, irrespective of the level of unsaturation of its constituent fatty acid was noted. The total protein content of the defatted palm weevil larva (dry basis) was estimated at 66.3%. The amino acid values compared favourably to FAO reference protein, except for tryptophan, which was limiting. All the other essential amino acids were adequate. Mineral analysis revealed high levels of potassium (1025 mg/100 g) and phosphorus (685 mg/100 g). The dried and defatted palm weevil lava represents a very good source of protein, and a good complement of essential amino acids. | Amino acids; Edible insects; Fatty acids; Minerals | Coleoptera; Curculionidae; Dryophthorinae; Hexapoda; Rhynchophorus phoenicis; animal; article; chemistry; food analysis; larva; protein intake; weevil; Animals; Dietary Proteins; Food Analysis; Larva; Weevils | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-24344464067 | Validation of species-climate impact models under climate change | Araújo M.B., Pearson R.G., Thuiller W., Erhard M. | 2005 | Global Change Biology | 11 | 9 | 10.1111/j.1365-2486.2005.01000.x | Biodiversity Research Group, School of Geography and Environment, University of Oxford, Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3TD, United Kingdom; Biogeography and Conservation Laboratory, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD, United Kingdom; Macroecology and Conservation Unit, University of Évora, Estrada dos Leões, 7000-730 Évora, Portugal; Climate Change Research Group, Kirstenbosch Research Centre, South African National Biodiversity Institute, Private Bag x7, Claremont 7735 Cape Town, South Africa; Institute for Meteorology and Climate Research, Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe, Postfach 3640, 76021 Karlsruhe, Germany; Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biologia Evolutiva, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, CSIC, C/Jose Gutierrez Abascal 2, 28006 Madrid, Spain | Araújo, M.B., Biodiversity Research Group, School of Geography and Environment, University of Oxford, Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3TD, United Kingdom, Biogeography and Conservation Laboratory, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD, United Kingdom, Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biologia Evolutiva, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, CSIC, C/Jose Gutierrez Abascal 2, 28006 Madrid, Spain; Pearson, R.G., Biodiversity Research Group, School of Geography and Environment, University of Oxford, Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3TD, United Kingdom, Macroecology and Conservation Unit, University of Évora, Estrada dos Leões, 7000-730 Évora, Portugal; Thuiller, W., Climate Change Research Group, Kirstenbosch Research Centre, South African National Biodiversity Institute, Private Bag x7, Claremont 7735 Cape Town, South Africa; Erhard, M., Institute for Meteorology and Climate Research, Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe, Postfach 3640, 76021 Karlsruhe, Germany | Increasing concern over the implications of climate change for biodiversity has led to the use of species-climate envelope models to project species extinction risk under climate-change scenarios. However, recent studies have demonstrated significant variability in model predictions and there remains a pressing need to validate models and to reduce uncertainties. Model validation is problematic as predictions are made for events that have not yet occurred. Resubstituition and data partitioning of present-day data sets are, therefore, commonly used to test the predictive performance of models. However, these approaches suffer from the problems of spatial and temporal autocorrelation in the calibration and validation sets. Using observed distribution shifts among 116 British breeding-bird species over the past ∼20 years, we are able to provide a first independent validation of four envelope modelling techniques under climate change. Results showed good to fair predictive performance on independent validation, although rules used to assess model performance are difficult to interpret in a decision-planning context. We also showed that measures of performance on nonindependent data provided optimistic estimates of models' predictive ability on independent data. Artificial neural networks and generalized additive models provided generally more accurate predictions of species range shifts than generalized linear models or classification tree analysis. Data for independent model validation and replication of this study are rare and we argue that perfect validation may not in fact be conceptually possible. We also note that usefulness of models is contingent on both the questions being asked and the techniques used. Implementations of species-climate envelope models for testing hypotheses and predicting future events may prove wrong, while being potentially useful if put into appropriate context. © 2005 Blackwell Publishing Ltd. | Bioclimatic-envelope models; Breeding birds; Britain; Climate change; Model accuracy; Uncertainty; Validation | biodiversity; bird; breeding population; climate change; extinction risk; Eurasia; Europe; United Kingdom; Western Europe; Aves | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-43149102054 | Ecological engineering by a mega-grazer: White Rhino impacts on a south African savanna | Waldram M.S., Bond W.J., Stock W.D. | 2008 | Ecosystems | 11 | 1 | 10.1007/s10021-007-9109-9 | Botany Department, University of Cape Town, Private Bag, Rondebosch, Cape Town 7701, South Africa; Centre for Ecosystem Management, Edith Cowan University, 100 Joondalup Drive, Joondalup, WA 6027, Australia | Waldram, M.S., Botany Department, University of Cape Town, Private Bag, Rondebosch, Cape Town 7701, South Africa; Bond, W.J., Botany Department, University of Cape Town, Private Bag, Rondebosch, Cape Town 7701, South Africa; Stock, W.D., Botany Department, University of Cape Town, Private Bag, Rondebosch, Cape Town 7701, South Africa, Centre for Ecosystem Management, Edith Cowan University, 100 Joondalup Drive, Joondalup, WA 6027, Australia | Herbivory can change the structure and spatial heterogeneity of vegetation. We ask whether all species of grazers in a savanna ecosystem can have this effect or whether megaherbivores (>1000 kg) have a 'special' role that cannot be replicated by other species of grazers. We performed a replicated landscape scale experiment that examined the effects of White Rhino on the grass sward, on other species of grazing mammals and on the movement of fire through the landscape. White Rhino maintained short grass ('lawn') patches in mesic areas (∼750 mm pa) with increases in grass sward height when they were removed. Other species of grazers were unable to maintain short grass communities when White Rhino were removed. In semi-arid areas (∼600 mm pa) other, smaller grazers were able to maintain short grass communities in the absence of White Rhino and sward height did not increase. White Rhino removals affected fire by increasing fuel loads and fuel continuity. This resulted in larger, less patchy fires. We propose that the White Rhino acts as an influential ecosystem engineer, creating and maintaining short grass swards, which alter habitat for other grazers and change the fire regime. These results indicate the existence of context-dependent facilitation between White Rhino and other grazers in mesic, but not in semi-arid, savannas. Such top down effects on the ecosystem may have been much more widespread before the extinction of large grazers in the Pleistocene. © 2007 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC. | Ecosystem engineers; Facilitation; Fire; Grazing; Keystone species; Megaherbivores; Pleistocene extinctions; Savanna; White Rhino | ecosystem engineering; experimental study; extinction; grass; grazing; herbivory; keystone species; Pleistocene; savanna; ungulate; wildfire; Africa; South Africa; Southern Africa; Sub-Saharan Africa; Mammalia | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84880183631 | The impact of podoconiosis on quality of life in Northern Ethiopia | Mousley E., Deribe K., Tamiru A., Davey G. | 2013 | Health and Quality of Life Outcomes | 11 | 1 | 10.1186/1477-7525-11-122 | Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Falmer, Brighton, United Kingdom; School of Public Health, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; International Orthodox Christian Charities, Debre Markos, Ethiopia | Mousley, E., Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Falmer, Brighton, United Kingdom; Deribe, K., Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Falmer, Brighton, United Kingdom, School of Public Health, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Tamiru, A., International Orthodox Christian Charities, Debre Markos, Ethiopia; Davey, G., Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Falmer, Brighton, United Kingdom | Background: Podoconiosis is one of the most neglected tropical diseases, which untreated, causes considerable physical disability and stigma for affected individuals. Little is known about the quality of life (QoL) of patients with podoconiosis. This study aimed to assess the QoL of patients with podoconiosis in comparison with healthy controls in Ethiopia.Methods: A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted in May 2012, among 346 clinically confirmed adult patients with podoconiosis, and 349 healthy adult neighbourhood controls in Dembecha woreda (district) in northern Ethiopia. QoL was assessed using the validated Amharic version of the World Health Organisation Quality of Life questionnaire (WHOQoL-BREF) scale; in addition, mental health and stigma were assessed by the Kessler-10 scale and podoconiosis stigma scale respectively. Logistic regression analysis was done to identify factors associated with QoL.Results: Patients with podoconiosis had significantly lower mean overall QoL than the controls (52.05 versus 64.39), and this was also true in all four sub domains (physical, psychological, social and environmental). Controls were 7 times more likely to have high (above median) QoL (Odds Ratio = 6.74, 95% Confidence Interval 4.62 to 9.84) than cases. Factors associated with lower QoL were: experiencing high levels of stigma, living in an urban area, being illiterate, having additional co-morbidities, and being unmarried. Mental illness was associated with lower scores in psychological and physical domains.Conclusions: Programs targeting podoconiosis interventions should include QoL as an indicator for monitoring progress. Interventions targeting improvement of QoL among patients with podoconiosis should address depression, stigma and other co-morbidities. © 2013 Mousley et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | Elephantiasis; Ethiopia; Neglected tropical diseases; Podoconiosis; Quality of life | adult; article; comorbidity; comparative study; controlled study; cross-sectional study; Ethiopia; female; human; major clinical study; male; mental disease; mental health; outcome assessment; podoconiosis; quality of life; questionnaire; scoring system; stigma; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Cost of Illness; Cross-Sectional Studies; Elephantiasis; Ethiopia; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Quality of Life; Questionnaires; Young Adult | 099876, Wellcome Trust; 091956, Wellcome Trust |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-60849092886 | The impact of shopping mall development on small township retailers | Ligthelm A.A. | 2008 | South African Journal of Economic and Management Sciences | 11 | 1 | None | Bureau of Market Research, University of South Africa, South Africa | Ligthelm, A.A., Bureau of Market Research, University of South Africa, South Africa | The retail sector forms a critical element of a community's economic and social welfare. It provides people with choices and services. These choices were until recently very limited in township areas. The pre-1994 retail landscape was dominated by small, often informal businesses offering basic household necessities to relatively low income earners. This has resulted in township residents' preference to shop outside townships, known as 'outshopping'. Rapid income growth of township residents since 1994 resulted in a substantial increase in consumer expenditure in these areas, known as 'in-bound shopping'. This lucrative emerging market forms the last retail frontier in South Africa and is being explored by national retailers, especially supermarket chains. This article is aimed at establishing the impact of shopping mall development in townships on the traditional small township retailers including spaza/tuck shops. The net balance sheet on the impact of shopping mall development on small township retailers clearly suggests a decline in the township retailers' market share. A change in small business model towards, inter alia, effective customer service with a small dedicated assortment of merchandise, satisfaction of emergency needs, selling in small units and extension of credit facilities may result in the survival of some small township retailers (albeit often at a smaller turnover). | None | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77953500575 | ICARDA's approach in seed delivery: Technical performance and sustainability of village-based seed enterprises in Afghanistan | Srinivas T., Bishaw Z., Rizvi J., Niane A.A., Manan A.R., Amegbeto K. | 2010 | Journal of New Seeds | 11 | 2 | 10.1080/15228861003754156 | Central Tuber Crops Research Institute, Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Kerala, India; Seed Unit, ICARDA, PO Box 5466, Aleppo, Syrian Arab Republic; ICARDA, Kabul, Afghanistan; FAO Sub Regional Office, Accra, Ghana | Srinivas, T., Central Tuber Crops Research Institute, Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Kerala, India; Bishaw, Z., Seed Unit, ICARDA, PO Box 5466, Aleppo, Syrian Arab Republic; Rizvi, J., ICARDA, Kabul, Afghanistan; Niane, A.A., Seed Unit, ICARDA, PO Box 5466, Aleppo, Syrian Arab Republic; Manan, A.R., ICARDA, Kabul, Afghanistan; Amegbeto, K., FAO Sub Regional Office, Accra, Ghana | In the absence of organized formal public or private sector, finding an innovative alternative seed delivery remains a key challenge. ICARDA initiated a novel approach of establishing farmer-led village-based seed enterprises (VBSEs) to ensure rapid access to quality seed of adapted new crop varieties under the Alternative Livelihoods Program (ALP-E) on integrated staple crop development in eastern Afghanistan. This article describes VBSEs, their technical performance, profitability, and impact, and assesses their sustainability as alternative options in Afghanistan. The technical performance of VBSEs showed that they collectively produced 1,060 and 2,170 MT quality seed of wheat, rice, mung bean, and potato in 2006/7 and in 2007/8, respectively. Average purity and germination of seed produced was 98.67 and 93.47%, respectively, in 2006/7 and 98.13 and 91.25% in the same order for 2007/8. It is evident from the profitability analysis of VBSEs' seed operations that all were economically viable by breaking even and covering fixed and variable costs. The net profit from seed business was $315,531 for 15 VBSEs in 2006/7 and it reached $1,311,060 in 2007/8 for 17 VBSEs. For all VBSEs, returns-to-asset ratio showed strong earnings of 3.5% and 4% in 2006/7 and 2007/8, respectively and were lower than an acceptable stress level of 6%. All VBSEs had current ratio above the threshold of one and therefore were not vulnerable to meet short-term debts. The average debt-to-asset ratio of all VBSEs was low (5% in 2006/7 and 1.6% in 2007/8) suggesting their strong borrowing capacity with no financial risk. Similarly, the debt-to-equity ratio indicated that in all cases, the farmers' share of the seed enterprise equity averaged about 5.42% and 1.6% during 2006/7 and 2007/8, respectively. The most progressive and experienced VBSEs are using diversification strategies to increase and stabilize revenues. This provides evidence that quality-seed production at community-level in the form of VBSEs is profitable and an alternative seed-delivery system complementing the formal sector in Afghanistan and elsewhere. © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. | Afghanistan; Breakeven analysis; Impact; Liquidity ratios; Profitability; Village-based seed enterprises | Solanum tuberosum; Triticum aestivum; Vigna radiata var. radiata | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77952309981 | Spotting the difference: Towards fully-automated population monitoring of African penguins Spheniscus demersus | Sherley R.B., Burghardt T., Barham P.J., Campbell N., Cuthill I.C. | 2010 | Endangered Species Research | 11 | 2 | 10.3354/esr00267 | Centre for Behavioural Biology, School of Biological Sci.ences, University of Bristol, Woodland Road, Bristol BS8 1UG, United Kingdom; Animal Demography Unit, Department of Zoology, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa; Department of Computer Science, University of Bristol, Woodland Road, Bristol BS8 1UB, United Kingdom; Computerised Monitoring and Biometric Identification in Natural Environments (COMBINE), Merchant Venturers Building, Woodland Road, Bristol BS8 1UB, United Kingdom; H.H. Wills Physics Laboratory, University of Bristol, Tyndall Avenue, Bristol BS8 1TL, United Kingdom | Sherley, R.B., Centre for Behavioural Biology, School of Biological Sci.ences, University of Bristol, Woodland Road, Bristol BS8 1UG, United Kingdom, Animal Demography Unit, Department of Zoology, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa; Burghardt, T., Department of Computer Science, University of Bristol, Woodland Road, Bristol BS8 1UB, United Kingdom, Computerised Monitoring and Biometric Identification in Natural Environments (COMBINE), Merchant Venturers Building, Woodland Road, Bristol BS8 1UB, United Kingdom; Barham, P.J., Animal Demography Unit, Department of Zoology, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa, H.H. Wills Physics Laboratory, University of Bristol, Tyndall Avenue, Bristol BS8 1TL, United Kingdom; Campbell, N., Department of Computer Science, University of Bristol, Woodland Road, Bristol BS8 1UB, United Kingdom; Cuthill, I.C., Centre for Behavioural Biology, School of Biological Sci.ences, University of Bristol, Woodland Road, Bristol BS8 1UG, United Kingdom | Placing external monitoring devices onto seabirds can have deleterious effects on welfare and performance, and even the most benign marking and identification methods return sparse population data at a huge time and effort cost. Consequently, there is growing interest in methods that minimise disturbance but still allow robust population monitoring. We have developed a computer vision system that automatically creates a unique biometric identifier for individual adult African penguins Spheniscus demersus using natural markings in the chest plumage and matches this against a population database. We tested this non-invasive system in the field at Robben Island, South Africa. False individual identifications of detected penguins occurred in less than 1 in 10 000 comparisons (n = 73 600, genuine acceptance rate = 96.7%) to known individuals. The monitoring capacity in the field was estimated to be above 13% of the birds that passed a camera (n = 1453). A significant increase in this lower bound was recorded under favourable conditions. We conclude that the system is suitable for population monitoring of this species: the demonstrated sensitivity is comparable to computer-aided animal biometric monitoring systems in the literature. A full deployment of the system would identify more penguins than is possible with a complete exploitation of the current levels of flipper banding at Robben Island. Our study illustrates the potential of fully-automated, non-invasive, complete population monitoring of wild animals. © Inter-Res.earch 2010. | Biometrics; Computational biology; Conservation biology; Individual recognition; Population monitoring | biometry; biomonitoring; computer vision; conservation status; population dynamics; seabird; wild population; Robben Island; South Africa; Western Cape; Animalia; Aves; Spheniscidae; Spheniscus demersus | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79951787068 | Missed opportunities in TB diagnosis: A TB Process-Based Performance Review tool to evaluate and improve clinical care | Field N., Murray J., Wong M.L., Dowdeswell R., Dudumayo N., Rametsi L., Martinson N., Lipman M., Glynn J.R., Sonnenberg P. | 2011 | BMC Public Health | 11 | None | 10.1186/1471-2458-11-127 | Centre for Sexual Health and HIV Research, Research Department of Infection and Population Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom; National Institute for Occupational Health, School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Division of Pulmonology, Department of Medicine, Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, Johannesburg, South Africa; Rustenburg Platinum Mines, Anglo Platinum, Rustenburg, South Africa; Lonmin PLC, Rustenburg, South Africa; Perinatal HIV Research Unit, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa; Johns Hopkins University Center for TB Research, Baltimore, United States; Respiratory Medicine, Royal Free Hospital, London, United Kingdom; Infectious Disease Epidemiology Unit, Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom | Field, N., Centre for Sexual Health and HIV Research, Research Department of Infection and Population Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom; Murray, J., National Institute for Occupational Health, School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Wong, M.L., Division of Pulmonology, Department of Medicine, Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, Johannesburg, South Africa; Dowdeswell, R., Rustenburg Platinum Mines, Anglo Platinum, Rustenburg, South Africa; Dudumayo, N., Lonmin PLC, Rustenburg, South Africa; Rametsi, L., Rustenburg Platinum Mines, Anglo Platinum, Rustenburg, South Africa; Martinson, N., Perinatal HIV Research Unit, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa, Johns Hopkins University Center for TB Research, Baltimore, United States; Lipman, M., Respiratory Medicine, Royal Free Hospital, London, United Kingdom; Glynn, J.R., Infectious Disease Epidemiology Unit, Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Sonnenberg, P., Centre for Sexual Health and HIV Research, Research Department of Infection and Population Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom | Background: Traditional tuberculosis (TB) treatment outcome measures, such as cure rate, do not provide insight into the underlying reasons for missing clinical targets. We evaluated a TB Process-Based Performance Review (TB-PBPR) tool, developed to identify "missed opportunities" for timely and accurate diagnosis of TB. The tool enables performance assessment at the level of process and quality of care. Methods. The TB-PBPR tool is a single-page structured flow-sheet that identifies 14 clinical actions (grouped into elicited symptoms, clinical examination and investigations). Medical records from selected deceased patients were reviewed at two South African mine hospitals (A = 56 cases; B = 26 cases), a South African teaching hospital (C = 20 cases) and a UK teaching hospital (D = 13 cases). Results: In hospital A, where autopsy was routine, TB was missed in life in 52% (23/44) of cases and was wrongly attributed as the cause of death in 16% (18/110). Clinical omissions were identified at each hospital and at every stage of clinical management. For example, recording of chest symptoms was omitted in up to 39% of cases, sputum smear examination in up to 85% and chest radiograph in up to 38% of cases respectively. Conclusions: This study introduces the TB-PBPR tool as a novel method to review and evaluate clinical performance in TB management. We found that simple clinical actions were omitted in many cases. The tool, in conjunction with a manual describing best practice, is adaptable to a range of settings, is educational and enables detailed feedback within a TB programme. The TB-PBPR tool and manual are both freely available for general use. © 2011 Field et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | None | adult; aged; article; female; human; male; medical audit; middle aged; South Africa; standard; teaching hospital; tuberculin test; tuberculosis; United Kingdom; Adult; Aged; Female; Great Britain; Hospitals, Teaching; Humans; Male; Medical Audit; Middle Aged; South Africa; Tuberculin Test; Tuberculosis; Young Adult | None |
| WoS | WOS:000303928900011 | Impact of a hospital improvement initiative in Bangladesh on patient experiences and satisfaction with services: two cross-sectional studies | Andersson, Neil,Cockcroft, Anne,Omer, Khalid | 2011 | BMC HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH | 11 | None | 10.1186/1472-6963-11-S2-S10 | CIET Pakistan, CIET Trust Botswana, Univ Autonoma Guerrero | None | Background: The Bangladesh government implemented a pilot Hospital Improvement Initiative (HII) in five hospitals in Sylhet division between 1998 and 2003. This included management and behaviour change training for staff, waste disposal and procurement, and referral arrangements. Two linked cross-sectional surveys in 2000 and 2003 assessed the impact of the HII, assessing both patients' experience and satisfaction and public views and use of the hospitals.
Methods: In each survey we asked 300 consecutive outpatients and a stratified random sample of 300 inpatients in the five hospitals about waiting and consultation time, use of an agent for admission, and satisfaction with privacy, cleanliness, and staff behaviour. The field teams observed cleanliness and privacy arrangements, and visited a sample of households in communities near the hospitals to ask about their opinions and use of the hospital services. Analysis examined changes over time in patients' experience and views. Multivariate analysis took account of other variables potentially associated with the outcomes. Survey managers discussed the survey findings with gender stratified focus groups in each sample community.
Results: Compared with 2000, an outpatient in three of the hospitals in 2003 was more likely to be seen within 10 minutes and for at least five minutes by the doctor, but outpatients were less likely to report receiving all the prescribed medicines from the hospital. In 2003, inpatients were more likely to have secured admission without using an agent. Although patients' satisfaction with several aspects of care improved, most changes were not statistically significant. Households in 2003 were significantly more likely to rate the hospitals as good than in 2000. Use of the hospitals did not change, except that more households used the medical college hospital for inpatient care in 2003. Focus groups confirmed criticisms of services and suggested improvements.
Conclusion: Improvements in some aspects of patients' experience may have been due to the programme, but the decreased availability of medicines in government facilities across the country over the period also occurred in these hospitals. Monitoring patients' experience and satisfaction as well as public views and use of hospital services is feasible and useful for assessing service interventions. | ,CARE,FRAMEWORK,NATIONAL-SURVEY,PERFORMANCE,"PRIVATE HOSPITALS",QUALITY,QUESTIONNAIRE,RELIABILITY | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84954553103 | Economic, organizational and budget impact of a new diagnostic plan for HCV detection: what’s “new”? | Monari M., Foglia E., Montanelli A., Assandri R., Lagioia M., Ferrario L., Garagiola E., Porazzi E., Croce D. | 2015 | Rivista Italiana della Medicina di Laboratorio | 11 | 4 | 10.1007/s13631-015-0098-y | Clinical Investigation Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Clinico Humanitas, Rozzano, MI, Italy; Centre for Research on Health Economics, Social and Health Care Management—CREMS, University Carlo Cattaneo—LIUC, Corso Matteotti 22, Castellanza, VA, Italy; Medical Superintendent, Health Directorate Humanitas, Rozzano, MI, Italy; School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa | Monari, M., Clinical Investigation Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Clinico Humanitas, Rozzano, MI, Italy; Foglia, E., Centre for Research on Health Economics, Social and Health Care Management—CREMS, University Carlo Cattaneo—LIUC, Corso Matteotti 22, Castellanza, VA, Italy; Montanelli, A., Clinical Investigation Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Clinico Humanitas, Rozzano, MI, Italy; Assandri, R., Clinical Investigation Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Clinico Humanitas, Rozzano, MI, Italy; Lagioia, M., Medical Superintendent, Health Directorate Humanitas, Rozzano, MI, Italy; Ferrario, L., Centre for Research on Health Economics, Social and Health Care Management—CREMS, University Carlo Cattaneo—LIUC, Corso Matteotti 22, Castellanza, VA, Italy; Garagiola, E., Centre for Research on Health Economics, Social and Health Care Management—CREMS, University Carlo Cattaneo—LIUC, Corso Matteotti 22, Castellanza, VA, Italy; Porazzi, E., Centre for Research on Health Economics, Social and Health Care Management—CREMS, University Carlo Cattaneo—LIUC, Corso Matteotti 22, Castellanza, VA, Italy; Croce, D., Centre for Research on Health Economics, Social and Health Care Management—CREMS, University Carlo Cattaneo—LIUC, Corso Matteotti 22, Castellanza, VA, Italy, School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa | Background.: Hepatitis C (HCV) is a liver inflammation which, through the activation of the immune defense system, causes the death of liver cells (liver necrosis). Like Hepatitis B, it can become chronic, turning into a long term pathology. The aim of the present study was to evaluate a new technology useful to diagnose HCV, based on a serological kit HCVAg, comparing it with the standard technology, according to a multi-dimensional approach. Methods.: In order to analyze the differences between the two technologies, three dimensions were considered: (i) process costs, (ii) organizational aspects and (iii) budget impact. Data were collected by observational analysis and supported with administrative data. Activity Based Costing methodology (ABC), and a Budget Impact Analysis approach (BIA) were implemented. Results.: The new technology reduced the time needed to complete a medical report to 90 minutes, with a positive organizational impact, and allowed an immediate definition of the presence or absence of HCV infection, with quantitative results. Data showed that its introduction would bring economic savings to the Regional and National Health Service: a hospital could reduce the direct and indirect costs by 47.90% each and contribute to a reduction in funding at Regional or National level by 26.96%. Conclusions.: The introduction of the new technology, if compared with the standard one, would give similar effectiveness, with a lower organizational and economic impact, both for a hospital and for a Regional/National Health Service, with a good equity impact for HCV infected patients. © 2015, Springer-Verlag Italia. | Economic evaluation; Economic savings; HCV; Multi-dimensional approach; Serological kit | Article; budget; cost control; cost utility analysis; diagnostic kit; diagnostic procedure; economic aspect; health care organization; hepatitis C; Hepatitis C virus; human; major clinical study; observational study; serology; virus detection | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84928806204 | The impact of SNP fingerprinting and parentage analysis on the effectiveness of variety recommendations in cacao | Padi F.K., Ofori A., Takrama J., Djan E., Opoku S.Y., Dadzie A.M., Bhattacharjee R., Motamayor J.C., Zhang D. | 2015 | Tree Genetics and Genomes | 11 | 3 | 10.1007/s11295-015-0875-9 | Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana, Box 8, New-Tafo Akim, Ghana; Central Biotechnology Laboratory, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), PMB 5320, Ibadan, Nigeria; Mars Inc., Hackettstown, NJ, United States; USDA ARS PSI SPCL, 10300 Baltimore Avenue, Bldg 050, Rm 100, BARC-W, Beltsville, MD, United States | Padi, F.K., Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana, Box 8, New-Tafo Akim, Ghana; Ofori, A., Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana, Box 8, New-Tafo Akim, Ghana; Takrama, J., Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana, Box 8, New-Tafo Akim, Ghana; Djan, E., Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana, Box 8, New-Tafo Akim, Ghana; Opoku, S.Y., Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana, Box 8, New-Tafo Akim, Ghana; Dadzie, A.M., Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana, Box 8, New-Tafo Akim, Ghana; Bhattacharjee, R., Central Biotechnology Laboratory, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), PMB 5320, Ibadan, Nigeria; Motamayor, J.C., Mars Inc., Hackettstown, NJ, United States; Zhang, D., USDA ARS PSI SPCL, 10300 Baltimore Avenue, Bldg 050, Rm 100, BARC-W, Beltsville, MD, United States | Evidence for the impact of mislabeling and/or pollen contamination on consistency of field performance has been lacking to reinforce the need for strict adherence to quality control protocols in cacao seed garden and germplasm plot management. The present study used SNP fingerprinting at 64 loci to examine the diversity, labeling errors and parentage in 2551 trees obtained from six seed gardens, breeders clone collection and single-cross progenies and a sample of farmers’ trees in Ghana. Clone mislabeling was pervasive, both within the seed garden clones and among clones of the breeders’ active collection. Among the seed garden clones, mislabeled trees were assigned to other parental clones used in the seed garden, pointing to labeling errors prior to planting as the principal cause of mislabeling. Among the breeders’ clone collection, both homonymous and synonymous mislabeling were identified in addition to trees with unique genotypes. This implicates pre-planting labeling errors and rootstocks overtaking budded scions. Parentage analysis supported the Amelonado ancestry of farmers’ varieties but with significant contribution of Upper Amazon introductions. Parentage of recently developed clones and of progenies of controlled crosses showed evidence of both pollen contamination and effects of mislabeled parents. The observed patterns of unexpected parentage had direct effects on the consistency of the variety performance between trials and increased within-plot variability for families with mixed ancestry. The results provide a strong basis for mainstreaming SNP fingerprinting in cacao breeding programs to improve the efficiency of the variety development process. © 2015, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg. | Diversity; Fingerprinting; Genetic structure; Mislabelling; Theobroma | Theobroma; Theobroma cacao | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84877351763 | Effects of creatine monohydrate on growth performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality of yellow-feathered broilers | Xia W.G., Abdullahi A.Y., Zuo J.J., Chen L., Feng D.Y. | 2012 | Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances | 11 | 23 | 10.3923/javaa.2012.4382.4388 | College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, 510642 Guangzhou, China; Department of Animal Science, Kano University of Science and Technology Wudil, P.M.B. 3244, Kano, Nigeria | Xia, W.G., College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, 510642 Guangzhou, China; Abdullahi, A.Y., College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, 510642 Guangzhou, China, Department of Animal Science, Kano University of Science and Technology Wudil, P.M.B. 3244, Kano, Nigeria; Zuo, J.J., College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, 510642 Guangzhou, China; Chen, L., College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, 510642 Guangzhou, China; Feng, D.Y., College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, 510642 Guangzhou, China | Nine hundred, 42 days old male yellow-feathered broilers were used to evaluate the effects of Creatine Monohydrate (CMH) on growth performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality. The birds received either a no-CMH diet (0 mg kg"1) a low (250 mg kg"1), a moderate (500 mg kg"1) or a high-CMH diet (1000 mg kg"1) for 21 days. CMH supplementation did not affect the average daily weight gain, average daily feed intake or feed efficiency. Additionally no significant differences were discovered in the dressing, eviscerated, breast muscle or thigh muscle percentage. However, there was a decreasing trend in the pH values of the pectoralis major at 24 h postmortem and of the thigh muscle at 45 mm postmortem as the level of CMH supplementation increased. No significant difference was observed in cooking loss, shear force value, moisture or crude protein percentages. However, supplementing with CMH increased the slow-twitch red and the fast-twitch white fiber ratio in the gastrocnemius muscles. The results suggested that CMH supplementation has no effect on growth performance or carcass characteristics but it potentially triggered a transition from fast-twitch red muscle fibers to slow-twitch red and fast-twitch white muscle fibers. © Medwell Journals, 2012. | Broiler; Carcass characteristics; Creatine; Growth performance; Meat quality | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84939165185 | Effects of a carbohydrate-electrolyte solution on cognitive performance following exercise-induced hyperthermia in humans | Lee J.K.W., Ang W.H., Ng J.W.X., Fan P.W.P., Teo Y.S., Nolte H.W., Yeo Y.Y.W. | 2014 | Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition | 11 | 1 | 10.1186/s12970-014-0051-x | Combat Protection and Performance Programme, Defence Medical and Environmental Research Institute, DSO National Laboratories, Singapore; Department of Physiology, National University of Singapore, Singapore; Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore; ERGOnomics TECHnologies, Research and Development, Armscor, Pretoria, South Africa | Lee, J.K.W., Combat Protection and Performance Programme, Defence Medical and Environmental Research Institute, DSO National Laboratories, Singapore, Department of Physiology, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore; Ang, W.H., Combat Protection and Performance Programme, Defence Medical and Environmental Research Institute, DSO National Laboratories, Singapore; Ng, J.W.X., Department of Physiology, National University of Singapore, Singapore; Fan, P.W.P., Combat Protection and Performance Programme, Defence Medical and Environmental Research Institute, DSO National Laboratories, Singapore; Teo, Y.S., Combat Protection and Performance Programme, Defence Medical and Environmental Research Institute, DSO National Laboratories, Singapore; Nolte, H.W., ERGOnomics TECHnologies, Research and Development, Armscor, Pretoria, South Africa; Yeo, Y.Y.W., Department of Physiology, National University of Singapore, Singapore | Background: There is limited information on the effects of sports drinks on cognitive function after exercise in the heat. We aimed to investigate the effects of ingesting a commercially available carbohydrate-electrolyte (CHO) solution on cognitive performance following exercise-induced hyperthermia. Methods: Twelve participants completed three practices of cognitive tests, one full familiarisation and two experimental trials in an environmental chamber (dry bulb temperature: 30.2 ± 0.3°C, relative humidity: 70 ± 3%). The experimental trials consisted of five cognitive tests (symbol digit matching, search and memory, digit span, choice reaction time and psychomotor vigilance test) performed before and after a 75-min run on a treadmill at 70% VO<inf>2</inf> max. One ml/kg body mass of a 6.8% CHO solution or placebo was consumed at the start, every 15 min during exercise and between cognitive tests after exercise. Core temperature, heart rate, blood glucose concentrations, subjective ratings and cognitive performance were assessed (symbol digit matching, search and memory, digit span, choice reaction time and psychomotor vigilance). Results: Participants were hyperthermic at the end of the run (placebo: 39.5 ± 0.4°C, CHO: 39.6 ± 0.5°C; Mean ± SD; p = 0.37). The change in blood glucose was higher with CHO ingestion (1.6, 0.7 to 4.5 mmol/L) (median, range) than with placebo ingestion (0.9, -0.1 to 4.7 mmol/L; p < 0.05). CHO ingestion reduced the maximum span of digits memorized, in contrast to an increase in maximum span with placebo ingestion (p < 0.05). CHO solution had no effect on other cognitive tests (p > 0.05). Conclusions: These results suggest that CHO solution ingestion may impair short-term memory following exertional heat stress. © 2014 Lee et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | None | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84872001751 | The impact of routine HIV testing on HIV-related stigma and discrimination in Africa | Durojaye E. | 2011 | International Journal of Discrimination and the Law | 11 | 4 | 10.1177/1358229111435735 | Community Law Centre, University of Western Cape, South Africa | Durojaye, E., Community Law Centre, University of Western Cape, South Africa | This paper discusses different methods of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing, particularly routine and voluntary HIV testing methods, which have been adopted in response to the HIV epidemic in Africa. It then examines the importance of HIV testing as a tool for the prevention and treatment of infected and affected persons. The paper argues that although routine HIV testing is important in scaling up HIV testing in Africa, it may not necessarily address HIV-related stigma as contended by some commentators. Rather, it is argued that routine HIV testing, as practised in many African countries, may fuel HIV-related stigma and violate individuals' fundamental rights guaranteed in numerous human rights instruments. In conclusion, the paper cautions that any attempt at adopting routine HIV testing in Africa should be tempered with respect for people's human rights. © 2011 The Author(s). | Africa; human rights; Routine HIV testing; stigma and discrimination | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-32544441478 | Sparing land for nature: Exploring the potential impact of changes in agricultural yield on the area needed for crop production | Balmford A., Green R.E., Scharlemann J.P.W. | 2005 | Global Change Biology | 11 | 10 | 10.1111/j.1365-2486.2005.001035.x | Conservation Biology Group, Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Downing St., Cambridge CB2 3EJ, United Kingdom; Percy FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, Department of Zoology, University of Cape Town, Private Bag, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa; Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, The Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire SG19 2DL, United Kingdom; Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PS, United Kingdom | Balmford, A., Conservation Biology Group, Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Downing St., Cambridge CB2 3EJ, United Kingdom, Percy FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, Department of Zoology, University of Cape Town, Private Bag, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa; Green, R.E., Conservation Biology Group, Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Downing St., Cambridge CB2 3EJ, United Kingdom, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, The Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire SG19 2DL, United Kingdom; Scharlemann, J.P.W., Conservation Biology Group, Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Downing St., Cambridge CB2 3EJ, United Kingdom, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, The Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire SG19 2DL, United Kingdom, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PS, United Kingdom | How can rapidly growing food demands be met with least adverse impact on nature? Two very different sorts of suggestions predominate in the literature: Wildlife-friendly farming, whereby on-farm practices are made as benign to wildlife as possible (at the potential cost of decreasing yields); and land-sparing, in which farm yields are increased and pressure to convert land for agriculture thereby reduced (at the potential cost of decreasing wildlife populations on farmland). This paper is about one important aspect of the land-sparing idea - the sensitivity of future requirements for cropland to plausible variation in yield increases, relative to other variables. Focusing on the 23 most energetically important food crops, we use data from the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the United Nations Population Division (UNPD) to project plausible values for 2050 for population size, diet, yield, and trade, and then look at their effect on the area needed to meet demand for the 23 crops, for the developing and developed worlds in turn. Our calculations suggest that across developing countries, the area under those crops will need to increase very considerably by 2050 (by 23% under intermediate projections), and that plausible variation in average yield has as much bearing on the extent of that expansion as does variation in population size or per capita consumption; future cropland area varies far less under foreseeable variation in the net import of food from the rest of the world. By contrast, cropland area in developed countries is likely to decrease slightly by 2050 (by 4% under intermediate projections for those 23 crops), and will be less sensitive to variation in population growth, diet, yield, or trade. Other contentious aspects of the land-sparing idea require further scrutiny, but these results confirm its potential significance and suggest that conservationists should be as concerned about future agricultural yields as they are about population growth and rising per capita consumption. © 2005 Blackwell Publishing Ltd. | Agricultural yield; Agriculture; Conservation; Crop production; Cropland; Diet; Farming; Human population; Land sparing; Trade | agricultural land; crop production; crop yield; food production; land management | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84901028720 | The evaluation and quantification of respirable coal and silica dust concentrations: A task-based approach | Grové T., Van Dyk T., Franken A., Du Plessis J. | 2014 | Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene | 11 | 6 | 10.1080/15459624.2013.877140 | Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Centre for Mining Innovation, P.O. Box 91230, Auckland-Park 2006, South Africa; Kobus Dekker Occupational Hygiene Consultancy, Pretoria, South Africa; School of Physiology, Nutrition and Consumer Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, Potchefstroom, South Africa | Grové, T., Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Centre for Mining Innovation, P.O. Box 91230, Auckland-Park 2006, South Africa; Van Dyk, T., Kobus Dekker Occupational Hygiene Consultancy, Pretoria, South Africa; Franken, A., School of Physiology, Nutrition and Consumer Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, Potchefstroom, South Africa; Du Plessis, J., School of Physiology, Nutrition and Consumer Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, Potchefstroom, South Africa | Silicosis and coal worker's pneumoconiosis are serious occupational respiratory diseases associated with the coal mining industry and the inhalation of respirable dusts containing crystalline silica. The purpose of this study (funded by the Mine Health and Safety Council of South Africa) was to evaluate the individual contributions of underground coal mining tasks to the respirable dust and respirable silica dust concentrations in an underground section by sampling the respirable dust concentrations at the intake and return of each task. The identified tasks were continuous miner (CM) cutting, construction, transfer of coal, tipping, and roof bolting. The respirable dust-generating hierarchy of the tasks from highest to lowest was: transfer of coal > CM right cutting > CM left cutting > CM face cutting > construction > roof bolting > tipping; and for respirable silica dust: CM left cutting > construction > transfer of coal > CM right cutting. Personal exposure levels were determined by sampling the exposures of workers performing tasks in the section. Respirable dust concentrations and low concentrations of respirable silica dust were found at the intake air side of the section, indicating that air entering the section is already contaminated. The hierarchy for personal respirable dust exposures was as follows, from highest to lowest: CM operator > cable handler > miner > roof bolt operator > shuttle car operator, and for respirable silica dust: shuttle car operator > CM operator > cable handler > roof bolt operator > miner. Dust control methods to lower exposures should include revision of the position of workers with regard to the task performed, positioning of the tasks with regard to the CM cutting, and proper use of the line curtains to direct ventilation appropriately. The correct use of respiratory protection should also be encouraged. Copyright © 2014 JOEH, LLC. | Coal mining; Coal mining activities; Mine Health and Safety Council; Respirable dust; Respirable silica dust; Task-based exposure | air pollutant; coal; dust; silicon dioxide; air pollutant; analysis; coal mining; dust; environmental monitoring; human; occupational exposure; particle size; South Africa; statistics and numerical data; workplace; Air Pollutants, Occupational; Coal; Coal Mining; Dust; Environmental Monitoring; Humans; Occupational Exposure; Particle Size; Silicon Dioxide; South Africa; Workplace | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79959607322 | Evaluation of cooked and mechanically defatted sesame (Sesamum indicum) seed meal as a replacer for soybean meal in the diet of African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) | Jimoh W.A., Aroyehun H.T. | 2011 | Turkish Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences | 11 | 2 | 10.4194/trjfas.2011.0202 | Crescent University, Department of Biological Sciences, Fisheries and Aquaculture Unit, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria | Jimoh, W.A., Crescent University, Department of Biological Sciences, Fisheries and Aquaculture Unit, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria; Aroyehun, H.T., Crescent University, Department of Biological Sciences, Fisheries and Aquaculture Unit, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria | A 56-day feeding trial was conducted to assess the replacement value of cooked and mechanically defatted sesame seed meal as dietary replacement of soybean meal in diets of Clarias gariepinus. All diets were prepared to be isonitrogenous, (40% crude protein), isolipidic (12% lipid) and isoenergetic (18 Mj/g). Cooked and mechanically defatted sesame seed meals were used to replace soybean meal at a rate of 0, 25, 50, 75, 100% respectively. The performance of the fish fed sesame seed meal-based test diets was compared to fish fed a soybean meal-based control diets containing 40% crude protein. Each treatment had three replicates using 15 catfish fingerlings per tank with mean initial body weight of 6.37±0.21 g. There was no significant difference (P>0.05) in protein productive value, feed intake; specific growth rate, % weight gain and crude deposition between fish fed control diets and fish fed diets containing 25% sesame. Similarly there was no significant difference (P>0.05) in protein productive value, feed intake; specific growth rate, % weight gain and crude deposition between fish fed fish fed diets containing 25% sesame and fish fed diets containing 50% sesame. However, a significant difference (P<0.05) was recorded between fish fed control diets and fish fed other test diets using the above indices. Comparable performance in growth nutrient utilization and carcass crude protein deposition in Clarias gariepinus fed diets with SSM25 and SSM50 showed that these meals could be viable means of improving the cost of fish feeding. © Published by Central Fisheries Research Institute (CFRI) Trabzon, Turkey. | African catfish; Mechanically defatted; Sesame; Soybean meal | Clarias gariepinus; Glycine max; Sesamum indicum | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84920111703 | Identifying talented young soccer players: Conditional, anthropometrical and physiological characteristics as predictors of performance | Bidaurrazaga-Letona I., Lekue J.A., Amado M., Santos-Concejero J., Gil S.M. | 2015 | RICYDE: Revista Internacional de Ciencias del Deporte | 11 | 39 | 10.5232/ricyde2015.03906 | Departamento de Educación Física y Deportiva, Universidad del País Vasco, UPV/EHU, Spain; Athletic Club Bilbao, País Vasco, Spain; Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa | Bidaurrazaga-Letona, I., Departamento de Educación Física y Deportiva, Universidad del País Vasco, UPV/EHU, Spain; Lekue, J.A., Athletic Club Bilbao, País Vasco, Spain; Amado, M., Athletic Club Bilbao, País Vasco, Spain; Santos-Concejero, J., Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Gil, S.M., Departamento de Educación Física y Deportiva, Universidad del País Vasco, UPV/EHU, Spain | The aim of this study was to provide the profile of elite young soccer players. Fifty-five players of the Under-14 category of Athletic Club Bilbao participated in this study. Players were classified into 4 playing positions: forwards (n=30), midfielders (n=15), defenders (n=37) and goalkeepers (n=15). Complete anthropometry, chronological age (CA), age at peak height velocity, 15-m sprint test, agility test, Yo-yo IT level 1 (Yo-yo IR1), counter-movement jump and hand dynamometry were measured. Results were transformed into z-scores and summed up to make two performance composites (SCORE and SCOREHG). One-way analysis of variance and a Bonferroni posthoc test were used to examine the differences between playing positions. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to estimate the contribution of independent variables to performance indicators. Significant differences were observed between playing positions in body mass and height (P<0.05); CA, maturity offset and muscle % (P<0.01); sum of skinfolds, fat %, endomorphy, sprint and agility tests (P<0.001). Stepwise regression analysis revealed that the CA and sum of skinfolds were the most important predictors of performance. Collectively, playing positions were characterised by specific anthropometrical characteristics whereas no significant positional differences were observed in performance. This study provides further insight concerning coaches' practice of selecting young soccer players because of physical advantages. However, other components like technical and tactical skills, cognitive and psychological factors may be important to excel in soccer. | Maturation; Position; Talent identification; Youth soccer | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-78149363778 | Intellectual capital and performance: Testing interaction effects | Kamukama N., Ahiauzu A., Ntayi J.M. | 2010 | Journal of Intellectual Capital | 11 | 4 | 10.1108/14691931011085687 | Department of Accounting, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda; Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt, Nigeria; Faculty of Computing and Management Science, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda | Kamukama, N., Department of Accounting, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda; Ahiauzu, A., Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt, Nigeria; Ntayi, J.M., Faculty of Computing and Management Science, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda | Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to examine the interaction effect of intellectual capital elements and how they fuse to affect financial performance in microfinance institutions. The major purpose is to explore the appropriate blend or mix of intellectual capital elements that explains the source of value creation - hence performance - in microfinance institutions. Design/methodology/approach: The paper adopts the ModGraph program (Excel version) along with the Kenny and Boran approach to test conditional hypotheses. Findings: The magnitude effect of human capital on performance depends on any of structural or relational capital; hence the assumption of nonadditivity is met. However, no significant interaction effects were established between relational and structural capital. Research limitations/implications: Only a single research methodological approach was employed and future research through interviews could be undertaken to triangulate. Furthermore, the findings from the present study are cross-sectional - future research should be undertaken to examine the multiplicative effects studied in this paper across time Practical implications: In order to boost the wealth of microfinance institutions in Uganda, managers should always endeavor to find a viable intellectual capital mix or blend that can add value to the firm. Originality/value: This is the first study that focuses on testing the interactive effects of intellectual capital elements on financial performance in Ugandan microfinance institutions. © Emerald Group Publishing Limited. | Financial institutions; Financial performance; Intellectual capital; Social interaction; Uganda | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84859172052 | Performance of broiler chickens fed on mature moringa oleifera leaf meal as a protein supplement to soyabean meal | Gadzirayi C.T., Masamha B., Mupangwa J.F., Washaya S. | 2012 | International Journal of Poultry Science | 11 | 1 | None | Department of Agriculture, Bindura University of Science Education, P. Bag 1020, Bindura, Zimbabwe; International Livestock Research Institute, Av. FPLM 2698 Caixa, Maputo, Mozambique; Umutara Polytechnic, Faculty of Agriculture, P.O. Box 57, Nyagatare, Eastern Province, Rwanda | Gadzirayi, C.T., Department of Agriculture, Bindura University of Science Education, P. Bag 1020, Bindura, Zimbabwe; Masamha, B., International Livestock Research Institute, Av. FPLM 2698 Caixa, Maputo, Mozambique; Mupangwa, J.F., Umutara Polytechnic, Faculty of Agriculture, P.O. Box 57, Nyagatare, Eastern Province, Rwanda; Washaya, S., Department of Agriculture, Bindura University of Science Education, P. Bag 1020, Bindura, Zimbabwe | An exploratory study investigating the effects of supplementing soyabeans with Moringa oleifera leaf meal, as a protein source in poultry production was done at Bindura University Farm. Five different graded levels of Moringa oleifera meal were used in formulating the diets. Ration formulation using soyabean, yellow maize and Moringa oleifera meal as ingredients for broiler starter (20% Crude Protein) and broiler finisher (18% Crude Protein) diets was done using the Pearson Square Method. Twenty-five day old Habbard chicks were randomly allocated to the five treatment diets T1 (0% Moringa oleifera meal), T2 (25% Moringa oleifera meal), T3 (50% Moringa oleifera meal), T4 (75% Moringa oleifera meal) and T5 (100% Moringa oleifera meal) in a completely randomized design. Birds were managed under the dip litter system with five compartments each with five birds for a period of 6 weeks. Weekly weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio were recorded throughout the period. Evisceration of carcasses was done after 6 weeks and the different body parts were weighed and recorded. Proximate analysis of Moringa oleifera meal, broiler starter and broiler finisher diets were done and the results were tabulated. Statistical analysis was done using Genstat Software Version 12. No significant differences were noted in the amount of feed taken by broiler birds under different treatments of Moringa oleifera meal, however significant differences in feed conversion ratios were noted. It was therefore concluded that inclusion of Moringa oleifera meal as protein supplement in broiler diets at 25% inclusion level produces broilers of similar weight and growth rate compared to those fed under conventional commercial feeds (p>0.05). © Asian Network for Scientific Information, 2012. | Broilers; Carcass; Moringa oleifera; Protein; Weight | Aves; Gallus gallus; Glycine max; Moringa oleifera; Zea mays | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84856274347 | Performance of sweet potato soybeans as affected by cropping sequence in the northern guinea savanna of Nigeria | Babatunde F.E., Dantata I.J., Olawuyi O.J. | 2012 | Journal of Agronomy | 11 | 1 | 10.3923/ja.2012.22.26 | Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Osun State University (Uniosun), PMB 4014, Ejigbo Campus, Nigeria; Department of Agricultural Education, College of Education, PMB 044, Azare, Bauchi, Nigeria; Department of Biosciences and Biotechnology, Ba | Babatunde, F.E., Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Osun State University (Uniosun), PMB 4014, Ejigbo Campus, Nigeria; Dantata, I.J., Department of Agricultural Education, College of Education, PMB 044, Azare, Bauchi, Nigeria; Olawuyi, O.J., Department of Biosciences and Biotechnology, Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo, PMB 21244, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria | A field experiment was conducted to study the performance of sweet potato and soybeans under different cropping sequences during the raining seasons of 2007, 2008 and 2009 in Bauchi, Nigeria. The cropping sequences consisted of sweet potato transplanted 1 week after soybeans (+1), sweet potato transplanted 2 weeks after soybeans (+2), sweet potato + soybeans planted simultaneously (0), sweet potato transplanted 1 week before soybeans (-1), sweet potato transplanted 2 weeks before soybeans (-2), Sole sweet potato (Ssp) and Sole soybeans (Ssb). These were arranged in randomized complete block design with four replications. Percent production of tubers and pods as well as tuber and grain yields of component crops were significantly increased (p = 0.05) by the cropping treatments in all the three seasons of this studyanother in each season, except in percent tuber production with sole sweet potato in both 2008 and 2009 as well as in tuber yield with sole sweet potato in 2009. Therefore, component crops can be sole-grown or adopt sweet potato transplanted a week or 2 before soybeans-sequence for better tuber and grain yields. © 2012 Asian Network for Scientific Information. | Crop sequence; Northern guinea savanna; Performance; Soybeans; Sweet potato | Glycine max; Ipomoea batatas | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84875991092 | Effect of cassayeast produced from varying combinations of cassava (Manihot esculenta) and brewers' dried yeast (Saccharomyces cerevicea) on broiler performance [Efecto del cassayeast producido a partir de varias combinaciones de yuca (Manihot esculenta) | Anlebo A.O. | 2011 | Revista Cientifica UDO Agricola | 11 | 1 | None | Department of Animal Science, Anambra State University Igbariam, PMB 6059 Awka, Nigeria | Anlebo, A.O., Department of Animal Science, Anambra State University Igbariam, PMB 6059 Awka, Nigeria | A feeding trial using 480 day-old Anak broiler chicks was conducted in which cassava meal (CM) fortified with brewers' dried yeast (BDY) completely replaced maize in four out of five isocaloric and isonitrogenous diets. The objective was to determine the influence of cassayeast produced from varying combinations of cassava (Manihot esculenta) and brewers's dried yeast (Saccharomyces cerevicea) on broiler performance. Dried CM blended with BDY formed cassayeast in the ratios of 30/11.1; 35/12.94; 40/14.79 and 45/16.64 in dietary treatments B, C, D and E, respectively. Diet A (control) contained maize without the test ingredient. Results showed significant differences (P<0.05) in feed intake, body weight gain, efficiency of feed utilization (Feed: gain and gain: feed ratios) and weights of breast and liver. Gizzard weights were similar (P>0.05). The study demonstrated that the use of cassayeast could improve feed availability in the broiler industry. It also showed that with proper protein balancing, cassayeast can completely replace maize in broiler diets. | Brewers' dried yeast; Broiler performance; Cassava meal; Cassayeast | Aves; Manihot esculenta; Saccharomyces; Zea mays | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84859206874 | Effects of roxazyme G® and maxigrain® on performance, egg quality, cost-benefit and haematological parameters of laying hens fed wheat offal, corn bran and brewery dry grain diets | Ademola S.G., Egbewande O.O., Lawal T.E., Isah A.T., Kuranga S.M. | 2012 | International Journal of Poultry Science | 11 | 1 | None | Department of Animal Nutrition and Biotechnology, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Nigeria; Department of Animal Science, Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida University, Lapai, Nigeria; Department of Animal Science and Fisheries Mg, Bowen Univer | Ademola, S.G., Department of Animal Nutrition and Biotechnology, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Nigeria; Egbewande, O.O., Department of Animal Science, Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida University, Lapai, Nigeria; Lawal, T.E., Department of Animal Science and Fisheries Mg, Bowen University, Iwo, Nigeria; Isah, A.T., Department of Animal Nutrition and Biotechnology, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Nigeria; Kuranga, S.M., Department of Animal Nutrition and Biotechnology, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Nigeria | The study examined effects of supplementing Roxazyme G® and Maxigrain® to wheat offal-, corn bran-and brewery dry grain-based diets on the performance, haematological parameters and economy of production in laying hens. Both enzymes were added to these 3 diets at 100 mg/kg, while control group was neither supplemented with Roxazyme G® nor Maxigrain®. The results showed that hens fed Roxazyme G® corn bran diets had the best feed conversion and maximum profit. Maxigrain® also significantly improved hen day production and egg weight of hens fed Brewery Dry Grain (BDG) than those fed Roxazyme G® BDG diet. Laying hens fed BDG diets had the lowest profits. Both enzymes failed to improve the performance and profits of hens fed Wheat Offal (WO) diet. Improvements in Red Blood Cells (RBC) for hens fed both enzyme supplemented diets were observed. Interactive effects of enzyme type and fibre source significantly (p<0.01) influence RBCs, PCV and white blood cells. The study revealed that Roxazyme G® and Maxigrain® should be added to respectively CB-and BDG-diets for improved laying performance. However, these enzymes failed to improve the laying performance of hens fed WO diet. © Asian Network for Scientific Information, 2012. | Brewery dry grain; Corn bran; Performance; Profit; Wheat offal | Triticum aestivum; Zea mays | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-53649085404 | Comparison of the performance, carcass characteristics and haematological parameters of broiler chicks reared in cage and floor | Sogunle O.M., Egbeyale L.T., Bajomo T.T., Bamigboje O.V., Fanimo A.O. | 2008 | Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences | 11 | 3 | 10.3923/pjbs.2008.480.483 | Department of Animal Production and Health, University of Agriculture, P.M.B. 2240, Abeokuta, Nigeria | Sogunle, O.M., Department of Animal Production and Health, University of Agriculture, P.M.B. 2240, Abeokuta, Nigeria; Egbeyale, L.T., Department of Animal Production and Health, University of Agriculture, P.M.B. 2240, Abeokuta, Nigeria; Bajomo, T.T., Department of Animal Production and Health, University of Agriculture, P.M.B. 2240, Abeokuta, Nigeria; Bamigboje, O.V., Department of Animal Production and Health, University of Agriculture, P.M.B. 2240, Abeokuta, Nigeria; Fanimo, A.O., Department of Animal Production and Health, University of Agriculture, P.M.B. 2240, Abeokuta, Nigeria | This study was conducted to determine the effect of housing systems on the performance, carcass characteristics and the haematology of 150 four-week old Anak titan strains of broiler chicks in a completely randomized design. The birds were allocated randomly into two treatment (cage and floor) groups of three replications containing 25 birds per replicate. They were maintained for a period of 4 weeks and data were collected on; final body weight, weight gain, feed intake, feed:gain and mortality. At the 56th week, carcass yield, cut-up parts and organs weights as well as some parameters were measured. The results showed that feed intake and feed:gain were significantly (p<0.05) higher in the cage system. Dressing percentage and breast weight were higher (p<0.05) in the floor housing system while drumstick and lung weight were higher in the cage system. No significant (p>0.05) difference was obtained in the haematology. It was then concluded that an improvement in the floor system could result into a better performance and an increased carcass yield. © 2008 Asian Network for Scientific Information. | Anak titan chicks; Carcass yield; Haematology; Housing systems | animal; animal husbandry; article; chicken; comparative study; hematology; Animal Husbandry; Animals; Chickens; Hematology; Aves | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84867769686 | Effect of crayfish waste meal on performance characteristics and nutrient retention of broiler finishers | Asafa A.R., Ologhobo A.D., Adejumo I.O. | 2012 | International Journal of Poultry Science | 11 | 8 | None | Department of Animal Production Technology, Lagos State Polytechnic, Lagos, Nigeria; Department of Animal Science, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Department of Animal Science, Landmark University, Omu-Aran, Nigeria | Asafa, A.R., Department of Animal Production Technology, Lagos State Polytechnic, Lagos, Nigeria; Ologhobo, A.D., Department of Animal Science, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Adejumo, I.O., Department of Animal Science, Landmark University, Omu-Aran, Nigeria | The study investigated the effect of crayfish waste meal on the performance characteristics and nutrient retention in broiler finisher. 150 one day old chicks were used for the study which lasted for 9 weeks. The result of the study showed that the average dry matter intake ranged from 1918.96 g in broiler chicken fed diet IV (25%FM:75%CWM) to 2141.60g in diet V (100% CWM) chickens. There was no significant differences (p>0.05) between treatment means. Birds fed the control diet (100%FM) recorded the highest gain (787.30 g) followed by those fed diet III (50%FM; 50%CWM) while the least gain (679.00 g) was by diet V (100%CWM) chickens. No significant (p>0.05) difference was observed between the treatment means. The feed conversion ratio was best (2.48) with chickens fed the control diet (100%FM) and progressively decreased with diet V (100%CWM) chickens recording the least (3.19). There was, however, no significant (p>0.05) difference between treatment means. Protein efficiency ratio followed similar trend with the feed conversion ratio. Diet I (100%FM) chickens had the highest value (2.09) followed by diet II (25%FM; 75%CWM) while those fed diet V (100%CWM) was the least (1.64). © Asian Network for Scientific Information, 2012. | Broiler; Crayfish waste; Finishers; Meal; Nutrient; Performance | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84863769111 | Effect of concentrate feed restriction with ad libitum forage feeding on performance and carcass yield of growing rabbit | Adeyemi O.A., Akanji A.O. | 2012 | Electronic Journal of Environmental, Agricultural and Food Chemistry | 11 | 6 | None | Department of Animal Production, Health College of Animal Science and Livestock Production, University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria | Adeyemi, O.A., Department of Animal Production, Health College of Animal Science and Livestock Production, University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria; Akanji, A.O., Department of Animal Production, Health College of Animal Science and Livestock Production, University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria | Effect of concentrate feed restriction in the presence of ad libitum forage (Tridax procumbens) feeding on performance, carcass yield and relative organ weights were investigated in weaner rabbits in a humid tropical environment in Nigeria. 36 growing rabbits of mixed breed (Chinchilla x Dutch x California White) and sexes with an average weight of 600g were assigned to three feeding regimen in a completely randomized design. The study lasted for 8 weeks. The three feeding regimen were: (A) ad libitum concentrate feeding + ad libitum forage feeding (control), (B) skip-a-day concentrate feeding/week + ad libitum forage feeding and (C) skip-2- days concentrate feeding/week + ad libitum forage feeding. The forage used was air-dried Tridax procumbens. Drinking water was supplied free-choice throughout the duration of the experiment. Each treatment group was replicated six times with two rabbits housed in the same cage serving as replicate. Weight gain (Total and Average daily), final body weight, Feed intake (Total and Average daily) and feed: gain ratio of rabbits were not significantly (P>0.05) different among the treatment groups. Although feed intake was not different among the three treatments, however concentrate intake (Total and average daily), forage intake (total and average daily) as well as percentage concentrate and forage in daily feed intake were significantly (P<0.05) influenced by treatments. Total concentrate intake was significantly higher in rabbits on treatment A (ad libitum feeding) compared with rabbits on treatment B which was also significantly higher than the intake on treatment C. ad libitum fed rabbits consumed 10.75 and 25.94% concentrates more than rabbits on skip-a-day and skip-twodays per week concentrate feeding. Daily concentrate intake reduced from 33.35g on treatment A to 29.76g and 24.69g in treatment B and C respectively. The daily forage intake however increased with severity of concentrate restriction, the trend being C > B > A. The Concentrate percentage of daily feed intake reduced with increased severity of concentrate restriction while that of forage increased with concentrate restriction from 56.15% in ad libitum concentrate fed group to the highest amount of 68.45% in rabbits on skip-two-days of concentrate feeding per week. Dressing percentage and retail cuts were not significantly (P > 0.05) affected by feeding regime. Similarly the physical structure and weights of internal organs (livers, kidneys, lungs and hearts) were not affected by experimental treatments (P>0.05). The results obtained from this study showed that rabbits can be subjected to two days skipping of concentrate feed per week with ad libitum forage feeding without compromising performance and carcass measurements. | Feeding regimen; Forage; Performance; Rabbits; Skip-a-day; Skip-two-days | Menticirrhus undulatus; Oryctolagus cuniculus; Tridax procumbens | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84875984502 | Performance and egg quality characteristics of layers fed diets containing combinations of brewers dried grains, jack bean and cassava root meal [Rendimiento y características de la calidad del huevo de gallinas ponedoras alimentadas con dietas que contie | Uchegbu M.C., Herbert U., Ogbuewu I.P., Nwaodu C.H., Esonu B.O., Udedibie A.B.I. | 2011 | Revista Cientifica UDO Agricola | 11 | 1 | None | Department of Animal Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, P. M. B.1526, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria | Uchegbu, M.C., Department of Animal Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, P. M. B.1526, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria; Herbert, U., Department of Animal Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, P. M. B.1526, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria; Ogbuewu, I.P., Department of Animal Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, P. M. B.1526, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria; Nwaodu, C.H., Department of Animal Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, P. M. B.1526, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria; Esonu, B.O., Department of Animal Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, P. M. B.1526, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria; Udedibie, A.B.I., Department of Animal Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, P. M. B.1526, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria | The performance, egg quality characteristics and feed cost of layers fed combinations of maize/sorghum-based brewers dried grains (MSBDG), jack bean (JB) and cassava root meal (CRM) in replacement of maize. Four treatment diets: LD1, LD2, LD3 and LD4 were formulated such that they contained maize, MSBDG, JB and CRM in the following proportions: 50, 0, 0, 0%; 0, 10, 15, 25%; 0, 10, 20, 20% and 0, 10, 25, 15% respectively. Ninety six Shika Brown layers were divided into 4 treatment groups of 24 birds each and each group subdivided into 3 replicates of 8 birds. The birds were randomly assigned to the diets in a completely randomized design experiment. Nine eggs were selected from each treatment group on the last day of the 4th, 8th, 12th and 16th week for egg quality analysis. The egg weight of LD2 birds was significantly (p<0.05) higher than that of LD3 birds. The birds on LD1 had superior feed conversion ratio value which was significantly (p<0.05) lower than those of LD2 and LD3 birds. The Haugh unit for LD1 and LD2 birds were significantly (p<0.05) higher than that of LD3. The shell thickness value for LD1 birds differed significantly (p<0.05) with that of LD4 birds. All the other parameters measured were similar among the groups. In terms of feed cost required to produce 1kg egg, MSBDG/JB/CRM diets were cheaper, being 6.27%, 5.59% and 14.42% lower than the cost of feed required to produce 1kg egg for LD1 diet. | Egg; Feedstuffs; Laying birds; Performance | Aves; Canavalia ensiformis; Manihot esculenta; Zea mays | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84863792169 | Haematological response, performance and economic analysis of cockerel chicks fed enzyme supplemented Brewer's Dried Grains Groundnut cake-based diets | Isikwenu J.O., Udeh I., Ifie I. | 2012 | Pakistan Journal of Nutrition | 11 | 6 | None | Department of Animal Science, Delta State University, Asaba Campus, Delta State, Nigeria | Isikwenu, J.O., Department of Animal Science, Delta State University, Asaba Campus, Delta State, Nigeria; Udeh, I., Department of Animal Science, Delta State University, Asaba Campus, Delta State, Nigeria; Ifie, I., Department of Animal Science, Delta State University, Asaba Campus, Delta State, Nigeria | The effect of replacing Groundnut Cake (GNC) with enzyme supplemented Brewer's Dried Grains (BDG) at 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% graded levels in cockerel chicks at 6-11 weeks of age was investigated. Five dietary treatments were formulated to be isonitrogenous and isocaloric to provide 20% crude protein and 2900 kcal/kg metabolizable energy. Two hundred and twenty-five 5 weeks old cockerel chicks (Abor-Acre breed) were randomly allocated to five treatments replicated thrice with 15 cockerels per replicate, fed and watered ad libitum in deep litter pens for 6 weeks. Means of body weight, total weight gain, daily weight gain, feed intake, feed: gain ratio, blood parameters and economic assessment of cockerels fed the control diet, 25 and 50% enzyme supplemented brewer's dried grains diets were significantly (p<0.05) better than those fed 75 and 100% inclusion levels. The use of enzymes supplemented BDG was more profitable than GNC in cockerel's diets when the replacement do not exceed the 50% level. Mortality ranged from 1.95-3.56%. © Asian Network for Scientific Information, 2012. | Brewer's dried grain; Cockerel chicks; Enzyme; Groundnut cake; Supplemented | hemoglobin; animal experiment; animal food; article; body weight; Brewer dried grain; chick; controlled study; diet supplementation; economic evaluation; erythrocyte count; food intake; groundnut cake; hematocrit; hematological parameters; leukocyte count; mean corpuscular hemoglobin; mean corpuscular volume; mortality; nonhuman; peanut; plant residue; weight gain | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84879275072 | Effect of nutrase xyla® supplementation on growth performance of grower pigs fed low or high fibre diets | Alu S.E., Oluremi O.I.A., Kaankuka F.G. | 2012 | Pakistan Journal of Nutrition | 11 | 11 | None | Department of Animal Science, Nasarawa State University, Shabu-Lafia Campus, Keffi, P.M.B. 135, Nasarawa State, Nigeria; Department of Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Science, University of Agriculture, Makurdi, P.M.B. 2373, Makurdi, Benue State, Nige | Alu, S.E., Department of Animal Science, Nasarawa State University, Shabu-Lafia Campus, Keffi, P.M.B. 135, Nasarawa State, Nigeria; Oluremi, O.I.A., Department of Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Science, University of Agriculture, Makurdi, P.M.B. 2373, Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria; Kaankuka, F.G., Department of Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Science, University of Agriculture, Makurdi, P.M.B. 2373, Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria | A 49-day feeding trial was conducted to determine the effects of fibre and Nutrase xyla® enzyme supplementation on the growth performance of grower pigs. Sixteen Landrace x Large white cross bred pigs were used in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement with 2 enzyme levels (0 and 100 ppm) and two dietary fibre levels (10 and 15%). Sixteen weaned crosses of Landrace x Large white piglets were used in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement having 2 enzyme levels (0 and 100 ppm) and 2 dietary fibre levels (10 and 15%). Four isonitrogenous (18% CP) experimental diets with marginal variation in caloric content tagged T1, T2, T3 and T4 were compounded. Treatments 1 and 2 contained 10% crude fibre level (low fibre), while treatments 3 and 4 contained about 15% crude fiber levels (high fibre). Treatments 1 and 3 served as the control diets for treatments 2 and 4, respectively. Performance data such as feed intake, initial weight and final weight were recorded and used to calculate weight gain, feed conversion ratio, protein efficiency ratio, feed cost/kg and feed cost/unit weight gain. There were no significant (p>0.05) effects of dietary fibre levels and enzyme supplementation or their interactive effects on average daily feed intake, feed: gain ratio, protein efficiency ratio and feed cost per unit weight gain. The economic analyses revealed that the use of Nutrase xyla® at 100ppm in these diets resulted in increased feed cost but higher level of dietary fibre reduced the cost of feed. © Asian Network for Scientific Information, 2012. | Fibre; Grower pigs; Nutrase xyla®; Rice offal | enzyme; nutrase xyla; unclassified drug; animal experiment; animal food; article; caloric intake; controlled study; cost; diet; diet supplementation; economic evaluation; feed converion ratio; fiber; food composition; growth rate; high fiber diet; low fiber diet; nonhuman; nutritional parameters; piglet; protein efficiency ratio; swine; test meal; weight gain; Pieris brassicae; Suidae | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-82855169392 | Performance of growing grasscutters on different fibre sources | Wogar G.S.I. | 2012 | Pakistan Journal of Nutrition | 11 | 1 | None | Department of Animal Science, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria | Wogar, G.S.I., Department of Animal Science, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria | Grasscutter meat constitutes an important source of much-needed animal protein. The grasscutter (Thryonomys swinderianus) is a wild herbivorous rodent found in the grasslands of Sub-Sahara Africa. It subsists mainly on grass and can digest almost any form of edible greenstuff. Intensive grasscutter production aims at achieving higher levels of DM intake through various vegetative and concentrate supplements to basal diet. The 15 weeks experiment evaluated the performance of twenty four (24) 13 weeks old growing grasscutters, allotted to four treatment groups of six animals each, which were fed diets containing four different fibre sources namely; wheat offal, palm kernel cake, maize sievates and a combination of equal amounts of all the fibre feedstuffs. The experiment involved two replicates per treatment and three growing grasscutters per replicate in a Completely Randomized Design. All the data was subjected to the analysis of variance. The performance of grasscutters, in respect of forage intake, concentrate intake, total feed intake and cost of feeding, was significantly (p<0.05) higher on the maize sievates than on other diets, while the rate of attainment of puberty was significantly (p<0.05) higher on the palm kernel cake than on other diets. These findings suggest that the performance of growing grasscutters was best on the palm kernel cake diet. Palm kernel cake can, therefore, be used as the preferred source of fibre for feeding growing grasscutters. © Asian Network for Scientific Information, 2012. | Different fibre sources; Fed; Growing grasscutters; Performance | Africa south of the Sahara; analysis of variance; animal experiment; animal food; article; controlled study; dietary fiber; digestion; food composition; foraging behavior; fruit; grass; grasscutter; herbivore; maize; nonhuman; palm; physical performance; puberty; rodent; weight gain; wheat | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84863803528 | Evaluation of polyphenolic content and antioxidant activity of Artemisia afra jacq. ex willd. aqueous extract | Sunmonu T.O., Afolayan A.J. | 2012 | Pakistan Journal of Nutrition | 11 | 7 | None | Department of Biochemistry, College of Natural Sciences, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria; Phytomedicine Research Center, Department of Botany, University of Fort Hare, Alice 5700, South Africa | Sunmonu, T.O., Department of Biochemistry, College of Natural Sciences, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria; Afolayan, A.J., Phytomedicine Research Center, Department of Botany, University of Fort Hare, Alice 5700, South Africa | Artemisia afra Jacq. ex Willd. is widely used in South African traditional medicine for the treatment of many ailments and diseases. In this work, aqueous extract of the plant was screened for its phenolic profile and antioxidant activity. The results obtained revealed that the extract has considerable amount of polyphenolic compounds including phenol, flavonoid, flavonol and proanthocyanidin. The extract also exhibited significant inhibition of DPPH and ABTS radicals as well as ferric reductive ability in a concentrationdependent manner. These are indications of antioxidant activity of A. afra which could be attributed to the presence of phenolic compounds; and the data compared well with those of known standards like BHT, rutin and vitamin C. This study has, to some extent, justified the folkloric use of the herb in traditional medicinal practice of South Africa. © Asian Network for Scientific Information, 2012. | ABTS; Antioxidant; Artemisia afra; DPPH; Free radicals; Total phenolics | 1,1 diphenyl 2 picrylhydrazyl; 2,2' azinobis(3 ethylbenzothiazoline 6 sulfonic acid); antioxidant; Artemisia afra extract; ascorbic acid; butylcresol; flavonoid; flavonol; phenol; plant extract; polyphenol derivative; proanthocyanidin; rutoside; unclassified drug; antioxidant activity; Artemisia; Artemisia afra; article; concentration response; controlled study; drug isolation; drug screening; nonhuman; plant leaf; Artemisia afra | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84867597555 | Toxicity evaluation of crankcase oil in rats | Arise R.O., Tella A.C., Akintola A.A., Akiode S.O., Malomo S.O. | 2012 | EXCLI Journal | 11 | None | None | Department of Biochemistry, University of Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria; Department of Chemistry, University of Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria | Arise, R.O., Department of Biochemistry, University of Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria; Tella, A.C., Department of Chemistry, University of Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria; Akintola, A.A., Department of Biochemistry, University of Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria; Akiode, S.O., Department of Biochemistry, University of Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria; Malomo, S.O., Department of Biochemistry, University of Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria | The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of crankcase oil on the cellular and functional integrity of rat skin. Thirty (30) rats were randomly grouped into six viz groups A-F. Group A (base-line control) received 2 ml of distilled water. 2.5 %, 5.0 %, 7.5 %, and 10.0 % v/v of the crankcase oil were prepared using unused oil as solvent and 2 ml of the concentrations were topically administered to groups C-F respectively for seven consecutive days. Group B served as positive control and received 2 ml of the unused oil. The rats were sacrificed 24 hours after the last administration, and blood and part of the skin were collected. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP), acid phosphatase (ACP), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde level in the blood and skin samples collected were evaluated. Elemental analysis of the crankcase oil was also carried out. The result revealed high lead, iron and chromium levels. Blood lead concentration of rats was significantly (P<0.05) high after seven days of administration. ALP level in skin and serum increased significantly (P<0.05) with the concentration of crankcase oil. There was a significant decrease (P<0.05) in skin ACP activity while it increased significantly (P<0.05) in the serum. Similar results were observed in the SOD levels of the serum and the skin. The level increased significantly (P<0.05) in groups D-F when compared with controls. The MDA concentration of both serum and skin were significantly (P<0.05) elevated. This suggests toxic potential of used lubricating oil and its potential predisposition to cancer. | Cancer; Crankcase oil; Malondialdehyde; Superoxide dismutase | acid phosphatase; alkaline phosphatase; chromium; crankase oil; fuel oil; iron; lead; malonaldehyde; superoxide dismutase; unclassified drug; animal experiment; animal tissue; article; blood sampling; concentration (parameters); controlled study; cytotoxicity; enzyme activity; enzyme assay; enzyme blood level; female; molecular dynamics; nonhuman; rat; skin examination; skin toxicity; toxicity testing | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84879274960 | Comparative evaluation of amino acid composition and volatile organic compounds of selected Nigerian cucurbit seeds | Karaye I.U., Aliero A.A., Muhammad S., Bilbis L.S. | 2012 | Pakistan Journal of Nutrition | 11 | 12 | None | Department of Biological Sciences, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria; Department of Biochemistry, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria | Karaye, I.U., Department of Biological Sciences, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria; Aliero, A.A., Department of Biological Sciences, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria; Muhammad, S., Department of Biological Sciences, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria; Bilbis, L.S., Department of Biochemistry, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria | Amino acid composition and volatile organic compounds (VOCS) of five Nigerian cucurbits namely: Luffa aegyptiaca (Mill.), Citrullus lanatus (Thunb. Matsum), Cucurbita maxima (Duchesne, ex Lam), Cucumis metuliferus (E.Mey. ex Naudin) and Momordica balsamina (L.) were investigated using Amino acid Analyzer and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). The proportion of essential amino acids ranged from 22.75- 30.23 g/100 g protein with the highest content in M. balsamina with 30.23 g/100 g protein and the least in C. lanatus with 22.75 g/100 g protein. High content of leucine was found in C. maxima and M. balsamina with 7.04 and 6.11 g /100 g protein respectively. The GC-MS analysis revealed the presence of thirty-one compounds, the most abundant classes of organic compounds in L. aegyptiaca comprised of esters with 65.17% and Fatty Acids (FA) had 32.62% while hydrocarbons amounted to 29%. In C. lanatus, seven compounds were identified dominated by FA and hydrocarbons with 91.5 and 7.25% respectively. In C. maxima, ten compounds were identified dominated by FA (52.24%) and hydrocarbons (43.46%). In C. metuliferus, FA had 30.74% while aromatic compounds and alcohol had 9.18 and 0.68%, respectively. Among the five seeds studied, the most abundant compounds identified were linoleic acid methyl ester in L. aegyptiaca with 63.72%. Cis-cis linoleic acid is most abundant in M. balsamina (62.03%) totaling the fatty acid portion to 86.41%. These results suggest the potential of the seeds as a source of amino acids and fatty acids that could be useful in food and feed fortification strategies. The unique VOCS could be useful as biomarkers for delimitation of the studied species. © Asian Network for Scientific Information, 2012. | Amino acid; Biomarkers; Cucurbits; Fatty acids; Volatile compounds | alcohol; aromatic compound; essential amino acid; ester derivative; fatty acid; hydrocarbon; leucine; linoleic acid; linoleic acid methyl ester; protein; unclassified drug; volatile organic compound; amino acid analysis; amino acid composition; analyzer; article; comparative study; controlled study; Cucumis metuliferus; Cucurbita maxima; Cucurbitaceae; Luffa aegyptiaca; mass fragmentography; Momordica balsamina; nonhuman; plant seed; protein content; watermelon; Citrullus lanatus; Cucumis metuliferus; Cucurbita maxima; Luffa aegyptiaca; Momordica balsamina | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-80052100135 | The impact of blood and seminal plasma zinc and copper concentrations on spermogram and hormonal changes in infertile Nigerian men | Akinloye O., Abbiyesuku F.M., Oguntibeju O.O., Arowojolu A.O., Truter E.J. | 2011 | Reproductive Biology | 11 | 2 | None | Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Wellness Sciences, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Bellville 7535, South Africa; Oxidative Stress Research Centre, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Wellness Sciences, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Bellville, South Africa; Department of Chemical Pathology, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Nigeria; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Nigeria | Akinloye, O., Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Wellness Sciences, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Bellville 7535, South Africa, Oxidative Stress Research Centre, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Wellness Sciences, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Bellville, South Africa; Abbiyesuku, F.M., Department of Chemical Pathology, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Nigeria; Oguntibeju, O.O., Oxidative Stress Research Centre, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Wellness Sciences, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Bellville, South Africa; Arowojolu, A.O., Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Nigeria; Truter, E.J., Oxidative Stress Research Centre, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Wellness Sciences, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Bellville, South Africa | Zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) concentrations in sera and seminal plasma of 60 infertile males (40 oligozoospermic and 20 azoospermic) and 40 males with evidence of fertility (normozoospermic; controls) were estimated using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The results were correlated with the subject's spermogram and hormonal levels in order to determine their relationship and significance in male infertility. The mean serum concentration of zinc was significantly (p<0.01) higher in oligozoospermic males when compared to azoospermic subjects and controls. The ratios of serum Zn to seminal plasma Zn were 1:1, 1:3 or 1:4 in oligozoospermic, normozoospermic or azoospermic subjects, respectively. While the mean Cu concentration was significantly higher in serum than seminal plasma in all groups, the Zn concentration was significantly (p<0.05) higher in seminal plasma than serum. The Cu/Zn ratio in seminal plasma was significantly (p<0.01) higher in controls compared with other groups. A significant (p<0.01) inverse correlation was observed between serum Zn and sperm counts. Similarly, seminal plasma Zn negatively correlated with spermatozoa viability. In conclusion, the measurement of serum Zn level, apart from being a good index of the assessment of prostatic secretion and function, may be considered a useful tool in addition to other parameters in assessing male infertility. Also, a lower Cu/Zn ratio in seminal plasma may serve as a supportive tools in assessing male infertility. | Copper; Hormones; Male infertility; Seminal plasma; Serum; Spermogram; Zinc | copper; zinc; adult; article; blood; chemistry; drug effect; human; male; male infertility; metabolism; middle aged; Nigeria; sperm; spermatogenesis; spermatozoon; spermatozoon count; Adult; Copper; Humans; Infertility, Male; Male; Middle Aged; Nigeria; Semen; Sperm Count; Spermatogenesis; Spermatozoa; Young Adult; Zinc | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84927918107 | Evaluation of Chemical, Biochemical and Microbiological Quality in Tomato Using Multivariate Analysis | Sobratee N., Workneh T.S. | 2015 | International Journal of Food Engineering | 11 | 2 | 10.1515/ijfe-2014-0099 | Department of Bioresources Engineering, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa | Sobratee, N., Department of Bioresources Engineering, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa; Workneh, T.S., Department of Bioresources Engineering, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa | Tomato quality is determined by metabolite content which is governed by post-harvest physiological changes. A 30-day full factorial experiment investigated pre-packaging, disinfection and storage temperatures on 18 different biochemical, microbiological, enzymatic and subjective quality attributes of tomato quality. Principal component analysis revealed associations among the variables such as PC1 (28.85%): coliform/enzymatic softening; PC2 (21.52%): free sugars/sweetness; and PC3 (18.20%): sucrose hydrolysis/microbial spoilage/defense metabolites. Discriminant analysis showed that some specific parameters were highly significant (P<0.001) in determining quality changes in relation to the washing procedures and storage temperature. The prominence of ascorbic acid was observed in the equations which discriminate mostly on the basis of microbial deterioration. Further works in this respect entail fine-tuning through model verification of the equations. Multivariate analysis techniques are, therefore, recommended in studies whereby understanding of the phenomenon driving the post-harvest system's dynamics has to be understood through diverse interrelated metabolic parameters. © 2015 by De Gruyter. | dipping treatment; discriminant analysis; post-harvest tomato quality; principal component analysis (PCA); separation of variables | Ascorbic acid; Chemical analysis; Discriminant analysis; Fruits; Harvesting; Metabolites; Multivariant analysis; Principal component analysis; dipping treatment; Full factorial experiment; Microbial deterioration; Microbiological quality; Multi variate analysis; Multivariate analysis techniques; Post harvest; Separation of variables; Quality control; Lycopersicon esculentum | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77953466525 | Evaluation of the inhibitory potentials of eight higher Nigerian fungi against pathogenic microorganisms | Jonathan S.G., Kigigha L.T., Ohimain E. | 2008 | African Journal Biomedical Research | 11 | 2 | None | Department of Botany and Microbiology, University of Ibadan, Nigeria; Department of Biological Sciences, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Nigeria | Jonathan, S.G., Department of Botany and Microbiology, University of Ibadan, Nigeria; Kigigha, L.T., Department of Biological Sciences, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Nigeria; Ohimain, E., Department of Biological Sciences, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Nigeria | Studies were carried out to determine antimicrobial potentials of crude and purified methanol extracts of some selected Nigerian mushrooms against some selected pathogenic microorganisms. The best in vitro antibacterial activity (24.0mm) was observed with the purified extract (PRE) of Polyporus giganteus against E. coli. This was followed in order by PRE of Pleurotus florida against K. pneumoniae with 22.0mm (P ≤ 0.05). Among the screened higher fungi, only the extracts of Pleurotus tuber-regium, were able to inhibit the growth of P. aeruginosa. It was also observed that antifungal activities of these mushrooms were generally low. Candida albicans were inhibited by the extracts of P. giganteus and T. robustus only while other fungi produce no zone of inhibition The observed minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of M. jodocodo against E. coli was 2.75mg/ml while that of T. robustus against M. bourlardii was 15.75mg/ml. The significance of these observations was discussed. © Ibadan Biomedical Communications Group. | Antimicrobial; Disease; Edible fungi; Extraction; Microorganisms | antifungal agent; antiinfective agent; Fomes lignosus extract; Marasmius jodocodo extract; plant extract; Pleurotus florida extract; Pleurotus tuber regium extract; Polyporus giganteus extract; Psathyrella atroumbonata extract; Termitomyces microcarpus extract; Termitomyces robustus extract; unclassified drug; antibacterial activity; antifungal activity; article; bacterial growth; Candida albicans; controlled study; edible mushroom; Escherichia coli; Fomes lignosus; growth inhibition; in vitro study; Klebsiella pneumoniae; Marasmius jodocodo; minimum inhibitory concentration; nonhuman; Pleurotus; Pleurotus florida; Pleurotus tuber regium; Polyporus giganteus; Psathyrella atroumbonata; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Termitomyces microcarpus; Termitomyces robustus | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-53649086180 | Nutritional evaluation of Sterculia setigera seeds and pod | Idu M., Uzoekwe S., Onyibe H.I. | 2008 | Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences | 11 | 1 | 10.3923/pjbs.2008.139.141 | Department of Botany, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria; Department of Basic Sciences, Benson Idahosa University, Benin City, Nigeria; Department of Botany, Ambose Alli University, P.M.B. 14, Ekpoma, Nigeria | Idu, M., Department of Botany, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria; Uzoekwe, S., Department of Basic Sciences, Benson Idahosa University, Benin City, Nigeria; Onyibe, H.I., Department of Botany, Ambose Alli University, P.M.B. 14, Ekpoma, Nigeria | The results obtained on analysis of the seeds and pods of Sterculia setigera for their nutritional composition revealed that while the seed sample has high crude protein, crude fibre, carbohydrate and fat contents, their contents in the pod sample was very low. The analysis of the mineral profile reveals that the seed of Sterculia setigera is rich in sodium, iron, zinc and manganese. Conversely, the mineral composition of the pod is low. © 2008 Asian Network for Scientific Information. | Evaluation; Nutritional; Pod; Seeds; Sterculia setigera | article; atomic absorption spectrometry; chemistry; nutritional value; plant seed; prenatal development; Sterculia; Nutritive Value; Seeds; Spectrophotometry, Atomic; Sterculia; Sterculia; Sterculia setigera | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-70449580745 | The impact of the banking industry recapitalization on employment in Nigerian banks | Gunu U. | 2009 | European Journal of Social Sciences | 11 | 3 | None | Department of Business Adminisration, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria | Gunu, U., Department of Business Adminisration, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria | Banking Industry recapitalization was intended to improve so many indices in the Banking Industry. Some of the indices are affected were; Shareholders Fund, Total Assets, Number of Branches and Employment. The magnitude of improvement of the current indices and the former indices before recapitalization are not the same. The research sought to discern the nature of change in the indices after recapitalization. The objective of the research is to identify the extent of impact on employment of recapitalized banks shareholders fund, total assets, and number of branches. The research is an explanatory study that establishes causal relationship between employment and indices of recapitalization. The data used were secondary data. Simple percentages and multiple regression analysis were used to analyse the data. The study revealed that there was reduction in employment in the Banking Industry between 1999 and 2001. There was appreciable increase in employment in the Nigerian banking industry after the consolidation exercise from year 2006 up to 2008. Two Banks have 23.04% of the total shareholders fund in the banking industry. 25% of banks in Nigeria had less 2% of total shareholders fund. 8.33% of banks in Nigeria had less than 1% of total shareholders fund. Other banks shareholders fund are between 2% and 7%. 20.83% of Nigerian banks had less 2% of Total Assets in the banking industry. 8.33% of Nigerian banks had 20.35% of Total Assets. Other banks have between 2% to 8% of Total Assets. Results of multiple regression analysis revealed that shareholders fund, Total Assets and number of domestic branches caused 62.0% of employment in the banking industry. Shareholders fund and Total Assets were not significant variables that have linear relationship with employment in the Banking industry. | None | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84908094529 | Impact of second-line antiretroviral regimens on lipid profiles in an African setting: The DART trial sub-study | Gomo Z.A.R., Hakim J.G., Walker S.A., Tinago W., Mandozana G., Kityo C., Munderi P., Katabira E., Reid A., Gibb D.M., Gilks C.F., Grosskurth H., Kabuye G., Nsibambi D., Kasirye R., Zalwango E., Nakazibwe M., Kikaire B., Nassuna G., Massa R., Fadhiru K., N | 2014 | AIDS Research and Therapy | 11 | 1 | None | Department of Chemical Pathology, College of Health Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, Avondale, PO Box A178, Harare, Zimbabwe; Department of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, Avondale, PO Box A178, Harare, Zimbabwe; MRC Clinical Trials Unit, London, United Kingdom; Department of Community Medicine, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe; Joint Clinical Research Centre, Kampala, Uganda; MRC Programme on AIDS/Uganda Virus Research Institute, Entebbe, Uganda; Infectious Disease Institute, Mulago Hospital, Kampala, Uganda; Imperial College, London, United Kingdom; MRC/UVRI Uganda Research Unit on AIDS, Entebbe, Uganda; University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe; Infectious Diseases Institute (formerly the Academic Alliance) Makerere University, Mulago, Uganda; The AIDS Support Organisation (TASO), Uganda; Independent DART Trial Monitors; DART Virology Group; Trial Steering Committee; Data and Safety Monitoring Committee; Endpoint Review Committee | Gomo, Z.A.R., Department of Chemical Pathology, College of Health Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, Avondale, PO Box A178, Harare, Zimbabwe; Hakim, J.G., Department of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, Avondale, PO Box A178, Harare, Zimbabwe, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe, Trial Steering Committee; Walker, S.A., MRC Clinical Trials Unit, London, United Kingdom; Tinago, W., Department of Community Medicine, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe; Mandozana, G., Department of Community Medicine, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe; Kityo, C., Joint Clinical Research Centre, Kampala, Uganda; Munderi, P., MRC Programme on AIDS/Uganda Virus Research Institute, Entebbe, Uganda, MRC/UVRI Uganda Research Unit on AIDS, Entebbe, Uganda; Katabira, E., Joint Clinical Research Centre, Kampala, Uganda, Infectious Disease Institute, Mulago Hospital, Kampala, Uganda, Infectious Diseases Institute (formerly the Academic Alliance) Makerere University, Mulago, Uganda, Endpoint Review Committee; Reid, A., Department of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, Avondale, PO Box A178, Harare, Zimbabwe, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe; Gibb, D.M., MRC Clinical Trials Unit, London, United Kingdom, DART Virology Group; Gilks, C.F., Imperial College, London, United Kingdom, DART Virology Group, Trial Steering Committee; Grosskurth, H., MRC/UVRI Uganda Research Unit on AIDS, Entebbe, Uganda; Kabuye, G., MRC/UVRI Uganda Research Unit on AIDS, Entebbe, Uganda; Nsibambi, D., MRC/UVRI Uganda Research Unit on AIDS, Entebbe, Uganda; Kasirye, R., MRC/UVRI Uganda Research Unit on AIDS, Entebbe, Uganda; Zalwango, E., MRC/UVRI Uganda Research Unit on AIDS, Entebbe, Uganda; Nakazibwe, M., MRC/UVRI Uganda Research Unit on AIDS, Entebbe, Uganda; Kikaire, B., MRC/UVRI Uganda Research Unit on AIDS, Entebbe, Uganda; Nassuna, G., MRC/UVRI Uganda Research Unit on AIDS, Entebbe, Uganda; Massa, R., MRC/UVRI Uganda Research Unit on AIDS, Entebbe, Uganda; Fadhiru, K., MRC/UVRI Uganda Research Unit on AIDS, Entebbe, Uganda; Namyalo, M., MRC/UVRI Uganda Research Unit on AIDS, Entebbe, Uganda; Zalwango, A., MRC/UVRI Uganda Research Unit on AIDS, Entebbe, Uganda; Generous, L., MRC/UVRI Uganda Research Unit on AIDS, Entebbe, Uganda; Khauka, P., MRC/UVRI Uganda Research Unit on AIDS, Entebbe, Uganda; Rutikarayo, N., MRC/UVRI Uganda Research Unit on AIDS, Entebbe, Uganda; Nakahima, W., MRC/UVRI Uganda Research Unit on AIDS, Entebbe, Uganda; Mugisha, A., MRC/UVRI Uganda Research Unit on AIDS, Entebbe, Uganda; Todd, J., MRC/UVRI Uganda Research Unit on AIDS, Entebbe, Uganda; Levin, J., MRC/UVRI Uganda Research Unit on AIDS, Entebbe, Uganda; Muyingo, S., MRC/UVRI Uganda Research Unit on AIDS, Entebbe, Uganda; Ruberantwari, A., MRC/UVRI Uganda Research Unit on AIDS, Entebbe, Uganda; Kaleebu, P., MRC/UVRI Uganda Research Unit on AIDS, Entebbe, Uganda; Yirrell, D., MRC/UVRI Uganda Research Unit on AIDS, Entebbe, Uganda; Ndembi, N., MRC/UVRI Uganda Research Unit on AIDS, Entebbe, Uganda; Lyagoba, F., MRC/UVRI Uganda Research Unit on AIDS, Entebbe, Uganda; Hughes, P., MRC/UVRI Uganda Research Unit on AIDS, Entebbe, Uganda; Aber, M., MRC/UVRI Uganda Research Unit on AIDS, Entebbe, Uganda; Lara, A.M., MRC/UVRI Uganda Research Unit on AIDS, Entebbe, Uganda; Medina, A., MRC/UVRI Uganda Research Unit on AIDS, Entebbe, Uganda; Foster, S., MRC/UVRI Uganda Research Unit on AIDS, Entebbe, Uganda; Amurwon, J., MRC/UVRI Uganda Research Unit on AIDS, Entebbe, Uganda; Wakholi, B.N., MRC/UVRI Uganda Research Unit on AIDS, Entebbe, Uganda; Nyanzi, B., MRC/UVRI Uganda Research Unit on AIDS, Entebbe, Uganda; Wangati, K., MRC/UVRI Uganda Research Unit on AIDS, Entebbe, Uganda; Amuron, B., MRC/UVRI Uganda Research Unit on AIDS, Entebbe, Uganda; Kajungu, D., MRC/UVRI Uganda Research Unit on AIDS, Entebbe, Uganda; Nakiyingi, J., MRC/UVRI Uganda Research Unit on AIDS, Entebbe, Uganda; Omony, W., MRC/UVRI Uganda Research Unit on AIDS, Entebbe, Uganda; Fadhiru, K., MRC/UVRI Uganda Research Unit on AIDS, Entebbe, Uganda; Nsibambi, D., MRC/UVRI Uganda Research Unit on AIDS, Entebbe, Uganda; Khauka, P., MRC/UVRI Uganda Research Unit on AIDS, Entebbe, Uganda; Mugyenyi, P., Joint Clinical Research Centre, Kampala, Uganda; Ssali, F., Joint Clinical Research Centre, Kampala, Uganda; Tumukunde, D., Joint Clinical Research Centre, Kampala, Uganda; Otim, T., Joint Clinical Research Centre, Kampala, Uganda; Kabanda, J., Joint Clinical Research Centre, Kampala, Uganda; Musana, H., Joint Clinical Research Centre, Kampala, Uganda; Akao, J., Joint Clinical Research Centre, Kampala, Uganda; Kyomugisha, H., Joint Clinical Research Centre, Kampala, Uganda; Byamukama, A., Joint Clinical Research Centre, Kampala, Uganda; Sabiiti, J., Joint Clinical Research Centre, Kampala, Uganda; Komugyena, J., Joint Clinical Research Centre, Kampala, Uganda; Wavamunno, P., Joint Clinical Research Centre, Kampala, Uganda; Mukiibi, S., Joint Clinical Research Centre, Kampala, Uganda; Drasiku, A., Joint Clinical Research Centre, Kampala, Uganda; Byaruhanga, R., Joint Clinical Research Centre, Kampala, Uganda; Labeja, O., Joint Clinical Research Centre, Kampala, Uganda; Katundu, P., Joint Clinical Research Centre, Kampala, Uganda; Tugume, S., Joint Clinical Research Centre, Kampala, Uganda; Awio, P., Joint Clinical Research Centre, Kampala, Uganda; Namazzi, A., Joint Clinical Research Centre, Kampala, Uganda; Bakeinyaga, G.T., Joint Clinical Research Centre, Kampala, Uganda; Abaine, D., Joint Clinical Research Centre, Kampala, Uganda; Tukamushaba, J., Joint Clinical Research Centre, Kampala, Uganda; Anywar, W., Joint Clinical Research Centre, Kampala, Uganda; Ojiambo, W., Joint Clinical Research Centre, Kampala, Uganda; Angweng, E., Joint Clinical Research Centre, Kampala, Uganda; Murungi, S., Joint Clinical Research Centre, Kampala, Uganda; Haguma, W., Joint Clinical Research Centre, Kampala, Uganda; Atwiine, S., Joint Clinical Research Centre, Kampala, Uganda; Kigozi, J., Joint Clinical Research Centre, Kampala, Uganda; Namale, L., Joint Clinical Research Centre, Kampala, Uganda; Mukose, A., Joint Clinical Research Centre, Kampala, Uganda; Mulindwa, G., Joint Clinical Research Centre, Kampala, Uganda; Atwiine, D., Joint Clinical Research Centre, Kampala, Uganda; Muhwezi, A., Joint Clinical Research Centre, Kampala, Uganda; Nimwesiga, E., Joint Clinical Research Centre, Kampala, Uganda; Barungi, G., Joint Clinical Research Centre, Kampala, Uganda; Takubwa, J., Joint Clinical Research Centre, Kampala, Uganda; Murungi, S., Joint Clinical Research Centre, Kampala, Uganda; Mwebesa, D., Joint Clinical Research Centre, Kampala, Uganda; Kagina, G., Joint Clinical Research Centre, Kampala, Uganda; Mulindwa, M., Joint Clinical Research Centre, Kampala, Uganda; Ahimbisibwe, F., Joint Clinical Research Centre, Kampala, Uganda; Mwesigwa, P., Joint Clinical Research Centre, Kampala, Uganda; Akuma, S., Joint Clinical Research Centre, Kampala, Uganda; Zawedde, C., Joint Clinical Research Centre, Kampala, Uganda; Nyiraguhirwa, D., Joint Clinical Research Centre, Kampala, Uganda; Tumusiime, C., Joint Clinical Research Centre, Kampala, Uganda; Bagaya, L., Joint Clinical Research Centre, Kampala, Uganda; Namara, W., Joint Clinical Research Centre, Kampala, Uganda; Kigozi, J., Joint Clinical Research Centre, Kampala, Uganda; Karungi, J., Joint Clinical Research Centre, Kampala, Uganda; Kankunda, R., Joint Clinical Research Centre, Kampala, Uganda; Enzama, R., Joint Clinical Research Centre, Kampala, Uganda; Latif, A., University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe; Robertson, V., University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe; Chidziva, E., University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe; Bulaya-Tembo, R., University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe; Musoro, G., University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe; Taziwa, F., University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe; Chimbetete, C., University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe; Chakonza, L., University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe; Mawora, A., University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe; Muvirimi, C., University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe; Svovanapasis, P., University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe; Simango, M., University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe; Chirema, O., University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe; Machingura, J., University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe; Mutsai, S., University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe; Phiri, M., University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe; Bafana, T., University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe; Chirara, M., University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe; Muchabaiwa, L., University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe; Muzambi, M., University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe; Chigwedere, E., University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe; Pascoe, M., University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe; Warambwa, C., University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe; Zengeza, E., University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe; Mapinge, F., University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe; Makota, S., University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe; Jamu, A., University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe; Ngorima, N., University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe; Chirairo, H., University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe; Chitsungo, S., University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe; Chimanzi, J., University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe; Maweni, C., University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe; Warara, R., University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe; Matongo, M., University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe; Mudzingwa, S., University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe; Jangano, M., University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe; Moyo, K., University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe; Vere, L., University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe; Machingura, I., University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe; Ronald, A., Infectious Diseases Institute (formerly the Academic Alliance) Makerere University, Mulago, Uganda; Kambungu, A., Infectious Diseases Institute (formerly the Academic Alliance) Makerere University, Mulago, Uganda; Lutwama, F., Infectious Diseases Institute (formerly the Academic Alliance) Makerere University, Mulago, Uganda; Mambule, I., Infectious Diseases Institute (formerly the Academic Alliance) Makerere University, Mulago, Uganda; Nanfuka, A., Infectious Diseases Institute (formerly the Academic Alliance) Makerere University, Mulago, Uganda; Walusimbi, J., Infectious Diseases Institute (formerly the Academic Alliance) Makerere University, Mulago, Uganda; Nabankema, E., Infectious Diseases Institute (formerly the Academic Alliance) Makerere University, Mulago, Uganda; Nalumenya, R., Infectious Diseases Institute (formerly the Academic Alliance) Makerere University, Mulago, Uganda; Namuli, T., Infectious Diseases Institute (formerly the Academic Alliance) Makerere University, Mulago, Uganda; Kulume, R., Infectious Diseases Institute (formerly the Academic Alliance) Makerere University, Mulago, Uganda; Namata, I., Infectious Diseases Institute (formerly the Academic Alliance) Makerere University, Mulago, Uganda; Nyachwo, L., Infectious Diseases Institute (formerly the Academic Alliance) Makerere University, Mulago, Uganda; Florence, A., Infectious Diseases Institute (formerly the Academic Alliance) Makerere University, Mulago, Uganda; Kusiima, A., Infectious Diseases Institute (formerly the Academic Alliance) Makerere University, Mulago, Uganda; Lubwama, E., Infectious Diseases Institute (formerly the Academic Alliance) Makerere University, Mulago, Uganda; Nairuba, R., Infectious Diseases Institute (formerly the Academic Alliance) Makerere University, Mulago, Uganda; Oketta, F., Infectious Diseases Institute (formerly the Academic Alliance) Makerere University, Mulago, Uganda; Buluma, E., Infectious Diseases Institute (formerly the Academic Alliance) Makerere University, Mulago, Uganda; Waita, R., Infectious Diseases Institute (formerly the Academic Alliance) Makerere University, Mulago, Uganda; Ojiambo, H., Infectious Diseases Institute (formerly the Academic Alliance) Makerere University, Mulago, Uganda; Sadik, F., Infectious Diseases Institute (formerly the Academic Alliance) Makerere University, Mulago, Uganda; Wanyama, J., Infectious Diseases Institute (formerly the Academic Alliance) Makerere University, Mulago, Uganda; Nabongo, P., Infectious Diseases Institute (formerly the Academic Alliance) Makerere University, Mulago, Uganda; Oyugi, J., Infectious Diseases Institute (formerly the Academic Alliance) Makerere University, Mulago, Uganda; Sematala, F., Infectious Diseases Institute (formerly the Academic Alliance) Makerere University, Mulago, Uganda; Muganzi, A., Infectious Diseases Institute (formerly the Academic Alliance) Makerere University, Mulago, Uganda; Twijukye, C., Infectious Diseases Institute (formerly the Academic Alliance) Makerere University, Mulago, Uganda; Byakwaga, H., Infectious Diseases Institute (formerly the Academic Alliance) Makerere University, Mulago, Uganda; Ochai, R., The AIDS Support Organisation (TASO), Uganda; Muhweezi, D., The AIDS Support Organisation (TASO), Uganda; Coutinho, A., The AIDS Support Organisation (TASO), Uganda; Etukoit, B., The AIDS Support Organisation (TASO), Uganda; Boocock, K., Imperial College, London, United Kingdom; Puddephatt, C., Imperial College, London, United Kingdom; Grundy, C., Imperial College, London, United Kingdom; Bohannon, J., Imperial College, London, United Kingdom; Winogron, D., Imperial College, London, United Kingdom; Darbyshire, J., MRC Clinical Trials Unit, London, United Kingdom; Burke, A., MRC Clinical Trials Unit, London, United Kingdom; Bray, D., MRC Clinical Trials Unit, London, United Kingdom; Babiker, A., MRC Clinical Trials Unit, London, United Kingdom; Wilkes, H., MRC Clinical Trials Unit, London, United Kingdom; Rauchenberger, M., MRC Clinical Trials Unit, London, United Kingdom; Sheehan, S., MRC Clinical Trials Unit, London, United Kingdom; Spencer-Drake, C., MRC Clinical Trials Unit, London, United Kingdom; Taylor, K., MRC Clinical Trials Unit, London, United Kingdom; Spyer, M., MRC Clinical Trials Unit, London, United Kingdom; Ferrier, A., MRC Clinical Trials Unit, London, United Kingdom; Naidoo, B., MRC Clinical Trials Unit, London, United Kingdom; Dunn, D., MRC Clinical Trials Unit, London, United Kingdom; Goodall, R., MRC Clinical Trials Unit, London, United Kingdom; Nanfuka, R., Independent DART Trial Monitors; Mufuka-Kapuya, C., Independent DART Trial Monitors; Kaleebu, P., DART Virology Group; Pillay, D., DART Virology Group; Awio, P., DART Virology Group; Chirara, M., DART Virology Group; Dunn, D., DART Virology Group; Goodall, R., DART Virology Group; Kapaata, A., DART Virology Group; Katuramur, M., DART Virology Group; Lyagoba, F., DART Virology Group; Magala, R., DART Virology Group; Magambo, B., DART Virology Group; Mataruka, K., DART Virology Group; McCormick, A., DART Virology Group; Mugarura, L., DART Virology Group; Musunga, T., DART Virology Group; Nabankkema, M., DART Virology Group; Nkalubo, J., DART Virology Group; Nkurunziza, P., DART Virology Group; Parry, C., DART Virology Group; Robertson, V., DART Virology Group; Spyer, M., DART Virology Group; Yirrell, D., DART Virology Group; Weller, I., Trial Steering Committee; Babiker, A., Trial Steering Committee; Bahendeka, S., Trial Steering Committee; Bassett, M., Trial Steering Committee; Chogo Wapakhabulo, A., Trial Steering Committee; Darbyshire, J., Trial Steering Committee; Gazzard, B., Trial Steering Committee; Grosskurth, H., Trial Steering Committee; Latif, A., Trial Steering Committee; Mapuchere, C., Trial Steering Committee; Mugurungi, O., Trial Steering Committee; Mugyenyi, P., Trial Steering Committee; Burke, C., Trial Steering Committee; Distel, M., Trial Steering Committee; Jones, S., Trial Steering Committee; Loeliger, E., Trial Steering Committee; Naidoo, P., Trial Steering Committee; Newland, C., Trial Steering Committee; Pearce, G., Trial Steering Committee; Rahim, S., Trial Steering Committee; Rooney, J., Trial Steering Committee; Smith, M., Trial Steering Committee; Snowden, W., Trial Steering Committee; Steens, J.-M., Trial Steering Committee; Breckenridge, A., Data and Safety Monitoring Committee; McLaren, A., Data and Safety Monitoring Committee; Hill, C., Data and Safety Monitoring Committee; Matenga, J., Data and Safety Monitoring Committee; Pozniak, A., Data and Safety Monitoring Committee; Serwadda, D., Data and Safety Monitoring Committee; Peto, T., Endpoint Review Committee; Palfreeman, A., Endpoint Review Committee; Borok, M., Endpoint Review Committee | Background: Increasing numbers of HIV-infected patients in sub-Saharan Africa are exposed to antiretroviral therapy (ART), but there are few data on lipid changes on first-line ART, and even fewer on second-line.Methods: DART was a randomized trial comparing monitoring strategies in Ugandan/Zimbabwean adults initiating first-line ART and switching to second-line at clinical/immunological failure. We evaluated fasting lipid profiles at second-line initiation and ≥48 weeks subsequently in stored samples from Zimbabwean patients switching before 18 September 2006.Results: Of 91 patients switched to second-line ART, 65(73%) had fasting samples at switch and ≥48 weeks, 14(15%) died or were lost <48 weeks, 10(11%) interrupted ART for >14 days and 2(2%) had no samples available. 56/65(86%) received ZDV/d4T + 3TC + TDF first-line, 6(9%) ZDV/d4T + 3TC + NVP and 3(5%) ZDV + 3TC with TDF and NVP. Initial second-line regimens were LPV/r + NNRTI in 27(41%), LPV/r + NNRTI + ddI in 33(50%) and LPV/r + TDF + ddI/3TC/ZDV in 6(9%). At second-line initiation median (IQR) TC, LDL-C, HDL-C and TG (mmol/L) were 3.3(2.8-4.0), 1.7(1.3-2.2), 0.7(0.6-0.9) and 1.1(0.8-1.9) respectively. Levels were significantly increased 48 weeks later, by mean (SE) +2.0(0.1), +1.1(0.1), +0.5(0.05) and +0.4(0.2) respectively (p < 0.001; TG p = 0.01). 3% at switch vs 25% 48 weeks later had TC >5.2 mmol/L; 3% vs 25% LDL-C >3.4 mmol/L and 91% vs 41% HDL-C <1.1 mmol/L (p < 0.001). Similar proportions had TG >1.8 mmol/L (0 vs 3%) and TC/HDL-C ≥5 (40% vs 33%) (p > 0.15).Conclusion: Modest lipid elevations were observed in African patients on predominantly LPV/r + NNRTI-based second-line regimens. Routine lipid monitoring during second-line ART regimens may not be warranted in this setting but individual cardiovascular risk assessment should guide practice. © 2014 Gomo et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | African setting; Antiretroviral therapy; Lipid profile changes; Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors; Protease inhibitors | anti human immunodeficiency virus agent; didanosine; efavirenz; high density lipoprotein cholesterol; lamivudine; lopinavir plus ritonavir; low density lipoprotein cholesterol; nevirapine; nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor; stavudine; tenofovir; triacylglycerol; zidovudine; adult; antiviral therapy; Article; blood sampling; cholesterol blood level; combination chemotherapy; diet restriction; drug eruption; drug substitution; drug withdrawal; female; follow up; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infected patient; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; major clinical study; male; middle aged; triacylglycerol blood level; Ugandan; Zimbabwean | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84876740004 | GC-MS evaluation of bioactive compounds and antibacterial activity of the oil fraction from the stem bark of Brachystegia eurycoma harms | Igwe O.U., Okwu D.E. | 2013 | International Journal of Chemical Sciences | 11 | 1 | None | Department of Chemistry, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, P.M.B. 7267, Umudike, Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria | Igwe, O.U., Department of Chemistry, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, P.M.B. 7267, Umudike, Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria; Okwu, D.E., Department of Chemistry, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, P.M.B. 7267, Umudike, Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria | The ethanolic extract of the stem bark of Brachystegia eurycoma yielded reddish coloured substance (5.68 g). The extract was subjected to GC-MS studies. Nineteen phyto-constituents were identified with 41, 5-dihydroxy-7-methoxy flavones (21.97%) constituting the bulk of the oil, followed by 9-octadecenoic acid (12.4%). Other compounds indentified include 9,12-octadecadienoic acid (10.16%), hexadecanoic acid (9.50%), 9-octadecenoic acid ethyl ester (9.50%), hexadecanoic acid ethyl ester (4.59%), (4-(2-methyl-piperidine-1-sulfonyl)-phenyl)-(2-methyl-piperidin-1-yl)-methanone (3.93%), 2-Omethl-D-Mannopyranosa (3.61%), 2-hydroxy-5-methylisophthaladehyde (3.28%), 1,2,3-trihydroxyphenol (2.30%), ethyl 2-hydroxybenzyl sulfone (2.30%), 1,2,4-trimethyl-3-nitrobicyclo (3.3.1) nonan-9-one (2.30%), butanal, 4-hydroxy-3-methyl (1.97%), 1,6-anhydro-beta-D-glucopyranose (1.97%), 1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid, 2-ethoxy-2-oxoethyl ester (1.64%), N,N-diethyl-4-(morpholine-4-sulfonyl)-benzenesulfanamide (1.64%) and 9-octadecenamide (1.31%). The extract showed antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi and Staphylococcus aureus. These results suggest the use of the extract from the stem bark of Brachystegia eurycoma in the treatment of typhoid fever, wounds and infections in herbal medicine in Nigeria. | Antibacterial activity; Bioactive compounds; Brachystegia eurycoma; GC-MS analysis; Phyto-chemicals | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77955796764 | Inaccuracy of self-evaluation as additional variable for prediction of students at risk of failing first-year chemistry | Potgieter M., Ackermann M., Fletcher L. | 2010 | Chemistry Education Research and Practice | 11 | 1 | 10.1039/c001042c | Department of Chemistry, University of Pretoria, South Africa; Department of Statistics, University of Pretoria, South Africa | Potgieter, M., Department of Chemistry, University of Pretoria, South Africa; Ackermann, M., Department of Chemistry, University of Pretoria, South Africa; Fletcher, L., Department of Statistics, University of Pretoria, South Africa | Early identification of students at risk of failing first-year chemistry allows timely intervention. Cognitive factors alone are insufficient predictors for success; however, non-cognitive factors are usually difficult to measure. We have explored the use of demographic and performance variables, as well as the accuracy of self-evaluation as an indicator of metacognitive ability, as possible indicators for students at risk of failing the first semester course in General Chemistry (CMY 117) at the University of Pretoria. Variables with a strong correlation with performance in CMY 117 were used to develop a prediction model based on logistic regression. Three variables, i.e. prior performance in mathematics and in physical science, and the extent of overconfidence expressed as the ratio between expected and actual performance in a chemistry pre-test written at the start of the semester, were shown to be significant predictors for risk of failing. The highest overall accuracy of prediction (76%) was obtained for a subset of students with a C or D grade for their high school leaving examination in mathematics when high risk students were defined as those with a final mark for CMY 117 as 51% or lower. The prediction model, based on the model building data set, had a sensitivity of 92% and a specificity of 46%; whilst the sensitivity and specificity using the validation data set were 88% and 38% respectively. © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2010. | Chemistry; Logistic regression; Overconfidence; Prediction; Prediction model; Predictor variables; Self-evaluation; Students at risk of failing | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84880916722 | Assessment of the impact of tongue size in patients with bimaxillary protrusion [Evaluation de l'influence de la dimension linguale chez les patients avec une bi-proalvéolie] | Adesina B.A., Otuyemi O.D., Kolawole K.A., Adeyemi A.T. | 2013 | International Orthodontics | 11 | 2 | 10.1016/j.ortho.2013.02.012 | Department of Child Dental Health, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals, Complex Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria; Department of Child Dental Health, University College Hospital Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria | Adesina, B.A., Department of Child Dental Health, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals, Complex Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria; Otuyemi, O.D., Department of Child Dental Health, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals, Complex Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria; Kolawole, K.A., Department of Child Dental Health, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals, Complex Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria; Adeyemi, A.T., Department of Child Dental Health, University College Hospital Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria | Background: Tongue size, posture and pressure are considered to have significant influences on the positioning of dentoalveolar structures. Based on the equilibrium theory, forward resting posture of the tongue with light force and long duration could have both a horizontal and vertical effect on teeth. Bimaxillary proclination, a malocclusion trait often seen in African descents with multifactorial etiological factors, could well be related to tongue dimensions. Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between tongue dimensions and bimaxillary proclination patients. Methodology: One hundred selected lateral cephalometric radiographs of consecutive orthodontic patients who met the study criteria were divided into study (bimaxillary proclination with interincisal angle [I/I] < 108°) and control (normal with interincisal relationship [I/I] ≥ 108°) groups. The subjects' tongues were pre-coated with barium sulphate before radiography in order to delineate the tongue outline. Tongue dimensions and the intermaxillary space surface area were determined and analyzed using SPSS version 11 and a computer programme for epidemiological analysis. Results: The mean tongue measurements in the bimaxillary proclination group were higher than those in the control group except for tongue proportion. These differences were statistically significant for tongue thickness, tongue length and intermaxillary space length (P < 0.05). However, there was no statistically significant difference in the tongue area and intermaxillary space area between subjects with bimaxillary proclination and a normal interincisal relationship (P > 0.05). None of the variables (tongue thickness, tongue length, intermaxillary space length, tongue area and percentage tongue proportion) could be used as predictors for interincisal relationship. Conclusion: Tongue length, thickness and intermaxillary space length were significantly different between the bimaxillary and normal subjects. However, none of the measured tongue variables could be used as a predictor for incisor relationship. © 2013 CEO. | Bimaxillary proclination; Intermaxillary space; Malocclusion; Tongue dimensions | analysis of variance; article; case control study; cephalometry; human; macroglossia; Negro; Nigeria; observer variation; pathology; prognathia; reference value; statistical model; tongue; African Continental Ancestry Group; Analysis of Variance; Case-Control Studies; Cephalometry; Humans; Logistic Models; Macroglossia; Nigeria; Observer Variation; Prognathism; Reference Values; Tongue | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84934277129 | The effect of organic loading rates (OLRs) on the performances of food wastes and maize husks anaerobic co-digestion in continuous mode | Owamah H.I., Izinyon O.C. | 2015 | Sustainable Energy Technologies and Assessments | 11 | None | 10.1016/j.seta.2015.06.002 | Department of Civil Engineering, College of Science and Engineering, Landmark University, P.M.B.1001, Omu-Aran, Kwara State, Nigeria; Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Benin, Benin, Edo State, Nigeria | Owamah, H.I., Department of Civil Engineering, College of Science and Engineering, Landmark University, P.M.B.1001, Omu-Aran, Kwara State, Nigeria; Izinyon, O.C., Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Benin, Benin, Edo State, Nigeria | A continuous anaerobic digestion experiment was carried out to investigate the co-digestion of 75% food waste and 25% maize husk at different organic loading rates (OLRs) of 1-4.5 gVS/L/d. Results obtained showed that pH fluctuated between 7.3 and 7.5 and total alkalinity (TA) between 0.4 and 6.7 g CaCO3/L, indicating that the system was not inhibited by acidification. The range of the ratio of volatile fatty acid (VFA) to TA of 0.06-0.25 was also well below 0.4 and showed that the anaerobic co-digestion was stable and feasible. Though there was no significant difference (p< 0.05) between biogas yields at OLRs of 3.5 and 4.5 gVS/L/d, the methane content at OLR of 4.5 gVS/L/d was higher than that of 3.5 gVS/L/d and suggests that carbon dioxide producing microorganisms were more active in OLR of 3.5 gVS/L/d. The OLR of 4.5 gVS/L/d was therefore found to be the most satisfactory for large scale operation of anaerobic digesters for co-digestion of food waste and maize husk. From a separate batch test, the average biogas yield of 0.50 ± 0.04, 0.24 ± 0.02 and 1.31 ± 0.07 L/gVS were obtained from digesters A, B and C, respectively, indicating that the addition of maize husk to digester C significantly improved the production of biogas from food waste when compared to the biogas yield of digester A that contained food waste alone. Digester B with 100% maize husk was by far the least performed digester. © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. | Biogas yield; Continuous digestion; Digester performance; Food waste; Maize husk | Alkalinity; Biogas; Carbon; Carbon dioxide; Fatty acids; Methane; Pulp digesters; Volatile fatty acids; Anaerobic co-digestion; Anaerobic digester; Digester performance; Food waste; Maize husk; Methane content; Organic loading rates; Total alkalinities; Anaerobic digestion; anoxic conditions; biogas; fatty acid; microorganism; performance assessment; waste; Zea mays | None |
| None | None | Discriminative ability of the generic and condition-specific Child-Oral Impacts on Daily Performances (Child-OIDP) by the Limpopo-Arusha School Health (LASH) Project: A cross-sectional study | Mbawalla H.S., Mtaya M., Masalu J.R., Brudvik P., Astrom A.N. | 2011 | BMC Pediatrics | 11 | None | 10.1186/1471-2431-11-45 | Department of Clinical Dentistry, Community Dentistry, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway; Centre for International Health, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway; Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania; Department of Clinical Dentistry-Orthodontics, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway | Mbawalla, H.S., Department of Clinical Dentistry, Community Dentistry, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway, Centre for International Health, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania; Mtaya, M., Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania; Masalu, J.R., Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania; Brudvik, P., Department of Clinical Dentistry-Orthodontics, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway; Astrom, A.N., Department of Clinical Dentistry, Community Dentistry, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway | Background: Generic and condition-specific (CS) oral-health-related quality-of-life (OHRQoL) instruments assess the impacts of general oral conditions and specific oral diseases. Focusing schoolchildren from Arusha and Dar es Salaam, in Tanzania, this study compared the discriminative ability of the generic Child OIDP with respect to dental caries and periodontal problems across the study sites. Secondly, the discriminative ability of the generic-and the CS Child OIDP attributed to dental caries, periodontal problems and malocclusion was compared with respect to various oral conditions as part of a construct validation.Methods: In Arusha, 1077 school children (mean age 14.9 years, range 12-17 years) and 1601 school children in Dar es Salaam (mean age 13.0 years, range 12-14 years) underwent oral clinical examinations and completed the Kiswahili version of the generic and CS Child-OIDP inventories. The discriminative ability was assessed as differences in overall mean and prevalence scores between groups, corresponding effect sizes and odd ratios, OR.Results: The differences in the prevalence scores and the overall mean generic Child-OIDP scores were significant between the groups with (DMFT > 0) and without (DMFT = 0) caries experience and with (simplified oral hygiene index [OHI-S] > 1) and without periodontal problems (OHI-S ≤ 1) in Arusha and Dar es Salaam. In Dar es Salaam, differences in the generic and CS Child-OIDP scores were observed between the groups with and without dental caries, differences in the generic Child-OIDP scores were observed between the groups with and without periodontal problems, and differences in the CS Child-OIDP scores were observed between malocclusion groups. The adjusted OR for the association between dental caries and the CS Child-OIDP score attributed to dental caries was 5.4. The adjusted OR for the association between malocclusion and CS Child-OIDP attributed to malocclusion varied from 8.8 to 2.5.Conclusion: The generic Child-OIDP discriminated equally well between children with and without dental caries and periodontal problems across socio-culturally different study sites. Compared with its generic form, the CS Child-OIDP discriminated most strongly between children with and without dental caries and malocclusion. The CS Child OIDP attributed to dental caries and malocclusion seems to be better suited to support clinical indicators when estimating oral health needs among school children in Tanzania. © 2011 Mbawalla et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | None | adolescent; article; child; child health; cross-sectional study; dental caries; discriminative stimulus; female; human; intermethod comparison; major clinical study; male; malocclusion; mouth examination; mouth hygiene; needs assessment; performance measurement system; periodontal disease; prevalence; quality of life; school child; scoring system; Tanzania; task performance; validation process; clinical trial; comparative study; daily life activity; dental caries; health; health survey; multicenter study; periodontal disease; questionnaire; standard; statistics; Tanzania; Activities of Daily Living; Adolescent; Child; Cross-Sectional Studies; Dental Caries; Dental Health Surveys; Female; Humans; Male; Oral Health; Oral Hygiene; Periodontal Diseases; Prevalence; Quality of Life; Questionnaires; Tanzania | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84863796414 | Prevalence of malnutrition and its effects on the academic performance of students in some selected secondary schools in Sokoto metropolis | Essien E., Haruna M.J., Emebu P.K. | 2012 | Pakistan Journal of Nutrition | 11 | 7 | None | Department of Community Medicine, Nutrition and Dietetic Unit, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, P.M.B. 5252, Sokoto, Nigeria; Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto, Nigeria; Department of Biochemistry, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokot | Essien, E., Department of Community Medicine, Nutrition and Dietetic Unit, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, P.M.B. 5252, Sokoto, Nigeria; Haruna, M.J., Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto, Nigeria; Emebu, P.K., Department of Biochemistry, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria | This study investigated the prevalence of malnutrition and its effect on the academic performance of students in some selected secondary schools in Sokoto metropolis of Sokoto State, Nigeria. The study population was drawn from secondary school students attending Federal Government College and State Government-owned schools. Well tested and validated questionnaires were used to elicit information from the students. Purposive sampling technique was used for the selection of respondents. The selected schools were: Federal Government College (FGC), Sani Dingyadi Secondary School (SDUSS), Nagarta Secondary School (NSS) and Army Day Secondary School (ADSS). A total of two hundred and forty (240) secondary school students comprising 168 males (70%) and 72 females (30%) participated in the study. The result revealed a high prevalence of malnutrition of 35.4% among the selected secondary school students, using BMI as index. Prevalence of malnutrition was significantly higher in SDUSS (43.3%) followed by NCS (35%), ADSS (33.3%) and FGCS (30%). The study recorded a total mean performance score of 44.3% for all the selected schools. There was significant difference (p<0.05) in the mean performance score of the secondary school students. Students of FGCS recorded the highest mean score of 60.3% which was significantly higher (p<0.05) than that of the other selected schools. SDUSS had the lowest mean performance score of 29.6%. Malnutrition was negatively and significantly related with the academic performance (r = -0.154, p<0.01). It was further observed that SDUSS with the highest prevalence of malnutrition has the poorest performance, while FGC with the least prevalence of malnutrition had the best academic performance. Hence, activities to reduce the prevalence of malnutrition should be encouraged. © Asian Network for Scientific Information, 2012. | Academic performance; Anthropometry; Malnutrition; Nutritional status; Secondary school | academic achievement; adolescent; adult; article; body mass; child; female; high school; high school student; human; major clinical study; male; malnutrition; Nigeria; nutritional status; prevalence; questionnaire; sampling; school child; scoring system | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84855226718 | Evaluating the performance of shared memory parallel computer system using recursive models | Oguike O.E., Ebem D.U., Agu M.N., Echezona S.C., Longe H.O.D., Abass O. | 2010 | International Journal of Simulation: Systems, Science and Technology | 11 | 6 | None | Department of Computer Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria; Department of Computer Sciences, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria | Oguike, O.E., Department of Computer Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria; Ebem, D.U., Department of Computer Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria; Agu, M.N., Department of Computer Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria; Echezona, S.C., Department of Computer Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria; Longe, H.O.D., Department of Computer Sciences, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria; Abass, O., Department of Computer Sciences, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria | Using a queuing approach to describe a shared memory parallel computer system, it can be considered as a parallel computer system with a shared single ready queue. This can depict a single queue parallel server queuing model. Some models that are based on probability density function have been used to model the performance of the queuing system. This paper uses recursive models to evaluate the performance of a single queue parallel server queuing model of compute intensive applications of a parallel computer system. The recursive models that this paper uses are efficient models because each recursive model makes one recursive call. | Compute intensive applicationr; Parallel computer queuing system; Performance metrics; Recursive models | Compute intensive applicationr; Parallel computer; Parallel computer systems; Parallel servers; Performance metrics; Queuing systems; Shared-memory parallels; Computer systems; Parallel processing systems; Probability density function; Queueing networks; Queueing theory | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-34547104035 | The early-adolescent female clothing consumer: Expectations, evaluation and satisfaction with fit as part of the appreciation of clothing quality | de Klerk H.M., Tselepis T. | 2007 | Journal of Fashion Marketing and Management | 11 | 3 | 10.1108/13612020710763146 | Department of Consumer Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa | de Klerk, H.M., Department of Consumer Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa; Tselepis, T., Department of Consumer Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa | Purpose - The purpose of this study was to explore and describe the early-adolescent female consumer's expectations and evaluation, as well as satisfaction relating to the fit, as a dimension of the quality of her clothes. Design/methodology/approach - A quantitative research style was followed and a structured questionnaire was used as data-collecting method. A total of 120 13-year-old young female consumers, also known as the early-adolescent female, participated in the study. Findings - The results suggest that the early-adolescent female consumer is not only concerned about the functional aspects of the fit of her clothes, but also about the emotional effect. Results further suggest that this consumer group probably does not have the expertise, knowledge and cognitive skills that can enable them, during the evaluation phase of the decision-making process, to realistically evaluate this very important dimension of the quality of clothes, with the main purpose of giving functional comfort and emotional pleasure during the post-purchase experience. This then contributes to the fact that, when wearing the clothes, they are, especially as regards the emotional and cognitive dimensions, mostly dissatisfied with the fit of their clothes. Originality/value - With the buying power of this young market in mind,the main implication of the above is that brands that are specifically aimed at these young consumers should specifically be sized according to the measurements and figure proportions of the young consumer. | Clothing; Customer satisfaction; Women; Young adults | buying; consumer research; data processing; decision making; market; marketing | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84871565337 | Genotype and seeding date effects on performance of mangrove rice (Oryza sativa L.) in the Cross River Estuary | Binang W.B., Ntia J.D., Shiyam O.J. | 2012 | Journal of Agronomy | 11 | 3 | 10.3923/ja.2012.79.84 | Department of Crop Science, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria | Binang, W.B., Department of Crop Science, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria; Ntia, J.D., Department of Crop Science, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria; Shiyam, O.J., Department of Crop Science, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria | The mangrove swamp soils of the Cross River estuaq are suitable for intemive rice cultivation because of ample water supply, large level units and high Inherent fedility. However, because water is abundant, rainfall does not determine the sowing period. Field studes were conducted in 2006 and 2007 at Obufa Esuk Orok adlacent the University of Calabar Teachng and Research Fann to determine the best seeding date for two salt-tolerant rice varieties grown on a mangrove swamp soil in the Cross River estuary, southeastern Nigeria. Two mangrove rice varieties namely ROC 5 and CK 73 were raised in nurseries on 6 December, 8 January, 4 Febmary and 4 March, of each year and 30 day-old seedlings tramplanted at a plant spacing of 20×20 cm and at 2 seedlings per h11 Treatments comprised factorial combinations of four seeding dates and two varieties laid out in a split-plot design; the main- plot being the date of seeding and the sub-plot the variety. Significant varietal differences were obsenred, with CK 73 performing better than ROC 5. During the 2006 and 2007 growing seasom, paddy yield of 4.35 and 5.14 t ha-1 obtained from sowing in Febmary was higher than yieldvalues for December, January andMarchplantings by 145,276 and 18.2% (2006) and 37.9, 41.8 and 18.9% (2007). Seeding conditions in December through January were unfavorable because in the absence of water control, the frequent and unpredictable tidal water flow washed away seeds and seedlings, leading to poor germination, seedling establishment and reduction of the crop's tillering capacity and panicle formation. These conditiom were ameliorated in February- and March and the favorable solar radation levels and temperature regime that subsisted in April and May when the Febmary sown crop matured accounted for the superiority of this seeding period. It would however, be muitable to seed late-maturing varieties at this period because they would mature during the peak rains when natural drying conditions would be unfavorable. © 2012 Asian Network for Scientific Information. | Cross river estuaq; Mangrove rice; Mangrove swamp soils; Seeding date; Tidal flow | Oryza sativa | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84909590211 | Commodity prices and stock market performance in South Africa | Mongale I.P., Hinaunye Eita J. | 2014 | Corporate Ownership and Control | 11 | 4 Continued 3 | None | Department of Economics, North-West University (Mafikeng Campus), Private Bag X2046, Mmabatho, South Africa | Mongale, I.P., Department of Economics, North-West University (Mafikeng Campus), Private Bag X2046, Mmabatho, South Africa; Hinaunye Eita, J., Department of Economics, North-West University (Mafikeng Campus), Private Bag X2046, Mmabatho, South Africa | As an export based economy, commodity prices and stock market performances are always a course for concern in the South African economy. This paper investigates the effects of the commodity prices and selected macroeconomic variables on stock market performance. The paper uses quarterly time series data and the estimation covers the period 1994 to 2013. Using Engle-Granger two steps econometric technique, the underlying series are tested for univariate characteristics of the variables unit root by employing the Augmented Dickey-Fuller, Phillips-Perron and Kwiatkowski-Phillips-Schmidt-Shin test statistics. The findings show that an increase in commodity prices is associated with an increase in stock market performance and there is a positive association between stock market and macroeconomic such as money supply and exchange rate in South Africa. © Virtus Interpress. All rights reserved. | Commodity prices; Engle-granger; Macroeconomic variables; South Africa; Stock market | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84927667258 | Diseases and economic performance: Evidence from panel data | Nor N.M., Sirag A., Thinng W.B.K., Waziri S.I. | 2015 | Asian Social Science | 11 | 9 | 10.5539/ass.v11n9p198 | Department of Economics, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia; Department of Economics, Bauchi State University, Gadau, Bauchi State, Nigeria | Nor, N.M., Department of Economics, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia; Sirag, A., Department of Economics, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia; Thinng, W.B.K., Department of Economics, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia; Waziri, S.I., Department of Economics, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia, Department of Economics, Bauchi State University, Gadau, Bauchi State, Nigeria | The current study aims to estimate to what extent economic performance is affected by different types of diseases. Particularly, we intend to examine the impact of diseases such as dengue, TB and HIV on GDP per capita in selected Southeast Asian countries. The panel data analysis and cointegration estimation technique are adopted to achieve the objectives of the study. The findings reveal that the variables move together in the long-run, and the results confirmed by three cointegration tests: Johansen-Fisher, Kao and Pedroni. Additionally, the coefficients estimated using FMOLS and confirmed by DOLS. Most importantly, it has been shown that shocks to human capital (diseases) have a large adverse impact on economic performance, especially; dengue, TB and HIV. The second major finding was that the role of human capital is found to be very crucial expressed by education and labor. The findings of this study suggest that reduction of diseases can lead to considerable improvement in economic performance. © 2015, Canadian Center of Science and Education. All rights reserved. | Cointegration; Communicable diseases; Economic performance; Human capital; Southeast Asia | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84919928066 | Experimental evaluation of anaerobic digestion for coffee wastewater treatment and its biomethane recovery potential | Beyene A., Yemane D., Addis T., Assayie A.A., Triest L. | 2014 | International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology | 11 | 7 | 10.1007/s13762-013-0339-4 | Department of Environmental Health Science and Technology, Jimma University, Po.Box: 378, Jimma, Ethiopia; Biology Department, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, Brussels, Belgium | Beyene, A., Department of Environmental Health Science and Technology, Jimma University, Po.Box: 378, Jimma, Ethiopia; Yemane, D., Department of Environmental Health Science and Technology, Jimma University, Po.Box: 378, Jimma, Ethiopia; Addis, T., Department of Environmental Health Science and Technology, Jimma University, Po.Box: 378, Jimma, Ethiopia; Assayie, A.A., Department of Environmental Health Science and Technology, Jimma University, Po.Box: 378, Jimma, Ethiopia, Biology Department, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, Brussels, Belgium; Triest, L., Biology Department, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, Brussels, Belgium | The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of anaerobic digestion (AD) as an eco-friendly technology for coffee wastewater (CWW) management. First, we have characterized the CWW and found that it is suitable for microbial degradation with pH adjustment. Then, we designed a simple anaerobic batch reactor (ABR) and evaluated its potential for energy yield and efficiency to remove pollutants. The experiment was carried out by operating the anaerobic digestion (AD) for 70 days. The ABR was found to be efficient for the removal of organic load (90 %), nutrients (82 %) and suspended solids (95 %) from coffee processing waste. The increased removal efficiency of pollutants was dependent on the hydraulic retention time of the system. We also estimated that the coffee waste has a potential to produce a theoretical energy yield of 4–10 million KJ/day and an organic fertilizer (digestate) of 18.8–25.2 kg VSS/day. As a result, the AD would be a more sensible consideration as an eco-friendly treatment option for the coffee waste. The use of AD for CWW treatment not only reduces emission of greenhouse gases to the environment but also circumvents the rising demand for fuel wood and charcoal that causes a severe deforestation in the coffee growing regions of the world. © 2013, Islamic Azad University (IAU). | Anaerobic digestion; Biogas potential; Coffee wastewater; Organic fertilizer | biofuel; biogas; biotechnology; coffee; deforestation; emission control; experimental study; greenhouse gas; methane; pollutant removal; sewage treatment | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84897865091 | The impact of microbial ecology and chemical profile on the enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) process: A case study of northern wastewater treatment works, Johannesburg | Kamika I., Coetzee M., Mamba B.B., Msagati T., Momba M.N.B. | 2014 | International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health | 11 | 3 | 10.3390/ijerph110302876 | Department of Environmental, Water and Earth Sciences, Tshwane University of Technology, Arcadia Campus, Private Bag X680, Pretoria 0001, South Africa; Department of Applied Chemistry, University of Johannesburg, P.O. Box 17011, Doornfontein 2028, South Africa | Kamika, I., Department of Environmental, Water and Earth Sciences, Tshwane University of Technology, Arcadia Campus, Private Bag X680, Pretoria 0001, South Africa; Coetzee, M., Department of Environmental, Water and Earth Sciences, Tshwane University of Technology, Arcadia Campus, Private Bag X680, Pretoria 0001, South Africa; Mamba, B.B., Department of Applied Chemistry, University of Johannesburg, P.O. Box 17011, Doornfontein 2028, South Africa; Msagati, T., Department of Applied Chemistry, University of Johannesburg, P.O. Box 17011, Doornfontein 2028, South Africa; Momba, M.N.B., Department of Environmental, Water and Earth Sciences, Tshwane University of Technology, Arcadia Campus, Private Bag X680, Pretoria 0001, South Africa | The impact of polyphosphate-accumulating organism (PAO) and glycogen-accumulating organism (GAO) populations as well as of the chemical profile on the performance of Unit-3 (open elutriation tanks) and Unit-5 (covered elutriation tank) of the City of Johannesburg Northern Wastewater Treatment Works was determined. Physicochemical parameters of wastewater samples were measured using standard methods. Bacterial diversity was determined using 16S rRNA gene amplicon pyrosequencing of the variable region V1-3. Results showed soluble COD concentrations from settled sewage for Unit-3 at 192.8 mg COD/L and for Unit-5 at 214.6 mg COD/L, which increased to 301.8 mg COD/L and 411.6 mg COD/L in the overflow from elutriation tanks and decreased to 170.9 mg COD/L and 256.3 mg COD/L at the division boxes, respectively. Both long-chain volatile fatty acids (heptanoic acid, isobutyric acid, 3-methylbutanoic acid, pentanoic acid, 4-methylpentanoic acid, methylheptanoic acid) and short-chain volatile fatty acids (acetic acid, propionic acid, isobutyric acid) were present within concentration ranges of 17.19 mg/L to 54.98 mg/L and 13.64 mg/L to 87.6 mg/L for Unit 3 and 38.61 mg/L to58.85 mg/L and 21.63 mg/L to 92.39 mg/L for Unit 5, respectively. In the secondary settling tanks, the phosphate-removal efficiency in Unit-5 appeared to be slightly higher (0.08 mg P/L) compared to that of Unit-3 (0.11 mg P/L). The average DO concentrations (2.1 mg/L and 2.2 mg/L) as well as the pH values (pH 7 to pH 7.5) were found to be slightly higher in Unit-5 in the aerobic zones. The high presence of PAOs in the bioreactors (Unit-5: Dechloromonas (14.96%), Acinetobacter (6.3%), Zoogloea (4.72%) in the anaerobic zone and Dechloromonas (22.37 %) in the aerobic zone; Unit-3: Dechloromonas (37.25%) in the anaerobic zone and Dechloromonas (23.97%) in the aerobic zone) confirmed the phosphate-removal efficiencies of both units. Negligible GAOs were found in the aerobic zones (Defluviicoccus spp.: 0.33% for Unit-5 and 0.68% for Unit-3) and in the anaerobic zones (Defluviicoccus: 9.8% for Unit-3). The high microbial diversity and a negligible percentage of GAOs in Unit-5 could contribute to its high phosphate-removal efficiency, although results did not indicate statistically significant differences between the unit with a covered elutriation tank (Unit-5) and that with open elutriation tanks (Unit-3). © 2014 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. | EBPR; Glycogen-accumulating organisms; Polyphosphate-accumulating organisms; Volatile fatty acids; Wastewater | 4 methylpentanoic acid; acetic acid; fatty acid; glycogen; heptanoic acid derivative; isobutyric acid; isovaleric acid; methylheptanoic acid; polyphosphate; propionic acid; RNA 16S; unclassified drug; valeric acid; phosphorus; sewage; chemical oxygen demand; concentration (composition); fatty acid; microbial ecology; phosphate; phosphorus; physicochemical property; waste treatment; wastewater; water treatment; 16S RNA gene; Acinetobacter; Africa; article; case study; concentration (parameters); Dechloromonas; Defluviicoccus; enhanced biological phosphorus removal process; gene; glycogen accumulating organism; microbial diversity; microbiological parameters; nonhuman; pH; physical chemistry; polyphosphate accumulating organism; Proteobacteria; pyrosequencing; tank; waste water management; Zoogloea; chemistry; isolation and purification; metabolism; microbial consortium; microbiology; sewage; South Africa; waste management; Gauteng; Johannesburg; South Africa; Microbial Consortia; Phosphorus; Polyphosphates; Sewage; South Africa; Waste Management | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84917707305 | Changing patterns of health in communities impacted by a bioenergy project in Northern Sierra Leone | Knoblauch A.M., Hodges M.H., Bah M.S., Kamara H.I., Kargbo A., Paye J., Turay H., Nyorkor E.D., Divall M.J., Zhang Y., Utzinger J., Winkler M.S. | 2014 | International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health | 11 | 12 | 10.3390/ijerph111212997 | Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, P.O. Box, Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, P.O. Box, Basel, Switzerland; Helen Keller International Sierra Leone, P.O. Box, Freetown, Sierra Leone; SHAPE Consulting Ltd, Pretoria, South Africa; Helen Keller International, Regional Office for Africa, P.O. Box, Dakar, Senegal | Knoblauch, A.M., Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, P.O. Box, Basel, Switzerland, University of Basel, P.O. Box, Basel, Switzerland; Hodges, M.H., Helen Keller International Sierra Leone, P.O. Box, Freetown, Sierra Leone; Bah, M.S., Helen Keller International Sierra Leone, P.O. Box, Freetown, Sierra Leone; Kamara, H.I., Helen Keller International Sierra Leone, P.O. Box, Freetown, Sierra Leone; Kargbo, A., Helen Keller International Sierra Leone, P.O. Box, Freetown, Sierra Leone; Paye, J., Helen Keller International Sierra Leone, P.O. Box, Freetown, Sierra Leone; Turay, H., Helen Keller International Sierra Leone, P.O. Box, Freetown, Sierra Leone; Nyorkor, E.D., Helen Keller International Sierra Leone, P.O. Box, Freetown, Sierra Leone; Divall, M.J., SHAPE Consulting Ltd, Pretoria, South Africa; Zhang, Y., Helen Keller International, Regional Office for Africa, P.O. Box, Dakar, Senegal; Utzinger, J., Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, P.O. Box, Basel, Switzerland, University of Basel, P.O. Box, Basel, Switzerland; Winkler, M.S., Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, P.O. Box, Basel, Switzerland, University of Basel, P.O. Box, Basel, Switzerland | Large private sector investments in low- and middle-income countries are often critically evaluated with regards to their environmental, social, human rights, and health impacts. A health impact assessment, including a baseline health survey, was commissioned by the Addax Bioenergy Sierra Leone project in 2010. As part of the monitoring, a follow-up survey was conducted three years later. A set of health indicators was assessed at six impacted and two control sites. Most of these indices improved, particularly at the impacted sites. The prevalences of stunting, wasting, and Plasmodium falciparum in children under five years of age decreased significantly at impacted sites (all p < 0.05) and non-significantly at control sites. Anemia in children and in women of reproductive age (15–49 years) decreased significantly at impacted and control sites (p < 0.05 and p < 0.001, respectively). Health facility-based deliveries increased significantly at the impacted sites (p < 0.05). The prevalences of helminth infections in children aged 10–15 years remained approximately at the same levels, although focal increases at the impacted sites were noted. Access to improved sanitation decreased significantly (p < 0.05) at control and non-significantly at impacted sites. Water quality remained poor without significant changes. The epidemiologic monitoring of a bioenergy project provides a useful contribution for evidence-based decision-making. © 2014 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. | Anemia; Bioenergy; Health impact assessment; Helminth infection; Malaria; Nutritional status; Sierra Leone | amodiaquine plus artesunate; praziquantel; biofuel; anemia; bioenergy; child health; decision making; disease prevalence; health impact; health monitoring; health survey; malaria; sanitation; adolescent; adult; age distribution; anemia; Article; bioenergy; child; controlled study; cross-sectional study; environmental monitoring; evidence based practice; female; health care delivery; health care facility; health impact assessment; health survey; helminthiasis; human; major clinical study; malaria falciparum; male; medical decision making; preschool child; prevalence; public health; sanitation; schistosomiasis; school child; Sierra Leone; stunting; wasting syndrome; water quality; adverse effects; anemia; Child Nutrition Disorders; delivery; demography; health impact assessment; health status; helminthiasis; infant; Malaria, Falciparum; middle aged; renewable energy; Sierra Leone; statistics and numerical data; epidemiological monitoring; sanitation; young adult; Sierra Leone; Addax; Plasmodium falciparum; Vermes; Adolescent; Adult; Anemia; Child; Child Nutrition Disorders; Child, Preschool; Cross-Sectional Studies; Delivery, Obstetric; Female; Health Impact Assessment; Health Status; Helminthiasis; Humans; Infant; Malaria, Falciparum; Male; Middle Aged; Renewable Energy; Residence Characteristics; Sanitation; Sierra Leone; Water Quality; Biofuels; Epidemiological Monitoring; Health Impact Assessment; Sanitation; Sierra Leone; Young Adult | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84904965593 | Impact of carbon emissions on total assets and operating costs: An analysis of the jse100 companies | Bimha A. | 2014 | Corporate Ownership and Control | 11 | 0.16666666667 | None | Department of Finance, Banking and Risk Management, University of South Africa, P O Box 392, UNISA, 0003, South Africa | Bimha, A., Department of Finance, Banking and Risk Management, University of South Africa, P O Box 392, UNISA, 0003, South Africa | There is a definite concern in the rise of carbon emissions globally from traditional methods of production (Stern, 2008; IPCC, 2007). More so it is now widely acclaimed that by adopting production processes that reduce carbon emissions to low levels, companies will succeed in reducing their operating costs (Dietz et al, 2009; Sims et al, 2003). There has been limited study in investigating how the present state of companies' carbon emissions output is related to their operating costs and total assets. Therefore the study intends to establish the level of interactions between the carbon emissions, total assets and the operating costs they report annually. A panel data analysis was done on these three variables using a sample of the top 100 Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) reporting companies in South Africa. The study utilized the data of companies that report their emissions to the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) annually and are the top 100 JSE Companies by market capitalization and categorized the CDP reporting companies into 7 industrials sectors. The 7 industrial sectors are Consumer Discretionary, Consumer Staples, Energy and Materials, Financials, Health Care, Industrials and IT and Telecoms. The results indicate that in the short run there is no strong relationship between carbon emissions output and operating costs. More so, the carbon emissions have a very weak and statistically insignificant relationship with total assets. | Carbon emissions; JSE100; Panel data analysis; South africa | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84904970991 | The performance of socially responsible investment funds and exchange-traded funds: Evidence from Johannesburg stock exchange | Marozva G. | 2014 | Corporate Ownership and Control | 11 | 0.16666666667 | None | Department of Finance, Risk Management and Banking, University of South Africa, P.O.Box 392, UNISA, 003, Pretoria, South Africa | Marozva, G., Department of Finance, Risk Management and Banking, University of South Africa, P.O.Box 392, UNISA, 003, Pretoria, South Africa | The research reported in this article explored how the JSE SRI Index performed relative to exchange-traded funds during the period of economic growth as well as during the period of economic decline between 2004 and 2014. The JSE SRI Index and exchange traded funds are analysed by a single factor model as well as other risk-adjusted performance measures including the Sharpe ratio, the Treynor ratio and the M-squared ratio. The single-factor model regression results suggest that during the period of economic growth the JSE SRI index neither significantly outperformed nor underperformed the exchange-traded funds. However, the JSE SRI Index significantly underperformed the exchange-traded funds during the period of economic decline. Further tests that engaged other risk-adjusted measures indicated that the exchange-traded funds performed better than the JSE SRI index in both periods. Based on this research it is recommended that further research be conducted using models that can control for the liquidity difference in funds. | Capital asset pricing model; Exchange-traded funds; M-squared ratio; Performance; Sharpe ratio; Socially responsible investment index; Treynor ratio | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84856195899 | Chemical composition and nutritional evaluation of velvet bean seeds (Mucuna utilis) for domestic consumption and industrial utilization in Nigeria | Balogun I.O., Olatidoye O.P. | 2012 | Pakistan Journal of Nutrition | 11 | 2 | None | Department of Food Technology, Yaba College of Technology, Nigeria | Balogun, I.O., Department of Food Technology, Yaba College of Technology, Nigeria; Olatidoye, O.P., Department of Food Technology, Yaba College of Technology, Nigeria | Velvet bean seeds were collected from a farm Ibadan. The mature seed samples were analyzed for proximate and mineral compositions, fatty acid profiles and amino acid composition. The mean values of various parameters for proximate composition (%) were: Moisture (6.02±0.11), crude protein (25.65±0.14), ash (3.60±0.01), ether extract (14.52±0.05), crude fibre (7.23±0.05) and carbohydrate (by difference) (42.98). The calculated fatty acids were (12.49) and gross energy was (1703.95). The investigated seed samples contained higher amounts of crude protein and lipids when compared with most of the commonly consumed pulses. Mineral element (mg/100g) include: Calcium (148.88±0.2), potassium (1472.33±0.2), phosphorus (377.12±0.2), magnesium (23.66±0.3), iron (3.44±0.2) and manganese (5.28±0.1). The fatty acid profiles of the seeds revealed that the seed lipids contained higher concentration of palmitic acid and linoleic acid. Linoleic acid was the dominating fatty acid, followed by palmitic acid and oleic acid. The seed proteins of sample contained higher levels of the essential amino acids such as, threonine, valine, isoleucine, tyrosine, phenylalanine and histidine. Amino acid analysis revealed that velvet bean flour contained nutritionally useful quantities of most of the essential amino acids. © Asian Network for Scientific Information, 2012. | Amino acid profiles; Chemical composition; Physico-chemical characteristics; Velvet bean | amino acid; calcium; carbohydrate; essential amino acid; ether; fatty acid; histidine; iron; isoleucine; linoleic acid; lipid; magnesium; manganese; mineral; oleic acid; palmitic acid; phenylalanine; phosphorus; potassium; threonine; tyrosine; valine; vegetable protein; amino acid analysis; amino acid composition; article; ash; calorie; chemical composition; controlled study; dietary fiber; fatty acid analysis; flour; food analysis; food composition; food industry; food intake; lipid composition; moisture; Nigeria; nonhuman; nutrient content; nutritional assessment; physical chemistry; plant seed; velvet bean; Mucuna | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84875972998 | The effects of varying dietary protein levels on growth performance and some quality parameters of carcass and eggs of Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822) [Efecto de diferentes niveles de proteína dietética sobre el comportamiento del crecimiento y alguno | Sotolu A.O. | 2011 | Revista Cientifica UDO Agricola | 11 | 1 | None | Department of Forestry Wildlife and Fisheries, Nasarawa State University, Shabu-Lafia Campus, Keffi, Nigeria | Sotolu, A.O., Department of Forestry Wildlife and Fisheries, Nasarawa State University, Shabu-Lafia Campus, Keffi, Nigeria | Growth performance and some quality parameters of broodstocks and eggs of female Clarias gariepinus were investigated in this study for 70 days. Fish were fed diets with varying crude protein levels (CP); 30, 35 and 40% in triplicates with imported feed as control. Proximate analysis of feeds, fish and eggs alone were done and data were collected on fish growth and nutrient utilization efficiency fortnightly. Results showed that fish fed diets with 35% CP exhibited significantly (P<0.05) higher growth rate, feed conversion ratio and apparent net protein utilization than fish fed diet with 40% CP. Fish fed diets with 35 and 40% CP had higher CP values of carcass and for eggs while both were significantly higher (P<0.05) than the CP values of other treatments. Egg development was however higher in fish fed 40% CP diet but with marginal differences as compared to the values obtained in fish fed 35% CP diet. The result showed that diet with 35% crude protein produced good growth rate in catfish broodstock and better nutrient utilization as well as improved egg development and maturity than fish feed diet with 30% crude protein. | Carcass quality; Clarias gariepinus; Egg quality; Female broodstock; Growth performance | Clarias gariepinus | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-61449152839 | The environmental impacts of regional disparity in population and wealth distribution in Nigeria | Madu I.A. | 2009 | Environment, Development and Sustainability | 11 | 2 | 10.1007/s10668-007-9109-0 | Department of Geography, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu 4100001, Nigeria | Madu, I.A., Department of Geography, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu 4100001, Nigeria | The disparity in both population and wealth distribution in Nigeria by geo-political zones is well recognized. There is also the recognition that some of the environmental problems in certain sections of the country can be attributed to the imbalance in both population and wealth distribution. Hence the various agitations for environmental resource control in the country. What is lacking however is the research that shows the magnitude of the linkages between the disparity and the environmental degradation in regional context. This provides the basis for this research. To achieve the aim of the research, a STIRPAT model was employed as an analytical tool. The findings show that the southern geopolitical zones are generally more densely populated and wealthier than the northern zones. The south is also experiencing a higher degree of environmental resource degradation attributable to anthropogenic factors. Thus, there is congruence between population density, wealth distribution and environmental degradation in Nigeria. Therefore the achievement of sustainable environment and development in Nigeria requires deliberate policies to mitigate the impact of population concentration and wealth creation on the environment. © 2007 Springer Science+Business Media B.V. | Environmental resource degradation; Geo-political zones; Living standards; Population distribution; STIRPAT model and wealth | anthropogenic effect; environmental degradation; environmental impact assessment; environmental policy; mitigation; population distribution; research; resource management; Africa; Nigeria; Sub-Saharan Africa; West Africa | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84893708936 | Evaluation of a peer-based mental health support program for adolescents orphaned by AIDS in South Africa | Thupayagale-Tshweneagae G., Mokomane Z. | 2014 | Japan Journal of Nursing Science | 11 | 1 | 10.1111/j.1742-7924.2012.00231.x | Department of Health Studies, Faculty of Human Sciences, University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa; Population Health, Health Systems, and Innovation, Human Sciences Research Council, Pretoria, South Africa | Thupayagale-Tshweneagae, G., Department of Health Studies, Faculty of Human Sciences, University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa; Mokomane, Z., Population Health, Health Systems, and Innovation, Human Sciences Research Council, Pretoria, South Africa | Aim: This article provides the findings of a qualitative study done to evaluate the effectiveness of a peer-based mental health support program for adolescents orphaned by AIDS in South Africa known as BAR, an acronym for "Better Accept Reality". Methods: Data was collected from 15 adolescents orphaned by AIDS using focus group discussions, reflective diaries, and recordings of the adolescents' school grades. Data were analyzed using Colaizzi's steps of data analysis. Results: The results showed a notable positive change in the participants' attitude to caregivers, responsibility to self and to others, and school grades. Conclusion: The study demonstrated that the peer-based mental health support program is effective in meeting the mental health needs of adolescents orphaned by AIDS. The participants were able to express their needs and improve relationships with caregivers, a clear sign of adapting to their loss. © 2012 Japan Academy of Nursing Science. | Adolescents; AIDS; BAR program; Orphans South Africa | acquired immune deficiency syndrome; adolescent; adolescents; article; BAR program; human; mental health service; organization and management; orphaned child; orphans South Africa; peer group; psychological aspect; South Africa; adolescents; AIDS; BAR program; orphans South Africa; Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Adolescent; Child, Orphaned; Humans; Mental Health Services; Peer Group; South Africa | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84857772360 | Microbial, nutritional and sensory evaluation of traditional sundried okra (orunla) in selected markets in South-Western Nigeria | Arise A.K., Arise R.O., Akintola A.A., Idowu O.A., Aworh O.C. | 2012 | Pakistan Journal of Nutrition | 11 | 3 | None | Department of Home Economics and Food Science, Faculty of Agriculture, P.M.B. 1515, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria; Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, P.M.B. 1515, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria; Department of Food Technology, U | Arise, A.K., Department of Home Economics and Food Science, Faculty of Agriculture, P.M.B. 1515, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria; Arise, R.O., Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, P.M.B. 1515, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria; Akintola, A.A., Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, P.M.B. 1515, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria; Idowu, O.A., Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, P.M.B. 1515, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria; Aworh, O.C., Department of Food Technology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria | The aim of this study was to investigate the microbial load and evaluate the nutritional content and sensory property of traditional sun dried okra ("orunla" - Yoruba, Nigeria). Samples were purchased from four different markets at different time in South-western Nigeria. Microorganisms present in the samples were analyzed on nutrient agar, potato dextrose agar and malt extract. Proximate evaluation of the sun dried okra was also carried out to determine the protein, ascorbic acid, ash and crude fibre contents. Nutritional evaluation revealed considerable amount of measured nutrient without significant difference (p>0.05) inspite of the time and place of purchase. Sensory evaluation of the samples showed that they were generally acceptable to a taste panel. Microbial study identified Staphylococcus aureus, Aspergillus niger, Aspergills tamari, Fusarium compactum, Rhizopus nigricans and Bacillus lichiniforms as some of the microorganisms present in the sun-dried vegetable. This study thus, suggested that sun-dried okra could be consumed but when processed under control microbial condition. © Asian Network for Scientific Information, 2012. | Microbial load; Nutrients; Okra; Taste panel | agar; ascorbic acid; glucose; article; ash; Aspergillus; Aspergillus niger; Bacillus licheniformis; bacterial count; bacterium identification; controlled study; food analysis; food composition; food contamination; food industry; food intake; food processing; fungus isolation; Fusarium; malt; microbial identification; moisture; Nigeria; nonhuman; nutrient content; nutritional assessment; nutritional parameters; okra; physical chemistry; Rhizopus; Staphylococcus aureus; Abelmoschus; Aspergillus niger; Fusarium compactum; Rhizopus stolonifer; Solanum tuberosum; Staphylococcus aureus | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-62549095843 | Perceived impact of journalism on awareness and spectatorship as indices for sports development in Lagos State, Nigeria | Morakinyo E.O., Agu E.C. | 2009 | Anthropologist | 11 | 1 | None | Department of Human Kinetics and Health Education, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Galaxy Television, Lagos, Nigeria | Morakinyo, E.O., Department of Human Kinetics and Health Education, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Agu, E.C., Galaxy Television, Lagos, Nigeria | This study was designed to determine the perceived impact of journalism on awareness and spectatorship as indices of sports development in Lagos State of Nigeria. The purposive and random sampling techniques were adopted in selecting four hundred and eighty (480) respondents made up of sports journalists and stakeholders in the sports industry, descriptive research design with a self-structured questionnaire (r = b8) was used for data collection. The chi-square (χ2) was used to test the hypothesis at 0.05alpha level. The analysis revealed that the two variables were indices of sports development (Awareness -37.59, p<0.05, 2df; Spectatorship - 12.47, p<0.05, 2df). © Kamla-Raj 2009. | Awareness; Journalism; Perceived impact; Spectatorship; Sports development | None | None |
| None | None | Evaluation of a national universal coverage campaign of long-lasting insecticidal nets in a rural district in north-west Tanzania | West P.A., Protopopoff N., Rowland M.W., Kirby M.J., Oxborough R.M., Mosha F.W., Malima R., Kleinschmidt I. | 2012 | Malaria Journal | 11 | None | 10.1186/1475-2875-11-273 | Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Keppel Street, London, United Kingdom; Department of Disease Control, London School of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Keppel Street, London, United Kingdom; National Institute for Medical Research, Amani Medical Research Centre, Muheza, Tanzania; Kilimanjaro Christian Medical College, Tumaini University, Moshi, Tanzania; MRC Tropical Epidemiology Group, London School of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Keppel Street, London, United Kingdom | West, P.A., Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Keppel Street, London, United Kingdom; Protopopoff, N., Department of Disease Control, London School of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Keppel Street, London, United Kingdom; Rowland, M.W., Department of Disease Control, London School of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Keppel Street, London, United Kingdom; Kirby, M.J., Department of Disease Control, London School of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Keppel Street, London, United Kingdom, National Institute for Medical Research, Amani Medical Research Centre, Muheza, Tanzania; Oxborough, R.M., Department of Disease Control, London School of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Keppel Street, London, United Kingdom, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical College, Tumaini University, Moshi, Tanzania; Mosha, F.W., Kilimanjaro Christian Medical College, Tumaini University, Moshi, Tanzania; Malima, R., National Institute for Medical Research, Amani Medical Research Centre, Muheza, Tanzania; Kleinschmidt, I., MRC Tropical Epidemiology Group, London School of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Keppel Street, London, United Kingdom | Background: Insecticide-treated nets (ITN) are one of the most effective measures for preventing malaria. Mass distribution campaigns are being used to rapidly increase net coverage in at-risk populations. This study had two purposes: to evaluate the impact of a universal coverage campaign (UCC) of long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) on LLIN ownership and usage, and to identify factors that may be associated with inadequate coverage. Methods: In 2011 two cross-sectional household surveys were conducted in 50 clusters in Muleba district, north-west Tanzania. Prior to the UCC 3,246 households were surveyed and 2,499 afterwards. Data on bed net ownership and usage, demographics of household members and household characteristics including factors related to socio-economic status were gathered, using an adapted version of the standard Malaria Indicator Survey. Specific questions relating to the UCC process were asked. Results: The proportion of households with at least one ITN increased from 62.6% (95% Confidence Interval (CI) = 60.9-64.2) before the UCC to 90.8% (95% CI = 89.0-92.3) afterwards. ITN usage in all residents rose from 40.8% to 55.7%. After the UCC 58.4% (95% CI = 54.7-62.1) of households had sufficient ITNs to cover all their sleeping places. Households with children under five years (OR = 2.4, 95% CI = 1.9-2.9) and small households (OR = 1.9, 95% CI = 1.5-2.4) were most likely to reach universal coverage. Poverty was not associated with net coverage. Eighty percent of households surveyed received LLINs from the campaign. Conclusions: The UCC in Muleba district of Tanzania was equitable, greatly improving LLIN ownership and, more moderately, usage. However, the goal of universal coverage in terms of the adequate provision of nets was not achieved. Multiple, continuous delivery systems and education activities are required to maintain and improve bed net ownership and usage. © 2012 West et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | Evaluation; LLIN; Malaria; Tanzania; Universal coverage; Vector control | adolescent; adult; article; bed net; child; cross-sectional study; demography; health program; household; human; infant; major clinical study; malaria control; poverty; preschool child; questionnaire; rural area; school child; social status; Tanzania; universal coverage campaign; Adolescent; Adult; Child; Child, Preschool; Cross-Sectional Studies; Family Characteristics; Female; Health Services Research; Humans; Infant; Insecticide-Treated Bednets; Malaria; Male; Mosquito Control; Ownership; Pregnancy; Rural Population; Tanzania; Universal Coverage | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84954027831 | Impact of lipid-based nutrient supplementation (LNS) on children's diet adequacy in Western Uganda | Ickes S.B., Adair L.S., Brahe C.A., Thirumurthy H., Charles B., Myhre J.A., Bentley M.E., Ammerman A.S. | 2015 | Maternal and Child Nutrition | 11 | None | 10.1111/mcn.12164 | Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences, College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, United States; Department of Nutrition, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States; Department of Health Policy and Management, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States; Makerere University School of Public Health, Kampala, Uganda; World Harvest Mission East Africa, Kijaabe, Kenya; 114 Adair Hall, PO Box 8795, Williamsburg, VA, United States | Ickes, S.B., Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences, College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, United States, 114 Adair Hall, PO Box 8795, Williamsburg, VA, United States; Adair, L.S., Department of Nutrition, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States; Brahe, C.A., Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences, College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, United States; Thirumurthy, H., Department of Health Policy and Management, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States; Charles, B., Makerere University School of Public Health, Kampala, Uganda; Myhre, J.A., World Harvest Mission East Africa, Kijaabe, Kenya; Bentley, M.E., Department of Nutrition, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States; Ammerman, A.S., Department of Nutrition, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States | Lipid-based nutrient supplements (LNS) can help treat undernutrition; however, the dietary adequacy of children supplemented with LNS, and household utilisation patterns are not well understood. We assessed diet adequacy and the quality of complementary foods by conducting a diet assessment of 128 Ugandan children, ages 6-59 months, who participated in a 10-week programme for children with moderate acute malnutrition (MAM, defined as weight-for-age z-score<-2). Caregivers were given a weekly ration of 650kcalday-1 (126gday-1) of a peanut/soy LNS. Two 24-h dietary recalls were administered per child. LNS was offered to 86% of targeted children at least once. Among non-breastfed children, over 90% met their estimated average requirement (EAR) cut-points for all examined nutrients. Over 90% of breastfed children met EAR cut-points for nutrient density for most nutrients, except for zinc where 11.7% met cut-points. A lower proportion of both breastfed and non-breastfed children met adjusted EARs for the specific nutritional needs of MAM. Fewer than 20% of breastfed children met EAR nutrient-density guidelines for MAM for zinc, vitamin C, vitamin A and folate. Underweight status, the presence of a father in the child's home, and higher programme attendance were all associated with greater odds of feeding LNS to targeted children. Children in this community-based supplemental feeding programme who received a locally produced LNS exhibited substantial micronutrient deficiencies given the special dietary needs of this population. These results can help inform programme strategies to improve LNS targeting, and highlight potential nutrient inadequacies for consumers of LNS in community-based settings. © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. | Child malnutrition; Diet adequacy; Household allocation; Lipid-based nutrient supplements; Sharing | lipid; anthropometric parameters; Article; breast feeding; child; child nutrition; community program; controlled study; demography; diet supplementation; dietary intake; feeding behavior; female; health impact assessment; human; infant; lipid composition; male; malnutrition; nutritional assessment; nutritional parameters; nutritional requirement; nutritional value; priority journal; social status; Uganda | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77956953727 | Using the servqual model to evaluate the impact of public service reforms in the provision of primary health care in Botswana | Pansiri J., Mmereki R.N. | 2010 | Journal of African Business | 11 | 2 | 10.1080/15228916.2010.509005 | Department of Management, Faculty of Business, University of Botswana, 4775 Notwane Rd., Gaborone, Private Bag, UB 0022, Botswana | Pansiri, J., Department of Management, Faculty of Business, University of Botswana, 4775 Notwane Rd., Gaborone, Private Bag, UB 0022, Botswana; Mmereki, R.N., Department of Management, Faculty of Business, University of Botswana, 4775 Notwane Rd., Gaborone, Private Bag, UB 0022, Botswana | The health sector is pivotal to any national development initiative;hence,Botswana has taken seriously the principle of primary health care as contained in the the Alma-Ata declaration of 1978. As a demonstration of their commitment, the government of Botswana has passed a number of National Development Plans, health policies, and numerous reforms with a view of enhancing service quality in this sector. Many reforms and restructuring exercises are still ongoing. This study uses the SERVQUAL model to evaluate the implementation of Work Improvement Teams (WITs) in the hospitals/clinics as a reform initiative adopted by the Botswana government to enhance the productivity, efficiency, and performance of the public sector (particularly the health sector). This discussion will demonstrate that the SERVQUAL model can be used to review the impact of public policy. This will be achieved by measuring the level of service quality and customer satisfaction using the SERVQUAL model through data that were collected from 151 hospital/clinic customers in Gaborone, the capital city of the Republic of Botswana. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data, and the findings indicate that the adoption and implementation of reforms in the public health sector have not improved the level of service quality and customer satisfaction as indicated by a significant gap between customer expectations and perceptions. © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. | Botswana; Primary health care; Public service reforms; Work improvement teams | health care; health policy; health services; health worker; hospital sector; modeling; public service; reform process; Botswana; Gaborone; Alma | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-60849102133 | South African exporter performance: New research into firm-specific and market characteristics | May C., O'Neill C. | 2008 | South African Journal of Economic and Management Sciences | 11 | 1 | None | Department of Management, University of the Western Cape, South Africa; School of Management, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | May, C., Department of Management, University of the Western Cape, South Africa; O'Neill, C., School of Management, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | The export marketing performance of any firm is influenced by a multitude of different factors. Given the multi-faceted nature of the export market, this research study investigated specific factors such as how firm-specific characteristics, product characteristics, market characteristics and export marketing strategies impact on the export marketing performance of South African manufacturing firms. Some of the findings of this research study indicated that firm size, investment commitment and careful planning, as firm-specific characteristics, had a significant influence on export marketing performance. The relationship between export experience and export marketing performance was insignificant. The degree of pricing adaptation and product adaptation had a significant effect on export marketing performance, while this was not the case with respect to the degree of promotion adaptation and distributor support. | None | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84862905466 | Assessing the impact of using antiretroviral drugs as pre-exposure vaccines | Bhunu C.P., Mushayabasa S. | 2012 | HIV and AIDS Review | 11 | 2 | 10.1016/j.hivar.2012.04.001 | Department of Mathematics, University of Zimbabwe, P.O. Box MP 167, Mount Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe | Bhunu, C.P., Department of Mathematics, University of Zimbabwe, P.O. Box MP 167, Mount Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe; Mushayabasa, S., Department of Mathematics, University of Zimbabwe, P.O. Box MP 167, Mount Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe | The ideal intervention against HIV/ AIDS infection will be a highly effective vaccine with long lasting-protection, but unfortunately that is currently non-existent. In this manuscript the potential of antiretroviral drugs when used as pre-exposure vaccines in the fight against the spread of HIV is explored using a mathematical model. Results from the analysis of the reproduction number suggest that use of antiretroviral drugs as pre-exposure vaccines for the uninfected in conjunction to their use as treatment regimen for the infected will contribute meaningfully to curtail the spread of the epidemic. This result is also supported by numerical simulations which show low levels of infection when both interventions are in place. © 2012 Polish AIDS Research Society. Published by Elsevier Urban & Partner Sp. zo.o. All rights reserved. | HIV/AIDS; Mathematical model; Pre-exposure vaccine | antiretrovirus agent; Human immunodeficiency virus vaccine; acquired immune deficiency syndrome; article; clinical assessment; controlled study; drug potency; epidemic; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; mathematical model; nonhuman; quantitative study; simulation | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84906546160 | The impact of gasoline and synthesized ethanol blends on the emissions of a spark ignition engine | Kuburi L.S., Obada D.O., Samotu I.A., Jeremiah M., Kashim Z.A. | 2014 | World Journal of Engineering | 11 | 4 | 10.1260/1708-5284.11.4.391 | Department of Mechanical Engineering, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria; Department of Microbiology, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria | Kuburi, L.S., Department of Mechanical Engineering, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria; Obada, D.O., Department of Mechanical Engineering, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria; Samotu, I.A., Department of Mechanical Engineering, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria; Jeremiah, M., Department of Mechanical Engineering, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria; Kashim, Z.A., Department of Microbiology, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria | Considering pollution problems and the energy crisis today, investigations have been concentrated on lowering the concentration of toxic components in combustion products and decreasing fossil fuel consumption by using renewable alternative fuels. In this work, the effect of ethanol addition to gasoline on the exhaust emissions of a spark ignition engine at various speeds was established. Ethanol was extracted from groundnut seeds using fermentation method. Gasoline was blended with 20 - 80% of the extracted ethanol in an interval of 20%. Results of the engine test indicated that using ethanol-gasoline blended fuels decreased carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrocarbon (HC) emissions as a result of the lean- burn effects caused by the ethanol, and the carbon dioxide (CO2) emission increased because of a near complete combustion. Finally, the results showed that blending ethanol in a proportion of 40% with gasoline can be used as a supplementary fuel in modern spark ignition engines as it is expected that the engine performs at its optimum in terms of air toxic pollutants reduction, by virtue of that mix. | Ethanol; Gasoline; Green house gases; Spark ignition engine | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84875026546 | Haematological evaluation of normal rabbits treated with aqueous stem bark extracts of Irvingia gabonensis for twenty-four weeks | Omonkhua A.A., Onoagbe I.O. | 2012 | Journal of Medicine and Biomedical Research | 11 | 2 | None | Department of Medical Biochemistry, School of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medical Sciences, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria; Department of Biochemistry, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria | Omonkhua, A.A., Department of Medical Biochemistry, School of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medical Sciences, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria; Onoagbe, I.O., Department of Biochemistry, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria | The use of Irvingia gabonensis in the treatment of several ailments is documented. Our previous studies have established the long-term anti-obesity, hypoglycaemic and hypolipidaemic effects of aqueous stem bark extracts in normal rabbits. This study was designed to evaluate the long term (24 weeks) effect of daily oral administration of aqueous bark extracts of I. gabonensis on haematological parameters, assessed at pre-determined intervals, of normal rabbits as part of the biochemical evaluation of the plant. Plant extract administration caused significant (p<0.05) increases in red blood cell (RBC) count, packed cell volume (PCV) and haemoglobin (HbJ concentration, as well as platelet count. The mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) of I. gabonensis treated rabbits were mostly similar to control throughout the period of monitoring. White blood cell (WBC), and differential counts were largely unaffected by medicinal plant administration. This study revealed that long-term treatment of rabbits with I. gabonensis bark extracts improved haematopoietic system of rabbits and did not negatively affect their immune system. © CMS UNIBEN JMBR. | Haematological evaluation; Irvingia gabonensis; Medicinal plants; Rabbits; Toxicity | hematologic agent; hemoglobin; Irvingia gabonensis extract; plant extract; unclassified drug; animal experiment; animal model; aqueous solution; article; bark; chronic drug administration; controlled study; drug isolation; erythrocyte count; hematocrit; hematopoietic system; hemoglobin blood level; Irvingia gabonensis; leukocyte differential count; low drug dose; mean corpuscular hemoglobin; mean corpuscular volume; medicinal plant; nonhuman; phytochemistry; rabbit; thrombocyte count; toxicity testing; treatment duration | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84861311153 | Comparative performance of HbA1c 6.5% for FPG >7.0 vs 2hr PG>11.1 criteria for diagnosis of type 2 diabetes | Adamu A.N. | 2011 | African Health Sciences | 11 | 3 | None | Department of Medicine, University of Ilorin, Nigeria | Adamu, A.N., Department of Medicine, University of Ilorin, Nigeria | Background: International expert committee on the use of HbA1c to diagnose diabetes mellitus in 2009 and World Health Organization (WHO) in 2011 has advocated the use of HbA1c to diagnose diabetes mellitus. Objective: To determine and compare the relationship between the new cut off value of HbA1c with established criteria. Methods: Thirty-one hypertensive subjects attending Lagos University Teaching Hospital were recruited for HbA1c and standard oral glucose tolerance test. Fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and two-hour plasma glucose (2hrpp) value of e"126mg/dl and >200mg/dl were used as standard respectively for diagnosis of diabetes. The HbA1c of e"6.5% was used to diagnose diabetes. The performance and correlation of HbA1c with FPG and 2hrpp were calculated and results were compared. Results: Mean age of the subjects was 53.97±6.27years. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), efficiency and correlation of FPG is 50%, 68%, 27%, 85%, 64% and 0.5 respectively while the sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, efficiency and correlation of 2hrpp is 73.91%, 62.5%,85%, 41.66%, 70.97% and 0.73% respectively. There was a significant difference between FPG and 2hrpp interms of sensitivity, PPV and NPV. Conclusion: The results of HbA1c with 2hrpp has better correlation, sensitivity, and PPV compared to HbA1c with FPG. | 2-hour post-prandial glucose; Diabetes diagnosis; Fasting plasma glucoe; HbA1c | glucose; hemoglobin A1c; glycosylated hemoglobin; hemoglobin A1c protein, human; adult; article; clinical article; comparative study; controlled study; diagnostic test accuracy study; diet restriction; female; glucose blood level; human; hypertension; male; non insulin dependent diabetes mellitus; oral glucose tolerance test; predictive value; sensitivity and specificity; standard; university hospital; blood; cross-sectional study; glucose blood level; glucose tolerance test; middle aged; reference value; Blood Glucose; Cross-Sectional Studies; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Female; Glucose Tolerance Test; Hemoglobin A, Glycosylated; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Predictive Value of Tests; Reference Values; Sensitivity and Specificity | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84929340681 | Impact assessment of proximity of local black soap industry on the bacteriological and physicochemical properties of Ebu stream in Ikere-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria | Odeyemi A.T., Oluyege J.O., Fagbohun E.D., Adebayo A. A | 2015 | Malaysian Journal of Microbiology | 11 | 1 | None | Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria | Odeyemi, A.T., Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria; Oluyege, J.O., Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria; Fagbohun, E.D., Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria; Adebayo, A. A, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria | Aims: The level of contamination of Afawo Stream located near Afawo Soap industry in Ikere-Ekiti were investigated by determining the total bacteria and coliform count with antibiotics susceptibility of the isolated bacteria and physico-chemical qualities of the water samples. Methodology and results: The total bacteria and coliform count were determined using pour plate method, the antibiotic susceptibility were carried out using disc diffusion method, while physico-chemical and mineral studies were also carried out using standard methods. The mean total bacteria count of the water samples ranged 40.4 × 104 - 26.5 × 105 CFU/mL and 36.4 × 104 - 23.3 × 105 CFU/mL respectively. Percentage distribution of isolated bacteria include; Escherichia coli (17%), Streptococcus spp. (16%), Bacillus spp. (11%), Nitrobacter spp. (10%), Aeromonas spp. (9%), Arthrobacter spp. (9%), Pseudomonas spp. (5%), Klebsiella spp. (5%), Enterococcus spp. (5%), Micrococcus spp. (4%), Staphylococcus spp. (3%), Vibro spp. (3%), Enterobacter spp. (2%), Salmonella spp. (1%). Enteric microbes have high level of resistance to amoxicillin and augmentin, while nalixidic acid was most effective against the Gram negative isolates. Also the Gram positive isolates showed a high level of resistance to augmentin, cotrimoxazole and cloxacillin while streptomycin and gentamicin was most effective against the Gram positive isolates. Eighty four percent (84%) of the isolates exhibited multiple antibiotic resistance, some of which possess plasmids with very high molecular weight ranging between 10 and 21 kbp. The physico-chemical properties of the water samples revealed the presence of the some mineral element in the water samples; magnesium (15.60 mg/L), potassium (16.20 mg/L), calcium (8.75 mg/L), sodium (11.55 mg/L), zinc (0.34 mg/L), iron (0.76 mg/L), chloride (21.40 mg/L), sulphate (5.60 mg/L), nitrate (0.35 mg/L). Meanwhile, the mean values of soil minerals were; potassium (76.5 - 83.5) mg/kg, calcium (49.8 - 62.7) mg/kg, sodium (63.4 - 71.6) mg/kg, magnesium (65.8 - 72.4) mg/kg, phosphorus (266.5 - 275.3) mg/kg, zinc (8.28 - 12.22) mg/kg, copper (3.60 - 4.68) mg/kg. | Ebu stream; Effluent discharge; Enteric microbes; Local black soap | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84879276176 | Evaluation of microbial quality of fresh goat meat sold in Umuahia market, Abia state, Nigeria | Eze V.C., Ivuoma N. | 2012 | Pakistan Journal of Nutrition | 11 | 9 | None | Department of Microbiology, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, P.M.B. 7267, Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria | Eze, V.C., Department of Microbiology, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, P.M.B. 7267, Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria; Ivuoma, N., Department of Microbiology, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, P.M.B. 7267, Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria | The evaluation of microbial quality of fresh goat meat sold in Umuahia market Abia State was carried out. A total of 40 samples of fresh goat meat were collected and analyzed for total aerobic plate count, coliform count, Salmonella-Shigella count and fungal count using nutrient agar, MacConkey agar, Salmonella-Shigella agar and potato dextrose agar respectively. The pour plate technique was employed. The total aerobic plate count ranged from 5.39±0.04 Log10cfu/g to 5.48±0.05 Log10cfu/g while the coliform count ranged 4.09±0.01 Log10cfu/g to 4.47±0.05 Log10cfu/g. The Salmonella-Shigella count ranged from 0±0.00 Log10cfu/g to 2.43±0.02 Log10cfu/g while the fungal count ranged from 3.18±0.02 Log10cfu/g to 3.56±0.05 Log10cfu/g. The microorganisms isolated from the fresh goat meat samples were Bacillus species, Escherichia coli, Proteus species, Pseudomonas species, Salmonella species, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus species, Aspergillus species, Penicillium species and yeast. The result showed that goat meats were often contaminated with microorganisms due to unhygienic and poor sanitary conditions. © Asian Network for Scientific Information, 2012. | Evaluation; Goat; Market; Meat umuahia; Microbial; Quality | aerobic bacterium; article; Aspergillus; bacterial count; bacterium isolation; coliform bacterium; colony forming unit; culture medium; environmental sanitation; Escherichia coli; food analysis; food contamination; food control; food quality; fungus count; goat; meat; microbiological parameters; Nigeria; nonhuman; Penicillium; Proteus; Pseudomonas; Salmonella; Shigella; Staphylococcus aureus; Streptococcus; Aspergillus; Capra hircus; Escherichia coli; Penicillium; Pseudomonas; Salmonella; Shigella; Solanum tuberosum; Staphylococcus aureus; Streptococcus | None |
| None | None | Performance of biofilm carriers in anaerobic digestion of sisal leaf waste leachate | Mshandete A.M., Björnsson L., Kivaisi A.K., Rubindamayugi M.S.T., Mattiasson B. | 2008 | Electronic Journal of Biotechnology | 11 | 1 | None | Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Dar es Salaam, P.O. Box 35179, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Department of Biotechnology, Centre for Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lund University, P.O. Box 124, SE-22100, Lund, Sweden | Mshandete, A.M., Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Dar es Salaam, P.O. Box 35179, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Björnsson, L., Department of Biotechnology, Centre for Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lund University, P.O. Box 124, SE-22100, Lund, Sweden; Kivaisi, A.K., Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Dar es Salaam, P.O. Box 35179, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Rubindamayugi, M.S.T., Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Dar es Salaam, P.O. Box 35179, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Mattiasson, B., Department of Biotechnology, Centre for Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lund University, P.O. Box 124, SE-22100, Lund, Sweden | Three methanogenic biofilm bioreactors were studied to evaluate the performance of three types of carriers. The carrier material were consisted of sisal fibre waste, pumice stone and porous glass beads, and the bioprocess evaluated was the methanogenesis anaerobic digestion of sisal leaf waste leachate. Process performance was investigated by increasing the organic loading rate (OLR) step-wise. The best results were obtained from the bioreactor packed with sisal fibre waste. It had the highest chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiencies in the range of 80-93% at OLRs in the range of 2.4-25 g COD L -1d -1. The degradation pattern of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) showed that the degradation of propionate was limiting at higher OLRs. The stable pH and higher partial alkalinity (PA) of the outflow illustrated that packed-bed bioreactors have a good ability to withstand the variations in load and volatile fatty acid concentrations that can occur in a two-stage anaerobic process. In conclusion, sisal fibre waste was shown to be a novel promising biofilm carrier and would work very well in methanogenic biofilm bioreactors treating sisal leaf tissue waste leachate. Furthermore both sisal wastes are available in the neighbourhood of sisal industries, which makes anaerobic digestion scale up at sisal factory level feasible and cost-effective. © 2007 by Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso. | Biogas; Methanogenesis; Packed-bed bioreactors; Packing media | Biofilms; Biofilters; Bioreactors; Chemical oxygen demand; Chemical reactors; Civil aviation; Industrial chemicals; Leaching; Nonmetals; Oxygen; Removal; Wastewater treatment; Anaerobic (UASB); Bio films; Bio processes; Bio reactor; Biofilm carriers; Carrier materials; Chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal; Leachate; Methanogenesis; Organic loading rate (OLD); Porous glasses; Process performance; Sisal fibre; Anaerobic digestion; fatty acid; alkalinity; article; biofilm; bioprocess; chemical oxygen demand; cost effectiveness analysis; leaching; methanogenesis; pH measurement; sisal; Agave sisalana | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84928014992 | The Phathisi dance of Botswana: Decoding the meanings in the traditional performances of a dance | Mojaki P.G. | 2014 | Journal of the Musical Arts in Africa | 11 | 1 | 10.2989/18121004.2014.995443 | Department of Music and Musicology, Rhodes University, South Africa | Mojaki, P.G., Department of Music and Musicology, Rhodes University, South Africa | This article presents a study of the Bakwena Phathisi dance by a non-Bakwena group, the Diwetse Cultural Troupe. It is based on interviews with members of the troupe and audience members at performances given by the troupe. The study examines how the Diwetse Cultural Troupe engages with and interprets the Phathisi dance before, during and after performance, seeking to understand the performance structure and essential features of the dance such as gender roles, attire, basic sequences as well as the relationship between what is deemed traditional or modern. The article focuses on decoding the embedded meanings in Phathisi performances with the aim of contextualising a Mokwena herdboy's lifestyle (represented by the dancer), his environment and in the Kweneng region. This study also explores how the historical and cultural traits of the dance are recreated, choreographed and presented to the audience. © 2014 NISC (Pty) Ltd. | None | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79952518011 | The impact on nurses and nurse managers of introducing PEPFAR clinical services in urban government clinics in Uganda | Nankumbi J., Groves S., Leontsini E., Kyegombe N., Coutinho A., Manabe Y. | 2011 | BMC International Health and Human Rights | 11 | SUPPL. 1 | 10.1186/1472-698X-11-S1-S8 | Department of Nursing, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda; Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing, Baltimore, MD, 21205, United States; Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, 21205, United States; London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Institute of Infectious Disease, Kampala, Uganda; Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, United States | Nankumbi, J., Department of Nursing, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda; Groves, S., Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing, Baltimore, MD, 21205, United States; Leontsini, E., Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, 21205, United States; Kyegombe, N., London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Coutinho, A., Institute of Infectious Disease, Kampala, Uganda; Manabe, Y., Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, United States | Background: Improving provider performance is central to strengthening health services in developing countries. Because of critical shortages of physicians, many clinics in sub-Saharan Africa are led by nurses. In addition to clinical skills, nurse managers need practical managerial skills and adequate resources to ensure procurement of essential supplies, quality assurance implementation, and productive work environment. Giving nurses more autonomy in their work empowers them in the workplace and has shown to create positive influence on work attitudes and behaviors. The Infectious Disease Institute, an affiliate of Makerere University College of Health Science, in an effort to expand the needed HIV services in the Ugandan capital, established a community-university partnership with the Ministry of Health to implement an innovative model to build capacity in HIV service delivery. This paper evaluates the impact on the nurses from this innovative program to provide more health care in six nurse managed Kampala City Council (KCC) Clinics. Methods. A mixed method approach was used. The descriptive study collected key informant interviews from the six nurse managers, and administered a questionnaire to 20 staff nurses between September and December 2009. Key themes were manually identified from the interviews, and the questionnaire data were analyzed using SPSS. Results: Introducing new HIV services into six KCC clinics was positive for the nurses. They identified the project as successful because of perceived improved environment, increase in useful in-service training, new competence to manage patients and staff, improved physical infrastructure, provision of more direct patient care, motivation to improve the clinic because the project acted on their suggestions, and involvement in role expansion. All of these helped empower the nurses, improving quality of care and increasing job satisfaction. Conclusions: This community-university HIV innovative model was successful from the point of view of the nurses and nurse managers. This model shows promise in increasing effective, quality health service; HIV and other programs can build capacity and empower nurses and nurse managers to directly implement such services. It also demonstrates how MakCHS can be instrumental through partnerships in designing and testing effective strategies, building human health resources and improving Ugandan health outcomes. © 2011 Nankumbi et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | None | adult; article; clinical article; government; health care; health care quality; health program; hospital; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; interview; job satisfaction; medical service; multicenter study; nurse manager; patient care; prpfar clinical service; questionnaire; staff nurse; Uganda; urban area | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77954057124 | NEWHINTS cluster randomised trial to evaluate the impact on neonatal mortality in rural Ghana of routine home visits to provide a package of essential newborn care interventions in the third trimester of pregnancy and the first week of life: Trial protoco | Kirkwood B.R., Manu A., Tawiah-Agyemang C., ten Asbroek G., Gyan T., Weobong B., Lewandowski R.E., Soremekun S., Danso S., Pitt C., Hanson K., Owusu-Agyei S., Hill Z. | 2010 | Trials | 11 | None | 10.1186/1745-6215-11-58 | Department of Nutrition and Public Health Intervention Research, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom; Kintampo Health Research Centre, Ghana Health Service, PO Box 200, Kintampo, Brong Ahafo Region, Ghana; Department of Counseling and Clinical Psychology, Columbia University, New York, United States; Department of Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom; Institute of Child Health, University College London, 30 Guilford Street, London WC1N 1EH, United Kingdom | Kirkwood, B.R., Department of Nutrition and Public Health Intervention Research, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom; Manu, A., Kintampo Health Research Centre, Ghana Health Service, PO Box 200, Kintampo, Brong Ahafo Region, Ghana; Tawiah-Agyemang, C., Kintampo Health Research Centre, Ghana Health Service, PO Box 200, Kintampo, Brong Ahafo Region, Ghana; ten Asbroek, G., Department of Nutrition and Public Health Intervention Research, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom; Gyan, T., Kintampo Health Research Centre, Ghana Health Service, PO Box 200, Kintampo, Brong Ahafo Region, Ghana; Weobong, B., Kintampo Health Research Centre, Ghana Health Service, PO Box 200, Kintampo, Brong Ahafo Region, Ghana; Lewandowski, R.E., Department of Counseling and Clinical Psychology, Columbia University, New York, United States; Soremekun, S., Department of Nutrition and Public Health Intervention Research, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom; Danso, S., Kintampo Health Research Centre, Ghana Health Service, PO Box 200, Kintampo, Brong Ahafo Region, Ghana; Pitt, C., Department of Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom; Hanson, K., Department of Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom; Owusu-Agyei, S., Department of Nutrition and Public Health Intervention Research, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom, Kintampo Health Research Centre, Ghana Health Service, PO Box 200, Kintampo, Brong Ahafo Region, Ghana; Hill, Z., Institute of Child Health, University College London, 30 Guilford Street, London WC1N 1EH, United Kingdom | Background: Tackling neonatal mortality is essential for the achievement of the child survival millennium development goal. There are just under 4 million neonatal deaths, accounting for 38% of the 10.8 million deaths among children younger than 5 years of age taking place each year; 99% of these occur in low- and middle-income countries where a large proportion of births take place at home, and where postnatal care for mothers and neonates is either not available or is of poor quality. WHO and UNICEF have issued a joint statement calling for governments to implement "Home visits for the newborn child: a strategy to improve survival", following several studies in South Asia which achieved substantial reductions in neonatal mortality through community-based approaches. However, their feasibility and effectiveness have not yet been evaluated in Africa. The Newhints study aims to do this in Ghana and to develop a feasible and sustainable community-based approach to improve newborn care practices, and by so doing improve neonatal survival.Methods: Newhints is an integrated intervention package based on extensive formative research, and developed in close collaboration with seven District Health Management Teams (DHMTs) in Brong Ahafo Region. The core component is training the existing community based surveillance volunteers (CBSVs) to identify pregnant women and to conduct two home visits during pregnancy and three in the first week of life to address essential care practices, and to assess and refer very low birth weight and sick babies. CBSVs are supported by a set of materials, regular supervisory visits, incentives, sensitisation activities with TBAs, health facility staff and communities, and providing training for essential newborn care in health facilities.Newhints is being evaluated through a cluster randomised controlled trial, and intention to treat analyses. The clusters are 98 supervisory zones; 49 have been randomised for implementation of the Newhints intervention, with the other 49 acting as controls. Data on neonatal mortality and care practices will be collected from approximately 15,000 babies through surveillance of women of child-bearing age in the 7 districts. Detailed process, cost and cost-effectiveness evaluations are also being carried out. © 2010 Kirkwood et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | None | article; clinical trial; community care; controlled clinical trial; controlled study; cost effectiveness analysis; Ghana; health auxiliary; health care quality; home care; human; newborn care; newborn mortality; postnatal care; pregnant woman; randomized controlled trial; rural population; third trimester pregnancy; very low birth weight; child health care; cluster analysis; cost benefit analysis; developing country; economics; feasibility study; female; Ghana; health care cost; home delivery; infant mortality; integrated health care system; methodology; newborn; organization and management; patient care; pregnancy; pregnancy outcome; prenatal care; professional practice; rural health care; third trimester pregnancy; Child Health Services; Cluster Analysis; Cost-Benefit Analysis; Delivery of Health Care, Integrated; Developing Countries; Feasibility Studies; Female; Ghana; Health Care Costs; Home Childbirth; House Calls; Humans; Infant Mortality; Infant, Newborn; Patient Care Team; Postnatal Care; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Outcome; Pregnancy Trimester, Third; Prenatal Care; Research Design; Rural Health Services | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79952094730 | Lessons learnt from comprehensive evaluation of community-based education in Uganda: A proposal for an ideal model community-based education for health professional training institutions | Kaye D.K., Muhwezi W.W., Kasozi A.N., Kijjambu S., Mbalinda S.N., Okullo I., Nabirye R.C., Oria H., Atuyambe L., Groves S., Burnham G., Mwanika A. | 2011 | BMC Medical Education | 11 | 1 | 10.1186/1472-6920-11-7 | Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, P.O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda; Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, P.O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda; School of Medicine, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, P.O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda; Department of Nursing, School of Health Sciences, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, P.O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda; Department of Dentistry, School of Health Sciences, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, P.O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda; Department of Pharmacy, School of Health Sciences, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, P.O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda; Department of Community Health and Behavioral Sciences, School of Public Health, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, P.O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda; Department of Nursing, Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, Baltimore, MD, United States; Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States | Kaye, D.K., Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, P.O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda; Muhwezi, W.W., Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, P.O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda; Kasozi, A.N., School of Medicine, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, P.O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda; Kijjambu, S., School of Medicine, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, P.O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda; Mbalinda, S.N., Department of Nursing, School of Health Sciences, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, P.O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda; Okullo, I., Department of Dentistry, School of Health Sciences, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, P.O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda; Nabirye, R.C., Department of Nursing, School of Health Sciences, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, P.O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda; Oria, H., Department of Pharmacy, School of Health Sciences, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, P.O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda; Atuyambe, L., Department of Community Health and Behavioral Sciences, School of Public Health, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, P.O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda; Groves, S., Department of Nursing, Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, Baltimore, MD, United States; Burnham, G., Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States; Mwanika, A., Department of Dentistry, School of Health Sciences, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, P.O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda | Background: Community-based education (CBE) can provide contextual learning that addresses manpower scarcity by enabling trainees acquire requisite experiences, competence, confidence and values. In Uganda, many health professional training institutions conduct some form of community-based education (CBE). However, there is scanty information on the nature of the training: whether a curriculum exists (objectives, intended outcomes, content, implementation strategy), administration and constraints faced. The objective was to make a comprehensive assessment of CBE as implemented by Ugandan health professional training institutions to document the nature of CBE conducted and propose an ideal model with minimum requirements for health professional training institutions in Uganda. Methods. We employed several methods: documentary review of curricula of 22 institutions, so as to assess the nature, purpose, outcomes, and methods of instruction and assessment; site visits to these institutions and their CBE sites, to assess the learning environment (infrastructure and resources); in-depth interviews with key people involved in running CBE at the institutions and community, to evaluate CBE implementation, challenges experienced and perceived solutions. Results: CBE was perceived differently ranging from a subject, a course, a program or a project. Despite having similar curricula, institutions differ in the administration, implementation and assessment of CBE. Objectives of CBE, the curricula content and implementation strategies differ in similar institutions. On collaborative and social learning, most trainees do not reside in the community, though they work on group projects and write group reports. Lectures and skills demonstrations were the main instruction methods. Assessment involved mainly continuous assessment, oral or written reports and summative examination. Conclusion: This assessment identified deficiencies in the design and implementation of CBE at several health professional training institutions, with major flaws identified in curriculum content, supervision of trainees, inappropriate assessment, trainee welfare, and underutilization of opportunities for contextual and collaborative learning. Since CBE showed potential to benefit the trainees, community and institutions, we propose a model that delivers a minimum package of CBE and overcomes the wide variation in the concept, conduct and implementation of CBE. © 2011 Kaye et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | None | article; attitude to health; clinical competence; curriculum; demography; education; educational model; evaluation; health care personnel; human; learning; needs assessment; teaching; Uganda; Clinical Competence; Curriculum; Evaluation Studies as Topic; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Health Personnel; Humans; Learning; Models, Educational; Needs Assessment; Residence Characteristics; Teaching; Uganda | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84936756651 | Discordant Impact of HLA on Viral Replicative Capacity and Disease Progression in Pediatric and Adult HIV Infection | Adland E., Paioni P., Thobakgale C., Laker L., Mori L., Muenchhoff M., Csala A., Clapson M., Flynn J., Novelli V., Hurst J., Naidoo V., Shapiro R., Huang K.-H.G., Frater J., Prendergast A., Prado J.G., Ndung’u T., Walker B.D., Carrington M., Jooste P., Go | 2015 | PLoS Pathogens | 11 | 6 | 10.1371/journal.ppat.1004954 | Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research, Oxford, United Kingdom; HIV Pathogenesis Programme, Doris Duke Medical Research Institute, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; Paediatric Department, Kimberley Hospital, Northern Cape, South Africa; Department of Paediatric Infectious Diseases, Great Ormond St Hospital for Children, London, United Kingdom; The Institute for Emerging Infections, The Oxford Martin School, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom; Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research, Oxford, United Kingdom; Oxford National Institute of Health Research, Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, United Kingdom; Botswana Harvard AIDS Institute Partnership, Gaborone, Botswana; Centre for Paediatrics, Blizard Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom; Zvitambo Institute for Maternal and Child Health Research, Harare, Zimbabwe; AIDS Research Institute IrsiCaixa, Institut d’Investigació en Ciències de la Salut Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Barcelona, Spain; The Ragon Institute of Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and Harvard University, Boston, MA, United States; KwaZulu-Natal Research Institute for Tuberculosis and HIV, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology, Berlin, Germany; Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD, United States | Adland, E., Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research, Oxford, United Kingdom; Paioni, P., Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research, Oxford, United Kingdom; Thobakgale, C., HIV Pathogenesis Programme, Doris Duke Medical Research Institute, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; Laker, L., Paediatric Department, Kimberley Hospital, Northern Cape, South Africa; Mori, L., Paediatric Department, Kimberley Hospital, Northern Cape, South Africa; Muenchhoff, M., Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research, Oxford, United Kingdom, HIV Pathogenesis Programme, Doris Duke Medical Research Institute, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; Csala, A., Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research, Oxford, United Kingdom; Clapson, M., Department of Paediatric Infectious Diseases, Great Ormond St Hospital for Children, London, United Kingdom; Flynn, J., Department of Paediatric Infectious Diseases, Great Ormond St Hospital for Children, London, United Kingdom; Novelli, V., Department of Paediatric Infectious Diseases, Great Ormond St Hospital for Children, London, United Kingdom; Hurst, J., The Institute for Emerging Infections, The Oxford Martin School, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research, Oxford, United Kingdom, Oxford National Institute of Health Research, Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, United Kingdom; Naidoo, V., HIV Pathogenesis Programme, Doris Duke Medical Research Institute, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; Shapiro, R., Botswana Harvard AIDS Institute Partnership, Gaborone, Botswana; Huang, K.-H.G., The Institute for Emerging Infections, The Oxford Martin School, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research, Oxford, United Kingdom; Frater, J., The Institute for Emerging Infections, The Oxford Martin School, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research, Oxford, United Kingdom, Oxford National Institute of Health Research, Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, United Kingdom; Prendergast, A., Centre for Paediatrics, Blizard Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom, Zvitambo Institute for Maternal and Child Health Research, Harare, Zimbabwe; Prado, J.G., AIDS Research Institute IrsiCaixa, Institut d’Investigació en Ciències de la Salut Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Barcelona, Spain; Ndung’u, T., HIV Pathogenesis Programme, Doris Duke Medical Research Institute, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa, The Ragon Institute of Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and Harvard University, Boston, MA, United States, KwaZulu-Natal Research Institute for Tuberculosis and HIV, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa, Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology, Berlin, Germany; Walker, B.D., HIV Pathogenesis Programme, Doris Duke Medical Research Institute, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa, The Ragon Institute of Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and Harvard University, Boston, MA, United States; Carrington, M., The Ragon Institute of Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and Harvard University, Boston, MA, United States, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD, United States; Jooste, P., Paediatric Department, Kimberley Hospital, Northern Cape, South Africa; Goulder, P.J.R., Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research, Oxford, United Kingdom, HIV Pathogenesis Programme, Doris Duke Medical Research Institute, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa, Department of Paediatric Infectious Diseases, Great Ormond St Hospital for Children, London, United Kingdom | HLA class I polymorphism has a major influence on adult HIV disease progression. An important mechanism mediating this effect is the impact on viral replicative capacity (VRC) of the escape mutations selected in response to HLA-restricted CD8+ T-cell responses. Factors that contribute to slow progression in pediatric HIV infection are less well understood. We here investigate the relationship between VRC and disease progression in pediatric infection, and the effect of HLA on VRC and on disease outcome in adult and pediatric infection. Studying a South African cohort of >350 ART-naïve, HIV-infected children and their mothers, we first observed that pediatric disease progression is significantly correlated with VRC. As expected, VRCs in mother-child pairs were strongly correlated (p = 0.004). The impact of the protective HLA alleles, HLA-B*57, HLA-B*58:01 and HLA-B*81:01, resulted in significantly lower VRCs in adults (p<0.0001), but not in children. Similarly, in adults, but not in children, VRCs were significantly higher in subjects expressing the disease-susceptible alleles HLA-B*18:01/45:01/58:02 (p = 0.007). Irrespective of the subject, VRCs were strongly correlated with the number of Gag CD8+ T-cell escape mutants driven by HLA-B*57/58:01/81:01 present in each virus (p = 0.0002). In contrast to the impact of VRC common to progression in adults and children, the HLA effects on disease outcome, that are substantial in adults, are small and statistically insignificant in infected children. These data further highlight the important role that VRC plays both in adult and pediatric progression, and demonstrate that HLA-independent factors, yet to be fully defined, are predominantly responsible for pediatric non-progression. © 2015 Adland et al. | None | Gag protein; gamma interferon; HLA antigen class 1; HLA B antigen; nevirapine; adult; Article; CD4+ T lymphocyte; CD8+ T lymphocyte; child; controlled study; correlation analysis; disease course; disease predisposition; disease transmission; flow cytometry; gene expression; highly active antiretroviral therapy; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; major clinical study; outcome assessment; phylogeny; protein expression; reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction; RNA isolation; sequence analysis; virus load; virus replication | WT104748MA, Wellcome Trust |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33750290855 | Impact of repeated mass treatment on human Oesophagostomum and hookworm infections in northern Ghana | Ziem J.B., Magnussen P., Olsen A., Horton J., Asigri V.L.L., Polderman A.M. | 2006 | Tropical Medicine and International Health | 11 | 11 | 10.1111/j.1365-3156.2006.01729.x | Department of Parasitology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, Netherlands; School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana; DBL-Institute for Health Research and Development, Charlottenlund, Denmark; Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Liverpool University, Liverpool, United Kingdom; Parasitic Diseases Research Centre, Ghana Health Service, Tamale, Ghana; Department of Parasitology, Leiden University Medical Centre, PO Box 9600, 2300 RC Leiden, Netherlands | Ziem, J.B., Department of Parasitology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, Netherlands, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana; Magnussen, P., DBL-Institute for Health Research and Development, Charlottenlund, Denmark; Olsen, A., DBL-Institute for Health Research and Development, Charlottenlund, Denmark; Horton, J., Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Liverpool University, Liverpool, United Kingdom; Asigri, V.L.L., Parasitic Diseases Research Centre, Ghana Health Service, Tamale, Ghana; Polderman, A.M., Department of Parasitology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, Netherlands, Department of Parasitology, Leiden University Medical Centre, PO Box 9600, 2300 RC Leiden, Netherlands | Oesophagostomum bifurcum is a common parasite of humans causing disease in parts of northern Ghana and northern Togo. The impact of repeated mass treatment with albendazole on infection with O. bifurcum and hookworm is analysed and the results compared with those in a control area where no treatment was given. At baseline, O. bifurcum and hookworm prevalences were 53.0% and 86.9%, respectively (n = 1011). After 12 months, following two rounds of albendazole treatment, prevalences decreased significantly to 5.4% for O. bifurcum and 36.8% for hookworm (n = 535). Twenty-four months after the baseline survey and following a total of four rounds of treatment, prevalences were further reduced to 0.8% and 23.4% for O. bifurcum and hookworm, respectively (n = 478). Overall, there was a significant decrease in the larval counts, measured as geometric mean larval count per 4 g of stool of O. bifurcum from 3.0 to 0.1 and of hookworm from 47.2 to 1.8. The fourth mass treatment was carried out in April 2003 by the Lymphatic Filariasis Elimination Programme. Overall, compliance to treatment varied from 70% to 80%. In the control area, Oesophagostomum prevalence increased from 18.5% to 37.0% and the intensity from 0.4 to 1.4. For hookworm, both prevalence (86.1-91.3%) and intensity (54.8-74.3) increased but not to a significant level. The prospects of eliminating human oesophagostomiasis from the intervention area, while simultaneously achieving an important reduction of hookworm prevalences by albendazole mass treatment, are discussed. © 2006 Blackwell Publishing Ltd. | Control; Ghana; Hookworm; Mass treatment; Oesophagostomum bifurcum | albendazole; disease treatment; drug; filariasis; infectious disease; parasite prevalence; parasitic disease; adolescent; adult; aged; article; child; controlled study; feces analysis; female; geometry; Ghana; health program; health survey; hookworm infection; human; larval development; major clinical study; male; measurement; nematodiasis; patient compliance; prevalence; statistical significance; Strongyloidea; treatment outcome; Adolescent; Adult; Age Distribution; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Albendazole; Anthelmintics; Child; Child, Preschool; Endemic Diseases; Female; Ghana; Hookworm Infections; Humans; Infant; Male; Middle Aged; Oesophagostomiasis; Parasite Egg Count; Population Surveillance; Prevalence; Rural Health; Sex Distribution; Treatment Outcome; Africa; Ghana; Sub-Saharan Africa; Togo; West Africa; Ancylostomatoidea; Oesophagostomum; Oesophagostomum bifurcum | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84954229716 | Retaining and properly developing employees: Could this impact professional conduct? | Kappo-Abidemi C., Iwu C.G., Allen-Ile C. | 2015 | Corporate Board: Role, Duties and Composition | 11 | 3 | None | Department of People Development and Technology, Walter Sisulu University, Potsdam Campus, South Africa; Cape Peninsula University of Technology, South Africa; University of the Western Cape, South Africa | Kappo-Abidemi, C., Department of People Development and Technology, Walter Sisulu University, Potsdam Campus, South Africa; Iwu, C.G., Cape Peninsula University of Technology, South Africa; Allen-Ile, C., University of the Western Cape, South Africa | Human resource retention and development (HRRD) relationship with public servants’ professionalism is examined in this study. Variables such as performance appraisal, training and motivation are used to measure HRRD and the effect on professional output of public service employees are examined. Both quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection were adopted; four hundred and seventy six (476) useable questionnaires were retrieved from respondents and used in the quantitative analysis, while three different groups consisting of between eight to twelve people were involved in focus group discussions. Inferential statistics was used to analyse the quantitative data, while the qualitative data was organised into themes. Findings indicate among others a lack of motivation among Nigerian public servants in terms of salaries and other incentives that could have enhanced performance output. Likewise, training and developmental strategy embarked on presently is not problem targeted. Therefore, a revamp of the current performance appraisal system is suggested amongst many others. © Virtus interpress 2015. | Employee retention; Nigerian public service; Professional conduct; Training and development | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79960976329 | Evaluation of the physicochemical equivalence of three brands of commercially available quinine sulphate tablets from South Western part of Nigeria | Adegbite A.I., Adegbolagun O.M. | 2011 | African Health Sciences | 11 | 2 | None | Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria | Adegbite, A.I., Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Adegbolagun, O.M., Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria | Background: The relatively little resistance to quinine globally has led to an increase in its use in P. falciparum malaria especially in multi-drug resistant strains. Objective: To evaluate the physicochemical and equivalency of three brands of quinine sulphate tablets available in South Western region of Nigeria. Methods: The pharmaceutical and chemical equivalence of three brands of quinine sulphate tablets were assessed through the evaluation of some biopharmaceutical parameters and active drug content. Results: All the brands complied with the official specification for uniformity of weight. Two of the brands (A & B) gave similar crushing strengths while the third brand (C) gave a much lower value. Similarly all the brands complied with the official specification of disintegration test but the obtained values were statistically different (p<0.05). The T70 obtained from the dissolution rate profile was less than 45 minutes for the three brands, although A and B were not statistically different but C was statistically from A and B. The quinine content of brands B and C are within the official specification however brand A with percentage content of 110±1.3%w/w, is above the specification while it is statistically different from the other brands. Conclusion: Brands B and C could be regarded as chemical equivalent, but they are not biopharmaceutical equivalents, on the other hand, brands A and B may be regarded as biopharmaceutical equivalents but not chemical equivalent. | Biopharmaceutical equivalence; Chemical equivalence; Non-aqueous titration; Quinine sulphate tablets | quinine sulfate; article; biopharmaceutical equivalence; chemical equivalence; controlled study; crushing strength; drug determination; drug dosage form comparison; drug purity; drug solubility; Nigeria; pharmacological parameters; physical chemistry; tablet disintegration; Antimalarials; Chromatography, Thin Layer; Drugs, Generic; Humans; Malaria, Falciparum; Quality Control; Quinine; Solubility; Tablets; Therapeutic Equivalency | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84923339760 | Preparative isolation of bio-markers from the leaf exudate of Aloe ferox ("aloe bitters") by high performance counter-current chromatography | Adhami H.-R., Viljoen A.M. | 2015 | Phytochemistry Letters | 11 | None | 10.1016/j.phytol.2014.07.001 | Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, South Africa | Adhami, H.-R., Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, South Africa; Viljoen, A.M., Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, South Africa | One of the most crucial factors determining the safety and efficacy of any herbal medicine or natural product-based formulation is the quality of the raw material. The absence of readily available bio-markers (standards) is one of the hurdles which need to be overcome to develop robust and effective quality control protocols. Aloe ferox Mill. is a most coveted ethnomedicinally import plant indigenous to South Africa. A. ferox has been used since ancient times in folk medicine and recently it has gained popularity as an ingredient in cosmetic formulations and food supplements. This study aimed to develop a superior method for the isolation of bio-markers from "aloe bitters" (exudate) obtained from A. ferox. For separation by HPCCC the solvent system comprising of EtOAc/n-BuOH/H2O (3.5:1.5:5, v/v/v) was used in reversed phase mode. By this method, and only in one run, eight bio-markers were separated and isolated on semi-preparative scale including aloesin, aloeresin C, aloeresin A, 5-hydroxyaloin, aloin B, aloinoside B, aloin A and aloinoside A. The isolation of bio-active molecules from A. ferox (Cape aloes) is presented to illustrate the efficiency and advantages of high performance counter-current chromatography (HPCCC). © 2014 Phytochemical Society of Europe. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. | Aloe ferox; Aloeresin A; Aloesin; Aloin A and B; chromatography; High performance counter-current | 5 hydroxyaloin; aloeresin a; aloeresin c; aloesin; aloin; aloinoside a; aloinoside b; biological marker; biological product; herbaceous agent; solvent; unclassified drug; Aloe; Aloe ferox; Article; biological activity; counter current chromatography; drug isolation; herbal medicine; high performance counter current chromatography; nonhuman; phytochemistry; plant exudate; plant leaf; priority journal; reproducibility; solvent extraction; South Africa; Aloe; Aloe ferox | National Research Foundation |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84894520107 | Evaluation of the properties of gongronema latifolium in phospholipon 90H based solid lipid microparticles (SLMs): An antidiabetic study | Chime S.A., Onyishi I.V., Ugwoke P.U., Attama A.A. | 2014 | Journal of Dietary Supplements | 11 | 1 | 10.3109/19390211.2013.859212 | Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Industrial Pharmacy, University of Nigeria, Nsukka 410001, Nigeria; Department of Pharmaceutics, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria | Chime, S.A., Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Industrial Pharmacy, University of Nigeria, Nsukka 410001, Nigeria; Onyishi, I.V., Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Industrial Pharmacy, University of Nigeria, Nsukka 410001, Nigeria; Ugwoke, P.U., Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Industrial Pharmacy, University of Nigeria, Nsukka 410001, Nigeria; Attama, A.A., Department of Pharmaceutics, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria | Context: Gongronema latifolium Benth Hook, (Asclepiadaceae) is a tropical rainforest plant primarily used in traditional folk medicine in the treatment of malaria, diabetes, hypertension, and as laxative. Objective: To study the antidiabetic properties of Gongronema latifolium-loaded solid lipid microparticles (SLMs). Materials and methods: The methanolic extract of Gongronema latifolium leaves were obtained and formulated into SLMs using lipid matrix comprising of fat from Capra hircus and Phospholipon® 90H. The SLMs were characterized in vitro by determining the particle size and morphology, pH stability studies, and encapsulation efficiency EE%. Also, the antidiabetic properties of the Gongronema latifolium-loaded SLMs were studied in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Results and discussion: The results show that the particle size of G. latifolium-loaded SLMs was within an acceptable range for SLMs. Highest EE% of 68% was obtained for SLMs containing 5% G. latifolium (batch F3). The formulations remained stable with insignificant pH reduction over time (p < 0.05). Gongronema latifolium-loaded SLMs had mean percentage reduction in blood glucose of 76% at 2 h, 42.3% at 8 h, and 24.4% at 12 h, while the group that received the reference-glibenclamide had 82.6, 61.7, and 46.7% at 2, 8, and 12 h, respectively, after oral administration of all samples. Gongronema latifolium-loaded SLMs had blood glucose reduction significantly higher than the pure extract and the glibenclamide (p < 0.05) at the concentrations used. Conclusions: Gongronema latifolium-loaded SLMs exhibited a good hypoglycemic effect and could be used for the treatment of diabetes. © 2014 Informa Healthcare USA, Inc. | Capra hircus; Diabetes; Gongronema latifolium; Hypoglycemia; Lipids | antidiabetic agent; drug carrier; fat; glibenclamide; lipid; phosphatidylcholine; phospholipid; phospholipon 90g; plant extract; animal; Apocynaceae; article; blood; experimental diabetes mellitus; glucose blood level; goat; metabolism; microcapsule; oral drug administration; particle size; phytotherapy; rat; Wistar rat; Administration, Oral; Animals; Asclepiadaceae; Blood Glucose; Capsules; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental; Drug Carriers; Fats; Glyburide; Goats; Hypoglycemic Agents; Lipids; Particle Size; Phosphatidylcholines; Phospholipids; Phytotherapy; Plant Extracts; Rats; Rats, Wistar | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84930477652 | Pharmacognostic evaluation of the leaves of Secamone afzelii (Schult) K Schum (Asclepiadaceae) | Abere T.A., Onwukaeme D.N. | 2012 | Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research | 11 | 1 | 10.4314/tjpr.v11i1.16 | Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Benin, Benin City 300001, Nigeria | Abere, T.A., Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Benin, Benin City 300001, Nigeria; Onwukaeme, D.N., Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Benin, Benin City 300001, Nigeria | Purpose: Establishment of the pharmacognostic profile of the leaves of Secamone afzelii (Schult) K. Schum, known for its antimicrobial, antioxidant and free radical scavenging properties, will assist in standardization, quality assurance, purity and sample identification. Methods: Evaluation of the fresh, powdered and anatomical sections of the leaves were carried out to determine the macromorphological, micromorphological, chemomicroscopic, numerical (palisade ratio, stomata number, stomata index, vein-islet number and veinlet termination number, moisture content, total ash, acid-insoluble ash, water-soluble ash, alcohol and water soluble extractive values) and phytochemical profiles. Results: Macro-and microscopical studies indicated the presence of pinnately compound leaf, an entire margin with lanceolate shape, acute base, accumulate apex and reticulate venation. Epidermal walls were straight with numerous calcium oxalate crystals. Stomata arrangement was paracytic, with numerous unicellular uniseriate covering trichomes on both surfaces. Chemomicroscopic characters present included lignin, cellulose, mucilage, suberin and cutin, while phytochemical evaluation revealed the presence of alkaloids, tannins, cardiac glycosides and saponins. The findings also included numerical and quantitative leaf microscopy. Conclusion: These findings could serve as a basis for proper identification, collection and investigation of Secamone afzelii. © Pharmacotherapy Group. All rights reserved. | Pharmacognostic evaluation; Sample identification; Secamone afzelii | alcohol; alkaloid; calcium oxalate; cardiac glycoside; cellulose; cutine; lignin; plant extract; saponin; Secamone afzelii extract; suberin; tannin derivative; unclassified drug; article; ash; controlled study; drug identification; drug isolation; drug purity; medicinal plant; microscopy; moisture; mucilage; nonhuman; pharmacognosy; plant epidermis cell; plant leaf; plant stoma; powder; quality control; Secamone afzelii; standardization | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-70350304334 | Pharmacological evaluation of oral hypoglycemic and antidiabetic effects of fresh leaves ethanol extract of Morinda Lucida benth. in normal and alloxan-induced diabetic rats | Adeneye A.A., Agbaje E.O. | 2008 | African Journal Biomedical Research | 11 | 1 | None | Department of Pharmacology, Lagos State University College of Medicine, Ikeja, Lagos State, Nigeria; Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Idi-Araba, Lagos State, Nigeria | Adeneye, A.A., Department of Pharmacology, Lagos State University College of Medicine, Ikeja, Lagos State, Nigeria; Agbaje, E.O., Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Idi-Araba, Lagos State, Nigeria | In the present study, 50 - 400 mg/kg of body weight/day of 50% ethanol extract of the fresh leaves of Morinda lucida Benth. (MLE) was investigated for its hypoglycemic and antidiabetic effects in adult normal and alloxaninduced diabetic male rats for 7 days. Acute oral toxicity study of MLE at the limit dose of 2000 mg/kg of body weight using Up-and-Down Procedure on statistical program, AOT425Pgm, was also conducted. Results showed that MLE significantly (p<0.05) lowered the fasting blood glucose (FBG) in both normal and alloxan-induced diabetic rats in dose related fashion, and its effect was higher (p<0.001) than that of tolbutamide (Tolb.). Results suggest that MLE could be mediating its hypoglycemic effect via enhanced peripheral glucose utilization. Also, acute oral toxicity result showed MLE to be nonlethal at 2000 mg/kg of body weight. These results suggest that MLE could be relatively safe on acute exposure when administered to suspected diabetic patients. © Ibadan Biomedical Communications Group. | Fresh leaf methanol extract; Hypoglycemia; Morinda lucida Benth.; Normal and Alloxan-induced diabetic rats | Morinda lucida extract; oral antidiabetic agent; plant extract; tolbutamide; unclassified drug; alloxan diabetes mellitus; animal experiment; animal model; article; controlled study; dose response; drug dose comparison; drug safety; glucose blood level; glucose utilization; hypoglycemia; male; Morinda; morinda lucida; nonhuman; plant leaf; rat; toxicity testing | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-80053619329 | Prescribing practices for malaria in a rural Ugandan hospital: Evaluation of a new malaria treatment policy | Ucakacon P.S., Achan J., Kutyabami P., Odoi A.R., Kalyango N.J. | 2011 | African Health Sciences | 11 | SPEC. ISSUE | None | Department of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, P.O.Box 7062, Kampala University Road, Kampala, Uganda; Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, P.O.Box 7062, Kampala University Road, Kampala, Uganda; Clinical Epidemiology Unit, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, P.O.Box 7062, Kampala University Road, Kampala, Uganda | Ucakacon, P.S., Department of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, P.O.Box 7062, Kampala University Road, Kampala, Uganda; Achan, J., Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, P.O.Box 7062, Kampala University Road, Kampala, Uganda; Kutyabami, P., Department of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, P.O.Box 7062, Kampala University Road, Kampala, Uganda; Odoi, A.R., Department of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, P.O.Box 7062, Kampala University Road, Kampala, Uganda; Kalyango, N.J., Department of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, P.O.Box 7062, Kampala University Road, Kampala, Uganda, Clinical Epidemiology Unit, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, P.O.Box 7062, Kampala University Road, Kampala, Uganda | Background: Increasing resistance to first line antimalarial drugs led to a change in the antimalarial policy of Uganda in 2005. Successful implementation of this policy depends on changing prescribing patterns of health workers. Objectives: To describe prescribing patterns for malaria and associated factors in a rural Ugandan hospital following a change in antimalarial treatment policy from chloroquine plus sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine to artemisinin-based combination therapies. Methods: From the outpatients register, 715 prescriptions for malaria were reviewed. Data was collected on patient demographics, prescriber factors and prescription patterns. Prescriptions were considered to conform to the new antimalarial policy if artemether-lumefantrine was prescribed for uncomplicated malaria or quinine for treatment failure or complicated malaria. Results: The most frequently prescribed antimalarials for uncomplicated and complicated malaria were artemetherlumefantrine (n=564, 88.5%) and quinine (n=66, 84.6%) respectively. The proportion of prescriptions conforming to the new antimalarial treatment policy was 88.1% (n=630). Predictors of conformity were: duration in service of less than 6 years (OR=3.40. CI=1.24-9.33), prescriber's profession (OR=97.51, CI=27.29-348.34) and diagnosis of uncomplicated malaria (OR=10.13, CI=3.37-30.42). Conclusions: Adequate training and provision of information relevant to the needs of different cadres of health workers is needed to promote effective uptake of new treatment policies. | Malaria policy; Malaria treatment; Prescribing practices | artemether plus benflumetol; chloroquine; pyrimethamine plus sulfadoxine; quinine; article; child; controlled study; cross-sectional study; drug choice; female; health care need; health care policy; human; malaria; male; medical decision making; practice guideline; prescription; professional competence; professional standard; rural population; school child; treatment planning; Uganda; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Child; Child, Preschool; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Health Policy; Hospitals, Rural; Humans; Infant; Malaria; Male; Middle Aged; Physician's Practice Patterns; Prescriptions; Registries; Uganda; Young Adult | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84868650564 | The impact of primary healthcare in reducing inequalities in child health outcomes, Bogotá - Colombia: An ecological analysis | Mosquera P.A., Hernández J., Vega R., Martínez J., Labonte R., Sanders D., San Sebastián M. | 2012 | International Journal for Equity in Health | 11 | 1 | 10.1186/1475-9276-11-66 | Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Epidemiology and Global Health, Umeå University, Umeå 901 87, Sweden; Postgraduate Programs in Health Administration and Public Health, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Cr. 40 6-23 P.8, Bogota, Colombia; Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Population Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada; School of Public Health, University of the Western Cape, P Bag X17, Bellville 7535, South Africa | Mosquera, P.A., Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Epidemiology and Global Health, Umeå University, Umeå 901 87, Sweden, Postgraduate Programs in Health Administration and Public Health, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Cr. 40 6-23 P.8, Bogota, Colombia; Hernández, J., Postgraduate Programs in Health Administration and Public Health, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Cr. 40 6-23 P.8, Bogota, Colombia; Vega, R., Postgraduate Programs in Health Administration and Public Health, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Cr. 40 6-23 P.8, Bogota, Colombia; Martínez, J., Postgraduate Programs in Health Administration and Public Health, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Cr. 40 6-23 P.8, Bogota, Colombia; Labonte, R., Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Population Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada; Sanders, D., School of Public Health, University of the Western Cape, P Bag X17, Bellville 7535, South Africa; San Sebastián, M., Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Epidemiology and Global Health, Umeå University, Umeå 901 87, Sweden | Background: Colombia is one of the countries with the widest levels of socioeconomic and health inequalities. Bogotá, its capital, faces serious problems of poverty, social disparities and access to health services. A Primary Health Care (PHC) strategy was implemented in 2004 to improve health care and to address the social determinants of such inequalities. This study aimed to evaluate the contribution of the PHC strategy to reducing inequalities in child health outcomes in Bogotá. Methods. An ecological analysis with localities as the unit of analysis was carried out. The variable used to capture the socioeconomic status and living standards was the Quality of Life Index (QLI). Concentration curves and concentration indices for four child health outcomes (infant mortality rate (IMR), under-5 mortality rate, prevalence of acute malnutrition in children under-5, and vaccination coverage for diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus) were calculated to measure socioeconomic inequality. Two periods were used to describe possible changes in the magnitude of the inequalities related with the PHC implementation (2003 year before - 2007 year after implementation). The contribution of the PHC intervention was computed by a decomposition analysis carried out on data from 2007. Results: In both 2003 and 2007, concentration curves and indexes of IMR, under-5 mortality rate and acute malnutrition showed inequalities to the disadvantage of localities with lower QLI. Diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus (DPT) vaccinations were more prevalent among localities with higher QLI in 2003 but were higher in localities with lower QLI in 2007. The variation of the concentration index between 2003 and 2007 indicated reductions in inequality for all of the indicators in the period after the PHC implementation. In 2007, PHC was associated with a reduction in the effect of the inequality that affected disadvantaged localities in under-5 mortality (24%), IMR (19%) and acute malnutrition (7%). PHC also contributed approximately 20% to inequality in DPT coverage, favoring the poorer localities. Conclusion: The PHC strategy developed in Bogotá appears to be contributing to reductions of the inequality associated with socioeconomic and living conditions in child health outcomes. © 2012 Mosquera et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | Bogotá; Concentration index; Decomposition; Health status disparities; Inequality; Primary health care | diphtheria pertussis tetanus vaccine; child health; health services; health status; implementation process; malnutrition; mortality; quality of life; socioeconomic status; vaccination; article; child; child health; Colombia; diphtheria; human; malnutrition; mortality; outcome assessment; pertussis; preschool child; prevalence; primary health care; priority journal; quality of life; school child; social status; tetanus; vaccination; Adolescent; Child; Child Mortality; Child Nutrition Disorders; Child, Preschool; Colombia; Family Characteristics; Health Status Disparities; Healthcare Disparities; Humans; Infant; Infant Mortality; Primary Health Care; Quality of Life; Social Environment; Socioeconomic Factors; Colombia | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84865058839 | Performance of community health workers under integrated community case management of childhood illnesses in Eastern Uganda | Kalyango J.N., Rutebemberwa E., Alfven T., Ssali S., Peterson S., Karamagi C. | 2012 | Malaria Journal | 11 | None | 10.1186/1475-2875-11-282 | Department of Public Health Sciences, Division of Global Health (IHCAR), Karolinska Institutet, SE 17177, Stockholm, Sweden; Clinical Epidemiology Unit, Makerere University, College of Health Sciences, P.O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda; Department of Pharmacy, Makerere University, College of Health Sciences, P.O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda; Department of Health Policy, Planning and Management, School of Public Health, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda; Department of Paediatrics, Sach's Children's Hospital, Södersjukhuset, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Gender and Women Studies, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda; International Maternal and Child Health, Department of Women and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden; Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Makerere University, College of Health Sciences, P.O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda | Kalyango, J.N., Department of Public Health Sciences, Division of Global Health (IHCAR), Karolinska Institutet, SE 17177, Stockholm, Sweden, Clinical Epidemiology Unit, Makerere University, College of Health Sciences, P.O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda, Department of Pharmacy, Makerere University, College of Health Sciences, P.O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda; Rutebemberwa, E., Department of Health Policy, Planning and Management, School of Public Health, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda; Alfven, T., Department of Public Health Sciences, Division of Global Health (IHCAR), Karolinska Institutet, SE 17177, Stockholm, Sweden, Department of Paediatrics, Sach's Children's Hospital, Södersjukhuset, Stockholm, Sweden; Ssali, S., Department of Gender and Women Studies, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda; Peterson, S., Department of Public Health Sciences, Division of Global Health (IHCAR), Karolinska Institutet, SE 17177, Stockholm, Sweden, Department of Health Policy, Planning and Management, School of Public Health, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda, International Maternal and Child Health, Department of Women and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden; Karamagi, C., Clinical Epidemiology Unit, Makerere University, College of Health Sciences, P.O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Makerere University, College of Health Sciences, P.O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda | Background: Curative interventions delivered by community health workers (CHWs) were introduced to increase access to health services for children less than five years and have previously targeted single illnesses. However, CHWs in the integrated community case management of childhood illnesses strategy adopted in Uganda in 2010 will manage multiple illnesses. There is little documentation about the performance of CHWs in the management of multiple illnesses. This study compared the performance of CHWs managing malaria and pneumonia with performance of CHWs managing malaria alone in eastern Uganda and the factors influencing performance. Methods. A mixed methods study was conducted among 125 CHWs providing either dual malaria and pneumonia management or malaria management alone for children aged four to 59 months. Performance was assessed using knowledge tests, case scenarios of sick children, review of CHWs registers, and observation of CHWs in the dual management arm assessing respiratory symptoms. Four focus group discussions with CHWs were also conducted. Results: CHWs in the dual- and single-illness management arms had similar performance with respect to: overall knowledge of malaria (dual 72%, single 70%); eliciting malaria signs and symptoms (50% in both groups); prescribing anti-malarials based on case scenarios (82% dual, 80% single); and correct prescription of anti-malarials from record reviews (dual 99%, single 100%). In the dual-illness arm, scores for malaria and pneumonia differed on overall knowledge (72% vs 40%, p<0.001); and correct doses of medicines from records (100% vs 96%, p<0.001). According to records, 82% of the children with fast breathing had received an antibiotic. From observations 49% of CHWs counted respiratory rates within five breaths of the physician (gold standard) and 75% correctly classified the children. The factors perceived to influence CHWs performance were: community support and confidence, continued training, availability of drugs and other necessary supplies, and cooperation from formal health workers. Conclusion: CHWs providing dual-illness management handled malaria cases as well as CHWs providing single-illness management, and also performed reasonably well in the management of pneumonia. With appropriate training that emphasizes pneumonia assessment, adequate supervision, and provision of drugs and necessary supplies, CHWs can provide integrated treatment for malaria and pneumonia. © 2012 Kalyango et al. | Children; CHW; CMDs; Health system research; ICCM; Malaria; Performance; Pneumonia | antibiotic agent; antimalarial agent; article; case management; child; childhood disease; clinical observation; cooperation; female; gold standard; health auxiliary; health education; health program; human; infant; knowledge; major clinical study; malaria; male; medical record review; pneumonia; preschool child; prescription; scoring system; social support; tachypnea; Uganda; Child, Preschool; Community Health Workers; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Health Services Research; Humans; Infant; Interviews as Topic; Malaria; Pneumonia; Professional Competence; Uganda | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33746427577 | Reviewing institutions of rural health centres: The Performance Initiative in Butare, Rwanda | Meessen B., Musango L., Kashala J.-P.I., Lemlin J. | 2006 | Tropical Medicine and International Health | 11 | 8 | 10.1111/j.1365-3156.2006.01680.x | Department of Public Health, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium; Department of Economics, Université Catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium; School of Public Health, Kigali, Rwanda; HealthNet International, Amsterdam, Netherlands; Department of Public Health, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nationalestraat 155, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium | Meessen, B., Department of Public Health, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium, Department of Economics, Université Catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium, Department of Public Health, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nationalestraat 155, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium; Musango, L., School of Public Health, Kigali, Rwanda; Kashala, J.-P.I., HealthNet International, Amsterdam, Netherlands; Lemlin, J., HealthNet International, Amsterdam, Netherlands | In many low-income countries, performance of pyramidal health systems with a public purpose is not meeting the expectations and needs of the populations they serve. A question that has not been studied and tested sufficiently is, 'What is the right package of institutional mechanisms required for organisations and individuals working in these health systems?' This paper presents the experience of the Performance Initiative, an innovative contractual approach that has reshaped the incentive structure in place in two rural districts of Rwanda. It describes the general background, the initial analysis, the institutional arrangement and the results after 3 years of operations. At this stage of the experience, it shows that 'output-based payment + greater autonomy' is a feasible and effective strategy for improving the performance of public health centres. As part of a more global package of strategies, contracting-in approaches could be an interesting option for governments, donors and non-governmental organisations in their effort to achieve some of the Millennium Development Goals. © 2006 Blackwell Publishing Ltd. | Contracting; Developing countries; Fee-for-service; Health services; Millennium development goals | health services; incentive; low income population; Millenium Development Goal; nongovernmental organization; public health; rural area; state role; article; data analysis; developing country; government; health care system; health center; health service; lowest income group; public health service; rural health care; Rwanda; Community Health Services; Contracts; Delivery of Health Care; Employee Incentive Plans; Fee-for-Service Plans; Financial Support; Health Care Costs; Health Personnel; Health Resources; Humans; Organizational Innovation; Public Health; Quality of Health Care; Rural Health; Rwanda; Africa; Butare; Central Africa; Rwanda; Sub-Saharan Africa | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84866972182 | Retrospective evaluation of analgesics prescribing pattern in a tertiary hospital in Nigeria | Ehikhamenor E.E., Aghahowa S.E., Azodo C.C. | 2012 | Journal of Medicine and Biomedical Research | 11 | 1 | None | Department of Restorative Dentistry, University of Benin, Benin City, Edo State, 300001, Nigeria | Ehikhamenor, E.E., Department of Restorative Dentistry, University of Benin, Benin City, Edo State, 300001, Nigeria; Aghahowa, S.E., Department of Restorative Dentistry, University of Benin, Benin City, Edo State, 300001, Nigeria; Azodo, C.C., Department of Restorative Dentistry, University of Benin, Benin City, Edo State, 300001, Nigeria | The study was designed to retrospectively evaluate the analgesics prescribing pattern in the Accident and Emergency (A and E) Unit of University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City. The data was retrieved from the pharmacy archives type of analgesics and its routes of administration whether oral or parenteral in all prescriptions from January 2000- December 2006. The analysis was done using SPSS version 13.0 and data presented in tabular form. The total utilization trend in this study showed that analgesic prescription increased over the years except for considered year 2003. The total analgesics utility increment from 2000 to 2006 was 189.5% which was high. Seventeen different types of analgesics were prescribed and utilized. Among them, 8 were utilized orally only, 3 were utilized parenterally only and 6 were used both orally and parenterally for different clinical conditions. Oral administration was more frequently used than parental route. Non-opioid type of analgesics was utilized more than opioid. With oral route being the most favoured route of administration and opioids with exception of tramadol were exclusively administered parenterally. Paracetamol was the commonest prescribed analgesic in accident and emergency department. The result of this study may help to predict the needs of patients thus providing a database for pharmacy stocking template for analgesics to prevent unnecessary donations and purchases. Relevant studies need to be carried out to determine the effectiveness of analgesics in the Accident and Emergency unit of our Centre. | Analgesics; Hospital; Nigeria; Pattern; Prescription | acetylsalicylic acid; analgesic agent; celecoxib; diclofenac; dipyrone; fentanyl; ibuprofen; indometacin; ketorolac; morphine; naproxen; narcotic analgesic agent; paracetamol; pentazocine; piroxicam; tenoxicam; tramadol; article; drug use; drug utilization; needs assessment; Nigeria; prescription; retrospective study; tertiary health care | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84866016107 | Management and evaluation of technological capability in ICT firms: An information system approach | Aderemi H.O., Oyebisi T.O. | 2012 | International Journal of Business Information Systems | 11 | 2 | 10.1504/IJBIS.2012.048887 | Department of Technology Innovation and Enterprise Studies, National Centre for Technology Management, Obafemi Awolowo University, P.M.B. 012, Ile-Ife, 22005, Nigeria; African Institute for Science Policy and Innovation, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-If | Aderemi, H.O., Department of Technology Innovation and Enterprise Studies, National Centre for Technology Management, Obafemi Awolowo University, P.M.B. 012, Ile-Ife, 22005, Nigeria; Oyebisi, T.O., African Institute for Science Policy and Innovation, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, 22005, Nigeria | Technological capability (TC) is the key assets and resources that enable a country and its enterprises to generate innovations, compete internationally and attain reasonable level of economic progress. While the accumulation of TC is central to organisations, its management and evaluation is less apparent. This study deployed the use of a time series information system to capture and evaluate TC in ICT firms using the visual basic programming language. Structured questionnaires and personal interviews were used to obtain primary data from purposively sampled 185 ICT firms involved in production, engineering, maintenance of ICT hardware and software with 85% response rate. The computer software developed generated information system that served as decision support for the management of TC in the firms. Evaluation of the software report reveal that successful conduct of feasibility studies, supplier linkage, networking with government laboratories and research institutes have implication for the generation of technology innovations in the firms. TC's like licensing, copying of imports and hardware manufacturing skills promotes the generation of innovations in the firm. Policy instrument can be used to boost technological learning and development in the areas identified. Copyright © 2012 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd. | Business; Evaluation; Firms; ICT; Information and communications technology; Management; Software; TC; Technological capability; Technology innovation | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-65349173593 | Neurosurgery in nigeria - An evaluation of the perception of health personnel in a new centre and a comparison of the nigerian situation with that of other african states | Emejulu J.K.C. | 2008 | Nigerian Journal of Clinical Practice | 11 | 4 | None | Department of Surgery, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Teaching Hospital Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria | Emejulu, J.K.C., Department of Surgery, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Teaching Hospital Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria | Background: Neurosurgery has become endangered species in Nigeria. We have only 15 practising neurosurgeons for our population of 150million, giving a ratio of one neurosurgeon to 1 Omillion Nigerians. Of the 26 accredited medical schools, only 6 offer neurosurgery. This study is a preliminary evaluation of the perceptions about neurosurgery before the commencement of neurosurgical services in a tertiary health institution, and a comparison with the situation in other African countries. Methodology: A questionnaire designed after the 5-point Likert rating scale was distributed to doctors, nurses, final-year medical/nursing students, paramedics and administrative staff of the 350-bed health institution. The completed questionnaires that were returned, were collated and data analysis done. Results: Out of 200 questionnaires distributed, 164 were completed and returned. Most of the respondents were females 59.1%, and most were in the 20 30 year age group, 57.3%; more than 96% stated that they have heard of neurosurgery previously, but rated the available services in Nigeria as inadequate 50.6%, and quality of services as fair 39.6% or poor 36.6%, respectively. In their opinion, political and administrative lapses rather than funding are responsible for the poor state of affairs, culminating in unavailability of adequate manpower and facilities. Health policy changes and provision of facilities with manpower training were suggested by 78% of respondents as the solution to the problem. Most, however agree that neurosurgery has good prospects 78%, m the institution. Conclusion: Neurosurgical service in Nigeria is grossly inadequate both in availability and quality, and these have resulted from bad government policies. It is therefore of utmost necessity that services and training be urgently provided in this specialty, at least in the tertiary institutions in Nigeria. | Africa; Neurosurgeons; Population; Ratio; World | Africa; article; comparative study; education; female; health care delivery; health care policy; health personnel attitude; human; male; manpower; neurosurgery; Nigeria; questionnaire; Africa; Attitude of Health Personnel; Female; Health Policy; Health Services Accessibility; Humans; Male; Neurosurgery; Nigeria; Questionnaires | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84860808884 | Assessment of quality and performance of some selected furnishing fabrics | Fashola K.O., Giwa A., Iliya E.B., Orivri D.O. | 2012 | Middle East Journal of Scientific Research | 11 | 4 | None | Department of Textile Science and Technology, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria | Fashola, K.O., Department of Textile Science and Technology, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria; Giwa, A., Department of Textile Science and Technology, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria; Iliya, E.B., Department of Textile Science and Technology, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria; Orivri, D.O., Department of Textile Science and Technology, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria | A comparative study has been made on the quality and performance of some selected foreign and locally made furnishing fabrics. Properties, such as, fabric weight, fabric sett, thickness, yarn crimp, linear density, wettability, flammability, shrinkage, handle, drape, wash fastness, light fastness, tensile, soil retention, crease recovery, air-permeability and abrasion resistance were investigated. The results obtained show that these fabrics possess acceptable properties for their end-use suitability. The locally made fabrics are better in terms of wash fastness, fabric shrinkage, air permeability and abrasion resistance while the foreign fabrics are better in terms of crease recovery, drapeability, tensile properties, wettability, crimp, thickness, flammability and soil retention rating, fabric sett, fabric weight, light fastness and fabric handle. Also, the locally made fabrics favourably match up to the imported ones. © 2012 IDOSI Publications. | Curtains; Fabrics; Furnishing; Properties; Quality | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79960981190 | Evaluation of the LTK63 adjuvant effect on cellular immune responses to measles virus nucleoprotein | Erume J., Partidos C.D. | 2011 | African Health Sciences | 11 | 2 | None | Department of Veterinary Parasitology and Microbiology, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda; Department of Pathology and Infectious diseases, The Royal Veterinary College, London NW1, United Kingdom | Erume, J., Department of Veterinary Parasitology and Microbiology, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda; Partidos, C.D., Department of Pathology and Infectious diseases, The Royal Veterinary College, London NW1, United Kingdom | Background: A lot of pathogens enter the body via the nasal route. The construction of non-toxic mutants of heat labile Escherichia coli enterotoxin (LT), which is a potent mucosal adjuvant, represents a major breakthrough for the development of mucosal vaccines. Objective: This study was undertaken to critically evaluate the adjuvanticity of the mutant of LT (LTK63) on the cellular immune responses to intranasally co-administered recombinant measles virus nucleoprotein (rMVNP). Methods: Groups of CBA mice were immunized intranasally with rMVNP with or without LT or LTK63 as adjuvants. Another group was immunized subcutaneously with rMVNP in Freund's adjuvant. rMVNP and measles virus (MV) were used in a proliferation assay to test the LTK63 potentiating ability to induce T cell responses. Subsequently MVNP synthetic peptides spanning the length of the N protein were used with a proliferation assay to identify the T cell epitopes. Results: Splenocytes from mice immunized intranasally with rMVNP plus LT or LTK63, showed strong dose dependent proliferative responses to both the MVNP and MV. However, proliferative responses from the latter group were significantly lower than the former group (P < 0.05). Splenocytes tested recognized peptides 20, 21, 28, 31, 39, 40 and 50, suggesting these to be among important epitopes. Subcutaneous route was not effective in priming for T cell responses to rMVNP. Conclusion: These data further demonstrate the great potential of LTK63 as a safe mucosal vaccine adjuvant. | Adjuvant; Cellular; Evaluation; Immunity; LTK63; Mice | epitope; Escherichia coli enterotoxin; Freund adjuvant; immunological adjuvant; ltk 63; mutant protein; recombinant measles virus nucleoprotein; unclassified drug; virus nucleoprotein; animal cell; animal experiment; antigen recognition; article; cellular immunity; controlled study; dose response; female; lymphocyte proliferation; measles; Measles virus; nonhuman; spleen cell; T lymphocyte; Adjuvants, Immunologic; Administration, Intranasal; Animals; Bacterial Toxins; Cell Proliferation; Enterotoxins; Epitopes; Escherichia coli; Escherichia coli Proteins; Female; Immunity, Cellular; Immunity, Mucosal; Measles virus; Mice; Mice, Inbred CBA; Nucleoproteins; Spleen; Vaccines; Viral Proteins | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84964225193 | Hypolipidaemic and haematological evaluation of the hydromethanolic extract of Ficus glumosa stem bark in alloxan-induced diabetic rats | Onoja S.O., Omeh Y.N., Ezeja M.I., Chukwu V.N. | 2014 | Journal of Complementary and Integrative Medicine | 11 | 4 | 10.1515/jcim-2014-0029 | Department of Veterinary Physiology, Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Animal Health and Production, College of Veterinary Medicine, Micheal Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria; Department of Biochemistry, College of Natural Scienc | Onoja, S.O., Department of Veterinary Physiology, Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Animal Health and Production, College of Veterinary Medicine, Micheal Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria; Omeh, Y.N., Department of Biochemistry, College of Natural Sciences, Micheal Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria; Ezeja, M.I., Department of Veterinary Physiology, Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Animal Health and Production, College of Veterinary Medicine, Micheal Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria; Chukwu, V.N., Department of Biochemistry, College of Natural Sciences, Micheal Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria | Background: Diabetes mellitus is associated with dyslipidaemia and haematological disorders which lead to cardiovascular complications and anaemia respectively. In this study, hydromethanolic extract of Ficus glumosa was evaluated for its hypolipidaemic and haematological effects in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Methods: Treatment was done orally using 62.5, 125 and 250 mg/kg of F. glumosa extract (FGE) with glibenclamide (2 mg/kg) as standard reference drug for 21 days. At the end of the treatment, blood collected through direct heart puncture was used for evaluation of serum lipid profile and determination of haematological parameters. Organosomatic index evaluation of the liver, spleen and kidney was also done using standard procedures. Results: All doses of the extract and glibenclamide (2 mg/kg) caused dose-dependent and significant (p<0.05) reduction in serum levels of total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) of the treated rats when compared with the control group. The extract and glibenclamide produced significant (p<0.05) increase in the serum levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) in the treated rats. The extract (62.5 mg/kg) and glibenclamide (2 mg/kg) caused a significant (p<0.05) increase in red blood cell (RBC), haemoglobin (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) in the treated rats when compared to the negative control group. However, FGE (62.5 mg/kg) and glibenclamide (2 mg/kg) produced a significant (p<0.05) decrease in mean corpuscular volume (MCV) value of the treated rats. FGE (125 and 250 mg/kg) produced a significant (p<0.05) increase in the organosomatic index of kidney in treated rats. Conclusions: The results suggest that F. glumosa may be of help in diabetes-induced anaemia and dyslipidaemia associated with diabetes mellitus. © 2014 by De Gruyter. | alloxan monohydrate; diabetes mellitus; Ficus glumosa; haematology; hypolipidaemia | antilipemic agent; cholesterol; Ficus glumosa extract; glibenclamide; hematologic agent; hemoglobin; high density lipoprotein cholesterol; low density lipoprotein cholesterol; methanol; plant extract; triacylglycerol; unclassified drug; very low density lipoprotein; alloxan-induced diabetes mellitus; anemia; animal experiment; animal model; animal tissue; antilipemic activity; Article; bark; cholesterol blood level; controlled study; drug activity; drug effect; dyslipidemia; erythrocyte; Ficus; Ficus glumosa; hematocrit; hematological parameters; kidney; liver; male; mean corpuscular hemoglobin; mean corpuscular volume; medical parameters; nonhuman; organosomatic index; plant stem; rat; solvent extraction; spleen; triacylglycerol blood level | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84879262893 | Growth performance of Clarias gariepinus fed dietary milk fat | Orire A.M., Fawole S.O. | 2012 | Pakistan Journal of Nutrition | 11 | 11 | None | Department of Water Resources, Aquaculture and Fisheries Technology, Federal University of Technology, Minna, P.M.B. 65, Nigeria | Orire, A.M., Department of Water Resources, Aquaculture and Fisheries Technology, Federal University of Technology, Minna, P.M.B. 65, Nigeria; Fawole, S.O., Department of Water Resources, Aquaculture and Fisheries Technology, Federal University of Technology, Minna, P.M.B. 65, Nigeria | A feeding trial was conducted on the utilization of milk fat as lipid energy source by Clarias gariepinus fingerlings (0.85±0.03 g). The fishes were fed with 0, 5, 10, 15, 20% milk fat based diets respectively for 8 weeks. The results obtained showed significant differences (p<0.05) for diets containing graded levels of milk fat in terms of weight gain, feed efficiency ratio and specific growth rate when compared with the control diet (0% milk fat). Among the milk fat based diets, containing that had 20% inclusion level of milk fat gave the highest specific growth rate and lowest feed conversion ratio. Carcass analysis showed that there was a significant difference (p<0.05) between the control diet and milk fat based diets. Therefore, the results indicated efficient utilization of milk fat as protein sparing which would promote sustainable aquaculture in view of the high cost fish oil. © Asian Network for Scientific Information, 2012. | Clarias gariepinus; Fish oil; Milk fat; Protein sparing | fish oil; milk fat; animal experiment; animal food; animal tissue; aquaculture; article; body composition; body weight; carcass; Clarias gariepinus; controlled study; cost benefit analysis; dietary intake; energy resource; food composition; growth rate; nonhuman; water quality; weight gain; Clarias gariepinus; Pisces | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-45149096294 | Evaluation of the transformation mechanisms and mechanical properties of ferrite - Martensite microalloyed steels | Henry O., Monde K.C. | 2008 | Materials Research | 11 | 1 | 10.1590/S1516-14392008000100019 | Department of Welding/Fabrication Engr., Delta State Polytechnic, P.M.B 1030, Ogwashi-Uku, Delta State, Nigeria; Department of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria | Henry, O., Department of Welding/Fabrication Engr., Delta State Polytechnic, P.M.B 1030, Ogwashi-Uku, Delta State, Nigeria; Monde, K.C., Department of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria | The influence of starting point microstructures on the transformation mechanisms and mechanical properties of a micro alloyed steel after annealing in the α + γregion have been investigated. Three different microstructures: austenite, pearlite in a ferrite matrix and martensite were used as starting point microstructures for the production of dual (α + α) phase structures in the test steel. Photomicrographs obtained from metallographic examination of the heat treated samples were used as criteria for the assessment of results obtained from impact toughness and hardness testing. The results obtained showed that the transformation mechanisms and hence the morphology of ferrite - martensite microalloyed steels are strongly influenced by their initial microstructural details. Ferrite - martensite structures produced via the intercritical quench (IQ) treatment, with martensite as the starting point microstructure, have the best combination of hardness and impact energy. | Intercritical annealing; Intercritical quenching; Step quenching | Annealing; Ferrite; Hardness; Hardness testing; Impact testing; Iron; Lithography; Martensite; Mathematical transformations; Mechanical properties; Mechanisms; Microstructure; Morphology; Pearlitic transformations; Phase structure; Steel; Steel analysis; Steel metallography; Steel pipe; (PL) properties; Alloyed steels; Different microstructures; ferrite matrix; impact energies; Impact toughness; Intercritical; Martensite structures; Metallographic examination; Micro structural; Microalloyed (MA) steels; Starting points; Transformation mechanisms; Ferritic steel | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84859295158 | Toxicological evaluation and usefulness of lipid peroxidation as biomarker of exposure to crude oil and petroleum products tested against african catfish, clarias gariepinus and hermit crab, clibanarius africanus | King M.A., Sogbanmu T.O., Osibona A.O., Doherty F., Otitoloju A.A. | 2012 | Nature Environment and Pollution Technology | 11 | 1 | None | Department of Zoology, Environmental Toxicology and Pollution Management Unit, University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos, Nigeria; Department of Marine Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos, Nigeria; Department of Biological Sciences, Ya | King, M.A., Department of Zoology, Environmental Toxicology and Pollution Management Unit, University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos, Nigeria; Sogbanmu, T.O., Department of Zoology, Environmental Toxicology and Pollution Management Unit, University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos, Nigeria; Osibona, A.O., Department of Marine Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos, Nigeria; Doherty, F., Department of Biological Sciences, Yaba College of Technology, Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria; Otitoloju, A.A., Department of Zoology, Environmental Toxicology and Pollution Management Unit, University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos, Nigeria | The toxicological evaluations of crude oil, petrol, kerosene and diesel were carried out against the African Catfish (Clarias gariepinus) fingerlings and Hermit crab (Clibanarius africanus). On the basis of 96hr LC 50 value, petrol (LC 50 = 2.449 mL/L) was found to be the most toxic followed by diesel (LC50 = 7.839 mL/L), kerosene (LC 50 = 8.095 mL/L), and crude oil (LC 50= 9.355 mL/L) to Clarias gariepinus. For Clibanarius africanus also, petrol (LC 50 = 4.569mL/L) was the most toxic followed by kerosene (LC 50 = 8.705 mL/L), diesel (LC 50 = 13.852 mL/L) and (LC 50 = 35.955 mL/L). On the basis of the computed susceptibility factor, hermit crab was found to be 2x, 2x, 6.1x and slightly more tolerant than catfish when exposed to petrol, diesel, crude oil and kerosene respectively. The results of the lipid peroxidation assay against juveniles of C. gariepinus showed that the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) in the liver of fish exposed to sublethal concentrations of all the test chemicals increased significantly when compared to control animals. The observed increase in MDA levels in the liver tissues of test animals exposed to crude oil and refined petroleum products was recommended as a good biomarker for early detection of oil related pollution during biomonitoring programmes. | African catfish; Biomarker; Hermit crab; Lipid peroxidation; Petroleum products; Toxicological evaluation | African catfish; Biomonitoring; Clarias gariepinus; Hermit crab; Lipid peroxidation; Liver tissue; Malondialdehyde; Toxicological evaluation; Aldehydes; Biomarkers; Computer system firewalls; Fish; Gasoline; Kerosene; Oxidative stress; Petroleum products; Petroleum refining; Pollution detection; Shellfish; Tissue; Crude oil; biomarker; biomonitoring; crab; crude oil; lipid; pollution exposure; sublethal effect; teleost; toxicology; Animalia; Clarias gariepinus; Clibanarius; Decapoda (Crustacea) | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79953094758 | Development and evaluation of a patient centered cardiovascular health education program for insured patients in rural Nigeria (QUICK - II) | Odusola A.O., Hendriks M., Schultsz C., Stronks K., Lange J., Osibogun A., Akande T., Alli S., Adenusi P., Agbede K., Haafkens J. | 2011 | BMC Public Health | 11 | None | 10.1186/1471-2458-11-171 | Dept of Global Health, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Pietersbergweg 17, Amsterdam, 1105 BM, Netherlands; PharmAccess Foundation, 1c Raymond Njoku Street, S.W. Ikoyi, Lagos, Nigeria; Dept of Neurology, Academic Medical Center, Universit | Odusola, A.O., Dept of Global Health, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Pietersbergweg 17, Amsterdam, 1105 BM, Netherlands, PharmAccess Foundation, 1c Raymond Njoku Street, S.W. Ikoyi, Lagos, Nigeria; Hendriks, M., Dept of Global Health, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Pietersbergweg 17, Amsterdam, 1105 BM, Netherlands, Dept of Neurology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, 1105 AZ, Netherlands; Schultsz, C., Dept of Global Health, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Pietersbergweg 17, Amsterdam, 1105 BM, Netherlands, Oxford University Clinical Research Unit, Hospital for Tropical Diseases, 190 Ben Ham Tu, Ho Chi Min City, District 5, Viet Nam; Stronks, K., Dept of Public Health, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, 1105 AZ, Netherlands; Lange, J., Dept of Global Health, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Pietersbergweg 17, Amsterdam, 1105 BM, Netherlands; Osibogun, A., Dept of Community Health, Lagos University Teaching Hospital, P.M.B.12003, Idi-Araba, Surulere, Lagos, Nigeria; Akande, T., Dept of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, P.M.B. 1459, Ilorin, postal code 240001, Nigeria; Alli, S., Dept of Cardiology, Lagoon Hospitals, 8 Marine Road, Apapa, Lagos, Nigeria; Adenusi, P., Hygeia Nigeria Ltd, 13B Idejo Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria; Agbede, K., Ogo Oluwa Hospital, 64/65 Ahmadu Bello Way, Bacita, Kwara State, Nigeria; Haafkens, J., Dept of General Practice, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, 1105 AZ, Netherlands | Background: In Sub Saharan Africa, the incidence of hypertension and other modifiable cardiovascular risk factors is growing rapidly. Poor adherence to prescribed prevention and treatment regimens by patients can compromise treatment outcomes. Patient-centered cardiovascular health education is likely to improve shortcomings in adherence. This paper describes a study that aims to develop a cardiovascular health education program for patients participating in a subsidized insurance plan in Nigeria and to evaluate the applicability and effectiveness in patients at increased risk for cardiovascular disease. Methods/Design. Design: The study has two parts. Part 1 will develop a cardiovascular health education program, using qualitative interviews with stakeholders. Part 2 will evaluate the effectiveness of the program in patients, using a prospective (pre-post) observational design. Setting: A rural primary health center in Kwara State, Nigeria. Population: For part 1: 40 patients, 10 healthcare professionals, and 5 insurance managers. For part 2: 150 patients with uncontrolled hypertension or other cardiovascular risk factors after one year of treatment. Intervention: Part 2: patient-centered cardiovascular health education program. Measurements: Part 1: Semi-structured interviews to identify stakeholder perspectives. Part 2: Pre- and post-intervention assessments including patients' demographic and socioeconomic data, blood pressure, body mass index and self-reporting measures on medication adherence and perception of care. Feasibility of the intervention will be measured using process data. Outcomes: For program development (part 1): overview of healthcare professionals' perceptions on barriers and facilitators to care, protocol for patient education, and protocol implementation plan. For program evaluation (part 2): changes in patients' scores on adherence to medication and life style changes, blood pressure, and other physiological and self-reporting measures at six months past baseline. Analysis: Part 1: content analytic technique utilizing MAXQDA software. Part 2: univariate and multilevel analysis to assess outcomes of intervention. Discussion. Diligent implementation of patient-centered education should enhance adherence to cardiovascular disease prevention and management programs in low income countries. Trial Registration. ISRCTN47894401. © 2011 Odusola et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | None | adolescent; adult; article; cardiovascular disease; evaluation; female; health care quality; health insurance; human; insurance; male; methodology; middle aged; Nigeria; organization and management; patient care; patient education; program development; prospective study; risk factor; rural health care; Adolescent; Adult; Cardiovascular Diseases; Female; Humans; Insurance Coverage; Insurance, Health; Male; Middle Aged; Nigeria; Patient Education as Topic; Patient-Centered Care; Program Development; Program Evaluation; Prospective Studies; Research Design; Risk Factors; Rural Health Services; Young Adult | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84895862853 | Rearing performance of eri-silkworm (Samia cynthia ricini Boisduval) (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) fed with different castor (Ricinus communis L.) genotypes | Shifa K., Getu E., Sori W. | 2014 | Journal of Entomology | 11 | 1 | 10.39231je.2014.34.4 | Melkassa Agricultural Research Center, P.O. Box 436, Nazareth, Ethiopia; AddIs Ababa University, P.O. Box 1176, Adhs Ababa, Ethiopia; Jimma University, P.O. Box 307, Jimma, Ethiopia | Shifa, K., Melkassa Agricultural Research Center, P.O. Box 436, Nazareth, Ethiopia; Getu, E., AddIs Ababa University, P.O. Box 1176, Adhs Ababa, Ethiopia; Sori, W., Jimma University, P.O. Box 307, Jimma, Ethiopia | Growth, development, reproduction and yield of silkworms depend on the availability and supply of preferred host plants having good agronomic and nutritional characteristics. Eri-silkworm, Samia cynthia recini B. is a multivoltine and polyphgous insect feeding on diversified host plants among which castor is a primary host plant. There is differential preference for the different varieties of castor by S.c. ricini. In the present study, eight different castor genotypes; namely Abaro, Acc 106584, Acc 203241, Acc 208624, Ar sel, Bako, GK sel and local were evaluated for their merits as feed and nutritional sources for white plain S.c. ricini at Melkassa Agricultural Research Center, Ethiopia. The treatments were arranged in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) in three replications. Fifty worms were used in each replication. Significant difference was observed in rearing performance of eri-silkworms when fed to leaves of different castor genotypes. Among castor genotypes fed to eri-silkworm, Abaro fed worms showed medium to maximum records of matured larval weight (8.17 g), effective rate of rearing (74.68%), survival rate (76.08%), cocoon weight (3.34 g), pupal weight (2.86 g), shell weight (0.48 g), silk ratio (14.49%), fecundity (382.00), hatchability (88.17%) and shorter larval duration (584.17 h). In conclusion, genotype Abaro was superior to the other genotypes in improving the rearing performance of eri-silkworms and can be recommended for further research and development work in integrating silkworm activities for silk and oil seed productions. © 2014 Academic Journals Inc. | Castor genotypes; Eri-silkworm; Rearing performance; Samia cynthia ricini | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-35448968769 | The medical management of central nervous system infections in Uganda and the potential impact of an algorithm-based approach to improve outcomes | Trachtenberg J.D., Kambugu A.D., McKellar M., Semitala F., Mayanja-Kizza H., Samore M.H., Ronald A., Sande M.A. | 2007 | International Journal of Infectious Diseases | 11 | 6 | 10.1016/j.ijid.2007.01.014 | Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84124, United States; Department of Medicine, Makerere University School of Medicine, Kampala, Uganda; Mulago Hospital, Kampala, Uganda; Salt Lake City VA Medical, Center, Salt Lake City, UT, United States; Department of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Man., Canada; Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States | Trachtenberg, J.D., Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84124, United States; Kambugu, A.D., Department of Medicine, Makerere University School of Medicine, Kampala, Uganda; McKellar, M., Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84124, United States; Semitala, F., Mulago Hospital, Kampala, Uganda; Mayanja-Kizza, H., Department of Medicine, Makerere University School of Medicine, Kampala, Uganda; Samore, M.H., Salt Lake City VA Medical, Center, Salt Lake City, UT, United States; Ronald, A., Department of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Man., Canada; Sande, M.A., Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States | Background: In sub-Saharan Africa, HIV has increased the spectrum of central nervous system (CNS) infections. The etiological diagnosis is often difficult. Mortality from CNS infections is higher in sub-Saharan Africa compared to Western countries. This study examines the medical management of CNS infections in Uganda. We also propose a clinical algorithm to manage CNS infections in an effective, systematic, and resource-efficient manner. Methods: We prospectively followed 100 consecutive adult patients who were admitted to Mulago Hospital with a suspected diagnosis of a CNS infection without any active participation in their management. From the clinical and outcome data, we created an algorithm to manage CNS infections, which was appropriate for this resource-limited, high HIV prevalence setting. Results: Only 32 patients had a laboratory confirmed diagnosis and 23 of these were diagnosed with cryptococcal meningitis. Overall mortality was 39%, and mortality trended upward when the diagnosis was delayed past 3 days. The initial diagnoses were made clinically without significant laboratory data in 92 of the 100 patients. Because HIV positive patients have a unique spectrum of CNS infections, we created an algorithm that identified HIV-positive patients and diagnosed those with cryptococcal meningitis. After cryptococcal infection was ruled out, previously published algorithms were used to assist in the early diagnosis and treatment of bacterial meningitis, tuberculous meningitis, and other common central nervous system infections. In retrospective comparison with current management, the CNS algorithm reduced overall time to diagnosis and initiate treatment of cryptococcal meningitis from 3.5 days to less than 1 day. Conclusions: CNS infections are complex and difficult to diagnose and treat in Uganda, and are associated with high in-hospital mortality. A clinical algorithm may significantly decrease the time to diagnose and treat CNS infections in a resource-limited setting. © 2007 International Society for Infectious Diseases. | Africa; Algorithm; Central nervous system infection; Cryptococcus; HIV; Meningitis; Neurologic infections | amphotericin B; antimalarial agent; chloramphenicol; fluconazole; penicillin G; adult; algorithm; article; bacterial meningitis; central nervous system infection; controlled study; demography; female; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; lumbar puncture; major clinical study; male; meningitis; prevalence; treatment outcome; Uganda; Adolescent; Adult; Algorithms; Anti-Infective Agents; Central Nervous System Infections; Diagnosis, Differential; Female; HIV Infections; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Practice Guidelines as Topic; Risk Factors; Treatment Outcome; Uganda | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84922341709 | Impact of Xpert MTB/RIF for TB Diagnosis in a Primary Care Clinic with High TB and HIV Prevalence in South Africa: A Pragmatic Randomised Trial | Cox H.S., Mbhele S., Mohess N., Whitelaw A., Muller O., Zemanay W., Little F., Azevedo V., Simpson J., Boehme C.C., Nicol M.P. | 2014 | PLoS Medicine | 11 | 11 | 10.1371/journal.pmed.1001760 | Division of Medical Microbiology and Institute for Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Médecins Sans Frontières, Khayelitsha, South Africa; Division of Medical Microbiology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg, South Africa; Department of Statistical Science, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Khayelitsha Health, City of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics, Geneva, Switzerland | Cox, H.S., Division of Medical Microbiology and Institute for Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa, Médecins Sans Frontières, Khayelitsha, South Africa; Mbhele, S., Division of Medical Microbiology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Mohess, N., Division of Medical Microbiology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Whitelaw, A., Division of Medical Microbiology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa, National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg, South Africa; Muller, O., Médecins Sans Frontières, Khayelitsha, South Africa; Zemanay, W., Division of Medical Microbiology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Little, F., Department of Statistical Science, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Azevedo, V., Khayelitsha Health, City of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Simpson, J., National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg, South Africa; Boehme, C.C., Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics, Geneva, Switzerland; Nicol, M.P., Division of Medical Microbiology and Institute for Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa | Xpert MTB/RIF is approved for use in tuberculosis (TB) and rifampicin-resistance diagnosis. However, data are limited on the impact of Xpert under routine conditions in settings with high TB burden. A pragmatic prospective cluster-randomised trial of Xpert for all individuals with presumptive (symptomatic) TB compared to the routine diagnostic algorithm of sputum microscopy and limited use of culture was conducted in a large TB/HIV primary care clinic. The primary outcome was the proportion of bacteriologically confirmed TB cases not initiating TB treatment by 3 mo after presentation. Secondary outcomes included time to TB treatment and mortality. Unblinded randomisation occurred on a weekly basis. Xpert and smear microscopy were performed on site. Analysis was both by intention to treat (ITT) and per protocol. Between 7 September 2010 and 28 October 2011, 1,985 participants were assigned to the Xpert (n = 982) and routine (n = 1,003) diagnostic algorithms (ITT analysis); 882 received Xpert and 1,063 routine (per protocol analysis). 13% (32/257) of individuals with bacteriologically confirmed TB (smear, culture, or Xpert) did not initiate treatment by 3 mo after presentation in the Xpert arm, compared to 25% (41/167) in the routine arm (ITT analysis, risk ratio 0.51, 95% CI 0.33–0.77, p = 0.0052). The yield of bacteriologically confirmed TB cases among patients with presumptive TB was 17% (167/1,003) with routine diagnosis and 26% (257/982) with Xpert diagnosis (ITT analysis, risk ratio 1.57, 95% CI 1.32–1.87, p<0.001). This difference in diagnosis rates resulted in a higher rate of treatment initiation in the Xpert arm: 23% (229/1,003) and 28% (277/982) in the routine and Xpert arms, respectively (ITT analysis, risk ratio 1.24, 95% CI 1.06–1.44, p = 0.013). Time to treatment initiation was improved overall (ITT analysis, hazard ratio 0.76, 95% CI 0.63–0.92, p = 0.005) and among HIV-infected participants (ITT analysis, hazard ratio 0.67, 95% CI 0.53–0.85, p = 0.001). There was no difference in 6-mo mortality with Xpert versus routine diagnosis. Study limitations included incorrect intervention allocation for a high proportion of participants and that the study was conducted in a single clinic.These data suggest that in this routine primary care setting, use of Xpert to diagnose TB increased the number of individuals with bacteriologically confirmed TB who were treated by 3 mo and reduced time to treatment initiation, particularly among HIV-infected participants. © 2014 Cox et al. | None | rifampicin; tuberculostatic agent; adult; Article; controlled study; diagnostic test; female; follow up; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; intention to treat analysis; major clinical study; male; mortality; outcome assessment; prevalence; primary health care; prospective study; randomized controlled trial; South Africa; sputum cytodiagnosis; time to treatment; tuberculosis; Xpert MTB RIF test; adolescent; aged; antibiotic resistance; complication; genetics; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; microbiology; middle aged; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; outpatient department; primary health care; procedures; real time polymerase chain reaction; time to treatment; tuberculosis; Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant; young adult; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Ambulatory Care Facilities; Antibiotics, Antitubercular; Drug Resistance, Bacterial; Female; HIV Infections; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; Prevalence; Primary Health Care; Prospective Studies; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; Rifampin; South Africa; Time-to-Treatment; Tuberculosis; Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant; Young Adult | CG2007_40200_009, EDCTP, European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84858980471 | Review of wind turbine system and its impact for grid stability | Mishra A.K., Ramesh L., Chowdhury S.P., Chowdhury S. | 2011 | Journal of Electrical Engineering | 11 | 1 | None | Electrical and Electronics Engineering Department, Dr MGR University, Chennai, India; Department of Electrical Engineering, Dr MGR University, Chennai, India; Electrical Engineering Department, University of Cape Town, South Africa | Mishra, A.K., Electrical and Electronics Engineering Department, Dr MGR University, Chennai, India; Ramesh, L., Department of Electrical Engineering, Dr MGR University, Chennai, India; Chowdhury, S.P., Electrical Engineering Department, University of Cape Town, South Africa; Chowdhury, S., Electrical Engineering Department, University of Cape Town, South Africa | This paper presents an overall perspective of wind power plants and grid integration. Various wind turbine systems with different generators are described, and different technical features are compared. The electrical topologies with grid requirement for grid stability of wind farms are summarized and the possible uses of grid stability with wind farms are given. Finally, the Hybrid power system aspect and its impact on grid stability and its requirements are discussed. | Grid integration; Grid stability; Hybrid system; Induction generator; Wind farm; Wind turbine technology | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-67349136857 | Metal (Co, Fe) tribenzotetraazachlorin-fullerene conjugates: Impact of direct π-bonding on the redox behaviour and oxygen reduction reaction | Ozoemena K.I., Mamuru S.A., Fukuda T., Kobayashi N., Nyokong T. | 2009 | Electrochemistry Communications | 11 | 6 | 10.1016/j.elecom.2009.04.011 | Energy and Processes, Materials Science and Manufacturing, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Miering Naude Road, Pretoria 0001, South Africa; Department of Chemistry, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0002, South Africa; Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Tohoku University, Sendai, 980-8578, Japan; Department of Chemistry, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, 6140, South Africa | Ozoemena, K.I., Energy and Processes, Materials Science and Manufacturing, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Miering Naude Road, Pretoria 0001, South Africa, Department of Chemistry, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0002, South Africa; Mamuru, S.A., Department of Chemistry, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0002, South Africa; Fukuda, T., Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Tohoku University, Sendai, 980-8578, Japan; Kobayashi, N., Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Tohoku University, Sendai, 980-8578, Japan; Nyokong, T., Department of Chemistry, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, 6140, South Africa | Novel hexabutylsulphonyltribenzotetraazachlorin-fullerene (C60) complexes of iron (FeHBSTBTAC-C60) and cobalt (CoHBSTBTAC-C60) have been synthesized and their electrochemistry and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) compared with their octabutylsulphonylphthalocyanine analogues (FeOBSPc and CoOBSPc). It is proved that electron-withdrawing substituents (-SO2Bu and C60) on phthalocyanine macrocycle exhibit distinct impact on the solution electrochemistry of these metallophthalocyanine (MPc) complexes. The more electron-withdrawing C60 substituent suppressed ORR compared to the -SO2Bu in alkaline medium. FeOBSPc showed the best ORR activity involving a direct 4-electron mechanism, a rate constant of ∼1 × 108 cm3 mol-1 s-1 and a Tafel slope of -171 mV dec-1. © 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. | Cyclic voltammetry; Metal (Fe, Co) phthalocyanine-C60; Oxygen reduction; RDE experiment | Alkaline medium; Electron mechanism; Electron-withdrawing substituents; Electronwithdrawing; Metallophthalocyanine; Oxygen reduction; Oxygen reduction reaction; Phthalocyanine macrocycle; RDE experiment; Tafel slopes; Cobalt; Electrochemistry; Electrolytic reduction; Fullerenes; Iron compounds; Oxygen; Rate constants; Cyclic voltammetry | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84872015530 | Evaluation of local and elite Cassava genotypes for resistance to cassava brown streak disease in Uganda | Abaca A., Kawuki R., Tukamuhabwa P., Baguma Y., Pariyo A., Alicai T., Omongo C.A., Bua A. | 2012 | Journal of Agronomy | 11 | 3 | 10.3923/ja.2012.65.72 | National Crops Resources Research Institute, Namulonge, PO. Box 7084, Kampala, Uganda; Makerere University Kampala, PO. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda | Abaca, A., National Crops Resources Research Institute, Namulonge, PO. Box 7084, Kampala, Uganda, Makerere University Kampala, PO. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda; Kawuki, R., National Crops Resources Research Institute, Namulonge, PO. Box 7084, Kampala, Uganda; Tukamuhabwa, P., Makerere University Kampala, PO. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda; Baguma, Y., National Crops Resources Research Institute, Namulonge, PO. Box 7084, Kampala, Uganda; Pariyo, A., National Crops Resources Research Institute, Namulonge, PO. Box 7084, Kampala, Uganda; Alicai, T., National Crops Resources Research Institute, Namulonge, PO. Box 7084, Kampala, Uganda; Omongo, C.A., National Crops Resources Research Institute, Namulonge, PO. Box 7084, Kampala, Uganda; Bua, A., National Crops Resources Research Institute, Namulonge, PO. Box 7084, Kampala, Uganda | Cassava production in the East African region is seriously being constrained by the devastating Cassava Brown Streak Disease (CBSD) that causes characteristic above and below ground symptoms, making cassava roots unfit for human consumption. Development of cassava varieties that are resistant and/or tolerant to CBSD is an important component in the CBSD management. Therefore, the main purpose of this study was; to evaluate both local and elite cassava genotypes for possible sources of resistance to CBSD. One hundred and sixteen cassava genotypes were screened for CBSD resistance under field conditions. The experiment was laid out using a Randomized Completely Block Design (RCBD) with three replicates at Namulonge where CBSD pressure is high. A single row plot of six plants per genotype was used. CBSD data were collected monthly for a period of 12 months. Results indicated that foliar and root incidences and severities varied significantly among genotypes (p<0.001). All the local genotypes showed foliar CBSD symptoms with incidence ranging from 0-98% and severity from 1-3.23 whereas, ten of the elite genotypes did not show foliar symptoms. The genotypes NASE 1, MM96/4271, CR 20A-1, TZ06/130, MM96/0686 and MM96/0876 were consistently associated with low CBSD as they had both foliar and root incidence and severity of zero and one, respectively and thus, can be considered parental breeding stock for CBSD resistance breeding. There was a further strong association between CBSD foliar and root symptom as most genotypes that showed foliar symptoms showed root necrosis. © 2012 Asian Network for Scientific Information. | Disease pressure; Incidence; Resistance; Root necrosis; Severity | Manihot esculenta | None |
| WoS | WOS:000270372300005 | Participatory forest management and its impacts on livelihoods and forest status: the case of Bonga forest in Ethiopia | Bekele, M.,Gobeze, T.,Kassa, H.,Lemenih, M. | 2009 | INTERNATIONAL FORESTRY REVIEW | 11 | 3 | None | Ethiopia Off, Wondo Genet Coll Forestry & Nat Resources | None | The forest resources in Ethiopia have suffered decades of mismanagement due mainly to loosely defined property relations over these resources. As one of the solutions, Participatory Forest Management (PFM) scheme was introduced during the early 1990s by some NGOs. Nearly two decades of experience now exists in the country. However systematic assessments of the performance of the scheme are scanty. This study reports the experience from Bonga PFM project, which is one of the oldest pilot sites. Forest inventory and socio-economic survey were conducted to collect data. The study was conducted during a transition from NGO - Community to State - Community based management of the PFM project. PFM is shown to have positive impacts both on the state of the forest and living condition of participant households at least within the project life time. Forest conditions such as seedling and sapling densities improved. PFM also (i) promoted awareness about forest, (ii) capacitated locals to form new institutional arrangement that increased their participation in forest management, helped to reduce open access and assisted a regulated forest use, and (iii) contributed towards social equity in terms of gender and minority ethnic groups. When accompanied with complementary non-forest based livelihood activities. PFM helped to diversify income sources, increase household income level, and build household assets. This reduced dependence of communities on forests for livelihoods. A challenge threatening the sustainability of the PFM program in Ethiopia is the weak government support for the scheme. PFM is still far from being mainstreamed in the forest management system of the country. Thus, it will be appropriate to assess how the PFM programs would perform few years after the support of the NGOs terminates. | "COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION",INCOME,livelihoods,NGOS,Regeneration | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77951159825 | Perceived project value, opportunistic behavior, interorganizational cooperation, and contractor performance | Ntayi J., Rooks G., Eyaa S., Qian C. | 2010 | Journal of African Business | 11 | 1 | 10.1080/15228911003608603 | Faculty of Computing and Management Science, Makerere University Business School, Kampala, Uganda; Department of Technology Management, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, Netherlands; Department of Procurement and Logistics Management, Makerere University Business School, Kampala, Uganda; Nanjing Construction Company, Beijing, China | Ntayi, J., Faculty of Computing and Management Science, Makerere University Business School, Kampala, Uganda; Rooks, G., Department of Technology Management, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, Netherlands; Eyaa, S., Department of Procurement and Logistics Management, Makerere University Business School, Kampala, Uganda; Qian, C., Nanjing Construction Company, Beijing, China | Predictors of contractor performance have attracted the attention of researchers in the developed world. However, research from sub-Saharan Africa to corroborate these findings has remained sparse. What exists is speculative and at best anecdotal. Using data from construction firms in Uganda, this study finds that commitment to the project, perceived value of the project, interorganizational cooperation, and opportunistic behavior are significant predictors of contractor performance. This has both policy and managerial implications, which we present in this paper. © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. | Construction; Contractor performance; Interorganizational relationships; Opportunistic | construction industry; firm size; industrial performance; perception; subcontracting; Sub-Saharan Africa; Uganda | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-22544436439 | Contextual factors at the school and classroom level related to pupils' performance in mathematics in South Africa | Howie S.J. | 2005 | Educational Research and Evaluation | 11 | 2 | 10.1080/13803610500110703 | Faculty of Education, University of Pretoria, South Africa; Faculty of Education, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa | Howie, S.J., Faculty of Education, University of Pretoria, South Africa, Faculty of Education, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa | South African pupils performed well below the TIMSS international average in 1995 and 1999 and significantly below all other countries (including the other African countries) in the 1999 study. Path analysis, namely Partial Least Square (PLS) analysis, was applied to the South African TIMSS-R data to explore the effect of contextual factors at school level and classroom level within South African schools on the aggregated pupils' performance in mathematics. The results from the combined school- and classroom-level model revealed a relationship between the location of the schools, teachers' attitudes and beliefs, teaching load, lesson planning, and class size; all of which had direct effects on the South African pupils' aggregated performance in mathematics and in total explained 27% of the variance in the mathematics scores. © 2005 Taylor & Francis Group Ltd. | None | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84863802492 | Effects of replacing maize with yam peel meal on short term laying performance of Japanese Quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica) | Edache J.A., Yisa A.G., Opkala E.J. | 2012 | Pakistan Journal of Nutrition | 11 | 7 | None | Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology, National Veterinary Research Institute, P.M.B. 01, Vom, Plateau State, Nigeria | Edache, J.A., Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology, National Veterinary Research Institute, P.M.B. 01, Vom, Plateau State, Nigeria; Yisa, A.G., Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology, National Veterinary Research Institute, P.M.B. 01, Vom, Plateau State, Nigeria; Opkala, E.J., Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology, National Veterinary Research Institute, P.M.B. 01, Vom, Plateau State, Nigeria | A 6-week feeding trail was conducted to determine the effect of varying levels of yam peel meal (CP; 8.07% and ME; 2701 kcal/kg) on the laying performance of Japanese quails. One hundred and fifty 4 - week old female quails divided into 4 groups having 3 replicates of 12 birds each were used in this study. Four isonitrogenous (20% CP) diets incorporating graded levels (0, 10, 20 and 30%) of yam peel meal were compounded. The diets, however, varied in energy levels having 2,626 (Diet A), 2,553 (Diet B), 2,480 Diet C and 2,406 kcalME/kg (Diet D) respectively. Each diet was replicated three times. Average daily feed intake (34.77, 31.13, 31.50 and 33.23 g/bird) and hen-day production (30.06, 22.17, 18.81 and 16.19%) were significantly (p<0.05) affected by the test diets. However, respective daily weight gains (10.23, 8.93, 10.40, 7.83 g/bird), feed conversion ratio (7.96, 7.78, 6.90, 8.07) and egg weights (7.0, 8.8, 8.67 and 7.47 g) were not significantly (p>0.05) affected. As the level of yam peel meal increased in the diet, hen-day egg production was dropping. Feed cost/kg diet (N) decreased from diet A (41.24), B (38.02), C (34.52) to 31.02 (diet D) which had a cost saving of 25% over the control diet. By this study, it is indicated that at dietary crude protein level of 20% and Metabolizable Energy of between 2,480 and 2,626 kcal/kg, 20% level of yam peel meal inclusion in Japanese quail diet is acceptable for satisfactory egg production. © Asian Network for Scientific Information, 2012. | Japanese quail; Productive performance; Yam peel | protein; animal experiment; article; controlled study; cost control; Coturnix; coturnix coturnix japonica; diet; egg laying; egg production; energy metabolism; female; food intake; maize; meal; nonhuman; weight gain; yam; yam peel; Aves; Coturnix japonica; Dioscorea alata; Zea mays | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84875038467 | Performance monitoring system for a biomass gasifier | Mamphweli N.S., Meyer E.L. | 2013 | Journal of Engineering, Design and Technology | 11 | 1 | 10.1108/17260531311309099 | Fort Hare Institute of Technology, University of Fort Hare, Alice, South Africa | Mamphweli, N.S., Fort Hare Institute of Technology, University of Fort Hare, Alice, South Africa; Meyer, E.L., Fort Hare Institute of Technology, University of Fort Hare, Alice, South Africa | Purpose: The aim of this research is to build a low-cost gas and temperature profiling system for data acquisition at a biomass gasifier. Design/methodology/approach: A gas and temperature profiling system was developed from NDIR sensors, Pd/Ni sensor, a number of type K thermocouples and a data logger interfaced to a computer. Findings: The results obtained using the system were in agreement with the results obtained using a gas chromatograph for gasses. The temperature recorded during the testing also followed the expected temperature of the gasifier used. Research limitations/implications: The lifetime of the developed system depends on the lifetime of the sensors used. NDIR sensors have a lifetime of three years working on a continuous basis and the Pd/Ni sensor has a lifetime of ten years. Replacement of the Pd/Ni sensor after ten years is not a problem as the payback period of biomass gasifier systems is around eight to ten years. Practical implications: The major implication for this research was that low-cost gas and temperature measuring systems could be developed. These could be useful particularly for PhD students and other researchers who need to get onsite data on gas and temperature profiles at a gasifier system for a period of three years. Social implications: Biomass gasifier technologies can be used to provide power in rural areas that are outside the national utility grid but endowed with biomass resources. The provision of electricity to these communities could solve social challenges such as exposure to smoke in open fire normally used by rural women for cooking. The developed data acquisition system is therefore necessary to conduct research on gasification. Originality/value: The findings of this paper are of importance to researchers who need online data but do not have funding to purchase bulky and expensive equipment's for gas analysis at biomass gasifier systems. © Emerald Group Publishing Limited. | Design; Information processing; Power electronics; Process control; Product design; Renewable energy; System design | Data acquisition system; Design/methodology/approach; Expensive equipments; Performance monitoring systems; Renewable energies; Temperature measuring system; Temperature profiles; Temperature profiling; Data processing; Design; Investments; Power electronics; Process control; Product design; Research; Rural areas; Sensors; Systems analysis; Thermocouples; Biomass | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-61849157507 | South African teachers' reflections on the impact of culture on their teaching of sexuality and HIV/AIDS | Helleve A., Flisher A., Onya H., Mukoma W., Klepp K.-I. | 2009 | Culture, Health and Sexuality | 11 | 2 | 10.1080/13691050802562613 | GLOBINF Centre for Prevention of Global Infections, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Adolescent Health Research Institute, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Research Centre of Health Promotion, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway; Health Promotion Unit, School of Health Sciences, University of Limpopo, Polokwane, South Africa; Children's Institute, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa | Helleve, A., GLOBINF Centre for Prevention of Global Infections, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Flisher, A., Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Adolescent Health Research Institute, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa, Research Centre of Health Promotion, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway; Onya, H., Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Adolescent Health Research Institute, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa, Health Promotion Unit, School of Health Sciences, University of Limpopo, Polokwane, South Africa; Mukoma, W., Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Adolescent Health Research Institute, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa, Children's Institute, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Klepp, K.-I., GLOBINF Centre for Prevention of Global Infections, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway | This paper aims to explore South African Life Orientation teachers' perception and practice of teaching HIV/AIDS and sexuality in a cultural perspective. We aim to investigate how teachers respond to perceived cultural differences between the local community and the content of their teaching. Data were collected through interviews with teachers who taught students in grades 8 or 9 in public high schools. The teachers expressed differing viewpoints regarding the rationale for teaching about HIV/AIDS and sexuality. Many teachers saw teaching these topics as a response to declining moral standards, while others suggested that they were teaching issues that parents failed to address. The teachers were more concerned about young people's sexual behaviour than about preventing HIV/AIDS. They perceived that cultural contradictions between what was taught and local cultural values were an issue to which they needed to respond, although they differed in terms of how to respond. Some took an adaptive approach to try to avoid conflicts, while others claimed the moral neutrality of their teaching. Teaching about sexuality was perceived to be challenging in terms of language and communication norms. Teaching about HIV/AIDS was perceived as challenging because teachers often needed to convince students about the reality of AIDS. | HIV/AIDS; Prevention; Sex education; South Africa; Teachers | Adult; Cultural Characteristics; Female; HIV Infections; Humans; Interviews as Topic; Male; Safe Sex; Sexual Behavior; South Africa; Teaching | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84941949598 | Impact of corporate social responsibility on employee engagement: A case of Eskom in South Africa | Kweyama F.S., Cassim S., Munapo E., Mutambara E. | 2015 | Corporate Board: Role, Duties and Composition | 11 | 2 | None | Graduate School of Business and Leadership, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville Campus, Durban, South Africa | Kweyama, F.S., Graduate School of Business and Leadership, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville Campus, Durban, South Africa; Cassim, S.; Munapo, E.; Mutambara, E. | The emergence of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) as a business management concept in the fifties ushered in a new error in the way business view its various stakeholders. Chief among the stakeholders are the employees by virtue of being the brains behind the organization. This study assesses the impact of CSR programmes on Employee Engagement (EE) in the South African State Owned Power Company, Eskom. In particular, the study interrogates the impact of the three CSR dimensions of awareness, involvement and environmental awareness vis-a-vis the two dimensions of EE, namely, Job Engagement (JE) and Organizational Engagement (OE). A total of 380 Eskom employees were used as participants. The major findings were that organizational leaders are eager to implement CSR strategies. The study further revealed realistic and practical practises to broaden understanding of the current status of the organization, understanding EE and understanding the role CSR could play as a potential Human Resources (HR) tool to engage employees for Eskom and other organizations in general. The study concludes by recommending further research across industries to address the relationship between CSR initiatives and EE. © 2015, Virtus Interpress. All rights reserved. | Corporate social responsibility; Employee, job and organizational engagements; Involvement, awareness and environmental dimensions | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000300154900001 | Evaluation of knowledge levels amongst village AIDS committees after undergoing HIV educational sessions: results from a pilot study in rural Tanzania | Epsley, Elizabeth J.,Nhandi, Benjamin,Todd, Jim,Urassa, Mark,Wringe, Alison | 2011 | BMC INTERNATIONAL HEALTH AND HUMAN RIGHTS | 11 | None | 10.1186/1472-698X-11-14 | University of London | "Epsley, Elizabeth J.: University of London","Todd, Jim: University of London","Wringe, Alison: University of London", | Background: Village AIDS committees (VAC) were formed by the Tanzanian government in 2003 to provide HIV education to their communities. However, their potential has not been realised due to their limited knowledge and misconceptions surrounding HIV, which could be addressed through training of VAC members. In an attempt to increase HIV knowledge levels and address common misconceptions amongst the VACs, an HIV curriculum was delivered to members in rural north western Tanzania.
Methods: An evaluation of HIV knowledge was conducted prior to and post-delivery of HIV training sessions, within members of three VACs in Kisesa ward. Quantitative surveys were used with several open-ended questions to identify local misconceptions and evaluate HIV knowledge levels. Short educational training sessions covering HIV transmission, prevention and treatment were conducted, with each VAC using quizzes, role-plays and participatory learning and action tools. Post-training surveys occurred up to seven days after the final training session.
Results: Before the training, "good" HIV knowledge was higher amongst men than women (p = 0.041), and among those with previous HIV education (p = 0.002). The trade-centre had a faster turn-over of VAC members, and proximity to the trade-centre was associated with a shorter time on the committee. Training improved HIV knowledge levels with more members achieving a "good" score in the post-training survey compared with the baseline survey (p = < 0.001). The training programme was popular, with 100% of participants requesting further HIV training in the future and 51.7% requesting training at three-monthly intervals.
Conclusions: In this setting, a series of HIV training sessions for VACs demonstrated encouraging results, with increased HIV knowledge levels following short educational sessions. Further work is required to assess the success of VAC members in disseminating this HIV education to their communities, as well as up-scaling this pilot study to other regions in Tanzania with different misconceptions. | ,ACCESS,"AFRICAN YOUTH","ANTIRETROVIRAL THERAPY",DISCRIMINATION,"HEALTH INTERVENTION",PEOPLE,PREVENTION,PROGRAM,SCALING-UP,STIGMA | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-70349678860 | Gender differentials in migration impacts in Southern Ethiopia | Regassa N., Yusufe A. | 2009 | Anthropologist | 11 | 2 | None | Hawassa University, Department of Rural Development and Family Sciences, P.O.Box 679, SNNPR, Awassa, Ethiopia | Regassa, N., Hawassa University, Department of Rural Development and Family Sciences, P.O.Box 679, SNNPR, Awassa, Ethiopia; Yusufe, A., Hawassa University, Department of Rural Development and Family Sciences, P.O.Box 679, SNNPR, Awassa, Ethiopia | The Southern Nations, Nationalities Peoples Region (SNNPR) of Ethiopian is experiencing one of the highest population growth rate (about 2.8 percent per annum) mainly as a result of very high fertility rate (Total Fertility Rate, TFR, of 5.9). Like in other parts of the country, rural-urban migration is an increasingly becoming common phenomenon mainly as direct response to environmental degradation and rural poverty. While there are interwoven socio-economic and ecological factors contribute to the migration of influx of people into the increasingly important medium sized urban areas of the region, the migration impacts on the migrants at destination (urban centers) is less researched, and hence, worth investigating. This article thus tries to examine the gender differentials of migration impacts at the place of destinations by taking the experiences of four major urban areas of the Southern Region (Awassa town, Wolkite town, Durame, and Soddo). The study is based on primary data collected from 821 urban migrants selected from four of the most populous districts (zone) of southern Ethiopia namely Sidama, Wolayita, Kembata Tembaro and Guraghe zones. The study has employed Chi-square analysis to examine the possible gender differentials of migration impacts at the place of destination. The study employed both the quantitative and qualitative approaches in the course of collecting and analyzing the data. The study has documented that there are certain gender differentials in the impacts of migration at the place of destination: Male migrants are more prone to some of the socio-economic problems (such as unemployment) than their counterpart female migrants. Similarly, female migrants are found to be more prone to some of urban problems (such as, lack of food, lack of adequate health service, homesickness, labor and sexual abuses and the like) than their counterpart male migrants. © Kamla-Raj 2009. | Differentials; Gender; Kebeles; Southern Ethiopia; Woredas; Zones | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84907960404 | Monitoring and Evaluating Progress towards Universal Health Coverage in South Africa | Ataguba J.E., Day C., McIntyre D. | 2014 | PLoS Medicine | 11 | 9 | 10.1371/journal.pmed.1001686 | Health Economics Unit, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, South Africa; Health Systems Trust, Durban, South Africa | Ataguba, J.E., Health Economics Unit, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, South Africa; Day, C., Health Systems Trust, Durban, South Africa; McIntyre, D., Health Economics Unit, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, South Africa | [No abstract available] | None | Article; government; health insurance; health survey; human; monitoring; outcome assessment; personal monitoring; primary health care; quality control; South Africa; tax; economics; evaluation study; health care disparity; health care policy; insurance; socioeconomics; standards; trends; Health Care Reform; Healthcare Disparities; Humans; Socioeconomic Factors; South Africa; Universal Coverage | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-61349106603 | Medical circumcision and manhood initiation rituals in the Eastern Cape, South Africa: A post intervention evaluation | Peltzer K., Kanta X. | 2009 | Culture, Health and Sexuality | 11 | 1 | 10.1080/13691050802389777 | Human Sciences Research Council, University of the Free State, Bloemfontien, South Africa; Impilo ya Bantu Health, Lusikisiki, South Africa | Peltzer, K., Human Sciences Research Council, University of the Free State, Bloemfontien, South Africa; Kanta, X., Impilo ya Bantu Health, Lusikisiki, South Africa | The objectives of this study were first, to report the adverse events reported following male circumcision performed by medical professionals after a one-day training workshop; second, to report on the attitudes towards, beliefs surrounding and experiences regarding circumcision and initiation; and third, to assess the HIV-risk behaviour of young men attending initiation schools post medical circumcision. Initiates who had been medically circumcised by trained healthcare providers were examined and interviewed on the seventh day after circumcision and, in addition, focus-group discussions were conducted with initiates. Results indicate that of the 78 initiates physically examined on the seventh day after circumcision by a trained clinical nurse, seven (9%) adverse events (complications) were found. Initiates reported mixed attitudes towards combining medical circumcision with traditional initiation. The majority of the initiates (70%) felt that they could be stigmatized as a result of choosing medical rather than traditional circumcision and 20% thought that the relationship between medical and traditionally circumcised men was hostile. Prior to circumcision, most initiates (92%) had been sexually active and had engaged in HIV-risk behaviour. Focus-group discussions revealed that sexually active initiates, when asked about sex after circumcision, indicated they wished to abstain for a short period before resuming sexual activities with intended condom use being high. Findings are promising for efforts to up-scale integrated medical circumcision alongside traditional initiation into manhood. | Male circumcision; Sexual risk behaviour; South Africa; Xhosa | Adolescent; Adult; Attitude; Ceremonial Behavior; Circumcision, Male; Focus Groups; Gender Identity; Humans; Interviews as Topic; Male; Medicine, African Traditional; Patient Acceptance of Health Care; Risk-Taking; Sexual Behavior; South Africa; Young Adult | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84904805226 | English and the academy for african skilled migrants: The impact of english as an 'Academic Lingua Franca' | Hurst E. | 2014 | International Perspectives on Higher Education Research | 11 | None | 10.1108/S1479-362820140000011015 | Humanities Education Development Unit, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa | Hurst, E., Humanities Education Development Unit, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa | This chapter analyses interviews with 13 African scholars from a range of countries who are currently working at a South African university. The interviews explore aspects of their migration journeys and the role that language, particularly the English language, has played in their mobility. The majority of the participants originate from Englishspeaking African countries, and are fluent English speakers. English is currently the international language of the academy, and English fluency can almost be seen as a prerequisite for an international academic career. The driving question behind this research is what have these African highly skilled academic migrants gained and lost from English in terms of their mobility, careers and identities? The participants show complex orientations towards the medium. On the one hand, English is recognised as an enabling medium for international success in academia, and for career and educational opportunities aboard. On the other hand, participants perceive that the emphasis on the English medium has negative effects on their relationships with their home languages and their home countries. The research raises questions about the role of English in higher education in Africa. © 2014 by Emerald Group Publishing Limited. | None | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84867313610 | Dietary supplementation with recombinant lactoferrampin-lactoferricin improves growth performance and affects serum parameters in piglets | Tang X., Fatufe A.A., Yin Y., Tang Z., Wang S., Liu Z., Xinwu, Li T.-J. | 2012 | Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances | 11 | 14 | 10.3923/javaa.2012.2548-2555 | Hunan Provincial Engineering Research Center of Healthy Livestock, Key Laboratory of Agro-Ecological Processes in Subtropical Region, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Changsha, 410125 Hunan, China; Graduate School of Chin | Tang, X., Hunan Provincial Engineering Research Center of Healthy Livestock, Key Laboratory of Agro-Ecological Processes in Subtropical Region, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Changsha, 410125 Hunan, China, Graduate School of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049 Beijing, China; Fatufe, A.A., Hunan Provincial Engineering Research Center of Healthy Livestock, Key Laboratory of Agro-Ecological Processes in Subtropical Region, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Changsha, 410125 Hunan, China, Department of Animal Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria; Yin, Y., Hunan Provincial Engineering Research Center of Healthy Livestock, Key Laboratory of Agro-Ecological Processes in Subtropical Region, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Changsha, 410125 Hunan, China; Tang, Z., College of Animal Science and Technology, Southwest University, 400715 Chongqing, China; Wang, S., Hunan Provincial Engineering Research Center of Healthy Livestock, Key Laboratory of Agro-Ecological Processes in Subtropical Region, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Changsha, 410125 Hunan, China; Liu, Z., Hunan Provincial Engineering Research Center of Healthy Livestock, Key Laboratory of Agro-Ecological Processes in Subtropical Region, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Changsha, 410125 Hunan, China, Graduate School of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049 Beijing, China; Xinwu, Hunan Provincial Engineering Research Center of Healthy Livestock, Key Laboratory of Agro-Ecological Processes in Subtropical Region, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Changsha, 410125 Hunan, China; Li, T.-J., Hunan Provincial Engineering Research Center of Healthy Livestock, Key Laboratory of Agro-Ecological Processes in Subtropical Region, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Changsha, 410125 Hunan, China | Up to thirty piglets with an average live body weight of 5.9±0.5 kg were challenged using enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli and randomly assigned to three treatment groups fed a corn-soybean meal-based diet containing either no addition (control group), 0.1 g kg -1 of lactoferrampin-lactoferricin (lactoferrampin-lactofemcin group) or 0.1 g kg -1 of chlortetracyclme (chlortetracycline group) for 21 days. Compared with the control group, dietary supplementation with lactoferrampin-lactoferricin or chlortetracycline increased the body weight and daily weight gain and decreased the feed to gain ratio, diarrhea rate and serum IgM and lgG levels (p<0.05). The serum levels of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, diamine oxidase and endothelin-1 were not significantly different among all treatment groups (p>0.05). Compared with the control group, dietary supplementation with lactoferrampin-lactoferricin changed the serum concentrations of 10 amino acids (p<0.05); dietary supplementation with chlortetracycline only changed the serum histidine concentration (p<0.05). These results indicate that lactoferrampin-lactoferricin and chlortetracycline have similar effects on piglets weaned at 21 days of age which is expected to have practical applications in the livestock industry. © Medwell Journals, 2012. | Antimicrobial peptide; Bovine lactoferrampin-lactoferricin; China; Growth performance; Piglet | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000293025900002 | 12-month mortality and loss-to-program in antiretroviral-treated children: The IeDEA pediatric West African Database to evaluate AIDS (pWADA), 2000-2008 | Azondekon, Alain,Dabis, Francois,Dicko, Fatoumata,Eboua, Francois T.,Ekouevi, Didier K.,IeDEA Pediat W Africa Working Grp,Kouadio, Kouakou,Leroy, Valeriane,Malateste, Karen,Peterson, Kevin,Renner, Lorna,Sy, Haby Signate,Toure, Pety | 2011 | BMC PUBLIC HEALTH | 11 | None | 10.1186/1471-2458-11-519 | Institut National de la Sante et de la Recherche Medicale (Inserm), Universite de Bordeaux, ACONDA, CHU Treichville, CHU Yopougon, CIRBA, Hop Enfants Albert Royer, Hop Instruct Armees St Anne, Institut National de la Sante et de la Recherche Medicale (Inserm), Korlebu Hosp, MRC | None | Background: The IeDEA West Africa Pediatric Working Group (pWADA) was established in January 2007 to study the care and treatment of HIV-infected children in this region. We describe here the characteristics at antiretroviral treatment (ART) initiation and study the 12-month mortality and loss-to-program of HIV-infected children followed in ART programs in West Africa.
Methods: Standardized data from HIV-infected children followed-up in ART programs were included. Nine clinical centers from six countries contributed to the dataset (Benin, Cote d'Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Mali and Senegal). Inclusion criteria were the followings: age 0-15 years and initiated triple antiretroviral drug regimens. Baseline time was the date of ART initiation. WHO criteria was used to define severe immunosuppression based on CD4 count by age or CD4 percent < 15%. We estimated the 12-month Kaplan-Meier probabilities of mortality and loss-to-program (death or loss to follow-up > 6 months) after ART initiation and factors associated with these two outcomes.
Results: Between June 2000 and December 2007, 2170 children were included. Characteristics at ART initiation were the following: median age of 5 years (Interquartile range (IQR: 2-9) and median CD4 percentage of 13% (IQR: 7-19). The most frequent drug regimen consisted of two nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors and one non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (62%). During the first 12 months, 169 (7.8%) children died and 461 (21.2%) were lost-to-program. Overall, in HIV-infected children on ART, the 12-month probability of death was 8.3% (95% Confidence Interval (CI): 7.2-9.6%), and of loss-to-program was 23.1% (95% CI: 21.3-25.0%). Both mortality and loss-to program were associated with advanced clinical stage, CD4 percentage < 15% at ART initiation and year (> 2005) of ART initiation.
Conclusion: Innovative and sustainable approaches are needed to better document causes of death and increase retention in HIV pediatric clinics in West Africa. | ,COTE-DIVOIRE,DIAGNOSIS,FOLLOW-UP,"HEALTH-CARE FACILITIES","HIV-1-INFECTED CHILDREN",INFANTS,OUTCOMES,SURVIVAL,THERAPY,TRANSMISSION | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33746459406 | Large scale evaluation of WHO's ultrasonographic staging system of schistosomal periportal fibrosis in Ethiopia | Berhe N., Geitung J.T., Medhin G., Gundersen S.G. | 2006 | Tropical Medicine and International Health | 11 | 8 | 10.1111/j.1365-3156.2006.01665.x | Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia; Institute for International Health, University of Oslo, Norway; Centre for Imported and Tropical Diseases, Ullevål University Hospital, Oslo, Norway; Department of Radiology, Haraldplass Deaconess University Hospital, Bergen, Norway; Sorlandet Hospital, Agder University College, Kristiansand, Norway; Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University, P O Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | Berhe, N., Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia, Institute for International Health, University of Oslo, Norway, Centre for Imported and Tropical Diseases, Ullevål University Hospital, Oslo, Norway, Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University, P O Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Geitung, J.T., Department of Radiology, Haraldplass Deaconess University Hospital, Bergen, Norway; Medhin, G., Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia; Gundersen, S.G., Sorlandet Hospital, Agder University College, Kristiansand, Norway | OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the recent WHO's ultrasonographic diagnostic staging system of schistosomal periportal thickening/fibrosis and to assess intra/inter-observer variation associated with its use. METHODS: Local standard of portal branch wall thickness (PBWT) for height was established using 150 healthy subjects. Intra and inter-observer variation in image pattern identification and PBWT measurements were assessed in 94 and 35 subjects, respectively, with differing stages of periportal thickening fibrosis. WHO's diagnostic criteria were evaluated in 2451 community members (1277 males, 1174 females; mean age 18.8 years) with an overall Schistosoma mansoni prevalence estimate of 65.9%. RESULTS: There were no significant inter/intra-observer variations in image pattern identification and PBWT measurements. Based on Ethiopian PBWT-for-height standard, 128/2451 (5.2%) had insipient, 46/2451 (1.9%) had possible/probable and 112/2451 (4.6%) had definite/advanced periportal thickening/fibrosis. Comparable figures were obtained using the Senegalese PBWT-for-height standard and there was good agreement between Ethiopian and Senegalese healthy control-based diagnostic criteria in classifying the 286 subjects into stages of periportal thickening/fibrosis (κ = 0.87, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: With further improvement, the WHO's ultrasonographic diagnostic criteria can be used in health institutions and community surveys. Image pattern based assessment is simple and more reproducible than PBWT based assessment of periportal thickening/fibrosis. The latter is, however, more useful in clarifying the status of an individual with doubtful image pattern, and in monitoring post-treatment outcome of periportal thickening/fibrosis. Considering the comparability of PBWT-for-height standards, setting one international standard of PBWT-for-height is more practical than developing local standards for each endemic area. © 2006 Blackwell Publishing Ltd. | Ethiopia; Periportal fibrosis; Schistosoma mansoni; Schistosomiasis; Ultrasound; WHO staging system | comparative study; disease control; disease prevalence; health services; schistosomiasis; World Health Organization; adolescent; adult; article; comparative study; controlled study; diagnostic imaging; echography; Ethiopia; female; human; image analysis; liver fibrosis; male; prevalence; Schistosoma mansoni; schistosomiasis; school child; validation process; world health organization; Adolescent; Adult; Ethiopia; Female; Humans; Liver; Liver Cirrhosis; Male; Morbidity; Observer Variation; Parasite Egg Count; Prevalence; Reference Standards; Schistosomiasis mansoni; World Health Organization; Africa; East Africa; Ethiopia; Senegal; Sub-Saharan Africa; West Africa; Schistosoma mansoni | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-69249122969 | Living with dams: Managing the environmental impacts | McCartney M. | 2009 | Water Policy | 11 | None | 10.2166/wp.2009.108 | International Water Management Institute, PO Box 5689, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | McCartney, M., International Water Management Institute, PO Box 5689, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | Dams, through disruption of physiochemical and biological processes, have water and associated environmental impacts that have far reaching social and economic consequences. The impact of each dam is unique. It depends not only on the dam structure and the attributes of local biota but also climatic and geomorphic conditions. Given the number of existing dams (over 45,000 large dams) and the large number that may be built in the near future, it is clear that humankind must live with the environmental and social consequences for many decades to come. This paper provides a review of the consequences for ecosystems and biodiversity resulting directly from the presence of dams on rivers, and of constraints and opportunities for environmental protection. It illustrates that a wide range of both technical and non-technical measures has been developed to ameliorate the negative impacts of dams. It argues that relatively few studies have been conducted to evaluate the success of these measures and that it is widely perceived that many interventions fail, either for technical reasons or as a consequence of a variety of socio-economic constraints. It discusses the constraints to successful implementation and mechanisms for promoting, funding and ensuring compliance. Finally, it contends that there is a need to improve environmental practices in the operation of both existing and new dams. © IWA Publishing 2009. | Biodiversity; Ecosystems; Environmental protection; Large dams | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33646800816 | Modelling natural conditions and impacts of consumptive water use and sedimentation of Lake Abaya and Lake Chamo, Ethiopia | Awulachew S.B. | 2006 | Lakes and Reservoirs: Research and Management | 11 | 2 | 10.1111/j.1440-1770.2006.00293.x | International Water Management Institute, PO Box 5689, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | Awulachew, S.B., International Water Management Institute, PO Box 5689, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | There is few available information regarding the water resource systems of Abaya Lake and Chamo Lake, which are found in the Southern Rift Valley Region of Ethiopia. This paper describes modelling of the water balance components of these lakes, as well as the impacts of water uses, and sediment transport and deposition in the lakes. The various parameters and data needed for the water balance model are derived on the basis of various surveys, analysis of data and modelling efforts. The watershed characteristics are derived using geographical information system, whereas the morphometry of the lakes is investigated by undertaking bathymetry surveys. The hydrometeorological components of this lake system also were investigated through the development of relevant database and information systems, by identifying regional relationships, and by a rainfall-run-off model. These information systems have subsequently been integrated to model the water balance of the two lakes, and simulating the in-lake water levels. Several scenarios reflecting the natural conditions, water consumptive development possibilities, and sedimentation impacts have been investigated in this study. Based on the model simulation results, and on the computation of the life expectancies of the two lakes, it was found that sediment inflow and deposition significantly threaten their existence. © 2006 Blackwell Publishing Asia Pty Ltd. | Abaya Lake; Chamo Lake; Ethiopia; GIS; Lifeexpectancy; Model; Sedimentation; Water balance | GIS; hydrometeorology; lake water; modeling; sedimentation; water budget; water use; Africa; East Africa; Ethiopia; Sub-Saharan Africa | None |
| WoS | WOS:000240681100014 | Impact of a communication programme on female genital cutting in eastern Nigeria | Agbasimalo, Ada,Babalola, Stella,Brasington, Angela,Helland, Anna,Nwanguma, Edith,Onah, Nkechi | 2006 | TROPICAL MEDICINE & INTERNATIONAL HEALTH | 11 | 10 | 10.1111/j.1365-3156.2006.01701.x | Johns Hopkins University, HCP FGC, Natl Assoc Women Journalists, Save Children, Women Act Res Org | None | This study describes a female genital cutting (FGC) elimination communication programme in Enugu State and assesses its impact in changing relevant knowledge, attitudes and behavioural intentions.
The FGC programme combined a community mobilization component with targeted advocacy and mass media activities. Data for assessing the impact of the programme derived from baseline and follow-up surveys in three intervention local government areas (LGA) in Enugu State and three comparison LGAs in Ebonyi State. An ideation model of behaviour change guided the analyses of the impact of the programme on personal advocacy for FGC, perceived self-efficacy to refuse pressure to perform FGC, perceived social support for FGC discontinuation, perceived benefits of FGC, perceived health complications of FGC and intention not to perform FGC on daughters. The analytical methods include comparing change in pertinent outcome variables from baseline to follow-up in the two study states and using logistic regression on follow-up data for the intervention state to assess the link between programme exposure and the relevant outcome indicators.
The data show that while the pertinent ideational factors and the intention not to perform FGC either worsened or remained stagnant in Ebonyi State, they improved significantly in Enugu State. The logistic regression results show that programme exposure is associated with the expected improvements in all the pertinent indicators.
The multimedia communication programme has been effective in changing FGC-related attitudes and promoting the intention not to perform FGC. | COMMUNICATION,"community action cycle","female genital cutting",ideation,NIGERIA,BEHAVIOR,BURKINA-FASO,CIRCUMCISION,IDEATION,"LONGITUDINAL ANALYSIS",MUTILATION | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84874625321 | The effect of career development activities on employee performance: A case study of world agroforestry centre | Gachunga H.G., Wamoto E. | 2012 | International Journal of Knowledge, Culture and Change Management | 11 | 6 | None | Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Kenya; CGIAR, Kenya | Gachunga, H.G., Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Kenya; Wamoto, E., CGIAR, Kenya | Career development initiatives by organizations are a key retention tool and ensure that the best talent is retained. Career development activities give employees a clear focus about their career track and also ensure their career aspirations are met. Career development focuses on a whole range of activities and this research specifically addressed: mentoring, coaching and formal training activities, and their effect on employee performance. The key objectives were to establish whether mentoring, coaching and formal training had an effect on employee performance in ICRAF, a research-based institution. The research design adopted was descriptive research and the target population was 385, from which a sample of 277 was drawn. The study yielded a response rate of 76%. The data was analysed using multiple regression analysis and yielded significant results. © Common Ground, Hazel Gachoka Gachunga, Esther Wamoto, All Rights Reserved. | Career development; Mentoring and coaching | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000296966900001 | A qualitative evaluation of volunteers' experiences in a phase I/II HIV vaccine trial in Tanzania | Bakari, Muhammad,Kohi, Thecla W.,Kulane, Asli,Mhalu, Fred,Sandstrom, Eric,Tarimo, Edith A. M.,Thorson, Anna | 2011 | BMC INFECTIOUS DISEASES | 11 | None | 10.1186/1471-2334-11-283 | Karolinska Institutet, Sodersjukhuset Hospital, Muhimbili Univ Hlth & Allied Sci | "Kulane, Asli: Karolinska Institutet","Sandstrom, Eric: Karolinska Institutet","Sandstrom, Eric: Sodersjukhuset Hospital","Thorson, Anna: Karolinska Institutet", | Background: Evaluating experiences of volunteers in an HIV vaccine trial will be useful for the conduct of future trials. The purpose of this study among volunteers who participated in a phase I/II HIV vaccine trial in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania was to assess what characterized their experiences during the trial.
Methods: We conducted four focus group discussions with 35 out of the 60 individuals (women and men) after the five scheduled vaccinations. An interpretive description approach was applied to data analysis.
Results: As a result of the trial interventions, both men and women gained confidence in their own abilities to have safer, less risky sexual behaviour. The participants experienced the trial as a way of accessing free [insured] medical services. Most of the men said they had gone from self-medication to professional medical consultation. Despite these benefits, the participants faced various challenges during the trial. Such challenges included mistrust of the trial shown by health care providers who were not connected to the trial and discouragement from friends, colleagues and family members who questioned the safety of the trial. However, they managed to cope with these doubts by using both personal and trial related interventions.
Conclusion: We found that during the phase I/II HIV vaccine trial, participants had both the opportunities and the ability to cope with the doubts from the surrounding community. Follow up visits enhanced the opportunities and individuals' abilities to cope with the doubts during the trial. Understanding this discourse may be useful for the trial implementers when designing future trials. | ,"EFFICACY TRIAL","INTERPRETIVE DESCRIPTION",PARTICIPATION,"SEXUAL RISK BEHAVIOR","SOCIAL HARMS",THAILAND | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000324368300002 | The Impact of Participatory Forest Management on Local Community Livelihoods in the Arabuko-Sokoke Forest, Kenya | Caleb, Mireri,Callistus, Ogol,Matiku, Paul | 2013 | CONSERVATION & SOCIETY | 11 | 2 | 10.4103/0972-4923.115724 | Kenyatta University, Nat Kenya | "Caleb, Mireri: Kenyatta University","Callistus, Ogol: Kenyatta University", | This study examines the impact of participatory forest management (PFM) on forest-adjacent household livelihoods in the Arabuko-Sokoke forest in Kenya. It compares the impacts on households near PFM forests (PFM zones) with those near forests with no participatory management (non-PFM zones). The study questions were: does conservation of the Arabuko-Sokoke forest result in net household incomes?; does PFM increase net household benefits?; and are household benefits uniformly distributed within the 5 km PFM intervention zone? The hypotheses tested were: forest conservation benefits exceed forest conservation costs; PFM zones have higher household benefits than non-PFM zones; and benefits and costs reduce with distance from forest edge. In the year 2009, we collected data on household benefits and costs in PFM and non-PFM zones. Data were collected along 10 km transects at 1 km intervals, sampling 600 households up to 5 km away from the forest. The results show varied household dependence on the Arabuko-Sokoke forest. The forest benefits exceed costs in PFM zones but the forest is a cost in non-PFM zones, and costs and benefits reduce with distance from forest edge. The study concludes that, though not cheap, PFM is a tool that can help the Arabuko-Sokoke forest win the support of the adjacent local communities. | Arabuko-Sokoke,"Forest resources","household livelihoods","participatory forest management",BIODIVERSITY,CONSERVATION,"EXTRACTIVE RESERVES","INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENTAL-MANAGEMENT",STRATEGIES | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84866992938 | Increasing the organisational performance and performance intent of managers in Kenyan public enterprises | Koigi N., Arnolds C. | 2012 | International Journal of Knowledge, Culture and Change Management | 11 | 5 | None | Kenya Post Savings Bank, Nairobi, Kenya; Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa | Koigi, N., Kenya Post Savings Bank, Nairobi, Kenya; Arnolds, C., Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa | The organisational performance of Kenyan public enterprises has been reported to be below expectations. There was therefore a need to investigate ways of improving this performance. The study investigates the influence of perceived leadership styles and personality characteristics on the perceived organisational performance of Kenyan public enterprises. The study also investigates the influence of perceived organisational culture, strategic management and corporate ethics on the perceived organisational performance of these enterprises. Adopting a survey approach, research data were derived from questionnaires distributed to a sample of 256 executive managers from 53 public enterprises in Kenya. The empirical results reveal that transformational leadership influences organisational performance positively, while self-deceptive narcissistic leadership personality influences organisational performance negatively. The results further show that organisational culture (entrepreneurial and market orientation) and strategic management exert a positive influence on the organisational performance of these enterprises. Managerial implications of these findings are discussed. © Common Ground, Nyambura Koigi, Cecil Arnolds, All Rights Reserved. | Leadership personality; Leadership style; Organisational performance; Performance intent | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84944448913 | Evaluation of safety and immunogenicity of a quadrivalent human papillomavirus vaccine in healthy females between 9 and 26 years of age in Sub-Saharan Africa | Mugo N., Ansah N.A., Marino D., Saah A., Garner E.I.O. | 2015 | Human Vaccines and Immunotherapeutics | 11 | 6 | 10.1080/21645515.2015.1008877 | Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya; Navrongo Health Research Center, Ghana Health Service, Navrongo, Ghana; Merck and Co. Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, United States; Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya | Mugo, N., Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya; Ansah, N.A., Navrongo Health Research Center, Ghana Health Service, Navrongo, Ghana; Marino, D., Merck and Co. Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, United States; Saah, A., Merck and Co. Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, United States; Garner, E.I.O., Merck and Co. Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, United States | Due to sporadic and not easily accessible cervical cancer screening, human papillomavirus (HPV)-related cervical cancer is a leading cause of cancer death in Sub-Saharan African women. This study was designed to assess the safety and immunogenicity of a quadrivalent human papillomavirus (qHPV) vaccine in sub-Saharan African women. This seven month, double-blind study enrolled 250 healthy, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-uninfected females ages 9–26 residing in Ghana, Kenya, and Senegal. Thirty females ages 13–15 and 120 females ages 16–26 received qHPV vaccine. In addition, 100 females ages 9–12 y were randomized in a 4:1 ratio to receive either qHPV vaccine (n = 80) or placebo (n = 20). The primary immunogenicity hypothesis was that an acceptable percentage of subjects who received the qHPV vaccine seroconvert to HPV6/11/16/18 at 4 weeks post-dose 3, defined as the lower bound of the corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) exceeding 90%. The primary safety objective was to demonstrate that qHPV vaccine was generally well tolerated when administered in a 3-dose regimen. The pre-specified statistical criterion for the primary immunogenicity hypothesis was met: the lower bound of the 95% exact binomial CI on the seroconversion rate was at least 98% for each vaccine HPV type and all subjects seroconverted by 4 weeks post-dose 3. Across vaccination groups, the most common adverse events (AE) were at the injection site, including pain, swelling, and erythema. No subject discontinued study medication due to an AE and no serious AEs were reported. There were no deaths. This study demonstrated that qHPV vaccination of sub-Saharan African women was highly immunogenic and generally well tolerated. © 2015, Merck and Co., Inc. | Immunogenicity; Quadrivalent HPV vaccine; Safety; Sub-Saharan Africa | placebo; Wart virus vaccine; abdominal pain; adolescent; adult; Africa south of the Sahara; Article; child; controlled study; disease severity; double blind procedure; drug safety; drug tolerability; dysmenorrhea; female; fever; follow up; headache; human; immune response; immunogenicity; injection site erythema; malaria; pain; papillomavirus infection; polymerase chain reaction; randomized controlled trial; rhinopharyngitis; school child; swelling | None |
| None | None | Measuring adherence to antiretroviral therapy in northern Tanzania: Feasibility and acceptability of the Medication Event Monitoring System | Lyimo R.A., Van Den Boogaard J., Msoka E., Hospers H.J., Van Der Ven A., Mushi D., De Bruin M. | 2011 | BMC Public Health | 11 | None | 10.1186/1471-2458-11-92 | Kilimanjaro Clinical Research Institute, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center, P.O.Box 2236, Moshi, Tanzania; Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Center, P.O. Box 9101, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, Netherlands; Maastricht University, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Netherlands; Kilimanjaro Christian Medical College, Community Health Department, P.O.Box 2240, Moshi, Tanzania; Wageningen University, Communication Science, Netherlands | Lyimo, R.A., Kilimanjaro Clinical Research Institute, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center, P.O.Box 2236, Moshi, Tanzania; Van Den Boogaard, J., Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Center, P.O. Box 9101, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, Netherlands; Msoka, E., Kilimanjaro Clinical Research Institute, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center, P.O.Box 2236, Moshi, Tanzania; Hospers, H.J., Maastricht University, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Netherlands; Van Der Ven, A., Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Center, P.O. Box 9101, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, Netherlands; Mushi, D., Kilimanjaro Christian Medical College, Community Health Department, P.O.Box 2240, Moshi, Tanzania; De Bruin, M., Wageningen University, Communication Science, Netherlands | Background: An often-used tool to measure adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) is the Medication Event Monitoring System (MEMS), an electronic pill-cap that registers date and time of pill-bottle openings. Despite its strengths, MEMS-data can be compromised by inaccurate use and acceptability problems due to its design. These barriers remain, however, to be investigated in resource-limited settings. We evaluated the feasibility and acceptability of using MEMS-caps to monitor adherence among HIV-infected patients attending a rural clinic in Tanzania's Kilimanjaro Region. Methods. Eligible patients were approached and asked to use the MEMS-caps for three consecutive months. Thereafter, qualitative, in-depth interviews about the use of MEMS were conducted with the patients. MEMS-data were used to corroborate the interview results. Results: Twenty-three of the 24 patients approached agreed to participate. Apart from MEMS-use on travel occasions, patients reported no barriers regarding MEMS-use. Unexpectedly, the MEMS-bottle design reduced the patients' fear for HIV-status disclosure. Patients indicated that having their behavior monitored motivated them to adhere better. MEMS-data showed that most patients had high levels of adherence and there were no bottle-openings that could not be accounted for by medication intake. Non-adherence in the days prior to clinic visits was common and due to the clinic dispensing too few pills. Conclusion: MEMS-bottle use was readily accepted by patients. Although the MEMS-bottle was used accurately by most patients, patients need to be more explicitly instructed to continue MEMS-use when travelling. Even HIV-clinics with sufficient staff and free medication may impose structural adherence barriers by supplying an insufficient amount of pills. © 2011 Lyimo et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | None | antiretrovirus agent; adult; article; drug packaging; electronics; evaluation; feasibility study; female; human; Human immunodeficiency virus 1; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; interview; male; methodology; middle aged; patient compliance; statistics; Tanzania; Adult; Anti-Retroviral Agents; Drug Packaging; Electronics; Feasibility Studies; Female; HIV Infections; HIV-1; Humans; Interviews as Topic; Male; Middle Aged; Patient Compliance; Tanzania | None |
| None | None | Impacts of livestock grazing on plant species composition in montane forests on the northern slope of Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania | Kikoti I.A., Mligo C. | 2015 | International Journal of Biodiversity Science, Ecosystems Services and Management | 11 | 2 | 10.1080/21513732.2015.1031179 | Kilimanjaro National Park, P.O. Box 96, Marangu, Tanzania; Department of Botany, University of Dar es Salaam, P.O. Box 35060, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania | Kikoti, I.A., Kilimanjaro National Park, P.O. Box 96, Marangu, Tanzania; Mligo, C., Department of Botany, University of Dar es Salaam, P.O. Box 35060, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania | The montane forests on Mount Kilimanjaro are part of the ecologically protected area and provide ecosystem services to the local communities on the lower slopes. Despite their ecological value, the montane forests on the northern slope of Mount Kilimanjaro have been affected by increased livestock grazing pressure due to prolonged drought and expansion of agricultural land. We examined the impacts of livestock grazing on plant species composition in the montane forests on the northern slope of Mount Kilimanjaro. The study area was sub-divided into heavily grazed, moderately grazed, lightly grazed and ungrazed sites. A quadrat method was used for field data collection. A total of 115 plant species distributed within 93 genera and 39 families were identified. Moderately grazed and lightly grazed areas had higher plant species diversities than heavily and ungrazed areas. This observation concurs with the intermediate disturbance hypothesis. However, plant species that contributed to high species richness and diversity in grazed areas were mainly grasses, shrubs and herbs. It was concluded that livestock grazing in montane forests on the northern slope of Mount Kilimanjaro has serious impacts on vegetation community composition. Conservation of montane forest habitat and improvement of rangelands on communal land are necessary. © 2015 Taylor & Francis. | Grazing ecology; Mount Kilimanjaro; Plant life form; Plant species diversity; Tropical montane forest; Vegetation communities | agricultural intensification; drought stress; ecosystem service; field method; grazing pressure; intermediate disturbance hypothesis; livestock farming; montane forest; protected area; species diversity; species richness; Kilimanjaro [Tanzania]; Tanzania; Embryophyta; Poaceae | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-15244345565 | Potential impacts of future land use and climate change on the Red List status of the Proteaceae in the Cape Floristic Region, South Africa | Bomhard B., Richardson D.M., Donaldson J.S., Hughes G.O., Midgley G.F., Raimondo D.C., Rebelo A.G., Rouget M., Thuiller W. | 2005 | Global Change Biology | 11 | 9 | 10.1111/j.1365-2486.2005.00997.x | Kirstenbosch Research Centre, South African National Biodiversity Institute, Private Bag X7, Claremont 7735, South Africa; Percy FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, University of Cape Town, Private Bag, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa; Centre for Invasion Biology, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa; Leslie Hill Institute for Plant Conservation, University of Cape Town, Private Bag, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa; Center for Applied Biodiversity Science, Conservation International, 1919 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20036, United States; Am Brucher Haeuschen 79, 42109 Wuppertal, Germany | Bomhard, B., Kirstenbosch Research Centre, South African National Biodiversity Institute, Private Bag X7, Claremont 7735, South Africa, Percy FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, University of Cape Town, Private Bag, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa, Am Brucher Haeuschen 79, 42109 Wuppertal, Germany; Richardson, D.M., Centre for Invasion Biology, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa, Leslie Hill Institute for Plant Conservation, University of Cape Town, Private Bag, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa; Donaldson, J.S., Kirstenbosch Research Centre, South African National Biodiversity Institute, Private Bag X7, Claremont 7735, South Africa; Hughes, G.O., Kirstenbosch Research Centre, South African National Biodiversity Institute, Private Bag X7, Claremont 7735, South Africa; Midgley, G.F., Kirstenbosch Research Centre, South African National Biodiversity Institute, Private Bag X7, Claremont 7735, South Africa, Center for Applied Biodiversity Science, Conservation International, 1919 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20036, United States; Raimondo, D.C., Kirstenbosch Research Centre, South African National Biodiversity Institute, Private Bag X7, Claremont 7735, South Africa; Rebelo, A.G., Kirstenbosch Research Centre, South African National Biodiversity Institute, Private Bag X7, Claremont 7735, South Africa; Rouget, M., Kirstenbosch Research Centre, South African National Biodiversity Institute, Private Bag X7, Claremont 7735, South Africa; Thuiller, W., Kirstenbosch Research Centre, South African National Biodiversity Institute, Private Bag X7, Claremont 7735, South Africa | Using spatial predictions of future threats to biodiversity, we assessed for the first time the relative potential impacts of future land use and climate change on the threat status of plant species. We thus estimated how many taxa could be affected by future threats that are usually not included in current IUCN Red List assessments. Here, we computed the Red List status including future threats of 227 Proteaceae taxa endemic to the Cape Floristic Region, South Africa, and compared this with their Red List status excluding future threats. We developed eight different land use and climate change scenarios for the year 2020, providing a range of best- to worst-case scenarios. Four scenarios include only the effects of future land use change, while the other four also include the impacts of projected anthropogenic climate change (HadCM2 IS92a GGa), using niche-based models. Up to a third of the 227 Proteaceae taxa are uplisted (become more threatened) by up to three threat categories if future threats as predicted for 2020 are included, and the proportion of threatened Proteaceae taxa rises on average by 9% (range 2-16%), depending on the scenario. With increasing severity of the scenarios, the proportion of Critically Endangered taxa increases from about 1% to 7% and almost 2% of the 227 Proteaceae taxa become Extinct because of climate change. Overall, climate change has the most severe effects on the Proteaceae, but land use change also severely affects some taxa. Most of the threatened taxa occur in low-lying coastal areas, but the proportion of threatened taxa changes considerably in inland mountain areas if future threats are included. Our approach gives important insights into how, where and when future threats could affect species persistence and can in a sense be seen as a test of the value of planned interventions for conservation. © 2005 Blackwell Publishing Ltd. | Biodiversity conservation; Cape Floristic Region; Climate change; Extinction risk; IUCN Red List; Land use change; Niche-based models; Proteaceae; Threatened species | biodiversity; Cape Floristic Region; climate change; extinction risk; land use change; Red List; Africa; South Africa; Southern Africa; Sub-Saharan Africa; Proteaceae | None |
| WoS | WOS:000239722100005 | Post-project analysis: The use of a network diagram for environmental evaluation of the Barekese Dam, Kumasi, Ghana | Awuah, Esi,Frempong, Emmanuel,Tetteh, Isaac Kow | 2006 | ENVIRONMENTAL MODELING & ASSESSMENT | 11 | 3 | 10.1007/s10666-005-9021-7 | Kwame Nkrumah University Science & Technology, Kwame Nkrumah Univ Sci & Technol | None | The paper presents an evaluation of post-project impacts of the Barekese Dam on three riparian communities downstream about 30 years after its construction. A network diagram, which incorporated a mathematical model, was used for impact identification and analysis. The expected environmental impacts, expressed as quantitative weighted impact scores, showed that the dam appeared to have exerted adverse impacts on the environmental quality of the communities. The impacts in the communities, however, increased with relative distances away from the dam and the river suggestive of cumulative impacts transmitted downstream. Strategic measures for improving environmental quality of the communities have been given. | DAM,"environmental evaluation","expected environmental impacts","post-project impacts","riparian communities",IMPACT | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000296467100001 | Maternal health interventions in resource limited countries: a systematic review of packages, impacts and factors for change | Nyamtema, Angelo S.,Urassa, David P.,van Roosmalen, Jos | 2011 | BMC PREGNANCY AND CHILDBIRTH | 11 | None | 10.1186/1471-2393-11-30 | Leiden University, VU University Amsterdam, Sch Publ Hlth & Social Sci, Tanzanian Training Ctr Int Hlth | None | Background: The burden of maternal mortality in resource limited countries is still huge despite being at the top of the global public health agenda for over the last 20 years. We systematically reviewed the impacts of interventions on maternal health and factors for change in these countries.
Methods: A systematic review was carried out using the guidelines for Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). Articles published in the English language reporting on implementation of interventions, their impacts and underlying factors for maternal health in resource limited countries in the past 23 years were searched from PubMed, Popline, African Index Medicus, internet sources including reproductive health gateway and Google, hand-searching, reference lists and grey literature.
Results: Out of a total of 5084 articles resulting from the search only 58 qualified for systematic review. Programs integrating multiple interventions were more likely to have significant positive impacts on maternal outcomes. Training in emergency obstetric care (EmOC), placement of care providers, refurbishment of existing health facility infrastructure and improved supply of drugs, consumables and equipment for obstetric care were the most frequent interventions integrated in 52% - 65% of all 54 reviewed programs. Statistically significant reduction of maternal mortality ratio and case fatality rate were reported in 55% and 40% of the programs respectively. Births in EmOC facilities and caesarean section rates increased significantly in 71% - 75% of programs using these indicators. Insufficient implementation of evidence-based interventions in resources limited countries was closely linked to a lack of national resources, leadership skills and end-users factors.
Conclusions: This article presents a list of evidenced-based packages of interventions for maternal health, their impacts and factors for change in resource limited countries. It indicates that no single magic bullet intervention exists for reduction of maternal mortality and that all interventional programs should be integrated in order to bring significant changes. State leaders and key actors in the health sectors in these countries and the international community are proposed to translate the lessons learnt into actions and intensify efforts in order to achieve the goals set for maternal health. | ,"ANTENATAL CARE","EMERGENCY OBSTETRIC CARE","EMOC SERVICES",MORTALITY,NEPAL,PROGRAM,"RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED-TRIAL",SUPPLEMENTATION,"TRADITIONAL BIRTH ATTENDANTS",VITAMIN-A | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77952624587 | The impact of biofuel production on food security: A briefing paper with a particular emphasis on maize-to-ethanol production | Makenete A., Lemmer W., Kupka J. | 2008 | International Food and Agribusiness Management Review | 11 | 2 | None | Large Business, ABSA Bank Ltd and President, Southern African Biofuels Association, PO Box 7735, Johannesburg, 2000, South Africa; Agricultural Economist, Industry Services, Grain South Africa, PO Box 88, Bothaville, 9660, South Africa; Agribusiness Division, ABSA Bank Ltd, PO Box 7735, Johannesburg, 2000, South Africa | Makenete, A., Large Business, ABSA Bank Ltd and President, Southern African Biofuels Association, PO Box 7735, Johannesburg, 2000, South Africa; Lemmer, W., Agricultural Economist, Industry Services, Grain South Africa, PO Box 88, Bothaville, 9660, South Africa; Kupka, J., Agribusiness Division, ABSA Bank Ltd, PO Box 7735, Johannesburg, 2000, South Africa | A multi-feedstock approach is crucial for sustainable biofuel production in South Africa. In respect of ethanol production, biofuel producers should be allowed to draw on a range of starch-based crops including maize. A multi-feedstock approach will enable producers to select crops best suited to the agro-climate of the regions where their plants are situated and to minimize logistic costs by sourcing crops grown closest to their plants. In recent months, plans to use maize to produce ethanol have raised concerns that this could jeopardize food security in South Africa. © 2008 International Food and Agribusiness Management Association (IAMA). | Biofuel production; Food security; Maize | Zea mays | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-45949104696 | The Performance of South African and Kenyan Universities on the World Wide Web: A web link analysis | Onyancha O.B., Ocholla D.N. | 2007 | Cybermetrics | 11 | 1 | None | Library, University of Eastern Africa Baraton, P.O. Box 2500, Eldoret, Kenya; Department of Library and Information Science, University of Zululand, X1001 KwaDlangezwa 3886, South Africa | Onyancha, O.B., Library, University of Eastern Africa Baraton, P.O. Box 2500, Eldoret, Kenya; Ocholla, D.N., Department of Library and Information Science, University of Zululand, X1001 KwaDlangezwa 3886, South Africa | The study used Link Analysis to compare Kenyan and South African universities according to several Web-based indicators, some of which include the number of pages, and the number of in and out-links. The authors examined the external out-links in order to determine the institutions targeted by South African and Kenyan universities. Also investigated were the networks or links between universities. Web Impact Factors (WIFs) were calculated and reported in order to compare the universities' web influence. Results indicate that Kenyan universities, like most African universities, have embraced the Internet and its constructs fairly recently, hence most of their websites are at initial stages of construction. Comparatively, South African universities have made remarkable progress in their web presence, which is at an advanced stage of development, equaling counterparts in more developed countries. The study recommends that regional webometric studies be conducted periodically in order to investigate and map the web-related developments of African universities, it concludes that African universities, though not comparable to counterparts in developed countries, can have their websites evaluated webometrically. | Kenya; Link analysis; South Africa; Universities; Webometrics | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79951570862 | Design and methods of a longitudinal study investigating the impact of antiretroviral treatment on the partnerships and sexual behaviour of HIV-infected individuals in rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | McGrath N., Richter L., Newell M.-L. | 2011 | BMC Public Health | 11 | None | 10.1186/1471-2458-11-121 | London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Africa Centre for Health and Population Studies, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Somkhele, South Africa; Human Sciences Research Council, Durban, South Africa; UCL, Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom | McGrath, N., London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom, Africa Centre for Health and Population Studies, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Somkhele, South Africa; Richter, L., Human Sciences Research Council, Durban, South Africa; Newell, M.-L., Africa Centre for Health and Population Studies, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Somkhele, South Africa, UCL, Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom | Background: Diagnosed HIV-infected people form an increasingly large sub-population in South Africa, one that will continue to grow with widely promoted HIV testing and greater availability of antiretroviral therapy (ART). For HIV prevention and support, understanding the impact of long-term ART on family and sexual relationships is a health research priority. This includes improving the availability of longitudinal demographic and health data on HIV-infected individuals who have accessed ART services but who are not yet ART-eligible. Design and methods. The aim of the study is to investigate the impact of ART on family and partner relationships, and sexual behaviour of HIV-infected individuals accessing a public HIV treatment and care programme in rural South Africa. HIV-infected men and women aged 18 years or older attending three clinics are screened. Those people initiating ART because they meet the criteria of WHO stage 4 or CD4 200 cells/L are assigned to an 'ART initiator' group. A 'Monitoring' group is composed of people whose most recent CD4 count was <500 cells/L and are therefore, not yet eligible for ART. During the four-year study, data on both groups is collected every 6 months during clinic visits, or where necessary by home visits or phone. Detailed information is collected on social, demographic and health characteristics including living arrangements, past and current partnerships, sexual behaviour, HIV testing and disclosure, stigma, self-efficacy, quality of family and partner relationships, fertility and fertility intentions, ART knowledge and attitudes, and gender norms. Recruitment for both groups started in January 2009. As of October 2010, 600 participants have been enrolled; 386 in the ART initiator group (141, 37% male) and 214 in the Monitoring group (31, 14% male). Recruitment remains open for the Monitoring group. Discussion. The data collected in this study will provide valuable information for measuring the impact of ART on sexual behaviour, and for the planning and delivery of appropriate interventions to promote family and partner support, and safe sexual behaviour for people living with HIV in this setting and elsewhere in sub-Saharan Africa. © 2011 McGrath et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | None | antiretrovirus agent; adolescent; adult; article; drug effect; female; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; human relation; longitudinal study; male; methodology; middle aged; questionnaire; rural population; sexual behavior; South Africa; Adolescent; Adult; Anti-Retroviral Agents; Female; HIV Seropositivity; Humans; Interpersonal Relations; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Middle Aged; Questionnaires; Research Design; Rural Population; Sexual Behavior; South Africa; Young Adult | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84893785971 | Impact of Intermittent Screening and Treatment for Malaria among School Children in Kenya: A Cluster Randomised Trial | Halliday K.E., Okello G., Turner E.L., Njagi K., Mcharo C., Kengo J., Allen E., Dubeck M.M., Jukes M.C.H., Brooker S.J. | 2014 | PLoS Medicine | 11 | 1 | 10.1371/journal.pmed.1001594 | London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Health Systems and Social Science Research Group, Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya; Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics and Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States; Division of Malaria Control, Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation, Nairobi, Kenya; Health and Literacy Intervention Project, Ukunda, Kenya; London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Department of Teacher Education, College of Charleston, South Carolina, United States; Graduate School of Education, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, United States; Malaria Public Health Department, Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Nairobi, Kenya | Halliday, K.E., London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Okello, G., Health Systems and Social Science Research Group, Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya; Turner, E.L., Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics and Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States; Njagi, K., Division of Malaria Control, Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation, Nairobi, Kenya; Mcharo, C., Health and Literacy Intervention Project, Ukunda, Kenya; Kengo, J., Health and Literacy Intervention Project, Ukunda, Kenya; Allen, E., London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Dubeck, M.M., Department of Teacher Education, College of Charleston, South Carolina, United States; Jukes, M.C.H., Graduate School of Education, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, United States; Brooker, S.J., London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom, Malaria Public Health Department, Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Nairobi, Kenya | Background:Improving the health of school-aged children can yield substantial benefits for cognitive development and educational achievement. However, there is limited experimental evidence of the benefits of alternative school-based malaria interventions or how the impacts of interventions vary according to intensity of malaria transmission. We investigated the effect of intermittent screening and treatment (IST) for malaria on the health and education of school children in an area of low to moderate malaria transmission.Methods and Findings:A cluster randomised trial was implemented with 5,233 children in 101 government primary schools on the south coast of Kenya in 2010-2012. The intervention was delivered to children randomly selected from classes 1 and 5 who were followed up for 24 months. Once a school term, children were screened by public health workers using malaria rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs), and children (with or without malaria symptoms) found to be RDT-positive were treated with a six dose regimen of artemether-lumefantrine (AL). Given the nature of the intervention, the trial was not blinded. The primary outcomes were anaemia and sustained attention. Secondary outcomes were malaria parasitaemia and educational achievement. Data were analysed on an intention-to-treat basis.During the intervention period, an average of 88.3% children in intervention schools were screened at each round, of whom 17.5% were RDT-positive. 80.3% of children in the control and 80.2% in the intervention group were followed-up at 24 months. No impact of the malaria IST intervention was observed for prevalence of anaemia at either 12 or 24 months (adjusted risk ratio [Adj.RR]: 1.03, 95% CI 0.93-1.13, p = 0.621 and Adj.RR: 1.00, 95% CI 0.90-1.11, p = 0.953) respectively, or on prevalence of P. falciparum infection or scores of classroom attention. No effect of IST was observed on educational achievement in the older class, but an apparent negative effect was seen on spelling scores in the younger class at 9 and 24 months and on arithmetic scores at 24 months.Conclusion:In this setting in Kenya, IST as implemented in this study is not effective in improving the health or education of school children. Possible reasons for the absence of an impact are the marked geographical heterogeneity in transmission, the rapid rate of reinfection following AL treatment, the variable reliability of RDTs, and the relative contribution of malaria to the aetiology of anaemia in this setting.Trial registration:www.ClinicalTrials.gov <ext-link ext-link-type="uri" xlink:href="http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00878007" xlink:type="simple" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">NCT00878007</ext-link>Please see later in the article for the Editors' Summary. © 2014 Halliday et al. | None | Adolescent; Adolescent Development; Anemia; Antimalarials; Child; Child Development; Child, Preschool; Cluster Analysis; Female; Humans; Kenya; Malaria, Falciparum; Male; Mass Screening; Parasitemia; Plasmodium falciparum; Prevalence; Students; Young Adult | 092765, Wellcome Trust; 098045, Wellcome Trust |
| None | None | Inverse relationship of financial risk and performance in commercial banks in Tanzania | Amin M.A.M., Sanusi N.A., Kusairi S., Abdallah Z.M. | 2014 | Investment Management and Financial Innovations | 11 | 4 | None | Malaysia; Tanzania | Amin, M.A.M., Malaysia; Sanusi, N.A., Malaysia; Kusairi, S., Malaysia; Abdallah, Z.M., Tanzania | Studies on the financial risks and financial performance of banks are very limited, especially in Tanzania. This study aims to examine the simultaneous influence of the financial risks and financial performance of commercial banks in Tanzania. The financial performance under consideration is return on assets and return on equity, while financial risk is the average of financial risks. The study employs the instrumental variable regression of fixed effect to solve simultaneous equations by two-stage least squares. By using unbalanced panel data of 21 banks from 2003 to 2012, the results show that by applying both ROA and ROE in the performance equation, financial risk is significant. Furthermore, by considering financial performance in the risk equation as endogenous, both ROA and ROE are significant. The implication of this result is that the inverse relation of financial risk and performance cannot be avoided; hence, the commercial banks together with the bank supervisors should make a trade-off between risk and performance. © Mohamad Anuar Md Amin, Nur Azura Sanusi, Suhal Kusairi, Zuhura Mohamed Abdallah, 2014. | Commercial bank; Financial performance and financial risk | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84907959202 | The Clinical and Economic Impact of Point-of-Care CD4 Testing in Mozambique and Other Resource-Limited Settings: A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis | Hyle E.P., Jani I.V., Lehe J., Su A.E., Wood R., Quevedo J., Losina E., Bassett I.V., Pei P.P., Paltiel A.D., Resch S., Freedberg K.A., Peter T., Walensky R.P. | 2014 | PLoS Medicine | 11 | 9 | 10.1371/journal.pmed.1001725 | Medical Practice Evaluation Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States; Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States; Division of General Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States; Instituto Nacional da Saùde, Maputo, Mozambique; Clinton Health Access Initiative, Maputo, Mozambique; Desmond Tutu HIV Centre, Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Harvard University Center for AIDS Research, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States; Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States; Department of Health Policy and Management, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, United States; Center for Health Decision Science, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States; Department of Health Policy and Management, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States; Division of Infectious Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States | Hyle, E.P., Medical Practice Evaluation Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States, Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States, Division of General Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States; Jani, I.V., Instituto Nacional da Saùde, Maputo, Mozambique; Lehe, J., Clinton Health Access Initiative, Maputo, Mozambique; Su, A.E., Medical Practice Evaluation Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States; Wood, R., Desmond Tutu HIV Centre, Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Quevedo, J., Clinton Health Access Initiative, Maputo, Mozambique; Losina, E., Medical Practice Evaluation Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States, Harvard University Center for AIDS Research, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States; Bassett, I.V., Medical Practice Evaluation Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States, Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States, Harvard University Center for AIDS Research, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States; Pei, P.P., Medical Practice Evaluation Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States; Paltiel, A.D., Department of Health Policy and Management, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, United States; Resch, S., Center for Health Decision Science, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States; Freedberg, K.A., Medical Practice Evaluation Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States, Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States, Division of General Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States, Harvard University Center for AIDS Research, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States, Department of Health Policy and Management, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States; Peter, T., Clinton Health Access Initiative, Maputo, Mozambique; Walensky, R.P., Medical Practice Evaluation Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States, Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States, Division of General Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States, Harvard University Center for AIDS Research, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States, Division of Infectious Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States | Please see later in the article for the Editors' Summary.We use a validated model of HIV testing, linkage, and treatment (CEPAC-International) to examine two strategies of immunological staging in Mozambique: (1) laboratory-based CD4 testing (LAB-CD4) and (2) point-of-care CD4 testing (POC-CD4). Model outcomes include 5-y survival, life expectancy, lifetime costs, and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs). Input parameters include linkage to care (LAB-CD4, 34%; POC-CD4, 61%), probability of correctly detecting antiretroviral therapy (ART) eligibility (sensitivity: LAB-CD4, 100%; POC-CD4, 90%) or ART ineligibility (specificity: LAB-CD4, 100%; POC-CD4, 85%), and test cost (LAB-CD4, US$10; POC-CD4, US$24). In sensitivity analyses, we vary POC-CD4-specific parameters, as well as cohort and setting parameters to reflect a range of scenarios in sub-Saharan Africa. We consider ICERs less than three times the per capita gross domestic product in Mozambique (US$570) to be cost-effective, and ICERs less than one times the per capita gross domestic product in Mozambique to be very cost-effective. Projected 5-y survival in HIV-infected persons with LAB-CD4 is 60.9% (95% CI, 60.9%–61.0%), increasing to 65.0% (95% CI, 64.9%–65.1%) with POC-CD4. Discounted life expectancy and per person lifetime costs with LAB-CD4 are 9.6 y (95% CI, 9.6–9.6 y) and US$2,440 (95% CI, US$2,440–US$2,450) and increase with POC-CD4 to 10.3 y (95% CI, 10.3–10.3 y) and US$2,800 (95% CI, US$2,790–US$2,800); the ICER of POC-CD4 compared to LAB-CD4 is US$500/year of life saved (YLS) (95% CI, US$480–US$520/YLS). POC-CD4 improves clinical outcomes and remains near the very cost-effective threshold in sensitivity analyses, even if point-of-care CD4 tests have lower sensitivity/specificity and higher cost than published values. In other resource-limited settings with fewer opportunities to access care, POC-CD4 has a greater impact on clinical outcomes and remains cost-effective compared to LAB-CD4. Limitations of the analysis include the uncertainty around input parameters, which is examined in sensitivity analyses. The potential added benefits due to decreased transmission are excluded; their inclusion would likely further increase the value of POC-CD4 compared to LAB-CD4.POC-CD4 at the time of HIV diagnosis could improve survival and be cost-effective compared to LAB-CD4 in Mozambique, if it improves linkage to care. POC-CD4 could have the greatest impact on mortality in settings where resources for HIV testing and linkage are most limited.Point-of-care CD4 tests at HIV diagnosis could improve linkage to care in resource-limited settings. Our objective is to evaluate the clinical and economic impact of point-of-care CD4 tests compared to laboratory-based tests in Mozambique. © 2014 Hyle et al. | None | adult; Article; CD4 lymphocyte count; clinical feature; cost effectiveness analysis; cost of living; economic aspect; female; financial management; health care cost; highly active antiretroviral therapy; hospital care; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; life expectancy; male; middle aged; mortality; Mozambique; opportunistic infection; point of care CD4 testing; point of care testing; sensitivity and specificity; survival rate; treatment outcome; tuberculosis; validation process; aged; cost benefit analysis; economics; health care planning; HIV Infections; hospital information system; procedures; young adult; Adult; Aged; CD4 Lymphocyte Count; Cost-Benefit Analysis; Female; Health Care Costs; Health Resources; HIV Infections; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Mozambique; Point-of-Care Systems; Young Adult | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84935496483 | Field evaluation of selected cassava genotypes for cassava brown streak disease based on symptom expression and virus load | Kaweesi T., Kawuki R., Kyaligonza V., Baguma Y., Tusiime G., Ferguson M.E. | 2014 | Virology Journal | 11 | 1 | 10.1186/s12985-014-0216-x | National Crops Resources Research Institute, Root Crop Program, Namulonge, Uganda; Makerere University, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Kampala, Uganda; International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), c/o ILRI, P.O Box 30709, Nairobi, Kenya | Kaweesi, T., National Crops Resources Research Institute, Root Crop Program, Namulonge, Uganda; Kawuki, R., National Crops Resources Research Institute, Root Crop Program, Namulonge, Uganda; Kyaligonza, V., National Crops Resources Research Institute, Root Crop Program, Namulonge, Uganda; Baguma, Y., National Crops Resources Research Institute, Root Crop Program, Namulonge, Uganda; Tusiime, G., Makerere University, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Kampala, Uganda; Ferguson, M.E., International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), c/o ILRI, P.O Box 30709, Nairobi, Kenya | Background: Production of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz), a food security crop in sub-Saharan Africa, is threatened by the spread of cassava brown streak disease (CBSD) which manifests in part as a corky necrosis in the storage root. It is caused by either of two virus species, Cassava brown streak virus (CBSV) and Ugandan cassava brown streak virus (UCBSV), resulting in up to 100% yield loss in susceptible varieties. Methods: This study characterized the response of 11 cassava varieties according to CBSD symptom expression and relative CBSV and UCBSV load in a field trial in Uganda. Relative viral load was measured using quantitative RT-PCR using COX as an internal housekeeping gene. Results: A complex situation was revealed with indications of different resistance mechanisms that restrict virus accumulation and symptom expression. Four response categories were defined. Symptom expression was not always positively correlated with virus load. Substantially different levels of the virus species were found in many genotypes suggesting either resistance to one virus species or the other, or some form of interaction, antagonism or competition between virus species. Conclusions: A substantial amount of research still needs to be undertaken to fully understand the mechanism and genetic bases of resistance. This information will be useful in informing breeding strategies and restricting virus spread. © 2014 Kaweesi et al. | Cassava; Cassava brown streak viruses; Resistance mechanism; Virus accumulation | Article; cassava; cassava brown streak disease; Cassava brown streak virus; controlled study; field study; genotype; housekeeping gene; nonhuman; plant root; plant virus; reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction; shoot; Uganda; Ugandan cassava brown streak virus; viral plant disease; virus expression; virus load; virus resistance; disease resistance; genetics; immunology; isolation and purification; Manihot; plant disease; Potyviridae; real time polymerase chain reaction; virology; Cassava brown streak virus; Manihot esculenta; Disease Resistance; Manihot; Plant Diseases; Potyviridae; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; Uganda; Viral Load | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-78649628685 | Sustainable assessment and evaluation strategies for open and distance learning | Okonkwo C.A. | 2010 | Turkish Online Journal of Distance Education | 11 | 4 | None | National Open University of Nigeria, 14/16 Ahmadu Bello Way, P.M.B. 80067 Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria | Okonkwo, C.A., National Open University of Nigeria, 14/16 Ahmadu Bello Way, P.M.B. 80067 Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria | This paper first presents an overview of the concepts of assessment and evaluation in Open and Distance Learning (ODL) environment. The large numbers of students and numerous courses make assessment and evaluation very difficult and administrative nightmare at Distance Learning (DL) institutions. These challenges informed exploring issues relating to assessment and evaluation like the development and use of question bank and deployment of technology in assessment with emphasis on strategies for sustainability. Assessment in ODL, unlike in the Conventional system where students have a range of opportunities to demonstrate their learning periodically, depends on formal assessment tasks only. Thus, for validity to be high in ODL assessment, assessment must provide the appropriate situation possible for measuring the specific abilities being measured. Reliability is maximized when the assessment items are many; the items are not too easy or too difficult for the candidates; and the marking consistent. Evaluation depends on Tutor Marked Assignments (TMAs) and End of Semester Examination (ESE) in ODL system. Large question/item bank (with reliable and valid questions) from which items are picked to constitute test are needed. Attempts are made to provide argument for the use of computer as a viable option for sustainable assessment based on its sustainable features especially for ODL institutions with a large number of students' population. It is hoped that these strategies if adopted have the potentials to eliminate some of the challenges that ODL institutions are currently facing in assessment. It will also strengthen quality assurance mechanism in ODL institutions. | Assessment; Evaluation; Question bank; Strategies; Sustainability; Technology | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84863788240 | Growth performance of finisher broilers on Livingstone-potato (Plectranthus esculentus) tubers meal | Okereke C.O. | 2012 | Pakistan Journal of Nutrition | 11 | 5 | 10.3923/pjn.2012.411.413 | National Root Crops Research Institute, Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria | Okereke, C.O., National Root Crops Research Institute, Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria | A feeding trial lasting 42 days was conducted using seventy two (72) 4-weeks old Anak broiler chicks with an average initial live weight of 4.40 kg to determine the growth performance of finisher broilers fed diet containing Livingstone-potato tubers meal. The animals were assigned to four treatment based on their initial live weight. The diets were formulated to be isonitrogenous (20% CP). The control diet was based on maize and soybean meal without Livingstone-potato tubers meal. Feed and water were offered ad libitum. The growth performance of broilers fed on various levels of meals in which Livingstone-potato (Rizga) meal substituted maize at 10%, 20% and 30% showed that there were no significant differences (p<0.05) in final body weight, average daily weight gain, average daily feed intake and feed conversion ratio among the treatments. The implication of these result is that those parameters measured were not significantly (p>0.05) influenced by the dietary levels of Livingstone-potato (Plectranthus esculentus) meal. The results suggest that 30% replacement of maize with Livingstone-potato (Plectranthus esculentus) meal produced no negative effect on the production performance of finisher broilers. © Asian Network for Scientific Information, 2012. | Anak broiler chicks; Growth performance; Plectranthus esculentus meal | animal experiment; animal food; article; body weight; broiler; chick; controlled study; food composition; food intake; growth; maize; nonhuman; Plectranthus esculentus; potato; soybean; weight gain; Animalia; Glycine max; Plectranthus esculentus; Solanum tuberosum; Zea mays | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84860999803 | Effect of supplemental electrolytes and ascorbic acid on the performance and carcass characteristics of broiler raised during high temperature period in Nigeria | Majekodunmi B.C., Ogunwole O.A., Sokunbi O.A. | 2012 | International Journal of Poultry Science | 11 | 2 | None | Physiology Unit, Department of Animal Science, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria | Majekodunmi, B.C., Physiology Unit, Department of Animal Science, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Ogunwole, O.A., Physiology Unit, Department of Animal Science, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Sokunbi, O.A., Physiology Unit, Department of Animal Science, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria | The effect of supplementing drinking water with sodium chloride, sodium bicarbonate, calcium chloride and ascorbic acid on feed intake, weight gain, Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR), visceral and immunological organs of broilers reared under natural heat stress was undertaken. A total of 200 day-1 Arbor acre strain chickens were randomly divided into five treatments. Each treatment was in quadruplicate of ten chickens each. Treatment 1 (T1) was the control with water without any supplement while treatments T2, T3, T4 and T5 had their water supplemented with 0.5% ammonium chloride, sodium bicarbonate, calcium chloride and 300ppm ascorbic acid respectively. The design of the experiment was a completely randomized design. Birds given salts (T2, T3 and T4) had lower feed intake (721.5 g, 732.6 g and 730.30 g respectively) compared with their counterparts on Treatments 1 and 5 (735.30 g and 733.10 g respectively) Birds on T3 had significantly improved (p<0.05) weight gain (331.56 g) and lower FCR (2.22). The FCR generally decreased in birds given salts. The visceral and immunological organs were not significantly affected (p>0.05) by the treatment except birds on T4 which recorded significantly lower (p<0.05) relative weight of intestine (2.93%), higher weight of bursa of fabricus (0.19%). Conclusively, (0.5%) salts supplementation in water had positive effect on the performance of heat stressed broiler in this experiment. © Asian Network for Scientific Information, 2012. | Ascorbic acids; Broiler performance; Feed conversion ratio; Heat stress; Immunological organs; Supplemental salts; Visceral organs | Aves; Gallus gallus | None |
| None | None | Evaluating land cover change and its impact on hydrological regime in Upper Shire river catchment, Malawi | Palamuleni L.G., Ndomba P.M., Annegarn H.J. | 2011 | Regional Environmental Change | 11 | 4 | 10.1007/s10113-011-0220-2 | North West University, Mmabatho, South Africa; University of Dar es Salaam, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa | Palamuleni, L.G., North West University, Mmabatho, South Africa; Ndomba, P.M., University of Dar es Salaam, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Annegarn, H.J., University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa | A study was conducted to investigate hydrological impacts of land cover changes in the degradation of the hydrological on flow regimes of the Upper Shire river, Malawi. Remote sensing techniques were used to inventory temporal changes of land cover changes in the catchment. Hydrological data were analyzed to reveal the alterations and trends for two periods; 1989 and 2002. The study revealed significant changes in magnitude and direction that have occurred in the catchment between 1989 and 2002, mainly in areas of human habitation. Trends in land cover change in the Upper Shire river catchment depict land cover transition from woodlands to mostly cultivated/grazing and built-up areas. The land cover mapping showed that 23% of the land was covered by agricultural land in 1989. Subsistence agricultural area has increased by 18%, occupying 41% of the study area in 2002. The effects of the derived land cover changes on river flow in the Upper Shire river were investigated using the semi distributed soil and water assessment tool (SWAT) model. River flows were found to be highly variable and sensitive to land cover changes. Simulation results show that 2002 land cover data produces higher flow peaks and faster travel times compared to the 1989 land cover data. The changes detected indicate the effects of land use pressure in the catchment. The study highlights the importance of considering effects of land use and land cover changes on ecosystems, and water resources for an informed decision on proper catchment planning and management. © 2011 Springer-Verlag. | Hydrological regimes; Land cover change; Malawi; Mass curves; Shire River | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84863471615 | The secular and the sacred in the thinking of John Milbank: A critical evaluation | Vorster N. | 2012 | Journal for the Study of Religions and Ideologies | 11 | 32 | None | North-West University, Faculty of Theology, South Africa | Vorster, N., North-West University, Faculty of Theology, South Africa | This article examines John Milbank's deconstruction of secular social theory, and the counter master narrative that he proposes. Milbank depicts secular social theory as based on an ontology of 'violence'. Instead, he proposes a participatory Christian master narrative based on an ontology of peace. Two questions are posed in this article. First, is Milbank's description of secular thought as under girded by an ontology of violence valid? Second, does the Christian counter narrative that he proposes provide an adequate and viable social theory? After explicating Milbank's analysis of secular social theory and his alternative of an ontology of peace, the article comes to the conclusion that Milbank's analysis of secular theory is seriously flawed because of the very comprehensive and universal content that he gives to the term 'violence'. His alternative social theory is also not viable because of the ecclesiocentric nature of his model. It is argued that Milbank's alternative narrative displays contradictions and does not escape theocratic, relativist and 'violent' elements. © SACRI. | Church; Gift; John milbank; Narrative; Ontology; Participation; Peace; Secular; Social theory; Violence | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84941961528 | Specific performance as a primary remedy in the South African law of contract | Kanamugire J.C. | 2015 | Corporate Board: Role, Duties and Composition | 11 | 2 | None | North-West University, Mafikeng Campus, South Africa | Kanamugire, J.C., North-West University, Mafikeng Campus, South Africa | Specific performance is a primary remedy for breach of contract available for the aggrieved party. This order emphasises the performance of contractual obligations. Although the plaintiff can elect to claim specific performance from the defendant, the court has a discretion to grant or decline the order of specific performance. The discretion must be exercised judicially and does not confine on rigid rules. Courts decide each case according to its own facts and circumstances. Plaintiff has a right of election whether to claim specific performance from the defendant or damages for breach of contract. The defendant does not enjoy any choice in this matter. As a general rule, specific performance is not often awarded in the contract of services. However, recent developments have demonstrated that specific performance will usually be granted in employment contracts if there is equality of bargaining power among contracting parties and such order will not produce undue hardship to the defaulting party. Public policy generally favours the utmost freedom of contract and requires that parties should respect or honour their contractual obligations in commercial transactions. Public policy is rooted in the constitution and can sparingly be used to strike down contracts. Specific performance should not continue to be a primary remedy for breach of contract. Contracting parties should be allowed to resile from the contract and use damages as a remedy for breach of contract. © 2015, Virtus Interpress. All rights reserved. | Breach of contract; Damages; Judicial discretion; Specific performance | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84875046791 | Efficacy evaluation of flavored combination parasiticide tablets in a laboratory study for the removal of natural Dipylidium caninum (tapeworm) infections in dogs | Barnett S., King S., Kok D., Luempert L. | 2013 | International Journal of Applied Research in Veterinary Medicine | 11 | 1 | None | Novartis Animal Health US, Inc., 3200 Northline Ave., Suite 300, Greensboro NC 27408, United States; ClinVet International (Pty) Ltd., PO Box 11186, Universitas, 9321, Bloemfontein, South Africa | Barnett, S., Novartis Animal Health US, Inc., 3200 Northline Ave., Suite 300, Greensboro NC 27408, United States; King, S., Novartis Animal Health US, Inc., 3200 Northline Ave., Suite 300, Greensboro NC 27408, United States; Kok, D., ClinVet International (Pty) Ltd., PO Box 11186, Universitas, 9321, Bloemfontein, South Africa; Luempert, L., Novartis Animal Health US, Inc., 3200 Northline Ave., Suite 300, Greensboro NC 27408, United States | A pivotal blinded laboratory study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of two novel formulations of flavored combination tablets against Dipylidium caninum in naturally infected dogs. One formulation was a 3-way combination of the active ingredients praziquantel, milbemycin oxime and lufenuron; the other was a 2-way combination of praziquantel and milbemycin oxime, both administered orally. The study also included a negative control group that received Sentinel ® Flavor Tabs® (milbemycin oxime and lufenuron) and a placebo control group that received vehicle placebo tablets. Each treatment or control group consisted of 10 dogs and the study was conducted in two phases. Dogs were housed in individual pens from Day -14 until necropsy on Day 12. The selection of study animals was based on infection with D. caninum as demonstrated by shed proglottids once before and once during the 14-day acclimatization period. Microfilaria tests were conducted on blood samples collected during acclimatization and only heartworm negative dogs were enrolled in the study. Dogs were blocked by weight and randomly assigned to treatment groups. Male and female animals were represented within every treatment group. Dogs in all groups were treated once on Day 0, within approximately 30 minutes of ingesting a full meal, and observed hourly for the first six hours post-treatment, and then again at 8, 10, 12, 18 and 24 hours post-treatment to determine acute tolerance. General health observations were performed daily for the duration of the study. Dogs were euthanized on Day 12 and the intestines were examined for the presence of D. caninum. One dog in the vehicle placebo group was removed from the trial on Day 6 due to ehrlichiosis. Tapeworms were recovered from 18 of 20 control dogs while no tapeworms were found in any of the dogs that received either the 3-way or 2-way combination tablets, which contained praziquantel. Therefore, the efficacy against naturally acquired D. caninum infection was 100% for both the 3-way and the 2-way combination tablets. Clinical abnormalities were confined to self-limiting gastrointestinal signs observed in both treatment and control groups. | Dipylidium caninum; Praziquantel; Tapeworm | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-80052023718 | Evaluation of the impact of the voucher and accreditation approach on improving reproductive behaviors and status in Cambodia | Bellows B., Warren C., Vonthanak S., Chhorvann C., Sokhom H., Men C., Bajracharya A., Rob U., Rathavy T. | 2011 | BMC Public Health | 11 | None | 10.1186/1471-2458-11-667 | Population Council, General Accident House, Ralph Bunche Road, Nairobi, Kenya; National Institute of Public Health, No.2, Kim Yl Sung Blvd, Khan Toul Kork, Phnom Penh, Cambodia; Research Unit, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Dermatology and STDs (NCHADS), Phnom Penh, Cambodia; Center for Advanced Studies (CAS), #160, Street 156, Sangkat Teuk Laak 2, Tuol Kork, Phnom Penh, Cambodia; Population Council, Viet Nam; Population Council, Bangladesh; Ministry of Health, National MCH Center (NMCHC), National MCH Institute, #31A Street 47 (Street France), Sangkat Srah Chak, Khan Daun Penh, Phnom Penh, Cambodia; Unit 17-04 Prime Center, 53 Quang Trung Street, Hai Ba, Trung District, Hanoi, Viet Nam; House 21, Road 118, Gulshan, Dhaka 1212, Bangladesh | Bellows, B., Population Council, General Accident House, Ralph Bunche Road, Nairobi, Kenya; Warren, C., Population Council, General Accident House, Ralph Bunche Road, Nairobi, Kenya; Vonthanak, S., National Institute of Public Health, No.2, Kim Yl Sung Blvd, Khan Toul Kork, Phnom Penh, Cambodia; Chhorvann, C., Research Unit, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Dermatology and STDs (NCHADS), Phnom Penh, Cambodia; Sokhom, H., Center for Advanced Studies (CAS), #160, Street 156, Sangkat Teuk Laak 2, Tuol Kork, Phnom Penh, Cambodia; Men, C., Center for Advanced Studies (CAS), #160, Street 156, Sangkat Teuk Laak 2, Tuol Kork, Phnom Penh, Cambodia; Bajracharya, A., Population Council, Viet Nam, Unit 17-04 Prime Center, 53 Quang Trung Street, Hai Ba, Trung District, Hanoi, Viet Nam; Rob, U., Population Council, Bangladesh, House 21, Road 118, Gulshan, Dhaka 1212, Bangladesh; Rathavy, T., Ministry of Health, National MCH Center (NMCHC), National MCH Institute, #31A Street 47 (Street France), Sangkat Srah Chak, Khan Daun Penh, Phnom Penh, Cambodia | Background: Cost of delivering reproductive health services to low income populations will always require total or partial subsidization by government and/or development partners. Broadly termed "demand-side financing" or "output-based aid", these strategies include a range of interventions that channel government or donor subsidies to the user rather than the service provider. Initial pilot assessments of reproductive health voucher programs suggest that they can increase access, reduce inequities, and enhance program efficiency and service quality. However, there is a paucity of evidence describing how these programs function in different settings for various reproductive health services. Methods/Design. Population Council, funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, intends to generate evidence around the "voucher and accreditation" approaches to improving the reproductive health of low-income women in Cambodia. The study comprises of four populations: facilities, providers, women of reproductive age using facilities, and women and men who have been pregnant and/or used family planning within the previous 12 months. The study will be carried out in a sample of 20 health facilities that are accredited to provide maternal and newborn health and family planning services to women holding vouchers from operational districts in three provinces: Kampong Thom, Kampot and Prey Veng and a matched sample of non-accredited facilities in three other provinces. Health facility assessments will be conducted at baseline and endline to track temporal changes in quality-of-care, client out-of-pocket costs, and utilization. Facility inventories, structured observations, and client exit interviews will be used to collect comparable data across facilities. Health providers will also be interviewed and observed providing care. A population survey of about 3000 respondents will also be conducted in areas where vouchers are distributed and similar non-voucher locations. Discussion. A quasi-experimental study will investigate the impact of the voucher approach on improving reproductive health behaviors, reproductive health status and reducing inequities at the population level and assess effects on access, equity and quality of care at the facility level. If the voucher scheme in Cambodia is found effective, it may help other countries adopt this approach for improving utilization and access to reproductive health and family planning services. © 2011 Bellows et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | Output based approach; Vouchers | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77954840022 | Integrating group-self evaluation in open and distance learning system | Ajunwa O.U.S. | 2010 | Turkish Online Journal of Distance Education | 11 | 1 | None | School Of Education, National Open University of Nigeria, 14-16 Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island. Lagos, Nigeria | Ajunwa, O.U.S., School Of Education, National Open University of Nigeria, 14-16 Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island. Lagos, Nigeria | Every instructional process involves a strategic assessment system for a complete teaching leaning circle. Any assessment system which is seriously flawed, should call for a change, a rethink or a repackaging for sustainability, and to be a part of teaching and learning. Assessment should be meaningful to both the assessors and the assessees. The learners who are the assessees in this case should not be left out in the process of assessment. This is an era of democratization and liberalization of the educational opportunities through the use of Open and Distance Learning. Therefore the components of the educational system, including assessment and evaluation should also be democratized through the group-self evaluation of learning outcomes in the Open and Distance Learning system. This paper takes a look at the benefits of the group-self evaluation, the concept of Open and Distance Learning, characteristics of learners in Open and Distance Learning and integrating group-self evaluation in the Open and Distance Learning system. | Assessment; Distance education; Group-self evaluation; Open and distance learning; Open learning | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-66349134266 | The cost of environmental impact assessment (EIA) in South Africa | Retief F., Chabalala B. | 2009 | Journal of Environmental Assessment Policy and Management | 11 | 1 | 10.1142/S1464333209003257 | School of Environmental Sciences and Development, North West University (Potchefstroom Campus), Private Bag X6001, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa; Centre for Environmental Management, North West University (Potchefstroom Campus), Private Bag X6001, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa | Retief, F., School of Environmental Sciences and Development, North West University (Potchefstroom Campus), Private Bag X6001, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa; Chabalala, B., Centre for Environmental Management, North West University (Potchefstroom Campus), Private Bag X6001, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa | The wide adoption of EIA internationally is implicitly or explicitly based on the assumption that the benefits of EIA outweigh the costs. However, there has been surprisingly little empirical research conducted on the "cost" of EIA. The latter has been mostly because of the difficult methodological challenges it presents, which include the difficulties associated with clarifying terminology and disentangling what is meant by "cost". South Africa has been a leading developing country in terms of the introduction of EIA. However, almost a decade of mandatory EIA practice has raised serious questions about unjustified and unnecessary time delays and monetary costs and a desperate need for improved efficiency and effectiveness. In light of the latter the urgent need to gain a better understanding of the "cost" of EIA is evident. This paper presents preliminary results of an empirical study on the "direct EIA cost" in relation to "overall project cost" in South Africa. The data was obtained from a detailed survey of 148 EIAs conducted in the Free State, North West and the Northern Cape Provinces. The research suggests that the average direct cost of EIA within this region of South Africa is particularly low compared to international EIA systems. However, as a percentage of total project cost, EIA in South Africa compares with the higher spectrum of international practice. The latter suggests that within the South African context a large number of EIAs are being conducted for relatively small scale projects and that the main cost burden is placed on small and medium economic enterprise. In conclusion the overall profile of EIA cost in the South African context is described in relation to four broad project categories. To take the debate forward and to allow for regional comparative analysis, it is proposed that the research be expanded to include other provinces. © Imperial College Press. | Cost of EIA; Direct EIA costs; Indirect EIA costs | developing world; empirical analysis; environmental impact assessment; environmental planning; methodology; Africa; South Africa; Southern Africa; Sub-Saharan Africa | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77749308485 | The prevalence and functional impact of musculoskeletal conditions amongst clients of a primary health care facility in an under-resourced area of Cape Town | Parker R., Jelsma J. | 2010 | BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders | 11 | None | 10.1186/1471-2474-11-2 | School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa | Parker, R., School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Jelsma, J., School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa | Background. The extent of disease burden of musculoskeletal conditions (MSC) not due to injury has not been well determined in sub-Saharan Africa. The 1999 Global Burden of Disease study estimated the prevalence of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis to be 150/100,000 compared to 1,500/100,000 in Europe. The objective of the study was to determine the prevalence of MSC and the functional implications in a sample of people attending community health centres in Cape Town, South Africa. Methods. A cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted in clinics in two resource poor communities. Phase I consisted of screening and those who screened positive for peripheral or spinal joint pain went on to complete Phase II, which included the Stanford Health Assessment Questionnaire. Results. 1005 people were screened in Phase I. Of these, 362 (36%) reported MSC not due to injury in the past three months. Those with MSC had higher rates of co-morbidities in every category than those without. The mean Disability Index for those with MSC was mild to moderate and moderate to severe in those over 55 years. Conclusions. Although the sample may not be representative of the general community, the prevalence is considerably greater than those reported elsewhere even when the population of the catchment area is used as a denominator, (367/100 000). The common presentation of MSC with co-morbid diabetes and hypertension requires holistic management by appropriately trained health care practitioners. Any new determination of burden of disease due to MSC should recognise that these disorders may be more prevalent in developing countries than previously estimated. © 2010 Parker and Jelsma; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | None | adult; aged; arthritis; article; backache; community; comorbidity; controlled study; cross-sectional study; disease severity; female; health care facility; human; major clinical study; male; osteoarthritis; prevalence; primary health care; questionnaire; rheumatoid arthritis; rigidity; screening; South Africa; spinal pain; arthralgia; cost of illness; developing country; diabetes mellitus; health care delivery; health care quality; hypertension; mass screening; middle aged; musculoskeletal disease; outpatient department; poverty; statistics; Adult; Aged; Ambulatory Care Facilities; Arthralgia; Comorbidity; Cost of Illness; Cross-Sectional Studies; Developing Countries; Diabetes Mellitus; Female; Health Services Accessibility; Humans; Hypertension; Male; Mass Screening; Middle Aged; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Poverty Areas; Prevalence; Primary Health Care; Quality of Health Care; Questionnaires; South Africa | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-69949095265 | Level of maternal education and performance of Black, South African infants on the 1996 Griffiths Mental DevelopmentScales | Cockcroft K., Amod Z., Soellaart B. | 2008 | African Journal of Psychiatry (South Africa) | 11 | 1 | None | School of Human and Community Development, Discipline of Psychology, University of the Witwatersrand, P.O. WITS 2050, Johannesburg, South Africa | Cockcroft, K., School of Human and Community Development, Discipline of Psychology, University of the Witwatersrand, P.O. WITS 2050, Johannesburg, South Africa; Amod, Z., School of Human and Community Development, Discipline of Psychology, University of the Witwatersrand, P.O. WITS 2050, Johannesburg, South Africa; Soellaart, B., School of Human and Community Development, Discipline of Psychology, University of the Witwatersrand, P.O. WITS 2050, Johannesburg, South Africa | Objective: The study compared the performance on the Griffiths Mental Development Scales of Black, South African infants with mothers who had twelve or more years of education and who were professionally employed with infants of mothers with fewer than twelve years of education and who were employed in non-professional jobs. Method: The sample consisted of 40 infants (aged 13-16 months), to whom the Griffiths Mental Development Scales was administered. Results: The infants with professional mothers performed significantly better than their counterparts with non-professional mothers on the General Quotient, as well as on the Locomotor Scale. While maternal level of education did not appear to distinguish between infants in terms of social, fine motor, language, hearing, processing speed or practical reasoning, it did discriminate in terms of gross-motor functioning. Conclusion: It is suggested that, as the infant develops, the skills assessed by the Griffiths Scales, which are initially differentiated, become increasingly interrelated. Consequently, poor gross-motor skills, which may be more likely in infants from a low socio-economic status, may have far-reaching implications. Thus, it is important to consider maternal level of education and the socio-economic status background of the infant, as this may influence overall performance on the Scales. | Developmental assessment; Griffiths mental development scales; Maternal level of education | academic achievement; Africa south of the Sahara; article; auditory system function; child; child development; controlled study; educational status; female; Griffith Mental Development Scale; human; intelligence quotient; language ability; male; mental development; mental performance; mother child relation; motor performance; rating scale; social behavior; social status; thinking | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84888115601 | The impact of HRIS on organizational efficiency: Random or integrated and holistic? | Aswanth Kumar N., Brijball Parumasur S. | 2013 | Corporate Ownership and Control | 11 | 1 G | None | School of Management, Information Technology and Governance, College of Law and Management Studies, University of KwaZulu-Natal (Westville Campus), Private Bag X54001, Durban, 4000, South Africa | Aswanth Kumar, N., School of Management, Information Technology and Governance, College of Law and Management Studies, University of KwaZulu-Natal (Westville Campus), Private Bag X54001, Durban, 4000, South Africa; Brijball Parumasur, S., School of Management, Information Technology and Governance, College of Law and Management Studies, University of KwaZulu-Natal (Westville Campus), Private Bag X54001, Durban, 4000, South Africa | This study assesses the extent to which the HRIS enhances organizational efficiency in an interrelated and holistic manner (as determined by its impact on areas of HR, time management, cost management and managerial satisfaction with the system). A sample of 101 managers was drawn from a Municipality in South Africa using cluster sampling. Data was collected using a self-developed, closed-ended questionnaire comprising of 28 items, the psychometric properties (validity, reliability) of which was statistically assessed using Factor Analysis and Cronbach's Coefficient Alpha respectively. Data was analyzed using inferential statistics. The results indicate that HRIS significantly enhances overall organizational efficiency and its sub-dimensions (HR functions, time management, cost management and managerial satisfaction with the system) in an inter-related and holistic manner, though in varying degrees. Hence, the implementation of a proper HRIS has the potential to bring about operational effectiveness and enhance the realisation of the HR and corporate strategy, thereby ensuring organizational effectiveness. | Cost management; Human resource functions; Integrated and holistic human resource information system (HRIS); Managerial satisfaction; Organizational efficiency; Time management | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84881296638 | The performance of mixture refrigerant R134a/R152a in a novel gas engine-driven heat pump system | Wu X., Yang Z., Liu H., Huan Z., Wang W. | 2014 | International Journal of Green Energy | 11 | 1 | 10.1080/15435075.2013.769877 | School of Mechanical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilization of Low and Medium Grade Energy, Tianjin University, 92 Weijin Road, Nankai District, Tianjin,300072, China; Department of Mechanical Engineering, Pretoria Campus, Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, South Africa | Wu, X., School of Mechanical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilization of Low and Medium Grade Energy, Tianjin University, 92 Weijin Road, Nankai District, Tianjin,300072, China; Yang, Z., School of Mechanical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilization of Low and Medium Grade Energy, Tianjin University, 92 Weijin Road, Nankai District, Tianjin,300072, China; Liu, H., School of Mechanical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilization of Low and Medium Grade Energy, Tianjin University, 92 Weijin Road, Nankai District, Tianjin,300072, China; Huan, Z., Department of Mechanical Engineering, Pretoria Campus, Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, South Africa; Wang, W., School of Mechanical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilization of Low and Medium Grade Energy, Tianjin University, 92 Weijin Road, Nankai District, Tianjin,300072, China | In the present article, a novel gas engine-driven heat pump (GEHP) which could independently provide heating, cooling, and hot water for the buildings with its autonomous power supply system was presented, and the cooling performance characteristics of GEHP using mixture refrigerant R134a/R152a were investigated experimentally. The thermophysical properties and flammability of this proposed mixture refrigerant were analyzed and experimented to approve that it could be used safely in GEHP. The experimental results indicated that the cooling capacity, waste heat recovered from cylinder jacket and exhaust gas, gas engine energy consumption, and compressor power increased with the increase of the gas engine speeds and evaporator water inlet flow rate, but changed in a small range with the increase of the evaporator water inlet temperature except cooling capacity. The generator power remained about 4.90 kW in different operating conditions. Furthermore, the coefficient of performance (COP) and the primary energy ratio (PER) of GEHP also increased with the increase of the evaporator water inlet flow rate and temperature, but decreased with the increase of gas engine speeds. Finally, maximum COP and PER with mixture refrigerant R134a/R152a has been estimated with 8.88 and 1.69 in the aforementioned conditions. © 2013 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC. | Flammability limits; Gas engine-driven heat pump; Operating characteristics; Primary energy ratio; R134a/R152a | Flammability limits; Gas engine driven heat pumps; Operating characteristics; Primary energy ratios; R134a/R152a; Cooling; Cooling systems; Electric power systems; Energy utilization; Evaporators; Flow rate; Gas engines; Inlet flow; Mixtures; Refrigerants; Speed; Thermodynamic properties; Waste heat; Heat pump systems; cooling; electronic equipment; energy use; performance assessment | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-36049004040 | Social and cultural significance of the sexual cleansing ritual and its impact on HIV prevention strategies in western Kenya | Ayikukwei R.M., Ngare D., Sidle J.E., Ayuku D.O., Baliddawa J., Greene J.Y. | 2007 | Sexuality and Culture | 11 | 3 | 10.1007/s12119-007-9010-x | School of Medicine, AMPATH Program, Moi University, P.O. Box 4606, Eldoret 30100, Kenya; School of Medicine, Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya; School of Public Health, Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya; School of Medicine, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN, United States | Ayikukwei, R.M., School of Medicine, AMPATH Program, Moi University, P.O. Box 4606, Eldoret 30100, Kenya; Ngare, D., School of Medicine, Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya, School of Public Health, Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya; Sidle, J.E., School of Medicine, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN, United States; Ayuku, D.O., School of Medicine, Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya, School of Public Health, Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya; Baliddawa, J., School of Medicine, Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya, School of Public Health, Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya; Greene, J.Y., School of Medicine, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN, United States | Traditional cultural practices and sexual rituals have an important role in the life and structure of tribal groups within Kenya. These cultural practices and rituals also play a significant role in the spread of HIV. The purpose of this descriptive qualitative study was to document the underlying social and cultural significance of the sexual cleansing ritual and to assess its impact on HIV prevention strategies. The study participants were selected by purposive and snowball sampling. Data were collected using in-depth interviews, focus group discussions and observations; they were analyzed using content analysis. The article gives detailed explanations of the meanings and symbols of the ritual in its cultural context as a ritual of social transition. Sexual intercourse is perceived as a sacred rite when performed as a ritual. It is associated with most social cultural activities like planting, harvesting, weddings and burial ceremonies. The underlying intention of this ritual is to cleanse evil spirits and to sanctify. Widows who are not cleansed are ostracized and discriminated. The continued practice of the ritual is perpetuated by a shared common belief system that affects social interactions of the community members. Widows and cleansers are believed to be purveyors of the HIV virus. The ritual encourages unprotected sex with multiple partners. These are barriers to HIV prevention strategies that are aimed at changing sexual behaviors. | Culture; HIV/AIDS; Rituals; Sexual behaviors; Sexual cleansing; Symbols | None | None |
| None | None | Molecular monitoring of resistant dhfr and dhps allelic haplotypes in Morogoro and Mvomero districts in south eastern Tanzania | Malisa A., Pearce R., Abdullah S., Mutayoba B., Mshinda H., Kachur P., Bloland P., Roper C. | 2011 | African Health Sciences | 11 | 2 | None | Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA), Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Morogoro, Tanzania; London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Pathogen Molecular Biology Unit, Department of Infectious Tropical Diseases, London, United Kingdom; Ifakara Health Institute (IHI) Ifakara, Kilombero District, Morogoro, Tanzania; Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA), Department of Veterinary Physiology Biochemistry, Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Morogoro, Tanzania; Malaria Epidemiology Branch,Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Division of Parasitic Diseases, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Atlanta, GA, United States | Malisa, A., Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA), Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Morogoro, Tanzania, Ifakara Health Institute (IHI) Ifakara, Kilombero District, Morogoro, Tanzania; Pearce, R., London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Pathogen Molecular Biology Unit, Department of Infectious Tropical Diseases, London, United Kingdom; Abdullah, S., Ifakara Health Institute (IHI) Ifakara, Kilombero District, Morogoro, Tanzania; Mutayoba, B., Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA), Department of Veterinary Physiology Biochemistry, Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Morogoro, Tanzania; Mshinda, H., Ifakara Health Institute (IHI) Ifakara, Kilombero District, Morogoro, Tanzania; Kachur, P., Malaria Epidemiology Branch,Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Division of Parasitic Diseases, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Atlanta, GA, United States; Bloland, P., Malaria Epidemiology Branch,Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Division of Parasitic Diseases, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Atlanta, GA, United States; Roper, C., London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Pathogen Molecular Biology Unit, Department of Infectious Tropical Diseases, London, United Kingdom | Background: Resistance to the antimalarial drug sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) emerged in Plasmodium falciparum from Asia in the 1960s and subsequently spread to Africa. In Tanzania, SP use as a national policy began in 1983 as a second line to chloroquine (CQ) for the treatment of uncomplicated malaria, until August 2001 when it was approved to replace CQ as a national first line. Objective: The present study assesses the frequency of resistant dhfr and dhps alleles in Morogoro-Mvomero district in south eastern Tanzania and contrast their rate of change during 17 years of SP second line use against five years of SP first line use. Methodology: Cross sectional surveys of asymptomatic infections were carried out at the end of rainy season during July- September of 2000, when SP was the national second line (CQ was the first line) and 2006 when SP was the national first line antimalarial treatment. Genetic analysis of SP resistance genes was carried out on 1,044 asymptomatic infections and the effect of the two policies on SP evolution compared. Results: The frequency of the most resistant allele, the double dhps-triple dhfr mutant genotype, increased by only 1% during 17 years of SP second line use, but there was a dramatic increase by 45% during five years of SP first line use. Conclusion: We conclude that National policy change from second line to first line SP, brought about an immediate shift in treatment practice and this in turn had a highly significant impact on drug pressure. The use of SP in specific programs only such as intermittent preventive treatment of infants (IPTi) and intermittent preventive treatment of pregnant women (IPTp) will most likely reduce substantially SP selection pressure and the SP resistance alleles alike. | Plasmodium falciparum infection; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Sequence Specific Oligonucleotide Probing; Sulfadoxine/Pyrimethamine resistance | chloroquine; pyrimethamine; sulfadoxine; adult; allele; article; child; controlled study; dhfr gene; DHPS gene; female; gene; genetic analysis; genotype; haplotype; health care policy; health survey; human; major clinical study; malaria falciparum; male; nonhuman; polymerase chain reaction; Tanzania; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Alleles; Antimalarials; Child; Child, Preschool; Cross-Sectional Studies; Dihydropteroate Synthase; Drug Combinations; Drug Resistance; Female; Genetic Variation; Haplotypes; Humans; Malaria, Falciparum; Male; Middle Aged; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; Plasmodium falciparum; Point Mutation; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Pyrimethamine; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Sulfadoxine; Tanzania; Tetrahydrofolate Dehydrogenase; Young Adult | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84957729561 | Factors affecting the absolute and relative long-term performance of initial public offerings (IPOs) on the Johannesburg security exchange (JSE) | Neneh B.N., Smit V.A. | 2014 | Investment Management and Financial Innovations | 11 | 4 | None | South Africa | Neneh, B.N., South Africa; Smit, V.A., South Africa | Nowadays, investors are progressively espousing an absolute returns approach for their long-term investments as global markets are unceasingly faced with economic uncertainty and market volatility (Foster, Jones and Nichols, 2014). However, prior research has primarily focused on identifying factors that can be used to predict long run relative returns. As such, it is important for the research and practitioner communities to identify factors that can help investors in predicting long-term absolute returns. The aim of this study is to determine if the same factors that have been noted to predict the relative returns of IPOs are also able to predict the absolute returns of the IPOs on the JSE. Using 290 companies listed on the JSE between 1996 and 2009, this study finds that mean IPO returns for the first three years post IPO are 3.19%, -9.60%, and -25.06% respectively for absolute returns and -7.67%, -34.6%, and -65.4% respectively for relative returns. It is also established that after three years, 109 companies have a positive absolute return while only 43 companies outperform the market benchmark. Furthermore, the results indicate that the market period is the only factor that can significantly predict both the absolute and relative returns with IPOs issued in the cold market periods having a higher probability of producing positive returns and outperforming the market benchmark than IPOs listed in the hot market periods. © Brownhilder Ngek Neneh, Van Aardt Smit, 2014. | Absolute returns; IPOs; JSE; Long-term performance; Relative returns; South Africa | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84874074709 | Policy development, implementation and evaluation by the AIDS control program in Uganda: A review of the processes | Tumwesigye B.T., Nakanjako D., Wanyenze R., Akol Z., Sewankambo N. | 2013 | Health Research Policy and Systems | 11 | 1 | 10.1186/1478-4505-11-7 | STD/AIDS Control Program, Ministry of Health Uganda, P.O. Box 7272, Kampala, Uganda; School of Public Health, Makerere University, College of Health Sciences, P.O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda; School of Medicine, Makerere University, College of Health Sciences, P.O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda | Tumwesigye, B.T., STD/AIDS Control Program, Ministry of Health Uganda, P.O. Box 7272, Kampala, Uganda; Nakanjako, D., School of Medicine, Makerere University, College of Health Sciences, P.O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda; Wanyenze, R., School of Public Health, Makerere University, College of Health Sciences, P.O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda; Akol, Z., STD/AIDS Control Program, Ministry of Health Uganda, P.O. Box 7272, Kampala, Uganda; Sewankambo, N., School of Medicine, Makerere University, College of Health Sciences, P.O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda | Background: The AIDS Control Program (ACP) in Uganda has spearheaded the national health sector HIV response for the last three decades. ACP has developed, revised and implemented various HIV prevention, care and treatment policies in order to keep interventions relevant to the changing dynamics of the HIV epidemic. However, the ACP team and partners remain concerned about the lengthy policy development processes. This study documented the policy development and revision processes to identify strengths and weaknesses in order to inform adjustments as Uganda embraces the move to 'zero' HIV infections.Methods: Data was collected through a review of the relevant policy documents and key informant interviews with the five program officers involved in the recently developed Safe Male Circumcision (SMC) policy and the recently revised HIV Counseling and Testing (HCT) policy. Qualitative data was analyzed manually using pre-determined themes.Results: Development and revision of the SMC and HCT policies followed similar processes that included a series of meetings between senior management and a selected technical working group. However, the gaps included: i) inadequate awareness of the existence of national policy development and management guidelines; ii) limited engagement of the policy analysis unit in the policy development/revision processes; iii) inadequate tracking and evaluation of the policies before revision or development of new related policies; iv) lack of specific protocols/standard operating procedures (SOPs); and, v) limited indigenous funding for the entire policy development processes which contributed to non-adherence to the anticipated timelines.Conclusions: Policy development and revision of the SMC and HCT policies followed similar processes. Gaps identified included lack of protocols/SOPs for the processes and limited indigenous funding to support adherence to anticipated timelines. We recommend active involvement of the policy analysis unit in all policy processes. Specific protocols/SOPs for development, analysis, revision, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and impact assessment processes should be developed prior to commencement of the activities. © 2013 Tumwesigye et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | Health policy; Policy development; Policy processes; Policy revision | acquired immune deficiency syndrome; article; health care planning; health care policy; health care quality; health program; human; infection control; patient counseling; Uganda; Circumcision, Male; Counseling; Group Processes; Health Policy; HIV Infections; Humans; Male; Policy Making; Program Development; Program Evaluation; Uganda | None |
| WoS | WOS:000261208700006 | Evaluation of a South African university's language policy | Leibowitz, Brenda,van Deventer, Idilette | 2007 | EDUCATION AS CHANGE | 11 | 1 | None | Stellenbosch University | "Leibowitz, Brenda: Stellenbosch University","van Deventer, Idilette: Stellenbosch University" | There are strong calls for the use of the first language and for a multilingual approach to language in higher education in South Africa. There are a variety of reasons why it is a highly complex exercise to devise and implement a language policy at an institutional level, especially if it is based on unitary notions of language and groups of people. A policy emphasizing the value of multilingualism and endorsing the value of Afrikaans as default language of learning and teaching was implemented at Stellenbosch University in 2004. This article reports on a formative evaluation study of the experience of its first-year The research design was multileveled focusing on responses of lecturers, administrative staff first year students and faculty learning and teaching committee members. The study made use mainly of the survey approach. The analysis of the results showed a varied response to the policy, with strong endorsement for the use of Afrikaans, especially amongst the first-year students. The various responses were shown to vary strongly according to biographical indicators for respondents. The case study questions the dominance of linguistic rights and the human right of participation in educational processes. The research considers whether it is reasonable to expect one policy to be able to deliver to a wide spectrum of interest groups, with a widely varying set of priorities. It presents a principled approach to multilingualism as a useful approach for the future. | evaluation,"HIGHER EDUCATION",LANGUAGE,POLICY | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84956574093 | Evaluation of neonatal circumcision training for resident doctors in a developing country | Ekenze S.O., Ugwu J.O., Onumaegbu O.O. | 2015 | Journal of Pediatric Urology | 11 | 5 | 10.1016/j.jpurol.2015.03.017 | Sub Department of Paediatric Surgery, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria; Plastic Surgery Unit, Department of Surgery, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria | Ekenze, S.O., Sub Department of Paediatric Surgery, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria; Ugwu, J.O., Sub Department of Paediatric Surgery, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria; Onumaegbu, O.O., Plastic Surgery Unit, Department of Surgery, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria | Summary Background There is a high prevalence of neonatal circumcision (NC) in Sub-Saharan Africa. However, when providers do not have adequate training on the procedure, neonatal circumcision can result in complications. There are indications that the reported high complication rate of NC in the current setting might be a reflection of inadequate training of the providers. In order to establish a framework for better training of providers of NC, it may be necessary to evaluate the providers' opinions of their training and competence of the procedure. Objective The opinions of surgical, paediatric, and obstetrics-gynaecology resident doctors were evaluated for their exposure to, training on and perceived competence of neonatal circumcision. Study design The resident doctors in surgery, paediatrics and obstetrics-gynaecology (OBGYN) at two teaching hospitals in southeastern Nigeria were surveyed using a self-developed questionnaire. The self-assessment survey evaluated the residents' exposure and training on NC, and their perceived competence of the procedure. The responses from the different specialties were compared. Data were analysed using Statistical package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Results The summary of findings is shown in Table below: The confidence in the ability to perform the NC did not significantly differ between the sexes (male 53/87 vs female 6/15; P = 0.22) and the level of training (SHO, Senior house officer 7/17, Registrar 24/42, senior registrar 28/43; P = 0.24). Discussion A substantial proportion of residents who encountered neonatal circumcision considered their training in NC to be sub-optimal, despite their perceived exposure to the procedure. Notwithstanding this deficiency of training, the majority of the residents planned to perform NC and this presaged an expectedly higher rate of complications. Well-thought-out and structured training, comprising lectures, workshops and hands-on training, for the resident doctors and the other providers of NC might address these shortcomings and minimise complications. This may further be strengthened with a government policy on circumcision. The limitations of the study included: (1) It was a self-assessment survey and this introduced bias in the assessment of competency; (2) There were no outcome measures in the survey for those who had practical exposure vs those who did not. Conclusion The resident doctors perceived that their exposure, training and competence in NC might be sub-optimal. Curriculum modification that incorporates appropriate hands-on training in NC might address these deficiencies. © 2015 Journal of Pediatric Urology Company. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. | Circumcision; Developing country; Neonates; Residency training | adult; Africa south of the Sahara; Article; circumcision; competence; developing country; evaluation study; female; health survey; human; male; medical education; medical personnel; newborn period; Nigeria; obstetrics; pediatrics; perception; priority journal; professional competence; questionnaire; surgery; teaching hospital; training | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84867604172 | Evaluation of acute and sub-chronic oral toxicity study Of Baker Cleansers Bitters - a polyherbal drug on experimental rats | Patrick-Iwuanyanwu K.C., Amadi U., Charles I.A., Ayalogu E.O. | 2012 | EXCLI Journal | 11 | None | None | Toxicology Unit, Department of Biochemistry, University of Port Harcourt, P.M.B. 5323 Choba, Rivers State, Nigeria | Patrick-Iwuanyanwu, K.C., Toxicology Unit, Department of Biochemistry, University of Port Harcourt, P.M.B. 5323 Choba, Rivers State, Nigeria; Amadi, U., Toxicology Unit, Department of Biochemistry, University of Port Harcourt, P.M.B. 5323 Choba, Rivers State, Nigeria; Charles, I.A., Toxicology Unit, Department of Biochemistry, University of Port Harcourt, P.M.B. 5323 Choba, Rivers State, Nigeria; Ayalogu, E.O., Toxicology Unit, Department of Biochemistry, University of Port Harcourt, P.M.B. 5323 Choba, Rivers State, Nigeria | Baker Cleanser Bitters (BCB) - a polyherbal formula commonly used in the treatment of diabetes, liver cirrhosis, kidney failure, rheumatism and arthritis was evaluated in an acute and sub-chronic toxicity study in Wistar albino rats. A single administration of BCB was given orally at the highest dose level of 2000 mg/kg body weight in the acute toxicity study. Signs of toxicity were observed every hour for the first 6 h and every day for 7 days. In the subchronic oral toxicity study, BCB was administered to rats at doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight for 28 days. Mortalities, clinical signs, body weight changes, biochemical and haematological parameters were monitored during the study period. There were no mortalities or clinical signs observed in rats in the acute toxicity study. In the sub-chronic study in rats, daily oral administration of BCB at the dose of 200 mg/kg body weight resulted in a drop in percentage increase in body weight at the end of the 4th week. Alanine amino transferase (ALT), aspartate amino transferase (AST), fasting blood sugar and packed cell volume (PCV) decreased significantly (p≤0.05) whereas alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and platelets increased significantly (p≤0.05) when compared to control. The high noobserved adverse effects level (NOAEL) value of 2000 mg/kg body weight implies that the drug could be safe. The study also revealed that the polyherbal drug may have good hypoglycemic effects and favourable reducing effects on the cardiovascular risk factors and explains the basis for the continual use of this plant by traditional medical practitioners. | Acute toxicity; Baker Cleanser Bitters; Polyherbal formula; Sub-chronic toxicity | alanine aminotransferase; alkaline phosphatase; aspartate aminotransferase; baker cleanser bitter; glucose; herbaceous agent; lactate dehydrogenase; unclassified drug; Acinos ravens; alanine aminotransferase blood level; alkaline phosphatase blood level; Aloe vera; animal cell; animal experiment; animal model; antidiabetic activity; article; aspartate aminotransferase blood level; cardiovascular risk; Chenopodium; Chenopodium murale; Cinnamomum cassia; controlled study; drug safety; female; glucose blood level; hematocrit; lactate dehydrogenase blood level; LD 50; lime (fruit); male; medicinal plant; mortality; nonhuman; rat; single drug dose; thrombocyte count; toxicity testing; weight change; weight gain; weight reduction | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84874627982 | Mapping out key performance indicators in a state-owned entity: A South African example | Busari O., Ngonini X. | 2012 | International Journal of Knowledge, Culture and Change Management | 11 | 6 | None | Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority, South Africa | Busari, O., Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority, South Africa; Ngonini, X., Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority, South Africa | In South Africa, state-owned entities are part of a dynamic environment that offers consumers increasing power in demanding higher quality products, lower prices, and better services. This trend has underscored the need to construct appropriate and measurable indicators of corporate performance, which are then subjected to rigorous shareholder and stakeholder review at the end of each fiscal year. This paper examines the recent efforts of one of such institutions-the Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority-to map out its key performance indicators in a strategic manner that enables it to move beyond a mere collection of indicators grouped in the four traditional dimensions. In pursuit of breakthrough performance, the organization uses the scorecard to align and focus business activities, adopting strategy mapping to articulate how it creates value for its clients and stakeholders. With a strategy map reflecting the organization's three strategic themes of thought leadership, operational excellence, and livelihoods transformation and sustainability, the emergent performance indicators focus on those aspects of corporate performance that are most critical for competitive success into the future. © Common Ground, Ola Busari, Xolani Ngonini, All Rights Reserved. | Performance indicators; South Africa; Strategy mapping; Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84858685782 | Impact of directly observed sputum collection on sputum culture contamination rates | Muzanyi G., Angel M., Nakamate T., Ogwang S., Nyole S. | 2012 | African Health Sciences | 11 | 4 | None | Uganda-Case Western reserve university research collaboration, Uganda; Joint Clinical research center, Kampala, Uganda; National TB and leprosy control programme clinic, Mulago hospital, Uganda | Muzanyi, G., Uganda-Case Western reserve university research collaboration, Uganda; Angel, M., Uganda-Case Western reserve university research collaboration, Uganda; Nakamate, T., Uganda-Case Western reserve university research collaboration, Uganda; Ogwang, S., Joint Clinical research center, Kampala, Uganda; Nyole, S., National TB and leprosy control programme clinic, Mulago hospital, Uganda | [No abstract available] | None | article; controlled study; disinfection; human; laboratory test; major clinical study; microbial contamination; participant observation; patient education; sputum analysis; sputum culture; Equipment Contamination; Humans; Specimen Handling; Sputum; Tuberculosis | None |
| WoS | WOS:000304472900001 | The Moral Case for Restorative Justice as a Corollary of the Responsibility to Protect: A Rwandan Case Study of the Insufficiency of Impact of Retributive Justice on the Rights and Well-Being of Genocide Survivors | Schimmel, Noam | 2012 | JOURNAL OF HUMAN RIGHTS | 11 | 2 | 10.1080/14754835.2012.674454 | UN Int Criminal Tribunal Rwanda | None | This article analyzes how the current framework of retributive justice pursued by the UN International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda fails to respect the human rights and to enable the well-being of Rwandan genocide survivors. Rwandan genocide survivors currently suffer from widespread poverty, lack of access to health care and housing, inadequate educational opportunity, and food insecurity and malnutrition. It calls for the application of restorative justice as an extension of the principle of the Responsibility to Protect for genocide survivors to be included in the remit of the Tribunal and UN humanitarian and development programs in Rwanda. It examines current and past restorative justice programs in various countries around the world to provide tangible examples of ways in which restorative justice can be implemented. It critically questions the moral logic of exclusive reliance on retributive justice that ignores the consequences of genocide by punishing the guilty without simultaneously assisting the victims. Finally, it urges that the Declaration of Basic Principles on Remedy and Reparation for Victims of Human Rights Violations and Article 75 of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court be applied to the work of the UN International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda. | ,REPARATIONS,TRAUMA,VICTIMS,VIOLENCE,WOMEN | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84862168294 | Microscopy and molecular biology for the diagnosis and evaluation of malaria in a hospital in a rural area of Ethiopia | Santana-Morales M.A., Afonso-Lehmann R.N., Quispe M.A., Reyes F., Berzosa P., Benito A., Valladares B., Martinez-Carretero E. | 2012 | Malaria Journal | 11 | None | 10.1186/1475-2875-11-199 | University Institute of Tropical Diseases and Public Health of the Canary Islands, University of la Laguna, Tenerife, Spain; National Centre of Tropical Medicine, Institute of Health Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Gambo General Rural Hospital, Shashemane, Ethiopia | Santana-Morales, M.A., University Institute of Tropical Diseases and Public Health of the Canary Islands, University of la Laguna, Tenerife, Spain; Afonso-Lehmann, R.N., University Institute of Tropical Diseases and Public Health of the Canary Islands, University of la Laguna, Tenerife, Spain; Quispe, M.A., University Institute of Tropical Diseases and Public Health of the Canary Islands, University of la Laguna, Tenerife, Spain; Reyes, F., Gambo General Rural Hospital, Shashemane, Ethiopia; Berzosa, P., National Centre of Tropical Medicine, Institute of Health Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Benito, A., National Centre of Tropical Medicine, Institute of Health Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Valladares, B., University Institute of Tropical Diseases and Public Health of the Canary Islands, University of la Laguna, Tenerife, Spain; Martinez-Carretero, E., University Institute of Tropical Diseases and Public Health of the Canary Islands, University of la Laguna, Tenerife, Spain | Background: Malaria is a leading public health problem in Ethiopia. Accurate diagnosis of Plasmodium infections is crucial for the reduction of malaria in tropical areas and for epidemiological studies. The role of light microscopy (LM) as gold standard has been questioned and, therefore, new molecular methods have been developed for the detection of Plasmodium species. The aim of the present work was to compare different malaria diagnostic methods in order to detect the most common species of Plasmodium and to broaden the knowledge of malaria prevalence in a hospital in a rural area in Ethiopia. Methods. A cross-sectional survey of 471 individuals was carried out in a hospital in the rural area of Gambo (Ethiopia). Blood samples were prepared for microscopic observation and collected in filter paper for Seminested-Multiplex PCR (SnM-PCR) and real time PCR (qPCR) testing. The SnM-PCR was considered as the gold standard technique and compared with the rest. Thus, agreement between SnM-PCR and LM was determined by calculating Kappa Statistics and correlation between LM and qPCR quantification was calculated by pair-wise correlation co-efficient. Results: Samples analysed by LM and SnM-PCR were positive for Plasmodium sp. 5.5% and 10.5%, respectively. Sensitivity was 52.2% by LM and 70% by qPCR. Correlation co-efficient between microscopy counts and qPCR densities for Plasmodium vivax was R2=0.586. Prevalence was estimated at 7% (95% CI: 4.7-9.3). Plasmodium vivax was the dominant species detected and the difference was statistically significant ( 2=5.121 p<0.05). The highest prevalence of the parasite (10.9%) was observed in age groups under 15years old. Conclusion: Accurate malaria diagnostic methods have a great effect in the reduction of the number of malaria-infected individuals. SnM-PCR detection of malaria parasites may be a very useful complement to microscopic examination in order to obtain the real prevalence of each Plasmodium species. Although SnM-PCR shows that it is a good tool for the determination of Plasmodium species, today light microscopy remains the only viabletool for malaria diagnosis in developing countries. Therefore, re-inforcement in the training of microscopists is essential for making the correct diagnosis of malaria. Plasmodium vivax was the predominant species in Gambo, a meso-endemic area for this species. © 2012 Santana-Morales et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | Diagnosis; Ethiopia; Malaria; Prevalence | adolescent; adult; aged; article; blood sampling; correlation coefficient; cross-sectional study; developing country; DNA extraction; Ethiopia; female; gold standard; human; major clinical study; malaria; malaria falciparum; male; microscopy; molecular diagnosis; Plasmodium falciparum; Plasmodium vivax; Plasmodium vivax malaria; prevalence; real time polymerase chain reaction; rural area; sensitivity analysis; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Blood; Child; Child, Preschool; Clinical Laboratory Techniques; Cross-Sectional Studies; Ethiopia; Female; Hospitals; Humans; Infant; Malaria; Male; Microscopy; Middle Aged; Molecular Biology; Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; Rural Population; Sensitivity and Specificity; Young Adult | None |
| None | None | Introducing payment for performance in the health sector of Tanzania- the policy process | Chimhutu V., Tjomsland M., Songstad N.G., Mrisho M., Moland K.M. | 2015 | Globalization and Health | 11 | 1 | 10.1186/s12992-015-0125-9 | University of Bergen, Department of Health Promotion and Development, P.O Box 7807, Bergen, Norway; University of Bergen, Faculty of Social Sciences, P.O Box 7802, Bergen, Norway; Ifakara Health Institute, P.O Box 78373, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; University of Bergen, Centre for International Health, P.O Box 7804, Bergen, Norway | Chimhutu, V., University of Bergen, Department of Health Promotion and Development, P.O Box 7807, Bergen, Norway; Tjomsland, M., University of Bergen, Department of Health Promotion and Development, P.O Box 7807, Bergen, Norway; Songstad, N.G., University of Bergen, Faculty of Social Sciences, P.O Box 7802, Bergen, Norway; Mrisho, M., Ifakara Health Institute, P.O Box 78373, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Moland, K.M., University of Bergen, Centre for International Health, P.O Box 7804, Bergen, Norway | Background: Prompted by the need to achieve progress in health outcomes, payment for performance (P4P) schemes are becoming popular policy options in the health systems in many low income countries. This paper describes the policy process behind the introduction of a payment for performance scheme in the health sector of Tanzania illuminating in particular the interests of and roles played by the Government of Norway, the Government of Tanzania and the other development partners. Methods: The study employed a qualitative research design using in-depth interviews (IDIs), observations and document reviews. Thirteen IDIs with key-informants representing the views of ten donor agencies and government departments influential in the process of introducing the P4P scheme in Tanzania were conducted in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania and Oslo, Norway. Data was collected on the main trends and thematic priorities in development aid policy, countries and actors perceived to be proponents and opponents to the P4P scheme, and P4P agenda setting in Tanzania. Results: The initial introduction of P4P in the health sector of Tanzania was controversial. The actors involved including the bilateral donors in the Health Basket Fund, the World Bank, the Tanzanian Government and high level politicians outside the Health Basket Fund fought for their values and interests and formed alliances that shifted in the course of the process. The process was characterized by high political pressure, conflicts, changing alliances, and, as it evolved, consensus building. Conclusion: The P4P policy process was highly political with external actors playing a significant role in influencing the agenda in Tanzania, leaving less space for the Government of Tanzania to provide leadership in the process. Norway in particular, took a leading role in setting the agenda. The process of introducing P4P became long and frustrating causing mistrust among partners in the Health Basket Fund. © 2015 Chimhutu et al. | Health systems; Health worker motivation; Low-income contexts; Maternal and child health; Partnership; Payment for performance (P4P); Results-based financing (RBF); Tanzania | child health; finance; health policy; health services; low income population; maternal health; partnership approach; performance assessment; state role; Article; child health; consensus development; fee; government; health care cost; health care policy; health care system; human; maternal welfare; medical documentation; Norway; observational study; payment for performance; politics; priority journal; qualitative analysis; Tanzania; Norway; Tanzania | None |
| WoS | WOS:000208592600005 | Impact of male circumcision on HIV risk compensation through the impediment of condom use in Botswana | Ayiga, N.,Letamo, G. | 2011 | African Health Sciences | 11 | 4 | None | University of Botswana, Populat Training & Res Unit | "Letamo, G.: University of Botswana", | Background: Male circumcision has been recommended as a method of reducing the risk of transmitting HIV. However, widespread uptake of male circumcision may lead to HIV risk compensation by impeding condom use.
Objective: To investigate the impact of male circumcision on condom use.
Methods: The study used cross-sectional data from the Botswana AIDS Impact Survey III on 1,257 men aged 15 years or older who were sexually active. Data were analyzed using Pearson's chi-square statistic and binary logistic regression.
Results: The study found that 15% of circumcised men did not use condoms compared to 12% of uncircumcised men, and circumcision was not significantly associated with condom use. Non-use of condoms was significantly affected by religious beliefs, low level of education, marriage, drunkenness, and misconceptions regarding antiretroviral therapy (ART).
Conclusions: We conclude that male circumcision does not impede condom use. Condom use is impeded by low level of education, marriage, drunkenness, and misconceptions regarding ART. We recommend the emphasis of consistent condom use targeting people with low education, those in marriage, users of alcohol, and people receiving ART. | BOTSWANA,"CONDOM USE","MALE CIRCUMCISION" | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84929606563 | Impact of demographic factors on technological orientations of BOP entrepreneurs in Ghana | Acheampong G., Braimah M., Quaye D.M., Buame S.K. | 2014 | International Journal of Innovation and Technology Management | 11 | 6 | 10.1142/S0219877014500370 | University of Ghana, Business School, Legon, Ghana | Acheampong, G., University of Ghana, Business School, Legon, Ghana; Braimah, M., University of Ghana, Business School, Legon, Ghana; Quaye, D.M., University of Ghana, Business School, Legon, Ghana; Buame, S.K., University of Ghana, Business School, Legon, Ghana | The study explores relationship between technological orientations and demographics of bottom of the pyramid (BOP) entrepreneurs in Ghana. The study reviewed literature on the BOP concept. Based on the reviewed literature, hypotheses were developed for testing. Data was collected from 287 micro-entrepreneurs using a structured questionnaire. The data collected was analyzed using the analysis of variance (ANOVA) and regression analysis. The study found some relationships between technology acceptance, connectivity to networks and entrepreneurial demographics. This provides the information necessary for information communications technology (ICT) and technology companies seeking to expand to these new markets as top of the pyramid markets saturate. © 2014 World Scientific Publishing Company. | BOP; Connectivity; Entrepreneurs; Ghana; Networks; Technology acceptance | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000290279700005 | The impact of media coverage on the transmission dynamics of human influenza | Bauch, Chris T.,Bhunu, Claver P.,Dube, Nothabo,Smith, Robert J.,Tchuenche, Jean M. | 2011 | BMC PUBLIC HEALTH | 11 | None | 10.1186/1471-2458-11-S1-S5 | University of Guelph, University of Ottawa, National University of Science & Technology - Zimbabwe, Natl Univ Sci & Technol | "Bauch, Chris T.: University of Guelph","Tchuenche, Jean M.: University of Guelph", | Background: There is an urgent need to understand how the provision of information influences individual risk perception and how this in turn shapes the evolution of epidemics. Individuals are influenced by information in complex and unpredictable ways. Emerging infectious diseases, such as the recent swine flu epidemic, may be particular hotspots for a media-fueled rush to vaccination; conversely, seasonal diseases may receive little media attention, despite their high mortality rate, due to their perceived lack of newness.
Methods: We formulate a deterministic transmission and vaccination model to investigate the effects of media coverage on the transmission dynamics of influenza. The population is subdivided into different classes according to their disease status. The compartmental model includes the effect of media coverage on reporting the number of infections as well as the number of individuals successfully vaccinated.
Results: A threshold parameter (the basic reproductive ratio) is analytically derived and used to discuss the local stability of the disease-free steady state. The impact of costs that can be incurred, which include vaccination, education, implementation and campaigns on media coverage, are also investigated using optimal control theory. A simplified version of the model with pulse vaccination shows that the media can trigger a vaccinating panic if the vaccine is imperfect and simplified messages result in the vaccinated mixing with the infectives without regard to disease risk.
Conclusions: The effects of media on an outbreak are complex. Simplified understandings of disease epidemiology, propogated through media soundbites, may make the disease significantly worse. | ,DISEASE,ERADICATION,MODELS,RATIO,VACCINE | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84923195923 | Jellyfish outbreak impacts on recreation in the Mediterranean Sea: Welfare estimates from a socioeconomic pilot survey in Israel | Ghermandi A., Galil B., Gowdy J., Nunes P.A.L.D. | 2015 | Ecosystem Services | 11 | None | 10.1016/j.ecoser.2014.12.004 | University of Haifa, Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management, Mount Carmel, Haifa, Israel; National Institute of Oceanography, Israel Oceanographic and oLimnological Research, POB 8030, Haifa, Israel; Economics Department, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 110 8th Street, Troy, NY, United States; Ecosystem Services Economics Unit, Division of Environmental Policy Implementation (DEPI), UNEP - United Nations Environment Programme, P.O. Box 30522, Nairobi, Kenya | Ghermandi, A., University of Haifa, Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management, Mount Carmel, Haifa, Israel; Galil, B., National Institute of Oceanography, Israel Oceanographic and oLimnological Research, POB 8030, Haifa, Israel; Gowdy, J., Economics Department, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 110 8th Street, Troy, NY, United States; Nunes, P.A.L.D., Ecosystem Services Economics Unit, Division of Environmental Policy Implementation (DEPI), UNEP - United Nations Environment Programme, P.O. Box 30522, Nairobi, Kenya | Jellyfish outbreaks in the Mediterranean Sea are part of an anthropogenic alteration of the marine ecosystem and have been documented as health hazards and threats to tourism. Their impacts on human welfare have, however, been poorly quantified. A socioeconomic survey, carried out in summer 2013, captures the impacts of an outbreak of Rhopilema nomadica on seaside recreation in Israel. Welfare losses are estimated based on per-visit value and expected change in visits patterns. We estimate that an outbreak reduces the number of seaside visits by 3-10.5%, with an annual monetary loss of €1.8-6.2 million. An additional 41% of the respondents state that their recreational activities on the beach are affected by the outbreak. Through a contingent valuation, we find that 56% of the respondents state a willingness to contribute to a national environmental protection program with an estimated annual benefit of €14.8 million. These figures signal an opportunity to invest in public information systems. A pilot study for adaptation was conducted in Barcelona, whose results confirm the importance of the welfare benefits of real-time public information systems. This study provides a benchmark against which the economic impacts of jellyfish outbreaks on coastal recreation and potential adaptation policies can be evaluated. © 2014 Elsevier B.V. | Coastal recreation; Contingent behavior; Mediterranean ecosystems; Rhopilema nomadic; Welfare economics; Willingness to pay | Rhopilema; Rhopilema nomadica; Scyphozoa | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84936755032 | Board structure and performance in Ethiopian microfinance institutions | Wale L.E. | 2015 | Corporate Board: Role, Duties and Composition | 11 | 1CONT1 | None | University of South Africa, South Africa | Wale, L.E., University of South Africa, South Africa | This research investigated the effect of one governance dimension, board structure on the sustainability and outreach performance of Ethiopian MFIs. A panel data of 13 MFIs for 6 years (2003-2008) is used for the study. No study of such type is conducted in the past for the Ethiopian environment. The results indicate an experienced manager, a larger board size and educated board members all help to increase sustainability with board education having the largest effect. Manager experience and board size also have a negative effect on depth of outreach (i.e. less lending to women). Board independence has no visible effect on either sustainability or outreach. Surprisingly, no governance variable explains breath of outreach. © 2015, Virtus Interpress. All rights reserved. | Ethiopia; Governance; Outreach; Sustainability | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000302068100001 | Aligning vertical interventions to health systems: a case study of the HIV monitoring and evaluation system in South Africa | Blaauw, Duane,Fonn, Sharon,Kawonga, Mary | 2012 | HEALTH RESEARCH POLICY AND SYSTEMS | 11 | None | 10.1186/1478-4505-10-3 | University of Witwatersrand | "Blaauw, Duane: University of Witwatersrand","Fonn, Sharon: University of Witwatersrand","Kawonga, Mary: University of Witwatersrand" | Background: Like many low-and middle-income countries, South Africa established a dedicated HIV monitoring and evaluation (M&E) system to track the national response to HIV/AIDS. Its implementation in the public health sector has however not been assessed. Since responsibility for health services management lies at the district (sub-national) level, this study aimed to assess the extent to which the HIV M&E system is integrated with the overall health system M&E function at district level. This study describes implementation of the HIV M&E system, determines the extent to which it is integrated with the district health information system (DHIS), and evaluates factors influencing HIV M&E integration.
Methods: The study was conducted in one health district in South Africa. Data were collected through key informant interviews with programme and health facility managers and review of M&E records at health facilities providing HIV services. Data analysis assessed the extent to which processes for HIV data collection, collation, analysis and reporting were integrated with the DHIS.
Results: The HIV M&E system is top-down, over-sized, and captures a significant amount of energy and resources to primarily generate antiretroviral treatment (ART) indicators. Processes for producing HIV prevention indicators are integrated with the DHIS. However processes for the production of HIV treatment indicators by-pass the DHIS and ART indicators are not disseminated to district health managers. Specific reporting requirements linked to earmarked funding, politically-driven imperatives, and mistrust of DHIS capacity are key drivers of this silo approach.
Conclusions: Parallel systems that bypass the DHIS represent a missed opportunity to strengthen system-wide M&E capacity. Integrating HIV M&E (staff, systems and process) into the health system M&E function would mobilise ear-marked HIV funding towards improving DHIS capacity to produce quality and timely HIV indicators that would benefit both programme and health system M&E functions. This offers a practical way of maximising programme-system synergies and translating the health system strengthening intents of existing HIV policies into tangible action. | "HEALTH SYSTEMS",HIV,INTEGRATION,"monitoring and evaluation","vertical programme","ANTIRETROVIRAL TREATMENT",INFORMATION-SYSTEM,INITIATIVES,MALAWI,POLICY,PUBLIC-HEALTH,STATISTICS | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000261307600008 | School monitoring and change: a critical examination of Whole School-Evaluation | De Clercq, Francine | 2007 | EDUCATION AS CHANGE | 11 | 2 | None | University of Witwatersrand | None | This article engages with the challenges of school change, and the conceptual framework and assumptions of using accountability and support as improvement tools. It looks at lessons from various conceptual and empirical analyses and evaluation studies of school change interventions to critically examine the Whole-School Evaluation (WSE) policy introduced in South African education in 2001. It analyses the content, form and underlying assumptions that schools can be improved through monitoring/evaluation and development. This article argues that the WSE policy, in its present form, will not be able to achieve its intended outcomes. A different form of school monitoring and evaluation system, which is more appropriate to the context of South African schools, is needed to achieve the desired outcomes. | DEVELOPMENT,evaluation,"School Monitoring",ACCOUNTABILITY,ENGLAND,LESSONS | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84899538845 | Conscientious objection and its impact on abortion service provision in South Africa: A qualitative study | Harries J., Cooper D., Strebel A., Colvin C.J. | 2014 | Reproductive Health | 11 | 1 | 10.1186/1742-4755-11-16 | Women's Health Research Unit, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Anzio Road, Observatory, 7925, Cape Town, South Africa; Mellon Mentorship Research Office, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Division of Social and Behavioural Sciences, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Anzio Road, Observatory, 7925, Cape Town, South Africa | Harries, J., Women's Health Research Unit, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Anzio Road, Observatory, 7925, Cape Town, South Africa; Cooper, D., Women's Health Research Unit, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Anzio Road, Observatory, 7925, Cape Town, South Africa; Strebel, A., Mellon Mentorship Research Office, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Colvin, C.J., Division of Social and Behavioural Sciences, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Anzio Road, Observatory, 7925, Cape Town, South Africa | Background: Despite abortion being legally available in South Africa after a change in legislation in 1996, barriers to accessing safe abortion services continue to exist. These barriers include provider opposition to abortion often on the grounds of religious or moral beliefs including the unregulated practice of conscientious objection. Few studies have explored how providers in South Africa make sense of, or understand, conscientious objection in terms of refusing to provide abortion care services and the consequent impact on abortion access. Methods. A qualitative approach was used which included 48 in-depth interviews with a purposively selected population of abortion related health service providers, managers and policy influentials in the Western Cape Province, South Africa. Data were analyzed using a thematic analysis approach. Results: The ways in which conscientious objection was interpreted and practiced, and its impact on abortion service provision was explored. In most public sector facilities there was a general lack of understanding concerning the circumstances in which health care providers were entitled to invoke their right to refuse to provide, or assist in abortion services. Providers seemed to have poor understandings of how conscientious objection was to be implemented, but were also constrained in that there were few guidelines or systems in place to guide them in the process. Conclusions: Exploring the ways in which conscientious objection was interpreted and applied by differing levels of health care workers in relation to abortion provision raised multiple and contradictory issues. From providers' accounts it was often difficult to distinguish what constituted confusion with regards to the specifics of how conscientious objection was to be implemented in terms of the Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Act, and what was refusal of abortion care based on opposition to abortion in general. In order to disentangle what is resistance to abortion provision in general, and what is conscientious objection on religious or moral grounds, clear guidelines need to be provided including what measures need to be undertaken in order to lodge one's right to conscientious objection. This would facilitate long term contingency plans for overall abortion service provision. © 2014 Harries et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | None | abortion; adult; aged; article; emergency care; female; health care delivery; health care personnel; health personnel attitude; human; human experiment; legal aspect; male; maternal welfare; normal human; organization and management; practice guideline; qualitative research; refusal to participate; South Africa; thematic analysis; Article; health care policy; health service; treatment refusal; Abortion, Induced; Attitude of Health Personnel; Family Planning Services; Health Services Accessibility; Humans; South Africa | MRC, Medical Research Council; WHO, Medical Research Council |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84875098650 | International community-based work placements for UK psychology undergraduates: An evaluation of three cohorts' experiences | Akhurst J., Mitchell C. | 2012 | Psychology Learning and Teaching | 11 | 3 | 10.2304/plat.2012.11.3.401 | York St John University, York, United Kingdom; University of KwaZulu, Natal, South Africa | Akhurst, J., York St John University, York, United Kingdom; Mitchell, C., University of KwaZulu, Natal, South Africa | In the UK, current governmental discourse is placing growing pressure on psychology programmes to demonstrate the development of students' employability skills in an increasingly globalised world, and work-based learning is gaining currency. Many psychology students are motivated to do community-based work, prompted by their desires to contribute to social justice. The authors' purpose in this article is to explore UK psychology students' experiences of community-based work placements in two African contexts. Drawing from data collected from three cohorts of students at the debriefing stage of their studies, they illustrate the richness of the students' learning. Students reported having their cultural preconceptions challenged and the deepening of their cross-cultural awareness. The experiences had an emotional impact on them, and many students reported their desires to help others and the influence on their future planning. | None | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000289424600001 | Evaluation of the impact of the voucher and accreditation approach on improving reproductive health behaviors and status in Kenya | Abuya, Timothy,Askew, Ian,Bellows, Ben,Njue, Rebecca,Obare, Francis,Sunday, Joseph,Warren, Charlotte | 2011 | BMC PUBLIC HEALTH | 11 | None | 10.1186/1471-2458-11-177 | None | None | Background: Alternatives to the traditional 'supply-side' approach to financing service delivery are being explored. These strategies are termed results-based finance, demand-side health financing or output-based aid which includes a range of interventions that channel government or donor subsidies to the user rather than the provider. Initial pilot assessments of reproductive health voucher programs suggest that, they can increase access and use, reducing inequities and enhancing program efficiency and service quality. However, there is a paucity of evidence describing how the programs function in different settings, for various reproductive health services. Population Council, funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, intends to generate evidence around the 'voucher and accreditation' approaches to improving the reproductive health of low income women in Kenya.
Methods/Design: A quasi-experimental study will investigate the impact of the voucher approach on improving reproductive health behaviors, reproductive health status and reducing inequities at the population level; and assessing the effect of vouchers on increasing access to, and quality of, and reducing inequities in the use of selected reproductive health services. The study comprises of four populations: facilities, providers, women of reproductive health age using facilities and women and men who have been pregnant and/or used family planning within the previous 12 months. The study will be carried out in samples of health facilities - public, private and faith-based in: three districts; Kisumu, Kiambu, Kitui and two informal settlements in Nairobi which are accredited to provide maternal and newborn health and family planning services to women holding vouchers for the services; and compared with a matched sample of non-accredited facilities. Health facility assessments (HFA) will be conducted at two stages to track temporal changes in quality of care and utilization. Facility inventories, structured observations, and client exit interviews will be used to collect comparable data across facilities. Health providers will also be interviewed and observed providing care. A population survey of about 3000 respondents will also be carried out in areas where vouchers are distributed and similar locations where vouchers are not distributed. | "Out-put based approach",vouchers | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000291050000001 | Evaluation of the impact of the voucher and accreditation approach on improving reproductive behaviors and RH status: Bangladesh | Bellows, Benjamin,Rahman, Moshiur,Rob, Ubaidur | 2011 | BMC PUBLIC HEALTH | 11 | None | 10.1186/1471-2458-11-257 | None | None | Background: Cost of delivering reproductive health services to low-income populations will always require total or partial subsidization by the government and/or development partners. Broadly termed "Demand-Side Financing" or "Output-Based Aid", includes a range of interventions that channel government or donor subsidies to the service user rather than the service provider. Initial findings from the few assessments of reproductive health voucher-and accreditation programs suggest that, if implemented well, these programs have great potential for achieving the policy objectives of increasing access and use, reducing inequities and enhancing program efficiency and service quality. At this point in time, however, there is a paucity of evidence describing how the various voucher programs function in different settings, for various reproductive health services.
Methods/Design: Population Council-Nairobi, funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, intends to address the lack of evidence around the pros and cons of 'voucher and accreditation' approaches to improving the reproductive health of low income women in five developing countries. In Bangladesh, the activities will be conducted in 11 accredited health facilities where Demand Side Financing program is being implemented and compared with populations drawn from areas served by similar non-accredited facilities. Facility inventories, client exit interviews and service provider interviews will be used to collect comparable data across each facility for assessing readiness and quality of care. In-depth interviews with key stakeholders will be conducted to gain a deeper understanding about the program. A population-based survey will also be carried out in two types of locations: areas where vouchers are distributed and similar locations where vouchers are not distributed.
Discussion: This is a quasi-experimental study which will investigate the impact of the voucher approach on improving maternal health behaviors and status and reducing inequities at the population level. We expect a significant increase in the utilization of maternal health care services by the accredited health facilities in the experimental areas compared to the control areas as a direct result of the interventions. If the voucher scheme in Bangladesh is found effective, it may help other countries to adopt this approach for improving utilization of maternity care services for reducing maternal mortality. | ,HEALTH,MALARIA,SCHEME,SYSTEM,TANZANIA | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-44449119917 | Improving daily production capacity and energy efficiency in sugar refineries and sugar mills with CarboUA high performance process aids | Bushong J.H., Bogari A., González C.A.D., Odipo W., Marroquin J.M.P., Massucato A.L., Sarir E.M. | 2008 | International Sugar Journal | 110 | 1313 | None | CarboUA, Philadelphia, United States; United Sugar Company, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; CarboUA, CaIi, Colombia; CarboUA, Nairobi, Kenya; CarboUA, Guatemala City, Guatemala; CarboUA, São Paulo, Brazil; CarboUA, Beverly Hills, United States | Bushong, J.H., CarboUA, Philadelphia, United States; Bogari, A., United Sugar Company, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; González, C.A.D., CarboUA, CaIi, Colombia; Odipo, W., CarboUA, Nairobi, Kenya; Marroquin, J.M.P., CarboUA, Guatemala City, Guatemala; Massucato, A.L., CarboUA, São Paulo, Brazil; Sarir, E.M., CarboUA, Beverly Hills, United States | With reference to case studies, this paper describes and discusses the use of CarboUA high performance process aids for increasing sugar refinery and sugar mill process efficiency via improvements in daily sugar process throughput (from increased operating Brix and/or higher average process flow rates), an increase in conversion rate of feed sugar to raw sugar (mill) or refined sugar (refinery), an associated reduction in energy, and improvements in final product quality. | Efficiency; Energy; Mill; Production; Refinery; Sugar | Conversion rates; Daily production; Energy; Mill; Process efficiency; Process throughput; Refined sugars; Refinery; Efficiency; Production; Refining; Sugar factories; Sugars; Energy efficiency; Polygala incarnata | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-78651515238 | Optimizing the performance of wet drum magnetic separators | Dworzanowski M. | 2010 | Journal of the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy | 110 | 11 | None | Anglo American Technical Division, South Africa | Dworzanowski, M., Anglo American Technical Division, South Africa | The difference in the magnetic properties of minerals is the basis for magnetic separation. All minerals can be generally classified as ferromagnetic (strongly magnetic), paramagnetic (weakly magnetic) or diamagnetic (non-magnetic). Magnetic separation can be conducted dry or wet. The majority of the applications of wet magnetic separation in the mining industry are based on the wet drum magnetic separator. The wet drum magnetic separator has been in use for over 50 years and its design is based on a rotating drum installed inside a tank. Inside the drum are stationary, permanent magnets arranged in an arc to provide the magnetic field. These magnets can be of the ceramic ferrite type providing a low intensity magnetic field or of the rare earth type providing a high intensity magnetic field. Wet drum magnetic separators are generally applied in three different ways, namely to recover and recycle the medium used in dense medium separation (DMS), to remove magnetic contaminants from ores and concentrates, and to recover valuable magnetic products. Wet drum magnetic separators are applied in the following commodity areas: coal, diamonds, iron ore, chrome, platinum, heavy mineral sands, industrial minerals, and base metals. Whereas the design and operation of wet drum magnetic separators is relatively straightforward, it is very often found that the performance of wet drum magnetic separators is far from optimum. The reason for this is generally a lack of understanding of how the different design and operating variables interact and how they affect performance. This paper examines these variables, describing their importance and impact for all applications of wet drum magnetic separators. It also provides clear guidelines on how to adjust and control these variables so that optimum performance is achieved. © The Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 2010. | Demagnetization; Ferrite and rare earth magnets; Magnetic flocculation; Magnetic separation; Magnetite and ferrosilicon recovery | Base metals; Dense medium separation; Design and operations; Heavy minerals; High intensity; Industrial mineral; Low-intensity; Magnetic flocculation; Mining industry; Nonmagnetics; Operating variables; Optimum performance; Rotating drums; Wet-drum magnetic separator; Demagnetization; Design; Diamonds; Ferrite; Ferrites; Flocculation; Industrial diamonds; Magnetic fields; Magnetic properties; Magnetic separation; Magnetite; Magnets; Mineral exploration; Minerals; Ores; Paramagnetism; Platinum; Rare earths; Recovery; Silicon steel; Magnetic separators | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84867099092 | Modeling the impacts of reforestation on future climate in West Africa | Abiodun B.J., Adeyewa Z.D., Oguntunde P.G., Salami A.T., Ajayi V.O. | 2012 | Theoretical and Applied Climatology | 110 | 02-Jan | 10.1007/s00704-012-0614-1 | Climate System Analysis Group, Department of Environmental and Geographical Science, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Department of Meteorology, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria; Department of Agricultural Engineering, Fed | Abiodun, B.J., Climate System Analysis Group, Department of Environmental and Geographical Science, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Adeyewa, Z.D., Department of Meteorology, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria; Oguntunde, P.G., Department of Agricultural Engineering, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria; Salami, A.T., Institute of Ecology and Environmental Studies, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria; Ajayi, V.O., Department of Meteorology, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria | This study investigates the potential impacts of reforestation in West Africa on the projected regional climate in the near two decades (2031-2050) under the SRES A1B scenario. A regional climate model (RegCM3) forced with a global circulation model (ECHAM5) simulations was used for the study. The study evaluates the capability of the regional model in simulating the present-day climate over West Africa, projects the future climate over the region and investigates impacts of seven hypothetical reforestation options on the projected future climate. Three of these reforestation options assume zonal reforestation over West Africa (i. e., over the Sahel, Savanna and Guinea), while the other four assume random reforestation over Nigeria. With the elevated GHGs (A1B scenario), a warmer and drier climate is projected over West Africa in 2031-2050. The maximum warming (+2. 5°C) and drying (-2 mm day -1) occur in the western part of the Sahel because the West Africa Monsoon (WAM) flow is stronger and deflects the cool moist air more eastward, thereby lowering the warming and drying in the eastern part. In the simulations, reforestation reduces the projected warming and drying over the reforested zones but increases them outside the zones because it influences the northward progression of WAM in summer. It reduces the speed of the flow by weakening the temperature gradient that drives the flow and by increasing the surface drag on the flow over the reforested zone. Hence, in summer, the reforestation delays the onset of monsoon flow in transporting cool moist air over the area located downwind of the reforested zone, consequently enhancing the projected warming and drying over the area. The impact of reforesting Nigeria is not limited to the country; while it lowers the warming over part of the country (and over Togo), it increases the warming over Chad and Cameroon. This study, therefore, suggests that using reforestation to mitigate the projected future climate change in West Africa could have both positive and negative impacts on the regional climate, reducing temperature in some places and increasing it in others. Hence, reforestation in West Africa requires a mutual agreement among the West African nations because the impacts of reforestation do not recognize political boundaries. © 2012 Springer-Verlag. | None | air temperature; atmospheric circulation; climate change; climate modeling; greenhouse gas; monsoon; reforestation; regional climate; temperature gradient; Cameroon; Chad; Guinea; Nigeria; Sahel [Sub-Saharan Africa]; Togo | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84893272930 | The impact of accent identification errors on speech recognition of South African English | Kamper H., Niesler T.R. | 2014 | South African Journal of Science | 110 | 42371 | 10.1590/sajs.2014/20120049 | Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa | Kamper, H., Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa; Niesler, T.R., Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa | For successful deployment, a South African English speech recognition system must be capable of processing the prevalent accents in this variety of English. Previous work dealing with the different accents of South African English has considered the case in which the accent of the input speech is known. Here we focus on the practical scenario in which the accent of the input speech is unknown and accent identification must occur at recognition time. By means of a set of contrastive experiments, we determine the effect which errors in the identification of the accent have on speech recognition performance. We focus on the specific configuration in which a set of accent-specific speech recognisers operate in parallel, thereby delivering both a recognition hypothesis as well as an identified accent in a single step. We find that, despite their considerable number, the accent identification errors do not lead to degraded speech recognition performance. We conclude that, for our South African English data, there is no benefit of including a more complex explicit accent identification component in the overall speech recognition system. © 2014. The Authors. | Acoustic modelling; Human language technology; Parallel recognition | acoustics; language; recognition; vocalization; South Africa | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84867098042 | Shifts in IOD and their impacts on association with East Africa rainfall | Manatsa D., Chipindu B., Behera S.K. | 2012 | Theoretical and Applied Climatology | 110 | 42371 | 10.1007/s00704-012-0610-5 | Department of Geography, Bindura University of Science, Bindura, Zimbabwe; Department of Ocean Technology, Policy, and Environment, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan; Research Institute for Global Change/JAMSTEC, Yokosuka, Japan; Department of Physics, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe | Manatsa, D., Department of Geography, Bindura University of Science, Bindura, Zimbabwe, Department of Ocean Technology, Policy, and Environment, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan; Chipindu, B., Department of Physics, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe; Behera, S.K., Department of Ocean Technology, Policy, and Environment, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan, Research Institute for Global Change/JAMSTEC, Yokosuka, Japan | The decadal shift in the relationship between the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) and the East African rainfall is investigated using historical observational data. The climate system for equatorial East Africa (EEA) during the October to December (OND) 'short rains' season is characterised by spatiotemporal variations of the equatorial East African rainfall (EEAR). Therefore, the EEAR index is derived from the first principal component of the empirical orthogonal function analysis (EOF) of the EEA's rainfall domain. The IOD, which has been linked with the EEAR in the previous studies, is the main climate mode controlling the tropical Indian Ocean during the OND period. It is usually represented by a dipole mode index based on the zonal gradient of SST anomalies in the tropical Indian Ocean. Therefore the climate modes, IOD and EEAR, are assumed to form a two-node network of subsystems which primarily control the climate of equatorial East Africa during the OND period. The collective behaviour of these climate modes is investigated through the examination of their representative indices for the period 1901 to 2009 using simple statistical techniques. The results suggest that the interaction between these two climate modes, which comprise the network, is not predominantly linear as previously assumed, but is characterised by shifts which are determined by the coupling and synchronisation processes of the tropical systems. In cases where synchronisation is preceded by an abrupt increase in coupling strength between the two subsystems, the established synchronous state is destroyed and a new climate state emerges such as in the years 1961 and 1997. This alteration in the regional climate is accompanied by notable changes in the regional rainfall and IOD variations. But in those events where synchronisation is followed by a sudden loss in coupling strength, the climate state is not disturbed and no shift in the climate of equatorial East Africa is noticed as in 1918. This climate shift mechanism appears to be consistent with the theory of synchronised chaos and is useful for long range predictions of the East African short rains. © 2012 Springer-Verlag. | None | empirical analysis; principal component analysis; rainfall; regional climate; sea surface temperature; spatiotemporal analysis; temperature anomaly; tropical environment; East Africa; Indian Ocean | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84880808540 | Evaluating the performance of reservoirs in semi-arid catchments of Tigray: Tradeoff between water harvesting and soil and water conservation | Teka D., van Wesemael B., Vanacker V., Poesen J., Hallet V., Taye G., Deckers J., Haregeweyn N. | 2013 | Catena | 110 | None | 10.1016/j.catena.2013.06.001 | Department of Land Resource Management and Environmental Protection, Mekelle University, Ethiopia; Georges Lemaître Center for Earth and Climate Research, Earth and Life Institute, Université catholique de Louvain, Belgium; Department Earth and Environmental Sciences, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium; Department of Geology, Faculté Universitaire Notre Dame de la Paix, Namur, Belgium; Toronto University, Japan | Teka, D., Department of Land Resource Management and Environmental Protection, Mekelle University, Ethiopia, Georges Lemaître Center for Earth and Climate Research, Earth and Life Institute, Université catholique de Louvain, Belgium; van Wesemael, B., Georges Lemaître Center for Earth and Climate Research, Earth and Life Institute, Université catholique de Louvain, Belgium; Vanacker, V., Georges Lemaître Center for Earth and Climate Research, Earth and Life Institute, Université catholique de Louvain, Belgium; Poesen, J., Department Earth and Environmental Sciences, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium; Hallet, V., Department of Geology, Faculté Universitaire Notre Dame de la Paix, Namur, Belgium; Taye, G., Department of Land Resource Management and Environmental Protection, Mekelle University, Ethiopia, Department Earth and Environmental Sciences, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium; Deckers, J., Department Earth and Environmental Sciences, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium; Haregeweyn, N., Toronto University, Japan | Micro dams play a vital role towards boosting crop production in Northern Ethiopia as they can be built by pooling local resources, are simple to design and can be constructed quite quickly. However, the reservoirs do not always fulfill their intended purpose, and hence less land is irrigated than initially foreseen. Here, we evaluated the performance of two micro dams in Tigray by analyzing rainfall characteristics, surface water inflows and combined evaporation and seepage losses. Given the scarcity of reliable meteorological stations, transfer of rainfall data from nearby stations to the dam sites was necessary. The rainfall magnitude and its annual distribution were considered for the transfer of the rainfall data. The latter was estimated based on a precipitation concentration index (PCI). Simple rainfall-runoff models, such as the curve number method proposed by the US Department of Agriculture Soil Conservation Service, or the rational method were used to predict the inflow to the reservoirs. Both methods slightly overestimated the monthly inflow for the catchment without soil and water conservation measures (rational method: bias of 24% and curve number method: bias of 9%). In the catchment where soil and water conservation measures were implemented, the inflow was overestimated by a factor three. The high losses of water through seepage and evaporation substantially decreased the irrigation capacity by up to 33%. This case study illustrates that an integrated assessment of the hydrological response in the catchment is necessary for an adequate design of water harvesting systems. © 2013 Elsevier B.V. | Hydrograph; Irrigation capacity; Micro dams; Northern Ethiopia; Rainfall-runoff response | annual variation; catchment; crop production; dam; estimation method; hydrological response; irrigation; meteorology; precipitation (climatology); rainfall; rainfall-runoff modeling; Ethiopia; Tigray | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84907466305 | Evaluation of ecological risk of metal contamination in river Gomti, India: A biomonitoring approach | Gupta S.K., Chabukdhara M., Kumar P., Singh J., Bux F. | 2014 | Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety | 110 | None | 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2014.08.008 | Institute for Water and Wastewater Technology, Durban University of Technology, South Africa; North Eastern Space Applications Centre, Umiam, Meghalaya, India; Dr. R. M. L. Avadh University Faizabad, India | Gupta, S.K., Institute for Water and Wastewater Technology, Durban University of Technology, South Africa; Chabukdhara, M., North Eastern Space Applications Centre, Umiam, Meghalaya, India; Kumar, P., Institute for Water and Wastewater Technology, Durban University of Technology, South Africa; Singh, J., Dr. R. M. L. Avadh University Faizabad, India; Bux, F., Institute for Water and Wastewater Technology, Durban University of Technology, South Africa | The aim of this study was to evaluate the extent of heavy metal pollution in river Gomti and associated ecological risk. River water, sediments and locally abundant mollusk (Viviparus (V.) bengalensis) were sampled from six different sites and analyzed for seven metals: Cadmium (Cd), Chromium (Cr), Copper (Cu), Manganese (Mn), Nickel (Ni), Lead (Pb) and Zinc (Zn). Mean metal concentrations (mg/l) in river water were 0.024 for Cd, 0.063 for Cr, 0.022 for Cr, 0.029 for Mn, 0.044 for Ni, 0.018 for Pb and 0.067 for Zn. In river sediments, the concentrations (mg/kg dry wt) were 5.0 for Cd, 16.2 for Cr, 23.2 for Cr, 203.2 for Mn, 23.9 for Ni, 46.2 for Pb and 76.3 for Zn, while in V. bengalensis mean metal concentrations (mg/kg, dry wt) were 0.57 for Cd, 12.0 for Cr, 30.7 for Cu, 29.9 for Mn, 8.8 for Ni, 3.6 for Pb and 48.3 for Zn. Results indicated elevated concentrations of Cu, Zn and Mn in V. bengalensis as compared to other non-essential elements. Potential ecological risk (RI) in sediments showed high to very high metal contamination. Cluster analysis indicated that Pb, Zn, Cd and Ni in sediments may have anthropogenic sources. The findings thus suggest heavy metal contamination of river water and sediments have reached alarming levels, which is well corroborated by elevated level of metal accumulation in V. bengalensis. © 2014 Elsevier Inc. | Biomonitoring; Ecological risk; Gomti; Heavy metal; Viviparus bengalensis | cadmium; chromium; copper; heavy metal; lead; manganese; nickel; river water; zinc; heavy metal; water pollutant; bioaccumulation; biomonitoring; ecological impact; environmental risk; heavy metal; mollusc; pollution effect; river pollution; sediment pollution; animal tissue; Article; bioaccumulation; chemical analysis; chemical composition; cluster analysis; concentration (parameters); controlled study; dry weight; geographic distribution; India; indicator organism; metal metabolism; metal recovery; mollusc; nonhuman; pollution monitoring; risk assessment; river ecosystem; sediment; water contamination; water pollution indicator; analysis; animal; chemistry; ecology; environmental aspects and related phenomena; environmental monitoring; gastropod; river; water pollutant; Gomti River; India; Uttar Pradesh; Viviparus; Animals; Ecological and Environmental Processes; Ecology; Environmental Monitoring; Gastropoda; Geologic Sediments; India; Metals, Heavy; Risk Assessment; Rivers; Water Pollutants, Chemical | None |
| WoS | WOS:000280501500030 | An evaluation of a national intervention to improve the postabortion care content of midwifery education in Nigeria | Akiode, Akinsewa,Daroda, Ramatu,Fetters, Tamara,Oji, Ejike,Okeke, Bridget | 2010 | INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GYNECOLOGY & OBSTETRICS | 110 | 2 | 10.1016/j.ijgo.2010.05.003 | Ipas, Ipas Nigeria | None | Objective: To examine the impact of a national intervention to improve the postabortion care (PAC) content of midwifery education in Nigeria. Methods: A 3-part quantitative assessment was carried out during and post-intervention. The first baseline component developed and examined the intervention to improve teaching capacity and improve the PAC curriculum among 6 midwifery schools that were to become regional training centers. The second survey was a pre- and post-assessment conducted among midwifery instructors from all schools of midwifery schools were interviewed once 3-9 months after graduation to evaluate whether the intervention had improved their knowledge of PAC and clinical practice, and the likelihood that they would provide PAC after graduation. Results: Data from 6 schools of midwifery in 2003 showed that none offered PAC or had educators trained in PAC prior to the intervention. Incorporation of PAC content and teaching capacity increased in all 6 study schools during the 3 years after a national intervention. Midwifery instructors demonstrated statistically significant improvements in knowledge of and exposure to PAC and manual vacuum aspiration (MVA) after the intervention. A follow-up interview with 149 student midwives post graduation showed increased knowledge, exposure to, and use of MVA in the workplace. Conclusion: Significant changes in graduate midwives' exposure, practice, and provision of PAC services resulted from a national intervention to improve the training environment and skills of midwifery instructors and students in the 6 schools of midwifery selected for evaluation. (C) 2010 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. | "MANUAL VACUUM ASPIRATION","midwifery education","postabortion care",pre-service,COMPLICATIONS,INDUCED-ABORTION,"UNSAFE ABORTION","UNWANTED PREGNANCY" | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84891351557 | Assessing the impacts of livestock production on biodiversity in rangeland ecosystems | Alkemade R., Reid R.S., Van Den Berg M., De Leeuw J., Jeuken M. | 2013 | Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America | 110 | 52 | 10.1073/pnas.1011013108 | PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency, 3720 AH Bilthoven, Netherlands; Center for Collaborative Conservation, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, United States; International Livestock Research Institute, Nairobi 00100, Kenya | Alkemade, R., PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency, 3720 AH Bilthoven, Netherlands; Reid, R.S., Center for Collaborative Conservation, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, United States; Van Den Berg, M., PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency, 3720 AH Bilthoven, Netherlands; De Leeuw, J., International Livestock Research Institute, Nairobi 00100, Kenya; Jeuken, M., PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency, 3720 AH Bilthoven, Netherlands | Biodiversity in rangelands is decreasing, due to intense utilization for livestock production and conversion of rangeland into cropland; yet the outlook of rangeland biodiversity has not been considered in view of future global demand for food. Here we assess the impact of future livestock production on the global rangelands area and their biodiversity. First we formalized existing knowledge about livestock grazing impacts on biodiversity, expressed in mean species abundance (MSA) of the original rangeland native species assemblages, through metaanalysis of peer-reviewed literature. MSA values, ranging from 1 in natural rangelands to 0.3 in man-made grasslands, were entered in the IMAGE-GLOBIO model. This model was used to assess the impact of change in food demand and livestock production on future rangeland biodiversity. The model revealed remarkable regional variation in impact on rangeland area and MSA between two agricultural production scenarios. The area of used rangelands slightly increases globally between 2000 and 2050 in the baseline scenario and reduces under a scenario of enhanced uptake of resource-efficient production technologies increasing production [high levels of agricultural knowledge, science, and technology (high-AKST)], particularly in Africa. Both scenarios suggest a global decrease in MSA for rangelands until 2050. The contribution of livestock grazing to MSA loss is, however, expected to diminish after 2030, in particular in Africa under the high-AKST scenario. Policies fostering agricultural intensification can reduce the overall pressure on rangeland biodiversity, but additional measures, addressing factors such as climate change and infrastructural development, are necessary to totally halt biodiversity loss. | Dose-response model; Intactness; Land use | article; biodiversity; biome; climate change; cropland; grassland; grazer; grazing; livestock; meta analysis (topic); nonhuman; population abundance; priority journal; rangeland; seasonal variation; species composition; vegetation | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33846848105 | Evaluation of Athrixia bush tea for cytotoxicity, antioxidant activity, caffeine content and presence of pyrrolizidine alkaloids | McGaw L.J., Steenkamp V., Eloff J.N. | 2007 | Journal of Ethnopharmacology | 110 | 1 | 10.1016/j.jep.2006.08.029 | Phytomedicine Programme, Department of Paraclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa; Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, PO Box 2034, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa | McGaw, L.J., Phytomedicine Programme, Department of Paraclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa; Steenkamp, V., Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, PO Box 2034, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa; Eloff, J.N., Phytomedicine Programme, Department of Paraclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa | In South Africa, Athrixia phylicoides DC. (bush tea) is widely used as a beverage, cough remedy and purgative. The commercialization of this tea in a similar vein to rooibos (Aspalathus linearis), is being considered. Traditional infusions and decoctions, as well as water and ethanol extracts, were prepared and screened. A related species, Athrixia elata Sond. (daisy tea), was included in many of the assays as a comparison. Extracts of Athrixia phylicoides and Athrixia elata were tested for toxic effects to brine shrimp larvae and the Vero kidney cell line. In both assays, the traditional preparations and aqueous extracts had little effect, but the ethanol extracts were relatively toxic. Antioxidant activity comparable to that found in rooibos was established. No detectable levels of caffeine were present in the Athrixia extracts following analysis using TLC and I/HCl spray reagent. Neither screening using spectrophotometry nor confirmation using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analyses showed evidence of pyrrolizidine alkaloids in Athrixia phylicoides. Although a wider range of studies needs to be conducted prior to commercialization, these results support the development of bush tea as a healthy alternative to caffeine-containing beverages. © 2006 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. | Antioxidant; Asteraceae; Athrixia; Caffeine; Cytotoxicity; Pyrrolizidine alkaloids | antioxidant; Athrixia extract; berberine; caffeine; cytotoxic agent; podophyllotoxin; pyrrolizidine alkaloid; unclassified drug; animal cell; animal experiment; Artemia; article; Asteraceae; Athrixia; Athrixia elata; Athrixia phylicoides; drug cytotoxicity; drug isolation; nonhuman; Vero cell; Animals; Antioxidants; Artemia; Beverages; Caffeine; Cell Line; Drug Toxicity; Humans; Kidney; Plant Extracts; Plants, Medicinal; Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids; Solvents; South Africa; Artemia; Aspalathus linearis; Asteraceae; Athrixia | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84872489237 | Monitoring Perceptions of the Causes of Poverty in South Africa | Davids Y.D., Gouws A. | 2013 | Social Indicators Research | 110 | 3 | 10.1007/s11205-011-9980-9 | Population Health, Health Systems and Innovation (PHHSI), Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC), 12th Floor, Plein Park Building, 69-83 Plein Street, Cape Town, South Africa; Political Science Department, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag x1, Matieland, 7602, South Africa | Davids, Y.D., Population Health, Health Systems and Innovation (PHHSI), Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC), 12th Floor, Plein Park Building, 69-83 Plein Street, Cape Town, South Africa; Gouws, A., Political Science Department, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag x1, Matieland, 7602, South Africa | This study explored how people perceive the causes of poverty. Literature revealed that there are three broad theoretical explanations of perceptions of the causes of poverty, namely individualistic explanations, where blame is placed squarely on the poor themselves; structural explanations, where poverty is blamed on external social and economic forces; and fatalistic explanations, which attribute poverty to factors such as bad luck or illness. To examine South Africans perceptions according to these dimensions secondary analysis was employed on one of the Human Sciences Research Council's (HSRC) national representative client surveys. Approximately 3,498 respondents across South Africa were surveyed between 18 April and 30 May 2006. The bivariate analysis revealed that South Africans in general attribute poverty to structural over individualistic and fatalistic dimensions of poverty. Ordinary least square regressions revealed that these perceptions of poverty interacted with a host of socio-demographic and economic variables such as race and peoples' lived experiences of poverty. In this regard, all three ordinary least square regressions showed that lived poverty had a significant impact in predicting respectively structural, individualistic and fatalistic perceptions of the causes of poverty. The second regression predicted individualistic perceptions and showed that being white was the most significant predictor. The third regression predicted fatalistic perceptions and established that being coloured was the most significant predictor. © 2011 Springer Science+Business Media B.V. | Causes of poverty; Fatalistic; Individualistic; Perceptions of poverty; South Africa; Structural | least squares method; perception; poverty; regression analysis; South Africa | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84896914550 | The first-year augmented programme in Physics: A trend towards improved student performance | Chetty N. | 2014 | South African Journal of Science | 110 | 42371 | 10.1590/sajs.2014/20120096 | School of Chemistry and Physics, University of KwaZulu-Natal, PO Box X01 Scottsville 3209, South Africa | Chetty, N., School of Chemistry and Physics, University of KwaZulu-Natal, PO Box X01 Scottsville 3209, South Africa | Amidst a critical national shortage of qualified Black graduates in the pure and applied sciences, the University of KwaZulu-Natal has responded to a call from government for redress by launching the BSc4 Augmented Physics programme. In this paper, the methods employed to foster learning and to encourage student success in the Mechanics module of the Augmented Physics programme are described and discussed. The use of problem-based learning and a holistic learning policy that focuses on the emotional, physical and knowledge development of the student seems to have yielded higher throughput in the first semester of an undergraduate programme in Physics. Furthermore, the results point to an increase in the conceptual understanding of the student with respect to Mechanics. When appraising this success, the results of the 2007-2009 cohorts, with and without teaching interventions in place, were analysed. These initial analyses pave the way for a course designed to benefit the student and improve throughput. These methods are not unique to Physics and can be adapted for any module in any country. © 2014. The Authers. | Access; Extended curriculum; Language; Problem-based learning; Study techniques | curriculum; government; learning; mechanics; physics; student; teaching; KwaZulu-Natal; South Africa | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-78649773344 | Estimating expenditure impacts without expenditure data using asset proxies | Wittenberg M. | 2011 | Economics Letters | 110 | 2 | 10.1016/j.econlet.2010.11.009 | School of Economics, University of Cape Town, South Africa | Wittenberg, M., School of Economics, University of Cape Town, South Africa | When asset indices are used in regressions the coefficients obtained are typically difficult to interpret. We show how lower bounds on expenditure effects can be extracted, if the relationship between the assets and expenditure can be calibrated on an auxiliary data set. © 2010 Elsevier B.V. | Asset index; Attenuation; Obesity; Proxy variables | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84897468923 | Impact of lower stratospheric ozone on seasonal prediction systems | Mathole K., Ndarana T., Beraki A., Landman W.A. | 2014 | South African Journal of Science | 110 | 42433 | 10.1590/sajs.2014/20130161 | South African Weather Service - Research, Pretoria, South Africa; Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Natural Resources and the Environment, Pretoria, South Africa; Department of Geography, Geoinformatics and Meteorology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa | Mathole, K., South African Weather Service - Research, Pretoria, South Africa; Ndarana, T., South African Weather Service - Research, Pretoria, South Africa; Beraki, A., South African Weather Service - Research, Pretoria, South Africa; Landman, W.A., Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Natural Resources and the Environment, Pretoria, South Africa, Department of Geography, Geoinformatics and Meteorology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa | We conducted a comparison of trends in lower stratospheric temperatures and summer zonal wind fields based on 27 years of reanalysis data and output from hindcast simulations using a coupled oceanatmospheric general circulation model (OAGCM). Lower stratospheric ozone in the OAGCM was relaxed to the observed climatology and increasing greenhouse gas concentrations were neglected. In the reanalysis, lower stratospheric ozone fields were better represented than in the OAGCM. The spring lower stratospheric/ upper tropospheric cooling in the polar cap observed in the reanalysis, which is caused by a direct ozone depletion in the past two decades and is in agreement with previous studies, did not appear in the OAGCM. The corresponding summer tropospheric response also differed between data sets. In the reanalysis, a statistically significant poleward trend of the summer jet position was found, whereas no such trend was found in the OAGCM. Furthermore, the jet position in the reanalysis exhibited larger interannual variability than that in the OAGCM. We conclude that these differences are caused by the absence of long-term lower stratospheric ozone changes in the OAGCM. Improper representation or non-inclusion of such ozone variability in a prediction model could adversely affect the accuracy of the predictability of summer rainfall forecasts over South Africa. © 2014. The Authors. The Authors. | Eddy-driven jet; ENSO; Ozone depletion; Polar vortex; Stratosphere | accuracy assessment; annual variation; atmospheric general circulation model; climate modeling; climate prediction; data set; El Nino-Southern Oscillation; greenhouse gas; hindcasting; jet stream; oceanic general circulation model; ozone; ozone depletion; polar vortex; rainfall; seasonal variation; stratosphere; troposphere; wind field; zonal wind; South Africa | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77953701394 | Neuropsychological performance of South African treatment-naïve adolescents with alcohol dependence | Ferrett H.L., Carey P.D., Thomas K.G.F., Tapert S.F., Fein G. | 2010 | Drug and Alcohol Dependence | 110 | 42371 | 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2010.01.019 | Stellenbosch University, Department of Psychiatry, 7505 Cape Town, Tygerberg, South Africa; University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; University of California at San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, United States; Neurobehavioral Research Inc, 1585 Kapiolani Blvd., Suite 1030, Honolulu, HI 90814, United States | Ferrett, H.L., Stellenbosch University, Department of Psychiatry, 7505 Cape Town, Tygerberg, South Africa; Carey, P.D., Stellenbosch University, Department of Psychiatry, 7505 Cape Town, Tygerberg, South Africa; Thomas, K.G.F., University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Tapert, S.F., University of California at San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, United States; Fein, G., Neurobehavioral Research Inc, 1585 Kapiolani Blvd., Suite 1030, Honolulu, HI 90814, United States | Background: Alcohol dependence (AD) in developmentally vulnerable adolescents is ubiquitous and confers a risk for long-term neurocognitive sequelae, yet comorbid substance use disorders and psychopathology can complicate interpretations. Here, we compare cognitive functioning in adolescents with and without AD, who are free from comorbid disorders. Methods: English- and Afrikaans-speaking adolescents (13-15 years) of mixed ancestry and low socio-economic status were recruited from the Cape Town region of South Africa. Adolescents with psychiatric, developmental, or other substance use disorders (SUDs) were excluded.AD (n=26) and control (n=26) groups were matched on age, gender, language, and level of education. Neuropsychological testing in participants' home language followed detailed medical/psychiatric evaluation. Results: Although our sample included participants who smoked tobacco, lifetime dosage of other drugs was negligible. When tobacco and other drug use as well as demographic variables were controlled, adolescents with AD performed more poorly on measures of Verbal Story Memory, Self-Monitoring, and Psychomotor Speed and Coordination. Conclusions: These preliminary results, although relatively subtle, suggest that adolescents with AD may be at increased risk for failure to reach optimal levels of neuromaturation, and may be susceptible to cognitive problems associated with protracted alcohol consumption. © 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. | Adolescents; Alcohol; Health effects; Neuropsychology | adolescent; alcoholism; article; clinical article; cognition; comorbidity; controlled study; education; ethnic group; female; human; language; male; neuropsychological test; neuropsychology; priority journal; scoring system; social status; South Africa; substance abuse; verbal memory; Adolescent; Alcoholism; Cognition Disorders; Executive Function; Female; Humans; Male; Memory, Short-Term; Neuropsychological Tests; Problem Solving; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Psychomotor Performance; Regression Analysis; Social Class; South Africa; Substance-Related Disorders; Verbal Learning; Nicotiana tabacum | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-29844456882 | Determination of trace levels of dinitrophenolic compounds in environmental water samples using hollow fiber supported liquid membrane extraction and high performance liquid chromatography | Berhanu T., Liu J.-F., Romero R., Megersa N., Jönsson J.Å. | 2006 | Journal of Chromatography A | 1103 | 1 | 10.1016/j.chroma.2005.10.082 | Department of Analytical Chemistry, Lund University, P.O. Box 124, SE-22100 Lund, Sweden; Department of Chemistry, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | Berhanu, T., Department of Analytical Chemistry, Lund University, P.O. Box 124, SE-22100 Lund, Sweden, Department of Chemistry, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Liu, J.-F., Department of Analytical Chemistry, Lund University, P.O. Box 124, SE-22100 Lund, Sweden; Romero, R., Department of Analytical Chemistry, Lund University, P.O. Box 124, SE-22100 Lund, Sweden; Megersa, N., Department of Chemistry, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Jönsson, J.Å., Department of Analytical Chemistry, Lund University, P.O. Box 124, SE-22100 Lund, Sweden | A hollow fiber supported liquid membrane extraction method for the liquid chromatographic determination of dinitrophenolic compounds at ppt levels has been developed. Different variables affecting the extraction process, such as extraction time, shaking speed, acceptor pH, acceptor buffer concentration, salt content and humic acids have been studied. Enrichment factors up to 7000 times were obtained. Validation of the method included calibration experiments and studies of the linearity of the responses in different matrices. Good linearity was obtained in the environmental matrices evaluated. Detection limits range from 6.0 to 8.0 ng/L, and the relative standard deviations do not exceed 7% in terms of repeatability. © 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. | Dinitrophenols; Environmental waters; Hollow fiber; HPLC; Phenolic herbicides; Supported liquid membrane | Extraction; High performance liquid chromatography; Liquid membranes; pH effects; Trace analysis; Dinitrophenols; Environmental waters; Hollow fibers; Phenolic herbicides; Supported liquid membranes; Nitrogen compounds; 2,4 dinitrophenol; article; calibration; extraction; high performance liquid chromatography; hollow fiber; liquid membrane; priority journal; validation process; Chemical Fractionation; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Dinitrophenols; Herbicides; Humic Substances; Reproducibility of Results; Water Pollutants, Chemical | None |
| WoS | WOS:000282735100003 | Impact of ALSO training on the management of prolonged labor and neonatal care at Kagera Regional Hospital, Tanzania | Elsass, Peter,Massawe, Siriel,Nielsen, Birgitte Bruun,Nyakina, Juma,Rasch, Vibeke,Sorensen, Bjarke Lund | 2010 | INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GYNECOLOGY & OBSTETRICS | 111 | 1 | 10.1016/j.ijgo.2010.04.031 | Aarhus University, University of Copenhagen, Kagera Reg Hosp, Muhimbili Univ Hlth & Allied Sci, Odense Univ Hosp | "Elsass, Peter: University of Copenhagen","Nielsen, Birgitte Bruun: Aarhus University","Sorensen, Bjarke Lund: University of Copenhagen", | Objective: To evaluate the management of prolonged labor and neonatal care before and after Advanced Life Support in Obstetrics (ALSO) training. Methods: Staff involved in childbirth at Kagera Regional Hospital, Tanzania, attended a 2-day ALSO provider course. In this prospective intervention study conducted between July and November 2008, the management and outcomes of 558 deliveries before and 550 after the training were observed. Results: There was no significant difference in the rate of cesarean deliveries owing to prolonged labor, and vacuum delivery was not practiced after the intervention. During prolonged labor, action was delayed for more than 3 hours in half of the cases. The stillbirth rate. Apgar scores, and frequency of neonatal resuscitation did not change significantly. After the intervention, there was a significant increase in newborns given to their mothers within 10 minutes, from 5.6% to 71.5% (RR 12.71; 95% CI, 9.04-17.88). There was a significant decrease from 6 to 0 neonatal deaths before discharge among those born with an Apgar score after 1 minute of 4 or more (P=0.03). Conclusion: ALSO training had no effect on the management of prolonged labor. Early contact between newborn and mother was more frequently practiced after ALSO training and the immediate neonatal mortality decreased. (C) 2010 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. | "Advanced Life Support in Obstetrics (ALSO)","clinical skills training","emergency obstetric and neonatal care","MATERNAL MORTALITY","NEONATAL CARE","PROLONGED LABOR",Tanzania,MORTALITY | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-67650573158 | Evaluation of the performance of CareStart™ Malaria Pf/Pv Combo and Paracheck Pf® tests for the diagnosis of malaria in Wondo Genet, southern Ethiopia | Bekele Sharew, Mengistu Legesse, Abebe Animut, Daddi Jima, Girmay Medhin, Berhanu Erko | 2009 | Acta Tropica | 111 | 3 | 10.1016/j.actatropica.2009.05.014 | Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Ethiopian Health and Nutrition Research Institute, P.O. Box 1242, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | Bekele Sharew, Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Mengistu Legesse, Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Abebe Animut, Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Daddi Jima, Ethiopian Health and Nutrition Research Institute, P.O. Box 1242, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Girmay Medhin, Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Berhanu Erko, Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic performance of CareStart™ Malaria Pf/Pv Combo test relative to microscopy for the diagnosis of falciparum and vivax malaria in Ethiopia. Methods: 668 febrile patients visiting two health centers in Wondo Genet, southern Ethiopia, involved in this study in 2008. Giemsa-stained thin and thick blood smears were prepared and microscopically examined under a 100× oil immersion microscope objective for Plasmodium species identification and determination of parasitaemia, respectively. CareStart™ Malaria Pf/Pv Combo test and Paracheck Pf® test were performed as per the manufacturers' instruction. Findings: The diagnostic validity of CareStart™ Malaria Pf/Pv Combo test for the diagnosis of Plasmodium falciparum were very good with sensitivity of 99.4%, specificity of 98%, positive predictive value of 94.4% and negative predictive value of 99.8%. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of the test for the diagnosis of P. vivax were 99.4%, 98.2%, 94.5% and 99.8%, respectively. The diagnostic performance of CareStart™ Malaria Pf/Pv Combo test is comparable to that of Paracheck Pf® test for the diagnosis of P. falciparum (sensitivity 99.4%, specificity 98.2%). Conclusion: Although CareStart™ Malaria Pf/Pv Combo test and Paracheck Pf® test have comparable diagnostic performance for the diagnosis of P. falciparum, CareStart™ Malaria Pf/Pv Combo test has the added advantage of diagnosing P. vivax. Hence, it is preferable to use CareStart™ Malaria Pf/Pv Combo test for the diagnosis of malaria in areas where microscopy is not accessible and where malaria due to P. falciparum and P. vivax are co-endemic as in Ethiopia. © 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. | CareStart™ Malaria RDT; Diagnosis; Ethiopia; Malaria; Plasmodium species | disease treatment; malaria; medicine; microscopy; sensitivity analysis; adolescent; adult; aged; article; blood smear; child; controlled study; diagnostic accuracy; diagnostic test; diagnostic value; Ethiopia; female; human; infant; intermethod comparison; major clinical study; malaria; malaria falciparum; male; parasite identification; Plasmodium vivax malaria; sensitivity and specificity; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Animals; Child; Child, Preschool; Ethiopia; Female; Humans; Infant; Malaria, Falciparum; Malaria, Vivax; Male; Middle Aged; Molecular Diagnostic Techniques; Plasmodium falciparum; Plasmodium vivax; Predictive Value of Tests; Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; Sensitivity and Specificity; Young Adult; Africa; East Africa; Ethiopia; Sub-Saharan Africa; Wondo Genet; Plasmodium falciparum; Plasmodium vivax | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84856588612 | Testing stemming performance, possible or not? | Boshoff D., Webber-Youngman R.C.W. | 2011 | Journal of the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy | 111 | 12 | None | Anglo American, Johannesburg, South Africa; University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa | Boshoff, D., Anglo American, Johannesburg, South Africa; Webber-Youngman, R.C.W., University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa | The ability of an explosive to break rock is influenced considerably by the extent of confinement in the blasthole. It is believed that confinement is improved by the use of adequate stemming. The aim of this paper is to present the results of the first and second stages of developing a stemming performance testing rig for small diameter boreholes. The rig was used to compare and contrast the performance of different designs of products. The results showed that different stemming products have differences in terms of their functionality, which can have a major impact on the efficiency of rock breaking. Two test procedures were used, one through the exclusive use of compressed air and the second using a purposebuilt high pressure test rig with small quantities of explosives. Both tests were used to identify and evaluate the ability of various stemming products to resist the escape of explosive gas through the collar of a blasthole. An investigation was done to determine the types of stemming products most commonly used in South African underground hard rock mines, and these products were used during the tests. The first stage of tests using compressed air only did not prove adequate to predict with certainty the pressure behaviour in the borehole of a particular product under high pressure conditions. The purpose-built high pressure test rig also did not prove to be a very effective tool to test stemming products under high pressure conditions. The test rig incorporated only the effect of gas pressure on the stemming product, and excluded the effect of the shock wave. This study therefore proved that to take into account only the gas pressure generated in the blasthole is not sufficient to effectively test stemming product performance. © The Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 2011. | Blasthole; Break rock; Confinement; Explosive; Stemming performance testing. | Blasthole; Effective tool; Gas pressures; Hard rock mines; High-pressure condition; High-pressure test-rig; Performance testing; Product performance; Rock breaking; Test procedures; Test rigs; Ability testing; Boreholes; Compressed air; Drilling rigs; Explosives; Plasma confinement; Pressure vessels; Rock products | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-59349089045 | The Roodekraal Complex as a constraint on the size of the Vredefort impact crater, South Africa | de Waal S. | 2008 | South African Journal of Geology | 111 | 42403 | 10.2113/gssajg.111.2-3.305 | Centre for Research on Magmatic Ore Deposits, Department of Geology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa; PO Box 21167, Windhoek, Namibia | de Waal, S., Centre for Research on Magmatic Ore Deposits, Department of Geology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa, PO Box 21167, Windhoek, Namibia | The volcanic Roodekraal Complex, situated about 40 km from the proposed center of the ∼2.02 Ga Vredefort cratering event, overlies the rocks of the Pretoria Group with an angular unconformity. The unsheared basal contact of the Roodekraal Complex, a succession of alkaline basic lava intruded by diorite sills, defines an ∼2.05 Ga palaeosurface and as such constrains the size of the transient Vredefort crater to a maximum of ca. 80 km in diameter. A group of concentric thrust and normal faults with listric characteristics, the Ensel Thrust System, probably represents the expected normal faults that caused collapse of the transient crater rim during the modification stage of the cratering event. A series of semi-concentric thrust faults of the order of 200 km diameter and centered on the point of impact may define the total size of the Vredefort astrobleme (taken to be the entire area of impact-induced deformation). The indicated diameters of the transient and final craters agree well with those suggested by recent numerical models. © 2008 September Geological Society of South Africa. | None | astrobleme; crater; cratering; normal fault; numerical model; paleosurface; thrust fault; unconformity; Africa; Free State; South Africa; Southern Africa; Sub-Saharan Africa; Vredefort Dome | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-50349102618 | Trophallactic activities in the honeybee brood nest - Heaters get supplied with high performance fuel | Basile R., Pirk C.W.W., Tautz J. | 2008 | Zoology | 111 | 6 | 10.1016/j.zool.2007.11.002 | BEEgroup, Department of Zoology II, Behavioral Physiology and Sociobiology, Biocenter, Julius-Maximilians-University, D-97074 Würzburg, Germany; Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, 0002 Pretoria, South Africa | Basile, R., BEEgroup, Department of Zoology II, Behavioral Physiology and Sociobiology, Biocenter, Julius-Maximilians-University, D-97074 Würzburg, Germany; Pirk, C.W.W., Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, 0002 Pretoria, South Africa; Tautz, J., BEEgroup, Department of Zoology II, Behavioral Physiology and Sociobiology, Biocenter, Julius-Maximilians-University, D-97074 Würzburg, Germany | Honeybees actively regulate their brood temperature by heating between 33 and 36 °C if ambient temperatures are lower. Heat is generated by vibrating the flight muscles. Heating rapidly depletes the worker's internal energy; therefore heating performance is limited by the honey that is ingested before the heating process. Stored honey is the predefined fuel for flying and heating, but it is stored at a distance from the broodcomb, causing a potential logistic problem of efficient energy supply in the brood area. Our study focused on the behaviour and the thoracic temperature of the participants in trophallactic food exchanges on the broodcomb. We found that 85.5% of the recipients in a trophallactic food exchange have a higher thoracic temperature during feeding contacts than donors and after the feeding contact the former engage in brood heating more often. The donor bees have lower thoracic temperature and shuttle constantly between honey stores and the broodcomb where they transfer the stored honey to heating bees. Providing heat-emitting workers with small doses of high performance fuel contributes to an economic distribution of resources consistent with physiological conditions of the bees and the ecological requirements of the hive. The trophallaxis-based system is essential to provide the energy-intensive brood warming activity. The emerging independence from ambient temperatures is not only beneficial for brood rearing during times of sudden cold spells, but also enables the honeybees in temperate regions to raise brood in early spring and might be the decisive factor for the occurrence of honeybees in temperate climates in general. © 2008 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved. | Apis mellifera; Brood heating; Food exchange; Trophallaxis | animal; article; bee; body temperature; feeding behavior; heat; honey; nesting; physiology; social behavior; thermoregulation; Animals; Bees; Body Temperature; Body Temperature Regulation; Feeding Behavior; Honey; Hot Temperature; Nesting Behavior; Social Behavior; Apis mellifera; Apoidea | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84879036965 | The impact of particle size and maceral segregation on char formation in a packed bed combustion unit | Malumbazo N., Wagner N.J., Bunt J.R. | 2013 | Fuel | 111 | None | 10.1016/j.fuel.2013.03.056 | Council for Geoscience, Mineral Resources Development, 280 Pretoria Street, Silverton, Pretoria 0001, South Africa; School of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag X3, Johannesburg 2050, South Africa; School of Chemical and Minerals Engineering, North-West University, Private Bag X6001, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa; Sasol Technology (PTY LTD), P.O. Box X1, Sasolburg 1947, South Africa | Malumbazo, N., Council for Geoscience, Mineral Resources Development, 280 Pretoria Street, Silverton, Pretoria 0001, South Africa; Wagner, N.J., School of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag X3, Johannesburg 2050, South Africa; Bunt, J.R., School of Chemical and Minerals Engineering, North-West University, Private Bag X6001, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa, Sasol Technology (PTY LTD), P.O. Box X1, Sasolburg 1947, South Africa | Highveld parent coal was crushed into three size fractions, namely: 5 mm-75 mm, 5 mm-53 mm, and 5-37.5 mm. The crushed samples were subjected as feed coals to heating in a packed-bed reactor to investigate the influence of particle size reduction on char formation and reactivity. Coal petrography was utilized to assess the maceral and char formation distribution of the feed coal samples and their packed-bed combustion unit's products. The maceral distribution of the feed coal fractions differed from the typical run-of-mine Highveld coal petrographic composition; the smallest size fractions (-53 mm and -37.5 mm) having the highest vitrinite content. Maceral distribution was further divided into total reactive maceral particles, total inert maceral particles, and total inertinite particles. The -53 mm and -37.5 mm feed coal samples had the highest total reactive maceral particle content. Inert char particles dominated in the packed-bed combustion unit samples due to high inertinite maceral group content of the Highveld coals. Unexpectedly, the -53 mm feed coal sample had higher content of total reactive maceral particles and lower content of total inert maceral particles; whereas the -37.5 mm feed coal sample had high content of reactive maceral particles and high content of total inert maceral particles. This variation in maceral group content lead to the -53 mm feed coal sample being more reactive (producing more devolatilized and porous chars and thus reacting faster with reactant gases) than the -37.5 mm feed coal sample. This was due to inert maceral particles restricting the -37.5 mm feed coal sample from fully softening and reacting with reactant gas. This was also this was attributed to variation in volatile propagation of the three particle sizes. This confirms that a feed coal with smaller particle sizes results in different reactivity, char formation, and better heat transfer during combustion than the feed coal with large particle size range. Another important factor that plays a role in combustion is maceral association; it was observed that maceral distribution has a great influence on the char formation and its reactivity more than coal particle size. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. | Char morphology; Highveld coal; Maceral segregation; Reactivity | Coal particle size; Large particle sizes; Maceral distribution; Macerals; Packed bed reactor; Particle content; Particle size reduction; Petrographic composition; Chemical contamination; Coal; Inert gases; Packed beds; Particle size; Petrography; Reactivity (nuclear); Segregation (metallography); Coal combustion | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84929932856 | Particle boards produced from cassava stalks: Evaluation of physical and mechanical properties | Aisien F.A., Amenaghawon A.N., Bienose K.C. | 2015 | South African Journal of Science | 111 | 06-May | 10.17159/sajs.2015/20140042 | Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Benin, PMB 1154, Ugbowo, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria | Aisien, F.A., Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Benin, PMB 1154, Ugbowo, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria; Amenaghawon, A.N., Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Benin, PMB 1154, Ugbowo, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria; Bienose, K.C., Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Benin, PMB 1154, Ugbowo, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria | We investigated the potential use of cassava stalks for the production of bonded particle boards. Particle boards were produced from cassava stalks using urea-formaldehyde as a binder. Water absorption and thickness swelling tests were carried out to determine dimensional stability of the boards while modulus of rupture and modulus of elasticity tests were carried out to assess the mechanical strength of the boards. Particle boards produced using an adhesive-cassava stalk ratio of 3:1 gave the best results in terms of the lowest mean values of water absorption (20%) and thickness swelling (6.26%), as well as the highest values of modulus of rupture (4×106 N/m2) and modulus of elasticity (2366.74×106 N/m2). The particle boards produced met the ANSI/A208.1-1999 standard for general-purpose boards. The results of analyses of variance carried out revealed that the adhesive-cassava stalk ratio had a marked influence (p<0.05) on the physical properties (water absorption and thickness swelling) but not on the mechanical properties (modulus of rupture and modulus of elasticity). © 2015. The Author(s). | Cassava stalks; Dimensional stability; Particle board; Thickness swelling; Urea-formaldehyde | absorption; cassava; mechanical property; physical property; swelling; variance analysis; wood; Manihot esculenta | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79960564561 | Evaluation of the antibiotic biosynthetic potential of the genus Amycolatopsis and description of Amycolatopsis circi sp. nov., Amycolatopsis equina sp. nov. and Amycolatopsis hippodromi sp. nov | Everest G.J., Meyers P.R. | 2011 | Journal of Applied Microbiology | 111 | 2 | 10.1111/j.1365-2672.2011.05058.x | Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa | Everest, G.J., Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Meyers, P.R., Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa | Aims: To describe three new Amycolatopsis strains and assess the antibiotic biosynthetic potential of the genus. Methods and Results: Three strains, designated S1·3T, S3·6T and SE(8)3T, belonging to the genus Amycolatopsis were isolated and found to cluster together by 16S rRNA and gyrB gene-based phylogenetic analysis. Genetic distance values, based on the gyrB gene, were calculated between the strains and their closest relatives and were all above the threshold value of 0·02 that has been proposed to distinguish Amycolatopsis type strains. DNA-DNA hybridization experiments against related type strains confirmed that strain S3·6T represents a unique genomic species. Strain S3·6T was also found to be distinct from strains S1·3T and SE(8)3T, the latter two of which were also shown to be distinct from each other. Antibiotic biosynthetic genes were identified from multiple Amycolatopsis strains, and their presence was found to be phylogenetically associated. Conclusions: The data presented in this study indicate that strains S1·3T, SE(8)3T and S3·6T belong to three novel species, for which the names Amycolatopsis circi sp. nov. (=DSM 45561T=NRRL B-24841T), Amycolatopsis equina sp. nov. (=DSM 45563T=NRRL B-24842T) and Amycolatopsis hippodromi sp. nov. (=DSM 45562T=NRRL B-24843T) are proposed. Significance and Impact of the Study: Three new species of Amycolatopsis are described, and the knowledge of the antibiotic biosynthetic potential of the genus has been extended. © 2011 The Authors. Journal of Applied Microbiology © 2011 The Society for Applied Microbiology. | Antibiotic biosynthetic potential; Family Pseudonocardiaceae; Fynbos; gyrB genetic distance; Nocardioform actinomycetes; Rapid genus identification | ansamycin derivative; antibiotic agent; avoparcin; DNA topoisomerase (ATP hydrolysing) B; genomic DNA; RNA 16S; antibiotics; genomics; hybridization; new genus; new species; phylogenetics; Amycolatopsis alba; Amycolatopsis albidoflavus; Amycolatopsis australiensis; Amycolatopsis azurea; Amycolatopsis balhimycina; Amycolatopsis benzoatilytica; Amycolatopsis circi; Amycolatopsis coloradensis; Amycolatopsis decaplanina; Amycolatopsis echigonensis; Amycolatopsis equina; Amycolatopsis eurytherma; Amycolatopsis halophila; Amycolatopsis halotolerans; Amycolatopsis helveola; Amycolatopsis hippodromi; Amycolatopsis japonica; Amycolatopsis jejuensis; Amycolatopsis kentuckyensis; Amycolatopsis keratiniphila; Amycolatopsis lexingtonensi; Amycolatopsis lurida; Amycolatopsis marina; Amycolatopsis methanolica; Amycolatopsis minnesotensis; Amycolatopsis nigrescens; Amycolatopsis niigatensis; Amycolatopsis palatopharyngis; Amycolatopsis pigmentata; Amycolatopsis plumensis; Amycolatopsis pretoriensis; Amycolatopsis regifaucium; Amycolatopsis rifamycinica; Amycolatopsis rubida; Amycolatopsis saalfeldensis; Amycolatopsis sacchari; Amycolatopsis samaneae; Amycolatopsis taiwanensis; Amycolatopsis thailandensis; Amycolatopsis thermoflava; Amycolatopsis tolypomycina; Amycolatopsis tucumanensis; Amycolatopsis ultiminotia; Amycolatopsis vancoresmycina; Amycolatopsis xylanica; antibiotic biosynthesis; article; bacterial strain; bacterium identification; bacterium isolation; DNA hybridization; Escherichia coli; genetic analysis; Mycobacterium aurum; nocardia mediterranea; nocardia orientalis; nonhuman; nucleotide sequence; parsimony analysis; phylogenetic tree; phylogeny; Pseudonocardiaceae; Saccharopolyspora; Staphylococcus aureus; unindexed sequence; Actinomycetales; Anti-Bacterial Agents; DNA, Bacterial; Molecular Sequence Data; Phenotype; Phylogeny; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Soil Microbiology; Actinobacteria (class); Amycolatopsis; Pseudonocardiaceae | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84918592939 | Impact of HLA-driven HIV adaptation on virulence in populations of high HIV seroprevalence | Payne R., Muenchhoff M., Mann J., Roberts H.E., Matthews P., Adland E., Hempenstal A., Huang K.-H., Brockman M., Brumme Z., Sinclair M., Miura T., Frater J., Essex M., Shapiro R., Walker B.D., Ndung'u T., McLean A.R., Carlson J.M., Goulder P.J.R. | 2014 | Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America | 111 | 50 | 10.1073/pnas.1413339111 | Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom; HIV Pathogenesis Programme, Doris Duke Medical Research Institute, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; Institute for Emerging Infections, Oxford Martin School, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom; Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom; Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, BC, Canada; British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, Vancouver, BC, Canada; ViiV Healthcare K. K, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Japan; Oxford National Institute of Health Research, Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, United Kingdom; Botswana Harvard AIDS Institute Partnership, Gaborone, Botswana; Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States; Ragon Institute of Massachusetts General Hospital, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard University, Boston, MA, United States; Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom; Microsoft Research, eScience Group, Los Angeles, CA, United States | Payne, R., Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom; Muenchhoff, M., Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom; Mann, J., HIV Pathogenesis Programme, Doris Duke Medical Research Institute, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; Roberts, H.E., Institute for Emerging Infections, Oxford Martin School, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom; Matthews, P., Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom; Adland, E., Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom; Hempenstal, A., Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom; Huang, K.-H., Institute for Emerging Infections, Oxford Martin School, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom; Brockman, M., Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, BC, Canada, British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Brumme, Z., Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, BC, Canada, British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Sinclair, M., Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom; Miura, T., ViiV Healthcare K. K, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Japan; Frater, J., Institute for Emerging Infections, Oxford Martin School, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom, Oxford National Institute of Health Research, Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, United Kingdom; Essex, M., Botswana Harvard AIDS Institute Partnership, Gaborone, Botswana, Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States; Shapiro, R., Botswana Harvard AIDS Institute Partnership, Gaborone, Botswana, Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States; Walker, B.D., HIV Pathogenesis Programme, Doris Duke Medical Research Institute, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa, Ragon Institute of Massachusetts General Hospital, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard University, Boston, MA, United States; Ndung'u, T., HIV Pathogenesis Programme, Doris Duke Medical Research Institute, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa, Ragon Institute of Massachusetts General Hospital, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard University, Boston, MA, United States; McLean, A.R., Institute for Emerging Infections, Oxford Martin School, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom; Carlson, J.M., Microsoft Research, eScience Group, Los Angeles, CA, United States; Goulder, P.J.R., Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom, HIV Pathogenesis Programme, Doris Duke Medical Research Institute, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa | It is widely believed that epidemics in new hosts diminish in virulence over time, with natural selection favoring pathogens that cause minimal disease. However, a tradeoff frequently exists between high virulence shortening host survival on the one hand but allowing faster transmission on the other. This is the case in HIV infection, where high viral loads increase transmission risk per coital act but reduce host longevity. We here investigate the impact on HIV virulence of HIV adaptation to HLA molecules that protect against disease progression, such as HLA-B∗57 and HLA-B∗58:01. We analyzed cohorts in Botswana and South Africa, two countries severely affected by the HIV epidemic. In Botswana, where the epidemic started earlier and adult seroprevalence has been higher, HIV adaptation to HLA including HLA-B∗57/58:01 is greater compared with South Africa (P = 7 × 10-82), the protective effect of HLA-B∗57/58:01 is absent (P = 0.0002), and population viral replicative capacity is lower (P = 0.03). These data suggest that viral evolution is occurring relatively rapidly, and that adaptation of HIV to the most protective HLA alleles may contribute to a lowering of viral replication capacity at the population level, and a consequent reduction in HIV virulence over time. The potential role in this process played by increasing antiretroviral therapy (ART) access is also explored. Models developed here suggest distinct benefits of ART, in addition to reducing HIV disease and transmission, in driving declines in HIV virulence over the course of the epidemic, thereby accelerating the effects of HLA-mediated viral adaptation. HLA, HIV, adaptation, antiretroviral therapy, virulence. © 2014, National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved. | None | HLA antigen; HLA B antigen; HLA B39 antigen; HLA B42 antigen; HLA B57 antigen; HLA B58 antigen; HLA B81 antigen; nevirapine; unclassified drug; virus RNA; zidovudine; HLA B antigen; adaptation; adult; antiviral therapy; Article; Botswana; CD4 lymphocyte count; controlled study; disease course; epidemic; female; HLA system; human; Human immunodeficiency virus; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; Human immunodeficiency virus prevalence; major clinical study; nonhuman; nucleotide sequence; virus adaptation; virus load; virus mutation; virus replication; virus virulence; adaptation; cohort analysis; DNA sequence; genetics; HIV Infections; Human immunodeficiency virus; immunology; molecular evolution; molecular genetics; pathogenicity; South Africa; transmission; virulence; Adaptation, Biological; Adult; Base Sequence; Botswana; Cohort Studies; Evolution, Molecular; HIV; HIV Infections; HLA-B Antigens; Humans; Molecular Sequence Data; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Seroepidemiologic Studies; South Africa; Virulence | R01AI46995, NIH, National Institutes of Health; National Institutes of Health |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-34247216261 | Evaluation of anti-diarrhoeal and anti-ulcerogenic potential of ethanol extract of Carpolobia lutea leaves in rodents | Nwafor P.A., Bassey A.I.L. | 2007 | Journal of Ethnopharmacology | 111 | 3 | 10.1016/j.jep.2007.01.019 | Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Uyo, PMB 1017, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria | Nwafor, P.A., Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Uyo, PMB 1017, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria; Bassey, A.I.L., Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Uyo, PMB 1017, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria | The effect of ethanol extract of Carpolobia lutea leaves on experimentally induced diarrhoea and ulcers was studied in rodents. The extract (245-735 mg/kg) inhibited small intestinal transit time (15.10-45.03%), castor oil-induced diarrhoea (25.69-43.54%) and fluid accumulation (7.53-34.15%), respectively, as well as indomethancin (47.64-79.79%) and ethanol-induced (65.63-89.65%) ulcer models. The various degrees of inhibitions were statistically significant (p < 0.001). The phytochemical screening confirmed the presence of tannins, saponins and flavonoids. Others include cardiac glycosides, anthraquinones and terpenes. The median lethal dose (LD50) was determined to be 2449.49 mg/kg body weight. Though the mechanism of action of the extract may not be fully understood, the extract may in part be mediating its actions through its inhibitory effects on α2-adrenoceptor and cholinergic (anti-muscarinic receptor) systems or through the actions of its active metabolites. © 2007 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. | Anti-diarroheal; Anti-ulcerogenic; Carpolobia lutea leaves; Ethanol extract; Rodents | alcohol; alpha 2 adrenergic receptor; anthraquinone derivative; cardiac glycoside; Carpolobia lutea extract; castor oil; cholinergic receptor; cimetidine; diphenoxylate; flavonoid; indometacin; plant extract; saponin derivative; tannin derivative; terpene derivative; unclassified drug; yohimbine; animal experiment; animal model; animal tissue; article; controlled study; diarrhea; drug activity; drug mechanism; intestine transit time; intestine ulcer; LD 50; mouse; nonhuman; Polygalaceae; rat; Acetylcholine; Animals; Anti-Ulcer Agents; Antidiarrheals; Diarrhea; Disease Models, Animal; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Gastrointestinal Transit; Lethal Dose 50; Medicine, African Traditional; Mice; Phytotherapy; Plant Extracts; Plant Leaves; Plants, Medicinal; Polygalaceae; Rats; Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-2; Stomach Ulcer; Carpolobia; Rodentia | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-34247235241 | Evaluation of antiplasmodial activity of ethanolic seed extract of Picralima nitida | Okokon J.E., Antia B.S., Igboasoiyi A.C., Essien E.E., Mbagwu H.O.C. | 2007 | Journal of Ethnopharmacology | 111 | 3 | 10.1016/j.jep.2006.12.016 | Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Uyo, Uyo, Nigeria; Department of Chemistry, University of Uyo, Uyo, Nigeria; Department of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Uyo, Uyo, N | Okokon, J.E., Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Uyo, Uyo, Nigeria; Antia, B.S., Department of Chemistry, University of Uyo, Uyo, Nigeria; Igboasoiyi, A.C., Department of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Uyo, Uyo, Nigeria; Essien, E.E., Department of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Uyo, Uyo, Nigeria; Mbagwu, H.O.C., Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Uyo, Uyo, Nigeria | The in vivo antiplasmodial activity of the ethanol seed extract of Picralima nitida grown particularly for the leaf and seed in Niger Delta region of Nigeria was evaluated in Plasmodium berghei berghei infected mice. Picralima nitida (35-115 mg/kg day) exhibited significant (P < 0.05) blood schizonticidal activity both in 4-day early infection test and in established infection with a considerable mean survival time though not comparable to that of the standard drug, chloroquine, 5 mg/kg day. The seed extract possesses significant (P < 0.05) antiplasmodial activity which correlate with it reported in vitro activity. © 2007. | Antiplasmodial; Malaria; Picralima nitida | chloroquine; Picralima nitida extract; plant extract; unclassified drug; animal experiment; animal model; Apocynaceae; article; controlled study; drug dose comparison; drug efficacy; drug mechanism; female; malaria; male; mouse; nonhuman; parasitosis; picralima nitida; Plasmodium berghei; seed; survival; Animals; Antimalarials; Apocynaceae; Chloroquine; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Female; Lethal Dose 50; Malaria; Male; Mice; Phytotherapy; Plant Extracts; Plasmodium berghei; Seeds; Survival Rate; Mus; Picralima nitida; Plasmodium berghei | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84856663066 | The evaluation of whole-body vibration in a South African opencast mine | Aye S.A., Heyns P.S. | 2011 | Journal of the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy | 111 | 11 | None | Dynamic Systems Group, Department of Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering, University of Pretoria, South Africa | Aye, S.A., Dynamic Systems Group, Department of Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering, University of Pretoria, South Africa; Heyns, P.S., Dynamic Systems Group, Department of Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering, University of Pretoria, South Africa | Vibration levels on a variety of equipment in a South African opencast mine were measured in this study. The well-established ISO 2631-1 (1997) standard methodology was used for the computation of weighted root mean square (WRMS) and vibration dose value (VDV). This method was used to evaluate the wholebody vibration (WBV) on a wide range of equipment in the opencast mine using the two main parameters, namely the daily exposure A(8) which is based on the WRMS concept and the VDV which measures shocks. The results obtained show that while the majority of the equipment rendered exposure levels that are below the exposure limit value (ELV), exposure levels on about half of the equipment do exceed the exposure action levels. The study also highlights the importance of shock in the observed responses. © The Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 2011. | Excavators; LHDs; Opencast mine; Other equipment; Whole-body vibration | Exposure level; Exposure limit value; LHDs; Main parameters; Opencast mine; Root Mean Square; Vibration level; Whole-body vibrations; Excavators; Metallurgy; Equipment | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79960412281 | Evaluation of reductants used for ilmenite smelting based on CO2 reactivity (Boudouard reaction) measurement | Jordan P. | 2011 | Journal of the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy | 111 | 6 | None | Exxaro Resources, Pretoria, South Africa | Jordan, P., Exxaro Resources, Pretoria, South Africa | The practice of ilmenite smelting in electric arc furnaces has been researched and published over the last few decades. An issue that has not been addressed is the understanding of the properties of ilmenite smelting reductants, and linking these properties to the subsequent smelting behaviour in the furnace. The reduction mechanism of ilmenite smelting is not fully understood, but it is believed that the Boudouard reaction plays a role. This paper investigates the behaviour of a number of reductants when reacted with CO2 at different temperatures. © The Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 2011. | Boudouard reaction; Carbon reactivity; Ilmenite smelting; Reductants | Boudouard reaction; Carbon reactivity; Electric arc furnace; Ilmenite smelting; Reductants; Reduction mechanisms; Carbon dioxide; Electric arcs; Ilmenite; Smelting | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79960391973 | Gravity separator performance evaluation using Qemscan® particle mineral analysis | Grobler J.D., Bosman J.B. | 2011 | Journal of the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy | 111 | 6 | None | Exxaro Resources, South Africa; PESCO, South Africa | Grobler, J.D., Exxaro Resources, South Africa; Bosman, J.B., PESCO, South Africa | In a gravity separation device, particle shape, size and density all play a role. The combination of these determines where each individual particle reports to in the viscous fluid, where particle crowding (solids to water ratio) also plays a role. To understand the performance of gravity separation devices in the heavy mineral industry, these particle characteristics need to be measured. There are various challenges in analysing particle density and particle size simultaneously for the purpose of quantifying gravity separator performance, not to mention particle shape. These analytical challenges include the high cost of high-density sink-float fractionation, toxicity of high-density sink-float media, inability of sink-float media to fractionate at densities greater than 4.0 g/cm3, and the time-intensive nature of these fractionations. The use of the detailed particle-by-particle output from Qemscan® particle mineral analyses (PMA) as a fast and cost-effective alternative is evaluated. The size and density outputs from the Qemscan® were employed to characterize the performance of a heavy mineral spiral concentrator as an example. Critical analytical requirements are to be addressed before the Qemscan® output data can be utilized. © The Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 2011. | Gravity separator; Heavy minerals; Performance; Qemscan® particle mineral analysis | Analytical challenge; Gravity separation; Gravity separator; Heavy minerals; High costs; High-density; Individual particles; Mineral analysis; Output data; Particle characteristics; Particle densities; Particle shape; Performance; Performance evaluation; QemSCAN; Viscous fluids; Water ratio; Cost benefit analysis; Fractionation; Separators; Silicate minerals; Zinc ore treatment; Mineral industry | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84887563654 | Gamma (γ)-Ray Activity as a Tool for Identification of Hidden Ejecta Deposits Around Impact Crater on Basaltic Target: Example from Lonar Crater, India | Bose T., Misra S., Chakraborty S., Reddy K. | 2013 | Earth, Moon and Planets | 111 | 42371 | 10.1007/s11038-013-9422-6 | Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune, 411008, India; School of Geological Sciences, SAEES, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 4000, South Africa; National Geophysical Research Institute, Hyderabad, 500007, India | Bose, T., Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune, 411008, India; Misra, S., School of Geological Sciences, SAEES, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 4000, South Africa; Chakraborty, S., Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune, 411008, India; Reddy, K., National Geophysical Research Institute, Hyderabad, 500007, India | Geophysical techniques based on radioactivity measurements are not generally used for exploration of asteroid impact craters. Our studies on the field and laboratory measurements of radioactivity on samples from the Lonar crater, India, show that this technique could be an important method for mapping the distribution of ejecta around the deeply excavated impact craters particularly when these structures are formed on relatively old target rocks/palaeosol. The Lonar ejecta shows ~1.3 times higher γ-ray count rates in the field on average compared to the underlying palaeosol and ~1.9 times higher values over the target basalt while measured by a portable Geiger-Müller pulse counter. The absorbed γ-dose rate (D) of the Lonar samples, computed from 232Th, 238U, and 40K abundances in these samples, also show that the ejecta has distinct bulk dose rates (average ~8.42 nGy h-1) as compared to those of the palaeosol (~18.34 nGy h-1), target basalt (~11.97 nGy h-1), and the impact-melts and spherules (~14 nGy h-1). Therefore, radioactivity mapping of the terrestrial and planetary impact craters by direct methods has importance in mapping ejecta distributions around these structures. © 2013 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht. | Absorbed γ-dose rate (D); Ejecta; Gamma-radiation; Geiger-Müller pulse counter; Lonar crater; Palaeosol | basalt; crater; ejecta; gamma ray radiation; paleosol; radioactivity; spherule; India; Lonar Crater; Maharashtra; Spherules | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84929908510 | Monitoring and evaluating astronomy outreach programmes: Challenges and solutions | Chapman S., Catala L., Mauduit J.-C., Govender K., Louw-Potgieter J. | 2015 | South African Journal of Science | 111 | 42496 | 10.17159/sajs.2015/20140112 | Institute for Monitoring and Evaluation, School of Management Studies, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Department of Astronomy, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; South African Astronomical Observatory, Cape Town, South Africa; International Astronomical Union, Office of Astronomy for Development, Cape Town, South Africa | Chapman, S., Institute for Monitoring and Evaluation, School of Management Studies, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Catala, L., Department of Astronomy, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa, South African Astronomical Observatory, Cape Town, South Africa, International Astronomical Union, Office of Astronomy for Development, Cape Town, South Africa; Mauduit, J.-C., International Astronomical Union, Office of Astronomy for Development, Cape Town, South Africa; Govender, K., International Astronomical Union, Office of Astronomy for Development, Cape Town, South Africa; Louw-Potgieter, J., Institute for Monitoring and Evaluation, School of Management Studies, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa | A number of tools exist to guide the monitoring and evaluation of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education and outreach programmes. Fewer tools exist for evaluating astronomy outreach programmes. In this paper we try to overcome this limitation by presenting a monitoring and evaluation framework developed for the International Astronomical Union's Office of Astronomy for Development (OAD). The mandate of the OAD is to stimulate sustainable development at an international level and to expand astronomy education and outreach globally. The broad assumptions of this programme are that astronomy has the potential to contribute to human development by means of the transferable nature of its science discoveries, as well as its potential to activate feelings of wonderment, inspiration and awareness of the universe. As a result, the programme potentially embodies a far broader mix of outcomes than conventionally considered in STEM evaluation approaches. Towards this aim, we operationalise our monitoring and evaluation approach by first outlining programme theories for three key OAD programmes: a programme for universities and research, another one for schools, and one for public outreach. We then identify outcomes, indicators and measures for each one of these programmes. We conclude with suggestions for evaluating the global impact of astronomy for development. © 2015. The Author(s). | Astronomy for development; Monitoring and evaluation framework; Programme evaluation; Science outreach; Stem education | astronomy; education; international organization; science and technology; sustainable development; university sector | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-59349120977 | Development and quality evaluation of low-cost, high-protein weaning food types: Prowena and Propalm from soybean (Glycine max), groundnut (Arachis hypogea) and crayfish (Macrobrachium spp) | Omueti O., Jaiyeola O., Otegbayo B., Ajomale K., Afolabi O. | 2009 | British Food Journal | 111 | 2 | 10.1108/00070700910932002 | Institute of Agricultural Research and Training, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ibadan, Nigeria; Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria, Ibadan, Nigeria; Department of Food Science and Technology, Bowen University, Iwo, Nigeria | Omueti, O., Institute of Agricultural Research and Training, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ibadan, Nigeria; Jaiyeola, O., Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria, Ibadan, Nigeria; Otegbayo, B., Department of Food Science and Technology, Bowen University, Iwo, Nigeria; Ajomale, K., Institute of Agricultural Research and Training, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ibadan, Nigeria; Afolabi, O., Institute of Agricultural Research and Training, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ibadan, Nigeria | Purpose: The objective of this study is to develop two nutrient-dense and acceptable weaning foods - Prowena and Propalm - using high-protein food ingredients: crayfish (Macrobachium spp), soybeans (Glycine max) and groundnut (Arachis hypogea) to enrich the sole starch based weaning food locally known as "ogi". Design/methodology/approach: The weaning food mixture was formulated by mixing yellow maize ogi flour, soyflour, groundnut meal and crayfish flour for Prowena (PROW) while palm oil was added to the mixture for Propalm (PROP). PROW and PROP were compared with the commercial weaning food Nutrend (NUTR) and the traditional weaning food, yellow maize gruel, or ogi (YOG), in terms of energy, nutrients and sensory scores. Findings: Chemical analysis showed that PROW contained 2.71 per cent moisture, 22.95 per cent protein, 5.86 per cent fat, 3.75 per cent fibre, 62.39 per cent carbohydrate, 4.31 per cent ash and 3.75 kcal of energy, while PROP had 2.78 per cent moisture, 21.99 per cent protein, 8.86 per cent fat, 3.89 per cent fibre, 59.29 per cent carbohydrate, 4.77 per cent per cent ash and 3.78 kcal of energy. The sensory evaluation showed that both PROW and PROP were equally acceptable as NUTR and more acceptable than YOG in terms of taste, flavour and texture (p<0.05). However, there was no significance difference (p>0.05) in acceptability of PROW, PROP, NUTR and YOG in terms of colour. Originality/value: The paper shows that the two weaning foods would be suitable for the commercial market to increase the protein intake and to combat protein energy malnutrition (PEM) amongst infants. © Emerald Group Publishing Limited. | Baby foods; Infants; Nutrition; Product development | Arachis hypogaea; Astacoidea; Glycine max; Macrobrachium; Zea mays | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84856596494 | Evaluation of a limit equilibrium model to simulate crush pillar behaviour | Du Plessis M., Malan D.F., Napier J.A.L. | 2011 | Journal of the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy | 111 | 12 | None | Lonmin Platinum, South Africa; Department of Mining Engineering, University of Pretoria, South Africa | Du Plessis, M., Lonmin Platinum, South Africa; Malan, D.F., Department of Mining Engineering, University of Pretoria, South Africa; Napier, J.A.L., Department of Mining Engineering, University of Pretoria, South Africa | This paper describes the evaluation of a limit equilibrium model to simulate the behaviour of crush pillars in platinum mines. An analytical model was derived to calculate the residual average pillar stress (APS) values of the crush pillars. The values predicted by this model were compared to the numerical values obtained from TEXAN simulations. In general, the limit equilibrium model appears to be very attractive for simulating pillar failure as the gradual crushing of the outside of the pillar and the transfer of stress to the intact core can be replicated. The value of the TEXAN crush pillar model was further demonstrated by simulating an idealized layout with crush pillars between two adjacent panels. The simulations illustrated that oversized pillars will not crush close to the face and this may lead to seismic failure in the back area. An important finding of the study is that closure measurements may prove to be a very valuable diagnostic measure in crush pillars layouts. Distinct differences in magnitudes of closure were simulated for a scenario where the pillars crush as expected, compared to the scenario where an oversized pillar is left. Experimental closure data collected in a crush pillar stope provided further evidence regarding the value of closure measurements in these layouts. © The Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 2011. | Crush pillars; Limit equilibrium model.; Mine design; Numerical analysis | Analytical model; Closure measurements; Crush pillars; Diagnostic measures; Intact core; Limit equilibrium; Mine design; Numerical values; Transfer of stress; Numerical analysis; Platinum mines; Computer simulation | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84895794618 | First look at changes in flood hazard in the Inter-Sectoral Impact Model Intercomparison Project ensemble | Dankers R., Arnell N.W., Clark D.B., Falloon P.D., Fekete B.M., Gosling S.N., Heinke J., Kim H., Masaki Y., Satoh Y., Stacke T., Wada Y., Wisser D. | 2014 | Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America | 111 | 9 | 10.1073/pnas.1302078110 | Met Office Hadley Centre, Exeter EX1 3PB, United Kingdom; Walker Institute, University of Reading, Reading RG6 6AR, United Kingdom; Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Wallingford OX10 8BB, United Kingdom; Civil Engineering Department, City College of New York, New York, NY 10031, United States; School of Geography, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, United Kingdom; Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, 14473 Potsdam, Germany; International Livestock Research Institute, 00100 Nairobi, Kenya; Institute of Industrial Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo 153-8505, Japan; Center for Global Environmental Research, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba 305-8506, Japan; Civil Engineering Department, University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan; Max Planck Institute for Meteorology, 20146 Hamburg, Germany; Department of Physical Geography, Utrecht University, 3584 CS Utrecht, Netherlands; Center for Development Research, University of Bonn, 53113 Bonn, Germany; Institute for the Study of Earth, Oceans, and Space, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH 03824, United States | Dankers, R., Met Office Hadley Centre, Exeter EX1 3PB, United Kingdom; Arnell, N.W., Walker Institute, University of Reading, Reading RG6 6AR, United Kingdom; Clark, D.B., Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Wallingford OX10 8BB, United Kingdom; Falloon, P.D., Met Office Hadley Centre, Exeter EX1 3PB, United Kingdom; Fekete, B.M., Civil Engineering Department, City College of New York, New York, NY 10031, United States; Gosling, S.N., School of Geography, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, United Kingdom; Heinke, J., Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, 14473 Potsdam, Germany, International Livestock Research Institute, 00100 Nairobi, Kenya; Kim, H., Institute of Industrial Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo 153-8505, Japan; Masaki, Y., Center for Global Environmental Research, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba 305-8506, Japan; Satoh, Y., Civil Engineering Department, University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan; Stacke, T., Max Planck Institute for Meteorology, 20146 Hamburg, Germany; Wada, Y., Department of Physical Geography, Utrecht University, 3584 CS Utrecht, Netherlands; Wisser, D., Center for Development Research, University of Bonn, 53113 Bonn, Germany, Institute for the Study of Earth, Oceans, and Space, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH 03824, United States | Climate change due to anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions is expected to increase the frequency and intensity of precipitation events, which is likely to affect the probability of flooding into the future. In this paper we use river flow simulations from nine global hydrology and land surface models to explore uncertainties in the potential impacts of climate change on flood hazard at global scale. As an indicator of flood hazard we looked at changes in the 30-y return level of 5-d average peak flows under representative concentration pathway RCP8.5 at the end of this century. Not everywhere does climate change result in an increase in flood hazard: decreases in the magnitude and frequency of the 30-y return level of river flow occur at roughly one-third (20-45%) of the global land grid points, particularly in areas where the hydrograph is dominated by the snowmelt flood peak in spring. In most model experiments, however, an increase in flooding frequency was found in more than half of the grid points. The current 30-y flood peak is projected to occur in more than 1 in 5 y across 5-30% of land grid points. The large-scale patterns of change are remarkably consistent among impact models and even the driving climate models, but at local scale and in individual river basins there can be disagreement even on the sign of change, indicating large modeling uncertainty which needs to be taken into account in local adaptation studies. | Climate impacts; Extremes; River flows | snow; article; climate change; environmental impact; flooding; greenhouse gas; hazard; hydrology; model; precipitation; priority journal; river; river basin; simulation; spring; climate impacts; extremes; river flows; Climate Change; Computer Simulation; Floods; Forecasting; Hydrodynamics; Models, Theoretical; Rivers; climate impacts; extremes; river flows | None |
| WoS | WOS:000336385000012 | Animal source foods have a positive impact on the primary school test scores of Kenyan schoolchildren in a cluster-randomised, controlled feeding intervention trial | Bwibo, Nimrod O.,Drorbaugh, Natalie,Galal, Osman M.,Hulett, Judie L.,Neumann, Charlotte G.,Weiss, Robert E. | 2014 | BRITISH JOURNAL OF NUTRITION | 111 | 5 | 10.1017/S0007114513003310 | University of California Los Angeles, University of California System, University of Nairobi | "Bwibo, Nimrod O.: University of Nairobi","Drorbaugh, Natalie: University of California Los Angeles","Drorbaugh, Natalie: University of California System","Galal, Osman M.: University of California Los Angeles","Galal, Osman M.: University of California System","Hulett, Judie L.: University of California Los Angeles","Hulett, Judie L.: University of California System","Weiss, Robert E.: University of California Los Angeles","Weiss, Robert E.: University of California System", | Micronutrient deficiencies and suboptimal energy intake are widespread in rural Kenya, with detrimental effects on child growth and development. Sporadic school feeding programmes rarely include animal source foods (ASF). In the present study, a cluster-randomised feeding trial was undertaken to determine the impact of snacks containing ASF on district-wide, end-term standardised school test scores and nutrient intake. A total of twelve primary schools were randomly assigned to one of three isoenergetic feeding groups (a local plantbased stew (githeri) with meat, githeri plus whole milk or githeri with added oil) or a control group receiving no intervention feeding. After the initial term that served as baseline, children were fed at school for five consecutive terms over two school years from 1999 to 2001. Longitudinal analysis was used controlling for average energy intake, school attendance, and baseline socio-economic status, age, sex and maternal literacy. Children in the Meat group showed significantly greater improvements in test scores than those in all the other groups, and the Milk group showed significantly greater improvements in test scores than the Plain Githeri (githeri + oil) and Control groups. Compared with the Control group, the Meat group showed significant improvements in test scores in Arithmetic, English, Kiembu, Kiswahili and Geography. The Milk group showed significant improvements compared with the Control group in test scores in English, Kiswahili, Geography and Science. Folate, Fe, available Fe, energy per body weight, vitamin B-12, Zn and riboflavin intake were significant contributors to the change in test scores. The greater improvements in test scores of children receiving ASF indicate improved academic performance, which can result in greater academic achievement. | "animal source foods",KENYA,SCHOOLCHILDREN,"School test scores",ACADEMIC-PERFORMANCE,CHILD-DEVELOPMENT,COGNITIVE-DEVELOPMENT,"IMPROVE DIETARY QUALITY",IRON-DEFICIENCY,"MICRONUTRIENT DEFICIENCIES","RURAL KENYA",SUPPLEMENTATION,"VITAMIN-B12 DEFICIENCY",ZINC | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84863038121 | Investigation of factors influencing the determination of discount rate in the economic evaluation of mineral development projects | Park S.-J., Matunhire I.I. | 2011 | Journal of the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy | 111 | 11 | None | University of Pretoria, South Africa | Park, S.-J., University of Pretoria, South Africa; Matunhire, I.I., University of Pretoria, South Africa | When evaluating mining investment opportunities, one should consider the risks associated with mineral exploration and development. These are commonly classified as technical, economic, and political risks, and are accounted for in the investment decision by changing the discount rate. Thus, a company may use different discount rates associated with varying risks in order to compensate for the variability of success. The discount rate has a tremendous effect on the economic evaluation of mineral projects. Even when all other factors used as inputs for calculating the NPV (net present value) are equal, the project under consideration may be accepted or rejected depending upon the discount rate. Determining a realistic discount rate for a given project is therefore the most difficult and important aspect of cash flow analysis. It should be determined with the consideration of proper technical, economic, and political conditions surrounding the specific project undergoing economic evaluation. One key problem for determining the appropriate discount rate is that it typically depends more on subjective perception of the degree of risk or other experience factors than on a systematic approach. Thus, this study aims to identify, analyse, and document the type, role, and impact of risk factors influencing the determination of discount rates, and then to determine discount rate by using the aforementioned factors. © The Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 2011. | Discount rate; Economic evaluation; Mine development; Risk factors | Cash flow analysis; Degree of risks; Discount rates; Economic evaluation; Economic evaluations; Investment decisions; Mine development; Mineral development; Mineral projects; Mining investment; Net present value; Political conditions; Political risks; Risk factors; Investments; Mineral exploration; Mineral resources; Risk perception | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-63549102860 | Morphology, ornaments and performance in two chameleon ecomorphs: is the casque bigger than the bite? | Measey G.J., Hopkins K., Tolley K.A. | 2009 | Zoology | 112 | 3 | 10.1016/j.zool.2008.09.005 | Applied Biodiversity Research, Kirstenbosch Research Centre, South African National Biodiversity Institute, Private Bag X7, Claremont Cape Town, 7735, South Africa; Department of Biodiversity and Conservation Biology, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville, 7535, South Africa | Measey, G.J., Applied Biodiversity Research, Kirstenbosch Research Centre, South African National Biodiversity Institute, Private Bag X7, Claremont Cape Town, 7735, South Africa, Department of Biodiversity and Conservation Biology, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville, 7535, South Africa; Hopkins, K., Applied Biodiversity Research, Kirstenbosch Research Centre, South African National Biodiversity Institute, Private Bag X7, Claremont Cape Town, 7735, South Africa; Tolley, K.A., Applied Biodiversity Research, Kirstenbosch Research Centre, South African National Biodiversity Institute, Private Bag X7, Claremont Cape Town, 7735, South Africa | The evolution of ecomorphs within a species may represent either unique evolutionary events or multiple convergent events in similar environments. Functional studies of differing morphological traits of ecomorphs have been important to elucidate their role in adaptive radiations. The Cape dwarf chameleon, Bradypodion pumilum, has two ecomorphs: a large, brightly colored, ornate form found in closed habitats, and a small, dull form with reduced ornamentation found in open vegetation. The typical form is known to use casque size to communicate fighting ability, but it is unknown whether this is an honest signal and whether casque size is related to bite force. We show through a population genetic analysis that these ecomorphs are not separate genetic lineages but the result of multiple transitions between closed and open habitats. From measurements of ornamental and non-ornamental morphological characters and bite force in 105 chameleons, we find that bite force is significantly related to head size and is best predicted by head width. Bite force was reasonably predicted by casque height in ecomorphs from closed habitats, but not in those from open habitats. For size-adjusted data, open habitat males had wider heads, biting harder than closed habitat males. Our data suggest honesty in signaling for closed habitat ecomorphs, but for open habitat ecomorphs communication is different, a finding commensurate with the common framework for species radiations. © 2009 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved. | Adaptive radiation; Bite force; Bradypodion pumilum; Combat; Conspecific signaling | aggression; animal; animal behavior; article; bites and stings; body size; classification; female; histology; lizard; male; physiology; skull; Aggression; Animals; Behavior, Animal; Bites and Stings; Body Size; Female; Lizards; Male; Skull; Bradypodion pumilum; Chamaeleonidae | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84861540570 | Novel size and shape measurements applied to jig plant performance analysis | Voigt A.E., Twalat C. | 2012 | Journal of the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy | 112 | 3 | None | DebTech, De Beers Group Services (Pty) Ltd., South Africa; Kumba Iron Ore Ltd., South Africa | Voigt, A.E., DebTech, De Beers Group Services (Pty) Ltd., South Africa; Twalat, C., Kumba Iron Ore Ltd., South Africa | Iron ore samples representing the input and output of several jigging experiments were analysed to determine the effect of particle size, shape, and density on jigging performance. Traditionally, the manual measurement of the size and shape of individual particles is very tedious and prone to inaccuracies and inconsistencies. Using a novel multi-view imaging technique the 3-dimensional representations of each particle in the sample was determined. From this representation several size and shape measurements were extracted, and these were correlated with the individual particle density measurements. A rigorous investigation into the confidence associated with density and the size and shape features as a function of sample size was conducted, thus allowing the significance of correlations in the data to be determined. The jig's performance was seen to be clearly sensitive to density and markedly so to particle size, while the results for shape indicated the need for continued work in the definition of particle shape. © The Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 2012. | Density; Jig; MDS; Shape; Size | 3-dimensional representation; Individual particles; Input and outputs; MDS; Multi-views; Particle shape; Plant performance; Sample sizes; Shape; Size; Size and shape; Density (specific gravity); Imaging techniques; Iron ores; Jigs; Particle size | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84879632237 | The performance of nanogenerators fabricated on rigid and flexible substrates | Van Den Heever T.S., Perold W.J. | 2013 | Microelectronic Engineering | 112 | None | 10.1016/j.mee.2013.05.020 | Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, Western Cape 7601, South Africa | Van Den Heever, T.S., Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, Western Cape 7601, South Africa; Perold, W.J., Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, Western Cape 7601, South Africa | The manufacturing process of a zinc oxide piezoelectric nanogenerator is discussed in detail. The manufacturing of the nanogenerator on solid and flexible substrate is discussed. It is shown that the choice of substrate greatly affects the output voltage of the nanogenerator. Two main reasons for the difference in output voltage of the different nanogenerators are the method in which the nanowires are bent and the contact resistance between the nanowires and the gold electrode. The influence of these two aspects on the output voltage is discussed and the theory is shown to correctly predict the outcome. © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. | Kapton; Nanogenerator; Nanowires; Si | Flexible substrate; Gold electrodes; Kapton; Manufacturing process; Nanogenerator; Output voltages; Piezoelectric nanogenerator; Rigid and flexible substrates; Nanotechnology; Nanowires; Silicon; Substrates | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79551621405 | Rainfall rate probability density evaluation and mapping for the estimation of rain attenuation in South Africa and surrounding islands | Owolawi P.A. | 2011 | Progress in Electromagnetics Research | 112 | None | None | Department of Electrical Engineering, Mangosuthu University of Technology, Umlazi, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | Owolawi, P.A., Department of Electrical Engineering, Mangosuthu University of Technology, Umlazi, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | The paper describes the modelling of the average rainfall rate distribution measured at different locations in South Africa. There are three major aspects this paper addresses: to develop a rainfall rate model based on the maximum likelihood method (ML); to develop contour maps based on rainfall rate at 0:01% percentage of exceedence; and re-classification of the ITU-R and Crane rain zones for the Southern Africa region. The work presented is based on five- minute rainfall data converted to one-minute equivalent using a newly proposed hybrid method. The results are mapped and compared with conventional models such as the ITU-R model, Rice-Holmberg, Moupfouma and Crane models. The proposed rainfall rate models are compared and evaluated using root mean square and chi-square (χ2) statistics. Then re-classification of the rain zone using ITU-R and Crane designations is suggested for easy integration with existing radio planning tools. The rainfall rate contour maps at 0:01% percentage of exceedence are then developed for South Africa and its surrounding islands. | None | Contour map; Conventional models; Hybrid method; ITU-R model; Maximum likelihood methods; Probability densities; Radio Planning; Rain attenuation; Rain zone; Rainfall data; Rainfall rates; Root Mean Square; South Africa; Cranes; Maximum likelihood estimation; Probability; Probability density function; Rain | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-34548587813 | Impacts of land use/cover classification accuracy on regional climate simulations | Ge J., Qi J., Lofgren B.M., Moore N., Torbick N., Olson J.M. | 2007 | Journal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres | 112 | 5 | 10.1029/2006JD007404 | Department of Geography, Center for Global Change and Earth Observations, Michigan State University, 116 Geography Building, East Lansing, MI 48824-1115, United States; NOAA, Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory, 2205 Commonwealth Boulevard, Ann Arbor, MI 48105-2945, United States; Department of Geography, Michigan State University, 116 Geography Building, East Lansing, MI 48824-1115, United States; International Livestock Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya | Ge, J., Department of Geography, Center for Global Change and Earth Observations, Michigan State University, 116 Geography Building, East Lansing, MI 48824-1115, United States; Qi, J., Department of Geography, Center for Global Change and Earth Observations, Michigan State University, 116 Geography Building, East Lansing, MI 48824-1115, United States; Lofgren, B.M., NOAA, Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory, 2205 Commonwealth Boulevard, Ann Arbor, MI 48105-2945, United States; Moore, N., Department of Geography, Center for Global Change and Earth Observations, Michigan State University, 116 Geography Building, East Lansing, MI 48824-1115, United States; Torbick, N., Department of Geography, Center for Global Change and Earth Observations, Michigan State University, 116 Geography Building, East Lansing, MI 48824-1115, United States; Olson, J.M., Department of Geography, Michigan State University, 116 Geography Building, East Lansing, MI 48824-1115, United States, International Livestock Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya | Land use/cover change has been recognized as a key component in global change. Various land cover data sets, including historically reconstructed, recently observed, and future projected, have been used in numerous climate modeling studies at regional to global scales. However, little attention has been paid to the effect of land cover classification accuracy on climate simulations, though accuracy assessment has become a routine procedure in land cover production community. In this study, we analyzed the behavior of simulated precipitation in the Regional Atmospheric Modeling System (RAMS) over a range of simulated classification accuracies over a 3 month period. This study found that land cover accuracy under 80% had a strong effect on precipitation especially when the land surface had a greater control of the atmosphere. This effect became stronger as the accuracy decreased. As shown in three follow-on experiments, the effect was further influenced by model parameterizations such as convection schemes and interior nudging, which can mitigate the strength of surface boundary forcings. In reality, land cover accuracy rarely obtains the commonly recommended 85% target. Its effect on climate simulations should therefore be considered, especially when historically reconstructed and future projected land covers are employed. Copyright 2007 by the American Geophysical Union. | None | Climate change; Climatology; Computer simulation; Land use; Mathematical models; Precipitation (meteorology); Weather forecasting; climate change; climate modeling; land cover; land use change | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84873634126 | Effects of particle morphology of ZnO buffer layer on the performance of organic solar cell devices | Mbule P.S., Kim T.H., Kim B.S., Swart H.C., Ntwaeaborwa O.M. | 2013 | Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells | 112 | None | 10.1016/j.solmat.2013.01.010 | Department of Physics, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein ZA9300, South Africa; Photo-electronic Hybrids Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 136-791, South Korea | Mbule, P.S., Department of Physics, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein ZA9300, South Africa; Kim, T.H., Photo-electronic Hybrids Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 136-791, South Korea; Kim, B.S., Photo-electronic Hybrids Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 136-791, South Korea; Swart, H.C., Department of Physics, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein ZA9300, South Africa; Ntwaeaborwa, O.M., Department of Physics, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein ZA9300, South Africa | The performance of poly(3-hexyltheopene):[6,6]-phenyl C61-butyric acid methyl ester or P3HT:PCBM based organic solar cell (OSC) devices can be improved by adding an electron extraction layer of a wide band gap semiconducting material such as ZnO or TiO2 that facilitates the electron transport from the photo-active layer (P3HT:PCBM blend) to the top metal electrode (e.g. Al) and, at the same time, blocks holes from reaching the top electrode. Other factors that determine performance of the OSC devices include morphology, thickness and donor-acceptor ratio. In this study we investigated the effects of concentration and particle morphology (nanoparticle versus nanoflake) of ZnO electron extraction layer on the performance of the OSC devices with configuration ITO/PEDOT:PSS/P3HT:PCBM/ ZnO/Al. The concentration of ZnO nanoparticle or nanoflake solutions was varied from 0.5 to 20 mg/ml. A power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 3.08% was recorded from devices incorporating ZnO nanoflake electron extraction layer, whereas PCE of 2.37% was recorded from devices with ZnO nanoparticles as the electron extraction layer. The maximum PCE was obtained from a concentration of 0.5 mg/ml ZnO for both devices. The influence of the particle morphology and the concentration of the ZnO electron extraction layer on the general performance of the OSC devices is discussed in detail. © 2013 Elsevier B.V. | P3HT:PCBM; Photoactive; Photovoltaic; ZnO nanoparticles/nanoflakes | Donor-acceptors; Electron extraction; Electron transport; Metal electrodes; Methyl esters; Organic solar cell; P3HT:PCBM; Particle morphologies; Photoactive; Photovoltaic; Power conversion efficiencies; Semiconducting materials; TiO; Wide band gap; ZnO; ZnO buffer layer; ZnO nanoparticles; Conversion efficiency; Electrons; Extraction; Metal nanoparticles; Morphology; Solar cells; Titanium dioxide; Zinc oxide | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84875885130 | The performance of centrifugal pumps when pumping ultra-viscous paste slurries | Crawford J., Van Sittert F., Van Der Walt M. | 2012 | Journal of the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy | 112 | 11 | None | FLSmidth Krebs, United States; Paterson and Cooke Consulting Engineering, South Africa | Crawford, J., FLSmidth Krebs, United States; Van Sittert, F., Paterson and Cooke Consulting Engineering, South Africa; Van Der Walt, M., Paterson and Cooke Consulting Engineering, South Africa | Significant advances have been made in the design of centrifugal slurry pumps that are used for pumping high-density viscous and paste slurries. This paper presents the results of a series of centrifugal pump performance tests that were conducted using an FLSmidth 6 x 4 Krebs millMAX centrifugal pump. The pump was fitted with a dry mechanical seal to prevent dilution of the slurry from gland service water, as the rheology of the slurry is sensitive to small changes in slurry density. Tests were done using paste kaolin slurry with Bingham yield stress values between 578-1 120 Pa and plastic viscosities between 728 and 1 491 mPa.s. The viscous properties of the paste during each pump test were measured using a rotational viscometer. Pump head and efficiency de-rating were measured and compared to the correlations of Walker and Goulas (1984). The test data shows the pump's best-efficiency point (BEP) changes and shifts to the left of the performance curve. The pump efficiency decreases as the slurry yield stress increases. The head de-rating data shows more head de-rating at the low flow rates compared to the high flow rates for the high viscosity slurry, which is in line with the findings of Walker and Goulas (1984). This paper demonstrates that it is possible to pump very viscous, high yield stress slurries with limited head and efficiency de-rating using centrifugal pumps, provided that positive suction conditions are maintained at all times. © The Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 2012. | Centrifugal pumps; Pumping efficiency; Viscous slurry | Bingham yield stress; Centrifugal slurry pumps; High viscosities; Performance curve; Plastic viscosity; Pumping efficiency; Rotational viscometer; Viscous properties; Centrifugal pumps; Efficiency; Flow rate; Pumps; Rating; Seals; Yield stress; Slurries | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-32544437153 | Comparison of phenotypic and molecular distances to predict heterosis and F1 performance in Ethiopian mustard (Brassica carinata A. Braun) | Teklewold A., Becker H.C. | 2006 | Theoretical and Applied Genetics | 112 | 4 | 10.1007/s00122-005-0180-3 | Holetta Research Centre, Ethiopian Agricultural Research Organization, 2003, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Institute of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Georg-August University, Von-Siebold Str-8, 37075 Gottingen, Germany | Teklewold, A., Holetta Research Centre, Ethiopian Agricultural Research Organization, 2003, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Institute of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Georg-August University, Von-Siebold Str-8, 37075 Gottingen, Germany; Becker, H.C., Institute of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Georg-August University, Von-Siebold Str-8, 37075 Gottingen, Germany | Predicting heterosis and F1 performance from the parental generation could largely enhance the efficiency of breeding hybrid or synthetic cultivars. This study was undertaken to determine the relationship between parental distances estimated from phenotypic traits or molecular markers with heterosis, F1 performance and general combining ability (GCA) in Ethiopian mustard (Brassica carinata). Nine inbred lines representing seven different geographic regions of Ethiopia were crossed in half-diallel. The nine parents along with their 36 F1s were evaluated in a replicated field trail at three locations in Ethiopia. Distances among the parents were calculated from 14 phenotypic traits (Euclidean distance, ED) and 182 random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers (Jaccard's distances, JD), and correlated with heterosis, F1 performance and GCA sum of parents (GCAsum). The correlation between phenotypic and molecular distances was low (r = 0.34, P ≤ 0.05). Parents with low molecular distance also had low phenotypic distance, but parents with high molecular distance had either high, intermediate or low phenotypic distance. Phenotypic distance was highly significantly correlated with mid-parent heterosis (r = 0.53), F1 performance (r = 0.61) and GCA (r = 0.79) for seed yield. Phenotypic distance was also positively correlated with (1) heterosis, F1 performance and GCA for plant height and seeds plant-1, (2) heterosis for number of pods plant-1, and (3) F1 performance for 1,000 seed weight. Molecular distance was correlated with GCAsum (r = 0.36, P ≤ 0.05) but not significantly with heterosis and F1 performance for seed yield. For each parent a mean distance was calculated by averaging the distances to the eight other parents. Likewise, mean heterosis was estimated by averaging the heterosis obtained when each parent is crossed with the other eight. For seed yield, both mean ED and JD were significantly correlated with GCA (r = 0.90, P ≤ 0.01 for ED and r = 0.68, P ≤ 0.05 for JD) and mean heterosis (r = 0.79, P ≤ 0.05 for ED and r = 0.77, P ≤ 0.05 for JD). In conclusion, parental distances estimated from phenotypic traits better predicted heterosis, F1 performance and GCA than distances estimated from RAPD markers. © Springer-Verlag 2005. | None | Distance measurement; Genetic engineering; General combining ability (GCA); Molecular distances; Phenotypic distance; Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD); Crops; article; Brassica; comparative study; cross breeding; genetic marker; genetics; growth, development and aging; heterosis; phenotype; phylogeny; quantitative trait; random amplified polymorphic DNA; Brassica; Crosses, Genetic; Genetic Markers; Hybrid Vigor; Phenotype; Phylogeny; Quantitative Trait, Heritable; Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA Technique; Farm Crops; Genetic Engineering; Heterosis; Nucleic Acids; Phenotypes; Seeds; Brassica; Brassica carinata | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84925106285 | Impact of metagenomic DNA extraction procedures on the identifiable endophytic bacterial diversity in Sorghum bicolor (L. Moench) | Maropola M.K.A., Ramond J.-B., Trindade M. | 2015 | Journal of Microbiological Methods | 112 | None | 10.1016/j.mimet.2015.03.012 | Institute for Microbial Biotechnology and Metagenomics (IMBM), Biotechnology Department, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, Cape Town, South Africa; Center for Microbial Ecology and Genomics (CMEG), Genomics Research Institute, University of Pretoria, South Africa | Maropola, M.K.A., Institute for Microbial Biotechnology and Metagenomics (IMBM), Biotechnology Department, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, Cape Town, South Africa; Ramond, J.-B., Institute for Microbial Biotechnology and Metagenomics (IMBM), Biotechnology Department, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, Cape Town, South Africa, Center for Microbial Ecology and Genomics (CMEG), Genomics Research Institute, University of Pretoria, South Africa; Trindade, M., Institute for Microbial Biotechnology and Metagenomics (IMBM), Biotechnology Department, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, Cape Town, South Africa | Culture-independent studies rely on the quantity and quality of the extracted environmental metagenomic DNA (mDNA). To fully access the plant tissue microbiome, the extracted plant mDNA should allow optimal PCR applications and the genetic content must be representative of the total microbial diversity. In this study, we evaluated the endophytic bacterial diversity retrieved using different mDNA extraction procedures. Metagenomic DNA from sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) stem and root tissues were extracted using two classical DNA extraction protocols (CTAB- and SDS-based) and five commercial kits. The mDNA yields and quality as well as the reproducibility were compared. 16S rRNA gene terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (t-RFLP) was used to assess the impact on endophytic bacterial community structures observed. Generally, the classical protocols obtained high mDNA yields from sorghum tissues; however, they were less reproducible than the commercial kits. Commercial kits retrieved higher quality mDNA, but with lower endophytic bacterial diversities compared to classical protocols. The SDS-based protocol enabled access to the highest sorghum endophytic diversities. Therefore, "SDS-extracted" sorghum root and stem microbiome diversities were analysed via 454 pyrosequencing, and this revealed that the two tissues harbour significantly different endophytic communities. Nevertheless, both communities are dominated by agriculturally important genera such as Microbacterium, Agrobacterium, Sphingobacterium, Herbaspirillum, Erwinia, Pseudomonas and Stenotrophomonas; which have previously been shown to play a role in plant growth promotion. This study shows that DNA extraction protocols introduce biases in culture-independent studies of environmental microbial communities by influencing the mDNA quality, which impacts the microbial diversity analyses and evaluation. Using the broad-spectrum SDS-based DNA extraction protocol allows the recovery of the most diverse endophytic communities associated with sorghum tissues and, as such, establishes a reliable basis for future study of endophytic communities. © 2015 Elsevier B.V. | Endophytic bacteria; Metagenomic DNA extraction; Pyrosequencing; Sorghum root and stem; T-RFLP | cetrimide; DNA; dodecyl sulfate sodium; metagenomic DNA; RNA 16S; unclassified drug; bacterial DNA; DNA; ribosome DNA; RNA 16S; Agrobacterium; Article; Bacteria; bacterium culture; community structure; controlled study; DNA extraction; endophyte; endophytic bacterium; Erwinia; Herbaspirillum; intermethod comparison; metagenomics; Microbacterium; microbial community; microbial diversity; microbiome; nonhuman; plant growth; plant root; plant stem; plant tissue; polymerase chain reaction; priority journal; Pseudomonas; pyrosequencing; quality control; reliability; reproducibility; restriction fragment length polymorphism; sorghum; Sphingobacterium; Stenotrophomonas; bacterium; biodiversity; chemistry; classification; comparative study; DNA sequence; evaluation study; genetics; isolation and purification; microbiology; procedures; RNA gene; sorghum; Agrobacterium; Bacteria (microorganisms); Erwinia; Herbaspirillum; Microbacterium; Pseudomonas; Sorghum bicolor; Sphingobacterium; Stenotrophomonas; Bacteria; Biodiversity; DNA; DNA, Bacterial; DNA, Ribosomal; Endophytes; Genes, rRNA; Metagenomics; Plant Roots; Plant Stems; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; Reproducibility of Results; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Sorghum | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84861540568 | Evaluation of the batch press as a laboratory tool to simulate medium-pressure roller crushers | Van Schoor J.C.R., Sandenbergh R.F. | 2012 | Journal of the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy | 112 | 3 | None | Kumba Iron Ore, South Africa; Department of Materials Science and Metallurgical Engineering, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa | Van Schoor, J.C.R., Kumba Iron Ore, South Africa; Sandenbergh, R.F., Department of Materials Science and Metallurgical Engineering, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa | In this study the applicability of a batch press to predict the energy consumption and particle size distributions for medium-pressure roller presses was investigated. The relationships between energy consumption, feed size and product size are discussed with reference to Hukki's interpretation of Bond's and Rittinger's laws, as well as the particle size parameter used. It was found that the comminution laws have limited utility for the characterization of the performance of the medium-pressure roller crushers or the batch press used, and also depend on the particle size distribution indicator used. It was also found that the batch press is not a suitable simulator for medium-pressure roller mills as it was not able to predict the energy requirements, or to predict the size distributions that would be obtained for the ores evaluated. © The Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 2012. | Batch press; Comminution; Crushing; Roller crushers; Simulation | Energy requirements; Product sizes; Roller mills; Roller press; Simulation; Size parameters; Comminution; Crushers; Crushing; Electric load forecasting; Energy utilization; Forecasting; Grinding (comminution); Particle size analysis; Size distribution; Presses (machine tools) | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84861541746 | Performance improvements provided by Mintek's FloatStar™ advanced control system on reverse flotation of iron ore | Knights B.D.H., Satyro J.C., Dias R.A., De Araújo Freitas A.C. | 2012 | Journal of the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy | 112 | 3 | None | Mintek, Measurement and Control Division, South Africa; Vale Cauê, Brazil; Tecnologia de Sistemas de Automação, Brazil | Knights, B.D.H., Mintek, Measurement and Control Division, South Africa; Satyro, J.C., Vale Cauê, Brazil; Dias, R.A., Vale Cauê, Brazil; De Araújo Freitas, A.C., Tecnologia de Sistemas de Automação, Brazil | In November 2009 Mintek installed the FloatStar™ advanced flotation stabilization system on Vale's Cauê iron ore beneficiation plant in Brazil. In September 2010 the system was upgraded to include flotation optimization. The circuit consisted of two parallel cleaner circuits producing final concentrate. The tailings from the cleaner section passed through a scavenger circuit. Large, well-instrumented feed sumps played an important role in circuit stability, presenting a good opportunity for advanced control. Previously the plant was controlled using distributed control system (DCS) level control only. The flotation circuit processes roughly 30kt/day. The FloatStar system provided advanced control of the flotation circuit as well as of the sumps feeding the circuit. The system underwent a lengthy trial to assess the benefit that it provided. Two data sets were analysed, showing performance under advanced stabilization and optimization respectively. Several validation and consistency criteria were employed to ensure the quality of the analysis. Iron recovery and iron tailings grade were used to measure system performance. The analysis showed that the system increased recovery by up to 2.7%. In addition, the system decreased the iron tailings grade by between 1.2% (from 23.5% to 22.3%) and 4.3% (from 31.3% to 27.0%) during different test campaigns. The analysis also showed that the entire FloatStar stabilization system was active for 72.7% of the time from first activation to the end of the first data set (approximately 200 days). From the analysis it was concluded that under similar conditions for 'ON' and 'OFF' tests, the system provides a clear benefit. It was also found that over the longer term, the system continues to provide a benefit. This finding suggests that the results were not simply due to a short-term advantage. The size of the data set, as well as the magnitude of the recovery improvements, lends considerable confidence to these results. Therefore, it can be concluded that the FloatStar control system provides substantial benefit to operations at this site. © The Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 2012. | Advanced process control; FloatStar; Iron ore; Reverse flotation | Advanced control; Advanced control systems; Advanced flotation; Advanced Process Control; Beneficiation plants; Circuit stability; Consistency criteria; Data sets; FloatStar; Flotation circuits; Iron recovery; Iron tailings; Performance improvements; Reverse flotation; Stabilization systems; Test campaign; Activation analysis; Distributed parameter networks; Flotation; Intelligent control; Iron ores; Optimization; Stabilization; Quality control | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-67650786252 | Pseudotachylitic breccia and microfracture networks in archean gneiss of the central uplift of the Vredefort Impact Structure, South Africa | Mohr-Westheide T., Reimold W.U., Riller U., Gibson R.L. | 2009 | South African Journal of Geology | 112 | 1 | 10.2113/gssajg.112.1.1 | Museum für Naturkunde, Leibniz Institute at Humboldt University Berlin, Invalidenstrasse 43, 10115 Berlin, Germany; School of Geography and Earth Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada, Germany; Impact Cratering Research Group, School of Geosciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, P.O. Wits 2050, Johannesburg, South Africa | Mohr-Westheide, T., Museum für Naturkunde, Leibniz Institute at Humboldt University Berlin, Invalidenstrasse 43, 10115 Berlin, Germany; Reimold, W.U., Museum für Naturkunde, Leibniz Institute at Humboldt University Berlin, Invalidenstrasse 43, 10115 Berlin, Germany; Riller, U., School of Geography and Earth Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada, Germany; Gibson, R.L., Impact Cratering Research Group, School of Geosciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, P.O. Wits 2050, Johannesburg, South Africa | Since 1916 the Vredefort Dome, the erosional remnant of the central uplift of the Vredefort Impact Structure, has been known as the type locality for what has been known as "pseudotachylite", which can be investigated in this structure at various scales and in a range of different host lithologies. Pseudotachylite sensu stricto is generally regarded as the product of friction melting. The formation of such (or similar) melt breccias in impact structures - known as "pseudotachylitic breccias" - is highly controversial and has been ascribed alternatively to impact (shock compression) melting, friction melting, decompression melting, or various combinations of these processes. In order to contribute to the understanding of the processes that affect the target rock and result in the formation of central uplifts, in general, it is necessary to characterize the impact deformed rocks of the target as well as the impact-generated lithologies. The structures apparent in the rocks of the Vredefort Dome constitute relative time indicators for different stages of deformation during the impact event. Structural analysis of pseudotachylitic breccias and microfractures on a polished 3 × 1.5 m granite slab from a dimension stone quarry in the core of the Vredefort Dome, as well as orientation statistics for microfractures and pseudotachylitic breccias in a quarry in the northern part of the Vredefort Dome, form the basis for this investigation. Two microfracture systems are apparent in the granite slab. Fractures of an older system either cross-cut pseudotachylitic breccia or terminate against it, seemingly depending on different cooling times of melt veins of different thickness. This first-formed fracture system is found mostly in the wall rocks to the breccia veins and in their fragments, whereas a younger fracture system cross-cuts the pseudotachylitic breccias and the host rock. Unravelling the development of individual structural deformation features indicates that the various cross-cutting relationships between pseudotachylitic breccias and two generations of microfractures resulted from a sequence of four processes involving both deformation of the target rock and melt emplacement into the deformed host rock. The first microfracture generation was formed either pre-or syn-impact, pseudotachylitic breccia is syn-impact, and the second microfracture generation is either late-impact or post-impact in age. © 2009 March Geological Society of South Africa. | None | Archean; breccia; deformation; dome; fracture; fracture propagation; gneiss; granite; lithology; melting; pseudotachylite; slab; structural analysis; uplift; vein (geology) | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84858263082 | Beneficial loading configurations to increase sugarcane haulage vehicle performance | Bezuidenhout C.N. | 2010 | International Sugar Journal | 112 | 1342 | None | School of Bioresources Engineering and Environmental Hydrology, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag x01, Scottsville, 3209, South Africa | Bezuidenhout, C.N., School of Bioresources Engineering and Environmental Hydrology, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag x01, Scottsville, 3209, South Africa | Transport remains one of the main cost components in the sugarcane supply chain. A wide range of sugarcane vehicles have been designed while considering various factors, such as cane density, safety, economics and the law. Payload remains one of the most important design criteria. Although on-board weighing technologies can result in significant benefits, these technologies are not always appropriate. Payload management without these technologies remain challenging because sugarcane densities can vary significantly based on variety, yield, recent growing conditions, lodging and the amount of trash included. The aim of this research was to assess factors that contribute to incorrect payloads and to produce simple guidelines for loader operators. Two common vehicles were analysed with respect to their design densities and axle loadings. It is concluded that some vehicles pose a greater risk of being over- or under-loaded. Also, an uneven loading profile results in a more even axle load distribution, compared to flat bed loading. This emphasises the need to provide sufficient training to drivers and loading operators. It also demands that vehicle operators need to fully understand their vehicles' specifications and limitations and to manage them accordingly. | Efficiency; Loading profile; Payload; Sugarcane; Transport | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33744993216 | High-performance liquid chromatography profiling of the major carotenoids in Arabidopsis thaliana leaf tissue | Taylor K.L., Brackenridge A.E., Vivier M.A., Oberholster A. | 2006 | Journal of Chromatography A | 1121 | 1 | 10.1016/j.chroma.2006.04.033 | Institute for Wine Biotechnology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, 7600, South Africa; Department of Viticulture and Oenology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, 7600, South Africa | Taylor, K.L., Institute for Wine Biotechnology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, 7600, South Africa; Brackenridge, A.E., Institute for Wine Biotechnology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, 7600, South Africa; Vivier, M.A., Institute for Wine Biotechnology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, 7600, South Africa, Department of Viticulture and Oenology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, 7600, South Africa; Oberholster, A., Department of Viticulture and Oenology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, 7600, South Africa | Carotenoids are extremely sensitive to a variety of physico-chemical attacks which may have a profound effect on their characteristic properties, thereby influencing the accurate identification and quantification of individual compounds. In this light, a comprehensive summary of the pitfalls encountered and precautions to be administered during handling and storage of authentic standards and samples was found to be incomplete. Furthermore, acceptable baseline separation of trans-lutein from trans-zeaxanthin and between the cis- and trans-forms of neoxanthin and violaxanthin has not been satisfactorily demonstrated. Hence the most optimal sample preparation and analytical steps were determined and a sensitive and reproducible method for the quantitative HPLC profiling of the principal carotenoids found in plant leaf tissue was developed. A reverse-phase C30 column with a binary mobile solvent system was used for the baseline separation of eight of the major carotenoids and the two chlorophylls (a and b) within 18 min. These compounds were identified via the use of authentic standards, their spectral characteristics and HPLC-atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI)-mass spectrometry (MS) confirmation. This method has been successfully applied for the quantification of plant pigments in Arabidopsis thaliana wild-type (WT) leaf tissue and in two A. thaliana non-photochemical mutants, namely npq1 and npq2. These mutants have previously been well-characterised and provided valuable reference data as well as acting as internal controls for the assessment of our new method. © 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. | Arabidopsis; Authentic standards; C30; Carotenoids; HPLC; Plants; Quantification | Photochemical reactions; Physical chemistry; Pigments; Plants (botany); Separation; Tissue; Arabidopsis; Authentic standards; C<sub>30</sub>; Carotenoids; HPLC; Quantification; Liquid chromatography; carotenoid; chlorophyll; Arabidopsis; article; high performance liquid chromatography; mass spectrometry; plant leaf; priority journal; tissue; wild type; Arabidopsis; Carotenoids; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Mass Spectrometry; Plant Leaves; Reference Standards; Reproducibility of Results; Sensitivity and Specificity; Arabidopsis thaliana | None |
| None | None | Impact of Presbyopia on Quality of Life in a Rural African Setting | Patel I., Munoz B., Burke A.G., Kayongoya A., Mchiwa W., Schwarzwalder A.W., West S.K. | 2006 | Ophthalmology | 113 | 5 | 10.1016/j.ophtha.2006.01.028 | Dana Center for Preventive Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States; Kongwa Trachoma Project, Kongwa, Tanzania | Patel, I., Dana Center for Preventive Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States; Munoz, B., Dana Center for Preventive Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States; Burke, A.G., Dana Center for Preventive Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States; Kayongoya, A., Kongwa Trachoma Project, Kongwa, Tanzania; Mchiwa, W., Kongwa Trachoma Project, Kongwa, Tanzania; Schwarzwalder, A.W., Dana Center for Preventive Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States; West, S.K., Dana Center for Preventive Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States | Purpose: To determine the impact of uncorrected presbyopia on quality of life in rural Tanzania. Design: Cross-sectional study. Participants: Population-based sample of 1709 village and town-dwelling adults aged 40 and older in the Kongwa district in rural Tanzania. Methods: Subjects underwent distance and near visual acuity testing to determine presbyopia. A near vision-related quality of life questionnaire was administered by trained interviewers to determine the degree of self-rated difficulty with tasks appropriate to life in a rural African setting, and how much near vision loss contributed to this difficulty. Main Outcome Measures: Near vision-related quality of life. Results: Complete data were available for 1564 (92%) of the subjects. The prevalence rate of presbyopia was 62%. The majority of presbyopes (94%) did not have corrective near vision glasses. Compared with nonpresbyopes, being presbyopic increased the odds of reporting some difficulty with near vision tasks by 2-fold (odds ratio [OR], 2.04; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.57-2.66), odds of reporting moderate difficulty by 5-fold (OR 5.01; 95% CI: 3.19-7.89), and odds of reporting high difficulty by >8-fold (OR 8.52; 95% CI 3.13-23.10). The degree of presbyopia was associated with increasing difficulty with daily tasks (P<0.0001). Conclusions: This is the first study to demonstrate that uncorrected presbyopia has a significant impact on vision-related quality of life in a rural African setting. The high prevalence of presbyopia, and increased aging of the population in developing countries, suggests that the World Health Organization's Vision 2020 refraction agenda should place greater emphasis on presbyopia. © 2006 American Academy of Ophthalmology. | None | adult; aged; article; confidence interval; controlled study; data analysis; female; human; major clinical study; male; population research; presbyopia; prevalence; priority journal; quality of life; questionnaire; Tanzania; visual acuity; cross-sectional study; daily life activity; health survey; middle aged; pathophysiology; presbyopia; risk; rural population; spectacles; statistics; Tanzania; vision test; Activities of Daily Living; Adult; Aged; Cross-Sectional Studies; Eyeglasses; Female; Health Status Indicators; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Odds Ratio; Presbyopia; Prevalence; Quality of Life; Questionnaires; Rural Population; Tanzania; Vision Tests; Visual Acuity | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33846028242 | In vitro fermentation studies for selection and evaluation of Bacillus strains as starter cultures for the production of okpehe, a traditional African fermented condiment | Oguntoyinbo F.A., Sanni A.I., Franz C.M.A.P., Holzapfel W.H. | 2007 | International Journal of Food Microbiology | 113 | 2 | 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2006.07.006 | Department of Botany and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos, Nigeria; Department of Botany and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, University of Ibadan, Nigeria; Federal Research Centre for Nutrition and Food, Institute for | Oguntoyinbo, F.A., Department of Botany and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos, Nigeria, Federal Research Centre for Nutrition and Food, Institute for Hygiene and Toxicology, Haid-und-Neu-Strasse 9, D-76131 Karlsruhe, Germany; Sanni, A.I., Department of Botany and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, University of Ibadan, Nigeria; Franz, C.M.A.P., Federal Research Centre for Nutrition and Food, Institute for Hygiene and Toxicology, Haid-und-Neu-Strasse 9, D-76131 Karlsruhe, Germany; Holzapfel, W.H., Federal Research Centre for Nutrition and Food, Institute for Hygiene and Toxicology, Haid-und-Neu-Strasse 9, D-76131 Karlsruhe, Germany | Selected Bacillus and Enterococcus strains, isolated from traditional okpehe fermentations, were studied for their suitability as starter cultures in laboratory-scale fermentations of Prosopis africana seeds for the production of okpehe, a traditional fermented vegetable product of Nigeria. The strains were selected on the basis of highest proteolytic activity, as determined with the APIZYM (BioMerieux) test. The choice of starter strains was narrowed to Bacillus subtilis strains BFE 5301 and BFE 5372. These were determined as the best starter combination because of rapid growth, high amylolytic and proteolytic activities, high levels of polyglutamic acid production by strain BFE 5372, as well as bacteriocin production by strain BFE 5301. Other mixed culture fermentations did not yield sensorically acceptable products. Although a monoculture fermentation, using only B. subtilis strain BFE 5372, produced okpehe with very good sensory characteristics, the growth of B. cereus could be detected after 48 h fermentation, indicating that this starter did not sufficiently contribute to product safety. Mixed culture fermentation with the combination of bacteriocin-producing starter B. subtilis BFE 5301 and the non-bacteriocin-producing B. subtilis BFE 5372, produced a product with good sensory characteristics, in which growth of B. cereus was delayed. The bacteriocin produced by B. subtilis strain BFE 5301 was identified as subtilisin, using subtilisin-specific primers and PCR amplification of the subtilisin gene. The bacteriocin was heat-stable at 100 °C for 10 min and exhibited highest activity at pH values lower or equal to pH 6.0. The bacteriocin was sensitive to the proteolytic enzymes trypsin and α-chymotrypsin at concentrations of 10 mg/ml. © 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. | Bacillus subtilis; Fermentation; Okpehe; Starters; Subtilisin | bacteriocin; polyglutamic acid; subtilisin; article; Bacillus; Bacillus cereus; Bacillus subtilis; bacterial strain; Enterococcus; fermentation; fermented product; monoculture; nonhuman; polymerase chain reaction; Prosopis; protein degradation; starter culture; vegetable; Bacillus subtilis; Enterococcus; Fermentation; Food Handling; Food Microbiology; Heat; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Nigeria; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Subtilisin; Time Factors; Vegetables; Bacillus cereus; Bacillus subtilis; Enterococcus; Prosopis africana | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84876371789 | Evaluation of oxine-type ligand coordination to zirconium (IV) | Steyn M., Visser H.G., Roodt A. | 2013 | Journal of the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy | 113 | 2 | None | Department of Chemistry, University of Free State, South Africa | Steyn, M., Department of Chemistry, University of Free State, South Africa; Visser, H.G., Department of Chemistry, University of Free State, South Africa; Roodt, A., Department of Chemistry, University of Free State, South Africa | [Zr(C9H6NO)4]·(HCON(CH 3)2)·(H2O), where (C9H 6NO) = 8-hydroxy quinoline (oxH), was synthesized and characterized. This tetrakiscoordinated zirconium complex crystallized in the triclinic crystal system (Pi, Z=2) along with water and N,N'-dimethylformamide (DMF) solvate in the asymmetric unit. The metal atom is surrounded by four N,O-donating bidentate ox-ligands that are arranged around the metal centre to give a square antiprismatic coordination polyhedron with a small distortion towards a dodecahedral geometry. Crystal packing is stabilized by intermolecular interactions of adjacent oxine ring systems in neighbouring molecules, as well as hydrogen bonding of the aqua and DMF solvate molecules, linking the molecular entities into a supramolecular three-dimensional network. © The Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 2013. | Quinolinato; Tetrakis coordination; Zirconium | Coordination polyhedra; Intermolecular interactions; Ligand coordination; Molecular entities; Quinolinato; Tetrakis; Three-dimensional networks; Zirconium complexes; Complex networks; Hydrogen bonds; Ligands; Molecules; Organic solvents; Zirconium; Zirconium compounds | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-34548397092 | In vitro and in vivo evaluation of the antitrypanosomal activity of fractions of Holarrhena africana | Nwodo N.J., Brun R., Osadebe P.O. | 2007 | Journal of Ethnopharmacology | 113 | 3 | 10.1016/j.jep.2007.07.018 | Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria; Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical Institute, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland | Nwodo, N.J., Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria; Brun, R., Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical Institute, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland; Osadebe, P.O., Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria | The aqueous extract of young leaves of Holarrhena africana, a plant used in the Nigerian traditional medicine, exhibited good activity against Trypanosoma brucei spp. The extract was fractionated and eight fractions were obtained. One fraction designated as HaF5 showed in vitro activity against Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense with an IC50 value of 0.785 μg/mg and no overt cytotoxicity against L-6 cells. Fraction HaF5 was tested in vivo at two doses and found to exhibit in vivo efficacy in Trypanosoma brucei brucei infected mice leading to a complete disappearance of parasitaemia followed by a relapse. © 2007 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. | Fractionation; Holarrhena africana; In vitro and in vivo activity; Trypanosoma brucei spp. | antitrypanosomal agent; holarrhena africana extract; plant extract; unclassified drug; animal cell; animal experiment; animal model; article; controlled study; cytotoxicity; drug screening; female; fractionation; Holarrhena; IC 50; male; mouse; nonhuman; parasitemia; rat; relapse; traditional medicine; Trypanosoma brucei; Trypanosoma rhodesiense; trypanosomiasis; Animals; Cell Line; Cell Survival; Female; Holarrhena; Male; Medicine, African Traditional; Mice; Nigeria; Plant Extracts; Plant Leaves; Rats; Trypanocidal Agents; Trypanosoma brucei brucei; Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense; Trypanosomiasis, African; Holarrhena; Mus; Trypanosoma brucei; Trypanosoma brucei brucei; Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84903362394 | In vivo antimalarial evaluation of MAMA decoction on Plasmodium berghei in mice | Adepiti A.O., Elujoba A.A., Bolaji O.O. | 2014 | Parasitology Research | 113 | 2 | 10.1007/s00436-013-3680-0 | Department of Pharmacognosy, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria; Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria | Adepiti, A.O., Department of Pharmacognosy, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria; Elujoba, A.A., Department of Pharmacognosy, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria; Bolaji, O.O., Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria | The use of decoctions of different plant materials is common practice in antimalarial ethnomedicine in Africa. Scientific evaluation of such herbal combinations to verify the claims is important. The study has evaluated the antimalarial efficacy of MAMA decoction (MD), a multicomponent herbal preparation and its individual plant components, namely leaves of Morinda lucida Benth [Rubiaceae] (ML), Azadirachta indica A. Juss [Meliaceae] (AI), Alstonia boonei De Wild [Apocynaceae] (AB) and Mangifera indica L [Anacardiaceae] (MI) in Plasmodium berghei-infected mice. Each decoction was prepared by boiling the powdered leaf in water, concentrated in vacuo and freeze-dried. The acute toxicity of MD (LD50 = 3.8 g/kg) was determined using Lorke's method. The antimalarial activities of MD and its plant components were evaluated by oral administration of the freeze-dried extracts (15-240 mg/kg) using the early malaria infection test model. The established malaria infection test was used to evaluate MD (60-240 mg/kg) while amodiaquine [10 mg/kg] (AQ) and distilled water were employed as the positive and negative controls, respectively. From the early malaria infection test, the effective doses at 50 % (ED50) and 90 % (ED90) for MD, AB, AI, ML, MI and AQ were 43, 79, 140, 134, 208 and 3.9 mg/kg and 202, 276, 291, 408, 480 and 9.2 mg/kg, respectively. For the established infection test, MD (240 mg/kg) and AQ gave parasite clearance of 55 and 95 % on day 5 of treatment. MD possesses antimalarial activity and is relatively safe. © 2013 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg. | None | Alstonia boonei extract; amodiaquine; antimalarial agent; Azadirachta indica extract; herbaceous agent; Mangifera indica extract; Morinda lucida extract; plant extract; unclassified drug; acute toxicity; Alstonia; alstonia boonei; animal experiment; antimalarial activity; article; Azadirachta indica; controlled study; female; freeze drying; in vivo study; LD 50; malaria; male; mango; Morinda lucida; mouse; nonhuman; parasite clearance; parasitemia; plant leaf; Plasmodium berghei; Plasmodium berghei infection; priority journal; treatment duration; Alstonia boonei; Anacardiaceae; Apocynaceae; Azadirachta indica; Mangifera indica; Meliaceae; Morinda lucida; Mus; Plasmodium berghei; Rubiaceae; Africa; Alstonia; Animals; Antimalarials; Azadirachta; Female; Malaria; Male; Mangifera; Medicine, Traditional; Mice; Morinda; Phytotherapy; Plant Extracts; Plant Leaves; Plasmodium berghei; Random Allocation | None |
| None | None | Field evaluation for resistance to the black rot pathogen Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris in cabbage (Brassica oleracea) | Jensen B.D., Massomo S.M.S., Swai I.S., Hockenhull J., Andersen S.B. | 2005 | European Journal of Plant Pathology | 113 | 3 | 10.1007/s10658-005-2799-y | Department of Plant Biology, Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Thorvaldsensvej 40, 1871 Frederiksberg C, Denmark; Department of Agricultural Sciences, Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Thorvaldsensvej 40, 1871 Frederiksberg C, Denmark; Sokoine University of Agriculture, P.O. Box 3005, Morogoro, Tanzania; Tengeru Horticultural Research Institute, P.O. Box 1253, Arusha, Tanzania; Asian Vegetable Research and Development Center, Africa Regional Program, P.O. Box 10, Duluti, Arusha, Tanzania | Jensen, B.D., Department of Plant Biology, Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Thorvaldsensvej 40, 1871 Frederiksberg C, Denmark, Department of Agricultural Sciences, Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Thorvaldsensvej 40, 1871 Frederiksberg C, Denmark; Massomo, S.M.S., Department of Plant Biology, Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Thorvaldsensvej 40, 1871 Frederiksberg C, Denmark, Sokoine University of Agriculture, P.O. Box 3005, Morogoro, Tanzania; Swai, I.S., Tengeru Horticultural Research Institute, P.O. Box 1253, Arusha, Tanzania, Asian Vegetable Research and Development Center, Africa Regional Program, P.O. Box 10, Duluti, Arusha, Tanzania; Hockenhull, J., Department of Plant Biology, Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Thorvaldsensvej 40, 1871 Frederiksberg C, Denmark; Andersen, S.B., Department of Agricultural Sciences, Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Thorvaldsensvej 40, 1871 Frederiksberg C, Denmark | Black rot, caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris, (Xcc), is one of the most serious diseases of crucifers world-wide. Forty-nine genotypes were evaluated for resistance under field conditions in Tanzania after artificial inoculation with Xcc race 1. Open pollinated white cabbage cultivars were generally susceptible, while Portuguese and pointed cabbages exhibited partial resistance. Some F1 white cabbage cultivars were highly susceptible, whereas others exhibited a high level of partial resistance. The most promising of the hybrid cultivars were T-689 F1, Gianty F1, No. 9690 F1, N 66 F1, and SWR-02 F1. Breeding line Badger I-16 exhibited the highest level of resistance of all genotypes. The genotypes accounted for 72.9-75.5% of the variation of the disease severity when assessed on the leaves, and 71.4% of the variation when assessed as internal black rot in heads at harvest. High correlations (equal to or above 0.7) were found between disease severities assessed on leaves three times during the growing season and also with the amount of internal black rot in heads. Leaf loss also was correlated with disease severity. The high genetic determination of the trait and the high correlations between disease assessments indicate that selection for resistance to black rot will be efficient when field screenings are carried out. Evaluation of genotypes for disease severity on leaves during the growing season combined with evaluations of head resistance in the most promising genotypes may be a simple method to select resistant cultivars. © Springer 2005. | Bacterial plant disease; Breeding; Crucifers; Disease control; Genetic determination; Tanzania | bacterial disease; disease control; disease resistance; disease severity; genotype; Africa; East Africa; Sub-Saharan Africa; Tanzania; Bacteria (microorganisms); Brassica oleracea; Brassica oleracea var. capitata; Taxidea taxus; Xanthomonas campestris; Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-37549003684 | Performance and fitness traits versus phenotypic appearance in the African Ankole Longhorn cattle: A novel approach to identify selection criteria for indigenous breeds | Ndumu D.B., Baumung R., Wurzinger M., Drucker A.G., Okeyo A.M., Semambo D., Sölkner J. | 2008 | Livestock Science | 113 | 03-Feb | 10.1016/j.livsci.2007.04.004 | Department of Sustainable Agricultural Systems, BOKU-University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria; National Animal Genetic Resources Centre and Data Bank, P. O. Box 183, Entebbe, Uganda; School of Environmental Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, North. Territ. 0909, Australia; International Livestock Research Institute, P. O. Box 30709, Nairobi, Kenya | Ndumu, D.B., Department of Sustainable Agricultural Systems, BOKU-University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria, National Animal Genetic Resources Centre and Data Bank, P. O. Box 183, Entebbe, Uganda, International Livestock Research Institute, P. O. Box 30709, Nairobi, Kenya; Baumung, R., Department of Sustainable Agricultural Systems, BOKU-University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria; Wurzinger, M., Department of Sustainable Agricultural Systems, BOKU-University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria; Drucker, A.G., School of Environmental Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, North. Territ. 0909, Australia; Okeyo, A.M., International Livestock Research Institute, P. O. Box 30709, Nairobi, Kenya; Semambo, D., National Animal Genetic Resources Centre and Data Bank, P. O. Box 183, Entebbe, Uganda; Sölkner, J., Department of Sustainable Agricultural Systems, BOKU-University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria | Ankole cattle are well known for their massive white horns and red coat colour. These characteristics are attributed to centuries of cultural breeding practices. Two experiments with traditional cattle keepers were carried out at a governmental Ankole nucleus farm in south-western Uganda to identify phenotypic characteristics as well as production and fitness traits which are important indigenous selection criteria. Forty one body measurements each were taken from 15 bulls and 35 cows and phenotypic characteristics were described in detail. In the first experiment 12 groups of 6 to 8 cattle keepers were invited to rank several groups of 4-5 animals according to their preference for a breeding bull or cow based on phenotype alone. In the second experiment the ranking was based on phenotype and a hypothetical life history that was randomly assigned to each animal on each day of experiment. The history included milk yield (on own performance for cows and that of the dam for bulls), fertility of the animal and its sire as well as events of East Coast Fever. For analysis, Generalized Multinomial Logit Models were fitted. To compare different models the likelihood-based pseudo R square measure was used. The results indicate that, in the selection of cows, performance and fitness traits are emphasized by the cattle keepers while in the selection of bulls, the phenotypic appearance of the animal plays an important role. Individual fertility followed by milk performance are the main criteria for selecting cows, resistance to East Coast Fever was of highest importance in bulls. In both sexes a dark red coat colour was highly rated. The study indicates that the methodology of preference ranking combining phenotype and a hypothetical life history may provide insight into indigenous selection criteria of stock owners elsewhere. © 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. | Ankole cattle; Indigenous selection criteria; Multinomial logistic regression; Phenotypic ranking | Animalia; Bos | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84878362088 | Clinicopathological evaluation of intranasal, subcutaneous and intramuscular routes of vaccination against intratracheal challenge of Peste des petits ruminants virus in goats | Emikpe B.O., Ezeasor C.K., Sabri M.Y., Anosa V.O. | 2013 | Small Ruminant Research | 113 | 1 | 10.1016/j.smallrumres.2013.03.007 | Department of Veterinary Pathology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria; Department of Veterinary Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia | Emikpe, B.O., Department of Veterinary Pathology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria; Ezeasor, C.K., Department of Veterinary Pathology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria; Sabri, M.Y., Department of Veterinary Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia; Anosa, V.O., Department of Veterinary Pathology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria | An experiment was conducted to compare the efficacy of intranasal vaccination against caprine Peste des petits ruminant lineage 1 variant virus infection with intramuscular and subcutaneous vaccinations. Twenty four goats were divided into four equal groups. Group 1 was vaccinated intranasally, group 2 was vaccinated subcutaneously, and group 3 intramuscularly, while group 4 was the unvaccinated control. In each group, the vaccinations were carried out once. All goats were challenged intratracheally with PPR virus at a concentration of 106.5 TCID50 two weeks after vaccination and were euthanised 21 days after the challenge. The clinical, lung consolidation, gross and histopathological scores were employed using standard techniques. All data were analysed statistically using the paired t-test and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Group 3 had the highest clinical score following the challenge of vaccinated group while deaths were observed only in group 4. Three goats in group 2 and 3 had pneumonic lung lesions, compared with none in group 1 and all the goats in group 4. The lung lesions in group 4 were significantly (P<0.05) severe than in others. Similarly, the lesions in group 2 and 3 were less severe with the right lung more affected (P>0.05) while group 1 had no consolidation. This study showed that PPR vaccination using subcutaneous, intramuscular and intranasal routes were protective but that of intranasal was found to be easy to apply hence it could be used for the prevention of the disease in small ruminants. © 2013 Elsevier B.V. | Goats; Intranasal vaccination; PPR | Bovidae; Capra; Capra hircus; Measles virus; Peste-des-petits-ruminants virus | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33745182897 | Assessment of testcross performance and genetic diversity of yellow endosperm maize lines derived from adapted x exotic backcrosses | Menkir A., Olowolafe M.O., Ingelbrecht I., Fawole I., Badu-Apraku B., Vroh B.I. | 2006 | Theoretical and Applied Genetics | 113 | 1 | 10.1007/s00122-006-0275-5 | International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Oyo Road, 5320 Ibadan, Nigeria; Department of Crop Protection and Environmental Biology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria | Menkir, A., International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Oyo Road, 5320 Ibadan, Nigeria; Olowolafe, M.O., International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Oyo Road, 5320 Ibadan, Nigeria; Ingelbrecht, I., International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Oyo Road, 5320 Ibadan, Nigeria; Fawole, I., Department of Crop Protection and Environmental Biology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Badu-Apraku, B., International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Oyo Road, 5320 Ibadan, Nigeria; Vroh, B.I., International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Oyo Road, 5320 Ibadan, Nigeria | Introduction of exotic maize (Zea mays L.) into adapted tropical germplasm may enhance genetic variability and lead to greater progress from selection. The first objective of this study was to determine if yellow endosperm lines derived from adapted × exotic backcrosses contain exotic alleles that are superior to the recurrent adapted parental line for yield and other agronomic traits in tropical environments. Thirteen exotic yellow maize inbred lines were crossed to an adapted orange line (KUSR) and the F1s were backcrossed to KUSR to generate the first backcrosses. Fifty BC1F4 lines derived from these backcrosses and the recurrent parent were crossed to a common inbred tester (L4001) to form testcrosses, which were evaluated at eight environments in Nigeria. Testcrosses of the BC-derived lines differed significantly for grain yield and other agronomic traits. Only two testcrosses yielded significantly less than L4001 × KUSR, with the best 15 testcrosses producing between 289 and 1,056 kg/ha more grain yield than L4001 × KUSR. The best testcrosses were similar to or better than L4001 × KUSR for other agronomic traits. The second objective of this study was to assess the extent of genetic diversity present among the BC-derived lines. We genotyped 46 BC-derived lines including KUSR and L4001 with 10 AFLP primer pairs and found 491 polymorphic fragments. The average allelic diversity of the lines was 0.30 ± 0.01. The genetic distance of each BC-derived line from KUSR ranged between 0.49 and 0.91. The average genetic distance for all pairs of the BC-derived lines was 0.68 ± 0.004, varying from 0.34 to 0.92. The increased grain yield and genetic diversity observed in these studies provide evidence that exotic germplasm can contribute new alleles to expand the genetic base of tropical maize and develop high-yielding hybrids. © Springer-Verlag 2006. | None | Genes; Genetic engineering; Plant cell culture; Endosperm maize; Genetic variability; Germplasm; Crops; article; cross breeding; genetic polymorphism; genetic variability; genetics; maize; Nigeria; Crosses, Genetic; Nigeria; Polymorphism, Genetic; Variation (Genetics); Zea mays; Corn; Genes; Genetic Engineering; Plants; Zea mays | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-74149084703 | Laboratory and field evaluation of neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) and Chinaberry (Melia azedarach L.) oils as repellents against Phlebotomus orientalis and P. bergeroti (Diptera: Psychodidae) in Ethiopia | Kebede Y., Gebre-Michael T., Balkew M. | 2010 | Acta Tropica | 113 | 2 | 10.1016/j.actatropica.2009.10.009 | Jimma University, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, P.O. Box 307, Jimma, Ethiopia; Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | Kebede, Y., Jimma University, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, P.O. Box 307, Jimma, Ethiopia; Gebre-Michael, T., Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Balkew, M., Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | The study evaluated the efficacy of neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss.) and Chinaberry (Melia azedarach L.) seed oils as repellents against laboratory and field populations of some sandflies in Ethiopia. In the laboratory, concentrations of 2% and 5% neem oil in coconut oil tested against Phlebotomus orientalis (vector of visceral leishmaniasis) provided 96.28% (95% CI = 95.60-96.97) protection up to a mean time of 7 h and 20 min and 98.26% (95% CI = 93.46-104. 07) protection up to 9 h, respectively. Similarly, M. azedarach oil at 2% concentration produced 95.13% (95% CI = 90.74-99.52) protection for the same duration (7 h and 20 min), while the 5% oil gave 96.20 (95% CI = 86.98-105.41) protection for 8 h and 20 min against the same species with no significant difference in percentage protection between the two oils at 2% and 5% concentrations. In the field tests with only neem oil (A. indica) against field populations of P. orientalis and P. bergeroti, similar high level of repellencies were recorded with about the same duration of protection. Application of both neem and Chinaberry oils can be safe and low-cost means of personal protection against sandfly bites in endemic areas of Ethiopia, if the community is advised and encouraged to grow the plants abundantly. © 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. | Azadirachta indica; Chinaberry; Leishmaniasis; Melia azedarach; Neem; Phlebotomus bergeroti; Phlebotomus orientalis; Plant repellents | coconut oil; insect repellent; vegetable oil; concentration (composition); deciduous tree; fly; laboratory method; leishmaniasis; neem; repellent; article; Azadirachta indica; controlled study; Ethiopia; laboratory test; Melia azedarach; nonhuman; parasite vector; Phlebotomus; Phlebotomus bergeroti; protection; Psychodidae; visceral leishmaniasis; Animals; Azadirachta; Ethiopia; Female; Glycerides; Humans; Insect Bites and Stings; Insect Repellents; Insect Vectors; Leishmaniasis, Visceral; Male; Melia azedarach; Phlebotomus; Plant Oils; Terpenes; Ethiopia; Azadirachta indica; Diptera; Melia azedarach; Phlebotominae; Phlebotomus bergeroti; Phlebotomus orientalis; Psychodidae | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84876375217 | Friction Hydro Pillar Process as an alternative repair technology for creep evaluation sites on thick-walled 10CrMo910 creep-resistant steel structures | Bulbring D.L.H., Hattingh D.G., Botes A., Odendaal D.H. | 2013 | Journal of the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy | 113 | 2 | None | Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, South Africa | Bulbring, D.L.H., Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, South Africa; Hattingh, D.G., Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, South Africa; Botes, A., Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, South Africa; Odendaal, D.H., Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, South Africa | The removal of a cylindrical core from thick-wall sections for creep analysis by the relatively new Weldcore® process represents a very exciting methodology for obtaining more representative creep damage data from large engineering structures. The cylindrical core that is removed, representing about 60% of the wall thickness, leaves a substantial removal site that needs to be repaired. This paper presents data pertaining to taper Friction Hydro Pillar Processing as an alternative repair technique for filling the core removal site. Process parameters were evaluated with special attention being paid to the effect of downward force on process response variables, weld defects, and mechanical properties of 10CrMo910 steel. Process temperature and torque response as well as total process energy input were also considered. This paper also assesses the static and dynamic performance of this repair technique. The influence of a varying downward force and the occurrence and position of discontinuities were quantified. Downward force was shown to have the most notable effect on weld joint dynamic performance and was found to be related to the process temperatures achieved in close proximity to the weld interface. © The Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 2013. | Coring; Creep damage; Downward force; Friction hydro pillar processing; Welding | Coring; Creep damages; Downward force; Engineering structures; Process parameters; Process temperature; Repair techniques; Static and dynamic performance; Chromium alloys; Creep; Friction; Mechanical properties; Tribology; Welding; Welds; Repair | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84891817996 | Techno-economic impact of optimized lowgrade thermal coal export production through beneficiation modelling | Bergh J.P., Falcon R.M.S., Falcon L.M. | 2013 | Journal of the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy | 113 | 11 | None | School of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, University of the Witwatersand, Johannesburg, South Africa | Bergh, J.P., School of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, University of the Witwatersand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Falcon, R.M.S., School of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, University of the Witwatersand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Falcon, L.M., School of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, University of the Witwatersand, Johannesburg, South Africa | The advent of low-quality export coal demand has brought a new range of possibilities to the South African coal industry. Products that traditionally were only of value to the domestic or combustion industry sectors now have the potential to be exported, with only minor amounts of upgrading required through beneficiation. Comparatively high steam-coal export prices can be obtained for lowquality export coal, which enhances the economic feasibility of expanding low-quality thermal coal exports. There are, however, increasing concerns about the feasibility of lower quality thermal coal exports and the broader implications. These concerns relate to the environmental impact of low-quality thermal coal production for export and the inherent threat to the security of domestic thermal coal supply in South Africa. Against this background, this paper serves to explain the extended value chain in the production of export coal. The technical and economic advantages and disadvantages of low-grade exports versus coal production for domestic use are evaluated. The value chain estimation is calculated by the beneficiation modelling and characterization of two coals. Based on the value estimation, the lowgrade export production scenario, and finally the modelling of potential pollutant distribution, are described.© The southern african institute of mining and metallurgy, 2013. | Coal beneficiation; Dense medium processing; Dry processing; Environmental impact; Fine coal processing; Techno-economics; Thermal coal | Coal beneficiation; Dense medium; Dry processing; Fine coals; Techno-economics; Thermal coal; Beneficiation; Coal; Coal combustion; Concentration (process); Environmental impact; International trade; Mobile telecommunication systems; Coal industry | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77649182400 | Evaluation of the performance of CareStart™ Malaria Pf/Pv Combo rapid diagnostic test for the diagnosis of malaria in Jimma, southwestern Ethiopia | Mekonnen Z., Ali S., Belay G., Suleman S., Chatterjee S. | 2010 | Acta Tropica | 113 | 3 | 10.1016/j.actatropica.2009.12.001 | School of Medical Lab. Sciences, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia; School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia; Pathology Lab, Campus Drie Eiken S3.53, Faculty of Medicine, Antwerp University, Universiteitsplein-1, B-2610 Antwerp, Belgium | Mekonnen, Z., School of Medical Lab. Sciences, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia; Ali, S., School of Medical Lab. Sciences, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia; Belay, G., School of Medical Lab. Sciences, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia; Suleman, S., School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia; Chatterjee, S., Pathology Lab, Campus Drie Eiken S3.53, Faculty of Medicine, Antwerp University, Universiteitsplein-1, B-2610 Antwerp, Belgium | Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic performance of CareStart™ Malaria Pf/Pv Combo test relative to microscopy, for the diagnosis of falciparum and vivax malaria in Ethiopia. Methods: Two hundred and forty febrile patients visiting the Serbo health center in Jimma zone, southwestern Ethiopia, were involved in this study in 2008. Giemsa-stained thin and thick blood smears were prepared and microscopically examined under a 100× oil immersion microscope objective for Plasmodium species identification and determination of parasitemia respectively. CareStart™ Malaria Pf/Pv Combo test was performed as per the manufacturers' instruction. Findings: The validity of CareStart™ Malaria Pf/Pv Combo test for the diagnosis of Plasmodium was very good with a sensitivity of 95.8%, specificity of 100%, positive predictive value of 100% and negative predictive value of 96%. The test performed equally well for the identification of Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax. The diagnostic performance of this CareStart™ test is comparable to light microscopy of thin and thick blood smears. Conclusion: Although CareStart™ Malaria Pf/Pv Combo test and blood microscopy have comparable diagnostic performance for Plasmodium detection, the CareStart™ test has the added advantage of being simple to interpret, cost-efficient, and hence it is preferable to use this rapid diagnostic test for malaria diagnosis in areas where microscopy is not accessible and during times of malaria epidemics that are observed approximately every 4-5 years in Ethiopia. © 2009 Elsevier B.V. | CareStart™ Malaria RDT; Ethiopia; Malaria; Plasmodium | oil; blood; detection method; epidemic; epidemiology; infectious disease; malaria; microscopy; performance assessment; adolescent; adult; article; blood smear; child; controlled study; diagnostic test; Ethiopia; female; fever; human; intermethod comparison; major clinical study; malaria; malaria falciparum; malaria vivax; male; microscopy; parasitemia; performance measurement system; Plasmodium falciparum; Plasmodium vivax; prediction; preschool child; school child; sensitivity and specificity; sex difference; species identification; staining; symptomatology; validity; Adolescent; Adult; Animals; Blood; Child; Child, Preschool; Diagnostic Tests, Routine; Ethiopia; Female; Humans; Infant; Malaria, Falciparum; Malaria, Vivax; Male; Microscopy; Middle Aged; Plasmodium falciparum; Plasmodium vivax; Predictive Value of Tests; Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; Sensitivity and Specificity; Young Adult; Ethiopia; Jimma; Plasmodium falciparum; Plasmodium vivax | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-56949097859 | Subpixel monitoring of the seasonal snow cover with MODIS at 250 m spatial resolution in the Southern Alps of New Zealand: Methodology and accuracy assessment | Sirguey P., Mathieu R., Arnaud Y. | 2009 | Remote Sensing of Environment | 113 | 1 | 10.1016/j.rse.2008.09.008 | School of Surveying, University of Otago. PO Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand; CSIR-NRE Earth Observation Research Group, Building 33, PO Box 395, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa; IRD-Great Ice, Laboratoire de Glaciologie et Géophysique de l'Environnement, 54 Rue Molière, 38402 Saint Martin d'Heres cedex, France | Sirguey, P., School of Surveying, University of Otago. PO Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand; Mathieu, R., School of Surveying, University of Otago. PO Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand, CSIR-NRE Earth Observation Research Group, Building 33, PO Box 395, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa; Arnaud, Y., IRD-Great Ice, Laboratoire de Glaciologie et Géophysique de l'Environnement, 54 Rue Molière, 38402 Saint Martin d'Heres cedex, France | This study describes a comprehensive method to produce routinely regional maps of seasonal snow cover in the Southern Alps of New Zealand (upper Waitaki basin) on a subpixel basis, and with the MODerate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS). The method uses an image fusion algorithm to produce snow maps at an improved 250 m spatial resolution in addition to the 500 m resolution snow maps. An iterative approach is used to correct imagery for both atmospheric and topographic effects using daily observations of atmospheric parameters. The computation of ground spectral reflectance enabled the use of image-independent end-members in a constrained linear unmixing technique to achieve a robust estimation of subpixel snow fractions. The accuracy of the snow maps and performance of the algorithm were assessed carefully using eight pairs of synchronic MODIS/ASTER images. 'Pixel-based' metrics showed that subpixel snow fractions were retrieved with a Mean Absolute Error of 6.8% at 250 m spatial resolution and 5.1% after aggregation at 500 m spatial resolution. In addition, a 'feature-based' metric showed that 90% of the snowlines were depicted generally within 300 m and 200 m of their correct position for the 500-m and 250-m spatial resolution snow maps, respectively. A dataset of 679 maps of subpixel snow fraction was produced for the period from February 2000 to May 2007. These repeated observations of the seasonal snow cover will benefit the ongoing effort to model snowmelt runoff in the region and to improve the estimation and management of water resources. © 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. | Image fusion; MODIS; Mountainous terrain; Snow; Spectral unmixing; Subpixel snow fraction | Agglomeration; Atmospherics; Conformal mapping; Data fusion; Fusion reactions; Hydraulic models; Image fusion; Maps; Optical projectors; Spectrometers; Water management; Water resources; Accuracy assessments; Atmospheric parameters; Comprehensive methods; End-members; Fusion algorithms; Iterative approaches; Linear unmixing; Mean absolute errors; Moderate resolution imaging spectro radiometers; MODIS; MODIS/ASTER; Mountainous terrain; New zealand; Regional maps; Robust estimations; Seasonal snow covers; Snowmelt runoffs; Spatial resolution.; Spatial resolutions; Spectral reflectances; Spectral unmixing; Sub pixels; Subpixel snow fraction; Topographic effects; Precipitation (meteorology); accuracy assessment; algorithm; alpine environment; environmental monitoring; mapping method; MODIS; pixel; snow cover; spatial resolution; Australasia; New Zealand; South Island; Southern Alps | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84879994921 | Evaluation of processing options for the treatment of zinc sulphide concentrates at Skorpion Zinc | Fuls H.F., Petersen J. | 2013 | Journal of the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy | 113 | 5 | None | Skorpion Zinc, RoshPinah, Namibia; University of Cape Town, Rondebosh, Cape Town, South Africa | Fuls, H.F., Skorpion Zinc, RoshPinah, Namibia; Petersen, J., University of Cape Town, Rondebosh, Cape Town, South Africa | Skorpion Zinc, an integrated zinc mine and refinery located in the south of Namibia, has a production capacity of 150 000 t/a of special high grade (SHG) zinc. The Skorpion zinc oxide resource will be depleted by 2017. Extensive exploration drilling for additional zinc oxides was conducted without success. With the abundant availability of zinc sulphide concentrates regionally (Black Mountain and Gamsberg in the Northern Cape or Rosh Pinah Zinc and new deposits in the Rosh Pinah region) the life of the operation can be extended by processing of zinc sulphide concentrates. The leach kinetics of zinc sulphides is vastly slower than for oxides, preventing the processing of zinc sulphides in the existing process under current conditions, and Skorpion Zinc faces the challenge to identify a suitable zinc sulphide treatment process that can be integrated with the existing plant. Various zinc sulphide processing options were identified through an extensive literature search and non-viable options were eliminated. Mass and energy balances were established for potential options and an economic evaluation (including capital and operating cost estimation) was conducted to identify a suitable process. It is concluded that ferric leaching of sphalerite in a sulphate medium under atmospheric or pressure leach conditions are suitable processes for Skorpion Zinc. These processes present advantages over all other zinc processing options when elemental sulphur is preferred as the final deportment for sulphide sulphur. Both these processes can be integrated into the existing refinery and will be able to process concentrates with a wide composition range. © The Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 2013. | Atmospheric leach; Pressure leach; Zinc processing; Zinc sulphide | Atmospheric leach; Capital and operating costs; Composition ranges; Economic evaluations; Extensive explorations; Mass and energy balance; Production capacity; Special high grade zincs; Leaching; Refining; Sulfur; Sulfur compounds; Zinc; Zinc mines; Zinc oxide; Zinc sulfide | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79961088486 | Impact of sugarcane thrips, Fulmekiola serrata (Kobus) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) on sugarcane yield in field trials | Way M.J., Rutherford R.S., Sewpersad C., Leslie G.W., Keeping M.G. | 2011 | International Sugar Journal | 113 | 1351 | None | South African Sugarcane Research Institute, P/Bag X02, Mount Edgecombe 4300, South Africa | Way, M.J., South African Sugarcane Research Institute, P/Bag X02, Mount Edgecombe 4300, South Africa; Rutherford, R.S., South African Sugarcane Research Institute, P/Bag X02, Mount Edgecombe 4300, South Africa; Sewpersad, C., South African Sugarcane Research Institute, P/Bag X02, Mount Edgecombe 4300, South Africa; Leslie, G.W., South African Sugarcane Research Institute, P/Bag X02, Mount Edgecombe 4300, South Africa; Keeping, M.G., South African Sugarcane Research Institute, P/Bag X02, Mount Edgecombe 4300, South Africa | Two field trials were conducted on the South African Sugarcane Research Institute (SASRI) research farm at Gingindlovu to study the effect of sugarcane thrips, Fulmekiola serrata (Kobus) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) on various parameters relating to sugarcane yield. Stalk yield components measured were: cane (grams/stalk); sucrose (grams/stalk); Brix % dry matter; purity %; dry matter % cane; fibre % cane; Brix % cane; Pol % cane; ERC % cane. Stalk characteristics measured were: mean stalk length (cm); number of stalks per plot; and stalk diameter. Final yields were assessed as tons cane/ha and tons sucrose/ha. The experiment design allowed comparison between F. serrata numbers in untreated sugarcane and sugarcane treated with the insecticide, imidacloprid. F. serrata numbers were significantly lower in treated sugarcane. Yield reductions attributable to F. serrata infestations of between 18.0 and 26.8% (tons cane/ha) and between 16.2 and 24.0% (tons sucrose/ha), were measured in these trials. | Fulmekiola serrata; Imidacloprid; Stalk characteristics; Sugarcane thrips; Thysanoptera; Yield | Kobus; Thripidae; Thysanoptera | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-67149102551 | Influence of iron microstructure on corrosion inhibitor performance in acidic media | Oguzie E.E., Wang S.G., Li Y., Wang F.H. | 2009 | Journal of Physical Chemistry C | 113 | 19 | 10.1021/jp9015257 | State Key Laboratory for Corrosion and Protection, Institute of Metal Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 62 Wencui Road, Shenyang 110016, China; Shenyang National Laboratory for Materials Sciences, Institute of Metal Research, International Centre for | Oguzie, E.E., State Key Laboratory for Corrosion and Protection, Institute of Metal Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 62 Wencui Road, Shenyang 110016, China, Shenyang National Laboratory for Materials Sciences, Institute of Metal Research, International Centre for Materials Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 72 Wenhua Road, Shenyang 110016, China; Wang, S.G., Electrochemistry and Materials Science Research Laboratory, Departmentof Chemistry, Federal University of Technology Owerri, PMB 1526, Owerri, Nigeria; Li, Y., State Key Laboratory for Corrosion and Protection, Institute of Metal Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 62 Wencui Road, Shenyang 110016, China; Wang, F.H., State Key Laboratory for Corrosion and Protection, Institute of Metal Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 62 Wencui Road, Shenyang 110016, China | Electrochemical measurements employing ac and dc techniques as well as atomic force microscopy were used to study the electrochemical corrosion behavior of ingot iron with two different microstructures: conventional polycrystalline ingot iron (CPU) and bulk nanocrystalline ingot iron (BNII) fabricated from CPU by severe rolling, without and with inhibitors. The corrosive media was 0.1 M H2SO4 solution, while thiourea (TU) was employed as inhibitor, with a concentration of 5.0 mM, as well as a 1:1 combination of TU and KI. Impedance and polarization results show that BNII was more susceptible to corrosion in the uninhibited acid. The presence of TU improved the corrosion resistance of both specimens comparably, while KI reduced the inhibition efficiency of TU. Infrared spectrophotometry revealed that the interfacial species for CPU and BNII in the presence of TU were quite identical and markedly different from that in TU + KI. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were performed to illustrate the adsorption process of TU at a molecular level, and the theoretical predictions showed good agreement with the electrochemical results. © 2009 American Chemical Society. | None | Acidic media; Adsorption process; Bulk nanocrystalline ingot irons; Concentration of; Corrosive media; Electrochemical corrosion behavior; Electrochemical measurements; Infrared spectrophotometry; Inhibition efficiency; Inhibitor performance; Molecular dynamics simulations; Molecular levels; Polycrystalline ingots; Theoretical prediction; Adsorption; Atomic force microscopy; Corrosion resistance; Dynamics; Electrochemical corrosion; Ingots; Microstructure; Molecular dynamics; Thioureas; Urea; Corrosion inhibitors | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33645364664 | Impact of Health Education on Active Trachoma in Hyperendemic Rural Communities in Ethiopia | Edwards T., Cumberland P., Hailu G., Todd J. | 2006 | Ophthalmology | 113 | 4 | 10.1016/j.ophtha.2006.01.008 | Tropical Epidemiology Group, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Centre of Paediatric Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom; Future International Consulting Agency, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | Edwards, T., Tropical Epidemiology Group, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Cumberland, P., Centre of Paediatric Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom; Hailu, G., Future International Consulting Agency, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Todd, J., Tropical Epidemiology Group, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom | Objective: Trachoma is one of the leading preventable causes of blindness worldwide. We evaluate the impact of a health education program on the prevalence of active trachoma in children 3 to 9 years old. Design: Community randomized intervention study. Data were collected by means of cross-sectional surveys before and after intervention. Participants: Within 40 rural Ethiopian communities, households were selected at random, and all 3- to 9-year-old children within households were invited for examination. Methods: Health education messages broadcast by radio were received by all communities. Nongovernmental organization activities to prevent trachoma, based on the SAFE (surgery for trichiasis, antibiotic treatment, face washing, and environmental improvements) strategy, were received by 30 of the 40 communities. Ten of these communities received enhanced educational messages using videos. Cluster summary measures were compared across surveys and intervention arms. Active trachoma at follow-up was modeled using random-effects logistic regression, adjusting for baseline prevalence and study area variability, at the cluster and individual level. Main Outcome Measures: Active trachoma in 3- to 9-year-old children and adult knowledge and behavior related to the nature and transmission of trachoma infection. Results: At baseline, 1410 of 1960 (72%) children examined and, at follow-up, 1289 of 2008 (64%) had active trachoma. The overall reduction in prevalence at cluster level was 8% (95% confidence interval [CI], 4%-12%; P<0.001). There was a statistically significant increase in the awareness of trachoma. After adjustment for area and cluster level baseline prevalence, the odds of active trachoma were reduced in both intervention arms, standard (odds ratio [OR], 0.78; 95% CI, 0.53-1.16) and enhanced (OR, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.48-1.21), compared with the control arm, but not significantly. Conclusions: Overall, there was a small but statistically significant reduction in the prevalence of active trachoma between surveys, but differences between the 3 intervention arms were not statistically significant. Awareness of trachoma control increased in all communities, but there was little change in behavior associated with the transmission of Chlamydia trachomatis. It is therefore unlikely that observed reductions in active trachoma were solely due to health education. © 2006 American Academy of Ophthalmology. | None | antibiotic agent; article; awareness; behavior; child; clinical examination; cluster analysis; comparative study; confidence interval; controlled study; data analysis; endemic disease; environmental factor; Ethiopia; evaluation; female; follow up; government; health education; health program; health survey; human; hygiene; infection prevention; information processing; intervention study; logistic regression analysis; major clinical study; male; medical information; prevalence; priority journal; randomization; rural population; statistical significance; telecommunication; trachoma; trichiasis; videorecording; attitude to health; cross-sectional study; disease transmission; health behavior; preschool child; risk; statistics; Child; Child, Preschool; Cross-Sectional Studies; Endemic Diseases; Ethiopia; Female; Health Behavior; Health Education; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Health Surveys; Humans; Male; Odds Ratio; Prevalence; Radio; Rural Population; Trachoma; Video Recording | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84882438742 | Incident reconstruction simulations-potential impact on the prevention of future mine incidents | Webber-Youngman R.C.W., Van Wyk E.A. | 2013 | Journal of the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy | 113 | 6 | None | University of Pretoria, South Africa; Tshwane University of Technology, South Africa | Webber-Youngman, R.C.W., University of Pretoria, South Africa; Van Wyk, E.A., Tshwane University of Technology, South Africa | The mining industry in South Africa faces real challenges with regard to the reduction of safety-related incidents. The purpose of this paper is to highlight the need for alternative interventions in addition to other safety improvement strategies already employed on mines. It furthermore supports an existing paradigm: incident investigations. An investigation into fatalities in the South African mining industry shows that although great progress has been achieved through the reduction in fatalities in all sectors of the industry over the last few years, more can and should be done to achieve status of 'zero harm'. Fatalities and lost time injuries on mines result not only in large financial losses, but also in disruptions of mining operations in general through Section 54 stoppages to resolve the situation. The approach of the paper is therefore not to try and prove whether there is high fatality rate and/or lost time injuries, but in what way incident reconstruction simulations (IRS) can have an impact in the future prevention of such incidents. The challenge therefore lies in the utilization of pro-active systems that would show employees the possible outcomes of being exposed to certain hazards. In real life, these incidents cannot be re-enacted and in most cases we can only learn through the previous mistakes of others. A virtual reality (VR) education and training system will enable employees to be 'exposed' to different hazards in a safe environment, and simulation, in a 'forgiving' environment, of the possible consequences of unsafe acts. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA), unsafe acts and unsafe conditions are indirect causes of safety-related incidents, but there are also direct causes; for example, unplanned release of energy and/or hazardous material, and basic causes, for example, management safety policies, personal factors, and environmental factors. The administrative workload associated with any incident investigation places a large burden on the investigation team, and in most cases other employees are informed through vague administrative processes what the 'real cause' for the incident/accident was. New preventative strategies are often put in place without showing the employees what the real causes of the incident/accident were. This can be mitigated through the use of interactive VR simulations/animations of the hazards that they are exposed to and how to deal with them. If VR interventions are not used as proposed by this paper, the real causes and consequences of almost all fatalities and lost time injuries may never be fully understood. This paper also emphasizes what potential impact IRS could have on the prevention of future mine incidents as part and parcel of a pro-active risk prevention strategy. The intention is therefore not to replace any other risk prevention strategies, but to visually enhance the reality of the incident. © The Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 2013. | Incident reconstruction simulations; Interactive safety training; Mine safety; Risk management; Usability context analysis; Virtual reality | Administrative process; Context analysis; Education and training systems; Incident investigation; Incident reconstruction simulations; Mine safety; Occupational safety and health acts; Safety training; Hazards; Losses; Mining; Personnel training; Risk management; Virtual reality; Accident prevention | University of Pretoria |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84911860941 | Prosopis invasions in South Africa: Population structures and impacts on native tree population stability | Shackleton R.T., Le Maitre D.C., Richardson D.M. | 2015 | Journal of Arid Environments | 114 | None | 10.1016/j.jaridenv.2014.11.006 | Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Botany and Zoology, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland, South Africa; Natural Resources and the Environment, CSIR, P.O. Box 320, Stellenbosch, South Africa | Shackleton, R.T., Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Botany and Zoology, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland, South Africa; Le Maitre, D.C., Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Botany and Zoology, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland, South Africa, Natural Resources and the Environment, CSIR, P.O. Box 320, Stellenbosch, South Africa; Richardson, D.M., Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Botany and Zoology, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland, South Africa | Several Prosopis taxa are widespread invaders that have negative impacts on biodiversity and human livelihoods globally. Better knowledge of the impacts and ecology of invasive Prosopis species is required to support and inform management interventions. Prosopis was introduced to South Africa and has become the second most widespread invasive alien plant taxon in the country. We compare population structures of invasive Prosopis populations in different part of South Africa, and quantify the effects of Prosopis invasions on native tree populations using size-class distribution (SCD) curves. Kolmogorov-Smirnov tests, regressions, quotients, and Permutation Indices were used to compare size-class distributions and assess population stability. Prosopis population structures differed across South Africa. Those along perennial rivers and areas in the Succulent Karoo biome had fewer juvenile plants. Prosopis in South Africa also has higher recruitment (% juvenile plants) than in other areas like Australia. Prosopis invasions are having a negative effect on the stability of native tree populations in South Africa, and are linked to increased mortality of native trees. Improved management of Prosopis is needed. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. | Biological invasions; Mesquite; Permutation Index; Size-class distribution; Tree invasions | biodiversity; biological invasion; biome; invasive species; legume; mortality; population structure; recruitment (population dynamics); size distribution; stabilization; Australia; South Africa; Prosopis | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84920997858 | Perceptions of the impact of board members' individual perspectives on the social and environmental performance of companies | Stacey J., Stacey A. | 2014 | Journal of the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy | 114 | 11 | None | Centre for Sustainability in Mining and Industry, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa | Stacey, J., Centre for Sustainability in Mining and Industry, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Stacey, A., University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa | Large mining companies generally follow the distributed ownership corporate model, with a board of directors responsible for decisions that affect both shareholder value and stakeholders of the company. The board is simultaneously responsible for setting the culture and values of the corporation, which drive performance and priorities. Companies listed on the Johannesburg Securities Exchange (JSE) commit to sustainable development in various ways, either by virtue of implementing the King Code of Governance 2009 (King III) and/or through their own public reporting on social and environmental matters. Many mining companies make public statements regarding their support for environmental stewardship, ethical behaviour, and fair treatment of communities. It is a local, regional, and indeed, global phenomenon that companies fail to deliver on these statements. Research was carried out through the Institute of Directors of Southern Africa in 2007, and followed up in 2012, regarding directors' understanding of sustainable development issues, the relative priorities, what is needed for 'radical change' to effect sustainable development, and what enables or constrains the latter. Pertinent findings of both surveys are presented in this paper, and it is suggested that 'on-the-ground' performance may be indicative of the nature of leadership and decisions in the topmost ranks of the company. The results indicated that environmental concerns fall consistently below social issues. Financial capital ranked most important, and while environmental issues are recognized as being of strategic concern for the long-term, they ranked as being the lowest importance of all 'Five Capitals' (Financial, Manufactured, Social, Human, and Natural). Social capital ranked second lowest, with black economic empowerment being the only high-priority social issue. There is also evidence that certain companies within the mining sector fail to recognize their absolute dependence on natural resources. Much is made in academic and popular literature of the need for a new type of leadership for the radical shift to sustainable development: at company level this implies therefore a new type of director. The research found that only 14 per cent of directors felt that board decisions are consistent with their personal values; while intentions are strong to behave ethically and serve sustainable development, actions to give effect to these intentions lag significantly. Respondents indicated that the top impediments to courageous leadership for sustainable development related to personal issues of maintaining the image of being a director, fear of appearing weak, fear of being a lone voice, and bowing to board-colleague peer pressure. © The Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 2014. | Courageous leadership; Decision-making; Personal values; Self-awareness; Sustainable development priorities; Sustainable outcomes | Decision making; Environmental management; Planning; Shareholders; Social aspects; Black economic empowerments; Courageous leadership; Environmental concerns; Environmental stewardship; Personal values; Self awareness; Social and environmental; Sustainable outcomes; Sustainable development | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-83055174037 | Detection and monitoring of surface subsidence associated with mining activities in the Witbank Coalfields, South Africa, using differential radar interferometry | Engelbrecht J., Inggs M.R., Makusha G. | 2011 | South African Journal of Geology | 114 | 1 | 10.2113/gssajg.114.1.77 | Council for Geoscience, Western Cape Unit, P.O. Box 572, Bellville, 7535, South Africa; University of Cape Town, Private Bag X3, Rondebosch, 7701, South Africa; Anglo Coal, P.O Box 61587, Marshalltown, Johannesburg, 2107, South Africa | Engelbrecht, J., Council for Geoscience, Western Cape Unit, P.O. Box 572, Bellville, 7535, South Africa; Inggs, M.R., University of Cape Town, Private Bag X3, Rondebosch, 7701, South Africa; Makusha, G., Anglo Coal, P.O Box 61587, Marshalltown, Johannesburg, 2107, South Africa | Surface subsidence associated with coal mining activities in the Mpumalanga Province, South Africa, changes the natural environment in several ways and current challenges for mining companies lie in rehabilitation of the natural environment and the prevention of further degradation. To monitor the spatial and temporal evolution of surface subsidence, traditional field-based monitoring approaches, including GPS and spirit levelling, are employed at a number of locations. However, the resulting measurements are point-based and frequent visitations are necessary to map the evolution of surface subsidence basins over time. To address these limitations, differential interferograms derived from repeat-pass satellite-borne synthetic aperture radar (SAR) systems were tested for their ability to measure and monitor surface deformation. The resulting interferograms revealed several features indicative of surface subsidence. Ground truth data confirmed the presence of a subsidence basin detected using differential interferometry techniques during the 35 day period between April 12, 2008 and May 17, 2008, with a maximum vertical deformation of 3.2 cm being recorded. Interferometric monitoring revealed an eastward migration of the subsidence basin between June 2, 2008 and September 15, 2008, with an additional 4.7 cm of subsidence being observed. This migration coincides with the advance of the working face of the mine during this period. The results demonstrate the ability of interferometric synthetic aperture radar techniques to measure surface subsidence as well as the monitoring of the evolution of subsidence basins over time. This implies that the technique could be included, together with traditional field-based surveying techniques, in an operational monitoring system. © 2011 March Geological Society of South Africa. | None | basin evolution; coal mining; deformation; detection method; environmental monitoring; GPS; human activity; leveling; monitoring system; radar interferometry; subsidence; synthetic aperture radar; temporal evolution; Mpumalanga; South Africa; Witbank Coalfield | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-40749131569 | Evaluation of tagasaste (Chamaecytisus palmensis) forage as a substitute for concentrate in diets of sheep | Assefa G., Kijora C., Kehaliew A., Bediye S., Peters K.J. | 2008 | Livestock Science | 114 | 42403 | 10.1016/j.livsci.2007.05.017 | Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, Holetta Research Centre, P.O. Box 2003, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Humboldt University of Berlin, Institute of Animal Sciences, Phillipstr. 13, Haus 9, 10115 Berlin, Germany | Assefa, G., Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, Holetta Research Centre, P.O. Box 2003, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Humboldt University of Berlin, Institute of Animal Sciences, Phillipstr. 13, Haus 9, 10115 Berlin, Germany; Kijora, C., Humboldt University of Berlin, Institute of Animal Sciences, Phillipstr. 13, Haus 9, 10115 Berlin, Germany; Kehaliew, A., Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, Holetta Research Centre, P.O. Box 2003, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Bediye, S., Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, Holetta Research Centre, P.O. Box 2003, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Peters, K.J., Humboldt University of Berlin, Institute of Animal Sciences, Phillipstr. 13, Haus 9, 10115 Berlin, Germany | A feeding trial was carried out for 90 days to asses the supplementing effect of tagasaste forage as a substitute for a concentrate supplement (wheat bran-noug seed cake (Gizotia abyssinica) mixture in 3:1 proportion) using 24 Menz male sheep (initial weight of 18.3 ± 1.6 kg). The sheep were fed on natural pasture hay as basal diet. The treatments were iso-nitrogenous supplements of 100% concentrate offered at 200 g DM/sheep/day (T1), 67% concentrate + 33% tagasaste (T2), 33% concentrate + 67% tagasaste (T3) and 100% tagasaste (T4). Digestibility tests of treatment diets were done for 10 days following the feeding trial using the same experimental animals. At the end of the experiment, carcass parameters were also evaluated. In situ degradability of feeds was determined using three rumen fistulated crossbred steers. Tagasaste forage contains more CP (215 g/kg), ADF (221 g/kg), ADL (69 g/kg); and less NDF (351 g/kg) compared to the concentrate. The concentrate had a high immediately soluble fraction (a), and a low insoluble but potential degradable matter (b), while tagasaste had a low a and higher b values and the overall potential degradability was 755, 702, and 586 g/kg, for tagasaste, concentrate and natural pasture hay respectively. Tagasaste forage had also shown higher rates of degradation (c) compared to the concentrate which might increase the total effective degradability. In the feeding trial the supplements made 26.8, 27.0, 28.3 and 29% of the total dry matter (DM) intake for T1, T2, T3, and T4, respectively. Increasing the inclusion of tagasaste forage significantly (P < 0.01) decreased the daily total DM intake of the basal diet and total metabolizable energy (ME), and increased the CP intake. The average weight gain of sheep did not show significant difference (P > 0.05), but had a decreasing trend, with 44.4, 41.4, 38.9 and 38.1 g/sheep for T1, T2, T3, and T4, respectively. The in vivo digestibility of DM and nutrients generally followed the order of T1 > T2 > T3 > T4. The dressing percentage of the carcass was 40.4% and all other parameters measured did not show significant variation due to treatment diets (P > 0.05). However, weight of liver, kidney and spleen was higher for sheep fed with higher tagasaste forage diet. The result of this study revealed that tagasaste can substitute wheat bran-noug seed cake concentrate mixture as a protein supplement. Options to increase the low ME and minimize the effect of the anti nutritional factors will improve nutrient digestibility in tagasaste forage and will enhance the overall efficiency of feed utilization. © 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. | Carcass; Digestibility; In situ degradability; Intake; Sheep weight gain; Tagasaste | Animalia; Chamaecystis palmensis; Chamaecytisus palmensis; Equus asinus; Ovis aries; Triticum aestivum | None |
| None | None | Minimal impact of an iron-fortified lipid-based nutrient supplement on Hb and iron status: A randomised controlled trial in malnourished HIV-positive African adults starting antiretroviral therapy | James P., Friis H., Woodd S., Rehman A.M., PrayGod G., Kelly P., Koethe J.R., Filteau S. | 2015 | British Journal of Nutrition | 114 | 3 | 10.1017/S0007114515001920 | Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, United Kingdom; Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark; Mwanza Research Centre, National Institute for Medical Research, Mwanza, Tanzania; University Teaching Hospital, Lusaka, Zambia; Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom; Vanderbilt Institute for Global Health, Nashville, TN, United States; Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University, School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, United States | James, P., Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, United Kingdom; Friis, H., Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark; Woodd, S., Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, United Kingdom; Rehman, A.M., Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, United Kingdom; PrayGod, G., Mwanza Research Centre, National Institute for Medical Research, Mwanza, Tanzania; Kelly, P., University Teaching Hospital, Lusaka, Zambia, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom; Koethe, J.R., Vanderbilt Institute for Global Health, Nashville, TN, United States, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University, School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, United States; Filteau, S., Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, United Kingdom | Anaemia, redistribution of Fe, malnutrition and heightened systemic inflammation during HIV infection confer an increased risk of morbidity and mortality in HIV patients. We analysed information on Fe status and inflammation from a randomised, double blind, controlled phase-III clinical trial in Lusaka, Zambia and Mwanza, Tanzania. Malnourished patients (n 1815) were recruited at referral to antiretroviral therapy (ART) into a two-stage nutritional rehabilitation programme, randomised to receive a lipid-based nutrient supplement with or without added micronutrients. Fe was included in the intervention arm during the second stage, given from 2 to 6 weeks post-ART. Hb, serum C-reactive protein (CRP), serum ferritin and soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR) were measured at recruitment and 6 weeks post-ART. Multivariable linear regression models were used to assess the impact of the intervention, and the effect of reducing inflammation from recruitment to week 6 on Hb and Fe status. There was no effect of the intervention on Hb, serum ferritin, sTfR or serum CRP. A one-log decrease of serum CRP from recruitment to week 6 was associated with a 1·81 g/l increase in Hb (95 % CI 0·85, 2·76; P< 0·001), and a 0·11 log decrease in serum ferritin (95 % CI - 0·22, 0·03; P= 0·012) from recruitment to week 6. There was no association between the change in serum CRP and the change in sTfR over the same time period (P= 0·78). In malnourished, HIV-infected adults receiving dietary Fe, a reduction in inflammation in the early ART treatment period appears to be a precondition for recovery from anaemia. © The Authors 2015. | Antiretroviral therapy; Ferritin; Hb; HIV; Inflammation; Lipid-based nutrient supplement; Transferrin receptor | antiretrovirus agent; C reactive protein; efavirenz; emtricitabine; ferritin; hemoglobin; lamivudine; lipid; nevirapine; tenofovir; transferrin receptor; zidovudine; antiretrovirus agent; C reactive protein; ferritin; hemoglobin; iron; iron intake; lipid; adult; anemia; Article; blood sampling; controlled study; disease association; disease severity; double blind procedure; female; hemoglobin blood level; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; inflammation; iron blood level; iron metabolism; iron therapy; male; malnutrition; phase 3 clinical trial; protein blood level; randomized controlled trial; Tanzania; treatment duration; treatment response; administration and dosage; anemia; blood; complication; deficiency; diet supplementation; diet therapy; HIV Infections; iron intake; malnutrition; metabolism; mortality; Zambia; Adult; Anemia; Anti-Retroviral Agents; C-Reactive Protein; Dietary Supplements; Double-Blind Method; Female; Ferritins; Food, Fortified; Hemoglobins; HIV Infections; Humans; Inflammation; Iron; Iron, Dietary; Lipids; Male; Malnutrition; Tanzania; Zambia | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84906890944 | Witwatersrand gold reef evaluation: The 'variancegram' tool | Lemmer C., Mogilnicki M. | 2014 | Journal of the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy | 114 | 8 | None | Geological and Geostatistical Services, Johannesburg, South Africa; Asfaltowa, Warsaw, Poland | Lemmer, C., Geological and Geostatistical Services, Johannesburg, South Africa; Mogilnicki, M., Asfaltowa, Warsaw, Poland | The resolution with which the different categories of resources are forecast for Witwatersrand gold reefs should ideally tie in with block sizes that are optimal in terms of the variability structures of the reefs. A tool, called the 'variancegram', is proposed as a basis for block size choice. A variancegram is intrinsic to the particular reef and mine concerned. A further requirement is the ability to attach global confidence limits to weighted average estimates built up from combinations of local kriged estimates. Approximations to derive global kriging variances based on variables derived from local kriging deliver hugely inflated results if ordinary kriging is used, and markedly better, but not accurate, values if simple kriging is used. These approximations improve as the number of samples used in kriging each block is increased. It is shown that the behaviour of the different components of the global kriging variance with increasing number of samples, all differs, but they all link to the variancegram for the particular reef. The variancegram can thus be used to correct the different components to the values they would have had if all samples were used in kriging each block, and so deliver the 'correct' global kriging variance, even though only a limited number of samples were used in kriging each block. The desirability of having very stable solutions implemented in production systems is taken into account in the proposals. It is anticipated that the same variancegram findings will also hold for other densely sampled deposits, but this remains to be investigated. © The Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 2014. | Classification; Global kriging variance; Resources | Classification (of information); Gold; Reefs; Confidence limit; Kriging; Number of samples; Ordinary kriging; Production system; Resources; Stable solutions; Weighted averages; Interpolation | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84918806212 | Design and positive financial impact of crush pillars on mechanized deep-level mining at South Deep Gold Mine | Watson B.P., Pretorius W., Mpunzi P., Du Plooy M., Matthysen K., Kuijpers J.S. | 2014 | Journal of the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy | 114 | 10 | None | Gold Fields Ltd, South Africa; SRK Consulting (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd, South Africa; Centre for Mining Innovation CSIR, South Africa | Watson, B.P., Gold Fields Ltd, South Africa; Pretorius, W., Gold Fields Ltd, South Africa; Mpunzi, P., SRK Consulting (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd, South Africa; Du Plooy, M., Gold Fields Ltd, South Africa; Matthysen, K., Gold Fields Ltd, South Africa; Kuijpers, J.S., Centre for Mining Innovation CSIR, South Africa | Crush pillars have been incorporated into a mechanized, low-profile trackless system at South Deep Gold Msine. These pillars had to be designed to fail near the face and to ensure that pillar failure is contained within the pillar, to avoid bursting and the risk of high loads being generated during a seismic event, respectively. PoweRite backfill bags were recommended to maintain the integrity of the pillars; except in the main access drives, where the sidewalls were to be supported on 5.6 mm diameter weld mesh and yielding anchors. The results of a trial site investigation exceeded expectations, showing a residual pillar strength of about 37 MPa for a newly formed pillar and 8 MPa for a pillar subjected to seismicity and a closure of more than 300 mm. The introduction of these pillars has improved the rock mass conditions because of the active nature of the support, compared to the previous passive backfill method. Importantly, the pillars have increased mining efficiencies and improved face availability. A potential cost saving to the mine of R140.9 million could be realized over a period of 10 years. © The Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 2014. | Backfill; Crush pillars; De-stress mining | Economic geology; Gold; Gold mines; Backfill; Crush pillars; Deep gold mines; Deep-level mining; Financial impacts; Pillar failures; Residual pillars; Site investigations; Room and pillar mining | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84882829963 | Comparative evaluation of growth and carcass traits of indigenous and crossbred (Dorper×Indigenous) Ethiopian Sheep | Tsegay T., Yoseph M., Mengistu U. | 2013 | Small Ruminant Research | 114 | 42403 | 10.1016/j.smallrumres.2013.07.003 | Haramaya University, School of Animal and Range Sciences, PO Box 138, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia | Tsegay, T., Haramaya University, School of Animal and Range Sciences, PO Box 138, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia; Yoseph, M., Haramaya University, School of Animal and Range Sciences, PO Box 138, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia; Mengistu, U., Haramaya University, School of Animal and Range Sciences, PO Box 138, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia | An experiment was conducted to evaluate growth and carcass traits of indigenous (Blackhead Ogaden [B1] & Hararghe Highland [B2]) and crossbred (Dorper×B1 [B3] & Dorper×B2 [B4]) F1 lambs under different feeding regimens. The feeding regimens constituted feeding hay ad libtum supplemented with 150g/head/day concentrate mix [D1] and hay ad libtum supplemented 350g/head/day concentrate mix [D2]. The experiment was arranged as a 4×2 factorial (4 breeds and 2 levels of nutrition) and laid out completely at random. Hararghe Highland lambs had the highest (P<0.01) TDMI (90.0±1.4), gDM/kgW0.75 compared with B4. Lambs fed D2 had higher TDMI (P<0.0001), TDMI per metabolic body weight (P<0.01) than lambs fed D1. Dorper×Hararghe Highland had greater average daily weight gain (69.4±4.1g), empty body weight, hot (12.9±0.5) and cold carcass weight (12.6±0.5kg) than did both B1 and B2. However, weight loss after chilling was higher (5.7±0.3%) in pure Blackhead Ogaden compared with rest of lamb breeds. This study leads to the conclusion that crossing B2 with Dorper improved feed utilization, growth rate and carcass parameters, but crossing B1 with Dorper provided little benefit since the B1 tend to perform similar to the crosses in some economically important traits. © 2013 Elsevier B.V. | Carcass characteristics; Crossbred lams; Feed intake; Indigenous; Live weight change | Ovis aries | None |
| None | None | Maize production in a changing climate. impacts, adaptation, and mitigation strategies | Cairns J.E., Sonder K., Zaidi P.H., Verhulst N., Mahuku G., Babu R., Nair S.K., Das B., Govaerts B., Vinayan M.T., Rashid Z., Noor J.J., Devi P., San Vicente F., Prasanna B.M. | 2012 | Advances in Agronomy | 114 | None | 10.1016/B978-0-12-394275-3.00006-7 | International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT), Mexico; International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT), Hyderabad, India; Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT), Nairobi, Kenya | Cairns, J.E., International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT), Mexico; Sonder, K., International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT), Mexico; Zaidi, P.H., International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT), Hyderabad, India; Verhulst, N., International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT), Mexico, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Mahuku, G., International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT), Mexico; Babu, R., International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT), Mexico; Nair, S.K., International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT), Mexico; Das, B., International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT), Nairobi, Kenya; Govaerts, B., International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT), Mexico; Vinayan, M.T., International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT), Hyderabad, India; Rashid, Z., International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT), Hyderabad, India; Noor, J.J., International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT), Hyderabad, India; Devi, P., International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT), Hyderabad, India; San Vicente, F., International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT), Mexico; Prasanna, B.M., International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT), Nairobi, Kenya | Plant breeding and improved management options have made remarkable progress in increasing crop yields during the past century. However, climate change projections suggest that large yield losses will be occurring in many regions, particularly within sub-Saharan Africa. The development of climate-ready germplasm to offset these losses is of the upmost importance. Given the time lag between the development of improved germplasm and adoption in farmers' fields, the development of improved breeding pipelines needs to be a high priority. Recent advances in molecular breeding provide powerful tools to accelerate breeding gains and dissect stress adaptation. This review focuses on achievements in stress tolerance breeding and physiology and presents future tools for quick and efficient germplasm development. Sustainable agronomic and resource management practices can effectively contribute to climate change mitigation. Management options to increase maize system resilience to climate-related stresses and mitigate the effects of future climate change are also discussed. © 2012 Elsevier Inc. | Abiotic stress; Adaptation; Biotic stress; Climate change; Climate projections; Maize; Mitigation; Sub-Saharan Africa | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84906895250 | Operation and performance of the Sishen jig plant | Myburgh H.A., Nortje A. | 2014 | Journal of the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy | 114 | 7 | None | Kumba Iron Ore, Centurion Gate, Centurion, South Africa; Kumba Iron Ore, Sishen Iron Ore Mine, South Africa | Myburgh, H.A., Kumba Iron Ore, Centurion Gate, Centurion, South Africa; Nortje, A., Kumba Iron Ore, Sishen Iron Ore Mine, South Africa | Sishen Iron Ore Mine previously used only A-grade material (>60% Fe in situ value) from the pit for beneficiating in the DMS plant to a final product grade of 66% Fe in lump and 65% Fe fine ore. The B-grade (between 50% and 60% Fe) and C-grade material (between 35% and 50% Fe) were stockpiled separately, owing to the inability of the existing DMS plant to beneficiate material at densities higher than 3600 kg/m3. The ability to beneficiate the B-grade material at densities higher than 3600 kg/m3 was evaluated, and air-pulsed jigs were found to be techno-economically feasible and value maximizing. The beneficiation of B-grade material would add to the existing DMS production of 28 Mt/a, with no additional mining cost and only limited costs for the handling of waste and B-material. The objective of the Sishen Expansion Project (SEP), i.e. the jig plant, was to produce 10 Mt/a of saleable product with six modules to the set physical and chemical specifications by 2009. During the start of construction, it was decided to add another two jig modules to the plant to increase production to 13 Mt/a. During commissioning and ramp-up the shortcomings and advantages of the jigs were fully experienced and understood, resulting in many changes to optimize jigging performance. © The Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 2014. | Jig control; Jig efficiency; Jigging; Physical separation; Process optimization | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84881221046 | The effect of barley bran, linseed meal and their mixes supplementation on the performances, carcass characteristics and economic return of Arsi-Bale sheep | Ermias T., Solomon M., Mengistu U. | 2013 | Small Ruminant Research | 114 | 1 | 10.1016/j.smallrumres.2013.05.010 | Madawalabu University, Department of Animal and Range Sciences, P.O. Box 247, Bale-Robe, Ethiopia; Haramaya University, Department of Animal Sciences, P.O. Box 138, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia | Ermias, T., Madawalabu University, Department of Animal and Range Sciences, P.O. Box 247, Bale-Robe, Ethiopia; Solomon, M., Haramaya University, Department of Animal Sciences, P.O. Box 138, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia; Mengistu, U., Haramaya University, Department of Animal Sciences, P.O. Box 138, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia | The study was conducted using 25 yearling male Arsi-Bale sheep to see the effect of barley bran (BB), linseed meal (LSM) and their mixes supplementation on DMI, apparent nutrient digestibility, body weight (BW) gain, feed conversion efficiency (FCE), carcass characteristics and economic return of Arsi-Bale sheep. A completely randomized block design consisting of five treatments and five blocks was used for the study. The basal diet (faba bean haulms) was offered in average of 50% refusal to ensure ad libitum intake. The supplement feeds were offered in DM basis at 08:00 and 16:00. h by dividing the daily offer into two equal parts. The digestibility and feeding trials were conducted for 7 and 90 days, respectively. At the end of the feeding trial, the sheep were slaughtered for carcass analysis. The CP content of offered faba bean haulms, BB and LSM were 7.7%, 9.7% and 24.8%, respectively. Supplementation improved (P < 0.001) DMI, apparent nutrient digestibility, BW gain, carcass characteristics and economic return. Sheep supplemented with two parts of BB and one part of LSM resulted significantly (P < 0.01) the highest net return. Therefore, sheep fed on a basal diet of faba bean haulms supplemented with two parts of BB and one part of LSM is economical. © 2013 Elsevier B.V. | Barley bran; Body weight gain; Carcass; Haulms; Linseed meal | Hordeum; Ovis aries; Vicia faba | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84902456824 | Evaluation of a Versatic 10 acid/Nicksyn™ synergistic system for the recovery of nickel and cobalt from a typical lateritic leach liquor | Du Preez A.C., Kotze M.H. | 2014 | Journal of the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy | 114 | 5 | None | Mintek, Randburg, South Africa | Du Preez, A.C., Mintek, Randburg, South Africa; Kotze, M.H., Mintek, Randburg, South Africa | Mintek has been involved in extensive test work since the early 1990s on the recovery of nickel and cobalt from leach liquors saturated in calcium, using synergistic solvent extraction systems. During this period the Nicksyn™ reagent was developed, optimized, commercially manufactured, and tested by Tati Nickel on a demonstration plant for more than 2800 operating hours. Efficient recovery of nickel without the co-extraction of calcium, thus avoiding gypsum formation in the extraction and stripping circuits, was illustrated. This synergistic system was recently evaluated on a laboratory scale for the recovery of nickel and cobalt from synthetic lateritic sulphate leach liquor containing about 3 g/L nickel, 0.5 g/L cobalt, 0.7 g/L manganese, 20 g/L magnesium, and with calcium at saturation. Extraction and stripping parameters were determined for this feed liquor and are discussed in this paper. ©The Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 2014. | Nickel laterites; Reagents; Solvent extraction; Synergistic systems | Calcium; Cobalt; Leaching; Recovery; Soils; Solvent extraction; Demonstration plants; Gypsum formations; Nickel and cobalts; Nickel laterite; Reagents; Synergistic solvent extraction; Synergistic systems; Versatic 10 acids; Nickel | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84902517279 | Evaluation of different adsorbents for copper removal from cobalt electrolyte | Yahorava V., Kotze M., Auerswald D. | 2014 | Journal of the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy | 114 | 5 | None | Mintek, South Africa; TENOVA Bateman Africa, South Africa | Yahorava, V., Mintek, South Africa; Kotze, M., Mintek, South Africa; Auerswald, D., TENOVA Bateman Africa, South Africa | Ion exchange is considered to be an effective technology for the removal of various impurities from cobalt advance electrolytes. With the correct choice of resin, ion exchange can consistently remove the required impurities to the levels for the production of high-grade cobalt metal. Although ion exchange was in the past used primarily for nickel removal, more recently it has been also considered for the removal of copper, zinc, and cadmium. Generally, granular ion exchange products are used, but Mintek is currently evaluating ion exchange fibres for a number of applications, including the removal of copper from cobalt advance electrolytes. Fibrous ion exchangers have major advantages compared to granular resins in that they have significantly higher reaction rates, and wash water volumes could be limited. Granular and fibrous ion exchangers were evaluated and compared for the removal of copper from cobalt advance electrolyte. A synthetic electrolyte containing 50 g/L cobalt and 50 mg/L copper was used for the test work. Equilibrium isotherms, mini-column tests, and split elution tests were done. The results were used to size a full-scale operation to treat 100 m3/h of electrolyte. The potential cobalt losses or recycle requirements were estimated, and data to calculate indicative operating costs for each adsorbent was generated. This information was used for a techno-economic comparison of granular and fibrous ion exchange systems for the removal of copper from cobalt advance electrolyte. © The Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 2014. | Cobalt electrolyte; Copper; Impurity removal; Ion exchange | Adsorbents; Cobalt; Copper; Electrolytes; Impurities; Ion exchange; Ion exchangers; Resins; Copper removal; Equilibrium isotherms; Fibrous ion exchangers; Full-scale operation; Granular resins; Impurity removal; Ion exchange systems; Techno-economic comparisons; Removal | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84922080297 | Contrasting Aerodynamic Morphology and Geochemistry of Impact Spherules from Lonar Crater, India: Some Insights into Their Cooling History | Ray D., Misra S. | 2014 | Earth, Moon and Planets | 114 | 42371 | 10.1007/s11038-014-9451-9 | PLANEX, Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad, India; Discipline of Geological Sciences, SAEES, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa | Ray, D., PLANEX, Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad, India; Misra, S., Discipline of Geological Sciences, SAEES, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa | The ~50 or 570 ka old Lonar crater, India, was excavated in the Deccan Trap flood basalt of Cretaceous age by the impact of a chondritic asteroid. The impact-spherules known from within the ejecta around this crater are of three types namely aerodynamically shaped sub-mm and mm size spherules, and a sub-mm sized variety of spherule, described as mantled lapilli, having a core consisting of ash-sized grains, shocked basalt and solidified melts surrounded by a rim of ash-sized materials. Although, information is now available on the bulk composition of the sub-mm sized spherules (Misra et al. in Meteorit Planet Sci 7:1001–1018, 2009), almost no idea exists on the latter two varieties. Here, we presented the microprobe data on major oxides and a few trace elements (e.g. Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn) of mm-sized impact spherules in unravelling their petrogenetic evolution. The mm-sized spherules are characterised by homogeneous glassy interior with vesicular margin in contrast to an overall smooth and glassy-texture of the sub-mm sized spherules. Undigested micro-xenocrysts of mainly plagioclase, magnetite and rare clinopyroxene of the target basalt are present only at the marginal parts of the mm-sized spherules. The minor relative enrichment of SiO2 (~3.5 wt% in average) and absence of schlieren structure in these spherules suggest relatively high viscosity of the parent melt droplets of these spherules in comparison to their sub-mm sized counterpart. Chemically homogeneous mm-sized spherule and impact-melt bomb share similar bulk chemical and trace element compositions and show no enrichment in impactor components. The general depletion of Na2O within all the Lonar impactites was resulted due to impact-induced volatilisation effect, and it indicates the solidification temperature of the Lonar impactites close to 1,100 °C. The systematic geochemical variation within the mm-sized spherules (Mg# ~0.38–0.43) could be attributed to various level of mixing between plagioclase-dominated impact melts and ultrafine pyroxene and/or titanomagnetite produced from the target basalt due to impact. Predominance of schlieren and impactor components (mainly Cr, Ni), and nearly absence of vesicles in the sub-mm sized spherules plausibly suggest that these quenched liquid droplets could have produced from the impactor-rich, hotter (~1,100 °C or more) central part of the plume, whereas the morpho-chemistry of the mm-sized spherules induces their formation from the relatively cool outer part of the same impact plume. © 2014, Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht. | Geochemical fractionation; Heterogeneous impact plume; Meteorite geochemistry; mm-Sized impact spherules; Sub-mm sized spherule | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84867030994 | The impact of extraneous matter on the quality of sugar cane (Saccharum officinarum) juice and milling performance | Hoi L.W.S., Martincigh B.S. | 2012 | International Sugar Journal | 114 | 1365 | None | School of Chemistry and Physics, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville Campus, Private Bag X54001, Durban 4000, South Africa; Mauritius Sugar Industry Research Institute, Reduit, Mauritius | Hoi, L.W.S., School of Chemistry and Physics, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville Campus, Private Bag X54001, Durban 4000, South Africa, Mauritius Sugar Industry Research Institute, Reduit, Mauritius; Martincigh, B.S., School of Chemistry and Physics, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville Campus, Private Bag X54001, Durban 4000, South Africa | The quality of sugar cane received at Mauritian sugar factories has deteriorated significantly because of increased amounts of extraneous matter delivered in the cane supply. This leads to poorer juice quality and sucrose losses. In this work controlled addition of extraneous matter to clean cane was effected under laboratory conditions to determine the relative impact of dry and green cane leaves and cane tops on the quality of cane and the resulting juice, and to predict their impact on cane processing. Dry leaves produced the most adverse effect on sugar recovery, boiling house recovery and overall recovery. One unit of dry leaves increased fibre % cane, mass of bagasse % cane and sucrose loss in bagasse % cane and in molasses % cane by 0.57, 1.17, 0.030 and 0.011 units respectively, and decreased sugar recovery by 0.23 units. Cane tops increased the amount of fructose and glucose in mixed juice which reduced the Clerget purity of molasses. However, this increased the mass of molasses % cane, which resulted in a much higher sucrose loss in molasses than would have been produced by the same amount of dry leaves. The ill-effect of green leaves was found to be intermediate between that of dry leaves and cane tops. | Cane quality; Dry and green cane leaves; Extraneous matter; Factory performance; Saccharum officinarum; Trash | Saccharum; Saccharum officinarum | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84899644624 | The validity of the Moxus Modular metabolic system during incremental exercise tests: Impacts on detection of small changes in oxygen consumption | Beltrami F.G., Froyd C., Mamen A., Noakes T.D. | 2014 | European Journal of Applied Physiology | 114 | 5 | 10.1007/s00421-014-2825-x | Sports Science Institute of South Africa, Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, Boundary Road, Newlands 7700, South Africa; Faculty of Teacher Education and Sport, Sogn Og Fjordane University College, Sogndal, Norway; University College of Health Sciences, Campus Kristiania, Oslo, Norway | Beltrami, F.G., Sports Science Institute of South Africa, Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, Boundary Road, Newlands 7700, South Africa; Froyd, C., Sports Science Institute of South Africa, Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, Boundary Road, Newlands 7700, South Africa, Faculty of Teacher Education and Sport, Sogn Og Fjordane University College, Sogndal, Norway; Mamen, A., University College of Health Sciences, Campus Kristiania, Oslo, Norway; Noakes, T.D., Sports Science Institute of South Africa, Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, Boundary Road, Newlands 7700, South Africa | Purpose: We investigated the accuracy of the Moxus Modular Metabolic System (MOXUS) against the Douglas Bag Method (DBM) during high-intensity exercise, and whether the two methods agreed when detecting small changes in V̇ O 2 between two consecutive workloads (ΔV̇O2). Methods: Twelve trained male runners performed two maximal incremental running tests while gas exchange was analyzed simultaneously by the two systems using a serial setup for four consecutive intervals of 30 s on each test. Comparisons between methods were performed for V ̇O2, V ̇E, fractions of expired O2 (FeO2) and CO2 (FeCO2) and ΔV̇O2. Results: The MOXUS produced significant higher (mean ± SD, n = 54) readings for V̇O2 (80 ± 200 mL min-1, p = 0.005) and V̇E (2.9 ± 4.2 L min-1, p < 0.0001), but not FeO2 (-0.01 ± 0.09). Log-transformed 95 % limits of agreement for readings between methods were 94-110 % for V ̇O2, 97-108 % for V ̇E and 99-101 % for FeO2. Δ V ̇O2 for two consecutive measurements was not different between systems (120 ± 110 vs. 90 ± 190 mL min-1 for MOXUS and DBM, respectively, p = 0.26), but agreement between methods was very low (r = 0.25, p = 0.12). Discussion: Although it was tested during high-intensity exercise and short sampling intervals, the MOXUS performed within the acceptable range of accuracy reported for automated analyzers. Most of the differences between equipments were due to differences in V ̇E. Detecting small changes in V ̇O 2 during an incremental test with small changes in workload, however, might be beyond the equipment's accuracy. © 2014 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg. | Criterion validity; Douglas Bag method; Gas exchange; Moxus Modular metabolic system; Oxygen uptake | adolescent; adult; comparative study; exercise; exercise test; human; lung gas exchange; male; oxygen consumption; physiology; procedures; Adolescent; Adult; Exercise; Exercise Test; Humans; Male; Oxygen Consumption; Pulmonary Gas Exchange | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84893415221 | Cassava root peel as a replacement for maize in diets for growing pigs: Effects on energy and nutrient digestibility, performance and carcass characteristics | Akinola O.S., Fanimo A.O., Adeniyi Agunbiade J., Susenbeth A., Schlecht E. | 2013 | Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development in the Tropics and Subtropics | 114 | 2 | None | University of Agriculture Abeokuta, Department of Animal Production and Health, Abeokuta, Nigeria; Olabisi Onabanjo University, Department of Animal Production, Yewa Campus, Ayetoro, Nigeria; Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Institute of Animal Nu | Akinola, O.S., University of Agriculture Abeokuta, Department of Animal Production and Health, Abeokuta, Nigeria; Fanimo, A.O., University of Agriculture Abeokuta, Department of Animal Production and Health, Abeokuta, Nigeria; Adeniyi Agunbiade, J., Olabisi Onabanjo University, Department of Animal Production, Yewa Campus, Ayetoro, Nigeria; Susenbeth, A., Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Institute of Animal Nutrition and Physiology, Kiel, Germany; Schlecht, E., University of Kassel and Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Animal Husbandry in the Tropics and Subtropics, Witzenhausen, Germany | Two experiments were conducted to evaluate cassava root peel (CRP) as diet component for fattening pigs. In the first experiment, ten male pigs were used to investigate the nutrient digestibility and the nutritive value of CRP as replacement for maize in the diet at 0 %, 30 %, 40 %, 50% and 60 %, while supplementing free amino acids (fAA). During two experimental periods, faeces were quantitatively collected and analysed for chemical composition. In the second experiment, 40 pigs received the same diets as in Experiment 1, and daily feed intake and weekly weight changes were recorded. Four pigs per diet were slaughtered at 70 kg body weight to evaluate carcass traits. Digestibility of dry and organic matter, crude protein, acid detergent fibre and gross energy were depressed (p<0.05) at 60% CRP; digestible energy content (MJ kg-1 DM) was 15.4 at 0% CRP and 12.7 at 60% CRP. In the second experiment, CRP inclusion had only a small impact on feed intake, weight gain and feed conversion ratio (p>0.05) as well as on the length of the small intestine and the Longissimus dorsi muscle area. The missing correlation of daily weight gain and feed-to-gain ratio up to a CRP inclusion of 40% indicates that negative effects of CRP on pig growth can be avoided by respecting upper feeding limits. Hence, a combined use of CRP and fAA can reduce feeding costs for small-scale pig farmers in countries where this crop-by product is available in large amounts. | Energy value; Free amino acids; Manihot esculenta; Nigeria; Weight gain | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84907190446 | Impact of variety type and particle size distribution on starch enzymatic hydrolysis and functional properties of tef flours | Abebe W., Collar C., Ronda F. | 2014 | Carbohydrate Polymers | 115 | None | 10.1016/j.carbpol.2014.08.080 | College of Agricultural and Forestry Engineering, University of Valladolid, Av. Madrid 57, Palencia, Spain; Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, P.O. Box 2003, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Food Science Department, Instituto de Agroquímica y Tecnología de Alimentos (CSIC), Avenida Catedrático Agustín Escardino 7, Paterna, Valencia, Spain | Abebe, W., College of Agricultural and Forestry Engineering, University of Valladolid, Av. Madrid 57, Palencia, Spain, Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, P.O. Box 2003, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Collar, C., Food Science Department, Instituto de Agroquímica y Tecnología de Alimentos (CSIC), Avenida Catedrático Agustín Escardino 7, Paterna, Valencia, Spain; Ronda, F., College of Agricultural and Forestry Engineering, University of Valladolid, Av. Madrid 57, Palencia, Spain | Tef grain is becoming very attractive in the Western countries since it is a gluten-free grain with appreciated nutritional advantages. However there is little information of its functional properties and starch digestibility and how they are affected by variety type and particle size distribution. This work evaluates the effect of the grain variety and the mill used on tef flour physico-chemical and functional properties, mainly derived from starch behavior. In vitro starch digestibility of the flours by Englyst method was assessed. Two types of mills were used to obtain whole flours of different granulation. Rice and wheat flours were analyzed as references. Protein molecular weight distribution and flour structure by SEM were also analyzed to justify some of the differences found among the cereals studied. Tef cultivar and mill type exhibited important effect on granulation, bulking density and starch damage, affecting the processing performance of the flours and determining the hydration and pasting properties. The color was darker although one of the white varieties had a lightness near the reference flours. Different granulation of tef flour induced different in vitro starch digestibility. The disc attrition mill led to higher starch digestibility rate index and rapidly available glucose, probably as consequence of a higher damaged starch content. The results confirm the adequacy of tef flour as ingredient in the formulation of new cereal based foods and the importance of the variety and the mill on its functional properties. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. | Functional properties; In vitro starch digestibility; Milling; Tef | Functional properties; In-vitro; Tef; Variety types; Milling (machining); enzyme; starch; vegetable protein; cereal; chemistry; digestion; flour; food handling; hydrolysis; mechanics; metabolism; particle size; pigmentation; Cereals; Digestion; Enzymes; Flour; Food Handling; Hydrolysis; Mechanical Processes; Particle Size; Pigmentation; Plant Proteins; Starch | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-41549099714 | Rumen degradation characteristics of sweet potato foliage and performance by local and crossbred calves fed milk and foliage from three cultivars | Etela I., Larbi A., Bamikole M.A., Ikhatua U.J., Oji U.I. | 2008 | Livestock Science | 115 | 1 | 10.1016/j.livsci.2007.06.004 | Department of Animal Science and Fisheries, University of Port Harcourt, East-West Road, Choba, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria; International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas, Aleppo, Syrian Arab Republic; Department of Animal Scien | Etela, I., Department of Animal Science and Fisheries, University of Port Harcourt, East-West Road, Choba, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria; Larbi, A., International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas, Aleppo, Syrian Arab Republic; Bamikole, M.A., Department of Animal Science, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria; Ikhatua, U.J., Department of Animal Science, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria; Oji, U.I., Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt, Nigeria | The study investigated rumen dry matter (DM) degradability characteristics in a completely randomized design and the effects of milk, sweet potato foliage (SPF) from three cultivars (A = TIS-87/0087; B = TIS-8164; C = TIS-2532.OP.1.13), dried brewers' grains (DBG) and cottonseed meal (CSM) as supplements to Panicum maximum (Panicum) for pre-weaned calves in randomized complete block designs. Diet 1 = milk + SPF-A foliage + Panicum, Diet 2 = milk + SPF-B foliage + Panicum, Diet 3 = milk + SPF-C foliage + Panicum, and Diet 4 = milk + DBG & CSM + Panicum (as control). Dry matter (130 ± 0.4 to 864 ± 3.9 g kg- 1), ash (54 ± 4.2 to 173 ± 2.8 g kg- 1 DM), OM (827 ± 4.2 to 946 ± 5.7 g kg- 1 DM), N (7.4 ± 0.6 to 38.6 ± 1.4 g kg- 1 DM), and NDF (439 ± 1.4 to 774 ± 8.5 g kg- 1 DM) contents were highly significant (P < 0.01). In Trial I, 16 pre-weaned calves were used over 70 d with milk intake (34.8 ± 4.4 ml kg W- 0.75 d- 1), Panicum DMI (22.3 ± 2.77 g kg W- 0.75 d- 1), total DMI (35.7 ± 2.83 g kg W- 0.75 d- 1), and LWG (198 ± 44.6 g d- 1) not significantly different (P > 0.05). Supplement DMI varied (P < 0.05) from 11.6 g kg W- 0.75 d- 1 in Diet 3 to 16.6 g kg W- 0.75 d- 1 in Diet 4. In Trial II, 16 pre-weaned local and crossbred calves were involved over 77 d with initial age of calves, Panicum intake, metabolic DMI, and LWG similar (P > 0.05) among crosses. Birthweight varied (P < 0.05) from 17.3 kg for N'Dama × Jersey crosses to 21.2 kg for White Fulani × Brown Swiss crosses. Supplement and total DMI ranged (P < 0.05) from 172 to 483 g d- 1 for N'Dama × Jersey crosses to 233 and 674 g d- 1 for non-inseminate or purebred calves, respectively. The LWG in the White Fulani × Brown Swiss and the N'Dama × Jersey calves were respectively 30% and 24% better, though not significantly, than purebred calves. In Trial III, rumen DM degradability characteristics of feeds in three N'Dama steers showed no significant differences (P > 0.05) in slowly degradable fraction (b) and rate of degradation of b (c). Soluble fraction (a), 48-h degradation, potential degradability (PD) and effective degradability (ED) varied significantly (P < 0.05) and were lowest in Panicum, but similar for foliage among the three sweet potato cultivars. Panicum fodder showed improvements in degradation characteristics with supplementation. © 2007. | Cultivars; Milk intake; Pre-weaned calves; Rumen degradation characteristics; Sweet potato foliage | Animalia; Dama; Ipomoea batatas; Micropus; Panicum; Panicum maximum | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84954168489 | Influence of medium particle size on the separation performance of an air dense medium fluidized bed separator for coal cleaning | Mohanta S., Meikap B.C. | 2015 | Journal of the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy | 115 | 8 | 10.17159/2411-9717/2015/v115n8a13 | Department of Chemical Engineering, Indira Gandhi Institute of Technology, Sarang, India; Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, India; School of Chemical Engineering, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa | Mohanta, S., Department of Chemical Engineering, Indira Gandhi Institute of Technology, Sarang, India; Meikap, B.C., Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, India, School of Chemical Engineering, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa | Dry beneficiation of coal by air dense medium fluidized bed is an emerging trend. It is widely believed that the particle size of the medium has a significant effect on the separation efficiency. This investigation demonstrates that medium particle size has a major effect on separation efficiency. Experimental results show that different size fractions of the same feed respond differently to the same size fraction of medium solids. Furthermore, a particular size fraction of feed coal responds differently with different size fractions of medium solids. The Ep values and overall metallurgical performance parameters, obtained from experimental results, clearly indicate the superior performance of an air dense medium fluidized bed separator when using-150+106 μ m magnetite powder as the fluidizing medium. These observations reinforce the importance of sizing the medium particle size for the air dense medium fluidized bed. © 2015 The Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. | Air dense medium fluidized bed; Coal beneficiation; Partition curve; Separation efficiency | Air cleaners; Beneficiation; Coal; Coal industry; Concentration (process); Efficiency; Particle size; Separation; Separators; Size separation; Air dense medium fluidized beds; Coal beneficiation; Dry beneficiation of coals; Fluidizing medium; Metallurgical performance; Partition curves; Separation efficiency; Separation performance; Fluidized beds | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84901844904 | Estimation of impact of contagious bovine pleuropneumonia on pastoralists in Kenya | Onono J.O., Wieland B., Rushton J. | 2014 | Preventive Veterinary Medicine | 115 | 04-Mar | 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2014.03.022 | Department of Production and Population Health, Veterinary Epidemiology and Public Health Group, Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, AL97TA Hatfield, United Kingdom; Department of Public Health, Pharmacology and Toxico-logy, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 29053-00625, Nairobi, Kenya; Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation SDC, Mongolia | Onono, J.O., Department of Production and Population Health, Veterinary Epidemiology and Public Health Group, Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, AL97TA Hatfield, United Kingdom, Department of Public Health, Pharmacology and Toxico-logy, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 29053-00625, Nairobi, Kenya; Wieland, B., Department of Production and Population Health, Veterinary Epidemiology and Public Health Group, Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, AL97TA Hatfield, United Kingdom, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation SDC, Mongolia; Rushton, J., Department of Production and Population Health, Veterinary Epidemiology and Public Health Group, Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, AL97TA Hatfield, United Kingdom | Contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP) is an infectious disease which impacts cattle production in sub-Saharan Africa. To adequately allocate resources for its control, there is a need to assess its impact on cattle producers. The present study estimated the impact of CBPP on pastoralists through analysis of various strategies employed for its control in cattle herds including: preventive vaccination, antimicrobial treatment, slaughter of clinical cases and other combinations of these control strategies. The assessment was based on a loss-expenditure frontier framework to identify a control strategy with minimum cost from both expenditures on control strategies and output losses due to mortalities, reduced milk yield, reduced weight gain and reduced fertility rate. The analysis was undertaken in a stochastic spreadsheet model. The control strategy with minimum cost per herd was preventive vaccination with an estimated cost of US$ 193 (90% CI; 170-215) per 100 cows per year, while slaughter of clinical cases had an estimated cost of US$ 912 (90% CI; 775-1055) per 100 cows per year. The impact of CBPP to the nation was estimated at US$ 7.6 (90% CI; 6.5-8.7) million per year. Yet, if all pastoralists whose cattle are at high risk of infection adopted preventive vaccination, the aggregate national impact would be US$ 3.3 (90% CI; 2.9-3.7) million per year, with savings amounting to US$ 4.3 million through reallocation of control expenditures. The analysis predicted that control of CBPP in Kenya is profitable through preventive vaccination. However, further research is recommended for the technical and financial feasibility of implementing a vaccine delivery system in pastoral areas where CBPP is endemic. © 2014 Elsevier B.V. | Cost of disease; Impact assessment; Pastoral production system | Bos; Bovinae; Mycoplasma; animal; animal husbandry; bovine; Cattle Diseases; economics; female; incidence; Kenya; male; microbiology; Mycoplasma mycoides; physiology; Pleuropneumonia, Contagious; prevalence; vaccination; veterinary; Bovinae; Animal Husbandry; Animals; Cattle; Cattle Diseases; Female; Incidence; Kenya; Male; Mycoplasma mycoides; Pleuropneumonia, Contagious; Prevalence; Vaccination | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84939263610 | Target-site resistance mutations (kdr and RDL), but not metabolic resistance, negatively impact male mating competiveness in the malaria vector Anopheles gambiae | Platt N., Kwiatkowska R.M., Irving H., Diabaté A., Dabire R., Wondji C.S. | 2015 | Heredity | 115 | 3 | 10.1038/hdy.2015.33 | Department of Vector Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, United Kingdom; IRSS/Centre Muraz, BP 390 Bobo-Dioulasso Burkina Faso, South Africa | Platt, N., Department of Vector Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, United Kingdom; Kwiatkowska, R.M., Department of Vector Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, United Kingdom; Irving, H., Department of Vector Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, United Kingdom; Diabaté, A., IRSS/Centre Muraz, BP 390 Bobo-Dioulasso Burkina Faso, South Africa; Dabire, R., IRSS/Centre Muraz, BP 390 Bobo-Dioulasso Burkina Faso, South Africa; Wondji, C.S., Department of Vector Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, United Kingdom | The implementation of successful insecticide resistance management strategies for malaria control is currently hampered by poor understanding of the fitness cost of resistance on mosquito populations, including their mating competiveness. To fill this knowledge gap, coupled and uncoupled Anopheles gambiae s.l. males (all M form (Anopheles coluzzii)) were collected from mating swarms in Burkina Faso. This multiple insecticide resistant population exhibited high 1014F kdr R allele frequencies (>60%) and RDL R (>80%) in contrast to the Ace-1 R allele (<6%). Kdr heterozygote males were more likely to mate than homozygote resistant (OR=2.36; P<0.001), suggesting a negative impact of kdr on An. coluzzii mating ability. Interestingly, heterozygote males were also more competitive than homozygote susceptible (OR=3.26; P=0.006), suggesting a heterozygote advantage effect. Similarly, heterozygote RDL R /RDL S were also more likely to mate than homozygote-resistant males (OR=2.58; P=0.007). Furthermore, an additive mating disadvantage was detected in male homozygotes for both kdr/RDL-resistant alleles. In contrast, no fitness difference was observed for the Ace-1 mutation. Comparative microarray-based genome-wide transcription analysis revealed that metabolic resistance did not significantly alter the mating competitiveness of male An. coluzzii mosquitoes. Indeed, no significant difference of expression levels was observed for the main metabolic resistance genes, suggesting that metabolic resistance has a limited impact on male mating competiveness. In addition, specific gene classes/GO terms associated with mating process were detected including sensory perception and peroxidase activity. The detrimental impact of insecticide resistance on mating competiveness observed here suggests that resistance management strategies such as insecticide rotation could help reverse the resistance, if implemented early. © 2015 Macmillan Publishers Limited All rights reserved. | None | allele; competition (ecology); disease vector; gene expression; genome; heterozygosity; malaria; mating success; metabolism; mosquito; mutation; swarming; Burkina Faso; Anopheles gambiae; animal; Anopheles gambiae; Burkina Faso; disease carrier; DNA sequence; gene expression profiling; gene frequency; genetics; genotype; heterozygote; insecticide resistance; male; mosquito; mutation; population genetics; reproductive fitness; sexual behavior; Animals; Anopheles gambiae; Burkina Faso; Gene Expression Profiling; Gene Frequency; Genetic Fitness; Genetics, Population; Genotype; Heterozygote; Insect Vectors; Insecticide Resistance; Male; Mosquito Control; Mutation; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Sexual Behavior, Animal | None |
| None | None | Expected to deliver: Alignment of regulation, training, and actual performance of emergency obstetric care providers in Malawi and Tanzania | Lobis S., Mbaruku G., Kamwendo F., McAuliffe E., Austin J., De Pinho H. | 2011 | International Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics | 115 | 3 | 10.1016/j.ijgo.2011.09.008 | Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States; Ifakara Health Institute, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; College of Medicine, Blantyre, Malawi; Centre for Global Health, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland | Lobis, S., Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States; Mbaruku, G., Ifakara Health Institute, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Kamwendo, F., College of Medicine, Blantyre, Malawi; McAuliffe, E., Centre for Global Health, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland; Austin, J., Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States; De Pinho, H., Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States | Objective: Policy, regulation, training, and support for cadres adopting tasks and roles outside their historical domain have lagged behind the practical shift in service-delivery on the ground. The Health Systems Strengthening for Equity (HSSE) project sought to assess the alignment between national policy and regulation, preservice training, district level expectations, and clinical practice of cadres providing some or all components of emergency obstetric care (EmOC) in Malawi and Tanzania. Methods: A mixed methods approach was used, including key informant interviews, a survey of District Health Management Teams, and a survey of health providers employed at a representative sample of health facilities. Results: A lack of alignment between national policy and regulation, training, and clinical practice was observed in both countries, particularly for cadres with less preservice training; a closer alignment was found between district level expectations and reported clinical practice. There is ineffective use of cadres that are trained and authorized to provide EmOC, but who are not delivering care, especially assisted vaginal delivery. Conclusion: Better alignment between policy and practice, and support and training, and more efficient utilization of clinical staff are needed to achieve the quality health care for which the Malawian and Tanzanian health ministries and governments are accountable. © 2011 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. | Emergency obstetric care; Malawi; Nonphysician clinician; Preservice education; Regulation; Tanzania; Task shifting | article; clinical practice; comparative study; emergency obstetric care; health care personnel; health care policy; health care quality; human; interview; Malawi; midwife; obstetric care; performance; physician; priority journal; registered nurse; Tanzania; training; vaginal delivery; Data Collection; Delivery of Health Care; Delivery, Obstetric; Emergency Medical Services; Female; Health Policy; Humans; Malawi; Maternal Health Services; Pregnancy; Quality of Health Care; Tanzania | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84939950343 | Factors to consider when assessing diurnal variation in sports performance: the influence of chronotype and habitual training time-of-day | Rae D.E., Stephenson K.J., Roden L.C. | 2015 | European Journal of Applied Physiology | 115 | 6 | 10.1007/s00421-015-3109-9 | MRC/UCT Research Unit for Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa | Rae, D.E., MRC/UCT Research Unit for Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Stephenson, K.J., MRC/UCT Research Unit for Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Roden, L.C., Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa | Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare morning and evening time-trial performance, RPE and mood state of trained swimmers, taking into account chronotype, habitual training time-of-day and PERIOD3 (PER3) variable number tandem repeat genotype.Methods: Twenty-six swimmers (18 males, age: 32.6 ± 5.7 years) swam 200 m time trials (TT) at 06h30 and 18h30 in a randomised order.Results: There was no difference between morning and evening performance when the swimmers were considered as a single group (06h30: 158.8 ± 22.7 s, 18h30: 158.5 ± 22.0 s, p = 0.611). However, grouping swimmers by chronotype and habitual training time-of-day allowed us to detect significant diurnal variation in performance, such that morning-type swimmers and those who habitually train in the morning were faster in the 06h30 TT (p = 0.036 and p = 0.011, respectively). This was accompanied by lower ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) scores post-warm-up, higher vigour and lower fatigues scores prior to the 06h30 TT in morning-type swimmers or those who trained in the morning. Similarly, neither types and those who trained in the evenings had lower fatigue and higher vigour prior to the 18h30 TT.Conclusions: It appears that both chronotype and habitual training time-of-day need to be considered when assessing diurnal variation in performance. From a practical point of view, athletes and coaches should be aware of the potentially powerful effect of training time on shifting time-of-day variation in performance. © 2015, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg. | Chronobiology; Habitual training; Morning types; Neither types; PER3 VNTR | None | National Research Foundation; MRC, National Research Foundation |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84880286999 | Design and evaluation of an electrochemical immunosensor for measles serodiagnosis using measles-specific Immunoglobulin G antibodies | Mashazi P., Vilakazi S., Nyokong T. | 2013 | Talanta | 115 | None | 10.1016/j.talanta.2013.06.036 | Nanotechnology Innovation Centre, Advanced Materials Division, Mintek, Private Bag X3015, Randburg 2125, South Africa; Nanotechnology Innovation Centre, Sensors, Chemistry Department, Rhodes University, P.O. Box 94, Grahamstown 6140, South Africa | Mashazi, P., Nanotechnology Innovation Centre, Advanced Materials Division, Mintek, Private Bag X3015, Randburg 2125, South Africa, Nanotechnology Innovation Centre, Sensors, Chemistry Department, Rhodes University, P.O. Box 94, Grahamstown 6140, South Africa; Vilakazi, S., Nanotechnology Innovation Centre, Advanced Materials Division, Mintek, Private Bag X3015, Randburg 2125, South Africa; Nyokong, T., Nanotechnology Innovation Centre, Sensors, Chemistry Department, Rhodes University, P.O. Box 94, Grahamstown 6140, South Africa | The design of electrochemical immunosensors for the detection of measles-specific antibodies is reported. The measles-antigen modified surface was used as an antibody capture surface. The detection of measles-specific IgG antibodies was accomplished using the voltammetric method and horse-radish peroxidase (HRP) labeled secondary antibody (anti-IgG) as a detecting antibody. The potential applications of the designed immunosensor were evaluated in buffer and serum solutions. The immunosensor exhibited good linearity at concentrations less than 100 ng mL-1 with R2=0.997 and the limit of detection of 6.60 ng mL-1 at 3σ. The potential application of the immunosensor was evaluated in the deliberately infected human and newborn calf serum samples with measles-IgG antibody mimicking real-life samples. The designed electrochemical immunosensor could differentiate between infected and un-infected serum samples as higher catalytic currents were obtained for infected serum samples. © 2013 Elsevier B.V. | Horse-radish peroxidase; Immunosensors; Labeled-detection; Measles-antigen; Measles-specific antibodies | Design and evaluations; Electrochemical immunosensors; Horse-radish peroxidase; Labeled-detection; Limit of detection; Measles-antigen; Secondary antibodies; Voltammetric methods; Antigens; Body fluids; Chemical detection; Immunosensors; Antibodies; anti IgG; anti-IgG; antiidiotypic antibody; horseradish peroxidase; immunoglobulin G; virus antibody; virus antigen; animal; article; blood; cattle; chemistry; equipment design; genetic procedures; Horse-radish peroxidase; human; immunoassay; immunology; immunosensor; Labeled-detection; limit of detection; measles; Measles-antigen; Measles-specific antibodies; newborn; virology; Horse-radish peroxidase; Immunosensors; Labeled-detection; Measles-antigen; Measles-specific antibodies; Animals; Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; Antibodies, Viral; Antigens, Viral; Biosensing Techniques; Cattle; Equipment Design; Horseradish Peroxidase; Humans; Immunoassay; Immunoglobulin G; Infant, Newborn; Limit of Detection; Measles | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84962418446 | The impact of coal quality on the efficiency of a spreader stoker boiler | Taole R.L., Falcon R.M.S., Bada S.O. | 2015 | Journal of the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy | 115 | 12 | 10.17159/2411-9717/2015/v115n12a3 | School of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa | Taole, R.L., School of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Falcon, R.M.S., School of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Bada, S.O., School of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa | This research establishes the combustion characteristics and efficiencies of South African coals of different qualities and their impact on the performance of a grate spreader stoker boiler. Four different coal samples were tested in the particle size range 6.25 × 25 mm. A detailed investigation involving the boiler operating conditions associated with the physicochemical characteristics of the coals, petrographic properties, and temperature profiles from a thermal camera was conducted. The thermal analysis indicates that there is a strong correlation between thermographic data (combustion behaviour and maximum flame temperatures) and petrographic composition of the coals. This association is not reflected in calorific values and proximate analyses of the coals. In terms of combustion efficiencies, all coals yielded relatively high amounts of unburnt carbon in the fly ash (about 36.90%). The highest steam output obtained was 41.76 t/h at the highest combustion efficiency of 79.13%. The thermographic results obtained from this study led to the conclusion that South African low-grade Gondwana coals undergo delayed ignition and burn at unusually high temperatures (1500-1800°C), which is in contrast to the original belief that the combustion temperature is around 1400°C. © The Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 2015. | Coal; Combustion; Macerals; Thermographic camera; Travelling grate | Boilers; Cameras; Carbon; Coal; Combustion; Efficiency; Fly ash; Ignition; Infrared devices; Particle size; Spreaders; Thermoanalysis; Combustion characteristics; Combustion efficiencies; Macerals; Maximum flame temperature; Petrographic composition; Physicochemical characteristics; Thermographic cameras; Travelling grate; Coal combustion | None |
| None | None | Publication productivity and scholarly impact of academic librarians in Tanzania: A scientometric analysis | Sife A.S., Lwoga E.T. | 2014 | New Library World | 115 | 42686 | 10.1108/NLW-04-2014-0038 | Sokoina National Agricultural Library, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania; Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania | Sife, A.S., Sokoina National Agricultural Library, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania; Lwoga, E.T., Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania | Purpose – The purpose of this scientometric study was to conduct an analysis of the research productivity and scholarly impact of academic librarians in Tanzania for a period of 30 years from 1984 to 2013. Design/methodology/approach – Data were obtained using the Publish or Perish software which uses Google Scholar to retrieve scholars’ publications, citations and related metrics. For each librarian, the retrieved metrics were the number of papers, papers per author, citation counts, average citations per paper, average papers per author, average citations per year, average citations per author and four indices, namely, the h-index, g-index, Hc-index and the HI-norm. Findings – The study findings indicate that 434 publications were recorded for all librarians, giving an average of 14.5 publications per year. The year 2008 had the most (9.9 per cent) publications followed by 2010 (7.8 per cent), while the years 1985 and 1987 had the lowest (0.2 per cent) number of publications. About 43 per cent of the publications were single-authored and the degree of collaboration was 0.57. The top-ten ranked librarians contributed more than half (53.2 per cent) of all publications, although they showed considerable variation among different metrics. Only three journal articles had 25 or more citations. Originality/value – Previous studies on the topic are scarce, and, therefore, this paper provides useful recommendations to library and information science (LIS) schools, libraries and universities to improve research productivity of their academic librarians in Tanzania and other countries with a similar setting. ©, Emerald Group Publishing Limited. | Academic librarians; Citation analysis; Publication patterns; Research productivity; Scientometric analysis; Tanzania | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84901371918 | Family evaluation for quality traits in South African sugarcane breeding programmes | Zhou M., Lichakane M., Joshi S.V. | 2013 | International Sugar Journal | 115 | 1374 | None | South African Sugarcane Research Institute, P/Bag X02, Mount Edgecombe, South Africa | Zhou, M., South African Sugarcane Research Institute, P/Bag X02, Mount Edgecombe, South Africa; Lichakane, M., South African Sugarcane Research Institute, P/Bag X02, Mount Edgecombe, South Africa; Joshi, S.V., South African Sugarcane Research Institute, P/Bag X02, Mount Edgecombe, South Africa | Family evaluation involves the selection or rejection of entire families of seedlings based on information derived from replicated family plots, and is widely practised in sugarcane breeding programmes. After family evaluation, individual seedling selection is restricted to the selected elite families. Family evaluation data is also used to determine breeding values of parent populations. The objectives of this study were to determine the effectiveness of family evaluation and determine potential selection gains over time for quality traits across South African Sugarcane Research Institute regional breeding and selection programmes. Data for various quality traits were collected from Stage I (Single Stools) of all the regional breeding programmes and analysed using the Mixed Procedure of the Statistical Analysis System. There were highly significant (P<0.001) differences between families for the effectiveness of family selection. There were increasing family effects differences with advancing series, indicating the cumulative benefits of family selection. Estimated recoverable crystal (ERC) % cane, Pol % cane and Brix % cane produced the largest gains from family selection, indicating that the current approach is effective. Brix % cane, a trait that can be easily measured with a hand held refractometer, could be used to evaluate within-family variability, an important parameter for family evaluation. The 12-month programmes produced larger gains from family selection than the longer cycle programmes. Future studies should determine the breeding values of parent populations. | Broad sense heritability; Covariance parameters; Plant breeding; Selection gains; Sugarcane | Population statistics; Sugar cane; Breeding programmes; Broad-sense heritability; Covariance parameters; Cumulative benefits; Plant breeding; Research institutes; Selection gains; Statistical analysis systems; Quality control | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84916625012 | Evaluation of Moddus® as a new chemical ripener for the South African sugar industry: Preliminary findings | Van Heerden P.D.R. | 2013 | International Sugar Journal | 115 | 1375 | None | South African Sugarcane Research Institute, P/Bag X02, Mount Edgecombe, South Africa | Van Heerden, P.D.R., South African Sugarcane Research Institute, P/Bag X02, Mount Edgecombe, South Africa | Information from Brazil and Australia indicates that trinexapac-ethyl (Moddus®) is an excellent new sugarcane ripener. However, there is no information on the response of South African varieties to this chemical. The objective of this investigation was to establish the ripening potential of this chemical in local varieties and to compare responses with the current industry standards, Ethephon® and Fusilade Forte®. Evaluation was conducted in drip irrigated plant crops of N27 and N32 at Heatonville and Pongola respectively. Each trial was laid out in a complete randomised replicated design. Ripener treatments comprised (a) untreated control, (b) Ethephon® applied 84 days before harvest (DBH), (c) Fusilade Forte® applied 43 DBH, (d) Moddus® applied at two rates 70 DBH, (e) Ethephon® and Fusilade Forte® applied as a combination treatment, and (f) Moddus® (at two rates) and Fusilade Forte® applied as combination treatments. At Pongola the various treatments improved estimated recoverable crystal (ERC) yields in N32 by between 1.0-4.3 t/ha compared with the control. Best results were achieved in the combination treatments. However, the two Moddus® -Fusilade Forte® combination treatments outperformed the standard Ethephon®-Fusilade Forte® combination treatment by 1.0 t ERC/ha. At Heatonville ripener responses in N27 were smaller with improvements ranging between 0.5-1.0 t ERC/ha and without clear treatment differences. These preliminary results indicate that Moddus® is an effective ripener and that a Moddus® -Fusilade Forte® combination treatment could increase ERC yields considerably more than current industry standards. Results will be verified in the first ratoon crops at both locations. | Cane quality; Cane yield; Chemical ripening; Moddus®; Sugar yield; Sugarcane | Crops; Sugar cane; Cane yield; Chemical ripening; Combination treatments; Industry standards; Ratoon crops; Sugar yield; Trinexapac-ethyl; Untreated control; Sugar industry | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84958688672 | Identification of key performance areas in the southern African surface mining delivery environment | Dougall A.W., Mmola T.M. | 2015 | Journal of the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy | 115 | 11 | 10.17159/2411-9717/2015/v115n11a3 | University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa | Dougall, A.W., University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa; Mmola, T.M., University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa | The global resources and commodities market has become highly competitive. While southern Africa's abundance of minerals resources is still unrivalled, it has lost considerable dominance in terms of production output. The sustainability of southern Africa's mining industry is increasingly becoming dependent on its ability to manage the performance of its operations well. A valuable tool for monitoring and managing performance is the use of key performance areas (KPAs)-which are those areas of performance that are reflected explicitly or implicitly in the vision and strategies of an organization and reflect the critical success factors of the organization. This paper is a review of key performance areas in the southern African mining delivery environment. The KPAs discussed in this paper have been identified by comparing KPAs of the several mining houses engaged in surface mining operations in southern Africa and then extracting those KPAs that are common to most of them. Although the authors support the view that each organization should develop KPAs to specifically fit its needs, the study reveals that five KPAs-safety and health, costs, product quality, fleet management, and delivery should form a default list that covers the key areas that any organization should consider when choosing KPAs. KPIs are those subsets of KPAs that we measure in order to manage KPAs. © 2015 The Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. | Delivery; Key performance areas; Performance measurement | Fleet operations; Sustainable development; Commodities market; Critical success factor; Delivery; Delivery environment; Key performance areas; Performance measurements; Production outputs; Safety and healths; Mining | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84937118512 | Evaluation of some optimum moisture and binder conditions for coal fines briquetting | Venter P., Naude N. | 2015 | Journal of the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy | 115 | 4 | None | University of Pretoria, South Africa | Venter, P., University of Pretoria, South Africa; Naude, N., University of Pretoria, South Africa | Coal mining is a thriving industry and 53% of the coal mined in South Africa is used for electricity generation. Mechanization has made coal mining more efficient, but fines generation has subsequently increased. Up to 6% of the run of mine material can report to the -200 μm fraction. Common problems associated with fines handling include dust formation, storage problems, and high moisture levels. A method to turn this material into a saleable product instead of stockpiling it can add value to a company. Briquetting is a pressure agglomeration method where loose material is compacted into a dense mass (FEECO International, 2014). The briquettes must be able to withstand rigorous handling and transport operations without disintegrating. This study aims to investigate the optimum binder and moisture conditions required to produce a mechanically strong briquette using two different binders - a PVA powder (binder A) and a starch powder (binder B). It was found that for binder A the optimum moisture level was 12% to 14%. At this moisture level the greatest compression strength gains were observed, and low amounts of fines produced in impact and abrasion tests. The minimum amount of binder added while still obtaining a strong briquette was 0.5% binder A. For binder B the optimum moisture level was also 12% and the minimum amount of Binder B to be added was found to be 1%. Briquettes that were dried outside reached their peak strength after about four days, whereas the briquettes that dried inside took about 20 days to reach their strength plateau. Hardly any degradation took place on the surface of the binder A film after exposure of 300 hours of artificial weathering. Thermogravimetric analysis confirmed that neither binder A nor binder B will add to the ash content of the coal fines, as both binders totally decompose above 530°C. Binder B yielded stronger briquettes after 15 days and also generated less fines. It is therefore superior to binder A and would be recommended for further use. © The Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 2015. | Binder; Briquetting; Coal fines; Moisture level | Briquets; Briquetting; Coal; Coal industry; Coal mines; Machinery; Moisture; Moisture determination; Thermogravimetric analysis; Transportation; Weathering; Artificial weathering; Coal fines; Compression strength; Electricity generation; Moisture conditions; Moisture level; Pressure agglomeration; Transport operations; Binders | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84905051742 | Economic impact of foot and mouth disease outbreaks on smallholder farmers in Ethiopia | Jemberu W.T., Mourits M.C.M., Woldehanna T., Hogeveen H. | 2014 | Preventive Veterinary Medicine | 116 | 42371 | 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2014.06.004 | Business Economics Group, Wageningen University, Hollandseweg 1, 6706 KN Wageningen, Netherlands; Department of Veterinary Epidemiology and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Gondar, P.O. Box 196, Gondar, Ethiopia; Department of Economics, College of Business and Economics, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | Jemberu, W.T., Business Economics Group, Wageningen University, Hollandseweg 1, 6706 KN Wageningen, Netherlands, Department of Veterinary Epidemiology and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Gondar, P.O. Box 196, Gondar, Ethiopia; Mourits, M.C.M., Business Economics Group, Wageningen University, Hollandseweg 1, 6706 KN Wageningen, Netherlands; Woldehanna, T., Department of Economics, College of Business and Economics, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Hogeveen, H., Business Economics Group, Wageningen University, Hollandseweg 1, 6706 KN Wageningen, Netherlands | Foot and mouth disease is endemic in Ethiopia with occurrences of several outbreaks every year. Quantitative information about the impact of the disease on smallholder farming systems in the country is, however, scarce. This study presents a quantitative assessment of the clinical and direct economic impacts of foot and mouth disease outbreaks on household level in smallholder livestock farming systems. Impacts were assessed based on data obtained from case outbreaks in cattle in crop-livestock mixed and pastoral smallholder farming systems that occurred in 2012 and 2013. Data were collected by using questionnaires administered to 512 smallholder farmers in six districts within two administrate zones that represent the two smallholder farming systems. Foot and mouth disease morbidity rates of 85.2% and 94.9% at herd level; and 74.3% and 60.8% at animal level in the affected herds were determined for crop-livestock mixed system and pastoral system, respectively. The overall and calf specific mortality rates were 2.4% and 9.7% for the crop-livestock mixed system, and 0.7% and 2.6% for the pastoral system, respectively. Herd level morbidity rate was statistically significantly higher in the pastoral system than in the crop-livestock mixed system (P<. 0.001). The economic losses of foot and mouth disease outbreak due to milk loss, draft power loss and mortality were on average USD 76 per affected herd and USD 9.8 per head of cattle in the affected herds in crop-livestock mixed system; and USD 174 per affected herd and USD 5.3 per head of cattle in the affected herds in the pastoral system. The herd level economic losses were statistically significantly higher for the pastoral system than for the crop-livestock mixed system (P<. 0.001). The major loss due to the disease occurred as a result of milk losses and draft power losses whereas mortality losses were relatively low. Although the presented estimates on the economic losses accounted only for the visible direct impacts of the disease on herd level, these conservative estimates signify a potential socioeconomic gain from a control intervention. © 2014 Elsevier B.V. | Cattle; Economic; Ethiopia; Foot and mouth disease; Morbidity; Smallholder farming system | Animalia; Bos; Bovinae; animal; animal husbandry; bovine; Cattle Diseases; economics; epidemic; Ethiopia; Foot and mouth disease virus; Foot-and-Mouth Disease; physiology; veterinary; virology; Bovinae; Animal Husbandry; Animals; Cattle; Cattle Diseases; Disease Outbreaks; Ethiopia; Foot-and-Mouth Disease; Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77955274098 | Evaluation of flavonoids from Dorstenia barteri for their antimycobacterial, antigonorrheal and anti-reverse transcriptase activities | Kuete V., Ngameni B., Mbaveng A.T., Ngadjui B., Meyer J.J.M., Lall N. | 2010 | Acta Tropica | 116 | 1 | 10.1016/j.actatropica.2010.06.005 | Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Dschang, P.O. Box 67, Dschang, Cameroon; Department of Pharmacy and Traditional Pharmacopoeia, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Science, University of Yaoundé I, P.O. Box 8664, Yaoundé, Cameroon; Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé I, P.O. Box 812, Yaoundé, Cameroon; Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé I, P.O. Box 812, Yaoundé, Cameroon; Department of Plant Science, Faculty of Agricultural and Biological Science, Pretoria 0002, South Africa | Kuete, V., Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Dschang, P.O. Box 67, Dschang, Cameroon, Department of Plant Science, Faculty of Agricultural and Biological Science, Pretoria 0002, South Africa; Ngameni, B., Department of Pharmacy and Traditional Pharmacopoeia, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Science, University of Yaoundé I, P.O. Box 8664, Yaoundé, Cameroon; Mbaveng, A.T., Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé I, P.O. Box 812, Yaoundé, Cameroon; Ngadjui, B., Department of Pharmacy and Traditional Pharmacopoeia, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Science, University of Yaoundé I, P.O. Box 8664, Yaoundé, Cameroon, Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé I, P.O. Box 812, Yaoundé, Cameroon; Meyer, J.J.M., Department of Plant Science, Faculty of Agricultural and Biological Science, Pretoria 0002, South Africa; Lall, N., Department of Plant Science, Faculty of Agricultural and Biological Science, Pretoria 0002, South Africa | The aim of this study was to evaluate the antimycobacterial, antigonorrheal and reverse transcriptase activities of five flavonoids: isobachalcone (IBC); kanzanol C (KAN); 4-hydroxylonchocarpin (4-LCP); stipulin (SPL) and amentoflavone (AMF) from Dortenia barteri, together with the crude extract from this plant. The Agar disc diffusion, broth microdilution, microplate alamar blue assay (MABA), radiometric respiratory technique using BACTEC 460 system and the reverse transcriptase (RT) assay were used for the investigations. The results of the antimycobacterial assay showed that the crude extract and compounds were able to prevent the growth of Mycobacteria with MIC<10μg/ml being recorded with IBC on M. tuberculosis. Results of the killing rate experiment revealed that total inhibition effect on M. tuberculosis H37Rv strain was noted with IBC and SPL at day 9 when tested at 4× MIC. The results of the antigonorrheal assay indicated that MIC values below 10μg/ml were also recorded with IBC on all the tested N. gonorrhoeae strains, meanwhile good activities (MIC<10μg/ml) were also noted with the extract, KAN, 4-LCP and SPL on some of these strains. The anti-reverse transcriptase activities of extract and compounds also demonstrated that all samples were able to inhibit at various extents the reverse transcriptase activity, with IBC and 4-LCP showing the best effects. The overall results of this work provided evidence that the crude extract as well as some flavonoids from D. barteri could be potential sources of new antimicrobial drug against tuberculosis (TB), gonorrhea and probably the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. © 2010 Elsevier B.V. | Anti-reverse transcriptase; Antigonorrheal; Antimycobacterial; Dortenia barteri; Flavonoids | 4 hydroxylonchocarpin; amentoflavone; Dorstenia barteri extract; flavonoid; isobachalcone; kanzanol C; plant extract; RNA directed DNA polymerase; stipulin; unclassified drug; bacterium; metabolite; pathogen; plant; tuberculosis; acquired immune deficiency syndrome; antibacterial activity; article; bacterial growth; bactericidal activity; broth dilution; controlled study; disk diffusion; Dorstenia barteri; drug structure; enzyme activity; enzyme assay; enzyme inhibition; gonorrhea; growth inhibition; Human immunodeficiency virus; minimum inhibitory concentration; Moraceae; Mycobacterium; Neisseria gonorrhoeae; nonhuman; radiometry; tuberculosis; Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Analysis of Variance; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Flavonoids; Gonorrhea; Humans; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Moraceae; Mycobacterium smegmatis; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; Neisseria gonorrhoeae; Oxazines; Phytotherapy; Plant Extracts; Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors; Tuberculosis; Xanthenes; Corynebacterineae; Dorstenia barteri; Mycobacterium tuberculosis | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84890353141 | Stable isotope evidence for impact-related pseudotachylite formation at vredefort by local melting of dry rocks | Harris C., Fourie D.S., Fagereng A. | 2013 | South African Journal of Geology | 116 | 1 | 10.2113/gssajg.116.1.101 | Department of Geological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa | Harris, C., Department of Geological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa; Fourie, D.S., Department of Geological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa; Fagereng, A., Department of Geological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa | We have determined the major element composition, δ18O and δD values, and water content of impact-related granophyre, and pseudotachylite, from various Vredefort Dome localities, aiming to constrain the mechanism of melt formation and the relationship between pseudotachylite and granophyre. The granitoid gneisses and the pseudotachylites they host have almost identical average δD and δ180 values (-67 and 8.6%o, and -67 and 8.4%o, respectively). The water contents of the pseudotachylites are extremely low, consistent with the isolation of the pseudotachylites from free water during and since their formation. There is a bimodal distribution of water content in pseudotachylites, with one group averaging 0.28 ± 0.03 weight % (n = 9) and the other 0.59 ± 0.06 weight % (n = 9). The Vredefort granophyre, which has been interpreted as the pooled product of impact melting, has average δD and δ180 values of -69%o and 7.6%o, respectively (n = 2) and also has a very low water content (0.23 weight %). Differences in major element and O-isotope composition between the granophyre and the pseudotachylites are not consistent with a simple relationship, but can be explained by a higher component of greenstone in the granophyre. A strong correlation between host and pseudotachylite δ18O values is consistent with a system where the melt composition is controlled by the immediate surroundings. The pseudotachylites with higher water content have slightly higher δ18O values (9.1 compared to 8.1‰). This is opposite to the relationship predicted if water content is related to the proportion of biotite entering the melt. It is possible, instead, that this relates to the incorporation of higher proportions of material altered at low temperature in the high-water group. © 2013 June Geological Society of South Africa. | None | formation mechanism; granophyre; greenstone; impact structure; melt; metamorphism; pseudotachylite; stable isotope; water content; Free State; South Africa; Vredefort Dome | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84879115517 | The potential impact of highly active antiretroviral therapy on the treatment and epidemiology of ranula in human immunodeficiency virus-positive patients | Syebele K., Munzhelele T.I. | 2013 | Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology and Oral Radiology | 116 | 1 | 10.1016/j.oooo.2013.02.016 | Department of Maxillofacial and Oral Surgery, University of Pretoria, P.O. Box 1266, Pretoria 0001, South Africa; Maxillo-Facial and Oral Surgery, University of Pretoria (1 Military Hospital Division), South Africa | Syebele, K., Department of Maxillofacial and Oral Surgery, University of Pretoria, P.O. Box 1266, Pretoria 0001, South Africa; Munzhelele, T.I., Maxillo-Facial and Oral Surgery, University of Pretoria (1 Military Hospital Division), South Africa | Objectives: The study's aim was to assess the potential therapeutic effect of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) on ranulas in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive patients. Study Design: The study includes a retrospective observation of 3 patients who were initially part of a prospective study on the comparative effect of HAART on ranulas in 14 HIV-positive patients. These patients were clinically monitored while pursuing the medical treatment with HAART. Neither a fine needle aspiration nor a surgical procedure was performed. Clinical photographs were used for monitoring of any reduction in the ranula size. The effect of HAART on ranula was assessed at 3, 6 and 12 month. Results: A complete resolution of the ranula lesion was noticed in the 3 HIV-positive selected patients. These results were observed between 6 and 12 months period. Conclusion: This study suggests that HAART might present a potential therapeutic effect on ranula in HIV-positive patients. © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. | None | adult; article; case report; child; female; highly active antiretroviral therapy; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; mucocele; preschool child; retrospective study; salivary gland disease; Adult; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; Child; Child, Preschool; Female; HIV Seropositivity; Humans; Ranula; Retrospective Studies; Salivary Gland Diseases | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84905841579 | Evaluation of the two-photon absorption characteristics of GaSb/GaAs quantum rings | Wagener M.C., Carrington P.J., Botha J.R., Krier A. | 2014 | Journal of Applied Physics | 116 | 4 | 10.1063/1.4891223 | Department of Physics, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Port Elizabeth 6031, South Africa; Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, University College London, London, United Kingdom; Department of Physics, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YB, United Kingdom | Wagener, M.C., Department of Physics, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Port Elizabeth 6031, South Africa; Carrington, P.J., Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, University College London, London, United Kingdom; Botha, J.R., Department of Physics, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Port Elizabeth 6031, South Africa; Krier, A., Department of Physics, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YB, United Kingdom | The optical parameters describing the sub-bandgap response of GaSb/GaAs quantum rings solar cells have been obtained from photocurrent measurements using a modulated pseudo-monochromatic light source in combination with a second, continuous photo-filling source. By controlling the charge state of the quantum rings, the photoemission cross-sections describing the two-photon sub-bandgap transitions could be determined independently. Temperature dependent photo-response measurements also revealed that the barrier for thermal hole emission from the quantum rings is significantly below the quantum ring localisation energy. The temperature dependence of the sub-bandgap photo-response of the solar cell is also described in terms of the photo- and thermal-emission characteristics of the quantum rings. © 2014 AIP Publishing LLC. | None | Energy gap; Solar cells; Two photon processes; Hole emission; Localisation; Optical parameter; Photocurrent measurement; Photoresponses; Temperature dependence; Temperature dependent; Two-photon absorptions; Nanorings | EP/G070334/1, EPSRC, Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84936874996 | Development and evaluation of a rapid multiplex-PCR based system for Mycobacterium tuberculosis diagnosis using sputum samples | Mutingwende I., Vermeulen U., Steyn F., Viljoen H., Grobler A. | 2015 | Journal of Microbiological Methods | 116 | None | 10.1016/j.mimet.2015.06.007 | DST/NWU Preclinical Drug Development Platform, Faculty of Health Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa; Statistical Consultation Service, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa; Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, United States | Mutingwende, I., DST/NWU Preclinical Drug Development Platform, Faculty of Health Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa; Vermeulen, U., DST/NWU Preclinical Drug Development Platform, Faculty of Health Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa; Steyn, F., Statistical Consultation Service, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa; Viljoen, H., Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, United States; Grobler, A., DST/NWU Preclinical Drug Development Platform, Faculty of Health Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa | Global tuberculosis (TB) control and eradication is hampered by the unavailability of simple, rapid and affordable diagnostic tests deployable at low infrastructure microscopy centers. We have developed and evaluated the performance of a nucleic acid amplification test for detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB), the NWU-TB test, in clinical sputum specimens from 306 patients with suspected pulmonary tuberculosis. The test involves sputum sample processing using a Lyser device within 7. min, followed by rapid multiplex-PCR on a fast thermal cycler within 25. min, and amplicon resolution on agarose gel electrophoresis. Samples were also examined for presence of MTB using smear microscopy, GeneXpert and MGIT culture. Results were assessed in comparison to a MGIT culture as gold standard. Of the 306 patients, 174 had a previous TB history or already on treatment, and 132 were TB naïve cases. The NWU-TB system was found to have an overall sensitivity and specificity of 80.8% (95% CI: 75-85.7) and 75.6% (95% CI: 64.9-84.4) respectively, in comparison to 85.3% (95% CI: 79.9-89.6) and 73.2% (95% CI: 62.2-82.4) respectively for GeneXpert; and 62.1% (95% CI: 55.3-68.4) and 56.1% (95% CI: 44.7-67) respectively for smear microscopy. The study has shown that the NWU-TB system allows detection of TB in less than two hours and can be utilized at low infrastructure sites to provide quick and accurate diagnosis at a very low cost. © 2015. | NWU-TB system; PCR; Rapid diagnosis; Sputum; Tuberculosis | adult; Article; bacterium culture; controlled study; device safety; diagnostic accuracy; diagnostic test accuracy study; female; GeneXpert; human; lung tuberculosis; major clinical study; male; molecular diagnostics; multiplex polymerase chain reaction; mycobacterial growth indicator tube culture; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; polymerase chain reaction system; predictive value; prevalence; priority journal; prospective study; sensitivity and specificity; single blind procedure; sputum cytodiagnosis; Mycobacterium tuberculosis | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77956480039 | Effects of Ethidium® (homidium bromide) on female reproductive performance of laboratory-reared tsetse flies, Glossina morsitans morsitans Westwood (Diptera: Glossinidae) | Kibugu J.K., Muchiri M.W., Ngae G.N., Mumba A.M., Kiragu J.M. | 2010 | Acta Tropica | 116 | 2 | 10.1016/j.actatropica.2010.07.007 | Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, Trypanosomiasis Research Centre (KARI-TRC), P.O. Box 362, Kikuyu, Kenya; Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, Agricultural Research Centre, Muguga South, P.O. Box 30148, Nairobi, Kenya | Kibugu, J.K., Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, Trypanosomiasis Research Centre (KARI-TRC), P.O. Box 362, Kikuyu, Kenya; Muchiri, M.W., Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, Trypanosomiasis Research Centre (KARI-TRC), P.O. Box 362, Kikuyu, Kenya; Ngae, G.N., Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, Agricultural Research Centre, Muguga South, P.O. Box 30148, Nairobi, Kenya; Mumba, A.M., Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, Trypanosomiasis Research Centre (KARI-TRC), P.O. Box 362, Kikuyu, Kenya; Kiragu, J.M., Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, Trypanosomiasis Research Centre (KARI-TRC), P.O. Box 362, Kikuyu, Kenya | Ethidium® (homidium bromide) is a trypanocide likely to be encountered as a violative residue in blood collected from abattoirs for feeding laboratory tsetse flies. We investigated its effect on female reproduction of Glossina morsitans morsitans. One-milligram homidium per kilogram body weight was intra-muscularly administered to four steers and blood aseptically collected from them between 15 and 30min post-treatment, analysed for homidium levels and processed for tsetse feeding. Two hundred teneral female flies were fed on homidium-treated diet while a control group of similar number was given untreated diet and the reproductive performance of the two groups statistically compared. Ethidium®, at 266.15ng homidium/ml blood diet, halved A-class portion of F1-pupae, highly reduced decline of F1-progeny quality associated with aging parents, but had no significant effect on the pupae viability, fecundity and abortion rate of the flies. We therefore concluded that Ethidium® has beneficial effect on laboratory tsetse attributable to clearance of unfavourable microbes mediated by the drug, and could be used as a tsetse diet additive. © 2010 Elsevier B.V. | Female reproduction; Glossina morsitans morsitans; Homidium | ethidium; ethidium bromide; antitrypanosomal agent; ethidium; bromide; diet; fecundity; protozoan; reproductive behavior; tsetse fly; article; bullock; controlled study; feeding; female; fertility; Glossina morsitans; male; nonhuman; paedogenesis; progeny; pupa (life cycle stage); animal; blood; cattle; comparative study; drug effect; enzyme linked immunosorbent assay; growth, development and aging; physiology; reproduction; statistical model; tsetse fly; Diptera; Glossina (genus); Glossina morsitans morsitans; Glossinidae; Animals; Cattle; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Ethidium; Female; Linear Models; Reproduction; Trypanocidal Agents; Tsetse Flies | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84883445474 | Performance of multi-packaging for table grapes based on airflow, cooling rates and fruit quality | Ngcobo M.E.K., Delele M.A., Opara U.L., Meyer C.J. | 2013 | Journal of Food Engineering | 116 | 2 | 10.1016/j.jfoodeng.2012.12.044 | Postharvest Technology Research Laboratory, Faculty of AgriSciences, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa; Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa; Perishable Product Export Control Board, 45 Silwerboom Avenue, Plattekloof, Parow 7500, South Africa | Ngcobo, M.E.K., Postharvest Technology Research Laboratory, Faculty of AgriSciences, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa, Perishable Product Export Control Board, 45 Silwerboom Avenue, Plattekloof, Parow 7500, South Africa; Delele, M.A., Postharvest Technology Research Laboratory, Faculty of AgriSciences, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa; Opara, U.L., Postharvest Technology Research Laboratory, Faculty of AgriSciences, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa; Meyer, C.J., Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa | The performance of three table grapes multi-scale designs, namely the 4.5 kg box, 5 kg open-top punnet and 5 kg clamshell punnet, was studied. Results showed that vent-hole ratio of empty grape boxes had a significant influence on the resistance to airflow, where the 5 kg punnet box with a vent-hole ratio of 6.13 ± 0.04% had a lower pressure drop than the 4.5 kg boxes with a lower vent-hole ratio of 3.80 ± 1.74%. The addition of liner films and inner packages changed the pressure patterns, indicating that inner packaging had a great influence on airflow resistance and airflow patterns through multi-scale packages of grapes. Cooling rates of grapes in the 4.5 kg multi-packaging was significantly (P < 0.05) slower than that of grapes in 5 kg punnet multi-packaging, where the 4.5 kg box resulted in a seven-eighths cooling time of 30.30-46.14% and 12.69-25.00% more than that of open-top and clamshell punnet multi-packages, respectively. After 35 days in cold storage at -0.5°C, grape bunches in the 5 kg punnet box combination (open-top and clamshell) had a weight loss of 2.01-3.12%, while the bunches in the 4.5 kg box combination had only 1.08% weight loss. The bunch stem dehydration rates were also higher in the 5 kg punnet multi-package. These results were attributed to differences in vapour pressure deficit (VPD) measured between the three multi-scale packages, where the VPD inside the 4.5 kg multi-packaging was 40.95 Pa, while the VPD inside the 5 kg open-top and clamshell punnet packaging were 92.97 Pa and 100.71 Pa, respectively. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. | Forced air cooling; Moisture loss; Multi-packaging; Pressure drop; Table grape; Vapour pressure | Forced air cooling; Moisture loss; Multi-packaging; Table grapes; Vapour pressures; Cold storage; Cooling; Pressure drop; Vapors; Vents; Packaging; Vitaceae | National Research Foundation |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84948732986 | Evaluation of major feed resources in crop-livestock mixed farming systems, southern Ethiopia: Indigenous knowledge versus laboratory analysis results | Talore D.G. | 2015 | Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development in the Tropics and Subtropics | 116 | 2 | None | Southern Agricultural Research Institute (SARI), Areka Research Centre, Areka, Ethiopia | Talore, D.G., Southern Agricultural Research Institute (SARI), Areka Research Centre, Areka, Ethiopia | Evaluation of major feed resources was conducted in four crop-livestock mixed farming systems of central southern Ethiopia, with 90 farmers, selected using multi-stage purposive and random sampling methods. Discussions were held with focused groups and key informants for vernacular name identification of feed, followed by feed sampling to analyse chemical composition (CP, ADF and NDF), in-vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD), and correlate with indigenous technical knowledge (ITK). Native pastures, crop residues (CR) and multi-purpose trees (MPT) are the major feed resources, demonstrated great variations in seasonality, chemical composition and IVDMD. The average CP, NDF and IVDMD values for grasses were 83.8 (ranged: 62.9-190), 619 (ranged: 357-877) and 572 (ranged: 317-743) g kg− 1 DM, respectively. Likewise, the average CP, NDF and IVDMD for CR were 58 (ranged: 20-90), 760 (ranged: 340-931) and 461 (ranged: 285-637)g kg− 1 DM, respectively. Generally, the MPT and non-conventional feeds (NCF, Ensete ventricosum and Ipomoea batatas) possessed higher CP (ranged: 155-164 g kg− 1 DM) and IVDMD values (611-657 g kg− 1 DM) while lower NDF (331-387g kg− 1 DM) and ADF (321-344g kg− 1 DM) values. The MPT and NCF were ranked as the best nutritious feeds by ITK while crop residues were the least. This study indicates that there are remarkable variations within and among forage resources in terms of chemical composition. There were also complementarities between ITK and feed laboratory results, and thus the ITK need to be taken into consideration in evaluation of local feed resources. © 2015 Lemos Editorial e Graficos Ltda. All rights reserved. | Crop residue; Fodder tree; Indigenous knowledge; Natural pasture; Nutritive value | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84940901717 | Exploration of information literacy skills status and impacts on the quality of life of artisans in Lagos, Nigeria | Ukachi N.B. | 2015 | New Library World | 116 | 10-Sep | 10.1108/NLW-01-2015-0006 | University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria | Ukachi, N.B., University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria | Purpose – The purpose of the study is to establish the information literacy skills status, medium for the acquisition of the skills and the impacts on the quality of life of artisans in Lagos, Nigeria. Design/methodology/approach – Multi-stage sampling technique was adopted in selecting the sample. First, the purposive sampling technique was adopted in selecting five categories of artisans specialised in creative works such as: hat making, knitting of clothes, fashion designing/tailoring, hair dressing and shoe making. Second, the proportionate stratified random sampling technique was used in selecting five artisans, each representing a particular category from the 20 local government areas that make up Lagos State. Hence, the sample size is 100. The instruments for data collection were questionnaire and oral interview. The oral interview was meant to complement the questionnaire, as the researcher observed that some of the artisans communicate better in oral discussions than in written ones. The researcher personally administered the instruments. The oral interview was guided by the interview schedule constructed by the researcher based on the research questions. The questionnaire collection period lasted three weeks. Data collected were analysed using simple percentages and frequency count and presented in tables and figures. Findings – The outcome of the study revealed that the artisans’ level of information literacy skills increased following their exploration of technological gadgets such as android and smart-phones which the study had established to be the main means through which they acquire their information literacy skills. Other sources such as the library and training organised by the state government have not benefited them. The result established that the increase in their information literacy skills status has enhanced their quality of life. Practical implications – An improvement in the information literacy skills status of artisans could positively impact their quality of life. Originality/value – An exploration of the information literacy skills status, medium for the acquisition of the skills and the impacts on the quality of life of artisans in Lagos has not been carried out before now. This study revealed the status as well as the most accessible and appealing medium of information literacy skills acquisition by the artisans. This will help the government and public library management with the knowledge of the information literacy skills’ needs including, formats and media most suitable for this category of people. © 2015, Emerald Group Publishing Limited. | Artisans; Information literacy skills; Lagos; Nigeria; Quality of life | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84872100028 | Impact of milieu conditions on the α-lactalbumin glycosylation in the dry state | Cheison S.C., Josten E., Kulozik U. | 2013 | Journal of Food Engineering | 116 | 1 | 10.1016/j.jfoodeng.2012.11.003 | Zentralinstitut für Ernährungs- und Lebensmittelforschung (ZIEL), Junior Research Group: Bioactive Peptides and Protein Technology, Technische Universität München, Weihenstephaner Berg 1, D-85354 Freising, Germany; School of Public Health and Community Development, Maseno University, Private Bag, Kisumu, Kenya; Department of Food Process Engineering and Dairy Technology, ZIEL Technology Section, Technische Universität München, Weihenstephaner Berg 1, D-85354 Freising, Germany | Cheison, S.C., Zentralinstitut für Ernährungs- und Lebensmittelforschung (ZIEL), Junior Research Group: Bioactive Peptides and Protein Technology, Technische Universität München, Weihenstephaner Berg 1, D-85354 Freising, Germany, School of Public Health and Community Development, Maseno University, Private Bag, Kisumu, Kenya; Josten, E., Zentralinstitut für Ernährungs- und Lebensmittelforschung (ZIEL), Junior Research Group: Bioactive Peptides and Protein Technology, Technische Universität München, Weihenstephaner Berg 1, D-85354 Freising, Germany; Kulozik, U., Department of Food Process Engineering and Dairy Technology, ZIEL Technology Section, Technische Universität München, Weihenstephaner Berg 1, D-85354 Freising, Germany | Maillard reaction is influenced by protein and sugar properties, water activity (aw) as well as the glycosylation time and temperature. The aim of this work was to investigate the influence of environmental parameters on the glycosylation reaction kinetics and to develop a technology platform for protein glycosylation as a possible substrate pre-treatment. The glycosylation reaction of bovine α-lactalbumin (α-La) was performed with lactose and maltodextrin in the dry-state at 40, 50 or 60 °C performed at a w of 0.33, 0.44 or 0.58 for reaction times of 8, 24 or 48 h. The degree of glycosylation (DG) was determined as the loss of lysine using the ortho-phthalaldehyde (OPA) method. Sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) with Coomassie and glycoprotein staining was also performed. The reaction with lactose reached higher DG values in all cases as compared to reactions with maltodextrin (maximum DG of 85% and 31%, respectively, at aw = 0.58 after 48 h). Lactosylation kinetics showed that the second order rate constants increased with increasing temperature and were highest at aw = 0.58 in all cases. The activation energies were determined as 97.1 ± 37.7, 193.9 ± 9.1 and 136.6 ± 15.6 kJ/mol for aw = 0.33, 0.44 and 0.58, respectively and showed an increasing trend with increasing temperature. Glycosylation of α-La offers a new process for improvement of functional properties as well as being a substrate pre-treatment process to control enzymatic digestion in order to generate tailor-made peptides as food additives with important health benefits like probiotics due to glycoprotein resistance to further enzyme hydrolysis. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. | α-Lactalbumin; Glycosylation degree; Glycosylation kinetics; Lactose; Maltodextrin | Dry state; Environmental parameter; Enzymatic digestions; Enzyme hydrolysis; Functional properties; Glycosylation reactions; Health benefits; Lactose; Maillard reaction; Maltodextrins; Ortho-phthalaldehyde; Pre-Treatment; Pretreatment process; Probiotics; Protein glycosylation; SDS-PAGE; Second-order rate constants; Sodium dodecyl sulphate; Technology platforms; Water activity; Activation energy; Amino acids; Electrophoresis; Esterification; Glycoproteins; Kinetics; Polysaccharides; Proteins; Rate constants; Reaction kinetics; Sodium; Sugars; Glycosylation; Bovinae | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77952050678 | Hydroentanglement nonwoven filters for air filtration and its performance evaluation | Patanaik A., Anandjiwala R.D. | 2010 | Journal of Applied Polymer Science | 117 | 3 | 10.1002/app.30561 | CSIR Materials Science and Manufacturing, Fibres and Textiles Competence Area, Port Elizabeth 6000, South Africa; Department of Textile Science, Faculty of Science, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Port Elizabeth 6031, South Africa | Patanaik, A., CSIR Materials Science and Manufacturing, Fibres and Textiles Competence Area, Port Elizabeth 6000, South Africa; Anandjiwala, R.D., CSIR Materials Science and Manufacturing, Fibres and Textiles Competence Area, Port Elizabeth 6000, South Africa, Department of Textile Science, Faculty of Science, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Port Elizabeth 6031, South Africa | New nonwoven filters are developed for air filtration application with the help of hydroentanglement bonding technique. Different types of nonwoven filters are produced by varying the hydroentanglement processing parameters. The changes in nonwoven filter properties after prolonged exposure to working conditions under cyclic compression play an important role in its long-term performance characteristics. The performance of the developed filters are evaluated in terms of changes in pore characteristics, filtration parameters, and strength after cyclic compression and compared with the corresponding values before subjecting it to cyclic compression. The developed filter shows good performance characteristics for air filtration with low pressure drop and high efficiency in capturing micron and submicron size particles without any significant changes in its strength. Theoretical understanding of the fluid flow emerging from the nozzles during the hydroentanglement process is simulated by the computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Based on the fluid drag force and impact force of the water jets, a mechanism of fiber bonding is proposed. The impact force of the water jets and fluid drag forces plays an important role in the mechanism of fiber bonding. Nozzle condition also plays an important role in economizing this process. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. | Compression; Fibers; Orientation; Simulations | Air filtration; Bonding techniques; Compression; Cyclic compression; Fiber bonding; Fluid drag force; Fluid flow; High efficiency; Hydroentanglement; Impact force; Long term performance; Low pressure drop; Nonwoven filter; Performance characteristics; Performance evaluation; Pore characteristics; Processing parameters; Sub-micron size particles; Water jets; Working conditions; Bonding; Computational fluid dynamics; Drag; Fibers; Fluids; Gas dynamics; Jets; Nonwoven fabrics; Nozzles; Weaving; Air filters; bonding; compression; filter; filtration; fluid flow; force; hydroentangling; impact; nonwoven fabric; nozzle; particle size; performance assessment; water jet | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84898544395 | Evaluation of SOX2 as a potential marker for ameloblastic carcinoma | Lei Y., Jaradat J.M., Owosho A., Adebiyi K.E., Lybrand K.S., Neville B.W., Müller S., Bilodeau E.A. | 2014 | Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology and Oral Radiology | 117 | 5 | 10.1016/j.oooo.2014.01.017 | Department of Diagnostic Sciences, School of Dental Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, 3501 Terrace St G132, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, United States; Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria; Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Medical University | Lei, Y., Department of Diagnostic Sciences, School of Dental Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, 3501 Terrace St G132, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, United States; Jaradat, J.M., Department of Diagnostic Sciences, School of Dental Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, 3501 Terrace St G132, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, United States; Owosho, A., Department of Diagnostic Sciences, School of Dental Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, 3501 Terrace St G132, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, United States; Adebiyi, K.E., Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria; Lybrand, K.S., Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States; Neville, B.W., Division of Oral Pathology, Department of Stomatology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States; Müller, S., Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States; Bilodeau, E.A., Department of Diagnostic Sciences, School of Dental Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, 3501 Terrace St G132, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, United States | Objective. Ameloblastic carcinoma often poses diagnostic challenges in its separation from benign ameloblastoma with atypical cytologic features or an unusual clinical course. This study aimed to determine whether SOX2 (sex determining region-Y-related high mobility group box 2), a protein expressed in the epithelial basal proliferative zone in dentigerous cysts, is a marker for ameloblastic carcinoma as well as for high-grade transformation in ameloblastic neoplasms. Study Design. Immunoperoxidase stains were performed according to a standard protocol. Immunostains were interpreted independently by 3 pathologists, and scores were recorded based on the percentage of staining and intensity of staining in the cells of interest. Results. The diffuse strong nuclear staining pattern has 86.4% specificity (19 of 22) to indicate the presence of high-grade features and has 76.9% sensitivity (10 of 13) in comparison with benign counterparts (P =.0021). Although previously shown as a marker for ameloblastic neoplasms, calretinin is weakly positive in a few cells in 50% (5 of 10) of ameloblastic carcinoma and 43% (3 of 7) of benign ameloblastic neoplasms, with little value in highlighting the high-grade change (P =.36). Conclusions. The diffuse nuclear staining pattern of SOX2 is suggestive of a high-grade process in ameloblastic neoplasms. Numerous aggregates of cells harboring dense nuclear stain should raise concern for a malignancy. © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. | None | SOX2 protein, human; transcription factor Sox; tumor marker; ameloblastoma; enzyme immunoassay; fluorescence microscopy; human; jaw tumor; metabolism; pathology; sensitivity and specificity; Ameloblastoma; Humans; Immunoenzyme Techniques; Jaw Neoplasms; Microscopy, Fluorescence; Sensitivity and Specificity; SOXB1 Transcription Factors; Tumor Markers, Biological | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84856611254 | Lightning remagnetization of the Vredefort impact crater: No evidence for impact-generated magnetic fields | Carporzen L., Weiss B.P., Gilder S.A., Pommier A., Hart R.J. | 2012 | Journal of Geophysical Research E: Planets | 117 | 1 | 10.1029/2011JE003919 | Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, United States; Équipe de Paléomagnétisme, Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris, University of Paris VII-Denis Diderot, 1 rue Jussieu, Paris F-75005, France; Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Ludwig Maximilians University, D-80333 Munich, Germany; School of Earth and Space Exploration, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, United States; IThemba Labs, Private Bag 11 WITS, Johannesburg 2050, South Africa | Carporzen, L., Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, United States, Équipe de Paléomagnétisme, Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris, University of Paris VII-Denis Diderot, 1 rue Jussieu, Paris F-75005, France; Weiss, B.P., Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, United States; Gilder, S.A., Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Ludwig Maximilians University, D-80333 Munich, Germany; Pommier, A., Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, United States, School of Earth and Space Exploration, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, United States; Hart, R.J., IThemba Labs, Private Bag 11 WITS, Johannesburg 2050, South Africa | The Vredefort impact crater in South Africa is one of the oldest and largest craters on Earth, making it a unique analog for planetary basins. Intense and randomly oriented remanent magnetization observed in surface samples at Vredefort has been attributed to impact-generated magnetic fields. This possibility has major implications for extraterrestrial paleomagnetism since impact-generated fields have been proposed as a key alternative to the dynamo hypothesis for magnetization on the Moon and asteroids. Furthermore, the presence of single-domain magnetite found along shock-generated planar deformation features in Vredefort granites has been widely attributed to the 2.02 Ga impact event. An alternative hypothesis is that the unusual magnetization and/or rock magnetic properties of Vredefort rocks are the products of recent lightning strikes. Lightning and impact-generated fields can be distinguished by measuring samples collected from below the present surface. Here we present a paleomagnetic and rock magnetic study of samples from two 10 m deep vertical boreholes. We show that the magnetization at depth is consistent with a thermoremanent magnetization acquired in the local geomagnetic field following the impact, while random, intense magnetization and some of the unusual rock magnetic properties observed in surface rocks are superficial phenomena produced by lightning. Because Vredefort is the only terrestrial crater that has been proposed to contain records of impact-generated fields, this removes a key piece of evidence in support of the hypothesis that paleomagnetism of the Moon and other extraterrestrial bodies is the product of impacts rather than past core dynamos. Copyright 2012 by the American Geophysical Union. | None | asteroid; extraterrestrial matter; hypothesis testing; impact structure; lightning; magnetic field; magnetite; Moon; paleomagnetism; remagnetization; remanent magnetization; Free State; South Africa; Vredefort Dome | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84891444788 | Effects of music tempo on performance, psychological, and physiological variables during 20 km cycling in well-trained cyclists | Dyer B.J., Mckune A.J. | 2013 | Perceptual and Motor Skills | 117 | 2 | 10.2466/29.22.PMS.117x24z8 | Discipline of Biokinetics, Exercise and Leisure Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa | Dyer, B.J., Discipline of Biokinetics, Exercise and Leisure Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; Mckune, A.J., Discipline of Biokinetics, Exercise and Leisure Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa | Few studies have investigated the effects of music on trained athletes during high intensity endurance tasks. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of different music tempi on performance, psychological, and physiological responses of well-trained cyclists to time trial cycling. 10 male road cyclists (M age = 35 yr., SD = 7), with a minimum of three years racing experience, performed four 20-km time trials on a Computrainer™ Pro 3D indoor cycle trainer over a period of four weeks. The time-trials were spaced one week apart. The music conditions for each trial were randomised between fast-tempo (140 bpm), medium-tempo (120 bpm), slow-tempo (100 bpm), and no music. Performance (completion time, power output, average speed and cadence), physiological (heart rate, oxygen consumption, breathing frequency and respiratory exchange ratio), psychophysical (RPE), and psychological (mood states) data were collected for each trial. Results indicated no significant changes in performance, physiological, or psychophysical variables. Total mood disturbance and tension increased significantly in the fast-tempo trial when compared with medium and no-music conditions. © Perceptual & Motor Skills 2013. | None | adult; affect; article; athletic performance; bicycle; heart rate; human; male; music; oxygen consumption; physiology; psychological aspect; time; Adult; Affect; Athletic Performance; Bicycling; Heart Rate; Humans; Male; Music; Oxygen Consumption; Time Factors | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84873740371 | Climate change impacts on sugarcane attainable yield in southern Brazil | Marin F.R., Jones J.W., Singels A., Royce F., Assad E.D., Pellegrino G.Q., Justino F. | 2013 | Climatic Change | 117 | 42371 | 10.1007/s10584-012-0561-y | Embrapa Agricultural Informatics, Av. André Tosello, 209 - Barão Geraldo, CP 6041- 13083-886 Campinas, SP, Brazil; Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, University of Florida, PO Box 110570, Gainesville, FL, United States; South African Sugarcane Research Institute, Private Bag X02, Mount Edgecombe, 4300, South Africa; Departamento de Engenharia Agricola, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, 36570-000 Viçosa, MG, Brazil | Marin, F.R., Embrapa Agricultural Informatics, Av. André Tosello, 209 - Barão Geraldo, CP 6041- 13083-886 Campinas, SP, Brazil; Jones, J.W., Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, University of Florida, PO Box 110570, Gainesville, FL, United States; Singels, A., South African Sugarcane Research Institute, Private Bag X02, Mount Edgecombe, 4300, South Africa; Royce, F., Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, University of Florida, PO Box 110570, Gainesville, FL, United States; Assad, E.D., Embrapa Agricultural Informatics, Av. André Tosello, 209 - Barão Geraldo, CP 6041- 13083-886 Campinas, SP, Brazil; Pellegrino, G.Q., Embrapa Agricultural Informatics, Av. André Tosello, 209 - Barão Geraldo, CP 6041- 13083-886 Campinas, SP, Brazil; Justino, F., Departamento de Engenharia Agricola, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, 36570-000 Viçosa, MG, Brazil | This study evaluated the effects of climate change on sugarcane yield, water use efficiency, and irrigation needs in southern Brazil, based on downscaled outputs of two general circulation models (PRECIS and CSIRO) and a sugarcane growth model. For three harvest cycles every year, the DSSAT/CANEGRO model was used to simulate the baseline and four future climate scenarios for stalk yield for the 2050s. The model was calibrated for the main cultivar currently grown in Brazil based on five field experiments under several soil and climate conditions. The sensitivity of simulated stalk fresh mass (SFM) to air temperature, CO2 concentration [CO2] and rainfall was also analyzed. Simulated SFM responses to [CO2], air temperature and rainfall variations were consistent with the literature. There were increases in simulated SFM and water usage efficiency (WUE) for all scenarios. On average, for the current sugarcane area in the State of São Paulo, SFM would increase 24 % and WUE 34 % for rainfed sugarcane. The WUE rise is relevant because of the current concern about water supply in southern Brazil. Considering the current technological improvement rate, projected yields for 2050 ranged from 96 to 129 t ha-1, which are respectively 15 and 59 % higher than the current state average yield. © 2012 The Author(s). | None | Air temperature; Average yield; Climate change impact; Climate condition; Field experiment; Future climate scenarios; General circulation model; Growth models; Harvest cycles; Rainfall variation; Rainfed; Southern Brazil; Sugarcane yield; Technological improvements; Water usage; Water use efficiency; Atmospheric temperature; Climate change; Climate models; Geologic models; Rain; Water supply; Carbon dioxide; air temperature; atmospheric general circulation model; carbon dioxide; climate change; climate effect; crop yield; cultivar; growth modeling; harvesting; irrigation system; rainfed agriculture; sugar cane; technological development; water supply; yield response; Brazil; Precis | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84937869806 | Laboratory evaluation of a specimen transport medium for downstream molecular processing of sputum samples to detect Mycobacterium tuberculosis | Omar S.V., Peters R.P.H., Ismail N.A., Dreyer A.W., Said H.M., Gwala T., Ismail N., Fourie P.B. | 2015 | Journal of Microbiological Methods | 117 | None | 10.1016/j.mimet.2015.07.010 | Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa; Centre for Tuberculosis, National TB Reference Laboratory, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg, South Africa; Anova Health Institute, Johannesburg, South Africa | Omar, S.V., Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa, Centre for Tuberculosis, National TB Reference Laboratory, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg, South Africa; Peters, R.P.H., Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa, Anova Health Institute, Johannesburg, South Africa; Ismail, N.A., Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa, Centre for Tuberculosis, National TB Reference Laboratory, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg, South Africa; Dreyer, A.W., Centre for Tuberculosis, National TB Reference Laboratory, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg, South Africa; Said, H.M., Centre for Tuberculosis, National TB Reference Laboratory, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg, South Africa; Gwala, T., Centre for Tuberculosis, National TB Reference Laboratory, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg, South Africa; Ismail, N., Centre for Tuberculosis, National TB Reference Laboratory, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg, South Africa; Fourie, P.B., Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa | Background: Modern molecular-based approaches for the detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in sputum samples promise quicker and more accurate detection of cases. However, processing sputum samples at central diagnostic facilities provides a diagnostic approach, but requires a safe and efficient system that is not affected by transport delays and ambient temperature to be feasible. We evaluated the technical properties of PrimeStore®-Molecular Transport Medium (PS-MTM) for its ability to inactivate mycobacteria, ensuring stability of DNA over time at ambient temperatures and to assess the compatibility of the transport medium with DNA extraction systems. Methods: Assessment of the transport medium for application of sputum samples processed for the detection of M. tuberculosis included the inactivation of M. tuberculosis in spiked sputum samples, compatibility of the medium with three commercial nucleic extraction systems and stability of DNA in the medium at ambient temperature over 28. days. We further performed a clinical laboratory evaluation on 256 sputum specimens sent for tuberculosis investigation. Results: Complete inactivation of M. tuberculosis occurred within 30. min of exposure at a ratio of 1:3 for sputum to PS-MTM. Sputum specimen in PS-MTM showed very good compatibility with automated bead-based extraction systems, producing high DNA output (estimated lower limits of detection: ~. 170. CFU/ml). Furthermore, PS-MTM samples remained stable over 28. days at ambient temperature displaying no significant change over time in Ct-values (<. 5% on a mean starting value of 22.47). Of the 256 clinical sputum specimens, 10.2% were culture positive and 11.0% were positive by real-time PCR of PS-MTM samples. Conclusions: Collecting and transporting sputum from TB suspects in PS-MTM offer safe transport at ambient temperature, DNA stability for extended periods without cooling and specimens directly suitable for molecular testing. This novel approach may support introduction and further scale-up of molecular diagnostics for TB in resource-limited settings. © 2015 Elsevier B.V. | DNA stability; Molecular detection; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; Specimen transport medium | Article; bacterium culture; bacterium detection; clinical laboratory; controlled study; DNA extraction; downstream processing; environmental temperature; laboratory test; molecular diagnosis; molecular diagnostics; molecular stability; molecular transport medium; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; nonhuman; priority journal; real time polymerase chain reaction; sputum examination; transport medium; tuberculosis; Corynebacterineae; Mycobacterium tuberculosis | None |
| None | None | Factorial structure and cross-cultural invariance of the Oral Impacts on Daily Performances | Åstrøm A.N., Mtaya M. | 2009 | European Journal of Oral Sciences | 117 | 3 | 10.1111/j.1600-0722.2009.00621.x | Institute of Clinical Dentistry, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway; Center for International Health, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway; Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Science, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Institute of Clinical Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Bergen, Årstadveien 17, Bergen, Norway | Åstrøm, A.N., Institute of Clinical Dentistry, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway, Center for International Health, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway, Institute of Clinical Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Bergen, Årstadveien 17, Bergen, Norway; Mtaya, M., Institute of Clinical Dentistry, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Science, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania | The issue of cross-cultural construct validation and measurement invariance of the Oral Impacts on Daily Performances (OIDP) questionnaire is important. Using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), this study evaluated a proposed three-factor structure of the OIDP questionnaire in Tanzanian adolescents and adults and assessed whether this model would be replicated in Ugandan adolescents. Between 2004 and 2007, OIDP data were collected from 1,601 Tanzanian adolescents, 1,031 Tanzanian adults, and 1,146 Ugandan adolescents. Model generation analysis was restricted to Tanzanian adolescents, and the model achieved was tested, without modification, in Tanzanian adults and in Ugandan adolescents. A modified three-factor solution with cross-loadings improved the fit of the OIDP model to the data compared with a one-factor model and the original three-factor model within the Tanzanian [comparative fit index (CFI) = 0.99] and Ugandan (CFI = 0.98) samples. Cross-validation in Tanzanian adults provided a reasonable fit (CFI = 0.98). Multiple-group CFA demonstrated acceptable fit [κ2 = 140.829, degrees of freedom (d.f.) = 24, CFI = 0.98] for the unconstrained model, whereas unconstrained and constrained models were statistically significantly different. Factorial validity was confirmed for the three-factor OIDP model. The results provide evidence for cross-cultural equivalence of the OIDP, suggesting that this measure is comparable, at least to some extent, across Tanzanian and Ugandan adolescents. © 2009 Eur J Oral Sci. | Confirmatory factor analysis; Cross-cultural validity; Oral Impacts on Daily Performances (OIDP); Tanzania; Uganda | achievement; adolescent; adult; article; comparative study; cultural factor; daily life activity; eating; emotion; facial expression; factorial analysis; female; health; human; human relation; male; middle aged; mouth hygiene; physiology; quality of life; questionnaire; sleep; speech; Tanzania; Uganda; validation study; Achievement; Activities of Daily Living; Adolescent; Adult; Cross-Cultural Comparison; Eating; Emotions; Factor Analysis, Statistical; Female; Humans; Interpersonal Relations; Male; Middle Aged; Oral Health; Oral Hygiene; Quality of Life; Questionnaires; Rural Health; Sleep; Smiling; Speech; Tanzania; Uganda; Urban Health | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84929832464 | Driving factors-based approach for identifying performance indicators in sugarcane supply and processing systems | Sanjika T.M., Bezuidenhout C.N. | 2015 | British Food Journal | 117 | 6 | 10.1108/BFJ-09-2014-0323 | School of Engineering, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Scottsville, South Africa | Sanjika, T.M., School of Engineering, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Scottsville, South Africa; Bezuidenhout, C.N., School of Engineering, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Scottsville, South Africa | Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to develop and demonstrate a driving factors-based approach for identifying and ranking performance indicators in integrated sugarcane supply and processing systems (ISSPSs) on an on-going basis. Design/methodology/approach – The research included a literature review, development of an approach, testing of the approach in four ISSPSs and checking the tests’ results for consistency with Southern Africa sugar industry benchmarks and external knowledge of the four ISSPSs. Findings – The research offers a systematic approach for identifying and ranking performance indicators based on existing driving factors in ISSPSs. Results obtained from the application of the approach in four ISSPSs are consistent with industry benchmarks and external knowledge of the ISSPSs. Research limitations/implications – The approach was tested in only four ISSPSs. It is recommended that the approach should be tested in other complex systems to further validate its effectiveness. It is further recommended that the approach should be systematically compared with existing approaches that are used for identifying and ranking performance indicators. Originality/value – This research is of academic value and of practical value to practitioners in ISSPSs. The research blends knowledge from network theory and cause-and-effect analysis to come up with a systematic approach for identifying and ranking performance indicators in ISSPSs on an on-going basis. Further, the approach identifies and ranks performance indicators as part of one data set. This approach has never, to the authors’ knowledge, been used in agro-industry before. © Emerald Group Publishing Limited. | Agriculture; Decision making; Food processing industry; Performance indicators; Supply chain | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84906874909 | Kinetic evaluation of dendrimer-encapsulated palladium nanoparticles in the 4-nitrophenol reduction reaction | Bingwa N., Meijboom R. | 2014 | Journal of Physical Chemistry C | 118 | 34 | 10.1021/jp505571p | Department of Chemistry, University of Johannesburg, P.O. Box 524, Auckland-Park 2006, Johannesburg, South Africa | Bingwa, N., Department of Chemistry, University of Johannesburg, P.O. Box 524, Auckland-Park 2006, Johannesburg, South Africa; Meijboom, R., Department of Chemistry, University of Johannesburg, P.O. Box 524, Auckland-Park 2006, Johannesburg, South Africa | The synthesis of dendrimer-encapsulated palladium nanoparticles with ratios of 13 and 55 metal atoms to templating dendrimer, (Pd13- and Pd 55-DENs) was successfully demonstrated with the use of hydroxyl-terminated generation 4 and 5 (G4 and G5) poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimers as both templating and stabilizing agents. These Pd-DENs catalysts were fully characterized using spectroscopic techniques. High resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) was used for the determination of particle size. The average particle sizes were found to be 1.33 ± 0.15 and 1.66 ± 0.20 nm in diameters for Pd13 and Pd 55-DENs, respectively. These catalysts were evaluated using the widely utilized model reaction, 4-nitrophenol (NP) reduction by sodium borohydride (NaBH4). The experimentally determined kinetic data was modeled using the Langmuir-Hinshelwood equation which relates the apparent rate kapp, NP and BH4 - adsorption constants, K NP and KBH4- respectively, the surface rate constant k, and the surface area, S. The behavior of the adsorption constants with increasing temperature was also investigated by varying the reaction temperature between 298 and 318 K. The Pd13-DENs showed greater adsorption of NP and BH4 - when compared to Pd55-DENs. The overall results showed that the Langmuir-Hinshelwood model can be successfully used for full kinetic analysis of NP reduction by BH4 - in the presence of Pdn-DENs catalysts. © 2014 American Chemical Society. | None | Adsorption; Catalysts; High resolution transmission electron microscopy; Kinetics; Nanoparticles; Particle size; Phenols; Rate constants; Adsorption; Catalysts; Dendrimers; High resolution transmission electron microscopy; Kinetics; Metal nanoparticles; Nanoparticles; Particle size; Rate constants; Synthesis (chemical); 4-Nitrophenol reductions; Average particle size; Increasing temperatures; Langmuir Hinshelwood equation; Langmuir-Hinshelwood models; Palladium nanoparticles; Polyamidoamine dendrimers; Spectroscopic technique; Dendrimers; Palladium | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84905002841 | Atomistic insight into orthoborate-based ionic liquids: Force field development and evaluation | Wang Y.-L., Shah F.U., Glavatskih S., Antzutkin O.N., Laaksonen A. | 2014 | Journal of Physical Chemistry B | 118 | 29 | 10.1021/jp503029d | Department of Materials and Environmental Chemistry, Arrhenius Laboratory, Stockholm University, S-106 91, Stockholm, Sweden; Chemistry of Interfaces, Luleå University of Technology, S-971 87, Luleå, Sweden; System and Component Design, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, S-10 044, Stockholm, Sweden; Mechanical Construction and Production, Ghent University, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium; Department of Physics, Warwick University, CV4 7AL, Coventry, United Kingdom; Stellenbosch Institute of Advanced Studies (STIAS), Wallenberg Research Centre, Stellenbosch University, Marais Street, Stellenbosch 7600, South Africa | Wang, Y.-L., Department of Materials and Environmental Chemistry, Arrhenius Laboratory, Stockholm University, S-106 91, Stockholm, Sweden; Shah, F.U., Chemistry of Interfaces, Luleå University of Technology, S-971 87, Luleå, Sweden; Glavatskih, S., System and Component Design, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, S-10 044, Stockholm, Sweden, Mechanical Construction and Production, Ghent University, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium; Antzutkin, O.N., Chemistry of Interfaces, Luleå University of Technology, S-971 87, Luleå, Sweden, Department of Physics, Warwick University, CV4 7AL, Coventry, United Kingdom; Laaksonen, A., Department of Materials and Environmental Chemistry, Arrhenius Laboratory, Stockholm University, S-106 91, Stockholm, Sweden, Stellenbosch Institute of Advanced Studies (STIAS), Wallenberg Research Centre, Stellenbosch University, Marais Street, Stellenbosch 7600, South Africa | We have developed an all-atomistic force field for a new class of halogen-free chelated orthoborate-phosphonium ionic liquids. The force field is based on an AMBER framework with determination of force field parameters for phosphorus and boron atoms, as well as refinement of several available parameters. The bond and angle force constants were adjusted to fit vibration frequency data derived from both experimental measurements and ab initio calculations. The force field parameters for several dihedral angles were obtained by fitting torsion energy profiles deduced from ab initio calculations. To validate the proposed force field parameters, atomistic simulations were performed for 12 ionic liquids consisting of tetraalkylphosphonium cations and chelated orthoborate anions. The predicted densities for neat ionic liquids and the [P6,6,6,14][BOB] sample, with a water content of approximately 2.3-2.5 wt %, are in excellent agreement with available experimental data. The potential energy components of 12 ionic liquids were discussed in detail. The radial distribution functions and spatial distribution functions were analyzed and visualized to probe the microscopic ionic structures of these ionic liquids. There are mainly four high-probability regions of chelated orthoborate anions distributed around tetraalkylphosphonium cations in the first solvation shell, and such probability distribution functions are strongly influenced by the size of anions. © 2014 American Chemical Society. | None | Calculations; Chelation; Distribution functions; Oil field development; Positive ions; Probability distributions; Ab initio calculations; Atomistic simulations; Energy components; Force field development; Force field parameters; Radial distribution functions; Solvation shell; Vibration frequency; Ionic liquids | None |
| None | None | Performance, combustion and emission characteristics of n-butanol additive in methanol-gasoline blend fired in a naturally-aspirated spark ignition engine | Siwale L., Kristóf L., Bereczky A., Mbarawa M., Kolesnikov A. | 2014 | Fuel Processing Technology | 118 | None | 10.1016/j.fuproc.2013.10.007 | Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tshwane University of Technology, Private Bag X680, Pretoria 0001, South Africa; Department of Energy Engineering, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Bertalan Lajos u. 4-6, D208, H-1111 Budapest, Hungary; Ministry of Communication, Science and Technology, Jamhuri Street, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania | Siwale, L., Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tshwane University of Technology, Private Bag X680, Pretoria 0001, South Africa; Kristóf, L., Department of Energy Engineering, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Bertalan Lajos u. 4-6, D208, H-1111 Budapest, Hungary; Bereczky, A., Department of Energy Engineering, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Bertalan Lajos u. 4-6, D208, H-1111 Budapest, Hungary; Mbarawa, M., Ministry of Communication, Science and Technology, Jamhuri Street, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Kolesnikov, A., Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tshwane University of Technology, Private Bag X680, Pretoria 0001, South Africa | The aim of the study was to compare the effects of dual alcohols (n-butanol and methanol) with single alcohol (methanol) blended in gasoline fuel (GF) against performance, combustion and emission characteristics. Problems arise in the fuel delivery system when using the highly volatile methanol-gasoline blends. This problem is reduced by adding n-butanol to methanol-gasoline blends. However, the satisfactory engine performance of the dual alcohol-gasoline blends need to be proved. The test fuels were GF, blend M53b17 (53 % methanol, 17 % n-butanol and 30% GF by volume), M20, and M70. The blend M53b17 was selected to match the vapor pressure (VP) of GF, whereas M70 to match the total alcohol content in the blend. The test fuels were a lean mixture with excess-air ratio of λ = 1.1. The experiments were conducted on a naturally-aspirated, spark ignition engine. The brake thermal efficiency (BTE) improved whereas the exhaust gas temperature (EGT) of the blends reduced, which is a benefit that reduces compression work. The regulated emissions were also reported. The blend M53b17 was recommended in preference to M70 because the former had shortened combustion duration, high-energy content and its VP was selectively matched to that of GF's. © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. | Bioalcohols; Brake specific fuel consumption; Brake thermal efficiency; Emission; Spark ignition | Bioalcohols; Brake specific fuel consumption; Brake thermal efficiency; Emission characteristics; Exhaust gas temperatures; Fuel-delivery systems; Methanol-gasoline blends; Spark ignition; Brakes; Combustion; Fuels; Methanol; Methanol fuels; Neutron emission; Gasoline | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84916888809 | Evaluation of pre-breeding reproductive tract scoring as a predictor of long term reproductive performance in beef heifers | Holm D.E., Nielen M., Jorritsma R., Irons P.C., Thompson P.N. | 2015 | Preventive Veterinary Medicine | 118 | 1 | 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2014.10.016 | Department of Production Animal Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort, South Africa; Department of Farm Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 7, CL Utrecht, Netherlands | Holm, D.E., Department of Production Animal Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort, South Africa; Nielen, M., Department of Farm Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 7, CL Utrecht, Netherlands; Jorritsma, R., Department of Farm Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 7, CL Utrecht, Netherlands; Irons, P.C., Department of Production Animal Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort, South Africa; Thompson, P.N., Department of Production Animal Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort, South Africa | In a 7-year longitudinal study 292 Bovelder beef cows in a restricted breeding system in South Africa were observed from 1 to 2 days before their first breeding season, when reproductive tract scoring (RTS, scored from 1 to 5) was performed, until weaning their 5th calves. The objective was to determine whether pre-breeding RTS in heifers is a valid tool to predict long-term reproductive performance. Outcomes measured were failure to show oestrus during the first 24 days of the first 50-day AI season (24-day anoestrus), failure to become pregnant during each yearly artificial insemination (AI) season (reproductive failure), number of days from the start of each AI season to calving, and number of years to reproductive failure. The effect of RTS on each outcome was adjusted for year of birth, pre-breeding age, BW and body condition score (BCS), and for 24-day anoestrus, bull, gestation length, previous days to calving and previous cow efficiency index, the latter two in the case of the 2nd to the 5th calving season. During their first breeding season, heifers with RTS 1 and 2 combined were more likely to be in anoestrus for the first 24 days (OR. = 3.0, 95% CI 1.5, 6.4, P= 0.003), and were also more likely to fail to become pregnant even after adjusting for 24-day anoestrus (OR. = 2.1, 95% CI 1.1, 3.9, P= 0.025), compared to those with RTS 4 and 5 combined. Animals with RTS 1 and 2 combined were at increased risk of early reproductive failure compared to those with RTS 4 and 5 combined (HR. = 1.4, 95% CI 1.0, 1.9, P= 0.045) although RTS was not associated with calving rate or days to calving after the second calving season. Low RTS at a threshold of 1 had consistent specificity of ≥94% for both 24-day anoestrus and pregnancy failure, however its predictive value was lower in the age cohort with a higher prevalence of anoestrus. We conclude that RTS is a valid management tool for culling decisions intended to improve long-term reproductive success in a seasonal breeding system, by excluding heifers that are likely to fail to become pregnant or likely to calve late during their first calving season. © 2014 Elsevier B.V. | Beef cattle; Culling; Fertility; Heifer selection; Predictive ability; Reproductive tract score | Animalia; Bos; agriculture; animal; animal culling; animal husbandry; artificial insemination; bovine; breeding; estrus; female; fertility; longitudinal study; male; menstruation; physiology; pregnancy; pregnancy rate; procedures; reproduction; South Africa; statistical model; veterinary; Agriculture; Animal Culling; Animal Husbandry; Animals; Breeding; Cattle; Estrus; Female; Fertility; Insemination, Artificial; Logistic Models; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Menstruation; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Rate; Reproduction; South Africa | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77951713262 | Within-neighborhood patterns and sources of particle pollution: Mobile monitoring and geographic information system analysis in four communities in Accra, Ghana | Dionisio K.L., Rooney M.S., Arku R.E., Friedman A.B., Hughes A.F., Vallarino J., Agyei-Mensah S., Spengler J.D., Ezzati M. | 2010 | Environmental Health Perspectives | 118 | 5 | 10.1289/ehp.0901365 | Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States; Harvard Initiative for Global Health, Cambridge, MA, United States; Cyprus International Institute for the Environment and Public Health, Nicosia, Cyprus; Department of Geography and Resource Development, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana; Department of Physics, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana; Environmental Science Program, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana | Dionisio, K.L., Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States, Harvard Initiative for Global Health, Cambridge, MA, United States; Rooney, M.S., Harvard Initiative for Global Health, Cambridge, MA, United States; Arku, R.E., Cyprus International Institute for the Environment and Public Health, Nicosia, Cyprus, Department of Geography and Resource Development, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana; Friedman, A.B., Harvard Initiative for Global Health, Cambridge, MA, United States; Hughes, A.F., Department of Physics, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana; Vallarino, J., Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States; Agyei-Mensah, S., Department of Geography and Resource Development, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana, Environmental Science Program, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana; Spengler, J.D., Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States; Ezzati, M., Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States, Harvard Initiative for Global Health, Cambridge, MA, United States | Background: Sources of air pollution in developing country cities include transportation and industrial pollution, biomass and coal fuel use, and resuspended dust from unpaved roads. Objectives: Our goal was to understand within-neighborhood spatial variability of particulate matter (PM) in communities of varying socioeconomic status (SES) in Accra, Ghana, and to quantify the effects of nearby sources on local PM concentration. Methods: We conducted 1 week of morning and afternoon mobile and stationary air pollution measurements in four study neighborhoods. PM with aerodynamic diameters ≤ 2.5 μm (PM2.5) and ≤ 10 μm (PM10) was measured continuously, with matched global positioning system coordinates; detailed data on local sources were collected at periodic stops. The effects of nearby sources on local PM were estimated using linear mixed-effects models. Results: In our measurement campaign, the geometric means of PM2.5 and PM10 along the mobile monitoring path were 21 and 49 μg/m3, respectively, in the neighborhood with highest SES and 39 and 96 μg/m3, respectively, in the neighborhood with lowest SES and highest population density. PM2.5 and PM10 were as high as 200 and 400 μg/m3, respectively, in some segments of the path. After adjusting for other factors, the factors that had the largest effects on local PM pollution were nearby wood and charcoal stoves, congested and heavy traffic, loose dirt road surface, and trash burning. Conclusions: Biomass fuels, transportation, and unpaved roads may be important determinants of local PM variation in Accra neighborhoods. If confirmed by additional or supporting data, the results demonstrate the need for effective and equitable interventions and policies that reduce the impacts of traffic and biomass pollution. | Africa; Biomass; Geographic information system; Particulate matter; Poverty; Spatial; Urbanization | charcoal; air pollution; article; biomass; controlled study; geographic information system; Ghana; global positioning system; particle size; particulate matter; pollution monitoring; population density; priority journal; quantitative analysis; social status; traffic; waste disposal; wood; Air Pollutants; Air Pollution; Developing Countries; Environmental Monitoring; Geographic Information Systems; Ghana; Humans; Linear Models; Particulate Matter; Social Class; Time Factors; Transportation; Urban Health; Weather | None |
| None | None | Diagnostic model for assessing traceability system performance in fish processing plants | Mgonja J.T., Luning P., Van Der Vorst J.G.A.J. | 2013 | Journal of Food Engineering | 118 | 2 | 10.1016/j.jfoodeng.2013.04.009 | Sokoine University of Agriculture, P.O. Box 3073, Morogoro, Tanzania; Product Design and Quality Management Group, Agrotechnology and Food Sciences, Wageningen University and Research Centre, Bomenweg 2, NL-6700 EV Wageningen, Netherlands; Logistics and Operations Research, Logistics, Decision and Information Sciences, Wageningen University and Research Centre, Hollandseweg 1, 6706 KN Wageningen, Netherlands | Mgonja, J.T., Sokoine University of Agriculture, P.O. Box 3073, Morogoro, Tanzania; Luning, P., Product Design and Quality Management Group, Agrotechnology and Food Sciences, Wageningen University and Research Centre, Bomenweg 2, NL-6700 EV Wageningen, Netherlands; Van Der Vorst, J.G.A.J., Logistics and Operations Research, Logistics, Decision and Information Sciences, Wageningen University and Research Centre, Hollandseweg 1, 6706 KN Wageningen, Netherlands | This paper introduces a diagnostic tool that can be used by fish processing companies to evaluate their own traceability systems in a systematic manner. The paper begins with discussions on the rationale of traceability systems in food manufacturing companies, followed by a detailed analysis of the most important indicators in the designing and executing traceability systems. The diagnostic tool is presented in four grids through which fish companies can evaluate their own developed traceability system. The paper argues that if a company operates at a higher level of contextual factors, then design and execution of traceability system needs to be at a higher level as well so as to achieve a higher level of traceability system performance. The paper concludes that companies that are able to systematically assess their own developed traceability systems are able to determine food safety problems well in advance, and thereby take appropriate corrective actions. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. | Fish processing plants; Traceability system design | Contextual factors; Corrective actions; Diagnostic model; Diagnostic tools; Fish processing; Food manufacturing; Safety problems; Traceability systems; Diagnostic products; Fish products; Industry | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84916920152 | Participatory evaluation of chicken health and production constraints in Ethiopia | Sambo E., Bettridge J., Dessie T., Amare A., Habte T., Wigley P., Christley R.M. | 2015 | Preventive Veterinary Medicine | 118 | 1 | 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2014.10.014 | The Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, CH64 7TE, United Kingdom; International Livestock Research Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Ethiopian Institute of Agriculture Research, Debre Zeit Agricultural Research Center, Debre Zeit, Ethiopia; NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Emerging and Zoonotic Infections, Liverpool, United Kingdom | Sambo, E., The Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, CH64 7TE, United Kingdom; Bettridge, J., The Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, CH64 7TE, United Kingdom, International Livestock Research Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Dessie, T., International Livestock Research Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Amare, A., Ethiopian Institute of Agriculture Research, Debre Zeit Agricultural Research Center, Debre Zeit, Ethiopia; Habte, T., Ethiopian Institute of Agriculture Research, Debre Zeit Agricultural Research Center, Debre Zeit, Ethiopia; Wigley, P., The Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, CH64 7TE, United Kingdom; Christley, R.M., The Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, CH64 7TE, United Kingdom, NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Emerging and Zoonotic Infections, Liverpool, United Kingdom | Chicken production has a major role in the economy of developing countries and backyard production is particularly important to women. Several programmes, in Ethiopia and elsewhere, have attempted to improve chicken production as a means to reduce poverty. A key constraint to chicken production identified by farmers is disease. This study used participatory rural appraisal methods to work with chicken-keepers in order to prioritise chicken diseases, place these within the context of other production constraints, and to explore perceptions of disease risk factors and biosecurity measures. The study, focused on Debre Zeit, Ethiopia, included 71 poultry keepers (41 backyard and 30 semi-intensive chicken producers). Although women played an important role in backyard production systems, semi-intensive farms were more likely to be controlled by men. Participants identified 9 constraints to production: 7 of 8 groups of backyard producers and 15/31 semi-intensive producers ranked diseases as the most important constraint to chicken production. In contrast to previous reports, farmers in both groups had considerable knowledge of diseases and of factors affecting disease risk. Both groups, but particularly semi-intensive producers, highlighted access to feed as a constraint. Many of the challenges faced by both groups were associated with difficulty accessing agricultural and veterinary inputs and expertise. Whilst many of the constraints identified by farmers could be viewed as simply technical issues to be overcome, we believe it is important to recognise the social factors underpinning what are, in reality, relatively modest technical challenges. The low involvement of women in semi-intensive production needs to be recognised by poultry development schemes. Provision needs to be made to allow access to inputs for a wide range of business models, particularly for those, such as women, who have limited access to the capital to allow them to make the jump from backyard to semi-intensive producer, and require support to slowly build up a flock into a profitable venture. © 2014 The Authors. | Perceived disease risk factors; Poultry diseases; Poultry production constraints | animal; animal husbandry; attitude to health; chicken; Disease Outbreaks; economics; Ethiopia; female; health care delivery; human; information processing; male; Poultry Diseases; procedures; risk factor; rural population; veterinary; veterinary medicine; Animal Husbandry; Animals; Chickens; Disease Outbreaks; Ethiopia; Female; Focus Groups; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Health Services Accessibility; Humans; Male; Poultry Diseases; Risk Factors; Rural Population; Veterinary Medicine | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84915751055 | Impact of eddies on surface chlorophyll in the South Indian Ocean | Dufois F., Hardman-Mountford N.J., Greenwood J., Richardson A.J., Feng M., Herbette S., Matear R. | 2014 | Journal of Geophysical Research C: Oceans | 119 | 11 | 10.1002/2014JC010164 | CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere Flagship, Wembley, WA, Australia; CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere Flagship, Ecosciences Precinct, Brisbane, QLD, Australia; Centre for Applications in Natural Resource Mathematics, School of Mathematics and PhysicsUniversity of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, Australia; LMI ICEMASA, Department of Oceanography, University of Cape Town Cape Town, South Africa; Laboratoire de Physique des Océans, (UMR6523 CNRS IFREMER IRD UBO), Université de Bretagne Occidentale Brest, France; CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere Flagship, Hobart, TAS, Australia | Dufois, F., CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere Flagship, Wembley, WA, Australia; Hardman-Mountford, N.J., CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere Flagship, Wembley, WA, Australia; Greenwood, J., CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere Flagship, Wembley, WA, Australia; Richardson, A.J., CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere Flagship, Ecosciences Precinct, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, Centre for Applications in Natural Resource Mathematics, School of Mathematics and PhysicsUniversity of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, Australia; Feng, M., CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere Flagship, Wembley, WA, Australia; Herbette, S., LMI ICEMASA, Department of Oceanography, University of Cape Town Cape Town, South Africa, Laboratoire de Physique des Océans, (UMR6523 CNRS IFREMER IRD UBO), Université de Bretagne Occidentale Brest, France; Matear, R., CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere Flagship, Hobart, TAS, Australia | A unique feature of the subtropical South Indian Ocean is the existence of anticyclonic eddies that have higher chlorophyll concentrations than cyclonic eddies. Off Western Australia, this anomalous behavior is related to the seeding of anticyclonic eddies with shelf water enriched in phytoplankton biomass and nutrients. Further off-shore, two mechanisms have been suggested to explain the eddy/chlorophyll relationship: (i) eddies originating from the Australian coast maintain their chlorophyll anomaly while propagating westward; and (ii) eddy-induced Ekman upwelling (downwelling) enhances (dampens) nutrient supply in anticyclonic (cyclonic) eddies. Here we describe the relationship between eddies and surface chlorophyll within the South Indian Ocean, and discuss possible mechanisms to explain the anomalous behavior in light of new analyses performed using satellite chlorophyll data. We show that anticyclonic eddies exhibit higher surface chlorophyll concentration than cyclonic eddies across the entire South Indian Ocean basin (from 20 to 28S), particularly in winter. Using Self Organizing Maps we analyze the chlorophyll patterns within anticyclonic eddies and cyclonic eddies and highlight their complexity. Our analysis suggests that multiple mechanisms may underlie the observed eddy/chlorophyll relationship. Based on Argo float data, we postulate the relationship may be partly related to seasonal adjustment of the mixed layer depth within eddies. Deeper mixing in anticyclonic eddies is expected to enhance nutrient supply to the mixed layer, while shallower mixing in cyclonic eddies is expected to reduce it. This could explain why the observed winter surface chlorophyll bloom is stronger in anticyclonic eddies than in cyclonic eddies. © 2014. American Geophysical Union. All Rights Reserved. | chlorophyll; convective mixing; Eddies; eddy-induced Ekman pumping; self-organizing map | anticyclone; Argo; biomass; chlorophyll; eddy; Ekman layer; mixed layer; phytoplankton; satellite data; upwelling; Australia; Indian Ocean; Indian Ocean (South); Western Australia | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-56249111360 | Feeding Acacia etbaica and Dichrostachys cinerea fruits to smallholder goats in northern Ethiopia improves their performance during the dry season | Yayneshet T., Eik L.O., Moe S.R. | 2008 | Livestock Science | 119 | 42372 | 10.1016/j.livsci.2008.02.007 | Department of Animal and Aquacultural Sciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, NO-1432 Aas, Norway; Department of Animal, Rangeland, and Wildlife Sciences, Mekelle University, P.O. Box 231, Mekelle, Ethiopia; Department of Ecology and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, NO-1432 Aas, Norway | Yayneshet, T., Department of Animal and Aquacultural Sciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, NO-1432 Aas, Norway, Department of Animal, Rangeland, and Wildlife Sciences, Mekelle University, P.O. Box 231, Mekelle, Ethiopia; Eik, L.O., Department of Animal and Aquacultural Sciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, NO-1432 Aas, Norway; Moe, S.R., Department of Ecology and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, NO-1432 Aas, Norway | Acacia etbaica Schweinf. and Dichrostachys cinerea (L.) Wight et Arn. are among the common woody browse plants that naturally grow in many arid and semi-arid rangelands in sub Saharan Africa. An experiment was conducted to compare the voluntary dry matter intake, body weight gain, nitrogen balance, carcass composition and sensory attributes of goats supplemented with different levels of A. etbaica and D. cinerea fruits. Average initial body weight of the goats was 20.4 kg (± 0.8SE) and received one of the following fruit supplementation regimes for 120 days (on body weight basis, n = 4 goats per group): (1) Control, no supplement; (2) 0.5% of A. etbaica; (3) 0.5% of D. cinerea; (4) 1.0% of A. etbaica; (5) 1.0% of D. cinerea; (6) 1.5% of A. etbaica; (7) 1.5% of D. cinerea. All groups were allowed to graze/browse during the day. Compared to A. etbaica, D. cinerea fruits contained higher amounts of crude protein (182 vs 135 g/kg DM), metabolizable energy (11 vs 8.4 MJ/kg DM), and in vitro dry matter digestibility coefficient (0.7 vs 0.6). The concentrations of acid detergent fiber (ADF), sulphuric acid solubulized lignin, and tannin (soluble and condensed) were lower (P < 0.05) in D. cinerea than in A. etbaica fruits. A. etbaica fruits, however, contained higher amounts of Na, K, Fe, and Zn concentrations than D. cinerea fruits. Dry matter intake was markedly higher in supplemented groups than in the control group without supplement. Similarly, body weight gain in the control group was negative and lower (P < 0.05) than any of the supplemented groups. During the course of the experimental period (120 days) the group placed in the 1.5% D. cinerea fruit diet gained 2.6 kg whereas the control group lost 2.0 kg. Thus, the difference between these two groups was 4.6 kg, which suggests about 22.5% increment of the goats' initial body weight. N retention was negative for the control group and varied little among the remaining treatment groups. Dressing percent increased with increased level of either type of fruit supplement, the highest (51.8%) being achieved at the 1.5% D. cinerea level. There was no difference in bone tissue across treatment groups. D. cinerea fruit intake also resulted in juicy/watery flavor and tender carcass. D. cinerea fruits appeared to have no adverse effects when included at the highest level (1.5%) and could be collected and stored as dry season supplement to smallholder goats. This study shows that poor farmers can increase goat performance substantially through supplement feeding with wild fruits. Areas in Ethiopia originally set aside for provision of ecological services and biodiversity protection can also be used for wild fruit production and feeding of small stock. The effect of increasing D. cinerea fruits above the 1.5% body weight level should be a focus of future investigation. Further work on deactivation mechanism of tannins is required for A. etbaica fruits included at levels higher than 1.0%. © 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. | Body weight; Dry matter intake; Exclosure; Supplement; Tigray | Acacia; Acacia etbaica; Capra hircus; Dichrostachys cinerea | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-56249123263 | Effect of virginiamycin and monensin supplementation on performance of multiparous Holstein cows | Erasmus L.J., Muya C., Erasmus S., Coertze R.F., Catton D.G. | 2008 | Livestock Science | 119 | 42372 | 10.1016/j.livsci.2008.03.005 | Department of Animal and Wildlife Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0002, South Africa; Agricultural Research Council, Livestock Business Division, Irene, 0062, South Africa; D. G. Catton Consultants, Irene, 0062, South Africa | Erasmus, L.J., Department of Animal and Wildlife Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0002, South Africa; Muya, C., Department of Animal and Wildlife Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0002, South Africa; Erasmus, S., Agricultural Research Council, Livestock Business Division, Irene, 0062, South Africa; Coertze, R.F., Agricultural Research Council, Livestock Business Division, Irene, 0062, South Africa; Catton, D.G., D. G. Catton Consultants, Irene, 0062, South Africa | This study was conducted to determine the effects of monensin or virginiamycin, or both on the performance of and some energy balance parameters in Holstein cows. Forty multiparous Holstein cows were used in a randomized complete block design experiment. The basal diet was a total mixed ration based on lucerne hay (38% of DM) and ground maize (34% of DM). The experimental treatments were (1) control diet (C); (2) control diet plus 15 ppm of monensin (M); (3) control diet plus 20 ppm of virginiamycin (V), and control plus M (15 ppm) plus V (20 ppm). Cows received 8 kg/d (as fed) of the experimental diets plus ad libitum Eragrostis curvula hay from 3 weeks prepartum and only the experimental diets from calving until 60 days postpartum. Cows were milked twice daily. Dry matter intake did not differ between treatments, but energy corrected milk production was increased (P < 0.10) by supplementing V + M (43.3 kg/d) when compared to treatments M (36.9 kg/d) and V (37.9 kg/d). Change in body weight tended (P = 0.11) to be lower for cows supplemented with V + M (- 8.1 kg/60 d) when compared to cows receiving the control diet (- 34.2 kg/60 d). Both treatments M and V respectively, decreased blood BHBA and treatment M increased blood glucose when compared to the control diet (P < 0.10). Results suggest a complimentary effect between the two additives monensin and virginiamycin when supplemented to early lactation cows. © 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. | Energy balance parameters; Lactating dairy cow; Monensin; Virginiamycin | Bos; Eragrostis; Eragrostis curvula; Medicago sativa; Zea mays | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-34748901212 | Insights into the morphology, geometry, and post-impact erosion of the Araguainha peak-ring structure, central Brazil | Lana C., Souza Filho C.R., Marangoni Y.R., Yokoyama E., Trindade R.I.F., Tohver E., Reimold W.U. | 2007 | Bulletin of the Geological Society of America | 119 | 42623 | 10.1130/B26142.1 | Department of Geology, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag XI, Matieland 7620, South Africa; Departamento de Geologia e Recursos Naturais, Instituto de Geociencias, State University of Campina (UNICAMP), Campina 13083-970, Brazil; Instituto de Astronomia, Geofísica e Ciencias Atmosfericas, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Rua do Matao 1226, Sao Paulo, SP 05508-090, Brazil; Museum for Natural History (Mineralogy), Humboldt University, Invalidenstrasse 43, 10115 Berlin, Germany | Lana, C., Department of Geology, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag XI, Matieland 7620, South Africa; Souza Filho, C.R., Departamento de Geologia e Recursos Naturais, Instituto de Geociencias, State University of Campina (UNICAMP), Campina 13083-970, Brazil; Marangoni, Y.R., Instituto de Astronomia, Geofísica e Ciencias Atmosfericas, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Rua do Matao 1226, Sao Paulo, SP 05508-090, Brazil; Yokoyama, E., Instituto de Astronomia, Geofísica e Ciencias Atmosfericas, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Rua do Matao 1226, Sao Paulo, SP 05508-090, Brazil; Trindade, R.I.F., Instituto de Astronomia, Geofísica e Ciencias Atmosfericas, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Rua do Matao 1226, Sao Paulo, SP 05508-090, Brazil; Tohver, E., Instituto de Astronomia, Geofísica e Ciencias Atmosfericas, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Rua do Matao 1226, Sao Paulo, SP 05508-090, Brazil; Reimold, W.U., Museum for Natural History (Mineralogy), Humboldt University, Invalidenstrasse 43, 10115 Berlin, Germany | The 40-km-wide Araguainha structure is the largest and best-exposed complex impact crater in South America. It was excavated in flat-lying sediments of the intracratonic Paraná Basin, where target rocks are well exposed and have remained undeformed since the impact event ca. 245 Ma. Despite the excellent state of preservation and exposure, information available on the target rock stratigraphy, post-impact erosion, and morphology of the structure is limited. Our combined field observations and remote sensing analysis demonstrate that Araguainha preserves all features of a shallowly eroded peak-ring crater. The interior of the structure exposes a central peak surrounded by a 5-km-wide annular basin and two main ring features 10-12 and 14-18 km from the center. Analysis of the pre-impact stratigraphy, present morphology, and crater dimensions indicates that excavation related to the transient cavity formation was extensive in the annular basin, but minimal to nonexistent beyond the inner ring feature. The formation of the inner ring feature can be reconciled with compressional stresses during outward collapse of the central uplift and inward slumping of the crater walls. Regional stratigraphic data combined with field observations indicate two periods of post-impact erosion associated with exhumation of the Paraná Basin. We estimate that 250-350 m of fallback deposits and target rocks have been removed by erosion. Erosion also accounted for removal of the proximal ejecta immediately outside the rim of the structure. In contrast to previous suggestions that the impact took place in a shallow-marine environment, our observations are more consistent with an extremely shallow, brackish to freshwater lacustrine environment, with little effect on the developing impact crater. © 2007 Geological Society of America. | Araguainha; Crater collapse; Impact craters; Paraná Basin; Peak ring | Impact craters; Intracratonic; Regional stratigraphic data; Environmental impact assessments; Erosion; Geomorphology; Remote sensing; Sediments; Stratigraphy; Tectonics; Structural geology; crater; ejecta; geometry; impact; lacustrine environment; morphology; remote sensing; stratigraphy; Araguainha Dome; Brazil; Parana Basin; South America | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-53449089311 | Impact of traditional medicinal plant extracts on antiretroviral drug absorption | Brown L., Heyneke O., Brown D., van Wyk J.P.H., Hamman J.H. | 2008 | Journal of Ethnopharmacology | 119 | 3 | 10.1016/j.jep.2008.06.028 | Department of Pharmacy, University of Limpopo (Medunsa Campus), P.O. Box 218, Ga-Rankuwa 0204, South Africa; Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Limpopo (Medunsa Campus), P.O. Box 225, Ga-Rankuwa 0204, South Africa; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tshwane University of Technology, Private Bag X680, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa | Brown, L., Department of Pharmacy, University of Limpopo (Medunsa Campus), P.O. Box 218, Ga-Rankuwa 0204, South Africa; Heyneke, O., Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Limpopo (Medunsa Campus), P.O. Box 225, Ga-Rankuwa 0204, South Africa; Brown, D., Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tshwane University of Technology, Private Bag X680, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa; van Wyk, J.P.H., Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Limpopo (Medunsa Campus), P.O. Box 225, Ga-Rankuwa 0204, South Africa; Hamman, J.H., Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tshwane University of Technology, Private Bag X680, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa | Ethopharmacological relevance: Traditional herbal medicines are often used for the treatment of different diseases in developing countries, especially in the rural areas where a lack of an efficient primary health care system is usually experienced. Many patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus are taking traditional herbal medicines in conjunction with their modern antiretroviral medication and drug-herb interactions can occur in these cases. Aim of the study: To investigate the effect of water extracts of two traditional medicinal plants, Hypoxis hemerocallidea and Sutherlandia frutescens as well as l-canavanine (a constituent of Sutherlandia frutescens) on the transport of nevirapine across human intestinal epithelial cells. Materials and methods: Nevirapine transport in the apical to basolateral and basolateral to apical directions across Caco-2 cell monolayers was determined alone (normal control) and in the presence of verapamil (positive control), water extracts of Hypoxis hemerocallidea and Sutherlandia frutescens and an aqueous solution of l-canavanine. The cumulative transport and apparent permeability coefficient (Papp) values were calculated and compared. Results: Nevirapine alone was substantially effluxed in the basolateral to apical direction across the intestinal epithelial cell monolayers, which was statistically significantly (p ≤ 0.05) decreased by addition of verapamil, Hypoxis hemerocallidea extract and the l-canavinine solution. The effect of Sutherlandia frutescens on nevirapine transport was not statistically significantly different from the control. Conclusions: Hypoxis hemerocallidea and l-canavanine interact with the efflux of nevirapine across intestinal epithelial cells and therefore can potentially increase the bioavailability of this antiretroviral drug when taken concomitantly. © 2008 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. | Absorption; Antiretroviral drug; Drug-herb interaction; Efflux; Hypoxis hemerocallidea; Sutherlandia frutescens | antiretrovirus agent; canavanine; Hypoxis hemerocallidea extract; nevirapine; plant extract; Sutherlandia frutescens extract; unclassified drug; verapamil; article; controlled study; drug transport; herb drug interaction; highly active antiretroviral therapy; human; human cell; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; Hypoxis; Hypoxis hemerocallidea; intestine epithelium; monolayer culture; Sutherlandia; Sutherlandia frutescens; traditional medicine; Anti-HIV Agents; Caco-2 Cells; Calcium Channel Blockers; Canavanine; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Drug Combinations; Fabaceae; Humans; Hypoxis; Intestinal Absorption; Medicine, African Traditional; Nevirapine; Plant Extracts; Plants, Medicinal; South Africa; Suspensions; Verapamil; Human immunodeficiency virus; Hypoxis hemerocallidea; Sutherlandia frutescens | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84934936972 | Modelling of immobilised enzyme biocatalytic membrane reactor performance | Du Preez R., Clarke K.G., Callanan L.H., Burton S.G. | 2015 | Journal of Molecular Catalysis B: Enzymatic | 119 | None | 10.1016/j.molcatb.2015.05.015 | Department of Process Engineering, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Stellenbosch, South Africa; Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X3, Rondebosch, South Africa; University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield, South Africa | Du Preez, R., Department of Process Engineering, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Stellenbosch, South Africa; Clarke, K.G., Department of Process Engineering, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Stellenbosch, South Africa; Callanan, L.H., Department of Process Engineering, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Stellenbosch, South Africa; Burton, S.G., Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X3, Rondebosch, South Africa, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield, South Africa | Abstract Immobilised enzyme-catalysed conversions frequently provide specific advantages of selectivity over chemical conversions and further, facilitate continuous operation through biocatalyst retention and reuse. This study focuses on the development and modelling of an enzyme-catalysed continuous immobilised enzyme biocatalytic membrane reactor (BMR). The conversion of the amidase-catalysed lactamide to lactic acid process was used as an industrially representative system with which to evaluate the process performance of the BMR. The model was developed from unsteady state differential mass balances incorporating a second order enzyme decay. This model was validated from empirically determined conversions in dual experiments using 80 and 40 mM amide substrate, 6.4 and 20.1 mg immobilised amidase and a flow rate of 0.0005 and 0.0001 L/min respectively. Model predictions over a range of amidase amounts and stabilities, flow rates and initial amide concentrations quantified the direction and extent of the influence of these parameters on the maximum conversions attainable, consequently identifying the critical parameter ranges defining optimal BMR performance. Although the model has been developed and validated for the prediction of BMR performance of the specific lactamide-lactic acid system, it nevertheless has broad applicability for and relevance to broad-based prediction of the performance of immobilised enzyme BMR processes in general, irrespective of the specific enzyme or substrate moieties. © 2015 Elsevier B.V. | Biocatalytic membrane reactor; Bioprocess; Immobilised enzyme; Mathematical modelling | Amides; Bioreactors; Catalysis; Flow rate; Lactic acid; Mathematical models; Biocatalytic membrane reactors; Bioprocesses; Chemical conversions; Continuous operation; Immobilised enzymes; Model prediction; Parameter range; Process performance; Enzymes; amidase; amide; immobilized enzyme; lactic acid; tiopronin; Article; basal metabolic rate; bioprocess; catalysis; concentration (parameters); enzyme immobilization; enzyme substrate; experiment; flow rate; immobilized enzyme reactor; membrane reactor; prediction; validation study | US, Universiteit Stellenbosch |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-14544289513 | Evaluation of a photo-poster on nurses' perceptions of teething problems in South-western Nigeria | Bankole O.O., Aderinokun G.A., Denloye O.O. | 2005 | Public Health | 119 | 4 | 10.1016/j.puhe.2004.05.019 | Department of Preventive Dentistry, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria | Bankole, O.O., Department of Preventive Dentistry, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria; Aderinokun, G.A., Department of Preventive Dentistry, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria; Denloye, O.O., Department of Preventive Dentistry, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria | Background: Health problems commonly associated with the eruption of teeth in babies continue to pose problems in Nigeria. Even nurses who should be well informed have misconceived views. In order to enlighten mothers and healthcare workers on this issue, a photo-poster was developed as a health-education tool. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of the poster, displayed in the workplace for 18 months, on the knowledge, attitude and reported practice of nurses. The study also aimed to assess the outcome of the inclusion of the photo-poster in training materials in a workshop setting. Methods: The study was conducted in two parts. In the first part, 542 nurses working in children's units within the city of Ibadan, South-western Nigeria were selected using a stratified sampling technique. A questionnaire was used to gather information on their perceptions of teething problems at baseline. Photo-posters were displayed in the nurses' workplaces for 18 months, and a follow-up survey was conducted using the same questionnaire. In the second part of the study, two groups of nurses (n=21 and n=18 nurses) working in similar healthcare facilities in Ibadan participated in two separate workshops. One workshop used the photo-poster in addition to the standard educational materials, and the other workshop did not. Percentage differences between pre- and postintervention responses to perceived health problems were calculated. Intervention effects were the differences between the percentage changes in the intervention (with poster) and comparison (without poster) groups. Statistical differences were determined by Chi-squared test or one-tailed t-test, as appropriate. Results: Five hundred and forty-two nurses (519 female and 23 male) completed the questionnaire survey at baseline and 403 (371 female and 32 male) at follow-up. Their ages ranged between 23 and 56 years, with the greatest percentage aged 25-40 years. At baseline, many respondents indicated that several of the listed health problems were a consequence of tooth eruption. After exposure to the posters at their workplace for 18 months, there were slight changes in their opinions but most were not statistically significant (P>0.05). The use of posters in a workshop setting revealed percentage changes ranging from -11 to 61% for the different associated health problems. Many of these changes were statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusion: Displaying photo-posters in the workplace did little to change nurses' perceptions of teething problems; the posters had more influence when they were used in an instructional, interactive atmosphere. It is recommended that the use of photo-posters in health education for such culturally entrenched health issues should be accompanied by discussion of the same subject wherever possible. © 2004 The Royal Institute of Public Health. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. | Evaluation; Infants; Photo-poster; Teething | adult; article; calculation; chi square test; city; controlled study; female; health care facility; health education; hospital department; human; literature; male; Nigeria; nurse attitude; pediatrics; questionnaire; sampling; staff training; statistical analysis; statistical significance; tooth eruption; workshop; Adult; Audiovisual Aids; Education, Nursing, Continuing; Female; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Mothers; Nigeria; Nurses; Outcome Assessment (Health Care); Tooth Eruption | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84924756397 | Evaluation of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and a haemagglutination inhibition tests for the detection of antibodies to Newcastle disease virus in village chickens using a Bayesian approach | Chaka H., Thompson P.N., Goutard F., Grosbois V. | 2015 | Preventive Veterinary Medicine | 119 | 42371 | 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2015.01.016 | National Animal Health Diagnostic and Investigation Center, PO Box 04, Sebeta, Ethiopia; Department of Production Animal Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort, South Africa; CIRAD, Unite AGIRs, Montpellier Cedex 5, France | Chaka, H., National Animal Health Diagnostic and Investigation Center, PO Box 04, Sebeta, Ethiopia, Department of Production Animal Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort, South Africa; Thompson, P.N., Department of Production Animal Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort, South Africa; Goutard, F., CIRAD, Unite AGIRs, Montpellier Cedex 5, France; Grosbois, V., CIRAD, Unite AGIRs, Montpellier Cedex 5, France | Newcastle disease (ND) is an endemic disease in village chickens in Ethiopia with substantial economic importance. The sensitivity (Se) and specificity (Sp) of a blocking enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (bELISA, Svanova Biotech), indirect ELISA (iELISA, Laboratoire Service International) and haemagglutination inhibition (HI) test for ND virus (NDV) antibody detection were evaluated in a Bayesian framework in the absence of a gold standard test, on sera collected from unvaccinated chickens kept under the village production system in household flocks and at markets in two woredas (i.e. districts) of the Eastern Shewa zone, Ethiopia. The outcomes of the iELISA test differed dramatically from those of the two other tests with 92% of the samples testing positive as compared with less than 15% for bELISA and HI. iELISA results were also inconsistent with previous estimations of Newcastle serological prevalence. The information provided by the iELISA test was thus considered as highly unreliable, probably due to an extremely low specificity, and thus not considered in the Bayesian models aiming at estimating serological prevalence and test performance parameters. Bayesian modelling of HI and bELISA test results suggested that bELISA had both the highest Se (86.6%; 95% posterior credible interval (PCI): 61.8%; 98.5%), and the highest Sp (98.3%; 95% PCI: 97.2%; 99.5%), while HI had a Se of 80.2% (95% PCI: 59.1%; 94.3%), and a Sp of 96.1% (95% PCI: 95.1%; 97.4%). Model selection and the range of the posterior distribution of the correlation between bELISA and HI test outcomes for truly seropositive animals (median at 0.461; PCI: -0.055; 0.894) suggested a tendency for bELISA and HI to detect the same truly positive animals and to fail to detect the same truly positive animals. The use of bELISA in screening and surveillance for NDV antibodies is indicated given its high Se and Sp, in addition to its ease of automation to handle large numbers of samples compared to HI. The latter can be used as confirmatory test where an ELISA test with moderate or low specificity is used although the likely positive dependence with bELISA implies that HI and bELISA provide similar information on truly positive animals. Evaluation of commercial ELISAs is indicated before their wider use in village chicken populations to avoid erroneous inferences. © 2015 Elsevier B.V. | Bayesian framework; Chickens; Diagnostic test evaluation; Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; Haemagglutination inhibition; Newcastle disease | Animalia; Gallus gallus; Newcastle disease virus; virus antibody; animal; Bayes theorem; blood; chicken; enzyme linked immunosorbent assay; Ethiopia; evaluation study; hemagglutination inhibition test; immunology; Newcastle disease; Newcastle disease virus; Poultry Diseases; prevalence; sensitivity and specificity; veterinary; virology; Animals; Antibodies, Viral; Bayes Theorem; Chickens; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Ethiopia; Hemagglutination Inhibition Tests; Newcastle Disease; Newcastle disease virus; Poultry Diseases; Prevalence; Sensitivity and Specificity | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-53449083087 | Ethnoveterinary use of southern African plants and scientific evaluation of their medicinal properties | McGaw L.J., Eloff J.N. | 2008 | Journal of Ethnopharmacology | 119 | 3 | 10.1016/j.jep.2008.06.013 | Phytomedicine Programme, Department of Paraclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa | McGaw, L.J., Phytomedicine Programme, Department of Paraclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa; Eloff, J.N., Phytomedicine Programme, Department of Paraclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa | Aim of the study: Livestock keepers in many developing countries with restricted access to orthodox veterinary healthcare services commonly use traditional remedies to treat their animals when disease is encountered. This review collates the documented use of plants in South Africa for healing various ailments in domestic animals, and records bioactivity testing that has been carried out on these plants. Materials and methods: A literature survey was conducted on the use of plants in South African ethnoveterinary medicine (EVM), as well as on biological activity investigations relating to their ethnoveterinary use where available. Results: The ethnoveterinary application of plants, and results of screening studies of EVM plant extracts in various bioassays is presented. For diseases such as coughs, wounds, skin diseases, mild diarrhoea and reproductive disorders, EVM may be a cheap and easily accessible alternative to expensive pharmaceuticals. Studies on biological activity of EVM plants can provide indications of promising leads for extracts that can be developed into standardized medications to be used on a commercial basis. Isolation studies on active plants may yield pure active compounds that could be chemically modified to optimize medicinal value and reduce possible toxic effects. Conclusion: In South Africa, a large proportion of the population relies on traditional remedies to treat themselves and their animals for common diseases. Only a small percentage of EVM plants have been analysed for biological activity or toxic effects, and hence research in this field offers fertile possibilities for future investigation. © 2008 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. | Ethnoveterinary medicine; Livestock disease; South Africa; Traditional remedies | plant extract; animal disease; article; bioassay; biological activity; chemical modification; Cissus quadrangularis; Combretum; Combretum caffrum; coughing; diarrhea; drug screening; ethnopharmacology; Gunnera perpensa; Jatropha; Jatropha zeyheri; medicinal plant; nonhuman; Peltophorum africanum; plant; reproduction; Salix capensis; skin disease; South Africa; standardization; veterinary medicine; willow; wound; Ziziphus mucronata; Animals; Indicators and Reagents; Medicine, African Traditional; Phytotherapy; Plants, Medicinal; South Africa; Veterinary Medicine; Animalia | None |
| WoS | WOS:000208106500007 | The cost and impact of male circumcision on HIV/AIDS in Botswana | Bollinger, Lori A.,Busang, Lesego,Fidzani, Boga,Moeti, Themba,Musuka, Godfrey,Stover, John | 2009 | JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL AIDS SOCIETY | 12 | None | 10.1186/1758-2652-12-7 | African Comprehens HIV AIDS Partnership, Futures Inst, Natl AIDS Coordinating Agcy | None | The HIV/AIDS epidemic continues to be a major issue facing Botswana, with overall adult HIV prevalence estimated to be 25.7 percent in 2007. This paper estimates the cost and impact of the draft Ministry of Health male circumcision strategy using the UNAIDS/WHO Decision-Makers' Programme Planning Tool (DMPPT). Demographic data and HIV prevalence estimates from the recent National AIDS Coordinating Agency estimations are used as input to the DMPPT to estimate the impact of scaling-up male circumcision on the HIV/AIDS epidemic. These data are supplemented by programmatic information from the draft Botswana National Strategy for Safe Male Circumcision, including information on unit cost and program goals. Alternative scenarios were developed in consultation with stakeholders. Results suggest that scaling-up adult and neonatal circumcision to reach 80% coverage by 2012 would result in averting almost 70,000 new HIV infections through 2025, at a total net cost of US$47 million across that same period. This results in an average cost per HIV infection averted of US$689. Changing the target year to 2015 and the scale-up pattern to a linear pattern results in a more evenly-distributed number of MCs required, and averts approximately 60,000 new HIV infections through 2025. Other scenarios explored include the effect of risk compensation and the impact of increasing coverage of general prevention interventions. Scaling-up safe male circumcision has the potential to reduce the impact of HIV/AIDS in Botswana significantly; program design elements such as feasible patterns of scale-up and inclusion of counselling are important in evaluating the overall success of the program. | None | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84927591622 | Temperature Variation and heat wave and cold spell impacts on years of life lost among the urban poor population of Nairobi, Kenya | Egondi T., Kyobutungi C., Rocklöv J. | 2015 | International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health | 12 | 3 | 10.3390/ijerph120302735 | African Population and Health Research Center, P.O. Box 10787-00100, Nairobi, Kenya; Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Epidemiology and Global Health, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden | Egondi, T., African Population and Health Research Center, P.O. Box 10787-00100, Nairobi, Kenya, Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Epidemiology and Global Health, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden; Kyobutungi, C., African Population and Health Research Center, P.O. Box 10787-00100, Nairobi, Kenya; Rocklöv, J., Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Epidemiology and Global Health, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden | Weather extremes are associated with adverse health outcomes, including mortality. Studies have investigated the mortality risk of temperature in terms of excess mortality, however, this risk estimate may not be appealing to policy makers assessing the benefits expected for any interventions to be adopted. To provide further evidence of the burden of extreme temperatures, we analyzed the effect of temperature on years of life lost (YLL) due to all-cause mortality among the population in two urban informal settlements. YLL was generated based on the life expectancy of the population during the study period by applying a survival analysis approach. Association between daily maximum temperature and YLL was assessed using a distributed lag nonlinear model. In addition, cold spell and heat wave effects, as defined according to different percentiles, were investigated. The exposure-response curve between temperature and YLL was J-shaped, with the minimum mortality temperature (MMT) of 26 °C. An average temperature of 21 °C compared to the MMT was associated with an increase of 27.4 YLL per day (95% CI, 2.7–52.0 years). However, there was no additional effect for extended periods of cold spells, nor did we find significant associations between YLL to heat or heat waves. Overall, increased YLL from all-causes were associated with cold spells indicating the need for initiating measure for reducing health burdens. © 2015 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. | Cold spell; Cold-related mortality; Heat wave; Heat-related mortality; Temperature | climate effect; environmental factor; health geography; health impact; informal settlement; mortality; survival; temperature gradient; urban population; Article; cause of death; cold injury; cold spell; controlled study; environmental impact; environmental monitoring; environmental temperature; heat wave; human; Kenya; life expectancy; mortality; outcome assessment; physical phenomena; social status; survival; temperature sensitivity; temperature variation; thermal analysis; urban area; weather; Kenya; Nairobi [Kenya]; Nairobi [Nairobi (CNT)] | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84856973712 | The impacts of herbivory on vegetation in Moremi Game Reserve, Botswana: 1967-2001 | Hamandawana H. | 2012 | Regional Environmental Change | 12 | 1 | 10.1007/s10113-011-0230-0 | Agricultural Research Council, Institute for Soil, Water and Climate, PB X79, Pretoria 0001, South Africa | Hamandawana, H., Agricultural Research Council, Institute for Soil, Water and Climate, PB X79, Pretoria 0001, South Africa | Browsing and grazing pressure on vegetation in the Moremi Game Reserve in Botswana was analyzed using remotely sensed imagery comprising CORONA photographs of 1967 and Landsat TM and Landsat ETM imagery of 1989 and 1994 and 2001, respectively. Comparison of temporal variations in the spatial distributions of different vegetation types and changes in the abundance of selected wildlife species demonstrate a persistent decrease in capacity of the environment to support wild animals, due to increasing abundance of poorly preferred browse species and increasing scarcity of favored varieties. Given the long-term direction of change showing continued deterioration of habitat conditions and the limited prospects for reversal of this trend, it is apparent that there is immediate need to realign wildlife management strategies in ways that can enhance the sustainability of wildlife and the supporting environment. © 2011 Springer-Verlag. | Preferred browse; Vegetation response; Wildlife management | Animalia | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84901061068 | Koch's postulate in reproduction of broiler coccidiosis by co-infection with eight most common Eimeria spp.: A model for future evaluation of new biologics | Barbour E.K., Ayyash D.B., Shaib H., Bragg R.R., Azhar E., Iyer A., Harakeh S., Kambris Z., Kumosani T. | 2014 | International Journal of Applied Research in Veterinary Medicine | 12 | 1 | None | Animal and Veterinary Sciences Department, American University of Beirut, P.O. Box 11-0236, Beirut, Lebanon; Biochemistry Department, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; Animal and Veterinary Sciences Department, American University of Beirut, P.O. Box 11-0236, Beirut, Lebanon; Department of Microbial, Biochemical and Food Biotechnology, University of the Free State, Nelson Mandela Drive, Bloemfontein, 9300, South Africa; Special Infectious Agents Unit - Biosafety Level 3, King Fahad Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; Biochemistry Department, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; Biology Dept, American University of Beirut, Lebanon | Barbour, E.K., Animal and Veterinary Sciences Department, American University of Beirut, P.O. Box 11-0236, Beirut, Lebanon, Biochemistry Department, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; Ayyash, D.B., Animal and Veterinary Sciences Department, American University of Beirut, P.O. Box 11-0236, Beirut, Lebanon; Shaib, H., Animal and Veterinary Sciences Department, American University of Beirut, P.O. Box 11-0236, Beirut, Lebanon; Bragg, R.R., Department of Microbial, Biochemical and Food Biotechnology, University of the Free State, Nelson Mandela Drive, Bloemfontein, 9300, South Africa; Azhar, E., Special Infectious Agents Unit - Biosafety Level 3, King Fahad Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; Iyer, A., Biochemistry Department, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; Harakeh, S., Special Infectious Agents Unit - Biosafety Level 3, King Fahad Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; Kambris, Z., Biology Dept, American University of Beirut, Lebanon; Kumosani, T., Biochemistry Department, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia | The purpose of this research is to establish a model of Koch's postulate for reproducing coccidiosis in broilers by co-infection with eight most common Eimeria spp. involved in this economic disease, in an attempt to use this model in future evaluation of new controlling biologics. Four groups of broilers each challenged at a different age (14, 21, 28, and 35 d) with an equivalent number of sporulated oocysts of eight Eimeria spp. had a reduction in their mean weight gain of 10.2% compared to the four parallel control groups of birds that were deprived of the challenge. The mean feed to live body weight conversion ratio increased significantly from 1.5 in the four unchallengedcontrol groups to 3.1 in the four challenged groups (P<0.05). The mean frequency of mortality increased up to 15% in the challenged groups in comparison to 5% in the controls. This higher mortality was associated in most challenged groups with significant increase in the mean lesion scores and mean oocyst count in the intestine compared to those observed in the controls. The benefit of this established model of Koch's postulate for reproducing coccidiosis in broilers, in future search of new controlling biologics, will be presented. | Chicken; Eimeria spp.; Koch's postulate; Lesions; Oocyst count; Performance | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84937801498 | Maximizing the Impact of Training Initiatives for Health Professionals in Low-Income Countries: Frameworks, Challenges, and Best Practices | Cancedda C., Farmer P.E., Kerry V., Nuthulaganti T., Scott K.W., Goosby E., Binagwaho A. | 2015 | PLoS Medicine | 12 | 6 | 10.1371/journal.pmed.1001840 | Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States; Partners In Health, Boston, MA, United States; Seed Global Health, Boston, MA, United States; Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States; Clinton Health Access Initiative, Boston, MA, United States; Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, United States; University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States; Ministry of Health of RwandaKigali, Rwanda; Geisel School of Medicine—Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, United States | Cancedda, C., Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States, Partners In Health, Boston, MA, United States; Farmer, P.E., Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States, Partners In Health, Boston, MA, United States; Kerry, V., Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States, Seed Global Health, Boston, MA, United States, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States; Nuthulaganti, T., Clinton Health Access Initiative, Boston, MA, United States, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, United States; Scott, K.W., Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, United States; Goosby, E., University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States; Binagwaho, A., Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States, Ministry of Health of RwandaKigali, Rwanda, Geisel School of Medicine—Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, United States | [No abstract available] | None | Article; conceptual framework; government; health care planning; health practitioner; health program; human; lowest income group; medical education; medical school; training | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84859355976 | Performance Management in Public Sector Enterprises: A Case Analysis of Employees' Perceptions in the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) | Mmieh F., Mordi C., Singh S., Asiedu-Appiah F. | 2011 | Journal of African Business | 12 | 3 | 10.1080/15228916.2011.621847 | Brunel University Business School, Uxbridge, Middlesex, United Kingdom; Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana | Mmieh, F., Brunel University Business School, Uxbridge, Middlesex, United Kingdom; Mordi, C., Brunel University Business School, Uxbridge, Middlesex, United Kingdom; Singh, S., Brunel University Business School, Uxbridge, Middlesex, United Kingdom; Asiedu-Appiah, F., Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana | In this article, the authors critically assess the performance management (PM) policies and practices in a public sector company, namely the Electricity Corporation of Ghana. The study has gone some way to 'close the gap' in the literature by making a significant contribution toward our understanding of some of the perceptions of and challenges employees face with performance management in an African context. Quantitative analysis of available evidence reveals that employees are generally content with the implementation of the PM system in the Electricity Corporation of Ghana but are skeptical about some of the practices under the guise of PM. © 2011 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC. | electricity company of ghana (ECG); human resource management (HRM); performance management; public sector enterprise (PSE) | electricity industry; human resource; implementation process; industrial enterprise; industrial performance; industrial practice; management; public sector; Ghana | None |
| None | None | Evaluating the missing links in the relationship between executives' compensation and firm performance | Mori N., Munisi G. | 2014 | International Journal of Business and Globalisation | 12 | 3 | 10.1504/IJBG.2014.060215 | Business School, University of Dar Es Salaam, P.O. Box 35046, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Norwegian Centre for Microfinance Research, University of Agder, Postboks 422, 4604 Kristiansand, Norway; Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences, University of Agder, Postboks 422, 4604 Kristiansand, Norway | Mori, N., Business School, University of Dar Es Salaam, P.O. Box 35046, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, Norwegian Centre for Microfinance Research, University of Agder, Postboks 422, 4604 Kristiansand, Norway; Munisi, G., Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences, University of Agder, Postboks 422, 4604 Kristiansand, Norway | The research on the relationship between executive compensation and firm performance is extensive but has produced inconsistent results and, typically, weak explanatory power. One cause of these results is use of an incomplete theoretical framework that ignores some variables that are related to these two concepts. We explore the missing links between them. The paper contributes to scholarly and practical understanding of this important issue in the literature by extending and combining agency theory, upper echelons theory, and motivation theory perspectives. The paper develops a model that describes and explains the interactive relationship between executive managerial ability, executive compensation, strategic choices and firm performance. It puts forward the argument that executive managerial ability is related to strategic choices, and executive compensation moderates this relationship. Additionally, the paper suggests that strategic choice is an important variable that has not been explicitly accounted for in the relationship between compensation and firm performance. Copyright © 2014 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd. | Executive compensation; Firm performance; Managerial ability; Motivation; Strategic choice | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84937914681 | Evaluation of site managers’ hindrances towards optimal utilisation of construction resources | Fapohunda J.A. | 2014 | Journal of Engineering, Design and Technology | 12 | 3 | 10.1108/JEDT-03-2012-0013 | Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Built Environment Departments, Bellville Campus, Cape Town, South Africa | Fapohunda, J.A., Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Built Environment Departments, Bellville Campus, Cape Town, South Africa | Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to delineate different types of site manager attributes that significantly contribute to construction project management efficiency and evaluate the factors that hinder the site manager during construction production processes. Towards efficient resources utilisation, site managers require various qualities and potentials. Design/methodology/approach – To achieve valid result, the research study was triangulated by exploring literature, which was augmented with both quantitative questionnaire and qualitative interview research methods. The research data were collected in the UK building industry. Findings – It was found that the barriers that often affect efficient utilisation of construction resources in the industry are poor communication, disagreement, misunderstandings, bad weather, union strikes and construction participants’ personality conflicts. This research study presents severity of site manager’s hindrances, factors that affect site manager’s efficiencies, solutions to minimise the hindrances on site manager’s efficient performance and factors that should be constant towards site mangers’ efficient performance. Among these solutions found evident that will enhance site managers’ performance and minimise the effect of the hindrances are an enhanced planning and adequate programming of construction resources before and during project execution, rational team building and an efficient construction team for project, in addition to adequate information dissemination and transfer of knowledge. Originality/value – The adequate implementation of the solutions presented in this paper will not only enhance the performance of site managers on resources utilisation but will also augment client satisfactions. © Emerald Group Publishing Limited. | Construction management; Construction production processes; Project management; Resources; Site managers’ attributes; Site managers’ performance; Utilisation | Balloons; Construction industry; Human resource management; Information dissemination; Knowledge management; Managers; Surveys; Construction management; Production process; Resources; Site manager; Utilisation; Project management | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-75149191449 | Development of a performance-rating scale for a nutrition knowledge test developed for adolescents | Whati L., Senekal M., Steyn N.P., Lombard C., Nel J. | 2009 | Public Health Nutrition | 12 | 10 | 10.1017/S1368980008004679 | CDL Unit, South African Medical Research Council, PO Box 19070, Cape Town, 7505, South Africa; Department of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Biostatistics, South African Medical Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa; Department of Logistics, University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, South Africa | Whati, L., CDL Unit, South African Medical Research Council, PO Box 19070, Cape Town, 7505, South Africa; Senekal, M., Department of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Steyn, N.P., CDL Unit, South African Medical Research Council, PO Box 19070, Cape Town, 7505, South Africa; Lombard, C., Biostatistics, South African Medical Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa; Nel, J., Department of Logistics, University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, South Africa | Objective The objectives of the present study were to (i) develop and validate a norm-referenced performance-rating scale to interpret a nutrition knowledge test developed for urban adolescents and (ii) develop a prototype for other researchers to follow when developing nutrition knowledge tests.Design For norm development the nutrition knowledge test (questionnaire) was administered to a sample representative of the questionnaire target group, referred to as the norm group. These included 512 adolescents in grades 8 (n 158), 10 (n 149) and 12 (n 205) at three randomly selected schools in Soweto and Johannesburg. The performance scores (in percentages) obtained by the norm group were transformed to Z-scores which were categorised into stanines using established Z-score cut-off points. For validation purposes the questionnaire was completed by 148 volunteers: sixty university dietetics students, nineteen non-nutrition university students and sixty-nine primary-school teachers.Results As required of an ideal norm group, the Z-scores formed a normal distribution (a bell-shaped curve). To facilitate interpretation of the results, the Z-score cut-off points for these categories were transformed back to performance scores (percentages) so that the performance of a testee could be interpreted directly from his/her performance in percentage. As is recommended, the nine stanine categories were reduced to five: very poor, fair/below average, good/average, very good/above average and excellent. The discriminatory validity of the norms was substantiated by showing that groups with known nutrition knowledge levels were rated appropriately and that the performance ratings of these groups differed significantly, with university dietetics students scoring 98.3 %, primary-school teachers 20.3 % and non-nutrition university students 31.6 %.Conclusions The norm-referenced performance-rating scale can be used with confidence to interpret the performance score achieved by a testee on the nutrition knowledge test developed for urban adolescents in South Africa. The methodology used in the study serves as a prototype for other researchers who are developing knowledge tests. | Adolescents; Knowledge questionnaire; Nutrition knowledge; Rating scale | adolescent; adult; article; attitude to health; human; normal distribution; nutrition; nutritional science; questionnaire; reference value; South Africa; urban population; validation study; Adolescent; Adult; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Humans; Normal Distribution; Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Nutritional Sciences; Questionnaires; Reference Values; South Africa; Urban Population; Young Adult | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84887081737 | Impact of housing condition on indoor-biting and indoor-resting Anopheles arabiensis density in a highland area, central Ethiopia | Animut A., Balkew M., Lindtjørn B. | 2013 | Malaria Journal | 12 | 1 | 10.1186/1475-2875-12-393 | Center for International Health, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway; Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University, PO Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | Animut, A., Center for International Health, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway, Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University, PO Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Balkew, M., Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University, PO Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Lindtjørn, B., Center for International Health, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway | Background: Exposure of individuals to malaria infection may depend on their housing conditions as houses serve as biting and resting places of vectors. This study describes the association of housing conditions with densities of indoor-biting and indoor-resting Anopheles arabiensis in Hobe, Dirama and Wurib villages of a highland area in central Ethiopia. Methods. Data on housing conditions, including presence of house apertures, number of occupants and number and the type of domestic animal tethered inside, were collected. Indoor-biting mosquitoes were sampled using Centers for Disease Control (CDC) light traps and indoor-resting mosquitoes sampled with pyrethrum spray catches (PSCs) monthly for two years (July 2008 to June 2010). Female anophelines were identified to species and processed. Univariate and general linear estimating equation allowing for repeated measures were used to assess the contribution of housing conditions for indoor-biting and indoor-resting An. arabiensis. Results: About 96% (4,597/4,788) of anophelines were caught inside residential houses. Nine anopheline species were identified, among which An. arabiensis was most prevalent (2,489; 52%). Vectors entering houses were higher in those situated at low (β = 4.475; 95% CI = 3.475-5.476; p <0.001; β = strength of the association) and medium (β = 2.850; 95% CI = 1.975-3.724; p <0.001) altitudes compared to high altitude, and where houses have no windows (β = -0.570; 95% CI = -1.047-0.094; p = 0.019) compared with those that have. Numbers of indoor-resting vectors were higher in those situated at low (β = 6.100; 95% CI = 4.571-7.629; p <0.001) and medium (β = 4.411; 95% CI = 2.284-6.537; p <0.001) altitudes compared to high altitudes, and where houses had open eaves (β =1.201; 95% CI = 0.704-1.698; p <0.001) compared with those that had closed eaves. Conclusion: Housing conditions such as presence of open eaves, absence of window, location at low and mid altitudes, were strong predictors of indoor exposure to An. arabiensis bite in a highland area of south-central Ethiopia. © 2013 Animut et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | None | aerosol; altitude; Anopheles arabiensis; article; bite; density; disease control; domestic animal; Ethiopia; housing; indoor biting; light; mosquito; nonhuman; pyrethrum; Animals; Anopheles; Ethiopia; Female; Housing; Humans; Longitudinal Studies; Population Density | None |
| None | None | Standardizing operational vector sampling techniques for measuring malaria transmission intensity: Evaluation of six mosquito collection methods in western Kenya | Wong J., Bayoh N., Olang G., Killeen G.F., Hamel M.J., Vulule J.M., Gimnig J.E. | 2013 | Malaria Journal | 12 | 1 | 10.1186/1475-2875-12-143 | Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Atlanta, GA, United States; Kenya Medical Research Institute, Centre for Global Health Research, Kisumu, Kenya; Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Vector Group, Liverpool, United Kingdom; Ifakara Health Institute, Environmental Sciences Thematic Group, Ifakara, Tanzania | Wong, J., Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Atlanta, GA, United States; Bayoh, N., Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Atlanta, GA, United States, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Centre for Global Health Research, Kisumu, Kenya; Olang, G., Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Atlanta, GA, United States, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Centre for Global Health Research, Kisumu, Kenya; Killeen, G.F., Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Vector Group, Liverpool, United Kingdom, Ifakara Health Institute, Environmental Sciences Thematic Group, Ifakara, Tanzania; Hamel, M.J., Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Atlanta, GA, United States, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Centre for Global Health Research, Kisumu, Kenya; Vulule, J.M., Kenya Medical Research Institute, Centre for Global Health Research, Kisumu, Kenya; Gimnig, J.E., Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Atlanta, GA, United States | Background: Operational vector sampling methods lack standardization, making quantitative comparisons of malaria transmission across different settings difficult. Human landing catch (HLC) is considered the research gold standard for measuring human-mosquito contact, but is unsuitable for large-scale sampling. This study assessed mosquito catch rates of CDC light trap (CDC-LT), Ifakara tent trap (ITT), window exit trap (WET), pot resting trap (PRT), and box resting trap (BRT) relative to HLC in western Kenya to 1) identify appropriate methods for operational sampling in this region, and 2) contribute to a larger, overarching project comparing standardized evaluations of vector trapping methods across multiple countries. Methods. Mosquitoes were collected from June to July 2009 in four districts: Rarieda, Kisumu West, Nyando, and Rachuonyo. In each district, all trapping methods were rotated 10 times through three houses in a 3 × 3 Latin Square design. Anophelines were identified by morphology and females classified as fed or non-fed. Anopheles gambiae s.l. were further identified as Anopheles gambiae s.s. or Anopheles arabiensis by PCR. Relative catch rates were estimated by negative binomial regression. Results: When data were pooled across all four districts, catch rates (relative to HLC indoor) for An. gambiae s.l (95.6% An. arabiensis, 4.4% An. gambiae s.s) were high for HLC outdoor (RR = 1.01), CDC-LT (RR = 1.18), and ITT (RR = 1.39); moderate for WET (RR = 0.52) and PRT outdoor (RR = 0.32); and low for all remaining types of resting traps (PRT indoor, BRT indoor, and BRT outdoor; RR < 0.08 for all). For Anopheles funestus, relative catch rates were high for ITT (RR = 1.21); moderate for HLC outdoor (RR = 0.47), CDC-LT (RR = 0.69), and WET (RR = 0.49); and low for all resting traps (RR < 0.02 for all). At finer geographic scales, however, efficacy of each trap type varied from district to district. Conclusions: ITT, CDC-LT, and WET appear to be effective methods for large-scale vector sampling in western Kenya. Ultimately, choice of collection method for operational surveillance should be driven by trap efficacy and scalability, rather than fine-scale precision with respect to HLC. When compared with recent, similar trap evaluations in Tanzania and Zambia, these data suggest that traps which actively lure host-seeking females will be most useful for surveillance in the face of declining vector densities. © 2013 Wong et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | Anopheles arabiensis; Anopheles funestus; Anopheles gambiae; CDC light trap; Human biting rate; Human landing catch; Ifakara tent trap; Mosquito sampling; Window exit trap | adult; Anopheles arabiensis; Anopheles funestus; Anopheles gambiae; article; box resting trap; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention miniature light trap; disease transmission; female; human; human landing catch; Ifakara tent trap; Kenya; malaria; male; morphology; nonhuman; parasite vector; polymerase chain reaction; pot resting trap; rural area; sampling; standardization; window exit trap; Adult; Animals; Child, Preschool; Culicidae; Disease Vectors; Entomology; Female; Humans; Infant; Kenya; Malaria; Male; Population Density | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33645005227 | Using niche-based modelling to assess the impact of climate change on tree functional diversity in Europe | Thuiller W., Lavorel S., Sykes M.T., Araújo M.B. | 2006 | Diversity and Distributions | 12 | 1 | 10.1111/j.1366-9516.2006.00216.x | Centre d'Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive, Centre National de Recherche Scientifique, 1919 route de Mende, 34293 Montpellier Cedex 5, France; Climate Change Research Group, Kirstenbosch Research Center, South African National Biodiversity Institute, P/Bag x 7, Claremont 7735, Cape Town, South Africa; Macroecology and Conservation Unit, University of Évora, Estrada dos Leões, 7000-730 Évora, Portugal; Laboratoire d'Ecologie Alpine, CNRS, Université J. Fournier, BP 53X, 38041 Grenoble Cedex 9, France; Geobiosphere Science Centre, Department of Physical Geography and Ecosystems Analysis, Lund University, Sölvegatan 12, 223 62 Lund, Sweden; Biodiversity Research Group, School of Geography and the Environment, Oxford University, Mansfield Road, Oxford, OX1 3TB, United Kingdom; Department of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, National Museum of Natural Sciences, CSIC, C/Gutiérrez Abascal, 2, 28006, Madrid, Spain | Thuiller, W., Centre d'Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive, Centre National de Recherche Scientifique, 1919 route de Mende, 34293 Montpellier Cedex 5, France, Climate Change Research Group, Kirstenbosch Research Center, South African National Biodiversity Institute, P/Bag x 7, Claremont 7735, Cape Town, South Africa, Macroecology and Conservation Unit, University of Évora, Estrada dos Leões, 7000-730 Évora, Portugal, Laboratoire d'Ecologie Alpine, CNRS, Université J. Fournier, BP 53X, 38041 Grenoble Cedex 9, France; Lavorel, S., Centre d'Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive, Centre National de Recherche Scientifique, 1919 route de Mende, 34293 Montpellier Cedex 5, France, Laboratoire d'Ecologie Alpine, CNRS, Université J. Fournier, BP 53X, 38041 Grenoble Cedex 9, France; Sykes, M.T., Geobiosphere Science Centre, Department of Physical Geography and Ecosystems Analysis, Lund University, Sölvegatan 12, 223 62 Lund, Sweden; Araújo, M.B., Centre d'Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive, Centre National de Recherche Scientifique, 1919 route de Mende, 34293 Montpellier Cedex 5, France, Macroecology and Conservation Unit, University of Évora, Estrada dos Leões, 7000-730 Évora, Portugal, Biodiversity Research Group, School of Geography and the Environment, Oxford University, Mansfield Road, Oxford, OX1 3TB, United Kingdom, Department of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, National Museum of Natural Sciences, CSIC, C/Gutiérrez Abascal, 2, 28006, Madrid, Spain | Rapid anthropogenic climate change is already affecting species distributions and ecosystem functioning worldwide. We applied niche-based models to analyse the impact of climate change on tree species and functional diversity in Europe. Present-day climate was used to predict the distributions of 122 tree species from different functional types (FT). We then explored projections of future distributions under one climate scenario for 2080, considering two alternative dispersal assumptions: no dispersal and unlimited dispersal. The species-rich broadleaved deciduous group appeared to play a key role in the future of different European regions. Temperate areas were projected to lose both species richness and functional diversity due to the loss of broadleaved deciduous trees. These were projected to migrate to boreal forests, thereby increasing their species richness and functional diversity. Atlantic areas provided an intermediate case, with a predicted reduction in the numbers of species and occasional predicted gains in functional diversity. This resulted from a loss in species within the broadleaved deciduous FT, but overall maintenance of the group. Our results illustrate the fact that both species-specific predictions and functional patterns should be examined separately in order to assess the impacts of climate change on biodiversity and gain insights into future ecosystem functioning. © 2006 Blackwell Publishing Ltd. | Climate change; Functional diversity; Niche-based models; Species richness | climate change; ecosystem function; functional response; modeling; niche; species richness; Eurasia; Europe | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84876317667 | The impact of the EU generalized system of preferences on exports and GSP utilization by Asian and Latin American countries | Cuyvers L., Soeng R. | 2013 | Journal of International Trade Law and Policy | 12 | 1 | 10.1108/14770021311312511 | Centre for ASEAN Studies, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium; Centre for Regional Integration Studies, United Nations University, Bruges, Belgium; North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa; National University of Management, Phnom Penh, Cambodia | Cuyvers, L., Centre for ASEAN Studies, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium, Centre for Regional Integration Studies, United Nations University, Bruges, Belgium, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa; Soeng, R., Centre for ASEAN Studies, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium, National University of Management, Phnom Penh, Cambodia | Purpose - The aim of this paper is to investigate the impact of changes in the Generalized System of Preferences of the European Union, on the EU GSP imports from beneficiary countries in ASEAN and China, and Latin America, respectively, and the utilization of GSP benefits by these countries for the period 1994-2007. Design/methodology/approach - The econometric model specifications used is with unlagged and one year lagged reactions. GSP dummy variables are added in order to test whether the changes in the EU GSP has had impact on bilateral trade flows and the degree of utilization. Findings - The paper finds that EU GSP agricultural imports are negatively affected by the changes in the EU GSP system, but these of industrial products seem to have positively reacted to changes in the EU GSP. For imports of textile products, the results are not significant. It is also found that ASEAN plus China are significantly benefiting more from the EU GSP for industrial and textile products than the Latin American countries, but the changes in the GSP had no significant different effect on both groups of countries. The authors estimations also show that the graduation mechanism in the EU GSP, against beneficiary countries with higher EU market shares, seems to be effective for industrial products, but in contrast, is working in favour of such countries for textile products. By and large, the other graduation mechanism in the EU GSP linking GSP benefits and level of development of the beneficiary country has not been effective. Originality/value - The paper is the first to address the issue how the many changes in the EU GSP since 1994 have affected the exports and GSP utilization of beneficiary countries. © Emerald Group Publishing Limited. | Developing countries; Exports; Generalized System of Preferences; Utilization | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33750431074 | Potential impacts of climate change on Sub-Saharan African plant priority area selection | McClean C.J., Doswald N., Küper W., Sommer J.H., Barnard P., Lovett J.C. | 2006 | Diversity and Distributions | 12 | 6 | 10.1111/j.1472-4642.2006.00290.x | Centre for Ecology, Law and Policy, Environment Department, University of York, York YO10 5DD, United Kingdom; School of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Durham University, South Road, Durham, DH1 3LE, United Kingdom; Nees Institute for Biodiversity of Plants, Meckenheimer Allee 170, 53115 Bonn, Germany; Global Change Research Group, South African National Biodiversity Institute, Kirstenbosch Research Centre, Private Bag X7, Claremont 7735, Cape Town, South Africa | McClean, C.J., Centre for Ecology, Law and Policy, Environment Department, University of York, York YO10 5DD, United Kingdom; Doswald, N., School of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Durham University, South Road, Durham, DH1 3LE, United Kingdom; Küper, W., Nees Institute for Biodiversity of Plants, Meckenheimer Allee 170, 53115 Bonn, Germany; Sommer, J.H., Nees Institute for Biodiversity of Plants, Meckenheimer Allee 170, 53115 Bonn, Germany; Barnard, P., Global Change Research Group, South African National Biodiversity Institute, Kirstenbosch Research Centre, Private Bag X7, Claremont 7735, Cape Town, South Africa; Lovett, J.C., Centre for Ecology, Law and Policy, Environment Department, University of York, York YO10 5DD, United Kingdom | The Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC) aims to protect 50% of the most important areas for plant diversity by 2010. This study selects sets of 1-degree grid cells for 37 sub-Saharan African countries on the basis of a large database of plant species distributions. We use two reserve selection algorithms that attempt to satisfy two of the criteria set by the GSPC. The grid cells selected as important plant cells (IPCs) are compared between algorithms and in terms of country and continental rankings between cells. The conservation value of the selected grid cells are then considered in relation to their future species complement given the predicted climate change in three future periods (2025, 2055, and 2085). This analysis uses predicted climate suitability for individual species from a previous modelling exercise. We find that a country-by-country conservation approach is suitable for capturing most, but not all, continentally IPCs. The complementarity-based reserve selection algorithms suggest conservation of a similar set of grid cells, suggesting that areas of high plant diversity and rarity may be well protected by a single pattern of conservation activity. Although climatic conditions are predicted to deteriorate for many species under predicted climate change, the cells selected by the algorithms are less affected by climate change predictions than non-selected cells. For the plant species that maintain areas of climatic suitability in the future, the selected set will include cells with climate that is highly suitable for the species in the future. The selected cells are also predicted to conserve a large proportion of the species richness remaining across the continent under climate change, despite the network of cells being less optimal in terms of future predicted distributions. Limitations to the modelling are discussed in relation to the policy implications for those implementing the GSPC. © 2006 The Authors. | Africa; Climate change; Global Strategy for Plant Conservation; Important plant areas; Persistence; Reserve selection algorithms | algorithm; biodiversity; climate change; climate effect; database; nature conservation; nature reserve; persistence; plant; spatial distribution; Africa; Sub-Saharan Africa | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84893353935 | Performance of four computer-coded verbal autopsy methods for cause of death assignment compared with physician coding on 24,000 deaths in low- and middle-income countries | Desai N., Aleksandrowicz L., Miasnikof P., Lu Y., Leitao J., Byass P., Tollman S., Mee P., Alam D., Rathi S.K., Singh A., Kumar R., Ram F., Jha P. | 2014 | BMC Medicine | 12 | 1 | 10.1186/1741-7015-12-20 | Centre for Global Heath Research, St. Michael's Hospital, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto ON, Canada; Center for the Promotion of Research Involving Innovative Statistical Methodology, Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development, New York University, New York NY, United States; WHO Collaborating Centre for Verbal Autopsy, Umeå Centre for Global Health Research, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden; Umeå Centre for Global Health Research, Division of Epidemiology and Global Health, Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden; Medical Research Council, Wits Univ. Rural Public Health and Health Transitions Research Unit, School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; International Network for the Demographic Evaluation of Populations, Their Health (INDEPTH) Network, Accra, Ghana; International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR, B), Dhaka, Bangladesh; International Institute for Population Sciences, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India; School of Public Health, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Research and Education, Chandigarh, India | Desai, N., Centre for Global Heath Research, St. Michael's Hospital, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto ON, Canada; Aleksandrowicz, L., Centre for Global Heath Research, St. Michael's Hospital, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto ON, Canada; Miasnikof, P., Centre for Global Heath Research, St. Michael's Hospital, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto ON, Canada; Lu, Y., Center for the Promotion of Research Involving Innovative Statistical Methodology, Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development, New York University, New York NY, United States; Leitao, J., Centre for Global Heath Research, St. Michael's Hospital, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto ON, Canada; Byass, P., WHO Collaborating Centre for Verbal Autopsy, Umeå Centre for Global Health Research, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden, Umeå Centre for Global Health Research, Division of Epidemiology and Global Health, Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden; Tollman, S., Umeå Centre for Global Health Research, Division of Epidemiology and Global Health, Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden, Medical Research Council, Wits Univ. Rural Public Health and Health Transitions Research Unit, School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, International Network for the Demographic Evaluation of Populations, Their Health (INDEPTH) Network, Accra, Ghana; Mee, P., Umeå Centre for Global Health Research, Division of Epidemiology and Global Health, Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden, Medical Research Council, Wits Univ. Rural Public Health and Health Transitions Research Unit, School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Alam, D., International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR, B), Dhaka, Bangladesh; Rathi, S.K., Centre for Global Heath Research, St. Michael's Hospital, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto ON, Canada; Singh, A., International Institute for Population Sciences, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India; Kumar, R., School of Public Health, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Research and Education, Chandigarh, India; Ram, F., International Institute for Population Sciences, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India; Jha, P., Centre for Global Heath Research, St. Michael's Hospital, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto ON, Canada | Background: Physician-coded verbal autopsy (PCVA) is the most widely used method to determine causes of death (CODs) in countries where medical certification of death is uncommon. Computer-coded verbal autopsy (CCVA) methods have been proposed as a faster and cheaper alternative to PCVA, though they have not been widely compared to PCVA or to each other.Methods: We compared the performance of open-source random forest, open-source tariff method, InterVA-4, and the King-Lu method to PCVA on five datasets comprising over 24,000 verbal autopsies from low- and middle-income countries. Metrics to assess performance were positive predictive value and partial chance-corrected concordance at the individual level, and cause-specific mortality fraction accuracy and cause-specific mortality fraction error at the population level.Results: The positive predictive value for the most probable COD predicted by the four CCVA methods averaged about 43% to 44% across the datasets. The average positive predictive value improved for the top three most probable CODs, with greater improvements for open-source random forest (69%) and open-source tariff method (68%) than for InterVA-4 (62%). The average partial chance-corrected concordance for the most probable COD predicted by the open-source random forest, open-source tariff method and InterVA-4 were 41%, 40% and 41%, respectively, with better results for the top three most probable CODs. Performance generally improved with larger datasets. At the population level, the King-Lu method had the highest average cause-specific mortality fraction accuracy across all five datasets (91%), followed by InterVA-4 (72% across three datasets), open-source random forest (71%) and open-source tariff method (54%).Conclusions: On an individual level, no single method was able to replicate the physician assignment of COD more than about half the time. At the population level, the King-Lu method was the best method to estimate cause-specific mortality fractions, though it does not assign individual CODs. Future testing should focus on combining different computer-coded verbal autopsy tools, paired with PCVA strengths. This includes using open-source tools applied to larger and varied datasets (especially those including a random sample of deaths drawn from the population), so as to establish the performance for age- and sex-specific CODs. © 2014 Desai et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | Causes of death; Computer-coded verbal autopsy (CCVA); InterVA-4; King-Lu; Physician-certified verbal autopsy (PCVA); Random forest; Tariff method; Validation; Verbal autopsy | adolescent; adult; aged; article; autopsy; cause of death; child; computer coded verbal autopsy; computer program; controlled study; death certificate; human; infant; intermethod comparison; interVA 4 method; king lu method; lowest income group; measurement accuracy; middle aged; mortality; newborn; physician; physician coded verbal autopsy; predictive value; preschool child; procedures, parameters and devices; random forest; school child; Tariff method; task performance; very elderly; young adult; Automatic Data Processing; Autopsy; Cause of Death; Databases, Factual; Humans; Physician's Role; Poverty | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84890016895 | The Importance of Trust in Procurement Practices and Its Impact on Business Performance: An Empirical Investigation From the Perspective of the Buyer-Supplier Dyad | Dahwa M.P., Al-Hakim L., Ng E. | 2013 | Journal of Relationship Marketing | 12 | 4 | 10.1080/15332667.2013.846768 | Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply-Southern Africa, Pretoria, South Africa; School of Management and Marketing, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, QLD, Australia | Dahwa, M.P., Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply-Southern Africa, Pretoria, South Africa; Al-Hakim, L., School of Management and Marketing, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, QLD, Australia; Ng, E., School of Management and Marketing, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, QLD, Australia | This article investigates the importance of trust in procurement practices and its impact on business performance from the perspective of the buyer-supplier dyad within Zimbabwe's banking industry. This study was exploratory in nature and adopted the use of a case study methodology. The study involved 22 cases in the banking industry, with a total of 44 interviews being conducted. Findings revealed that 29 dimensions across 7 trust attributes in buyer-supplier procurement practices had an impact on business performance for firms in Zimbabwe's banking industry. © 2013 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC. | banking; business to business; buyer-supplier procurement; relationships; trust theory; Zimbabwe | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-80455127170 | Executive directors' contracts: Poor performance rewarded | Dandira M. | 2011 | Business Strategy Series | 12 | 3 | 10.1108/17515631111130121 | Chinhoyi University of Technology, Chinhoyi, Zimbabwe | Dandira, M., Chinhoyi University of Technology, Chinhoyi, Zimbabwe | Purpose To help companies find ways of reducing costs when an executive director leaves an organisation because of poor performance or at the end of a contract. Design/methodology/approach The author has conducted research in organizations that have executives on contracts for three to five years, identifies how executive directors are heavily rewarded when their contract ends voluntarily or involuntarily. Researches in organisations have shown that if you sign a contract as an executive director there is no incentive for excellent performance because most contracts of executives are designed in such a way that poor performance can be rewarded indirectly. Findings Very few executives in Zimbabwe work through their contracts up to the end especially in parastatals due to what is perceived as poor performance but they are always met with a "golden handshake" as they call it though they have not contributed much except the demise of the organisation. Practical implications Ways are provided for organisations to follow and try to mitigate the costs of paying executives when they leave organisations unceremoniously or when their contracts end without renewal. Originality/value This paper gives practical advice from situations in organizations and helps organisations to take into account the costs implications involved when an executive director leaves the organisation before the end of contract or poor performance. © 2011 Emerald Group Publishing Limited. All rights reserved. | Balanced scorecards; Glass ceilings; Severance | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79957520713 | The impact of executive directors' service contracts on strategic plan | Dandira M. | 2011 | Business Strategy Series | 12 | 1 | 10.1108/17515631111106830 | Chinhoyi University of Technology, Chinhoyi, Zimbabwe | Dandira, M., Chinhoyi University of Technology, Chinhoyi, Zimbabwe | Purpose The purpose of this paper is to help boards of directors to find ways of establishing continuity in the strategic plan when strategists are employed on contract leave before the end of the strategic plan period. Design/methodology/approach The author has conducted research in organisations that have executives on contracts of three to five years, and identifies how strategic plans are negatively affected when executives on contract especially top management leave organisations when their contracts ends. Research in organisations has shown that strategic plans usually have longer periods than the contract of the strategist, and contract renewal is sometimes not obvious. Findings The length of the strategist's contract and the length of the strategic plan have not been taken into account when crafting strategic plans in organisations and appointing executive directors. This scenario has caused a lot of strategy failures. Practical implications Ways are provided for boards of directors and organisations to foster a culture of continuity of the strategic plan even when executives leave the organisation unceremoniously or when their contracts end and are not renewed. Originality/value This paper gives practical advice from situations in organisations and helps boards of directors to take into account the duration of strategic plans when employing executives. © 2011 Emerald Group Publishing Limited. All rights reserved. | Contract workers; Corporate strategy; Mission achievement; Strategic planning | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79951786726 | Women war survivors of the 1989-2003 conflict in Liberia: The impact of sexual and gender-based violence | Liebling-Kalifani H., Mwaka V., Ojiambo-Ochieng R., Were-Oguttu J., Kinyanda E., Kwekwe D., Howard L., Danuweli C. | 2011 | Journal of International Women's Studies | 12 | 1 | None | Clinical Psychology, Coventry University, Makerere University, Uganda; Makerere University, Uganda; Isis-Women's International Cross Cultural Exchange, Kampala, Uganda; Information and Documentation at Isis-WICCE, Uganda; MRC/UVRI Uganda Research Unit on AIDS, Uganda; Ministry of Gender and Development, Cottingham University, Liberia; University of York, United Kingdom; University of Liberia, Liberia | Liebling-Kalifani, H., Clinical Psychology, Coventry University, Makerere University, Uganda; Mwaka, V., Makerere University, Uganda; Ojiambo-Ochieng, R., Isis-Women's International Cross Cultural Exchange, Kampala, Uganda; Were-Oguttu, J., Information and Documentation at Isis-WICCE, Uganda; Kinyanda, E., MRC/UVRI Uganda Research Unit on AIDS, Uganda; Kwekwe, D., Ministry of Gender and Development, Cottingham University, Liberia; Howard, L., University of York, United Kingdom; Danuweli, C., University of Liberia, Liberia | This article presents a summary of the qualitative data from research carried out in post-conflict Liberia by Isis-WICCE, a women's international non-government organisation, in conjunction with the Ministry of Gender and Development of Liberia and Women in Peace-building Network, WIPNET. Analysis of research findings detail women's experiences of conflict and the serious effects of sexual violence and torture on their physical and psychological health. The paper also describes the omission of women from justice and rehabilitation processes. In support of women participants' views, the authors' recommend that funding is urgently required for the provision of holistic and sustainable, gender- sensitive services. Additional recommendations are made with respect to health, justice and policy changes in line with enhancing women survivor's roles and utilising their skills and resilience. | Gender-based violence; Liberia; Sexual; War; Women | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000283087500005 | Approaches to the Evaluation and Assessment of Students in Clothing Practical Work in Colleges of Agriculture in Northern Nigeria | Usman, V. A. | 2010 | JOURNAL OF HOME ECONOMICS RESEARCH | 12 | None | None | Coll Agr | None | This study was carried out in Northern Nigeria to determine the general clothing construction skills and processes to be evaluated and evaluation procedures and techniques used by teachers of clothing. Six out of thirteen Colleges of Agriculture were randomly selected for the study. The entire 52 clothing teachers in the department of Home and Rural Economics were involved in the study. This consists of 32 lecturers and 18 instructors. Structured questionnaire was used for the data collection. Data were analyzed using mean scores and t-test at 0.05 level of significance. The major findings include 13 clothing construction skills and processes always evaluated and 11 evaluation procedures and techniques always used by the teachers of clothing in Colleges of Agriculture in Northern Nigeria. Based on these findings, recommendations were made. | None | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84904134437 | Effect of xylanase on performance, serum IGF-1 and glucose of broilers fed wheat corn soybean diet | Abdullahi A.Y., Zuo J.J., Tan H.Z., Xia W.G., Wei S., Liu J.H., Ai Q., Zhao S.Y., Xia M.H., Liu Y.H., Xia C.D., Wu F., Yu J.P., Feng D.Y. | 2013 | Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances | 12 | 17 | 10.3923/javaa.2013.1409.1414 | College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, 510542 Guangzhou, China; Department of Animal Science, Kano University of Science and Technology Wudil, Kano, Nigeria; Production Technology Department of WENs Group, Yunfu, China | Abdullahi, A.Y., College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, 510542 Guangzhou, China, Department of Animal Science, Kano University of Science and Technology Wudil, Kano, Nigeria; Zuo, J.J., College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, 510542 Guangzhou, China; Tan, H.Z., Production Technology Department of WENs Group, Yunfu, China; Xia, W.G., College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, 510542 Guangzhou, China; Wei, S., Production Technology Department of WENs Group, Yunfu, China; Liu, J.H., College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, 510542 Guangzhou, China; Ai, Q., College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, 510542 Guangzhou, China; Zhao, S.Y., College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, 510542 Guangzhou, China; Xia, M.H., College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, 510542 Guangzhou, China; Liu, Y.H., College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, 510542 Guangzhou, China; Xia, C.D., College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, 510542 Guangzhou, China; Wu, F., College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, 510542 Guangzhou, China; Yu, J.P., College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, 510542 Guangzhou, China; Feng, D.Y., College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, 510542 Guangzhou, China | Six hundred and forty, 1 day old Yellow feather broiler chicks were fed wheat-corn soybean diet plus xylanase ENOLZYME™ 100 g ton-1 (enzyme activity = 1256.244 U mL-1) to study additive effect of the enzyme on serum glucose and IGF-1 concentration relative to performance. The birds were randomly divided into 2 treatment groups with 64 birds/pen in 5 replicates. For the periods of 63 days body weight, feed efficiency and daily feed intake were not differed at 21 and 42 days. However, they were all differ significantly at 63 days (p<0.05); particularly feed efficiency from 1-63 days was highly significant (p<0.01). Carcass characteristics were not differed in all three stages but at finishing stage breast and thigh muscles, heart, gizzard and abdominal fat weights were numerically increased. Mortality rate was <0.02%. Serum glucose concentration levels at three feeding phases were not differed among groups. However, serum IGF-1 differ significantly at starter phase (21 days) (p<0.05). Correlation between treatments and feeding periods existed at growing (42 days) and finishing (63 days) stages (p<0.05). The present findings on supplementation of xylanase to corn wheat soy bean broiler diet hasincreased market weight cost value by 1.33% at finishing stage (43-63 days). The serum glucose and IGF-1 concentration have correlated positively on treatments offered, feeding periods and performance. Further research is needed on IGF-1 and GH (Growth Hormone) at molecular level to understand their influence in broiler's growth and development. © Medwell Journals, 2013. | Glucose; Growth hormone; Performance; Serum IGF-1; Xylanase | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84937886083 | Business environment and the financial performance of small and medium enterprises: A study of Lagos state, Nigeria | Titus O.A. | 2015 | Corporate Ownership and Control | 12 | 4CONT4 | None | College of Economic and Management Sciences, University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa | Titus, O.A., College of Economic and Management Sciences, University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa | The financial outcome of an enterprise is perceived to have some relationships with its operational environment. This study analysed the business environment as a correlate of financial performance of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), as to contribute to environment-enterprise policy mechanisms and regulatory framework, industry and management practices. Relevant definitional criteria and World Bank’s model were adopted to sample 228 SMEs from 456 via judgmental and convenience techniques. Multifactor business-environment questionnaire (MBEQ) was used to elicit responses from SMEs in a field survey. Enterprise type, activity, product line and financial performance were examined. Results showed dominance of sole proprietorship and services SMEs, multi-product lines, and highly positively correlated financial performance and business environment. Consequently, improved SME-friendly business environment was recommended. © 2015, Virtus Interpress. All rights reserved. | Business environment; Correlational analysis; Financial performance; Small and medium enterprises | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84897641690 | Production performance of dairy cows under farmer's management in and around Mekelle, Ethiopia | Kumar N., Abadi Y., Gebrekidan B., Tegegne D.T. | 2014 | Global Veterinaria | 12 | 2 | 10.5829/idosi.gv.2014.12.02.82119 | College of Veterinary Medicine, Mekelle University, P.O. Box-231, Mekelle, Ethiopia | Kumar, N., College of Veterinary Medicine, Mekelle University, P.O. Box-231, Mekelle, Ethiopia; Abadi, Y., College of Veterinary Medicine, Mekelle University, P.O. Box-231, Mekelle, Ethiopia; Gebrekidan, B., College of Veterinary Medicine, Mekelle University, P.O. Box-231, Mekelle, Ethiopia; Tegegne, D.T., College of Veterinary Medicine, Mekelle University, P.O. Box-231, Mekelle, Ethiopia | The study was conducted on altogether 475 milch animals comprising of 223 indigenous and 252 Holstein-Friesian (HF) crossbred cows, maintained under farmer's managemental system in and around Mekelle (Ethiopia), were analyzed according to Least Squares Analysis to study the magnitude as well as direction of variation in their lactation length (LL), lactation milk yield (LMY) and peak-yield (PY) due to genetic and some non-genetic factors. The overall Least Squares Means for LL, LMY and PY were estimated to be 292.53±24.09 days, 1320.64±94.68 liters and 7.89±0.14 liters respectively. Genetic group and lactation order had significant effect (P≤0.01) on LL, LMY and PY. Season of calving had significant effect (P≤0.01) on LMY and PY but its effect on LL was non-significant. Effect of herd-size was significant (P≤0.05) on LMY while its effect on LL and PY was non-significant. Variation in all the traits due to location of herd and farming system were statistically non-significant. © IDOSI Publications, 2014. | Lactation length; Lactation milk yield; Mekelle; Peak yield | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84878460498 | Performance of 13 Bambara groundnut (vigna subterranea (L.) verde.) landraces under 12 H and 14 H photoperiod | Berchie J.N., Amelie G., McClymont S., Raizada M., Adu-Dapaah H., Sarkodie-Addo J. | 2013 | Journal of Agronomy | 12 | 1 | 10.3923/ja.2013.20.28 | CSIR-Crops Research Institute, P.O. Box 3785, Kumasi, Ghana; Department of Plant Agriculture, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada; Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana | Berchie, J.N., CSIR-Crops Research Institute, P.O. Box 3785, Kumasi, Ghana; Amelie, G., Department of Plant Agriculture, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada; McClymont, S., Department of Plant Agriculture, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada; Raizada, M., Department of Plant Agriculture, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada; Adu-Dapaah, H., CSIR-Crops Research Institute, P.O. Box 3785, Kumasi, Ghana; Sarkodie-Addo, J., Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana | The aim of this study was to identify bambara groundnut landraces which are less sensitive to photoperiod response. Variation in yields of bambara groundnut have been attributed among others to variation in photoperiod at different sowing dates. Thirteen bambara groundnut landraces were evaluated at 12 h: 12 h and 14 h: 10 h, light: darkness at the Department of Plant Agriculture, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada. Sunshine mix LA4 was put in 78-4 litre pots per growth chamber. Four gram of 20:20:20, N:P:K was added to each pot and thoroughly mixed with the soil. Eachlandrace was replicated in six pots. Growth chamber temperatures were maintained at 30 and 25°C, day:night at relative humidity of 60%. Growth chamber Photosynthetic Active Radiation (PAR) ranged between 250-300 (millimol) umol m2 sec-1. Days to seedling emergence were significantly lesser under 12 h than 14 h photoperiod (p = 0.02). Days to flowering were significantly higher under 14 hthan 12hphotoperiod(p<0.05). Five landraces; Burkina, Mottled Cream, Zebra Coloured, Tan One and Tan Two (both from Tanzania) podded under both 12 h and 14 h photoperiod. All but two of the landraces podded under 12 h photoperiod. Leaf area, shoot dry weight and root dry weight per plant were all higher under 14 h than 12 h photoperiod. Genotypes that produced pods under 14 h photoperiod were observed to be early maturing relative to the others. Landraces were identified for cultivation in the lower and higher latitudes. Abstract of this article is presented in IHC: Lisboa2010, T09 Genetics and Breeding; T09.218. © 2013 Asian Network for Scientific Information. | Bambara groundnut; Burkina faso; Day length; Ghana; Photoperiod; Pod yield; Tanzania | Arachis hypogaea; Bambara; Equus subg. Hippotigris; Vigna; Vigna subterranea | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84887457184 | The usefulness of student evaluations for enhancing the effectiveness of teaching of financial accounting students at a South African University | Van Der Merwe D.C. | 2012 | Research in Accounting in Emerging Economies | 12 | PARTA | 10.1108/S1479-3563(2012)000012A009 | Department of Accounting and Auditing, Faculty of Military Science, Stellenbosch University, South Africa | Van Der Merwe, D.C., Department of Accounting and Auditing, Faculty of Military Science, Stellenbosch University, South Africa | Purpose - Effectiveness of teaching at universities, in general, has been the focus of many researchers for decades. The public concern about the quality of first year accounting education, in particular, is worth the attention of researchers at tertiary institutions. Student evaluation is the primary tool used by accounting administrators to evaluate teaching effectiveness. This study aims to determine the effect on teaching of perceptions of first year financial accounting students on a specific module and the lecturer characteristics that they consider effective in their learning process. Further aims are to provide useful information to lecturers on teaching methods and lecturer characteristics that could enhance effectiveness of teaching. Methodology - In this study, various aspects on teaching methods and lecturer characteristics are investigated. Student feedback data is collected for a full time lecturer. Surveying methodology using questionnaires is utilised to conduct the study. A pool of questions is created accompanied by a five-point Likert scale. A statistical analysis (descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation and regression analysis) is applied to these questionnaires. Findings - From this analysis, the findings reveal that all independent variables (knowledge, personality and attitude in general) have a positive influence on enhancing effectiveness of teaching. The results of the study highlight that course content, knowledge, personality and attitude of a lecturer play an important role in determining effectiveness of teaching in financial accounting. Value - The results of the study would be useful to the accounting lecturers, students, education departments and academic researchers to better understand the needs of accounting students in their learning process. Results of student evaluations not only provide valuable information which could be used for managing the course and study content but it could also be used for individual improvement by the lecturer. For the students, the improvement of teaching effectiveness based on the evaluation process may ultimately enhance knowledge acquisition. Copyright © 2012 by Emerald Group Publishing Limited. | Effectiveness of teaching; First year accounting students; South Africa; Teaching evaluations | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-78651457165 | Competitive advantage: Mediator of intellectual capital and performance | Kamukama N., Ahiauzu A., Ntayi J.M. | 2011 | Journal of Intellectual Capital | 12 | 1 | 10.1108/14691931111097953 | Department of Accounting, Makerere University Business School, Kampala, Uganda; Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt, Nigeria; Faculty of Computing and Management Science, Makerere University Business School, Kampala, Uganda | Kamukama, N., Department of Accounting, Makerere University Business School, Kampala, Uganda; Ahiauzu, A., Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt, Nigeria; Ntayi, J.M., Faculty of Computing and Management Science, Makerere University Business School, Kampala, Uganda | Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to examine the mediating effect of competitive advantage in the relationship between intellectual capital and financial performance in Uganda's microfinance institutions. The major aim is to establish the role of competitive advantage in the relationship between intellectual capital and firm performance. Design/methodology/approach: The paper adopts MedGraph program (Excel version), Sobel tests and the Kenny and Boran approach to test for mediation effects. Findings: Competitive advantage is a significant mediator in the association between intellectual capital and financial performance and boosts the relationship between the two by 22.4 percent in Ugandan microfinance institutions. Further findings confirmed a partial type of mediation between the intellectual capital, competitive advantage and financial performance. Research limitations/implications: Only a single research methodological approach was employed and future research through interviews could be undertaken to triangulate. Furthermore, the findings from the present study are cross-sectional. Future research should be undertaken to examine the mediation effects studied in this paper across time. Practical implications: In order to have a meaningful interpretation of the results of the relationships between study variables, it is always vital to assess the role of the third variable (competitive advantage) in the relationship. This enables practitioners and scholars to comprehend and make legitimate decisions and conclusions that can foster business growth. Originality/value: This is the first study that focuses on testing the mediating effect of competitive advantage on the relationship between intellectual capital and financial performance in Ugandan microfinance institutions. © Emerald Group Publishing Limited. | Competitive advantage; Financial institutions; Financial performance; Intellectual capital; Uganda | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84908702550 | Impact of micro credit and training on efficiency of small-scale entrepreneurs: Evidence from national directorate of employment (NDE) loan/training programmes in Nigeria | Akinrinola O.O., Fasoranti M.M., Aturamu O.A. | 2014 | Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment | 12 | 04-Mar | None | Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Federal University of Technology, PMB 704, Akure, Nigeria; Department of Economics, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Ondo, Nigeria; Ekiti State College of Education, Ikere, Ekiti, Nigeria | Akinrinola, O.O., Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Federal University of Technology, PMB 704, Akure, Nigeria; Fasoranti, M.M., Department of Economics, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Ondo, Nigeria; Aturamu, O.A., Ekiti State College of Education, Ikere, Ekiti, Nigeria | This study analyses the impact of micro-credit and training on efficiency of small-scale entrepreneurs, using the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) programme as a case study. National Directorate of Employment (NDE) has been found to be functioning effectively in its training services. However, in the area of credit provision and utilization, there is no empirical evidence to support its efficiency. In order to evaluate the link between the loan/training programmes of the Directorate and the level of efficiency of micro-entrepreneurs in the state, we estimate technical efficiencies and identify significant policy variables influencing efficiency of selected micro enterprises, using the stochastic frontier production function. Results indicate that there are intra and inter group variations in the efficiency of bakers, furniture makers and burnt-brick makers, showing that there is possibility of improving the level efficiency of these entrepreneurs. The most significant determinants of technical efficiencies of bakers, furniture makers and burnt-brick makers are the level of education, business experience, age of operators, credit access, training experience and level of working capital and initial capital outlay. © 2014 World Food Ltd. and WFL Publishers. All rights reserved. | Employment; Entrepreneurs; Loan; Micro credit; Small scale | accounting; Article; commercial phenomena; education; enterpreneur; funding; furniture; human; loan; mathematical model; micro credit; named groups of persons; productivity; program efficacy; stochastic model; training; work experience | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84880689687 | Perceived social impacts of disease outbreak among livestock farmers along border villages of South Africa and Namibia | Oladele O.I., Antwi M.A., Kolawole A.E. | 2013 | Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances | 12 | 2 | 10.3923/javaa.2013.168.172 | Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, North West University, Mafikeng Campus, 2735 Mmabatho, South Africa | Oladele, O.I., Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, North West University, Mafikeng Campus, 2735 Mmabatho, South Africa; Antwi, M.A., Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, North West University, Mafikeng Campus, 2735 Mmabatho, South Africa; Kolawole, A.E., Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, North West University, Mafikeng Campus, 2735 Mmabatho, South Africa | This study examines the perceived social impacts of disease outbreak among livestock farmers along border villages of South Africa and Namibia. This was due to the high volume of trans-boundary activities particularly with respect to animals. The Northern Cape shares boundary with Namibia. The population of study is all livestock producers in border villages along Northern Cape provinces, a mix of purposive and random sampling were used to select 140 respondents for the study. Data were collected through the use of questionnaires, on farmers personal and farm characteristics and farmers perceived social impacts of disease outbreak. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze farmers personal and farm characteristics. Regression analysis was used to determine the relationship between livestock farmers' perceived social impacts of disease outbreak and other study variables. The results show that 32% of the livestock farmers fall within the age 61 years and above 83.6% of the farmers are male, 56.4% of the farmers are married; most of the farmers are literate, 67.9% of the respondents have less than five dependents, 97.9% of the farmers have livestock based farming system, 70% reported that they have no contact with extension agent, 89.3% have access to market. Significant determinant of perceived social impacts of disease outbreak are marital status (t = 3.753), farm size (t = -1.82), farming experience (t = -1.836). ©Medwell Journals, 2013. | Disease outbreak; Farm; Livestock farmers; Perception; Social impacts | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84896133841 | Impacts of flooding on coastal fishing folks and risk adaptation behaviours in Epe, Lagos State | Samuel Oyekale A., Mukela F. | 2014 | Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment | 12 | 1 | None | Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, North-West University, Mafikeng Campus, Mmabatho 2735, South Africa; Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria | Samuel Oyekale, A., Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, North-West University, Mafikeng Campus, Mmabatho 2735, South Africa; Mukela, F., Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria | Climatic changes have made flooding a major environmental hazard in the coastal areas of Nigeria. This study assessed the impacts and households' adaptation mechanisms in Epe Division of Lagos State. Data obtained from some fishing folks were subjected to descriptive Probit regression and Tobit regression analytical methods. The results show that the adverse impacts of flooding reduce with ability to migrate, monthly income and possession of other secondary occupations. The females, educated and rich among the fishing folks, are willing to pay significantly higher amounts on insurance against flooding. The study recommended that efforts to address flooding should include an alternative skill development, migration, offering assistance, provision of affordable and quality health services for the treatment of malaria, cholera and dysentery and proper development of early warning signal, among other. | Climate change; Fishing folks; Flooding; Impact; Vulnerability | article; climate change; conceptual framework; environmental impact; fishing; flooding; health impact assessment; human; information processing; morbidity; Nigeria; occupational safety; regression analysis; risk assessment; seashore; socioeconomics; vulnerable population | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84859044666 | Impact of Agricultural Extension Services on Cocoyam Production in Ogun State, Nigeria | Olagunju F.I., Adesiji G.B. | 2011 | Journal of Agricultural and Food Information | 12 | 04-Mar | 10.1080/10496505.2011.588937 | Department of Agricultural Economics, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Nigeria; Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria | Olagunju, F.I., Department of Agricultural Economics, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Nigeria; Adesiji, G.B., Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria | This study measured the impact of extension services on cocoyam production in Ogun State by comparing the output of farmers visited by extension workers (FV) with those not visited (FNV). A multistage sampling technique was used to select 90 farmers. Data were analyzed by means of both descriptive and inferential statistics. The regression result for the cocoyam production model revealed that FNV also enjoyed the benefits of extension services through their interaction with FV or cooperative societies in the study area in what could be termed a "trickle down" effect. These findings suggest that extension can help to close the gap between the output attainable with existing technologies and those actually realized by farmers. © 2011 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC. | cocoyam farmers; cocoyam production; extension; Nigeria | Colocasia esculenta | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33645013961 | Atmospheric nitrogen deposition in world biodiversity hotspots: The need for a greater global perspective in assessing N deposition impacts | Phoenix G.K., Hicks W.K., Cinderby S., Kuylenstierna J.C.I., Stock W.D., Dentener F.J., Giller K.E., Austin A.T., Lefroy R.D.B., Gimeno B.S., Ashmore M.R., Ineson P. | 2006 | Global Change Biology | 12 | 3 | 10.1111/j.1365-2486.2006.01104.x | Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, United Kingdom; Stockholm Environment Institute, University of York, York YO10 5DD, United Kingdom; Centre for Ecosystem Management, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA 6027, Australia; Department of Botany, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, Cape Town, South Africa; Joint Research Centre, Institute for Environment and Sustainability, Climate Change Unit, TP280, I-21020 Ispra (Va), Italy; Plant Production Systems Group, Department of Plant Sciences, Wageningen University, PO Box 430, 6700 AK Wageningen, Netherlands; IFEVA and Department of Ecology, Faculty of Agronomy and CONICET, University of Buenos Aires, Avenida San Martín 4453, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical, PO Box 783, Vientiane, Laos; Ecotoxicology of Air Pollution, CIEMAT, Ed 70. Avda Complutense 22, 28040 Madrid, Spain; Environment Department, Stockholm Environment Institute, University of York, York YO10 5DD, United Kingdom; Department of Biology, Stockholm Environment Institute, University of York, York YO10 5DD, United Kingdom | Phoenix, G.K., Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, United Kingdom; Hicks, W.K., Stockholm Environment Institute, University of York, York YO10 5DD, United Kingdom; Cinderby, S., Stockholm Environment Institute, University of York, York YO10 5DD, United Kingdom; Kuylenstierna, J.C.I., Stockholm Environment Institute, University of York, York YO10 5DD, United Kingdom; Stock, W.D., Centre for Ecosystem Management, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA 6027, Australia, Department of Botany, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, Cape Town, South Africa; Dentener, F.J., Joint Research Centre, Institute for Environment and Sustainability, Climate Change Unit, TP280, I-21020 Ispra (Va), Italy; Giller, K.E., Plant Production Systems Group, Department of Plant Sciences, Wageningen University, PO Box 430, 6700 AK Wageningen, Netherlands; Austin, A.T., IFEVA and Department of Ecology, Faculty of Agronomy and CONICET, University of Buenos Aires, Avenida San Martín 4453, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Lefroy, R.D.B., Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical, PO Box 783, Vientiane, Laos; Gimeno, B.S., Ecotoxicology of Air Pollution, CIEMAT, Ed 70. Avda Complutense 22, 28040 Madrid, Spain; Ashmore, M.R., Environment Department, Stockholm Environment Institute, University of York, York YO10 5DD, United Kingdom; Ineson, P., Department of Biology, Stockholm Environment Institute, University of York, York YO10 5DD, United Kingdom | Increased atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition is known to reduce plant diversity in natural and semi-natural ecosystems, yet our understanding of these impacts comes almost entirely from studies in northern Europe and North America. Currently, we lack an understanding of the threat of N deposition to biodiversity at the global scale. In particular, rates of N deposition within the newly defined 34 world biodiversity hotspots, to which 50% of the world's floristic diversity is restricted, has not been quantified previously. Using output from global chemistry transport models, here we provide the first estimates of recent (mid-1990s) and future (2050) rates and distributions of N deposition within biodiversity hotspots. Our analysis shows that the average deposition rate across these areas was 50% greater than the global terrestrial average in the mid-1990s and could more than double by 2050, with 33 of 34 hotspots receiving greater N deposition in 2050 compared with 1990. By this time, 17 hotspots could have between 10% and 100% of their area receiving greater than 15 kg N ha-1 yr-1, a rate exceeding critical loads set for many sensitive European ecosystems. Average deposition in four hotspots is predicted to be greater than 20 kg Nha-1 yr-1. This elevated N deposition within areas of high plant diversity and endemism may exacerbate significantly the global threat of N deposition to world floristic diversity. Overall, we highlight the need for a greater global approach to assessing the impacts of N deposition. © 2006 Blackwell Publishing Ltd. | Conservation; Endemics; Nitrogen deposition; Plant diversity; Pollution; Species loss | atmospheric deposition; biodiversity; global perspective; nitrogen; plant community; pollution effect | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77956506316 | Nutrient degradability and performance by the West African dwarf goats fed rumen epithelium-based diets | Isah O.A., Babayemi O.J. | 2010 | Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology | 12 | 3 | None | Department of Animal Nutrition, University of Abeokuta, Abeokuta, Nigeria; Department of Animal Science, University of Ibadan, Nigeria | Isah, O.A., Department of Animal Nutrition, University of Abeokuta, Abeokuta, Nigeria; Babayemi, O.J., Department of Animal Science, University of Ibadan, Nigeria | Nutritive value of Rumen Epithelial Scraping (REP) was assessed using in sacco and in vivo procedures. Concentrates were so formulated that 0% (A), 35% (B), 70% (C), and 100% (D) of Soybean Meal (SBM), were replaced (weight for weight) with REP. In a completely randomized design, 16 West African Dwarf (WAD) goats were randomly allocated to the experimental diets to assess feed intake and digestibility. In a second trial, the concentrates, SBM and the REP were degraded in the rumen of fistulated goats to determine Dry Matter (DM) and Crude Protein (CP) degradability. No significant difference (P< 0.05) was observed in DM and CP consumption of goats on the various dietary treatments. The variation observed for digestible DM and CP among diets were significant (P< 0.05). The highest value of digestibility coefficients of DM and CP were observed in diet B (77.72% and 79.2% respectively). There were significant differences observed (P< 0.05) in the DM and CP degradation characteristics of the different samples incubated in the rumen of goats. Rumen epithelial waste contained more soluble fractions (30.13% DM and 71.04% CP) than soybean meal (29.82% DM and 18.6% CP), and it was shown that increasing REP in the concentrate increases the soluble DM and CP (P< 0.05). The results indicated that REP is nutritive and can replace SBM at reasonable levels in goat production enterprise. | Degradability; Dietary protein; Rumen epithelium; WAD goats | Capra hircus; Glycine max | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84879255007 | Evaluation of lead and cadmium heavy metal residues in milk and milk products sold in Ogbomoso, Southwestern Nigeria | Tona G.O., Adetunji V.O., Ameen S.A., Ibikunle A.O. | 2013 | Pakistan Journal of Nutrition | 12 | 2 | None | Department of Animal Production and Health, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria; Veterinary Public Health Unit, Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nig | Tona, G.O., Department of Animal Production and Health, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria; Adetunji, V.O., Veterinary Public Health Unit, Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria; Ameen, S.A., Department of Animal Production and Health, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria; Ibikunle, A.O., Department of Animal Production and Health, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria | The concentrations of lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) heavy metals in cow milk, goat milk butterfat, soft cheese and yoghurt samples were evaluated. Forty samples (eight of each sample) were analyzed using the atomic absorption spectrophotometer. There were detectable residual concentrations of Pb and Cd in all the 40 samples. The range of 0.0025 to 0.0061 ppm of Pb concentrations in the samples was within the Maximum Residue Limit (MRL) of 0.0125 to 0.0175 ppm of Pb in milk and dairy products. There was a significantly (P<0.05) higher mean Pb concentration of 0.0061±0.0025 ppm in the soft cheese samples. The residual concentrations of Pb in the cow milk samples were not significantly (P>0.05) different from that of the goat milk samples. Residual concentrations of Cd were higher in soft cheese samples (0.0048±0.0007 ppm) and in goat milk samples (0.0045±0.0005 ppm Cd) and these two concentrations exceeded the MRL of 0.0035 ppm of Cd recommended by India regulations. The residual concentration of Cd in goat milk samples (0.0045±0.0005 ppm) was significantly (P<0.05) higher than in the cow milk samples (0.0021±0.0007 ppm). The results of this study showed that all the milk and milk products samples analyzed contained residues of Pb and Cd heavy metals. The observation of residual Cd concentrations above the MRLs in the soft cheese samples and in the goat milk samples is of public health concern and could cause health hazards to consumers. © Asian Network for Scientific Information, 2013. | Cadmium; Heavy metals; Lead; Milk; Milk products | cadmium; lead; yoghurt; article; atomic absorption spectrometry; butter; cheese; concentration (parameters); dairy product; European Union; food contamination; food quality; government regulation; health hazard; India; maximum residue limit; milk; Nigeria; nonhuman; public health; Capra hircus | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84877071825 | Performance of broiler chickens fed diets containing cassava leaf: Blood meal mix as replacement for soybean meal [Rendimiento de pollos de engorde alimentados con dietas conteniendo una mezcla de hojas de yuca: Harina de sangre como reemplazo de harina d | Adeyemi O.A., Adekoya J.A., Sobayo R.A. | 2012 | Revista Cientifica UDO Agricola | 12 | 1 | None | Department of Animal Production and Health, University of Agriculture, PMB 2240, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria; Department of Animal Production, Olabisi Onabanjo University, PMB 0012, Ayetoro, Ogun State, Nigeria; Department of Animal Nutrition, Universit | Adeyemi, O.A., Department of Animal Production and Health, University of Agriculture, PMB 2240, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria; Adekoya, J.A., Department of Animal Production, Olabisi Onabanjo University, PMB 0012, Ayetoro, Ogun State, Nigeria; Sobayo, R.A., Department of Animal Nutrition, University of Agriculture, PMB 2240, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria | The trial reported herein investigated the performance of broiler chicken on diet containing cassava leaf meal (CLM)/blood meals (BM) mix in replacement for soybean meal (SBM). One hundred and fifty, two weeks-old broilers were randomly allotted to five experimental diets such that each dietary treatment was replicated six times with five birds per replicate. The experimental diets were formulated such that the diets contained 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% CLM/BM mix as replacement for SBM respectively. The diets were fed over a 6-week period. Birds fed 100% CLM/BM replacement for SBM had the highest (P<0.05) feed intake, lower weight gain and poorer feed conversion ratio than the control. Weight gain and FCR were significantly higher in birds fed 50% CLM/BM in replacement for SBM than the other CLM/BM based groups. The values for the dressed weight, thigh muscle and drumstick were higher (P<0.05) in birds fed 50% CLM/BM diets than in the other dietary groups. The breast weight and abdominal fat were not affected by the diets. The weights of the liver, kidney, heart and spleen were not affected by the treatments whereas those of the crop, gizzard, proventriculus and caecum increased (P<0.05) with increasing dietary inclusion of CLM/BM in the diet. In conclusion, it can be inferred based on the general observations recorded in this study that broiler diets containing cassava leaf meal: blood meal mixture in replacement for soybean meal promote comparable daily feed intake and feed to gain ratio as their soybean based control diet and had no deleterious effect on performance. The results obtained in this trial showed that birds on diet 3 (with dietary level of inclusion 50% SBM: 50%CLM: BM) elicited the best response in terms of weight gain, feed intake and feed: gain ratio. It is concluded that not more than 50% of dietary CLM/BM should be used as a replacement for soybean. | Broiler chicken; Cassava leaf: blood meal mix; Performance | Aves; Gallus gallus; Glycine max; Manihot esculenta | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84877987870 | Growth performance and carcass yield of broiler finishers fed diets having partially or wholly withdrawn fish meal | Yisa A.G., Edache J.A., Udokainyang A.D., Iloama C.N. | 2013 | International Journal of Poultry Science | 12 | 2 | None | Department of Animal Production, Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology, National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom, Plateau State, Nigeria | Yisa, A.G., Department of Animal Production, Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology, National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom, Plateau State, Nigeria; Edache, J.A., Department of Animal Production, Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology, National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom, Plateau State, Nigeria; Udokainyang, A.D., Department of Animal Production, Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology, National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom, Plateau State, Nigeria; Iloama, C.N., Department of Animal Production, Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology, National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom, Plateau State, Nigeria | A four-week study was conducted to investigate the effect of partially or completely withdrawing fish meal from broiler finisher diets on growth performance and carcass yield. In a completely randomized design, ninety six (96) four-week-old Marshall Breed of broilers were allotted to four dietary treatments having 0, 50, 75 and 100% of their fishmeal content withdrawn. Each dietary treatment had 24 birds with 3 replicates of 8 birds. Results show that initial weights, final weights, average daily feed intake, average daily weight gain, feed conversion ratio and feed cost per kilogram gain were not negatively affected (P>0.05) by levels of fish meal withdrawal. Dressing percentages were also not significantly different (P>0.05) between treatment means. However, the percent carcass cut-up parts of breast, wings, thighs and drumsticks to live weight of birds fed diets with fish meal totally withdrawn were significantly less (P<0.05) than those of birds fed diets containing fish meal. From this study, it can be concluded that withdrawing fish meal from broiler finisher diets may not have any adverse effect on their growth performance provided protein is obtained from non-animal sources. However, total withdrawal of fish meal negatively affects optimum development of the cut-up parts and as such 0.5-1% fish meal may be included in broiler finisher diets for full development of carcass components. © Asian Network for Scientific Information, 2013. | Carcass yield; Fish meal; Growth performance | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84879272116 | Nutritional evaluation of alkali treated neem kernel cake fed to fattening Uda rams | Aruwayo A., Maigandi S.A., Malami B.S., Daneji A.I., Saulawa L.A., Garba M.G. | 2013 | Pakistan Journal of Nutrition | 12 | 3 | None | Department of Animal Science, Federal University Dutsin-Ma, Katsina State, Nigeria; Department of Medicine, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Sokoto State, Nigeria; Department of Animal Production and Health, Federal University, Dutsin-Ma, Katsina Stat | Aruwayo, A., Department of Animal Science, Federal University Dutsin-Ma, Katsina State, Nigeria; Maigandi, S.A., Department of Animal Science, Federal University Dutsin-Ma, Katsina State, Nigeria; Malami, B.S., Department of Animal Science, Federal University Dutsin-Ma, Katsina State, Nigeria; Daneji, A.I., Department of Medicine, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Sokoto State, Nigeria; Saulawa, L.A., Department of Animal Production and Health, Federal University, Dutsin-Ma, Katsina State, Nigeria; Garba, M.G., Department of Animal Production and Health, Federal University, Dutsin-Ma, Katsina State, Nigeria | The study was conducted to evaluate the growth performance and nutrient digestibility of fattening Uda rams fed Alkali treated neem kernel cake. The experiment was conducted at the Teaching and Research Farm of Usmanu Danfodiyo University. Sixteen Uda rams were randomly allotted to treatment diets A, B, C and D with 0, 8.33, 16.67 and 24.99% levels of inclusion of ATNKC, respectively. The study lasted for 105 days consisting of 84 days feeding trial and 21 days of digestibility trial which comprised of 14 days for adaption and seven days for collection of feaces. The dry matter digestibility for all the nutrients in the control and test diets was comparable. The performance of the sheep in treatment B recorded the best ADG of 166.67g/day and highest dry matter intake in treatment A. It was recommended in the study that alkali treated neem kernel cake can be safely included in feed of sheep up to 24.99% for the rams. © Asian Network for Scientific Information, 2013. | Alkaline treated neem kernel cake; Azadirone and nimbin; Uda lambs | alkali; animal experiment; animal food; article; Azadirachta indica; biomass; body growth; controlled study; diet supplementation; feces analysis; food safety; male; neem kernel cake; Nigeria; nonhuman; nutrient uptake; nutritional value; ram (sheep); randomization; Azadirachta indica; Ovis aries | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-78049452618 | Influence of housing systems on the performance and reproductive characteristics of wearner rabbits reared in port harcourt, rivers state, Nigeria | Ndor L., Owen O.J., Nyeche V.N. | 2010 | International Journal of Agriculture and Biology | 12 | 6 | None | Department of Animal Science, Rivers State University of Science and Technology, P.M.B 5080, Port Harcourt, Nigeria | Ndor, L., Department of Animal Science, Rivers State University of Science and Technology, P.M.B 5080, Port Harcourt, Nigeria; Owen, O.J., Department of Animal Science, Rivers State University of Science and Technology, P.M.B 5080, Port Harcourt, Nigeria; Nyeche, V.N., Department of Animal Science, Rivers State University of Science and Technology, P.M.B 5080, Port Harcourt, Nigeria | A study was conducted to evaluate the performance of rabbits reared under three different housing systems; (a) conventional housing system (hutch, control), (b) non conventional housing system (deep litter system) and (c) another non conventional system (bare mud floor). The two non-conventional systems were adopted to conform to methods currently employed by ordinary peasants. The study lasted 28 weeks. A total number of 30 adult rabbits of the medium sized breed category of both sexes aged 5-6 months were assigned randomly to the groups:- A (control: cage system), B (deep litter-cemented floor) C (bare floor) each group comprising 7 females and 3 males. Several observations were made including conception rate, litter size, weight gain etc. Results obtained from the production parameters indicated a higher conception rate in group C (70.63%) over and above the cage system (49.00%) and the deep litter system (60.34%). The mean litter size, kindling rate and average number of animals weaned were also significantly different (P<0.05) in favor of the non-conventional housing systems. There was a significant difference in the age and weight at puberty, mean age between rabbits in the three different systems. Percentage pseudo-pregnancy was higher in the conventional housing system than in the non-conventional housing systems. Adult and litter mortality was higher in the conventional housing system than in the non-conventional housing systems, (cage 15%), deep litter 10% and bare mud floor 5%. Results of the production parameters showed significant difference in body weight (P<0.05) among rabbits reared under the three systems. For instance, average total weight gain was significantly higher (P<0.05) in the rabbits in floor system (0.68 kg) as against rabbits placed on deep litter system (0.52 kg) and that of cage system (0.59 kg). Comparative analysis of the production/reproduction parameters vis-â-vis production cost in the 3 groups favoured the non-conventional housing system (bare floor), which is cost effective in terms of production and also guarantees lower mortality and higher production. © 2010 Friends Science Publishers. | Production parameters; Rabbit housing; Rabbit reproduction | Animalia; Oryctolagus cuniculus | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84877077208 | Evaluation of cost of medication of commercial broiler production in the tropics [Evaluación del costo de medicación en la producción comercial de pollos asaderos en los trópicos] | Wekhe S.N., Owen O.J., Amadi I.G. | 2012 | Revista Cientifica UDO Agricola | 12 | 1 | None | Department of Animal Science, Rivers State University of Science and Technology, P.M.B. 5080, Port Harcourt, Nigeria | Wekhe, S.N., Department of Animal Science, Rivers State University of Science and Technology, P.M.B. 5080, Port Harcourt, Nigeria; Owen, O.J., Department of Animal Science, Rivers State University of Science and Technology, P.M.B. 5080, Port Harcourt, Nigeria; Amadi, I.G., Department of Animal Science, Rivers State University of Science and Technology, P.M.B. 5080, Port Harcourt, Nigeria | Ninety (90), day-old Anak broiler birds were used to evaluate the cost of medication in commercial broiler production in the tropics in a study that lasted eight weeks. Three treatment groups were involved in the experiment: A control (No medication), B (routine prophylaxis) and C (routine vaccination and continuous coccidiostat). The experimental design employed was Completely Randomized Design (CRD). The birds were fed ad libitum and freely provided with drinking water. Daily feed intake and weekly body weight were recorded. Results showed that significant (P<0.05) differences existed in weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion efficiency. Treatment C had better production indices than treatments A and B. With respect to economic indices evaluated vis-à-vis cost of production/bird, relative cost/bird, total sales, mortality rate and gross margin; treatment C that recorded the highest cost of production/bird and relative cost/bird gave better total sales, mortality and gross margin among other treatments. It is therefore concluded that cost of prophylaxis did not adversely affect the production cost and it is necessary so as to safeguard against any sporadic or enzootic diseases that might by chance attack the flock and cause unprecedented loss of cash and meat. | Broiler birds; Cost; Losses; Prophylaxis; Vaccination | Aves | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84879259946 | Performance and digestibility of corncob and cowpea husk diets by West African Dwarf sheep | Ososanya T.O., Alabi B.O., Sorunke A.O. | 2013 | Pakistan Journal of Nutrition | 12 | 1 | None | Department of Animal Science, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Department of Animal Science and Fisheries, College of Agriculture, Osun State University, Osun State, Nigeria | Ososanya, T.O., Department of Animal Science, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Alabi, B.O., Department of Animal Science and Fisheries, College of Agriculture, Osun State University, Osun State, Nigeria; Sorunke, A.O., Department of Animal Science, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria | In the tropics, dry season is characterized by shortage of feeds and staggered growth pattern of ruminants. Corncob (CC) and Cowpea Husk (CH), the by-products of maize and cowpea production respectively may be used as alternative feed resources for ruminants especially during dry season. Therefore, a ten week study was conducted to determine the effects of CC and CH based diets on performance of WAD sheep. In a randomized complete block design, sixteen WAD sheep were allotted to four dietary treatments: A (100% CC), B (66.7% CC + 33.3% CH), C (33.3% CC + 66.7% CH) and D (100% CH). The sheep were allotted to any of the four diets with four animals per treatment. Parameters measured include: dry matter intake, live weight changes, feed conversion ratio and nutrient digestibility. Results showed significant (p<0.05) differences in dry matter intake (22.04 kg in diet A to 41.07 kg in diet C) and LWG (4.14 g/day in diet A to 41.71 g/day in diet C) of sheep across the diets. Also, there were significant (p<0.05) differences in FCR across the diets. The FCR ranged from 14.06 in diet C to 45.68 in diet A. Nutrients digestibility increased with increasing level of cowpea husk in the diets. The DM digestibility value ranged from 65.24% in diet B to 85.04% in diet D. The CP digestibility was also highest in diet D (88.01%) and lowest in diet A (72.06%) while ADF, NDF and ADL were highest in diet C and lowest in diet B. Optimum weight gain and efficient utilization was achieved at 66.7% CH and 33.3% CC inclusion levels. © Asian Network for Scientific Information, 2013. | Corncob; Cowpea husk; Digestibility; Growth; WAD sheep | animal experiment; animal food; article; controlled study; corncob; cowpea; cowpea husk; dry matter intake; feed conversion ratio; female; food composition; maize; nonhuman; nutrient digestibility; nutritional parameters; plant residue; sheep; weight change; weight gain; Animalia; Ovis aries; Zea mays | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84867812779 | Board characteristics and the financial performance of Nigerian quoted firms | Ujunwa A. | 2012 | Corporate Governance (Bingley) | 12 | 5 | 10.1108/14720701211275587 | Department of Banking and Finance, University of Nigeria, Enugu, Nigeria | Ujunwa, A., Department of Banking and Finance, University of Nigeria, Enugu, Nigeria | Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of corporate board characteristics on the financial performance of Nigerian quoted firms. Board characteristics studied comprise board size, board skill, board nationality, board gender, board ethnicity and CEO duality. Design/methodology/approach: The study employed the random-effects and fixed-effects generalised least squares (GLS) regression to test the six hypotheses formulated for the study, while controlling for firm size and firm age. Findings: Using panel data from 122 quoted firms in Nigeria between 1991 and 2008, it was found that board size, CEO duality and gender diversity were negatively linked with firm performance, whereas board nationality, board ethnicity and the number of board members with a PhD qualification were found to impact positively on firm performance. The result of the robustness test using the same board characteristics for 160 small firms showed that board duality was positively linked to firm performance, while a PhD qualification was negatively linked to firm performance. Practical implications: The study contributes to the understanding of the board-performance link by examining both the traditional variables such as board size, CEO duality and other organisational attributes such as ethnic diversity, foreign nationality and competence variables represented by women and PhD holders, respectively. The results provide an insight for practitioners and policy makers on the importance of relying on institutional specifics in the prescription of corporate governance codes. Originality/value: The study adds value to the global corporate governance discourse in two ways: first, the use of Nigeria, which is claimed to have one of the weakest business cultures in the world, and secondly, using a good number of proxies that are country-specific for corporate boards. © Emerald Group Publishing Limited. | Board characteristics; Boards of Directors; Corporate governance; Firm performance; Regression analysis | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84950135794 | Evaluation of antidiabetic effect of four Egyptian plants and their phytoconstituents | Koekemoer T.C., Rashed K., Mtshizana O., van de Venter M. | 2015 | Pharma Research | 12 | 2 | None | Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa; Pharmacognosy Department, National Research Centre, Dokki, Giza, Egypt | Koekemoer, T.C., Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa; Rashed, K., Pharmacognosy Department, National Research Centre, Dokki, Giza, Egypt; Mtshizana, O., Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa; van de Venter, M., Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa | Postprandial hyperglycaemia is a major contributory factor in the development of diabetes which can be clinically targeted via a number of independent mechanisms such as the inhibition of postprandial glucose absorption and through potentiating glucose dependent insulin release. This study was carried out to evaluate antidiabetic effect of four Egyptian medicinal plants, Sonchus oleraceus, Lagerstroemia tomentosa, Diospyros virginiana, and Toona ciliate, and to investigate the phytoconstituents from the bioactive plant extracts. The results revealed that L. tomentosa leaves methanol 80% extract was the most effective inhibitor of carbohydrate digestion which showed strong inhibition against both alpha-amylase and alphaglucosidase. The relevance to mammalian alpha-glucosidase was confirmed using a rat intestinal maltase assay however the inhibitory activity was considerably weaker relative to the yeast enzyme. None of the extracts displayed any significant inhibition against DPP-iv, an additional target to regulate postprandial hyperglycaemia. Cytotoxicity screening against Chang liver cells did not reveal any significant toxicity suggesting a favourable safety profile. Phytochemical studies of methanol 80% extract of L. tomentosa leaves produced lupeol (1), corosolic acid (2), gallic acid (3), ellagic acid (4), apigenin (5), vitexin (6), apigenin 7-O-β-glucoside (7), and kaempferol 3-O-β- galactoside (8). These results gave scientific evidence that L. tomentosa leaves may provide anti-diabetic effect through the inhibition of postprandial glucose absorption. | Antidiabetic; Lagerstroemia tomentosa; Leaves; Medicinal plants; Phenolics; Triterpenes | alkaloid; alpha glucosidase; amylase; antidiabetic agent; apigenin; apigetrin; carbohydrate; corosolic acid; coumarin derivative; Diospyros virginiana extract; ellagic acid; flavonoid; gallic acid; kaempferol 3 galactoside; Lagerstroemia tomentosa extract; lupeol; methanol; plant extract; plant medicinal product; saponin; Sonchus oleraceus extract; tannin derivative; Toona ciliate extract; triterpene; unclassified drug; vitexin; antidiabetic activity; Article; controlled study; cytotoxicity test; Diospyros virginiana; drug identification; drug mechanism; drug screening; drug structure; Egypt; enzyme inhibition; glucose absorption; IC50; Lagerstroemia tomentosa; liver cell; medicinal plant; phytochemistry; plant leaf; Sonchus oleraceus; Toona ciliate | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84943621072 | Impact of fiscal policy variables on economic growth in Nigeria (1970-2012): A managerial economics persperctive | Igwe A., Emmanuel E.C., Ukpere W.I. | 2015 | Investment Management and Financial Innovations | 12 | 2 | None | Department of Management, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria; Department of Economics, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Enugu, Nigeria; Department of Industrial Psychology and People Management, Faculty of Management, University of Johannesburg, South Africa | Igwe, A., Department of Management, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria; Emmanuel, E.C., Department of Economics, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Enugu, Nigeria; Ukpere, W.I., Department of Industrial Psychology and People Management, Faculty of Management, University of Johannesburg, South Africa | This study is set out to investigate the impact of fiscal policy variables (capital expenditure, recurrent expenditure and direct income tax) on economic growth in Nigeria. The study adopts a growth accounting framework that specifies economic growth as a function of the fiscal policy variables. Using a time series data for the period 1970-2012, the study tests for the presence of unit root test, using the augmented Dickey-Fuller test for stationarity. It is discovered that all the variables are integrated at I(1). The Johansen cointegration reveals the presence of a long run relationship between economic growth and all the dependent variables (CX, RX and TX). The VECM analysis indicates that capital expenditure and recurrent expenditure are positively related and statistically significant in determining economic growth in the long run. As expected, direct income tax is inversely related and statistically significant in determining economic growth in the long run. A 1% increase in capital expenditure leads to an increase of 3.94% in income. A 1% increase in recurrent expenditure leads to an increase of 3.22% in income. On the other hand, a 1% increase in direct income tax leads to a fall of 6.83% in national output. Moreover, only tax determines economic growth in the short run, as a 1% in direct income tax causes national output to fall by 0.39%. These results meet apriori expectations with respect to their signs. GDP adjusts to its long run equilibrium when there is a shock at a slow speed of 3.07%. The pairwise granger causality indicates that causality relationship does not exist between any of the fiscal policy variables and economic growth. Based on these results, the study recommends the adoption of tax policies that would spur growth instead of retarding growth with a wide margin, as has been observed from the study. Efforts should be made to skew the pattern of public spending towards capital expenditure as it leads to higher growth than recurrent expenditure. © Anthony Igwe, Edeh Chukwudi Emmanuel, Wilfred I. Ukpere, 2015. | Capital; Economic growth; Fiscal policy; Government; Taxation | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84879261747 | Evaluation of the crude protein and amino acid composition of Nigerian Monodora myristica (Ehuru) | Ekeanyanwu R.C. | 2013 | Pakistan Journal of Nutrition | 12 | 3 | None | Department of Biochemistry, Imo State University, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria | Ekeanyanwu, R.C., Department of Biochemistry, Imo State University, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria | Protein plays an important role in biochemical, biophysical and physiological processes. The deficiency of proteins leads to weakness, anaemia, protein energy malnutrition (Kwashiorkor and marasmus), delayed wound healing and fracture healing and also decreased resistance to infection. Proteins in the body come from both plant and animal source. Life without protein is not possible and amino acids are the building blocks of protein. The crude protein and amino acid composition of Monodora myristica seed was determined using standard analytical techniques with a view to further appraise the nutritive value. The results showed that crude protein content in percentage as 11.34%. The Total Amino Acid (TAA) of Monodora myristica seed was 65.60g/100g of crude protein. The Total Essential Amino Acid (TEAA, with Histidine) was calculated to be 47.64% of the crude protein while the Total non Essential Amino Acid (TNEAA) was calculated to be 52.36% of the crude protein. The predicted protein efficiency ratio (P-PER) was calculated to be 2.32. The content of total Essential Amino Acid (EAA) with value 26.85g/100g crude protein is lower than FAO/WHO recommended value of 36.0g/100g crude protein. Monodora myristica could be used as good sources of protein supplement in the human diet. Monodora myristica has been used as spice and condiment in food and also possess medicinal property. © Asian Network for Scientific Information, 2013. | Amino acid; Ehuru; Monodora myristica; Protein | alanine; amino acid; arginine; aspartic acid; cysteine; essential amino acid; glutamic acid; glycine; histidine; isoleucine; leucine; lysine; methionine; phenylalanine; proline; serine; threonine; tyrosine; valine; vegetable protein; analytic method; article; diet supplementation; food composition; Monodora myristica; nonhuman; nutritional value; plant seed; protein content; tree; Animalia; Monodora myristica | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-70350513280 | Physicochemical properties of the oil from the fruit of blighia sapida and toxicological evaluation of the oil-based diet in wistar rats | Oladiji A.T., Shoremekun K.L., Yakubu M.T. | 2009 | Journal of Medicinal Food | 12 | 5 | 10.1089/jmf.2008.0219 | Department of Biochemistry, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria | Oladiji, A.T., Department of Biochemistry, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria; Shoremekun, K.L., Department of Biochemistry, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria; Yakubu, M.T., Department of Biochemistry, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria | The physicochemical properties of the oil from the fruit of Blighia sapida and the toxicological effect of the oil-based diet on some biochemical parameters of selected rat tissues and serum were studied. The smoke, flash, and fire points as well as peroxide, iodine, and acid values of the fruit oil were significantly lower (P<.05), whereas the specific gravity, relative density, saponification, and ester values compared well with soybean oil. The fruit oil yield was 20.02%. The oil consisted of 22.22% saturated, 56.43% monounsaturated, and 21.35% polyunsaturated fatty acids. It is richer than soybean oil in behenic, palmitoleic, oleic, gadoleic, erucic, and 9,12-eicosanoic acids by 15.70%, 0.89%, 7.22%, 12.05%, 8.27%, and 21.35%, respectively. The liver- and kidney-body weight ratios as well as the serum concentrations of cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol of the rats maintained on diet formulated with the oil from the fruit of B. sapida increased significantly (P<.05), but the triglyceride and atherogenic index decreased (P<.05). The low-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration and the heart-body weight ratio of the rats fed with the fruit oil diet compared well (P>.05) with those on soybean oil-based diet. Animals fed with the fruit oil-based diet had their activities of liver glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase and glutamate pyruvate transaminase as well as alkaline phosphatase activities of the liver and kidney decreased with corresponding increase in the serum enzymes. These results suggest that oil from B. sapida fruit could be edible and may be explored as raw materials in the paint, margarine, and soap industries. The oil is also unlikely to predispose the animals to cardiovascular risk, but may labilize the plasma membrane of the hepatocytes and nephrons. It may also have a negative effect on the metabolism and regulation of amino acid in the animals. Therefore, the oil from B. sapida fruit may not be completely safe for consumption. © Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. | Atherogenesis; Blighia sapida fruit oil; Cardiovascular risk; Hepatocytes; Labilization; Nephrons; Physicochemical properties; Plasma membrane; Soybean oil; Toxicological effect | alanine aminotransferase; alkaline phosphatase; aspartate aminotransferase; Blighia sapida oil; ester; high density lipoprotein cholesterol; iodine; low density lipoprotein cholesterol; monounsaturated fatty acid; peroxide; polyunsaturated fatty acid; saturated fatty acid; soybean oil; unclassified drug; vegetable oil; acidity; analytical parameters; animal experiment; animal tissue; article; Blighia; blighia sapida; body weight; cardiovascular risk; cell membrane; cholesterol blood level; controlled study; diet; enzyme activity; enzyme blood level; fruit; kidney; liver; liver cell; nephron; nonhuman; priority journal; rat; relative density; saponification; Wistar rat; Amino Acids; Animals; Atherosclerosis; Biological Markers; Blighia; Diet; Dietary Fats; Fatty Acids; Fruit; Heart; Kidney; Lipids; Liver; Organ Size; Plant Oils; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Animalia; Blighia sapida; Glycine max; Rattus; Rattus norvegicus | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84856038178 | Vegetation inventory of the Redemption camp, Ogun State, Nigeria; Evaluation of medicinal plant resources and strategies for conservation | Durugbo E.U., Oyetoran B.O., Oyejide N.E. | 2012 | Journal of Biological Sciences | 12 | 1 | 10.3923/jbs.2012.34.42 | Department of Biological Sciences, Redeemer's University Mowe, Ogun State, Nigeria | Durugbo, E.U., Department of Biological Sciences, Redeemer's University Mowe, Ogun State, Nigeria; Oyetoran, B.O., Department of Biological Sciences, Redeemer's University Mowe, Ogun State, Nigeria; Oyejide, N.E., Department of Biological Sciences, Redeemer's University Mowe, Ogun State, Nigeria | Plants are of great importance in the environment. They help in conserving soil fertility, prevention of erosion, recycling of oxygen and water. They also provide shade, seeds, fruits, timber, vegetables and medicines for man and his livestock. The Redemption Camp falls within the moist equatorial/tropical rainforest belt of Nigeria known for its rich reserve of economic and medicinal plants. This forest has been over exploited and the rate at which the vegetation around the Camp is being destroyed is alarming. Going by the UN declaration of 2010 as the year of biodiversity, there arose an urgent need to document the available plant species in the Redemption City, noting their different uses and promoting ample action towards their conservation through awareness programmes, housing in herbarium and cultivation of a medicinal plant farm. An inventory of the vegetation around the Camp was undertaken between March and November 2010. A total of 472 plants species belonging to one hundred and thirteen (113) families majority of which have previously been documented as medicinal plants were recorded. Herbs, trees and shrubs dominated the flora. The records of herbs and grasses could have possibly arisen as pioneer species of formerly forested areas cleared for housing and other development projects. The most diverse families were Poaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Asteraceae, Fabaceae, Leguminosae, Moraceae and Cyperaceae, while the commonest trees were Ficus capensis, F. polita, F. exasperata, Elaeis guineensis, Morinda lucida, Albizia lebbeck, Anthocleista vogelii, Maragaritaria discoides, Bridelia micrantha, Carica papaya, Spondias mombin, Blighia sapida, Antiaris africana, Alstonia boonei, Sterculia trigacantha, Rauvolfia vomitora, Ceiba pentandra, Albizia zygia, Newbouldia laevis, Anthocleista djalonensis and Bombax bounopozense. The numerous climbers characteristic of the tropical rainforest indicated the presence of forests in the recent past. This listing of the medicinal plants will pave way for other researchers as th search for new drugs continues. © 2012 Asian Network for Scientific Information. | Biodiversity; Herbarium; Medicinal plants; Redemption city; Southwestern Nigeria | Albizia; Albizia lebbeck; article; Asteraceae; Cyperaceae; Elaeis guineensis; environmental protection; Euphorbiaceae; Fabaceae; Ficus; Ficus capensis; Ficus exasperata; Ficus polita; forest; grass; herb; legume; medicinal plant; Moraceae; Morinda lucida; Nigeria; nonhuman; Poaceae; shrub; tree; vegetation; Albizia lebbeck; Albizia zygia; Alstonia boonei; Anthocleista djalonensis; Anthocleista vogelii; Antiaris; Asteraceae; Blighia sapida; Bombax; Bridelia micrantha; Carica papaya; Ceiba pentandra; Cyperaceae; Elaeis guineensis; Euphorbiaceae; Fabaceae; Ficus (angiosperm); Ficus exasperata; Moraceae; Morinda lucida; Newbouldia laevis; Poaceae; Rauvolfia; Spondias mombin; Sterculia | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-68149131986 | Toxicological evaluation of the essential oil from mentha longifolia l. subsp. capensis leaves in rats | Odeyemi O.O., Yakubu M.T., Masika P.J., Afolayan A.J. | 2009 | Journal of Medicinal Food | 12 | 3 | 10.1089/jmf.2008.0136 | Department of Botany, University of Fort Hare, Alice, South Africa; Agricultural and Rural Development Research Institute, University of Fort Hare, Alice, South Africa; Department of Botany, University of Fort Hare, P/Bag X 1314, Alice 5700, South Africa | Odeyemi, O.O., Department of Botany, University of Fort Hare, Alice, South Africa; Yakubu, M.T., Department of Botany, University of Fort Hare, Alice, South Africa; Masika, P.J., Agricultural and Rural Development Research Institute, University of Fort Hare, Alice, South Africa; Afolayan, A.J., Department of Botany, University of Fort Hare, P/Bag X 1314, Alice 5700, South Africa | The effects of the essential oil from the leaves of Mentha longifolia L. subsp. capensis on some biochemical parameters of Wistar rats were studied. The oil at 125, 250, 375, and 500μL/kg of body weight reduced (P<.05) the red blood cells and lymphocytes with no definite pattern on the white blood cells and mean cell volume. The doses significantly increased the neutrophils, monocytes, large unstained cells, liver-body weight ratio, and serum concentrations of cholesterol, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein- cholesterol, and inorganic phosphate but had no effect on the heart body weight ratio and serum low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, Na+, Ca 2+, Cl-, K+, creatinine, and uric acid. The oil at 500f body weight also increased the kidney-body weight ratio. In contrast, the oil reduced the serum urea and atherogenic index. The total and conjugated bilirubin, together with the total protein and albumin, in the serum increased only with oil at 125μL/kg of body weight. The serum alkaline phosphatase activity also increased with no significant change in those of γ-glutamyl transferase and alanine and aspartate aminotransferase. The results indicate dose- and parameter-specific effect of the essential oil. Although the essential oil from M. longifolia leaves may not predispose to atherosclerosis, it may increase the functional activity of the rat liver at the lowest dose investigated. Therefore, the essential oil from M. longifolia may not be completely "safe" at the doses investigated. © Copyright 2009, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. and Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition. | Essential oil; Functional activity; Hematological parameters; Mentha longifolia; Selective toxicity; Serum lipids | alanine aminotransferase; albumin; alkaline phosphatase; aspartate aminotransferase; bilirubin; calcium; chlorine; creatinine; essential oil; gamma glutamyltransferase; high density lipoprotein cholesterol; low density lipoprotein cholesterol; Mentha longifolia extract; phosphate; potassium; protein; sodium; unclassified drug; uric acid; angiosperm; animal experiment; animal tissue; article; atherogenesis; atherosclerosis; body weight; cholesterol blood level; controlled study; erythrocyte count; female; heart weight; leukocyte count; liver weight; lymphocyte count; male; Mentha longifolia; neutrophil count; nonhuman; plant leaf; priority journal; rat; toxicity testing; triacylglycerol blood level; urea blood level; Alkaline Phosphatase; Animals; Atherosclerosis; Bilirubin; Blood Cell Count; Blood Cells; Blood Proteins; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Female; Kidney; Lipids; Liver; Male; Mentha; Oils, Volatile; Organ Size; Phosphates; Plant Extracts; Plant Leaves; Random Allocation; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Serum Albumin; Urea; Mentha longifolia; Rattus; Rattus norvegicus | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79953688982 | Firm-specific Managerial Experience and the social capital-performance Relationship in a sub-Saharan African Transition Economy | Acquaah M., Appiah-Nkrumah J. | 2011 | Journal of African Business | 12 | 1 | 10.1080/1536710X.2011.555251 | Department of Business Administration, Bryan School of Business and Economics, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, P.O. Box 26165, Greensboro, NC 27402-6165, United States; Department of Economics, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana | Acquaah, M., Department of Business Administration, Bryan School of Business and Economics, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, P.O. Box 26165, Greensboro, NC 27402-6165, United States; Appiah-Nkrumah, J., Department of Economics, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana | The authors examine the direct and moderating effects of firm-specific managerial experience on the relationship between social capital and performance. Using data from Ghana, the findings show that social capital from bureaucratic officials and community leaders, as well as firm-specific managerial experience, have a positive influence on performance, while social capital from politicians has a negative influence on firm performance. Furthermore, firm-specific managerial experience positively moderates the relationship between (a) social capital from politicians and performance, and (b) social capital from community leaders and performance. Therefore, firm-specific managerial experience attenuates the detrimental effects of social capital from politicians on performance. The findings contribute to knowledge in the social capital and resource-based view literature. © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. | Firm performance; Firm-specific managerial experience; Ghana; Social capital; Sub-Saharan Africa; Transition economies | industrial enterprise; management; social capital; transitional economy; Ghana | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84876355263 | Predicting the performance of bowlers in IPL: An application of artificial neural network | Saikia H., Bhattacharjee D., Lemmer H.H. | 2012 | International Journal of Performance Analysis in Sport | 12 | 1 | None | Department of Business Administration, Jawaharlal Nehru School of Management, Assam University, Silchar-788011, Assam, India; Department of Statistics, University of Johannesburg, Auckland Park, South Africa | Saikia, H., Department of Business Administration, Jawaharlal Nehru School of Management, Assam University, Silchar-788011, Assam, India; Bhattacharjee, D., Department of Business Administration, Jawaharlal Nehru School of Management, Assam University, Silchar-788011, Assam, India; Lemmer, H.H., Department of Statistics, University of Johannesburg, Auckland Park, South Africa | Application of data mining tools is often used in professional sports for evaluating players'/ teams' performance. Cricket is one of those sports where a large amount of numerical information is generated in every game. The game of cricket got a new dimension in April 2008, when Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) initiated the Indian Premier League(IPL). It is a franchise based Twenty20 cricket tournament where teams are formed by competitive bidding from a collection of Indian and International players. Since, valuations of the players are determined through auction, so performance of individual player is always under scanner. The objective of this study is to analyze and predict the performance of bowlers in IPL, using artificial neural network. Based on the performance of bowlers in the first three seasons of IPL, the paper tries to predict the performances of those bowlers who entered in the league in its fourth season as their maiden IPL venture. The performances of these bowlers in IPL-IV are predicted, and the external validity of the model is tested using their actual performance in IPL-IV. This prediction can help the franchises to decide which bowler they should target for their team. | Data mining; Performance measurement in sports; Twenty20 cricket | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84888358943 | Foreign direct investment and the performance of manufacturing firms in Nigeria | Adamu A., Barde B.E. | 2012 | Research in Accounting in Emerging Economies | 12 | PARTB | 10.1108/S1479-3563(2012)000012B012 | Department of Business Administration, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Nasarawa, Nigeria | Adamu, A., Department of Business Administration, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Nasarawa, Nigeria; Barde, B.E., Department of Business Administration, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Nasarawa, Nigeria | Purpose - The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of foreign direct investment (FDI) on the performance of manufacturing firms in Nigeria. Methodology - Annual data of aggregate foreign direct investment, manufacturing foreign direct investment, manufacturing index, manufacturing capacity utilization, manufacturing value added, and manufacturing turnovers were used. In the analysis, we tested for stationarity using augmented Dickey-Fuller test, and the test for long-run relationship was conducted using Johansen cointegration test. Vector error correction model was used for causality test. Findings - The data satisfied the stationarity test and that there is a longrun relationship between FDI and the performance of manufacturing firms in Nigeria. The study also found that causality runs from FDI to the performance of manufacturing firms. Practical implications - Since there is a long-run relationship among the variables, policies to attract FDI into the manufacturing sector should have a long range view and should be sustainable. The policy direction should focus on improving productivity and innovative capabilities of the manufacturing sectors and strengthening the supporting industries and institutions. Specifically, policies like provision of tax relief to manufacturers on importation of new technology and expatriate that will bring about efficiency and effectiveness in productions. Originality/Value of paper - This is one of the few attempts at studying the impact of FDI on manufacturing firms. The study draws attention of policy makers in Nigeria to the fact that diversification of the economy can be achieved through a viable manufacturing sector. Copyright © 2012 by Emerald Group Publishing Limited. | Augmented Dickey-Fuller test; Foreign direct investment; Johansen cointegration test and vector error correction model; Manufacturing capacity utilization; Manufacturing index; Manufacturing value added | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84940035974 | The effects of start-up factor (self-efficacy) on business performance | Radipere S. | 2014 | Corporate Ownership and Control | 12 | 1CONT7 | None | Department of Business Management, University of South Africa, South Africa | Radipere, S., Department of Business Management, University of South Africa, South Africa | The study examined relationship between self-efficacy and business performance using 500 SMMEs in Gauteng province, South Africa. Questionnaire was used to collect data from 500 SMMEs owners. The findings from the survey were modelled through a categorical regression model with business performance as dependent variable. The level of significance of the fourteen variables out of eighteen variables suggests that self-efficacy be classified as the strongest predictor of business performance. These findings, depicting the magnitude of the business environment in the study area, clearly confirm the positive impact of self-efficacy on business performance. © 2014, Virtus Interpress, All rights reserved. | Business Performance; Entrepreneur; Self-Efficacy | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84899501565 | Does information and communication technologies contribute to organization performance? Evidence from Nigerian universities | Binuyo A.O., Brevis-Landsberg T. | 2014 | Problems and Perspectives in Management | 12 | 1 | None | Department of Business Management, College of Economics and Management Sciences, University of South Africa, South Africa | Binuyo, A.O., Department of Business Management, College of Economics and Management Sciences, University of South Africa, South Africa; Brevis-Landsberg, T., Department of Business Management, College of Economics and Management Sciences, University of South Africa, South Africa | This study assessed the relationship between ICT investments in relation to organizational performance with specific focus on knowledge-imbibed organizations - universities. The study focusses on drawing possible relationships between ICT investment and ICT cost efficiency and, various indicators of organization performance such as return on capital employed, net profit margin and return on assets. The study uses data generated from the annual report of 37 universities in South West Nigeria over the period between 2001 and 2010 in dynamic panel environment. Controlling for structural differences and time-varying dynamics among these universities, the analyses show varying effects of ICT investment on performance. The findings indicate that ICT investment and ICT cost efficiency have positive and significant relationship with performance indicators. The study recommends that ICT investment should be guided in order to stimulate organizational performance. © Adekunle Oluwole Binuyo, Tersia Brevis-Landsberg, 2014. | Firm performance; ICT cost efficiency; ICT investment; Resource-based theory; South West Nigeria; University business unit | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84925949590 | The impact of the business environment on the South African emerging market economy | Fisher J.J., Mostert F.J., Mostert J.H. | 2015 | Corporate Ownership and Control | 12 | 2 CONT6 | None | Department of Business Management, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland, South Africa | Fisher, J.J., Department of Business Management, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland, South Africa; Mostert, F.J., Department of Business Management, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland, South Africa; Mostert, J.H., Department of Business Management, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland, South Africa | The business environment impacts on the strategic as well as the operational policies, decisions and actions of enterprises, as businesses do not operate in a vacuum. This research paper addresses the impact of the business environment on the South African emerging market economy, where emerging market economies usually have a rapid growing economy as well as government policies which embody economic liberalization and a free-market system. Secondary as well as primary data were applied to achieve the objective of this research paper, which involves the improvement of financial decision-making concerning the impact of the business environment on an emerging market economy. The empirical study of this research paper focuses on the following three aspects, viz.: The importance of the impact of various business environment factors on an emerging market economy, The problem areas within the business environment which impact on an emerging market economy and possible solutions to solve them, as well as The perceptions concerning the rating of various business environment factors over the past five years and the next five years in South Africa. As this research paper focuses on an emerging market economy, the conclusions of this study should be valuable to other countries which have the same type of economy. © 2015, Virtus Interpress. All rights reserved. | Business environment; Economic impact; Financial impact; Impact of foreign direct investments; Impact of the infrastructure; Political impact | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84890257401 | Clinical evaluation of a rapid immunochromatographic serological method in the diagnosis of mycobacterium tuberculosis [Mikobakteriyum tüberkülozis tani{dotless}si{dotless}nda hi{dotless}zli{dotless} i̇mmünokromatografik serolojik yöntemin klinik deǧerlen | Banjoko S.O., Sridhar M.K.C. | 2013 | TAF Preventive Medicine Bulletin | 12 | 6 | 10.5455/pmb.1-1351682079 | Department of Chemical Pathology, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria; Department of Community Medicine, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Yenagoa, Nigeria | Banjoko, S.O., Department of Chemical Pathology, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria; Sridhar, M.K.C., Department of Community Medicine, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Yenagoa, Nigeria | AIM: There is currently no single diagnostic method which can detect all tuberculosis (TB) cases. Therefore diagnosis can take several days and weeks and involve expensive, invasive and complex procedures. METHODS: 100 clinically diagnosed tuberculosis patients attending Jericho Chest Clinic, Ibadan, Nigeria (Test) and 100 tuberculosis free healthy individuals (Control) were recruited for the study after ethical clearance and patients' consent were obtained. Rapid serological test based on immobilized antigens on immune-chromatographic strips obtainable from (AMRAD, Australia) were performed using serum samples of clotted blood obtained from test and controlled subjects. Controls were selected using results of clinical examination and chest X ray while the tuberculosis patients were confirmed positive using clinical examination, chest X-ray, smear microscopy and microbial culture. RESULTS: The number of true positives were 78 (78.0%) and false positives were 8 (8.0%) while the number of true negatives were 92 (92.0%) and false negatives were 22 (22.0%). Sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive and positive predictive values of this serological method were 78.0%, 92.0%, 80.7% and 90.7% respectively. CONCLUSION: These results underscore the need to include serological method as a routine in the diagnosis and management of tuberculosis at the point of care particularly in poor resource settings and developing economies. Furthermore it is plausible to suggest that multiple antigen based immunechromatographic kits showed better promise for rapid serological diagnosis. | Diagnosis; Immunochromatography; Serology; Tuberculosis; Validity | immunoglobulin G; article; controlled clinical trial; controlled study; diagnostic test accuracy study; female; human; immunoaffinity chromatography; major clinical study; male; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; predictive value; sensitivity and specificity; serology; sputum culture; sputum smear; thorax radiography; tuberculosis | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84943236465 | Synthesis and anti-bacterial evaluation of novel thio- and oxazepino[7,6-b]quinolines | Hamidi H., Heravi M.M., Tajbakhsh M., Shiri M., Oskooie H.A., Shintre S.A., Koorbanally N.A. | 2015 | Journal of the Iranian Chemical Society | 12 | 12 | 10.1007/s13738-015-0698-5 | Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Physics and Chemistry, Alzahra University, Vanak, Tehran, Iran; Department of Chemistry, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran; School of Chemistry and Physics, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X54001, Durban, South Africa | Hamidi, H., Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Physics and Chemistry, Alzahra University, Vanak, Tehran, Iran; Heravi, M.M., Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Physics and Chemistry, Alzahra University, Vanak, Tehran, Iran; Tajbakhsh, M., Department of Chemistry, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran; Shiri, M., Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Physics and Chemistry, Alzahra University, Vanak, Tehran, Iran; Oskooie, H.A., Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Physics and Chemistry, Alzahra University, Vanak, Tehran, Iran; Shintre, S.A., School of Chemistry and Physics, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X54001, Durban, South Africa; Koorbanally, N.A., School of Chemistry and Physics, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X54001, Durban, South Africa | Cyclocondensation of 2-chloroquinoline-3-carbaldehydes and 2-thiophenol/2-aminophenols led to the formation of benzo[2,3][1,4]thio- or oxazepino[7,6-b]quinolines. Ugi reaction of the latter compound with various carboxylic acids and isocyanides gave novel oxazepino[7,6-b]quinoline derivatives. All compounds were evaluated for their anti-bacterial and anti-fungal activities. Among them, compounds 4a, 4b and 4d showed moderate to good activity. © 2015 Iranian Chemical Society. | Anti-bacterial; Isocyanide; Oxazepinoquinolines; Thiazepinoquinolines; Ugi condensation | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84890669317 | Ceramic water filters impregnated with silver nanoparticles as a point-of-use water-treatment intervention for HIV-positive individuals in Limpopo Province, South Africa: A pilot study of technological performance and human health benefits | Abebe L.S., Smith J.A., Narkiewicz S., Oyanedel-Craver V., Conaway M., Singo A., Amidou S., Mojapelo P., Brant J., Dillingham R. | 2014 | Journal of Water and Health | 12 | 2 | 10.2166/wh.2013.185 | Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Virginia, Thornton Hall, 351 McCormick Road, Charlottesville, VA 22908, United States; Department of Civil Engineering, University of Rhode Island, Bliss Hall 213, Kingston, RI 02881, United States; Department of Public Health Sciences, Public Health Sciences Hospital West, University of Virginia, PO Box 800717, Charlottesville, VA 3181, United States; Department of Microbiology, Department of Chemistry, University of Venda, Private Bag X5050, Thohoyandou 0950, Limpopo Province, South Africa; Department of Medicine, University of Virginia, PO Box 801379, Charlottesville, VA, United States | Abebe, L.S., Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Virginia, Thornton Hall, 351 McCormick Road, Charlottesville, VA 22908, United States; Smith, J.A., Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Virginia, Thornton Hall, 351 McCormick Road, Charlottesville, VA 22908, United States; Narkiewicz, S., Department of Civil Engineering, University of Rhode Island, Bliss Hall 213, Kingston, RI 02881, United States; Oyanedel-Craver, V., Department of Civil Engineering, University of Rhode Island, Bliss Hall 213, Kingston, RI 02881, United States; Conaway, M., Department of Public Health Sciences, Public Health Sciences Hospital West, University of Virginia, PO Box 800717, Charlottesville, VA 3181, United States; Singo, A., Department of Microbiology, Department of Chemistry, University of Venda, Private Bag X5050, Thohoyandou 0950, Limpopo Province, South Africa; Amidou, S., Department of Microbiology, Department of Chemistry, University of Venda, Private Bag X5050, Thohoyandou 0950, Limpopo Province, South Africa; Mojapelo, P., Department of Microbiology, Department of Chemistry, University of Venda, Private Bag X5050, Thohoyandou 0950, Limpopo Province, South Africa; Brant, J., Department of Medicine, University of Virginia, PO Box 801379, Charlottesville, VA, United States; Dillingham, R., Department of Medicine, University of Virginia, PO Box 801379, Charlottesville, VA, United States | Waterborne pathogens present a significant threat to people living with the human immunodeficiency virus (PLWH). This study presents a randomized, controlled trial that evaluates whether a household-level ceramic water filter (CWF) intervention can improve drinking water quality and decrease days of diarrhea in PLWH in rural South Africa. Seventy-four participants were randomized in an intervention group with CWFs and a control group without filters. Participants in the CWF arm received CWFs impregnated with silver nanoparticles and associated safe-storage containers. Water and stool samples were collected at baseline and 12 months. Diarrhea incidence was self-reported weekly for 12 months. The average diarrhea rate in the control group was 0.064 days/week compared to 0.015 days/week in the intervention group (p < 0.001, Mann-Whitney). Median reduction of total coliform bacteria was 100% at enrollment and final collection. CWFs are an acceptable technology that can significantly improve the quality of household water and decrease days of diarrhea for PLWH in rural South Africa. © IWA Publishing 2014. | Ceramic water filters; Cryptosporidium parvum; HIV; Point-of-use; South Africa | drinking water; silver nanoparticle; ceramics; diarrheal disease; drinking water; human immunodeficiency virus; nanotechnology; public health; rural area; technological change; water treatment; water use; adult; article; ceramic water fillter; coliform bacterium; container; controlled study; Cryptosporidium; diarrhea; environmental sanitation; feces culture; female; filter; household; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infected patient; incidence; male; pilot study; randomized controlled trial; South Africa; water quality; water sampling; water supply; water treatment; Limpopo; South Africa; Adult; Ceramics; Cryptosporidiosis; Cryptosporidium; Diarrhea; Drinking Water; Enterobacteriaceae; Enterobacteriaceae Infections; Feces; Female; Filtration; HIV Seropositivity; Humans; Male; Metal Nanoparticles; Middle Aged; Pilot Projects; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; Rural Population; Silver; South Africa; Water Purification; Water Quality; Young Adult | NSF, National Science Foundation |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84883727445 | Impacts of community pharmacists on self-medication management among rural dwellers, Kwara State Central, Nigeria | Bello S.I., Bello I.K. | 2013 | Dhaka University Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences | 12 | 1 | 10.3329/dujps.v12i1.16294 | Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Practice, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria; Department of Pharmacy, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Nigeria | Bello, S.I., Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Practice, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria; Bello, I.K., Department of Pharmacy, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Nigeria | The role of pharmacist has not only advanced from medication dispensing but also to direct patient care and pharmaceutical interventions aiming at enhancing the populace wellbeing. The objective of this research was to assess the impact of rural community pharmacist interventions on self-medications and disease prevalence among rural settings in the Kwara State Central, Nigeria. A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted in eight rural communities with a pre-piloted questionnaire. Data obtained from respondents were computed with Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 16 using descriptive analysis procedures, and relationships between variables were tested using the chi square. Respondents between the age of 40 and 50 years dominated with 42.3% and majority (88.1%) of the rural residents were illiterates. Farming was the major occupation of the respondents and survived on less than ten thousand naira Nigeria money ($63) per month. Among the combinations of drugs abused by the respondents, the regimen containing combination of prednisolone, diclofenac and paracetamol had the highest users. The least used combination was ibuprofen, diclofenac plus prednisolone. These combinations were taken twice daily by the majority participants. The most common reasons given for self-medications were osteoarthritis (31.1%), poverty (17.4%), general body pain (14.3%), inadequate of health facilities (4.6%), ignorance (4.3%) among others. The intervention offered by the pharmacists had reduced the mean systolic blood pressure significantly (P < 0.05) from 161 mmHg to 129 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure from 104 mmHg at baseline to 86 mmHg. Postintervention evaluation revealed the impact of the pharmacists, as the respondents with dyspepsia at baseline significantly (P < 0.05) reduced from 220 to 53 participants. | Drug combinations; Oke-Oyi metropolis; Pharmacist interventions; Prevalent diseases | analgesic agent; aniline; diclofenac; ibuprofen; nonsteroid antiinflammatory agent; opiate; paracetamol; piroxicam; prednisolone; tramadol; adult; agricultural worker; anemia; article; blood pressure regulation; cattle farming; community care; congestive heart failure; cross-sectional study; depression; diastolic blood pressure; drug abuse; drug induced headache; drug overdose; dyspepsia; educational status; female; fever; fluid retention; gastrointestinal disease; government regulation; headache; health care facility; health status; human; hypertension; insomnia; kidney dysfunction; lifestyle modification; liver failure; low back pain; major clinical study; malaria; male; mental disease; morning dosage; Nigeria; osteoarthritis; pain threshold; paresthesia; patient counseling; patient satisfaction; peptic ulcer; pharmacist; poverty; prevalence; quality of life; questionnaire; respiration depression; rural population; self medication; side effect; socioeconomics; systolic blood pressure; upper gastrointestinal bleeding | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84886526533 | The impact of rapid malaria diagnostic tests upon anti-malarial sales in community pharmacies in Gwagwalada, Nigeria | Ikwuobe J.O., Faragher B.E., Alawode G., Lalloo D.G. | 2013 | Malaria Journal | 12 | 1 | 10.1186/1475-2875-12-380 | Department of Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom; Partnership for Transforming Health Systems (PATH), Abuja, Nigeria | Ikwuobe, J.O., Department of Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom; Faragher, B.E., Department of Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom; Alawode, G., Partnership for Transforming Health Systems (PATH), Abuja, Nigeria; Lalloo, D.G., Department of Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom | Background: Rapid diagnostics tests for malaria (RDT) have become established as a practical solution to the challenges of parasitological confirmation of malaria before treatment in the public sector. However, little is known of their impact in private health sector facilities, such as pharmacies and drug shops. This study aimed to assess the incidence of malaria among unwell patients seeking anti-malarial treatment in two community pharmacies in Nigeria and measure the impact RDTs have on anti-malarial sales. Methods. This was a comparison study of two pharmacies located in the suburbs of Gwagwalada, in the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria, between May and July 2012. In the intervention arm, patients seeking to purchase anti-malarials had an RDT performed before treatment while the control pharmacy continued normal routine practice. Results: A total of 1,226 participants were enrolled into the study. The incidence of malaria in the intervention arm (n = 619) was 13.6% and adolescent participants had a statistically significant higher incidence (26.0%) compared to adults (11.9%) (P = 0.001). A history of fever in the last 48 hours was associated with a statistically significant higher incidence of malaria (28.3%) (P < 0.001). Having a RDT test reduced the chance of purchasing an anti-malarial by 42% (95% CI: 38%-46%) compared to not having a test. 51.6% (276) of the study participants with a RDT negative result still purchased anti-malarials, especially if anti-malarials had been recommended by a health professional (58.9%) compared to self-referral (44.2%) (P = 0.001). Patients with RDT negative results were also more likely to purchase an anti-malarial if there was a reported malaria positive laboratory test prior to presentation (66.2%; P = 0.007), a history of fever in the last 48 hours (60.5%; P = 0.027), and primary school education or less (69.4%; P = 0.009). After adjusting for age group and gender differences, having at least a secondary school education reduced the chance of buying an anti-malarial (OR 0.504 (95% CI: 0.256-0.993)) compared to having primary education or lower. Conclusion: The study highlights the enormous potential for improving appropriate prescription of anti-malarials in pharmacies and preventing unnecessary use of artemisinin combination therapy (ACT). © 2013 Ikwuobe et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | Anti-malarial; Malaria; Pharmacy; Rapid diagnostic test (RDT) | amodiaquine plus artesunate; antimalarial agent; artemether plus benflumetol; artemisinin; artesunate; artesunate plus sulfadoxine plus pyrimethamine; chloroquine; dihydroartemisinin plus piperaquine; pyrimethamine plus sulfadoxine; quinine; unclassified drug; adolescent; adult; aged; article; child; clinical practice; comparative study; disease duration; drug marketing; educational status; female; fever; health practitioner; high school; human; laboratory test; major clinical study; malaria; malaria control; malaria rapid test; male; Nigeria; pharmacy; physician self-referral; Plasmodium falciparum; prescription; primary school; purchasing; school child; sensitivity and specificity; sex difference; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Antimalarials; Child; Commerce; Diagnostic Tests, Routine; Drug Utilization; Female; Humans; Incidence; Malaria; Male; Middle Aged; Nigeria; Pharmacies; Suburban Population; Young Adult | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84928615589 | Understanding sexual and reproductive health needs of adolescents: Evidence from a formative evaluation in Wakiso district, Uganda Adolescent Health | Atuyambe L.M., Kibira S.P.S., Bukenya J., Muhumuza C., Apolot R.R., Mulogo E. | 2015 | Reproductive Health | 12 | 1 | 10.1186/s12978-015-0026-7 | Department of Community Health and Behavioural Sciences, Makerere University School of Public Health, P.O.Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Makerere University School of Public Health, Kampala, Uganda; Department of Community Health, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Kampala, Uganda | Atuyambe, L.M., Department of Community Health and Behavioural Sciences, Makerere University School of Public Health, P.O.Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda; Kibira, S.P.S., Department of Community Health and Behavioural Sciences, Makerere University School of Public Health, P.O.Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda; Bukenya, J., Department of Community Health and Behavioural Sciences, Makerere University School of Public Health, P.O.Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda; Muhumuza, C., Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Makerere University School of Public Health, Kampala, Uganda; Apolot, R.R., Department of Community Health and Behavioural Sciences, Makerere University School of Public Health, P.O.Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda; Mulogo, E., Department of Community Health, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Kampala, Uganda | Introduction: Adolescents are frequently reluctant to seek sexual and reproductive health services (SRH). In Uganda, adolescent health and development is constrained by translation of the relevant policies to practice. Recent studies done in central Uganda have shown that there is need for a critical assessment of adolescent friendly services (AFS) to gain insights on current practice and inform future interventions. This study aimed to assess the sexual reproductive health needs of the adolescents and explored their attitudes towards current services available. Methods: A qualitative study was conducted in Wakiso district, central Uganda in September 2013.Twenty focus group discussions (FGDs) stratified by gender (10 out-of-school, and 10 in-school), were purposefully sampled. We used trained research assistants (moderator and note taker) who used a pretested FGD guide translated into the local language to collect data. All discussions were audio taped, and were transcribed verbatim before analysis. Thematic areas on; adolescent health problems, adolescent SRH needs, health seeking behaviour and attitudes towards services, and preferred services were explored. Data was analysed using atlas ti version 7 software. Results: Our results clearly show that adolescents have real SRH issues that need to be addressed. In and out-of-school adolescents had sexuality problems such as unwanted pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), defilement, rape, substance abuse. Unique to the females was the issue of sexual advances by older men and adolescents. We further highlight RH needs which would be solved by establishing adolescent friendly clinics with standard recommended characteristics (sexuality information, friendly health providers, a range of good clinical services such as post abortion care etc.). With regard to health seeking behaviour, most adolescents do not take any action at first until disease severity increase. Conclusions: Adolescents in Uganda have multiple sexual and reproductive health needs that require special focus through adolescent friendly services. This calls for resource support in terms of health provider training, information education and communication materials as well as involvement of key stakeholders that include parents, teachers and legislators. © 2015 Atuyambe et al.; licensee BioMed Central. | Adolescent; Needs; Reproductive health; Sexual; Uganda | abortion; adolescent; adolescent behavior; adolescent health; adolescent sexual behavior; adult; Article; child; circumcision; condom use; disease severity; female; health care need; health education; help seeking behavior; human; major clinical study; male; qualitative research; rape; reproductive health; sexual education; sexual health; sexuality; sexually transmitted disease; substance abuse; Uganda; unwanted pregnancy | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84879807578 | Health insurance in Ghana: Evaluation of policy holders' perceptions and factors influencing policy renewal in the Volta region | Boateng D., Awunyor-Vitor D. | 2013 | International Journal for Equity in Health | 12 | 1 | 10.1186/1475-9276-12-50 | Department of Community Health, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana; Department of Agricultural Economics, Agribusiness and Extension, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana | Boateng, D., Department of Community Health, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana; Awunyor-Vitor, D., Department of Agricultural Economics, Agribusiness and Extension, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana | Background: Health insurance is an important mechanism that succors individuals, states and the nation at large. The purpose of this study was to assess individual's attitude towards health insurance policy and the factors that influence respondents' decision to renew their health insurance policy when it expires. Methods. This cross sectional study was conducted in the Volta region of Ghana. A total of 300 respondents were randomly sampled and interviewed for the study. Data was collected at the household level and analyzed with STATA software. Descriptive statistics was used to assess the demographic characteristics of the respondents while Logistic regression model was used to assess factors that influence respondents' decision to take up health insurance policy and renew it. Results: The study results indicate that 61.1% of respondents are currently being enrolled in the NHIS, 23.9% had not renewed their insurance after enrollment and 15% had never enrolled. Reasons cited for non-renewal of insurance included poor service quality (58%), lack of money (49%) and taste of other sources of care (23%). The gender, marital status, religion and perception of health status of respondents significantly influenced their decision to enroll and remain in NHIS. Conclusion: NHIS has come to stay with clients testifying to its benefits in keeping them strong and healthy. Efforts therefore must be put in by all stakeholders including the community to educate the individuals on the benefits of health insurance to ensure all have optimal access. © 2013 Boateng and Awunyor-vitor; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | Ghana; Health insurance; Policy renewal; Volta region | assessment method; decision making; demography; health insurance; numerical model; policy making; software; adult; agricultural worker; article; attitude to health; christian; cross-sectional study; education; female; gender; Ghana; health insurance; health status; household; human; income; male; marriage; married person; money; moslem; perception; priority journal; quantitative study; religion; Adolescent; Adult; Attitude to Health; Cross-Sectional Studies; Decision Making; Female; Ghana; Health Policy; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; National Health Programs; Socioeconomic Factors; Young Adult; Ghana; Volta | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84876094440 | Performance of compute intensive applications of distributed memory heterogeneous parallel computer system using analytic and recursive models | Oguike O.E., Agu M.N., Echezona S.C., Ebem D.U. | 2011 | International Journal of Simulation: Systems, Science and Technology | 12 | 4 | None | Department of Computer Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria | Oguike, O.E., Department of Computer Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria; Agu, M.N., Department of Computer Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria; Echezona, S.C., Department of Computer Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria; Ebem, D.U., Department of Computer Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria | A distributed memory heterogeneous parallel computer system can be described as a heterogeneous parallel computer system where each of the processors has its own memory. In a heterogeneous parallel computer system, the computational resources distributed to each of the processors, like memory capacity and processor speed differ from one another. Since the memory is distributed, it means that each of the processors will have its own queue. Furthermore, a compute intensive application of a heterogeneous parallel computer is an application of heterogeneous parallel computer system where the overall utilization factor is high and greater than 1, for each of the heterogeneous queues of the parallel computer system. This means that the arrival rate into each of the heterogeneous queues is greater than the departure rate of the processor for that queue. On the other hand, a non-compute intensive application of a heterogeneous parallel computer system is an application of a heterogeneous parallel computer system where the overall utilization factor of each of the queues is less than 1. This paper models the various performance metrics of a compute intensive application of a distributed memory heterogeneous parallel computer system using analytic and recursive models. | Compute intensive applications; Distributed memory parallel computer; Heterogeneous parallel computer; Performance metrics; Queuing network | Computational resources; Distributed Memory; Distributed-memory parallel computers; Parallel computer; Parallel computer systems; Performance metrics; Queuing network; Utilization factor; Computer applications; Distributed computer systems; Queueing theory; Parallel processing systems | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84897140669 | Modeling variation of performance metric of distributed memory heterogeneous parallel computer system using analytic and recursive models | Oguike O.E., Agu M.N., Echezona S.C. | 2011 | International Journal of Simulation: Systems, Science and Technology | 12 | 5 | None | Department of Computer Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria | Oguike, O.E., Department of Computer Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria; Agu, M.N., Department of Computer Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria; Echezona, S.C., Department of Computer Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria | In a heterogeneous parallel computer system, the computational power of each of the processors differs from one another. Furthermore, with distributed memory, the capacity of the memory, which is distributed to each of the processors, differs from one another. Using queuing system to describe a distributed memory heterogeneous parallel computer system, each of the heterogeneous processors will have its own heterogeneous queue. The variation of a performance metric of heterogeneous parallel computer system with distributed memory needs to be modeled because it will help designers of parallel computer system to determine the extent of variation of a performance metric. It will also help users to know when to realize minimum variation of a performance metric. This paper models the variation of a performance metric of distributed memory heterogeneous parallel computer system using analytic and recursive models. | Analytic models; Distributed memory; Heterogeneous parallel computer; Parallel computer system; Queuing network; Recursive model; Variation | Parallel processing systems; Queueing networks; Analytic models; Distributed Memory; Parallel computer; Parallel computer systems; Queuing network; Recursive modeling; Variation; Distributed computer systems | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84876079996 | Performance metrics of heterogeneous distributed memory parallel computer system using recursive models | Oguike O.E., Agu M.N., Ebem D.U., Echezona S.C., Longe H.O.D., Abass O. | 2011 | International Journal of Simulation: Systems, Science and Technology | 12 | 4 | None | Department of Computer Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria; Department of Computer Sciences, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria | Oguike, O.E., Department of Computer Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria; Agu, M.N., Department of Computer Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria; Ebem, D.U., Department of Computer Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria; Echezona, S.C., Department of Computer Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria; Longe, H.O.D., Department of Computer Sciences, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria; Abass, O., Department of Computer Sciences, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria | In a heterogeneous distributed memory parallel computer system, each of the processors has its own memory. Describing the system using queuing network, each of the processors has its own ready queue. Since the system has many I/O queues and I/O processors, therefore, the various processors with their various ready queues and the various I/O processors and their various I/O queues form the queuing network of such a system. Using a round robin scheduling algorithm for the processor queues, we aim at evaluating the performance of the system from the time a job arrives in the system to the time job departs from the system. This paper uses recursive models to evaluate and assess the accuracy of the performance of the whole queuing network of a heterogeneous distributed memory parallel computer system. | Distributed memory parallel computer; Heterogeneous parallel computer; Performance metrics; Queuing network | Distributed-memory parallel computers; Parallel computer; Performance metrics; Queuing network; Recursive models; Round robin scheduling algorithms; Parallel processing systems; Queueing networks; Queueing theory; Scheduling algorithms; Distributed computer systems | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-50849139863 | Elephant impact on dragonflies | Samways M.J., Grant P.B.C. | 2008 | Journal of Insect Conservation | 12 | 5 | 10.1007/s10841-007-9089-2 | Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology, Centre for Agricultural Biodiversity, University of Stellenbosch, Post Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa | Samways, M.J., Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology, Centre for Agricultural Biodiversity, University of Stellenbosch, Post Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa; Grant, P.B.C., Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology, Centre for Agricultural Biodiversity, University of Stellenbosch, Post Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa | African elephants and other indigenous megaherbivores have a major impact on local vegetation structure, including aquatic communities, as their big feet and large mass pound the fringes of water bodies. This disturbance is likely to have a profound influence on the structure and composition of insect assemblages in these habitats. We investigated which dragonfly (Odonata) species were tolerant of trampling by elephants and other game. Assemblage composition differed according to extremely high, very high or high disturbance levels. Dragonfly abundance was greatest where impact was high, and decreasing when disturbance became very high or extremely high. Several odonate species are well-adapted to fairly high levels of disturbance, although too much is impoverishing. Medium and low impact sites were geographically separated, and this, combined with much lower disturbance levels, had a considerable influence on promoting regional dragonfly diversity. Several regional specialist species only occurred in the geographically separated, low-impact sites. The full complement of dragonflies is present only when there is a combination of various disturbance levels combined with spatial variation. Elephant impact is similar to that of humans, with too much of either or both, leading to a species-poor, habitat-generalist dragonfly assemblage. © Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2007. | Dragonfly biodiversity; Elephant trampling; Parallels with human impact | abundance; anthropogenic effect; biodiversity; community composition; community structure; dragonfly; spatial variation; species diversity; vegetation structure; Africa; Anisoptera (dragonflies); Elephantidae; Hexapoda; Loxodonta; Odonata | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-43949115556 | Female consumers' evaluation of apparel quality: Exploring the importance of aesthetics | De Klerk H.M., Lubbe S. | 2008 | Journal of Fashion Marketing and Management | 12 | 1 | 10.1108/13612020810857934 | Department of Consumer Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa | De Klerk, H.M., Department of Consumer Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa; Lubbe, S., Department of Consumer Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa | Purpose - The purpose of this study is to investigate the role of aesthetics in female consumers' evaluation of apparel quality during the decision-making process. Design/methodology/approach - A qualitative research style was followed and unstructured interviews and focus group interviews were chosen as data-collection methods. A total of 45 unstructured interviews were held with 15 adult career women. The researchers used certain stimuli during the interviews, the aim of which was to give the participants something concrete to react to, and to put them in a specific decision-making situation. Findings - It was found that the sensory, emotional and cognitive dimensions of the aesthetic experience play a major role when female consumers evaluate the quality of apparel products during the decision-making stage. The product's design and materials bring about these aesthetic dimensions. Especially colour and texture play major roles in bringing about the necessary aesthetic experiences. Originality/value - Retailers and e-tailers should purposively draw their customers' attentions to the linkage between physical properties that influence important functional properties that may play a role in the satisfaction that consumers will experience when wearing the item. Findings have further implications for retailers' and e-tailers' fashion merchandising strategies related to buyers and visual merchandisers. | Clothing; Consumers; Decision making; Quality assessment; Women | apparel fabric; consumer research; decision making; esthetic property; quality; retailing; womenswear | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77956851745 | Laboratory evaluation of neem (Azadirachta indica) seed and leaf powders for the control of khapra beetle, trogoderma granarium (Coleoptera: Dermestidae) infesting groundnut | Egwurube E., Magaji B.T., Lawal Z. | 2010 | International Journal of Agriculture and Biology | 12 | 4 | None | Department of Crop Protection Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR), Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria | Egwurube, E., Department of Crop Protection Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR), Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria; Magaji, B.T., Department of Crop Protection Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR), Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria; Lawal, Z., Department of Crop Protection Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR), Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria | Bioassay evaluation of neem (Azadirachta Indica A. Juss) seed powder (NSP) and neem leaf powder (NLP) against the larvae of Trogoderma granarium in stored groundnut was conducted under open laboratory conditions of 27°C and 70±10% relative humidity. Ripened neem seed fruits and leaves were collected from neem trees, adequately shade-dried, pounded and sieved to obtain fine powder. Treatments were applied at 2.5, 5 and 10% w/w Samnut-22 groundnut seed, with pirimiphos-methyl (2% Actellic dust) as standard check in addition to an untreated control. Larval mortality, progeny emergence, seed damage and viability were assessed. Results showed that NSP was next to Actellic dust in efficacy followed by the NLP; all significantly better than the untreated control in causing greater larval mortality, reduced progeny emergence and seed damage with no harm to seed viability. Actellic dust at 5 and 10% w/w was more effective than the plant materials as 100% mortality was achieved within 24 h post-treatment with no seed damaged. NSP treatment gave 100% mortality only at 10% w/w level with about 6.5% and 6.7% seed damage and progeny emergence respectively, while NLP was the least efficacious giving 50% mortality at 10% w/w, 28% seed damage and 33% progeny emergence in 24 h but better than the untreated control in all the parameters evaluated. © 2010 Friends Science Publishers. | Neem; Pirimiphos-methyl; Progeny; Trogoderma granarium | Arachis hypogaea; Azadirachta indica; Coleoptera; Dermestidae; Trogoderma granarium | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33845749576 | Evaluation of the diethylcarbamazine patch to evaluate onchocerciasis endemicity in Central Africa | Ozoh G., Boussinesq M., Bissek A.-C.Z.-K., Kobangue L., Kombila M., Mbina J.-R.M., Enyong P., Noma M., Sékétéli A., Fobi G. | 2007 | Tropical Medicine and International Health | 12 | 1 | 10.1111/j.1365-3156.2006.01750.x | Department of Dermatology, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Enugu, Nigeria; Département Sociétés et Santé, Institut de Recherche Pour Le Développement, UR24, Paris, France; Département de Médecine Interne, Faculté de Médecine et des Sciences Bi | Ozoh, G., Department of Dermatology, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Enugu, Nigeria; Boussinesq, M., Département Sociétés et Santé, Institut de Recherche Pour Le Développement, UR24, Paris, France; Bissek, A.-C.Z.-K., Département de Médecine Interne, Faculté de Médecine et des Sciences Biomédicales, Université de Yaoundé I, Yaounde, Cameroon; Kobangue, L., Service de Dermatologie, Centre National Hospitalier Universitaire, Bangui, Central African Republic; Kombila, M., Département de Parasitologie-Mycologie, Faculté de Médecine, Université des Sciences de la Santé, Libreville, Gabon; Mbina, J.-R.M., Département de Parasitologie-Mycologie, Faculté de Médecine, Université des Sciences de la Santé, Libreville, Gabon; Enyong, P., Tropical Medicine Research Station, Kumba, Cameroon; Noma, M., World Health Organization/African Programme for Onchocerciasis Control, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso; Sékétéli, A., World Health Organization/African Programme for Onchocerciasis Control, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, African Programme for Onchocerciasis Control, 01 BP 549, Ouagadougou 01, Burkina Faso; Fobi, G., World Health Organization/Special Intervention Zones, Kara, Togo | Objective: As part of a baseline data collection for assessing the impact of the African Programme for Onchocerciasis Control, to evaluate the diethylcarbamazine (DEC) patch test in determining the endemicity of onchocerciasis. Method: A total of 226 untreated children aged 3-5, living in four selected endemic foci, in Cameroon, Gabon and Central African Republic, were tested. Observed graded skin reactions to the patch were analysed and compared with the prevalence of onchocercal nodules and reactive skin disease in the corresponding community. Results: The proportion of children who tested positive ranged from 25.0% to 77.1%. The values were closely correlated with the prevalence of nodules, i.e. the level of endemicity for onchocerciasis. Conclusion: The DEC patch test, which has been so far used only in West African foci of onchocerciasis, can also constitute a valuable tool to evaluate the levels of endemicity of onchocerciasis in Central Africa, and to follow-up the intensity of transmission of Onchocerca volvulus. © 2007 Blackwell Publishing Ltd. | African Programme for Onchocerciasis Control; Central Africa; Diagnosis; Diethylcarbamazine patch test; Epidemiology; Onchocerciasis | diethylcarbamazine; baseline survey; disease control; drug; endemism; epidemiology; nematode; parasite transmission; skin disorder; Africa; article; diethylcarbamazine patch test; endemic disease; evaluation; human; major clinical study; onchocerciasis; patch test; preschool child; prevalence; skin manifestation; Cameroon; Central African Republic; Child, Preschool; Diethylcarbamazine; Drug Evaluation; Endemic Diseases; Filaricides; Gabon; Humans; Onchocerciasis; Patch Tests; Prevalence; Rural Health; Africa; Cameroon; Central Africa; Central African Republic; Gabon; Sub-Saharan Africa; West Africa; Onchocerca volvulus | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84924308899 | The impact of information communication technology (ICT) on economic growth: A case for South Africa | Khumalo Z.Z., Mongale I.P. | 2015 | Corporate Ownership and Control | 12 | 2Continued1 | None | Department of Economics, North-West University (Mafikeng Campus), Private Bag X2046, Mmabatho, South Africa | Khumalo, Z.Z., Department of Economics, North-West University (Mafikeng Campus), Private Bag X2046, Mmabatho, South Africa; Mongale, I.P., Department of Economics, North-West University (Mafikeng Campus), Private Bag X2046, Mmabatho, South Africa | This paper investigates the impact of Information Communication Technology on economic growth in South Africa. The study intends to establish correlation in a developing country such as South Africa where the existence of such a relationship has not been distinctly determined. The model is estimated by using the cointegration and causality analysis and the interrelationships among the variables will be captured by employing the Johansen Cointegration method. The Generalized Impulse Response Function is also introduced to further explore the dynamic relationship among the variables. The results exhibit the incidence of a positive association between Information Communication Technology and economic growth. © 2015, Virtus Interpress. All rights reserved. | Cointegration; Economic growth; Generalized impulse response function; Information communication technology; South Africa | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84931051845 | Business cycles and stock market performance in South Africa | Muchaonyerwa F., Choga I. | 2015 | Corporate Ownership and Control | 12 | 3 | None | Department of Economics, University of Fort Hare, South Africa; School of Economic and Decision Sciences, North West University, South Africa | Muchaonyerwa, F., Department of Economics, University of Fort Hare, South Africa; Choga, I., School of Economic and Decision Sciences, North West University, South Africa | The stock market is an important indicator of an economy’s financial health. It checks the mood of investors in a country. Stock market performance is a vital component of business cycle growth. T hus, this study investigates the relationship between stock market performance and business cycles in South Africa for the period 2002-2009 using monthly data. This is done by constructing a Vector Error Correction Model (VECM). The study specifies a business cycle model with the business cycle coincident indicator of South Africa being the independent variable explained by the All Share Price index (ALSI), Real Effective Exchange Rate (REER), Money Supply (M1), Inflation (CPIX) and the Prime Overdraft Rate (POR). The ALSI represents stock market performance whilst the rest of the variables are to enhance model specification. The study found a positive association between stock market performance and business cycles and this match with most of the results from the empirical literature provided. © 2015, Virtus Interpress. All rights reserved. | Business cycle; Stock market; Vector error correction South Africa | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84939789698 | The impact of economic growth on unemploymentin South Africa: 1994 – 2012 | Banda H., Choga I. | 2015 | Corporate Ownership and Control | 12 | 4Cont7 | None | Department of Economics, University of Fort Hare, South Africa; School of Economic Decision Sciences, North West University, North West University (Mafikeng Campus), South Africa | Banda, H., Department of Economics, University of Fort Hare, South Africa; Choga, I., School of Economic Decision Sciences, North West University, North West University (Mafikeng Campus), South Africa | One of the most pressing problems facing the South African economy is unemployment, which has been erratic over the past few years. This study examined the impact of economic growth on unemployment, using quarterly time series data for South Africa for the period 1994 to 2012.Johansen Co-integration reflected that there is stable and one significant long run relationship between unemployment and the explanatory variables that is economic growth (GDP), budget deficit (BUG), real effective exchange rate (REER) and labour productivity (LP). The study utilized Vector Error Correction Model (VECM) to determine the effects of macroeconomic variables thus REER, LP, GDP and BUG on unemployment in South Africa. The results of VECM indicated that LP has a negative long run impact on unemployment whilst GDP, BUG and REER have positive impact. The study resulted in the following policy recommendation: South African government should re-direct its spending towards activities that directly and indirectly promote creation of employment and decent jobs; a conducive environment and flexible labour market policies or legislations without impediments to employment creation should be created; and lastly government should prioritise industries that promote labour intensive. All this will help in absorbing large pools of the unemployed population thereby reducing unemployment in South Africa. © 2015 Virtus Interpress. All rights reserved. | Economic growth; South Africa; Unemployment; Vector error correction | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84925459930 | Towards the solution of abysmal performance in mathematics in junior high schools: Comparing the pedagogical potential Of two | Sarfo F.K., Eshun G., Elen J., Adentwi K.I. | 2014 | Electronic Journal of Research in Educational Psychology | 12 | 3 | 10.14204/ejrep.34.14028 | Department of Educational Leadership, University of Education, Kumasi campus, Winneba, Kumasi, Ghana; Department of Mathematics, Baidoo Bonsoe Senior High School, Agona Ahanta, Ghana; Center for Instructional Psychology and Technology, Catholic University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Department of Interdiscilinary Studies, University of Education, Kumasi Campus, Winneba, Kumasi, Ghana | Sarfo, F.K., Department of Educational Leadership, University of Education, Kumasi campus, Winneba, Kumasi, Ghana; Eshun, G., Department of Mathematics, Baidoo Bonsoe Senior High School, Agona Ahanta, Ghana; Elen, J., Center for Instructional Psychology and Technology, Catholic University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Adentwi, K.I., Department of Interdiscilinary Studies, University of Education, Kumasi Campus, Winneba, Kumasi, Ghana | Introduction: In this study, the effectiveness of two different interventions was investigated. The effects of a concrete abstract intervention and a regular method of teaching intervention were compared. Both interventions were designed in line with the specifications of classical principles of instructional design for learning mathematics in the traditional classroom of junior high school (JHS) in Ghana. The purpose was to contribute to the solution of abysmal performance of mathematics in the JHS. Method: Eighty students randomly selected from JHS, were randomly assigned to the two treatments. The content for the treatments were selected from the JHS syllabus. A teacher was trained to implement the treatments. The main study, consisting of six sessions, was conducted in a regular classroom of the school. Descriptive statistics, paired-samples t test, and t independent test were used to analyze the data. Results: Generally, the general performance of students in both groups improved significantly after they had experienced the designed treatments. Comparatively, t independent test revealed that the designed concrete representational abstract intervention (DCRAI) is more effective for improving students' general performance in geometry and algebra than the designed regular method of teaching intervention (DRMTI). Discussion and conclusion: The results of the study imply that instructional design principles are relevant, effective and needed in the design of classroom teaching, to address the poor performance in mathematics in JHSs (in Ghana). © Education & Psychology I+D+i and Ilustre Colegio Oficial de la Psicología de Andalucía Oriental. | Instructional intervention; Junior high school; Mathematics; Regular method of teaching; Representational abstract | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84896299991 | Empirical investigation of wireless sensor network performance in noisy environments | Kiyang S.T., van Zyl R. | 2014 | Journal of Engineering, Design and Technology | 12 | 1 | 10.1108/JEDT-02-2012-0006 | Department of Electrical Engineering, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Cape Town, South Africa | Kiyang, S.T., Department of Electrical Engineering, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Cape Town, South Africa; van Zyl, R., Department of Electrical Engineering, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Cape Town, South Africa | Purpose: The purpose of this work is to assess the influence of ambient noise on the performance of wireless sensor networks (WSNs) empirically and, based on these findings, develop a mathematical tool to assist technicians to determine the maximum inter-node separation before deploying a new WSN. Design/methodology/approach: A WSN test platform is set up in an electromagnetically shielded environment (RF chamber) to accurately control and quantify the ambient noise level. The test platform is subsequently placed in an operational laboratory to record network performance in typical unshielded spaces. Results from the RF chamber and the real-life environments are analysed. Findings: A minimum signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) at which the network still functions was found to be of the order 30 dB. In the real-life scenarios (machines, telecommunications and computer laboratories), the measured SNR exceeded this minimum value by more than 20 dB. This is due to the low ambient industrial noise levels observed in the 2.4 GHz ISM band for typical environments found at academic institutions. It, therefore, suggests that WSNs are less prone to industrial interferences than anticipated. Originality/value: A predictive mathematical tool is developed that can be used by technicians to determine the maximum inter-node separation before the WSN is deployed. The tool yields reliable results and promises to save installation time. © Emerald Group Publishing Limited. | Electrical engineering; Interference; Signal-to-noise ratio; White noise; Wireless communications; Wireless sensor networks | Acoustic noise; Electrical engineering; Network performance; Signal to noise ratio; Tools; Wave interference; White noise; Wireless sensor networks; Wireless telecommunication systems; Academic institutions; Computer laboratory; Design/methodology/approach; Empirical investigation; Mathematical tools; Signaltonoise ratio (SNR); Wireless communications; Wireless sensor network (WSNs); Sensor nodes | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-75649107822 | Good optical limiting performance of indium and gallium phthalocyanines in a solution and co-polymer host | Yüksek M., Elmali A., Durmu M., Gul Yaglioglu H., Nver H., Nyokong T. | 2010 | Journal of Optics A: Pure and Applied Optics | 12 | 1 | 10.1088/2040-8978/12/1/015208 | Department of Engineering Physics, Faculty of Engineering, Ankara University, 06100 Beevler, Ankara, Turkey; Department of Chemistry, Gebze Institute of Technology, Gebze, Kocaeli 41400, Turkey; Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Ankara University, 06100 Beevler, Ankara, Turkey; Department of Chemistry, Rhodes University, Grahamstown 6140, South Africa | Yüksek, M., Department of Engineering Physics, Faculty of Engineering, Ankara University, 06100 Beevler, Ankara, Turkey; Elmali, A., Department of Engineering Physics, Faculty of Engineering, Ankara University, 06100 Beevler, Ankara, Turkey; Durmu, M., Department of Chemistry, Gebze Institute of Technology, Gebze, Kocaeli 41400, Turkey; Gul Yaglioglu, H., Department of Engineering Physics, Faculty of Engineering, Ankara University, 06100 Beevler, Ankara, Turkey; Nver, H., Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Ankara University, 06100 Beevler, Ankara, Turkey; Nyokong, T., Department of Chemistry, Rhodes University, Grahamstown 6140, South Africa | The optical limiting characteristics of tetra-and octasubstituted gallium and indium phthalocyanine complexes have been studied by means of the open-aperture Z-scan technique with nanosecond pulses at 532nm. The nonlinear response demonstrated that all investigated compounds exhibited strong reverse saturable absorption for both solution and solid-state-based experiments. The results showed that the ratio of the excited to ground state absorption cross section κ and effective nonlinear absorption coefficient βeff are largely dependent on the linear absorption coefficient. All compounds in chloroform exhibited almost the same optical limiting performance at the same linear absorption coefficient. Pc/PMMA composite films display a much larger effective nonlinear absorption coefficient, lower ratio of the excited to ground state absorption cross section and lower saturation fluence for optical limiting when compared to the same Pc molecules in solution. All gallium and indium complexes of phthalocyanines are good candidates for optical limiting applications. © 2010 IOP Publishing Ltd. | Nonlinear absorption; Optical limiting; Phthalocyanine; Polymer film; Z-scan | Ground state absorption; Indium complexes; Linear absorption coefficient; Nanosecond pulse; Non-linear response; Nonlinear absorption coefficient; Nonlinear absorptions; Octasubstituted; Optical limiting; Optical limiting applications; Phthalocyanine complexes; Reverse saturable absorption; Saturation fluence; State-based; Z-scan technique; Composite films; Gallium; Ground state; Indium; Nitrogen compounds; Plastic films; Polymer films; Polymers; Absorption | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84884515371 | Modelling the potential impact and cost of scaling-up male circumcision in resource poor settings: A case of Uganda | Tumwesigyea N.M., Wabwire-Mangena F., Bagendaa D., Ssengoobab F., Opioc A., Nalwaddab C.K., Bollinger L., Stoverd J. | 2013 | African Journal of AIDS Research | 12 | 1 | 10.2989/16085906.2013.815416 | Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Mulago National Referral Hospital Complex Mulago Hill, PO Box 7071, Kampala, Uganda; Department of Health Policy, Planning and Management, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, PO Box 7071, Kampala, Uganda; Disease Control, Ministry of Health, Plot 6 Lourdel Road, Nakasero Kampala, Uganda; Futures Institute, Glastonbury, CT, United States | Tumwesigyea, N.M., Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Mulago National Referral Hospital Complex Mulago Hill, PO Box 7071, Kampala, Uganda; Wabwire-Mangena, F., Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Mulago National Referral Hospital Complex Mulago Hill, PO Box 7071, Kampala, Uganda; Bagendaa, D., Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Mulago National Referral Hospital Complex Mulago Hill, PO Box 7071, Kampala, Uganda; Ssengoobab, F., Department of Health Policy, Planning and Management, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, PO Box 7071, Kampala, Uganda; Opioc, A., Disease Control, Ministry of Health, Plot 6 Lourdel Road, Nakasero Kampala, Uganda; Nalwaddab, C.K., Department of Health Policy, Planning and Management, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, PO Box 7071, Kampala, Uganda; Bollinger, L., Futures Institute, Glastonbury, CT, United States; Stoverd, J., Futures Institute, Glastonbury, CT, United States | This study modelled estimates of the cost and impact of male circumcision (MC) under different scenarios using the Decision Maker's Program Planning Tool on data from Uganda. Results showed that the number of new adult HIV infections could be reduced by 23 000 if MC could be increased from the current 25% to 80% by 2015. The incidence of HIV could be reduced by 0.2 percentage points over the same period. If a scale up programme is to meet a target of 80% by 2015 then the annual number of MCs performed should be over twice as many as those performed in 2011. The discounted net cost per infection averted would be US$559 for the period 2011-2015 and the country would save US$6 841 per infection. A scale up of MC will reduce HIV prevalence and incidence substantially and it would be highly cost effective. The government should mobilise funding to meet high MC targets that would deliver the desired reduction in prevalence and incidence in a short period of time. Copyright © NISC (Pty) Ltd. | Adult hiv infection; Decision maker's program planning tool; Health economics; Male circumcision | adolescent; adult; article; circumcision; cost benefit analysis; cost control; cost effectiveness analysis; female; health care cost; health care planning; health program; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; incidence; infection prevention; male; medical personnel; prevalence; scale up; surgeon; Uganda | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84924283498 | Mega-sporting events: The impact on host stock markets and investment prospects | Mohamed S., Oettlé T., Stewart S. | 2015 | Corporate Ownership and Control | 12 | 2Continued2 | None | Department of Finance and Tax, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa | Mohamed, S., Department of Finance and Tax, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa; Oettlé, T., Department of Finance and Tax, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa; Stewart, S., Department of Finance and Tax, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa | The success of mega-sporting events such as the Summer Olympics and the FIFA World Cup brings pride and a focus to their host nations. This paper aims to find the effects of the announcement and the actual event on the host stock market. It then recommends an investment strategy. The paper finds that the announcement of the Olympics and World Cup creates statistically significant abnormal returns and the actual sporting event has little effect on the stock market. By factoring size of the economy, it is found that smaller economies tend to have larger abnormal returns than bigger economies. We then provide recommendation on investment strategies in order to exploit the significant abnormal return on the day of the World Cup announcement. © 2015, Virtus Interpress. All rights reserved. | Investment prospects; Mega-sporting events; Stock markets | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84909584895 | The impact of the nationalisation threat on Zimbabwe’s economy | Makoni P.L. | 2014 | Corporate Ownership and Control | 12 | 1 Continued 1 | None | Department of Finance, Banking and Risk Management at the University of South Africa, UNISA, P.O. Box 392, South Africa | Makoni, P.L., Department of Finance, Banking and Risk Management at the University of South Africa, UNISA, P.O. Box 392, South Africa | The purpose of this study was to examine the likely impact that the proposed agenda of nationalisation of foreign-owned business in Zimbabwe, by implementing the Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Act, would have on the economy in the country. Nationalisation of foreign-owned businesses comes on the back of the disastrous Fast-Track Land Reform Programme which had sought to give land to the black majority in the country. The results of the study show that foreign investors were shaken by the announcement of nationalisation of all foreign-owned firms, including banks and mines. Most foreign investors adopted a “wait and see” attitude since the nature of their investment was mainly resource-seeking FDI, and they could therefore not remove their fixed, immovable assets from the country. With the economy still trying to recover from earlier declines in economic activity, it is recommended that the Government revises the Indigenisation Act in order to ensure FDI inflows continue to be attracted into the country, in a bid to stabilise and further grow the economy. © Virtus Interpress. All rights reserved. | Expropriation; FDI; Indigenisation; Nationalisation; Zimbabwe | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79959940416 | Ownership structure, corporate governance and dividend performance on the Ghana Stock Exchange | Bokpin G.A. | 2011 | Journal of Applied Accounting Research | 12 | 1 | 10.1108/09675421111130612 | Department of Finance, University of Ghana Business School, Legon, Ghana | Bokpin, G.A., Department of Finance, University of Ghana Business School, Legon, Ghana | Purpose - This paper aims to document the interaction between ownership structure, corporate governance and dividend performance on the Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE). Design/methodology/approach - Panel data covering a period from 2002 to 2007 for 23 firms were analyzed within the framework of fixed effects techniques. Findings - The paper reports that foreign share ownership significantly, positively, influences dividend payment among firms on the GSE. It found board size to have a statistically positive effect on dividend payment among the corporate governance variables. It did not, however, find a significant relationship between inside ownership, board independence, board intensity, CEO duality and dividend performance. The results also indicate that highly leveraged firms will significantly reduce dividend payments. Finally, age and income volatility were found to be significant determinants of dividend performance on the GSE. Originality/value - The paper considers a much broader approach to investigating the impact of ownership structure and corporate governance on dividend performance on the GSE, a marked departure from other studies conducted on the GSE. © Emerald Group Publishing Limited. | Corporate governance; Corporate ownership; Dividends; Ghana; Stock exchanges | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84943611171 | Benchmarking: Business strategy to improve environmental performance | Doorasamy M. | 2015 | Investment Management and Financial Innovations | 12 | 2 | None | Department of Financial Accounting, Mangosuthu University of Technology, South Africa | Doorasamy, M., Department of Financial Accounting, Mangosuthu University of Technology, South Africa | A growing number of organizations have failed to realize that environmental strategies should be incorporated as part of the organizations corporate business strategies, to ensure their sustainable competitive advantage. Future sustainability and competitiveness require the adoption of Cleaner Production (CP) techniques and technologies which will address waste issues at its source and ensure more efficient use of resources. However, management is not keen on this strategy as they perceive CP as a costly strategy that requires innovation with no financial benefits to the company. The aim of this paper is to benchmark the company's environmental costs by comparing the company's current non-product output against technological standards and standards of best available technology. The results are based on a case study which is focused on the coal - fired boiler technology used in the steam generation process. It had been found that benchmarking enabled managers to evaluate and analyze how much they can save by ensuring that their current technology is functioning according to technological standards and also reduces the amount of waste generated due to technological inefficiency. © Mishelle Doorasamy, 2015. | Benchmarks; Best available technology; Cleaner production techniques; Competiveness; Environmental strategies; Non-product output; Sustainability; Technological standards | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84882739924 | Growth performance of Clarias gariepinus fed different levels of agama agama meal diets | Tiamiyu L.O., Ataguba G.A., Jimoh J.O. | 2013 | Pakistan Journal of Nutrition | 12 | 5 | None | Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, University of Agriculture, P.M.B. 2373, Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria | Tiamiyu, L.O., Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, University of Agriculture, P.M.B. 2373, Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria; Ataguba, G.A., Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, University of Agriculture, P.M.B. 2373, Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria; Jimoh, J.O., Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, University of Agriculture, P.M.B. 2373, Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria | This study was investigated the utilization of agama lizard meat meal (Agama agama) as dietary protein source in the diets of Clarias gariepinus fingerlings (MW±SE = 33.48 g±0.13). The fingerlings were fed four Isonitrogenous and Isocaloric diets containing blends of agama lizard meal in percentages of 0 (Diet I), 10 (Diet II), 20 (Diet III) and 30% (Diet IV) respectively for 8 weeks at 5% body weight. Mean weight gain (MWG) ranged from 22.85g (Diet I) to 42.80g (Diet III) and Specific Growth Rate (SGR) ranged from 0.93% per day (Diet 1) to 1.46% per day (Diet III). Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) was between 2.61 (Diet III) and 2.96 (Diet IV). There was however no significant differences (p>0.05) in these parameters for all the test diets. Proximate composition of carcass shows significant differences (p<0.05) in moisture and ash contents with no significant differences observed for all the other proximate composition parameters. From the foregoing, agama lizard meal can be included at any level but it is recommended that 20% inclusion level be used. © Asian Network for Scientific Information, 2013. | Agama lizard; Clarias gariepinus; Protein; Utilization | agama agama; animal experiment; animal food; article; ash; body growth; body weight; carcass; Clarias gariepinus; controlled study; fingerling; fish; growth rate; lizard; lizard meat meal; maize; meat; moisture; nonhuman; protein intake; rice bran; soybean; weight gain | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84885032473 | Evaluation of phytochemical composition and antimicrobial activity of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) leaf | Mbaeyi-Nwaoha I.E., Emejulu V.N. | 2013 | Pakistan Journal of Nutrition | 12 | 6 | None | Department of Food Science and Technology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria | Mbaeyi-Nwaoha, I.E., Department of Food Science and Technology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria; Emejulu, V.N., Department of Food Science and Technology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria | Sweet Potato Leave (SPL) powder and its peptone, ethanol and water extracts were subjected to proximate, phytochemical, anti-nutrient and antimicrobial analysis. The results of proximate analysis revealed the presence of high carbohydrate (43.971±0.019-56.472±0.009%) and crude protein (16.497±0.003-28.163±0.003%). The sweet potato leaves powder and the extracts also contain moisture (3.603±0.004-16.921±0.008%), ash (5.563±0.004-10.414±0.007%), fat (0.208±0.007-14.264±0.002%) and fibre (0.244±0.003-2.764±0.003%), respectively. The phytochemical screening revealed the presence of bioactive compounds in the SPL powder and its extracts namely; tannins, alkaloids, steroids, glycosides, saponins, flavonoids and soluble carbohydrates. The SPL powder had the highest content of these bioactive compounds with alkaloid having the highest value of 3.784±0.007mg/100g, followed by flavonoid (3.357±0.006mg/100g) and steroid had the lowest value (0.393±0.003mg/100g). The extracts had highest content of flavonoid ranging between 2.762±0.008 and 3.355±0.004 mg/100g and least content of steroid ranging between 0.357±0.002 and 0.375±0.003mg/100g. The anti-nutrient analysis indicated the content of very high amount of oxalate ranging between 1.664±0.004 and 6.254±0.004% in the four samples. They contained lower amounts of phytate (3.897±0.003 to 5.933±0.003mg/100g), cyanide (0.353±0.003 to 1.444±0.004mg/100g) and tannin (5.527±0.002 to 9.010±0.002mg/100g). The antimicrobial activity of the peptone, water and ethanol extracts was tested against Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi, Staphylococcus aureus, Aspergillus niger, Penicillium spp., Pseudomonas aeroginosa and Klebsiella pneumonia. The water extract showed the best antimicrobial activity by inhibiting the growth of all the organisms except E. coli and Penicillium spp at different concentrations of the extract. While the ethanol and peptone extracts only had a minimal activity against Salmonella typhi. © Asian Network for Scientific Information, 2013. | Anti-nutrients; Antimicrobial activity; Bioactive compounds ethanol extract; Peptone extracts; Phytochemical screening; Sweet potato leave powder water extract | alcohol; alkaloid; antiinfective agent; carbohydrate; cyanide; flavonoid; glycoside; oxalic acid; peptone; phytate; plant extract; protein; saponin; steroid; sweet potato extract; tannin derivative; unclassified drug; water; antimicrobial activity; article; ash; Aspergillus niger; bacterial growth; biochemical composition; carbohydrate analysis; controlled study; Escherichia coli; fat content; fiber crop; food poisoning; growth inhibition; Klebsiella pneumoniae; lipid analysis; nonhuman; Penicillium; phytochemistry; plant leaf; powder; protein content; protein determination; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Salmonella typhi; Soxhlet extraction; Staphylococcus aureus; sweet potato | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84879254256 | Evaluation of complementary food Prepared from sorghum, African yam bean (sphenostylis stenocarpa) and mango mesocarp flour blends | Yusufu P.A., Egbunu F.A., Egwujeh S.I.D., Opega G.L., Adikwu M.O. | 2013 | Pakistan Journal of Nutrition | 12 | 2 | None | Department of Food, Nutrition and Home Sciences, Kogi State University, P.M.B 1008, Anyigba, Nigeria | Yusufu, P.A., Department of Food, Nutrition and Home Sciences, Kogi State University, P.M.B 1008, Anyigba, Nigeria; Egbunu, F.A., Department of Food, Nutrition and Home Sciences, Kogi State University, P.M.B 1008, Anyigba, Nigeria; Egwujeh, S.I.D., Department of Food, Nutrition and Home Sciences, Kogi State University, P.M.B 1008, Anyigba, Nigeria; Opega, G.L., Department of Food, Nutrition and Home Sciences, Kogi State University, P.M.B 1008, Anyigba, Nigeria; Adikwu, M.O., Department of Food, Nutrition and Home Sciences, Kogi State University, P.M.B 1008, Anyigba, Nigeria | The use of Sorghum, African yam bean (Sphenostylis Stenocarpa) and Mango mesocarp (Mangifera indica) flour blends in the formulation of complementary food was studied. Traditional Weaning Food (TWF) obtained from 100% sorghum was used as the control sample. The sorghum, African yam bean and mango mesocarp flour were blended in the ratio of 5:3:2 respectively and used to formulate complementary food (SAM). The sample of complementary foods produced were subjected to chemical, functional and sensory properties analyses. The result of the chemical composition showed a significant (p<0.05) increase in the protein and fat level of the formulated complementary food (8.9±1.09 to 17.4±1.19% and 1.5±0.11 to 3.50±0.31%, respectively. However, a significant p<0.65) decrease in the carbohydrate level (78±1.00 to 67.59±1.35) was observed vitamins A composition of formulated food was 3.54μg/mg. Functional properties evaluated showed no significant (p<0.05) difference in the bulk density but a high water absorption (70.6±3.3%), Emulsion (6.00±0.30%) capacities and reconstitution index (85±1.0%) were noticed. The sensory panelists rated the formulated complimentary food highly for taste, colour, flavour, texture and the overall acceptability. The formulated complementary food is a protein-rich product with good functional and sensory properties. Use of plant protein sources in local food formulations appeared to be vital in upgrading their nutritional, functional and sensory properties. © Asian Network for Scientific Information, 2013. | Chemical properties; Complementary food; Functional; Sensory | carbohydrate; retinol; vegetable oil; vegetable protein; African yam-bean; article; baby food; bulk density; complementary food; concentration (parameters); controlled study; emulsion; flour; food analysis; food color; food composition; food processing; food texture; mango; nonhuman; physical chemistry; sorghum; taste; water absorption; Mangifera indica; Sphenostylis stenocarpa | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84886936273 | Evaluation of slurry formulations for Kilishi processing of African Lungfish (Protopterus annectens, Owen) | Shehu Jega I., Magawata I., Ipinjolu J.K., Jibir M. | 2013 | Pakistan Journal of Nutrition | 12 | 7 | None | Department of Forestry and Fisheries, Kebbi State University of Science and Technology, Aliero, Nigeria; Department of Forestry and Fisheries, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria; Department of Animal Science, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, | Shehu Jega, I., Department of Forestry and Fisheries, Kebbi State University of Science and Technology, Aliero, Nigeria; Magawata, I., Department of Forestry and Fisheries, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria; Ipinjolu, J.K., Department of Forestry and Fisheries, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria; Jibir, M., Department of Animal Science, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria | The kilishi of Protopterus annectens was produced for determination of appropriate slurry formulations for fish kilishi preparation. Thirty six freshly caught samples of Protopterus annectens with average weight of 331.00±22.64g from Kware Lake in Sokoto State were used. Kilishi of this species was prepared with three different slurry formulations of high (F1), medium (F2) and low (F3) proportions of groundnut dough to spice mixture in the ratio of 1.3:1.0, 1.0:1.2 and 1.0:1.8, respectively. Results of proximate composition indicated that kilishi of the P. annectens prepared with formulation 3 (F3) recorded significantly higher (p<0.05) protein content (45.18±0.02%) and lower lipid content (11.07±0.07%) despite recording significantly higher (p<0.05) moisture content (9.07±0.07%). Sensory score of kilishi of P. annectens processed with F3 formulation rated significantly higher (p<0.05) for texture, taste and flavour with mean scores of 5.72±0.22, 6.14±0.23 and 5.69±0.20, respectively. It could be concluded that kilishi of P. annectens prepared with F3 formulation was the most acceptable, hence, recommended for use in kilishi production. © Asian Network for Scientific Information, 2013. | None | lipid; protein; agricultural slurry; animal product; article; chemical analysis; dough; flavor; food composition; food industry; food processing; food quality; food texture; lipid composition; lungfish; moisture; nonhuman; protein content; spice; taste | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-35548981362 | Impact of parent-child relationship on the career development process of high school students in Ibadan, Nigeria | Salami S.O., Aremu A.O. | 2007 | Career Development International | 12 | 7 | 10.1108/13620430710834387 | Department of Guidance and Counselling, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria | Salami, S.O., Department of Guidance and Counselling, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Aremu, A.O., Department of Guidance and Counselling, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria | Purpose: The purpose of this paper was to investigate the relationships of parental attachment and psychological separation to the career development process of secondary school adolescents. Design/methodology/approach: An ex post facto survey research design was adopted. The sample comprised 242 (males=121, females=121) senior secondary school II students randomly selected. Parental attachment, psychological separation, and career development scales were administered on the students. The data collected were analysed using hierarchical multiple regression analysis treating parental attachment and psychological separation as predictors and career development as a criterion variable. Parental attachment and psychological separation (mother scales) separately and significantly predicted career information-seeking behaviour of participants. However, combined attachment and separation (father scale) could not significantly predict any of the career development variables. Research limitations/implications: The study utilised cross-sectional and self-report measures. Practical implications: The cultural environment and type of family in which the study was carried out should be considered. Counsellors in Nigeria should assess views of students' parents and peers on career development. Originality/value: Most previous studies have linked familial factors like parental educational, financial and modelling opportunities with career development. This study reported the relationship of parental attachment and psychological separation with the career development process. Results from this study may enlighten career counsellors, parents and students on the need to assess the relationship between the students and their parents when dealing with their career development problems. © Emerald Group Publishing Limited. | Adolescents; Career guidance; Family; Influence; Nigeria; Social interaction | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84943139179 | The Impact of Company-Level ART Provision to a Mining Workforce in South Africa: A Cost–Benefit Analysis | Meyer-Rath G., Pienaar J., Brink B., van Zyl A., Muirhead D., Grant A., Churchyard G., Watts C., Vickerman P. | 2015 | PLoS Medicine | 12 | 9 | 10.1371/journal.pmed.1001869 | Department of Health Services Research and Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Center for Global Health and Development, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States; Health Economics and Epidemiology Research Office, Department of Internal Medicine, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Highveld Hospital, Anglo American Coal, Emalahleni, South Africa; Johannesburg, South Africa; The Aurum Institute, Johannesburg, South Africa; Department of Clinical Research, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Department of Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom | Meyer-Rath, G., Department of Health Services Research and Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom, Center for Global Health and Development, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States, Health Economics and Epidemiology Research Office, Department of Internal Medicine, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Pienaar, J., Highveld Hospital, Anglo American Coal, Emalahleni, South Africa; Brink, B., Johannesburg, South Africa; van Zyl, A., The Aurum Institute, Johannesburg, South Africa; Muirhead, D., The Aurum Institute, Johannesburg, South Africa; Grant, A., Department of Clinical Research, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Churchyard, G., The Aurum Institute, Johannesburg, South Africa, Department of Clinical Research, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Watts, C., Department of Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Vickerman, P., School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom | Background: HIV impacts heavily on the operating costs of companies in sub-Saharan Africa, with many companies now providing antiretroviral therapy (ART) programmes in the workplace. A full cost–benefit analysis of workplace ART provision has not been conducted using primary data. We developed a dynamic health-state transition model to estimate the economic impact of HIV and the cost–benefit of ART provision in a mining company in South Africa between 2003 and 2022. Methods and Findings: A dynamic health-state transition model, called the Workplace Impact Model (WIM), was parameterised with workplace data on workforce size, composition, turnover, HIV incidence, and CD4 cell count development. Bottom-up cost analyses from the employer perspective supplied data on inpatient and outpatient resource utilisation and the costs of absenteeism and replacement of sick workers. The model was fitted to workforce HIV prevalence and separation data while incorporating parameter uncertainty; univariate sensitivity analyses were used to assess the robustness of the model findings. As ART coverage increases from 10% to 97% of eligible employees, increases in survival and retention of HIV-positive employees and associated reductions in absenteeism and benefit payments lead to cost savings compared to a scenario of no treatment provision, with the annual cost of HIV to the company decreasing by 5% (90% credibility interval [CrI] 2%–8%) and the mean cost per HIV-positive employee decreasing by 14% (90% CrI 7%–19%) by 2022. This translates into an average saving of US$950,215 (90% CrI US$220,879–US$1.6 million) per year; 80% of these cost savings are due to reductions in benefit payments and inpatient care costs. Although findings are sensitive to assumptions regarding incidence and absenteeism, ART is cost-saving under considerable parameter uncertainty and in all tested scenarios, including when prevalence is reduced to 1%—except when no benefits were paid out to employees leaving the workforce and when absenteeism rates were half of what data suggested. Scaling up ART further through a universal test and treat strategy doubles savings; incorporating ART for family members reduces savings but is still marginally cost-saving compared to no treatment. Our analysis was limited to the direct cost of HIV to companies and did not examine the impact of HIV prevention policies on the miners or their families, and a few model inputs were based on limited data, though in sensitivity analysis our results were found to be robust to changes to these inputs along plausible ranges. Conclusions: Workplace ART provision can be cost-saving for companies in high HIV prevalence settings due to reductions in healthcare costs, absenteeism, and staff turnover. Company-sponsored HIV counselling and voluntary testing with ensuing treatment of all HIV-positive employees and family members should be implemented universally at workplaces in countries with high HIV prevalence. © 2015 Meyer-Rath et al. | None | adolescent; adult; aged; Article; CD4 lymphocyte count; child; cost benefit analysis; health care cost; health care policy; health economics; health program; highly active antiretroviral therapy; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; morbidity; prevalence; South Africa; treatment outcome; virus load | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84879250731 | Nutrient and organoleptic evaluation of cereal and legume based cookies | Madukwe E.U., Edeh R.I., Obizoba I.C. | 2013 | Pakistan Journal of Nutrition | 12 | 2 | None | Department of Home Science, Nutrition and Dietetics, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria | Madukwe, E.U., Department of Home Science, Nutrition and Dietetics, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria; Edeh, R.I., Department of Home Science, Nutrition and Dietetics, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria; Obizoba, I.C., Department of Home Science, Nutrition and Dietetics, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria | This study explored the nutrient and organoleptic potentials of wheat/ bambara groundnut based cookies. Bambara Groundnut (BG) (Voandeia Subterranean Thouars) and Wheat (W) (Triticum spp.) were purchased from Ogige market in Nsukka, Enugu state, Nigeria. Chemical composition, iron and zinc and phytochemical contents were analyzed using standard techniques. Wheat and bambara groundnut flours were blended in a ratio of 70:30 to provide 10% protein in cookies. The nutrient composition and sensory evaluation of the cookies were conducted. A panel of 38 judges and a 9-point hedonic scale were selected for use. Bambara groundnut complemented Wheat Cookies (BWC) contained 5.4% moisture, 9.85% protein, 19.7% fat and 10.32mg/100g iron which is much more than those of the 100% wheat based cookies. However, 100% wheat based cookies (WC) had six times ash and three times zinc content (1.2% and 23.28mg/100g) than those of the complemented (BWC) cookies. Nutrient composition of 100% wheat cookies (WC) could be improved when Bambara Groundnut (BG) blends it. The bambara groundnut-wheat cookies (BWC) were nutrient dense and culturally acceptable. © Asian Network for Scientific Information, 2013. | Bambara groundnut; Cereal; Cookies; Legume; Nutrient; Organoleptic; Wheat | iron; plant medicinal product; protein; zinc; article; bambara groundnut; bambara groundnut cookie; bambara groundnut wheat cookie; chemical composition; controlled study; cookie; flour; food; legume; moisture; Nigeria; nutrient; organoleptic property; protein content; wheat; wheat cookie; Bambara; Triticum; Triticum aestivum | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84881122818 | Impact of nutritional supplementation on immune response, body mass index and bioelectrical impedance in HIV-positive patients starting antiretroviral therapy | Evans D., McNamara L., Maskew M., Selibas K., Van Amsterdam D., Baines N., Webster T., Sanne I. | 2013 | Nutrition Journal | 12 | 1 | 10.1186/1475-2891-12-111 | Department of Internal Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Right to Care, Johannesburg, South Africa | Evans, D., Department of Internal Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; McNamara, L., Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Maskew, M., Department of Internal Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Selibas, K., Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Van Amsterdam, D., Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Baines, N., Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Webster, T., Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Sanne, I., Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, Right to Care, Johannesburg, South Africa | Background: Challenges to HIV care in resource limited settings (RLS) include malnutrition. Limited evidence supports the benefit of nutritional supplementation when starting antiretroviral therapy (ART) in RLS. Methods. Randomized controlled pilot study. HIV-positive ART-naive adults with self-reported weight loss were randomized to receive ART plus FutureLife porridge® nutritional supplement (NS) (388 kcal/day) or ART alone (Controls) for 6 months. Patients returned for monthly assessments and blood was drawn at enrolment and 6 months on ART. Differences in body composition, biochemical and laboratory parameters were estimated at 6 months on treatment. Results: Of the 36 randomized patients, 26 completed the 6 month follow-up (11 NS vs 15 Controls). At enrolment, groups were similar in terms of age, gender, body mass index (BMI) and bioelectrical impedance. NS patients had a lower median CD4 count (60 cells/mm3 [IQR 12-105 vs 107 cells/mm3 [IQR 63-165]; p = 0.149) and hemoglobin (10.3 g/dL [IQR 9.0-11.3] vs 13.1 g/dL [IQR 11.1-14.7]; p = 0.001).At 6 months, NS patients increased their median CD4 count by 151 cells/mm3 [IQR 120-174) vs 77 cells/mm3 [IQR 33-145] in the Controls. NS patients had higher mean percentage change in body weight (12.7% vs 4.9%; p = 0.047), BMI (7.8% vs 5.5%; p = 0.007), absolute CD4 count (83.0% vs 46.4%, p = 0.002) and hemoglobin (9.5% vs 1.0%; p = 0.026). Patients in the NS arm had a higher mean percentage fat-free mass (16.7% vs -3.5%, p = 0.036), total body water (13.0% vs -1.9%, p = 0.026), intracellular water (16.1% vs -4.1%, p = 0.010) and basal metabolic rate (5.3% vs -0.2%, p = 0.014) compared to Controls. Patients in the NS arm also showed an improvement in physical activity at 6 months post-ART initiation compared to Controls (p = 0.037). Conclusion: Preliminary results are encouraging and suggest that NS taken concurrently with ART can promote weight gain, improve immune response and improve physical activity in HIV-positive patients that present at ART initiation with weight loss. © 2013 Evans et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | Antiretroviral therapy; Human immunodeficiency virus; Nutritional supplement; Treatment outcomes | antiretrovirus agent; hemoglobin; anti human immunodeficiency virus agent; biological marker; adult; article; basal metabolic rate; bioenergy; bloating; body fat; body mass; body weight; CD4 lymphocyte count; clinical article; controlled study; depression; diarrhea; diet supplementation; drug induced disease; drug induced headache; fat free mass; female; fever; flatulence; follow up; highly active antiretroviral therapy; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infected patient; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; immune response; impedance; insomnia; male; nausea; outcome assessment; pain; physical activity; pilot study; randomized controlled trial; rash; total body water; vomiting; blood; body composition; caloric intake; demography; diet therapy; HIV Infections; impedance; motor activity; patient compliance; weight gain; Human immunodeficiency virus; Adult; Anti-HIV Agents; Biological Markers; Body Composition; Body Mass Index; Demography; Dietary Supplements; Electric Impedance; Energy Intake; Female; HIV Infections; Humans; Male; Motor Activity; Patient Compliance; Pilot Projects; Weight Gain | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84947424985 | Impact of teachers’ beliefs on mathematics education | Bayaga A., Wadesango N., Wadesango O.V. | 2015 | Africa Education Review | 12 | 2 | 10.1080/18146627.2015.1108008 | Department of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, University of Zululand, South Africa; Centre of Academic Excellence, University of Limpopo, South Africa; Teaching and Learning Centre, University of Limpopo, South Africa | Bayaga, A., Department of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, University of Zululand, South Africa; Wadesango, N., Centre of Academic Excellence, University of Limpopo, South Africa; Wadesango, O.V., Teaching and Learning Centre, University of Limpopo, South Africa | The objective of the current study was to analyse the impact of teachers’ personal theory and beliefs (PTB) towards Mathematics teaching. A total of 183 respondents were involved in this study, using the stratified random sampling method with Cronbach's alpha of 0.87. Due to the objective of the research and the hypothesis, it was positioned within the positivist paradigm following a survey design, concentrating on Bachelor of Education and Postgraduate Certificate Education students, with a quantitative approach. The instrument of data collection was a structured questionnaire schedule. All selected respondents (using a questionnaire) were students of University of Fort Hare, enrolled in either the Bachelor of Education (BEd) or Postgraduate Certificate of Education (PGCE) programme. Using analysis of variance (ANOVA), the results revealed that there was no significant effect of age and race on learning of Mathematics amongst BEds and PGCEs candidates. © 2015 University of South Africa. | instructional practices; mathematics belief and motivation; mathematics education; motivation theory; south africa raven's standard progressive | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84902662804 | Thermodynamic evaluation of a 42MW gas turbine power plant | Egware H., Obanor A., Itoje H. | 2014 | International Journal of Engineering Research in Africa | 12 | None | 10.4028/www.scientific.net/JERA.12.83 | Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Benin, P.M.B 1154, Benin City, Nigeria | Egware, H., Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Benin, P.M.B 1154, Benin City, Nigeria; Obanor, A., Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Benin, P.M.B 1154, Benin City, Nigeria; Itoje, H., Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Benin, P.M.B 1154, Benin City, Nigeria | Energy and exergy analyses were carried out on an active 42MW open cycle gas turbine power plant. Data from the power plant record book were employed in the investigation. The First and Second Laws of Thermodynamics were applied to each component of the gas power plant at ambient air temperature range of 21 - 33°C. Results obtained from the analyses show that the energy and exergy efficiencies decrease with increase in ambient air temperature entering the compressor. It was also shown that 66.98% of fuel input and 54.53% of chemical exergy are both lost to the environment as heat from the combustion chamber in the energy and exergy analysis respectively. The energy analysis quantified the efficiency of the plant arising from energy losses , while exergy analysis revealed the magnitude of losses in various components of the plant. Therefore a complete thermodynamic evaluation of gas turbine power plants requires the use of both analytical methods. © (2014) Trans Tech Publications, Switzerland. | Energy; Exergy; Performance; Power plant; Turbine | Atmospheric temperature; Combustion chambers; Energy dissipation; Fossil fuel power plants; Gas turbine power plants; Power plants; Thermodynamic stability; Thermodynamics; Turbines; Ambient air temperature; Energy; Energy and exergy analysis; Energy and exergy efficiency; Open cycle gas turbines; Performance; Second laws of thermodynamics; Thermodynamic evaluation; Exergy | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84881153090 | Impact of viral infections on urea and creatinine levels in patients with chronic kidney disease on haemodialysis | Emokpae M.A., Osadolor H.B., Dagogo T., Emokpae L.A. | 2013 | Journal of Medicine and Biomedical Research | 12 | 1 | None | Department of Medical Laboratory Science, School of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medical Sciences, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria; Department of Medicine, Abdullahi Wase Specialist Hospital, Nassarawa, Kano, Nigeria | Emokpae, M.A., Department of Medical Laboratory Science, School of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medical Sciences, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria; Osadolor, H.B., Department of Medical Laboratory Science, School of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medical Sciences, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria; Dagogo, T., Department of Medicine, Abdullahi Wase Specialist Hospital, Nassarawa, Kano, Nigeria; Emokpae, L.A., Department of Medical Laboratory Science, School of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medical Sciences, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria | Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) has emerged as a world-wide public health problem with substantial morbidity and mortality. Chronic viral infection is associated with a higher risk of death in patients with CKD undergoing haemodialysis. Objective: To evaluate the impact of viral infections on urea and creatinine levels in viral infected CKD patients on haemodialysis. Method: Retrospective study of 164 consecutive CKD patients referred to the laboratory for HIV, HBV, HCV, urea, electrolytes and creatinine from the dialysis unit of Abdullahi Wase Specialist Hospital,Kano, Nigeria between January 2006 and December 2008 was done. They consisted of 114 males and 50 females. The studied parameters were evaluated using standard routine methods. Results: Twenty six (15.9%) out of the 164 patients were positive for viral infections. The mean urea level in viral infected CKD patients was higher (47.5±3.9mmol/L vs 40.8±1.7mmol/L; p<0.002) than non-viral infected patients. Similarly, mean creatinine level in the viral infected patients was higher than the non-viral infected counterparts (1096±116 vs 973±28mmol/L; p<0.001). The mean urea level in the HBV infected patients was higher (54.3±4.3mmol/L) than the HIV (42.7±4.9; p<0.05) and HCV (23.4±0.2mmol/L;p<0.001) infected CKD patients. Conclusion: Viral infections strongly impacted on the kidney in CKD and haemodialysis patients, hence exacerbation of disease progression. Treatment and prevention of viral infections should be promoted. | Chronic kidney disease; Haemodialysis; Urea and creatinine; Viral infections | creatinine; urea; adult; article; blood analysis; chronic kidney disease; controlled study; creatinine blood level; disease course; disease exacerbation; ELISA kit; enzyme linked immunosorbent assay; female; hemodialysis; hepatitis B; Hepatitis B virus; hepatitis C; Hepatitis C virus; human; Human immunodeficiency virus; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; immunoaffinity chromatography; laboratory test; major clinical study; male; Nigeria; patient referral; retrospective study; urea blood level | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-34250680924 | Iron deficiency anaemia and evaluation of the utility of iron deficiency indicators among healthy Nigerian children | Jeremiah Z.A., Buseri F.I., Uko E.K. | 2007 | Hematology | 12 | 3 | 10.1080/10245330601111821 | Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt, Nigeria; Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria | Jeremiah, Z.A., Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt, Nigeria; Buseri, F.I., Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt, Nigeria; Uko, E.K., Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria | The hemoglobin (Hb), serum iron (SI), total iron binding capacity (TIBC), transferrin saturation (TS) and serum ferritin (SF) values of 240 apparently healthy children were determined in a prospective cross-sectional study conducted in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Standard colorimetric and enzyme immunoassay procedures were used for the estimation all variables. The mean values of all parameters in this study population were; Hb (11.2 ± 1.83 gldl), TIBC (361.4 ± 245.7 ugldl, logc SI (1.807 ± 0.45), log c SF (1.51 ± 0.47) and TS (29.3 ± 18.5%). There was an age-dependent statistical significant difference in the Hb, TIBC and TS values (P < 0.01). Sex was not found to exert any significant influence on the parameters except TIBC. TS had the highest sensitivity and efficiency values of 48 and 95%, respectively. Positive predictive value (PPV), likelihood ratio (LR+) and post-test probability values were highest with SF (58%, 3.3 and 62.2%, respectively) as a diagnostic indicator. Hb values correlated positively and significantly with TS (P < 0.01), log cSI and log cSF concentrations (P < 0.05). Log cSF also correlated positively and significantly with Hb and TIBC (P < 0.05). The overall prevalence of iron deficiency anaemia among these children was 33.75%. We conclude that there is a high prevalence of iron deficiency anaemia among apparently healthy children under the age of five years in this part of the world and these results may justify the need for the introduction of a broad intervention programme for this highly vulnerable group. This study is also in support of the hypothesis that SF is the best test for diagnosing or excluding iron deficiency anaemia. The combination of SF, Hb and TS determinations may prove more useful in a resource-limited moderate setting. | Anaemia; Iron deficiency; Iron deficiency anaemia; Iron deficiency indicators; Nigeria | biochemical marker; ferritin; hemoglobin; iron; transferrin; age distribution; article; child; childhood disease; colorimetry; controlled study; correlation analysis; enzyme immunoassay; female; ferritin blood level; hemoglobin blood level; human; iron binding capacity; iron blood level; iron deficiency anemia; laboratory diagnosis; major clinical study; male; Nigeria; prevalence; priority journal; probability; prospective study; sensitivity and specificity; sex difference; statistical significance; transferrin blood level; vulnerable population; Age Factors; Anemia, Iron-Deficiency; Biological Markers; Child; Child, Preschool; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Ferritins; Hemoglobins; Humans; Infant; Iron; Male; Prevalence; Prospective Studies; Sex Factors; Transferrin | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84903379081 | Evaluation of serum levels of cadmium and lead in occupationally exposed painters with administration of probiotic (Lactobacillus pentosus KCA 1) supplemented yogurt: A pilot study | Osadolor H.B., Igharo O.G., Okuo O.R., Anukam C.K. | 2013 | Journal of Medicine and Biomedical Research | 12 | 2 | None | Department of Medical Laboratory Science, School of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medical Sciences, University of Benin, P. M. B. 1154, Benin City, Nigeria | Osadolor, H.B., Department of Medical Laboratory Science, School of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medical Sciences, University of Benin, P. M. B. 1154, Benin City, Nigeria; Igharo, O.G., Department of Medical Laboratory Science, School of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medical Sciences, University of Benin, P. M. B. 1154, Benin City, Nigeria; Okuo, O.R., Department of Medical Laboratory Science, School of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medical Sciences, University of Benin, P. M. B. 1154, Benin City, Nigeria; Anukam, C.K., Department of Medical Laboratory Science, School of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medical Sciences, University of Benin, P. M. B. 1154, Benin City, Nigeria | Cadmium and Lead are extremely toxic metals found in industrial workplaces. They are also found in some industrial paints and may represent hazards when sprayed. Exposureto camium fumes may causr flu-like symptoms including chills, fever, and muscle ache sometimes reffered to as "the cadimium blues". Occupational exposure is a common cause of cadmium and lead poisoning in adults. Lactobacillius pentosus KCA1 used in this study is the recently discovered and sequenced lactobacilli of probiotic strain with a potential for detoxification of heavy metals. Probiotic has been defined as live microorganisms which when administered in adequate amounts confer a health benefit on the host. Probiotics are commonly consumed as part of fermented foods with specially added active live cultures; such as in yogurt, soy yogurt, or as dietary supplements. The study was aimed at evaluating the detoxification potential of probiotic Lactobacillius pentosus KCA1 in painters occupationally exposed to cadmium and lead. Serum levels of Lead and Cadmium were determined in thirty professional painters and ten non painters as control using Atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS Model SOLAAR 969 UNICAM series). Probiotic supplemented yogurt was prepared and administered to the occupationally exposed painters (as exposed subjects) and its effect on serum levels on Cadmium and Lead were also determined. The results obtained show that mean± standard error of mean (S.E.M.) of serum levels of Cadmium (0.012±0.01ppm/L) and Lead (0.025±0.003ppm/L) were higher in painters and significantly different compared with values obtained in non painters (controls); (0.005±0.002 ppm/L) and (0.02±0.01 ppm/L) for Cadmium and Lead respectively; (p<0.05). Mean serum level of Lead in the painters after administration of probiotic supplemented yogurt (0.008±0.002 ppm/L) was significantly reduced compared with levels before administration of the yogurt (0.025±0.003ppm/l); (p<0.001). From this study, serum level of Cadmium and Lead were reduced in occupationally exposed painters by probiotics (Lactobacillus pentosus KCA1) which was prepared in form of yogurt. Comparatively, serum Lead levels were more significantly reduced than Cadmium levels in the occupationally exposed painters. © CMS UNIBEN JMBR. | Cadmium; Lactobacillus pentosus KCA1; Lead; Probiotics | cadmium; lead; probiotic agent; yoghurt; adult; article; cadmium blood level; clinical effectiveness; controlled clinical trial; controlled study; detoxification; diet supplementation; evaluation study; heavy metal blood level; human; Lactobacillus pentosus; lead blood level; nonhuman; normal human; occupational exposure; outcome assessment; painter; pilot study; treatment response | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-68949108139 | Evaluation of commercial hiv test kits used in Nigeria | Banwat E.B., Peter J.Y., Egah D.Z. | 2009 | Nigerian Journal of Clinical Practice | 12 | 1 | None | Department of Medical Microbiology, Jos University Teaching Hospital, PMB 2076, Jos Nigeria, Nigeria | Banwat, E.B., Department of Medical Microbiology, Jos University Teaching Hospital, PMB 2076, Jos Nigeria, Nigeria; Peter, J.Y., Department of Medical Microbiology, Jos University Teaching Hospital, PMB 2076, Jos Nigeria, Nigeria; Egah, D.Z., Department of Medical Microbiology, Jos University Teaching Hospital, PMB 2076, Jos Nigeria, Nigeria | Background: Accurate and reliable diagnosis of HIV plays a central role in any effective HIV intervention. We decided to evaluate 4 commercial HIV test kits to determine their reliability for use in developing countries. Methods: Serum samples obtained from clients accessing tertiary health services at the STI clinic, Jos University Teaching Hospital were used to evaluate Sdbioline, Diaspot, Determine and DIALAB Elisa kits. A Western blot was used as the reference kit. Results: DETERMINE kit gave 34 positive and 58 negative reactions and the positive sera were all confirmed by Western blot while DIASPOT kit gave 27 false negative results, which was at variance with the reference kit result. Other kits were SDBIOLINE with 5 false positive and DIALAB Elisa kit, which gave one false positive, and one false negative result. Conclusion: We conclude that Determine, SDbioline and DIALAB Elisa kits are reliable for HIV antibody testing in Nigeria and other developing countries. | HIV; Nigeria; Test kits | article; clinical trial; controlled clinical trial; controlled study; developing country; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; Nigeria; prediction and forecasting; reproducibility; serodiagnosis; AIDS Serodiagnosis; Developing Countries; HIV Infections; Humans; Nigeria; Predictive Value of Tests; Reproducibility of Results | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-36749018732 | Performance of academically at-risk medical students in a problem-based learning programme: A preliminary report | Burch V.C., Sikakana C.N.T., Yeld N., Seggie J.L., Schmidt H.G. | 2007 | Advances in Health Sciences Education | 12 | 3 | 10.1007/s10459-006-9006-6 | Department of Medicine, Groote Schuur Hospital Observatory, University of Cape Town, 7925, Cape Town, South Africa; Division of Medical Biochemistry, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Centre for Higher Education and Development, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Department of Psychology, Erasmus University, Rotterdam, Netherlands | Burch, V.C., Department of Medicine, Groote Schuur Hospital Observatory, University of Cape Town, 7925, Cape Town, South Africa; Sikakana, C.N.T., Division of Medical Biochemistry, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Yeld, N., Centre for Higher Education and Development, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Seggie, J.L., Department of Medicine, Groote Schuur Hospital Observatory, University of Cape Town, 7925, Cape Town, South Africa; Schmidt, H.G., Department of Psychology, Erasmus University, Rotterdam, Netherlands | Racially segregated schooling, a legacy of Apartheid policies, continues to hamper education in South Africa. Students entering university from suboptimal circumstances are at significant risk of demonstrating poor academic performance and dropping out of their programmes. Attempts to address the educational needs of these students have included the introduction of extended medical programmes at several universities. Such a programme, the Academic Development Programme (ADP), was implemented at the University of Cape Town in 1991. Over the past decade the programme has graduated more than 100 students. Upon implementation of a new problem-based learning (PBL) programme in 2002, the ADP was discontinued and all students were entered directly into the new PBL programme. Students who demonstrate a need for additional academic support by the end of the first semester enter the Intervention Programme for 1 year before proceeding to the second semester of the PBL programme. An interim analysis was performed to compare the retention rates and academic performance of academically at-risk students in the new PBL programme and the ADP. The records of all academically at-risk students entering the ADP (1991-2000) and the new PBL programme (2002) were reviewed. Retention rates for all years of study, and academic performance in the fourth year clerkship courses of the respective programmes were compared. A total of 239 academically at-risk students in the ADP and 43 at-risk students in the new PBL programme were studied. The median retention rates, per year of study, for at-risk students in the PBL programme was significantly better than for at-risk students in the ADP (p<0.02). Academic performance of the at-risk students in all the fourth year clinical clerkship courses of the PBL programme was significantly better than the mean performance over 10 years for at-risk students in the same fourth year courses in the ADP. The introduction of PBL at the University of Cape Town has not had a deleterious effect on the performance of academically at-risk medical students. Interim analysis suggests that retention rates and academic performance in the PBL programme are better than those achieved in the extended traditional programme. © 2007 Springer Science+Business Media, Inc. | Academically disadvantaged students; Dropout rates; Problem-based learning; Undergraduate medical training | article; cultural deprivation; education; health care quality; human; medical education; medical student; methodology; Negro; problem based learning; program development; psychological aspect; social psychology; South Africa; standard; statistics; student; teaching; time; African Continental Ancestry Group; Cultural Deprivation; Education, Medical, Undergraduate; Educational Measurement; Humans; Prejudice; Problem-Based Learning; Program Development; Program Evaluation; Remedial Teaching; School Admission Criteria; South Africa; Student Dropouts; Students, Medical; Time | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33845508627 | Memory and perceptuo-motor performance in Nigerians with chronic renal impairment | Ogunrin A.O., Unuigbe E.I., Azubuike C. | 2006 | Medical Science Monitor | 12 | 12 | None | Department of Medicine, University of Benin, Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria; Department of Medicine, University of Benin, PMB 1154, Benin City, Nigeria | Ogunrin, A.O., Department of Medicine, University of Benin, Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria, Department of Medicine, University of Benin, PMB 1154, Benin City, Nigeria; Unuigbe, E.I., Department of Medicine, University of Benin, Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria; Azubuike, C., Department of Medicine, University of Benin, Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria | Background: With the increasing prevalence of chronic renal failure among the indigenous African population, coupled with the emphasis on improvement in the quality of life, there is a need for reports on the cognitive functioning and the effect of the disease on the cognitive performance of affected individuals. Material/Methods: Sixty consecutive non-dialyzed Nigerian patients with clinical and biochemical evidence of chronic renal failure and sixty healthy age-, sex- and education level-matched controls (volunteers) were studied using an automated neuro-psychological test battery (FePsy) to assess their memory and perceptuo-motor skills. Results: The chronic renal failure patients performed worse in both verbal and visual memory than controls (p<0.0001). The patients compared favorably with the controls on concentration ability (p>0.05), but their perceptuo-motor speed was retarded (p<0.001). The levels of creatinine (p<0.01) and urea (p<0.01) and the presence of hypertension (p<0.05), asterixis (p<0.05), exertional dyspnea (p<0.05), and vomiting (p<0.05) affected their memory performance, with creatinine level being the most potent variable (p=0.0015). Conclusions: The results of this study confirm the presence of cognitive impairments in Nigerians with chronic renal impairment and buttress the importance of its aggressive and prompt management. © Med Sci Monit. | Memory; Nigerians; Perceptuo-motor; Renal failure | creatinine; urea; adult; aged; article; chronic kidney failure; controlled study; creatinine blood level; dyspnea; female; flapping tremor; human; hypertension; major clinical study; male; memory; mental concentration; motor performance; neuropsychological test; Nigeria; perception; urea blood level; verbal memory; visual memory; vomiting; Adult; Aged; Case-Control Studies; Female; Humans; Kidney Failure, Chronic; Male; Memory Disorders; Middle Aged; Nigeria; Psychomotor Performance | None |
| None | None | Comparative evaluation of amplicor HIV-1 DNA test, version 1.5, by manual and automated dna extraction methods using venous blood and dried blood spots for HIV-1 DNA pcr testing | Nsojo A., Aboud S., Lyamuya E. | 2010 | Tanzania Journal of Health Research | 12 | 4 | None | Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, P.O. Box 65001, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Nobels väg 18, SE-171 82 Solna, Stockholm, Sweden | Nsojo, A., Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, P.O. Box 65001, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Aboud, S., Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, P.O. Box 65001, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Nobels väg 18, SE-171 82 Solna, Stockholm, Sweden; Lyamuya, E., Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, P.O. Box 65001, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania | Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) DNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test using venous blood sample has been used for many years in low resource settings for early infant diagnosis of HIV infection in children less than 18 months. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the performance characteristics of Amplicor HIV-1 DNA assay version 1.5 following processing of venous blood and dried blood spot (DBS) samples by Roche manual DNA extraction and automated Roche MagNA Pure LC instrument (MP) for HIV-1 DNA PCR testing in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, in order to scale up early infant diagnosis of HIV infection in routine practice. Venous blood samples from children under 18 months born to HIV-infected mothers between January and April 2008 were collected. Venous blood was used to prepare cell pellet and DBS samples. DNA extractions by manual procedure and MP were performed each on cell pellet, venous blood and DBS samples and tested by Amplicor HIV-1 DNA assay. Of 325 samples included, 60 (18.5%) were confirmed HIV-infected by manual extraction performed on cell pellets. Sensitivity of the assay following MP processing of venous blood was 95% (95% CI; 86.1-99.0%) and 98.3% (95% CI; 91.1 to 99.9%) for the manual extraction and processing by MP performed on DBS samples. Specificity of the assay with all DNA extraction methods was 99.6% (95% CI; 97.9 to 100%). Performance of the assay with Roche manual extraction and processing by MP on DBS samples compared well with Roche manual extraction performed on cell pellet samples. The choice of DNA extraction method needs to be individualized based on the level of laboratory facility, volume of testing and cost benefit analysis before it is adopted for use. | Dna extraction; Dried blood spot; Human immunodeficiency virus; Polymerase chain reaction; Venous blood | article; blood sampling; controlled study; DNA extraction; dried blood spot; early diagnosis; HIV test; human; Human immunodeficiency virus 1 infection; infant; polymerase chain reaction; predictive value; sensitivity and specificity; Tanzania; venous blood | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-40549098988 | Evaluation of the performance of HIV1 & 2 one-step self-test kit for detection of HIV infection in whole human blood, serum or plasma samples | Ya'aba Y., Mohammed S.B., Oladepo D.K., Odama L.E., Ibrahim K., Izebe K.S., Abdulrahim M.E., Isu N.R., Onoja A.J., Matur M.B., Balogun O.O., Usoroh M., Inyang U.S. | 2007 | Journal of Phytomedicine and Therapeutics | 12 | None | None | Department of Microbiology, Human Virology and Biotechnology, National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), Idu-Abuja, Nigeria; Department of Biological Sciences, University of Abuja, Nigeria; African Health Project, Abuja, Niger | Ya'aba, Y., Department of Microbiology, Human Virology and Biotechnology, National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), Idu-Abuja, Nigeria; Mohammed, S.B., Department of Microbiology, Human Virology and Biotechnology, National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), Idu-Abuja, Nigeria; Oladepo, D.K., Department of Microbiology, Human Virology and Biotechnology, National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), Idu-Abuja, Nigeria; Odama, L.E., Department of Microbiology, Human Virology and Biotechnology, National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), Idu-Abuja, Nigeria; Ibrahim, K., Department of Microbiology, Human Virology and Biotechnology, National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), Idu-Abuja, Nigeria; Izebe, K.S., Department of Microbiology, Human Virology and Biotechnology, National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), Idu-Abuja, Nigeria; Abdulrahim, M.E., Department of Microbiology, Human Virology and Biotechnology, National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), Idu-Abuja, Nigeria; Isu, N.R., Department of Biological Sciences, University of Abuja, Nigeria; Onoja, A.J., African Health Project, Abuja, Nigeria; Matur, M.B., Department of Biological Sciences, University of Abuja, Nigeria; Balogun, O.O., HIV Vaccine Trial Unit, Asokoro District Hospital, Abuja, Nigeria; Usoroh, M., Department of Microbiology, Human Virology and Biotechnology, National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), Idu-Abuja, Nigeria; Inyang, U.S., Department of Microbiology, Human Virology and Biotechnology, National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), Idu-Abuja, Nigeria | Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) is cause by Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). It is an enveloped RNA virus belonging to the family of retroviruses responsible for destroying the human immune defence system. HIV antibody testing is critical for the diagnosis and counselling of HIV-infected persons, monitoring of trends in HIV prevalence, and evaluation of the effectiveness of HIV prevention programmes. Serological tests to detect antibodies to HIV became available in 1985, and since then more kits for this test are still being produced. A total of 500 positive and 500 negative samples were screened for HIV antibodies using Genie II HIV 1 & 2(BIO-RAD; 3, Boulevard Raymond Poincare 92430 MARNES LA COQUETTE- FRANCE) and SeroCard™ HIV 1 & 2 Rapid (Trinity Biotech PLC; IDA Business Park Bray Co. Wicklow Ireland.) and were further confirmed using New Lav Blot 1 western blot kit (BIO-RAD; 3, Boulevard Raymond Poincare 92430 MARNES LA COQUETTE- FRANCE). These samples were screened using the HIV1 & 2 one-step self-test kit (Bremancos Diagnostics Inc. BDI with lot Number 0141503) to evaluate its performance. Whole blood, serum or plasma was used for the evaluation. Sensitivity of 99.2% and specificity of 99.8% were observed from the three sets of tests conducted while positive predictive value (PPV) of 0.99 and negative predictive value (NPV) of 0.99 each were calculated. The HIV 1 & 2 one-step-self test kit compared well with Genie II HIV1 & 2 kit and western blot kit for detecting HIV antibodies in patient's samples. Whole blood, plasma or serum can be used for the screening and easy for self test. | AIDS; Genie II HIV1 &2; HIV; HIV1 & 2 one-step-self test; New Lav blot 1; SeroCard™ HIV 1&2 rapid | Human immunodeficiency virus antibody; article; blood analysis; controlled study; counseling; diagnostic kit; diagnostic procedure; human; Human immunodeficiency virus 1; Human immunodeficiency virus infected patient; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; nonhuman; plasma; self evaluation; sensitivity and specificity; serology; serum; Western blotting | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-67049158407 | The impact of blood glucose and cholesterol levels on the manifestation of psychiatric disorders | Owiredu W.K.B.A., Appiah-Poku J., Adusei-Poku F., Amidu N., Osei Y. | 2009 | Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences | 12 | 3 | 10.3923/pjbs.2009.252.257 | Department of Molecular Medicine; Department of Behavioural Sciences, School of Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Kumasi, Ghana | Owiredu, W.K.B.A., Department of Molecular Medicine, Department of Behavioural Sciences, School of Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Kumasi, Ghana; Appiah-Poku, J., Department of Molecular Medicine, Department of Behavioural Sciences, School of Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Kumasi, Ghana; Adusei-Poku, F., Department of Molecular Medicine; Amidu, N., Department of Molecular Medicine; Osei, Y., Department of Molecular Medicine, Department of Behavioural Sciences, School of Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Kumasi, Ghana | This study examined possible association of fasting glucose and lipid abnormalities in psychiatric patients on conventional antipsychotic medications. A total of 305 subjects were used for the study, comprising 203 clinically diagnosed psychiatric patients and 102 non-psychiatric subjects used as control at the psychiatric clinic at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH). Questionnaires were administered, blood pressure and anthropometric measurements undertaken. Fasting blood samples were taken for glucose and total cholesterol. The patients included those treated with conventional antipsychotic agents. It was noted, that there were higher rates of diabetes (22.17%) and lipid abnormalities (42.43%) with lower rate of hypertension (5.91%) and obesity (5.91%) across the sample as compared to control. This finding suggests that the high prevalence of diabetes and lipid abnormalities, in a young, psychiatrically ill population makes the case for aggressive screening. © 2009 Asian Network for Scientific Information. | Diabetes; Hypercholesterolemia; Obesity; Psychiatric disorder; Risk factors | cholesterol; adolescent; adult; anthropometry; article; blood; child; comorbidity; female; Ghana; glucose blood level; human; male; mental disease; metabolism; middle aged; pathophysiology; risk factor; Adolescent; Adult; Anthropometry; Blood Glucose; Child; Cholesterol; Comorbidity; Female; Ghana; Humans; Male; Mental Disorders; Middle Aged; Risk Factors; Young Adult | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-72849142428 | Obstetric performance recall accuracy (opera) among a low literacy population in Southeast Nigeria | Umeora O.U.J., Egwuatu V.E. | 2009 | Nigerian Journal of Clinical Practice | 12 | 4 | None | Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, St. Vincent's Hospital, Ndubia-Igbeagu, Ebonyi State, Nigeria; Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria | Umeora, O.U.J., Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, St. Vincent's Hospital, Ndubia-Igbeagu, Ebonyi State, Nigeria; Egwuatu, V.E., Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria | Context: Accurate obstetric history is of utmost importance in prenatal care to ensure optimal maternal and fetal outcomes. Aims and Objectives:To determine the accuracy of recalled obstetric history among rural Igbo women of Southeast Nigeria. Study design:Primiparous and multiparous women, who accessed antenatal care in a rural Mission Hospital over a two-year period, had their past obstetric histories recorded in a pro forma by trained research assistants. The information so obtained was compared with the previous obstetric data documented in the patients' hospital case files to evaluate their correctness. Univariate analysis was performed for statistical evaluation using the epi info package version 3.3.2 of 2005. Results:Two hundred and thirty-five antenatal clinic attendees aged between 18 and 41 years were recruited for the study. Low literacy level is prevalent in rural communities of Southeast Nigeria. The ability of the women to accurately recall past obstetric events, including major pregnancy risk factors, was considerably limited. The recall accuracy for details of the immediate past pregnancy was 43.6% and 41.3% for the penultimate pregnancy. Patient's educational attainment, but not her age or parity, had significant influence on the recall ability. Conclusion:The introduction of the Obstetric performance card for use in the busy antenatal clinics in low literacy rural communities of the developing countries such as Nigeria, will corroborate the information obtained from patients and greatly enhance the management and positive outcomes of the index pregnancy. | Accuracy; History; Low literacy; Outcome; Prenatal; Recall | adolescent; adult; age distribution; anamnesis; article; delivery; educational status; female; health service; human; information processing; labor complication; Nigeria; pregnancy; pregnancy complication; prenatal care; prospective study; recall; rural population; standard; statistics; Adolescent; Adult; Age Distribution; Data Collection; Delivery, Obstetric; Educational Status; Female; Humans; Maternal Health Services; Medical History Taking; Mental Recall; Nigeria; Obstetric Labor Complications; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications; Prenatal Care; Prospective Studies; Rural Population; Young Adult | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84869862213 | The impact of central corneal thickness on intraocular pressure among Ethiopian glaucoma patients: A cross-sectional study | Gelaw Y. | 2012 | BMC Ophthalmology | 12 | 1 | 10.1186/1471-2415-12-58 | Department of Ophthalmology, College of Public Health and Medical Sciences, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia | Gelaw, Y., Department of Ophthalmology, College of Public Health and Medical Sciences, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia | Background: Raised intraocular pressure (IOP) is the only causal risk factor for glaucoma that can be therapeutically manipulated to change the course of the disease process. Though Goldman applanation tonometry (GAT) is the "gold standard" for IOP measurement, readings of IOP with GAT are affected by central corneal thickness (CCT). The aim of this study is to determine the impact of CCT on IOP among Ethiopian glaucoma patients. Methods. It was a multicenter cross-sectional study and all glaucoma patients visiting their respective eye clinic during the study period were included. A total of 199 randomly selected glaucomatous eyes from 199 patients aged 18 years and above were employed. The CCT was measured by OcuScan™ RxP Ophthalmic Ultrasound and IOP was measured with Goldmann applanation tonometer. Linear regression and bivariate correlation analysis were carried out and level of significance was taken at 5%. Results: The mean IOP was 19.46(±7.05) mmHg and mean CCT was 508.07(±33.26) μm. The mean IOP for primary open angle glaucoma (POAG), ocular hypertension (OHT), normal tension glaucoma (NTG), pseudoexfoliative glaucoma (PXG) and primary chronic angle closure glaucoma (PCAG) patients was 19.22 mmHg, 21.39 mmHg, 14.33 mmHg, 33.25 mmHg and 14.75 mmHg respectively. The mean CCT values were 502.24 μm (POAG), 524.32 μm (OHT), 500.75 μm (NTG), 579.00 μm (PXG) and 530.25 μm (PCAG). Age of the patient and glaucoma surgery had an influence on corneal thickness. A positive relationship was found between CCT and IOP (p < 0.001). Conclusions: The mean CCT of Ethiopian glaucoma patients is thin in comparison to other ethnic groups and patients with OHT have thicker corneas than POAG patients. Hence determination of CCT for each patient is necessary in the up-to-date glaucoma management. © 2012 Gelaw; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | Central corneal thickness; Glaucoma; Intraocular pressure; Pachymeter | adolescent; adult; aged; article; comparative study; cornea; cross-sectional study; echography; Ethiopia; female; glaucoma; human; incidence; intraocular pressure; male; middle aged; multicenter study; oculoplethysmography; pathophysiology; physiology; retrospective study; risk factor; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Cornea; Cross-Sectional Studies; Ethiopia; Female; Glaucoma; Humans; Incidence; Intraocular Pressure; Male; Middle Aged; Retrospective Studies; Risk Factors; Tonometry, Ocular; Young Adult | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-40549111622 | Evaluation of the controlled release potential of Adansonia digitata mucilage: A super gel forming polymer | Builders P.F., Okeke U., Egieye A.S. | 2007 | Journal of Phytomedicine and Therapeutics | 12 | None | None | Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Abuja, Nigeria | Builders, P.F., Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Abuja, Nigeria; Okeke, U., Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Abuja, Nigeria; Egieye, A.S., Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Abuja, Nigeria | The suitability of A. digitata mucilage (ADM) as an excipient in the formulation of matrix tablets, the mechanism and kinetics of drug delivery were studied. Aminophyline was the prototype drug while these properties were compared to those of HPMC and Cp. ADM was used at concentration levels of 10, 15 and 30% of the tablet weight while HPMC and Cp were used at 30% concentration. The tablet friability, attrition and dissolution characteristics were evaluated. All the tablets formulated showed good physical properties. The ADM matrix tablets showed similar drug release and attrition pattern to those of Cp in both SIF and SGF. Generally the drug release retardation efficiency of the ADM tablets at equal polymer concentration was higher than those of Cp but less than that of HPMC in both SGF and SIF. The mechanism of release of aminophyline from ADM as in Cp and HPMC was by diffusion. | Adansonia digitata mucilage; Carbopol; Hydroxymethylpropylcellulose; Matrix tablets | Adansonia digitata extract; hydroxypropylmethylcellulose; polymer; Adansonia; article; concentration (parameters); controlled release formulation; dissolution; drug delivery system; drug formulation; drug release; gel; nonhuman; tablet | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33846474913 | The impact of working with trauma - Risk and resilience factors among health care providers | Frank S. | 2006 | South African Journal of Psychiatry | 12 | 4 | None | Department of Social Work, Wentworth Hospital, Durban, South Africa | Frank, S., Department of Social Work, Wentworth Hospital, Durban, South Africa | Introduction. Health workers experience high levels of stress which may be due to aspects of the organisation, work roles, work demands, etc. Professionals who listen to patients' fear, pain, suffering and narratives of trauma may feel similiar pain, fear and suffering through a process of counter-transference or vicarious traumatisation. Symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may subsequently arise, including reexperiencing, avoiding and hyperarousal symptoms. This study aimed to explore whether health workers experienced any symptoms of PTSD, and their risk and resilience factors. Methods. A qualitative, explorative study was undertaken. A total sample of 6 health workers completed self-reported questionnaires and 2 additional staff were interviewed in face-to-face sessions, at Wentworth Hospital Hospital, Durban, South Africa. Results. All but 1 of the health workers did not report symptoms of PTSD or significant distress in social, occupational or other areas of functioning. Post-traumatic stress responses were reported by a few health workers. Health workers further described positive coping strategies in their work with trauma. Conclusion. The varied responses of health workers may be affected by their internal factors (allostatic load), resilience and personal trauma experiences. Reports of PTSD symptoms were minimal and may be indicative of good coping abilities among health workers in this study, or denial of the effects of trauma. These factors require further exploration in future studies with larger sample sizes. However, health institutions need to adopt proactive approaches to improve staff wellness, thereby increasing productivity and decreasing absenteeism. | None | absenteeism; adult; age; article; avoidance behavior; burnout; coping behavior; defense mechanism; denial; educational status; emotional stress; employment status; female; gender; health care facility; health care personnel; health hazard; human; human experiment; irritability; job stress; morality; normal human; occupational disease; patient care; personal experience; pilot study; posttraumatic stress disorder; qualitative research; risk factor; social stress | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-40549137447 | Pharmacognostic evaluation of the leaves of Sida acuta Burm.F. (Malvaceae) | Oboh I.E., Onwukaeme D.N. | 2007 | Journal of Phytomedicine and Therapeutics | 12 | None | None | Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy University of Benin, PMB 1154, Benin City, Nigeria | Oboh, I.E., Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy University of Benin, PMB 1154, Benin City, Nigeria; Onwukaeme, D.N., Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy University of Benin, PMB 1154, Benin City, Nigeria | Sida acuta Burm F. (Malvaceae) is an erect, branched small perennial herb or small shrub growing abundantly in Nigeria. In the Southern part ofNigeria, the plant is used to hasten delivery. In Nicaragua, the decoction of the entire plant is taken orally for asthma, fever, aches and pains, ulcers and for venereal diseases. The Pharmacognostic profiles such as phytochemical, macroscopical, microscopical, chemomicroscopical, and quantitative evaluations were carried out on the powdered leaves and anatomical sections of the fresh plant. The phytochemical analysis of Sida acuta powdered leaves revealed the presence of cardiac and saponin glycosides, flavonoids and alkaloids. The leaves are simple and alternate in arrangement, green in colour, and pubescent. Each leaf is shortly petiolate possessing a lanceolate lamina with a serrated margin and an acute apex. The powdered drug was subjected to microscopical examination. The stomata are anisocytic, epidermal cells are wavy, numerous unicellular non-glandular trichomes are present, and there are prismatic crystals of calcium oxalate, fragments of lignified fibres and simple starch grains. Chemomicroscopical tests on the powder showed the presence of lignin, starch, calcium oxalate and mucilage. This investigation also reports the palisade ratio (10.00-11.80-15.0 ± 0.49), the stomata number (9.00-1120-31.00 ± 2.14) for the lower epidermis and 3.00-7.10-12.00 ± 0.94) for the upper epidermis, the stomata index (18.37-31.00-32.00 ± 2.88 for the lower epidermis and 8.00-15.80-23.01 ± 1.90 for the upper epidermis), the vein islet number (36.00-38.10-42.00 ± 1.10 ), the vein termination number (14.00-19.10)-24.00 ± 1.03 ), the total ash values (8.63 ± 0.07 % w/w ), the acid insoluble ash values (0.65 ± 0.06 % w/w ),the moisture content (9.47 ± 0.18 % w/w),the water soluble extractive values (2.93 ± 0.46 % w/w) and the alcohol soluble extractive value (1.35 ± 0.08 % w/w ) for the leaves of Sida acuta. This study thus provides a monograph on the plant for its proper identification and detection of adulteration/ substitution. | Pharmacognostic profile; Sida acuta leaves | alkaloid; calcium oxalate; flavonoid; glycoside; lignin; saponin; Sida acuta extract; starch; unclassified drug; angiosperm; article; controlled study; drug mechanism; drug structure; epidermis cell; microscopy; mucilage; nonhuman; plant; plant cell; plant leaf; plant stoma; powder; Sida acuta | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-68149156899 | Evaluation of in vivo antimalarial activities of ethanolic leaf and seed extracts of telfairia occidentalis | Okokon J.E., Ekpo A.J., Eseyin O.A. | 2009 | Journal of Medicinal Food | 12 | 3 | 10.1089/jmf.2008.0099 | Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Uyo, Uyo, Nigeria; Department of Biochemistry, College of Health Sciences, University of Uyo, Uyo, Nigeria; Department of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Phar | Okokon, J.E., Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Uyo, Uyo, Nigeria; Ekpo, A.J., Department of Biochemistry, College of Health Sciences, University of Uyo, Uyo, Nigeria; Eseyin, O.A., Department of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Uyo, Uyo, Nigeria | The leaves and seeds of Telfairia occidentalis are used as vegetables in making soups in Southern Nigeria. In this study, we investigated the antimalarial activity of leaf and seed extracts in vivo in mice infected with Plasmodium berghei berghei during early and established infections. T. occidentalis leaf extract (250-750mg/kg/day) exhibited antiplasmodial activity both in the 4-day early infection test and in established infection with a marked increase of the mean survival time, which, however, remained lower than that achieved with the standard drug, chloroquine (5mg/kg/day). The seed extract (450-1,350mg/kg/day) also demonstrated a promising blood schizontocidal activity in early and established infections. This plant possesses significant antiplasmodial activities, which may be exploited in the control of malaria. © Copyright 2009, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. and Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition. | Antimalarial activity; Antiplasmodial activity; Telfairia occidentalis | chloroquine; plant extract; Telfairia occidentalis extract; unclassified drug; animal experiment; animal model; antimalarial activity; article; controlled study; female; malaria; malaria control; male; medicinal plant; mouse; nonhuman; plant leaf; plant seed; Plasmodium berghei; priority journal; Telfairia occidentalis; Animals; Antimalarials; Chloroquine; Cucurbitaceae; Female; Malaria; Male; Mice; Nigeria; Phytotherapy; Plant Extracts; Plant Leaves; Plasmodium berghei; Seeds; Mus; Plasmodium berghei; Telfairia occidentalis | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-40549140122 | Evaluation of anti-diarrhoeal properties of methanolic Root extract of Piliostigma reticulatum in rats | Salawu O.A., Tijani A.Y., Obidike I.C., Chindo B.A. | 2007 | Journal of Phytomedicine and Therapeutics | 12 | None | None | Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), Idu Industrial Area, P.M.B. 21, Garki, Abuja, Nigeria | Salawu, O.A., Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), Idu Industrial Area, P.M.B. 21, Garki, Abuja, Nigeria; Tijani, A.Y., Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), Idu Industrial Area, P.M.B. 21, Garki, Abuja, Nigeria; Obidike, I.C., Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), Idu Industrial Area, P.M.B. 21, Garki, Abuja, Nigeria; Chindo, B.A., Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), Idu Industrial Area, P.M.B. 21, Garki, Abuja, Nigeria | Piliostigma reticulatum (DC) Hoechst (Leguminosae) is an evergreen shrub reputed to possess a number of medicinal properties. The methanolic extract of Piliostigma reticulatum root (Leguminosae) was evaluated for anti-diarrhoeal activity in rats using castor oil-induced diarrhoea and fluid accumulation and activated charcoal test models. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of tannins, glycosides, saponins, sterols, alkaloid and balsam. The extract (at doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg) and atropine (3 mg/kg) significantly inhibited castor oil-induced diarrhoea (53.5 72.1%) and fluid accumulation (35.17 71.03%) and small intestinal transit (9.38 21.74%) in the rats. The results obtained in this study revealed that the extract has remarkable anti-diarrhoeal effect, which may be due to the presence of the tannins, alkaloids and saponins constituents and can thus be used in the treatment of non-specific diarrhoea. | Anti-diarrhoeal activity; Gastrointestinal tract; Piliostigma reticulatum; Rat | alkaloid; antidiarrheal agent; atropine; balsam; castor oil; glycoside; methanol; Piliostigma reticulatum extract; plant extract; saponin; sterol; tannin derivative; unclassified drug; animal experiment; animal model; article; controlled study; diarrhea; drug mechanism; drug screening; drug structure; female; gastrointestinal transit; male; nonhuman; Piliostigma reticulatum; plant; rat | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84928322739 | In silico mechanistic disposition and in vivo evaluation of zero-order drug release from a novel triple-layered tablet matrix | Moodley K., Choonara Y.E., Kumar P., Du Toit L.C., Pillay V. | 2015 | Expert Opinion on Drug Delivery | 12 | 5 | 10.1517/17425247.2015.989208 | Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, School of Therapeutic Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, 7 York Road, Johannesburg, Parktown, South Africa | Moodley, K., Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, School of Therapeutic Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, 7 York Road, Johannesburg, Parktown, South Africa; Choonara, Y.E., Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, School of Therapeutic Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, 7 York Road, Johannesburg, Parktown, South Africa; Kumar, P., Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, School of Therapeutic Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, 7 York Road, Johannesburg, Parktown, South Africa; Du Toit, L.C., Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, School of Therapeutic Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, 7 York Road, Johannesburg, Parktown, South Africa; Pillay, V., Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, School of Therapeutic Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, 7 York Road, Johannesburg, Parktown, South Africa | Objectives: The purpose of this study was to formulate novel triple-layered tablet (TLT) matrices employing modified polyamide 6,10 (mPA6,10) and salted-out poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (s-PLGA) in an attempt to achieve stratified zero-order drug release.Methods: mPA6,10 and s-PLGA were employed as the outer drug-carrier matrices, whereas poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) was used as the middle-layer drug matrix. Diphenhydramine HCl, ranitidine HCl and promethazine were selected as model drugs to pre-optimize the TLT, whereas atenolol, acetylsalicylic acid and simvastatin were employed as a comparable fixed dose combination to test the TLT prototype in vitro and in vivo (Large White Pig model). A total of 17 formulations that varied in terms of polymer stoichiometry, salt addition and polymer-polymer ratios were generated using a Box-Behnken experimental design.Results: The in vitro drug release analysis revealed that release from the mPA6,10 layer was relatively linear with a burst release, which upon addition of sodium sulfate was reduced. Furthermore, formulations with higher quantities of mPA6,10 provided more controlled zero-order drug release and increased the matrix hardness. The addition of PEO to the s-PLGA layer significantly reduced the initial burst release that occurred when s-PLGA was used alone.Conclusions: The formulation with a lower s-PLGA:PEO ratio displayed superior zero-order release. Relatively, linear drug release was achieved from the middle-layer. The in vivo results proved the applicability of optimized TLT formulation in a therapeutic cardiovascular drug treatment regimen. © 2015 Informa UK, Ltd. | Cardiovascular therapeutic regimen; in vivo drug release behavior; Large White Pig Model; Modified polyamide 6,10; Stratified zero-order drug release; Triple-layered sold matrices | acetylsalicylic acid; atenolol; diphenhydramine; drug carrier; macrogol; polyamide; polyglactin; promethazine; ranitidine; simvastatin; sodium sulfate; delayed release formulation; lactic acid; macrogol derivative; nylon; nylon 6-10; polyglycolic acid; polylactic acid-polyglycolic acid copolymer; polymer; tablet; animal experiment; Article; chemical structure; computer model; controlled study; differential scanning calorimetry; drug blood level; drug disposition; drug release; drug solubility; drug stability; gastrointestinal transit; in vitro study; in vivo study; molecular mechanics; molecular model; nonhuman; nuclear magnetic resonance imaging; porcine model; tablet disintegration; tablet formulation; tablet hardness; tablet matrix; triple layered tablet matrix; chemistry; computer simulation; delayed release formulation; drug delivery system; drug release; medicinal chemistry; procedures; tablet; Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; Computer Simulation; Delayed-Action Preparations; Drug Carriers; Drug Delivery Systems; Drug Liberation; Lactic Acid; Nylons; Polyethylene Glycols; Polyglycolic Acid; Polymers; Tablets | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84859531135 | Standard sports facilities as predictor for elite sports performance by Nigerian university students | Jeroh J.E. | 2012 | Journal of Physical Education and Sport | 12 | 1 | None | Department of Physical and Health Education, Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria | Jeroh, J.E., Department of Physical and Health Education, Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria | The study examined standard sports facilities as predictors for elite sports performance by Nigerian university students. Participants made up of 153 sports officials and 270 students were drawn from nine universities in Southern Nigeria. A validated self-structured 15-item questionnaire with a test-retest reliability co-efficient of 0.09 was the instrument used for data collection. Frequency counts, simple percentages and chi-square (X2) were the descriptive and inferential statistics used to analyze the data obtained at 0.05 level of significance. The computed chi-square value of 30.68 is more than the table value of 7.82 suggesting that availability of standard sport facilities would play a dominant role in elite sports performance by Nigerian university students. It was recommended among others that new generation federal and state-owned universities be encouraged to host NUGA games so as to benefit from facility development opportunities that NUGA games offer host institutions. © JPES. | Elite performance; Interplay; Physical infrastructure; Tax moratorium | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-68949125199 | Evaluation of serum uric acid levels in normal pregnant nigerian women | Nwagha U.I., Ejezie F.E., Iyare E.E. | 2009 | Nigerian Journal of Clinical Practice | 12 | 1 | None | Department of Physiology/ Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Nigeria; Department of Physiology, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Nigeria; Department of Medical Biochemistry, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Nigeria | Nwagha, U.I., Department of Physiology/ Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Nigeria; Ejezie, F.E., Department of Physiology, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Nigeria; Iyare, E.E., Department of Medical Biochemistry, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Nigeria | Background: Hypertensive disorders in pregnancy are common in our environment. The aetiology is unknown and the prognostic indicators of the severity of maternal and fetal complications are variable. The level of uric acid, which is one of the prognostic indicators, is altered in normal pregnancy and as pregnancy advances. Base line values are thus extremely important to enable reasonable prognostic assessment in hypertensive pregnancies. Objectives: To determine levels of serum uric acid during normal pregnancy in University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) Enugu. Study design: settings and methods: Sixty- five pregnant and 65 non-pregnant women with age range 20-38 years were recruited. The pregnant women were in their second and third trimesters, attending antenatal clinic at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Enugu. Serum levels of uric acid were determined for the entire subjects. Results: The serum uric acid levels were significantly lower in the pregnant women than in controls (P< 0.001). 0.15+ 0.03mmol/L in the second trimester, 0.14 +0.02 mmol/L in the third trimester and 0.29 + 0.04 mmol/L for control. Conclusion: The low levels in pregnancy and as pregnancy progresses should be taken into consideration when monitoring hypertensive disorders in pregnancy using serum uric acid. Thus levels that are within normal for non pregnant population may indeed be an indication for intervention in pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia. | Hypertension; Pregnancy; Uric acid | uric acid; adult; article; blood; case control study; cross-sectional study; female; human; Nigeria; pregnancy; reference value; Adult; Case-Control Studies; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Humans; Nigeria; Pregnancy; Reference Values; Uric Acid; Young Adult | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84875177415 | Evaluation of the neighborhood environment walkability scale in Nigeria | Oyeyemi A.L., Sallis J.F., Deforche B., Oyeyemi A.Y., De Bourdeaudhuij I., Van Dyck D. | 2013 | International Journal of Health Geographics | 12 | None | 10.1186/1476-072X-12-16 | Department of Physiotherapy, College of Medical Sciences, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Nigeria; Department of Movement and Sports Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium; Department of Family and Preventi | Oyeyemi, A.L., Department of Physiotherapy, College of Medical Sciences, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Nigeria; Sallis, J.F., Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, University of California, San Diego, United States; Deforche, B., Department of Movement and Sports Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium, Department of Biometry and Biomechanics, Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussels, Brussels, Belgium; Oyeyemi, A.Y., Department of Physiotherapy, College of Medical Sciences, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Nigeria; De Bourdeaudhuij, I., Department of Movement and Sports Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium; Van Dyck, D., Department of Movement and Sports Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium, Research Foundation Flanders, Brussels, Belgium | Background: The development of reliable and culturally sensitive measures of attributes of the built and social environment is necessary for accurate analysis of environmental correlates of physical activity in low-income countries, that can inform international evidence-based policies and interventions in the worldwide prevention of physical inactivity epidemics. This study systematically adapted the Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale (NEWS) for Nigeria and evaluated aspects of reliability and validity of the adapted version among Nigerian adults.Methods: The adaptation of the NEWS was conducted by African and international experts, and final items were selected for NEWS-Nigeria after a cross-validation of the confirmatory factor analysis structure of the original NEWS. Participants (N = 386; female = 47.2%) from two cities in Nigeria completed the adapted NEWS surveys regarding perceived residential density, land use mix - diversity, land use mix - access, street connectivity, infrastructure and safety for walking and cycling, aesthetics, traffic safety, and safety from crime. Self-reported activity for leisure, walking for different purposes, and overall physical activity were assessed with the validated International Physical Activity Questionnaire (long version).Results: The adapted NEWS subscales had moderate to high test-retest reliability (ICC range 0.59 -0.91). Construct validity was good, with residents of high-walkable neighborhoods reporting significantly higher residential density, more land use mix diversity, higher street connectivity, more traffic safety and more safety from crime, but lower infrastructure and safety for walking/cycling and aesthetics than residents of low-walkable neighborhoods. Concurrent validity correlations were low to moderate (r = 0.10 -0.31) with residential density, land use mix diversity, and traffic safety significantly associated with most physical activity outcomes.Conclusions: The NEWS-Nigeria demonstrated acceptable measurement properties among Nigerian adults and may be useful for evaluation of the built environment in Nigeria. Further adaptation and evaluation in other African countries is needed to create a version that could be used throughout the African region. © 2013 Oyeyemi et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | Africa; Built environment; Measurements; Physical activity; Psychometric | developing world; esthetics; land use; low income population; neighborhood; physical activity; psychology; walking; Nigeria; adult; article; demography; environmental planning; evaluation; evidence based medicine; female; human; male; methodology; middle aged; motor activity; Nigeria; physiology; psychological aspect; standard; statistics; walking; Adult; Environment Design; Evidence-Based Medicine; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Motor Activity; Nigeria; Residence Characteristics; Walking | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84925220167 | Simplified negative pressure wound therapy: Clinical evaluation of an ultraportable, no-canister system | Hudson D.A., Adams K.G., Van Huyssteen A., Martin R., Huddleston E.M. | 2015 | International Wound Journal | 12 | 2 | 10.1111/iwj.12080 | Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Groote Schuur Hospital and University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Orthopaedic Hip and Knee Surgery, Panorama Medi-Clinic, Cape Town, South Africa; Advanced Wound Management Division, Smith and Nephew Medical Ltd, Hull, United Kingdom | Hudson, D.A., Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Groote Schuur Hospital and University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Adams, K.G., Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Groote Schuur Hospital and University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Van Huyssteen, A., Orthopaedic Hip and Knee Surgery, Panorama Medi-Clinic, Cape Town, South Africa; Martin, R., Advanced Wound Management Division, Smith and Nephew Medical Ltd, Hull, United Kingdom; Huddleston, E.M., Advanced Wound Management Division, Smith and Nephew Medical Ltd, Hull, United Kingdom | The aim of this study was to evaluate a prototype negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) system that has been developed to simplify NPWT for wounds at the lower end of the acuity scale. The new device has a single preset pressure of -80mmHg, is single use and operates without an exudate canister. The disposable NPWT system (PICO™) was tested in a prospective, non-comparative, multicentre clinical trial to assess device functionality and clinical acceptance. Twenty patients were recruited for a maximum treatment period of 14days. The NPWT devices were fitted with data log chips to enable longitudinal assessment of negative pressure and leak rates during therapy. Sixteen (80%) patients had closed surgical wounds, two (10%) patients had traumatic wounds and two (10%) patients received meshed split thickness skin grafts. The mean study duration was 10·7days (range: 5-14days) and the mean dressing wear time per individual patient was 4·6days (range: 2-11). Fifty-five percent of wounds had closed by the end of the 14-day study or earlier, with a further 40% of wounds progressing to closure. Real-time pressure monitoring showed continuous delivery of NPWT. Three cases are discussed representing different wound locations and different patient factors that can increase the risk of post-surgical complications. Clinical studies of the disposable NPWT system confirmed the ability of the simplified single-use device to function consistently over the expected wear time. The anticipated reduced costs, ease of use and increased mobility of patients using this system may enable NPWT benefits to be available to a greater proportion of patients. © 2013 The Authors. | Closed surgical incision; Negative pressure wound therapy; Portable; Postoperative care; Wound healing | adult; aged; Article; clinical article; clinical evaluation; clinical study; clinical trial; female; high risk patient; hospital patient; human; longitudinal study; male; middle aged; multicenter study; outpatient care; patient monitoring; postoperative complication; priority journal; prospective study; rating scale; risk factor; split thickness skin graft; surgical wound; vacuum assisted closure; vacuum assisted closure device; wound closure; wound healing; case report; devices; disposable equipment; equipment design; pathology; suturing method; treatment outcome; vacuum assisted closure; Wounds, Penetrating; Adult; Aged; Disposable Equipment; Equipment Design; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy; Prospective Studies; Suture Techniques; Treatment Outcome; Wound Healing; Wounds, Penetrating | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33750475961 | Psychiatric evaluation of offenders referred to the Free State Psychiatric Complex according to sextions 77 and/or 78 of the Criminal Procedures Act | Calitz F.J.W., van Rensburg P.H.J.J., Fourie C., Liebenberg E., van den Berg C., Joubert G. | 2006 | South African Journal of Psychiatry | 12 | 3 | None | Department of Psychiatry, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa; Department of Biostatistics, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa | Calitz, F.J.W., Department of Psychiatry, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa; van Rensburg, P.H.J.J., Department of Psychiatry, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa; Fourie, C., Department of Psychiatry, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa; Liebenberg, E., Department of Psychiatry, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa; van den Berg, C., Department of Psychiatry, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa; Joubert, G., Department of Biostatistics, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa | Background. The increase in crime is a problem of great concern in South Africa and complications arise when the accused is mentally ill. Objective. Analysis of the offenders referred to the Free State Psychiatric Complex from 1995 to 2001 according to section 77 (triability) and/or section 78 (accountability) of the Criminal Procedures Act (Act 51 of 1977). Method. The study population consisted of 514 persons awaiting trial in the Free State. They were referred to the Free State Psychiatric Complex for 30 days' observation from 1995 to 2001. A data form was created and used to transfer the relevant information from the accused's clinical files. Data analysis. The data collected were analysed by the Department of Biostatistics at the University of the Free State. Results. The majority of the offenders were male (94.6%) and unmarried (66.3%). The median age of the group was 30 years. The unemployment rate was 60%. Most of the referrals (84.2%) were in terms of sections 77 and 78. The accused were found to have mainly average intelligence (75.3%). The main offences were theft (27.8%), murder (18.9%), assault (18.1%) and rape (16.2%). The most common mental disorder diagnosed was schizophrenia (23.0%), with 54.3% having no mental disorder. Nearly half the offenders (48.6%) were found to be triable and accountable. Conclusion. The majority of the offenders referred for psychiatric observation were found to have no mental illness and were referred back to the courts. This results in high costs for the Department of Health. To reduce the high rate of unnecessary referrals it is recommended that courts give clear reasons for the referrals according to each section (77 and 78). | None | adolescent; adult; aged; article; assault; biostatistics; controlled study; court; criminal law; data analysis; female; groups by age; health care cost; homicide; human; intelligence quotient; major clinical study; male; marriage; medical record; mental disease; mental health service; observational study; offender; patient information; patient referral; population research; psychologic assessment; public health service; rape; schizophrenia; school child; sex ratio; statistical analysis; theft; unemployment; university | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84941279506 | The impact of learning by thought on violations of independence and coalescing | Birnbaum M.H., Schmidt U. | 2015 | Decision Analysis | 12 | 3 | 10.1287/deca.2015.0316 | Department of Psychology, California State University, Fullerton, Fullerton, CA, United States; Department of Economics, University of Kiel, Olshausenstr. 40, Kiel, Germany; Kiel Institute for the World Economy, Kiel, Germany; Department of Economics and Econometrics, University of Johannesburg, South Africa | Birnbaum, M.H., Department of Psychology, California State University, Fullerton, Fullerton, CA, United States; Schmidt, U., Department of Economics, University of Kiel, Olshausenstr. 40, Kiel, Germany, Kiel Institute for the World Economy, Kiel, Germany, Department of Economics and Econometrics, University of Johannesburg, South Africa | This paper reports results from a repeated experiment on decision making under risk where subjects must address the same choice problems in several rounds. We investigate how behavior changes in the course of the experiment. The design focuses on choice problems allowing for direct tests of independence and coalescing. We show that inconsistencies in responses as well as violations of independence and coalescing decrease from earlier to later rounds. Our results provide evidence in favor of expected utility in conjunction with the discovered preference hypothesis. © 2015 INFORMS. | Coalescing; Errors; Experiment; Independence axiom; Splitting effects | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84931281448 | Evaluation of N-terminated siloxanes grafted onto lignocellulose as adsorbent for the removal of phenol red from water | Vala R.M.K., Tichagwa L., Dikio E.D. | 2015 | International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology | 12 | 8 | 10.1007/s13762-014-0679-8 | Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, University of Fort Hare, Private Bag X1314, Alice, Eastern Cape, South Africa; Applied Chemistry and Nanoscience Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Vaal University of Technology, P. O. Box X021, Vanderbijlpark, South Africa | Vala, R.M.K., Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, University of Fort Hare, Private Bag X1314, Alice, Eastern Cape, South Africa, Applied Chemistry and Nanoscience Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Vaal University of Technology, P. O. Box X021, Vanderbijlpark, South Africa; Tichagwa, L., Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, University of Fort Hare, Private Bag X1314, Alice, Eastern Cape, South Africa; Dikio, E.D., Applied Chemistry and Nanoscience Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Vaal University of Technology, P. O. Box X021, Vanderbijlpark, South Africa | This study reports the chemical modification of lignocellulose (from Kikuyu grass) with N-terminated siloxanes and its utilisation as adsorbent for the removal of phenol red from aqueous media. The stability of the bond between lignocellulose and siloxane was assessed after Soxhlet extraction of unreacted siloxanes in tetrahydrofuran for 5 h, as well as soaking the materials in water for 24 h. Adsorption tests showed the prepared materials to be good candidate for the removal of phenol red (dye) from water, with adsorption capacity from 1.454 to 3.312 mg of phenol red adsorbed per gram of adsorbent. The kinetics of adsorption was found to follow a pseudo-second-order equation indicating chemisorption rather than simple forces of association. The linearised form of adsorption isotherms matched with the Langmuir model. © 2014, Islamic Azad University (IAU). | Adsorption; Chemical modification; Isotherms; Kinetics; Lignocellulose; N-terminated siloxane; Phenol red | Adsorbents; Adsorption; Cellulose; Chemical modification; Driers (materials); Dyes; Enzyme kinetics; Isotherms; Lignin; Phenols; Silicon compounds; Adsorption capacities; Adsorption tests; Langmuir models; Lignocellulose; Phenol red; Pseudo-second-order equations; Soxhlet extraction; Tetra-hydrofuran; Chemicals removal (water treatment); adsorption; aqueous solution; cellulose; chemical alteration; chemical bonding; experimental apparatus; grafting; grass; heterocyclic oxygen compound; isotherm; kinetics; laboratory method; organometallic compound; phenolic compound; water treatment; Pennisetum | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84859874750 | Facial approximation: Evaluation of dental and facial proportions with height | Esan T.A., Oziegbe O.E., Onapokya H.O. | 2012 | African Health Sciences | 12 | 1 | None | Department of Restorative Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria; Department of Child Dental Health, Faculty of Dentistry, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria; Department of Surgery, Faculty of Clinical Scie | Esan, T.A., Department of Restorative Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria; Oziegbe, O.E., Department of Child Dental Health, Faculty of Dentistry, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria; Onapokya, H.O., Department of Surgery, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria | Background: Fabrication of complete dentures requires the use of certain guidelines which are placed on the bite blocks to assist the clinician to have the maxillary anterior teeth restored to optimal dento-labial relations, in harmony with the overall facial appearance. Objective: To explore if any relationship exists between dental and facial proportions as well as the height of the individuals. Methods: Two hundred and four dental students of the Obafemi Awolowo University volunteered to participated in the study. The lower facial height, inter incisal, inter canine, and intercommisure distances, as well as the height of the participants were measured. The data were imputed, analyzed, and reported as simple frequency, means and standard deviations using the SPSS vs 11. Statistical significance was inferred at p<0.05. Result: The mean values of all the parameters measured were significantly higher in males than females. None of the mean values measured were coincident. However, a significant correlation exists between intercanine and interincisal distances(r=0.8) while a weak but significant negative correlation exists between the intercanine distance and the difference of the intercommisural and intercanine distances (r=-0.4) Conclusion: The study showed no relationship between intercanine distance, interincisal distance, lower facial height, and the height of the participants with the intercommissural distance. Hence, intercommissural distance may not be used in marking canine line during bite registration procedure. At best, 1.75-2.45 cm should be subtracted from the intercommissural distance to determine the intercanine distance. | Facial measurements; Intercanine; Intercommisure | adolescent; adult; anthropometric parameters; article; body height; clinical evaluation; controlled study; craniofacial morphology; dental health; dentistry; denture; face profile; facies; female; human; intercanine distance; intercommisural distance; interincisal distance; male; mouth examination; sex difference; tooth prosthesis; Adolescent; Adult; Body Height; Cephalometry; Cross-Sectional Studies; Cuspid; Dental Arch; Esthetics, Dental; Face; Female; Humans; Incisor; Male; Nigeria; Odontometry; Reference Values; Sex Factors; Statistics, Nonparametric; Tooth Crown; Young Adult | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84930671344 | The development of a Simplified, Effective, Labour Monitoring-to-Action (SELMA) tool for Better Outcomes in Labour Difficulty (BOLD): Study protocol Obstetrics | Souza J.P., Oladapo O.T., Bohren M.A., Mugerwa K., Fawole B., Moscovici L., Alves D., Perdona G., Oliveira-Ciabati L., Vogel J.P., Tunçalp O., Zhang J., Hofmeyr J., Bahl R., Gülmezoglu A.M. | 2015 | Reproductive Health | 12 | 1 | 10.1186/s12978-015-0029-4 | Department of Social Medicine, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Av. Bandeirantes, Ribeirão Preto SP, Brazil; GLIDE Technical Cooperation and Research, Ribeirão Preto SP, Brazil; UNDP-UNFPA-UNICEF-WHO World Bank Spec. Prog. of Res., Devmt. and Res. Training in Human Reproduction, Department of Reproductive Health and Research, World Health Organization, Avenue Appia 20, Geneva, Switzerland; Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD, United States; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Makere University, Kampala, Uganda; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, College of Medicine, Ibadan, Nigeria; Shanghai Jiaotong University, School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Frere Maternity Hospital, P Bag X9047, East London, South Africa; Department of Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health, World Health Organization, Avenue Appia 20, Geneva, Switzerland | Souza, J.P., Department of Social Medicine, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Av. Bandeirantes, Ribeirão Preto SP, Brazil, GLIDE Technical Cooperation and Research, Ribeirão Preto SP, Brazil; Oladapo, O.T., UNDP-UNFPA-UNICEF-WHO World Bank Spec. Prog. of Res., Devmt. and Res. Training in Human Reproduction, Department of Reproductive Health and Research, World Health Organization, Avenue Appia 20, Geneva, Switzerland; Bohren, M.A., UNDP-UNFPA-UNICEF-WHO World Bank Spec. Prog. of Res., Devmt. and Res. Training in Human Reproduction, Department of Reproductive Health and Research, World Health Organization, Avenue Appia 20, Geneva, Switzerland, Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD, United States; Mugerwa, K., Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Makere University, Kampala, Uganda; Fawole, B., Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, College of Medicine, Ibadan, Nigeria; Moscovici, L., Department of Social Medicine, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Av. Bandeirantes, Ribeirão Preto SP, Brazil, GLIDE Technical Cooperation and Research, Ribeirão Preto SP, Brazil; Alves, D., Department of Social Medicine, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Av. Bandeirantes, Ribeirão Preto SP, Brazil; Perdona, G., Department of Social Medicine, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Av. Bandeirantes, Ribeirão Preto SP, Brazil; Oliveira-Ciabati, L., Department of Social Medicine, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Av. Bandeirantes, Ribeirão Preto SP, Brazil, GLIDE Technical Cooperation and Research, Ribeirão Preto SP, Brazil; Vogel, J.P., UNDP-UNFPA-UNICEF-WHO World Bank Spec. Prog. of Res., Devmt. and Res. Training in Human Reproduction, Department of Reproductive Health and Research, World Health Organization, Avenue Appia 20, Geneva, Switzerland; Tunçalp, O., UNDP-UNFPA-UNICEF-WHO World Bank Spec. Prog. of Res., Devmt. and Res. Training in Human Reproduction, Department of Reproductive Health and Research, World Health Organization, Avenue Appia 20, Geneva, Switzerland; Zhang, J., Shanghai Jiaotong University, School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Hofmeyr, J., Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Frere Maternity Hospital, P Bag X9047, East London, South Africa; Bahl, R., Department of Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health, World Health Organization, Avenue Appia 20, Geneva, Switzerland; Gülmezoglu, A.M., UNDP-UNFPA-UNICEF-WHO World Bank Spec. Prog. of Res., Devmt. and Res. Training in Human Reproduction, Department of Reproductive Health and Research, World Health Organization, Avenue Appia 20, Geneva, Switzerland | Background: The partograph is currently the main tool available to support decision-making of health professionals during labour. However, the rate of appropriate use of the partograph is disappointingly low. Apart from limitations that are associated with partograph use, evidence of positive impact on labour-related health outcomes is lacking. The main goal of this study is to develop a Simplified, Effective, Labour Monitoring-to-Action (SELMA) tool. The primary objectives are: to identify the essential elements of intrapartum monitoring that trigger the decision to use interventions aimed at preventing poor labour outcomes; to develop a simplified, monitoring-to-action algorithm for labour management; and to compare the diagnostic performance of SELMA and partograph algorithms as tools to identify women who are likely to develop poor labour-related outcomes. Methods/Design: A prospective cohort study will be conducted in eight health facilities in Nigeria and Uganda (four facilities from each country). All women admitted for vaginal birth will comprise the study population (estimated sample size: 7,812 women). Data will be collected on maternal characteristics on admission, labour events and pregnancy outcomes by trained research assistants at the participating health facilities. Prediction models will be developed to identify women at risk of intrapartum-related perinatal death or morbidity (primary outcomes) throughout the course of labour. These predictions models will be used to assemble a decision-support tool that will be able to suggest the best course of action to avert adverse outcomes during the course of labour. To develop this set of prediction models, we will use up-to-date techniques of prognostic research, including identification of important predictors, assigning of relative weights to each predictor, estimation of the predictive performance of the model through calibration and discrimination, and determination of its potential for application using internal validation techniques. Discussion: This research offers an opportunity to revisit the theoretical basis of the partograph. It is envisioned that the final product would help providers overcome the challenging tasks of promptly interpreting complex labour information and deriving appropriate clinical actions, and thus increase efficiency of the care process, enhance providers' competence and ultimately improve labour outcomes. Please see related articles ' http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12978-015-0027-6 ' and ' http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12978-015-0028-5 '. © 2015 Souza et al.; licensee BioMed Central. | Decision-support tool; Labour monitoring; Partograph | Article; clinical assessment tool; clinical trial; cohort analysis; decision support system; diagnostic test accuracy study; female; fetus; health care facility; hospital admission; human; internal validity; intrapartum care; major clinical study; medical record; multicenter study; newborn; Nigeria; outcome assessment; perinatal morbidity; perinatal mortality; population research; practice guideline; prediction; predictive value; pregnancy outcome; prognosis; prospective study; sample size; Simplified Effective Labor Monitoring to Action; Uganda; vaginal delivery | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84896505924 | The impact of the declining extended family support system on the education of orphans in Lesotho | Tanga P.T. | 2013 | African Journal of AIDS Research | 12 | 3 | 10.2989/16085906.2013.863217 | Department of Social Work/Social Development, University of Fort Hare, PB X1314, Alice 5700, South Africa | Tanga, P.T., Department of Social Work/Social Development, University of Fort Hare, PB X1314, Alice 5700, South Africa | This paper examines the impact of the weakening of the extended family on the education of double orphans in Lesotho through in-depth interviews with participants from 3 of the 10 districts in Lesotho. The findings reveal that in Lesotho the extended family has not yet disintegrated as the literature suggests. However, it shows signs of rupturing, as many orphans reported that they are being taken into extended family households, the incentive for these households being, presumably, the financial and other material assistance that they receive from the government and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) which supplements household income and material wellbeing. The findings show that financial and other assistance given by the government and NGOs have resulted in conflict between the orphans and caregivers. This has also prompted many extended families to shift responsibilities to the government and NGOs. Most of the extended households provided the orphans with poor living conditions, such as unhygienic houses, poor nutrition, and little or no provision of school materials, which has had a negative impact on the education of the orphans. The combined effects of economic crisis and HIV and AIDS have resulted in extended families not being able to care for the needs of the orphans adequately, whilst continuing to accept them into their households. It is recommended that although extended families are still accepting orphans, the government should strengthen and recognise the important role played by families and the communities in caring for these vulnerable children. The government should also introduce social grants for orphans and other vulnerable children and review the current meagre public assistance (R100) it provides for orphans and vulnerable children in Lesotho. Other stakeholders should concentrate on strengthening the capacity of families and communities through programmes and projects which could be more sustainable than the current handouts given by many NGOs. © 2013 NISC (Pty) Ltd. | Care and support; Caregivers; Education; Extended family; HIV and AIDS; Orphans | acquired immune deficiency syndrome; article; caregiver; conceptual framework; education; extended family; family counseling; household; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; income; interview; Lesotho; methodology; nutrition; organization; social care; wellbeing | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77956350487 | Engaging sport-for-development for social impact in the South African context | Burnett C. | 2009 | Sport in Society | 12 | 9 | 10.1080/17430430903137852 | Department of Sport and Movement Studies, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa | Burnett, C., Department of Sport and Movement Studies, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa | The politics of development ideology and global leadership set the scene for sport (for) development in South Africa. Academic inquiry followed in an ad hoc way, mostly in the wake of contracted and/or externally and diverse disciplinary infused research paradigms. Diverse research agenda and donor requirements set the scene for Participatory Action Research as an enabling tool for researchers, funders and research participants whereby indigenous knowledge systems can be accessed and enriched in a collaborative venture of knowledge production. Four case studies of sport-for-development projects in the South African context explain the evolving architecture in this field. A discussion of three distinct and interrelated models, based on the rationale of Mintzberg (2006), affords insights within a social capital framework of a top-down, bottom-up and outside-in approach in various integrated formats. It is apparent that social impact and networking evolved around strategic alliance formation and development agendas of major stakeholders. © 2009 Taylor & Francis. | None | None | ASC, Australian Agency for International Development; AusAID, Australian Agency for International Development |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84922625230 | Toxicological evaluation of the aqueous extract of Acalypha wilkesiana in Wistar albino rats | Olukunle J.O., Jacobs E.B., Ajayi O.L., Biobaku K.T., Abatan M.O. | 2015 | Journal of Complementary and Integrative Medicine | 12 | 1 | 10.1515/jcim-2013-0066 | Department of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria; Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokut | Olukunle, J.O.; Jacobs, E.B., Department of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria; Ajayi, O.L., Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria; Biobaku, K.T., Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Agriculture, PMB 2240, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria; Abatan, M.O., Department of Veterinary Physiology Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of IbadanOyo State, Nigeria | Background: Acalypha wilkesiana (Euphorbiaceae) is highly accepted for traditional treatment of human plasmodiasis in Africa. Methods: The toxicological effects of the aqueous leaf extract of A. wilkesiana were studied in 45 male and female Wistar albino rats. An acute toxicity testing was done using 21 rats divided into seven groups and LD50 determined. In the sub-chronic toxicity study, the extract was administered orally over a period of 28 days to rats in three groups with doses of 400mg kg-1, 800mg kg-1 and 1,600 mg kg-1, respectively, and the fourth group administered with water served as control. Blood samples were collected for hematological and serum biochemical analysis; organs of the animals were harvested for histopathological examination. Results: The acute toxicity testing showed that the extract was non-toxic at doses up to 3,000mg kg-1 and the LD50 was calculated to be 2,828.34mg kg-1. The study showed that at 1,600mg kg-1 dose, the extract caused a decrease in the level of neutrophils (NEUT) while lymphocytes (LYMP) were statistically significantly increased. The administration of the extract also resulted in varying significant dose dependent increase in the levels of aspartate amino transferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). There were also significant increases in the level of total protein (TP), urea (URN) and albumin (GLB) especially at 1,600mg kg-1 dosage. Histopathology showed that the extract caused mild to severe significant lesions that are dose dependent in the liver and kidney when compared with the control group. Conclusions: Prolonged administration of high dose of A. wilkesiana extract has tendency to cause organ toxicity. © 2015, walter de gruyter gmbh. All rights reserved. | Acalypha wilkesiana; Hematology; Histopathology; Serum biochemistry; Toxicity | Acalypha wilkesiana extract; alanine aminotransferase; albumin; alkaline phosphatase; aspartate aminotransferase; plant extract; protein; unclassified drug; urea; alanine aminotransferase; alkaline phosphatase; aspartate aminotransferase; plant extract; urea; Acalypha wilkesiana; alanine aminotransferase blood level; albumin blood level; alkaline phosphatase blood level; animal experiment; animal model; Article; aspartate aminotransferase blood level; controlled study; disease severity; dose response; histopathology; LD 50; liver toxicity; lymphocyte; nephrotoxicity; neutrophil; nonhuman; plant leaf; protein blood level; rat; urea blood level; Wistar rat; Acalypha; adverse effects; animal; blood; drug effects; enzymology; female; kidney; liver; male; metabolism; toxicity testing; Acalypha; Alanine Transaminase; Alkaline Phosphatase; Animals; Aspartate Aminotransferases; Female; Kidney; Liver; Male; Plant Extracts; Rats, Wistar; Toxicity Tests, Acute; Urea | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84880942811 | Effect of graded levels of baobab (Adansonia digitata) seed meal on the growth performance and production economic analysis of broiler chickens | Sarven Bale J., Pam Mancha Y., Sanusi M., Dass Doma U. | 2013 | International Journal of Poultry Science | 12 | 5 | None | Department of Veterinary Parasitology and Entomology, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria; Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, Nigeria | Sarven Bale, J., Department of Veterinary Parasitology and Entomology, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria; Pam Mancha, Y., Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, Nigeria; Sanusi, M., Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, Nigeria; Dass Doma, U., Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, Nigeria | A feeding trial was conducted to determine the effect of graded levels of baobab seed meal on growth performance and cost benefit in broiler chicken production. A total of two hundred one-week old broiler chicks of the Anak breed were randomly distributed to five dietary treatments and replicated four times with 10 birds each for a period of 8 weeks. Baobab seed meal was included in the broiler chicken diets at 0, 10, 20, 30 and 40% levels designated as diets 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, respectively for both the starter and finisher phases. At the starter phase, feed intake (65.18-71.73 g), daily weight gain (30.36-36.16 g) and feed conversion ratio (1.96-2.39) were not significantly (p>0.05) affected by the dietary treatments. However, at finisher phase, the daily feed intake (133.40-148.40 g) and weight gain (37.23-55.00 g) were significantly affected at (p<0.001) and (p<0.05) respectively. Feed conversion ratio was not significantly (p>0.05) different among all the treatments means. The overall performance showed significant difference at (p<0.001 and p<0.01) for daily feed intake and daily weight gain, respectively. The birds fed 20% diet had the highest daily weight gain (44.55 g) and lowest (33.80 g) was recorded for diet 5. The feed cost per gain (N/kg gain) was cheaper (N142.44) on diet 4 and most expensive (N163.69) on diet 1 during the starter phase, while at the finisher phase diet 5 was cheaper (N176.36) and diet 1 being the most expensive (N193.91). Similar trends were obtained at the overall phase. It was therefore concluded that baobab seed meal can be incorporated into broiler chicken diets up to 30% without any deleterious effect on performance with concomitant reduction in feed cost. © Asian Network for Scientific Information, 2013. | Baobab seed meal; Broilers; Cost-benefit; Feed conversion ratio; Feed intake; Weight gain | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84897610834 | Evaluation of the crude methanolic seed extract of datura metel L as a potential oral anaesthetic in dogs | Babalola S.A., Suleiman M.M., Hassan A.Z., Adawa D.A.Y. | 2014 | Global Veterinaria | 12 | 3 | 10.5829/idosi.gv.2014.12.03.82340 | Department of Veterinary Surgery and Theriogenology, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Nigeria; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Nigeria; Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Ahmadu Be | Babalola, S.A., Department of Veterinary Surgery and Theriogenology, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Nigeria; Suleiman, M.M., Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Nigeria; Hassan, A.Z., Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Nigeria; Adawa, D.A.Y., Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Nigeria | This study evaluates the methanolic crude extract of Datura metel L. seeds (family Solanacease) as a potential oral anaesthetic in dogs. Following the oral acute toxicity study to determine the median lethal dose (LD50) of the extract in twelve (12) mice, the extract was relatively safe since when administered at the highest dose (5,000 mg/kg) no sign of toxicity and no death was recorded. In the in vivo sedative and anaesthetic study of the effect of Datura metel L in this work, the observed pharmacological effect of the extract administered orally to five (5) dogs separately at a dose rate of 0.6, 1.2, 1.5, 2 and 2.4 g/kg respectively during establishment of a suitable pilot oral anaesthetic doses, showed a graded dose response relationship. The extract at an oral dose of 2.4 g/kg induced surgical anaesthesia in dogs with increased heart and respiratory rates (107 to 205 bpm and 36.33 to 41.33 cpm) respectively, normal rectal temperature (37.83 °C), adequate tissue perfusion, good muscle relaxation but poor analgesia, loss of anal sphincter tone and loss of pupillary reflex. The dogs recovered without any complications. This study has shown that the seed extract of Datura metel L. is relatively safe, induced sleep similar to that of thiopentone sodium anaesthesia with good anaesthetic indices at the oral dose rate of 2.4 g/kg in dogs. © IDOSI Publications, 2014. | Anaesthetic; Datura metel L; Dogs; Seed extract; Surgical anaesthesia | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000334717100001 | Kenya's emergency-hire nursing programme: a pilot evaluation of health service delivery in two districts | Friedman, Michael,Kimani, Francis,Kiriinya, Rose,Osumba, Martin,Rakuom, Chris,Riley, Patricia L.,Rogers, Martha,Sabatier, Jennifer F.,Vindigni, Stephen M.,Warutere, Patrick,Waudo, Agnes N.,Willy, Rankesh | 2014 | HUMAN RESOURCES FOR HEALTH | 12 | None | 10.1186/1478-4491-12-16 | Emory University, University of Washington, University of Washington Seattle, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention - USA, Ctr Dis Control & Prevent, Kenya Hlth Workforce Project, Kenya Minist Med Serv, Minist Med Serv | "Rogers, Martha: Emory University", | Objective: To assess the feasibility of utilizing a small-scale, low-cost, pilot evaluation in assessing the short-term impact of Kenya's emergency-hire nursing programme (EHP) on the delivery of health services (outpatient visits and maternal-child health indicators) in two underserved health districts with high HIV/AIDS prevalence.
Methods: Six primary outcomes were assessed through the collection of data from facility-level health management forms-total general outpatient visits, vaginal deliveries, caesarean sections, antenatal care (ANC) attendance, ANC clients tested for HIV, and deliveries to HIV-positive women. Data on outcome measures were assessed both pre-and post-emergency-hire nurse placement. Informal discussions were also conducted to obtain supporting qualitative data.
Findings: The majority of EHP nurses were placed in Suba (15.5%) and Siaya (13%) districts. At the time of the intervention, we describe an increase in total general outpatient visits, vaginal deliveries and caesarean sections within both districts. Similar significant increases were seen with ANC attendance and deliveries to HIV-positive women. Despite increases in the quantity of health services immediately following nurse placement, these levels were often not sustained. We identify several factors that challenge the long-term sustainability of these staffing enhancements.
Conclusions: There are multiple factors beyond increasing the supply of nurses that affect the delivery of health services. We believe this pilot evaluation sets the foundation for future, larger and more comprehensive studies further elaborating on the interface between interventions to alleviate nursing shortages and promote enhanced health service delivery. We also stress the importance of strong national and local relationships in conducting future studies. | "Emergency-hire programme","health management information systems","human resource information systems","human resources for health",KENYA,NURSING,"PRIMARY CARE",AFRICA,CRISIS,HUMAN-RESOURCES,NURSES,RURAL-AREAS,SHORTAGE,SYSTEMS | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84864755136 | Impact of community tracer teams on treatment outcomes among tuberculosis patients in South Africa | Bronner L.E., Podewils L.J., Peters A., Somnath P., Nshuti L., Van Der Walt M., Mametja L.D. | 2012 | BMC Public Health | 12 | 1 | 10.1186/1471-2458-12-621 | Division of TB Elimination, Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Mailstop E-10, 1600 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, GA 3033, United States; Global AIDS Program, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 877 Pretorius Street, Arcadia, 0007, South Africa; TB Epidemiology and Intervention Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, 1 Soutpansberg Road, Private Bag X385, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa; Tuberculosis Control and Management, Republic of South Africa National Department of Health, Private Bag X828, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa | Bronner, L.E., Division of TB Elimination, Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Mailstop E-10, 1600 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, GA 3033, United States; Podewils, L.J., Division of TB Elimination, Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Mailstop E-10, 1600 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, GA 3033, United States; Peters, A., Global AIDS Program, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 877 Pretorius Street, Arcadia, 0007, South Africa; Somnath, P., TB Epidemiology and Intervention Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, 1 Soutpansberg Road, Private Bag X385, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa; Nshuti, L., TB Epidemiology and Intervention Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, 1 Soutpansberg Road, Private Bag X385, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa; Van Der Walt, M., TB Epidemiology and Intervention Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, 1 Soutpansberg Road, Private Bag X385, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa; Mametja, L.D., Tuberculosis Control and Management, Republic of South Africa National Department of Health, Private Bag X828, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa | Background: Tuberculosis (TB) indicators in South Africa currently remain well below global targets. In 2008, the National Tuberculosis Program (NTP) implemented a community mobilization program in all nine provinces to trace TB patients that had missed a treatment or clinic visit. Implementation sites were selected by TB program managers and teams liaised with health facilities to identify patients for tracing activities. The objective of this analysis was to assess the impact of the TB Tracer Project on treatment outcomes among TB patients. Methods. The study population included all smear positive TB patients registered in the Electronic TB Registry from Quarter 1 2007-Quarter 1 2009 in South Africa. Subdistricts were used as the unit of analysis, with each designated as either tracer (standard TB program plus tracer project) or non-tracer (standard TB program only). Mixed linear regression models were utilized to calculate the percent quarterly change in treatment outcomes and to compare changes in treatment outcomes from Quarter 1 2007 to Quarter 1 2009 between tracer and non-tracer subdistricts. Results: For all provinces combined, the percent quarterly change decreased significantly for default treatment outcomes among tracer subdistricts (0.031%; p<0.001) and increased significantly for successful treatment outcomes among tracer subdistricts (0.003%; p=0.03). A significant decrease in the proportion of patient default was observed for all provinces combined over the time period comparing tracer and non-tracer subdistricts (p=0.02). Examination in stratified models revealed the results were not consistent across all provinces; significant differences were observed between tracer and non-tracer subdistricts over time in five of nine provinces for treatment default. Conclusions: Community mobilization of teams to trace TB patients that missed a clinic appointment or treatment dose may be an effective strategy to mitigate default rates and improve treatment outcomes. Additional information is necessary to identify best practices and elucidate discrepancies across provinces; these findings will help guide the NTP in optimizing the adoption of tracing activities for TB control. © 2012 Bronner et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | Community mobilization; Default; Outreach; Treatment adherence | article; community care; evaluation; health survey; human; infection control; lung tuberculosis; methodology; organization and management; outcome assessment; patient attitude; patient care; patient compliance; register; retrospective study; South Africa; statistical model; Communicable Disease Control; Community Health Services; Humans; Linear Models; Medication Adherence; Outcome Assessment (Health Care); Patient Acceptance of Health Care; Patient Care Team; Population Surveillance; Registries; Retrospective Studies; South Africa; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-40549084326 | Baseline evaluation of routine HIV testing among tuberculosis patients in Botswana | Gammino V.M., Mboya J.J., Samandari T., Sheth A., Almquist J., Nkubito G., Jimbo W., Obita G., Roels T.H., Wells C.D., Kilmarx P.H., Nelson L.J. | 2008 | International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease | 12 | 3 SUPPL. 1 | None | Division of TB Elimination, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, GA, United States; Ministry of Health, Gaborone, Botswana; BOTUSA Project, Gaborone, Botswana; Ministry of Local Government, Gaborone, Botswana; US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30333, United States | Gammino, V.M., Division of TB Elimination, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, GA, United States, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30333, United States; Mboya, J.J., Ministry of Health, Gaborone, Botswana; Samandari, T., Division of TB Elimination, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, GA, United States, Ministry of Health, Gaborone, Botswana; Sheth, A., Ministry of Health, Gaborone, Botswana; Almquist, J., Ministry of Health, Gaborone, Botswana; Nkubito, G., Ministry of Health, Gaborone, Botswana; Jimbo, W., BOTUSA Project, Gaborone, Botswana; Obita, G., Ministry of Local Government, Gaborone, Botswana; Roels, T.H., Ministry of Health, Gaborone, Botswana, BOTUSA Project, Gaborone, Botswana; Wells, C.D., Division of TB Elimination, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, GA, United States; Kilmarx, P.H., Ministry of Health, Gaborone, Botswana, BOTUSA Project, Gaborone, Botswana; Nelson, L.J., Division of TB Elimination, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, GA, United States | In January 2004, the government of Botswana introduced a policy of routine, non-compulsory human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing to increase testing and access to antiretroviral treatment (ART) for individuals presenting for medical treatment. Before a systematic implementation of the policy, we conducted a cross-sectional survey of tuberculosis (TB) record data from 46 clinics in 10 districts to assess baseline HIV testing rates among TB patients. Recorded HIV results from the facility TB register and TB treatment card were reviewed. Of the 1242 TB patients entered in the register, 47% had a recorded HIV result and 84% of these were co-infected with HIV. TB treatment cards were available for 862 (69%) registered patients. Among the 411 (47%) with test results recorded on the treatment card, 341 (83%) were HIV-infected; of these, 12% were reported to be receiving ART. © 2008 The Union. | Botswana; Routine HIV testing; TB-HIV surveillance; Tuberculosis | antiretrovirus agent; analytic method; article; Botswana; controlled study; health care policy; health survey; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; major clinical study; medical record; priority journal; screening test; tuberculosis; AIDS Serodiagnosis; Anti-HIV Agents; Botswana; Cross-Sectional Studies; Health Policy; Health Surveys; HIV Infections; Humans; Mass Screening; Registries; Tuberculosis; Voluntary Programs | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84874355935 | Formulation and evaluation of glutaraldehyde-crosslinked chitosan microparticles for the delivery of ibuprofen | Ofokansi K.C., Kenechukwu F.C., Isah A.B., Okigbo E.L. | 2013 | Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research | 12 | 1 | None | Drug Delivery Research Unit, Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka 410001, Nigeria; Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ahmadu Bello Univ | Ofokansi, K.C., Drug Delivery Research Unit, Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka 410001, Nigeria; Kenechukwu, F.C., Drug Delivery Research Unit, Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka 410001, Nigeria; Isah, A.B., Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria; Okigbo, E.L., Drug Delivery Research Unit, Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka 410001, Nigeria | Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research is indexed by Science Citation Index (Purpose: Toformulate glutaraldehyde-cross-linked chitosan-based microparticles and evaluate its suitability for the delivery of ibuprofen, a BCS class II drug. Methods: Ibuprofen-loaded chitosan microparticles were prepared by emulsification-cross-linking technique using glutaraldehyde saturated toluene (GST) as the cross-linking agent. The microparticles were characterized with respect to morphology, particle size, microparticle yield and entrapment efficiency. The swelling behaviour of the particles and ibuprofen release were assessed in both simulated gastric fluid (SGF) without pepsin (pH 1.2) and simulated intestinal fluid (SIF) without pancreatin (pH 7.4). Results: Discrete and free-flowing microparticles of size range 100.05 ± 8.82 to 326.70 ± 10.43 μm were obtained. The microparticles had a high yield (69.2 to 99.2 %) and exhibited greater water sorption capacity in SIF (122.2 %) than in SGF (60 %). Furthermore, the microparticles cross-linked with 10 ml of GST entrapped the highest amount of drug (23.32 ± 0.97 %) while those cross-linked with 25 ml GST had the highest yield of the microparticles (99.19 %), and highest water sorption in SIF (122.2 %). Up to 93.6 % of the entrapped drug was released in SIF from microparticles cross-linked with 25 ml of GST. Drug release from microparticles cross-linked with 20 and 30 ml each of GST showed a biphasic pattern. Conclusions: Entrapment of ibuprofen in glutaraldehyde-cross-linked chitosan microparticles can be exploited to target and control the release of the drug and possibly reduce its gastro-erosive side effects. © Pharmacotherapy Group, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Benin, Benin City, 300001 Nigeria. All rights reserved. | Chitosan microparticles; Gastrointestinal; Glutaraldehyde; Ibuprofen; Oral delivery | chitosan; glutaraldehyde; glutaraldehyde saturated toluene; ibuprofen; pancreatin; pepsin A; toluene; unclassified drug; article; chemical structure; compression; controlled drug release; cross linking; drug delivery system; drug formulation; drug screening; emulsion; in vitro study; intestine fluid; microparticle yield; particle size; particle swelling; physical parameters; process model; stomach juice; water absorption | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84891111520 | Formulation and evaluation of cat fish slim mucin ointment for wound healing | Momoh M.A., Brown S.A., Muogbo C.C. | 2013 | Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research | 12 | 6 | 10.4314/tjpr.v12i6.4 | Drug Delivery Unit, Department of Pharmaceutics, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria; University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria | Momoh, M.A., Drug Delivery Unit, Department of Pharmaceutics, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria; Brown, S.A., University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria; Muogbo, C.C., Drug Delivery Unit, Department of Pharmaceutics, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria | Purpose: To evaluate the effect of fish mucin ointment on wound healing in a rat model. Methods: Fish mucin was formulated into an ointment using soft paraffin ointment base. Its woundhealing activity and toxicity were evaluated using an incision and excision wound model in rats. A range of concentrations (2.5 - 10 % w/w) of mucin in the ointment was tested to determine the concentration that will give optimum wound healing activity The ointment base (i.e., without mucin) was used as control while 2 % nitrofurazone served as positive control. Results: Wound healing activity increased with increase in mucin concentration up to a maximum of 5 %. Negative control produced wound healing of 41.2 ± 0.0 % on the 19th day with the mean hydroxyproline content and tensile strength being 682.07 ± 0.11 μg/g and 874.11 ± 0.39 g/cm2, respectively. Mucin ointment (5 %) exhibited 100 % wound healing properties on day 12. Significant increase (p > 0.05) in skin tensile strength (1311.02 ± 0.16 g/cm2) and hydroxyproline (1163.11± 0.16 μg/g) was found for mucin ointment as against 1151.21 ± 0.41 g/cm2 and 875.12 ± 0.84 μg/g, respectively, for positive control. At the concentrations tested, no toxicity was recorded for mucin ointment. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that the fish mucin ointment promotes wound-healing. © Pharmacotherapy Group, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Benin, Benin City, 300001 Nigeria. All rights reserved. | Biomaterial; Fish mucin; Ointment; Wound | hydroxyproline; liquid paraffin; mucin; nitrofural; animal experiment; animal model; article; catfish; controlled study; debridement; incision; mouse; nonhuman; ointment; rat; tensile strength; toxicity testing; wound; wound healing | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84938934617 | Impact of highly active antiretroviral therapy on hematological indices among HIV-1 infected children at Kenyatta National Hospital-Kenya: Retrospective study | Kibaru E.G., Nduati R., Wamalwa D., Kariuki N. | 2015 | AIDS Research and Therapy | 12 | 1 | 10.1186/s12981-015-0069-4 | Egerton University, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, P.O. Box 536-20115, Egerton, Kenya; University of Nairobi, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, P. O. Box 19676-00202, Nairobi, Kenya; University of London, Paediatric Hematology and Oncology, London, United Kingdom; P.O. Box 2275-20100, Nakuru, Kenya | Kibaru, E.G., Egerton University, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, P.O. Box 536-20115, Egerton, Kenya, P.O. Box 2275-20100, Nakuru, Kenya; Nduati, R., University of Nairobi, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, P. O. Box 19676-00202, Nairobi, Kenya; Wamalwa, D., University of Nairobi, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, P. O. Box 19676-00202, Nairobi, Kenya; Kariuki, N., University of Nairobi, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, P. O. Box 19676-00202, Nairobi, Kenya, University of London, Paediatric Hematology and Oncology, London, United Kingdom | Background: HIV infected children experience a range of hematological complications which show marked improvement within 6 months of initiating anti-retroviral therapy. The Objectives of the study was to describe the changes in hematological indices of HIV-1 infected children following 6 months of treatment with first line antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) regimen. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted between September and November 2008. During this period medical records of children attending Comprehensive Care Clinic at Kenyatta National hospital were reviewed daily. HIV infected children aged 5-144 months were enrolled if they had received antiretroviral drugs for at least 6 months with available and complete laboratory results. Results: Medical records of 337 children meeting enrollment criteria were included in the study. The median age was 63 months with equal male to female ratio. Following 6 months of HAART, prevalence of anemia (Hemoglobin (Hb) <10 g/dl) declined significantly from 35.9 to 16.6 % a nearly 50 % reduction in the risk of anemia RR = 0.56 [(95 % CI 0.44, 0.70) p < 0.001]. There was significant increase in Hb, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) and platelets above the baseline measurements (p < 0.0001) and a significant decline in total white blood cell counts >11,000 cell/mm3 but a none significant decrease in red blood cells (RBC). Pre-HAART, World Health Organization (WHO) stage 3 and 4 was associated with a ten-fold increased likelihood of anemia. Chronic malnutrition was associated with anemia but not wasting and immunologic staging of disease. Conclusion: Hematological abnormalities changed significantly within 6 months of antiretroviral therapy with significant increase in hemoglobin level, MCV, MCH and platelet and decrease in WBC and RBC. © 2015 Kibaru et al. | Changes of hematological parameters; Hematological abnormalities; Paediatric HIV infection | abacavir; antiretrovirus agent; cotrimoxazole; dapsone; efavirenz; hemoglobin; iron; lamivudine plus zidovudine; nevirapine; stavudine; zidovudine; anemia; Article; child; cohort analysis; disease classification; drug choice; drug safety; erythrocyte count; female; hematologic disease; hematological parameters; hemoglobin blood level; highly active antiretroviral therapy; human; Human immunodeficiency virus 1 infection; Human immunodeficiency virus infected patient; infant; Kenya; laboratory test; leukocyte count; major clinical study; male; malnutrition; mean corpuscular hemoglobin; mean corpuscular volume; medical record review; patient monitoring; priority journal; retrospective study; risk reduction; sex ratio; thrombocyte count; treatment duration; wasting syndrome | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84876674481 | Impact of malaria during pregnancy on pregnancy outcomes in a Ugandan prospective cohort with intensive malaria screening and prompt treatment | De Beaudrap P., Turyakira E., White L.J., Nabasumba C., Tumwebaze B., Muehlenbachs A., Guérin P.J., Boum Y., McGready R., Piola P. | 2013 | Malaria Journal | 12 | 1 | 10.1186/1475-2875-12-139 | Epicentre, Paris, France; UMI 233, Institut de Recherche Pour le Développement, Université Montpellier i, Montpellier, France; Epicentre, Mbarara, Uganda; Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST), Mbarara, Uganda; Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand; Centre for Tropical Medicine, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom; University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States; WorldWide Antimalarial Resistance Network (WWARN), Oxford, United Kingdom; Shoklo Malaria Research Unit (SMRU), Mahidol University, Mae Sot, Thailand; Institut Pasteur, Antananarivo, Madagascar | De Beaudrap, P., Epicentre, Paris, France, UMI 233, Institut de Recherche Pour le Développement, Université Montpellier i, Montpellier, France; Turyakira, E., Epicentre, Mbarara, Uganda, Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST), Mbarara, Uganda; White, L.J., Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand, Centre for Tropical Medicine, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom; Nabasumba, C., Epicentre, Mbarara, Uganda; Tumwebaze, B., Epicentre, Mbarara, Uganda; Muehlenbachs, A., University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States; Guérin, P.J., Epicentre, Paris, France, Centre for Tropical Medicine, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom, WorldWide Antimalarial Resistance Network (WWARN), Oxford, United Kingdom; Boum, Y., Epicentre, Mbarara, Uganda; McGready, R., Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand, Centre for Tropical Medicine, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom, Shoklo Malaria Research Unit (SMRU), Mahidol University, Mae Sot, Thailand; Piola, P., WorldWide Antimalarial Resistance Network (WWARN), Oxford, United Kingdom, Institut Pasteur, Antananarivo, Madagascar | Background: Malaria in pregnancy (MiP) is a major public health problem in endemic areas of sub-Saharan Africa and has important consequences on birth outcome. Because MiP is a complex phenomenon and malaria epidemiology is rapidly changing, additional evidence is still required to understand how best to control malaria. This study followed a prospective cohort of pregnant women who had access to intensive malaria screening and prompt treatment to identify factors associated with increased risk of MiP and to analyse how various characteristics of MiP affect delivery outcomes. Methods. Between October 2006 and May 2009, 1,218 pregnant women were enrolled in a prospective cohort. After an initial assessment, they were screened weekly for malaria. At delivery, blood smears were obtained from the mother, placenta, cord and newborn. Multivariate analyses were performed to analyse the association between mothers' characteristics and malaria risk, as well as between MiP and birth outcome, length and weight at birth. This study is a secondary analysis of a trial registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00495508. Results: Overall, 288/1,069 (27%) mothers had 345 peripheral malaria infections. The risk of peripheral malaria was higher in mothers who were younger, infected with HIV, had less education, lived in rural areas or reported no bed net use, whereas the risk of placental infection was associated with more frequent malaria infections and with infection during late pregnancy. The risk of pre-term delivery and of miscarriage was increased in mothers infected with HIV, living in rural areas and with MiP occurring within two weeks of delivery.In adjusted analysis, birth weight but not length was reduced in babies of mothers exposed to MiP (-60g, 95%CI: -120 to 0 for at least one infection and -150 g, 95%CI: -280 to -20 for >1 infections). Conclusions: In this study, the timing, parasitaemia level and number of peripherally-detected malaria infections, but not the presence of fever, were associated with adverse birth outcomes. Hence, prompt malaria detection and treatment should be offered to pregnant women regardless of symptoms or other preventive measures used during pregnancy, and with increased focus on mothers living in remote areas. © 2013 De Beaudrap et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | Birth outcomes; Cohort; Malaria in pregnancy; Sub-Saharan Africa | anthelmintic agent; artemether plus benflumetol; chloroquine; cotrimoxazole; folic acid; insecticide; iron; pyrimethamine plus sulfadoxine; quinine; adult; article; bed net; birth weight; blood smear; body height; body weight; female; fever; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; iron therapy; major clinical study; malaria; malaria falciparum; parasitemia; placenta; Plasmodium vivax malaria; pregnancy; pregnancy outcome; pregnant woman; premature labor; prospective study; risk factor; rural area; screening; spontaneous abortion; stillbirth; third trimester pregnancy; Uganda; umbilical cord blood; uncomplicated falciparum malaria; Adult; Blood; Cohort Studies; Female; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Malaria; Male; Parasite Load; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious; Pregnancy Outcome; Premature Birth; Prospective Studies; Risk Factors; Uganda; Young Adult | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84879437145 | Evaluation of CareStart™ malaria Pf/Pv combo test for Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax malaria diagnosis in Butajira area, south-central Ethiopia | Woyessa A., Deressa W., Ali A., Lindtjørn B. | 2013 | Malaria Journal | 12 | 1 | 10.1186/1475-2875-12-218 | Ethiopian Health and Nutrition Research Institute, P. O. Box 1242, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, P. O. Box 9086, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Centre for International Health, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway | Woyessa, A., Ethiopian Health and Nutrition Research Institute, P. O. Box 1242, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Deressa, W., School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, P. O. Box 9086, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Ali, A., School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, P. O. Box 9086, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Lindtjørn, B., Centre for International Health, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway | Malaria is a major public health problem in Ethiopia. Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax co-exist and malaria rapid diagnostic test (RDTs) is vital in rendering parasite-confirmed treatment especially in areas where microscopy from 2008 to 2010 is not available. CareStartTM Malaria Pf/Pv combo test was evaluated compared to microscopy in Butajira area, south-central Ethiopia. This RDT detects histidine-rich protein-2 (HRP2) found in P. falciparum, and Plasmodium enzyme lactate dehydrogenase (pLDH) for diagnosis of P. vivax. The standard for the reporting of diagnostic accuracy studies was complied. Among 2,394 participants enrolled, 10.9% (n=87) were Plasmodium infected (household survey) and 24.5% (n=392) health facility-based using microscopy. In the household surveys, the highest positivity was caused by P. vivax (83.9%, n=73), P. falciparum (15.0%, n=13), and the rest due to mixed infections of both (1.1%, n=1). In health facility, P. vivax caused 78.6% (n=308), P. falciparum caused 20.4% (n=80), and the rest caused by mixed infections 1.0% (n=4). RDT missed 9.1% (n=8) in household and 4.3% (n=17) in health facility-based surveys among Plasmodium positive confirmed by microscopy while 3.3% (n=24) in household and 17.2% (n=208) in health facility-based surveys were detected false positive. RDT showed agreement with microscopy in detecting 79 positives in household surveys (n=796) and 375 positives in health centre survey (n=1,598).RDT performance varied in both survey settings, lowest PPV (64.3%) for Plasmodium and P. falciparum (77.2%) in health centres; and Plasmodium (76.7%) and P. falciparum (87.5%) in household surveys. NPV was low in P. vivax in health centres (77.2%) and household (87.5%) surveys. Seasonally varying RDT precision of as low as 14.3% PPV (Dec. 2009), and 38.5% NPV (Nov. 2008) in health centre surveys; and 40-63.6% PPV was observed in household surveys. But the influence of age and parasite density on RDT performance was not ascertained. Establishing quality control of malaria RDT in the health system in areas with low endemic and where P. falciparum and P. vivax co-exist is recommendable. CareStartTM RDT might be employed for epidemiological studies that require interpreting the results cautiously. Future RDT field evaluation against microscopy should be PCR corrected. © 2013 Woyessa et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | Butajira; CareStartTM RDT; Ethiopia; Highland; Microscopy; Precision; Season | histidine; histidine rich protein 2; lactate dehydrogenase; unclassified drug; adolescent; adult; aged; article; child; controlled study; density; diagnostic accuracy; diagnostic test accuracy study; Ethiopia; female; health care facility; health center; health survey; household; human; infant; major clinical study; malaria falciparum; malaria rapid test; male; microscopy; mixed infection; nonhuman; Plasmodium falciparum; Plasmodium vivax; Plasmodium vivax malaria; predictive value; preschool child; quality control; school child; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Antigens, Protozoan; Child; Child, Preschool; Clinical Laboratory Techniques; Coinfection; Cross-Sectional Studies; Ethiopia; Female; Humans; Infant; Malaria, Falciparum; Malaria, Vivax; Male; Middle Aged; Parasitology; Plasmodium falciparum; Plasmodium vivax; Point-of-Care Systems; Prospective Studies; Young Adult | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-70450172295 | The beginnings of children's palliative care in Africa: Evaluation of a children's palliative care service in Africa | Amery J.M., Rose C.J., Holmes J., Nguyen J., Byarugaba C. | 2009 | Journal of Palliative Medicine | 12 | 11 | 10.1089/jpm.2009.0125 | Hospice Africa Uganda, Kampala, Uganda | Amery, J.M., Hospice Africa Uganda, Kampala, Uganda; Rose, C.J., Hospice Africa Uganda, Kampala, Uganda; Holmes, J., Hospice Africa Uganda, Kampala, Uganda; Nguyen, J., Hospice Africa Uganda, Kampala, Uganda; Byarugaba, C., Hospice Africa Uganda, Kampala, Uganda | Aim: To evaluate a children's palliative care service designed specifically for a resource-poor sub-Saharan African setting. Methodology: The study used mixed quantitative and qualitative methodology: quantitative retrospective, comparative survey and cross-sectional, noninterventional interview survey. Results: Evaluation showed increases in referrals, proportion of children on program, morphine and chemotherapy prescriptions, and improved compliance for a cost of $100 per child. The most valued service strengths were free drugs, food, play, learning, and staff attitude. Weaknesses included insufficiency of strengths listed above, as well as poor hospital staff attitude, lack of school fees and poor treatment compliance rates. Suggestions included more of the strengths as well as more accessible service locations. Discussion: The study suggests affordable, nurse-led, volunteer-supported children's palliative care services are both achievable and effective in sub-Saharan African. The study suggests that palliative care units should provide a specialized service focused on children. Such a service would clearly identify children in need of children's palliative care and should provide medication for symptom control; food and basic needs support; play and learning facilities; child protection; and systems for patient education, communication and follow up. Staff lack confidence and/or competence and this is a significant barrier to children's palliative care that should be addressed in Africa. © Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. | None | morphine; Africa; article; basic needs; chemotherapy; cross-sectional study; follow up; health care cost; health program; health service; hospital personnel; human; interpersonal communication; interview; methodology; palliative therapy; patient compliance; patient education; patient referral; prescription; qualitative analysis; quantitative analysis; retrospective study; social support; Africa South of the Sahara; Child; Child Welfare; Child, Preschool; Cross-Sectional Studies; Health Services Accessibility; Humans; Interviews as Topic; Palliative Care; Poverty; Retrospective Studies | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-78650879039 | Emerging breast cancer epidemic: Impact on palliative care | Merriman A. | 2010 | Breast Cancer Research | 12 | SUPPL. 4 | 10.1186/bcr2740 | Hospice Africa Uganda, PO Box 7757, Kampala, Uganda | Merriman, A., Hospice Africa Uganda, PO Box 7757, Kampala, Uganda | [No abstract available] | None | amitriptyline; metronidazole; morphine; nonsteroid antiinflammatory agent; phenytoin; Africa; article; bleeding; bone pain; breast cancer; breast surgery; epidemic; hospice; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; lymphedema; mammography; neuropathic pain; pain; palliative therapy; paraplegia; prevalence; smelling; Uganda; breast tumor; economics; female; health care delivery; hospice care; pain; palliative therapy; Uganda; Breast Neoplasms; Economics; Epidemics; Female; Health Services Accessibility; Hospice Care; Humans; Pain; Palliative Care; Uganda | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-17444426719 | What do we know about the perception educators have of HIV/AIDS and its impact on the holistic development of adolescent learners? | De Lange N., Greyling L., Leslie G.B. | 2005 | International Journal of Adolescence and Youth | 12 | 42371 | None | Faculty of Education, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; Faculty of Education, Vista University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa; Parkside Primary School, Port Elizabeth, South Africa | De Lange, N., Faculty of Education, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; Greyling, L., Faculty of Education, Vista University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa; Leslie, G.B., Parkside Primary School, Port Elizabeth, South Africa | HIV/AIDS is part of the South African reality to such an extent that more than half the children admitted to South Africa's second largest hospital are HIV-positive or have full-blown AIDS. This has implications for the education sector, as HIV/AIDS has also infiltrated and affected schools and education institutions and calls for the role of the educator to exceed that of teaching. It is now more than ever necessary that educators pay close attention to the holistic development of the learner, infected and/or affected by HIV/AIDS. This research attempted to determine what perceptions senior phase educators have regarding HIV/AIDS and its impact on the holistic development of adolescent learners within their ecosystem and then to formulate recommendations based on the findings. To achieve these aims a qualitative, descriptive and contextual research design was chosen. The first theme regarding the educators' perceptions of HIV/AIDS revealed various categories, i.e an awareness of the prevalence of HIV/AIDS; medical knowledge of HIV/AIDS; causes of HIV/AIDS; feelings about it as well as views on what is needed for stopping the spread. The second theme regarding the impact of HIV/AIDS on the holistic development of the learners showed the following categories: understanding of the impact of HIV/AIDS on the holistic development of the adolescent (physically, cognitively, emotionally, socially and morally), on the family, on the peer group, on the school and on the community. © 2005 A B Academic Publishers. | None | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84870727041 | Impact of gas industry on sustainable economy in Nigeria: Further estimations through eview | Gabriel O.M., Kareem S.D., Kari F., Alam G.M., Matuin O.D. | 2012 | Journal of Applied Sciences | 12 | 21 | 10.3923/jas.2012.2244.2251 | Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Nigeria Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria; Faculty of Economics and Administration, University of Malaya, Kuala-Lumpur, Malaysia; Academic Performance Enhancement Unit, University of Malaya, Kuala-Lumpur, Malaysia; Fac | Gabriel, O.M., Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Nigeria Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria; Kareem, S.D., Faculty of Economics and Administration, University of Malaya, Kuala-Lumpur, Malaysia; Kari, F., Faculty of Economics and Administration, University of Malaya, Kuala-Lumpur, Malaysia; Alam, G.M., Academic Performance Enhancement Unit, University of Malaya, Kuala-Lumpur, Malaysia; Matuin, O.D., Faculty of Social Sciences, Lagos State University, Lagos, Nigeria | A key policy objective of sustainable economic development, especially in any developing country like Nigeria, is to establish energy development paths that are both economically efficient and sustainable. However, this depends significantly on full utilization of such resources. Distributed Lag (DL) model, dummy variable regression model and co-integration analyses were used in this paper to evaluate the impact and sustainability of Gas utilization in the Nigerian economy. The structure of gas flaring in Nigeria in relation to the imposition of fine on flared gas was also examined. The regression results and the co-integration analysis show that utilization of Nigerian natural gas impacts positively on the economy given three-year time lag; it is also sustainable. On the other hand, although the imposition of fine on flared gas has the potential to end or reduce flares; it has not significantly led to any structural change (sliding slope) on the level of flares since its imposition in 1984. Hence there is need for government to always employ Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA) to evaluate its policy implementations. © 2012 Asian Network for Scientific Information. | Co-integration; Distributed lag model; Economy; Gas flaring; Gas utilization; Government; Sustainability of gas | Cointegration; Economy; Gas flaring; Gas utilization; Government; Lag model; Developing countries; Gas industry; Integration; Regression analysis; Sustainable development; Gases | None |
| WoS | WOS:000328688700002 | The impact of church contextual factors on church-going youth's HIV prevention behaviour in Nairobi, Kenya: A cross-denominational study | Miller, Ann Neville,Ngula, Kyalo Wa | 2013 | AJAR-AFRICAN JOURNAL OF AIDS RESEARCH | 12 | 3 | 10.2989/16085906.2013.863213 | Florida State University System, University of Central Florida, Africa Nazarene Univ | "Miller, Ann Neville: Florida State University System","Miller, Ann Neville: University of Central Florida", | Church doctrine about sexual behaviour has long been assumed to have an impact on aspects of the sub-Saharan AIDS epidemic, and evidence suggests that Pentecostal churches have a stronger influence THAN? on the sexual behaviour of their adherents. However, few studies have investigated the denominational differences in sexual attitudes and behaviour of youths, and virtually no empirical evidence is available regarding what specific aspects of the church environment are associated with differences in the response of youths to church messaging about sexual behaviour. This study examined those factors among church-going youth in Nairobi, Kenya. Separate focus groups with male and female youths were conducted in four mainline and three Pentecostal/evangelical (P/E) churches, and in-depth interviews were conducted with youth pastors or pastors of five of those churches. Content of church teaching as reported by youths and pastors did not differ between denominations. However, amount and context of teaching did vary, with P/E churches reportedly offering more teaching about sex to their youth. In addition, P/E churches appeared to provide a more intense experience of community than mainline churches, a situation that may create a context within which abstinence appears to be a reasonable life choice. | churches,Pentecostals,"youth HIV prevention",AIDS-PREVENTION,CAMPAIGN,COMMUNICATION,EXPOSURE,HIV/AIDS,MOZAMBIQUE,RELIGION,STUDENTS,"SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA",TALK | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79957483022 | Assessing the potential impact of integrated agricultural research for development (IAR4D) on adoption of improved cereal-legume crop varieties in the Sudan Savannah zone of Nigeria | Nyemeck Binam J., Abdoulaye T., Olarinde L., Kamara A., Adekunle A. | 2011 | Journal of Agricultural and Food Information | 12 | 2 | 10.1080/10496505.2011.563233 | Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), Sub-Saharan Africa Challenge Program (SSA CP), KKM PLS-IAR-Agric Research Station (ARS), ABU Sabo Bakin Zuwo (Wudil) Road, P.O. Box 1062, Kano, Nigeria; International Institute for Tropical Agriculture-Kano Station, Croydon, United Kingdom; Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), Accra, Ghana | Nyemeck Binam, J., Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), Sub-Saharan Africa Challenge Program (SSA CP), KKM PLS-IAR-Agric Research Station (ARS), ABU Sabo Bakin Zuwo (Wudil) Road, P.O. Box 1062, Kano, Nigeria; Abdoulaye, T., International Institute for Tropical Agriculture-Kano Station, Croydon, United Kingdom; Olarinde, L., Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), Sub-Saharan Africa Challenge Program (SSA CP), KKM PLS-IAR-Agric Research Station (ARS), ABU Sabo Bakin Zuwo (Wudil) Road, P.O. Box 1062, Kano, Nigeria; Kamara, A., International Institute for Tropical Agriculture-Kano Station, Croydon, United Kingdom; Adekunle, A., Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), Accra, Ghana | This article provides an assessment of the potential impact of operationalizing agricultural innovation platforms (IPs) in the Sudan Savannah zone of Nigeria on adoption of improved maize/legume crop varieties, as measured by the potential outcome approach. The results show that, if the whole population in the intervention area were exposed to these varieties, the adoption rate could be increased to 69% instead of 49%. The study also shows that exposure, as well as adoption, is influenced by numerous social and institutional factors and suggests that the operationalization of IPs could help boost the adoption rate to around 51%. © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. | Africa; ATE and LATE estimation; Ex-ante impact assessment; IAR4D; Improved cereal and legume varieties; Innovation platforms; Nigeria; Sudan | Ips | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84879363373 | Impact of forest structure simplification on bird species richness in the Harena forest of the Bale Mountains National Park (BMNP), South Eastern Ethiopia | Shimelis A., Pinard M., Asefa A. | 2013 | Nature Environment and Pollution Technology | 12 | 2 | None | Freelance Consultant, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; University of Aberdeen, United Kingdom; Bale Mountains National Park, Robe, Ethiopia | Shimelis, A., Freelance Consultant, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Pinard, M., University of Aberdeen, United Kingdom; Asefa, A., Bale Mountains National Park, Robe, Ethiopia | Human simplification of habitat in the Harenna forest mainly happens by permanently removing woody vegetation. We evaluated the impact of such simplification of habitat on bird species richness. Birds were counted using the point count method at points that were laid out along transect lines, and from their presence/absence, species richness was worked out. By establishing 50m by 50m quadrats at bird counting stations, we counted the number of basal remnants of cut trees and we measured vegetation structure variables such as % grass, % other herbs, % shrubs, % bush and % canopy (tree cover). Tree, bush and shrub covers did have significant positive correlation with bird species richness. As the magnitude of tree cutting increased species richness of birds declined significantly. Similarly with bird species richness, structural variables such as tree, bush and shrub covers did have significant negative correlation with the tree cutting variable. Due to this, we carried out Principal Component Analysis and the first component that was influenced mainly by tree cover and tree cutting variables significantly explained 84.7 % of the variation in bird species richness in a stepwise multiple regression analysis. Bush and shrub cover did also have significant positive contributions towards the explanatory value of the first component, thus, their positive contribution in explaining bird species richness is noteworthy. Results showed habitat simplification through tree cutting has significant negative impact on bird species richness. | Bird species richness; Habitat simplification; Habitat structure; Harena forest; Tree cutting | Bird species richness; Habitat simplification; Habitat structures; Harena forest; Tree cuttings; Ecosystems; Principal component analysis; Regression analysis; Vegetation; Forestry; avifauna; bird; clearcutting; ecological impact; habitat fragmentation; habitat structure; shrub; species richness; vegetation structure; Birds; Ecosystems; Forestry; Plants; Regression Analysis; Species Identification; Bale Mountains National Park; Ethiopia; Harenna Forest; Aves | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84905911793 | Findings from the SASA! Study: A cluster randomized controlled trial to assess the impact of a community mobilization intervention to prevent violence against women and reduce HIV risk in Kampala, Uganda | Abramsky T., Devries K., Kiss L., Nakuti J., Kyegombe N., Starmann E., Cundill B., Francisco L., Kaye D., Musuya T., Michau L., Watts C. | 2014 | BMC Medicine | 12 | 1 | 10.1186/s12916-014-0122-5 | Gender Violence and Health Centre, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, 15-17 Tavistock Place, London, United Kingdom; Raising Voices, 16 Tufnell Drive, Kamwokya, Kampala, Uganda; Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD, United States; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Medicine, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda; Centre for Domestic Violence Prevention, 16 Tufnell Drive, Kamwokya, Kampala, Uganda | Abramsky, T., Gender Violence and Health Centre, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, 15-17 Tavistock Place, London, United Kingdom; Devries, K., Gender Violence and Health Centre, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, 15-17 Tavistock Place, London, United Kingdom; Kiss, L., Gender Violence and Health Centre, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, 15-17 Tavistock Place, London, United Kingdom; Nakuti, J., Raising Voices, 16 Tufnell Drive, Kamwokya, Kampala, Uganda; Kyegombe, N., Gender Violence and Health Centre, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, 15-17 Tavistock Place, London, United Kingdom; Starmann, E., Gender Violence and Health Centre, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, 15-17 Tavistock Place, London, United Kingdom; Cundill, B., Gender Violence and Health Centre, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, 15-17 Tavistock Place, London, United Kingdom; Francisco, L., Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD, United States; Kaye, D., Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Medicine, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda; Musuya, T., Centre for Domestic Violence Prevention, 16 Tufnell Drive, Kamwokya, Kampala, Uganda; Michau, L., Raising Voices, 16 Tufnell Drive, Kamwokya, Kampala, Uganda; Watts, C., Gender Violence and Health Centre, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, 15-17 Tavistock Place, London, United Kingdom | Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV) and HIV are important and interconnected public health concerns. While it is recognized that they share common social drivers, there is limited evidence surrounding the potential of community interventions to reduce violence and HIV risk at the community level. The SASA! study assessed the community-level impact of SASA!, a community mobilization intervention to prevent violence and reduce HIV-risk behaviors. Methods: From 2007 to 2012 a pair-matched cluster randomized controlled trial (CRT) was conducted in eight communities (four intervention and four control) in Kampala, Uganda. Cross-sectional surveys of a random sample of community members, 18- to 49-years old, were undertaken at baseline (n = 1,583) and four years post intervention implementation (n = 2,532). Six violence and HIV-related primary outcomes were defined a priori. An adjusted cluster-level intention-to-treat analysis compared outcomes in intervention and control communities at follow-up.Results: The intervention was associated with significantly lower social acceptance of IPV among women (adjusted risk ratio 0.54, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.38 to 0.79) and lower acceptance among men (0.13, 95% CI 0.01 to 1.15); significantly greater acceptance that a woman can refuse sex among women (1.28, 95% CI 1.07 to 1.52) and men (1.31, 95% CI 1.00 to 1.70); 52% lower past year experience of physical IPV among women (0.48, 95% CI 0.16 to 1.39); and lower levels of past year experience of sexual IPV (0.76, 95% CI 0.33 to 1.72). Women experiencing violence in intervention communities were more likely to receive supportive community responses. Reported past year sexual concurrency by men was significantly lower in intervention compared to control communities (0.57, 95% CI 0.36 to 0.91). Conclusions: This is the first CRT in sub-Saharan Africa to assess the community impact of a mobilization program on the social acceptability of IPV, the past year prevalence of IPV and levels of sexual concurrency. SASA! achieved important community impacts, and is now being delivered in control communities and replicated in 15 countries.Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov #NCT00790959,. Study protocol available at http://www.trialsjournal.com/content/13/1/96. © 2014 Abramsky et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | Community mobilization; East Africa; Gender based violence; HIV; Impact evaluation; Intimate partner violence; Uganda; Violence prevention | adult; Article; community care; concurrent sexual partnership; controlled study; cross-sectional study; female; follow up; health care survey; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; infection risk; intention to treat analysis; intervention study; male; outcome assessment; partner violence; random sample; randomized controlled trial; risk reduction; sexual behavior; sexual violence; social acceptance; Uganda; adolescent; cluster analysis; community care; HIV Infections; middle aged; partner violence; prevention and control; risk factor; statistics and numerical data; treatment outcome; Adolescent; Adult; Cluster Analysis; Community Health Services; Community Networks; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; HIV Infections; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Risk Factors; Spouse Abuse; Treatment Outcome; Uganda | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84899479136 | A process evaluation of performance-based incentives for village health workers in Kisoro district, Uganda | Miller J.S., Musominali S., Baganizi M., Paccione G.A. | 2014 | Human Resources for Health | 12 | 1 | 10.1186/1478-4491-12-19 | Harvard Medical School, 260 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02215, United States; Doctors for Global Health, PO Box 247, Kisoro, Uganda; Kisoro District Hospital, Kisoro, Uganda; Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Avenue, New York, NY 10461, United States; Montefiore Medical Center, 111 East 210th Street, New York, NY 10467, United States | Miller, J.S., Harvard Medical School, 260 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02215, United States, Doctors for Global Health, PO Box 247, Kisoro, Uganda; Musominali, S., Doctors for Global Health, PO Box 247, Kisoro, Uganda, Kisoro District Hospital, Kisoro, Uganda; Baganizi, M., Doctors for Global Health, PO Box 247, Kisoro, Uganda, Kisoro District Hospital, Kisoro, Uganda; Paccione, G.A., Doctors for Global Health, PO Box 247, Kisoro, Uganda, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Avenue, New York, NY 10461, United States, Montefiore Medical Center, 111 East 210th Street, New York, NY 10467, United States | Background: Designing effective incentive systems for village health workers (VHWs) represents a longstanding policy issue with substantial impact on the success and sustainability of VHW programs. Using performance-based incentives (PBI) for VHWs is an approach that has been proposed and implemented in some programs, but has not received adequate review and evaluation in the peer-reviewed literature. We conducted a process evaluation examining the use of PBI for VHWs in Kisoro, Uganda. In this system, VHWs are paid based on 20 indicators, divided among routine follow-up visits, health education activities, new patient identifications, sanitation coverage, and uptake of priority health services.Methods: Surveys of VHWs (n = 30) and program supervisors (n = 7) were conducted to assess acceptability and feasibility. Interviews were conducted with all 8 program supervisors and with 6 purposively selected VHWs to gain a deeper understanding of their views on the PBI system. Program budget records were used to assess the costs of the program. Detailed payment records were used to assess the fairness of the PBI system with respect to VHWs' gender, education level, and village location.Results: In surveys and interviews, supervisors expressed high satisfaction with the PBI system, though some supervisors expressed concerns about possible negative effects from the variation in payments between VHWs and the uncertainty of reward for effort. VHWs perceived the system as generally fair, and preferred it to the previous payment system, but expressed a desire to be paid more. The annual program cost was $516 per VHW, with each VHW covering an average of 115 households. VHWs covering more households tended to earn more. There was some evidence that female gender was associated with higher earnings. Education level and proximity to the district hospital did not appear to be associated with earnings under the PBI system.Conclusions: In a one-year pilot of PBI within a small VHW program, both VHWs and supervisors found the PBI system acceptable and motivating. VHWs with relatively limited formal education were able to master the PBI system. Further research is needed to determine the long-term effects and scalability of PBI, as well as the effects across varied contexts. © 2014 Miller et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | Developing countries; Incentives; Low-income countries; Primary health care; Uganda | adult; article; evaluation study; female; health auxiliary; health care survey; health personnel attitude; health service; human; interview; male; motivation; organization and management; salary and fringe benefit; Uganda; Adult; Attitude of Health Personnel; Community Health Workers; Female; Health Care Surveys; Health Services Needs and Demand; Humans; Interviews as Topic; Male; Motivation; Organization and Administration; Salaries and Fringe Benefits; Uganda | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33846109799 | Traditional birth attendants, HIV/AIDS and safe delivery in the Eastern Cape, South Africa - Evaluation of a training programme | Peltzer K., Henda N. | 2006 | South African Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology | 12 | 3 | None | Human Sciences Research Council, Pretoria, South Africa; University of Limpopo, Turfloop, Limpopo, South Africa; Human Sciences Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa | Peltzer, K., Human Sciences Research Council, Pretoria, South Africa, University of Limpopo, Turfloop, Limpopo, South Africa; Henda, N., Human Sciences Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa | Introduction. Traditional birth attendants (TBAs) are still frequently utilised in rural areas in South Africa, even when mothers have access to formal health care facilities. Studies reveal that utilisation of TBAs can be beneficial in some contexts, with support and supervision from the Western health sector. Aim. To evaluate a training programme for TBAs on HIV/AIDS and safe delivery. Method. The study used a pre-post training evaluation design of 50 TBAs in two primary health care clinic areas in rural South Africa. Results. Most TBAs had some knowledge of risk signs during pregnancy. At follow-up assessment HIV/AIDS knowledge had significantly increased and HIV risk practices when assisting during a delivery had significantly decreased. Most TBAs were involved in HIV/sexually transmitted infection (STI) management such as risk assessment, risk reduction counselling, distribution of condoms, community education and home-based care. After the training significantly more TBAs conducted prenatal check-ups, assessed the baby's position in the uterus and took the mother's and baby's pulse, and fewer TBAS conducted abnormal or complicated deliveries. Conclusion. Training of TBAs can increase their knowledge, improve their attitudes and reduce risk practices. TBAs need skilled and equipped available support to carry out basic preventive measures in the obstetric patient, anticipate and identify obstetric complications, administer nevirapine prophylaxis, and make appropriate and timely referrals backed up with efficient referral mechanisms to reduce maternal morbidity and mortality. | None | nevirapine; acquired immune deficiency syndrome; adult; African medicine; aged; article; delivery; female; health behavior; health education; health personnel attitude; health practitioner; HIV education; home care; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; infection risk; maternal morbidity; maternal mortality; obstetric patient; patient counseling; patient referral; patient safety; pregnancy; prenatal care; prenatal screening; primary health care; risk assessment; risk reduction; rural health care; safe sex; sexually transmitted disease; South Africa | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33847103610 | Impact of mosquito proofing of night shelters in refugee camps in Kitgum, northern Uganda | Medlock J.M., Aryemo M., Bean J. | 2007 | Tropical Medicine and International Health | 12 | 3 | 10.1111/j.1365-3156.2006.01803.x | Humanitarian Department, Oxfam Great Britain, Oxfam House, John Smith Drive, Cowley, Oxford, United Kingdom; Oxfam, Kitgum, Oxfam-Uganda, Kampala, Uganda; Health Protection Agency, Centre for Emergency Preparedness and Response, Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP4 0JG, United Kingdom | Medlock, J.M., Humanitarian Department, Oxfam Great Britain, Oxfam House, John Smith Drive, Cowley, Oxford, United Kingdom, Health Protection Agency, Centre for Emergency Preparedness and Response, Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP4 0JG, United Kingdom; Aryemo, M., Oxfam, Kitgum, Oxfam-Uganda, Kampala, Uganda; Bean, J., Humanitarian Department, Oxfam Great Britain, Oxfam House, John Smith Drive, Cowley, Oxford, United Kingdom | Objective: To test the impact of long-lasting insecticide-treated netting, fitted to cover the eaves and ceilings of refugee shelters, on the incidence of nighttime mosquito biting. Method: Entomological surveys in night-dwelling shelters at three camps for internally displaced persons in Kitgum, Uganda during August and November 2004: The impact of proofing against the nighttime incidence of mosquito biting was assessed through human landing catches and indoor resting catches in proofed and unproofed (control) shelters. Human landing catches were performed inside and outside four proofed and four control shelters at three locations, and indoor resting catches were performed in 37 proofed and 18 control shelters. The difference in biting rates was tested using paired and unpaired t-tests and multivariate analysis. Results: Most mosquitoes caught during the survey were culicine (97%). The difference in landing rate (mlrph) differentials (outdoor-indoor) illustrated a significant (t = 3.26, P = 0.004) difference between mlrph between proofed (0.154) and control shelters (-0.110). Mean shelter density (msd) recorded during indoor resting catches was 6.7 times higher in the control shelters than in proofed shelters (P < 0.001). The number of blood-fed mosquitoes/person/night (bfmpn) was significantly higher (P < 0.001), by a magnitude of 17, in control shelters (one in five individuals receiving a bite) compared with proofed shelters (1 in 83 individuals). A multivariate analysis showed that the difference in biting rates was because of the intervention. Conclusions: The significantly lower mlrph, msd and bfmpn in proofed shelters demonstrate that the mosquito proofing strategies employed do reduce the exposure to mosquito biting in proofed compared with control shelters by a magnitude of 6-17. Although numbers of Anopheline mosquitoes were low, the biting rates of Anophelines were also significantly lower in proofed shelters compared with control shelters. Insecticide-treated netting appears to significantly reduce the mosquito nuisance-biting incidence. However, a higher incidence of Anopheline biting may be required to test the effect of proofing on malaria vectors and a subsequent study is therefore recommended. © 2007 Blackwell Publishing Ltd. | Internally displaced people; Long-lasting insecticide-treated netting; Malaria; Mosquito proofing; Mosquitoes; Uganda | insecticide; entomology; insecticide; malaria; mosquito; multivariate analysis; refugee; article; health survey; human; insect bite; mosquito; multivariate analysis; Student t test; Uganda; zoology; Animals; Culicidae; Environment Design; Health Surveys; Housing; Humans; Incidence; Insect Bites and Stings; Refugees; Uganda; Africa; East Africa; Kitgum; Northern Province [Uganda]; Sub-Saharan Africa; Uganda | None |
| None | None | Clinical performance of an automated reader in interpreting malaria rapid diagnostic tests in Tanzania | Shekalaghe S., Cancino M., Mavere C., Juma O., Mohammed A., Abdulla S., Ferro S. | 2013 | Malaria Journal | 12 | 1 | 10.1186/1475-2875-12-141 | Ifakara Health Institute, Bagamoyo Research and Training Centre, PO Box 74, Bagamoyo, Tanzania; Fio Corporation, Toronto, Canada | Shekalaghe, S., Ifakara Health Institute, Bagamoyo Research and Training Centre, PO Box 74, Bagamoyo, Tanzania; Cancino, M., Fio Corporation, Toronto, Canada; Mavere, C., Ifakara Health Institute, Bagamoyo Research and Training Centre, PO Box 74, Bagamoyo, Tanzania; Juma, O., Ifakara Health Institute, Bagamoyo Research and Training Centre, PO Box 74, Bagamoyo, Tanzania; Mohammed, A., Ifakara Health Institute, Bagamoyo Research and Training Centre, PO Box 74, Bagamoyo, Tanzania; Abdulla, S., Ifakara Health Institute, Bagamoyo Research and Training Centre, PO Box 74, Bagamoyo, Tanzania; Ferro, S., Fio Corporation, Toronto, Canada | Background: Parasitological confirmation of malaria is now recommended in all febrile patients by the World Health Organization (WHO) to reduce inappropriate use of anti-malarial drugs. Widespread implementation of rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) is regarded as an effective strategy to achieve this goal. However, the quality of diagnosis provided by RDTs in remote rural dispensaries and health centres is not ideal. Feasible RDT quality control programmes in these settings are challenging. Collection of information regarding diagnostic events is also very deficient in low-resource countries. Methods. A prospective cohort of consecutive patients aged more than one year from both genders, seeking routine care for febrile episodes at dispensaries located in the Bagamoyo district of Tanzania, were enrolled into the study after signing an informed consent form. Blood samples were taken for thick blood smear (TBS) microscopic examination and malaria RDT (SD Bioline Malaria Antigen Pf/Pan™ (SD RDT)). RDT results were interpreted by both visual interpretation and Deki Reader™ device. Results of visual interpretation were used for case management purposes. Microscopy was considered the "gold standard test" to assess the sensitivity and specificity of the Deki Reader interpretation and to compare it to visual interpretation. Results: In total, 1,346 febrile subjects were included in the final analysis. The SD RDT, when used in conjunction with the Deki Reader and upon visual interpretation, had sensitivities of 95.3% (95% CI, 90.6-97.7) and 94.7% (95% CI, 89.8-97.3) respectively, and specificities of 94.6% (95% CI, 93.5-96.1) and 95.6% (95% CI, 94.2-96.6), respectively to gold standard. There was a high percentage of overall agreement between the two methods of interpretation. Conclusion: The sensitivity and specificity of the Deki Reader in interpretation of SD RDTs were comparable to previous reports and showed high agreement to visual interpretation (>98%). The results of the study reflect the situation in real practice and show good performance characteristics of Deki Reader on interpreting malaria RDTs in the hands of local laboratory technicians. They also suggest that a system like this could provide great benefits to the health care system. Further studies to look at ease of use by community health workers, and cost benefit of the system are warranted. © 2013 Shekalaghe et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | Deki Reader; Malaria rapid diagnostic test; mHealth | adolescent; adult; aged; analyzer; article; blood sampling; blood smear; child; cohort analysis; developing country; female; human; major clinical study; malaria; male; microscopy; patient care; preschool child; prospective study; school child; sensitivity and specificity; Tanzania; thick blood smear; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Automation, Laboratory; Blood; Child; Child, Preschool; Cohort Studies; Diagnostic Tests, Routine; Female; Humans; Infant; Malaria; Male; Microscopy; Middle Aged; Parasitology; Prospective Studies; Sensitivity and Specificity; Tanzania; Young Adult | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84882740823 | Impact of HIV and mycobacterium tuberculosis co-infections on antioxidant status in Nigeria | Faustina Nkechi O., Charles Chinedu O., Martins Ositadinma I., Joseph Ebere A., Michael E., Ifeoma Priscilla E. | 2013 | Pakistan Journal of Nutrition | 12 | 5 | None | Immaculate Heart Hospital, Nkpor, Anambra State, Nigeria; Department of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Health Sciences and Technology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus, Anambra State, Nigeria; Department of Immunology, College of Health Sci | Faustina Nkechi, O., Immaculate Heart Hospital, Nkpor, Anambra State, Nigeria; Charles Chinedu, O., Department of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Health Sciences and Technology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus, Anambra State, Nigeria; Martins Ositadinma, I., Department of Immunology, College of Health Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus, Anambra State, Nigeria; Joseph Ebere, A., Department of Chemical Pathology, College of Health Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus, Anambra State, Nigeria; Michael, E., Department of Immunology, College of Health Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus, Anambra State, Nigeria; Ifeoma Priscilla, E., Department of Human Biochemistry, College of Health Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus, Anambra State, Nigeria | Severe Oxidative stress has been reported in Tuberculosis infected individuals as a result of tissue inflammation, poor nutrition and poor immunity and this stress becomes more severe in those co-infected with HIV. Therefore the present study was designed to assess the antioxidant status of HIV infected participants with or without tuberculosis co-infections and in HIV seronegative participants infected with tuberculosis. 193 participants were randomly recruited for the study and grouped into: (i) Symptomatic HIV infected participants with tuberculosis co-infections (n = 67) (ii) symptomatic HIV infected participants without tuberculosis (n = 45) (iii) HIV seronegative participants with Tuberculosis (n = 52) and (IV) HIV seronegative control participants without tuberculosis (n = 29). Blood samples collected from the participants were used for HIV screening, CD4+T cell count, glutathione reductase activity, glutathione peroxidase activity, Total Antioxidant Status and albumin estimations. The results showed that glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidase and Total Antioxidant Status were significantly lowered in both HIV infected participants with or without tuberculosis and HIV seronegative participants with tuberculosis (P<0.01), compared (in each case) with HIV seronegative participants without tuberculosis. The CD4+T cell count were significantly low in HIV infected participants with tuberculosis co-infections and HIV infected group without tuberculosis when compared with HIV seronegative participants with or without tuberculosis. However the CD4+T cell count in HIV infected participants with tuberculosis was not significantly different when compared with HIV infected participants without tuberculosis. The serum albumin were lowered in HIV infected participants with tuberculosis and tuberculosis infected participants (P<0.01 in each case). Correlation studies amongst groups showed significant correlation between CD4+T cell count and antioxidants in both HIV and tuberculosis co-infected participants and in HIV infected participants without tuberculosis (P<0.01 in each case). Serum albumin correlated positively with the antioxidants in both HIV infected participants and those co-infected with tuberculosis. There was no significant correlation between CD4+T cell count and the antioxidants in HIV seronegative participants with or without tuberculosis. The study observed alterations in the levels of glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidase, total antioxidant status and albumin in tuberculosis infected participants and in HIV infected participants with and without tuberculosis. This could be as a result of greater utilization of antioxidants subsequent to increased oxidative stress. These findings also further support a link between oxidative stress, tuberculosis and HIV infection. © Asian Network for Scientific Information, 2013. | Albumin; CD4+T cell; Glutathione reductase; Oxidative stress | albumin; antioxidant; glutathione peroxidase; glutathione reductase; albumin blood level; antioxidant status; article; blood analysis; CD4 lymphocyte count; controlled study; enzyme activity; health status; HIV test; human; human cell; human experiment; Human immunodeficiency virus; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; mixed infection; Nigeria; oxidative stress; randomization; serodiagnosis; tuberculosis | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77952623023 | Impact of the root-lesion nematode Pratylenchus goodeyi and mulch on the East African Highland banana crop performance in Kibuye, Western Rwanda | Gaidashova S.V., Van Asten P.J.A., Dochez C., Delvaux B., De Waele D. | 2010 | Nematology | 12 | 3 | 10.1163/138855409X12525742436402 | Institut des Sciences Agronomiques du Rwanda (ISAR), P.O. Box 5016, Kigali, Rwanda; Unité des Sciences du Sol, Faculté d'Ingénierie Biologique, Agronomique et Environnementale, Université Catholique de Louvain (UCL), Croix du Sud, 2/10, 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium; International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA), P.O. Box 7878, Kampala, Uganda; Laboratory of Tropical Crop Improvement, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Catholic University of Leuven (KUL), Kasteelpark Arenberg 13, 3001 Leuven, Belgium | Gaidashova, S.V., Institut des Sciences Agronomiques du Rwanda (ISAR), P.O. Box 5016, Kigali, Rwanda, Unité des Sciences du Sol, Faculté d'Ingénierie Biologique, Agronomique et Environnementale, Université Catholique de Louvain (UCL), Croix du Sud, 2/10, 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium; Van Asten, P.J.A., International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA), P.O. Box 7878, Kampala, Uganda; Dochez, C., International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA), P.O. Box 7878, Kampala, Uganda; Delvaux, B., Unité des Sciences du Sol, Faculté d'Ingénierie Biologique, Agronomique et Environnementale, Université Catholique de Louvain (UCL), Croix du Sud, 2/10, 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium; De Waele, D., Laboratory of Tropical Crop Improvement, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Catholic University of Leuven (KUL), Kasteelpark Arenberg 13, 3001 Leuven, Belgium | The effect of nematode root injuries on banana crop yield is very poorly known in higher parts of the East African highlands. This study assessed the impact of the root-lesion nematode, Pratylenchus goodeyi, on growth and yield of three banana cultivars (Musa spp. AAA-EA) in a field experiment involving nematicide and mulch applications at conditions of high altitude (about 1500 m). Plant growth, yield, root damage and nematode population densities were observed over three production cycles. Low to medium levels (≤50%) of root necrosis were associated with improved plant growth, whilst higher root necrosis (>50%) had no effect on plant growth. No significant reduction in bunch weight was associated with high root necrosis in any cycle and any of the three cultivars. Mulch significantly reduced root necrosis and P. goodeyi population densities. Bunch weight significantly increased in all mulched plots irrespective of root necrosis intensity. These results agree with those of earlier surveys in Rwanda that suggested little impact of P. goodeyi on banana yields. However, they challenge general perceptions and previous findings on the negative impact of root lesion nematodes on banana crop performance. © 2010 BRILL. | East Africa; Musa; Nematode control; Yield | cultivar; growth response; herb; host-pathogen interaction; mulch; nematode; pathogenicity; population density; yield; Rwanda | None |
| None | None | Using verbal autopsy to measure causes of death: The comparative performance of existing methods | Murray C.J.L., Lozano R., Flaxman A.D., Serina P., Phillips D., Stewart A., James S.L., Vahdatpour A., Atkinson C., Freeman M.K., Ohno S.L., Black R., Ali S.M., Baqui A.H., Dandona L., Dantzer E., Darmstadt G.L., Das V., Dhingra U., Dutta A., Fawzi W., Gó | 2014 | BMC Medicine | 12 | 1 | 10.1186/1741-7015-12-5 | Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, 2301 5th Avenue Suite 600, Seattle, WA 98121, United States; National Institute of Public Health, Universidad 655, 62100 Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico; Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N Wolfe St #5041, Baltimore, MD 21205, United States; Public Health Laboratory-IdC, P.O. BOX 122 Wawi Chake Chake Pemba, Zanzibar, Tanzania; Public Health Foundation of India, ISID Campus, 4 Institutional Area, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi 110070, India; Brigham and Women's Hospital, 75 Francis St, Boston, MA 02215, United States; Global Development, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, PO Box 23350, Seattle, WA 98012, United States; CSM Medical University, Shah Mina Road, Chowk, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh 226003, India; Dept of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, E5521, 615 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, United States; Public Health Laboratory-Ivo de Carneri, Wawi, Chake-Chake, Pemba, Zanzibar, Tanzania; Johns Hopkins University, 214A Basement, Vinobapuri Lajpat Nagar-II, New Delhi 110024, India; Harvard School of Public Health, 677 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115-6018, United States; The George Institute for Global Health, The University of Sydney, 83/117 Missenden Rd, Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia; Community Empowerment Lab, Shivgarh, India; Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, Corporate Ave, Muntinlupa City 1781, Philippines; Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, 314 Savage Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853, United States; The George Institute for Global Health, 839C, Road No. 44A, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad 500033, India; Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, United Nations Rd, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; School of Population Health, University of Queensland, Level 2 Public Health Building School of Population Health, Herston Road, Herston, QLD 4006, Australia; University of Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, Building 379, 207 Bouverie St., Parkville 3010, VIC, Australia | Murray, C.J.L., Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, 2301 5th Avenue Suite 600, Seattle, WA 98121, United States; Lozano, R., Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, 2301 5th Avenue Suite 600, Seattle, WA 98121, United States, National Institute of Public Health, Universidad 655, 62100 Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico; Flaxman, A.D., Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, 2301 5th Avenue Suite 600, Seattle, WA 98121, United States; Serina, P., Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, 2301 5th Avenue Suite 600, Seattle, WA 98121, United States; Phillips, D., Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, 2301 5th Avenue Suite 600, Seattle, WA 98121, United States; Stewart, A., Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, 2301 5th Avenue Suite 600, Seattle, WA 98121, United States; James, S.L., Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, 2301 5th Avenue Suite 600, Seattle, WA 98121, United States; Vahdatpour, A., Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, 2301 5th Avenue Suite 600, Seattle, WA 98121, United States; Atkinson, C., Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, 2301 5th Avenue Suite 600, Seattle, WA 98121, United States; Freeman, M.K., Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, 2301 5th Avenue Suite 600, Seattle, WA 98121, United States; Ohno, S.L., Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, 2301 5th Avenue Suite 600, Seattle, WA 98121, United States; Black, R., Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N Wolfe St #5041, Baltimore, MD 21205, United States; Ali, S.M., Public Health Laboratory-IdC, P.O. BOX 122 Wawi Chake Chake Pemba, Zanzibar, Tanzania; Baqui, A.H., Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N Wolfe St #5041, Baltimore, MD 21205, United States; Dandona, L., Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, 2301 5th Avenue Suite 600, Seattle, WA 98121, United States, Public Health Foundation of India, ISID Campus, 4 Institutional Area, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi 110070, India; Dantzer, E., Brigham and Women's Hospital, 75 Francis St, Boston, MA 02215, United States; Darmstadt, G.L., Global Development, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, PO Box 23350, Seattle, WA 98012, United States; Das, V., CSM Medical University, Shah Mina Road, Chowk, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh 226003, India; Dhingra, U., Dept of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, E5521, 615 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, United States, Public Health Laboratory-Ivo de Carneri, Wawi, Chake-Chake, Pemba, Zanzibar, Tanzania; Dutta, A., Johns Hopkins University, 214A Basement, Vinobapuri Lajpat Nagar-II, New Delhi 110024, India; Fawzi, W., Harvard School of Public Health, 677 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115-6018, United States; Gómez, S., National Institute of Public Health, Universidad 655, 62100 Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico; Hernández, B., Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, 2301 5th Avenue Suite 600, Seattle, WA 98121, United States; Joshi, R., The George Institute for Global Health, The University of Sydney, 83/117 Missenden Rd, Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia; Kalter, H.D., Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N Wolfe St #5041, Baltimore, MD 21205, United States; Kumar, A., Community Empowerment Lab, Shivgarh, India; Kumar, V., Community Empowerment Lab, Shivgarh, India; Lucero, M., Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, Corporate Ave, Muntinlupa City 1781, Philippines; Mehta, S., Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, 314 Savage Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853, United States; Neal, B., The George Institute for Global Health, The University of Sydney, 83/117 Missenden Rd, Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia; Praveen, D., The George Institute for Global Health, 839C, Road No. 44A, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad 500033, India; Premji, Z., Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, United Nations Rd, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Ramírez-Villalobos, D., National Institute of Public Health, Universidad 655, 62100 Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico; Remolador, H., Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, Corporate Ave, Muntinlupa City 1781, Philippines; Riley, I., School of Population Health, University of Queensland, Level 2 Public Health Building School of Population Health, Herston Road, Herston, QLD 4006, Australia; Romero, M., National Institute of Public Health, Universidad 655, 62100 Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico; Said, M., Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, United Nations Rd, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Sanvictores, D., Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, Corporate Ave, Muntinlupa City 1781, Philippines; Sazawal, S., Dept of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, E5521, 615 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, United States, Public Health Laboratory-Ivo de Carneri, Wawi, Chake-Chake, Pemba, Zanzibar, Tanzania; Tallo, V., Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, Corporate Ave, Muntinlupa City 1781, Philippines; Lopez, A.D., University of Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, Building 379, 207 Bouverie St., Parkville 3010, VIC, Australia | Background: Monitoring progress with disease and injury reduction in many populations will require widespread use of verbal autopsy (VA). Multiple methods have been developed for assigning cause of death from a VA but their application is restricted by uncertainty about their reliability.Methods: We investigated the validity of five automated VA methods for assigning cause of death: InterVA-4, Random Forest (RF), Simplified Symptom Pattern (SSP), Tariff method (Tariff), and King-Lu (KL), in addition to physician review of VA forms (PCVA), based on 12,535 cases from diverse populations for which the true cause of death had been reliably established. For adults, children, neonates and stillbirths, performance was assessed separately for individuals using sensitivity, specificity, Kappa, and chance-corrected concordance (CCC) and for populations using cause specific mortality fraction (CSMF) accuracy, with and without additional diagnostic information from prior contact with health services. A total of 500 train-test splits were used to ensure that results are robust to variation in the underlying cause of death distribution.Results: Three automated diagnostic methods, Tariff, SSP, and RF, but not InterVA-4, performed better than physician review in all age groups, study sites, and for the majority of causes of death studied. For adults, CSMF accuracy ranged from 0.764 to 0.770, compared with 0.680 for PCVA and 0.625 for InterVA; CCC varied from 49.2% to 54.1%, compared with 42.2% for PCVA, and 23.8% for InterVA. For children, CSMF accuracy was 0.783 for Tariff, 0.678 for PCVA, and 0.520 for InterVA; CCC was 52.5% for Tariff, 44.5% for PCVA, and 30.3% for InterVA. For neonates, CSMF accuracy was 0.817 for Tariff, 0.719 for PCVA, and 0.629 for InterVA; CCC varied from 47.3% to 50.3% for the three automated methods, 29.3% for PCVA, and 19.4% for InterVA. The method with the highest sensitivity for a specific cause varied by cause.Conclusions: Physician review of verbal autopsy questionnaires is less accurate than automated methods in determining both individual and population causes of death. Overall, Tariff performs as well or better than other methods and should be widely applied in routine mortality surveillance systems with poor cause of death certification practices. © 2014 Murray et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | Cause of death; InterVA; King-Lu; Random forests; Symptom pattern; Tariff; VA; Validation; Verbal autopsy | article; autopsy; cause of death; controlled study; diagnostic procedure; groups by age; health service; human; medical information system; mortality; physician; stillbirth; verbal autopsy; Adult; Autopsy; Cause of Death; Child; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Internationality; Physician's Role; Reproducibility of Results | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33846847934 | Creating a framework to determine the socio-economic impact of national parks in South Africa: A case study of the Addo Elephant National Park | Saayman M., Saayman A. | 2006 | Tourism Economics | 12 | 4 | None | Institute for Tourism and Leisure Studies, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa; School of Economics, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa | Saayman, M., Institute for Tourism and Leisure Studies, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa; Saayman, A., School of Economics, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa | National parks in South Africa are seen as major tourism assets, since wildlife is the biggest draw-card for international visitors to the country. Yet little is known of the socio-economic contribution of these parks to their respective local economies. The purpose of this research is to develop a framework for assessing the socio-economic impact of the Addo Elephant National Park in South Africa. The results show that the park has a significant impact in terms of production, income generation and employment in the area. Key results include a proposed framework for assessing the socio-economic impact of national parks in a developing country. | National parks; Socio-economic impact; South Africa | developing world; employment; income; national park; socioeconomic impact; tourism economics; tourism management; Addo Elephant National Park; Africa; Eastern Cape; South Africa; Southern Africa; Sub-Saharan Africa | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-74349114285 | Evaluation of the polyphenol composition and antioxidant activity of African variety of Dacryodes edulis (G.Don) H.J Lam fruit | Atawodi S.E., Atawodi J.C., Idakwo P., Pfundstein B., Haubner R., Wurtele G., Spiegelhalder B., Bartsch H., Owen R.W. | 2009 | Journal of Medicinal Food | 12 | 6 | 10.1089/jmf.2008.0215 | Institute for Toxicology and Cancer Risk Factors, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany; Department of Biochemistry, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria; Department of Veterinary Public Health, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria | Atawodi, S.E., Institute for Toxicology and Cancer Risk Factors, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany, Department of Biochemistry, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria; Atawodi, J.C., Department of Veterinary Public Health, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria; Idakwo, P., Department of Biochemistry, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria; Pfundstein, B., Institute for Toxicology and Cancer Risk Factors, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany; Haubner, R., Institute for Toxicology and Cancer Risk Factors, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany; Wurtele, G., Institute for Toxicology and Cancer Risk Factors, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany; Spiegelhalder, B., Institute for Toxicology and Cancer Risk Factors, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany; Bartsch, H., Institute for Toxicology and Cancer Risk Factors, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany; Owen, R.W., Institute for Toxicology and Cancer Risk Factors, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany | Polyphenols are abundant micronutrients in our diet that have been credited with chemoprevention of diseases associated with oxidative stress. In this study, we investigated the whole ripened fruit of Dacryodes edulis (G.Don) H.J Lam, a multipurpose tree growing in West and Central Africa and other countries bordering the Gulf of Guinea, for polyphenol content as well as its antioxidant/radical scavenging capacity. Analysis of the methanol extract of the fruit by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to an ultraviolet dual-array detector and mass-selective detector revealed the presence of catechol (9.27mg/kg), gallate (10.40mg/kg), methylgallate (0.88mg/kg), ellagic acid (3.10mg/kg), quercetin (0.21mg/kg), and quercetin rhamnoside (0.76mg/kg). The extract showed very high antioxidant potential (50% inhibitory concentration [IC50]=14 μL), but a rather weak radical scavenging activity (IC50=357 μL), when tested in vitro with the xanthine oxidase and 2-deoxyguanosine assay model systems, respectively. These results suggest that consumption of D. edulis could contribute to prevention of diseases that are related to oxidative stress. © 2009, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. and Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition. | Antioxidant activity; Dacryodes edulis; Disease chemoprevention; Polyphenol | antioxidant; catechol; deoxyguanosine; ellagic acid; gallic acid methyl ester; methanol; plant extract; polyphenol derivative; quercetin; quercitrin; scavenger; xanthine oxidase; Africa; antioxidant activity; article; chemical composition; Dacryodes edulis; drug isolation; drug screening; enzyme assay; fruit; high performance liquid chromatography; IC 50; in vitro study; nonhuman; oxidative stress; priority journal; tree; Africa, Central; Antioxidants; Burseraceae; Flavonoids; Free Radical Scavengers; Fruit; Phenols; Plant Extracts; Dacryodes edulis | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84903385228 | Impact of health workshop on knowledge of malaria and anti-malaria drug prescription by patent medicine vendors in southern Calabar district, Nigeria | Nwaneri D.U., Mmeremikwu M.M., Nwaneri A.C., Ibadin M.O. | 2013 | Journal of Medicine and Biomedical Research | 12 | 2 | None | Institute of Child Health, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria; Department of Paediatrics, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Nigeria; Institute of Health Technology, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria; Departme | Nwaneri, D.U., Institute of Child Health, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria; Mmeremikwu, M.M., Department of Paediatrics, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Nigeria; Nwaneri, A.C., Institute of Health Technology, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria; Ibadin, M.O., Department of Child Health, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria | Close-to-client operation of Patent Medicine Vendors can play a significant role in the fight against malaria if their health knowledge of the disease and appropriate interventions are improved upon. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of health workshop on knowledge of malaria, antimalaria drug prescription and intermittent preventive therapy by Patent Medicine Vendors. Subjects were Patent Medicine Vendors who attended a Malaria Control Campaign Workshop in Women and Children Hospital, Calabar, Nigeria on rd 23 June 2011. The workshop comprised a three-hour training session and two-hour focus group discussion using the national guideline on malaria case-management in Nigeria. Pre-and post-test questionnaires and a focus group discussion were used to obtain data before and after the training session. Results showed that 57 Patent Medicine Vendors (male 41[71.9%] and female 16[28.1%]) completed the pre- and post-workshop pair questionnaire and focus group discussion. Two-third of the respondents had secondary education and duration of practice was 11.7 ± 7.3 years. Knowledge of appropriate drug treatment for uncomplicated malaria was significantly higher after the workshop (pre-workshop test 40[70.2%] and post-workshop test 55[96.4%]) (p = 0.024) and there was improved knowledge on Artemisinin-based Combination Therapy than monotherapy as anti-malaria treatment of choice for uncomplicated malaria (p = 0.0004). Awareness of intermittent preventive treatment using sulphadoxinepyrimethamine as component of malaria prevention in pregnant women was significantly higher post-workshop 51(89.5%) than observed in preworkshop analysis 15(26.3%) (p < 0.001). There was a significant improvement in knowledge of the respondents on appropriate anti-malaria prescription for adults (p = 0.001), children (p < 0.0001) and intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy (p = 0.001). Educational status of the respondents was significant predictor of improved performance of the respondents on appropriate prescription for intermittent preventive treatment only. Health workshop significantly improved the general knowledge of Patent Medicine Vendors on anti-malaria drug prescription for uncomplicated malaria in adults and children as well as in intermittent preventive treatment of malaria in pregnancy. © CMS UNIBEN JMBR. | Health education; Intermittent preventive treatment; Malaria control; Patent medicine vendors | antimalarial agent; pyrimethamine plus sulfadoxine; adult; age distribution; article; attitude to health; drug indication; drug information; educational status; female; health care personnel; human; malaria; male; middle aged; Nigeria; patent medicine vendor; pregnancy; prescription; work experience; workshop; young adult | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-29144485903 | Evaluation and application of the ROMS 1-way embedding procedure to the central california upwelling system | Penven P., Debreu L., Marchesiello P., McWilliams J.C. | 2006 | Ocean Modelling | 12 | 42371 | 10.1016/j.ocemod.2005.05.002 | Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics, UCLA, 405 Hilgard Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1567, United States; Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, 213 rue Lafayette, Paris, France; Institut d'Informatique et Mathématiques Appliquées de Grenoble, Laboratoire de Modélisation et Calcul, BP 53, 38041 Grenoble Cedex 9, France; Department of Oceanography, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa; Unité Mixte de Recherche LEGOS, Centre IRD de Bretagne, BP 70, 29280 Plouzané, France | Penven, P., Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics, UCLA, 405 Hilgard Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1567, United States, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, 213 rue Lafayette, Paris, France, Department of Oceanography, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa; Debreu, L., Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics, UCLA, 405 Hilgard Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1567, United States, Institut d'Informatique et Mathématiques Appliquées de Grenoble, Laboratoire de Modélisation et Calcul, BP 53, 38041 Grenoble Cedex 9, France; Marchesiello, P., Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics, UCLA, 405 Hilgard Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1567, United States, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, 213 rue Lafayette, Paris, France, Unité Mixte de Recherche LEGOS, Centre IRD de Bretagne, BP 70, 29280 Plouzané, France; McWilliams, J.C., Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics, UCLA, 405 Hilgard Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1567, United States | What most clearly distinguishes near-shore and off-shore currents is their dominant spatial scale, O (1-30) km near-shore and O (30-1000) km off-shore. In practice, these phenomena are usually both measured and modeled with separate methods. In particular, it is infeasible for any regular computational grid to be large enough to simultaneously resolve well both types of currents. In order to obtain local solutions at high resolution while preserving the regional-scale circulation at an affordable computational cost, a 1-way grid embedding capability has been integrated into the Regional Oceanic Modeling System (ROMS). It takes advantage of the AGRIF (Adaptive Grid Refinement in Fortran) Fortran 90 package based on the use of pointers. After a first evaluation in a baroclinic vortex test case, the embedding procedure has been applied to a domain that covers the central upwelling region off California, around Monterey Bay, embedded in a domain that spans the continental U.S. Pacific Coast. Long-term simulations (10 years) have been conducted to obtain mean-seasonal statistical equilibria. The final solution shows few discontinuities at the parent-child domain boundary and a valid representation of the local upwelling structure, at a CPU costs only lightly greater than for the inner region alone. The solution is assessed by comparison with solutions for the whole US Pacific Coast at both low and high resolutions and to solutions for only the inner region at high resolution with mean-seasonal boundary conditions. © 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. | Boundary conditions; Coastal upwelling; Eddy kinetic energy; Embedding; Mesoscale eddies; Ocean models | Algorithms; Approximation theory; Boundary conditions; Kinetic energy; Mathematical models; Numerical methods; Ocean currents; Polynomials; Statistical methods; Coastal upwelling; Eddy kinetic energy; Mesoscale eddies; Ocean models; Oceanography; boundary condition; kinetic energy; mesoscale eddy; upwelling; California Shelf; Pacific Ocean | None |
| None | None | Evaluation of the potential of the marine sponges of the Zanzibar Island to yield antimalarial and antimicrobial active compounds | Said S.A., Moshi M.J., Nondo R.S.O., Masimba P.J., Innocent E., Guantai A.N. | 2010 | Tanzania Journal of Health Research | 12 | 3 | None | Institute of Marine Sciences, P.O.Box 668, Zanzibar, Tanzania; Institute of Traditional Medicine, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, P.O.Box 65001, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; School of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, University of Nairobi, P.O.Box 19676 - KNH, Nairobi, Kenya | Said, S.A., Institute of Marine Sciences, P.O.Box 668, Zanzibar, Tanzania; Moshi, M.J., Institute of Traditional Medicine, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, P.O.Box 65001, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Nondo, R.S.O., Institute of Traditional Medicine, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, P.O.Box 65001, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Masimba, P.J., Institute of Traditional Medicine, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, P.O.Box 65001, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Innocent, E., Institute of Traditional Medicine, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, P.O.Box 65001, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Guantai, A.N., School of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, University of Nairobi, P.O.Box 19676 - KNH, Nairobi, Kenya | Emergence of new and re-emergence of old infections continue to elude prospects of reducing morbidity and mortality caused by microbial infections. Trends of resistance to currently in use antimicrobials and antimalarials threaten to increase mortality caused by these infections. This study explores the potential of marine invertebrates as a source for new antimicrobials and antimalarials. The lactate dehydrogenase method was used to assay marine sponges for activity against Plasmodium falciparum, while the disc diffusion method was used to assay the extracts for antibacterial and antifungal activity. Extracts of some marine sponges from the Zanzibar Island exhibited both antiplasmodial and antimicrobial activities. Among the 55 marine sponge extracts that were tested 23 (41.8%) inhibited Plasmodium falciparum W2 strain by more than 50% at both 250 and 50 μg/ml concentrations. Moderate polar extracts were more active against Plasmodium falciparum W2 strain than polar and non-polar extracts. None of the 12 extracts that were tested on Plasmodium falciparum strain D6 exhibited inhibitory activity reaching 50%. Among 18 marine sponge extracts that were tested for antimicrobial activity 12 (66.7%) showed activity against one or more of the bacteria and fungi used ranging from weak to strong on an arbitrary criterion. The ethyl acetate extracts of Agelas mauritania and Oceanopia sp. exhibited high activity against the fungi Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans. The best antibacterial profile was exhibited by ethyl acetate extracts of Aplysinopsis sp., Halichondrida sp. 1 and Oceanopia sp. In conclusion, these results support the need for intensified efforts to search for active antimalarial and antimicrobial compounds from the Zanzibar marine sponges. | Antimalarial; Antimicrobial activity; Marine sponges; Zanzibar | acetic acid ethyl ester; Agelas mauritania extract; antifungal agent; antiinfective agent; antimalarial agent; Aplysinopsis extract; clotrimazole; gentamicin; Halichondrida extract; lactate dehydrogenase; marine sponge extract; natural product; Oceanopia extract; unclassified drug; Agelas; Agelas mauritania; antibacterial activity; antifungal activity; Aplysinopsis; article; Candida albicans; concentration response; controlled study; Cryptococcus neoformans; disk diffusion; drug determination; Halichondrida; human; human cell; invertebrate; marine species; nonhuman; Oceanopia; Plasmodium falciparum; sponge (Porifera); Tanzania | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84870060620 | Evaluating the performance of interpreting Verbal Autopsy 3.2 model for establishing pulmonary tuberculosis as a cause of death in Ethiopia: A population-based cross-sectional study | Tadesse S., Tadesse T. | 2012 | BMC Public Health | 12 | 1 | 10.1186/1471-2458-12-1039 | Institute of Public Health, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia | Tadesse, S., Institute of Public Health, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia; Tadesse, T., Institute of Public Health, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia | Background: In resource- poor settings, verbal autopsy data are often reviewed by physicians in order to assign the probable cause of death. But in addition to being time and energy consuming, the method is liable to produce inconsistent results. The aim of this study is to evaluate the performance of the InterVA 3.2 model for establishing pulmonary tuberculosis as a cause of death in comparison with physician review of verbal autopsy data. Methods. A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted from March to April, 2012. All adults aged ≥14 years and died between 01 January 2010 and 15 February 2012 were included in the study. Data were collected by using a pre-tested and modified WHO designed verbal autopsy questionnaire. The verbal autopsy interviews were reviewed by the InterVA model and the physicians. Cohen's kappa statistic, receiver operating characteristic curves, sensitivity, and specificity values were applied to compare the agreement between the InterVA model and the physician review. Results: A total of 408 adult deaths were studied. The proportion of tuberculosis-specific mortality was established to be 36.0% and 23.0% by the InterVA model and the physicians, respectively. The InterVA model predicted pulmonary tuberculosis as a cause of death with the probability of 0.80 (95% CI: 0.75-0.85). In classifying all deaths as tuberculosis and non-tuberculosis, the sensitivity and specificity values were 0.82 and 0.78, respectively. A moderate agreement was found between the model and physicians in assigning pulmonary tuberculosis as a cause of deaths [kappa= 0.5; 95% CI: (0.4-0.6)]. Conclusions: This study has revealed that the InterVA model showed a more promising result as a community-level tool for generating pulmonary tuberculosis-specific mortality data from verbal autopsy. The conclusion is believed to provide policymakers with a highly needed piece of information for allocating resources for health intervention. © 2012 Tadesse and Tadesse; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | Cause of death; Pulmonary tuberculosis; The InterVA model | adolescent; adult; aged; article; autopsy; cause of death; comparative study; cross-sectional study; Ethiopia; evaluation; female; human; lung tuberculosis; male; methodology; middle aged; mortality; reproducibility; statistical model; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Autopsy; Cause of Death; Cross-Sectional Studies; Ethiopia; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Models, Statistical; Reproducibility of Results; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary; Young Adult | None |
| None | None | Maternal and newborn healthcare providers in rural Tanzania: In-depth interviews exploring influences on motivation, performance and job satisfaction | Prytherch H., Kakoko D.C.V., Leshabari M.T., Sauerborn R., Marx M. | 2012 | Rural and Remote Health | 12 | 3 | None | Institute of Public Health, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany; School of Public Health and Social Sciences, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dares Salaam, Tanzania | Prytherch, H., Institute of Public Health, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany; Kakoko, D.C.V., School of Public Health and Social Sciences, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dares Salaam, Tanzania; Leshabari, M.T., School of Public Health and Social Sciences, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dares Salaam, Tanzania; Sauerborn, R., Institute of Public Health, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany; Marx, M., Institute of Public Health, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany | Introduction: Major improvements in maternal and neonatal health (MNH) remain elusive in Tanzania. The causes are closely related to the health system and overall human resource policy. Just 35% of the required workforce is actually in place and 43% of available staff consists of lower-level cadres such as auxiliaries. Staff motivation is also a challenge. In rural areas the problems of recruiting and retaining health staff are most pronounced. Yet, it is here that the majority of the population continues to reside. A detailed understanding of the influences on the motivation, performance and job satisfaction of providers at rural, primary level facilities was sought to inform a research project in its early stages. The providers approached were those found to be delivering MNH care on the ground, and thus include auxiliary staff. Much of the previous work on motivation has focused on defined professional groups such as physicians and nurses. While attention has recently broadened to also include mid-level providers, the views of auxiliary health workers have seldom been explored. Methods: In-depth interviews were the methodology of choice. An interview guideline was prepared with the involvement of Tanzanian psychologists, sociologists and health professionals to ensure the instrument was rooted in the socio-cultural setting of its application. Interviews were conducted with 25 MNH providers, 8 facility and district managers, and 2 policy-makers. Results: Key sources of encouragement for all the types of respondents included community appreciation, perceived government and development partner support for MNH, and on-the-job learning. Discouragements were overwhelmingly financial in nature, but also included facility understaffing and the resulting workload, malfunction of the promotion system as well as health and safety, and security issues. Low-level cadres were found to be particularly discouraged. Difficulties and weaknesses in the management of rural facilities were revealed. Basic steps that could improve performance appeared to be overlooked. Motivation was generally referred to as being fair or low. However, all types of providers derived quite a strong degree of satisfaction, of an intrinsic nature, from their work. Conclusions: The influences on MNH provider motivation, performance and satisfaction were shown to be complex and to span different levels. Variations in the use of terms and concepts pertaining to motivation were found, and further clarification is needed. Intrinsic rewards play a role in continued provider willingness to exert an effort at work. In the critical area of MNH and the rural setting many providers, particularly auxiliary staff, felt poorly supported. The causes of discouragement were broadly divided into those requiring renewed policy attention and those which could be addressed by strengthening the skills of rural facility managers, enhancing the status of their role, and increasing the support they receive from higher levels of the health system. Given the increased reliance on staff with lower-levels of training in rural areas, the importance of the latter has never been greater. Results: Key sources of encouragement for all the types of respondents included community appreciation, perceived government and development partner support for MNH, and on-the-job learning. Discouragements were overwhelmingly financial in nature, but also included facility understaffing and the resulting workload, malfunction of the promotion system as well as health and safety, and security issues. Low-level cadres were found to be particularly discouraged. Difficulties and weaknesses in the management of rural facilities were revealed. Basic steps that could improve performance appeared to be overlooked. Motivation was generally referred to as being fair or low. However, all types of providers derived quite a strong degree of satisfaction, of an intrinsic nature, from their work. Conclusions: The influences on MNH provider motivation, performance and satisfaction were shown to be complex and to span different levels. Variations in the use of terms and concepts pertaining to motivation were found, and further clarification is needed. Intrinsic rewards play a role in continued provider willingness to exert an effort at work. In the critical area of MNH and the rural setting many providers, particularly auxiliary staff, felt poorly supported. The causes of discouragement were broadly divided into those requiring renewed policy attention and those which could be addressed by strengthening the skills of rural facility managers, enhancing the status of their role, and increasing the support they receive from higher levels of the health system. Given the increased reliance on staff with lower-levels of training in rural areas, the importance of the latter has never been greater. © H Prytherch, DCV Kakoko, MT Leshabari, R Sauerborn, M Marx, 2012. | Developing countries; Health personnel; Job satisfaction; Maternal-child health services; Motivation; Tanzania | adult; article; career mobility; clinical competence; education; female; health center; health personnel attitude; health promotion; human; interview; job satisfaction; male; manpower; medical staff; methodology; middle aged; motivation; newborn; organization; organization and management; personnel management; psychological aspect; rural health care; standard; statistics; Tanzania; task performance; Adult; Attitude of Health Personnel; Career Mobility; Clinical Competence; Efficiency, Organizational; Female; Health Promotion; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Interviews as Topic; Job Satisfaction; Male; Maternal-Child Health Centers; Medical Staff, Hospital; Middle Aged; Motivation; Organizational Culture; Organizational Objectives; Rural Health Services; Staff Development; Tanzania; Task Performance and Analysis | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84877978898 | Effect of graded levels of toasted pigeon pea [Cajanus cajan (L.) millsp] seed meal diets on growth performance and carcass characteristics of Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica) | Yisa A.G., Yakubu B., Edache J.A., Danjuma M.N., Deme H.I. | 2013 | International Journal of Poultry Science | 12 | 2 | None | National Veterinary Research Institute, P.M.B. 01, Vom, Plateau State, Nigeria; Department of Animal Science, Federal University of Technology, Yola, Adamawa State, Nigeria | Yisa, A.G., National Veterinary Research Institute, P.M.B. 01, Vom, Plateau State, Nigeria; Yakubu, B., Department of Animal Science, Federal University of Technology, Yola, Adamawa State, Nigeria; Edache, J.A., National Veterinary Research Institute, P.M.B. 01, Vom, Plateau State, Nigeria; Danjuma, M.N., National Veterinary Research Institute, P.M.B. 01, Vom, Plateau State, Nigeria; Deme, H.I., National Veterinary Research Institute, P.M.B. 01, Vom, Plateau State, Nigeria | A five week study was conducted to determine the effect of graded levels of toasted pigeon pea on growth performance and carcass characteristics of Japanese quail chicks. In a completely randomized design, three hundred unsexed, seven day old Japanese quails used for the study were divided into four groups of seventy five birds each. Each group was divided into three replicates of twenty five birds. Four isonitrogenous (24%CP) diets incorporating graded levels (0, 10, 20 and 30%) of toasted pigeon pea were evaluated. Average daily feed intake (18.62, 19.68, 19.58 and 20.29 g), Feed conversion ratio (4.87, 5.13, 5.36 and 5.38) and feed cost (Naira) per bird (38.34, 40.86, 41.46 and 43.57) increased (p<0.05) with increasing levels of dietary toasted pigeon pea inclusion. However, average daily weight gain (3.82, 3.83, 3.65 and 3.77 g) and dressing percentages (59.53, 61.91, 58.89 and 61.92) and percentage of breast to live weight were statistically similar (p>0.05) for all the treatments respectively. The back, wings, thighs and drumsticks were affected (p<0.05) by levels of toasted pigeon pea inclusion. By this study, pigeon pea may be included in diets of Japanese quails by not more than 10% for optimum growth and cost effective feeding. © Asian Network for Scientific Information, 2013. | Carcass characteristics; Growth performance; Japanese quails; Toasted pigeon pea | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84864375259 | Evidence-based monitoring and evaluation of the faith-based approach to HIV prevention among Christian and Muslim youth in Wakiso district in Uganda | Kagimu M., Kaye S., Ainomugisha D., Lutalo I., Walakira Y., Guwatudde D., Rwabukwali C. | 2012 | African Health Sciences | 12 | 2 | 10.4314/ahs.v12i2.7 | Islamic Medical Association of Uganda, Uganda; Makerere University School of Public Health, Uganda; Department of Medicine, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Uganda; Department of Sociology, Makerere University, Uganda; Makerere University School of Public Health, Uganda | Kagimu, M., Islamic Medical Association of Uganda, Uganda, Makerere University School of Public Health, Uganda, Department of Medicine, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Uganda; Kaye, S., Islamic Medical Association of Uganda, Uganda, Makerere University School of Public Health, Uganda; Ainomugisha, D., Islamic Medical Association of Uganda, Uganda; Lutalo, I., Makerere University School of Public Health, Uganda; Walakira, Y., Islamic Medical Association of Uganda, Uganda; Guwatudde, D., Makerere University School of Public Health, Uganda; Rwabukwali, C., Department of Sociology, Makerere University, Uganda | Background: The Islamic Medical Association of Uganda, has been implementing the faith-based approach to HIV prevention without baseline data on expected positive outcomes. Objectives: To establish evidence-based baseline data on expected positive outcomes of the faith-based approach to HIV prevention. Methods: A cross-sectional study of 15-24 year-old youths was analyzed for significant associations between HIV infections, risky behaviors, and religiosity. Results: HIV prevalence was 3.6% among Christians and 2.4% among Muslims. Abstaining from sex among teenagers was at 54% for Christians and 58% for Muslims. Being faithful in marriage among males was at 41% for Christians and 34% for Muslims and among females it was 65% for Christians and 69% for Muslims. Praying privately was associated with lower HIV infections and was observed among 60% of Christians. Sujda, the hyperpigmented marker of regular prayers on the forehead of Muslims was associated with lower HIV infections and observed in 42% of them. Ever drank alcohol was associated with higher HIV prevalence and observed in 52% of Christians and 17% of Muslims. Male circumcision rates were 15% for Christians and 98% for Muslims. Conclusion: A sero-behavioral-religiosity survey can provide evidence-based data for monitoring and evaluation of the faith-based approach to HIV prevention. | Christians; Evidence-based; Faith-based approach; HIV prevention; Monitoring and evaluation; Muslims | adolescent; adult; article; christian; circumcision; cross-sectional study; disease association; drinking behavior; evaluation; evidence based practice; female; health survey; high risk behavior; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; juvenile; male; marriage; monitoring; moslem; outcome assessment; prevalence; religion; sexual behavior; Uganda; Adolescent; Christianity; Confidence Intervals; Cross-Sectional Studies; Evidence-Based Medicine; Female; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; HIV Infections; Humans; Islam; Male; Prevalence; Questionnaires; Religion; Religion and Sex; Risk Factors; Risk-Taking; Self Report; Sexual Behavior; Sexual Partners; Socioeconomic Factors; Uganda; Young Adult | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-78349305507 | Does plot size affect the performance of GIS-based species distribution models? | Pandit S.N., Hayward A., de Leeuw J., Kolasa J. | 2010 | Journal of Geographical Systems | 12 | 4 | 10.1007/s10109-010-0106-8 | ITC, International Institute for Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation, P. O. Box 6, 7500AA Enschede, Netherlands; Department of Biology, McMaster University, 1280 Main St West, Hamilton, ON L8S4K1, Canada; Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, 1350 Oxford St, Halifax, NS B3H 4J1, Canada; Department of Biology, University of Florida, P. O. Box 118525, Gainesville, FL, United States; International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), P. O. Box 30709, 00100 Nairobi, Kenya; Department of Biological Sciences, University of Windsor, 401 Sunset Ave, Windsor, ON N9B 3P4, Canada | Pandit, S.N., ITC, International Institute for Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation, P. O. Box 6, 7500AA Enschede, Netherlands, Department of Biology, McMaster University, 1280 Main St West, Hamilton, ON L8S4K1, Canada, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Windsor, 401 Sunset Ave, Windsor, ON N9B 3P4, Canada; Hayward, A., Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, 1350 Oxford St, Halifax, NS B3H 4J1, Canada, Department of Biology, University of Florida, P. O. Box 118525, Gainesville, FL, United States; de Leeuw, J., ITC, International Institute for Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation, P. O. Box 6, 7500AA Enschede, Netherlands, International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), P. O. Box 30709, 00100 Nairobi, Kenya; Kolasa, J., Department of Biology, McMaster University, 1280 Main St West, Hamilton, ON L8S4K1, Canada | Species distribution models are used extensively in predicting the distribution of vegetation across a landscape. Accuracy of the species distribution maps produced by these models deserves attention, since low accuracy maps may lead to erroneous conservation decisions. While plot size is known to influence measures of species richness, its effect on our ability to predict species distribution ranges has not been tested. Our aim is to test whether the accuracy of the distribution maps produced depend on the size of the plot (quadrat) used to collect biological data in the field. In this study, the presences of four plant species were recorded in five sizes of circular plots, with radii ranging from 8 to 100 m. Logistic regression-based models were used to predict the distributions of the four plant species based on empirical evidence of their relationship with eight environmental predictors: distance to river, slope, aspect, altitude, and four principle component axes derived using reflectance values from Aster images. We found that plot size affected the probability of recording the four species, with reductions in plot size generally increasing the frequency of recorded absences. Plot size also significantly affected the likelihood of correctly predicting the distribution of species whenever plot size was below the minimum size required to consistently record species' presence. Furthermore, the optimal plot size for fitting species distribution models varied among species. Finally, plot size had little impact on overall accuracy, but a strong, positive impact on Kappa accuracy (which provides a stronger measure of model accuracy by accounting for the effects of chance agreements between predictions and observations). Our results suggest that optimal plot size must be considered explicitly in the creation of species distribution models if they are to be successfully adopted into conservation efforts. © 2010 Springer-Verlag. | Kappa; Logistic regression models; Map accuracy; Namibia; Species distribution; Species frequency curve | environmental factor; GIS; mapping; numerical model; regression analysis; spatial distribution; species richness; vegetation; Namibia | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84891802809 | In vivo antirabies activity evaluation of hydroethanolic extract of roots and leaves of Phytolacca dodecandra | Admasu P., Deressa A., Mengistu A., Gebrewold G., Feyera T. | 2014 | Global Veterinaria | 12 | 1 | 10.5829/idosi.gv.2014.12.01.81150 | Jigjiga University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Ethiopia; Ethiopian Health and Nutrition Research Institute (EHNRI), Ethiopia | Admasu, P., Jigjiga University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Ethiopia; Deressa, A., Ethiopian Health and Nutrition Research Institute (EHNRI), Ethiopia; Mengistu, A., Ethiopian Health and Nutrition Research Institute (EHNRI), Ethiopia; Gebrewold, G., Ethiopian Health and Nutrition Research Institute (EHNRI), Ethiopia; Feyera, T., Jigjiga University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Ethiopia | The study was undertaken to evaluate antirabies activity of hydroethanolic extract of roots and leaves of Phytolacca dodecandra (L' Herit) (Phytolaccaceae), one of the widely used plants for traditional treatment of rabies in humans and animals in Ethiopia, by using mice model. The antirabies activity of both parts of plant extract in the doses of 300, 600 and 1000 mg/kg were compared with negative control based on the difference in survival rate and period (days) of group of mice challenged with rabies virus (CVS-11). The result showed that all doses of roots and 300 and 600 mg/kg doses of leaves of the plant extract didn't significantly (P>0.05) increase the survival period of mice compared to negative control group and significant (P<0.05) survival period decrement was obtained compared to both positive control groups. However, 1000 mg/kg dose of leaves of the plant extract was significantly (P<0.05) increased the survival period of mice as compared to their respective negative control group. The finding indicated the existence of some antirabies activity in extract of leaves of P. dodecandra at higher dose, for which further research is needed to elucidate its active ingredients. © IDOSI Publications, 2014. | Antirabies; Hydroethanolic extract; In vivo; Phytolacca dodecandra | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84861847252 | Impact on postpartum hemorrhage of prophylactic administration of oxytocin 10 IU via Uniject™ by peripheral health care providers at home births: Design of a community-based cluster-randomized trial | Stanton C.K., Newton S., Mullany L.C., Cofie P., Agyemang C.T., Adiibokah E., Darcy N., Khan S., Levisay A., Gyapong J., Armbruster D., Owusu-Agyei S. | 2012 | BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth | 12 | None | 10.1186/1471-2393-12-42 | Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States; Kintampo Health Research Centre, Kintampo, Ghana; PATH, Accra, Ghana; Research Triangle Institute, Research Triangle, North Carolina, United States; PATH, Seattle, WA, United States; University of Ghana, Formerly of Ghana Health Service, Health Research Unit, Accra, Ghana; United States Agency for International Development, Formerly of PATH, Washington, DC, United States | Stanton, C.K., Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States; Newton, S., Kintampo Health Research Centre, Kintampo, Ghana; Mullany, L.C., Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States; Cofie, P., PATH, Accra, Ghana; Agyemang, C.T., Kintampo Health Research Centre, Kintampo, Ghana; Adiibokah, E., Kintampo Health Research Centre, Kintampo, Ghana; Darcy, N., Research Triangle Institute, Research Triangle, North Carolina, United States; Khan, S., PATH, Seattle, WA, United States; Levisay, A., PATH, Seattle, WA, United States; Gyapong, J., University of Ghana, Formerly of Ghana Health Service, Health Research Unit, Accra, Ghana; Armbruster, D., United States Agency for International Development, Formerly of PATH, Washington, DC, United States; Owusu-Agyei, S., Kintampo Health Research Centre, Kintampo, Ghana | Background: Hemorrhage is the leading direct cause of maternal death globally. While oxytocin is the drug of choice for postpartum hemorrhage prevention, its use has generally been limited to health facilities. This trial assesses the effectiveness, safety, and feasibility of expanding the use of prophylactic intramuscular oxytocin to peripheral health care providers at home births in four predominantly rural districts in central Ghana.Methods: This study is designed as a community-based cluster-randomized trial in which Community Health Officers are randomized to provide (or not provide) an injection of oxytocin 10 IU via the Uniject™ injection system within one minute of delivery of the baby to women who request their presence at home at the onset of labor. The primary aim is to determine if administration of prophylactic oxytocin via Uniject™ by this cadre will reduce the risk of postpartum hemorrhage by 50 % relative to deliveries which do not receive the prophylactic intervention. Postpartum hemorrhage is examined under three sequential definitions: 1) blood loss ≥500 ml (BL); 2) treatment for bleeding (TX) and/or BL; 3) hospital referral for bleeding and/or TX and/or BL. Secondary outcomes address safety and feasibility of the intervention and include adverse maternal and fetal outcomes and logistical concerns regarding assistance at home births and the storage and handling of oxytocin, respectively.Discussion: Results from this trial will build evidence for the effectiveness of expanding the delivery of this established prophylactic intervention to peripheral settings. Complementary data on safety and logistical issues related to this intervention will assist policymakers in low-income countries in selecting both the best uterotonic and service delivery strategy for postpartum hemorrhage prevention. Results of this trial are expected in mid-2013. The trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01108289. © 2012 Stanton et al. licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | Oxytocin; Postpartum hemorrhage; Randomized trial; Uterotonics | oxytocin; article; clinical effectiveness; controlled study; female; fetus outcome; follow up; Ghana; home delivery; human; labor onset; maternal care; outcome assessment; patient safety; postpartum hemorrhage; prophylaxis; randomized controlled trial; risk factor; rural area; Blood Volume; Community Health Workers; Drug Storage; Female; Ghana; Home Childbirth; Humans; Oxytocics; Oxytocin; Postpartum Hemorrhage; Pregnancy; Research Design | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84949199757 | Impact of heat and cold on total and cause-specific mortality in Vadu HDSS—A rural setting in Western India | Ingole V., Rocklöv J., Juvekar S., Schumann B. | 2015 | International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health | 12 | 12 | 10.3390/ijerph121214980 | KEM Hospital Research Centre, Pune, India; Epidemiology and Global Health, Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden; INDEPTH Network, Accra, Ghana; Centre for Demographic and Ageing Research, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden | Ingole, V., KEM Hospital Research Centre, Pune, India, Epidemiology and Global Health, Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden, INDEPTH Network, Accra, Ghana; Rocklöv, J., Epidemiology and Global Health, Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden; Juvekar, S., KEM Hospital Research Centre, Pune, India, INDEPTH Network, Accra, Ghana; Schumann, B., Epidemiology and Global Health, Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden, Centre for Demographic and Ageing Research, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden | Many diseases are affected by changes in weather. There have been limited studies, however, which have examined the relationship between heat and cold and cause-specific mortality in low and middle-income countries. In this study, we aimed to estimate the effects of heat and cold days on total and cause-specific mortality in the Vadu Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS) area in western India. We used a quasi-Poisson regression model allowing for over-dispersion to examine the association of total and cause-specific mortality with extreme high (98th percentile, >39 °C) and low temprature (2nd percentile, <25 °C) over the period January 2003 to December 2012. Delays of 0 and 0–4 days were considered and relative risks (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. Heat was significantly associated with daily deaths by non-infectious diseases (RR = 1.57; CI: 1.18–2.10). There was an increase in the risk of total mortality in the age group 12–59 years on lag 0 day (RR = 1.43; CI: 1.02–1.99). A high increase in total mortality was observed among men at lag 0 day (RR = 1.38; CI: 1.05–1.83). We did not find any short-term association between total and cause-specific mortality and cold days. Deaths from neither infectious nor external causes were associated with heat or cold. Our results showed a strong and rather immediate relationship between high temperatures and non-infectious disease mortality in a rural population located in western India, during 2003–2012. This study may be used to develop targeted interventions such as Heat Early Warning Systems in the area to reduce mortality from extreme temperatures. © 2015 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. | Cause-specific mortality; Cold; Heat; India; Mortality; Temperature | extreme event; mortality risk; public health; rural population; temperature effect; weather; acute kidney failure; adolescent; adult; age distribution; amebiasis; Article; asthma; autopsy; cause of death; cerebrovascular accident; child; disease surveillance; environmental temperature; female; gastroenteritis; geographic distribution; health and demographic surveillance system; health care survey; heart infarction; human; human tissue; India; ischemic heart disease; male; mortality; population research; population risk; risk factor; rural area; sepsis; India | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84875308220 | Misclassification of Plasmodium infections by conventional microscopy and the impact of remedial training on the proficiency of laboratory technicians in species identification | Obare P., Ogutu B., Adams M., Odera J.S., Lilley K., Dosoo D., Adhiambo C., Owusu-Agyei S., Binka F., Wanja E., Johnson J. | 2013 | Malaria Journal | 12 | 1 | 10.1186/1475-2875-12-113 | Kenya Medical Research Institute, United States Army Medical Research Unit, Kenya, Malaria Diagnostics Centre, Box 54, 40100, Kisumu, Kenya; Kintampo Health Research Center, Box 200, Kintampo, Brong Ahafo Region, Ghana; Australian Army Malaria Institute, Weary Dunlop Drive, Enoggera, QLD 4051, Australia; Malaria Clinical Trials Alliance, INDEPTH-Network, Box 213, Kanda, Accra, Ghana | Obare, P., Kenya Medical Research Institute, United States Army Medical Research Unit, Kenya, Malaria Diagnostics Centre, Box 54, 40100, Kisumu, Kenya; Ogutu, B., Kenya Medical Research Institute, United States Army Medical Research Unit, Kenya, Malaria Diagnostics Centre, Box 54, 40100, Kisumu, Kenya, Malaria Clinical Trials Alliance, INDEPTH-Network, Box 213, Kanda, Accra, Ghana; Adams, M., Kintampo Health Research Center, Box 200, Kintampo, Brong Ahafo Region, Ghana; Odera, J.S., Kenya Medical Research Institute, United States Army Medical Research Unit, Kenya, Malaria Diagnostics Centre, Box 54, 40100, Kisumu, Kenya; Lilley, K., Australian Army Malaria Institute, Weary Dunlop Drive, Enoggera, QLD 4051, Australia; Dosoo, D., Kintampo Health Research Center, Box 200, Kintampo, Brong Ahafo Region, Ghana; Adhiambo, C., Kenya Medical Research Institute, United States Army Medical Research Unit, Kenya, Malaria Diagnostics Centre, Box 54, 40100, Kisumu, Kenya; Owusu-Agyei, S., Kintampo Health Research Center, Box 200, Kintampo, Brong Ahafo Region, Ghana; Binka, F., Malaria Clinical Trials Alliance, INDEPTH-Network, Box 213, Kanda, Accra, Ghana; Wanja, E., Kenya Medical Research Institute, United States Army Medical Research Unit, Kenya, Malaria Diagnostics Centre, Box 54, 40100, Kisumu, Kenya; Johnson, J., Kenya Medical Research Institute, United States Army Medical Research Unit, Kenya, Malaria Diagnostics Centre, Box 54, 40100, Kisumu, Kenya | Background: Malaria diagnosis is largely dependent on the demonstration of parasites in stained blood films by conventional microscopy. Accurate identification of the infecting Plasmodium species relies on detailed examination of parasite morphological characteristics, such as size, shape, pigment granules, besides the size and shape of the parasitized red blood cells and presence of cell inclusions. This work explores misclassifications of four Plasmodium species by conventional microscopy relative to the proficiency of microscopists and morphological characteristics of the parasites on Giemsa-stained blood films. Case description. Ten-day malaria microscopy remedial courses on parasite detection, species identification and parasite counting were conducted for public health and research laboratory personnel. Proficiency in species identification was assessed at the start (pre) and the end (post) of each course using known blood films of Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium malariae, Plasmodium ovale and Plasmodium vivax infections with densities ranging from 1,000 to 30,000 parasites/μL. Outcomes were categorized as false negative, positive without speciation, P. falciparum, P. malariae, P. ovale, P. vivax and mixed infections. Discussion and evaluation. Reported findings are based on 1,878 P. falciparum, 483 P. malariae, 581 P. ovale and 438 P. vivax cumulative results collated from 2008 to 2010 remedial courses. Pre-training false negative and positive misclassifications without speciation were significantly lower on P. falciparum infections compared to non-falciparum infections (p < 0.0001). Post-training misclassifications decreased significantly compared to pre- training misclassifications which in turn led to significant improvements in the identification of the four species. However, P. falciparum infections were highly misclassified as mixed infections, P. ovale misclassified as P. vivax and P. vivax similarly misclassified as P. ovale (p < 0.05). Conclusion: These findings suggest that the misclassification of malaria species could be a common occurrence especially where non-falciparum infections are involved due to lack of requisite skills in microscopic diagnosis and variations in morphological characteristics within and between Plasmodium species. Remedial training might improve reliability of conventional light microscopy with respect to differentiation of Plasmodium infections. © 2013 Obare et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | Microscopy; Misclassification; Morphology; Species; Training | article; classification; density; false negative result; false positive result; Giemsa stain; good laboratory practice; laboratory personnel; malaria; malaria falciparum; microscopy; mixed infection; morphology; nonhuman; Plasmodium; Plasmodium falciparum; Plasmodium malariae; Plasmodium malariae infection; Plasmodium ovale; Plasmodium ovale malaria; Plasmodium vivax; Plasmodium vivax malaria; species identification; Diagnostic Errors; Education, Medical, Continuing; Humans; Laboratory Personnel; Malaria; Microscopy; Parasitology; Plasmodium; Professional Competence; Staining and Labeling | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84884357815 | Impact of vitamin A with zinc supplementation on malaria morbidity in Ghana | Owusu-Agyei S., Newton S., Mahama E., Febir L.G., Ali M., Adjei K., Tchum K., Alhassan L., Moleah T., Tanumihardjo S.A. | 2013 | Nutrition Journal | 12 | 1 | 10.1186/1475-2891-12-131 | Kintampo Health Research Centre (KHRC), Ghana Health Service, P.O.Box 200Kintampo, Brong-Ahafo Region, Ghana; International Atomic Energy Agency, P O Box 100, A-1400, Vienna, Austria; Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Wisconsin, Madison, United States | Owusu-Agyei, S., Kintampo Health Research Centre (KHRC), Ghana Health Service, P.O.Box 200Kintampo, Brong-Ahafo Region, Ghana; Newton, S., Kintampo Health Research Centre (KHRC), Ghana Health Service, P.O.Box 200Kintampo, Brong-Ahafo Region, Ghana; Mahama, E., Kintampo Health Research Centre (KHRC), Ghana Health Service, P.O.Box 200Kintampo, Brong-Ahafo Region, Ghana; Febir, L.G., Kintampo Health Research Centre (KHRC), Ghana Health Service, P.O.Box 200Kintampo, Brong-Ahafo Region, Ghana; Ali, M., Kintampo Health Research Centre (KHRC), Ghana Health Service, P.O.Box 200Kintampo, Brong-Ahafo Region, Ghana; Adjei, K., Kintampo Health Research Centre (KHRC), Ghana Health Service, P.O.Box 200Kintampo, Brong-Ahafo Region, Ghana; Tchum, K., Kintampo Health Research Centre (KHRC), Ghana Health Service, P.O.Box 200Kintampo, Brong-Ahafo Region, Ghana; Alhassan, L., Kintampo Health Research Centre (KHRC), Ghana Health Service, P.O.Box 200Kintampo, Brong-Ahafo Region, Ghana; Moleah, T., International Atomic Energy Agency, P O Box 100, A-1400, Vienna, Austria; Tanumihardjo, S.A., Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Wisconsin, Madison, United States | Background: Malaria is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among young children and is estimated to cause at least 1 million deaths each year especially among pregnant women and young children under the age of five years. Vitamin A supplementation is known to reduce morbidity and mortality in young children. Zinc is required for growth and immunity and we sought to replicate the study by Zeba et al. which showed 30% lower cases of clinical malaria in children on a combination of zinc and a large dose of vitamin A compared with children on vitamin A alone based on the hypothesis that combined vitamin A and zinc reduced symptomatic malaria compared to vitamin A alone. Objectives. The primary objective was to determine the effect of vitamin A alone vs. vitamin A and zinc supplements on the incidence of clinical malaria and other anthropometric indices. It also sought to assess the effects on the incidence of anaemia, diarrhoea and pneumonia. Methods. The study was community-based and 200 children between the ages of 6-24 months were randomised to receive either vitamin A (100,000 IU for infants less than 12 months & 200,000 IU for children greater than 12 months and 10 mg daily zinc in the intervention group or vitamin A and zinc placebo for 6 months in the control group. Results: The number of children who were diagnosed with uncomplicated malaria in the intervention group was 27% significantly lower compared with the children in the control group (p = 0.03). There were, however, no effects on severe malaria, pneumonia, anaemia and diarrhea. Conclusions: Our study confirms a significant role of vitamin A and zinc in reducing malaria morbidity. © 2013 Owusu-Agyei et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | Malaria; Morbidity; MRDR; Vitamin A; Zinc | gluconate zinc; hemoglobin; placebo; retinol; anemia; anthropometry; article; atomic absorption spectrometry; blood sampling; child; controlled study; demography; diarrhea; double blind procedure; female; follow up; Ghana; hemoglobin determination; human; incidence; infant; major clinical study; malaria; male; morbidity; pneumonia; preschool child; social status; venous blood; vitamin supplementation; zinc blood level; Anemia; Child Development; Child, Preschool; Developing Countries; Diarrhea; Dietary Supplements; Female; Ghana; Humans; Incidence; Infant; Longitudinal Studies; Lost to Follow-Up; Malaria; Male; Morbidity; Patient Compliance; Pneumonia; Rural Health; Severity of Illness Index; Vitamin A; Zinc | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84867687853 | Comparative reproductive and growth performance of Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822) and its hybrid induced with synthetic hormone and pituitary land of Clarias gariepinus | Ndimele P.E., Owodeinde F.G. | 2012 | Turkish Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences | 12 | 3 | 10.4194/1303-2712-v12_3_09 | Lagos State University, Faculty of Science, Department of Fisheries, Environmental Toxicology and Ecological Restoration, Ojo, Lagos, Nigeria | Ndimele, P.E., Lagos State University, Faculty of Science, Department of Fisheries, Environmental Toxicology and Ecological Restoration, Ojo, Lagos, Nigeria; Owodeinde, F.G., Lagos State University, Faculty of Science, Department of Fisheries, Environmental Toxicology and Ecological Restoration, Ojo, Lagos, Nigeria | A study was conducted to determine the comparative reproductive, growth performances and nutrient utilization of Clarias gariepinus and its hybrid "heteroclarias" using ovaprim and pituitary extract of male and female C. gariepinus. The experimental broodstocks consisted of 6 female C. gariepinus (2 each were induced separately with ovaprim, male pituitary of C. gariepinus and female pituitary of C. gariepinus), 3 male C. gariepinus and 3 male Heterobranchus bidorsalis. 2 female C. gariepinus induced with synthetic hormone were crossed separately with male C. gariepinus and male H. bidorsalis. A similar crossing was done for the other two sets of female C. gariepinus induced with male and female pituitary glands. The result shows that there was significant difference (P<0.05) among the treatments in all the reproductive performance, growth and nutrient utilization parameters. The highest percentage fertilization (88.44±5.74%), feed intake (27.48±7.08g), protein intake (15.39±3.96g), feed conversion ratio (1.21±0.12) and protein efficiency ratio (1.68±0.19) were recorded in pure line C. gariepinus induced with ovaprim. Pure breed C. gariepinus also had the highest values in all the reproductive performance and growth parameters. This study has shown that C. gariepinus induced with synthetic hormone (ovaprim) produce offspring with better qualities than those induced with pituitary. © Published by Central Fisheries Research Institute (CFRI) Trabzon, Turkey. | Catfish; Growth parameters; Nutrient utilization; Ovaprim; Pituitary extract | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84905924571 | The impact of HIV/SRH service integration on workload: Analysis from the Integra Initiative in two African settings | Sweeney S., Obure C.D., Terris-Prestholt F., Darsamo V., Michaels-Igbokwe C., Muketo E., Nhlabatsi Z., Warren C., Mayhew S., Watts C., Vassall A. | 2014 | Human Resources for Health | 12 | 1 | None | London School of Hygiene and oTropical Medicine, 15-17 Tavistock Place, London, United Kingdom; Population Council, Washington, DC, United States; Family Health Options Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya; Family Life Association of Swaziland, Manzini, Swaziland | Sweeney, S., London School of Hygiene and oTropical Medicine, 15-17 Tavistock Place, London, United Kingdom; Obure, C.D., London School of Hygiene and oTropical Medicine, 15-17 Tavistock Place, London, United Kingdom; Terris-Prestholt, F., London School of Hygiene and oTropical Medicine, 15-17 Tavistock Place, London, United Kingdom; Darsamo, V., London School of Hygiene and oTropical Medicine, 15-17 Tavistock Place, London, United Kingdom; Michaels-Igbokwe, C., London School of Hygiene and oTropical Medicine, 15-17 Tavistock Place, London, United Kingdom; Muketo, E., Family Health Options Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya; Nhlabatsi, Z., Family Life Association of Swaziland, Manzini, Swaziland; Warren, C., Population Council, Washington, DC, United States; Mayhew, S., London School of Hygiene and oTropical Medicine, 15-17 Tavistock Place, London, United Kingdom; Watts, C., London School of Hygiene and oTropical Medicine, 15-17 Tavistock Place, London, United Kingdom; Vassall, A., London School of Hygiene and oTropical Medicine, 15-17 Tavistock Place, London, United Kingdom | Background: There is growing interest in integration of HIV and sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services as a way to improve the efficiency of human resources (HR) for health in low- and middle-income countries. Although this is supported by a wealth of evidence on the acceptability and clinical effectiveness of service integration, there is little evidence on whether staff in general health services can easily absorb HIV services.Methods: We conducted a descriptive analysis of HR integration through task shifting/sharing and staff workload in the context of the Integra Initiative - a large-scale five-year evaluation of HIV/SRH integration. We describe the level, characteristics and changes in HR integration in the context of wider efforts to integrate HIV/SRH, and explore the impact of HR integration on staff workload.Results: Improvements in the range of services provided by staff (HR integration) were more likely to be achieved in facilities which also improved other elements of integration. While there was no overall relationship between integration and workload at the facility level, HIV/SRH integration may be most influential on staff workload for provider-initiated HIV testing and counselling (PITC) and postnatal care (PNC) services, particularly where HIV care and treatment services are being supported with extra SRH/HIV staffing. Our findings therefore suggest that there may be potential for further efficiency gains through integration, but overall the pace of improvement is slow.Conclusions: This descriptive analysis explores the effect of HIV/SRH integration on staff workload through economies of scale and scope in high- and medium-HIV prevalence settings. We find some evidence to suggest that there is potential to improve productivity through integration, but, at the same time, significant challenges are being faced, with the pace of productivity gain slow. We recommend that efforts to implement integration are assessed in the broader context of HR planning to ensure that neither staff nor patients are negatively impacted by integration policy. © 2014 Sweeney et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | Economics; HIV; Human resources; Integration; SRH; Staff time | Africa; community care; counseling; developing country; female; health service; human; Human immunodeficiency virus; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; income; integrated health care system; male; manpower; postnatal care; qualitative research; reproductive health; work; workload; Africa; Community Health Services; Counseling; Delivery of Health Care, Integrated; Developing Countries; Female; HIV; HIV Infections; Humans; Income; Male; Postnatal Care; Qualitative Research; Reproductive Health; Reproductive Health Services; Work; Workload | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-78049292361 | History of phosphorus fertilizer usage and its impact on the agronomic phosphorus status of sugarcane soils in Mauritius | Mardamootoo T., Ng Kee Kwong K.F., Du Preez C.C. | 2010 | Sugar Tech | 12 | 2 | 10.1007/s12355-010-0019-3 | Mauritius Sugar Industry Research Institute, Réduit, Mauritius; Department of Soil, Crop and Climate Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa | Mardamootoo, T., Mauritius Sugar Industry Research Institute, Réduit, Mauritius; Ng Kee Kwong, K.F., Mauritius Sugar Industry Research Institute, Réduit, Mauritius; Du Preez, C.C., Mauritius Sugar Industry Research Institute, Réduit, Mauritius, Department of Soil, Crop and Climate Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa | The intensive use of phosphorus (P) fertilizers during more than 100 years of sugarcane production in Mauritius is believed to have built up the P status of the soils to excessive levels. Hence there may be a scope for reducing P fertilizer usage in order to lessen production costs in sugarcane cultivation and alleviate its hazard to surface water quality. A review of P fertilizer usage in sugarcane showed that the amount of P fertilizer used by the sugarcane industry rose from 790 tons P 2O 5 (mainly as rock/guano phosphates) in the early 20 th century to a peak of 5 675 tons P 2O 5 in the 1970s before declining thereafter to 3 350 tons P 2O 5 in 2008, mainly in the form of ammonium phosphates. The currently adopted 0.1M H 2SO 4 extraction method was used to assess soil P available in the sugarcane soils. Soil test P data showed that in 2005/2006, 36% of the land still required P fertilization (P < 80 mg kg -1) while approximately 52% had an excess of P (P ≥ 100 mg kg -1). Fields with excessive P belong to all soil groups and can be encountered throughout the island. Less than 15% of the soils had an optimum soil P (80 ≤ P < 100 mg kg -1). With only 31% of the soils having a highly excessive P status (P ≥ 150 mg kg -1), this study indicates the belief that past P fertilization had invariably led to an excessive soil P status in Mauritius is unfounded. Also variation in soil P status as a result of differences in management between small and large planters could also not be discerned. © 2010 Society for Sugar Research & Promotion. | Extractable phosphorus; phosphorus deficiency; phosphorus pollution; sugarcane growers | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79951553023 | Genetic monitoring detects an overlooked cryptic species and reveals the diversity and distribution of three invasive Rattus congeners in south Africa | Bastos A.D., Nair D., Taylor P.J., Brettschneider H., Kirsten F., Mostert E., von Maltitz E., Lamb J.M., van Hooft P., Belmain S.R., Contrafatto G., Downs S., Chimimba C.T. | 2011 | BMC Genetics | 12 | None | 10.1186/1471-2156-12-26 | Mammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Private Bag 20, Hatfield 0028, Pretoria, South Africa; DST-NRF Centre of Excellence for Invasion Biology (CIB), Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa; School of Biological and Conservation Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, University Road, Westville, KwaZulu-Natal, 3629, South Africa; Department of Ecology and Resource Management, School of Environmental Sciences, University of Venda, P/Bag X5050, Thohoyandou 0950, South Africa; ARC-Plant Protection Research Institute, Private Bag X134, Queenswood 0121, South Africa; Resource Ecology Group, Wageningen University, Droevendaalsesteeg 3a, 6708 PB Wageningen, Netherlands; Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich, Kent ME4 4TB, United Kingdom | Bastos, A.D., Mammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Private Bag 20, Hatfield 0028, Pretoria, South Africa, DST-NRF Centre of Excellence for Invasion Biology (CIB), Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa; Nair, D., School of Biological and Conservation Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, University Road, Westville, KwaZulu-Natal, 3629, South Africa; Taylor, P.J., Department of Ecology and Resource Management, School of Environmental Sciences, University of Venda, P/Bag X5050, Thohoyandou 0950, South Africa; Brettschneider, H., Mammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Private Bag 20, Hatfield 0028, Pretoria, South Africa; Kirsten, F., ARC-Plant Protection Research Institute, Private Bag X134, Queenswood 0121, South Africa; Mostert, E., Mammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Private Bag 20, Hatfield 0028, Pretoria, South Africa, DST-NRF Centre of Excellence for Invasion Biology (CIB), Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa; von Maltitz, E., ARC-Plant Protection Research Institute, Private Bag X134, Queenswood 0121, South Africa; Lamb, J.M., School of Biological and Conservation Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, University Road, Westville, KwaZulu-Natal, 3629, South Africa; van Hooft, P., Mammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Private Bag 20, Hatfield 0028, Pretoria, South Africa, Resource Ecology Group, Wageningen University, Droevendaalsesteeg 3a, 6708 PB Wageningen, Netherlands; Belmain, S.R., Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich, Kent ME4 4TB, United Kingdom; Contrafatto, G., School of Biological and Conservation Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, University Road, Westville, KwaZulu-Natal, 3629, South Africa; Downs, S., School of Biological and Conservation Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, University Road, Westville, KwaZulu-Natal, 3629, South Africa; Chimimba, C.T., Mammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Private Bag 20, Hatfield 0028, Pretoria, South Africa, DST-NRF Centre of Excellence for Invasion Biology (CIB), Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa | Background: South Africa's long and extensive trade activity has ensured ample opportunities for exotic species introduction. Whereas the rich biodiversity of endemic southern African fauna has been the focus of many studies, invasive vertebrates are generally overlooked despite potential impacts on biodiversity, health and agriculture. Genetic monitoring of commensal rodents in South Africa which uncovered the presence of Rattus tanezumi, a South-East Asian endemic not previously known to occur in Africa, provided the impetus for expanded studies on all invasive Rattus species present.Results: To this end, intensified sampling at 28 South African localities and at one site in Swaziland, identified 149 Rattus specimens. Cytochrome b gene sequencing revealed the presence of two R. tanezumi, seven Rattus rattus and five Rattus norvegicus haplotypes in south Africa. Phylogenetic results were consistent with a single, recent R. tanezumi introduction and indicated that R. norvegicus and R. rattus probably became established following at least two and three independent introductions, respectively. Intra- and inter-specific diversity was highest in informal human settlements, with all three species occurring at a single metropolitan township site. Rattus norvegicus and R. rattus each occurred sympatrically with Rattus tanezumi at one and five sites, respectively. Karyotyping of selected R. rattus and R. tanezumi individuals identified diploid numbers consistent with those reported previously for these cryptic species. Ordination of bioclimatic variables and MaxEnt ecological niche modelling confirmed that the bioclimatic niche occupied by R. tanezumi in south Africa was distinct from that occupied in its naturalised range in south-east Asia suggesting that factors other than climate may influence the distribution of this species.Conclusions: This study has highlighted the value of genetic typing for detecting cryptic invasive species, providing historical insights into introductions and for directing future sampling. The apparent ease with which a cryptic species can become established signals the need for broader implementation of genetic monitoring programmes. In addition to providing baseline data and potentially identifying high-risk introduction routes, the predictive power of ecological niche modelling is enhanced when species records are genetically verified. © 2011 Bastos et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | None | article; biodiversity; climate; diploidy; ecological niche; gene sequence; genetic identification; genetic variability; genetics; haplotype; karyotype; monitoring; nonhuman; nucleotide sequence; phylogeny; rat; Rattus tanezumi; rodent; South Africa; Southeast Asia; species invasion; unindexed sequence; Africa south of the Sahara; animal; classification; genetics; introduced species; phylogeography; rat; Rattus; Rattus norvegicus; Rattus rattus; Rattus tanezumi; Rodentia; Vertebrata; cytochrome b; Africa South of the Sahara; Animals; Biodiversity; Cytochromes b; Introduced Species; Phylogeography; Rats; South Africa | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84924287154 | Impact of recruitment and selection on organizational productivity. Evidence from staff of a university in South Africa | Kanyemba M., Iwu C.G., Allen-Ile C.O. | 2015 | Corporate Ownership and Control | 12 | 2Continued2 | None | Management Sciences, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Cape Town, South Africa; Department, Entrepreneurship and Business Management, Management Sciences, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Cape Town, South Africa; Management Sciences, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Cape Town, South Africa | Kanyemba, M., Management Sciences, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Cape Town, South Africa; Iwu, C.G., Department, Entrepreneurship and Business Management, Management Sciences, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Cape Town, South Africa; Allen-Ile, C.O., Management Sciences, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Cape Town, South Africa | The study aimed to understand the recruitment and selection-productivity fit within a tertiary institution in South Africa. Essentially, by examining this relationship, it will be easier to obtain a better understanding of the essential components of recruitment and selection that contribute to the productivity of a tertiary institution. The unit of analysis of this study comprised academic and non-academic staff of the institution. This study adopted a quantitative approach utilising a Likert scale questionnaire to serve as the primary source of data collection. A future study could emphasise the development of a theoretical framework that links specifically to the peculiarities of the tertiary education sector in South Africa. A further study could also unpack how the components of recruitment and selection can be better harnessed to attract the interest of young South Africans to academe. The paper addresses a matter of significance both to HR practice and scholarship. The paper concludes thus: Recruitment and selection processes impact productivity; hence management MUST adopt best practice for these crucial HR functions. © 2015, Virtus Interpress. All rights reserved. | Organizational productivity; Recruitment; Selection; South Africa | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84951109964 | Exergoeconomic analysis and performance assessment of selected gas turbine power plants | Oyedepo S.O., Fagbenle R.O., Adefila S.S., Alam Md.M. | 2015 | World Journal of Engineering | 12 | 3 | None | Mechanical Engineering Department, Covenant University, Ota, Nigeria; Mechanical Engineering Department, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Nigeria; Chemical Engineering Department, Covenant University, Ota, Nigeria; Institute for Turbulence-Noise-Vibra | Oyedepo, S.O., Mechanical Engineering Department, Covenant University, Ota, Nigeria; Fagbenle, R.O., Mechanical Engineering Department, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Nigeria; Adefila, S.S., Chemical Engineering Department, Covenant University, Ota, Nigeria; Alam, Md.M., Institute for Turbulence-Noise-Vibration Interaction and Control, Shenzhen Graduate School, Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen, China | In this study, exergoeconomic analysis and performance evaluation of selected gas turbine power plants in Nigeria were carried out. The study was conducted using operating data obtained from the power plants to determine the exergy efficiency, exergy destruction, unit cost of electricity and cost of exergy destruction of the major components of a gas turbine engine in the selected power plants. The results of exergy analysis confirmed that the combustion chamber is the most exergy destructive component compared to other cycle components as expected. The total efficiency defects and overall exergetic efficiency of the selected power plants vary from 38.64 to 69.33% and 15.66 to 30.72% respectively. The exergy analysis further shows that the exergy improvement potential of the selected plants varies from 54.04 MW to 159.88 MW. The component with the highest exergy improvement potential is the combustion chamber and its value varies from 30.21 MW to 88.86 MW. The results of exergoeconomic analysis show that the combustion chamber has the greatest cost of exergy destruction compared to other components. Increasing the gas turbine inlet temperature (GTIT), both the exergy destruction and the cost of exergy destruction of this component were found to decrease. The results of this study revealed that an increase in the GTIT of about 200 K can lead to a reduction of about 29% in the cost of exergy destruction. From exergy costing analysis, the unit cost of electricity produced in the selected power plants varies from cents 1.99/kWh (N3.16/kWh) to cents 5.65/kWh (N8.98/kWh). | Electricity; Exergo-economic; Exergy; Exergy cost; Gas turbine; GTIT | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33644760409 | Evaluation of the use of RT-PCR for the early diagnosis of dengue fever | Grobusch M.P., Niedrig M., Göbels K., Klipstein-Grobusch K., Teichmann D. | 2006 | Clinical Microbiology and Infection | 12 | 4 | 10.1111/j.1469-0691.2006.01353.x | Medical Clinic, Department of Infectious Diseases, Humboldt University, Humboldt, Germany; Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany; German Institute of Human Nutrition, DIfE, Nuthetal, Germany; Division of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, National Health Laboratory Service, University of the Witwatersrand, 7 York Road, Parktown 2196 Johannesburg, South Africa | Grobusch, M.P., Medical Clinic, Department of Infectious Diseases, Humboldt University, Humboldt, Germany, Division of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, National Health Laboratory Service, University of the Witwatersrand, 7 York Road, Parktown 2196 Johannesburg, South Africa; Niedrig, M., Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany; Göbels, K., Medical Clinic, Department of Infectious Diseases, Humboldt University, Humboldt, Germany; Klipstein-Grobusch, K., German Institute of Human Nutrition, DIfE, Nuthetal, Germany; Teichmann, D., Medical Clinic, Department of Infectious Diseases, Humboldt University, Humboldt, Germany | RT-PCR was used to diagnose dengue virus infections confirmed serologically in 26 returning travellers. RT-PCR was positive for three (75%) of four samples taken on or before day 3 of the illness, for 15 (78.9%) of 19 samples taken between days 4 and 7, and for none of three samples tested on or after day 8 (p 0.0337). When applied early, RT-PCR seems to be a useful tool for the diagnosis of dengue fever. © 2006 Copyright by the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases. | Dengue fever; Diagnosis; RT-PCR; Sampling time; Sensitivity | immunoglobulin M; monoclonal antibody; virus antigen; adult; antigen detection; article; clinical article; controlled study; dengue; disease course; early diagnosis; female; human; immunofluorescence test; laboratory diagnosis; male; priority journal; quantitative analysis; reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction; serodiagnosis; strain difference; travel; virus detection; virus isolation; Adolescent; Adult; Dengue; Dengue Virus; Early Diagnosis; Female; Humans; Male; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; RNA, Viral; Dengue virus | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84879496709 | Seroepidemiological and parasitological evaluation of the heterogeneity of malaria infection in the Gambia | Oduro A.R., Conway D.J., Schellenberg D., Satoguina J., Greenwood B.M., Bojang K.A. | 2013 | Malaria Journal | 12 | 1 | 10.1186/1475-2875-12-222 | Medical Research Council Unit, Atlantic Road, Fajara, Gambia; London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel St, London WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom; Navrongo Health Research Centre, Post Office Box 114, Navrongo, Ghana | Oduro, A.R., Medical Research Council Unit, Atlantic Road, Fajara, Gambia, Navrongo Health Research Centre, Post Office Box 114, Navrongo, Ghana; Conway, D.J., Medical Research Council Unit, Atlantic Road, Fajara, Gambia, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel St, London WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom; Schellenberg, D., London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel St, London WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom; Satoguina, J., Medical Research Council Unit, Atlantic Road, Fajara, Gambia; Greenwood, B.M., London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel St, London WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom; Bojang, K.A., Medical Research Council Unit, Atlantic Road, Fajara, Gambia | Background: As countries make progress in malaria control, transmission may be reduced to such an extent that few cases occur, and identification of the remaining foci of transmission may require a combination of surveillance tools. The study explored the usefulness of parasite prevalence, seroprevalence and model-estimated seroconversion rates for detecting local differences in malaria transmission in a West African country. Methods. Age-stratified cross-sectional surveys were conducted during the wet season in 2008 and the following dry season in 2009 in The Gambia. In each season, 20 village communities were sampled from six diverse areas throughout the country. A total of 7,586 participants were surveyed, 51% (3,870) during the wet season. Parasites were detected by thick film slide microscopy, and anti-MSP1-19 antibodies were detected by ELISA using eluted dried blood from filter papers. Results: Overall parasite prevalence was 12.4% in the wet season and 2.2% in the dry season, with village-specific parasite prevalence ranging from 1.4 to 45.9% in the wet season and from 0.0 to 13.2% in the dry season. Prevalence was highest in the eastern part of the country. Serological indices also varied between villages, indicating local heterogeneity in transmission, and there was a high correlation between wet and dry season estimates across the villages. The overall prevalence of anti-MSP119 antibodies was similar in the wet (19.5%) and in the dry (19.6%) seasons. Conclusion: The study illustrates the utility of measuring both parasite prevalence and serological indices for monitoring local variation in malaria transmission, which are more informative than single measures as control intensifies and malaria declines. Measurements of seropositivity have the logistical advantage of being relative stable seasonally so that sampling at any time of year may be conducted. © 2013 Oduro et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | Evaluation; Microheterogeneity; Parasite prevalence; Plasmodium falciparum; Serology; The Gambia | adolescent; adult; age distribution; Anopheles gambiae; article; axilla temperature; blood analysis; body weight; child; correlation analysis; cross-sectional study; disease transmission; environmental temperature; enzyme linked immunosorbent assay; ethnic difference; female; human; infant; major clinical study; malaria; male; microscopy; parasite prevalence; Plasmodium falciparum; preschool child; school child; seasonal variation; seroconversion; seroepidemiology; seroprevalence; sporozoite; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Antibodies, Protozoan; Child; Child, Preschool; Cross-Sectional Studies; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Female; Gambia; Geography; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Malaria; Male; Microscopy; Middle Aged; Plasmodium; Seasons; Seroepidemiologic Studies; Young Adult | None |
| None | None | Performance and acceptability of the FluoLED Easy™ module for tuberculosis fluorescence microscopy | Van Deun A., Chonde T.M., Gumusboga M., Rienthong S. | 2008 | International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease | 12 | 9 | None | Mycobacteriology Unit, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium; International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Paris, France; Central Tuberculosis Reference Laboratory, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; National Tuberculosis Reference Laboratory Centre, Bangkok, Thailand; Mycobacteriology Unit, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nationalestraat 155, 2000 Antwerpen, Belgium | Van Deun, A., Mycobacteriology Unit, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium, International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Paris, France, Mycobacteriology Unit, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nationalestraat 155, 2000 Antwerpen, Belgium; Chonde, T.M., Central Tuberculosis Reference Laboratory, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Gumusboga, M., Mycobacteriology Unit, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium; Rienthong, S., National Tuberculosis Reference Laboratory Centre, Bangkok, Thailand | SETTING: Tuberculosis (TB) reference laboratory in Bangkok, Thailand, and two health centres in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. OBJECTIVES: To assess the performance and user-friendliness of a light-emitting diode (LED) module (FluoLED Easy™) for TB fluorescence microscopy (FM). DESIGN: Equivalence study vs. conventional FM in Bangkok using blinded re-reading; routine detection in the health centres in Dar es Salaam compared to Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) over 2 years, with rechecking of FM smears. RESULTS: For 461 smears re-read, 99.1% concordance with conventional FM was obtained. FluoLED introduction caused a lasting increase in detection in the routine of each of the health centres by on average 20%. Blinded rechecking failed due to unreliable registration. Onsite rechecking of a convenience sample showed absence of false-positive results in one centre and confusion with artefacts that could have been avoided by more training in the other. LED FM was highly appreciated, with both laboratories refusing to revert to ZN as originally intended. CONCLUSIONS: A simple microscope with a FluoLED module can yield results equivalent to those of conventional FM. Low cost, technical appropriateness and excellent acceptance justify its use in low-income settings, contrary to classical systems. LED FM can lead to increased sensitivity, but for optimal yield good training and quality assurance remain essential requirements. | Auramine; Fluorescence; Microscopy; Tuberculosis; Ziehl-neelsen | article; diagnostic test; false positive result; fluorescence microscopy; health center; human; laboratory test; light emitting diode; major clinical study; priority journal; Thailand; tuberculosis; Bacteriological Techniques; Humans; Laboratories; Microscopy, Fluorescence; Sensitivity and Specificity; Staining and Labeling; Tanzania; Thailand; Tuberculosis | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84927650074 | The impact of HIV/AIDS on compliance with antidepressant treatment in major depressive disorder: A prospective study in a South African private healthcare cohort | Slabbert F.N., Harvey B.H., Brink C.B., Lubbe M.S. | 2015 | AIDS Research and Therapy | 12 | 1 | 10.1186/s12981-015-0050-2 | North-West University, Medicines Usage Group (MUSA), Potchefstroom, South Africa; North-West University, Division of Pharmacology, Potchefstroom, South Africa; North-West University, Centre of Excellence for Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Potchefstroom, South Africa | Slabbert, F.N., North-West University, Medicines Usage Group (MUSA), Potchefstroom, South Africa; Harvey, B.H., North-West University, Division of Pharmacology, Potchefstroom, South Africa, North-West University, Centre of Excellence for Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Potchefstroom, South Africa; Brink, C.B., North-West University, Division of Pharmacology, Potchefstroom, South Africa; Lubbe, M.S., North-West University, Medicines Usage Group (MUSA), Potchefstroom, South Africa | Background: MDD and HIV/AIDS have a high prevalence worldwide with severe consequences for patients. In both conditions, compliance with treatment is key to successfully treat these disorders. In the current study, we examine the effect of MDD on the compliance with ADs in patients diagnosed with co-morbid HIV/AIDS and how different classes of ADs influence compliance in this group of patients. Methods: A prospective, cohort study design was used to analyse nationally representative medicine claims data submitted to a privately-owned South African Pharmaceutical Benefit Management (PBM) company. Two groups were distinguished in the database, namely patients with only MDD and patients with both MDD and HIV/AIDS, over a six-year study period. The study population was determined by the following inclusion criteria: patients older than 18 years, MDD should be diagnosed by a psychiatrist supported by an appropriate ICD-10 code, and all patients have to be on combination antiretroviral treatment (cARV) treatment. The medicine possession ratio (MPR) was used as proxy to determine patient compliance with AD medication. Results: 127 patients (i.e. 0.24%) met the criteria of co-morbid MDD and HIV/AIDS. Females have a significantly higher prevalence of MDD and HIV/AIDS when compared to males. Patients diagnosed with both HIV/AIDS and MDD (74.43. ± 32.03, 95% Cl: 71.51-77.34) have a statistical significantly (p < 0.0001) lower compliance with AD treatment vs. MDD patients (80.94% ± 29.44, 95% Cl: 80.56-81.33), but the practical significance thereof, is low (Cohen's d = 0.2255). In this group only 26.83% of TCA had acceptable compliance compared to the 58.57% of SNRIs. Noteworthy observations were that 75% (p < 0.0217; Cramer's V = 0.0388) of venlafaxine and 28.6% (p < 0.0197; Cramer's V = -0.0705) of the paroxetine items were compliant in patients diagnosed with both HIV/AIDS and MDD. Conclusions: AD compliance is statistical significantly lower in depressed HIV/AIDS vs. depressed non-HIV/AIDS patients. However, these differences is of low practical or clinical significance, meaning that depressed HIV/AIDS patients would have missed approximately two AD doses (6.5% of a 30-day treatment period) more than the non-HIV/AIDS depressed patient over the same treatment period. © Slabbert et al.; licensee BioMed Central. | Antidepressants; Compliance; HIV/AIDS; Major depressive disorder; Venlafaxine | amfebutamone; amitriptyline; antidepressant agent; antiretrovirus agent; citalopram; escitalopram; fluoxetine; mirtazapine; paroxetine; serotonin noradrenalin reuptake inhibitor; trazodone; venlafaxine; acquired immune deficiency syndrome; adult; antiviral therapy; Article; comorbidity; female; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; ICD-10; major clinical study; major depression; male; medication compliance; middle aged; organization and management; population research; prevalence; priority journal; prospective study; sex difference; South African; young adult | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84954148724 | The impact of antiretroviral therapy on population-level virulence evolution of HIV-1 | Roberts H.E., Goulder P.J.R., McLean A.R. | 2015 | Journal of the Royal Society Interface | 12 | 113 | 10.1098/rsif.2015.0888 | Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom; Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom; HIV Pathogenesis Programme, Doris Duke Medical Research Institute, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; Institute for Emerging Infections, Oxford Martin School, Oxford, United Kingdom; Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom | Roberts, H.E., Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom; Goulder, P.J.R., Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom, HIV Pathogenesis Programme, Doris Duke Medical Research Institute, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; McLean, A.R., Institute for Emerging Infections, Oxford Martin School, Oxford, United Kingdom, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom | In HIV-infected patients, an individual's set point viral load (SPVL) strongly predicts disease progression. Some think that SPVL is evolving, indicating that the virulence of the virus may be changing, but the data are not consistent. In addition, the widespread use of antiretroviral therapy (ART) has the potential to drive virulence evolution. We develop a simple deterministic model designed to answer the following questions: what are the expected patterns of virulence change in the initial decades of an epidemic? Could administration of ART drive changes in virulence evolution and, what is the potential size and direction of this effect? We find that even without ART we would not expect monotonic changes in average virulence. Transient decreases in virulence following the peak of an epidemic are not necessarily indicative of eventual evolution to avirulence. In the short term, we would expect widespread ART to cause limited downward pressure on virulence. In the long term, the direction of the effect is determined by a threshold condition, which we define. We conclude that, given the surpassing benefits of ART to the individual and in reducing onward transmission, virulence evolution considerations need have little bearing on how we treat. © 2015 The Authors. Published by the Royal Society under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/, which permits unrestricted use, provided the original author and source are credited. | Antiretroviral therapy; Between-host modelling; HIV-1; Set point viral load; Virulence evolution | Digital storage; Viruses; Antiretrovirals; Deterministic modeling; Disease progression; Downward pressure; HIV-1; Threshold condition; Viral load; Virulence evolution; Diseases; anti human immunodeficiency virus agent; antiviral therapy; Article; epidemic; human; Human immunodeficiency virus 1 infection; Human immunodeficiency virus infected patient; meta analysis; model; therapy effect; virus virulence | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84878985790 | Preliminary toxicological evaluation of some biochemical parameters and lipid profile in Thevetia Neriifolia seed oil supplemented diet in albino rats | Nwozo S.O., Ajayi I.A., Iorliam B.E. | 2013 | Leonardo Electronic Journal of Practices and Technologies | 12 | 22 | None | Nutrition and Industrial Biochemistry Unit, Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Industrial Chemistry Unit, Department of Chemistry, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria | Nwozo, S.O., Nutrition and Industrial Biochemistry Unit, Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Ajayi, I.A., Industrial Chemistry Unit, Department of Chemistry, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Iorliam, B.E., Nutrition and Industrial Biochemistry Unit, Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria | Thevetia Neriifolia was analyzed for fatty acid composition by using Gas Chromatography (GC) and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrophotometer (GC-MS). The oil consist of 97.583% fatty acid of which the most abundant is the monounsaturated (C18H34O2) Oleic acid (52%), and the others are saturated fatty acids (C18H36O2) Stearic acid (25%) and the other Palmitic acid (C16H32O2). The physicochemical studies of the seed oil showed: acid value of 0.515 ± 0.27 mg KOH/g; 117.125±2.38 saponification value and 74.145 ± 0.784 iodine value. Growth performance in albino rats following a feeding period of 6 weeks, using 5%, 10% and 15% of the seed oil compounded feed showed a significant decrease in body weight gain and feed intake in 10% and 15% oil-based feed group relative to control. Enzymatic antioxidant, biomarkers of kidney/liver toxicity and lipid profile of visceral organs were evaluated. | Characteristics; Chemical composition; Feed formulation; Growth performance; Toxicological evaluations | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-80755181107 | Nutritional evaluation of bread waste as a replacement for maize in the diet of growing snails | Omole A.J., Fayenuwo J.A., Adejuyigbe A.D., Popoola Y.A. | 2011 | Journal of Central European Agriculture | 12 | 3 | 10.5513/JCEA01/12.3.948 | Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Nigeria, Institute Of Agricultural Research and Training Moor Plantation, Ibadan, Nigeria; Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology, I.A.R. and T, Ibadan, Nigeria | Omole, A.J., Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Nigeria, Institute Of Agricultural Research and Training Moor Plantation, Ibadan, Nigeria; Fayenuwo, J.A., Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Nigeria, Institute Of Agricultural Research and Training Moor Plantation, Ibadan, Nigeria; Adejuyigbe, A.D., Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology, I.A.R. and T, Ibadan, Nigeria; Popoola, Y.A., Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Nigeria, Institute Of Agricultural Research and Training Moor Plantation, Ibadan, Nigeria | The effect of replacing maize fraction of the diet of growing snails partially or wholly with bread waste (BW) on performance characteristics and cost benefits was studied for 12 weeks. A total of 120 growing snails (Archachatina marginata) of mean weight 83.67 ± 3.5g of about 3 months of age were randomly allotted to 4 dietary treatments, BW 1, BW 2, BW 3 and BW 4 in which maize fraction of the diet was replaced at 0, 50, 75 and 100% with BW respectively, in a completely randomized design replicated 3 times. The parameters measured were feed intake, weight gain, shell length, width and thickness. Feed conversion ratio and cost/weight gain were calculated. The results showed that significant differences were not observed in the mean total feed intake, weight gain and shell increment (P>0.05). The results also revealed that dietary treatments had no significant influence on the dressing percentage (P>0.05) which varied between 41.25 and 41.28%. The total feed cost and cost per weight reduced as the level of BW in the diet increased from 0 to 100%. The highest cost/ weight gain (CW) of N223.2 was recorded in diet containing 0% BW while the lowest CW was recorded in diet containing 100%BW. Based on the present results maize fraction of snail's diet could be replaced with bread waste up to 100% at reduced cost without any adverse effect on performance of growing snails. | Archachatina marginata; Bread waste; Feed efficiency; Maize; Snail | Archachatina marginata; Gastropoda; Zea mays | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33748307618 | Performance analysis of listed construction and real estate companies in Nigeria | Abdul-Rasheed A., Tajudeen A.B. | 2006 | Journal of Real Estate Portfolio Management | 12 | 2 | None | Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria | Abdul-Rasheed, A., Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria; Tajudeen, A.B., Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria | The acquisition of shares in investment companies specializing in real estate have become a popular form of indirect property investment. However, the publicly listed real estate and construction companies are only a minute portion of the total commercial real estate market, and the speed of securitization has been very slow in Nigeria. This paper examines the investment performance of listed property and construction companies from 1998 to 2005 with a view to developing their competitive and comparative advantage in attracting investment. The risk-adjustment performance of the companies, assessed through Sharpe ratios, show that both property and construction companies do not perform better than stocks, but, nevertheless, do offer diversification possibilities due to their low correlation with the stock market. | None | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-58149117661 | Evaluation and treatment of oral candidiasis in HIV/AIDS patients in Enugu, Nigeria | Oji C., Chukwuneke F. | 2008 | Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery | 12 | 2 | 10.1007/s10006-008-0106-8 | Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria | Oji, C., Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria; Chukwuneke, F., Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria | Introduction: Oral candidiasis is one of the common diseases seen in HIV/ AIDS patients. It is rare if CD4+ cell counts are above 500 μl. Outbreaks are more common as the count drops to 100 μl. It may be more difficult to treat when CD4+ cell counts fall below 50 μl. Materials and methods: A retrospective review of 112 HIV/AIDS patients with lesions in the mouth, head, and neck seen at the oral and maxillofacial surgery units of two public hospitals in eastern Nigeria was carried out between 2000 and 2003. The focus was on oral candidiasis patients. Twenty-nine of these patients, made up of 11 males and 18 females, had oral candidiasis. To compare the action of two drugs, namely, nystatin (a topical antifungal drug) and ketoconazole (a systemic antifungal drug), we treated 15 of the patients with nystatin in the first 2 years and the remaining 14 with ketoconazole in the following 2 years. Results and discussion: Amongst the 15 patients treated with topical drugs, 7 (46.7%) had complete remission, 2 (13.3%) had partial response, 4 (26.7%) remained stationary, and 2 (13.3%) died. Out of the 14 cases treated with systemic drugs, 11 (78.6%) had complete remission, 2 (14.3%) had partial response, and 1 (7.1%) died. © Springer-Verlag 2008. | Enugu; Evaluation; Nigeria; Oral candidiasis in HIV/AIDS; Treatment | antifungal agent; ketoconazole; mouthwash; nystatin; acquired immune deficiency syndrome; adolescent; adult; aged; AIDS related complex; article; CD4 lymphocyte count; clinical trial; comparative study; female; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; immune deficiency; male; middle aged; thrush; topical drug administration; treatment outcome; Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Administration, Topical; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections; Antifungal Agents; Candidiasis, Oral; CD4 Lymphocyte Count; Female; HIV Infections; HIV Seropositivity; Humans; Immunocompromised Host; Ketoconazole; Male; Middle Aged; Mouthwashes; Nystatin; Treatment Outcome | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84874011719 | Potent in vivo anti-malarial activity and representative snapshot pharmacokinetic evaluation of artemisinin-quinoline hybrids | Lombard M.C., N'Da D.D., Tran Van Ba C., Wein S., Norman J., Wiesner L., Vial H. | 2013 | Malaria Journal | 12 | 1 | 10.1186/1475-2875-12-71 | Pharmaceutical Chemistry, North-West University, Potchefstroom 2531, South Africa; Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université Montpellier 2, 34095, Montpellier Cedex 05, France; Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa | Lombard, M.C., Pharmaceutical Chemistry, North-West University, Potchefstroom 2531, South Africa; N'Da, D.D., Pharmaceutical Chemistry, North-West University, Potchefstroom 2531, South Africa; Tran Van Ba, C., Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université Montpellier 2, 34095, Montpellier Cedex 05, France; Wein, S., Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université Montpellier 2, 34095, Montpellier Cedex 05, France; Norman, J., Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa; Wiesner, L., Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa; Vial, H., Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université Montpellier 2, 34095, Montpellier Cedex 05, France | Background: Because Plasmodium falciparum displays increase tolerance against the recommended artemisinin combination therapies (ACT), new classes of anti-malarial drugs are urgently required. Previously synthesized artemisinin-aminoquinoline hybrids were evaluated to ascertain whether the potent low nanomolar in vitro anti-plasmodial activity would carry over in vivo against Plasmodium vinckei. A snapshot pharmacokinetic analysis was carried out on one of the hybrids to obtain an indication of the pharmacokinetic properties of this class of anti-malarial drugs. Methods. In vitro activity of hybrids 2 and 3 were determined against the 3D7 strain of P. falciparum. Plasmodium vinckei-infected mice were treated with hybrids 1 - 3 for four days at a dosage of 0.8 mg/kg, 2.5 mg/kg, 7.5 mg/kg or 15 mg/kg intraperitoneally (ip), or orally (per os) with 2.7 mg/kg, 8.3 mg/kg, 25 mg/kg or 50 mg/kg. Artesunate was used as reference drug. A snapshot oral and IV pharmacokinetic study was performed on hybrid 2. Results: Hybrids 1 - 3 displayed potent in vivo anti-malarial activity with ED50 of 1.1, 1.4 and <0.8 mg/kg by the ip route and 12, 16 and 13 mg/kg per os, respectively. Long-term monitoring of parasitaemia showed a complete cure of mice (without recrudescence) at 15 mg/kg via ip route and at 50 mg/kg by oral route for hybrid 1 and 2, whereas artesunate was only able to provide a complete cure at 30 mg/kg ip and 80 mg/kg per os. Conclusions: These compounds provide a new class of desperately needed anti-malarial drug. Despite a short half-life and moderate oral bioavailability, this class of compounds was able to cure malaria in mice at very low dosages. The optimum linker length for anti-malarial activity was found to be a diaminoalkyl chain consisting of two carbon atoms either methylated or unmethylated. © 2013 Lombard et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | Artemisinin; Hybrid; In vivo activity; Malaria; Pharmacokinetics; Quinoline | aminoquinoline derivative; antimalarial agent; artemisinin; artesunate; antimalarial activity; article; in vitro study; in vivo study; male; mouse; nonhuman; parasitemia; Plasmodium falciparum; Plasmodium vinckei; Plasmodium vinckei infection; Administration, Intravenous; Administration, Oral; Animals; Antimalarials; Artemisinins; Disease Models, Animal; Drug Combinations; Malaria; Mice; Parasitic Sensitivity Tests; Plasmodium; Quinolines; Treatment Outcome | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84904743148 | Carpolobia lutea roots restore sexual arousal and performance in paroxetine-induced sexually impaired male rats | Yakubu M.T., Jimoh R.O. | 2014 | Revista Internacional de Andrologia | 12 | 3 | 10.1016/j.androl.2014.02.002 | Phytomedicine, Toxicology and Reproductive Biochemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria | Yakubu, M.T., Phytomedicine, Toxicology and Reproductive Biochemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria; Jimoh, R.O., Phytomedicine, Toxicology and Reproductive Biochemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria | Objective: This study aimed at investigating the aphrodisiac effects of aqueous extract of Carpolobia lutea root at the doses of 47, 94 and 141. mg/kg body weight in paroxetine-induced sexual dysfunction in male rats. Materials and methods: Thirty sexually active male rats (148.20. ±. 3.22. g) were assigned into six groups (A-F) of five animals each. Rats in group A received 0.5. ml of distilled water once daily for 7 days while those in groups B, C, D, E and F which were induced with sexual dysfunction (oral administration of 10. mg/kg of paroxetine suspension, once daily for 21 days) received 0.5. ml corresponding to 7.14. mg/kg body weight of PowmaxM, 47, 94 and 141. mg/kg body weight of the extract and distilled water, respectively. Sexual behaviour parameters (frequencies of mount (ML), intromission (IF), ejaculation (EL), latencies of mount (ML), intromission (IL), ejaculation (EL) and post ejaculation interval (PEI)) were monitored 30. min post administration by pairing (1:1) with receptive female rats (114.01. ±. 2.64. g) on days 1, 4 and 7. The concentrations of serum testosterone, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) were determined after 7 days of administration using standard methods. Results: The study revealed that the extract contained saponins (21.02. mg/L), anthraquinones (5.11. mg/L), alkaloids (2.93. mg/L), flavonoids (1.82. mg/L), tannins (0.91. mg/L) and cardiac glycosides (0.09. mg/L) whereas terpenes, phlobatannins and steroids were not detected. Paroxetine significantly (p<. 0.05) decreased mount frequency, intromission frequency, ejaculation frequency and ejaculation latency whereas it increased mount latency, intromission latency and post-ejaculatory interval for more than the baseline of 25% in each case. In contrast, all the doses of the extract significantly (p<. 0.05) attenuated the parameters of sexual behaviour displayed by the sexual dysfunction animals, with the 141. mg/kg body weight comparing favourably (p>. 0.05) with the sexual dysfunction animals treated with Powmax. In addition, the extract significantly (p<. 0.05) elevated the levels of serum luteinizing hormone, follicle stimulating hormone and testosterone which were hitherto reduced by paroxetine. Conclusion: The study concludes that the aqueous extract of C. lutea root especially the doses of 94 and 141. mg/kg body weight restored various components of sexual arousal and performance as well as the reproductive hormones in the sexually sluggish male rats with the highest dose being the most effective. Present findings provide experimental evidence to support the folkloric claim of the plant in the management of sexual inadequacies in males. © 2014 Asociación Española de Andrología, Medicina Sexual y Reproductiva. | Aphrodisiac; Carpolobia lutea; Paroxetine; Polygalaceae; Sexual dysfunction; Sexual function | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84922551757 | Impact of hiv testing and counseling (Htc) knowledge on hiv prevention practices among traditional birth attendants in nigeria | Osuji A., Pharr J.R., Nwokoro U., Ike A., Ali C., Ejiro O., Osuyali J., Obiefune M., Fiscella K., Ezeanolue E.E. | 2015 | International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health | 12 | 2 | 10.3390/ijerph120201969 | Prevention, Education, Treatment, Training and Research-Global Solutions-PeTR-GS, Plot 25 Liberty Estate, Independence Layout Enugu, Enugu, Nigeria; School of Community Health Sciences, University of Nevada, 4505 S. Maryland Parkway, Box 453067, Las Vegas | Osuji, A., Prevention, Education, Treatment, Training and Research-Global Solutions-PeTR-GS, Plot 25 Liberty Estate, Independence Layout Enugu, Enugu, Nigeria; Pharr, J.R., School of Community Health Sciences, University of Nevada, 4505 S. Maryland Parkway, Box 453067, Las Vegas, NV, Nigeria, HealthySunrise Foundation, 8752 Castle Ridge Avenue, Las Vegas, NV, United States; Nwokoro, U., Prevention, Education, Treatment, Training and Research-Global Solutions-PeTR-GS, Plot 25 Liberty Estate, Independence Layout Enugu, Enugu, Nigeria; Ike, A., Prevention, Education, Treatment, Training and Research-Global Solutions-PeTR-GS, Plot 25 Liberty Estate, Independence Layout Enugu, Enugu, Nigeria; Ali, C., Prevention, Education, Treatment, Training and Research-Global Solutions-PeTR-GS, Plot 25 Liberty Estate, Independence Layout Enugu, Enugu, Nigeria; Ejiro, O., Ministry of Health, Asaba, Delta State, 1 Onyeka Close, Asaba, Delta, Nigeria; Osuyali, J., Delta State Action Committee on AIDS, No. 5 Tom Adigwu St, Off DLA Rd, Asaba, Delta, Nigeria; Obiefune, M., Prevention, Education, Treatment, Training and Research-Global Solutions-PeTR-GS, Plot 25 Liberty Estate, Independence Layout Enugu, Enugu, Nigeria; Fiscella, K., Department of Family Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Wilmot Cancer Center, 1381 South Ave Rochester, New York, NY, United States; Ezeanolue, E.E., HealthySunrise Foundation, 8752 Castle Ridge Avenue, Las Vegas, NV, United States, Department of Pediatrics, University of Nevada School of Medicine, 2040 West Charleston Boulevard, Las Vegas, NV, United States | Nigeria is second in the world for the number of people with HIV and has a high rate of mother-to-child transmission (MTCT). Over 60% of births in Nigeria occur outside of health care facilities, and because of this, Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) play a significant role in maternal and child health. It is important that TBAs be knowledgeable about HIV prevention. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of HIV testing and counseling (HTC) knowledge on the HIV prevention practices among TBAs in Nigeria. Five hundred TBAs were surveyed. Chi-square and logistic regression were used to assess differences in HIV prevention practices between TBAs with and without HTC knowledge. TBAs with HTC knowledge are significantly more likely to engage in HIV prevention practices than TBAs without HTC. Prevention practices included: wearing gloves during delivery (p < 0.01), sterilization of delivery equipment (p < 0.01), participation in blood safety training (p < 0.01), and disposal of sharps (p < 0.01). As long as a high percent of births occur outside health care facilities in Nigeria, there will be a need for TBAs. Providing TBAs with HTC training increases HIV prevention practices and can be a key to improve maternal and child health. © 2015 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. | HIV and AIDS; HIV preventive practices; HIV testing and counseling; Risk factors; Traditional birth attendances | acquired immune deficiency syndrome; child health; disease prevalence; health care; health worker; human immunodeficiency virus; knowledge; maternal health; risk factor; vertical transmission; Article; blood safety; childbirth; counseling; cross-sectional study; glove; health care facility; health survey; HIV test; human; instrument sterilization; knowledge; Nigeria; preventive health service; sharps disposal; traditional birth attendant; Nigeria | None |
| None | None | Over-diagnosis of malaria by microscopy in the Kilombero Valley, Southern Tanzania: An evaluation of the utility and cost-effectiveness of rapid diagnostic tests | Harchut K., Standley C., Dobson A., Klaassen B., Rambaud-Althaus C., Althaus F., Nowak K. | 2013 | Malaria Journal | 12 | 1 | 10.1186/1475-2875-12-159 | Princeton University, 106A Guyot Hall, Princeton, NJ 08544, United States; IST Clinic, PS Box 2651, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socinstrasse 57, Basel, CH 4051, Switzerland | Harchut, K., Princeton University, 106A Guyot Hall, Princeton, NJ 08544, United States; Standley, C., Princeton University, 106A Guyot Hall, Princeton, NJ 08544, United States; Dobson, A., Princeton University, 106A Guyot Hall, Princeton, NJ 08544, United States; Klaassen, B., IST Clinic, PS Box 2651, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Rambaud-Althaus, C., Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socinstrasse 57, Basel, CH 4051, Switzerland; Althaus, F., Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socinstrasse 57, Basel, CH 4051, Switzerland; Nowak, K., Princeton University, 106A Guyot Hall, Princeton, NJ 08544, United States | Background: Early and accurate diagnosis of febrile patients is essential to treat uncomplicated malaria cases properly, prevent severe malaria, and avert unnecessary anti-malarial treatments. Improper use of anti-malarials increases the risk of adverse drug reaction and the evolution of drug/parasite resistance. While microscopy is the most common form of malaria diagnosis, concerns over its accuracy have prompted the incorporation of malaria rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) into many national malaria control programmes. Methods. Over a three-month period, a direct comparison between microscopy and RDTs was made in a rural, private dispensary in the Kilombero Valley, Morogoro District, southern Tanzania, with the aim of estimating the extent of malaria over-diagnosis and over-treatment with anti-malarials. The study cohort was made up of patients referred by the dispensary's clinician for malaria testing. One hundred percent of patients approached agreed to participate in this study and were then tested using both microscopy and RDTs. Using the results from the comparison of the two tests at this dispensary, the potential cost effectiveness of introducing RDTs to a neighbouring public health centre was estimated on the basis of this centre's past malaria records spanning December 2007 to August 2011. Results: At the private dispensary, the apparent prevalence of malaria was 78% based on microscopy whereas the true prevalence, calculated using RDTs as the gold standard, was estimated at 14%. This discrepancy indicates that when using microscopy as the sole diagnostic test, malaria is being over-diagnosed by approximately a factor of five in this setting. At the public clinic, apparent malaria prevalence based on microscopy was 74%. If similar rates of over-diagnosis are assumed, 5,285 patients of the 6,769 patients positively diagnosed with malaria using microscopy were likely given unnecessary anti-malarials, and their true cause of illness was not addressed. The introduction of RDTs to the public clinic would be highly cost-efficient, with an estimated net saving of over 96 USD/month. Conclusions: Compared with RDTs, microscopy led to almost four out of five patients being over-diagnosed with malaria in this rural part of Tanzania. A policy that encompasses both the private and public sectors of health care is needed to ensure quality diagnostic testing for febrile patients. With estimated prevalence at 14%, RDT introduction is recommended given WHO findings that RDTs are predicted to be cost-effective in prevalence areas of less than 20%. The use of RDTs in malaria diagnosis would not only reduce government spending but would prove beneficial to ensuring appropriate care and treatment of febrile illness. © 2013 Harchut et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | None | artemether plus benflumetol; metakelfin; pyrimethamine plus sulfadoxine; quinine; adolescent; adult; article; child; clinical evaluation; cohort analysis; cost effectiveness analysis; diagnostic test; female; health care utilization; human; major clinical study; malaria; male; microscopy; prevalence; public health; rural area; school child; Tanzania; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Antimalarials; Child; Child, Preschool; Cost-Benefit Analysis; Diagnostic Errors; Female; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Malaria; Male; Microscopy; Middle Aged; Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; Rural Population; Tanzania; Young Adult | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84939791011 | The impact of corporate governance on firm performance in the Zimbabwean manufacturing sector | Siwadi P., Miruka C., Ogutu F.A. | 2015 | Corporate Ownership and Control | 12 | 4Cont7 | None | Qraduate School of Business and Government Leadership, North West University, Mafikeng Campus, South Africa | Siwadi, P., Qraduate School of Business and Government Leadership, North West University, Mafikeng Campus, South Africa; Miruka, C., Qraduate School of Business and Government Leadership, North West University, Mafikeng Campus, South Africa; Ogutu, F.A., Qraduate School of Business and Government Leadership, North West University, Mafikeng Campus, South Africa | Corporate governance studies in Zimbabwe have concentrated on existence of frameworks that control firms. This study focused on the corporate governance factors that are associated with firm performance in the Zimbabwean manufacturing sector. We investigated a sample of 88 companies which were operating at least 80% capacity from 2009 to 2012.Using Return on Assetst (ROA) as a measure of performance and the dependent variable, and 14 corporate governance proxies encompassing board structure, board composition and board procedures as the independent variables, a bivariate and multivariate regression analysis was performed. The results indicated that shareholder concentration, proportion of independent directors, board tenure and access to financial statements are positive and significant to firm performance in the bivariate analysis. On the multivariate regression analysis however, independent directors was positive but not significant. Researchers have not been able to agree on these factors and since corporate governance is largely endogenously determined it can be concluded that factors are influenced by country effects. Thus further studies focusing on similar countries need to be undertaken. © 2015 Virtus Interpress. All rights reserved. | Corporate governance; Firm performance; Significant factors | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77951939854 | Monitoring the wave function by time continuous position measurement | Konrad T., Rothe A., Petruccione F., Diósi L. | 2010 | New Journal of Physics | 12 | None | 10.1088/1367-2630/12/4/043038 | Quantum Research Group, School of Physics, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X54001, Durban 4000, South Africa; National Institute for Theoretical Physics, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X54001, Durban 4000, South Africa; Research Institute for Particle and Nuclear Physics, PO Box 49, H-1525 Budapest 114, Hungary | Konrad, T., Quantum Research Group, School of Physics, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X54001, Durban 4000, South Africa, National Institute for Theoretical Physics, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X54001, Durban 4000, South Africa; Rothe, A., Quantum Research Group, School of Physics, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X54001, Durban 4000, South Africa; Petruccione, F., Quantum Research Group, School of Physics, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X54001, Durban 4000, South Africa, National Institute for Theoretical Physics, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X54001, Durban 4000, South Africa; Diósi, L., Research Institute for Particle and Nuclear Physics, PO Box 49, H-1525 Budapest 114, Hungary | Motivated by the technical requirements of quantum information processing and nanotechnology, the control of individual quantum systems such as single atoms, ions or even photons has become a highly desirable aim. The monitoring of quantum systems-a direct test and in many cases a prerequisite of their control-has been investigated so far only for certain observables such as the position or momentum of quantum particles. Here, we describe a method to monitor in real time the complete state of a quantum particle with unknown initial state moving in a known potential. The method is based on successively updating an estimate by the results of a continuous position measurement. We demonstrate by numerical simulations that even in a chaotic potential tracking the wave function of a particle is possible, and we show with an example that the monitoring scheme appears to be robust against sudden random perturbations. © IOP Publishing Ltd and Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschan. | None | Initial state; Numerical simulation; Of quantum-information; Quantum particles; Quantum system; Random perturbations; Real time; Single atoms; Technical requirement; Computer simulation; Data processing; Position measurement; Quantum electronics; Quantum optics; Wave functions; Monitoring | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84905924294 | Outcome and impact of Master of Public Health programs across six countries: Education for change | Zwanikken P.A.C., Huong N.T., Ying X.H., Alexander L., Wadidi M.S.E.A., Magan&tild;a-Valladares L., Gonzalez-Robledo M.C., Qian X., Linh N.N., Tahir H., Leppink J., Scherpbier A. | 2014 | Human Resources for Health | 12 | 1 | 10.1186/1478-4491-12-40 | Royal Tropical Institute, PO Box 95001, HA Amsterdam, Netherlands; Hanoi School of Public Health, 138 Giang Vo, Kim Ma, Ba Dinh, Hanoi, Viet Nam; School of Public Health, Fudan University, 138 Yixueyuan Road, Box 175, Shanghai, China; School of Public Health, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville, South Africa; Human Resource Development, Federal Ministry of Health, PO Box 303, Khartoum, Sudan; National Institute of Public Health, Universidad No. 655 Colonia Santa Mari´a Ahuacatitla´n, Cerrada Los Pinos y Caminera, CP 62100 Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico; Research Centre in Health Systems, National Institute of Public Health, Universidad No. 655 Colonia Santa Mari´a Ahuacatitla´n, Cerrada Los Pinos y Caminera, CP 62100 Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico; MPH Programme, University of Medical Sciences and Technology, PO Box 12810, Khartoum, Sudan; Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, PO Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, Netherlands | Zwanikken, P.A.C., Royal Tropical Institute, PO Box 95001, HA Amsterdam, Netherlands; Huong, N.T., Hanoi School of Public Health, 138 Giang Vo, Kim Ma, Ba Dinh, Hanoi, Viet Nam; Ying, X.H., School of Public Health, Fudan University, 138 Yixueyuan Road, Box 175, Shanghai, China; Alexander, L., School of Public Health, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville, South Africa; Wadidi, M.S.E.A., Human Resource Development, Federal Ministry of Health, PO Box 303, Khartoum, Sudan; Magan&tild;a-Valladares, L., National Institute of Public Health, Universidad No. 655 Colonia Santa Mari´a Ahuacatitla´n, Cerrada Los Pinos y Caminera, CP 62100 Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico; Gonzalez-Robledo, M.C., Research Centre in Health Systems, National Institute of Public Health, Universidad No. 655 Colonia Santa Mari´a Ahuacatitla´n, Cerrada Los Pinos y Caminera, CP 62100 Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico; Qian, X., School of Public Health, Fudan University, 138 Yixueyuan Road, Box 175, Shanghai, China; Linh, N.N., Hanoi School of Public Health, 138 Giang Vo, Kim Ma, Ba Dinh, Hanoi, Viet Nam; Tahir, H., MPH Programme, University of Medical Sciences and Technology, PO Box 12810, Khartoum, Sudan; Leppink, J., Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, PO Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, Netherlands; Scherpbier, A., Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, PO Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, Netherlands | Background: The human resources for health crisis has highlighted the need for high-level public health education to add specific capacities to the workforce. Recently, it was questioned whether Master of Public Health (MPH) training prepared graduates with competencies relevant to low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This study aims to examine the influence of the MPH programs geared towards LMICs offered in Vietnam, China, South Africa, Mexico, Sudan, and the Netherlands on graduates' careers, application of acquired competencies, performance at the workplace, and their professional contribution to society.Methods: A self-administered questionnaire was sent to graduates from six MPH programs. Frequency distributions of the answers were calculated, and a bivariate analysis and logistic regression of certain variables was performed.Results: The response rate was 37.5%. Graduates reported change in leadership (69%), in technical position (69%), acquiring new responsibilities (80%), and increased remuneration (63%); they asserted that MPH programs contributed significantly to this. Graduates' attribution of their application of 7 key competencies 'substantially to the MPH program' ranged from 33% to 48%. Of the 26 impact variables, graduates attributed the effect they had on their workplace substantially to the MPH program; the highest rated variable ranged from 31% to 73% and the lowest ranged from 9% to 43%. Of the 10 impact variables on society, graduates attributed the effect they had on society substantially to the MPH program; for the highest rated variable (13% to 71%); for the lowest rated variable (4% to 42%). Candidates' attribution of their application of acquired competencies as well as their impact at the workplace varied significantly according to institution of study and educational background.Conclusions: This study concludes that these MPH programs contribute to improving graduates' careers and to building leadership in public health. The MPH programs contribute to graduates' application of competencies. MPH programs contribute substantially towards impact variables on the workplace, such as development of research proposals and reporting on population health needs, and less substantially to their impact on society, such as contributing equitable access to quality services. Differences reported between MPH programs merit further study. The results can be used for curriculum reform. © 2014 Zwanikken et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | Evaluation; Graduate; Impact; Low-and middle-income countries; Master of public health; Outcome | adult; developing country; education; female; human; income; international cooperation; leadership; male; medical education; middle aged; multivariate analysis; professional competence; public health; questionnaire; salary and fringe benefit; statistical model; Adult; Developing Countries; Education, Public Health Professional; Female; Humans; Income; Internationality; Leadership; Logistic Models; Male; Middle Aged; Multivariate Analysis; Professional Competence; Public Health; Questionnaires; Salaries and Fringe Benefits | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84921913115 | Investigating the impact of carbon tax on socially responsible corporate governance: The case of south African motor vehicle manufacturers | Pillay S., Buys P. | 2015 | Corporate Ownership and Control | 12 | 2 | None | School of Accounting, Economics and Finance, University of KwaZulu Natal, South Africa; NWU Business School, Potchefstroom Campus, South Africa | Pillay, S., School of Accounting, Economics and Finance, University of KwaZulu Natal, South Africa; Buys, P., NWU Business School, Potchefstroom Campus, South Africa | Socially responsible corporate governance is an essential aspect of the contemporary corporate environment, and then especially in ensuring continuous sustainable development within a South African context. As such, it also encompasses broad environmentally focused aspects. The motor vehicle manufacturing industry in South Africa was among the first to be faced with the implementation of carbon taxes. This paper explores the policy decision to implement the carbon tax within the context of socially responsible governance in the motor vehicle manufacturing industry. The research methodology applied incorporates both review of supporting literature and an exploratory empirical case study. The research suggests that the industry is cognizant of the importance of environmental damage costs and their responsibility therein, while also indicating that corporate social investment in this industry was non-responsive to the implementation to carbon tax. The results also suggest that the current carbon tax rate may be adequately priced and is an effective instrument in lowering greenhouse gas emissions. © 2015, Virtus Interpress. All rights received. | Carbon tax; Corporate social investment; Corporate social responsibility; Governance; Sustainability reporting; Sustainable development | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84931057849 | Managerial ownership and firm performance on selected jse listed firms | Zondi S., Sibanda M. | 2015 | Corporate Ownership and Control | 12 | 3CONT2 | None | School of Accounting, Economics and Finance, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | Zondi, S., School of Accounting, Economics and Finance, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa; Sibanda, M., School of Accounting, Economics and Finance, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | This paper investigates if there is a relationship between managerial ownership and firm performance in selected firms listed on the JSE, and if so, what that relationship is. The study conducts regression analyses over a sample of 23 retail sector firms, observing data stretching from 2010 to 2013. The results are found to be robust. The results suggest that the hypothesis that a positive relationship exists between managerial ownership and performance be rejected as a negative relationship is found. Instead, the results of a two-stage least squares (2SLS) analysis find that managerial ownership does not impact firm performance in any direction. Overall the results of the study do not support the agency theory, as aligning the interests of managers and shareholders does not improve firm performance, at least within the retail sector. © 2015, Virtus Interpress. All rights reserved. | Corporate governance; Endogeneity; Firm performance; Managerial ownership; South Africa | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-58249097234 | Laboratory evaluation of Ethiopian local plant Phytolacca dodecandra extract for its toxicity effectiveness against aquatic macroinvertebrates | Karunamoorthi K., Bishaw D., Mulat T. | 2008 | European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences | 12 | 6 | None | School of Environmental Health Science, Faculty of Public Health, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia | Karunamoorthi, K., School of Environmental Health Science, Faculty of Public Health, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia; Bishaw, D., School of Environmental Health Science, Faculty of Public Health, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia; Mulat, T., School of Environmental Health Science, Faculty of Public Health, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia | In this study, we evaluated the toxicity effectiveness of berries crude extract of Endod [vernacular name (local native language, Amharic); Phytolacca dodecandra] against aquatic macroinvertebrates Baetidae (Mayflies) and Hydropsychidae (Caddisflies), under laboratory conditions. In Ethiopia, toxic plant, berries of Phytolacca dodecandra are being commonly used for washing clothes and to control fresh water snails. Macroinvertebrates are useful biological indicators of change in the aquatic ecosystems. The present study clearly revealed that the LC50 and LC90 values for berries crude extract of Phytolacca dodecandra against Baetidae were 181.94 and 525.78 mg/l and lethal doses (LC50 and LC90) required for Hydropsychidae were 1060.69 and 4120.4 mg/l respectively. The present investigation demonstrated that Baetidae was more susceptible than Hydropsychidae, even at shorter exposure period of 2 h. From our preliminary investigation the toxicity effectiveness of crude extracts of Phytolacca dodecandra has been clearly shown. In addition, it requires further explorations which address both the toxicity activity and the active principles that are responsible for its toxicity effectiveness. Ultimately, the release/ introduction of Phytolacca dodecandra plant berries extracts into the river/streams leads to disruption of food chain in the aquatic ecosystem. Therefore, at this moment preserving the aquatic ecosystem is extremely essential and inevitable. | Aquatic ecosystem; Baetidae; Ethiopia; Hydropsychidae; Macroinvertebrates; Phytolacca dodecandra; Plant extracts; Toxicity | Phytolacca dodecandra extract; plant extract; unclassified drug; aquatic environment; article; chemical analysis; clothing; controlled study; environmental protection; Ethiopia; fly; laboratory test; LC 50; macroinvertebrate; nonhuman; Phytolacca dodecandra; snail; species difference; stream (river); synthesis; Animals; Fishes; Lethal Dose 50; Phytolacca dodecandra; Plant Extracts; Snails | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84921927008 | The south African code of corporate governance. The relationship between compliance and financial performance: Evidence from south African publicly listed firms | Tshipa J. | 2015 | Corporate Ownership and Control | 12 | 2 | None | School of Financial Management, University of Pretoria, South Africa | Tshipa, J., School of Financial Management, University of Pretoria, South Africa | The paper examines corporate governance compliance by South African listed firms. The study seeks to explore if better governed firms exhibit greater financial performance than poorly governed firms. The paper employs a panel study methodology for a sample of 137 Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) listed firms between 2002 and 2011. The paper provides empirical insights about the impact of corporate governance on firm performance. The results show that the compliance levels to corporate governance in South Africa (SA) has been improving since 2002 when King II came into force. However, the compliance level in large firms appears to be higher than in small firms. Further, the findings show that the market value of large firms is higher than that of small firms. These results largely support the notion that better governed firms outperforms poorly governed firms in terms of financial performance. Notably, the empirical results indicate that board size, CEO duality and the presence of Independent non-executive directors positively impact the performance of a firm, whereas board gender diversity, director share-ownership and frequency of board meetings have no impact on firm performance. Unexpectedly, the presence of internal key board committees, such as remuneration, Audit and Nomination negatively impact firm performance. Notably, the results also show that only 9 per cent of the positions in the board of SA listed firms are occupied by women. Even though the sample size for this study was the largest to date in SA studies, the sample size of 137 listed firms represents only 40 per cent of the total number of listed firms as at August 2012. As a result, generalizability of the findings might be questioned. Therefore, future research is encouraged to increase the sample size. Similar to UK, South Africa has a flexible approach to corporate governance, in which listed firms are required to comply or explain non-conformance to King recommendations. This study has policy implications as it determines whether the flexible corporate governance approach employed by SA improves corporate governance compliance than the mandatory corporate governance approach as employed by countries such as Sri Lanka and whether compliance translates into firm performance. The study also suggests that greater representation of independent non-executive director, a larger board size and the separation of CEO and Chairman should be encouraged to enhance firm performance. The significant finding of this study is that compliant firms enjoy a higher firm performance as proxied by ROA and Tobin’s Q. This implies that compliance to corporate governance code of practice matters, not just as box ticking exercise but as a real step change in the governance of South African listed firms. This paper fulfils an identified need of how compliance to corporate governance influences firm performance in South Africa. The findings have implications to JSE listing rules, policy, investor confidence and academia. © 2015, Virtus Interpress. All rights received. | Compliance; Corporate governance; Firm performance; JSE; South Africa | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84937861738 | Evaluation of social marketing objectives: A case study of the effectiveness of operation gcin’amanzi in Soweto, South Africa | Phiri M.A., Khumalo D. | 2015 | Corporate Ownership and Control | 12 | 4CONT5 | None | School of Management, Information Technology and Governance, College of Law and Management Studies, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa; University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | Phiri, M.A., School of Management, Information Technology and Governance, College of Law and Management Studies, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa; Khumalo, D., University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | This study was aimed at investigating the effectiveness of the social marketing goal in the implementation of Operation Gcin’amanzi (OGM) in Mofolo North, Soweto, South Africa. The paper is based on a quantitative in nature, although qualitative data was collected to confirm and clarify issues identified in the survey questionnaire. A process-based research approach was pursued in order to measure the impact of social marketing as a phenomenon that has been explored in changing consumer behaviour for the public good. Due to unsuccessful telephone calls to the Johannesburg Water’s communication centre (JW) there is a lack of information from them on specific studies or surveys conducted specifically on OGM since its inception. It is anticipated that the findings from this study will add value to the knowledge in the public sector by elevating the significant role of social marketing in the delivery of basic services projects. These projects are complex in nature as issues of equity, access and the impact on development have to be considered, unlike in traditional marketing approaches where it is the benefit and satisfaction of an individual consumer that is key. © 2015, Virtus Interpress. All rights reserved. | Project Management; Service Delivery; Social Marketing | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84943820595 | The impact of management practices on job satisfaction: Insights from a state-owned institution | Maleka M.J., Rankhumise E.M. | 2014 | Problems and Perspectives in Management | 12 | 4 | None | South Africa | Maleka, M.J., South Africa; Rankhumise, E.M., South Africa | The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of management practices on job satisfaction. The literature shows that employers in the private sector are struggling to retain black employees, and implementation of the Employment Equity Act (EEA) is moving at a slow pace in this sector. At the time of the study, there is a dearth of literature on the impact of management practices on job satisfaction in the South African context, especially research soliciting employees' views about EEA implementation and their sexual harassment experiences. In this study, the researchers adopted a qualitative research approach, using a state-owned institution as a case study. The interview protocol is developed from the literature, and data are collected from sixteen participants. The findings indicate that there are challenges with regard to management practices, including the implementation of affirmative action, with which participants are not happy. In addition, there are clear cases of sexual harassment in the institution, and most of all, top management is adopting a bureaucratic management style. This study contributes to the body of knowledge in relation to the factors that lead to the dissatisfaction of employees, since it reveals that if the management practices identified above are not properly addressed by the management of the state-owned institution in question, it would find it difficult to retain employees and keep them satisfied. © Molefe J. Maleka, Edward M. Rankhumise, 2014. | Affirmative action; Bureaucracy; Dissatisfaction; Management practice | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84943815864 | Monetary policy regimes and economic performance in Kenya | Nyorekwa E.T., Odhiambo N.M. | 2014 | Problems and Perspectives in Management | 12 | 4 | None | South Africa | Nyorekwa, E.T., South Africa; Odhiambo, N.M., South Africa | This paper provides an overview of Kenya's economic, monetary and financial reforms - since its independence in 1963. In particular, the paper assesses the respective monetary policy frameworks, and the associated economic performance from 1963 to date (July 2014). It also explores the challenges facing the performance of monetary policy. Kenya has undergone a number of reforms since its independence - shifting from direct monetary policy to indirect monetary policy in the 1990s - as an important part of the IMF structural adjustment programs. In 2011, a monetary policy framework that targets monetary aggregates consistent with government inflation targets was adopted, with the Central Bank Rate (CBR) as the main instrument. The findings of this paper show that while monetary policy was largely inactive in the 1960s and the early 70s; as in many other developing countries, the associated macroeconomic performance exhibited by high growth rates, the balance of payment surplus, and the low inflation during this period, has not been fully replicated. The study also found that, although Kenya's financial sector is currently regarded as one of the most developed in sub-Saharan African countries, like many other emerging economies, the sector still faces a number of challenges. These challenges include: the intricacies associated with rapid financial innovations, the pursuance of multiple objectives, and the recent rising trend of domestic debt. © Enock T. Nyorekwa, Nicholas M. Odhiambo, 2014. | Kenya; Macroeconomic performance; Monetary policy | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84943813495 | The role of age and business size on small business performance in the South African small enterprise sector | Radipere S., Dhliwayo S. | 2014 | Problems and Perspectives in Management | 12 | 4 | None | South Africa | Radipere, S., South Africa; Dhliwayo, S., South Africa | This study examines the effect that age and business size have on business performance. A structured research instrument was used to collect data from 500 SMEs in retail industry through interviewer administrated and self-administrated survey and 93% of questionnaires were returned. The results show that there is no statistical significant difference between the means of business size and business performance. There is no significant difference between the age categories; under one year and 20 years and more and business performance. Age is no longer a significant factor in a company's performance after twenty years. Life cycle approach of the company or industry could be an appropriate basis for analysis. Effective use of employees will increase business performance. It is important that employees are well trained to use the necessary technology and understand the importance of technology in the business. © Simon Radipere, Shepherd Dhliwayo, 2014. | Business age; Business performance; Business size | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84943821329 | The impact of information and communication technology (ICT) on commercial bank performance: Evidence from South Africa | Binuyo A.O., Aregbeshola R.A. | 2014 | Problems and Perspectives in Management | 12 | 3 | None | South Africa | Binuyo, A.O., South Africa; Aregbeshola, R.A., South Africa | This paper contributes to the ongoing debate regarding the contribution of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to firm's performance. As the ICT impact on bank performance is beyond the scope pf most similar studies, this study further investigates the impact of Information and Communication Technology Cost Efficiency (ICTCE) on the performance of banks as well. The study assessed the impact of ICT on the performance of South African banking industry using annual data over the period 1990-2012 published by Bankscope - World banking information source. Data analysis is carried out in a dynamic panel environment using the orthogonal transformation approach. The robustness of the results was affirmed by residual cointegration regression analysis using both Pedroni and Kao methods. The findings of the study indicated that the use of ICT increases return on capital employed as well as return on assets of the South African banking industry. The study discovers that more of the contribution to performance comes from information and communication technology cost efficiency compared to investment in information and communication technology. The study recommends that banks emphasize policies that will enhance proper utilization of existing ICT equipment rather than additional investments. © Adekunle Oluwole Binuyo, Rafiu Adewale Aregbeshola, 2014. | Bank; Information and communication technology cost efficiency; Performance; Return on assets; Return on capital employed; South Africa | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84943816512 | The effects of culture as a start-up factor on business performance | Radipere S. | 2014 | Problems and Perspectives in Management | 12 | 4 | None | South Africa | Radipere, S., South Africa | The study examines relationship between culture and business performance using 500 SMMEs in Gauteng province, South Africa. South Africa's low ranking in terms of global competitiveness is a source of national concern. This means that South Africa has the smallest proportion of entrepreneurs compared with other developing countries. This is a problem in a country where entrepreneurial ventures account for one-third of total employment. There is a need to find out to what extent the entrepreneurial start-up factor (culture) affects the performance of a business. Questionnaire is used to collect data from 500 SMMEs owners. Probability sampling is used to ensure that each member of the SMME population was given a known non-zero chance of selection. Simple random sampling was utilized to identify the respondents. The findings from the survey are modelled through a categorical regression model with business performance as dependent variable. The level of significance of the sixteen variables out of twenty five variables suggests that culture is classified as the strongest predictor of business performance. These findings, depicting the magnitude of the business environment in the study area, clearly confirm the positive impact of culture on business performance. © Simon Radipere, 2014. | Business performance; Cultural dimensions; Culture; SMMEs | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84885396038 | Performance of TOTAL, in medical patients attending a resource-poor hospital in sub-Saharan Africa and a small Irish rural hospital | Opio M.O., Nansubuga G., Kellett J., Clifford M., Murray A. | 2013 | Acute Medicine | 12 | 3 | None | St. Joseph's Kitovu Health, Care Complex, Masaka, Uganda; Hospitalist Service, Thunder Bay Regional, Health Sciences Center, 980 Oliver Road, Thunder Bay, ON P78 7A5, Canada; Medical Assessment Unit, Nenagh Hospital, Nenagh, Ireland; Dundalk Institute, Dundalk, Ireland | Opio, M.O., St. Joseph's Kitovu Health, Care Complex, Masaka, Uganda; Nansubuga, G., St. Joseph's Kitovu Health, Care Complex, Masaka, Uganda; Kellett, J., Hospitalist Service, Thunder Bay Regional, Health Sciences Center, 980 Oliver Road, Thunder Bay, ON P78 7A5, Canada; Clifford, M., Medical Assessment Unit, Nenagh Hospital, Nenagh, Ireland; Murray, A., Dundalk Institute, Dundalk, Ireland | Background: Recently a very simple, easy to remember early warning score (EWS) dubbed TOTAL has been reported. The score was derived from 309 acutely ill medical patients admitted to a Malawian hospital and awards one point for Tachypnea >30 breaths per minute, one point for Oxygen saturation <90%, two points for a Temperature <35°C, one point for Altered mental status, and one point for Loss of independence as indicated by the inability to stand or walk without help. TOTAL has an area under the receiver operator characteristic curve (AUROC) for death within 72 hours of 78%. Methods: We compared the performance of the TOTAL score in 849 medical patients attending a resource poor hospital in Uganda and 2935 patients admitted to a small rural hospital in Ireland. Results: TOTAL's AUROC for death within 24 hours was the same in both hospital populations: 85.1% (95% CI 78.6 - 91.6%) for Kitovu Hospital patients and 84.7% (95% CI 77.1 - 92.2%) for Nenagh Hospital patients. Conclusion: The discrimination of TOTAL is exactly the same in elderly Irish patients as it is in young African patients. The score is easy to remember, easy to calculate, and works over a broad range of patients. © 2013 Rila Publications Ltd. | Area under the receiver operator characteristic curve (AUROC); Medical Assessment Unit; TOTAL | adult; Africa south of the Sahara; aged; article; controlled study; female; health service; hospital; hospital admission; hospital patient; human; independence; Ireland; major clinical study; male; mental health; mortality; oxygen saturation; receiver operating characteristic; rural area; scoring system; tachypnea; temperature; Uganda; Acute Disease; Health Resources; Health Status Indicators; Hospitals, Rural; Humans; Ireland; Prognosis; ROC Curve; Severity of Illness Index; Uganda | None |
| WoS | WOS:000261308200006 | Improving success rates of first-year Economics students by means of a summer school programme - an evaluation | Horn, P. M.,Jansen, A. I. | 2008 | EDUCATION AS CHANGE | 12 | 1 | None | Stellenbosch University | "Horn, P. M.: Stellenbosch University","Jansen, A. I.: Stellenbosch University" | The high failure rate of first-year Economics students has become a concern at most South African universities. It affects the throughput of students and has financial implications for the institution as well as the students. At academic departmental level it may impact on the number of students who consider continuing their studies in Economics. At the beginning of 2007, Stellenbosch University (in the Western Cape, South Africa) launched a pilot summer school with the aim of improving students' learning outcomes and pass rates. Techniques used were geared towards actively involving the students in their own learning process. Various authors indicate the importance of active learning for student performance. This may include techniques such as in-class experiments and the writing of assignments. The case study presented in this paper investigates these techniques. The summer school programme combined traditional lectures and interactive learning approaches, primarily co-operative learning (through small tutorial sessions) and writing tasks, thereby ensuring active participation by students. The results achieved in the summer school (a pass rate of 89%) provide a justification to explore the success of this structured approach for future applications. | "ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE","Economics first-year students","Summer School","teaching and learning techniques",ATTENDANCE | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-65549105937 | Impact of solar photovoltaic lighting on indoor air smoke in off-grid rural Ghana | Obeng G.Y., Akuffo F.O., Braimah I., Evers H.-D., Mensah E. | 2008 | Energy for Sustainable Development | 12 | 1 | 10.1016/S0973-0826(08)60419-6 | Technology Consultancy Centre, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) Kumasi, Ghana; Mechanical Engineering Department, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) Kumasi, Ghana; Department of Planning, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) Kumasi, Ghana; Center for Development Research, Zentrum fuer Entwickungsforschung (ZEF), University of Bonn, Walter-Flex Str. 3, 53113 Bonn, Germany; Department of Agricultural Engineering, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) Kumasi, Ghana | Obeng, G.Y., Technology Consultancy Centre, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) Kumasi, Ghana; Akuffo, F.O., Mechanical Engineering Department, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) Kumasi, Ghana; Braimah, I., Department of Planning, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) Kumasi, Ghana; Evers, H.-D., Center for Development Research, Zentrum fuer Entwickungsforschung (ZEF), University of Bonn, Walter-Flex Str. 3, 53113 Bonn, Germany; Mensah, E., Department of Agricultural Engineering, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) Kumasi, Ghana | Nearly 75% of the rural households in Ghana depend on kerosene lanterns as the main source of lighting after sunset. However, concerns are being expressed on indoor air smoke and heat as well as fire hazards associated with the use of kerosene lanterns. Largely as a result of socio-economic and environmental benefits, public solar photovoltaic (PV) electrification projects have been implemented to provide alternative lighting in off-grid communities in Ghana. The purpose of this paper was to assess the impacts of solar PV lighting on indoor air smoke in rural households. Using the with/without comparison method, 209 solar-electrified and non-electrified households were surveyed to assess impacts. The study results indicated that solar PV lighting is likely to reduce the proportion of household members being affected by indoor smoke from kerosene lanterns by 50%. Furthermore, solar PV lighting is likely to reduce the proportion of household members who get blackened nostrils from soot associated with kerosene lanterns by nearly a third. This paper maintains that, though the effects identified by this study may be short-term, further research is needed to investigate both the medium- and long-term effects on human health. Given the low income levels of the rural poor and the costs involved in maintaining PV systems, effective policies and incentives for low-income earners are fundamental steps toward improvement in quality of life and widening of access. © 2008 International Energy Initiative, Inc. | None | accessibility; atmospheric pollution; crude oil; health impact; health risk; incentive; indoor air; lightning; low income population; photovoltaic system; public health; quality of life; rural area; rural population; smoke; Africa; Ghana; Sub-Saharan Africa; West Africa | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84921919945 | Corporate social responsibility and financial performance: An empirical study on egyptian banks | Hafez H.M. | 2015 | Corporate Ownership and Control | 12 | 2 | None | The British University in Egypt, Misr Ismalia Road, El-Sherouk, South Africa | Hafez, H.M., The British University in Egypt, Misr Ismalia Road, El-Sherouk, South Africa | Due to the significance of the banking sector in the stability and welfare of any economy; it is important to constantly monitor and evaluate its performance. Most banks have incorporated social practices in their business operations regardless of the managers’ real intentions of whether it is for the corporate image that might lead to better performance; or it is for the well being of the environment or society overall. Consequently, the purpose of this study is to check if the concept of the CSR is widely applied to local, international and Islamic banks operating in Egypt over the interim period from 2005 to 2013 and if there is a difference in the application. Moreover does CSR really matters and affect banks' financial performance. Descriptive statistics will be used. The difference in performance will be tested for statistical significance using one way ANOVA tests. The statistical study conducted on 34 banks categorized under Local commercial, International and Islamic banks are operating in Egypt. The relationship is neutral when it is looked at from the ROA measure. The banks’ Corporate Social Responsibility did not have any impact on the financial performance of the banks. However, the relationship was positive when the financial performance perspective was looked from the estimated ROE and NIM; it implies that banks’ corporate social responsibility practices not act as costs to shareholders as they do not reduce the returns. Whether the relationship is positive or neutral, the coefficient for both models are rather small as well as the model that resulted in Neutral relationship had lower standard of error which indicates that it is a better model compared to the model using ROE and NIM as the dependent variable. Therefore relationship is Neutral. © 2015, Virtus Interpress. All rights received. | Banking sector and financial performance; Corporate social responsibility | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84909579556 | Corporate South Africa and carbon disclosure: A differential analysis of 2011 and 2012 carbon disclosure performance | Ngwakwe C.C. | 2014 | Corporate Ownership and Control | 12 | 1 Continued 3 | None | Turfloop Graduate School of Leadership, University of Limpopo, South Africa | Ngwakwe, C.C., Turfloop Graduate School of Leadership, University of Limpopo, South Africa | This paper examined the performance of corporate South Africa in the 2012 Carbon Disclosure Project [CDP]. It is motivated by the growing shift to climate performance amongst the JSE listed companies in South Africa; hence the paper showcases the commitment of corporations in South Africa towards carbon disclosure. It thus shows exemplary commitment by corporations in an emerging economy to curb GHG emission through disclosure. The paper compared corporate South Africa carbon disclosure performance in 2012 with the 2011 disclosure performance. First, the performance of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) 100 carbon performance leaders were examined; and using a statistical t-test of difference in means, the paper finds that the 2012 carbon performance improved remarkably over the 2011 performance; hence the T-test indicates a significant difference in means between the 2012 and 2011 carbon performance. Secondly, the paper also examined the climate performance of the JSE 100 companies and also found a significant difference between the 2011 and 2012 performance which also depicts an improvement over the 2011 climate performance. It is perceptible that the 2011 UN Climate Conference in South Africa, coupled with the SA’s outstanding role in global climate change negotiations and the Carbon Disclosure Project is driving corporate SA to ‘walk the talk’ on climate change. In conclusion the paper highlights the need for further corporate climate initiatives, and calls on governments of developing countries to take a bold stance on climate negotiations as this is a key to encouraging the corporate toward climate friendly and carbon reduction initiatives. © Virtus Interpress. All rights reserved. | Carbon disclosure; Carbon disclosure project; Carbon performance; Climate change; Climate performance; Corporate South Africa; Johannesburg stock exchange | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000253427900007 | Evaluation of TB and HIV services prior to introducing TB-HIV activities in two rural districts in western Kenya | Agaya, J.,Akeche, G.,Lodenyo, W.,Marston, B. J.,Odero, G.,Onyango, J.,van't Hoog, A. H. | 2008 | INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF TUBERCULOSIS AND LUNG DISEASE | 12 | 3 | None | University of Amsterdam, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention - USA, Kenya Govt Med Res Ctr, Kenya Minist Hlth, US Ctr Dis Control & Prevent | None | SETTING: Health facilities providing tuberculosis (TB) treatment in two districts in rural western Kenya with a high TB and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) burden.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate TB and HIV/acquired immune-deficiency syndrome (AIDS) services at the facilities and identify barriers to providing quality diagnostic HIV testing and counseling (DTC) and HIV treatment for TB patients in anticipation of the introduction of TB-HIV collaborative services.
METHODS: We performed a standard interview with health workers responsible for TB care, inspected the facilities and collected service delivery data. A self-administered questionnaire on training attended was given to all health workers. Results were shared with stakeholders and plans for implementation were developed.
RESULTS: Of the 59 facilities, 58 (98%) provided TB treatment, 19 (32%) offered sputum microscopy and 24 (41%) HIV testing. Most facilities (72%) advised HIV testing only if TB patients were suspected of having AIDS. Barriers identified included unaccommodating TB clinic schedules and lack of space, which was an obstacle to holding confidential discussions. The need to refer for HIV testing and/or HIV care was a perceived barrier to recommending these services. Activities implemented following the assessment aimed 1) to provide HIV testing and cotrimoxazole prophylaxis at all TB treatment clinics, 2) to increase availability of HIV treatment services, and 3) to address structural needs at each facility.
CONCLUSION: This evaluation identified barriers to the implementation of HIV testing and care services within facilities providing TB treatment. | "HEALTH CARE DELIVERY",HIV,KENYA,TUBERCULOSIS,TUBERCULOSIS | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000297792500010 | ODL and the Impact of Digital Divide on Information Access in Botswana | Aina, Lenrie,Oladokun, Olugbade | 2011 | INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF RESEARCH IN OPEN AND DISTANCE LEARNING | 12 | 6 | None | University of Botswana, University of Ilorin | "Aina, Lenrie: University of Ilorin","Oladokun, Olugbade: University of Botswana" | Open and distance learning (ODL) has created room for the emergence of virtual education. Not only are students found everywhere and anywhere undertaking their studies and earning their degrees, but geographical boundaries between nations no longer appear to have much relevance. As the new education paradigm irretrievably alters the way teaching and learning is conducted, the application of modern educational ICTs has a major role to play.
With students of transnational or cross-border education dispersed into various nooks and crannies of Botswana, many others enlist for the "home-baked" distance learning programmes from their diverse locations. Like the face-to-face conventional students, distance learners also have information needs which have to be met. But blocking the distance learners' realization of their information needs is the digital divide, which further marginalizes the underclass of "info-poor."
The survey method was used, and a questionnaire administered to 519 students of four tertiary level distance teaching institutions that met the criteria set for the study yielded a 70.1% response rate. The results showed that while the Government of Botswana has made considerable effort to ensure country-wide access to ICT, which now constitutes an effective instrument for meeting information needs, a number of problems still exist. The factors impeding easy access are unearthed. The findings of an empirical study portraying some learners as information-rich and others as information-poor, and the consequence of distance learners studying on both sides of the digital divide, are discussed. Suggestions on bridging the digital divide are discussed. Suggestions on bridging the digital divide are offered. | "cross-border students","data service providers (DSP)","digital divide","distance learners",ICTS,"Information Environment","information literacy skills (ILS)","Internet service providers (ISP)",library/librarian,ONLINE | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84897893535 | FAITH-INSPIRED HEALTH CARE PROVISION IN GHANA: MARKET SHARE, REACH TO THE POOR, AND PERFORMANCE | Olivier J., Shojo M., Wodon Q. | 2014 | Review of Faith and International Affairs | 12 | 1 | 10.1080/15570274.2013.876735 | University of Cape Town, Health Policy and Systems Division, South Africa; Department of the South Asia Region, World Bank, United States; Education Department of the Human Development Network, World Bank, United States | Olivier, J., University of Cape Town, Health Policy and Systems Division, South Africa; Shojo, M., Department of the South Asia Region, World Bank, United States; Wodon, Q., Education Department of the Human Development Network, World Bank, United States | [No abstract available] | None | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000307245700001 | Exploring the effectiveness of the output-based aid voucher program to increase uptake of gender-based violence recovery services in Kenya: A qualitative evaluation | Abuya, Timothy,Askew, Ian,Bellows, Ben,Kanya, Lucy,Njuki, Rebecca,Obare, Francis,Okal, Jerry,Undie, Chi-Chi,Warren, Charlotte E. | 2012 | BMC PUBLIC HEALTH | 12 | None | 10.1186/1471-2458-12-426 | None | None | Background: Few studies in Africa have explored in detail the ability of output-based aid (OBA) voucher programs to increase access to gender-based violence recovery (GBVR) services.
Methods: A qualitative study was conducted in 2010 and involved: (i) in-depth interviews (IDIs) with health managers, service providers, voucher management agency (VMA) managers and (ii) focus group discussions (FGDs) with voucher users, voucher non-users, voucher distributors and opinion leaders drawn from five program sites in Kenya.
Results: The findings showed promising prospects for the uptake of OBA GBVR services among target population. However, a number of factors affect the uptake of the services. These include lack of general awareness of the GBVR services vouchers, lack of understanding of the benefit package, immediate financial needs of survivors, as well as stigma and cultural beliefs that undermine reporting of cases or seeking essential medical services. Moreover, accreditation of only hospitals to offer GBVR services undermines access to the services in rural areas. Poor responsiveness from law enforcement agencies and fear of reprisal from perpetrators also undermine treatment options and access to medical services. Low provider knowledge on GBVR services and lack of supplies also affect effective provision and management of GBVR services.
Conclusions: The above findings suggest that there is a need to build the capacity of health care providers and police officers, strengthen the community strategy component of the OBA program to promote the GBVR services voucher, and conduct widespread community education programs aimed at prevention, ensuring survivors know how and where to access services and addressing stigma and cultural barriers. | "Gender-based violence recovery services","health service utilization",KENYA,"Voucher program",CARE,COMMUNITY,COUNTRIES,"DOMESTIC VIOLENCE",INTERVENTIONS,"INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE",PREVALENCE,"REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH-SERVICES",RISK-FACTORS,WOMEN | None | None |
| None | None | Evaluation of a direct, rapid immunohistochemical test for rabies diagnosis | Lembo T., Niezgoda M., Velasco-Villa A., Cleaveland S., Ernest E., Rupprecht C.E. | 2006 | Emerging Infectious Diseases | 12 | 2 | None | University of Edinburgh, Midlothian, United Kingdom; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States; Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute, Arusha, Tanzania; Division of Viral and Rickettsial Diseases, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd, Atlanta, GA 30333, United States | Lembo, T., University of Edinburgh, Midlothian, United Kingdom; Niezgoda, M., Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States, Division of Viral and Rickettsial Diseases, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd, Atlanta, GA 30333, United States; Velasco-Villa, A., Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States; Cleaveland, S., University of Edinburgh, Midlothian, United Kingdom; Ernest, E., Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute, Arusha, Tanzania; Rupprecht, C.E., Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States | A direct rapid immunohistochemical test (dRIT) was evaluated under field and laboratory conditions to detect rabies virus antigen in frozen and glycerol-preserved field brain samples from northwestern Tanzania. Compared to the direct fluorescent antibody test, the traditional standard in rabies diagnosis, the dRIT was 100% sensitive and specific. | None | virus antigen; animal tissue; article; brain tissue; controlled study; diagnostic test; evaluation; field study; fluorescent antibody technique; frozen section; immunohistochemistry; intermethod comparison; laboratory test; nonhuman; rabies; Rabies virus; sensitivity and specificity; Tanzania; tissue preservation; Animals; Animals, Domestic; Animals, Wild; Antigens, Viral; Brain; Cats; Cattle; Dogs; Glycerol; Immunohistochemistry; Population Surveillance; Rabies; Rabies virus; Sensitivity and Specificity; Tanzania; Time Factors; Tissue Preservation | None |
| WoS | WOS:000338472600001 | Advancing the application of systems thinking in health: realist evaluation of the Leadership Development Programme for district manager decision-making in Ghana | Agyepong, Irene Akua,Kwamie, Aku,van Dijk, Han | 2014 | HEALTH RESEARCH POLICY AND SYSTEMS | 12 | None | 10.1186/1478-4505-12-29 | University of Ghana, Wageningen Univ, Wageningen University & Research Center | "Agyepong, Irene Akua: University of Ghana", | Background: Although there is widespread agreement that strong district manager decision-making improves health systems, understanding about how the design and implementation of capacity-strengthening interventions work is limited. The Ghana Health Service has adopted the Leadership Development Programme (LDP) as one intervention to support the development of management and leadership within district teams. This paper seeks to address how and why the LDP 'works' when it is introduced into a district health system in Ghana, and whether or not it supports systems thinking in district teams.
Methods: We undertook a realist evaluation to investigate the outcomes, contexts, and mechanisms of the intervention. Building on two working hypotheses developed from our earlier work, we developed an explanatory case study of one rural district in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana. Data collection included participant observation, document review, and semi-structured interviews with district managers prior to, during, and after the intervention. Working backwards from an in-depth analysis of the context and observed short-and medium-term outcomes, we drew a causal loop diagram to explain interactions between contexts, outcomes, and mechanisms.
Results: The LDP was a valuable experience for district managers and teams were able to attain short-term outcomes because the novel approach supported teamwork, initiative-building, and improved prioritisation. However, the LDP was not institutionalised in district teams and did not lead to increased systems thinking. This was related to the context of high uncertainty within the district, and hierarchical authority of the system, which triggered the LDP's underlying goal of organisational control.
Conclusions: Consideration of organisational context is important when trying to sustain complex interventions, as it seems to influence the gap between short-and medium-term outcomes. More explicit focus on systems thinking principles that enable district managers to better cope with their contexts may strengthen the institutionalisation of the LDP in the future. | "Continuous quality improvements","district health systems","realist evaluation","systems thinking",CARE,MODELS,"TOTAL QUALITY MANAGEMENT",UGANDA,WORKERS | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84937840733 | Lack of quality financial reporting systems and its impact on the growth of small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) in Zimbabwe | Wadesango O.V. | 2015 | Corporate Ownership and Control | 12 | 4CONT5 | None | University of Limpopo, South Africa | Wadesango, O.V., University of Limpopo, South Africa | The importance of quality accounting records cannot be overlooked. Complete and accurate record keeping enables the business to identify and take count of its assets, liabilities, income and expenses. The purpose of the study was to investigate the impact of lack of quality financial reporting systems on the growth of small and medium scale enterprises (SMES) in Zimbabwe. The main findings of this concept paper revealed that the smaller the business the less the owners see the importance of keeping quality accounting records. It also emerged from literature reviewed that there is a strong relationship between performance and accounting records. © 2015, Virtus Interpress. All rights reserved. | Financial Reporting Systems; Impact; Medium Scale Enterprises; Quality; Small Scale Enterprises | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000313110000001 | A call for parental monitoring to improve condom use among secondary school students in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania | Jimba, Masamine,Mbwambo, Jessie K. K.,Mlunde, Linda B.,Otsuka, Keiko,Poudel, Krishna C.,Sunguya, Bruno F.,Ubuguyu, Omary,Yasuoka, Junko | 2012 | BMC PUBLIC HEALTH | 12 | 1 | 10.1186/1471-2458-12-1061 | University of Massachusetts Amherst, University of Massachusetts System, University of Tokyo, Muhimbili Univ Hlth & Allied Sci | "Jimba, Masamine: University of Tokyo","Mlunde, Linda B.: University of Tokyo","Otsuka, Keiko: University of Tokyo","Poudel, Krishna C.: University of Massachusetts Amherst","Poudel, Krishna C.: University of Massachusetts System","Sunguya, Bruno F.: University of Tokyo","Yasuoka, Junko: University of Tokyo", | Background: The number of people newly infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has been decreasing in sub-Saharan Africa, but prevalence of the infection remains unacceptably high among young people. Despite the alarming pervasiveness of the virus, young people in this region continue to engage in risky sexual behaviors including unprotected sexual intercourse. In developed countries, parents can play important roles in protecting young people from such behaviors, but evidence regarding the impact of parental involvement is still limited in sub-Saharan Africa. Therefore, we conducted this study to examine the magnitude of risky sexual behaviors and the association of parental monitoring and parental communication with condom use at last sexual intercourse among secondary school students in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Methods: We conducted this cross-sectional study among 2,217 male and female students aged 15 to 24 years from 12 secondary schools in Dar es Salaam. From October to November 2011, we collected data using a self-administered questionnaire. Multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine the association of parental monitoring and parental communication with condom use at last sexual intercourse, adjusting for potential confounders.
Results: A total of 665 (30.3%) secondary school students reported being sexually active within the year prior to data collection. Among them, 41.7% had multiple sexual partners, 10.5% had concurrent sexual partners, and 41.1% did not use a condom at last sexual intercourse. A higher level of parental monitoring was associated with increased likelihood of condom use at last sexual intercourse among male students (AOR: 1.56, 95% CI: 1.05-2.32; p = 0.03) but not among female students (AOR: 1.54, 95% CI: 0.71-3.37; p = 0.28). The association between parental communication and condom use at last sexual intercourse among both male and female students was not statistically significant.
Conclusions: A high level of parental monitoring is associated with more consistent condom use among male students in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania -many of whom have engaged in high-risk sexual behaviors such as multiple sexual partnerships, concurrent sexual partnerships, and unprotected sexual intercourse in the past one year. Interventions should thus be strengthened to reduce multiple sexual partnerships, concurrent sexual partnerships, and to improve parental monitoring among such students toward increasing condom use. | "CONDOM USE","parental monitoring","SEXUAL BEHAVIORS",Tanzania,"YOUNG PEOPLE","ADOLESCENT REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH",AFRICA,COMMUNICATION,HIV,INTERVENTIONS,PREVALENCE,PREVENTION,"PROTECTIVE FACTORS","RISKY SEXUAL-BEHAVIOR","TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS" | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84930986175 | BI-directional relationship between capital structure and financial performance of firms listed on the Nairobi securities exchange | Otieno O.L., Ngwenya S. | 2015 | Corporate Ownership and Control | 12 | 4 | None | University of Nairobi, PO Box 30197, Nairobi, Kenya; School of Management Sciences, UNISA, PO Box 392, Preller Street, Muckleneuk Ridge, Pretoria, South Africa | Otieno, O.L., University of Nairobi, PO Box 30197, Nairobi, Kenya, School of Management Sciences, UNISA, PO Box 392, Preller Street, Muckleneuk Ridge, Pretoria, South Africa; Ngwenya, S., University of Nairobi, PO Box 30197, Nairobi, Kenya | Capital structure decisions are common across firms, yet capital structure theories lack a consensus on how much of debt capital firms should use to finance their operations. The main objective of this study was to investigate the bi-directional relationship between capital structure and financial performance of firms listed on the NSE. The study used canonical correlation technique to determine the bidirectional relationship between capital structure and performance. The result revealed that dominant capital structure indicator to be used in an analysis to predict performance is the total debt to the total asset ratio. In the case of performance, the two variables that relate to capital structure are book value to market value ratio and asset turnover ratio. The results support the conclusion that a bidirectional relationship exists between capital structure and debt capital. © 2015, Virtus Interpress. All rights reserved. | Canonical technique; Capital structure; Financial performance; NSE | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000265364500010 | EVALUATION OF "CARE OF THE FOOT" AS A RISK FACTOR FOR DIABETIC FOOT ULCERATION: THE ROLE OF INTERNAL PHYSICIANS | Odenigbo, C. U.,Oguejiofor, O. C.,Oli, J. M. | 2009 | NIGERIAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PRACTICE | 12 | 1 | None | University of Nigeria, Nnamdi Azikiwe Univ | "Oli, J. M.: University of Nigeria", | Background and Objectives: Several risk factors predispose the diabetic patient to foot ulceration, including "inadequate care of the foot". This risk factor for foot ulceration has not been previously evaluated among Nigeria diabetic patients and is the objective of this study.
Subjects and Methods: One hundred and twenty (120) diabetic patients with and without symptoms of peripheral neuropathy receiving care at the medical outpatient department (MOPD) and the diabetic clinic of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital Nnewi were recruited consecutively as they presented. They were administered structured questionnaires to assess some variables concerning care of their feet as provided to them by their physicians.
Results: Among the 120 diabetic participants, 83(69.2%) had neuropathic symptoms (the symptomatic participants) while 37(30.8%) were asymptomatic (the asymptomatic participants). Eighty (80; 96.4%) of the symptomatic vs 36(97.3%) of the asymptomatic participants had never had their feet examined by their physician. Also, 26(31.3%) of the symptomatic vs 12(32.4%) of the asymptomatic participants had never received any form of advice on how to take special care of their feet by their physician, and 26(31.3%) of the symptomatic vs 6(16.2%) of the asymptomatic participants walked unshod most times in their immediate surroundings.
Conclusion: Physicians do not provide adequate care to the feet of their diabetic patients irrespective of the presence or absence of neuropathic symptoms, making this variable a critical risk factor for diabetic foot ulceration and amputation. Continuing medical education to health care providers emphasizing adequate "care of the foot" of the diabetic patient, will reduce avoidable loss of limbs to diabetes. | "diabetic foot ulceration","PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY","United Kingdom Screening Test",EPIDEMIOLOGY,MELLITUS,PREVALENCE,"SENSORY NEUROPATHY" | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-38349006751 | The impact of the open access movement on medical based scholarly publishing in Nigeria | Dennis A.D. | 2007 | First Monday | 12 | 10 | None | University of Port Harcourt, Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt in Rivers State, Nigeria | Dennis, A.D., University of Port Harcourt, Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt in Rivers State, Nigeria | The open access movement and its initiatives -which advocate a shift from predominant print-based publication to electronic and Internet sources -is expected to improve the global distribution of scholarly research and impact positively on the current state of scholarly publications in the developing world. This review examines the current state of medical journals in Nigeria and assesses the impact of the open access movement and its initiatives on medical scholarly publishing in Nigeria. The resulting appraisal shows that open access initiatives have impacted positively on medical scholarly publishing in Nigeria, with the African Journals Online and the African Index Medicus projects being the most significant influences. There are enormous prospects for further developing medical scholarly publishing in Nigeria using open access initiatives; these opportunities should be exploited and developed. | None | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84931038947 | Board diversity, external governance, ownership structure and performance in Ethiopian microfinance institutions | Wale L.E. | 2015 | Corporate Ownership and Control | 12 | 3CONT1 | None | University of South Africa, South Africa | Wale, L.E., University of South Africa, South Africa | This research investigated the effect of governance dimensions such as board diversity, external governance and ownership structures on the sustainability and outreach performance of Ethiopian MFIs. A panel data of 13 MFIs for 6 years (2003-2008) is used for the study. No study of such type is conducted in the past for the Ethiopian environment. The result indicates that more women on board of directors help in depth of outreach whereas board members with a financial skill and local businessmen reduce depth of outreach. Regulation has an opposite effect in that it reduces sustainability without curtailing depth of outreach. Rating of MFIs activity by rating agencies is found to have a good effect of increasing sustainability and at the same time cater f or more women borrowers. On ownership structure it is found that MFIs dominantly owned by individual investors lends less to women and more profitable indicating the commercial orientation of their operation . © 2015, Virtus Interpress. All rights reserved. | Ethiopia; Governance; Outreach; Sustainability | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84888403084 | Professional perceptions of social work and potential impact on developing field | Gerritsen-McKane R., Hunter R., Ofori-Dua K. | 2013 | Qualitative Social Work | 12 | 6 | 10.1177/1473325012460076 | University of Utah, United States; Department of Sociology and Social Work, Kumasi, Ghana | Gerritsen-McKane, R., University of Utah, United States; Hunter, R., University of Utah, United States; Ofori-Dua, K., Department of Sociology and Social Work, Kumasi, Ghana | In 2007, a collaborative project was initiated between Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology's (KNUST's) Department of Sociology and Social Work (DSSW) and the University of Utah (U of U) College of Social Work (CSW) to establish a Bachelors of Social Work (BSW) Program in Kumasi, Ghana. As part of this initiative, there was a specific need to develop a field education component in the emerging BSW. To assist in establishment of an effective field education program, a research team from the U of U CSW returned to Kumasi, Ghana in 2008 to conduct a qualitative exploratory case study. This article presents initial research findings regarding perceptions of key community stakeholders about the role of social work in this developing country; and their perceptions regarding the necessity of practica for preparing students to practice social work. From evidence sources, themes about professionalism, gender/role of women and community structures emerged concerning perceptions of the role of social work. Themes specific to exposure to vulnerable populations, skill development, understanding the roles and perceptions of social workers in Ghana, and the importance of field education will be presented and implications for future international collaborations will be examined. © The Author(s) 2012. | Field education; Ghana; perceptions | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84875979357 | Outsourced contracts, buyer-supplier trust, support opportunistic behavior and supplier performance inugandan public procuring and disposing entities (PDEs) | Ahimbisibwe A., Muhwezi M., Nangoli S. | 2012 | Journal of Public Procurement | 12 | 4 | None | Victoria University of Wellington, Makerere University, Public Procurement and Contract Management, Uganda; Department Procurement and Logistics Management, Makerere University, Contract management and project management, Uganda; Makerere University, Strategic management, project management, Public procurement and general management, Uganda | Ahimbisibwe, A., Victoria University of Wellington, Makerere University, Public Procurement and Contract Management, Uganda; Muhwezi, M., Department Procurement and Logistics Management, Makerere University, Contract management and project management, Uganda; Nangoli, S., Makerere University, Strategic management, project management, Public procurement and general management, Uganda | This study sought to examine the extent to which outsourced contracts, buyer-supplier trust and supplier opportunistic behavior explain supplier performance in Ugandan Public Procuring and Disposing Entities (PDEs). This study was prompted by reports of long lead times, failure to match specifications, late deliveries, poor quality of services delivered, contract violations, and increased supplier cheating. Cross sectional data from 116 central government PDEs concerning outsourced contracts was collected using a self-administered questionnaire. Hierarchical regression was used to indicate what happens to a model that was developed as part of this research as different predictor variables are introduced. The findings revealed that outsourced contracts, buyer-supplier trust, and supplier opportunistic behavior are significant predictors of supplier performance. The study has both managerial and policy implications which are discussed in this paper. © 2012 by PrAcademics Press. | None | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84935913145 | Gum ghatti and poly(acrylamide-co-acrylic acid) based biodegradable hydrogel-evaluation of the flocculation and adsorption properties | Mittal H., Maity A., Ray S.S. | 2015 | Polymer Degradation and Stability | 120 | None | 10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2015.06.008 | Department of Applied Chemistry, University of Johannesburg, Doornfontein, South Africa; DST/CSIR National Centre for Nanostructured Materials, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Pretoria, South Africa | Mittal, H., Department of Applied Chemistry, University of Johannesburg, Doornfontein, South Africa, DST/CSIR National Centre for Nanostructured Materials, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Pretoria, South Africa; Maity, A., Department of Applied Chemistry, University of Johannesburg, Doornfontein, South Africa, DST/CSIR National Centre for Nanostructured Materials, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Pretoria, South Africa; Ray, S.S., Department of Applied Chemistry, University of Johannesburg, Doornfontein, South Africa, DST/CSIR National Centre for Nanostructured Materials, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Pretoria, South Africa | The main aim of this study was to develop a biodegradable flocculent and adsorbent based on the graft co-polymer of the Gum ghatti (Gg) with the co-polymer mixture of acrylamide (AAM) and acrylic acid (AA) using the microwave assisted graft co-polymerization technique. The synthesized hydrogels were characterized using thermogravimetric analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy techniques. The swelling capacity of the synthesized hydrogel was studied in the double distilled water and it showed the maximum swelling capacity of 2547% at 50 °C. Moreover, the hydrogel polymer was employed for the selective removal of saline water from different petroleum fraction-saline emulsions. The flocculation characteristics of the synthesized hydrogel were investigated in clay suspension and the maximum flocculation efficiency was observed in the acidic clay suspension with 20 mg l-1 polymer dose. Furthermore, the synthesized hydrogel polymer was also employed for the successful removal of cationic dyes from the aqueous solutions and it was found to adsorb 96% of malachite green and 99% of methyl violet. Finally, the hydrogel polymer was subjected to biodegradation using the composting method and 91.77% degradation was achieved after 60 days. In summary, the biodegradable Gg-cl-P(AAM-co-AA) hydrogel have demonstrated potential for its use as flocculants and absorbents. © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. | Adsorption; Biodegradation; Flocculation; Gum ghatti; Hydrogel polymer | Acrylic monomers; Adsorption; Amides; Ascorbic acid; Biodegradable polymers; Biodegradation; Carboxylic acids; Copolymers; Dyes; Flocculation; Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy; Grafting (chemical); Microbiology; Organic acids; Polymers; Saline water; Scanning electron microscopy; Stripping (dyes); Suspended sediments; Suspensions (fluids); Thermogravimetric analysis; Adsorption properties; Biodegradable hydrogels; Double distilled water; Flocculation efficiency; Graft co polymerizations; Gum ghatti; Hydrogel polymers; Swelling capacities; Hydrogels | HGERAOZ, CSIR, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84937633093 | Participatory appraisal of the impact of epizootic lymphangitis in Ethiopia | Scantlebury C.E., Zerfu A., Pinchbeck G.P., Reed K., Gebreab F., Aklilu N., Mideksa K., Christley R. | 2015 | Preventive Veterinary Medicine | 120 | 42433 | 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2015.03.012 | Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Institute of Infection and Global Health, School of Veterinary Science, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Neston, Wirral, United Kingdom; SPANA Ethiopia, College of Veterinary Medicine and Agriculture, University of Addis Ababa, Debre Zeit Campus, Ethiopia; SPANA UK, John Street, London, United Kingdom; Ethiopian Development Research Institute (EDRI), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; The Brooke, United Kingdom | Scantlebury, C.E., Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Institute of Infection and Global Health, School of Veterinary Science, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Neston, Wirral, United Kingdom; Zerfu, A., SPANA Ethiopia, College of Veterinary Medicine and Agriculture, University of Addis Ababa, Debre Zeit Campus, Ethiopia, Ethiopian Development Research Institute (EDRI), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Pinchbeck, G.P., Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Institute of Infection and Global Health, School of Veterinary Science, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Neston, Wirral, United Kingdom; Reed, K., SPANA UK, John Street, London, United Kingdom, The Brooke, United Kingdom; Gebreab, F., SPANA UK, John Street, London, United Kingdom; Aklilu, N., SPANA UK, John Street, London, United Kingdom; Mideksa, K., SPANA UK, John Street, London, United Kingdom; Christley, R., Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Institute of Infection and Global Health, School of Veterinary Science, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Neston, Wirral, United Kingdom | Epizootic lymphangitis (EZL) is reported to have a significant impact upon livelihoods within resource-poor settings. This study used a participatory approach to explore peoples' experiences of EZL and examine the perceived impact of disease, owner knowledge and understanding of EZL, lay management of disease and, attitudes and strategies towards disease prevention.Focus-group discussions were held with 358 cart-horse owners and drivers recruited from 7 towns attended by SPANA (Society for the protection of animals abroad) mobile veterinary clinics and 2 unexposed towns where no SPANA clinics were available. Focus group discussions explored four main research questions: (1) Is EZL recognised by animal owners, and is this considered an important disease in equids? (2) What factors do animal owners associate with the development of disease? (3) What happens to an animal with clinical disease and how does this impact upon the owner/community? (4) Are measures taken to reduce disease occurrence? These key areas were explored using photographs, disease ranking, matrices and open discussion. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis.The results are presented thematically and include: recognition and descriptions of EZL, treatment strategies used, disease priorities and ranking, impact of disease, disease transmission and attitudes and approaches to disease prevention.EZL was widely recognised and ranked highly as an important disease of equids. However, there was uncertainty around identifying early cases of EZL, and this could impact upon the timing of initiating treatment and separating potentially infectious animals. People had varying knowledge of effective methods for disease prevention and reported particular difficulties with isolating infected animals.The impact of EZL was multi-dimensional and encompassed effects upon the horse, the individual owner and the wider society. Working equids provide a vital utility and source of income to many people in resource-poor settings. Often, infection with EZL resulted in a reduction in working ability which had a direct impact upon the livelihoods of owners and their dependent family members. EZL also impacted upon the welfare of the horse as sick animals continued to be worked and, in advanced cases, horses were abandoned due to ineffective or unavailable treatment.This study conceptualises the importance of EZL due to the effects of the disease on the horse and its impact upon human livelihoods. Epizootic lymphangitis is a neglected disease that requires further investigation in order to develop practical and sustainable disease control strategies within endemic regions. © 2015 Elsevier B.V. | Disease prevention; Epizootic lymphangitis; Participatory research; Qualitative analysis; Resource-poor settings; Working equids | Animalia; Equidae | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84943448356 | Impact of mesoscale meteorological processes on anomalous radar propagation conditions over the northern Adriatic area | Telišman Prtenjak M., Horvat I., Tomažic I., Kvakic M., Viher M., Grisogono B. | 2015 | Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres | 120 | 17 | 10.1002/2014JD022626 | Department of Geophysics, Andrija Mohorovičic Geophysical Institute, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia; Meteorological and Hydrological Service, Zagreb, Croatia; EUMETSAT/HE Space Operations, Frankfurt, Germany; ILRI, Nairobi, Kenya; Croatian Military Academy Petar Zrinski, Zagreb, Croatia | Telišman Prtenjak, M., Department of Geophysics, Andrija Mohorovičic Geophysical Institute, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia; Horvat, I., Meteorological and Hydrological Service, Zagreb, Croatia; Tomažic, I., EUMETSAT/HE Space Operations, Frankfurt, Germany; Kvakic, M., ILRI, Nairobi, Kenya; Viher, M., Croatian Military Academy Petar Zrinski, Zagreb, Croatia; Grisogono, B., Department of Geophysics, Andrija Mohorovičic Geophysical Institute, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia | The impact of mesoscale structures on the occurrence of anomalous propagation (AP) conditions for radio waves, including ducts, superrefractive, and subrefractive conditions, was studied. The chosen meteorological situations are the bora wind and the sporadic sea/land breeze (SB/LB) during three selected cases over a large portion of the northern Adriatic. For this purpose, we used available radio soundings and numerical mesoscale model simulations (of real cases and their sensitivity tests) at a horizontal resolution of 1.5-km and 81 vertical levels. The model simulated the occurrences of AP conditions satisfactorily, although their intensities and frequency were underestimated at times. Certain difficulties appeared in reproducing the vertical profile of the modified refractive index, which is mainly dependent on the accuracy of the modeled humidity. The spatial distributions of summer AP conditions reveal that the surface layer above the sea (roughly between 30 and 100 m asl) is often covered by superrefractive conditions and ducts. The SB is highly associated with the formations of AP conditions: (i) in the first 100-m asl, where trapping and superrefractive conditions form because of the advection of cold and moist air, and (ii) inside the transition layer between the SB body and the elevated return flow in the form of subrefractive conditions. When deep convection occurs, all three types of AP conditions are caused by the downdraft beneath the cumulonimbus cloud base in its mature phase that creates smaller but marked pools of cold and dry air. The bora wind usually creates a pattern of AP conditions associated with the hydraulic jump and influences distribution of AP conditions over the sea surface. ©2015. American Geophysical Union. All Rights Reserved. | bora; mixing length; moist convection; sea/land breeze; SST; WRF | accuracy assessment; advection; convection; land breeze; mesoscale meteorology; mixing ratio; numerical model; radar; radio wave; sea breeze; sea surface temperature; spatial distribution; wave propagation; Adriatic Sea; Mediterranean Sea | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84929297376 | Impact of foot-and-mouth disease on milk production on a large-scale dairy farm in Kenya | Lyons N.A., Alexander N., Stärk K.D.C., Dulu T.D., Sumption K.J., James A.D., Rushton J., Fine P.E.M. | 2015 | Preventive Veterinary Medicine | 120 | 2 | 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2015.04.004 | Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, United Kingdom; Veterinary Epidemiology, Economics and Public Health Group, The Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, North Mymms, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom; MRC Tropical Epidemiology Group, Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, United Kingdom; State Department of Livestock, Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, P.O. Private Bag Kabete, Kangemi, Nairobi, Kenya; European Commission for the Control of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (EuFMD), Animal Production and Health Division, FAO, Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, Rome, Italy; Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics Research Unit (VEERU), School of Agriculture, Policy and Development, University of Reading, Earley Gate, P.O. Box 237, Reading, Berkshire, United Kingdom | Lyons, N.A., Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, United Kingdom, Veterinary Epidemiology, Economics and Public Health Group, The Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, North Mymms, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom; Alexander, N., MRC Tropical Epidemiology Group, Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, United Kingdom; Stärk, K.D.C., Veterinary Epidemiology, Economics and Public Health Group, The Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, North Mymms, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom; Dulu, T.D., State Department of Livestock, Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, P.O. Private Bag Kabete, Kangemi, Nairobi, Kenya; Sumption, K.J., European Commission for the Control of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (EuFMD), Animal Production and Health Division, FAO, Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, Rome, Italy; James, A.D., Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics Research Unit (VEERU), School of Agriculture, Policy and Development, University of Reading, Earley Gate, P.O. Box 237, Reading, Berkshire, United Kingdom; Rushton, J., Veterinary Epidemiology, Economics and Public Health Group, The Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, North Mymms, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom; Fine, P.E.M., Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, United Kingdom | The economic impact of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) has been poorly characterised particularly in endemic settings where such knowledge is important for decision-making on disease control with limited resources. In order to address this, a study was designed using individual animal data from a large-scale dairy farm in Kenya to estimate the impact of an FMD outbreak due to serotype SAT2 virus on milk yield. Daily milk yields from 218 mainly European-breed cattle that were lactating during the 29-day outbreak period were considered in the analysis. At the herd level, the average daily yields decreased from around 20 to 13. kg per cow, recovering approximately 2 months after the commencement of the outbreak. Generalised estimating equations (GEE) and an autoregressive correlation matrix were used to compare yields of reported clinical FMD cases and non-cases. No difference was found between reported clinical and non-clinical cases suggesting inaccurate case recording, poor sensitivity of the case definition and subclinical infections being present. To further investigate the impact of FMD, yields were predicted for each individual animal based on historic data from the same herd using a similar GEE approach. For cattle lactating during the outbreak, comparisons were made between actual and predicted yields from the commencement of the outbreak to 305 days lactation using a linear regression model. Animals produced significantly less than predicted if in parity 2 or greater and between 0 and 50 days in milk (DIM) at the start of the outbreak period. The maximum effect was seen among animals in parity ≥4 and between 0 and 50 DIM at the start of the outbreak, producing on average 688.7. kg (95%CI 395.5, 981.8) less milk than predicted for their remaining lactation, representing an average 15% reduction in the 305 day production for these animals. Generalisation of the results requires caution as the majority of Kenyan milk is produced in smallholder farms. However, such farms use similar genetics and feeding practices to the study farm, and such systems are increasingly important in the supply of milk globally. These results make an important and unique contribution to the evidence base on FMD impact among dairy cattle in an endemic setting. © 2015 Elsevier B.V. | Dairy cattle; Economics; Foot-and-mouth disease; Kenya; Milk yield | Animalia; Bos | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33845674189 | Impact of utilizing p16INK4A immunohistochemistry on estimated performance of three cervical cancer screening tests | Zhang Q., Kuhn L., Denny L.A., De Souza M., Taylor S., Wright Jr. T.C. | 2007 | International Journal of Cancer | 120 | 2 | 10.1002/ijc.22172 | Department of Pathology, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States; Gertrude H. Sergievsky Center, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States; Department of Obstetrics, University of Cape Town, South Africa; Department of Pathology, P and S Building, 630 W. 168th St, New York, NY 10032, United States | Zhang, Q., Department of Pathology, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States; Kuhn, L., Gertrude H. Sergievsky Center, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States; Denny, L.A., Department of Obstetrics, University of Cape Town, South Africa; De Souza, M., Department of Obstetrics, University of Cape Town, South Africa; Taylor, S., Department of Pathology, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States; Wright Jr., T.C., Department of Pathology, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States, Department of Pathology, P and S Building, 630 W. 168th St, New York, NY 10032, United States | The histopathological diagnosis of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2,3 (CIN 2,3) is subjective and prone to variability. In our study, we analyzed the impact of utilizing a biomarker (p16INK4A) together with histopathology to refine the "gold standard" utilized for evaluating the performance of 3 different cervical cancer screening tests: cervical cytology, human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA testing and visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA). Cervical biopsies from 2 South African cervical cancer screening studies originally diagnosed by a single pathologist were reevaluated by a second pathologist and a consensus pathology diagnosis obtained. Immunohistochemical staining for p16INK4A was then performed. The estimated sensitivity of some cervical cancer screening tests was markedly impacted by the criteria utilized to define CIN 2,3. Use of routine histopathology markedly underestimated the sensitivity of both conventional cytology and HPV DNA testing compared to an improved gold standard of consensus pathology and p16INK4A positivity. In contrast, routine histopathology overestimated the sensitivity of VIA. Our results demonstrate that refining the diagnosis of CIN 2,3 through the use of consensus pathology and immunohistochemical staining for p16INK4A has an important impact on measurement of the performance of cervical cancer screening tests. The sensitivity of screening tests such as HPV DNA testing and conventional cytology may be underestimated when an imperfect gold standard (routine histopathology) is used. In contrast, the sensitivity of other tests, such as VIA, may be overestimated with an imperfect gold standard. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc. | Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia; p16 immunohistochemistry | acetic acid; protein p16INK4a; virus DNA; protein p16INK4a; adult; aged; article; cancer classification; cancer grading; cancer screening; consensus; diagnostic accuracy; disease marker; DNA determination; female; histopathology; human; immunohistochemistry; intermethod comparison; major clinical study; priority journal; uterine cervix biopsy; uterine cervix cancer; uterine cervix cytology; visual analog scale; Wart virus; evaluation; immunohistochemistry; mass screening; methodology; pathology; uterine cervix carcinoma in situ; uterine cervix tumor; Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16; Female; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Mass Screening; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84875399709 | Investigation of the impact in variation of secondary radioclimatic variables on microwave at the lower atmosphere | Jonas A.U., Okechukwu U.D. | 2013 | Meteorology and Atmospheric Physics | 120 | 02-Jan | 10.1007/s00703-013-0234-z | Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, 41010 Enugu State, Nigeria | Jonas, A.U., Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, 41010 Enugu State, Nigeria; Okechukwu, U.D., Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, 41010 Enugu State, Nigeria | The work discusses the effect in the variations of secondary radioclimatic parameters in Nsukka, Nigeria. The data collected from the measured atmospheric profile using two automatic wireless weather stations for 3 years were used to estimate the propagation condition, geoclimatic factor, and effective earth radius. The result shows that, the calculated median value of k-factor is 1. 595, with an absolute span of 0. 26 of the standard value of k-factor 1. 333 owing to the increase in relative humidity during the rainy seasons and intensive temperature inversion in the morning and early afternoon periods of December due to the dry harmattan for the season. Also, from the result super-refraction propagation condition was observed for about 7 months of a year, while ducting condition dominates the remaining 5 months in the region. The regression analysis of k-factor as a function of ground refractivity showed that the pair is strongly correlated (0. 9996). These results have not been obtained in the region and it will help in planning of radio wave line-of-sight for better signal reception. © 2013 Springer-Verlag Wien. | None | air temperature; microwave radiation; radio wave; regression analysis; relative humidity; Enugu [Nigeria]; Nigeria; Nsukka | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84940714174 | TEC prediction performance of IRI-2012 model during a very low and a high solar activity phase over equatorial regions, Uganda | Tariku Y.A. | 2015 | Journal of Geophysical Research A: Space Physics | 120 | 7 | 10.1002/2015JA021203 | Department of Physics, University of Ambo, Ambo, Ethiopia | Tariku, Y.A., Department of Physics, University of Ambo, Ambo, Ethiopia | This paper examines the capacity of the latest version of the International Reference Ionosphere (IRI-2012) model in predicting the vertical total electron content (VTEC) variation over Uganda during a very low solar activity phase (2009) and a high solar activity (2012) phase. This has been carried out by comparing the ground-based Global Positioning System (GPS) VTEC inferred from dual-frequency GPS receivers installed at Entebbe (geographic latitude 0.038N and longitude 32.44E; geomagnetic latitude -9.53N and longitude 104.06E) and Mbarara (geographic latitude -0.60N and longitude 30.74E; geomagnetic latitude -10.02N and longitude 102.36E). In this work, the diurnal, monthly, and seasonal variations in the measured VTEC have been analyzed and compared with the VTEC derived from IRI-2012 model. It has been shown that the lowest diurnal peak GPS-VTEC values are observed in the June solstice months during both the low and the high solar activity phases. Similarly, the highest diurnal peak IRI-2012 VTEC values are observed in equinoctial months during both phases. The variability of the VTEC in both the experimental and model is minimal nearly at 03:00 UT (06:00 LT) and maximal mostly between 10:00 and 13:00 UT (13:00-16:00 LT) during both phases. The diurnal highest peak modeled VTEC value observed during the high solar activity phase is almost twice larger than the diurnal highest peak modeled VTEC value depicted during the low solar activity phase. Moreover, the highest monthly mean hourly measured VTEC value observed in October during the high solar activity phase is larger by more than twice the corresponding highest monthly mean hourly measured VTEC value observed in November during the low solar activity phase. Similarly, the lowest monthly measured VTEC value observed in July during the high solar activity phase is larger by more than twice the corresponding lowest measured monthly VTEC value observed in the same month during the low solar activity phase. It has also been shown that the highest measured seasonal mean hourly VTEC values are observed in the December solstice and the March equinox, respectively, during the low and the high solar activity phases, while the corresponding lowest measured VTEC values are observed in the June solstice during both phases. The model prediction generally follows the monthly and seasonal variations of measured VTEC, with the highest and the lowest monthly values being observed in equinoctial and solstice months, respectively, during both phases. The overall results show that the modeled diurnal, monthly, and seasonal VTEC values are generally larger than those corresponding measured VTEC values observed during both the low and the high solar activity phases, with the largest deviations being observed during the low solar activity phase. Moreover, the model does not respond to the effects resulting from the storm. Hence, unlike the measured VTEC values, the modeled VTEC values are unaffected by the storm. © 2015. American Geophysical Union. All Rights Reserved. | equatorial ionosphere; GPS-VTEC; high solar activity; IRI-2012 VTEC; low solar activity | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-71349083537 | Comparative evaluation of the antibacterial activities of the essential oils of Rosmarinus officinalis L. obtained by hydrodistillation and solvent free microwave extraction methods | Okoh O.O., Sadimenko A.P., Afolayan A.J. | 2010 | Food Chemistry | 120 | 1 | 10.1016/j.foodchem.2009.09.084 | Faculty of Science and Agriculture, University of Fort Hare, Alice, 5700, South Africa | Okoh, O.O., Faculty of Science and Agriculture, University of Fort Hare, Alice, 5700, South Africa; Sadimenko, A.P., Faculty of Science and Agriculture, University of Fort Hare, Alice, 5700, South Africa; Afolayan, A.J., Faculty of Science and Agriculture, University of Fort Hare, Alice, 5700, South Africa | Rosmarinus officinalis L. is a perennial herb that belongs to the Lamiaceae family. It is used as a food flavouring agent, and well known medicinally for its powerful antimutagenic, antibacterial and chemopreventive properties. Essential oils were obtained from this plant by hydrodistillation (HD) and solvent free microwave extraction (SFME). GC-MS analyses of the oils revealed the presence of 24 and 21 compounds in the essential oils obtained through HD and SFME, respectively. The total yield of the volatile fractions obtained through HD and SFME was 0.31% and 0.39%, respectively. Higher amounts of oxygenated monoterpenes such as borneol, camphor, terpene-4-ol, linalool, α-terpeneol (28.6%) were present in the oil of SFME in comparison with HD (26.98%). However, HD oil contained more monoterpene hydrocarbons such as α-pinene, camphene, β-pinene, myrcene, α-phellanderene, 1,8-cineole, trans β-ocimene, γ-terpenene, and cis sabinene hydrate (32.95%) than SFME extracted oil (25.77%). The essential oils obtained using the two methods of extraction were active against all the bacteria tested at a concentration of 10 mg ml-1. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values for all the susceptible bacteria ranged between 0.23 mg ml-1 and 7.5 mg ml-1.. © 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. | Antimicrobial activity; Essential oil; Hydrodistillation; Rosmarinus officinalis; Solvent free microwave extraction | 1 methyl 2,4 nitrophenylbenzimid; 1,5 diphenyl 2h 1,2,4 triazoline; 2 methoxy 3,8 dioxocephalotax 1 ene; alpha phellanderene; behenic acid; beta pinene; borneol; bornyl acetate; camphene; camphor; caryophyllene; caryophyllene oxide; cineole; essential oil; humulene; jasmone; linalool; myrcene; myrtenol; ocimene; pentasiloxane; phthalic acid; phthalic acid derivative; pinene; sabinene; sesquiterpene derivative; terpene 4 ol; terpene derivative; terpinene; unclassified drug; verbinone; antibacterial activity; article; chemical composition; controlled study; distillation; gas chromatography; intermethod comparison; mass spectrometry; minimum inhibitory concentration; nonhuman; rosemary; solvent extraction; Dryobalanops; Lamiaceae; Rosmarinus officinalis | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84884213116 | The primary subcellular localization of Zinc phthalocyanine and its cellular impact on viability, proliferation and structure of breast cancer cells (MCF-7) | Tynga I.M., Houreld N.N., Abrahamse H. | 2013 | Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology B: Biology | 120 | None | 10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2012.11.009 | Laser Research Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Johannesburg, P.O. Box 17011, Doornfontein 2028, South Africa | Tynga, I.M., Laser Research Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Johannesburg, P.O. Box 17011, Doornfontein 2028, South Africa; Houreld, N.N., Laser Research Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Johannesburg, P.O. Box 17011, Doornfontein 2028, South Africa; Abrahamse, H., Laser Research Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Johannesburg, P.O. Box 17011, Doornfontein 2028, South Africa | The development of curative techniques which are selective for neoplasms is one of the main focal areas in cancer research. The mechanism of cell damage due to Zinc phthalocyanine (ZnPcSmix)-mediated photodynamic therapy (PDT) in a breast cancer cell line (MCF-7) was assessed by inverted light microscopy for morphology, the Trypan blue exclusion assay and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) luminescence assay for cell viability, alamarBlue for proliferation, Lactate Dehydrogenase (LHD) membrane integrity for cytotoxicity and fluorescent microscopy for ZnPcSmix localization. Fluorescent microscopy revealed that ZnPcSmix was localized in both mitochondria and lysosomes, and PDT treated cells showed damaging structural changes and decreased cell viability and proliferation. The light-dependent ZnPcS mix displayed appreciable photosensitivity and the intensity of damage was directly related to its concentration. © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. | Breast cancer; Photodynamic therapy; Zinc phthalocyanine | adenosine triphosphate; lactate dehydrogenase; phthalocyanine zinc; article; breast cancer; cancer cell; cell damage; cell proliferation; cell structure; cell viability; cellular distribution; controlled study; cytotoxicity; fluorescence microscopy; human; human cell; lysosome; microscopy; mitochondrion; morphology; photodynamic therapy; photosensitivity; photosensitization; priority journal; Biological Transport; Breast Neoplasms; Cell Death; Cell Proliferation; Cell Survival; Humans; Indoles; Intracellular Space; Laser Therapy; MCF-7 Cells; Organometallic Compounds; Photosensitizing Agents; Sulfonic Acids | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84944176143 | The cadmium telluride photon counting sensor in panoramic radiology: gray value separation and its potential application for bone density evaluation | Langlais R., Katsumata A., Naidoo S., Ogawa K., Fukui T., Shimoda S., Kobayashi K. | 2015 | Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology and Oral Radiology | 120 | 5 | 10.1016/j.oooo.2015.07.002 | University of Texas, Health Science Center Dental School, CEO Emeritus Enterprises, San Antonio, TX, United States; Department of Oral Radiology, Asahi University, School of Dentistry, 1851-1 Hozumi, Mizuho-shi, Gifu, Japan; University of the Western Cape, Tygerberg, South Africa; Department of Applied Informatics, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Hosei UniversityTokyo, Japan; Department of Oral Anatomy, Tsurumi University, School of Dental Medicine, Yokohama, Japan; Department of Oral Radiology, Tsurumi University, School of Dental Medicine, Yokohama, Japan | Langlais, R., University of Texas, Health Science Center Dental School, CEO Emeritus Enterprises, San Antonio, TX, United States; Katsumata, A., Department of Oral Radiology, Asahi University, School of Dentistry, 1851-1 Hozumi, Mizuho-shi, Gifu, Japan; Naidoo, S., University of the Western Cape, Tygerberg, South Africa; Ogawa, K., Department of Applied Informatics, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Hosei UniversityTokyo, Japan; Fukui, T., Department of Oral Radiology, Asahi University, School of Dentistry, 1851-1 Hozumi, Mizuho-shi, Gifu, Japan; Shimoda, S., Department of Oral Anatomy, Tsurumi University, School of Dental Medicine, Yokohama, Japan; Kobayashi, K., Department of Oral Radiology, Tsurumi University, School of Dental Medicine, Yokohama, Japan | Objective To investigate whether bone mineral density can be evaluated more accurately using a panoramic device with a new cadmium telluride photon-counting sensor and software than 2 panoramic devices with a conventional semiconductor sensor. Study Design A fiduciary test object with several known levels of hydroxy apatite mineral concentration was placed in a phantom on the mandibular occlusal plane. Panoramic images were acquired by changing the position of the test object within the dental arch. The gray value, the spectrum deformation index (SDI), and the relative attenuation index (RAI) of the test object were evaluated. The SDI and RAI represent unique energy information as acquired by the QR-Master panoramic machine and the corresponding special QR-MC analysis software. In order to compare the values expressed in the different units (gray, SDI, and RAI values), the percentage discrepancy was calculated. Results The cadmium telluride photon-counting fitted machine more consistently separated each of the hydroxy apatite concentrations in all of the different positioning configurations and locations. The SDI function of the QR Master machine produced more stable values than the RAI value and the gray values of the 2 conventional panoramic machines. Conclusions The methodologies as developed for this study can be used to test more sophisticated analyses for the determination of bone density. © 2015 Elsevier Inc. | None | None | METI, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84897885776 | Evaluation of the resistance of German cultivars of maize and sorghum to Maize streak virus | Drechsler N., Thieme T., Shepherd D.N., Schubert J. | 2014 | Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection | 121 | 1 | None | BTL Bio-Test Labor GmbH Sagerheide, Thünenplatz 1, 18190 Groß Lüsewitz, Germany; University of Cape Town, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Rondebosch, Cape Town 7701, South Africa; Julius Kuehn-Institute, Institute for Biosafety in Plant Biotechnology, Erwin-Baur-Str. 27, 06484 Quedlinburg, Germany | Drechsler, N., BTL Bio-Test Labor GmbH Sagerheide, Thünenplatz 1, 18190 Groß Lüsewitz, Germany; Thieme, T., BTL Bio-Test Labor GmbH Sagerheide, Thünenplatz 1, 18190 Groß Lüsewitz, Germany; Shepherd, D.N., University of Cape Town, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Rondebosch, Cape Town 7701, South Africa; Schubert, J., Julius Kuehn-Institute, Institute for Biosafety in Plant Biotechnology, Erwin-Baur-Str. 27, 06484 Quedlinburg, Germany | Maize streak virus (MSV) is the cause of one of the most devastating maize diseases in Africa. It is transmitted by leafhoppers of the genus Cicadulina. Due to the changing climate it is possible that species of this genus capable of transmitting MSV will become established and spread the virus in Europe. There is no data on the level of resistance of cultivars of European maize to MSV. The susceptibility of three maize and 15 sorghum cultivars, and Miscanthus × giganteus was investigated using agroinoculation with the virus. DAS-ELISA and a newly developed real time quantitative PCR was used to determine the concentration of virus. All three cultivars of maize were susceptible to MSV administered using agroinoculation, although there were significant differences in the levels of susceptibility. The 15 culti-vars of sorghum and Miscanthus were resistant to MSV. Transmission tests using Cicadulina mbila as the vector confirmed the resistance of two of the cultivars of sorghum and Miscanthus. Agroinoculation can only be carried out under S2 biosafety conditions. Therefore, the persistence of agro-bacteria in the plants was investigated. Five weeks after agroinoculation, the bacteria were no longer found in the above-ground parts of the plants, but still persisted in the roots of some plants. Transmission tests with an indigenous species of leafhopper, Psammotettix alienus, a vector of the related geminivirus Wheat dwarf virus, revealed that this species is not capable of transmitting MSV. Virus was found only in the body of these insects and not in their heads, which is necessary for persistent transmission through salivary glands. © Eugen Ulmer KG, Stuttgart. | Agroinfection; Agroinoculation; Bioenergy crops; Climate change; Leafhoppers; Miscanthus; MSV; Realtime PCR | bioenergy; biosafety; climate variation; cultivar; disease resistance; disease severity; disease transmission; energy crop; maize; polymerase chain reaction; real time; sorghum; viral disease; Africa | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-42949127664 | Impacted radio-opaque glass in the oesophagus of a child | Ibekwe T.S., Fasunla J.A., Akinola M.D., Nwaorgu O.G.B. | 2008 | New Zealand Medical Journal | 121 | 1272 | None | Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria; Division of ENT, Department of Surgery, Ambrose Alli University Ekpoma, PMB 08, Irrua, Edo State, Nigeria | Ibekwe, T.S., Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria, Division of ENT, Department of Surgery, Ambrose Alli University Ekpoma, PMB 08, Irrua, Edo State, Nigeria; Fasunla, J.A., Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria; Akinola, M.D., Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria; Nwaorgu, O.G.B., Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria | Most ingested foreign bodies in the aero-digestive tracts in both children and adults. are not radio-opaque, and as a result, a preoperative plain radiograph may not be helpful. However, incorporating radio-opaque markers into such potential foreign bodies like toys, beads, and dentures during manufacture (as illustrated in this case of a 6-year old boy who ingested a piece of glass mirror which was easily seen on X-ray) would obviate this problem. While this may constitute some financial burden on manufacturers, the cost effectiveness on health management is non-negotiable. We suggest that appropriate authorities and regulatory bodies should enforce this through legislation. © NZMA. | None | contrast medium; glass; article; case report; cervical spine radiography; esophagoscopy; esophagus foreign body; human; hypersalivation; ingestion; law; male; outcome assessment; physical examination; play; preoperative evaluation; preschool child; radiography; thorax radiography; child; esophagus; foreign body; Child; Esophagoscopy; Esophagus; Foreign Bodies; Glass; Humans; Male | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84937969215 | Evaluation of methods for short-term marking of domestic dogs for rabies control | Conan A., Kent A., Koman K., Konink S., Knobel D. | 2015 | Preventive Veterinary Medicine | 121 | 42371 | 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2015.05.008 | Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort, South Africa; 50 Oaklands Grove, London, United Kingdom; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 1, CL Utrecht, Netherlands; Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, P.O. Box 334, Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis | Conan, A., Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort, South Africa, Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, P.O. Box 334, Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis; Kent, A., 50 Oaklands Grove, London, United Kingdom; Koman, K., Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 1, CL Utrecht, Netherlands; Konink, S., Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 1, CL Utrecht, Netherlands; Knobel, D., Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort, South Africa, Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, P.O. Box 334, Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis | Rabies transmitted by domestic dogs is a serious yet neglected public health threat in many underserved communities in Africa and Asia. Achieving 70% vaccination coverage in dog populations through annual mass vaccination campaigns is an effective means of controlling the disease in these communities. Evaluating the extent to which this target coverage is achieved requires either accurate pre-campaign estimates of the dog population size or accurate estimates of the coverage attained by conducting post-vaccination surveys. Short-term marking of dogs by applying visible marks may be useful to achieve these estimates, but will be affected by the performance of the marking methods. We evaluated the longevity and visibility of two readily-available livestock marking methods applied to owned, free roaming dogs.We applied two types of marks (spray and crayon) with three different colours (red, blue and green) to each of 21 dogs and compared the time of persistence of the marks over several weeks. Two independent observers assessed the visibility and colour of the marks. Each dog was observed over 8-37 days (median: 28 days). Kaplan-Meier survival analyses and semi-parametric log-rank tests were performed separately for both observers. Spray marks remained visible significantly longer (median of 24 days for both observers) compared with crayon marks (medians of 10 and 13 days). After 10 days, 90% of spray marks were still visible, compared with only 46% of crayon marks. Visibility of marks was reduced in darker-coloured dogs. Colours of marks were frequently misclassified, and agreement between observers on the colours of the marks was low (Cohen's kappa coefficient = 0.27).The livestock marker spray can effectively be used to mark dogs that are physically restrained, for example during vaccination campaigns. Resight surveys should be conducted within a short a time as possible after marking; however, our results suggest that loss of marks will not have a significant impact if surveys are conducted within 5-7 days after marking with the spray. Results that depend on observers' abilities to distinguish between the three colours which we evaluated may not be reliable. © 2015 Elsevier B.V. | Dogs; Free roaming; Mark-resight; Rabies; Survival analysis; Vaccination | Canis familiaris | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77950902743 | Evaluation of bromocriptine in the treatment of acute severe peripartum cardiomyopathy: A proof-of-concept pilot study | Sliwa K., Blauwet L., Tibazarwa K., Libhaber E., Smedema J.-P., Becker A., McMurray J., Yamac H., Labidi S., Struhman I., Hilfiker-Kleiner D. | 2010 | Circulation | 121 | 13 | 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.109.901496 | Hatter Cardiovascular Research Institute, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, South Africa; Soweto Cardiovascular Research Unit, Department of Cardiology, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States; Groote Schuur Hospital, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Netcare N1 City Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa; British Heart Foundation, Cardiovascular Research Centre, United Kingdom; Department of Cardiology and Angiology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, United Kingdom; GIGA-R, Liège, Belgium | Sliwa, K., Hatter Cardiovascular Research Institute, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, South Africa, Soweto Cardiovascular Research Unit, Department of Cardiology, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Blauwet, L., Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States; Tibazarwa, K., Hatter Cardiovascular Research Institute, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, South Africa, Soweto Cardiovascular Research Unit, Department of Cardiology, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, Groote Schuur Hospital, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Libhaber, E., Soweto Cardiovascular Research Unit, Department of Cardiology, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Smedema, J.-P., Netcare N1 City Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa; Becker, A., Soweto Cardiovascular Research Unit, Department of Cardiology, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; McMurray, J., British Heart Foundation, Cardiovascular Research Centre, United Kingdom; Yamac, H., Department of Cardiology and Angiology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, United Kingdom; Labidi, S., Department of Cardiology and Angiology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, United Kingdom; Struhman, I., GIGA-R, Liège, Belgium; Hilfiker-Kleiner, D., Department of Cardiology and Angiology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, United Kingdom | Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a potentially life-threatening heart disease that occurs in previously healthy women. We identified prolactin, mainly its 16-kDa angiostatic and proapoptotic form, as a key factor in PPCM pathophysiology. Previous reports suggest that bromocriptine may have beneficial effects in women with acute onset of PPCM. METHODS AND RESULTS: A prospective, single-center, randomized, open-label, proof-of-concept pilot study of women with newly diagnosed PPCM receiving standard care (PPCM-Std; n=10) versus standard care plus bromocriptine for 8 weeks (PPCM-Br, n=10) was conducted. Because mothers receiving bromocriptine could not breast-feed, the 6-month outcome of their children (n=21) was studied as a secondary end point. Blinded clinical, hemodynamic, and echocardiographic assessments were performed at baseline and 6 months after diagnosis. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging was performed 4 to 6 weeks after diagnosis in PPCM-Br patients. There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics, including serum 16-kDa prolactin levels and cathepsin D activity, between the 2 study groups. PPCM-Br patients displayed greater recovery of left ventricular ejection fraction (27% to 58%; P=0.012) compared with PPCM-Std patients (27% to 36%) at 6 months. One patient in the PPCM-Br group died compared with 4 patients in the PPCM-Std group. Significantly fewer PPCM-Br patients (n=1, 10%) experienced the composite end point of poor outcome defined as death, New York Heart Association functional class III/IV, or left ventricular ejection fraction <35% at 6 months compared with the PPCM-Std patients (n=8, 80%; P=0.006). Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging revealed no intracavitary thrombi. Infants of mothers in both groups showed normal growth and survival. CONCLUSIONS: In this trial, the addition of bromocriptine to standard heart failure therapy appeared to improve left ventricular ejection fraction and a composite clinical outcome in women with acute severe PPCM, although the number of patients studied was small and the results cannot be considered definitive. Larger-scale multicenter and blinded studies are in progress to test this strategy more robustly. © 2010 American Heart Association, Inc. | Cardiomyopathy; Heart failure; Hormones; Parturition; Pregnancy | amino terminal pro brain natriuretic peptide; bromocriptine; C reactive protein; carvedilol; cathepsin D; creatinine; enalapril; furosemide; hemoglobin; prolactin; spironolactone; adult; article; cardiomyopathy; clinical article; clinical trial; controlled clinical trial; controlled study; disease classification; disease severity; drug dose increase; drug dose reduction; drug dose titration; drug efficacy; echocardiography; enzyme activity; female; heart hemodynamics; heart left ventricle ejection fraction; human; multicenter study; open study; patient compliance; peripartum cardiomyopathy; pilot study; pregnancy; priority journal; prolactin blood level; randomized controlled trial; single blind procedure; survival; thromboembolism; treatment outcome; Acute Disease; Adolescent; Adult; Blood Pressure; Bromocriptine; Cardiomyopathies; Cathepsin D; Female; Heart Failure; Hormone Antagonists; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Middle Aged; Parturition; Pilot Projects; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular; Pregnancy Outcome; Prolactin; Thromboembolism; Treatment Outcome; Ventricular Function, Left; Young Adult | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33748936111 | The impact of the use of COL-1492, a nonoxynol-9 vaginal gel, on the presence of cervical human papillomavirus in female sex workers | Marais D., Carrara H., Kay P., Ramjee G., Allan B., Williamson A.-L. | 2006 | Virus Research | 121 | 2 | 10.1016/j.virusres.2006.04.009 | Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Department of Public Health and Family Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; HIV Prevention Research Unit, Medical, Research Council, Durban, South Africa; National Health Laboratory Services, Groote Schuur Hospital, Observatory, Cape Town, South Africa | Marais, D., Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Carrara, H., Department of Public Health and Family Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Kay, P., Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Ramjee, G., HIV Prevention Research Unit, Medical, Research Council, Durban, South Africa; Allan, B., Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Williamson, A.-L., Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa, National Health Laboratory Services, Groote Schuur Hospital, Observatory, Cape Town, South Africa | This study investigated the effectiveness of a nonoxynol-9 (52.5 mg, 3.5%), vaginal gel (Advantage S), in the prevention of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in female sex workers. We showed by HPV DNA determination in cervico-vaginal rinses a significant increase in multiple (>1) HPV infection in HIV-1 seropositive women compared with HIV-1 seronegative women (OR 4.0, 95% CI 1.3-11.9). We also demonstrated a significant increase in multiple HPV infections in HIV-1 seronegative women using nonoxynol-9 compared with HIV-1 seronegative women using placebo (OR 3.5 95% CI 1.0-11.8). We conclude that the use of nonoxynol-9 did not prevent genital HPV infection and could increase the virus' ability to infect or persist. © 2006. | HIV; Human papillomavirus; Nonoxynol-9; Vaginal microbicides | nonoxinol 9; adolescent; adult; article; comparative study; controlled study; DNA determination; drug efficacy; female; gel; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infected patient; infection risk; major clinical study; prevalence; priority journal; prostitution; virus infection; Wart virus; Administration, Intravaginal; Cervix Uteri; Cohort Studies; Confounding Factors (Epidemiology); DNA, Viral; Female; HIV Seropositivity; HIV-1; Humans; Nonoxynol; Papillomaviridae; Papillomavirus Infections; Prostitution; South Africa; Spermatocidal Agents; Treatment Outcome; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms; Vaginal Creams, Foams, and Jellies; Human immunodeficiency virus 1; Human papillomavirus | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84885961613 | Structural vascular disease in africans: Performance of ethnic-specific waist circumference cut points using logistic regression and neural network analyses: The SABPA study | Botha J., De Ridder J.H., Potgieter J.C., Steyn H.S., Malan L. | 2013 | Experimental and Clinical Endocrinology and Diabetes | 121 | 9 | 10.1055/s-0033-1351289 | Physical Activity Sport and Recreation (PhASRec), North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa; School for Psychosocial Behavioural Science, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa; Statistical Consultation Service, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa; Hypertension in Africa Research Team (HART), North-West University, Private Bag X6001, 2520 Potchefstroom, South Africa | Botha, J., Physical Activity Sport and Recreation (PhASRec), North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa; De Ridder, J.H., Physical Activity Sport and Recreation (PhASRec), North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa; Potgieter, J.C., School for Psychosocial Behavioural Science, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa; Steyn, H.S., Statistical Consultation Service, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa; Malan, L., Hypertension in Africa Research Team (HART), North-West University, Private Bag X6001, 2520 Potchefstroom, South Africa | A recently proposed model for waist circumference cut points (RPWC), driven by increased blood pressure, was demonstrated in an African population. We therefore aimed to validate the RPWC by comparing the RPWC and the Joint Statement Consensus (JSC) models via Logistic Regression (LR) and Neural Networks (NN) analyses. Urban African gender groups (N=171) were stratified according to the JSC and RPWC cut point models. Ultrasound carotid intima media thickness (CIMT), blood pressure (BP) and fasting bloods (glucose, high density lipoprotein (HDL) and triglycerides) were obtained in a well-controlled setting. The RPWC male model (LR ROC AUC: 0.71, NN ROC AUC: 0.71) was practically equal to the JSC model (LR ROC AUC: 0.71, NN ROC AUC: 0.69) to predict structural vascular disease. Similarly, the female RPWC model (LR ROC AUC: 0.84, NN ROC AUC: 0.82) and JSC model (LR ROC AUC: 0.82, NN ROC AUC: 0.81) equally predicted CIMT as surrogate marker for structural vascular disease. Odds ratios supported validity where prediction of CIMT revealed clinical significance, well over 1, for both the JSC and RPWC models in African males and females (OR 3.75-13.98). In conclusion, the proposed RPWC model was substantially validated utilizing linear and non-linear analyses. We therefore propose ethnic-specific WC cut points (African males, ≥90 cm; -females, ≥98 cm) to predict a surrogate marker for structural vascular disease. © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York. | anthropometry; central obesity; ethnicity; logistic regression; neural networks | gamma glutamyltransferase; glucose; high density lipoprotein; triacylglycerol; adult; Africa; aged; arterial wall thickness; article; artificial neural network; blood pressure measurement; body mass; cardiovascular risk; carotid artery; diastolic blood pressure; disease marker; energy expenditure; ethnicity; female; gamma glutamyl transferase blood level; glucose blood level; human; human tissue; logistic regression analysis; male; normal human; physical activity; priority journal; systolic blood pressure; triacylglycerol blood level; vascular disease; waist circumference; Adult; Africa; Aged; Biological Markers; Blood Glucose; Blood Pressure; Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; Female; Humans; Linear Models; Lipoproteins, HDL; Logistic Models; Male; Middle Aged; Models, Statistical; Neural Networks (Computer); Nonlinear Dynamics; Odds Ratio; Reproducibility of Results; ROC Curve; Sex Characteristics; Triglycerides; Urban Population; Vascular Diseases; Waist Circumference; Young Adult | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-57949084196 | In vitro pharmacological evaluation of three Barleria species | Amoo S.O., Finnie J.F., Van Staden J. | 2009 | Journal of Ethnopharmacology | 121 | 2 | 10.1016/j.jep.2008.10.035 | Research Centre for Plant Growth and Development, School of Biological and Conservation Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal Pietermaritzburg, Private Bag X01, Scottsville, 3209, South Africa | Amoo, S.O., Research Centre for Plant Growth and Development, School of Biological and Conservation Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal Pietermaritzburg, Private Bag X01, Scottsville, 3209, South Africa; Finnie, J.F., Research Centre for Plant Growth and Development, School of Biological and Conservation Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal Pietermaritzburg, Private Bag X01, Scottsville, 3209, South Africa; Van Staden, J., Research Centre for Plant Growth and Development, School of Biological and Conservation Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal Pietermaritzburg, Private Bag X01, Scottsville, 3209, South Africa | Ethnopharmacological relevance: Various parts of Barleria prionitis L. (Acanthaceae) are used in traditional medicine to treat infection-related ailments. A comparison of their activities and knowledge of their mechanisms of action are important for drug development and conservation. Aims of the study: This study investigated the antibacterial effects and underlying mechanisms of action of the anti-inflammatory activities of different parts of three Barleria species of South African origin. Materials and methods: Crude extracts of different parts of three Barleria species were investigated in vitro for their biological activity. Antibacterial activity was evaluated using the micro-dilution assay against two Gram-positive and two Gram-negative bacteria. Anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated using the cyclooxygenase COX-1 and COX-2 assays. Results: All the extracts showed broad-spectrum antibacterial activity with minimum inhibitory concentrations ranging from 0.059 to 6.25 mg/ml. Twelve out of 21 crude extracts evaluated showed good activity (>70%) in the COX-1 assay while 10 extracts showed good activity in the COX-2 assay. All the petroleum ether extracts (except B. prionitis stem) exhibited good inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis in COX-1. Conclusion: The results demonstrated the therapeutic potential of these plants as antibacterial and anti-inflammatory agents. Their anti-inflammatory properties are mediated by the inhibition of the cyclooxygenase enzymes. © 2008 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. | Anti-inflammatory; Antibacterial; Barleria species; COX-1; COX-2 | Barleria albostellata extract; Barleria greenii extract; Barleria prionitis extract; cyclooxygenase 1; cyclooxygenase 2; petroleum ether; plant extract; unclassified drug; Acanthaceae; antibacterial activity; antiinflammatory activity; article; controlled study; dilution; drug activity; enzyme inhibition; Gram negative bacterium; Gram positive bacterium; in vitro study; minimum inhibitory concentration; nonhuman; plant leaf; plant root; plant stem; prostaglandin synthesis inhibition; South Africa; species difference; traditional medicine; Acanthaceae; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Cyclooxygenase 1; Cyclooxygenase 2; Gram-Negative Bacteria; Gram-Positive Bacteria; Medicine, African Traditional; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Plant Extracts; Prostaglandins; South Africa; Acanthaceae; Barleria; Barleria prionitis; Negibacteria; Posibacteria | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84906684265 | Evaluation of the synergistic activities of Bacillus thuringiensis Cry proteins against Helicoverpa armigera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) | Li H., Bouwer G. | 2014 | Journal of Invertebrate Pathology | 121 | None | 10.1016/j.jip.2014.06.005 | School of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, Wits 2050, Johannesburg, South Africa | Li, H., School of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, Wits 2050, Johannesburg, South Africa; Bouwer, G., School of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, Wits 2050, Johannesburg, South Africa | With the aim of identifying Cry proteins that would be useful in the management of the economically important lepidopteran pest Helicoverpa armigera, the larvicidal activities of binary combinations (1:1 ratios) of six Cry proteins (Cry1Aa, Cry1Ab, Cry1Ac, Cry1Ca, Cry2Aa and Cry9Aa) were evaluated against H. armigera neonate larvae using droplet feeding bioassays. Determination of the LD50 values of individual Cry proteins and mixtures of Cry proteins enabled assessment of the nature of the interactions between Cry proteins in H. armigera. There was a more than 6000-fold difference between the LD50 values of the Cry protein mixture with the lowest larvicidal activity and the mixture with the highest larvicidal activity. Cry1Ac and Cry2Aa mixtures and Cry1Ac and Cry1Ca mixtures had the highest larvicidal activity against H. armigera, with Cry1Ac and Cry1Ca interacting synergistically. Differences in the magnitudes of the antagonistic interactions observed for different binary mixtures of Cry1A-class proteins are consistent with a model of more than one binding site for some Cry1A-class proteins in H. armigera. Binary combinations of Cry1A-class and Cry9Aa proteins showed additive interactions in neonate larvae of H. armigera, whereas combinations of Cry1Ca and Cry9Aa were statistically synergistic. The results suggest that products containing mixtures of Cry1Ac and Cry2Aa or Cry1Ac and Cry1Ca may be useful components of H. armigera pest management programs. © 2014 Elsevier Inc. | Bacillus thuringiensis; Cry proteins; Helicoverpa armigera; Interaction; Larvicidal activity; Synergism | bacterial protein; crystal protein, Bacillus subtilis; animal; biological pest control; chemistry; drug effects; drug potentiation; larva; LD50; moth; Animals; Bacterial Proteins; Drug Synergism; Larva; Lethal Dose 50; Moths; Pest Control, Biological | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-20544455616 | Carbohydrate ingestion during exercise & endurance performance | Bosch A.N., Noakes T.D. | 2005 | Indian Journal of Medical Research | 121 | 5 | None | UCT/MRC Research Unit for Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, Boundary Road, Newlands 7700, South Africa | Bosch, A.N., UCT/MRC Research Unit for Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, Boundary Road, Newlands 7700, South Africa; Noakes, T.D., UCT/MRC Research Unit for Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, Boundary Road, Newlands 7700, South Africa | [No abstract available] | None | carbohydrate; glucose; insulin; article; carbohydrate intake; carbohydrate metabolism; concentration (parameters); endurance; energy consumption; energy metabolism; exercise; fatigue; glucose blood level; glycogen muscle level; glycogenolysis; human; insulin blood level; medical research; oxidation; oxygen consumption; physical activity; Dietary Carbohydrates; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Exercise; Glucose; Humans; Oxygen Consumption; Physical Endurance; Time Factors | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33847397493 | Cloning and expression of Rift Valley fever virus nucleocapsid (N) protein and evaluation of a N-protein based indirect ELISA for the detection of specific IgG and IgM antibodies in domestic ruminants | Fafetine J.M., Tijhaar E., Paweska J.T., Neves L.C.B.G., Hendriks J., Swanepoel R., Coetzer J.A.W., Egberink H.F., Rutten V.P.M.G. | 2007 | Veterinary Microbiology | 121 | 42371 | 10.1016/j.vetmic.2006.11.008 | Veterinary Faculty, Eduardo Mondlane University, C. Postal 257, Maputo, Mozambique; Division of Immunology, Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Yalelaan I, 3584 CL Utrecht, Netherlands; National Institute for Communicable Diseases, Special Pathogens Unit, Private Bag X4, Sandringham, 2131, South Africa; Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa; Division of Virology, Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, 3584 CL Utrecht, Netherlands | Fafetine, J.M., Veterinary Faculty, Eduardo Mondlane University, C. Postal 257, Maputo, Mozambique; Tijhaar, E., Division of Immunology, Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Yalelaan I, 3584 CL Utrecht, Netherlands; Paweska, J.T., National Institute for Communicable Diseases, Special Pathogens Unit, Private Bag X4, Sandringham, 2131, South Africa; Neves, L.C.B.G., Veterinary Faculty, Eduardo Mondlane University, C. Postal 257, Maputo, Mozambique; Hendriks, J., Division of Immunology, Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Yalelaan I, 3584 CL Utrecht, Netherlands; Swanepoel, R., National Institute for Communicable Diseases, Special Pathogens Unit, Private Bag X4, Sandringham, 2131, South Africa; Coetzer, J.A.W., Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa; Egberink, H.F., Division of Virology, Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, 3584 CL Utrecht, Netherlands; Rutten, V.P.M.G., Division of Immunology, Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Yalelaan I, 3584 CL Utrecht, Netherlands | Serodiagnosis of Rift Valley fever (RVF) currently relies on the use of live or inactivated whole virus as antigens. The recombinant nucleocapsid (N) protein of RVF virus was tested for diagnostic applicability in an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (I-ELISA), using sera from experimentally infected sheep (n = 128), vaccinated sheep (n = 240), and field-collected sera from sheep (n = 251), goats (n = 362) and cattle (n = 100). The N-protein based I-ELISA performed at least as good as VN and HI tests. In goat the diagnostic sensitivity (D-Sn) and specificity (D-Sp) of the I-ELISA was 100% when using the anti-species IgG conjugate. Using protein G as a detection system, the D-Sn and D-Sp in goats were 99.4% and 99.5%, in sheep field sera both 100%, in cattle 100% and 98.3%, respectively. The I-ELISA based on recombinant N-protein has the potential to complement the traditional assays for serodiagnosis of RVF. Advantages of the N-protein are its safety, stability and cost-effectiveness in use and production. © 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. | Diagnostic accuracy; Indirect IgM and IgG ELISA; Recombinant nucleocapsid (N) protein; Rift Valley fever (RVF) virus; Ruminants | immunoglobulin G; immunoglobulin M; nucleocapsid protein; protein G; recombinant protein; animal experiment; animal model; antibody detection; article; bovids; cattle; controlled study; cost effectiveness analysis; diagnostic accuracy; domestic species; enzyme linked immunosorbent assay; goat; hemagglutination inhibition; hemorrhagic fever; molecular clock; nonhuman; protein analysis; protein expression; protein stability; Rift Valley fever bunyavirus; sensitivity and specificity; serodiagnosis; sheep; vaccination; virus inactivation; virus neutralization; virus nucleocapsid; Animal Diseases; Animals; Antibodies, Viral; Antibody Specificity; Cattle; Cattle Diseases; Cloning, Molecular; DNA, Viral; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Goat Diseases; Goats; Hemagglutination Inhibition Tests; Immunoglobulin G; Immunoglobulin M; Neutralization Tests; Nucleocapsid Proteins; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Recombinant Proteins; Rift Valley Fever; Rift Valley fever virus; Sheep; Sheep Diseases; Bos; Capra hircus; Ovis aries; Rift Valley fever virus | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-60049099358 | Effect of supplementation of Sesbania sesban on reproductive performance of sheep | Mekoya A., Oosting S.J., Fernandez-Rivera S., Tamminga S., Tegegne A., Van der Zijpp A.J. | 2009 | Livestock Science | 121 | 1 | 10.1016/j.livsci.2008.06.003 | Wageningen University, Animal Production Systems Group, P.O. Box 338, 6700 AH Wageningen, Netherlands; Amhara Region Agricultural Research Institute, P.O. Box 527, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia; International Livestock Research Institute, P.O. Box 5689, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Wageningen University, Animal Nutrition Group, P.O. Box 338, 6700 AH Wageningen, Netherlands | Mekoya, A., Wageningen University, Animal Production Systems Group, P.O. Box 338, 6700 AH Wageningen, Netherlands, Amhara Region Agricultural Research Institute, P.O. Box 527, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia; Oosting, S.J., Wageningen University, Animal Production Systems Group, P.O. Box 338, 6700 AH Wageningen, Netherlands; Fernandez-Rivera, S., International Livestock Research Institute, P.O. Box 5689, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Tamminga, S., Wageningen University, Animal Nutrition Group, P.O. Box 338, 6700 AH Wageningen, Netherlands; Tegegne, A., International Livestock Research Institute, P.O. Box 5689, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Van der Zijpp, A.J., Wageningen University, Animal Production Systems Group, P.O. Box 338, 6700 AH Wageningen, Netherlands | Two successive experiments were conducted to investigate the long-term effects of supplementation of Sesbania sesban on reproductive performance of Ethiopian Menz sheep. Forty ewes and 40 rams ranging in weight and age between 16-20 kg and 14-15 months respectively were fed a teff straw basal diet and supplemented with two levels of Sesbania (0, and 95% of supplementary protein provided by Sesbania and the rest being provided by concentrates) for 7 months. In experiment 1 (mating period), 4 paired female-male groups (diet of the male with or without Sesbania, and diet of the female with or without Sesbania) consisting of 20 animals each were formed and assigned for mating. Ewes that were mated and did not return to heat in subsequent cycles during the 70 days mating period continued in experiment 2 receiving similar supplementary diets (concentrate alone or Sesbania) for the study of pregnancy and lambing. During the mating period, males and animals supplemented with Sesbania were superior (P < 0.05) in daily feed nutrients intake, whereas daily body weight gain (ADG) was significantly different (P < 0.05) between treatments but not between sex groups. During pregnancy a significant difference (P < 0.05) was observed only in nitrogen intake, and ADG of ewes did not differ (P > 0.05) between treatments. Supplementation with Sesbania promoted an increase in testicular size by 13%. Except semen concentration, the other seminal characteristics were not significant (P < 0.05) between treatments. The average oestrus cycle length was 19 ± 4.6 days. Mean progesterone profile for cycling ewes on the day of oestrus was 0.4 ± 0.04 and ranged between undetectable levels to 0.75 ng/ml followed by a rise starting on day 4 (1.7 ± 0.16 ng/ml) through day 7 (2.5 ± 0.29 ng/ml) and day 10 (3.6 ± 0.47 ng/ml) to a peak of 3.9 ± 0.45 ng/ml (plateau phase) on day 14. Supplementation with Sesbania improved the proportion of ewes conceived by 17% over supplementation with concentrates. The average birth weight of lambs, and post partum dam weight of ewes was 1.97 kg and 18.6 kg respectively and differed significantly (P < 0.05) between treatments. We concluded that inclusion of Sesbania up to 30% in the diet of sheep as supplement before and during the period of mating and pregnancy improved testicular growth and semen quality in rams or reproductive performance of ewes without showing negative effects. © 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. | Conception rate; Menz sheep; Oestrus; Progesterone; Scrotal circumference; Semen quality | Animalia; Eragrostis tef; Ovis aries; Sesbania; Sesbania sesban | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-60349097970 | Effect of supplementation of Sesbania sesban on post-weaning growth performance and sexual development of Menz sheep (Ethiopia) | Mekoya A., Oosting S.J., Fernandez-Rivera S., Tamminga S., Tegegne A., Van der Zijpp A.J. | 2009 | Livestock Science | 121 | 1 | 10.1016/j.livsci.2008.06.012 | Wageningen University, Animal Production Systems Group, P.O.Box 338, 6700 AH Wageningen, Netherlands; Amhara Region Agricultural Research Institute, P.O.Box 527, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia; International Livestock Research Institute, P.O.Box 5689, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Wageningen University, Animal Nutrition Group, P.O. Box 338, 6700 AH Wageningen, Netherlands | Mekoya, A., Wageningen University, Animal Production Systems Group, P.O.Box 338, 6700 AH Wageningen, Netherlands, Amhara Region Agricultural Research Institute, P.O.Box 527, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia; Oosting, S.J., Wageningen University, Animal Production Systems Group, P.O.Box 338, 6700 AH Wageningen, Netherlands; Fernandez-Rivera, S., International Livestock Research Institute, P.O.Box 5689, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Tamminga, S., Wageningen University, Animal Nutrition Group, P.O. Box 338, 6700 AH Wageningen, Netherlands; Tegegne, A., International Livestock Research Institute, P.O.Box 5689, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Van der Zijpp, A.J., Wageningen University, Animal Production Systems Group, P.O.Box 338, 6700 AH Wageningen, Netherlands | Most supplementation experiments with fodder trees including S. sesban have been of short duration and focused mainly on feed intake and growth rate. Long-term studies regarding the effects of feeding S. sesban on reproductive performance of sheep particularly in both sexes are scanty. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of S. sesban on feed intake, post-weaning growth rate, and onset of puberty of male and female lambs. Sixty weaned female and 60 male Ethiopian highland sheep in weight and age ranging between 7.2 and 11.8 kg and 4 and 5 months respectively were evaluated for a period of 9 months supplemented with three levels of S. sesban (0, 47.5 and 95% of supplementary protein provided by S. sesban and the rest being provided by a mix of concentrates). Between sex groups male sheep, and among treatments animals fed with 47.5 and 95% Sesbania in the supplement had significantly (P < 0.05) higher basal feed, supplement, and total feed intake than those supplemented with concentrate alone. Supplementation with Sesbania resulted in significantly (P < 0.05) higher DM, OM and N digestibility than supplementation with sole concentrates. Supplementation with 95% Sesbania elicited higher daily weight gain than supplementation with 47.5% Sesbania and sole concentrates over the growth period. The onset of puberty was at 265 (± 36) and 342 (± 45) days of age and puberty weight was 15.2 and 14.6 kg for ram and ewe-lambs respectively. Ram-lambs fed with 47.5% and 95% Sesbania in the supplement reached puberty by 34 and 21 days earlier and were 1.4 kg heavier (P < 0.05) than those fed concentrates. Ewe-lambs supplemented with 47.5 and 95% Sesbania were faster (P < 0.05) to attain puberty by 43 and 37 days than those supplemented with sole concentrates. The average scrotum circumference gain (SCF) until the onset of puberty was 0.5 (± 0.1) mm- d. Supplementation with Sesbania improved SCF gain but was not statistically significant (P > 0.05) among treatments. Mean P4 (progesterone) concentrations during the first behavioural oestrus ranged from non-detectable levels to a peak of 4.32 ng/ml at mid-cycle without significant difference (P > 0.05) among treatments. Therefore, it can be concluded that inclusion of S. sesban as a supplement up to 30% of the ration improved feed intake, growth rate, onset of puberty and sexual development of male and female sheep without adverse effects. © 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. | Growth; Menz sheep; Onset of puberty; Sesbania sesban; Teff straw | Animalia; Eragrostis tef; Ovis aries; Sesbania; Sesbania sesban | None |
| None | None | Development and validation of a normal-phase high-performance thin layer chromatographic method for the analysis of sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim in co-trimoxazole tablets | Shewiyo D.H., Kaale E., Risha P.G., Dejaegher B., Smeyers-Verbeke J., Vander Heyden Y. | 2009 | Journal of Chromatography A | 1216 | 42 | 10.1016/j.chroma.2009.08.076 | Directorate of Laboratory Services, Tanzania Food and Drugs Authority, P.O. Box 77150, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; School of Pharmacy, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, P.O. Box 65526, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Analytical Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Technology, Pharmaceutical Institute, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Laarbeeklaan 103, 1090 Brussels, Belgium | Shewiyo, D.H., Directorate of Laboratory Services, Tanzania Food and Drugs Authority, P.O. Box 77150, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, School of Pharmacy, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, P.O. Box 65526, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, Analytical Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Technology, Pharmaceutical Institute, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Laarbeeklaan 103, 1090 Brussels, Belgium; Kaale, E., School of Pharmacy, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, P.O. Box 65526, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Risha, P.G., School of Pharmacy, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, P.O. Box 65526, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Dejaegher, B., Analytical Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Technology, Pharmaceutical Institute, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Laarbeeklaan 103, 1090 Brussels, Belgium; Smeyers-Verbeke, J., Analytical Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Technology, Pharmaceutical Institute, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Laarbeeklaan 103, 1090 Brussels, Belgium; Vander Heyden, Y., Analytical Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Technology, Pharmaceutical Institute, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Laarbeeklaan 103, 1090 Brussels, Belgium | Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) is often the ultimate mortal cause for immunocompromised individuals, such as HIV/AIDS patients. Currently, the most effective medicine for treatment and prophylaxis is co-trimoxazole, a synergistic combination of sulfamethoxazole (SMX) and trimethoprim (TMP). In order to ensure a continued availability of high quality co-trimoxazole tablets within resource-limited countries, Medicines Regulatory Authorities must perform quality control of these products. However, most pharmacopoeial methods are based on high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) methods. Because of the lack of equipment, the Tanzania Food and Drugs Authority (TFDA) laboratory decided to develop and validate an alternative method of analysis based on the TLC technique with densitometric detection, for the routine quality control of co-trimoxazole tablets. SMX and TMP were separated on glass-backed silica gel 60 F254 plates in a high-performance thin layer chromatograph (HPTLC). The mobile phase was comprised of toluene, ethylacetate and methanol (50:28.5:21.5, v:v:v). Detection wavelength was 254 nm. The Rf values were 0.30 and 0.61 for TMP and SMX, respectively. This method was validated for linearity, precision, trueness, specificity and robustness. Cochran's criterion test indicated homoscedasticity of variances for the calibration data. The F-tests for lack-of-fit indicated that straight lines were adequate to describe the relationship between spot areas and concentrations for each compound. The percentage relative standard deviations for repeatability and time-different precisions were 0.98 and 1.32, and 0.83 and 1.64 for SMX and TMP, respectively. Percentage recovery values were 99.00% ± 1.83 and 99.66% ± 1.21 for SMX and TMP, respectively. The method was found to be robust and was then successfully applied to analyze co-trimoxazole tablet samples. © 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. | Co-trimoxazole tablets; Method development; Method validation; Normal-phase HPTLC; Sulfamethoxazole (SMX); Trimethoprim (TMP) | Co-trimoxazole tablets; Method development; Method validation; Normal-phase HPTLC; Sulfamethoxazole (SMX); Trimethoprim (TMP); High performance liquid chromatography; Laws and legislation; Methanol; Quality assurance; Quality function deployment; Silica; Silica gel; Thermomechanical pulping process; Thin films; Toluene; Total quality management; Quality control; acetic acid ethyl ester; cotrimoxazole; methanol; sulfamethoxazole; toluene; trimethoprim; accuracy; article; calibration; controlled study; densitometry; drug identification; drug structure; high performance thin layer chromatography; priority journal; process development; product recovery; quality control; reproducibility; separation technique; tablet; validation process; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Chromatography, Thin Layer; Linear Models; Reproducibility of Results; Sensitivity and Specificity; Sulfamethoxazole; Tablets; Trimethoprim; Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole Combination; Pneumocystis carinii | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-64549091054 | Isolation of isomangiferin from honeybush (Cyclopia subternata) using high-speed counter-current chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography | de Beer D., Jerz G., Joubert E., Wray V., Winterhalter P. | 2009 | Journal of Chromatography A | 1216 | 19 | 10.1016/j.chroma.2009.02.056 | Post-Harvest and Wine Technology Division, ARC Infruitec-Nietvoorbij, Private Bag X5026, 7599 Stellenbosch, South Africa; Institute of Food Chemistry, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Schleinitzstrasse 20, D-38106 Braunschweig, Germany; Department of Food Science, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602 Stellenbosch, South Africa; Department of Structural Biology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Inhoffenstrasse 7, D-38124 Braunschweig, Germany | de Beer, D., Post-Harvest and Wine Technology Division, ARC Infruitec-Nietvoorbij, Private Bag X5026, 7599 Stellenbosch, South Africa; Jerz, G., Institute of Food Chemistry, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Schleinitzstrasse 20, D-38106 Braunschweig, Germany; Joubert, E., Post-Harvest and Wine Technology Division, ARC Infruitec-Nietvoorbij, Private Bag X5026, 7599 Stellenbosch, South Africa, Department of Food Science, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602 Stellenbosch, South Africa; Wray, V., Department of Structural Biology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Inhoffenstrasse 7, D-38124 Braunschweig, Germany; Winterhalter, P., Institute of Food Chemistry, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Schleinitzstrasse 20, D-38106 Braunschweig, Germany | Isomangiferin was isolated from Cyclopia subternata using a multi-step process including extraction, liquid-liquid partitioning, high-speed counter-current chromatography (HSCCC) and semi-preparative reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Enrichment of phenolic compounds in a methanol extract of C. subternata leaves was conducted using liquid-liquid partitioning with ethyl acetate-methanol-water (1:1:2, v/v). The enriched fraction was further fractionated using HSCCC with a ternary solvent system consisting of tert-butyl methyl ether-n-butanol-acetonitrile-water (3:1:1:5, v/v). Isomangiferin was isolated by semi-preparative reversed-phase HPLC from a fraction containing mostly mangiferin and isomangiferin. The chemical structure of isomangiferin was confirmed by LC-high-resolution electrospray ionization MS, as well as one- and two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy. © 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. | Counter-current chromatography; Cyclopia subternata; Fabaceae; Isomangiferin; Mangiferin; NMR spectroscopy; Xanthones | Counter-current chromatography; Cyclopia subternata; Fabaceae; Isomangiferin; Mangiferin; NMR spectroscopy; Xanthones; Acetonitrile; Body fluids; Bubbles (in fluids); Chromatographic analysis; Chromatography; Electrospray ionization; Esters; Ethers; High performance liquid chromatography; High pressure liquid chromatography; Liquids; Methanol; Nuclear magnetic resonance; Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy; Organic solvents; Phenols; Solvent extraction; acetic acid ethyl ester; coumaric acid; eriocitrin; hesperidin; isomangiferin; luteolin; mangiferin; methanol; phenol derivative; scolymoside; unclassified drug; water; article; carbon nuclear magnetic resonance; counter current chromatography; Cyclopia subternata; drug isolation; drug structure; electrospray mass spectrometry; extraction; heteronuclear multiple bond correlation; high performance liquid chromatography; medicinal plant; nonhuman; plant leaf; priority journal; proton nuclear magnetic resonance; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Countercurrent Distribution; Cyclopia Plant; Methanol; Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular; Plant Extracts; Xanthones; Cyclopia subternata; Fabaceae | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-62749128032 | Effect of analyte properties on the kinetic performance of liquid chromatographic separations | de Villiers A., Lynen F., Sandra P. | 2009 | Journal of Chromatography A | 1216 | 16 | 10.1016/j.chroma.2008.11.101 | University of Stellenbosch, Department of Chemistry, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, South Africa; Pfizer Analytical Research Centre, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281, S4-bis, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium | de Villiers, A., University of Stellenbosch, Department of Chemistry, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, South Africa; Lynen, F., Pfizer Analytical Research Centre, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281, S4-bis, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium; Sandra, P., Pfizer Analytical Research Centre, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281, S4-bis, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium | Advances in modern high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) have led to increased interest in the comparison of the ultimate performance limits of methodologies aimed at increasing the resolving power per unit time. Kinetic plot-based methods have proven invaluable in facilitating such evaluations. However, in bridging the gap between fundamental comparisons and the eventual practical applicability of kinetic performance data, the effect of analyte properties have thus far largely been neglected. Using pharmaceutical compounds as representative real-life analytes, it is demonstrated that noteworthy differences in the optimal kinetic performance of a chromatographic system are observed compared to data for common test compounds. For a given stationary phase particle size, higher optimal- and maximum plate numbers, corresponding to increased analysis times, are measured for pharmaceutical compounds. Moreover, it is found that the optimal particle size/maximum pressure combination depends on the analyte under investigation, with the beneficial range of efficiencies for small particles shifted towards higher plate numbers for drug molecules. It is further demonstrated that the pH of the mobile phase plays a crucial role in determining the kinetic performance of pharmaceutical compounds. These data clearly indicate that data for test compounds do not reflect the performance attainable for pharmaceutical compounds and highlights the importance of using real-life samples to perform kinetic evaluations. © 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. | Analyte properties; Kinetic performance; Liquid chromatography; Pharmaceutical compounds | Analyte properties; Analytes; Chromatographic systems; Drug molecules; High-performance liquid chromatographies; Kinetic evaluations; Kinetic plots; Liquid chromatographic separations; Mobile phase; Per units; Performance datum; Performance limits; Pharmaceutical compounds; Resolving power; Small particles; Stationary phase; Body fluids; Chromatography; High performance liquid chromatography; High pressure liquid chromatography; Liquids; Optimization; Particle size analysis; Chromatographic analysis; phenol derivative; propyl paraben; analytic method; analytical equipment; article; drug determination; instrumentation; kinetics; liquid chromatography; measurement; particle size; pH; priority journal; Chromatography, Liquid; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Kinetics; Pharmaceutical Preparations; Solutions | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-62249134367 | High performance liquid chromatography analysis of wine anthocyanins revisited: Effect of particle size and temperature | de Villiers A., Cabooter D., Lynen F., Desmet G., Sandra P. | 2009 | Journal of Chromatography A | 1216 | 15 | 10.1016/j.chroma.2009.02.038 | University of Stellenbosch, Department of Chemistry, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, South Africa; Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Department of Chemical Engineering (CHIS-TW), Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium; Ghent University, Department of Organic Chemistry, Krijgslaan 281, S4-bis, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium | de Villiers, A., University of Stellenbosch, Department of Chemistry, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, South Africa; Cabooter, D., Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Department of Chemical Engineering (CHIS-TW), Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium; Lynen, F., Ghent University, Department of Organic Chemistry, Krijgslaan 281, S4-bis, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium; Desmet, G., Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Department of Chemical Engineering (CHIS-TW), Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium; Sandra, P., Ghent University, Department of Organic Chemistry, Krijgslaan 281, S4-bis, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium | The complex anthocyanin fraction of red wines poses a demanding analytical challenge. We have found that anthocyanins are characterised by extremely low optimal chromatographic velocities, and as a consequence generic HPLC methods suffer from limited resolving power. Slow on-column inter-conversion reactions, particularly between carbinol and flavylium species, are shown to occur on the same time scale as chromatographic separation, leading to increased plate heights at normal chromatographic velocities. In order to improve current routine HPLC separations, the use of small (1.7 μm) particles and high temperature liquid chromatography (HTLC) were investigated. 1.7 μm particles provide better efficiency and higher optimal linear velocities, although column lengths of ∼20 cm should be used to avoid the detrimental effects of conversion reactions. More importantly, operation at temperatures up to 50 °C increases the kinetics of inter-conversion reactions, and implies significantly improved efficiency under relatively mild analysis conditions. It is further demonstrated using relevant kinetic data that no on-column thermal degradation of these thermally labile compounds is observed at 50 °C and analysis times of <2 h. © 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. | Anthocyanins; Elevated temperature; HPLC; Small particles; Thermal degradation; Wine | Anthocyanins; Elevated temperature; HPLC; Small particles; Thermal degradation; Body fluids; Chromatographic analysis; Chromatography; Degradation; High pressure liquid chromatography; Liquids; Methanol; Particle size analysis; Thermal effects; Thermogravimetric analysis; Wine; High performance liquid chromatography; anthocyanin; methanol; article; chemical analysis; food analysis; high performance liquid chromatography; high temperature; particle size; priority journal; wine; Anthocyanins; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Drug Stability; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Kinetics; Particle Size; Plant Extracts; Temperature; Wine | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-63449127156 | Investigation of the validity of the kinetic plot method to predict the performance of coupled column systems operated at very high pressures under different thermal conditions | Cabooter D., Lestremau F., de Villiers A., Broeckhoven K., Lynen F., Sandra P., Desmet G. | 2009 | Journal of Chromatography A | 1216 | 18 | 10.1016/j.chroma.2009.02.079 | Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Department of Chemical Engineering, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium; Pfizer Global Research and Development, Analytical Research and Development, Sandwich, United Kingdom; University of Stellenbosch, Department of Chemistry, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, South Africa; Pfizer Analytical Research Center (PARC), Krijgslaan 281, S4-Bis, 9000 Ghent, Belgium | Cabooter, D., Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Department of Chemical Engineering, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium; Lestremau, F., Pfizer Global Research and Development, Analytical Research and Development, Sandwich, United Kingdom; de Villiers, A., University of Stellenbosch, Department of Chemistry, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, South Africa; Broeckhoven, K., Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Department of Chemical Engineering, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium; Lynen, F., Pfizer Analytical Research Center (PARC), Krijgslaan 281, S4-Bis, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; Sandra, P., Pfizer Analytical Research Center (PARC), Krijgslaan 281, S4-Bis, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; Desmet, G., Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Department of Chemical Engineering, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium | The present study investigates how strong the kinetic plot method is influenced by the changes in plate height, retention factor and apparent column permeability that arise under conditions of very high pressure. More precisely, the study investigates how well a set of performance measurements conducted on a single short column can be used to predict the performance of a long sequence of coupled columns. This has been investigated for the two practically most relevant thermal conditions, i.e., that of a forced-air oven and that of a still-air oven. Measuring column performance data for acetophenone and benzene on a series of coupled 3.5 μm columns that could be operated up to 1000 bar, it was found that the kinetic plot method provides accurate predictions of time versus efficiency for the still-air oven systems, over the entire range of investigated pressures and column lengths (up to 60 cm), provided k′ and Kv0 are evaluated at the maximal pressure. For the forced-air oven which leads to worse performances than the still-air oven, the kinetic plot prediction is less accurate, partly because the thermal conditions (near-isothermal) tend to vary if the number of coupled columns increases. The fact that the thermal conditions of the column wall might vary with the column length is an additional complexity making very-high pressure separations less predictable and harder to interpret and model. © 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. | Adiabatic conditions; Isothermal conditions; Kinetic plot method; Ultra high pressure; Validation | Adiabatic conditions; Isothermal conditions; Kinetic plot method; Ultra high pressure; Validation; Benzene; High pressure liquid chromatography; Ketones; Ovens; Stoves; Time series; Particle size analysis; acetophenone; benzene; accuracy; article; hyperbarism; performance measurement system; prediction; priority journal; temperature; validity; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Kinetics; Pressure; Temperature | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79959534499 | High-efficiency high performance liquid chromatographic analysis of red wine anthocyanins | De Villiers A., Cabooter D., Lynen F., Desmet G., Sandra P. | 2011 | Journal of Chromatography A | 1218 | 29 | 10.1016/j.chroma.2011.05.042 | Stellenbosch University, Department of Chemistry and Polymer Science, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa; Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Department of Chemical Engineering (CHIS-IR), Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium; Ghent University, Department of Organic Chemistry, Krijgslaan 281 S4-bis, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium | De Villiers, A., Stellenbosch University, Department of Chemistry and Polymer Science, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa; Cabooter, D., Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Department of Chemical Engineering (CHIS-IR), Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium; Lynen, F., Stellenbosch University, Department of Chemistry and Polymer Science, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa; Desmet, G., Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Department of Chemical Engineering (CHIS-IR), Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium; Sandra, P., Ghent University, Department of Organic Chemistry, Krijgslaan 281 S4-bis, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium | The analysis of anthocyanins in natural products is of significant relevance in recent times due to the recognised health benefits associated with their consumption. In red grapes and wines in particular, anthocyanins are known to contribute important properties to the sensory (colour and taste), anti-oxidant- and ageing characteristics. However, the detailed investigation of the alteration of these compounds during wine ageing is hampered by the challenges associated with the separation of grape-derived anthocyanins and their derived products. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is primarily used for this purpose, often in combination with mass spectrometric (MS) detection, although conventional HPLC methods provide incomplete resolution. We have previously demonstrated how on-column inter-conversion reactions are responsible for poor chromatographic efficiency in the HPLC analysis of anthocyanins, and how an increase in temperature and decrease in particle size may improve the chromatographic performance. In the current contribution an experimental configuration for the high efficiency analysis of anthocyanins is derived using the kinetic plot method (KPM). Further, it is shown how analysis under optimal conditions, in combination with MS detection, delivers much improved separation and identification of red wine anthocyanins and their derived products. This improved analytical performance holds promise for the in-depth investigation of these influential compounds in wine during ageing. © 2011 Elsevier B.V. | Anthocyanins; High temperature liquid chromatography (HTLC); Kinetic plots; Mass spectrometry; Ultra high pressure liquid chromatography (UHPLC); Wine | Analytical performance; Anti-oxidants; Chromatographic performance; Derived products; Health benefits; High efficiency; High-temperature liquid chromatographies; HPLC analysis; HPLC method; In-depth investigation; Kinetic plot method; Kinetic plots; Mass spectrometric detection; MS detection; Natural products; Optimal conditions; Red wine; Separation and identification; Ultra-high-pressure liquid chromatography; Wine ageing; Chromatographic analysis; Column chromatography; Efficiency; Fruits; High performance liquid chromatography; High pressure liquid chromatography; Liquids; Mass spectrometry; Particle size analysis; Wine; Anthocyanins; anthocyanin; cyanidin 3 acetylglucoside; cyanidin 3 glucoside; delphinidin 3 (4 coumaroyl)glucoside; delphinidin 3 acetylglucoside; delphinidin 3 glucoside; delphinidin 3,5 diglucoside; malvidin 3 (4 coumaroyl)glucoside; malvidin 3 (caffeoyl) glucoside; malvidin 3 acetylgalactoside; malvidin 3 acetylglucoside; malvidin 3 coumaroyl 5 diglucoside; malvidin 3 galactoside; malvidin 3 glucoside; malvidin 3,5 diglucoside; malvidin 3,7 diglucoside; malvidin delphinidin 2 glucoside; malvidin glucoside malvidin acetylglucoside; malvidin malvidin 2 glucoside; malvidin peonidin 2 glucoside; malvidin petunidin 2 glucoside; peonidin 3 (4 coumaroyl)glucoside; peonidin 3 acetylglucoside; peonidin 3 glucoside; petunidin 3 (4 coumaroyl)glucoside; petunidin 3 acetylglucoside; petunidin 3 glucoside; petunidin 3,5 diglucoside; petunidin 3,7 diglucoside; unclassified drug; unindexed drug; analytic method; article; chemical analysis; controlled study; high performance liquid chromatography; kinetic plot method; mass spectrometry; particle size; priority journal; process optimization; red wine; separation technique; temperature sensitivity; viniculture; Anthocyanins; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Hot Temperature; Kinetics; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization; Time Factors; Wine; Vitaceae | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84355165233 | Kinetic optimisation of the reversed phase liquid chromatographic separation of rooibos tea (Aspalathus linearis) phenolics on conventional high performance liquid chromatographic instrumentation | Beelders T., Sigge G.O., Joubert E., De Beer D., De Villiers A. | 2012 | Journal of Chromatography A | 1219 | None | 10.1016/j.chroma.2011.11.012 | Department of Food Science, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa; Post-Harvest and Wine Technology Division, ARC Infruitec-Nietvoorbij, Private Bag X5026, Stellenbosch 7599, South Africa; Department of Chemistry and Polymer Science, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa | Beelders, T., Department of Food Science, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa; Sigge, G.O., Department of Food Science, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa; Joubert, E., Department of Food Science, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa, Post-Harvest and Wine Technology Division, ARC Infruitec-Nietvoorbij, Private Bag X5026, Stellenbosch 7599, South Africa; De Beer, D., Post-Harvest and Wine Technology Division, ARC Infruitec-Nietvoorbij, Private Bag X5026, Stellenbosch 7599, South Africa; De Villiers, A., Department of Chemistry and Polymer Science, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa | Rooibos tea, produced from the endemic South African shrub Aspalathus linearis, has various health-promoting benefits which are attributed to its phenolic composition. Generating reliable, quantitative data on these phenolic constituents is the first step towards documenting the protective effects associated with rooibos tea consumption. Reversed phase liquid chromatographic (RP-LC) methods currently employed in the quantitative analysis of rooibos are, however, hampered by limited resolution and/or excessive analysis times. In order to overcome these limitations, a systematic approach towards optimising the RP-LC separation of the 15 principal rooibos tea phenolics on a 1.8μm phase using conventional HPLC instrumentation was adopted. Kinetic plots were used to obtain the optimal configuration for the separation of the target analytes within reasonable analysis times. Simultaneous optimisation of temperature and gradient conditions provided complete separation of these rooibos phenolics on a 1.8μm C18 phase within 37. min. The optimised HPLC-DAD method was validated and successfully applied in the quantitative analysis of aqueous infusions of unfermented and fermented rooibos. Major phenolic constituents of fermented rooibos were found to be a phenylpropanoid phenylpyruvic acid glucoside (PPAG), the dihydrochalcone C-glycoside aspalathin, the flavones isoorientin and orientin, and a flavonol O-diglycoside tentatively identified as quercetin-3- O-robinobioside. Content values for PPAG, ferulic acid and quercetin-3- O-robinobioside in rooibos are reported here for the first time. Mass spectrometric (MS) and tandem MS detection were used to tentatively identify 13 additional phenolic compounds in rooibos infusions, including a new luteolin-6- C-pentoside-8- C-hexoside and a novel C-8-hexosyl derivative of aspalathin reported here for the first time. © 2011 Elsevier B.V. | High performance liquid chromatography; Kinetic plots; Mass spectrometry; Phenolic compounds; Rooibos tea | Ferulic acids; HPLC-DAD; Isoorientin; Kinetic plots; Limited resolution; Optimal configurations; Optimisations; Phenolic composition; Phenolic compounds; Phenolics; Phenylpropanoids; Protective effects; Quantitative data; Reversed phase; Rooibos tea; Tandem MS; Target analytes; Chromatography; Fatty acids; High performance liquid chromatography; Kinetics; Liquids; Mass spectrometry; Optimization; Separation; Sugars; Phenols; aspalathin; ferulic acid; isoorientin; orientin; phenol derivative; phenylpropanoid phenylpyruvic acid glucoside; quercetin 3 o robinobioside; unclassified drug; aqueous solution; article; Aspalathus; Aspalathus linearis; controlled study; fermentation; high performance liquid chromatography; kinetics; mass spectrometry; nonhuman; priority journal; process optimization; quantitative analysis; reversed phase liquid chromatography; rooibos tea; tandem mass spectrometry; tea; temperature; validation study; Aspalathus; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Chromatography, Reverse-Phase; Flavonoids; Glycosides; Kinetics; Linear Models; Phenols; Plant Extracts; Reproducibility of Results; Temperature; Aspalathus linearis | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-39749099970 | Integrated management of childhood illness in Nigeria: Does short-term training of health workers improve their performance? | Uzochukwu B.S.C., Onwujekwe O.E., Ezeilo E.A., Nwobi E., Ndu A.C., Onoka C. | 2008 | Public Health | 122 | 4 | 10.1016/j.puhe.2007.07.001 | Department of Community Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, P.O. Box 3295, Enugu, Nigeria; Department of Health Administration and Management, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Enugu, Nigeria; Health Policy Research Group, Coll | Uzochukwu, B.S.C., Department of Community Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, P.O. Box 3295, Enugu, Nigeria, Health Policy Research Group, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Enugu, Nigeria; Onwujekwe, O.E., Department of Health Administration and Management, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Enugu, Nigeria, Health Policy Research Group, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Enugu, Nigeria; Ezeilo, E.A., Department of Public Health and Primary Health Care, Ministry of Health, Enugu, Nigeria; Nwobi, E., Department of Community Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, P.O. Box 3295, Enugu, Nigeria, Health Policy Research Group, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Enugu, Nigeria; Ndu, A.C., Department of Community Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, P.O. Box 3295, Enugu, Nigeria; Onoka, C., Department of Community Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, P.O. Box 3295, Enugu, Nigeria, Health Policy Research Group, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Enugu, Nigeria | [No abstract available] | None | antibiotic agent; antimalarial agent; child health; health services; health worker; integrated approach; performance assessment; training; article; caregiver; case management; child health care; childhood disease; clinical practice; diarrhea; female; health care personnel; health center; human; in service training; job performance; major clinical study; malaria; male; Nigeria; oral rehydration therapy; patient assessment; pneumonia; preschool child; prescription; quality of life; skill; statistical significance; upper respiratory tract infection; Child, Preschool; Clinical Competence; Community Health Aides; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Male; Nigeria; Public Health Administration; Quality of Health Care; Africa; Nigeria; Sub-Saharan Africa; West Africa | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-54949129852 | Evaluation of adenoidal obstruction in children: Clinical symptoms compared with roentgenographic assessment | Orji F.T., Ezeanolue B.C. | 2008 | Journal of Laryngology and Otology | 122 | 11 | 10.1017/S0022215108001916 | Department of Otolaryngology, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria; Department of Otolaryngology, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku-Ozalla Enugu, Enugu State, Nigeria | Orji, F.T., Department of Otolaryngology, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria, Department of Otolaryngology, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku-Ozalla Enugu, Enugu State, Nigeria; Ezeanolue, B.C., Department of Otolaryngology, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria | Background: Obstructive adenoid enlargement is commonly implicated as the major cause of chronic nasal obstruction in children. Although clinical assessment is considered essential, there is little consensus over its reliability. This study was conducted to determine the correlation between graded symptomatology assessment and roentgenographic assessment of adenoidal obstruction. Method: Symptoms assessed included snoring, mouth-breathing and obstructive breathing during sleep. Each symptom was rated on a four-point scale (absent = zero, mild = one, moderate = two and severe = three). We summed the ratings for each child to obtain the symptomatology score. We used an adenoidal-nasopharyngeal ratio parameter to classify roentgenographic assessment into minimal, moderate or marked obstruction. Results: Sixty-four children, 42 boys and 22 girls, aged one to 12 years were enrolled. The clinical symptomatology scores correlated significantly with the roentgenographic ratings of nasopharyngeal airway obstruction (r = 0.419; p = 0.001). The correlation was significant at roentgenographic ratings of minimal obstruction (p < 0.05) and gross obstruction (p < 0.001). Both the symptomatology score and the roentgenographic rating showed significant correlations with patient age (r = -0.657, p < 0.01 and r = -0.340, p < 0.01, respectively). Conclusion: Clinical rating of adenoidal symptoms in children provides a reasonably reliable assessment of the presence and severity of nasopharyngeal airway obstruction. This technique of assessment is easy to use and is particularly valid when obstruction is either minimal or gross. © 2008 JLO (1984) Limited. | Adenoid; Adenoidectomy; Radiography | adenoidal obstruction; article; child; clinical feature; controlled study; disease severity; female; human; major clinical study; male; nose obstruction; radiography; rating scale; Adenoids; Child; Child, Preschool; Female; Humans; Infant; Male; Mouth Breathing; Nasal Obstruction; Nasopharyngeal Diseases; Nasopharynx; Observer Variation; Predictive Value of Tests; Severity of Illness Index; Sleep Apnea Syndromes; Snoring; Statistics as Topic | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84893233045 | Effect of operational parameters on SAGD performance in a dip heterogeneous fractured reservoir | Hashemi-Kiasari H., Hemmati-Sarapardeh A., Mighani S., Mohammadi A.H., Sedaee-Sola B. | 2014 | Fuel | 122 | None | 10.1016/j.fuel.2013.12.057 | Department of Petroleum Engineering, Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran, Iran; Mewbourne School of Petroleum and Geological Engineering, University of Oklahoma, OK, United States; Institut de Recherche en Génie Chimique et Pétrolier (IRGCP), Paris Cedex, France; Thermodynamics Research Unit, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Howard College Campus, King George V Avenue, Durban 4041, South Africa; Department of Petroleum Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran | Hashemi-Kiasari, H., Department of Petroleum Engineering, Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran, Iran; Hemmati-Sarapardeh, A., Department of Petroleum Engineering, Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran, Iran; Mighani, S., Mewbourne School of Petroleum and Geological Engineering, University of Oklahoma, OK, United States; Mohammadi, A.H., Institut de Recherche en Génie Chimique et Pétrolier (IRGCP), Paris Cedex, France, Thermodynamics Research Unit, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Howard College Campus, King George V Avenue, Durban 4041, South Africa; Sedaee-Sola, B., Department of Petroleum Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran | Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD) has been studied theoretically, experimentally and numerically as a promising EOR process. Most of the simulation works have been conducted microscopically in homogeneous non-dipping models. In this communication, the effect of operational parameters on SAGD performance is investigated in a dip heterogeneous naturally fractured reservoir (NFR) with oil wet rock using CMG-STARS thermal simulator. The results indicate that reservoir dip has unfavorable effects on SAGD performance due to overriding effect. Moreover, less oil saturation of matrix causes steam to penetrate into upper blocks. It has also been observed that reservoir thickness controls operational parameters. Furthermore, the results indicate that there is no need for more preheating due to desired heat communication between well pair. As it was expected, higher steam injection rate leads to more oil production. Besides, longer well pairs have no considerable effects on SAGD performance in dip reservoirs. Besides, because of quick reservoir depletion in injection at high pressure, SAGD is not recommended economically in thinner reservoirs. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. | Dipping; EOR; Naturally fractured reservoir; Operational parameter; SAGD | Dipping; EOR; Naturally fractured reservoirs; Operational parameters; SAGD; Communication; Computer simulation; Enhanced recovery; Water injection | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84882575450 | Movement, impacts and management of plant distributions in response to climate change: Insights from invasions | Caplat P., Cheptou P.-O., Diez J., Guisan A., Larson B.M.H., Macdougall A.S., Peltzer D.A., Richardson D.M., Shea K., van Kleunen M., Zhang R., Buckley Y.M. | 2013 | Oikos | 122 | 9 | 10.1111/j.1600-0706.2013.00430.x | Dept of Earth and Ecosystem Sciences, Lund Univ., SE-223 62 Lund, Sweden; Cheptou, CEFE-CNRS, 1939 Route de Mende, FR-34293 Montpellier, France; Swiss Federal Inst. of Technology (ETH Zurich), CH-8092 Zurich, Switzerland; Dept of Ecology and Evolution, Univ. of Lausanne, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland; Dept of Environment and Resource Studies, Univ. of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L3G1, Canada; Dept of Integrative Biology, Univ. of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G2W1, Canada; Ecosystem Processes, Landcare Research, Lincoln 7640, New Zealand; Centre for Invasion Biology, Dept of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch Univ., Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa; Dept of Biology, Pennsylvania State Univ., University Park, PA 16802, United States; Dept of Biology, Univ. of Konstanz, Universitätsstrasse 10, DE-78464 Konstanz, Germany; Harvard Forest, Harvard Univ., Petersham, MA 01366, United States; ARC Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions, Univ. of Queensland, School of Biological Sciences, Queensland, 4072, Australia | Caplat, P., Dept of Earth and Ecosystem Sciences, Lund Univ., SE-223 62 Lund, Sweden; Cheptou, P.-O., Cheptou, CEFE-CNRS, 1939 Route de Mende, FR-34293 Montpellier, France; Diez, J., Swiss Federal Inst. of Technology (ETH Zurich), CH-8092 Zurich, Switzerland; Guisan, A., Dept of Ecology and Evolution, Univ. of Lausanne, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland; Larson, B.M.H., Dept of Environment and Resource Studies, Univ. of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L3G1, Canada; Macdougall, A.S., Dept of Integrative Biology, Univ. of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G2W1, Canada; Peltzer, D.A., Ecosystem Processes, Landcare Research, Lincoln 7640, New Zealand; Richardson, D.M., Centre for Invasion Biology, Dept of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch Univ., Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa; Shea, K., Dept of Biology, Pennsylvania State Univ., University Park, PA 16802, United States; van Kleunen, M., Dept of Biology, Univ. of Konstanz, Universitätsstrasse 10, DE-78464 Konstanz, Germany; Zhang, R., Harvard Forest, Harvard Univ., Petersham, MA 01366, United States; Buckley, Y.M., ARC Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions, Univ. of Queensland, School of Biological Sciences, Queensland, 4072, Australia | Prediction and management of species responses to climate change is an urgent but relatively young research field. Therefore, climate change ecology must by necessity borrow from other fields. Invasion ecology is particularly well-suited to informing climate change ecology because both invasion ecology and climate change ecology address the trajectories of rapidly changing novel systems. Here we outline the broad range of active research questions in climate change ecology where research from invasion ecology can stimulate advances. We present ideas for how concepts, case-studies and methodology from invasion ecology can be adapted to improve prediction and management of species responses to climate change. A major challenge in this era of rapid climate change is to predict changes in species distributions and their impacts on ecosystems, and, if necessary, to recommend management strategies for maintenance of biodiversity or ecosystem services. Biological invasions, studied in most biomes of the world, can provide useful analogs for some of the ecological consequences of species distribution shifts in response to climate change. Invasions illustrate the adaptive and interactive responses that can occur when species are confronted with new environmental conditions. Invasion ecology complements climate change research and provides insights into the following questions: 1) how will species distributions respond to climate change? 2) how will species movement affect recipient ecosystems? And 3) should we, and if so how can we, manage species and ecosystems in the face of climate change? Invasion ecology demonstrates that a trait-based approach can help to predict spread speeds and impacts on ecosystems, and has the potential to predict climate change impacts on species ranges and recipient ecosystems. However, there is a need to analyse traits in the context of life-history and demography, the stage in the colonisation process (e.g. spread, establishment or impact), the distribution of suitable habitats in the landscape, and the novel abiotic and biotic conditions under which those traits are expressed. As is the case with climate change, invasion ecology is embedded within complex societal goals. Both disciplines converge on similar questions of 'when to intervene?' and 'what to do?' which call for a better understanding of the ecological processes and social values associated with changing ecosystems. © 2013 The Authors. | None | behavioral response; biodiversity; climate change; colonization; demography; ecological approach; ecosystem service; environmental conditions; invasiveness; landscape; movement; plant; prediction; species richness | DEB-0815373, NSF, National Science Foundation |
| None | None | Physical performance limitations of luminescent down-conversion layers for photovoltaic applications | Boccolini A., Marques-Hueso J., Chen D., Wang Y., Richards B.S. | 2014 | Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells | 122 | None | 10.1016/j.solmat.2013.11.005 | Institute of Photonics and Quantum Sciences, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, EH14 4AS, United Kingdom; State Key Laboratory of Structural Chemistry, Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Fuzhou, Fujian 350002, China; Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Nelson Mandela African Institute of Science and Technology, Tengeru, Arusha, Tanzania | Boccolini, A., Institute of Photonics and Quantum Sciences, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, EH14 4AS, United Kingdom; Marques-Hueso, J., Institute of Photonics and Quantum Sciences, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, EH14 4AS, United Kingdom; Chen, D., State Key Laboratory of Structural Chemistry, Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Fuzhou, Fujian 350002, China; Wang, Y., State Key Laboratory of Structural Chemistry, Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Fuzhou, Fujian 350002, China; Richards, B.S., Institute of Photonics and Quantum Sciences, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, EH14 4AS, United Kingdom, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Nelson Mandela African Institute of Science and Technology, Tengeru, Arusha, Tanzania | An optical model is presented to determine the constraints imparted by self-absorption on the luminescence emitted from down-conversion (DC) materials. An analytical formula was derived demonstrating that, for a given DC material, an optimal thickness exists that maximizes the intensity of the emitted radiation, while minimizing the impact of self-absorption. This defines a new limit for the optical efficiency of a DC material that is governed by its geometry. Subsequently, the model was validated through experimental analysis of a specific down-converting borate glass co-doped with Ce3+-Yb 3+, whose optimal thickness has been determined to be 0.83 mm. The model clarifies the origin of the disparity between the theoretical and the experimental efficiencies reported for some materials. The results from this work assist with the design and implementation of DC layers for photovoltaic devices, as well as providing a framework for optimization of DC materials to other fields of optics and photonics. © 2013 Elsevier B.V. | Down-conversion; Luminescence; Photovoltaics; Quantum cutting; Spectral conversion; Third generation | Downconversion; Photovoltaics; Quantum cutting; Spectral conversion; Third generation; Light; Luminescence; Optimization; Materials | None |
| None | None | Impact of common sweetpotato viruses on total carotenoids and root yields of an orange-fleshed sweetpotato in Tanzania | Kapinga R., Ndunguru J., Mulokozi G., Tumwegamire S. | 2009 | Scientia Horticulturae | 122 | 1 | 10.1016/j.scienta.2009.03.020 | International Potato Center, Box 22274, Kampala, Uganda; Mikocheni Agricultural Research Institute, Box 6226, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Tanzania Food and Nutrition Center, Box 977, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania | Kapinga, R., International Potato Center, Box 22274, Kampala, Uganda; Ndunguru, J., Mikocheni Agricultural Research Institute, Box 6226, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Mulokozi, G., Tanzania Food and Nutrition Center, Box 977, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Tumwegamire, S., International Potato Center, Box 22274, Kampala, Uganda | The growing and consumption of orange-fleshed sweetpotato (OFSP) is considered as a mean to alleviate vitamin A deficiency in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) region. However, majority of the field-tested OFSP varieties are susceptible to major diseases especially sweetpotato virus disease (SPVD), which is caused by co-infection of sweetpotato chlorotic stunt virus (SPCSV) with sweetpotato feathery mottle virus (SPFMV). A high beta-carotene content but susceptible variety Resisto was used in this study to evaluate the effects of SPVD on total carotenoids content and root yield. Compared with apparently healthy plants, reduction of 43, 16, and 37% of the total carotenoids content in the OFSP variety Resisto were observed in plants infected with SPCSV, SPFMV, and co-infection of both viruses. Storage root fresh weight was significantly (P < 0.001) reduced due to virus infection with high reduction recorded for SPFMV infection followed by co-infection of SPFMV with SPCSV. The same case was for sweetpotato vine length. However, no major reductions were observed in the vine weights. Co-infection of SPFMV with SPCSV caused more severe symptoms than single infections of the two viruses and each isolate caused distinct disease symptoms on the infected sweetpotato plants. In general, there was no direct correlation between sweetpotato virus disease symptom severity and reduction in total carotenoids. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the negative impact of SPCSV and SPFMV on the total carotenoid accumulation in OFSP varieties. Therefore follow up studies in the area of biochemical analysis should be initiated to gain knowledge on the impacts of SPVD on the biochemical pathways of carotenoid accumulation. © 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. | Orange-fleshed sweetpotato; Sweetpotato virus disease; Total carotenoids; Yield | carotenoid; disease severity; potato; viral disease; virus; Africa; East Africa; Sub-Saharan Africa; Tanzania; Ipomoea batatas; Sweet potato feathery mottle virus | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84857117291 | Urine heme dipsticks are useful in monitoring the impact of Praziquantel treatment on Schistosoma haematobium in sentinel communities of Delta State, Nigeria | Emukah E., Gutman J., Eguagie J., Miri E.S., Yinkore P., Okocha N., Jibunor V., Nebe O., Nwoye A.I., Richards F.O. | 2012 | Acta Tropica | 122 | 1 | 10.1016/j.actatropica.2012.01.002 | The Carter Center, Plot R/60 GRA, Off High Court Road, Box 4034, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria; Emory University and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston, 2015 Uppergate Dr., Atlanta, GA 30322, United States; The Carter Center, 1 Jeka Kadima Street, | Emukah, E., The Carter Center, Plot R/60 GRA, Off High Court Road, Box 4034, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria; Gutman, J., Emory University and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston, 2015 Uppergate Dr., Atlanta, GA 30322, United States; Eguagie, J., The Carter Center, 1 Jeka Kadima Street, Box 7772, Jos, Nigeria; Miri, E.S., The Carter Center, 1 Jeka Kadima Street, Box 7772, Jos, Nigeria; Yinkore, P., Primary Health Care Development Agency, Ministry of Health, No. 1 Onyeka Close, Off Delta Broadcasting Service Road, Near LGSC, Asaba, Delta State, Nigeria; Okocha, N., Primary Health Care Development Agency, Ministry of Health, No. 1 Onyeka Close, Off Delta Broadcasting Service Road, Near LGSC, Asaba, Delta State, Nigeria; Jibunor, V., Primary Health Care Development Agency, Ministry of Health, No. 1 Onyeka Close, Off Delta Broadcasting Service Road, Near LGSC, Asaba, Delta State, Nigeria; Nebe, O., Federal Ministry of Health, Federal Secretariat Phase 3, Garki Abuja, Nigeria; Nwoye, A.I., Federal Ministry of Health, Federal Secretariat Phase 3, Garki Abuja, Nigeria; Richards, F.O., The Carter Center, One Copenhill Avenue NE, Atlanta, GA 30307-1406, United States | Nigeria is highly endemic for infection with Schistosoma haematobium, which most commonly manifests itself with blood in urine. To monitor the impact of annual mass drug administration (MDA) with Praziquantel for S. haematobium in Delta State, Nigeria, cross-sectional hematuria surveys of school children were conducted in 8 sentinel villages (SVs) at baseline (n= 240) and after two annual doses (n= 402). We assessed the comparability of three assessments of hematuria (child's reported history, nurse visual diagnosis (NVD) and dipstick) to determine the need for mass treatment. Dipstick was considered to be the gold standard. Prior to treatment, history and NVD each identified only the 3 most highly prevalent SVs, and overall this represented just 37.5% of the 8 SVs in need of treatment. Following treatment, after dipstick prevalence decreased by 88.5% (p< 0.001), and history and NVD identified only one of two villages still needing treatment. The study suggests that dipsticks should be the recommended method for launching and monitoring mass treatment for S. haematobium. © 2012. | Hematuria; Mass treatment; Monitoring; Nigeria; Praziquantel; Schistosomiasis | praziquantel; baseline survey; biomonitoring; child health; comparative study; disease prevalence; disease treatment; drug; endemic species; infectivity; schistosomiasis; village; adolescent; analytic method; article; child; community; cross-sectional study; drug monitoring; female; health survey; hematuria; human; major clinical study; male; Nigeria; preschool child; prevalence; schistosomiasis haematobia; school child; urine heme dipstick; Adolescent; Animals; Anthelmintics; Child; Child, Preschool; Clinical Laboratory Techniques; Cross-Sectional Studies; Drug Monitoring; Female; Heme; Humans; Male; Nigeria; Praziquantel; Prevalence; Schistosoma haematobium; Schistosomiasis haematobia; Schools; Urine; Delta; Nigeria; Schistosoma haematobium | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-66049163407 | Impact assessment of the use of insecticide-treated bed nets on parasitaemia and anaemia for malaria control in children, Ogun State, Nigeria | Adah P.O., Mafiana C.F., Sam-Wobo S.O. | 2009 | Public Health | 123 | 5 | 10.1016/j.puhe.2008.10.017 | Africare Nigeria, Port Harcourt, Nigeria; Parasitology Unit, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Agriculture, PMB 2240, Abeokuta 110001, Nigeria | Adah, P.O., Africare Nigeria, Port Harcourt, Nigeria; Mafiana, C.F., Parasitology Unit, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Agriculture, PMB 2240, Abeokuta 110001, Nigeria; Sam-Wobo, S.O., Parasitology Unit, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Agriculture, PMB 2240, Abeokuta 110001, Nigeria | [No abstract available] | None | insecticide; anemia; child; disease control; malaria; parasite prevalence; social impact assessment; anemia; article; bed net; child; controlled study; female; human; infant; major clinical study; malaria; malaria control; male; Nigeria; parasite prevalence; parasitemia; Plasmodium falciparum; preschool child; sex difference; urban rural difference; Anemia; Animals; Bedding and Linens; Child, Preschool; Female; Humans; Infant; Insecticides; Malaria; Male; Mosquito Control; Nigeria; Parasitemia; Plasmodium falciparum; Seasons; Africa; Nigeria; Ogun; Sub-Saharan Africa; West Africa | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84888010002 | Does integrating family planning into HIV care and treatment impact intention to use contraception? Patient perspectives from HIV-infected individuals in Nyanza Province, Kenya | Newmann S.J., Grossman D., Blat C., Onono M., Steinfeld R., Bukusi E.A., Shade S., Cohen C.R. | 2013 | International Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics | 123 | SUPPL.1 | 10.1016/j.ijgo.2013.08.001 | Bixby Center for Reproductive Health, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, United States; Ibis Reproductive Health, Oakland, United States; Centre for Microbiology Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya; Center for AIDS Prevention, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, United States | Newmann, S.J., Bixby Center for Reproductive Health, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, United States; Grossman, D., Bixby Center for Reproductive Health, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, United States, Ibis Reproductive Health, Oakland, United States; Blat, C., Bixby Center for Reproductive Health, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, United States; Onono, M., Centre for Microbiology Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya; Steinfeld, R., Bixby Center for Reproductive Health, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, United States; Bukusi, E.A., Centre for Microbiology Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya; Shade, S., Center for AIDS Prevention, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, United States; Cohen, C.R., Bixby Center for Reproductive Health, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, United States | Objective To evaluate whether HIV-infected women and men in HIV care and not using highly effective methods of contraception thought they would be more likely to use contraception if it were available at the HIV clinic. Methods A face-to-face survey assessing family-planning knowledge, attitudes, and practices was conducted among 976 HIV-infected women and men at 18 public-sector HIV clinics in Nyanza, Kenya. Data were analyzed using logistic regression and generalized estimating equations. Results The majority of women (73%) and men (71%) thought that they or their partner would be more likely to use family planning if it were offered at the HIV clinic. In multivariable analysis, women who reported making family-planning decisions with their partner (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 3.22; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.53-6.80) and women aged 18-25 years who were not currently using family planning (aOR 4.76; 95% CI, 2.28-9.95) were more likely to think they would use contraception if integrated services were available. Women who perceived themselves to be infertile (aOR 0.07; 95% CI, 0.02-0.31) and had access to a cell phone (aOR 0.40; 95% CI, 0.25-0.63) were less likely to think that integrated services would change their contraceptive use. Men who were not taking antiretroviral medications (aOR 3.30; 95% CI, 1.49-7.29) were more likely, and men who were unsure of their partner's desired number of children (aOR 0.36; 95% CI, 0.17-0.76), were not currently using family planning (aOR 0.40; 95% CI, 0.22-0.73), and were living in a peri-urban setting (aOR 0.46; 95% CI, 0.21-0.99) were less likely to think their partner would use contraception if available at the HIV clinic. Conclusions Integrating family planning into HIV care would probably have a broad impact on the majority of women and men accessing HIV care and treatment. Integrated services would offer the opportunity to involve men more actively in the contraceptive decision-making process, potentially addressing 2 barriers to family planning: access to contraception and partner uncertainty or opposition. © 2013 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics. | Contraception; Decision making; Family planning; HIV; Integration | adult; article; attitude; contraception; decision making; family planning; female; health care; human; Human immunodeficiency virus; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; Kenya; major clinical study; male; mobile phone; priority journal; Contraception; Decision making; Family planning; HIV; Integration; Adolescent; Adult; Anti-HIV Agents; Contraception; Contraception Behavior; Cross-Sectional Studies; Data Collection; Decision Making; Delivery of Health Care, Integrated; Family Planning Services; Female; HIV Infections; Humans; Kenya; Logistic Models; Male; Multivariate Analysis; Patient Acceptance of Health Care; Sexual Partners; Young Adult | National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences; NIH, National Institutes of Health |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84919436435 | Determination of bulk density, methods and impacts, with a case study from Los Bronces Mine, Chile | Makhuvha M., Arellano R.M., Harney D.M.W. | 2014 | Transactions of the Institutions of Mining and Metallurgy, Section B: Applied Earth Science | 123 | 3 | 10.1179/1743275814Y.0000000058 | Anglo American Kumba Iron Ore, Thabazimbi Mine, 11 Jourdan Street, Thabazimbi, South Africa; Anglo American Copper, Los Bronces, Pedro de Valdivia 29, Santiago, Chile; FAusIMM, Anglo American, 45 Main Street, Johannesburg, South Africa | Makhuvha, M., Anglo American Kumba Iron Ore, Thabazimbi Mine, 11 Jourdan Street, Thabazimbi, South Africa; Arellano, R.M., Anglo American Copper, Los Bronces, Pedro de Valdivia 29, Santiago, Chile; Harney, D.M.W., FAusIMM, Anglo American, 45 Main Street, Johannesburg, South Africa | Mineral resource and ore reserve estimates are founded on two sources of data: tonnage and grade. The tonnage is a product of volume and density; both of which are estimates. Density impacts numerous operational factors, which include, but are not limited to, mine design, mine planning, equipment selection and operational performance. Hence, density is a significant parameter and its determination requires similar care as the measurement of grade. This paper provides an overview of methods used to determine density within the Anglo American Group. It is not the purpose of this paper to identify a preferred method, but to highlight the importance of choosing the best suited practice for a project or mine site. In addition, a case study comparing two different density determination methods applied to the same rock samples from the Los Bronces Copper mine in Chile was undertaken and the results of that study are presented here. Selecting the most appropriate method to determine density and comparing results from two or more techniques against each other, together with other suitable quality control procedures, is considered to be essential for mining operations and exploration projects in order to reduce risk and to improve operational performance, which in turn increases profit margin. © 2014 Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining and The AusIMM. | Bulk density; Core pycnometer; Density determination; Los Bronces; Mineral resources | Copper mines; Economic geology; Ores; Bulk density; Core pycnometer; Determination methods; Different densities; Exploration projects; Los Bronces; Operational factors; Operational performance; Mineral resources; bulk density; copper; mineral exploration; mineral resource; mining; Chile | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-67349248068 | Evaluation of the antidiarrhoeal effect of Sanseviera liberica Gerome & Labroy (Agavaceae) root extract | Adeyemi O.O., Akindele A.J., Ogunleye E.A. | 2009 | Journal of Ethnopharmacology | 123 | 3 | 10.1016/j.jep.2009.03.023 | Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, P. M. B. 12003, Lagos, Nigeria | Adeyemi, O.O., Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, P. M. B. 12003, Lagos, Nigeria; Akindele, A.J., Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, P. M. B. 12003, Lagos, Nigeria; Ogunleye, E.A., Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, P. M. B. 12003, Lagos, Nigeria | Ethnopharmacological relevance: The aqueous root extract of Sanseviera liberica (Agavaceae), SL, is used in Traditional African Medicine (TAM) for the treatment of diarrhoea. However, the scientific basis for this usage has not been established. Aim of the study: To evaluate the antidiarrhoeal activity of SL using various pharmacological models. Materials and methods: The intestinal transit, castor oil induced diarrhoea, enteropooling, and gastric emptying methods were used in this study. Results: SL (25-400 mg/kg, p.o.) produced significant (P < 0.05) dose dependent reduction in propulsive movement in both the normal and castor oil induced intestinal transit tests in mice. Peak effect was elicited at 200 mg/kg but this effect was lower than that produced by morphine (10 mg/kg, s.c.). The effect of SL on castor oil induced intestinal transit was antagonized by isosorbide dinitrate, IDN (150 mg/kg, p.o.) but not by yohimbine (1 mg/kg, s.c.). In the castor oil induced diarrhoea test, SL significantly delayed the onset and decreased the frequency and severity of diarrhoea. The effect at 200 mg/kg was comparable to that of morphine and was reversed by IDN. SL at the dose of 200 mg/kg significantly reduced the volume of intestinal secretion induced by castor oil but produced no effect on gastric emptying. The extract was practically nontoxic administered p.o. The LD50 was 631 mg/kg given i.p. Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of oils, reducing sugars, alkaloids, saponins, anthraquinones, and tannins in the extract. Conclusion: The results obtained in this study suggest that the aqueous root extract of Sanseviera liberica possesses antidiarrhoeal property due to inhibition of gastrointestinal propulsion and fluid secretion, possibly mediated through inhibition of the nitric oxide pathway. This justifies the use of the plant extract in TAM for the treatment of diarrhoea. © 2009. | Antidiarrhoeal activity; Diarrhoea; Enteropooling; Gastric emptying; Intestinal transit; Sanseviera liberica | alkaloid derivative; anthraquinone derivative; antidiarrheal agent; castor oil; isosorbide dinitrate; morphine; nitric oxide; oil; plant extract; Sanseviera liberica extract; saponin derivative; sugar; tannin derivative; unclassified drug; yohimbine; Africa; animal experiment; animal model; aqueous solution; article; controlled study; diarrhea; disease severity; dose response; drug antagonism; drug dose comparison; female; gastrointestinal transit; intestine fluid; intestine secretion; LD 50; male; mouse; nonhuman; phytochemistry; plant root; rat; stomach acid secretion; stomach emptying; traditional medicine; treatment outcome; treatment response; Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists; Animals; Antidiarrheals; Castor Oil; Diarrhea; Disease Models, Animal; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Female; Gastrointestinal Transit; Intestines; Isosorbide Dinitrate; Male; Medicine, African Traditional; Mice; Morphine; Narcotics; Phytotherapy; Plant Extracts; Plant Roots; Plants, Medicinal; Rats; Sansevieria; Vasodilator Agents; Yohimbine; Agavaceae; Mus | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84901608562 | Evaluation of soil corrosivity and aquifer protective capacity using geoelectrical investigation in Bwari basement complex area, Abuja | Adeniji A.E., Omonona O.V., Obiora D.N., Chukudebelu J.U. | 2014 | Journal of Earth System Science | 123 | 3 | 10.1007/s12040-014-0416-1 | Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria; Department of Geology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria | Adeniji, A.E., Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria; Omonona, O.V., Department of Geology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria; Obiora, D.N., Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria; Chukudebelu, J.U., Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria | Bwari is one of the six municipal area councils of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja with its attendant growing population and infrastructural developments. Groundwater is the main source of water supply in the area, and urbanization and industrialization are the predominant contributors of contaminants to the hydrological systems. In order to guarantee a continuous supply of potable water, there is a need to investigate the vulnerability of the aquifers to contaminants emanating from domestic and industrial wastes. A total of 20 vertical electrical soundings using Schlumberger electrode array with a maximum half current electrodes separation of 300 m was employed. The results show that the area is characterized by 3-6 geoelectric subsurface layers. The measured overburden thickness ranges from 1.0 to 24.3 m, with a mean value of 7.4 m. The resistivity and longitudinal conductance of the overburden units range from 18 to 11,908 Ωm and 0.047 to 0.875 mhos, respectively. Areas considered as high corrosivity are the central parts with ρ < 180 Ωm. The characteristic longitudinal unit conductance was used to classify the area into zones of good (0.7-4.49 mhos), moderate (0.2-0.69 mhos), weak (0.1- 0.19 mhos), and poor (<0.1) aquifer protective capacity. Zones characterized by materials of moderate to good protective capacity serve as sealing potential for the underlying hydrogeological system in the area. This study is aimed at delineating zones that are very prone to groundwater contamination from surface contaminants and subsurface soils that are corrosive to utility pipes buried underground. Hence the findings of this work will constitute part of the tools for groundwater development and management and structural/infrastructural development planning of the area. © Indian Academy of Sciences. | Aquifer protective capacity; Bwari; Corrosion; Longitudinal unit conductance; Vertical electric sounding | aquifer; corrosion; electrode; geoelectric field; groundwater pollution; industrialization; soil property; urbanization; vertical electrical sounding; water supply; Abuja [Nigeria]; Nigeria | None |
| None | None | Effect of cell length on the performance of segmented-in-series solid oxide fuel cells fabricated using decalcomania method | An Y.-T., Ji M.-J., Hwang H.J., Park S.E., Choi B.-H. | 2015 | Nippon Seramikkusu Kyokai Gakujutsu Ronbunshi/Journal of the Ceramic Society of Japan | 123 | 1436 | 10.2109/jcersj2.123.178 | Electronic Materials Module Team, Korea Institute of Ceramic Engineering and Technology, Seoul, South Korea; Department of Ceramic Engineering, Inha University, Incheon, South Korea; Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Nelsom Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology, Arusha, Tanzania | An, Y.-T., Electronic Materials Module Team, Korea Institute of Ceramic Engineering and Technology, Seoul, South Korea; Ji, M.-J., Electronic Materials Module Team, Korea Institute of Ceramic Engineering and Technology, Seoul, South Korea; Hwang, H.J., Department of Ceramic Engineering, Inha University, Incheon, South Korea; Park, S.E., Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Nelsom Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology, Arusha, Tanzania; Choi, B.-H., Electronic Materials Module Team, Korea Institute of Ceramic Engineering and Technology, Seoul, South Korea | Segmented-in-series solid oxide fuel cells (SIS-SOFC) have been stacked on all sides of a porous ceramic support using decalcomania method. When cells are stacked using decalcomania method, the cell components do not penetrate into the porous support or neighboring layers, resulting in excellent interfacial bonding. The cell components formed uniform thickness as well. Since the current flows laterally in SIS-SOFC, the cells are prepared having dimensions of 8 and 5mm in length to minimize their lateral resistance. Subsequent power output characteristics have been studied. As cell length decrease from 8 to 5 mm, the open circuit voltage and maximum power density increase. This is attributed to the lower lateral resistance due to shorter current path. Impedance analysis also shows that ohmic resistances decrease substantially with decreasing cell length. © 2015 The Ceramic Society of Japan. | Cell length; Decalcomania paper; Ohmic resistance; Segmented-in-series; Solid oxide fuel cell | Fuel cells; Ohmic contacts; Open circuit voltage; Cell lengths; Impedance analysis; Interfacial bonding; Lateral resistance; Maximum power density; Ohmic resistance; Power output characteristics; Segmented-in-series; Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84894311647 | Modelling direct and indirect impacts of browser consumption on woody plant growth: Moving beyond biomass | Moncrieff G.R., Chamaillé-Jammes S., Bond W.J. | 2014 | Oikos | 123 | 3 | 10.1111/j.1600-0706.2013.00904.x | Inst. for Physical Geography, Goethe Univ., Frankfurt am Main, Altenhöferallee 1, DE-60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; Centre d'Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive, UMR 5175, CNRS, 1919 route de Mende, FR-34293 Montpellier, France; Dept of Biological Sciences, Univ. of Cape Town, Private Bag, Rondebosch 7701, Cape Town, South Africa | Moncrieff, G.R., Inst. for Physical Geography, Goethe Univ., Frankfurt am Main, Altenhöferallee 1, DE-60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; Chamaillé-Jammes, S., Centre d'Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive, UMR 5175, CNRS, 1919 route de Mende, FR-34293 Montpellier, France; Bond, W.J., Dept of Biological Sciences, Univ. of Cape Town, Private Bag, Rondebosch 7701, Cape Town, South Africa | Models and experimental studies of the impact of mammalian browsing on plant populations typically use biomass to quantify resource pools and herbivore impacts. For many woody plant populations, however, plant height is a better measure of fitness than biomass. We describe a function that links browsing to shoot and height growth by considering both the direct impact of biomass consumption and the effect of bud-loss. The relative importance of direct consumption and bud-loss for height and shoot growth is tested through experimental clipping. Experimental results are used to parameterize and compare the performance of our function. We show that the impacts of bud-loss are indeed significant for both shoot and height growth and may cause the responses of biomass and height to diverge. We also show that our function results in an improved fit to experimental results when compared with a linear function only describing the direct impact of consumption. These results suggest that the demographic impacts of browsing may diverge from the responses expected for biomass based on herbivore consumption alone. Particularly, height growth can be drastically reduced at low and intermediate levels of consumption if the impacts of bud-loss on shoot growth are high. © 2013 The Authors. | None | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-59449110080 | Comparison of T-SPOT. TB assay and tuberculin skin test for the evaluation of young children at high risk for tuberculosis in a community setting | Nicol M.P., Davies M.-A., Wood K., Hatherill M., Workman L., Hawkridge A., Eley B., Wilkinson K.A., Wilkinson R.J., Hanekom W.A., Beatty D., Hussey G. | 2009 | Pediatrics | 123 | 1 | 10.1542/peds.2008-0611 | School of Child and Adolescent Health, Cape Town, South Africa; School of Public Health and Family Medicine, Cape Town, South Africa; Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; South African Tuberculosis Vaccine Initiative, Cape Town, South Africa; National Institute for Medical Research, London, United Kingdom; Division of Medicine, Wright Fleming Institute, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom; Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Anzio Road, Observatory, 7925 Cape Town, South Africa | Nicol, M.P., School of Child and Adolescent Health, Cape Town, South Africa, Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa, South African Tuberculosis Vaccine Initiative, Cape Town, South Africa, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Anzio Road, Observatory, 7925 Cape Town, South Africa; Davies, M.-A., School of Child and Adolescent Health, Cape Town, South Africa, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, Cape Town, South Africa; Wood, K., School of Child and Adolescent Health, Cape Town, South Africa; Hatherill, M., School of Child and Adolescent Health, Cape Town, South Africa, South African Tuberculosis Vaccine Initiative, Cape Town, South Africa; Workman, L., School of Child and Adolescent Health, Cape Town, South Africa, South African Tuberculosis Vaccine Initiative, Cape Town, South Africa; Hawkridge, A., School of Child and Adolescent Health, Cape Town, South Africa, South African Tuberculosis Vaccine Initiative, Cape Town, South Africa; Eley, B., School of Child and Adolescent Health, Cape Town, South Africa; Wilkinson, K.A., Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa, National Institute for Medical Research, London, United Kingdom; Wilkinson, R.J., Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa, National Institute for Medical Research, London, United Kingdom, Division of Medicine, Wright Fleming Institute, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom; Hanekom, W.A., School of Child and Adolescent Health, Cape Town, South Africa, Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa, South African Tuberculosis Vaccine Initiative, Cape Town, South Africa; Beatty, D., School of Child and Adolescent Health, Cape Town, South Africa; Hussey, G., School of Child and Adolescent Health, Cape Town, South Africa, Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa, South African Tuberculosis Vaccine Initiative, Cape Town, South Africa | OBJECTIVE. We wished to compare the sensitivity of an enzyme-linked immunospot assay (T-SPOT.TB; Oxford Immunotec, Oxford, United Kingdom) and the tuberculin skin test for the detection of tuberculosis infection in very young children being evaluated for active tuberculosis in a rural community setting. METHODS. Children with a history of exposure to tuberculosis and children presenting to a local clinic or hospital with symptoms suggesting tuberculosis were admitted to a dedicated case verification ward. T-SPOT. TB testing was performed, and children were evaluated with a clinical examination, a tuberculin skin test, chest radiographs, and cultures of induced sputum and gastric lavage specimens. The diagnosis was determined by using a clinical algorithm. RESULTS. A total of 243 children (median age: 18 months) were recruited, of whom 214 (88%) had interpretable T-SPOT.TB results. Children ≥12 months of age were more likely than younger children to have positive T-SPOT. TB results, whereas tuberculin skin test results were unaffected by age. The sensitivity of the T-SPOT. TB was no better than that of the tuberculin skin test for culture-confirmed tuberculosis (50% and 80%, respectively) and was poorer for the combined group of culture-confirmed and clinically probable tuberculosis (40% and 52%, respectively). For the 50 children clinically categorized as not having tuberculosis, the specificity of both the T-SPOT.TB and the tuberculin skin test was 84%. CONCLUSIONS. For young children presenting in a community setting after exposure to tuberculosis or with symptoms suggesting tuberculosis, T-SPOT. TB cannot be used to exclude active disease. The sensitivity of this assay may be impaired for very young children. Copyright © 2009 by the American Academy of Pediatrics. | Children; Enzyme-linked immunospot assay; Mantoux test; T-SPOT.TB; Tuberculosis | gamma interferon; article; child; childhood disease; clinical examination; controlled study; enzyme linked immunospot assay; female; human; human tissue; infant; infection risk; intermethod comparison; major clinical study; male; preschool child; priority journal; rural population; sensitivity and specificity; sputum culture; stomach lavage; symptom; thorax radiography; tuberculin test; tuberculosis; virus detection; age; comparative study; demography; diagnostic test; enzyme immunoassay; evaluation; isolation and purification; metabolism; methodology; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; risk factor; standard; tuberculosis; Age Factors; Child, Preschool; Diagnostic Tests, Routine; Female; Humans; Immunoenzyme Techniques; Infant; Male; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; Residence Characteristics; Risk Factors; Tuberculin Test; Tuberculosis | None |
| None | None | Effects of concentrate levels on fattening performance, carcass and meat quality attributes of Small East African × Norwegian crossbred goats fed low quality grass hay | Mushi D.E., Safari J., Mtenga L.A., Kifaro G.C., Eik L.O. | 2009 | Livestock Science | 124 | 42372 | 10.1016/j.livsci.2009.01.012 | Department of Animal and Aquacultural Sciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5025, N-1432 Ås, Norway; Department of Life Sciences, Mkwawa University College of Education, Private Bag, Iringa, Tanzania; Department of Animal Science and Production, Sokoine University of Agriculture, P.O Box 3004, Morogoro, Tanzania; Institute of Rural Development and Planning, P O Box 138, Dodoma, Tanzania | Mushi, D.E., Department of Animal and Aquacultural Sciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5025, N-1432 Ås, Norway, Department of Life Sciences, Mkwawa University College of Education, Private Bag, Iringa, Tanzania; Safari, J., Department of Animal and Aquacultural Sciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5025, N-1432 Ås, Norway, Institute of Rural Development and Planning, P O Box 138, Dodoma, Tanzania; Mtenga, L.A., Department of Animal Science and Production, Sokoine University of Agriculture, P.O Box 3004, Morogoro, Tanzania; Kifaro, G.C., Department of Animal Science and Production, Sokoine University of Agriculture, P.O Box 3004, Morogoro, Tanzania; Eik, L.O., Department of Animal and Aquacultural Sciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5025, N-1432 Ås, Norway | To assess the effects of finishing Small East African × Norwegian crossbred goats with concentrate diets on the fattening performance, carcass and meat quality, 32 castrated crossbred goats (9.5 months old, 17.1 kg BWT) were equally allocated into four levels of concentrate supplementation. The concentrate levels were: Zero access to concentrate (T0), 33% access to ad libitum concentrate allowance (T33), 66% access to ad libitum concentrate allowance (T66) and 100% access to ad libitum concentrate allowance (T100). Each animal had access to ad libitum grass hay. Ad libitum concentrate intake for the goats was 663 g/d, which supported ME intake of 8.7 MJ/head/d. The attained maximum daily gain was 96 g/d. T100 and T66 goats were comparable in slaughter weight but the former had 2 kg heavier (P < 0.05) carcasses than the latter. T100 and T66 goats were similar in carcass fatness scores, though both were fattier (P < 0.05) than other diet groups. Dressing percentage (DP) was expressed in three different ways. In all but commercial DP, T100 were comparable to T66 goats, but all were higher than the other diet groups. For T0 goats, pH-values remained above 6 even after 24 h post-mortem. Cooking losses increased (P < 0.05) with increasing levels of concentrate supplementation. Moreover, among the muscles assessed, M. rectus abdominis had the least cooking loss. Warner-Bratzler shear force values of cooked muscles were highest (P < 0.05) in M. gluteobiceps, followed by M. vastus lateralis, while M. psoas major and longismus dorsi aged for 6 days had the least values. Finishing Small East African × Norwegian crossbred goats at 66% access to their ad libitum concentrate intake gives optimum carcass and meat quality, and that any increase above this level seems not to improve meat production. © 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. | Carcass yield; Chevon quality; Feedlot-finishing; Goats | Animalia; Capra hircus | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84925256528 | The impact of DNA parentage verification on breeding value estimation and sire ranking in South African Angora goats | Garritsen C., Van Marle-Köster E., Snyman M.A., Visser C. | 2015 | Small Ruminant Research | 124 | None | 10.1016/j.smallrumres.2015.01.008 | Department of Animal and Wildlife Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa; Grootfontein Agricultural Development Institute, Private Bag X529, Middelburg, South Africa | Garritsen, C., Department of Animal and Wildlife Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa; Van Marle-Köster, E., Department of Animal and Wildlife Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa; Snyman, M.A., Grootfontein Agricultural Development Institute, Private Bag X529, Middelburg, South Africa; Visser, C., Department of Animal and Wildlife Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa | Pedigree integrity plays a crucial role in the achievement of genetic progress in livestock selection programmes. DNA marker-based parentage testing has become a useful tool for amending inaccuracies in on-farm pedigree records. In the current study, the extent of inaccurate and incomplete pedigree records was quantified in 381 South African Angora goats using a 12 microsatellite markers. Eight half-sib families with a total of 317 Angora kids, 40 kids with unknown sires and an additional 16 putative sires were included in the study. 14.3% of the on-farm pedigrees were amended, including incorrect (according to the DNA verification) or incomplete records. Estimated breeding values (EBV) for fleece traits (fibre diameter and fleece weight) as well as body weights (birth weight and weaning weight) were calculated for 21 sires using ASREML, firstly for the breeder's recorded pedigree and secondly for the DNA-verified pedigree. An overall greater effect was observed in body weight traits than in fleece weight traits with regard to sire EBVs and the ranking thereof. The significant change realised in sire ranking after DNA marker-based pedigree verification emphasises the importance of pedigree integrity in maximising selection accuracy for the production of the highest quality mohair clip in the South African Angora goat industry. © 2015 Elsevier B.V. | Body weight; Fleece traits; Microsatellite markers; Pedigree integrity; Sire selection | Capra hircus | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77956620295 | Impact of cowpea addition on the Protein Digestibility Corrected Amino Acid Score and other protein quality parameters of traditional African foods made from non-tannin and tannin sorghum | Anyango J.O., de Kock H.L., Taylor J.R.N. | 2011 | Food Chemistry | 124 | 3 | 10.1016/j.foodchem.2010.06.094 | Department of Food Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa | Anyango, J.O., Department of Food Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa; de Kock, H.L., Department of Food Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa; Taylor, J.R.N., Department of Food Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa | Protein malnutrition is a problem in Africa where sorghum is a staple foodstuff. Improvement in the protein quality of traditional African sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) foods through the addition of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp), an indigenous African legume, was investigated. Two sorghum cultivars, a red, tannin-type (NS 5511) and a white tan-plant, non-tannin type (Orbit) were complemented with cowpea (70:30 ratio). Ugali (thick porridge), uji (fermented thin porridge) and injera (fermented flatbread) were prepared. The protein lysine scores of cowpea-complemented foods were about double the levels of sorghum-only foods. The in vitro protein digestibility of the foods increased by 13-62%. The increase in lysine and protein digestibility improvement resulted in three- and two-fold improvement in the Protein Digestibility Corrected Amino Acid Score (PDCAAS) of NS 5511, and Orbit foods, respectively. Addition of cowpea to tannin, as well as non-tannin sorghum is a viable option for improving the protein quality of a wide range of traditional African foods. © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. | Cowpea; Lysine score; Protein Digestibility Corrected Amino Acid Score (PDCAAS); Protein quality; Sorghum; Tannins; Traditional African foods | Cowpea; Lysine score; Protein Digestibility Corrected Amino Acid Score (PDCAAS); Protein quality; Sorghum; Tannins; Traditional African foods; Amino acids; Proteins; lysine; tannin derivative; Africa; amino acid analysis; article; cowpea; cultivar; food; in vitro study; nonhuman; protein content; protein malnutrition; protein quality; sorghum; Sorghum bicolor; Vigna unguiculata | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84934875573 | Evaluation of aquifer protective capacity of overburden unit and soil corrosivity in Makurdi, Benue state, Nigeria, using electrical resistivity method | Obiora D.N., Ajala A.E., Ibuot J.C. | 2015 | Journal of Earth System Science | 124 | 1 | None | Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria | Obiora, D.N., Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria; Ajala, A.E., Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria; Ibuot, J.C., Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria | This paper presents result of 30 vertical electrical soundings carried out in Makurdi, Benue state capital, north-central Nigeria to evaluate aquifer protective capacity and soil corrosivity of overburden units in the study area. This was done using the Schlumberger electrode array to obtain the data and was modelled using computer iteration (Winresist software). The field data gives a resolution with 3-4 geoelectric layers and the observed frequencies in curve types include: 30% of KQ, 16.67% of QH, 6.67% of AA and K, 3.33% of HA, Q and A, 10% of H, KH and HK. Using the longitudinal unit conductance (S), the protective capacities of the study area were classified as 36.67% weak, 10% poor, 40% moderate, and 13.33% as good. The corrosivity ratings of the study area show that 10% is strongly corrosive, 23% moderately corrosive, 37% slightly corrosive, and 30% noncorrosive The results reasonably provide information on areas where industries can be sited and iron pipes can be laid in order to safeguard the hydrological setting for resident’s safety in the study area. Regions with moderate/good protective capacity are good sites for locating boreholes. © Indian Academy of Sciences. | Aquifer; Corrosivity; Geoelectric layers; Longitudinal conductance; Makurdi; Vertical electrical sounding | aquifer; electrical resistivity; geoelectric field; overburden; vertical electrical sounding; Benue; Makurdi; Nigeria | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-12344276549 | Evaluation of the NucliSens EasyQ assay in HIV-1-infected individuals in South Africa | Stevens W., Wiggill T., Horsfield P., Coetzee L., Scott L.E. | 2005 | Journal of Virological Methods | 124 | 42371 | 10.1016/j.jviromet.2004.11.009 | Dept. of Molec. Med. and Haematology, School of Pathology, Fac. Hlth. Sci., Univ. W., York Rd., Parktown 2193, South Africa | Stevens, W., Dept. of Molec. Med. and Haematology, School of Pathology, Fac. Hlth. Sci., Univ. W., York Rd., Parktown 2193, South Africa; Wiggill, T., Dept. of Molec. Med. and Haematology, School of Pathology, Fac. Hlth. Sci., Univ. W., York Rd., Parktown 2193, South Africa; Horsfield, P., Dept. of Molec. Med. and Haematology, School of Pathology, Fac. Hlth. Sci., Univ. W., York Rd., Parktown 2193, South Africa; Coetzee, L., Dept. of Molec. Med. and Haematology, School of Pathology, Fac. Hlth. Sci., Univ. W., York Rd., Parktown 2193, South Africa; Scott, L.E., Dept. of Molec. Med. and Haematology, School of Pathology, Fac. Hlth. Sci., Univ. W., York Rd., Parktown 2193, South Africa | We compared the performance of the NucliSens EasyQ assay (bioMerieux) combined with the manual NucliSens miniMag extraction methodology to the Roche Cobas Ampliprep/Standard Amplicor Monitor methodology (Roche Diagnostics) for HIV-1 RNA quantitation in HIV-1-infected individuals in South Africa. Plasma samples (284) from HIV sero-positive patients at different stages of infection were analyzed. The distribution of results was typical of the clinical samples received at the laboratory where 20% have viral load results <400 copies/ml (2.6 log) and 18% have viral load results >750 000 copies/ml (5.8 log) using the Roche Amplicor Monitor standard assay. All statistical analyses were performed using log10-transformed values for all the variables in the analyses, i.e. log10EasyQIU/ml, and log10RNA (log 10 copies/ml, Amplicor). Roche values were converted from RNA copies per ml to IU/ml by multiplying the Roche value by 0.51. HIV RNA levels quantitated by the NucliSens EasyQ assay correlated significantly with those of the Roche Cobas Amplicor Monitor assay (r = 0.874, p < 0.0001). Reproducibility of the NucliSens EasyQ assay in the log 6 IU range yielded CV variance of 1.3-2.84% for two well-trained technologists. In addition, a retrospective evaluation of the performance of the NucliSens EasyQ assay in 102 runs (2448) samples was conducted in the laboratory over a 4-month interval. Factors considered during this evaluation included time taken to perform the assay, volume requirements, number of required repeats, potential for contamination. © 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. | HIV viral load laboratory measurement; Method comparison; NucliSens EasyQ; Resource limited setting; Roche Amplicor | virus RNA; article; assay; blood sampling; controlled study; correlation analysis; extraction; human; Human immunodeficiency virus 1; intermethod comparison; laboratory test; priority journal; quantitative analysis; reproducibility; South Africa; statistical analysis; virus load; Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; HIV-1; Humans; Reproducibility of Results; Retrospective Studies; RNA, Viral; Viral Load; Human immunodeficiency virus 1 | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-78651254199 | Increasing the discrimination power of forensic STR testing by employing high-performance mass spectrometry, as illustrated in indigenous South African and Central Asian populations | Pitterl F., Schmidt K., Huber G., Zimmermann B., Delport R., Amory S., Ludes B., Oberacher H., Parson W. | 2010 | International Journal of Legal Medicine | 124 | 6 | 10.1007/s00414-009-0408-x | Institute of Legal Medicine, Innsbruck Medical University, Müllerstrasse 44, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria; Department of Medical Genetics, Innsbruck Medical University, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria; Department of Family Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa; Laboratory of Molecular Anthropology, Institute of Legal Medicine, Strasbourg University, 67000 Strasbourg, France; International Commission on Missing Persons, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina | Pitterl, F., Institute of Legal Medicine, Innsbruck Medical University, Müllerstrasse 44, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria; Schmidt, K., Department of Medical Genetics, Innsbruck Medical University, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria; Huber, G., Institute of Legal Medicine, Innsbruck Medical University, Müllerstrasse 44, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria; Zimmermann, B., Institute of Legal Medicine, Innsbruck Medical University, Müllerstrasse 44, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria; Delport, R., Department of Family Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa; Amory, S., Institute of Legal Medicine, Innsbruck Medical University, Müllerstrasse 44, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria, Laboratory of Molecular Anthropology, Institute of Legal Medicine, Strasbourg University, 67000 Strasbourg, France, International Commission on Missing Persons, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina; Ludes, B., Laboratory of Molecular Anthropology, Institute of Legal Medicine, Strasbourg University, 67000 Strasbourg, France; Oberacher, H., Institute of Legal Medicine, Innsbruck Medical University, Müllerstrasse 44, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria; Parson, W., Institute of Legal Medicine, Innsbruck Medical University, Müllerstrasse 44, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria | Short tandem repeat (STR) typing has become the standard technique in forensic methodology for the identification of unknown samples. National DNA databases have been established that contain STR genotypes for intelligence purposes. Due to their success, national DNA databases have been growing so fast that the number of advantageous matches may become a logistic problem for the analysts. This is especially true for partial STR profiles as they display reduced discrimination power. To overcome this drawback, modified versions (so-called mini-STRs) of existing loci were introduced as well as new loci to improve the information content of (partial) STR profiles. We pursue an alternative approach that makes use of nucleotide variation within the amplified STR fragments, which can be discerned by mass spectrometry. We have developed an assay that determines molecular masses from crude STR amplicons which were purified and separated by a liquid chromatographic system directly hyphenated to an electrospray ionization mass spectrometer. We present here new population data of forensically relevant STRs in Khoisan and Yakut populations. These autochthonous groups were selected as they may harbor additional STR alleles that are rare or unobserved in modern humans from cosmopolitan areas, especially for the Khoisan, which are known to represent a very ancient human population. The analysis of the molecular mass of STRs offered a widened spectrum of allele variability escorted by enhanced forensic use. Thus, established STR data derived from fragment size analysis can still be used in casework or in the context of intelligence databasing. © Springer-Verlag 2010. | Forensic science; Khoisan; Liquid chromatography; Mass spectrometry; Short tandem repeats; Yakut | microsatellite DNA; article; Asian; comparative study; forensic genetics; forensic medicine; genetic variability; genetics; genotype; human; mass spectrometry; methodology; Negro; population genetics; African Continental Ancestry Group; Asian Continental Ancestry Group; Forensic Genetics; Forensic Medicine; Genetic Variation; Genetics, Population; Genotype; Humans; Mass Spectrometry; Microsatellite Repeats | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-34447325607 | Evaluation of Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum) varieties for use as trap plants for the management of African stemborer (Busseola fusca) in a push-pull strategy | Khan Z.R., Midega C.A.O., Wadhams L.J., Pickett J.A., Mumuni A. | 2007 | Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata | 124 | 2 | 10.1111/j.1570-7458.2007.00569.x | International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE), P.O. Box 30772-00100, Nairobi, Kenya; Biological Chemistry Department, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, Hertfordshire AL5 2JQ, United Kingdom; Savanna Agricultural Research Institute, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, P.O. Box 52, Nyankpala, Tamale, Ghana | Khan, Z.R., International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE), P.O. Box 30772-00100, Nairobi, Kenya; Midega, C.A.O., International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE), P.O. Box 30772-00100, Nairobi, Kenya; Wadhams, L.J., Biological Chemistry Department, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, Hertfordshire AL5 2JQ, United Kingdom; Pickett, J.A., Biological Chemistry Department, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, Hertfordshire AL5 2JQ, United Kingdom; Mumuni, A., Savanna Agricultural Research Institute, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, P.O. Box 52, Nyankpala, Tamale, Ghana | We evaluated eight Napier grass [Pennisetum purpureum Schumach (Poaceae)] varieties, used in various parts of eastern Africa as fodder, for their potential role as trap plants in the management of the African stemborer, Busseola fusca Füller (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) through a push-pull strategy. Oviposition preference, larval orientation, settling, arrest and dispersal, feeding, mortality and survival, and development were determined for each of these varieties under laboratory and screen house conditions. Two-choice tests showed that only two of the varieties tested (cv. Bana and cv. Uganda Hairless) were preferentially chosen by gravid female moths for oviposition over a susceptible maize variety, cv. Western Hybrid 502. Larval preference was, however, highly variable. Larval feeding by first instars on the maize leaves was more intense and significantly more than on leaves of all the Napier grass varieties evaluated. Food consumed and amounts assimilated by the third instars over a 24-h period were not different among larvae fed on stems of maize and those fed on stems of the various Napier grass varieties. Larval survival was significantly lower on all the Napier grass varieties (below 3%) than on maize (about 44%). Similarly, larval development was about 2-3 weeks longer on majority of the Napier grass varieties. It was concluded that cv. Bana had potential for use as a trap plant in the management of B. fusca because it was more preferred by the moths for oviposition, equally preferred as maize by the larvae for orientation, settling, and arrest, and allowed minimal survival of the larvae. It can thus be used with such 'push' plants as Desmodium spp. (Fabaceae) in a 'push-pull' strategy, but the effectiveness of such a strategy would strictly depend on proper establishment and management of these companion plants. © 2007 The Authors. | Development; Habitat management; Larval behavior; Lepidoptera; Maize; Noctuidae; Oviposition; Survival | crop pest; feeding behavior; grass; habitat management; larval development; larval settlement; maize; mortality; moth; oviposition; pest control; stem borer; survival; trap crop; Africa; East Africa; Sub-Saharan Africa; Animalia; Busseola fusca; Desmodium; Fabaceae; Lepidoptera; Noctuidae; Pennisetum glaucum; Pennisetum purpureum; Poaceae; Zea mays | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84856721286 | Synthesis and evaluation of comb-type copolymers prepared via atom transfer radical polymerization as possible cold flow improvers in GTL diesel fuels | Norah Maithufi M., Joubert D.J., Klumperman B. | 2012 | Journal of Applied Polymer Science | 124 | 4 | 10.1002/app.35268 | Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry, Eindhoven University of Technology, 5600 MB Eindhoven, Netherlands; Sasol Technology R and D, 1 Klasie Havenga Street, Sasolburg, South Africa; Department of Polymer Science and Chemistry, University of Stellenbosch, Matieland, South Africa | Norah Maithufi, M., Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry, Eindhoven University of Technology, 5600 MB Eindhoven, Netherlands, Sasol Technology R and D, 1 Klasie Havenga Street, Sasolburg, South Africa; Joubert, D.J., Sasol Technology R and D, 1 Klasie Havenga Street, Sasolburg, South Africa; Klumperman, B., Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry, Eindhoven University of Technology, 5600 MB Eindhoven, Netherlands, Department of Polymer Science and Chemistry, University of Stellenbosch, Matieland, South Africa | Statistical comb-type copolymers of styrene (Sty) and stearyl methacrylate (C18 MA) with varying [styrene]:[C18MA] ratios were synthesized by a controlled/living radical polymerization technique called atom transfer radical polymerization. The polymeric materials were evaluated in selected SASOL Fischer Tropsch gas-to-liquid diesels as possible cold flow improvers. Crystallization studies revealed that as the styrene content of the copolymer increased, a crystal growth inhibition mechanism was exhibited. With an increase in styrene content of the copolymer, differential scanning calorimetry and the cloud filter plugging point (CFPP) revealed a delay in onset of crystallization and lowered CFPP, respectively, whereas low-temperature microscopy indicated modifications and size reduction of wax crystals. However, there appeared to be a styrene content, beyond which the additive's efficiency decreased. Homopolymer and copolymers with the highest styrene content led to long unfavorable needle-shaped crystals. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. | atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP); cold filter plugging point (CFPP); cold flow properties; comb-type copolymers; GTL diesel | Cold filter plugging point; Cold flow improver; cold flow properties; Comb-type copolymer; Controlled/living radical polymerization; Crystal growth inhibition; Filter plugging; Fischer Tropsch; GTL diesel; Low temperatures; Size reductions; Stearyl methacrylate; Wax crystals; Copolymers; Crystal growth; Diesel fuels; Differential scanning calorimetry; Polymerization; Styrene; Atom transfer radical polymerization | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84871439914 | Neurophysiological, behavioural and perceptual differences between wrist flexion and extension related to sensorimotor monitoring as shown by corticomuscular coherence | Divekar N.V., John L.R. | 2013 | Clinical Neurophysiology | 124 | 1 | 10.1016/j.clinph.2012.07.019 | MRC/UCT Medical Imaging Research Unit, Division of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, Faculty of Health Sciences, Anzio Rd, Observatory, 7925 Cape Town, South Africa | Divekar, N.V., MRC/UCT Medical Imaging Research Unit, Division of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, Faculty of Health Sciences, Anzio Rd, Observatory, 7925 Cape Town, South Africa; John, L.R., MRC/UCT Medical Imaging Research Unit, Division of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, Faculty of Health Sciences, Anzio Rd, Observatory, 7925 Cape Town, South Africa | Objective: To investigate the effects of neurophysiological, behavioural and perceptual differences between wrist flexion and extension movements, on their corticomuscular coherence (CMC) levels. Methods: CMC was calculated between simultaneously recorded electroencephalography (EEG) and electromyography (EMG) measures from fifteen healthy subjects who performed 10 repetitions of alternating isometric wrist flexion and extension tasks at 15% of their maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) torque levels. Task precision was calculated from torque recordings. Subjects rated the perceived difficulty levels for both tasks. Results: Flexors had significantly lower; peak beta CMC, peak frequency, frequency width, normalised EMG beta power, torque fluctuation (<5. Hz and beta band) and perceived difficulty ratings; but higher MVC and precision compared to extensors. EEG alpha and beta powers were non-different between flexion and extension. Conclusions: An inverse relationship between CMC and motor precision was found in our inter-muscle study, contrary to the direct relationship found in a prior intra-muscle study. Functional suitability, long term usage adaptation and lower perceived difficulty of wrist flexion may explain the results. Significance: We extend the CMC literature to include the clinically different, antagonistic wrist flexors and extensors and add to the debate relating CMC and motor precision by positing the confounding effect of perceived difficulty. © 2012 International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology. | Corticomuscular coherence; Perceived difficulty; Precision; Wrist extension; Wrist flexion | accuracy; adult; article; behavior; calculation; corticomuscular coherence; electroencephalography; electromyography; human; human experiment; isometrics; joint function; male; muscle contraction; nervous system parameters; neurophysiology; normal human; perception; priority journal; torque; wrist; Adult; Alpha Rhythm; Behavior; Beta Rhythm; Data Interpretation, Statistical; Electroencephalography; Electromyography; Electrooculography; Electrophysiological Phenomena; Forearm; Humans; Isometric Contraction; Male; Motor Cortex; Movement; Muscle, Skeletal; Perception; Psychomotor Performance; Wrist; Young Adult | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84932122751 | Population density modifies the ecological impacts of invasive species | Jackson M.C., Ruiz-Navarro A., Britton J.R. | 2015 | Oikos | 124 | 7 | 10.1111/oik.01661 | School of Applied Sciences, Bournemouth Univ., Poole, Dorset, United Kingdom; Centre for Invasion Biology, Dept of Zoology and Entomology, Univ. of Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa; Depto de Zoología y Antropología Física, Univ. de Murcia, Murcia, Spain | Jackson, M.C., School of Applied Sciences, Bournemouth Univ., Poole, Dorset, United Kingdom, Centre for Invasion Biology, Dept of Zoology and Entomology, Univ. of Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa; Ruiz-Navarro, A., School of Applied Sciences, Bournemouth Univ., Poole, Dorset, United Kingdom, Depto de Zoología y Antropología Física, Univ. de Murcia, Murcia, Spain; Britton, J.R., School of Applied Sciences, Bournemouth Univ., Poole, Dorset, United Kingdom | In assessments of ecological impact in invasion ecology, most studies compare un-invaded sites with highly invaded sites, representing the 'worst-case scenario', and so there is little information on how impact is modified by the population density of the invader. Here, we assess how ecological impact is modified by population density through the experimental development of density-impact curves for a model invasive fish. Using replicated mesocosms and the highly invasive Pseudorasbora parva as the model, we quantified how their population density influenced their diet composition and their impacts on invertebrate communities and ecosystem processes. The density-impact curves revealed both linear and non-linear density-impact relationships. The relationship between P. parva density and zooplankton body mass was represented by a low-threshold curve, where their impact was higher at low densities than predicted by a linear relationship. In contrast, whilst the relationship between density and zooplankton biomass and abundance was also non-linear, it was high-threshold, indicating a lower impact than a linear relationship would predict. Impacts on diversity and phytoplankton standing stock were linear and impacts on benthic invertebrate abundance and decomposition rates were represented by s-shaped curves. These relationships were underpinned by P. parva dietary analyses that revealed increasing reliance on zooplankton as density increased due to depletion of other resources. We caution against the common assumption that ecological impact increases linearly with invader density and suggest that increased understanding of the relationship between invader population density and ecological impact can avoid under-investment in the management of invaders that cause severe problems at low densities. © 2014 The Authors. | None | abundance; biomass; body mass; cyprinid; diet; ecological impact; invasive species; life history trait; population density; resource allocation; zooplankton; Invertebrata; Pseudorasbora parva | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-34548837460 | Evaluation of three serological tests for brucellosis in naturally infected cattle using latent class analysis | Muma J.B., Toft N., Oloya J., Lund A., Nielsen K., Samui K., Skjerve E. | 2007 | Veterinary Microbiology | 125 | 02-Jan | 10.1016/j.vetmic.2007.05.012 | Department of Disease Control, University of Zambia, School of Veterinary Medicine, P.O. Box 32379, Lusaka, Zambia; Department of Food Safety and Infection Biology, Norwegian School of Veterinary Science, P.O. Box 8146 Dep, 0033 Oslo, Norway; Department of Large Animal Sciences, The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Groennegaardsvej 8, DK-1870 Frederiksberg C., Denmark; Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Makerere University, P.O. Box 70062, Kampala, Uganda; National Veterinary Institute, P.O. Box 8156 Dep, N-0033 Oslo, Norway; Animal Disease Research Institute, Canada Food Inspection Agency, 3851 Fallowfield Road, Nepean, Ont. K2H 8P9, Canada | Muma, J.B., Department of Disease Control, University of Zambia, School of Veterinary Medicine, P.O. Box 32379, Lusaka, Zambia, Department of Food Safety and Infection Biology, Norwegian School of Veterinary Science, P.O. Box 8146 Dep, 0033 Oslo, Norway; Toft, N., Department of Large Animal Sciences, The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Groennegaardsvej 8, DK-1870 Frederiksberg C., Denmark; Oloya, J., Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Makerere University, P.O. Box 70062, Kampala, Uganda; Lund, A., National Veterinary Institute, P.O. Box 8156 Dep, N-0033 Oslo, Norway; Nielsen, K., Animal Disease Research Institute, Canada Food Inspection Agency, 3851 Fallowfield Road, Nepean, Ont. K2H 8P9, Canada; Samui, K., Department of Disease Control, University of Zambia, School of Veterinary Medicine, P.O. Box 32379, Lusaka, Zambia; Skjerve, E., Department of Food Safety and Infection Biology, Norwegian School of Veterinary Science, P.O. Box 8146 Dep, 0033 Oslo, Norway | Serological methods are traditionally used in diagnosis of brucellosis. However, the comparative performance of these tests and their accuracy under the local environment in Zambia has not been assessed. Thus, the objective of our study was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of three serological tests for brucellosis; Rose Bengal Test (RBT), competitive ELISA (c-ELISA) and Fluorescence Polarisation Assay (FPA) in naturally infected cattle in Zambia without an appropriate reference test to classify animals into truly infected and non-infected. Serological test results from a study to determine sero-prevalence were used to compare the performance of RBT, c-ELISA and FPA in diagnosing brucellosis in traditional cattle. Since none of the tests can be seen as a perfect reference test or gold standard, their performance in a population of naturally infected cattle was evaluated using latent class analysis which allows the sensitivity (Se) and specificity (Sp) to be estimated in the absence of a gold standard. The highest Se was achieved by the c-ELISA (97%; Credible Posterior Interval (CPI) = 93-100%) and the highest Sp by the FPA (93%; CPI = 85-99%), conversely these tests also had the lowest Sp and Se, respectively, with the RBT performing well in both the Se (93%; CPI = 84-98%) and Sp (81%; CPI = 61-97). © 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. | Brucellosis; c-ELISA; FPA; RBT; Sensitivity; Specificity | rose bengal; article; brucellosis; cattle disease; enzyme linked immunosorbent assay; fluorescence polarization immunoassay; gold standard; nonhuman; sensitivity and specificity; serodiagnosis; serology; seroprevalence; Zambia; Agglutination Tests; Animals; Antibodies, Bacterial; Bayes Theorem; Brucella; Brucellosis, Bovine; Cattle; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Fluorescence Polarization Immunoassay; Rose Bengal; Sensitivity and Specificity; Animalia; Bos | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-15544372783 | Evaluation of an oligonucleotide ligation assay for detection of mutations in HIV-1 subtype C individuals who have high level resistance to nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors and non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors | Wallis C.L., Mahomed I., Morris L., Chidarikire T., Stevens G., Rekhviashvili N., Stevens W. | 2005 | Journal of Virological Methods | 125 | 2 | 10.1016/j.jviromet.2005.01.004 | Dept. of Molec. Med. and Haematology, School of Pathology, Univ. of the Witwatersrand Med. Sch., South Africa; National Health Laboratory Services, South Africa | Wallis, C.L., Dept. of Molec. Med. and Haematology, School of Pathology, Univ. of the Witwatersrand Med. Sch., South Africa; Mahomed, I., Dept. of Molec. Med. and Haematology, School of Pathology, Univ. of the Witwatersrand Med. Sch., South Africa; Morris, L., National Health Laboratory Services, South Africa; Chidarikire, T., National Health Laboratory Services, South Africa; Stevens, G., National Health Laboratory Services, South Africa; Rekhviashvili, N., National Health Laboratory Services, South Africa; Stevens, W., Dept. of Molec. Med. and Haematology, School of Pathology, Univ. of the Witwatersrand Med. Sch., South Africa | The oligonucleotide ligation assay (OLA) has been proposed as an affordable alternative to sequence-based HIV-1 drug resistance testing in resource poor settings. The aim was to evaluate OLA for detecting mutations K103N, Y181C, K65R, Q151M, M184V and T215Y/F in subtype C. Forty-four subtype C and 8 subtype B HIV-1 positive individuals were analysed using the ViroSeq™ HIV-1 genotyping assay (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA). A one-step RT-PCR and nested PCR were performed using subtype B specific primers from the OLA kit (NIH AIDS Research and Reference Reagent Program). Seventy-eight subtype C sequences were used to design subtype C specific primers. Ligation and detection steps were followed according to OLA kit protocol. For codons, K103N, Y181C, K65R, Q151M, M184V and T215Y/F, four or more mismatches compared to the probe or mismatches less than four bases from the ligation site were not tolerated. Results revealed accurate identification of mutations in 2/10, 4/9 3/9, 6/7, 2/7 and 6/7 VQA samples and 5/20, 4/17 0/20, 18/24, 5/24 and 13/24 subtype C positive individuals, respectively. It was concluded that the probes and primers in the NIH reference kit would need modification to optimize detection of mutations in subtype C individuals. © 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. | Drug resistance; HIV-1; OLA; Subtype C | RNA directed DNA polymerase inhibitor; article; codon; genotype; human; Human immunodeficiency virus 1; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; nonhuman; oligonucleotide ligation assay; polymerase chain reaction; priority journal; reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction; serotype; virus mutation; Anti-HIV Agents; Drug Resistance, Multiple, Viral; HIV-1; Humans; Molecular Biology; Mutation; Oligodeoxyribonucleotides; Oligonucleotide Probes; Oligonucleotides; Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors; Sensitivity and Specificity; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Human immunodeficiency virus 1 | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33748685240 | Variation of the genomic proportion of the recurrent parent in BC 1 and its relation to yield performance in sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) breeding for low-input conditions | Uptmoor R., Wenzel W., Ayisi K., Donaldson G., Gehringer A., Friedt W., Ordon F. | 2006 | Plant Breeding | 125 | 5 | 10.1111/j.1439-0523.2006.01270.x | Institute of Vegetable and Fruit Science, University of Hannover, Herrenhäuser Straße 2, D-30419 Hannover, Germany; Agricultural Research Council (ARC), Grain Crops Institute (GCI), Private Bag X1251, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa; Department of Plant Production, University of the North, Private Bag X1106, Sovenga 0727, South Africa; Northern Province Department of Agriculture, Land and Environment (NPDALE), Potgietersrus, South Africa; Institute of Agronomy and Plant Breeding I (IPZ), Justus-Liebig-University, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26-32, 35392 Giessen, Germany; Institute of Epidemiology and Resistance Resources, Federal Center for Breeding Research on Cultivated Plants, Theodor-Roemer-Weg 4, D-06449 Aschersleben, Germany | Uptmoor, R., Institute of Vegetable and Fruit Science, University of Hannover, Herrenhäuser Straße 2, D-30419 Hannover, Germany; Wenzel, W., Agricultural Research Council (ARC), Grain Crops Institute (GCI), Private Bag X1251, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa; Ayisi, K., Department of Plant Production, University of the North, Private Bag X1106, Sovenga 0727, South Africa; Donaldson, G., Northern Province Department of Agriculture, Land and Environment (NPDALE), Potgietersrus, South Africa; Gehringer, A., Institute of Agronomy and Plant Breeding I (IPZ), Justus-Liebig-University, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26-32, 35392 Giessen, Germany; Friedt, W., Institute of Agronomy and Plant Breeding I (IPZ), Justus-Liebig-University, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26-32, 35392 Giessen, Germany; Ordon, F., Institute of Epidemiology and Resistance Resources, Federal Center for Breeding Research on Cultivated Plants, Theodor-Roemer-Weg 4, D-06449 Aschersleben, Germany | In order to define the variation of the genomic proportion of the recurrent parent [G(RP)] and its relation to yield, G(RP) of individual BC1 plants of two sorghum populations composed of a high-yielding cultivar as recurrent parent (RP) and a donor with superior drought resistance or grain quality, respectively, was estimated using AFLPs and SSRs. G(RP) in BC1 ranged from 0.53 to 0.95 and averaged to 0.76 in the population (NP4453 x 'SV-2') x 'SV-2'. G(RP) varied between 0.60 and 0.86 and averaged to 0.74 in the BC1 of (ICV-219 x 'SV-2') x 'SV-2'. Results show that plants with a G(RP) equivalent to BC2 (0.875) or BC3 (0.938), respectively, can be selected from BC1. Yield performance of BC1S1 families was tested in field trials carried out in South Africa. The correlation between yield and G(RP) in BC1 was low. Selection according to G(RP) did not result in an effective preselection for yield. © 2006 The Authors. | AFLP; BC1; Genomic proportion of the recurrent parent; Sorghum bicolor; SSR; Yielding ability | Sorghum bicolor | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84898646059 | Design, fabrication and evaluation of intelligent sulfone-selective polybenzimidazole nanofibers | Ogunlaja A.S., Sautoy C.D., Torto N., Tshentu Z.R. | 2014 | Talanta | 126 | None | 10.1016/j.talanta.2014.03.035 | Department of Chemistry, Rhodes University, P.O. Box 94, Grahamstown 6139, South Africa; Analytical Technology, Sasol Technology (Pty) Limited, P.O. Box 1, Sasolburg 1947, South Africa; Department of Chemistry, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, P.O. Box 77000, Port-Elizabeth 6031, South Africa | Ogunlaja, A.S., Department of Chemistry, Rhodes University, P.O. Box 94, Grahamstown 6139, South Africa; Sautoy, C.D., Analytical Technology, Sasol Technology (Pty) Limited, P.O. Box 1, Sasolburg 1947, South Africa; Torto, N., Department of Chemistry, Rhodes University, P.O. Box 94, Grahamstown 6139, South Africa; Tshentu, Z.R., Department of Chemistry, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, P.O. Box 77000, Port-Elizabeth 6031, South Africa | Molecularly imprinted polybenzimidazole nanofibers fabricated for the adsorption of oxidized organosulfur compounds are presented. The imprinted polymers exhibited better selectivity for their target model sulfone-containing compounds with adsorption capacities of 28.5±0.4 mg g-1, 29.8±2.2 mg g-1 and 20.1±1.4 mg g-1 observed for benzothiophene sulfone (BTO2), dibenzothiophene sulfone (DBTO2) and 4,6-dimethyldibenzothiophene sulfone (4,6-DMDBTO 2) respectively. Molecular modeling based upon the density functional theory (DFT) indicated that hydrogen bond interactions may take place between sulfone oxygen groups with NH groups of the PBI. Further DFT also confirmed the feasibility of π-π interactions between the benzimidazole rings and the aromatic sulfone compounds. The adsorption mode followed the Freundlich (multi-layered) adsorption isotherm which indicated possible sulfone-sulfone interactions. A home-made pressurized hot water extraction (PHWE) system was employed for the extraction/desorption of sulfone compounds within imprinted nanofibers at 1 mL min-1, 150 °C and 30 bar. PHWE used a green solvent (water) and achieved better extraction yields compared to the Soxhlet extraction process. The application of molecularly imprinted polybenzimidazole (PBI) nanofibers displayed excellent sulfur removal, with sulfur in fuel after adsorption falling below the determined limit of detection (LOD), which is 2.4 mg L-1 S, and with a sulfur adsorption capacity of 5.3±0.4 mg g-1 observed for application in the fuel matrix. © 2014 Elsevier B.V. | Desulfurization; Molecularly imprinted polymers; Nanofibers; Organosulfur compounds; Polybenzimidazole | Adsorption; Design for testability; Desulfurization; Extraction; Hydrogen bonds; Polymers; Sulfur; Sulfur compounds; 4 ,6-Dimethyl-dibenzothiophene; Adsorption capacities; Hydrogen bond interaction; Molecularly imprinted; Molecularly Imprinted Polymer; Organosulfur compounds; Polybenzimidazole; Pressurized hot water extraction; Nanofibers | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-70349207046 | Nutritional status, growth performance and carcass characteristics of Nguni steers supplemented with Acacia karroo leaf-meal | Mapiye C., Chimonyo M., Dzama K., Strydom P.E., Muchenje V., Marufu M.C. | 2009 | Livestock Science | 126 | 42372 | 10.1016/j.livsci.2009.07.001 | Department of Livestock and Pasture Science, University of Fort Hare, P. Bag X1314, Alice, 5700, South Africa; Department of Animal Sciences, Stellenbosch University, P. Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, South Africa; Meat Industry Centre, Department of Nutrition and Food Science, Agricultural Research Council, Private Bag X2, Irene, 0062, South Africa | Mapiye, C., Department of Livestock and Pasture Science, University of Fort Hare, P. Bag X1314, Alice, 5700, South Africa; Chimonyo, M., Department of Livestock and Pasture Science, University of Fort Hare, P. Bag X1314, Alice, 5700, South Africa; Dzama, K., Department of Animal Sciences, Stellenbosch University, P. Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, South Africa; Strydom, P.E., Meat Industry Centre, Department of Nutrition and Food Science, Agricultural Research Council, Private Bag X2, Irene, 0062, South Africa; Muchenje, V., Department of Livestock and Pasture Science, University of Fort Hare, P. Bag X1314, Alice, 5700, South Africa; Marufu, M.C., Department of Livestock and Pasture Science, University of Fort Hare, P. Bag X1314, Alice, 5700, South Africa | The objectives of the current study were to determine the effect of supplementing Acacia karroo leaf-meal on growth performance, blood chemistry and carcass characteristics of Nguni steers. Thirty 19-month old Nguni steers (241.5 ± 14.62 kg) were randomly allotted to three dietary treatments: A. karroo leaf-meal (AK), sunflower cake (SF) and control with no supplement (CN). Steers on the AK and SF diets were offered additional 150 g of protein through A. karroo and sunflower cake per day for 60 days. Serum concentrations of nutritionally-related blood metabolites were measured every fortnight. Steers that were given supplementary diets had higher (P < 0.05) total protein, urea, non-esterified fatty acids, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and iron concentrations, and larger eye muscle area than those that received the CN diet. Albumin concentration was higher (P < 0.05) in steers that received supplementary diets than those that did not. Steers supplemented with the AK and SF diets had lower (P < 0.05) glucose and cholesterol concentrations than those that received the CN diet. Steers fed on the SF diet had the highest average daily gain, body condition score, slaughter weight, warm carcass weight and cold carcass weight followed by those on the AK diet (P < 0.05). Steers that were supplemented with AK and SF diets had similar (P > 0.05) gross margins. It was concluded that A. karroo improves the nutritional status, growth performance, and carcass traits of Nguni steers reared on natural pasture. © 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. | Average daily gain; Carcass weight; Non-esterified fatty acids; Total protein | Acacia; Acacia karroo; Helianthus | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-70350335319 | Further evaluation of antihyperglycaemic activity of Hunteria umbellata (K. Schum) Hallier f. seed extract in experimental diabetes | Adeneye A.A., Adeyemi O.O. | 2009 | Journal of Ethnopharmacology | 126 | 2 | 10.1016/j.jep.2009.08.037 | Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Lagos State University College of Medicine, Ikeja, Lagos State, Nigeria; Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Idi-Araba, Lagos State, Nigeria | Adeneye, A.A., Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Lagos State University College of Medicine, Ikeja, Lagos State, Nigeria, Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Idi-Araba, Lagos State, Nigeria; Adeyemi, O.O., Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Idi-Araba, Lagos State, Nigeria | Ethnopharmacological relevance: In African traditional medicine, water decoction made from the dry seeds of Hunteria umbellata (K. Schum) Hallier f. is highly valued in the management of diabetes mellitus. Aim: In the present study, the antihyperglycaemic activity of the seed aqueous extract of Hunteria umbellate (K. Schum) Hallier f. (HU) was investigated in alloxan-induced, high fructose- and dexamethasone-induced hyperglycaemic rats. Materials and methods: Alloxan-induced, dexamethasone-induced and high fructose-induced hyperglycaemic rats were treated with single, daily oral administration of 1 mg/kg of glibenclamide, 50 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg of HU in Groups III, IV, V and VI, for 14 days, 21 days and 8 weeks, respectively. The effects of these drugs on FBG, free plasma insulin levels, HbA1c, serum TG and TC, and insulin resistance indices were investigated. Results: Data generated in the current study showed that glibenclamide and graded oral doses of HU caused significant dose related (p < 0.05, <0.01 and <0.001) reductions in FBG when compared to the values obtained for the model control (Group II) rats. Similarly, daily oral administration of 66.7 g/kg fructose to rats for 8 weeks was associated with significant (p < 0.001) hyperglycaemia, elevations in plasma HbA1c, free insulin, fasting insulin resistance indices, serum TG, and cholesterol. However, concomitant oral treatments with 1 mg/kg of glibenclamide, 50 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg, and 200 mg/kg of HU extract significantly and dose dependently (p < 0.05, <0.01 and <0.001) attenuated development of hyperglycaemia, decreased levels of plasma HbA1c, free insulin, and serum triglyceride and cholesterol, in the Groups III, IV, V and VI rats, respectively, when compared to fructose-induced hyperglycaemic (Group II) rats. Similar effect was also recorded in the dexamethasone-induced hyperglycaemic rats. Conclusion: Results of this study suggest that the hypoglycaemic and antihyperlipidaemic effects of HU are mediated via enhanced peripheral glucose uptake and improvements in hyperinsulinaemia. © 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. | Antihyperglycaemia; Antihyperlipidaemia; Experimental diabetes; Fasting insulin indices; Hunteria umbellata (K. Schum) Hallier f. | cholesterol; dexamethasone; fructose; glibenclamide; glucose; hemoglobin A1c; herbaceous agent; Hunteria umbellata extract; insulin; triacylglycerol; unclassified drug; alloxan diabetes mellitus; animal experiment; animal model; Apocynaceae; article; cholesterol blood level; controlled study; dose response; drug dose comparison; glucose blood level; glucose transport; hemoglobin blood level; Hunteria umbellata; hyperglycemia; hyperinsulinemia; insulin blood level; insulin dependent diabetes mellitus; insulin resistance; male; morning dosage; non insulin dependent diabetes mellitus; nonhuman; rat; repeated drug dose; single drug dose; triacylglycerol blood level; Animals; Apocynaceae; Blood Glucose; Cholesterol; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Therapy, Combination; Fructose; Glyburide; Hemoglobin A, Glycosylated; Hyperglycemia; Hypoglycemic Agents; Insulin; Male; Phytotherapy; Plant Extracts; Random Allocation; Rats; Seeds; Triglycerides; Hunteria; Hunteria umbellata; Rattus | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84919876992 | Dissecting indices of aridity for assessing the impacts of global climate change | Girvetz E.H., Zganjar C. | 2014 | Climatic Change | 126 | 04-Mar | 10.1007/s10584-014-1218-9 | International Center for Tropical Agriculture, PO Box 823-00621, Nairobi, Kenya; University of Washington School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, Box 352100, Seattle, WA, United States; The Nature Conservancy Central Science Program, 4245 North Fairfax Dr, Arlington, VA, United States | Girvetz, E.H., International Center for Tropical Agriculture, PO Box 823-00621, Nairobi, Kenya, University of Washington School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, Box 352100, Seattle, WA, United States, The Nature Conservancy Central Science Program, 4245 North Fairfax Dr, Arlington, VA, United States; Zganjar, C., The Nature Conservancy Central Science Program, 4245 North Fairfax Dr, Arlington, VA, United States | There is great interest in understanding how climate change will impact aridity through the interaction of precipitation changes with rising temperatures. The Aridity Index (AI), Climatic Moisture Deficit (CMD), and Climatic Moisture Surplus (CMS) are metrics commonly used to quantify and map patterns in aridity and water cycling. Here we show that these metrics have different patterns of change under future climate—based on an ensemble of nine general circulation climate models—and the different metrics are appropriate for different purposes. Based on these differences between the metrics, we propose that aridity can be dissected into three different types—hydrological (CMS), agricultural (CMD), and meteorological. In doing this, we propose a novel modified version of the Aridity Index, called AI+, that can be useful for assessing changes in meteorological aridity. The AI + is based on the same ratio between precipitation and evapotranspiration as the traditional AI, but unlike the traditional AI, the AI + only accounts for changes to precipitation during months when precipitation is less than reference/potential evapotranspiration (i.e. there is a deficit). Moreover, we show that the traditional AI provides a better estimate of change in moisture surplus driven by changes to precipitation during the wet season, rather than changes in deficit that occur during the drier seasons. These results show that it is important to select the most appropriate metric for assessing climate driven changes in aridity. © 2014, Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht. | None | Climate models; Dissection; Evapotranspiration; Moisture; Aridity index; Future climate; General circulation; Global climate changes; Moisture deficit; Precipitation change; Rising temperatures; Water cycling; Climate change | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84918538529 | Impact of sheet erosion mechanisms on organic carbon losses from crusted soils in the Sahel | Maïga-Yaleu S.B., Chivenge P., Yacouba H., Guiguemde I., Karambiri H., Ribolzi O., Bary A., Chaplot V. | 2015 | Catena | 126 | None | 10.1016/j.catena.2014.11.001 | Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry, Radiochemistry and Electrochemistry (LACARE), University of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso; Laboratory of Hydrology and Water Resources, International Institute of Water and Environmental Engineering (Institute 2iE), Burkina Faso; Department of Training and Research, Regional Center AGRHYMET, Niamey, Niger; School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Rabie Saunders Building, Scottsville, South Africa; Géosciences Environnement Toulouse (GET), UMR 5563, IRD-Université de Toulouse, UPS (OMP), CNRS, 14 Av Edouard Belin, Toulouse, France; Laboratoire d'Océanographie et du Climat, Expérimentations et approches numériques, UMR 7159, 4, place Jussieu, Paris, France | Maïga-Yaleu, S.B., Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry, Radiochemistry and Electrochemistry (LACARE), University of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, Laboratory of Hydrology and Water Resources, International Institute of Water and Environmental Engineering (Institute 2iE), Burkina Faso, Department of Training and Research, Regional Center AGRHYMET, Niamey, Niger; Chivenge, P., School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Rabie Saunders Building, Scottsville, South Africa; Yacouba, H., Department of Training and Research, Regional Center AGRHYMET, Niamey, Niger; Guiguemde, I., Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry, Radiochemistry and Electrochemistry (LACARE), University of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso; Karambiri, H., Department of Training and Research, Regional Center AGRHYMET, Niamey, Niger; Ribolzi, O., Géosciences Environnement Toulouse (GET), UMR 5563, IRD-Université de Toulouse, UPS (OMP), CNRS, 14 Av Edouard Belin, Toulouse, France; Bary, A., Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry, Radiochemistry and Electrochemistry (LACARE), University of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso; Chaplot, V., School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Rabie Saunders Building, Scottsville, South Africa, Laboratoire d'Océanographie et du Climat, Expérimentations et approches numériques, UMR 7159, 4, place Jussieu, Paris, France | Soil surface crusting influences water infiltration and runoff but its impact on soil organic carbon (SOC) losses by sheet erosion is largely unknown. Because there are different mechanisms of sheet erosion, from raindrop detachment and transport by raindrops interacting with flow (RIFT), to detachment and transport by flow, that require a certain slope length to be operative, this study examined the impact of slope length on SOC and nutrient losses. Field experiments were conducted on crusted soils in the Sahel region of Africa. Three replicates of micro-plots (1m×1m), plots (10m long×5m width) and long plots (25m×6m) were installed for each crust type in the area (structural, STRU; desiccation, DES; gravel, GRAV; and erosion, ERO) and followed for each rainfall event in the 2012 rainy season. Sediment, SOC content in sediments and selected nutrients (NO3 -; PO4 3-) in the runoff were analyzed to evaluate the annual losses by sheet erosion. SOC losses decreased significantly with increasing slope length from 0.24gCm-1 on micro-plots to 0.04gCm-1 on plots and to 0.01gCm-1 on long plots and similar trends were observed for NO3 - and PO4 3- losses. This suggested a strong scale dependency of sheet erosion with the efficiency of transport by saltation and rolling by RIFT decreasing significantly with increasing slope length, by 6 folds in average between 1 and 10m, with values between 1.8 on DES crusts and 19 on STRU crusts. These results on the relationship between soil crusting and sheet erosion should be further used to mitigate against the loss of SOC through the implementation of improved soil conservation techniques, as well as to improve soil erosion and/or SOC models. © 2014 Elsevier B.V. | Africa; Erosion mechanism; Land degradation; Nutrients; Soil organic carbon; Soil surface feature | land degradation; nutrient loss; organic carbon; runoff; saltation; sheet erosion; soil conservation; soil crust; soil organic matter; Sahel [Sub-Saharan Africa]; Groundnut rosette assistor virus | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84885866082 | Halogenated pollutants in terrestrial and aquatic bird eggs: Converging patterns of pollutant profiles, and impacts and risks from high levels | Bouwman H., Viljoen I.M., Quinn L.P., Polder A. | 2013 | Environmental Research | 126 | None | 10.1016/j.envres.2013.06.003 | Research Unit: Environmental Sciences and Development, North-West University, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa; National Metrology Institute of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa; The Norwegian School of Veterinary Sciences, Oslo, Norway | Bouwman, H., Research Unit: Environmental Sciences and Development, North-West University, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa; Viljoen, I.M., Research Unit: Environmental Sciences and Development, North-West University, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa; Quinn, L.P., Research Unit: Environmental Sciences and Development, North-West University, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa, National Metrology Institute of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa; Polder, A., The Norwegian School of Veterinary Sciences, Oslo, Norway | We investigated the presence, levels, relationships, and risks of HCHs, DDTs, chlordanes, mirex, PCBs, and brominated flame retardants (BFRs) in terrestrial and aquatic bird eggs from an area in South Africa where DDT is used for malaria control. We found one of the highest σDDT levels reported this century; 13. 000. ng/g. wm (wet mass) in Grey Heron eggs which exceeds critical levels for reproductive success (3000. ng/g. wm) calculated for Brown Pelicans, with a no-effect level estimated at 500. ng/g. wm. Even higher σDDT levels at 16. 000. ng/g. wm were found in House Sparrow eggs (possibly the highest ever recorded for sparrows), with a maximum of 24. 400. ng/g. wm. Significant eggshell thinning in Cattle Egrets (33% between thickest and thinnest) was associated with increased levels of p,. p'-DDT and p,. p'-DDE. There were indications of unknown use of DDT and lindane. Relative to DDT, PCBs and BFRs levels were quite low. Ordinated data showed that different terrestrial pollutant profiles converged to a homogenised aquatic profile. Converging profiles, high levels of DDT in heron and sparrow eggs, and thinning eggs shells, indicate risk and impacts at release, in the aquatic environment, and in between. If characteristic life-strategies of birds in warm areas (e.g. longer-lived and fewer eggs per clutch) increases the risk compared with similar birds living in colder regions when both experience the same environmental pollutant levels, then malaria control using DDT probably has more significant impacts on biota than previously realised. Therefore, risk assessment and modelling without hard data may miss crucial impacts and risks, as the chemical use patterns and ecologies in Africa and elsewhere may differ from the conditions and assumptions of existing risk assessment and modelling parameters. Consideration of other findings associated with DDT from the same area (intersex in fish and urogental birth defects in baby boys), together with the findings of this study (high levels of DDT in bird eggs, eggshell thinning in the Cattle Egrets, and the apparent absence of breeding piscivore birds in the sprayed area) are strongly suggestive of negative impacts from DDT spraying for Malaria control. Our data presents strong arguments for an expedited process of replacing DDT with sustainable methods. © 2013 Elsevier Inc. | Bird eggs; DDT; Eggshell thinning; Indoor residual spraying; Malaria control; South Africa | bromine derivative; chlorphenotane; flame retardant; lindane; mirex; polychlorinated biphenyl derivative; aquatic environment; biota; bird; breeding; data set; DDT; eggshell; HCH; malaria; piscivore; pollutant; reproductive success; risk assessment; air pollutant; aquatic environment; aquatic species; article; birth defect; breeding; egg; egg shell; halogenation; malaria control; nonhuman; Passer domesticus; priority journal; reproductive success; risk assessment; soil pollutant; South Africa; terrestrial species; South Africa; Ardea cinerea; Aves; Bubulcus; Passer domesticus; Passeridae; Pelecanus occidentalis; Bird eggs; DDT; Eggshell thinning; Indoor residual spraying; Malaria control; South Africa; Animals; Birds; Environmental Pollutants; Hydrocarbons, Halogenated; Multivariate Analysis; Ovum; South Africa | None |
| None | None | Optimization of a reversed-phase-high-performance thin-layer chromatography method for the separation of isoniazid, ethambutol, rifampicin and pyrazinamide in fixed-dose combination antituberculosis tablets | Shewiyo D.H., Kaale E., Risha P.G., Dejaegher B., Smeyers-Verbeke J., Vander Heyden Y. | 2012 | Journal of Chromatography A | 1260 | None | 10.1016/j.chroma.2012.08.044 | Directorate of Laboratory Services, Tanzania Food and Drugs Authority, P.O. Box 77150, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; School of Pharmacy, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, P.O. Box 65526, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Department of Analytical Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Technology (FABI), Center for Pharmaceutical Research (CePhaR), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Laarbeeklaan 103, 1090 Brussels, Belgium | Shewiyo, D.H., Directorate of Laboratory Services, Tanzania Food and Drugs Authority, P.O. Box 77150, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, School of Pharmacy, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, P.O. Box 65526, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, Department of Analytical Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Technology (FABI), Center for Pharmaceutical Research (CePhaR), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Laarbeeklaan 103, 1090 Brussels, Belgium; Kaale, E., School of Pharmacy, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, P.O. Box 65526, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Risha, P.G., School of Pharmacy, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, P.O. Box 65526, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Dejaegher, B., Department of Analytical Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Technology (FABI), Center for Pharmaceutical Research (CePhaR), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Laarbeeklaan 103, 1090 Brussels, Belgium; Smeyers-Verbeke, J., Department of Analytical Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Technology (FABI), Center for Pharmaceutical Research (CePhaR), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Laarbeeklaan 103, 1090 Brussels, Belgium; Vander Heyden, Y., Department of Analytical Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Technology (FABI), Center for Pharmaceutical Research (CePhaR), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Laarbeeklaan 103, 1090 Brussels, Belgium | This paper presents the development of a new RP-HPTLC method for the separation of pyrazinamide, isoniazid, rifampicin and ethambutol in a four fixed-dose combination (4 FDC) tablet formulation. It is a single method with two steps in which after plate development pyrazinamide, isoniazid and rifampicin are detected at an UV wavelength of 280nm. Then ethambutol is derivatized and detected at a VIS wavelength of 450nm. Methanol, ethanol and propan-1-ol were evaluated modifiers to form alcohol-water mobile phases. Systematic optimization of the composition of each alcohol in the mobile phase was carried out using the window diagramming concept to obtain the best separation. Examination of the Rf distribution of the separated compounds showed that separation of the compounds with the mobile phase containing ethanol at the optimal fraction was almost situated within the optimal Rf-values region of 0.20-0.80. Therefore, ethanol was selected as organic modifier and the optimal mobile phase composition was found to be ethanol, water, glacial acetic acid (>99% acetic acid) and 37% ammonia solution (70/30/5/1, v/v/v/v). The method is new, quick and cheap compared to the actual method in the International Pharmacopoeia for the assay of the 4 FDC tablets, which involves the use of two separate HPLC methods. © 2012 Elsevier B.V. | Ethambutol; Isoniazid; Mobile phase optimization; Pyrazinamide; Reversed-phase HPTLC; Rifampicin | Ethambutol; Isoniazid; Mobile-phase optimization; Pyrazinamide; Reversed phase; Rifampicin; Acetic acid; Chromatography; Ethanol; Hydrazine; Methanol; Optimization; pH; Separation; Drug products; acetic acid; alcohol; ammonia; ethambutol; ethambutol plus isoniazid plus pyrazinamide plus rifampicin; isoniazid; methanol; propanol; pyrazinamide; rifampicin; water; analytic method; article; chemical composition; derivatization; drug structure; high performance thin layer chromatography; priority journal; reversed phase high performance thin layer chromatography; tablet formulation; ultraviolet radiation; Antitubercular Agents; Chromatography, Reverse-Phase; Chromatography, Thin Layer; Ethambutol; Ethanol; Isoniazid; Pyrazinamide; Reproducibility of Results; Rifampin; Tablets | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-57749181538 | Comparative field evaluation of two rapid immunochromatographic tests for the diagnosis of bovine tuberculosis in African buffaloes (Syncerus caffer) | Michel A.L., Simões M. | 2009 | Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology | 127 | 42371 | 10.1016/j.vetimm.2008.09.025 | Bacteriology Section, ARC-Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute, Private Bag x05, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa; UTAD (Universidade de Tras-os-Montes e Alto Douro) and ACD (Associacao Ciencia para o Desenvolviment, Portugal | Michel, A.L., Bacteriology Section, ARC-Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute, Private Bag x05, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa; Simões, M., UTAD (Universidade de Tras-os-Montes e Alto Douro) and ACD (Associacao Ciencia para o Desenvolviment, Portugal | Panels of sera from African buffalo with confirmed bovine tuberculosis and from known uninfected controls were used to evaluate the performance of two commercial rapid chromatographic immunoassays (A and B) for the detection of antibodies to Mycobacterium bovis. The sensitivity was 33% and 23%, respectively, while the specificity was determined at 90% and 94%, respectively. Overall the performance of both diagnostic tests under field conditions was not found sufficiently high to support their use in bovine tuberculosis management and control strategies in South African game reserves. © 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. | African buffalo; Bovine tuberculosis; Immunodiagnosis; Rapid test | animal experiment; animal model; article; buffalo; controlled study; diagnostic test; immunoassay; Mycobacterium bovis; nonhuman; sensitivity and specificity; serodiagnosis; Syncerus caffer; tuberculosis; Animals; Animals, Wild; Antibodies, Bacterial; Buffaloes; Case-Control Studies; Immunoassay; Mycobacterium bovis; Sensitivity and Specificity; South Africa; Tuberculosis; Bovinae; Mycobacterium bovis; Syncerus caffer | None |
| None | None | Association between AFLP-based genetic distance and hybrid performance in tropical maize | Kiula B.A., Lyimo N.G., Botha A.-M. | 2008 | Plant Breeding | 127 | 2 | 10.1111/j.1439-0523.2007.01434.x | Dakawa Agricultural Research Centre, PO Box 1892, Morogoro, Tanzania; Department of Genetics, University of Pretoria, Hillcrest 0002, Pretoria, South Africa; Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa; Uyole Agricultural Research Institute, PO Box 400, Mbeya, Tanzania | Kiula, B.A., Dakawa Agricultural Research Centre, PO Box 1892, Morogoro, Tanzania, Department of Genetics, University of Pretoria, Hillcrest 0002, Pretoria, South Africa, Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa; Lyimo, N.G., Uyole Agricultural Research Institute, PO Box 400, Mbeya, Tanzania; Botha, A.-M., Department of Genetics, University of Pretoria, Hillcrest 0002, Pretoria, South Africa, Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa | Identifying the best inbred combinations for the development of commercial hybrid maize varieties remains the main challenge to maize breeders. The aim of this work was to study associations between the genetic distance (GD) of 21 inbreds and the corresponding F1 phenotypic data. Furthermore, the impact of grouping lines into genetically similar clusters was investigated. The 21 inbred lines were fingerprinted using amplified fragment length polymorphism markers. Parents and 210 F1 progeny were evaluated in the field. Joint data analysis mostly revealed a tighter association between GD and the F1 performance or mid parent heterosis in the intergroup than in the intragroup crosses. Despite these correlations, intergoup crosses should always be field-tested before their release. Crosses showing low GD values should be discarded to avoid field-testing costs. Better F1 hybrid performance predictions can be achieved by integrating molecular and F1 phenotypic data. © 2007 The Authors. | Genetic distance; Grouping; Heterosis; Zea mays | Zea mays | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-50949099887 | Evaluation of different methods for the detection and identification of Enterobacter sakazakii isolated from South African infant formula milks and the processing environment | Cawthorn D.-M., Botha S., Witthuhn R.C. | 2008 | International Journal of Food Microbiology | 127 | 42371 | 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2008.06.024 | Department of Food Science, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, South Africa | Cawthorn, D.-M., Department of Food Science, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, South Africa; Botha, S., Department of Food Science, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, South Africa; Witthuhn, R.C., Department of Food Science, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, South Africa | Enterobacter sakazakii is an emerging pathogen associated with life-threatening neonatal infections resulting from the consumption of contaminated powdered infant formula milk (IFM). Recent taxonomic analyses have determined that E. sakazakii comprises a number of genomospecies, and it has been proposed that E. sakazakii be reclassified as a novel genus, "Cronobacter". Accurate methods are required for the rapid detection and identification of this group of micro-organisms, since even low cell numbers have been reported to cause disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate various E. sakazakii detection methods in order to ascertain the most suitable method for detection and identification of these pathogenic agents. Samples from IFM and the environment were evaluated for the presence of E. sakazakii using the isolation steps (pre-enrichment, enrichment and selection) described in the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) method for E. sakazakii detection. Sixty-four isolates (50 from IFM and 14 from the environment) were selected from tryptone soy agar (TSA), regardless of colony appearance, and these isolates were identified by 16S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) sequencing. Thereafter, different culture-dependent and culture-independent methods were evaluated to accurately detect and identify the E. sakazakii isolates. These methods included the assessment of yellow pigment production on TSA, typical colonies on chromogenic Druggan-Forsythe-Iversen (DFI) and Chromocult® Enterobacter sakazakii (CES) media and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using six different species-specific primer pairs described in the literature. Identification of E. sakazakii using yellow pigment production was demonstrated to have a low sensitivity, specificity and accuracy (87%, 71% and 74%, respectively), which lowers the suitability of the FDA method. Chromogenic DFI and CES media were sensitive, specific and accurate (100%, 98% and 98%, respectively) for the detection of E. sakazakii. The specificity of the PCR amplifications ranged from 8% to 92%, emphasising the need for rigorous primer testing against closely related species. Of the primer pairs evaluated, Esakf/Esakr were the most suitable for E. sakazakii detection and identification. The detection limit of Esakf/Esakr was found to be 104 CFU/ml. This study demonstrated that no single method was capable of unambiguously confirming the presence and identity of E. sakazakii isolates, that each method had inherent advantages and disadvantages, and that in most cases several methods were required for accurate detection and identification. Further, it was demonstrated that the current FDA method for E. sakazakii detection should be revised in the light of the availability of more sensitive, specific and accurate detection methods. © 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. | 16S rDNA; Chromogenic agar; Enterobacter sakazakii; Infant formula milk; PCR | DNA 16S; accuracy; analytic method; article; artificial milk; bacterium culture; bacterium detection; bacterium identification; bacterium isolate; bacterium isolation; colony forming unit; controlled study; DNA sequence; Enterobacter sakazakii; food and drug administration; nonhuman; nucleotide sequence; polymerase chain reaction; sensitivity and specificity; Chromogenic Compounds; Colony Count, Microbial; Consumer Product Safety; Culture Media; Enterobacter sakazakii; Environmental Microbiology; Food Contamination; Food Microbiology; Humans; Infant; Infant Food; Infant Formula; Infant, Newborn; Polymerase Chain Reaction; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; Sensitivity and Specificity; South Africa; Species Specificity; Time Factors; Enterobacter sakazakii | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-15044348909 | Cooling tower performance evaluation: Merkel, Poppe, and e-NTU methods of analysis | Kloppers J.C., Kröger D.G. | 2005 | Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power | 127 | 1 | 10.1115/1.1787504 | Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch 7600, South Africa | Kloppers, J.C., Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch 7600, South Africa; Kröger, D.G., Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch 7600, South Africa | The heat rejected and water evaporated in mechanical and natural draft cooling towers are critically evaluated by employing the Merkel, Poppe, and e-number-of-transfer-units (e-NTU) methods of analysis, respectively, at different operating and ambient conditions. The importance of using a particular method of analysis when evaluating the performance characteristics of a certain fill material and subsequently employing the same analytical approach to predict cooling tower performance is stressed. The effect of ambient humidity and temperature on the performance of cooling towers employing the Merkel, e-NTU, and Poppe methods of analysis are evaluated. Copyright © 2005 by ASME. | None | Atmospheric humidity; Computational methods; Cooling systems; Evaporation; Cooling tower performance evaluation; Heat rejection; Water evaporation; Cooling towers; cooling | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-76149135991 | Evaluation of the anti-stress and anticonvulsant activities of leaf extract of Alchornea cordifolia in mice | Umukoro S., Aladeokin A.C. | 2010 | Journal of Ethnopharmacology | 127 | 3 | 10.1016/j.jep.2009.11.023 | Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria | Umukoro, S., Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Aladeokin, A.C., Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria | Aim of the study: The extract of the leaves of Alchornea cordifolia (AC) is extensively used in ethnomedicine for ulcers, rheumatic pains, febrile convulsions and for enhancing physical performance. In this study, the anti-stress and anticonvulsant activities of the aqueous leaf extract of Alchornea cordifolia were investigated in mice. Materials and methods: The anti-stress activity was assessed based on the ability of the extract to alter the duration of immobility, in the forced swim endurance test, whilst a picrotoxin-treated animal, was employed as the model for convulsive seizures. Results: The extract (100-400. mg/kg) given orally was found to significantly (p<0.05) reduce the duration of immobility, which suggest an anti-stress/anti-fatigue property. However, AC when tested at doses between 100 and 400. mg/kg did not prevent convulsions induced by picrotoxin in mice. The acute toxicity study carried out in mice revealed that the extract was well tolerated by the animals, as no death was observed at oral doses of 500-4000. mg/kg. Conclusions: The results of this preliminary study provide evidence, which may support the use of Alchornea cordifolia against stress or fatigue in ethnomedicine. © 2009. | Alchornea cordifolia; Anti-stress; Convulsions; Forced swimming test | alchornea cordifolia extract; alpha methyldopamine; amphetamine; anticonvulsive agent; picrotoxin; plant extract; unclassified drug; water; alchornea cordifolia; animal experiment; animal model; anticonvulsant activity; article; controlled study; convulsion; dose response; drug dose comparison; drug mechanism; drug screening; endurance; fatigue; forced swimming test; hyperventilation; immobilization; medicinal plant; motor dysfunction; mouse; nonhuman; plant leaf; sedation; toxicity testing; Animals; Anticonvulsants; Disease Models, Animal; Euphorbiaceae; Fatigue; Female; Male; Mice; Phytotherapy; Picrotoxin; Plant Extracts; Plant Leaves; Seizures; Stress, Psychological; Swimming; Alchornea cordifolia; Animalia; Mus | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-73749085582 | Evaluation of the diuretic and analgesic activities of the rhizomes of Rumex abyssinicus Jacq in mice | Mekonnen T., Urga K., Engidawork E. | 2010 | Journal of Ethnopharmacology | 127 | 2 | 10.1016/j.jep.2009.10.020 | Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Department of Drug Research, Ethiopian Health and Nutrition Research Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | Mekonnen, T., Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Urga, K., Department of Drug Research, Ethiopian Health and Nutrition Research Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Engidawork, E., Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | Aim of the study: Rumex abyssinicus Jacq (Polygonaceae) has been used traditionally for treatment of hypertension, inflammatory and painful conditions in Ethiopia. The present study aimed to evaluate the diuretic and analgesic activities of extracts of Rumex abyssinicus at different doses in mice. Materials and methods: The effect on urine volume and urinary electrolyte (Na+, K+ and Cl-) was assessed for a period of 5 h following oral administration of aqueous (500 mg/kg, 750 mg/kg or 1000 mg/kg) or 80% methanolic (250 mg/kg, 500 mg/kg or 750 mg/kg) extract or furosemide (10 mg/kg). Acetic acid-induced writhing and hot-plate tests were employed to study the analgesic effect of 80% methanolic extracts (250 mg/kg, 500 mg/kg or 1000 mg/kg, P.O.) and compared with that of aspirin (100 mg/kg, P.O.) or morphine (10 mg/kg, sc). Results: The extracts displayed dose-dependent diuretic and analgesic effects. The highest doses of both extracts markedly and significantly increased (P < 0.001) urine volume and urinary electrolytes, qualitatively similar to that of furosemide. 1000 mg/kg of the extract reduced the number of writhing by 67.6% (P < 0.001) and conferred more than 70% protection against thermally induced pain stimuli after 45 min of treatment comparable to that of aspirin and morphine, respectively. Conclusion: These findings collectively indicate that the extracts exhibited significant diuretic and analgesic activities, providing evidence, at least in part, for its folkloric use. © 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. | Acetic acid-writhing test; Analgesic activity; Diuretic effect; Hot-plate test; Rumex abyssinicus | acetylsalicylic acid; analgesic agent; diuretic agent; furosemide; morphine; plant extract; Rumex abyssinicus extract; unclassified drug; acute toxicity; analgesic activity; animal experiment; animal model; article; chloride urine level; controlled study; diuretic activity; dose response; drug dose comparison; female; hot plate test; male; mouse; nonhuman; pain; potassium urine level; rhizome; Rumex; Rumex abyssinicus; sodium urine level; urinary excretion; urine volume; writhing test; Analgesics; Animals; Diuretics; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; Mice; Pain; Pain Measurement; Plant Extracts; Rhizome; Rumex; Mus; Polygonaceae; Rumex abyssinicus | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33847666890 | Recovery assessment of a refined-oil impacted and fire ravaged mangrove ecosystem | Otitoloju A.A., Are T., Junaid K.A. | 2007 | Environmental Monitoring and Assessment | 127 | 03-Jan | 10.1007/s10661-006-9285-7 | Department of Zoology, Ecotoxicology Laboratory, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria; Federal Ministry of Environment, National Reference Laboratory, Lagos, Nigeria | Otitoloju, A.A., Department of Zoology, Ecotoxicology Laboratory, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria; Are, T., Department of Zoology, Ecotoxicology Laboratory, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria; Junaid, K.A., Federal Ministry of Environment, National Reference Laboratory, Lagos, Nigeria | An assessment of the diversity and abundance of macrobenthic community in a refined-oil (petrol) impacted and fire-ravaged mangrove ecosystem within the vicinity of a marine receipt terminal facility (Atlas Cove) serving as a distribution and pump station for refined products was carried out. The mangrove ecosystem was subjected to massive petrol spillage from a leaking pipeline and eventual fire outbreak. Following rehabilitation activities, a recovery assessment of the impacted ecosystem was carried out. The field surveys revealed that the petrol leakage and fire outbreak resulted in a near complete destruction of the mangrove ecosystem around the Atlas Cove depot, with macrobenthic species diversity index ranging between 00.4, compared to 0.780.87 in the control stations. The dominant early arrivals or colonizers of the impacted stations areas were Clibanarius africanus and Callinectes amnicola. Early signs of recovery of the impacted area were observed within about two and a half (2 1/2) to three (3) months, based on diversity and abundance indices respectively. The period of early signs of recovery also coincide with an observed reduction in the total hydrocarbon content (THC) levels in the sediment collected from the impacted stations by about nine folds from 3.67 mg/kg to 0.42 mg/kg within 3 months. Despite the apparent signs of recovery, the need for long-term monitoring of the impacted stations was discussed. © Springer Science+Business Media, B.V. 2006. | Atlas cove; Fire; Macrobenthos; Mangrove; Petroleum products; Recovery assessment | Environmental impact; Environmental impact assessments; Environmental protection; Fire hazards; Fires; Leakage (fluid); Petroleum pipelines; Petroleum products; Petroleum refining; Fire outbreak; Fire ravaged mangrove ecosystem; Macrobenthic community; Petrol spillage; Ecosystems; gasoline; hydrocarbon; abundance; assessment method; diversity index; macrobenthos; mangrove; oil spill; petroleum hydrocarbon; pollution effect; pollution monitoring; species diversity; article; biodiversity; controlled study; ecosystem fire history; ecosystem regeneration; ecosystem restoration; environmental impact assessment; environmental monitoring; macrobenthos; mangrove; Nigeria; petrochemical industry; population abundance; species diversity; spillage; vegetation; Ecosystem; Environmental Monitoring; Environmental Remediation; Fires; Geologic Sediments; Nigeria; Petroleum; Rhizophoraceae; Callinectes amnicola; Clibanarius | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-13844264443 | Evaluation of the phenotypic performance of a Red Maasai and Dorper double backcross resource population: Indoor trickle challenge with Haemonchus contortus | Mugambi J.M., Audho J.O., Njomo S., Baker R.L. | 2005 | Veterinary Parasitology | 127 | 04-Mar | 10.1016/j.vetpar.2004.10.017 | Intl. Livestock Research Institute, P.O. Box 30709, Nairobi 00100, Kenya; National Veterinary Research Centre, P.O. Box 32, Kikuyu 00902, Kenya; P.O. Box 238, Whangamata, New Zealand | Mugambi, J.M., Intl. Livestock Research Institute, P.O. Box 30709, Nairobi 00100, Kenya, National Veterinary Research Centre, P.O. Box 32, Kikuyu 00902, Kenya; Audho, J.O., Intl. Livestock Research Institute, P.O. Box 30709, Nairobi 00100, Kenya; Njomo, S., Intl. Livestock Research Institute, P.O. Box 30709, Nairobi 00100, Kenya; Baker, R.L., Intl. Livestock Research Institute, P.O. Box 30709, Nairobi 00100, Kenya, P.O. Box 238, Whangamata, New Zealand | Six F1 Dorper (D) × Red Maasai (R) rams were mated to both D and R ewes to produce backcross lambs. These six double backcross resource families are being analysed to identify quantitative trait loci that may be controlling resistance to gastro-intestinal (GI) nematode parasites, mainly Haemonchus contortus. After assessing the phenotypic performance of the lambs following exposure to natural infections, the surviving lambs were drenched and moved indoors for an artificial challenge with H. contortus along with straightbred D and R lambs. A total of 1317 lambs were included in the analyses consisting of 523 3/4D, 580 3/4R, 87 D and 127 R. The D lambs were significantly and consistently heavier than R lambs and 3/4D were significantly heavier than the 3/4R lambs. The difference between the backcrosses was about half of that between the straightbreds. Resistance was assessed in terms of faecal egg counts (FEC) and total worm counts (TWC) at necropsy while packed cell volume (PCV) was used to assess resilience to weekly oral doses of 2500 infective larvae of H. contortus. No significant breed differences were observed for log transformed FEC (LFEC). A significant breed difference in PCV was recorded. The backcrosses had the higher values and while no differences were observed between the straightbreds, 3/4D had significantly higher PCV than the 3/4R. Despite the absence of breed differences in FEC the R and the 3/4R had significantly fewer worms than the D and the 3/4D. The D had significantly longer worms than the R and the 3/4D had significantly longer worms than the 3/4R. Worms recovered from D had more eggs than those recovered from R. Similarly worms from 3/4D contained more eggs than those from 3/4R. Thus, on a breed basis the breed with more worms had longer worms. In contrast, when, in a small part of the experiment two doses of larvae were used to check for any breed by dose interactions, worms from the low dose (and hence fewer worms) animals were longer. We postulate that in fast growing hosts like the D, worms also have a better potential for growth and reproduction than in hosts that have less potential for growth. The overall correlation coefficient between PCV and LFEC was -0.67 while that between LFEC and LTWC was 0.72. From these results it is clear that the R do not respond to the artificial challenge the way they do to natural infection suggesting that phenotyping of R and R cross lambs for purposes of selecting those that are resistant or susceptible is best done under natural challenge. © 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. | Disease resistance; Haemonchus contortus; Resilience; Sheep-Nematoda | animal experiment; article; autopsy; disease predisposition; egg laying; feces analysis; female; Haemonchus contortus; host parasite interaction; infection resistance; lamb; male; nonhuman; parasitosis; phenotype; provocation; quantitative trait locus; statistical significance; survival; Animals; Crosses, Genetic; Feces; Female; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Haemonchiasis; Male; Parasite Egg Count; Phenotype; Sheep; Sheep Diseases; Time Factors | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84881669290 | Regional impact assessment of land use scenarios in developing countries using the FoPIA approach: Findings from five case studies | König H.J., Uthes S., Schuler J., Zhen L., Purushothaman S., Suarma U., Sghaier M., Makokha S., Helming K., Sieber S., Chen L., Brouwer F., Morris J., Wiggering H. | 2013 | Journal of Environmental Management | 127 | None | 10.1016/j.jenvman.2012.10.021 | Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Eberswalder Straße 84, 15374 Müncheberg, Germany; Potsdam University, Institute of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Karl-Liebknecht-Straße 24-25, 14476 Potsdam-Golm, Germany; Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research (IGSNRR), CAS, 11A Datun Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100101, China; Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), Royal Enclave, Srirampura, Jakkur Post, Bangalore 560 024, Karnataka, India; Gadjah Mada University (GMU), Faculty of Geography, Sekip Utara Jalan Kaliurang Bulaksumur, Yogyakarta 55281, Indonesia; Institut des Régions Arides (IRA), Route de Jorf, 4119 Médenine, Tunisia; Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI), Kaptagat Rd, Loresho Nairobi Kenya, P.O. Box 57811, City Square, Nairobi 00200, Kenya; LEI, Part of Wageningen UR, P.O. Box 29703, 2502 LS The Hague, Netherlands; Forest Research, Alice Holt Lodge, Farnham, Surrey GU10 4LH, United Kingdom | König, H.J., Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Eberswalder Straße 84, 15374 Müncheberg, Germany, Potsdam University, Institute of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Karl-Liebknecht-Straße 24-25, 14476 Potsdam-Golm, Germany; Uthes, S., Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Eberswalder Straße 84, 15374 Müncheberg, Germany; Schuler, J., Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Eberswalder Straße 84, 15374 Müncheberg, Germany; Zhen, L., Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research (IGSNRR), CAS, 11A Datun Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100101, China; Purushothaman, S., Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), Royal Enclave, Srirampura, Jakkur Post, Bangalore 560 024, Karnataka, India; Suarma, U., Gadjah Mada University (GMU), Faculty of Geography, Sekip Utara Jalan Kaliurang Bulaksumur, Yogyakarta 55281, Indonesia; Sghaier, M., Institut des Régions Arides (IRA), Route de Jorf, 4119 Médenine, Tunisia; Makokha, S., Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI), Kaptagat Rd, Loresho Nairobi Kenya, P.O. Box 57811, City Square, Nairobi 00200, Kenya; Helming, K., Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Eberswalder Straße 84, 15374 Müncheberg, Germany; Sieber, S., Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Eberswalder Straße 84, 15374 Müncheberg, Germany; Chen, L., LEI, Part of Wageningen UR, P.O. Box 29703, 2502 LS The Hague, Netherlands; Brouwer, F., LEI, Part of Wageningen UR, P.O. Box 29703, 2502 LS The Hague, Netherlands; Morris, J., Forest Research, Alice Holt Lodge, Farnham, Surrey GU10 4LH, United Kingdom; Wiggering, H., Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Eberswalder Straße 84, 15374 Müncheberg, Germany, Potsdam University, Institute of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Karl-Liebknecht-Straße 24-25, 14476 Potsdam-Golm, Germany | The impact of land use changes on sustainable development is of increasing interest in many regions of the world. This study aimed to test the transferability of the Framework for Participatory Impact Assessment (FoPIA), which was originally developed in the European context, to developing countries, in which lack of data often prevents the use of data-driven impact assessment methods. The core aspect of FoPIA is the stakeholder-based assessment of alternative land use scenarios. Scenario impacts on regional sustainability are assessed by using a set of nine regional land use functions (LUFs), which equally cover the economic, social and environmental dimensions of sustainability. The cases analysed in this study include (1) the alternative spatial planning policies around the Merapi volcano and surrounding areas of Yogyakarta City, Indonesia; (2) the large-scale afforestation of agricultural areas to reduce soil erosion in Guyuan, China; (3) the expansion of soil and water conservation measures in the Oum Zessar watershed, Tunisia; (4) the agricultural intensification and the potential for organic agriculture in Bijapur, India; and (5) the land degradation and land conflicts resulting from land division and privatisation in Narok, Kenya. All five regions are characterised by population growth, partially combined with considerable economic development, environmental degradation problems and social conflicts. Implications of the regional scenario impacts as well as methodological aspects are discussed. Overall, FoPIA proved to be a useful tool for diagnosing regional human-environment interactions and for supporting the communication and social learning process among different stakeholder groups. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. | (Ex-ante) impact assessment; Developing countries; Indicators; Land use change; Scenario study; Stakeholder participation; Sustainable development | conservation planning; developing world; land use change; population growth; regional planning; social impact assessment; social participation; stakeholder; sustainable development; afforestation; agricultural land; article; crop production; developing country; economic development; ecosystem; environmental impact assessment; food industry; food security; forest; forestry; harvesting; human; land use; law enforcement; organic farming; policy; population growth; poverty; quality of life; rural area; rural population; social learning; soil erosion; sustainable development; urban area; urban population; Europe; (Ex-ante) impact assessment; Developing countries; Indicators; Land use change; Scenario study; Stakeholder participation; Sustainable development; Conservation of Natural Resources; Developing Countries; Environmental Monitoring | EC, European Commission |
| WoS | WOS:000344206200017 | One-year evaluation of the impact of an emergency obstetric and neonatal care training program in Western Kenya | Bocking, Alan D.,Caloia, David,Chemwolo, Benjamin,Christoffersen-Deb, Astrid,Maina, Loise,Omenge, Elkanah,Sitters, Johanna,Spitzer, Rachel F.,Steele, Sarah Jane,Thorne, Julie,Yarmoshuk, Aaron | 2014 | INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GYNECOLOGY & OBSTETRICS | 127 | 2 | 10.1016/j.ijgo.2014.05.023 | Moi University, University of Toronto | "Bocking, Alan D.: University of Toronto","Caloia, David: University of Toronto","Omenge, Elkanah: Moi University","Spitzer, Rachel F.: University of Toronto","Steele, Sarah Jane: University of Toronto","Thorne, Julie: University of Toronto","Yarmoshuk, Aaron: University of Toronto", | Objective: To determine the impact of introducing an emergency obstetric and neonatal care training program on maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, Eldora Kenya. Methods: A prospective chart review was conducted of all deliveries during the 3-month period (November 2009 to January 2010) before the introduction of the Advances in Labor and Risk Management International Program (AIP), and in the 3-month period (August-November 2011) 1 year after the introduction of the AIP. All women who were admitted and delivered after 28 weeks of pregnancy were included. The primary outcome was the direct obstetric case fatality rate. Results: A total of 1741 deliveries occurred during the baseline period and 1812 in the post-intervention period. Only one mother died in each period. However, postpartum hemorrhage rates decreased, affecting 59 (3.5%) of 1669 patients before implementation and 40 (2.3%) of 1751 afterwards (P = 0.029). The number of patients who received oxytocin increased from 829 (47.6%) to 1669 (92.1%; P< 0.001). Additionally, the number of neonates with 5-minute Apgar scores of less than 5 reduced from 133 (7.7%) of 1717 to 95 (5.4%) of 1745 (P = 0.006). Conclusion: The introduction of the AIP improved maternal outcomes. There were significant differences related to use of oxytocin and postpartum hemorrhage. (C) 2014 Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd. on behalf of International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics. | "Emergency obstetric and neonatal care (EmONC)",evaluation,"MATERNAL MORBIDITY","MATERNAL MORTALITY",OBSTETRICS,TRAINING,"CLUSTER-RANDOMIZED TRIAL",MALI,"MATERNAL MORTALITY",QUALITY-OF-CARE,QUARITE,RISK-MANAGEMENT,SENEGAL,TECHNOLOGY | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79952414809 | Genetic evaluation of Ethiopian Boran cattle and their crosses with Holstein Friesian for growth performance in central Ethiopia | Haile A., Joshi B.K., Ayalew W., Tegegne A., Singh A. | 2011 | Journal of Animal Breeding and Genetics | 128 | 2 | 10.1111/j.1439-0388.2010.00882.x | Centre for Integrative Genetics (CIGENE), National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, India; International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Jimma University College of Agriculture, Jimma, Ethiopia | Haile, A., Centre for Integrative Genetics (CIGENE), National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, India, International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Jimma University College of Agriculture, Jimma, Ethiopia; Joshi, B.K., Centre for Integrative Genetics (CIGENE), National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, India; Ayalew, W., International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Tegegne, A., International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Singh, A., Centre for Integrative Genetics (CIGENE), National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, India | Breed additive and non-additive effects, and heritabilities of birth weight (BWT), weaning weight (WWT), 6months weight (SMWT), yearling weight (YWT), eighteen months weight (EWT), 2years weight (TWT) and average daily weight gain from birth to 6months (ADG1) and from 6months to 2years (ADG2) were estimated in Ethiopian Boran (B) cattle and their crosses with Holstein Friesian (F) in central Ethiopia. The data analysed were spread over 15years. Ethiopian Boran were consistently lighter (p<0.01) than the B-F crosses at all ages. Ethiopian Boran also gained lower weight than all the crosses. At birth, 50% F crosses were significantly (p<0.01) lighter than all the other crosses. However, the differences in SMWT, YWT, EWT, TWT, ADG1 and ADG2 were all non-significant among the crosses. The individual additive breed differences between B and F breeds were positive and significant (p<0.01) for all traits. The individual heterosis effects were significant (p<0.05) for all traits except WWT for which the effect was non-significant. The maternal heterosis effects were significant (p<0.01) for BWT (2.5kg) and WWT (-3.0kg). The heritability estimates for all traits in B and crosses were generally moderate to high indicating that there is scope for genetic improvement through selection. Selection within B and crossbreeding should be the strategy to enhance the growth performance under such production systems. © 2010 Blackwell Verlag GmbH. | Ethiopian boran; Genetic evaluation; Genetic parameter; Holstein friesian | animal; article; cattle; cross breeding; Ethiopia; female; genetics; growth, development and aging; male; Animals; Cattle; Crosses, Genetic; Ethiopia; Female; Male; Bos; Friesia | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-61349118751 | Impacts of fructification on biomass production and correlated genetic effects in Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.) | Seifert T., Müller-Starck G. | 2009 | European Journal of Forest Research | 128 | 2 | 10.1007/s10342-008-0219-5 | Department of Forest and Wood Science, Faculty of AgriSciences Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7062, South Africa; Section of Forest Genetics, Technische Universität München, Weihenstephan Center of Life and Food Sciences, Am Hochanger 13, 85354 Freising, Germany | Seifert, T., Department of Forest and Wood Science, Faculty of AgriSciences Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7062, South Africa; Müller-Starck, G., Section of Forest Genetics, Technische Universität München, Weihenstephan Center of Life and Food Sciences, Am Hochanger 13, 85354 Freising, Germany | For the period 2003-2006, fructification of Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.) was recorded at the Kranzberg forest site in Southern Germany by employing a crane with access to the canopy of more than 266 trees. For each tree, stem diameter and growth parameters were assessed annually as well as biomass of cones and seeds, number of seeds per cone, and proportions of empty seeds for a total of 371 trees with cone crop. Genotypes at 19 enzyme coding gene loci of 110 trees were included in the study of correlations between morphological and genetic traits. Re-scaling the observed values for a virtual pure Norway spruce stand of 1 ha, cone biomass including winged seeds (oven-dried at 38°C) varied between 706.8 kg/ha in 2006 (average value per tree was 3.6 kg) and values close to zero in 2005. Corresponding values for vegetative biomass increment of the coning trees in 2006 were 9,273.0 kg/ha and 10.8 kg/tree. A significant higher biomass investment was determined for dominant trees in terms of absolute cone mass as well as in terms of cone mass relative to vegetative biomass and fructification frequency. No trade-off effects in decreased vegetative biomass growth were found in the fructification year, compared to trees that did not grow cones. Although the dominant trees invested proportionally considerable biomass in cones, they showed no significant reduction in vegetative biomass growth. In the following year no decrease in vegetative growth was detected. Based on logistic regressions and homogeneity tests, respectively, significant genetic effect became evident with respect to the gene loci AAP-B and AAT-C concerning fructification probability in the year with maximum generative biomass investment. These and closely related loci also have been found to be indicative for growth and viability, respectively, in other species. © pringer-Verlag 2008. | Allele; Canopy crane experiment; Coning; Fructification; Generative biomass; Genotype; Logistic regression; Norway spruce; Picea abies; Trade-off; Vegetative biomass | biomass allocation; canopy architecture; fruit production; genotype; growth rate; logistics; parameterization; regression analysis; stem; tree; vegetation structure; Bavaria; Central Europe; Eurasia; Europe; Germany; Kranzberg Forest; Picea abies | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84899447485 | Comparative capacity performance and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy of commercial AA alkaline primary cells | Ferg E.E., Van Vuuren F. | 2014 | Electrochimica Acta | 128 | None | 10.1016/j.electacta.2013.08.110 | Department of Chemistry, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, PO Box 77000, Port Elizabeth 6031, South Africa | Ferg, E.E., Department of Chemistry, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, PO Box 77000, Port Elizabeth 6031, South Africa; Van Vuuren, F., Department of Chemistry, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, PO Box 77000, Port Elizabeth 6031, South Africa | Alkaline primary cells are a relatively inexpensive source of portable power and there is still a significant demand for them due to their lower retail costs, good shelf life and good energy densities. There is a range of imported and local brands available in South Africa that can differ in terms of their cost to the consumer and their performance. The study being reported here compared a range of seven different AA alkaline brands in terms of price and performance by discharging them using three different standard tests, namely at constant 250 mA current, motor/toy and photo-flash respectively. The study also used electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) to observe differences between the different cell brands at different stages of discharge during the different discharge test sequences. The results showed that all cell brands achieved similar discharge capacities for the low-power discharge test of around 1.7 Ah at a constant current of 250 mA with significant differences in their respective purchase prices. However, significantly better discharge capacities of around 1.4 Ah were achieved for the more expensive brands for the photo-flash test when compared to the cheaper brand, where only 0.4 Ah was achieved. Hence, one can get value for money by using cheaper brand cells for typical low-power applications such as digital clocks, while the more expensive brands are recommended for high-power applications. The results of the EIS analysis showed that the internal cell resistance of the cheaper branded cells was relatively higher when compared to the more expensive branded cells. The change in the cheaper cells' internal resistance was also comparatively higher when measured during the various stages of the discharge tests, especially during the photo-flash test. The EIS analysis also showed that certain new cells displayed an unusually high electrode capacitance and resistance when compared to the other cell types. This phenomenon then disappeared once the cells were slightly discharged to 1% of their respective capacities. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. | AA alkaline cells, Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, Capacity performance | Costs; Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy; Spectroscopy; Capacity performance; Constant current; Discharge capacities; Electrode capacitance; High power applications; Internal cell resistance; Internal resistance; Low power application; Testing | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79958041263 | Quantification of glutathione, catechin and caffeic acid in grape juice and wine by a novel ultra-performance liquid chromatography method | Fracassetti D., Lawrence N., Tredoux A.G.J., Tirelli A., Nieuwoudt H.H., Du Toit W.J. | 2011 | Food Chemistry | 128 | 4 | 10.1016/j.foodchem.2011.04.001 | Department of Food Science, Technology and Microbiology, University of Milan, Via G. Celoria 2, 20133 Milano, Italy; Institute for Wine Biotechnology, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland, Stellenbosch 7602, South Africa; Department of Viticulture and Oenology, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland, Stellenbosch 7602, South Africa | Fracassetti, D., Department of Food Science, Technology and Microbiology, University of Milan, Via G. Celoria 2, 20133 Milano, Italy; Lawrence, N., Institute for Wine Biotechnology, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland, Stellenbosch 7602, South Africa; Tredoux, A.G.J., Institute for Wine Biotechnology, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland, Stellenbosch 7602, South Africa; Tirelli, A., Department of Food Science, Technology and Microbiology, University of Milan, Via G. Celoria 2, 20133 Milano, Italy; Nieuwoudt, H.H., Institute for Wine Biotechnology, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland, Stellenbosch 7602, South Africa; Du Toit, W.J., Department of Viticulture and Oenology, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland, Stellenbosch 7602, South Africa | This research aimed at the development and validation of an ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) method for the quantification of glutathione (GSH) in grape juice and in white wine after derivatisation with para-benzoquinone. The phenolic compounds catechin and caffeic acid that occur in white wine and have antioxidant effects, are also quantified in the same analysis. Catechin is the basic monomeric unit of grape and wine tannins and caffeic acid, when esterified with tartaric acid, plays a relevant role in Grape Reaction Product (GRP) formation. The analytical method proposed showed good linearity, repeatability and intermediate repeatability, as well as high recovery (>85%). It was applied for the quantification of GSH, catechin and caffeic acid in South African juices (12) and white wines (43). This novel method will have a large impact on the time and costs of the analyses for the wine industry through enabling rapid routine quantification of GSH, catechin and caffeic acid. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. | Caffeic acid; Catechin; Glutathione; Grape juice; UPLC; White wine | Caffeic acids; Catechin; Glutathione; Grape juice; UPLC; White wine; Fruit juices; Fruits; Liquid chromatography; Liquids; Organic compounds; Wine; Phenols; alcohol; caffeic acid; catechin; citric acid; glutathione; solvent; sugar; sulfur dioxide; trifluoroacetic acid; aroma; article; assay; grape juice; high performance liquid chromatography; oxidation; time; ultra performance liquid chromatography; wine; wine industry; Vitaceae | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33748457318 | Solar chimney power plant performance | Pretorius J.P., Kroger D.G. | 2006 | Journal of Solar Energy Engineering, Transactions of the ASME | 128 | 3 | 10.1115/1.2210491 | Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa | Pretorius, J.P., Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa; Kroger, D.G., Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa | This paper evaluates the performance of a large-scale solar chimney power plant. The study considers the performance of a particular reference plant under specified meteorological conditions at a reference location in South Africa. A computer simulation program is employed to solve the governing conservation and draught equations simultaneously. Newly developed convective heat transfer and momentum equations are included in the numerical model and multiple simulations are performed. Results indicate 24 hr plant power production, while illustrating considerable daily and seasonal power output variations. It is shown that plant power production is a function of the collector roof shape and inlet height. Copyright © 2006 by ASME. | None | Chimneys; Computer simulation; Heat convection; Heat transfer; Mathematical models; Numerical analysis; Chimney power plants; Draught equations; Power output variations; Solar power plants | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-55549096688 | Evaluation of Enterococcus mundtii ST4SA and Lactobacillus plantarum 423 as probiotics by using a gastro-intestinal model with infant milk formulations as substrate | Botes M., van Reenen C.A., Dicks L.M.T. | 2008 | International Journal of Food Microbiology | 128 | 2 | 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2008.09.016 | Department of Microbiology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, South Africa | Botes, M., Department of Microbiology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, South Africa; van Reenen, C.A., Department of Microbiology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, South Africa; Dicks, L.M.T., Department of Microbiology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, South Africa | Enterococcus mundtii ST4SA and Lactobacillus plantarum 423 produce bacteriocins with activity against a number of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Both strains survived intestinal conditions simulated in a gastro-intestinal model (GIM) with infant milk formulations as substrate and prevented the growth of Listeria monocytogenes ScottA. The strains are inhibited by the antibiotics amoxicillin, cefadroxil, roxithromycin and doxycycline, anti-inflammatory medicaments containing meloxicam, ibuprofen and sodium diklofenak, and analgesics containing paracetamol, codeine phosphate and promethazine. Strain 423 is sensitive to vancomycin and does not contain genes encoding gelatinase, cell aggregation substance (AS), adhesion to collagen (Ace), enterococcus surface protein (Esp), Enterococcus faecalis endocarditis antigen (EfaAfs), cytolysin and non-cytolysin (β-hemolysin III). Genes encoding AS, cytolysin and non-cytolysin (β-hemolysin III) were amplified from the genome of strain ST4SA. Survival of strains ST4SA and 423 improved when used as combined cultures in the GIM and compared well with the survival of commercially available probiotics subjected to the same conditions. © 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. | Enterococcus mundtii ST4SA; Lactobacillus plantarum 423; Probiotics | acetylsalicylic acid; amoxicillin; bacterial protein; beta hemolysin iii; cefadroxil; cell aggregation substance; ciprofloxacin; codeine phosphate; collagen; cytolysin; diclofenac; dipyrone; doxycycline; Enterococcus faecalis endocarditis antigen; Enterococcus surface protein; gelatinase; hydrolase; ibuprofen; meloxicam; norfloxacin; paracetamol; piroxicam; prednisolone; promethazine; roxithromycin; unclassified drug; vancomycin; antibacterial activity; antibiotic sensitivity; article; artificial milk; bacterial gene; bacterial genome; bacterial growth; bacterial strain; bacterial survival; bacterium culture; controlled study; Enterococcus; enterococcus mundtii; enzyme activity; gene amplification; genetic code; Lactobacillus plantarum; Listeria monocytogenes; model; nonhuman; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Antibiosis; Bacterial Adhesion; Bacteriocins; Colony Count, Microbial; Consumer Product Safety; Enterococcus; Food Microbiology; Humans; Infant; Infant Formula; Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Infant, Newborn; Lactobacillus plantarum; Listeria monocytogenes; Models, Biological; Probiotics; Species Specificity; Enterococcus; Enterococcus faecalis; Enterococcus mundtii; Lactobacillus plantarum; Listeria monocytogenes; Negibacteria; Posibacteria | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84885481358 | The impact of single versus mixed Schistosoma haematobium and S. mansoni infections on morbidity profiles amongst school-children in Taveta, Kenya | Gouvras A.N., Kariuki C., Koukounari A., Norton A.J., Lange C.N., Ireri E., Fenwick A., Mkoji G.M., Webster J.P. | 2013 | Acta Tropica | 128 | 2 | 10.1016/j.actatropica.2013.01.001 | DIDE, School of Public Health, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom; Invertebrates Zoology Section, National Museums of Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya; MRC Centre for Outbreak Analysis and Modelling, DIDE, School of Public Health, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom; SCI, School of Public Health, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom; Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya; Kenya Methodist University, Meru, Kenya; The Wellcome Trust, London, United Kingdom | Gouvras, A.N., DIDE, School of Public Health, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom; Kariuki, C., Invertebrates Zoology Section, National Museums of Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya, Kenya Methodist University, Meru, Kenya; Koukounari, A., MRC Centre for Outbreak Analysis and Modelling, DIDE, School of Public Health, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom; Norton, A.J., DIDE, School of Public Health, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom, The Wellcome Trust, London, United Kingdom; Lange, C.N., Invertebrates Zoology Section, National Museums of Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya; Ireri, E., Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya; Fenwick, A., SCI, School of Public Health, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom; Mkoji, G.M., Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya; Webster, J.P., DIDE, School of Public Health, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom, SCI, School of Public Health, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom | Two schistosome species-. Schistosoma haematobium and S. mansoni-with two very different pathological profiles (urogenital versus intestinal), are responsible for the majority of human schistosomiasis infections across sub-Saharan Africa. The aim of this study was to determine whether coinfections have an impact on species-specific morbidity measures when compared to single species infections. Children from two neighbouring schools in Taveta, Kenya were grouped by infection status, i.e. uninfected, single species infections or coinfected. Clinical examination of the liver and spleen by palpation was performed and urinary albumin levels were recorded at baseline and at 12 months after praziquantel administration. Additional ultrasonographic profiles of the children's liver, spleen and bladder were incorporated at follow-up. It was found that S. haematobium-associated urogenital morbidity was lower in the coinfected group relative to single S. haematobium infections, even when infection intensities were taken into account. We also observed an association between S. haematobium infection and liver (intestinal-associated) morbidity regardless of coinfections. The findings reported here suggest that further research should be performed on the impact of S. haematobium infections on liver morbidity as well as to determine the impact of mixed schistosome species infections on human morbidity outcomes across different endemic settings. © 2013 Elsevier B.V. | Coinfections; Human morbidity; Kenya; Polyparasitism; Schistosoma haematobium; Schistosoma mansoni; Schistosomiasis | albumin; praziquantel; child care; child health; disease; morbidity; pathology; adolescent; adult; article; bladder; child; clinical examination; controlled study; echography; elementary student; female; follow up; human; Kenya; liver; major clinical study; male; mixed infection; morbidity; palpation; preschool child; Schistosoma hematobium; Schistosoma mansoni; schistosomiasis haematobia; schistosomiasis mansoni; school child; spleen; urinalysis; urogenital tract infection; Kenya; Schistosoma; Schistosoma haematobium; Schistosoma mansoni; Coinfections; Human morbidity; Kenya; Polyparasitism; Schistosoma haematobium; Schistosoma mansoni; Schistosomiasis; Adolescent; Albumins; Animals; Anthelmintics; Child; Child, Preschool; Coinfection; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Humans; Kenya; Liver; Male; Praziquantel; Schistosoma haematobium; Schistosoma mansoni; Schistosomiasis haematobia; Schistosomiasis mansoni; Spleen; Urinary Bladder; Urine; Young Adult | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-68249133729 | Impact of human immunodeficiency virus 1 infection and inflammation on the composition and yield of cervical mononuclear cells in the female genital tract | Nkwanyana N.N., Gumbi P.P., Roberts L., Denny L., Hanekom W., Soares A., Allan B., Williamson A.-L., Coetzee D., Olivier A.J., Burgers W.A., Passmore J.-A. | 2009 | Immunology | 128 | 1 PART 2 | 10.1111/j.1365-2567.2009.03077.x | Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town Medical School, Anzio Road, 7925 Cape Town, South Africa; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa; South African Tuberculosis Vaccine Initiative, Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa; School of Child and Adolescent Health, Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa; National Health Laboratory Service, Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa; Department of Public Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa | Nkwanyana, N.N., Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town Medical School, Anzio Road, 7925 Cape Town, South Africa; Gumbi, P.P., Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town Medical School, Anzio Road, 7925 Cape Town, South Africa; Roberts, L., Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town Medical School, Anzio Road, 7925 Cape Town, South Africa; Denny, L., Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa; Hanekom, W., Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town Medical School, Anzio Road, 7925 Cape Town, South Africa, South African Tuberculosis Vaccine Initiative, Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa, School of Child and Adolescent Health, Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa; Soares, A., South African Tuberculosis Vaccine Initiative, Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa, School of Child and Adolescent Health, Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa; Allan, B., Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town Medical School, Anzio Road, 7925 Cape Town, South Africa; Williamson, A.-L., Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town Medical School, Anzio Road, 7925 Cape Town, South Africa, National Health Laboratory Service, Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa; Coetzee, D., Department of Public Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Olivier, A.J., Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town Medical School, Anzio Road, 7925 Cape Town, South Africa; Burgers, W.A., Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town Medical School, Anzio Road, 7925 Cape Town, South Africa; Passmore, J.-A., Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town Medical School, Anzio Road, 7925 Cape Town, South Africa, National Health Laboratory Service, Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa | Cervical cytobrush sampling is a relatively non-invasive method for obtaining mucosal cells from the female genital tract. To define mucosal immune cells sampled by cervical cytobrushing and to validate this approach for local immunity studies, we investigated the impact of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) status and inflammation on the yield and composition of cervical cytobrush specimens. Cervical cytobrush samples were obtained from 89 chronically HIV-infected and 46 HIV-negative women. The HIV-infected women had significantly higher yields of CD3+, CD45+, CD19+, CD14 +, Langerin+ and CD24+ cells than the uninfected women. While cytobrush-derived T cells from uninfected women were predominantly CD4+ (4·2 CD4 : 1 CD8), CD8+ T cells were predominant in HIV-infected women (0·6 CD4 : 1 CD8). The majority of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells from HIV-infected and uninfected women were of the effector memory (CD45RA- CCR7- CD27 -) phenotype. HIV-infected women had significantly elevated levels of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6 and IL-8 in cervical supernatants compared with uninfected women. We observed a significant positive correlation between T-cell counts and IL-1β, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α and IL-12 concentrations. Neutrophil counts correlated significantly with cervical concentrations of IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-8, IL-6 and IL-10. Antigen-presenting cell numbers correlated significantly with TNF-α and IL-12 concentrations. HIV-infected women on antiretroviral therapy had similar levels of cervical lymphocyte infiltration and inflammation to women naïve to therapy. In conclusion, we suggest that inflammation at the cervix and HIV infection are likely to be key determinants in the absolute number of mucosal immune cells recovered by cervical cytobrushing. © 2009 Blackwell Publishing Ltd. | Cervix; Genital; HIV; Inflammation; T cell | CD14 antigen; CD19 antibody; CD24 antigen; CD27 antigen; CD3 antigen; CD45 antigen; CD45RA antigen; chemokine receptor CCR7; efavirenz; interleukin 10; interleukin 12; interleukin 1beta; interleukin 6; interleukin 8; lamivudine; lamivudine plus zidovudine; langerin; lopinavir plus ritonavir; nevirapine; stavudine; tumor necrosis factor alpha; zidovudine; article; B lymphocyte; CD4 CD8 ratio; CD4+ T lymphocyte; CD8+ T lymphocyte; cytokine production; female; human; human cell; Human immunodeficiency virus 1; Human immunodeficiency virus 1 infection; human tissue; inflammatory infiltrate; Langerhans cell; lymphocytic infiltration; major clinical study; monocyte; mononuclear cell; neutrophil; priority journal; uterine cervix cytology; virus load; Anti-Retroviral Agents; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; CD4 Lymphocyte Count; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes; Cervix Uteri; Chronic Disease; Cytokines; Female; HIV Infections; HIV-1; Humans; Inflammation; Leukocytes, Mononuclear; Mucous Membrane; Neutrophils; Viral Load | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84879368925 | Performance comparison and economics analysis of waste stabilization ponds and horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetlands treating domestic wastewater: A case study of the Juja sewage treatment works | Mburu N., Tebitendwa S.M., van Bruggen J.J.A., Rousseau D.P.L., Lens P.N.L. | 2013 | Journal of Environmental Management | 128 | None | 10.1016/j.jenvman.2013.05.031 | UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education, P.O. Box 3015, 2601 DA Delft, Netherlands; Department of Civil and Structural Engineering, Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 190, 50100 Kakamega, Kenya; University College West Flanders, EnBiChem Research Group, Graaf Karel de Goedelaan 5, 8500 Kortrijk, Belgium; Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry and Applied Ecochemistry, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Gent, Belgium | Mburu, N., UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education, P.O. Box 3015, 2601 DA Delft, Netherlands, Department of Civil and Structural Engineering, Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 190, 50100 Kakamega, Kenya; Tebitendwa, S.M., UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education, P.O. Box 3015, 2601 DA Delft, Netherlands; van Bruggen, J.J.A., UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education, P.O. Box 3015, 2601 DA Delft, Netherlands; Rousseau, D.P.L., University College West Flanders, EnBiChem Research Group, Graaf Karel de Goedelaan 5, 8500 Kortrijk, Belgium, Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry and Applied Ecochemistry, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Gent, Belgium; Lens, P.N.L., UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education, P.O. Box 3015, 2601 DA Delft, Netherlands | The performance, effluent quality, land area requirement, investment and operation costs of a full-scale waste stabilization pond (WSP) and a pilot scale horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetland (HSSF-CW) at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) were investigated between November 2010 to January 2011. Both systems gave comparable medium to high levels of organic matter and suspended solids removal. However, the WSP showed a better removal for Total Phosphorus (TP) and Ammonium (NH4 +-N). Based on the population equivalent calculations, the land area requirement per person equivalent of the WSP system was 3 times the area that would be required for the HSSF-CW to treat the same amount of wastewater. The total annual cost estimates consisting of capital, operation and maintenance (O&M) costs were comparable for both systems. However, the evaluation of the capital cost of either system showed that it is largely influenced by the size of the population served, local cost of land and the construction materials involved. Hence, one can select either system in terms of treatment efficiency. When land is available other factor including the volume of wastewater or the investment, and O&M costs determine the technology selection. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. | Economics; Horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetlands; Performance; Waste stabilization ponds | ammonia; organic matter; phosphorus; comparative study; constructed wetland; domestic waste; economic analysis; optimization; performance assessment; pollutant removal; pond; sewage treatment; spatiotemporal analysis; stabilization; subsurface flow; wastewater; article; constructed wetland; cost; domestic wastewater; environmental economics; pond; sewage; sewage treatment; suspended particulate matter; waste; waste water; waste water management; Economics; Horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetlands; Performance; Waste stabilization ponds; Ammonium Compounds; Costs and Cost Analysis; Humans; Kenya; Phosphorus; Ponds; Population Density; Waste Disposal, Fluid; Waste Water; Water Pollutants, Chemical; Water Quality; Wetlands | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33746664193 | Heat transfer performance during condensation inside horizontal smooth, micro-fin and herringbone tubes | Lambrechts A., Liebenberg L., Bergles A.E., Meyer J.P. | 2006 | Journal of Heat Transfer | 128 | 7 | 10.1115/1.2194038 | University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa; Department of Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa; University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742-3035, United States | Lambrechts, A., University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa; Liebenberg, L., Department of Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa; Bergles, A.E., University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742-3035, United States; Meyer, J.P., Department of Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa | An experimental investigation was conducted into the heat transfer characteristics during in-tube condensation of horizontal smooth, micro-fin, and herringbone tubes. The study focused on the heat transfer coefficients of refrigerants R-22, R-134a, and R-407C inside a series of typical horizontal smooth, micro-fin, and herringbone tubes at a representative average saturation temperature of 40°C. Mass fluxes ranged from 300 to 800 kg/m2 s, and vapor qualities ranged from 0.85 to 0.95 at condenser inlet, to 0.05 to 0. 15 at condenser outlet. The herringbone tube results were compared with the smooth and micro-fin tube results. The average increase in the heat transfer coefficient of the herringbone tube, when compared with the smooth tube at comparable conditions, was found to be 322%, with maximum values reaching 336%. When compared with the micro-fin tube, the average increase in heat transfer coefficient was found to be 196%, with maximum values reaching 215%. Moreover, a new correlation was developed to predict the heat transfer coefficients in a herringbone and micro-fin tube. Semi-local heat transfer coefficients were calculated from the modified Wilson plot technique, using measurements of condenser subsection inlets and outlets, and from knowledge of the temperature gradient on the annulus side. The correlation predicted the semi-local heat transfer coefficients accurately, with 96% and 89% of the data points falling in the ±20% region for the herringbone tube and the micro-fin tube, respectively. The average heat transfer coefficients were accurately predicted, too, with all the data points for the herringbone tube and 83% of the data points for the micro-fin tube falling in the ±20% region. The derived heat transfer correlations can be used for design, especially for reversible heat pumps. This research proves that predicting the flow pattern during intermittent and annular flow is not a prerequisite for predicting the heat transfer accurately to within 20% of the measurements. Copyright © 2006 by ASME. | Condensation; Heat pumps; Heat transfer coefficient correlation; Herringbone tube; Micro-fin tube | Condensation; Fins (heat exchange); Heat flux; Heat pump systems; Optical correlation; Temperature; Tubes (components); Herringbone tube; Mass fluxes; Micro-fin tube; Saturation temperature; Heat transfer coefficients; Condensation; Fins (heat exchange); Heat flux; Heat pump systems; Heat transfer coefficients; Optical correlation; Temperature; Tubes (components) | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33646446481 | Impact of segregation and inclusive education at the basic education level on children with low vision in Ghana | Agbeke W.K. | 2005 | International Congress Series | 1282 | None | 10.1016/j.ics.2005.05.039 | Department of Special Education, University of Education, P.O. Box 25, Winneba, Ghana | Agbeke, W.K., Department of Special Education, University of Education, P.O. Box 25, Winneba, Ghana | This study was carried out to determine the impact that both segregation and inclusive education at the Basic Level have on children with low vision in Ghana. In all, 54 participants were involved in the study. The instruments used in the collection of data for this study were a semi-structured interview schedule and a questionnaire. Both interview and questionnaire items were based on, academic performance, orientation and mobility, activities of daily living, social interaction and the challenges and prospects of the two programmes. The results showed that visually impaired children from both programmes have problems with movement initially but overcome it after a year. Socially, children from inclusive programmes better participated in family and community activities than their counterparts in the special school. There was no significant difference in the academic performance of children from the two programmes. The two programmes have challenges but the prospects of inclusive education looks brighter. There is a balance in terms of academic performance and socialization. © 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. | Education; Ghana; Inclusive education; Segregation | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84875499176 | Comprehensive high temperature two-dimensional liquid chromatography combined with high temperature gradient chromatography-infrared spectroscopy for the analysis of impact polypropylene copolymers | Cheruthazhekatt S., Harding G.W., Pasch H. | 2013 | Journal of Chromatography A | 1286 | None | 10.1016/j.chroma.2013.02.052 | Department of Chemistry and Polymer Science, University of Stellenbosch, 7602 Matieland, South Africa; Sasol Polymers, Midland Factory, Bergius Street, Sasolburg 321, South Africa | Cheruthazhekatt, S., Department of Chemistry and Polymer Science, University of Stellenbosch, 7602 Matieland, South Africa; Harding, G.W., Sasol Polymers, Midland Factory, Bergius Street, Sasolburg 321, South Africa; Pasch, H., Department of Chemistry and Polymer Science, University of Stellenbosch, 7602 Matieland, South Africa | Impact polypropylene copolymers (IPC) are extremely complex materials that can only be effectively analysed by multidimensional analytical approaches. IPC consists of isotactic polypropylene (iPP) as the major phase, ethylene-propylene (EP) copolymers of various compositions and small amounts of polyethylene. The molecular heterogeneity of two IPC samples having different ethylene contents was studied by using a novel cross-fractionation technique, developed from a combination of various analytical separation methods into an effective characterisation tool for complex polyolefins. The initial step involves the fractionation of the sample into EP rubber, EP segmented copolymer, and iPP, by preparative temperature rising elution fractionation (TREF). The resulting fractions are still distributed with regards to chemical composition and molar mass. The separation with respect to these parameters is conducted by comprehensive HT 2D-LC. This is the first time that the individual components in all TREF fractions of an IPC are separated and analysed mutidimensionally, by both SEC-FTIR, high-temperature (HT) HPLC-FTIR, and HT 2D-LC. Molar mass analysis of the chemically homogeneous fractions from HT HPLC is accomplished by HT SEC in the second dimension of HT 2D-LC. The chemical composition of all species is determined by coupling FTIR spectroscopy to HT HPLC via an LC-transform interface. This novel approach reveals the capability of this hyphenated technique to determine the exact chemical composition of the individual components in the complex TREF fractions of IPCs. The HT HPLC-FTIR results confirm the separation mechanism in the given chromatographic system using a 1-decanol to TCB solvent gradient and a Hypercarb stationary phase. The components of differing chemical composition are separated according to the nature and length of the propylene/ethylene segments, with their arrangement in the chains strongly affecting their adsorption/desorption on the stationary phase. FTIR analysis provides information on the ethylene and propylene contents of the fractions as well as on the ethylene and propylene crystallinities. © 2013 Elsevier B.V. | High temperature two-dimensional chromatography (HT 2D-LC); HPLC-FTIR analysis; Impact polypropylene copolymer; TREF, HT-HPLC | High temperature gradient; HPLC-FTIR; Impact polypropylene copolymer; Isotactic poly(propylene) (iPP); Temperature-rising elution; TREF, HT-HPLC; Two-dimensional chromatography; Two-dimensional liquid chromatography; Copolymers; Ethylene; Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy; Fractionation; Liquid chromatography; Propylene; Two dimensional; Polypropylenes; copolymer; decanol; ethylene; ethylene propylene; polyethylene; polyolefin; polypropylene; rubber; solvent; unclassified drug; adsorption; article; chemical composition; chemical parameters; chemical procedures; desorption; high performance liquid chromatography; high temperature gradient chromatography infrared spectroscopy; high temperature two dimensional liquid chromatography; infrared spectroscopy; liquid chromatography; molecular weight; priority journal; temperature rising elution fractionation; Chromatography, Gel; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Ethylenes; Hot Temperature; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; Polypropylenes; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84876320596 | Systematic optimisation and evaluation of on-line, off-line and stop-flow comprehensive hydrophilic interaction chromatography × reversed phase liquid chromatographic analysis of procyanidins. Part II: Application to cocoa procyanidins | Kalili K.M., De Villiers A. | 2013 | Journal of Chromatography A | 1289 | None | 10.1016/j.chroma.2013.03.009 | Stellenbosch University, Department of Chemistry and Polymer Science, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa | Kalili, K.M., Stellenbosch University, Department of Chemistry and Polymer Science, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa; De Villiers, A., Stellenbosch University, Department of Chemistry and Polymer Science, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa | Procyanidins present a severe analytical challenge due to their structural complexity and diversity. Comprehensive two-dimensional hydrophilic interaction chromatography × reversed-phase liquid chromatography (HILIC × RP-LC) provides a highly efficient separation system for procyanidins. In the first part of this contribution a systematic approach for the optimisation and evaluation of HILIC × RP-LC analyses in on-line, off-line and stop-flow modes was presented. The three systems were compared in terms of peak capacity, the number of peaks produced per unit time as well as the total analysis time required to carry out such analyses by taking under-sampling, degree of orthogonality and stop-flow band-broadening into account. In this paper, the experimental verification of these findings using cocoa procyanidins as an application is presented. The results show that while optimisation procedures based on theoretical considerations remain largely valid in practice, several important experimental considerations should also be taken into account to achieve maximum performance in all three modes of HILIC × RP-LC. On-line analysis provides an effective tool for the screening of procyanidin content within reasonable times, provided that under-sampling of first dimension peaks is minimised. Off-line- and stop-flow HILIC × RP-LC analyses on the other hand are more suited for the detailed analysis of complex procyanidin fractions, with the latter being shown to be a promising automated alternative providing the same performance as the off-line approach. Experimental data presented verify the conclusion that stop-flow operation has a negligible effect on first dimension band broadening under the optimised experimental conditions used. © 2013 Elsevier B.V. | Cocoa; Comprehensive two-dimensional liquid chromatography (LC×LC); Off-line; On-line; Procyanidins; Stop-flow | Comprehensive two-dimensional liquid chromatography; Off-line; On-line; Procyanidins; Stop-flow; Cocoa; Liquid chromatography; Optimization; Two dimensional; Flavonoids; catechin; epicatechin; procyanidin derivative; article; chemical analysis; chemical structure; controlled study; hydrophilic interaction chromatography; intermethod comparison; nonhuman; online system; priority journal; process optimization; reversed phase liquid chromatography; separation technique; Cacao; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Chromatography, Liquid; Chromatography, Reverse-Phase; Proanthocyanidins; Theobroma cacao | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84876329990 | Systematic optimisation and evaluation of on-line, off-line and stop-flow comprehensive hydrophilic interaction chromatography × reversed phase liquid chromatographic analysis of procyanidins, Part I: Theoretical considerations | Kalili K.M., De Villiers A. | 2013 | Journal of Chromatography A | 1289 | None | 10.1016/j.chroma.2013.03.008 | Stellenbosch University, Department of Chemistry and Polymer Science, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa | Kalili, K.M., Stellenbosch University, Department of Chemistry and Polymer Science, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa; De Villiers, A., Stellenbosch University, Department of Chemistry and Polymer Science, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa | Comprehensive two-dimensional liquid chromatography (LC × LC) provides significantly improved separation for complex real-life samples. LC × LC can be performed in one of three different ways, using on-line, off-line, or stop-flow configurations. We have previously shown how off-line comprehensive hydrophilic interaction chromatography (HILIC) × reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RP-LC) provides a powerful separation system for procyanidins (PCs), one of the most complex fractions of natural phenolics. In the current contribution, a systematic approach for the optimisation and evaluation of each of the LC × LC methodologies is presented using HILIC × RP-LC analysis of PCs as application. Optimisation was performed using the peak capacities of individual one-dimensional separations measured for different gradient times and flow rates and their combination in each of the three LC × LC modes by taking into account the effects of first dimension under-sampling, the degree of orthogonality between the two dimensions and additional band broadening associated with stop-flow analysis. The performance of all three methods is compared in terms of practical peak capacities, analysis times and peak production rates. One-dimensional LC provided the best performance for separations requiring relatively low peak capacities, whereas the on-line LC × LC system was advantageous for required practical peak capacities up to ~600. For higher resolution, the off-line or stop-flow systems should be used. Especially noteworthy is the fact that, due to slow diffusion of PCs, the contribution of stop-flow to first dimension band broadening was negligible for stop-flow times of up to 15. min. In a separate contribution, the experimental verification of the findings of this study will be reported. © 2013 Elsevier B.V. | Comprehensive two-dimensional liquid chromatography (LC×LC); Hydrophilic interaction chromatography (HILIC); Off-line; On-line; Procyanidins; Stop-flow | Comprehensive two-dimensional liquid chromatography; Hydrophilic interaction chromatography; Off-line; On-line; Procyanidins; Stop-flow; Flavonoids; Optimization; Two dimensional; Liquid chromatography; catechin; epicatechin; procyanidin derivative; article; cacao; diffusion; flow rate; hydrophilic interaction chromatography; intermethod comparison; mathematical analysis; nonhuman; online system; priority journal; process optimization; reversed phase liquid chromatography; separation technique; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Chromatography, Liquid; Chromatography, Reverse-Phase; Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; Models, Theoretical; Proanthocyanidins | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-62949233101 | How gold deposition affects anatase performance in the photo-catalytic oxidation of cyclohexane | Carneiro J.T., Yang C.-C., Moma J.A., Moulijn J.A., Mul G. | 2009 | Catalysis Letters | 129 | 42371 | 10.1007/s10562-008-9801-1 | Catalysis Engineering, DelftChemTech, Delft University of Technology, Julianalaan 136, 2628 BL Delft, Netherlands; Project Au-TEK Catalysis, Advanced Materials Division, MINTEK, Private Bag X3015, Randburg, South Africa | Carneiro, J.T., Catalysis Engineering, DelftChemTech, Delft University of Technology, Julianalaan 136, 2628 BL Delft, Netherlands; Yang, C.-C., Catalysis Engineering, DelftChemTech, Delft University of Technology, Julianalaan 136, 2628 BL Delft, Netherlands; Moma, J.A., Project Au-TEK Catalysis, Advanced Materials Division, MINTEK, Private Bag X3015, Randburg, South Africa; Moulijn, J.A., Catalysis Engineering, DelftChemTech, Delft University of Technology, Julianalaan 136, 2628 BL Delft, Netherlands; Mul, G., Catalysis Engineering, DelftChemTech, Delft University of Technology, Julianalaan 136, 2628 BL Delft, Netherlands | Gold deposition on Hombikat UV100 was found to negatively affect the activity of this Anatase catalyst in selective photo-oxidation of cyclohexane. By ammonia TPD and DRIFT spectroscopy it was determined that the Au deposition procedure leads to a significant decrease in OH-group density (mol m -2 BET) on Hombikat, suggesting that the amount of surface OH-groups, rather than the presence or absence of Au, is determining the catalytic performance. The importance of surface OH-groups was demonstrated by comparing the performance of Hombikat (with and without Au deposition) to surface propoxylated TiO2, synthesized by a sol-gel method from titanium (IV) isopropoxide. The effect of the deposition recipe of noble metals on the surface composition of TiO2 should thus be taken into account in evaluating and explaining photocatalytic performance of TiO2 modified by noble metals (Au), in particular in non-aqueous phase reactions. © 2009 The Author(s). | Au; Cyclohexane; DRIFT; NH3; OH-group density; Oxidation; Photocatalysis; Sol-gel; TiO2; Titanium (IV) isopropoxide | Catalyst activity; Cyclohexane; Fullerenes; Gelation; Gels; Gold deposits; Photocatalysis; Precious metals; Sol-gel process; Sol-gels; Sols; Titanium; Titanium dioxide; Titanium oxides; Au; DRIFT; NH<sub>3</sub>; OH-group density; Sol-gel; TiO<sub>2</sub>; Catalytic oxidation | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84884937244 | Imino-phosphine palladium(II) and platinum(II) complexes: Synthesis, molecular structures and evaluation as antitumor agents | Motswainyana W.M., Onani M.O., Madiehe A.M., Saibu M., Thovhogi N., Lalancette R.A. | 2013 | Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry | 129 | None | 10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2013.09.010 | Chemistry Department, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville 7535, South Africa; Department of Biotechnology, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville 7535, South Africa; Carl A. Olson Memorial Laboratories, Department of Chemistry, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ 07102, United States | Motswainyana, W.M., Chemistry Department, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville 7535, South Africa; Onani, M.O., Chemistry Department, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville 7535, South Africa; Madiehe, A.M., Department of Biotechnology, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville 7535, South Africa; Saibu, M., Department of Biotechnology, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville 7535, South Africa; Thovhogi, N., Department of Biotechnology, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville 7535, South Africa; Lalancette, R.A., Carl A. Olson Memorial Laboratories, Department of Chemistry, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ 07102, United States | The imino-phosphine ligands L1 and L2 were prepared via condensation reaction of 2-(diphenylphosphino)benzaldehyde with substituted anilines and obtained in very good yields. An equimolar reaction of L1 and L2 with either PdCl2(cod) or PtCl2(cod) gave new palladium(II) and platinum(II) complexes 1-4. The compounds were characterized by elemental analysis, IR, 1H and 31P NMR spectroscopy. The molecular structures of 2, 3 and 4 were confirmed by X-ray crystallography. All the three molecular structures crystallized in monoclinic C2/c space system. The coordination geometry around the palladium and platinum atoms in respective structures exhibited distorted square planar geometry at the metal centers. The complexes were evaluated in vitro for their cytotoxic activity against human breast (MCF-7) and human colon (HT-29) cancer cells, and they exhibited growth inhibitory activities and selectivity that were superior to the standard compound cisplatin. © 2013 Elsevier Inc. | Antitumor; Imino-phosphine; Molecular structures; Palladium; Platinum; Synthesis | (2 diphenylphosphino benzylidene) 2 methylphenylen amine; (2 diphenylphosphino benzylidene) 2,6 dimethylphenylen amine; 2 (diphenylphosphino) benzaldehyde; aniline; antineoplastic agent; cisplatin; dichloro [(2 diphenylphosphino benzylidene) 2 methylphenylen amine] palladium; dichloro [(2 diphenylphosphino benzylidene) 2,6 dimethylphenylen amine] palladium; dichloro [(2 diphenylphosphino benzylidene) 2,6 dimethylphenylen amine] platinum; dichloro[(2 diphenylphosphino benzylidene) 2 methylphenylen amine] palladium; element; palladium; platinum; unclassified drug; analysis; article; breast cancer; cancer cell; cell strain MCF 7; chemical structure; colon cancer; drug synthesis; growth inhibition; human; human cell; in vitro study; nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy; polymerization; X ray crystallography; Antitumor; Imino-phosphine; Molecular structures; Palladium; Platinum; Synthesis; Antineoplastic Agents; Cell Line, Tumor; Crystallography, X-Ray; Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; Humans; Molecular Structure; Neoplasms; Palladium; Phosphines; Platinum | National Research Foundation |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77649340615 | Effects of feeding different levels of dried cassava leaves (Manihot esculenta, Crantz) based concentrates with Panicum maximum basal on the performance of growing West African Dwarf goats | Oni A.O., Arigbede O.M., Oni O.O., Onwuka C.F.I., Anele U.Y., Oduguwa B.O., Yusuf K.O. | 2010 | Livestock Science | 129 | 03-Jan | 10.1016/j.livsci.2009.12.007 | Department of Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Science and Livestock Production, University of Agriculture, P.M.B. 2240, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria; Department of Pasture and Range Management, College of Animal Science and Livestock Production, Univ | Oni, A.O., Department of Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Science and Livestock Production, University of Agriculture, P.M.B. 2240, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria; Arigbede, O.M., Department of Pasture and Range Management, College of Animal Science and Livestock Production, University of Agriculture, P.M.B. 2240, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria; Oni, O.O., Department of Agricultural Education, School of Vocation, Federal College of Education, PMB 2096, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria; Onwuka, C.F.I., Department of Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Science and Livestock Production, University of Agriculture, P.M.B. 2240, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria; Anele, U.Y., Department of Pasture and Range Management, College of Animal Science and Livestock Production, University of Agriculture, P.M.B. 2240, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria; Oduguwa, B.O., Department of Animal Production and Health, College of Animal Science and Livestock Production, University of Agriculture, P.M.B. 2240, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria; Yusuf, K.O., Department of Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Science and Livestock Production, University of Agriculture, P.M.B. 2240, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria | The feeding value of dried cassava leaves as supplement in the diet was investigated in an experiment with West African Dwarf goats at different inclusion levels of 0, 20, 40 and 60% of DM respectively, using guinea grass as a basal feed. The study lasted for 112 days during which feed intake, performance characteristics, digestibility and nitrogen utilization were monitored in 40 male goats using a completely randomized design. Dry matter (DM) intake from guinea grass was significantly (P < 0.05; 0.01) increased from 0% to 60% inclusion of dried cassava leaves in the diet. The total DM intakes were 482, 526, 537 and 528 g/d for the 0, 20, 40 and 60% of dried cassava leaves in the diet, respectively. The body weight gain of the animals were significantly (P < 0.05) higher than in the control group. The highest gain was recorded in goats with 60% of dried cassava leaves in the diet (52.9 g/d) and lowest for the control (33.8 g/d). The inclusion of dried cassava leaves significantly (P < 0.05) decreased the apparent digestibility of DM, neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and acid detergent fibre (ADF), while it increased the apparent digestibility of crude protein (CP) and ether extract (EE), resulting in higher nitrogen balance (3.75 g/d) at 60% of the supplement. In conclusion, supplementing a basal diet of guinea grass (Panicum maximum) with dried cassava leaves improved DM intake, weight gain, apparent digestibility and N-retention in WAD goats. The inclusion level of dried cassava in the diet can be up to 60% level in a compounded ration for ruminant animals on DM basis. © 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. | Digestibility; Dried cassava leaves; Guinea grass; Nitrogen utilization; WAD goats | Animalia; Bovidae; Capra hircus; Manihot esculenta; Panicum maximum | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79952122615 | The performance of different synthesis signals in acoustic models of cochlear implants | Strydom T., Hanekom J.J. | 2011 | Journal of the Acoustical Society of America | 129 | 2 | 10.1121/1.3518760 | Department of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa | Strydom, T., Department of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa; Hanekom, J.J., Department of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa | Synthesis (carrier) signals in acoustic models embody assumptions about perception of auditory electric stimulation. This study compared speech intelligibility of consonants and vowels processed through a set of nine acoustic models that used Spectral Peak (SPEAK) and Advanced Combination Encoder (ACE)-like speech processing, using synthesis signals which were representative of signals used previously in acoustic models as well as two new ones. Performance of the synthesis signals was determined in terms of correspondence with cochlear implant (CI) listener results for 12 attributes of phoneme perception (consonant and vowel recognition; F1, F2, and duration information transmission for vowels; voicing, manner, place of articulation, affrication, burst, nasality, and amplitude envelope information transmission for consonants) using four measures of performance. Modulated synthesis signals produced the best correspondence with CI consonant intelligibility, while sinusoids, narrow noise bands, and varying noise bands produced the best correspondence with CI vowel intelligibility. The signals that performed best overall (in terms of correspondence with both vowel and consonant attributes) were modulated and unmodulated noise bands of varying bandwidth that corresponded to a linearly varying excitation width of 0.4 mm at the apical to 8 mm at the basal channels. © 2011 Acoustical Society of America. | None | Acoustic model; Amplitude envelope; Cochlear implant listeners; Electric stimulation; Information transmission; Measures of performance; Noise bands; Spectral peak; Vowel recognition; Acoustic noise; Cochlear implants; Digital filters; Electrophysiology; Electrotherapeutics; Speech intelligibility; Speech processing; Linguistics; adolescent; adult; analysis of variance; article; auditory stimulation; auditory threshold; cochlea prosthesis; comparative study; human; prosthesis; signal processing; sound detection; speech; speech audiometry; speech intelligibility; speech perception; time; Acoustic Stimulation; Adolescent; Adult; Analysis of Variance; Audiometry, Speech; Auditory Threshold; Cochlear Implants; Humans; Prosthesis Design; Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; Sound Spectrography; Speech Acoustics; Speech Intelligibility; Speech Perception; Time Factors; Young Adult | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33644518381 | Performance optimization of coagulant/flocculant in the treatment of wastewater from a beverage industry | Amuda O.S., Amoo I.A., Ajayi O.O. | 2006 | Journal of Hazardous Materials | 129 | 03-Jan | 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2005.07.078 | Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Nigeria; Department of Chemistry, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria | Amuda, O.S., Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Nigeria; Amoo, I.A., Department of Chemistry, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria; Ajayi, O.O., Department of Chemistry, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria | This study investigated the effect of coagulation/flocculation treatment process on wastewater of Fumman Beverage Industry, Ibadan, Nigeria. The study also compared different dosages of coagulant, polyelectrolyte (non-ionic polyacrylamide) and different pH values of the coagulation processes. The effect of different dosages of polyelectrolyte in combination with coagulant was also studied. The results reveal that low pH values (3-8), enhance removal efficiency of the contaminants. Percentage removal of 78, 74 and 75 of COD, TSS and TP, respectively, were achieved by the addition of 500 mg/L Fe2(SO 4)3·3H2O and 93, 94 and 96% removal of COD, TSS and TP, respectively, were achieved with the addition of 25 mg/L polyelectrolyte to the coagulation process. The volume of sludge produced, when coagulant was used solely, was higher compared to the use of polyelectrolyte combined with Fe2(SO4)3·3H2O. This may be as a result of non-ionic nature of the polyelectrolyte; hence, it does not chemically react with solids of the wastewater. Coagulation/ flocculation may be useful as a pre-treatment process for beverage industrial wastewater prior to biological treatment. © 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. | Beverage wastewater; Coagulation; pH control; Polyelectrolyte; Sludge | Beverages; Chemical reactions; Flocculation; Optimization; pH effects; Polyelectrolytes; Sewage sludge; Wastewater treatment; Beverage wastewater; Biological treatment; PH control; Sludge; Coagulation; coagulating agent; polyelectrolyte; proton; sulfur oxide; Beverages; Chemical reactions; Coagulation; Flocculation; Optimization; pH effects; Polyelectrolytes; Sewage sludge; Wastewater treatment; wastewater; article; beverage; chemical analysis; chemical reaction; flocculation; food contamination; pH; sludge; waste water management; wine industry; Beverages; Flocculation; Fruit; Industrial Waste; Waste Disposal, Fluid; Waste Management; Water Pollutants, Chemical | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-20444440776 | Effects of two pheromone trap densities against banana weevil, Cosmopolites sordidus, populations and their impact on plant damage in Uganda | Tinzaara W., Gold C.S., Kagezi G.H., Dicke M., Van Huis A., Nankinga C.M., Tushemereirwe W., Ragama P.E. | 2005 | Journal of Applied Entomology | 129 | 5 | 10.1111/j.1439-0418.2005.00962.x | International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Centre, Kampala, Uganda; National Agricultural Research Organisation, Kawanda Agricultural Research Institute, Kampala, Uganda; Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University, EH Wageningen, Netherlands; International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Centre, P. O. Box 7878, Kampala, Uganda | Tinzaara, W., International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Centre, Kampala, Uganda, National Agricultural Research Organisation, Kawanda Agricultural Research Institute, Kampala, Uganda, Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University, EH Wageningen, Netherlands, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Centre, P. O. Box 7878, Kampala, Uganda; Gold, C.S., International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Centre, Kampala, Uganda; Kagezi, G.H., International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Centre, Kampala, Uganda; Dicke, M., Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University, EH Wageningen, Netherlands; Van Huis, A., Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University, EH Wageningen, Netherlands; Nankinga, C.M., International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Centre, Kampala, Uganda, National Agricultural Research Organisation, Kawanda Agricultural Research Institute, Kampala, Uganda; Tushemereirwe, W., National Agricultural Research Organisation, Kawanda Agricultural Research Institute, Kampala, Uganda; Ragama, P.E., International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Centre, Kampala, Uganda | An on-farm study to evaluate the effect of pheromone trap density on the population of the banana weevil, Cosmopolites sordidus (Germar) (Col., Curculionidae) was conducted in Masaka district, Uganda. The pheromone used was Cosmolure+, a commercially available weevil aggregation pheromone. Forty-two farms were assigned to one of three treatments: 0, 4 and 8 pheromone traps/ha. Pheromone lures were changed monthly at which time the traps were moved to a different location within the stand. Adult weevil population densities were estimated by using mark and recapture methodology at 0, 6, 12, 18 and 21 months, while damage to the banana corm was assessed at 0, 3, 6, 12, 18 and 21 months since the start of the experiment. Pheromone trap captures were generally low: about 10 weevils per trap per month. There were no significant differences in mean catches of C. sordidus per trap per month except for February 2002 when doubling the pheromone trap density decreased weevil catches. Although not significant, decreased efficiency was also the trend in higher trap densities over all the data sets. Doubling the number of traps increased the number of weevils caught per hectare per month from 0.4 to 0.6%. There was no significant difference in plant damage between the pheromone treatments in low-compared with high-trap densities. There were generally no significant differences in weevil populations and plant damage between pheromone-treated and control farms. Possible reasons for the low-trap efficacy in this study are discussed. © 2005 Blackwell Verlag. | Aggregation pheromone; Cosmopolites sordidus; Curculionidae; Pheromone-baited trap; Trap density | beetle; performance assessment; pest control; pest damage; pheromone trap; spacing; Africa; East Africa; Eastern Hemisphere; Masaka District; South Buganda; Sub-Saharan Africa; Uganda; World; Cosmopolites sordidus; Curculionidae | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84892679366 | Efficacy and safety of longer-term administration of evolocumab (AMG 145) in patients with hypercholesterolemia: 52-week results from the open-label study of long-term evaluation against LDL-C (OSLER) randomized trial | Koren M.J., Giugliano R.P., Raal F.J., Sullivan D., Bolognese M., Langslet G., Civeira F., Somaratne R., Nelson P., Liu T., Scott R., Wasserman S.M., Sabatine M.S. | 2014 | Circulation | 129 | 2 | 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.113.007012 | Jacksonville Center for Clinical Research, University Blvd S, Ste 1, Jacksonville, FL 32216, United States; TIMI Study Group, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States; University of the Witwatersrand, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Faculty of Health Sciences, Johannesburg, South Africa; Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, Australia; Bethesda Health Research Center, Bethesda, MD, United States; Lipid Clinic, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway; Hospital Universitario Miguel Servet, Zaragoza, Spain; Amgen Inc, Thousand Oaks, CA, United States | Koren, M.J., Jacksonville Center for Clinical Research, University Blvd S, Ste 1, Jacksonville, FL 32216, United States; Giugliano, R.P., TIMI Study Group, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States; Raal, F.J., University of the Witwatersrand, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Faculty of Health Sciences, Johannesburg, South Africa; Sullivan, D., Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, Australia; Bolognese, M., Bethesda Health Research Center, Bethesda, MD, United States; Langslet, G., Lipid Clinic, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway; Civeira, F., Hospital Universitario Miguel Servet, Zaragoza, Spain; Somaratne, R., Amgen Inc, Thousand Oaks, CA, United States; Nelson, P., Amgen Inc, Thousand Oaks, CA, United States; Liu, T., Amgen Inc, Thousand Oaks, CA, United States; Scott, R., Amgen Inc, Thousand Oaks, CA, United States; Wasserman, S.M., Amgen Inc, Thousand Oaks, CA, United States; Sabatine, M.S., TIMI Study Group, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States | BACKGROUND-: Evolocumab (AMG 145), a monoclonal antibody against proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9), significantly reduced low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in phase 2 studies of 12 weeks' duration. The longer-term efficacy and safety of PCSK9 inhibition remain undefined. METHODS AND RESULTS-: Of 1359 randomized and dosed patients in the 4 evolocumab phase 2 parent studies, 1104 (81%) elected to enroll into the Open-Label Study of Long-term Evaluation Against LDL-C (OSLER) study. Regardless of their treatment assignment in the parent study, patients were randomized 2:1 to receive either open-label subcutaneous evolocumab 420 mg every 4 weeks with standard of care (SOC) (evolocumab+SOC, n=736) or SOC alone (n=368). Ninety-two percent of patients in the evolocumab+SOC group and 89% of patients in the SOC group completed 52 weeks of follow-up. Patients who first received evolocumab in OSLER experienced a mean 52.3% [SE, 1.8%] reduction in LDL-C at week 52 (P<0.0001). Patients who received 1 of 6 dosing regimens of evolocumab in the parent studies and received evolocumab+SOC in OSLER had persistent LDL-C reductions (mean reduction, 50.4% [SE, 0.8%] at the end of the parent study versus 52.1% [SE, 1.0%] at 52 weeks; P=0.31). In patients who discontinued evolocumab on entry into OSLER, LDL-C levels returned to near baseline levels. Adverse events and serious adverse events occurred in 81.4% and 7.1% of the evolocumab+SOC group patients and 73.1% and 6.3% of the SOC group patients, respectively. CONCLUSION-: Evolocumab dosed every 4 weeks demonstrated continued efficacy and encouraging safety and tolerability over 1 year of treatment in the largest and longest evaluation of a PCSK9 inhibitor in hypercholesterolemic patients to date. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION-: URL: http://clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT01439880. © 2013 American Heart Association, Inc. | cholesterol; hypercholesterolemia; LDL; randomized controlled trial; serine proteases | alanine aminotransferase; antilipemic agent; apolipoprotein B; aspartate aminotransferase; atorvastatin; creatine kinase; evolocumab; ezetimibe; high density lipoprotein cholesterol; hydroxymethylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitor; lipoprotein A; low density lipoprotein cholesterol; rosuvastatin; simvastatin; triacylglycerol; abnormal substrate concentration in blood; adult; arthralgia; article; backache; controlled study; dizziness; drug efficacy; drug safety; drug tolerability; drug withdrawal; female; follow up; headache; health care quality; human; hypercholesterolemia; hypertransaminasemia; influenza; injection site reaction; insomnia; long term care; lung embolism; major clinical study; male; middle aged; multicenter study; open study; phase 2 clinical trial; priority journal; randomized controlled trial; rhinopharyngitis; treatment duration; upper respiratory tract infection; cholesterol, LDL; hypercholesterolemia; randomized controlled trial; serine proteases; Aged; Antibodies, Monoclonal; Cholesterol, LDL; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Female; Humans; Hypercholesterolemia; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Middle Aged; Proprotein Convertases; Serine Endopeptidases; Standard of Care; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79960835589 | Time for a re-evaluation of mammography in the young? Results of an audit of mammography in women younger than 40 in a resource restricted environment | Taylor L., Basro S., Apffelstaedt J.P., Baatjes K. | 2011 | Breast Cancer Research and Treatment | 129 | 1 | 10.1007/s10549-011-1630-z | Medial Faculty, Breast Clinic, University of Stellenbosch, Tygerberg, PO Box 19063, Cape Town 7505, South Africa | Taylor, L., Medial Faculty, Breast Clinic, University of Stellenbosch, Tygerberg, PO Box 19063, Cape Town 7505, South Africa; Basro, S., Medial Faculty, Breast Clinic, University of Stellenbosch, Tygerberg, PO Box 19063, Cape Town 7505, South Africa; Apffelstaedt, J.P., Medial Faculty, Breast Clinic, University of Stellenbosch, Tygerberg, PO Box 19063, Cape Town 7505, South Africa; Baatjes, K., Medial Faculty, Breast Clinic, University of Stellenbosch, Tygerberg, PO Box 19063, Cape Town 7505, South Africa | Mammography in younger women is considered to be of limited value. In a resource restricted environment without access to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and with a high incidence of breast cancer in the young, mammography remains an important diagnostic tool. Recent technical advances and better regulation of mammography make a reassessment of its value in these conditions necessary. Data of all the mammograms performed at a tertiary hospital and private breast clinic between January 2003 and July 2009 in women less than 40 years of age were collected. Indications were the presence of a mass, follow-up after primary cancer therapy, and screening for patients perceived at high risk due to a family history or the presence of atypical hyperplasia. Data acquired were as follows: Demographics, prior breast surgery, indication for mammography, outcome of mammography, diagnostic procedures, and their results. Of 2,167 mammograms, 393 were performed for a palpable mass, diagnostic mammography. In these, the overall cancer detection rate was 40%. If the mammography was reported as breast imaging reporting and data system (BIRADS®) 5 versus BIRADS® 3 and 4 versus BIRADS® 1 and 2, a final diagnosis of malignancy was established in 96, 48, and 5%, respectively. Of 367 mammograms done for the follow-up after primary treatment of breast cancer, seven cancers were diagnosed for a detection rate of 1.9%. Of 1,312 mammograms performed for screening, the recall rate was 4%; the biopsy rate 2%, and the cancer diagnosis rate 3/1,000 examinations. In contrast to past series, this series has shown that recent advances in mammography have made it a useful tool in the management of breast problems in young women, notably in a resource-restricted environment. Women for screening should be selected carefully. © 2011 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC. | Mammography; MRI; Resource restricted environments; Ultrasound; Young women | adult; article; breast biopsy; breast cancer; breast hyperplasia; breast surgery; breast tumor; cancer diagnosis; cancer screening; cancer therapy; controlled study; family history; female; follow up; human; imaging system; major clinical study; mammography; predictive value; priority journal; Adult; Breast Neoplasms; Female; Humans; Mammography; Mass Screening; Neoplasm Staging; Young Adult | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84925881632 | Modeling high-impact weather and climate: lessons from a tropical cyclone perspective | Done J.M., Holland G.J., Bruyère C.L., Leung L.R., Suzuki-Parker A. | 2015 | Climatic Change | 129 | 42433 | 10.1007/s10584-013-0954-6 | NCAR Earth System Laboratory, P.O. Box 3000, Boulder, CO, United States; Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa; Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, PO Box 999, Richland, WA, United States; University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan | Done, J.M., NCAR Earth System Laboratory, P.O. Box 3000, Boulder, CO, United States; Holland, G.J., NCAR Earth System Laboratory, P.O. Box 3000, Boulder, CO, United States; Bruyère, C.L., NCAR Earth System Laboratory, P.O. Box 3000, Boulder, CO, United States, Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa; Leung, L.R., Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, PO Box 999, Richland, WA, United States; Suzuki-Parker, A., University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan | Although the societal impact of a weather event increases with the rarity of the event, our current ability to assess extreme events and their impacts is limited by not only rarity but also by current model fidelity and a lack of understanding and capacity to model the underlying physical processes. This challenge is driving fresh approaches to assess high-impact weather and climate. Recent lessons learned in modeling high-impact weather and climate are presented using the case of tropical cyclones as an illustrative example. Through examples using the Nested Regional Climate Model to dynamically downscale large-scale climate data the need to treat bias in the driving data is illustrated. Domain size, location, and resolution are also shown to be critical and should be adequate to: include relevant regional climate physical processes; resolve key impact parameters; and accurately simulate the response to changes in external forcing. The notion of sufficient model resolution is introduced together with the added value in combining dynamical and statistical assessments to fill out the parent distribution of high-impact parameters. © 2013, The Author(s). | None | Hurricanes; Meteorology; Storms; Current modeling; Impact-parameter; Physical process; Regional climate; Regional climate modeling; Societal impacts; Statistical assessment; Tropical cyclone; Climate models; accuracy assessment; climate effect; climate forcing; climate modeling; downscaling; parameterization; regional climate; simulation; tropical cyclone | DE-AC02-06CH11357, DOE, U.S. Department of Energy |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-43049159089 | Evaluation of indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) for the diagnosis and screening of lumpy skin disease using Bayesian method | Gari G., Biteau-Coroller F., LeGoff C., Caufour P., Roger F. | 2008 | Veterinary Microbiology | 129 | 42433 | 10.1016/j.vetmic.2007.12.005 | Sebeta National Animal Health Research Center, PO Box 04, Sebeta, Ethiopia; CIRAD, Epidemiology and Ecology, Animal Diseases Unit, TA A-16/E, Campus International Baillarguet, 34398 Montpellier Cedex 5, France; CIRAD, Emerging and Exotic Animal Disease Control Unit, TA A-15/G, Campus International Baillarguet, 34398 Montpellier Cedex 5, France | Gari, G., Sebeta National Animal Health Research Center, PO Box 04, Sebeta, Ethiopia, CIRAD, Epidemiology and Ecology, Animal Diseases Unit, TA A-16/E, Campus International Baillarguet, 34398 Montpellier Cedex 5, France; Biteau-Coroller, F., CIRAD, Epidemiology and Ecology, Animal Diseases Unit, TA A-16/E, Campus International Baillarguet, 34398 Montpellier Cedex 5, France; LeGoff, C., CIRAD, Emerging and Exotic Animal Disease Control Unit, TA A-15/G, Campus International Baillarguet, 34398 Montpellier Cedex 5, France; Caufour, P., CIRAD, Emerging and Exotic Animal Disease Control Unit, TA A-15/G, Campus International Baillarguet, 34398 Montpellier Cedex 5, France; Roger, F., CIRAD, Epidemiology and Ecology, Animal Diseases Unit, TA A-16/E, Campus International Baillarguet, 34398 Montpellier Cedex 5, France | The performance of indirect fluorescence antibody test (IFAT) for serological diagnosis and screening of lumpy skin disease (LSD) was evaluated using methods without gold standard. Virus neutralization test (VNT) was used as the second test and the study sites were selected from two different geographical places in Ethiopia to get different disease prevalence. The analysis of conditional dependent Bayesian model for the accuracy of IFAT showed that sensitivity, specificity, prevalence of the population Pi1 and the population Pi2 were 0.92 (0.89-0.95), 0.88 (0.85-0.91), 0.28 (0.25-0.32) and 0.06 (0.048-0.075), respectively. The posterior inferences obtained for VNT sensitivity, specificity and conditional correlation between the tests for sensitivity (rhoD) and specificity (rhoDc) were 0.78 (0.74-0.83), 0.97 (0.95-0.99), 0.052 (-0.03-0.15) and 0.019 (-0.01-0.06), respectively. The interval estimation of conditional correlation for both sensitivity and specificity clusters around zero and thus conditional dependence between the two tests was not significant. Although accuracy measure would not be the only basis for test selection, the result of our study demonstrated that IFAT has a reasonable high accuracy to be used for the diagnosis and sero-surveillance analysis of LSD in the target population. © 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. | Bayesian model; Cattle; Ethiopia; IFAT; Lumpy skin disease; Sensitivity; Specificity | article; Bayes theorem; cattle disease; correlation analysis; diagnostic accuracy; diagnostic procedure; Ethiopia; fluorescent antibody technique; nonhuman; Poxvirus; screening; sensitivity and specificity; serodiagnosis; statistical analysis; virus neutralization; Animals; Antibodies, Viral; Bayes Theorem; Cattle; Female; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; Likelihood Functions; Lumpy Skin Disease; Lumpy skin disease virus; Male; Mass Screening; Neutralization Tests; Prevalence; Reproducibility of Results; Sensitivity and Specificity; Bos | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84899987950 | Re-evaluation of microscopy confirmed Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax malaria by nested PCR detection in southern Ethiopia | Mekonnen S.K., Aseffa A., Medhin G., Berhe N., Velavan T.P. | 2014 | Malaria Journal | 13 | 1 | 10.1186/1475-2875-13-48 | Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Abba University, Addis Abba, Ethiopia; Armauer Hansen Research Institute, Addis Abba, Ethiopia; Institute of Tropical Medicine, University of Tübingen, Wilhelmstraße 27, 72074 Tübingen, Germany | Mekonnen, S.K., Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Abba University, Addis Abba, Ethiopia, Armauer Hansen Research Institute, Addis Abba, Ethiopia, Institute of Tropical Medicine, University of Tübingen, Wilhelmstraße 27, 72074 Tübingen, Germany; Aseffa, A., Armauer Hansen Research Institute, Addis Abba, Ethiopia; Medhin, G., Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Abba University, Addis Abba, Ethiopia; Berhe, N., Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Abba University, Addis Abba, Ethiopia; Velavan, T.P., Institute of Tropical Medicine, University of Tübingen, Wilhelmstraße 27, 72074 Tübingen, Germany | Background: With 75% of the Ethiopian population at risk of malaria, accurate diagnosis is crucial for malaria treatment in endemic areas where Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax co-exist. The present study evaluated the performance of regular microscopy in accurate identification of Plasmodium spp. in febrile patients visiting health facilities in southern Ethiopia. Methods. A cross-sectional study design was employed to recruit study subjects who were microscopically positive for malaria parasites and attending health facilities in southern Ethiopia between August and December 2011. Of the 1,416 febrile patients attending primary health facilities, 314 febrile patients, whose slides were positive for P. falciparum, P. vivax or mixed infections using microscopy, were re-evaluated for their infection status by PCR. Finger-prick blood samples were used for parasite genomic DNA extraction. Phylogenetic analyses were performed to reconstruct the distribution of different Plasmodium spp. across the three geographical areas. Results: Of the 314 patients with a positive thick blood smear, seven patients (2%) were negative for any of the Plasmodium spp. by nested PCR. Among 180 microscopically diagnosed P. falciparum cases, 111 (61.7%) were confirmed by PCR, 44 (24.4%) were confirmed as P. vivax, 18 (10%) had mixed infections with P. falciparum and P. vivax and two (1.1%) were mixed infections with P. falciparum and P. malariae and five (2.8%) were negative for any of the Plasmodium spp. Of 131 microscopically diagnosed P. vivax cases, 110 (84%) were confirmed as P. vivax, 14 (10.7%) were confirmed as P. falciparum, two (1.5%) were P. malariae, three (2.3%) with mixed infections with P. falciparum and P. vivax and two (1.5%) were negative for any of the Plasmodium spp. Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax mixed infections were observed. Plasmodium malariae was detected as mono and mixed infections in four individuals. Conclusion: False positivity, under-reporting of mixed infections and a significant number of species mismatch needs attention and should be improved for appropriate diagnosis. The detection of substantial number of false positive results by molecular methodologies may provide the accurate incidence of circulating Plasmodium species in the geographical region and has important repercussions in understanding malaria epidemiology and subsequent control. © 2014 Mekonnen et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | Ethiopia; Malaria; Microscopy; Nested PCR; Plasmodium | genomic DNA; adolescent; adult; article; blood sampling; blood smear; child; cross-sectional study; Ethiopia; evaluation study; female; gametocyte; health care facility; human; infant; major clinical study; malaria falciparum; male; microscopy; middle aged; mixed infection; molecular diagnosis; nonhuman; nucleotide sequence; phylogeny; Plasmodium falciparum; Plasmodium malariae; Plasmodium vivax; Plasmodium vivax malaria; polymerase chain reaction system; preschool child; school child; young adult; aged; blood; diagnostic error; genetics; isolation and purification; Malaria, Falciparum; Malaria, Vivax; microscopy; parasitology; polymerase chain reaction; procedures; very elderly; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Blood; Child; Child, Preschool; Cross-Sectional Studies; Diagnostic Errors; Ethiopia; Female; Humans; Infant; Malaria, Falciparum; Malaria, Vivax; Male; Microscopy; Middle Aged; Molecular Diagnostic Techniques; Plasmodium falciparum; Plasmodium malariae; Plasmodium vivax; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Young Adult | DFG, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84882598747 | Influence of reference temperature on exergy and exergoeconomic performance of a natural gas fired thermal power plant | Anozie A.N., Odejobi O.J. | 2013 | International Journal of Exergy | 13 | 1 | 10.1504/IJEX.2013.055780 | Applied Thermodynamics and Process Design Research Laboratory, Department of Chemical Engineering, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife 220005, Nigeria | Anozie, A.N., Applied Thermodynamics and Process Design Research Laboratory, Department of Chemical Engineering, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife 220005, Nigeria; Odejobi, O.J., Applied Thermodynamics and Process Design Research Laboratory, Department of Chemical Engineering, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife 220005, Nigeria | The influence of reference temperature on exergy and exergoeconomic performance parameters of a thermal plant was investigated. The plant was simulated using HYSYS (2003) process simulator software and the exergy and exergoeconomic analyses were done using Microsoft EXCEL spreadsheet. As reference temperature increased from 15°C to 35°C, exergy efficiency decreased from 11.7% to 11.5% and irreversibility increased from 1790 MW to 1812 MW. Also, overall exergy cost decreased from 6650.78 MW to 6055.40 MW and monetary cost from $75,343.84/h to $68,430.19/h. The optimum (base case) reference temperature, where the exergy and the monetary exergy loss costs were at minimum, was found to be 30°C. At this temperature both the condenser and boiler units made significant contributions to the process exergy and monetary exergy loss costs. The study concluded that the performance of the thermal plant depends on reference temperature, efficiencies of condenser and boiler units. Copyright © 2013 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd. | Exergetic efficiency; Exergoeconomic improvement potential.; Exergoeconomic loss cost; Exergy improvement potential; Exergy loss costs; Irreversibility; Reference temperature | Exergetic efficiency; Exergoeconomic; Exergy improvement potentials; Exergy loss; Irreversibility; Loss costs; Reference temperature; Boilers; Computer software; Costs; Heat engines; Thermoelectric power plants; Exergy | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-67349208440 | The WHOMEN's scale (women's HAART optimism monitoring and EvaluatioN scale v.1) and the association with fertility intentions and sexual behaviours among HIV-positive women in Uganda | Kaida A., Lima V.D., Andia I., Kabakyenga J., Mbabazi P., Emenyonu N., Patterson T.L., Hogg R.S., Bangsberg D.R. | 2009 | AIDS and Behavior | 13 | SUPPL. 1 | 10.1007/s10461-009-9553-y | BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, 608-1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada; School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver, BC, Canada; Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST), Mbarara, Uganda; University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, CA, United States; University of California, San Diego (UCSD), San Diego, CA, United States; Simon Fraser University (SFU), Burnaby, BC, Canada; Harvard Medical School/MGH, Boston, MA, United States | Kaida, A., BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, 608-1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada, School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver, BC, Canada; Lima, V.D., BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, 608-1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Andia, I., Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST), Mbarara, Uganda; Kabakyenga, J., Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST), Mbarara, Uganda; Mbabazi, P., Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST), Mbarara, Uganda; Emenyonu, N., University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, CA, United States; Patterson, T.L., University of California, San Diego (UCSD), San Diego, CA, United States; Hogg, R.S., BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, 608-1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada, Simon Fraser University (SFU), Burnaby, BC, Canada; Bangsberg, D.R., Harvard Medical School/MGH, Boston, MA, United States | The objective of this study was to develop a reliable HAART optimism scale among HIV-positive women in Uganda and to test the scale's validity against measures of fertility intentions, sexual activity, and unprotected sexual intercourse. We used cross-sectional survey data of 540 women (18-50 years) attending Mbarara University's HIV clinic in Uganda. Women were asked how much they agreed or disagreed with 23 statements about HAART. Data were subjected to a principal components and factor analyses. Subsequently, we tested the association between the scale and fertility intentions and sexual behaviour using Wilcoxon rank sum test. Factor analysis yielded three factors, one of which was an eight-item HAART optimism scale with moderately high internal consistency (α = 0.70). Women who reported that they intended to have (more) children had significantly higher HAART optimism scores (median = 13.5 [IQR: 12-16]) than women who did not intend to have (more) children (median = 10.5 [IQR: 8-12]; P < 0.0001). Similarly, women who were sexually active and who reported practicing unprotected sexual intercourse had significantly higher HAART optimism scores than women who were sexually abstinent or who practiced protected sexual intercourse. Our reliable and valid scale, termed the Women's HAART Optimism Monitoring and EvaluatioN scale (WHOMEN's scale), may be valuable to broader studies investigating the role of HAART optimism on reproductive intentions and sexual behaviours of HIV-positive women in high HIV prevalence settings. © 2009 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC. | Fertility intentions; HAART; HAART optimism; HAART optimism scale; HIV; Scale; Sexual behaviour; Uganda; Women | adult; article; factorial analysis; female; fertility; highly active antiretroviral therapy; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; prevalence; rank sum test; reproduction; scoring system; sexual behavior; sexual intercourse; Uganda; Adult; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; Attitude to Health; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Fertility; HIV Infections; Humans; Intention; Interviews as Topic; Pregnancy; Questionnaires; Reproductive Behavior; Sexual Behavior; Uganda | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-67649982907 | Indoor air quality impacts of an improved wood stove in Ghana and an ethanol stove in Ethiopia | Pennise D., Brant S., Agbeve S.M., Quaye W., Mengesha F., Tadele W., Wofchuck T. | 2009 | Energy for Sustainable Development | 13 | 2 | 10.1016/j.esd.2009.04.003 | Berkeley Air Monitoring Group, 2124 Kittredge Street, Berkeley, CA 94704, United States; EnterpriseWorks Ghana, Box CT4808, Accra, Ghana; Gaia Association Ethiopia, Wereda 17 Kebele 23, Bole Subcity, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | Pennise, D., Berkeley Air Monitoring Group, 2124 Kittredge Street, Berkeley, CA 94704, United States; Brant, S., Berkeley Air Monitoring Group, 2124 Kittredge Street, Berkeley, CA 94704, United States; Agbeve, S.M., EnterpriseWorks Ghana, Box CT4808, Accra, Ghana; Quaye, W., EnterpriseWorks Ghana, Box CT4808, Accra, Ghana; Mengesha, F., Gaia Association Ethiopia, Wereda 17 Kebele 23, Bole Subcity, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Tadele, W., Gaia Association Ethiopia, Wereda 17 Kebele 23, Bole Subcity, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Wofchuck, T., Gaia Association Ethiopia, Wereda 17 Kebele 23, Bole Subcity, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | This study was undertaken to assess the potential of two types of improved cookstoves to reduce indoor air pollution in African homes. An ethanol stove, the CleanCook, was tested in three locations in Ethiopia: the city of Addis Ababa and the Bonga and Kebribeyah Refugee Camps, while a wood-burning rocket stove, the Gyapa, was evaluated in Accra, Ghana. In both countries, kitchen concentrations of PM 2.5 and CO, the two pollutants responsible for the bulk of the ill-health associated with indoor smoke, were monitored in a before and after study design without controls. Baseline ('before') measurements were made in households using a traditional stove or open fire. 'After' measurements were performed in the same households, once the improved stove had been introduced. PM 2.5 was measured using UCB Particle Monitors, which have photoelectric detectors. CO was measured with Onset HOBO Loggers. In Ghana and Kebribeyah Camp, CO was also measured with Gastec diffusion tubes. In Ghana, average 24-hour PM 2.5 concentrations decreased 52% from 650 μg/m 3 in the 'before' phase to 320 μg/m 3 in the 'after' phase (p = 0.00), and average 24-hour kitchen CO concentrations decreased 40% from 12.3 ppm to 7.4 ppm (p = 0.01). Including all three subgroups in Ethiopia, average PM 2.5 concentrations decreased 84% from 1 250 μg/m 3 to 200 μg/m 3 (p = 0.00) and average CO concentrations decreased 76% from 38.9 ppm to 9.2 ppm (p = 0.00). 24-hour average CO levels in households using both the Gyapa and CleanCook stoves met, or nearly met, the World Health Organization (WHO) 8-hour Air Quality Guideline. PM 2.5 concentrations were well above both the WHO 24-hour Guideline and Interim Targets. Therefore, despite the significant improvements associated with both of these stoves, further changes in stove or fuel type or household fuel mixing patterns would be required to bring PM to levels that are not considered harmful to health. © 2009 International Energy Initiative. | Carbon monoxide; Ethanol; Fuel wood; Improved cookstove; Indoor air pollution; Particulate matter | air quality; atmospheric pollution; carbon monoxide; concentration (composition); cooking appliance; health risk; indoor air; measurement method; particulate matter; performance assessment; pollution control; pollution effect; wood; Addis Ababa; Africa; Bonga Forest; East Africa; Ethiopia; Ghana; Sub-Saharan Africa; West Africa | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84902346930 | Feed intake and growth performance of indigenous chicks fed diets with Moringa oleifera leaf meal as a protein supplement during early brooding stage | Gadzirayi C.T., Mupangwa J.F. | 2014 | International Journal of Poultry Science | 13 | 3 | None | Bindura University of Science Education, P. Bag 1020, Bindura, Zimbabwe; Department of Livestock and Pasture Science, University of Fort Hare, P. Bag X1314, Alice Campus, Alice-5700, South Africa | Gadzirayi, C.T., Bindura University of Science Education, P. Bag 1020, Bindura, Zimbabwe; Mupangwa, J.F., Department of Livestock and Pasture Science, University of Fort Hare, P. Bag X1314, Alice Campus, Alice-5700, South Africa | The high cost of conventional feed ingredients in poultry diets has necessitated the investigation into unconventional readily available feedstuffs. The study was designed to investigate the effects of feeding different levels of Moringa oleifera leaf meal (MOLM) on feed intake and growth performance of indigenous chicks. Eighty four unsexed indigenous chicks were assigned to four treatment diets, with each treatment being replicated three times. The dietary treatments were as follows; control diet (T1) without MOLM and diets containing MOLM were at the rate of 5% (T2), 10% (T3) and 15% (T4) to supplement the CP of the control diet. Chicks fed on 0% MOLM had a higher average weekly feed intake than the other three treatments (T2, T3 and T4). The highest weight gain was experienced between weeks 4 to 6 except for treatment 3 that had its peak weight gain on week 5. FCR was similar for all dietary treatments. Weekly live bird weight (WLBW) advantage of chicks fed 0% MOLM diet was maintained followed by those fed diet containing 5% MOLM. The chicks on 10 and 15% MOLM diet recorded similar, but significantly (p<0.05) lower WLBW from the 5 to 8th week than chicks on 0-5% MOLM. The study recommended MOLM inclusion levels of 5% in chicken diets during early brooding stage. © Asian Network for Scientific Information, 2014. | Brooding; Feed intake; Growth rate; Indigenous chicks; Moringa oleifera | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77953796063 | Evaluation of the polyphenol content and antioxidant properties of methanol extracts of the leaves, stem, and root barks of Moringa oleifera Lam. | Atawodi S.E., Atawodi J.C., Idakwo G.A., Pfundstein B., Haubner R., Wurtele G., Bartsch H., Owen R.W. | 2010 | Journal of Medicinal Food | 13 | 3 | 10.1089/jmf.2009.0057 | Biochemistry Department, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria; Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine Departments, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria; Institute for Toxicology and Cancer Risk Factors, German Cancer Research Centre, Heide | Atawodi, S.E., Biochemistry Department, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria; Atawodi, J.C., Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine Departments, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria; Idakwo, G.A., Biochemistry Department, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria; Pfundstein, B., Institute for Toxicology and Cancer Risk Factors, German Cancer Research Centre, Heidelberg, Germany; Haubner, R., Institute for Toxicology and Cancer Risk Factors, German Cancer Research Centre, Heidelberg, Germany; Wurtele, G., Institute for Toxicology and Cancer Risk Factors, German Cancer Research Centre, Heidelberg, Germany; Bartsch, H., Institute for Toxicology and Cancer Risk Factors, German Cancer Research Centre, Heidelberg, Germany; Owen, R.W., Institute for Toxicology and Cancer Risk Factors, German Cancer Research Centre, Heidelberg, Germany | Medicinal plants have been shown to have both chemopreventive and/or therapeutic effects on cancer and other diseases related to oxidative damage. Moringa oleifera Lam., known in the Hausa and Igala languages of Nigeria as "Zogale" and "Gergedi," respectively, and drumstick in English, is a plant that is used both as food and in folkloric medicine in Nigeria and elsewhere. Different parts of the plant were analyzed for polyphenol content as well as in vitro antioxidant potential. The methanol extract of the leaves of M. oleifera contained chlorogenic acid, rutin, quercetin glucoside, and kaempferol rhamnoglucoside, whereas in the root and stem barks, several procyanidin peaks were detected. With the xanthine oxidase model system, all the extracts exhibited strong in vitro antioxidant activity, with 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of 16, 30, and 38 μL for the roots, leaves, and stem bark, respectively. Similarly, potent radical scavenging capacity was observed when extracts were evaluated with the 2-deoxyguanosine assay model system, with IC50 values of 40, 58, and 72 μL for methanol extracts of the leaves, stem, and root barks, respectively. The high antioxidant/radical scavenging effects observed for different parts of M. oleifera appear to provide justification for their widespread therapeutic use in traditional medicine in different continents. The possibility that this high antioxidant/radical scavenging capacity may impact on the cancer chemopreventive potential of the plant must be considered. © 2010, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. and Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition. | antioxidant potential; drumstick; Moringa oleifera; polyphenol | chlorogenic acid; deoxyguanosine; glucoside; kaempferol derivative; methanol; Moringa oleifera extract; polyphenol; procyanidin; quercetin; rutoside; scavenger; xanthine oxidase; antioxidant activity; article; concentration response; IC 50; in vitro study; Moringa oleifera; plant leaf; plant root; plant stem; priority journal; Antioxidants; Flavonoids; Methanol; Moringa oleifera; Phenols; Plant Extracts; Plant Leaves; Plant Roots; Plant Stems; Moringa oleifera | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-67649210610 | Performance of FASTPlaqueTB™ and a modified protocol in a high HIV prevalence community in South Africa | Trollip A.P., Albert H., Mole R., Marshall T., Van Cutsem G., Coetzee D. | 2009 | International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease | 13 | 6 | None | Biotec Laboratories South Africa Ltd., Cape Town, South Africa; Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics, Cape Town, South Africa; Médecins Sans Frontières, Cape Town, South Africa; Infectious Disease Epidemiology Unit, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Biotec Laboratories South Africa (Pty) Ltd., PO Box 50615, Waterfront, Cape Town 8002, South Africa | Trollip, A.P., Biotec Laboratories South Africa Ltd., Cape Town, South Africa, Biotec Laboratories South Africa (Pty) Ltd., PO Box 50615, Waterfront, Cape Town 8002, South Africa; Albert, H., Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics, Cape Town, South Africa; Mole, R., Biotec Laboratories South Africa Ltd., Cape Town, South Africa; Marshall, T., Biotec Laboratories South Africa Ltd., Cape Town, South Africa; Van Cutsem, G., Médecins Sans Frontières, Cape Town, South Africa; Coetzee, D., Infectious Disease Epidemiology Unit, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa | Modifications in the FASTPlaqueTB™ test protocol have resulted in an increase in the analytical limits of detection. This study investigated whether the performance of a modified prototype was able to increase the detection of smear-negative, culture-positive sputum samples as compared to the first generation FASTPlaqueTB test. Modifications to the FASTPlaqueTB did result in increased detection of smear-negative samples, but this was associated with a decrease in the specificity of the test. Before the FASTPlaqueTB can be considered as a viable replacement for smear microscopy and culture for the identification of tuberculosis, further work is required to resolve the performance issues identified in this study. © 2009 The Union. | Diagnostic tests; FASTPlaqueTB; HIV; Mycobacteriophages; Pulmonary tuberculosis; South Africa | adolescent; article; community; controlled study; culture medium; diagnostic test; human; Human immunodeficiency virus prevalence; microscopy; performance; priority journal; sensitivity and specificity; South Africa; sputum analysis; sputum smear; tuberculosis; comorbidity; comparative study; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; lung tuberculosis; methodology; microbiological examination; microbiology; prediction and forecasting; South Africa; sputum; Comorbidity; HIV Infections; Humans; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Predictive Value of Tests; South Africa; Sputum; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84944549252 | Corporate social responsibility and organisational performance of a professional football club in South Africa | Moyo T., Davies S.E.H., Joubert E. | 2015 | Corporate Ownership and Control | 13 | 1CONT5 | None | Cape Peninsula University of Technology, South Africa | Moyo, T., Cape Peninsula University of Technology, South Africa; Davies, S.E.H., Cape Peninsula University of Technology, South Africa; Joubert, E., Cape Peninsula University of Technology, South Africa | This research investigated the relationship between Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and organisational performance at Ajax Cape Town FC a professional football club in the South African Premier Soccer League (PSL). The data collected suggested that Ajax Cape Town FC employed CSR initiatives and consequently enjoyed various benefits from these activities. The CSR activities facilitated access to the club’s target market, developed and improved mutually beneficial relations with the community and consequently Ajax Cape Town FC experienced increased trust, a positive brand image and stronger loyalty from their fans. The outcomes of this study provide an insight into a South African professional football club and demonstrate how CSR initiatives can be used to successfully improve organisational performance. © 2015, Virtus Interpress. All rights reserved. | Civil law; Common law; Corporate governance; Hedge funds; Shareholder activism | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84878084570 | Effective or just practical? An evaluation of an online postgraduate module on evidence-based medicine (EBM) | Rohwer A., Young T., Van Schalkwyk S. | 2013 | BMC Medical Education | 13 | 1 | 10.1186/1472-6920-13-77 | Centre for Evidence-based Health Care, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Francie van Zijl drive, Parow 7500, Cape Town, South Africa; South African Cochrane Centre, South African Medical Research Council, Tygerberg, South Africa; Centre for Health Professions Education, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Francie van Zijl drive, Parow 7500, Cape Town, South Africa | Rohwer, A., Centre for Evidence-based Health Care, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Francie van Zijl drive, Parow 7500, Cape Town, South Africa; Young, T., Centre for Evidence-based Health Care, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Francie van Zijl drive, Parow 7500, Cape Town, South Africa, South African Cochrane Centre, South African Medical Research Council, Tygerberg, South Africa; Van Schalkwyk, S., Centre for Health Professions Education, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Francie van Zijl drive, Parow 7500, Cape Town, South Africa | Background: Teaching the steps of evidence-based medicine (EBM) to undergraduate as well as postgraduate health care professionals is crucial for implementation of effective, beneficial health care practices and abandonment of ineffective, harmful ones. Stellenbosch University in Cape Town, South Africa, offers a 12-week, completely online module on EBM within the Family Medicine division, to medical specialists in their first year of training. The aim of this study was to formatively evaluate this module; assessing both the mode of delivery; as well as the perceived effectiveness and usefulness thereof. Methods. We used mixed methods to evaluate this module: A document review to assess whether the content of the module reflects important EBM competencies; a survey of the students to determine their experiences of the module; and semi-structured interviews with the tutors to explore their perspectives of the module. Ethics approval was obtained. Results: The document review indicated that EBM competencies were covered adequately, although critical appraisal only focused on randomised controlled trials and guidelines. Students had a positive attitude towards the module, but felt that they needed more support from the tutors. Tutors felt that students engaged actively in discussions, but experienced difficulties with understanding certain concepts of EBM. Furthermore, they felt that it was challenging explaining these via the online learning platform and saw the need to incorporate more advanced technology to better connect with the students. In their view the key to successful learning of EBM was to keep it relevant and applicable to everyday practice. Tutors also felt that an online module on EBM was advantageous, since doctors from all over the world were able to participate. Conclusion: Our study has shown that the online module on EBM was effective in increasing EBM knowledge and skills of postgraduate students and was well received by both students and tutors. Students and tutors experienced generic challenges that accompany any educational intervention of EBM (e.g. understanding difficult concepts), but in addition had to deal with challenges unique to the online learning environment. Teachers of EBM should acknowledge these so as to enhance and successfully implement EBM teaching and learning for all students. © 2013 Rohwer et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | Evaluation; Evidence-based medicine; Online learning; Postgraduate | article; education; evaluation study; evidence based medicine; human; medical education; methodology; standard; teaching; education; evidence based medicine; medical education; procedures; standards; teaching; Computer-Assisted Instruction; Education, Medical, Continuing; Educational Measurement; Evidence-Based Medicine; Humans; Computer-Assisted Instruction; Education, Medical, Continuing; Educational Measurement; Evidence-Based Medicine; Humans | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77953988287 | The incriminating role of reactive oxygen species in idiopathic male infertility: An evidence based evaluation | Saalu L.C. | 2010 | Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences | 13 | 9 | None | Department of Anatomy, Lagos State University College of Medicine, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria | Saalu, L.C., Department of Anatomy, Lagos State University College of Medicine, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria | The male factor is considered a major contributory factor to infertility. Apart from the conventional causes for male infertility such as varicocoele, cryptorchidism, infections, obstructive lesions, cystic fibrosis, trauma and tumours, a new and important cause has been identified as being responsible for the so-called idiopathic male infertility: oxidative stress. Oxidative Stress (OS) is a condition that occurs when the production of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) overwhelms the antioxidant defense produced against them. In male reproductive pathological conditions, the OS significantly impairs spermatogenesis and sperm function, which may lead to male infertility. Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) known as free radicals are oxidizing agents generated as a result of metabolism of oxygen and have at least one unpaired electron that make them very reactive species. Spermatozoa generate Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) in physiological amounts, which play a role in sperm functions during sperm capacitation, Acrosome Reaction (AR) and oocyte fusion, but they need to be controlled and their concentrations maintained at a level that is not deleterious to the cells. Administration of antioxidants in patients with 'male factor' infertility has begun to attract considerable interest. The main difficulty of such an approach is our incomplete understanding of the role of free radicals in normal and abnormal sperm function leading to male infertility. The purpose of the present review is to address the relationship between ROS and idiopathic male factor infertility. © 2010 Asian Network for Scientific Information. | Infertility; Oxidative stress; Reactive oxygen species | reactive oxygen metabolite; reactive oxygen metabolite; article; human; male; male infertility; metabolism; male infertility; metabolism; Humans; Infertility, Male; Male; Reactive Oxygen Species; Humans; Infertility, Male; Male; Reactive Oxygen Species | None |
| WoS | WOS:000319869000003 | The Ghana essential health interventions program: a plausibility trial of the impact of health systems strengthening on maternal & child survival | Asuru, Rofina,Awoonor-Williams, John Koku,Bawah, Ayaga A.,Nyonator, Frank K.,Oduro, Abraham,Ofosu, Anthony,Phillips, James F. | 2013 | BMC HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH | 13 | None | 10.1186/1472-6963-13-S2-S3 | Columbia University, Ghana Health Service, Navrongo Health Research Center, Minist Hlth Minist | "Asuru, Rofina: Ghana Health Service","Awoonor-Williams, John Koku: Ghana Health Service","Bawah, Ayaga A.: Columbia University","Oduro, Abraham: Ghana Health Service","Oduro, Abraham: Navrongo Health Research Center","Ofosu, Anthony: Ghana Health Service","Phillips, James F.: Columbia University", | Background: During the 1990s, researchers at the Navrongo Health Research Centre in northern Ghana developed a highly successful community health program. The keystone of the Navrongo approach was the deployment of nurses termed community health officers to village locations. A trial showed that, compared to areas relying on existing services alone, the approach reduced child mortality by half, maternal mortality by 40%, and fertility by nearly a birth - from a total fertility rate of 5.5 in only five years. In 2000, the government of Ghana launched a national program called Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) to scale up the Navrongo model. However, CHPS scale-up has been slow in districts located outside of the Upper East Region, where the "Navrongo Experiment" was first carried out. This paper describes the Ghana Essential Health Intervention Project (GEHIP), a plausibility trial of strategies for strengthening CHPS, especially in the areas of maternal and newborn health, and generating the political will to scale up the program with strategies that are faithful to the original design.
Description of the intervention: GEHIP improves the CHPS model by 1) extending the range and quality of services for newborns; 2) training community volunteers to conduct the World Health Organization service regimen known as integrated management of childhood illness (IMCI); 3) simplifying the collection of health management information and ensuring its use for decision making; 4) enabling community health nurses to manage emergencies, particularly obstetric complications and refer cases without delay; 5) adding $0.85 per capita annually to district budgets and marshalling grassroots political commitment to financing CHPS implementation; and 6) strengthening CHPS leadership at all levels of the system.
Evaluation design: GEHIP impact is assessed by conducting baseline and endline survey research and computing the Heckman "difference in difference" test for under-5 mortality in three intervention districts relative to four comparison districts for core indicators of health status and survival rates. To elucidate results, hierarchical child survival hazard models will be estimated that incorporate measures of health system strength as survival determinants, adjusting for the potentially confounding effects of parental and household characteristics. Qualitative systems appraisal procedures will be used to monitor and explain GEHIP implementation innovations, constraints, and progress.
Discussion: By demonstrating practical means of strengthening a real-world health system while monitoring costs and assessing maternal and child survival impact, GEHIP is expected to contribute to national health policy, planning, and resource allocation that will be needed to accelerate progress with the Millennium Development Goals. | ,INNOVATION | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84870665521 | The use of hybrid algorithms to improve the performance of yarn parameters prediction models | Mwasiagi J.I., Huang X.B., Wang X.H. | 2012 | Fibers and Polymers | 13 | 9 | 10.1007/s12221-012-1201-x | College of Textiles, Donghua University, Shanghai, China; School of Engineering, Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya | Mwasiagi, J.I., College of Textiles, Donghua University, Shanghai, China, School of Engineering, Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya; Huang, X.B., College of Textiles, Donghua University, Shanghai, China; Wang, X.H., College of Textiles, Donghua University, Shanghai, China | Although gradient based Backpropagation (BP) training algorithms have been widely used in Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) models for the prediction of yarn quality properties, they still suffer from some drawbacks which include tendency to converge to local minima. One strategy of improving ANN models trained using gradient based BP algorithms is the use of hybrid training algorithms made of global based algorithms and local based BP algorithms. The aim of this paper was to improve the performance of Levenberg-Marquardt Backpropagation (LMBP) training algorithm, which is a local based BP algorithm by using a hybrid algorithm. The hybrid algorithms combined Differential Evolution (DE) and LMBP algorithms. The yarn quality prediction models trained using the hybrid algorithms performed better and exhibited better generalization when compared to the models trained using the LM algorithms. © 2012 The Korean Fiber Society and Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht. | artificial neural network (ANN); Cotton fiber; Differential Evolution (DE); Levenberg-Marquardt (LM); Ring spinning; Yarn quality properties | Backpropagation training algorithm; BP algorithm; Differential Evolution; Gradient based; Hybrid algorithms; Hybrid training; Levenberg-Marquardt; LM algorithm; LMBP algorithm; Local minimums; Prediction model; Ring spinning; Training algorithms; Yarn quality; Yarn quality prediction; Cotton fibers; Evolutionary algorithms; Mathematical models; Neural networks; Spinning (fibers); Wool; Yarn; Backpropagation algorithms | None |
| WoS | WOS:000319869000006 | The Tanzania Connect Project: a cluster-randomized trial of the child survival impact of adding paid community health workers to an existing facility-focused health system | Baynes, Colin,Exavery, Amon,Helleringer, Stephane,Hingora, Ahmed,Jackson, Elizabeth,Kante, Malick,Manzi, Fatuma,Pemba, Senga,Phillips, James F.,Ramsey, Kate | 2013 | BMC HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH | 13 | None | 10.1186/1472-6963-13-S2-S6 | Columbia University, Ifakara Hlth Inst, Tanzanian Training Ctr Int Hlth | "Helleringer, Stephane: Columbia University","Jackson, Elizabeth: Columbia University","Phillips, James F.: Columbia University", | Background: Tanzania has been a pioneer in establishing community-level services, yet challenges remain in sustaining these systems and ensuring adequate human resource strategies. In particular, the added value of a cadre of professional community health workers is under debate. While Tanzania has the highest density of primary health care facilities in Africa, equitable access and quality of care remain a challenge. Utilization for many services proven to reduce child and maternal mortality is unacceptably low. Tanzanian policy initiatives have sought to address these problems by proposing expansion of community-based providers, but the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MoHSW) lacks evidence that this merits national implementation. The Tanzania Connect Project is a randomized cluster trial located in three rural districts with a population of roughly 360,000 (Kilombero, Rufiji, and Ulanga).
Description of intervention: Connect aims to test whether introducing a community health worker into a general program of health systems strengthening and referral improvement will reduce child mortality, improve access to services, expand utilization, and alter reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health seeking behavior; thereby accelerating progress towards Millennium Development Goals 4 and 5. Connect has introduced a new cadre - Community Health Agents (CHA) - who were recruited from and work in their communities. To support the CHA, Connect developed supervisory systems, launched information and monitoring operations, and implemented logistics support for integration with existing district and village operations. In addition, Connect's district-wide emergency referral strengthening intervention includes clinical and operational improvements.
Evaluation design: Designed as a community-based cluster-randomized trial, CHA were randomly assigned to 50 of the 101 villages within the Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS) in the three study districts. To garner detailed information on household characteristics, behaviors, and service exposure, a random sub-sample survey of 3,300 women of reproductive age will be conducted at the baseline and endline. The referral system intervention will use baseline, midline, and endline facility-based data to assess systemic changes. Implementation and impact research of Connect will assess whether and how the presence of the CHA at village level provides added life-saving value to the health system.
Discussion: Global commitment to launching community-based primary health care has accelerated in recent years, with much of the implementation focused on Africa. Despite extensive investment, no program has been guided by a truly experimental study. Connect will not only address Tanzania's need for policy and operational research, it will bridge a critical international knowledge gap concerning the added value of salaried professional community health workers in the context of a high density of fixed facilities. | ,CARE,DEVELOPING-COUNTRIES,IMPLEMENTATION,INTERVENTIONS,"MATERNITY REFERRAL SYSTEMS","MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOAL",MORTALITY,"NAVRONGO EXPERIMENT","SERVICES RESEARCH","SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA" | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33846901149 | Long-term impacts of anthropogenic perturbations on dynamics and speciation of organic carbon in tropical forest and subtropical grassland ecosystems | Solomon D., Lehmann J., Kinyangi J., Amelung W., Lobe I., Pell A., Riha S., Ngoze S., Verchot L., Mbugua D., Skjemstad J., Schäfer T. | 2007 | Global Change Biology | 13 | 2 | 10.1111/j.1365-2486.2006.01304.x | Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, United States; Department of Soil Science and Soil Ecology, University of Bonn, D-53115 Bonn, Germany; UFZ Centre for Environmental Research, 39114 Magdeburg, Germany; International Centre for Research in Agroforestry, PO Box 30677, Nairobi, Kenya; CSIRO Land and Water, Glen Osmond, SA 5064, Australia; Institute for Nuclear Waste Management, D-76021 Karlsruhe, Germany | Solomon, D., Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, United States; Lehmann, J., Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, United States; Kinyangi, J., Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, United States; Amelung, W., Department of Soil Science and Soil Ecology, University of Bonn, D-53115 Bonn, Germany; Lobe, I., UFZ Centre for Environmental Research, 39114 Magdeburg, Germany; Pell, A., Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, United States; Riha, S., Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, United States; Ngoze, S., Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, United States; Verchot, L., International Centre for Research in Agroforestry, PO Box 30677, Nairobi, Kenya; Mbugua, D., International Centre for Research in Agroforestry, PO Box 30677, Nairobi, Kenya; Skjemstad, J., CSIRO Land and Water, Glen Osmond, SA 5064, Australia; Schäfer, T., Institute for Nuclear Waste Management, D-76021 Karlsruhe, Germany | Anthropogenic perturbations have profoundly modified the Earth's biogeochemical cycles, the most prominent of these changes being manifested by global carbon (C) cycling. We investigated long-term effects of human-induced land-use and land-cover changes from native tropical forest (Kenya) and subtropical grassland (South Africa) ecosystems to agriculture on the dynamics and structural composition of soil organic C (SOC) using elemental analysis and integrated 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) and synchrotron-based Fourier transform infrared-attenuated total reflectance (Sr-FTIR-ATR) spectroscopy. Anthropogenic interventions led to the depletion of 76%, 86% and 67% of the total SOC; and 77%, 85% and 66% of the N concentrations from the surface soils of Nandi, Kakamega and the South African sites, respectively, over a period of up to 100 years. Significant proportions of the total SOC (46-73%) and N (37-73%) losses occurred during the first 4 years of conversion indicating that these forest- and grassland-derived soils contain large amounts of labile soil organic matter (SOM), potentially vulnerable to degradation upon human-induced land-use and land-cover changes. Anthropogenic perturbations altered not only the C sink capacity of these soils, but also the functional group composition and dynamics of SOC with time, rendering structural composition of the resultant organic matter in the agricultural soils to be considerably different from the SOM under natural forest and grassland ecosystems. These molecular level compositional changes were manifested: (i) by the continued degradation of O-alkyl and acetal-C structures found in carbohydrate and holocellulose biomolecules, some labile aliphatic-C functionalities, (ii) by side-chain oxidation of phenylpropane units of lignin and (iii) by the continued aromatization and aliphatization of the humic fractions possibly through selective accumulation of recalcitrant H and C substituted aryl-C and aliphatic-C components such as (poly)-methylene units, respectively. These changes appeared as early as the fourth year after transition, and their intensity increased with duration of cultivation until a new quasi-equilibrium of SOC was approached at about 20 years after conversion. However, subtle but persistent changes in molecular structures of the resultant SOM continued long after (up to 100 years) a steady state for SOC was approached. These molecular level changes in the inherent structural composition of SOC may exert considerable influence on biogeochemical cycling of C and bioavailability of essential nutrients present in association with SOM, and may significantly affect the sustainability of agriculture as well as potentials of the soils to sequester C in these tropical and subtropical highland agroecosystems. © 2007 Blackwell Publishing Ltd. | 13C NMR; Carbon sequestration; Deforestation; Land-use change; NEXAFS; Organic matter composition; Sr-FTIR-ATR; Synchrotron radiation | agricultural land; anthropogenic effect; carbon sequestration; carbon sink; deforestation; FTIR spectroscopy; grassland; land use change; nuclear magnetic resonance; organic carbon; soil carbon; subtropical region; tropical forest; Africa; East Africa; Kakamega; Kenya; Nandi; Rift Valley; South Africa; Southern Africa; Sub-Saharan Africa; Western Province [Kenya] | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-80054112742 | Evaluation of post-operative sensitivity and secondary caries in posterior composite restorations: A12month study | Agbaje L.O., Shaba O.P., Adegbulugbe I.C. | 2010 | Nigerian Journal of Clinical Practice | 13 | 4 | None | Dental Department, Lagos General Hospital, Lagos, Nigeria; Department of Restorative Dentistry, Faculty of Dental Sciences, College of Medicine of the University of Lagos, Idi-araba, Lagos, Nigeria | Agbaje, L.O., Dental Department, Lagos General Hospital, Lagos, Nigeria; Shaba, O.P., Department of Restorative Dentistry, Faculty of Dental Sciences, College of Medicine of the University of Lagos, Idi-araba, Lagos, Nigeria; Adegbulugbe, I.C., Department of Restorative Dentistry, Faculty of Dental Sciences, College of Medicine of the University of Lagos, Idi-araba, Lagos, Nigeria | Objective: To evaluate post-operative sensitivity and secondary caries associated with posterior composite restoration. Materials and Methods: The study involved restoration of occlusal andproximo-occlusal caries on premolars and molars of 62 patients seen at the out-patient clinic of the restorative department of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital. The restorations were completed with a micro-hybrid light curing resin composite (Unolux BCS, UnoDent, England). Following total etch procedure and use of a type 2 (5th generation/one-bottle) adhesive. The USPHSC or modified Ryge criteria was employed for direct evaluation of the restorations over the 12 month period. Results: Post-operative sensitivity was 3.5% Bravo at baseline and 1.7% Bravo at 12 months. No significant change in result was recorded for post-operative sensitivity at the end of the evaluation period. 100% was recorded for the absence of secondary caries throughout the evaluation period up till the 6th month when a failed restoration scored 1.7% Bravo. At 12 months Alpha scores for secondary caries was 98.3%. Conclusion: Post-operative sensitivity was kept to a minimum and there were no occurrences of secondary caries. | Composite Restoration; Posterior Teeth; Sensitivity | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-80054102848 | Evaluation of the mechanical and physical properties of a posterior resin composite in posterior adult teeth | Agbaje L.O., Shaba O.P., Adegbulugbe I.C. | 2010 | Nigerian Journal of Clinical Practice | 13 | 4 | None | Dental Department, Lagos General Hospital, Lagos, Nigeria; Department of Restorative Dentistry, Faculty of Dental Sciences, College of Medicine of the University of Lagos, Idi-araba, Lagos, Nigeria | Agbaje, L.O., Dental Department, Lagos General Hospital, Lagos, Nigeria; Shaba, O.P., Department of Restorative Dentistry, Faculty of Dental Sciences, College of Medicine of the University of Lagos, Idi-araba, Lagos, Nigeria; Adegbulugbe, I.C., Department of Restorative Dentistry, Faculty of Dental Sciences, College of Medicine of the University of Lagos, Idi-araba, Lagos, Nigeria | Objective: To evaluate the mechanical and physical properties of a micro-hybrid resin composite used in adult posterior restorations Materials and Methods: A micro-hybrid, light curing resin composite Unolux BCS Composite Restorative, (UnoDent, England) was used to restore 74 carious classes I and II cavities on posterior teeth of 62 adult patients. The restorations were evaluated immediately following placement (Baseline), at 1 week, 3months, 6months and 12months using the United States Public Health Service Criteria/Modified Ryge criteria for direct evaluation. Color matching, marginal stains and adaptation, wear and surface texture were evaluated. Ranging from best to the worst, the ratings were, Alfa, Bravo and Charlie. Results: 58 restorations were available for review at the 12th month evaluation, 15 patients bearing 21.6% of the restorations were lost to recall. Colour match scores were 89.6% Alpha at baseline and 74.1% at 12-month review. Marginal staining were 100% Alpha at baseline and 98.3% Alpha at the end of the evaluation period. Marginal adaptation at baseline was 100% Alpha this value dropped to 94.8% by the 12th month. Anatomical wear scores were 100% Alpha at baseline and scores dropped to 93.1% at the 12-month evaluation. At baseline, Alpha scores for Surface texture were 100%. A drop in Alpha scores to 93.1% at the first week review was maintained till the 12 month. Conclusion: Carefully controlled placement of micro-hybrid resin composite using the total etch and type 2 (one-bottle) adhesive can produce satisfactory posterior restorations on permanent teeth. | Composite adult teeth; Evaluation; Posterior resin; Properties | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84941078348 | The relationship between capital structure and financial performance of firms listed on the nairobi securities exchange | Otieno O.L., Ngwenya S. | 2015 | Corporate Ownership and Control | 13 | 1CONT2 | None | Department of Accounting and Finance, University of Nairobi, PO Box 30197, Nairobi, Kenya; Department of Finance, Risk Management and Banking, School of Management Sciences, PO Box 392, UNISA, 0003, Preller Street, Muckleneuk Ridge, Pretoria, South Africa | Otieno, O.L., Department of Accounting and Finance, University of Nairobi, PO Box 30197, Nairobi, Kenya; Ngwenya, S., Department of Finance, Risk Management and Banking, School of Management Sciences, PO Box 392, UNISA, 0003, Preller Street, Muckleneuk Ridge, Pretoria, South Africa | Until now, researchers are not in consensus, whether it is the capital structure that influences performance or performance that influences capital structure or both. The main objective of this study was to establish the relationship between capital structure and financial performance of firms listed on the NSE by employing a generalised linear model (GLM) as an improvement on ordinary least regression (OLS). The results of the study revealed that efficient and profitable firms employ more debt than comparable firms that are less profitable possibly because profitable firms’ exposure to financial risk is low. There results also indicate that firms that use more debt outperformed those that use less debt. © 2015, Virtus interpress.All rights reserved. | Capital structure; Financial performance; General linear model; NSE; Ordinary least regression | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84944684024 | Debt capital, firm performance and change of CEO in firms listed on the Nairobi securities exchange | Otieno O.L., Ngwenya S. | 2015 | Corporate Ownership and Control | 13 | 1CONT6 | None | Department of Accounting and Finance, University of Nairobi, PO Box 30197, Nairobi, Kenya; Department of Finance, Risk Management and Banking, School of Management Sciences, UNISA, PO Box 392, Preller Street, Muckleneuk Ridge, Pretoria, Kenya | Otieno, O.L., Department of Accounting and Finance, University of Nairobi, PO Box 30197, Nairobi, Kenya; Ngwenya, S., Department of Finance, Risk Management and Banking, School of Management Sciences, UNISA, PO Box 392, Preller Street, Muckleneuk Ridge, Pretoria, Kenya | It is generally accepted that boards of directors play a fundamental role in corporate governance and the structure of the board plays a significant role in the functioning of a company (Jensen, 1993). The main objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between debt capital, firm performance, and change of CEO in firms listed on the NSE. The results of the study revealed that firms in which an individual shareholder has influence or controlling interest are reluctant to replace their CEO even when performance is below average. The results also revealed that the replacement of the CEO is not performance driven, but is debt capital driven. Specifically, the results suggest that medium leverage ratio is associated with change in CEOs on firms listed on the NSE. © 2015, Virtus Interpress. All rights reserved. | Change of CEO; Debt capital; Firm performance; NSE | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84920877182 | Assessing the performance characteristics of chicken layers fed with pito mash inclusion diets treated with cocoa pod-husk ash extract | Ankrah A.-B., Donkoh A., Abando-Sam E. | 2014 | International Journal of Poultry Science | 13 | 11 | None | Department of Agribusiness, Valley View University, Techiman-Campus, Oyibi, Accra, Ghana; Department of Animal Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana | Ankrah, A.-B., Department of Agribusiness, Valley View University, Techiman-Campus, Oyibi, Accra, Ghana; Donkoh, A., Department of Animal Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana; Abando-Sam, E., Department of Agribusiness, Valley View University, Techiman-Campus, Oyibi, Accra, Ghana | A nutritional balance trial was conducted, with 176 strain of Lohmann breed of brown layers at 8 weeks old, weighing between 340-341 g. The chickens were grouped into 4 dietary treatments of 44 chickens per group. A complete randomized design (CRD) was applied in which the dietary treatments included 0, 5, 10 and 15% level of the alkali-treated pito mash. Feed and water were provided ad libitum over the 11-month experimental period. The parameters measured were body weight changes, feed intake, water intake, hen-day egg production, hen-housed egg production, feed conversion ratio (kg/dozen egg), age at the onset of egg production, body weight at the onset of egg laying, weight of the first egg laid, shell thickness, number of broken egg, yolk colour, yolk diameter, albumen height, Haugh unit and mortality rate. Results showed that apart from body weight at the start of feed trial, feed/dozen eggs and body weight at the onset of egg laying, shell thickness and mortality of chickens, all the alkali-treated pito mash based diets exhibited significantly (p<0.05) higher performances than the control group in all the other parameters considered, although at varying magnitudes. The costs/100 kg grower and layer diets were progressively reduced as the level of treated pito mash increased in the diets. Alkali-treated pito mash inclusion in grower and layer chicken diets up to 15% is therefore recommended. © Asian Network for Scientific Information, 2014. | Dietary treatment; Feed conversion ratio; Feed intake; Haugh unit | Gallus gallus; Theobroma cacao | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84903481902 | Influence of time of decomposition of plants materials on okra performance in ogbomoso, guinea savanna zone of South-West, Nigeria | Ajibola A.T., Fasola I.A., Modupeola T.O. | 2014 | Journal of Agronomy | 13 | 3 | 10.3923/ja.2014.122.126 | Department of Agronomy, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, PMB, Ogbomoso, 4000, Oyo State, Nigeria; National Horticulture Research Institute, Idisin Jericho, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria | Ajibola, A.T., Department of Agronomy, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, PMB, Ogbomoso, 4000, Oyo State, Nigeria; Fasola, I.A., Department of Agronomy, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, PMB, Ogbomoso, 4000, Oyo State, Nigeria; Modupeola, T.O., National Horticulture Research Institute, Idisin Jericho, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria | Field trial was conducted at the Teaching and Research Farm, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso in 2012 to determine the effect of plant biomass types and time of decomposition on the growth and yield of Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) moench). The treatment was a split plot laid out in randomized complete block design. The treatments involved two organic fertilizer types (Neem and Tithonia plant biomass), no fertilizer application (control) and five periods of incorporation (0, 3, 4, 5 and 6 weeks before planting) making a total of ten treatment combinations replicated three times with Okra as the test crop. Data were collected on growth parameters and yield attributes of Okra. The parameters assessed were significantly influenced (p<0.05) by the applied plant biomass types. The highest plant height, number of leaves stem circumference and Suits plant-1 were recorded at 6 weeks before planting irrespective of the plant biomass types. The significantly higher fruit weight were recorded at 4, 5 and 6 weeks before planting irrespective of the plant biomass types. The best performance of Okra in terms of growth were obtained from neem plant biomass type and the best yield was obtained from tithonia plant biomass type while those with no fertilizer recorded the least values. In conclusion, the growth and yield of Okra were improved by plant biomass types and best performance of Okra in terms of growth were obtained from neem plant biomass type while the best yield was obtained from tithonia plant biomass type and 4, 5 or 6 weeks before planting is adjudged as the best period for incorporation of plant biomass in Ogbomoso, Guinea Savanna zone of south west, Nigeria. © 2014 Asian Network for Scientific Information. | Growth and yield; Incorporation period; Okra; Plant biomass | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84928943380 | Evaluation of nitrogen fertilizer rates on growth and yield of commercially grown maize genotypes in southwestern Nigeria | Olaniyan A.B. | 2015 | Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment | 13 | 2 | None | Department of Agronomy, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria | Olaniyan, A.B., Department of Agronomy, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria | Experiments were designed to estimate the nitrogen requirements of some commercially grown maize genotypes and those under research trials. The first experiment consisted of four rates of nitrogen fertilizer (N 0, 25, 75 and 100 kg/ha) with three maize genotypes: single-cross hybrid (Oba Super1), and two open pollinated genotypes, I-WDC3Syn and ACR-91Suwan1-SRC1, while in the second experiment, six fertilizer rates were used (N 0, 50, 75,100,150 and 200 kg/ha) and two additional maize genotypes (STR double cross and STR 3 way cross) were included. Experimental designs were split plot with fertilizer rates as the main plots and maize genotypes as subplots. Data were taken on morphological parameters, growth rates, dry matter production, yield and components of yield. No consistent differences were recorded for most growth and morphological parameters; though the parameters increased with increasing nitrogen. Grain yield of maize genotypes significantly (P = 0.05) increased with response up to N 200 kg/ha; however, no significant increase was obtained above N 75 kg/ha. Grain yield increase of 18.1, 64.8 and 71.8% were recorded at N 25, 75 and 100 kg/ha, respectively, in the first experiment, while increase of 37.5, 42.6, 60.5, 59.3 and 73.4% were recorded at N 50, 75, 100, 150 and 200 kg/ha, respectively, for second experiment. Grain yield of commercial hybrid was higher than that of the open pollinated genotypes in all the nitrogen fertilizer rates. Hybrid maize genotype (Oba super1) outyielded the open pollinated genotypes ACR-91Suwan1-SRC1 and I-WDC3Syn by 13.4 and 20.4%, respectively, in the first experiment and 17.6 and 32.8%, respectively, in the second experiment. In conclusion, hybrid maize genotypes were superior to open pollinated genotypes, indicating that hybrid maize does not require more nitrogen fertilizer than open pollinated in exhibiting their potential yield, also, additional maize grain increase with respect to fertilizer cost was not profitable above N 100 kg/ha. © 2015, World Food Ltd. and WFL Publishers. All rights reserved. | Genotypes; Grain yield; Maize; Nitrogen fertilizer | nitrogen fertilizer; agricultural parameters; Article; biomass production; chlorophyll content; experimental design; genotype; genotype environment interaction; grain yield; growth rate; leaf area; maize; Nigeria; nonhuman; plant growth; plant height; plant structures; plant yield component; plantation; soil analysis | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-61649094018 | Routine delirium monitoring in a UK critical care unit | Page V.J., Navarange S., Gama S., McAuley D.F. | 2009 | Critical Care | 13 | 1 | 10.1186/cc7714 | Department of Anaesthetics, Watford General Hospital, Vicarage Road, Watford WD19 4DZ, United Kingdom; Department of Anaesthetics, Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital, Private Bag X03, Mayville 4038, South Africa; Centre for Infection and Immunity, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, The Queen's University of Belfast, Grosvenor Road, Belfast BT12 6BN, United Kingdom | Page, V.J., Department of Anaesthetics, Watford General Hospital, Vicarage Road, Watford WD19 4DZ, United Kingdom; Navarange, S., Department of Anaesthetics, Watford General Hospital, Vicarage Road, Watford WD19 4DZ, United Kingdom; Gama, S., Department of Anaesthetics, Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital, Private Bag X03, Mayville 4038, South Africa; McAuley, D.F., Centre for Infection and Immunity, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, The Queen's University of Belfast, Grosvenor Road, Belfast BT12 6BN, United Kingdom | Introduction: Delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU) is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Using an assessment tool has been shown to improve the ability of clinicians in the ICU to detect delirium. The confusion assessment method for the ICU (CAM-ICU) is a validated delirium-screening tool for critically ill intubated patients. The aim of this project was to establish the feasibility of routine delirium screening using the CAM-ICU and to identify the incidence of delirium in a UK critical care unit. Methods: Routine CAM-ICU monitoring was implemented in a mixed critical care unit in January 2007 following a two-month educational and promotional campaign. Guidelines for the management of delirium were introduced. During a two-month prospective audit in September and October 2007, the daily CAM-ICU was recorded by the bedside nurse for consecutive level 2 and level 3 patients admitted to the mixed medical/ surgical critical care ward in a district general hospital. This was repeated in January 2008. Patient outcome was recorded. The records of an additional cohort of ventilated patients were reviewed retrospectively to determine compliance with routine CAM-ICU assessments. Results: Seventy-one patients were included in the observational cohort, with 60 patients in the retrospective cohort. In the prospective group it was not possible to assess for delirium with the CAM-ICU in nine patients due to persistent coma or inability to understand simple instructions. Excluding elective post-operative patients, the incidence of delirium was 45% in patients who could be assessed; in the 27 ventilated patients who could be assessed it was 63%. From the retrospective data compliance with the CAM-ICU assessment was 92%. The incidence of delirium in this retrospective group of ventilated patients who could be assessed was 65%. Conclusions: We have demonstrated that delirium screening is feasible in a UK ICU population. The high incidence of delirium and the impact on outcomes in this UK cohort of patients is in line with previous reports. © 2009 Page et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | None | adult; aged; article; artificial ventilation; clinical assessment tool; cohort analysis; confusion assessment method for the ICU; controlled study; critically ill patient; delirium; feasibility study; female; high risk patient; human; incidence; intensive care; major clinical study; male; observational study; outcome assessment; patient monitoring; priority journal; retrospective study; United Kingdom; comparative study; critical illness; delirium; intensive care unit; mass screening; methodology; middle aged; prospective study; psychological aspect; Aged; Cohort Studies; Critical Illness; Delirium; Female; Great Britain; Humans; Intensive Care Units; Male; Mass Screening; Middle Aged; Prospective Studies; Retrospective Studies | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84955288709 | Entrepreneurial self-efficacy and small business performance: The mediating effect of entrepreneurial mindset and openness to experience | Ngek N.B. | 2015 | Problems and Perspectives in Management | 13 | 4 | None | Department of Business Management, University of Free State, South Africa | Ngek, N.B., Department of Business Management, University of Free State, South Africa | Small business performance is a key concern around the globe as small businesses play a vital role in fostering economic growth and development. Despite the increasing research on enhancing small business performance, most small businesses still fail within the first three years of operations. As such, unearthing the underlying aspects on how several factors affect small business performance continues to be an important research agenda. This study focuses on examining the mediating effect of entrepreneurial mindset and openness to experience on the relationship between entrepreneurial self-efficacy (ESE) and small business performance. The empirical findings indicate that both entrepreneurial mindset and openness to experience fully mediate the ESE-performance relationship. These findings act as an enrichment of our current understanding of the ESE-performance relationship. The study culminates by providing both theoretical and practical implications for entrepreneurship theory and practice. © Neneh Brownhilder Ngek, 2015. | Entrepreneurial mindset; Entrepreneurial self-efficacy; Firm performance; Openness to experience; Small businesses | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84906776187 | Evaluation of the nutritive value of sorghum variety ICSV400 in broiler diets | Jamaa N.A., Abubakar M.M., Oyawoye E.O. | 2014 | International Journal of Poultry Science | 13 | 6 | None | Department of Animal Production, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi State, Nigeria | Jamaa, N.A., Department of Animal Production, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi State, Nigeria; Abubakar, M.M., Department of Animal Production, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi State, Nigeria; Oyawoye, E.O., Department of Animal Production, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi State, Nigeria | An experiment was conducted to evaluate the nutritive value of sorghum variety ICSV400 as a replacement for maize in broiler diets. Five diets were formulated for both the starter and finisher phases, in which the sorghum variety ICSV400 was included at 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% replacement levels and the diets designated as treatments T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5, respectively. Sorghum variety ICSV400 was used to replace maize as a dietary energy source. Two hundred day old Anak 2000 broiler chicks were allotted to the five treatments in a completely randomized design. Each of the five treatments was replicated four times, with ten birds per replicate. At the starter phase, birds on T1 consumed significantly (p<0.01) less feed (61.63 g) than birds on T5 (74.35 g), T2 (73.98 g) and T4 (71.85 g), similar to those on T3 (67.07 g). Daily weight gain (24.02-33.04 g) and feed conversion ratio (2.26-2.83) were not significantly affected by dietary treatments. The finisher and pooled phases no significant differences between treatments were observed for all the parameters analyzed. Carcass parameters were not affected by dietary treatments but small intestine weight tended to decrease with increasing level of sorghum. Feed cost in N/kg gain tended to be lower (N166.90) in diet 4 (75% sorghum) and higher (N 213.58) in diet 3 (50% sorghum). It was concluded therefore that sorghum variety ICSV400 can completely replace maize in broiler diets without adverse effects on the general performance of the birds. © Asian Network for Scientific Information, 2014. | Broiler chicks; Maize; Performance; Sorghum variety ICSV400 | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33746116972 | Impact of water soluble fractions of crude oil on growth performance of the catfish Heterobranchus bidorsalis (Geoffrey St. Hilaire, 1809) | Nwabueze A.A., Agbogidi O.M. | 2006 | European Journal of Scientific Research | 13 | 3 | None | Department of Animal Science and Fisheries, Delta State University, Asaba Campus, Abraka, Nigeria; Department of Forestry and Wildlife, Delta State University, Asaba Campus, Abraka, Nigeria | Nwabueze, A.A., Department of Animal Science and Fisheries, Delta State University, Asaba Campus, Abraka, Nigeria; Agbogidi, O.M., Department of Forestry and Wildlife, Delta State University, Asaba Campus, Abraka, Nigeria | The impact of sub lethal concentration of water-soluble fractions (WSFs) of crude oil on growth performance of the catfish Heterobranchus bidorsalis fingerlings (mean weight: 1.36±0.05g) was investigated under laboratory conditions during a 10 - week period of exposure in a renewal static bioassay system. The concentrations of WSFs used were 0.00 - control, 0.125, 0.50 and 1.00 ml per litre. Mortality was recorded in the 0.50 and 1.00 ml per litre concentrations. Results indicate that growth rate of fish was significantly (P≥0.05) reduced as compared with the control fish. Observations on behaviour of fish showed reduced activity especially feeding with increasing concentrations of WSFs. There were significant (P≤0.05) differences in growth and mortality rate in fish exposed to WSFs compared with the control. Investigation on the physiochemical parameter of WSFs such as temperature, dissolved oxygen (D.O), bilogical oxygen demand (B.O.D) and hydrogen ion concentration (pH) indicated a significant (P≤0.05) increase and decrease in B.O.D and D.O. respectively as compared with controls. The temperature and pH remained the same in various experimental tanks. The present study indicated that Heterobranchus bidorsalis can serve as a bio indicator of crude oil polluted water bodies. © EuroJournals Publishing, Inc. 2006. | Crude oil; Growth; Heterobranchus bidorsalis; Water-soluble fractions | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84880077528 | Evaluation of the efficiency of disinfectants used against bacterial isolates from intensive poultry fanning environments in Imo state, Nigeria | Chima I.U., Uchegbu M.C., Okoli I.C., Ezema C., Wehke S.N. | 2013 | Journal of Biological Sciences | 13 | 5 | 10.3923/jbs.2013.349.356 | Department of Animal Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, PMB 1526, Imo State, Nigeria; Department of Animal Health and Production, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria; Department of Animal Science, Rivers State University | Chima, I.U., Department of Animal Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, PMB 1526, Imo State, Nigeria; Uchegbu, M.C., Department of Animal Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, PMB 1526, Imo State, Nigeria; Okoli, I.C., Department of Animal Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, PMB 1526, Imo State, Nigeria; Ezema, C., Department of Animal Health and Production, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria; Wehke, S.N., Department of Animal Science, Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt, Nigeria | Diseases and infections have always been a major concern to intensive poultry production industry. Pathogen contamination of farming environments can be prevented using proper health care products such as disinfectants. This study evaluated the efficiency of commonly used disinfectants against bacteria occurring in intensive poultry farming environments in Imo State, Nigeria. The efficacy of six commercial disinfectants namely; Izal®, Z-germicide®, Diskol®, Virkon®, Vox® and CID 20® in reducing the number of micro-organisms was assessed. Among the tested disinfectants, Virkon® (oxidizing agents) was the most efficient, reducing the micro-organisms by 95%. The in vitro test carried out to verify the effectiveness of disinfectants did not consider the adverse conditions found in the poultry farms. Therefore, the evaluation of the efficacy of on-farm reconstituted disinfectants over time was also carried out. The results indicated that efficacy of all the disinfectants was reduced during the afternoon. However, efficacy gradually increased during the evening for all the disinfectants but not as much as was observed in the morning. Temperature, it seems affects the activity of the disinfectants against the bacterial organisms. © 2013 Asian Network for Scientific Information. | Bacterial isolates; Disinfectants; Poultry farms; Susceptibility tests | cid 20; disinfectant agent; diskol; izal; unclassified drug; virkon; vox (drug); Aeromonas; article; bacterial growth; bacterium identification; controlled study; disk diffusion; drug sensitivity; Escherichia coli; growth inhibition; Klebsiella; Nigeria; nonhuman; poultry farming; Pseudomonas; Salmonella | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84929091282 | The need for post-occupancy evaluation of public apartment buildings in Ghana | Agyefi-Mensah S., Post J., van Egmond E., Badu E., Mohammadi M. | 2015 | Journal of Engineering, Design and Technology | 13 | 2 | 10.1108/JEDT-05-2013-0033 | Department of Architecture, Building and Planning, Technical University of Eindhoven (TU/e), Eindhoven, Netherlands; Department of Building Technology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana | Agyefi-Mensah, S., Department of Architecture, Building and Planning, Technical University of Eindhoven (TU/e), Eindhoven, Netherlands; Post, J., Department of Architecture, Building and Planning, Technical University of Eindhoven (TU/e), Eindhoven, Netherlands; van Egmond, E., Department of Architecture, Building and Planning, Technical University of Eindhoven (TU/e), Eindhoven, Netherlands; Badu, E., Department of Building Technology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana; Mohammadi, M., Department of Architecture, Building and Planning, Technical University of Eindhoven (TU/e), Eindhoven, Netherlands | Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to examine and show why post-occupancy evaluation (POE) of public apartment buildings in Ghana as a product of design is important. Design/methodology/approach: By design the paper is descriptive. It uses a literature review as a method to summarize, synthesize and show the gaps in the existing knowledge on public apartment buildings in general and Ghana in particular. These arguments are brought together in a conceptual framework for approaching POE studies. Findings: This paper finds that gaps exist in the existing POE research knowledge regarding public apartment buildings in Ghana not only as residential settings but also as designed artifacts intended for use. Research limitations/implications: There is a need for scientific research which focus on the design and use of public apartment buildings in Ghana to provide empirical basis for design, policy and research decision-making. Social implications: This paper shows that occupants’ feedback information is important, as it can benefits government, designers and builders, building regulators and managers, as well as end users. Originality/value: The paper contributes a conceptual framework based on which POE studies can be designed. © Emerald Group Publishing Limited. | Architectural design; Built environment research | Apartment houses; Buildings; Decision making; Design; Product design; Apartment buildings; Built environment; Conceptual frameworks; Design/methodology/approach; Feed back information; Post occupancy evaluation; Postoccupancy evaluation (POE); Scientific researches; Architectural design | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84859450319 | Impact of land use on the distribution and diversity of entomopathogenic nematodes in Embu and Taita Districts, Kenya | Kawaka J.F., Kimenju J.W., Ayodo G., Mwaniki S.W., Muoma J.O., Okoth S.A., Orinda G.O. | 2011 | Tropical and Subtropical Agroecosystems | 13 | 1 | None | Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Kenyatta University, P.O. Box 43844-00100, Nairobi, Kenya; National Agricultural Research Laboratories, Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, P.O. Box 14733-00800, Nairobi, Kenya; Department of Plant Science and Crop Protection, University Of Nairobi, P.O. Box 30197-00100, Nairobi, Kenya | Kawaka, J.F., Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Kenyatta University, P.O. Box 43844-00100, Nairobi, Kenya; Kimenju, J.W., Department of Plant Science and Crop Protection, University Of Nairobi, P.O. Box 30197-00100, Nairobi, Kenya; Ayodo, G., Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Kenyatta University, P.O. Box 43844-00100, Nairobi, Kenya; Mwaniki, S.W., National Agricultural Research Laboratories, Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, P.O. Box 14733-00800, Nairobi, Kenya; Muoma, J.O., Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Kenyatta University, P.O. Box 43844-00100, Nairobi, Kenya; Okoth, S.A., Department of Plant Science and Crop Protection, University Of Nairobi, P.O. Box 30197-00100, Nairobi, Kenya; Orinda, G.O., Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Kenyatta University, P.O. Box 43844-00100, Nairobi, Kenya | Natural entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) are considered as potential biological control agents against soil-borne insect pests. This study was conducted to determine the impact of land use on the distribution, occurrence and diversity of entomopathogenic nematode community. Isolation of EPNs was done using the baiting technique and application of morphological identification methods revealed presence of the genus Steinernema. Land use intensification negatively affected the occurrence and recovery frequency in soils of Embu and Taita districts. The occurrence of EPNs was high in soils from coffee than maize and beans which had more nematodes than planted forest and napier grass followed by natural forest and tea respectively. PCR-RFLP of the internal transcribed spacer region on the ribosomal(r) DNA of the EPN isolates and digestion of the products by Alu I enzyme showed molecular variations among the isolates. The study has demonstrated that the frequency of occurrence and species variation of EPNs is different in various land uses. | Diversity; Entomopathogenic nematodes; Land use intensification; Occurrence; PCR RFLP technique | Hexapoda; Nematoda; Pennisetum purpureum; Steinernema; Zea mays | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84877996089 | Evaluation of Ficus exasperata vahl. leaf extracts in the management of diabetes mellitus in vitro | Kazeem M.I., Oyedapo B.F., Raimi O.G., Adu O.B. | 2013 | Journal of Medical Sciences (Faisalabad) | 13 | 4 | 10.3923/jms.2013.269.275 | Department of Biochemistry, Lagos State University, PMB 0001Ojo, Lagos, Nigeria | Kazeem, M.I., Department of Biochemistry, Lagos State University, PMB 0001Ojo, Lagos, Nigeria; Oyedapo, B.F., Department of Biochemistry, Lagos State University, PMB 0001Ojo, Lagos, Nigeria; Raimi, O.G., Department of Biochemistry, Lagos State University, PMB 0001Ojo, Lagos, Nigeria; Adu, O.B., Department of Biochemistry, Lagos State University, PMB 0001Ojo, Lagos, Nigeria | The sharp increase in the incidence and prevalence of diabetes mellitus has led to antidiabetic therapeutic investigations. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate different extracts of Ficus exasperata leaves for their inhibitory potential against α-amylase and α-glucosidase activities. Phytochemical screening of the various extracts of Ficus exasperata was performed and their inhibitory potential on the activities of α-amylase and α-glucosidase was determined in vitro. The results revealed that aqueous extract of Ficus exasperata has the lowest IC50 against α-amylase (3.70 mg mL-1) and α-glucosidase (1.70 mg rnL-1) which makes it most potent inhibitor compared to the other extracts. Kinetic studies performed on the aqueous extract of Ficus exasperata in order to determine its modes of inhibition of the enzymes showed that it is a non-competitive and competitive inhibitor of α-amylase and α-glucosidase respectively. It is proposed that the inhibitory potential of aqueous extract of the plant might be due to the synergistic effect of its phytochemical constituents. Therefore it can be concluded that part of the mechanisms by which Ficus exasperata displayed its antidiabetic potential is through the inhibition of α-amylase and α-glucosidase. | α-amylase; α-glucosidase; Diabetes mellitus; Ficus exasperata; Tannins | alpha glucosidase; amylase; antidiabetic agent; Ficus exasperata extract; flavonoid; phytosterol; plant extract; saponin derivative; tannin derivative; terpenoid derivative; unclassified drug; antidiabetic activity; article; chemical composition; competitive inhibition; controlled study; drug screening; enzyme inhibition; Ficus; Ficus exasperata; IC 50; in vitro study; phytochemistry; plant leaf | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79951795860 | Evaluation and decontamination of crude Oil-Polluted Soils using centrosema pubescen benth and Amendment-support Options | Nwaichi E.O., Osuji L.C., Onyeike E.N. | 2011 | International Journal of Phytoremediation | 13 | 4 | 10.1080/15226514.2010.495144 | Department of Biochemistry, University of Port Harcourt, P.M.B 5323, Rivers State, Nigeria | Nwaichi, E.O., Department of Biochemistry, University of Port Harcourt, P.M.B 5323, Rivers State, Nigeria; Osuji, L.C., Department of Biochemistry, University of Port Harcourt, P.M.B 5323, Rivers State, Nigeria; Onyeike, E.N., Department of Biochemistry, University of Port Harcourt, P.M.B 5323, Rivers State, Nigeria | Growth performance and phytoremediation of soil of the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria artificially-contaminated with crude oil (up to 100 mL/2 kgsoil) using centrosema pubescen Benth was investigated for 12 weeks. The soil samples in which the plants were established were either un-amended, or amended with NPK, or UREA or chicken manure. The extents of removal of PAHs and BTEX were measured as well as the rates of growth of the plants. Gas Chromatographic analysis confirmed the degradation of carcinogenic hydrocarbons like BTEXs and PAHs with this technique. At the highest dose of crude, the contaminant concentrations were 43mg/kg PAHs, 10mg/kg BTEX, and 5,613mg/kg O&G. The greatest percent removal of BTEX was observed at the highest contaminant dose, and with the manure amendment. Similar trends were observed with PAHs and although they were less marked, the trends with PAHs may have been more highly statistically significant. There was no measurable plant uptake of contaminants. Inhibition of plant growth (measured as leaf area, shoot length and production of dry weight) was proportional to the dose of crude oil, but the manure amendment was very effective at reducing the growth inhibition. Interestingly, manure amendment reduced the phytotoxicity significantly in this study. © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. | Amendments; Growthperformance; Hydrocarbons; Phytoremediation; Phytotoxicity | aromatic hydrocarbon; petroleum; urea; animal; article; bioremediation; drug effect; growth, development and aging; legume; manure; metabolism; Nigeria; plant leaf; soil; soil pollutant; time; Animals; Biodegradation, Environmental; Fabaceae; Hydrocarbons, Aromatic; Manure; Nigeria; Petroleum; Plant Leaves; Soil; Soil Pollutants; Time Factors; Urea; Centrosema | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84884264966 | Evaluation of home slaughtered meat quality used for human consumption at household and food seller house in Jimma | Dabassa A. | 2013 | Journal of Medical Sciences (Faisalabad) | 13 | 8 | 10.3923/jms.2013.779.784 | Department of Biology, Jimma University, P.O. Box 378, Jimma, Ethiopia | Dabassa, A., Department of Biology, Jimma University, P.O. Box 378, Jimma, Ethiopia | Frequency of contamination in home slaughtered meat Jimma town south west Ethiopia was examined in the present study. The microbiological safety and quality issue is the pro-active measure to prepare the meat for consumption. A total 48 raw meat samples including beef (n = 4), Mutton (n = 37), chevron (n = 7) were collected from individual household and small food seller house in the town were analyzed for microbiological contamination using conventional culture methods. The bacterial spp. isolated from the samples were Bacillus, Micrococcus species, Salmonella species, Enterobacteriacea, coliform, Staphylococcus species and other gram positive rods, some of which harbor human pathogens of public health concern. The aerobic mesophilic counts varied from 0.19 to 3.67 loglO CFU g-1. Coliforms were encountered in all samples. Staphylococci were present at 0.95-2.28 logl 0 CFU g-1 in 36% (8) mutton and 50% (2) chevron, samples. Salmonella species were present in 10.42% (5.0) of all the samples. The majority of meat samples investigated in this study had contaminant microorganism and some pathogens. The present study revealed that despite veiy low contamination rate, foodstuffs particularly beef, chevon and mutton parts could be a potential vehicle for foodbome infections and implementation of preventive measures and consumer food safety education efforts are needed. | Bacillus; Beef; Chevron; Meat; Mutton; Salmonella | aerobic bacterium; article; Bacillus; bacterial count; bacterium culture; bacterium isolation; beef; chevron; coliform bacterium; colony forming unit; Enterobacteriaceae; Ethiopia; food contamination; food handling; food intake; food poisoning; food quality; food safety; Gram positive bacterium; household; meat industry; mesophile; microbial contamination; Micrococcus; mutton; nonhuman; raw meat; Salmonella; Staphylococcus | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84893075500 | Assessment of the performance of local and foreign road construction firms in Ghana | Gyadu-Asiedu W., Danso H., Asubonteng J.A. | 2013 | International Journal of Construction Management | 13 | 4 | None | Department of Building Technology, Koforidua Polytechnic, Koforidua, Ghana; Department of Design and Technology Education, University of Education, Winneba, Kumasi, Ghana | Gyadu-Asiedu, W., Department of Building Technology, Koforidua Polytechnic, Koforidua, Ghana; Danso, H., Department of Design and Technology Education, University of Education, Winneba, Kumasi, Ghana; Asubonteng, J.A., Department of Design and Technology Education, University of Education, Winneba, Kumasi, Ghana | The apparent imperfect competition that exists between local and foreign construction firms, coupled with the perception that governments give most of the big projects to the foreign firms has brought about the need to undertake a comparative study. The aim of this study was to determine whether there is a significant difference between the performance of local and foreign road construction firms in Ghana. The study involved a cross-sectional survey that used a structured questionnaire administered to 69 respondents of road construction professionals. The results ranked foreign firms significantly higher than their local counterparts in terms of effective cost management, time management and quality management practices at 95% confidence level. Therefore, the study found the foreign road construction firms more efficient in terms of performance (cost, time and quality) than their local counterparts in Ghana. Copyright © 2009 The Chinese research Institute of Construction Management. | Construction industry; Cost management; Performance management; Quality management; Road construction firms; Time management | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84862567119 | The effects of mergers and acquisitions on business performance in Nigerian banking industry: An empirical analysis | Awolusi O.D. | 2012 | International Journal of Business Performance Management | 13 | 04-Mar | 10.1504/IJBPM.2012.047301 | Department of Business Administration and Marketing, School of Management and Social Sciences, Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State, P.M.B 21244, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria | Awolusi, O.D., Department of Business Administration and Marketing, School of Management and Social Sciences, Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State, P.M.B 21244, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria | This paper provides a holistic view of the mergers and acquisitions (M&As) implementation process, by reviewing the hard and soft factors that cause success and failure for M&As implementation, as well as, examine the impact of M&As on perceived business performance measures (PBPM) in Nigerian banking industry. The aim was achieved through an empirical study involving a survey on 19 Nigerian banks involved in mergers and/or acquisitions. Using SEM, multivariate analyses were mathematically represented in a single equation, and findings from this study confirmed that M&As had significant association on PBPM. The equation could be used by banks, and companies alike, to compose strategies to optimise their management of business performance and mergers and/or acquisition programmes. The model was able to provide predictive implications on business performance, given the activities of key factors manifesting successful M&As, hence, these factors could be adopted by companies wishing to undertake M&As programme in Nigeria. Nonetheless, to improve business performance management, companies could control their M&As programme. Copyright © 2012 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd. | Banking; Business performance; Consolidation; M&As; Mergers and acquisitions; Nigeria; Structural equation modelling | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84941134620 | The effects of business support as a start-up factor on business performance | Radipere S. | 2015 | Corporate Ownership and Control | 13 | 1CONT1 | None | Department of Business Management, University of South Africa, South Africa | Radipere, S., Department of Business Management, University of South Africa, South Africa | The study examined relationship between business support and business performance using 500 SMMEs in Gauteng province, South Africa. Questionnaire was used to collect data from 500 SMMEs owners. The findings from the survey were modelled through a categorical regression model with business performance as dependent variable. The level of significance of the four variables out of eight variables suggests that business support be classified as the strongest predictor of business performance. © 2015, Virtus interpress. All rights reserved. | Business performance; Business support; Entrepreneur | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84893231756 | Drop weight impact studies of woven fibers reinforced modified polyester composites | Isa M.T., Ahmed A.S., Aderemi B.O., Taib R.M., Akil H.M., Mohammed-Dabo I.A. | 2014 | Leonardo Electronic Journal of Practices and Technologies | 13 | 24 | None | Department of Chemical Engineering, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria 810261, Nigeria; School of Materials and Mineral Resources, University of Sains Malaysia, 14300, Nibong Tebal Penang, Malaysia | Isa, M.T., Department of Chemical Engineering, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria 810261, Nigeria; Ahmed, A.S., Department of Chemical Engineering, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria 810261, Nigeria; Aderemi, B.O., Department of Chemical Engineering, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria 810261, Nigeria; Taib, R.M., School of Materials and Mineral Resources, University of Sains Malaysia, 14300, Nibong Tebal Penang, Malaysia; Akil, H.M., School of Materials and Mineral Resources, University of Sains Malaysia, 14300, Nibong Tebal Penang, Malaysia; Mohammed-Dabo, I.A., Department of Chemical Engineering, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria 810261, Nigeria | Low velocity impact tests were conducted on modified unsaturated polyester reinforced with four different woven fabrics using hand-layup method to investigate the effect of fiber type and fiber combinations. The time-load curves were analysed and scanning electron microscopy was used to observe the surface of the impacted composite laminates. The results indicated that all the composites had ductility index (DI) of above two for the test conducted at impact energy of 27J with the monolithic composite of Kevlar having the highest DI. The damage modes observed were mainly matrix cracks and fiber breakages. Hybridization of the fibers in the matrix was observed to minimize these damages. | Ductility index; Fibers; Hybrid; Impact; Lay-up; Microstructures | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84884275207 | The impact of co-existence of diabetes and hypertension on oxidative stress in non obese subjects | Blessing I.O., Abraham O.O. | 2013 | Journal of Medical Sciences (Faisalabad) | 13 | 8 | 10.3923/jms.2013.767.772 | Department of Chemical Pathology, College of Medicine, Ambrose Alii University, Ekpoma, Edo State, Nigeria; Department of Biochemistry, Ambrose Alii University, Ekpoma, Edo State, Nigeria | Blessing, I.O., Department of Chemical Pathology, College of Medicine, Ambrose Alii University, Ekpoma, Edo State, Nigeria; Abraham, O.O., Department of Biochemistry, Ambrose Alii University, Ekpoma, Edo State, Nigeria | Co-occurrence of diabetes and hypertension is not unfamiliar in the world today and where this co-exists, it is said to aggravate cardiovascular complications. On the other hand, the significance of oxidative stress in cardiovascular condition has been recognized. Hence, this study investigated the impact hypertension and diabetes mellitus has on oxidative stress and the status of some antioxidants in non obese subjects. The study involves 204 non obese subjects who are hypertensive (NOH; n = 53), diabetes (NOD; n = 51), diabetes and hypertensive (NODH; n = 40) and non hypertensive non diabetes (NONDH; control; n = 60). There ages, blood pressure, fasting blood glucose and body mass index were determined using standard techniques while their oxidative stress and antioxidants status were analyzed via standard laboratory procedures. The results showed no significant difference in the ages and BMI in the entire groups. However, blood pressure was significant higher in the hypertensive groups while fasting blood glucose was higher in the diabetes group compared with the control. Oxidative stress was significantly higher (p<0.05) in the NOD, NOH and NODH groups compared to the control group (NONDH; 5.32±1.85). Compared to the NONDH group, vitamin A was not significantly different (p>0.05) between the groups, vitamin E was significantly higher in group NODH (13.58±5.28) and nitric oxide was significantly lower (p<0.05) in the NOH (30.87±3.48) and NODH (30.30±3.13) groups. Judging by the findings of this study, hypertension and diabetes, either existing alone or in combination have a negative impact on oxidative stress and antioxidant status. | Co-existence; Diabetes; Hypertension; Non obese | alpha tocopherol; antioxidant; glucose; nitric oxide; retinol; adult; age; article; blood pressure; body mass; comorbidity; controlled study; diabetes mellitus; disease association; female; glucose blood level; human; hypertension; male; obesity; oxidative stress; vitamin blood level | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84858316120 | Evaluation of high-resolution satellite rainfall products through streamflow simulation in a hydrological modeling of a small mountainous watershed in Ethiopia | Bitew M.M., Gebremichael M., Ghebremichael L.T., Bayissa Y.A. | 2012 | Journal of Hydrometeorology | 13 | 1 | 10.1175/2011JHM1292.1 | Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, United States; Rubenstein School of Environmental Resources, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, United States; Department of Civil Engineering, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | Bitew, M.M., Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, United States; Gebremichael, M., Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, United States; Ghebremichael, L.T., Rubenstein School of Environmental Resources, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, United States; Bayissa, Y.A., Department of Civil Engineering, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | This study focuses on evaluating four widely used global high-resolution satellite rainfall products [the Climate Prediction Center's morphing technique (CMORPH) product, the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) Multisatellite Precipitation Analysis (TMPA) near-real-time product (3B42RT), the TMPA method post-real-time research version product (3B42), and the Precipitation Estimation from Remotely Sensed Information using Artificial Neural Networks (PERSIANN) product] with a spatial resolution of 0.25° and temporal resolution of 3 h through their streamflow simulations in the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) hydrologic model of a 299-km 2 mountainous watershed in Ethiopia. Results show significant biases in the satellite rainfall estimates. The 3B42RT and CMORPH products perform better than the 3B42 and PERSIANN. The predictive ability of each of the satellite rainfall was examined using a SWAT model calibrated in two different approaches: with rain gauge rainfall as input, and with each of the satellite rainfall products as input. Significant improvements in model streamflow simulations are obtained when the model is calibrated with input-specific rainfall data than with rain gauge data. Calibrating SWAT with satellite rainfall estimates results in curve number values that are by far higher than the standard tabulated values, and therefore caution must be exercised when using standard tabulated parameter values with satellite rainfall inputs. The study also reveals that bias correction of satellite rainfall estimates significantly improves the model simulations. The best-performing model simulations based on satellite rainfall inputs are obtained after bias correction and model recalibration. © 2012 American Meteorological Society. | Africa; Hydrologic models; Rainfall; Satellite observations; Streamflow | calibration; hydrological modeling; numerical model; parameterization; precipitation intensity; raingauge; satellite imagery; spatial resolution; streamflow; temporal variation; TRMM; watershed; Ethiopia | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84906673266 | Evaluation of combined pareto multiobjective differential evolution on tuneable problems | Adeyemo J.A., Olofintoye O.O. | 2014 | International Journal of Simulation Modelling | 13 | 3 | 10.2507/IJSIMM13(3)2.264 | Department of Civil Engineering and Surveying, Durban University of Technology, P.O. Box 1334, Durban, 4000, South Africa | Adeyemo, J.A., Department of Civil Engineering and Surveying, Durban University of Technology, P.O. Box 1334, Durban, 4000, South Africa; Olofintoye, O.O., Department of Civil Engineering and Surveying, Durban University of Technology, P.O. Box 1334, Durban, 4000, South Africa | Many optimization problems in engineering involve the satisfaction of multiple objectives within the limits of certain constraints. Methods of evolutionary multi-objective algorithms (EMOAs) have been proposed and applied to solve such problems. Recently, a combined Pareto multi-objective differential evolution (CPMDE) algorithm was proposed. The algorithm combines Pareto selection procedures for multi-objective differential evolution to implement a novel selection scheme. The ability of CPMDE in solving unconstrained, constrained and real optimization problems was demonstrated and competitive results obtained from the application of CPMDE suggest that it is a good alternative for solving multi-objective optimization problems. In this work, CPMDE is further tested using tuneable multi-objective test problems and applied to solve a real world engineering design problem. Results obtained herein further corroborate the efficacy of CPMDE in multi-objective optimization. | Constraints; Differential evolution; Evolutionary algorithms; Multi-objective optimization; Tuneable test beds | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84874958796 | Evaluation of the high-resolution CMORPH satellite rainfall product using dense rain gauge observations and radar-based estimates | Habib E., Haile A.T., Tian Y., Joyce R.J. | 2012 | Journal of Hydrometeorology | 13 | 6 | 10.1175/JHM-D-12-017.1 | Department of Civil Engineering, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Lafayette, LA, United States; African Climate Policy Center, UNECA, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, United States; NOAA Climate Prediction Center, Camp Springs, MD, United States | Habib, E., Department of Civil Engineering, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Lafayette, LA, United States; Haile, A.T., Department of Civil Engineering, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Lafayette, LA, United States, African Climate Policy Center, UNECA, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Tian, Y., Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, United States; Joyce, R.J., NOAA Climate Prediction Center, Camp Springs, MD, United States | This study focuses on the evaluation of the NOAA-NCEP Climate Prediction Center (CPC) morphing technique (CMORPH) satellite-based rainfall product at fine space-time resolutions (1 h and 8 km). The evaluation was conducted during a 28-month period from 2004 to 2006 using a high-quality experimental rain gauge network in southern Louisiana, United States. The dense arrangement of rain gauges allowed for multiple gauges to be located within a single CMORPH pixel and provided a relatively reliable approximation of pixel-average surface rainfall. The results suggest that the CMORPH product has high detection skills: the probability of successful detection is ;80% for surface rain rates >2 mm h-1 and probability of false detection <3%. However, significant and alarming missed-rain and false-rain volumes of 21% and 22%, respectively, were reported. The CMORPH product has a negligible bias when assessed for the entire study period. On an event scale it has significant biases that exceed 100%. The fine-resolution CMORPH estimates have high levels of random errors; however, these errors get reduced rapidly when the estimates are aggregated in time or space. To provide insight into future improvements, the study examines the effect of temporal availability of passive microwave rainfall estimates on the product accuracy. The study also investigates the implications of using a radar-based rainfall product as an evaluation surface reference dataset instead of gauge observations. The findings reported in this study guide future enhancements of rainfall products and increase their informed usage in a variety of research and operational applications. © 2012 American Meteorological Society. | Algorithms; In situ atmospheric observations; Radars/Radar observations; Satellite observations | algorithm; error analysis; image resolution; radar; rainfall; raingauge; satellite data; Louisiana; United States | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84908368847 | Evaluation of the extent and pattern of use of herbal bitters among students in a tertiary institution in southwestern Nigeria | Showande S.J., Amokeodo O.S. | 2014 | Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research | 13 | 10 | 10.4314/tjpr.v13i10.20 | Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Administration, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria | Showande, S.J., Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Administration, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Amokeodo, O.S., Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Administration, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria | Purpose: To evaluate the extent and pattern of use of herbal bitters among students.Methods: This was a cross-sectional study where pre-tested structured questionnaires were administered to 1000 students. The questionnaire elicited information on the extent and pattern of use, self-reported indications, side effects experienced and possible drugs that were concomitantly coadministered with herbal bitters. Pearson Chi square, Fisher exact test and Relative risk ratio were used to detect association between gender and self-reported indications and side effects experienced with herbal bitters at a level of significance of p < 0.05.Results: The response rate and extent of use were 96% and 40.9% respectively. Herbal bitters were used for claims such as cleansers 88 (40.2%), anti-infectives 48 (21.1%), for rejuvenation 32 (14.0%), and for weight loss 14 (6.1%). Self-reported side effects included dizziness 49 (22.0%), loss of taste 46 (20.6%) and nausea and vomiting 22 (9.7%). Herbal bitters were also co-administered with antimalarials 22 (6.3%); analgesics 16 (4.5%) and herbal supplements 13 (3.7%). Reports of students using two different types of herbal bitter concurrently 15 (3.9%) were also garnered. Male students experienced more side effects than females (p < 0.05).Conclusion: The co-administration of herbal bitters with allopathic medicines and the use of more than one herbal bitter at a time reported in this study can be addressed by the appropriate health authorities through proper educational programme. © Pharmacotherapy Group, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Benin, Benin City, 300001 Nigeria. All rights reserved. | Advertisement; Allopathic medicines; Herbal bitters; Nigeria; Students | analgesic agent; antiinfective agent; antimalarial agent; herbaceous agent; herbal bitter; toothpaste; unclassified drug; adult; arthralgia; Article; chi square test; clinical evaluation; constipation; cross-sectional study; dizziness; drug use; dysmenorrhea; epigastric pain; eye pain; female; Fisher exact test; headache; human; libido disorder; male; menstrual irregularity; nausea and vomiting; Nigeria; paresthesia; polydipsia; questionnaire; rash; rejuvenation; risk factor; stomach pain; student; swelling; tooth pain; weakness; weight reduction; young adult | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84910072636 | Impact of village savings and loans associations on the nutritional status of under-five children: A case study in the Sissala West District of Upper West Region | Abubakari A., Sadik B.B., Keisan Y. | 2014 | Pakistan Journal of Nutrition | 13 | 7 | 10.3923/pjn.2014.390.396 | Department of Community Nutrition, University for Development Studies, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, P.O. Box 1883, Tamale, Ghana | Abubakari, A., Department of Community Nutrition, University for Development Studies, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, P.O. Box 1883, Tamale, Ghana; Sadik, B.B., Department of Community Nutrition, University for Development Studies, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, P.O. Box 1883, Tamale, Ghana; Keisan, Y., Department of Community Nutrition, University for Development Studies, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, P.O. Box 1883, Tamale, Ghana | This study examined the impact of Village Savings and Loans Associations introduced by PLAN Ghana in the Sissala West District on the nutritional status of under-five children in the area. The study was carried out in six randomly selected communities (Silbelle, Buoti, Kandia, Zini, Nimoro and Buo), within which this Savings Programme is in operation. The focus areas of the study were; how food is accessed in the study area, contribution of women to household nutrition, nutrition situation in the VSLA households since the inception of the programme, factors that affect nutritional status and also to ascertain the knowledge, beliefs and practices of beneficiary communities on food production, preparations and consumption. Data collected was both quantitative and qualitative and was obtained using semi-structured interview and anthropometry measurement. The result suggested that the institution of Village Savings and Loans Associations has resulted in better nutrition and health of children in the beneficiaries' households. It is recommended that the NGO (PLAN GHANA) should expand the coverage of the programme to more communities in the district. The recommendations also implored policy makers to design favourable policies on microfinance programmes in general. © Asian Network for Scientific Information, 2014. | Africa; Food insecurity; Health; Nutrition | adolescent; adult; anthropometric parameters; Article; female; food industry; food insecurity; food intake; food processing; Ghana; health economics; health program; human; information processing; male; malnutrition; nutritional status; questionnaire; sampling; semi structured interview | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84929887653 | Quality Evaluation of Kokoro Produced from Maize–Pigeon Pea Flour Blends | Adegunwa M.O., Adeniyi O.D., Adebowale A.A., Bakare H.A. | 2015 | Journal of Culinary Science and Technology | 13 | 3 | 10.1080/15428052.2015.1015665 | Department of Hospitality and Tourism, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria; Department of Food Science and Technology, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria | Adegunwa, M.O., Department of Hospitality and Tourism, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria; Adeniyi, O.D., Department of Food Science and Technology, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria; Adebowale, A.A., Department of Food Science and Technology, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria; Bakare, H.A., Department of Hospitality and Tourism, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria | Kokoro is a very popular local snack in Nigeria made from whole maize flour. Kokoro snack produced from maize–pigeon pea flour blends was evaluated. Pigeon pea flour was added to increase the protein content of Kokoro. Maize and Pigeon pea flour (PPF) were mixed in various proportions. The blends were made into a thick dough, shaped into a ring shape, and deep fried in hot vegetable oil (170°C) for 5 min. Functional and pasting properties of the blended flour were evaluated, while the products obtained were analyzed for proximate composition, sensory and textural analysis. Oil absorption of the flour blends decreased with increase in PPF (1.95–1.50 g/ml). Foaming capacity (4.38–1.00%) and foaming stability (0.81–0.40%) decreased with increase in PPF.There were significant changes (p < 0.05) in the pasting properties of the resulting flour blends where 100% maize had the highest value of 89.17 RVU and 242.50 RVU for peak and final viscosity, respectively. Crude protein and fat of kokoro snack increased with increase in PPF, ranging from 8.31 to 15.14 % and 15.47 to 18.14%, respectively. This indicates the potentials of the PPF in improving the nutritional status of the snack. There were no significant differences in the thickness and energy to break the snack, regardless of the level of substitution. There was a significant difference (p < 0.05) in all the sensory attributes of the kokoro. The results revealed that 30 and 40% substitution of PPF were not significantly different from 100% whole maize kokoro, which is the normal traditional one. © , Copyright © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. | kokoro; maize flour; Pigeon pea flour; proximate properties; textural analysis | Grain (agricultural product); Proteins; Sensory analysis; kokoro; Maize flour; Pigeon pea; proximate properties; Textural analysis; Quality control; Cajanus cajan; Zea mays | None |
| None | None | Evaluation of nutritive value of browse tree fodder species in semi-arid Kiteto and Kongwa districts of Tanzania | Nassoro Z., Rubanza C.D.K., Kimaro A.A. | 2015 | Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment | 13 | 42433 | None | Department of Conservation Biology, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Dodoma, P.O Box 338, Dodoma, Tanzania; ICRAF Tanzania, P.O Box 6226, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania | Nassoro, Z., Department of Conservation Biology, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Dodoma, P.O Box 338, Dodoma, Tanzania; Rubanza, C.D.K., Department of Conservation Biology, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Dodoma, P.O Box 338, Dodoma, Tanzania; Kimaro, A.A., ICRAF Tanzania, P.O Box 6226, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania | The use of browse tree fodder as supplements to ruminant feeding in the tropics is limited by lack of information on their nutritive potential. A study was carried out based on objectives: (1) to determine chemical composition and concentration of minerals and (2) to assess in vitro digestibility potential of five foliage species of Acacia (A. mellifera, A. senegal, A. tortilis and A. xanthophloea); and Boscia spp. indigenous to Kongwa and Kiteto districts, compared to Gliricidia sepium, Leucaena pallida and Melia azedarach that are established in farmlands in the two districts aiming to fill the existing feed gap for ruminants and soil improvement purposes. Data on chemical and mineral composition were analysed for ANOVA by using SAS software. The browse tree species had high levels of crude protein (CP) that varied (P < 0.05) among the species from 130 to 230 g/kg DM for A. xanthophloea and G. sepium, respectively. The species had moderate to low (P < 0.05) contents of fibers which varied among the species. The NDF ranged from 342 (A. xanthophloea) to 644 g/kg DM (Boscia spp.), ADF from 184 g/kg DM (L. pallida) to 577 g/kg DM (M. azedarach) and ADL from 38 to 175 g/ kg DM. The browse species had adequate levels of macro minerals ranging 2.2 - 12.6, 1.8 - 7.1, 1.4 - 6.4 and 1.5 - 3.1 g/kg DM for Ca, P, Mg and S, respectively. Concentrations of micro minerals were moderate to high (P < 0.05) (4.3 - 53, 155 - 300, 13.1 - 80.9 and 15.2 - 46 mg/kg DM for Cu, Fe, Man and Zn, respectively). The species had high (P < 0.05) in vitro digestibility potential 320 - 671 and 325 - 658 g/kg DM for IVOMD and IVDMD, respectively. Browse tree fodder species with enough foliage biomasses such as A. tortilis (pods), G. sepium, L. pallida and M. azedarach and in the current study could be utilized as protein supplements to ruminant livestock fed on low quality feeds including hays, stovers and crop residues due to their high levels of crude protein and minerals, low fibre contents as well as high digestibility potential. © 2015, World Food Ltd. and WFL Publishers. All rights reserved. | Acacia; Browse fodder; Chemical composition; In vitro digestibility; Minerals; Ruminants | calcium; lignin; magnesium; mineral; organic matter; phosphorus; protein; sulfur; Acacia; acid detergent fiber; animal food; Article; chemical composition; concentration (parameters); digestion; feeding; foliage; Gliricidia; Leucaena; livestock; Melia azedarach; neutral detergent fiber; nonhuman; nutritional value; plant residue; season; Tanzania | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-67349163613 | Impact of a dam on benthic macroinvertebrates in a small river in a biodiversity hotspot: Cape Floristic Region, South Africa | Bredenhand E., Samways M.J. | 2009 | Journal of Insect Conservation | 13 | 3 | 10.1007/s10841-008-9173-2 | Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology, Centre for Invasion Biology, University of Stellenbosch, P/Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa | Bredenhand, E., Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology, Centre for Invasion Biology, University of Stellenbosch, P/Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa; Samways, M.J., Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology, Centre for Invasion Biology, University of Stellenbosch, P/Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa | Suitable reservoirs and monitoring methods are needed to manage scarce water supplies in dry countries. We assessed here the impact on aquatic macroinvertebrates of the only dam on the Eerste River, which runs through the heart of a biodiversity hotspot, the Cape Floristic Region, South Africa. The dam and associated activities, were the only forms of disturbance in this otherwise pristine area. We sampled over 20,000 macroinvertebrate individuals and illustrated some categorical effects of the impoundment and its effects on macroinvertebrate assemblages. Macroinvertebrate species diversity below the dam was only half of that in the pristine catchment area above the dam. Furthermore, Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera diversity and abundance dropped to almost zero as a result of the impoundment. In contrast, the abundance of the Diptera family Chironomidae increased substantially below the dam. These changes in macroinvertebrate diversity mirrored those recorded in biologically less diverse areas, but are of major concern in this biodiversity hotspot with its rich endemic fauna. We conclude that such an impoundment, while important for human welfare, results in a high price being paid in terms of loss of local biodiversity. © Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2008. | Cape Floristic Region; Dam; Diversity; Freshwateri nvertebrates; Impact | benthos; biodiversity; Cape Floristic Region; dam; ecological impact; freshwater ecosystem; impoundment; macroinvertebrate; Africa; South Africa; Southern Africa; Sub-Saharan Africa; Chironomidae; Diptera; Ephemeroptera; Plecoptera; Trichoptera | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84942874405 | Exploring the use of financial capacity as a predictor of construction company corporate performance: Evidence from South Africa | Tucker G.C., Windapo A., Cattell K.S. | 2015 | Journal of Engineering, Design and Technology | 13 | 4 | 10.1108/JEDT-10-2013-0074 | Department of Construction Economics and Management, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa | Tucker, G.C., Department of Construction Economics and Management, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Windapo, A., Department of Construction Economics and Management, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Cattell, K.S., Department of Construction Economics and Management, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa | Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the resilient operational variables that impact the corporate performance of construction companies in the South African construction industry and to explore whether financial capacity can be used as a predictor of construction company performance in the context of the South African construction industry. Design/methodology/approach – The operational variables of construction companies that impact their corporate performance were identified through an in-depth review of the extant literature. A combination of convenience and snowball sampling techniques were used in identifying 185 building and civil engineering construction companies based in four provinces of South Africa and registered in Grades 2-6 of the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) contractor grading register. The data used in the study were collected from this cohort of respondents through the use of structured questionnaires. At the end of the study period, 62 valid responses representing a response rate of 33.5 per cent were received. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Findings – The findings of this study indicate that there is a significant positive relationship between the financial capital and net assets of construction companies and their corporate performance in terms of turnover. The data collected did not support any significant relationship between other operating financial variables, such as Return on Capital Employed and profitability and financial performance. Research limitations/implications – A predictive model for predicting the financial performance of firms was developed from the data collected. The implication of this is that the more financial capital possessed by a construction company, the more the company’s financial performance in terms of turnover. The CIDB can use financial capacity as a measure when grading contractors, as a good number of contractors are not performing. The predictive model developed could be adopted by the CIDB as an instrument for predicting the corporate financial performance of construction companies that seek to be listed on their contractor grading register. Originality/value – This research will be of significance to researchers and members of the research community in providing new knowledge as well as to contractors in enabling them to understand the importance of having financial capital. It is also of importance to the CIDB in their quest for contractor and construction industry development. Further research to validate the results obtained in this study using a larger sample size across more provinces of South Africa will form the basis of future studies. © 2015, Emerald Group Publishing Limited. | Capability; Construction industry; Construction management; Corporate performance; Entrepreneurship; Financial capital; Financing; Human resources management; Information and knowledge management; Modeling; Net assets; Turnover | Construction; Construction industry; Contractors; Grading; Information management; Knowledge management; Models; Personnel; Project management; Surveys; Capability; Construction management; Corporate performance; Entrepreneurship; Financial capital; Financing; Human resources management; Information and knowledge managements; Net assets; Turnover; Finance | NRF, National Research Foundation |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77949695407 | Students and teachers' perception of the causes of poor academic performance in ogun state secondary schools [Nigeria]: Implications for couselling for national development | Asikhia O.A. | 2010 | European Journal of Social Sciences | 13 | 2 | None | Department of Curriculum Studies and Instruction Michael, Otedola College of Primary Education Noforija-Epe, Lagos State, Nigeria | Asikhia, O.A., Department of Curriculum Studies and Instruction Michael, Otedola College of Primary Education Noforija-Epe, Lagos State, Nigeria | The study examined the perception of students and teachers on the causes of poor academic performance among secondary school students in Ogun State, Nigeria. Subjects for the study were one hundred and thirty-five (135) students and fifty (50) teachers randomly drawn from five secondary schools in Odogbolu Local Government Area of Ogun State. Questionnaire was used to collect relevant data for the study. Percentages and chi-square were used to analyse the research questions. Responses of teachers showed that teachers' qualification and students' environment do not influence students' poor performance but teachers' methods of teaching influence poor academic performance. Students' response on the other hand showed that while teachers' qualification and students' environment influence students' poor performance, teachers' method of teaching and learning materials do not. The implications of these findings for secondary school guidance counselors interested in counseling adolescents for good academic performance were discussed. | None | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84895928752 | Evaluation of a universal long-lasting insecticidal net (LLIN) distribution campaign in Ghana: Cost effectiveness of distribution and hang-up activities | Smith Paintain L., Awini E., Addei S., Kukula V., Nikoi C., Sarpong D., Kwesi Manyei A., Yayemain D., Rusamira E., Agborson J., Baffoe-Wilmot A., Bart-Plange C., Chatterjee A., Gyapong M., Mangham-Jefferies L. | 2014 | Malaria Journal | 13 | 1 | 10.1186/1475-2875-13-71 | Department of Disease Control, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom; Dodowa Health Research Centre, Dangme West District, Dodowa, Ghana; UNICEF Offices, 4-8th Rangoon Close, Accra-North, Ghana; National Malaria Control Programme, Ghana Health Service, PO Box KB493, Accra, Greater Accra, Ghana; Department of Global Health and Development, Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, 15-17 Tavistock Place, London WC1H 9SH, United Kingdom | Smith Paintain, L., Department of Disease Control, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom; Awini, E., Dodowa Health Research Centre, Dangme West District, Dodowa, Ghana; Addei, S., Dodowa Health Research Centre, Dangme West District, Dodowa, Ghana; Kukula, V., Dodowa Health Research Centre, Dangme West District, Dodowa, Ghana; Nikoi, C., Dodowa Health Research Centre, Dangme West District, Dodowa, Ghana; Sarpong, D., Dodowa Health Research Centre, Dangme West District, Dodowa, Ghana; Kwesi Manyei, A., Dodowa Health Research Centre, Dangme West District, Dodowa, Ghana; Yayemain, D., UNICEF Offices, 4-8th Rangoon Close, Accra-North, Ghana; Rusamira, E., UNICEF Offices, 4-8th Rangoon Close, Accra-North, Ghana; Agborson, J., UNICEF Offices, 4-8th Rangoon Close, Accra-North, Ghana; Baffoe-Wilmot, A., National Malaria Control Programme, Ghana Health Service, PO Box KB493, Accra, Greater Accra, Ghana; Bart-Plange, C., National Malaria Control Programme, Ghana Health Service, PO Box KB493, Accra, Greater Accra, Ghana; Chatterjee, A., UNICEF Offices, 4-8th Rangoon Close, Accra-North, Ghana; Gyapong, M., Dodowa Health Research Centre, Dangme West District, Dodowa, Ghana; Mangham-Jefferies, L., Department of Global Health and Development, Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, 15-17 Tavistock Place, London WC1H 9SH, United Kingdom | Background: Between May 2010 and October 2012, approximately 12.5 million long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) were distributed through a national universal mass distribution campaign in Ghana. The campaign included pre-registration of persons and sleeping places, door-to-door distribution of LLINs with 'hang-up' activities by volunteers and post-distribution 'keep-up' behaviour change communication activities. Hang-up activities were included to encourage high and sustained use. Methods. The cost and cost-effectiveness of the LLIN Campaign were evaluated using a before-after design in three regions: Brong Ahafo, Central and Western. The incremental cost effectiveness of the 'hang-up' component was estimated using reported variation in the implementation of hang-up activities and LLIN use. Economic costs were estimated from a societal perspective assuming LLINs would be replaced after three years, and included the time of unpaid volunteers and household contributions given to volunteers. Results: Across the three regions, 3.6 million campaign LLINs were distributed, and 45.5% of households reported the LLINs received were hung-up by a volunteer. The financial cost of the campaign was USD 6.51 per LLIN delivered. The average annual economic cost was USD 2.90 per LLIN delivered and USD 6,619 per additional child death averted by the campaign. The cost-effectiveness of the campaign was sensitive to the price, lifespan and protective efficacy of LLINs.Hang-up activities constituted 7% of the annual economic cost, though the additional financial cost was modest given the use of volunteers. LLIN use was greater in households in which one or more campaign LLINs were hung by a volunteer (OR = 1.57; 95% CI = 1.09, 2.27; p = 0.02). The additional economic cost of the hang-up activities was USD 0.23 per LLIN delivered, and achieved a net saving per LLIN used and per death averted. Conclusion: In this campaign, hang-up activities were estimated to be net saving if hang-up increased LLIN use by 10% or more. This suggests hang-up activities can make a LLIN campaign more cost-effective. © 2014 Smith Paintain et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | None | article; bed net; child death; cost control; cost effectiveness analysis; female; Ghana; household; human; lifespan; motivation; privacy; recipient; sleep; training; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Child; Child, Preschool; Cost-Benefit Analysis; Female; Ghana; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Insecticide-Treated Bednets; Insecticides; Malaria; Male; Middle Aged; Mosquito Control; Pregnancy; Young Adult | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-55249105452 | Science and technology policy in South Africa: Past performance and proposals for the future | Kaplan D. | 2008 | Science, Technology and Society | 13 | 1 | 10.1177/097172180701300104 | Department of Economics, Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship Graduate School of Business, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701 Cape Town, South Africa | Kaplan, D., Department of Economics, Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship Graduate School of Business, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701 Cape Town, South Africa | This article provides a high-level review of the performance of the S&T system in South Africa. All the indicators suggest that, at a high level, performance has not been strong. This is despite the fact that more resources have been devoted to S&T and that there has been extensive policy experimentation. The argument advanced is that the key factor explaining this weak performance is poor provision of skilled labour. The article critically examines the recent OECD review of S&T in South Africa in this light. Finally, the article examines the proposed future direction of S&T policy in South Africa as reflected in the twenty-year plan of the Department of Science and Technology. The plan is highly ambitious, considerably expanding the scope of S&T policy and projects. While it recognises the critical importance of increasing high-level skills for innovation, it fails to give adequate recognition to the fact that this will take time. Accordingly, new projects will need to be undertaken after, and not contemporaneously with, the expansion in the supply of skills. | None | Performance; Science and Technology; South Africa; Technology Policy; future prospect; innovation; OECD; science and technology; skilled labor; technological development; technology policy; Africa; South Africa; Southern Africa; Sub-Saharan Africa | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84878241427 | New corporate code and immediate performance change of the Nigerian firms | Adewuyi A.O., Olowookere A.E. | 2013 | Corporate Governance (Bingley) | 13 | 2 | 10.1108/14720701311316643 | Department of Economics, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria | Adewuyi, A.O., Department of Economics, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Olowookere, A.E., Department of Economics, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria | Purpose: This study aims to investigate the immediate impact of a newly released code of governance on the financial performance of Nigerian companies. Tests are carried out to determine whether firms that comply more with the code experience better performance. Design/methodology/approach: The governance change of Nigerian listed firms after the newly released code is classified into ex ante good governance change or ex ante bad governance change; the differences in performance between the good governance change firms and bad governance change firms are then compared. Since firms in any year can change more than one governance indicator, an index of aggregate governance change is computed and the performance of firms from two extreme governance rankings is compared. Findings: It is found that in the immediate period after the release of the code, Nigerian firms reorganised their governance mechanism, and this sometimes involved substitution among mechanisms. However, the performance increase accrued to any firm with reorganisation towards a good mechanism could have been eroded when the same firm instituted a change towards another mechanism that matches the definition of bad change. This therefore makes an attempt to differentiate performance based on governance change (pre- and post-new code) difficult and insignificant. Originality/value: This study contributes to the scarce literature on corporate governance and firm performance in developing countries. Specifically, it can be regarded as the first study to test the immediate impact of a new code of governance on Nigerian firms. Equally, the adopted methodology makes it the first study to compute and test an aggregate index of governance change for Nigeria. © Emerald Group Publishing Limited. | Agency problem; Companies; Corporate code; Corporate governance; Firms; Governance; Governance substitution; Nigeria | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-36148989151 | Evaluation of attempted-suicide management in a rural district of KwaZulu-Natal | Nakin D.C.T., Joubert G., Pretorius P.J., van Vuuren M.J.V. | 2007 | South African Journal of Psychiatry | 13 | 2 | None | Department of Family Medicine, Biostatistics and Psychiatry, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa | Nakin, D.C.T., Department of Family Medicine, Biostatistics and Psychiatry, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa; Joubert, G., Department of Family Medicine, Biostatistics and Psychiatry, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa; Pretorius, P.J., Department of Family Medicine, Biostatistics and Psychiatry, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa; van Vuuren, M.J.V., Department of Family Medicine, Biostatistics and Psychiatry, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa | Objectives: Critical aspects in the management of attempted-suicide patients have been identified in the literature. The aim of this study was to determine which of these aspects were included in the management of patients who attempted suicide in a rural district of KwaZulu-Natal. Design. Descriptive study. Setting. The two hospitals in a rural district of KwaZulu-Natal. Subjects. Attempted-suicide patients admitted to the above two hospitals between 1 June 2001 and 31 March 2002. Outcome measures. Patients were interviewed regarding how they were managed and were followed up until 3 months after the attempted suicide. Results. Medicine was given to 41% of participants on admission and 64% were counselled by a doctor. A no-suicide contract was entered into in 42% of counselled cases. Family therapy, social worker involvement and psychiatric referral were very low and there was no involvement of friends, teachers or priests. Conclusion. Management of patients who attempted suicide in this district is inadequate as there are no proper policy guidelines. It is important that health caregivers be trained in psychiatry. | None | psychotropic agent; adult; article; clergy; clinical practice; descriptive research; family therapy; female; follow up; friend; health care delivery; health personnel attitude; hospital admission; human; major clinical study; male; outcome assessment; patient care; patient counseling; patient referral; practice guideline; rural health care; social support; social worker; South Africa; suicide attempt; teacher | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84938817732 | Evaluation of Some Quality Attributes of Noodles from Unripe Plantain and Defatted Sesame Flour Blends | Azeez A.T., Adegunwa M.O., Sobukola O.P., Onabanjo O.O., Adebowale A.A. | 2015 | Journal of Culinary Science and Technology | 13 | 4 | 10.1080/15428052.2015.1015670 | Department of Food Science and Technology, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria; Department of Hospitality and Tourism, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria; Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Federal University of Agri | Azeez, A.T., Department of Food Science and Technology, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria; Adegunwa, M.O., Department of Hospitality and Tourism, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria; Sobukola, O.P., Department of Food Science and Technology, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria; Onabanjo, O.O., Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria; Adebowale, A.A., Department of Food Science and Technology, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria | The study evaluated some quality attributes of extruded noodles from unripe plantain and defatted sesame composite flour. Response surface methodology (RSM) based on Box-Behnken design was used to obtain the optimum conditions. Chemical compositions, functional and pasting properties of the blends, as well as proximate, quality attributes and sensory properties of the noodles from the blends were determined. The addition of defatted sesame flour to unripe plantain flour increases protein, ash, and fiber contents, while carbohydrate contents decreased. Water absorption index and bulk density increased while swelling power and dispersibility decreased with sesame flour inclusion. The independent variables significantly affected all the physical properties of the extruded noodles (p < 0.05) except for the expansion ratio. Overall acceptability of the noodles from the composite flour showed that it was slightly acceptable. In conclusion, the process-optimized conditions of the noodles are defatted sesame flour inclusion of 5% at 72°C and screw speed of 83 rpm, which improved the physical and sensory properties of the noodles. Copyright © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. | defatted sesame flour; Extrusion; proximate composition; quality attributes of noodles; unripe plantain flour | Extrusion; Water absorption; defatted sesame flour; Independent variables; Overall acceptability; Proximate compositions; Quality attributes; Response surface methodology; unripe plantain flour; Water absorption index; Quality control; Sesamum indicum | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84920087803 | Production and Quality Evaluation of Noodles From Sweet Potato Starch | Adedotun H., Adebowale A.-R.A., Olayiwola I.O., Shittu T.A., Sanni L.O. | 2015 | Journal of Culinary Science and Technology | 13 | 1 | 10.1080/15428052.2014.952479 | Department of Food Science and Technology, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria; Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria | Adedotun, H., Department of Food Science and Technology, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria; Adebowale, A.-R.A., Department of Food Science and Technology, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria; Olayiwola, I.O., Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria; Shittu, T.A., Department of Food Science and Technology, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria; Sanni, L.O., Department of Food Science and Technology, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria | The effect of extrusion parameters (feed moisture content, barrel temperature, and screw speed) on the quality of noodles produced from sweet potato starch was investigated. Starch was extracted from the tuber of sweet potato and processed into noodles using single screw cooking extruder. The moisture, protein, and ash contents of the noodles decreased linearly with the feed moisture content and barrel temperature but decreased with increasing screw speed. Increased feed moisture content also led to decrease in water absorption capacity, cooking time, and water solubility index. Lateral expansion increased with increasing barrel temperature. Barrel temperature had significant effect (p < 0.05) on lateral expansion while screw speed and feed moisture content had significant effect (p < 0.05) on cooking time. Significant (p < 0.05) positive correlation was obtained between the overall sensory acceptability, appearance, firmness, and chewiness. The study showed that noodles of desirable functional qualities and sensory acceptability can be obtained from sweet potato starch using barrel temperature of 110°C, screw speed of 100 rpm, and feed moisture content of 47.5%. © , Copyright © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. | noodles; quality; response surface; starch; Sweet potato | Image quality; Moisture; Moisture determination; Screws; Water absorption; Extrusion parameter; In-water absorption; noodles; Positive correlations; Response surface; Sensory acceptabilities; Sweet potato; Water solubility index; Starch | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33744454393 | The effect of soil amendment on the performance of Gambaya albida (Linn) seedlings | Okunomo K., Ureigho U.N., Opute H.O. | 2006 | European Journal of Scientific Research | 13 | 2 | None | Department of Forestry and Wildlife, Delta State University, Asaba Campus, Delta State, Nigeria | Okunomo, K., Department of Forestry and Wildlife, Delta State University, Asaba Campus, Delta State, Nigeria; Ureigho, U.N., Department of Forestry and Wildlife, Delta State University, Asaba Campus, Delta State, Nigeria; Opute, H.O., Department of Forestry and Wildlife, Delta State University, Asaba Campus, Delta State, Nigeria | A study on the effect of soil amendments on the performance of G. albida was conducted at the teaching and research farm of Delta State University, Asaba Campus. A randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replicates was employed to assess the effect of these soil amendment options namely cowdung, poultry droppings, Ash and topsoil on growth performance in seedlings of Gambaya albida (Linn). Results showed that there was significant difference between the treatments (P<0.05) from 2-12 weeks after transplanting (WAT). As regards the plant height and collar difference between the treatments from the 2-12WAT. The result indicated that the soil amendment materials had significant effect on leaf number and leaf area of the species (P<0.05) throughout the duration of the study except at 4WAT. The highest mean height values of 17.17cm was recorded under poultry dropping treatment at 12WAT, while mean leaf number and leaf area values were 8.7 and 55.22cm2 respectively. The highest leaf dry weight of 1.7gwasobtainedundercowdung treatment while poultry dropping sand ash had the highest stem and root dry weights of 1.9and 1.6g respectively. It is recommended that poultry droppings should be adopted by our local farmers for the establishment of Gambaya albida seedling. © EuroJournals Publishing, Inc. 2006. | Seedling growth; Soil analysis; Tree seedlings | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84908205440 | Performance of community health workers managing malaria, pneumonia and diarrhoea under the community case management programme in central Uganda: A cross sectional study | Bagonza J., Kibira S.P.S., Rutebemberwa E. | 2014 | Malaria Journal | 13 | 1 | 10.1186/1475-2875-13-367 | Department of Health Policy, Planning and Management, School of Public Health, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda; Department of Community Health and Behavioral Sciences, School of Public Health, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda | Bagonza, J., Department of Health Policy, Planning and Management, School of Public Health, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda; Kibira, S.P.S., Department of Community Health and Behavioral Sciences, School of Public Health, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda; Rutebemberwa, E., Department of Health Policy, Planning and Management, School of Public Health, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda | Background: Lay community health workers (CHWs) have been widely used to provide curative interventions in communities that have traditionally lacked access to health care. Optimal performance of CHWs managing children with malaria, pneumonia and diarrhoea in communities is desired if a reduction in childhood morbidity and mortality is to be achieved. This study assessed factors influencing performance of CHWs managing malaria, pneumonia and diarrhoea under the Integrated Community Case Management (iCCM) programme in Wakiso district, central Uganda. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted among 336 CHWs. Data was collected using interviews and record reviews. Performance was measured using composite scores based on the core activities of CHWs under the iCCM programme. These core activities included: treating children under five years, referring severely sick children including newborns, home visits, counseling caregivers on home care, record keeping and community sensitization. Descriptive and inferential statistics using odds ratios were done to determine factors influencing performance of CHWs. Results: Of the 336 respondents, 242 (72%) were females and the overall level of good performance was 21.7% (95% CI, 17.3-26.1%). Factors significantly associated with performance were: sex (females) (AOR 2.65; 95% CI, 1.29-5.43), community support (AOR 2.29; 95% CI, 1.27-4.14), receiving feedback from health facilities (AOR 4.90; 95% CI, 2.52-9.51) and having drugs in the previous three months (AOR 2.99; 95% CI, 1.64-5.42). Conclusion: Only one in every five CHWs performed optimally under the iCCM programme. Strategies to improve drug supply, community support and feedback provision from the formal health system are necessary to improve the performance of CHWs. © 2014 Bagonza et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | CHWs; Evaluation; iCCM programme; Performance; Uganda | adult; Article; caregiver; child; community care; counseling; cross-sectional study; diarrhea; female; health auxiliary; health care personnel; health care system; health program; home care; human; interview; major clinical study; malaria; male; medical record review; performance measurement system; pneumonia; scoring system; Uganda; case management; community care; diarrhea; health auxiliary; malaria; organization and management; pneumonia; procedures; program evaluation; Adult; Case Management; Community Health Services; Community Health Workers; Cross-Sectional Studies; Diarrhea; Female; Humans; Malaria; Male; Pneumonia; Program Evaluation; Uganda | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84876108477 | Social acceptability and perceived impact of a community-led cash transfer programme in Zimbabwe | Skovdal M., Mushati P., Robertson L., Munyati S., Sherr L., Nyamukapa C., Gregson S. | 2013 | BMC Public Health | 13 | 1 | 10.1186/1471-2458-13-342 | Department of Health Promotion and Development, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway; Biomedical Research and Training Institute, Harare, Zimbabwe; School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom; Department of Infection and Population Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom | Skovdal, M., Department of Health Promotion and Development, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway; Mushati, P., Biomedical Research and Training Institute, Harare, Zimbabwe; Robertson, L., School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom; Munyati, S., Biomedical Research and Training Institute, Harare, Zimbabwe; Sherr, L., Department of Infection and Population Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom; Nyamukapa, C., Biomedical Research and Training Institute, Harare, Zimbabwe, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom; Gregson, S., Biomedical Research and Training Institute, Harare, Zimbabwe, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom | Background: Cash transfer programmes are increasingly recognised as promising and scalable interventions that can promote the health and development of children. However, concerns have been raised about the potential for cash transfers to contribute to social division, jealousy and conflict at a community level. Against this background, and in our interest to promote community participation in cash transfer programmes, we examine local perceptions of a community-led cash transfer programme in Eastern Zimbabwe. Methods. We collected and analysed data from 35 individual interviews and three focus group discussions, involving 24 key informants (community committee members and programme implementers), 24 cash transfer beneficiaries, of which four were youth, and 14 non-beneficiaries. Transcripts were subjected to thematic analysis and coding to generate concepts. Results: Study participants described the programme as participatory, fair and transparent - reducing the likelihood of jealousy. The programme was perceived to have had a substantial impact on children's health and education, primarily through aiding parents and guardians to better cater for their children's needs. Moreover, participants alluded to the potential of the programme to facilitate more transformational change, for example by enabling families to invest money in assets and income generating activities and by promoting a community-wide sense of responsibility for the support of orphaned and vulnerable children. Conclusion: Community participation, combined with the perceived impact of the cash transfer programme, led community members to speak enthusiastically about the programme. We conclude that community-led cash transfer programmes have the potential to open up for possibilities of participation and community agency that enable social acceptability and limit social divisiveness. © 2013 Skovdal et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | Cash transfers; Child health; Community participation HIV/AIDS; Incentives; Social protection; Zimbabwe | adolescent; adult; age distribution; article; automutilation; child; female; human; intoxication; male; sex ratio; Sri Lanka; Adolescent; Adult; Age Distribution; Child; Female; Humans; Male; Poisoning; Self-Injurious Behavior; Sex Distribution; Sri Lanka | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84883851015 | Assessing the implementation of performance management of health care workers in Uganda | Lutwama G.W., Roos J.H., Dolamo B.L. | 2013 | BMC Health Services Research | 13 | 1 | 10.1186/1472-6963-13-355 | Department of Health Studies, University of South Africa, P.O. Box 392, Unisa 0003, South Africa | Lutwama, G.W., Department of Health Studies, University of South Africa, P.O. Box 392, Unisa 0003, South Africa; Roos, J.H., Department of Health Studies, University of South Africa, P.O. Box 392, Unisa 0003, South Africa; Dolamo, B.L., Department of Health Studies, University of South Africa, P.O. Box 392, Unisa 0003, South Africa | Background: The performance management concept is relatively new to the Ugandan health sector. Uganda has been implementing health sector reforms for nearly two decades. The reforms included the introduction of the results-oriented management in the public sector and the decentralisation of the management of health care workers from central to local governments. This study examined the implementation of performance management of health care workers in order to propose strategies for improvement. Methods. The study was a descriptive survey carried out in the Kumi, Mbale, Sironko and Tororo districts and utilising mixed research methodology. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect quantitative data from the health care workers. A semi-structured interview guide was used to collect qualitative data from the health service managers. The sample for the quantitative method was selected using stratified random sampling. Purposive sampling was used to select health service managers. Quantitative data were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (version 18.0). Qualitative data were categorised according to the themes and analysed manually. Results: The findings show that to some extent performance management is implemented in the health sector; however, there were loopholes in its implementation. There were inadequacies in setting performance targets and performance management planning was hardly done. Although many health care workers had job descriptions, the performance indicators and standards were not clearly defined and known to all workers and managers. Additionally the schedules for performance assessments were not always adhered to. There were limited prospects for career progression, inadequate performance feedback and poor rewarding mechanisms. Conclusions: Performance management of health care workers is inadequately done in the districts. Performance management is a key component of attempts to improve health sector outcomes. As a result of this study, suggestions to enhance health sector performance management in the districts have been put forward. The authors are optimistic that if these suggestions are implemented, the performance of health care workers is likely to improve. © 2013 Lutwama et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | Health care workers; Performance improvement; Performance management; Performance measurement; Performance review | adult; article; female; health care personnel; health care quality; human; interview; male; methodology; middle aged; organization and management; personnel management; program evaluation; questionnaire; total quality management; Uganda; Adult; Employee Performance Appraisal; Female; Health Personnel; Humans; Interviews as Topic; Male; Middle Aged; Personnel Management; Program Evaluation; Quality Improvement; Quality of Health Care; Questionnaires; Uganda | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84940219584 | Chemical evaluation of unripe plantain dishes commonly consumed by type 2 diabetics attending the university of Uyo Teaching Hospital in Akwa lbom state, Nigeria | Onuoha O.N., Eme P.E., Ekpo U.E. | 2014 | Pakistan Journal of Nutrition | 13 | 6 | 10.3923/pjn.2014.331.334 | Department of Home Science, Nutrition and Dietetics, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria | Onuoha, O.N., Department of Home Science, Nutrition and Dietetics, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria; Eme, P.E., Department of Home Science, Nutrition and Dietetics, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria; Ekpo, U.E., Department of Home Science, Nutrition and Dietetics, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria | This study evaluated the chemical composition of unripe plantain dishes commonly consumed by Type-2 diabetics attending the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Akvva lbom, Nigeria. Groups of type 2 diabetic patients were engaged in a focus group discussion to identify the plantain dishes commonly prepared and their recipes. The groups mentioned many plantain dishes but five of them were randomly selected for preparation. The ingredients for preparation of the unripe plantain dishes were purchased from a market in Uyo. The proximate, mineral and antinutrient composition of the dishes were analyzed using standards methods. Means and standard deviation of the triplicate determination was determined and analysis of variance was used to separate the means. The results showed that Unripe plantain flour had the highest carbohydrate content (76.96%) while unripe plantain flour meal with vegetable soup had the highest protein and ash content. All the plantain dishes had low levels of minerals. The saponin (2.54%) and tannin (0.08%) levels of the unripe plantain flour was the highest when compared with the other plantain dishes. There is need to educate the diabetics on the nutrient content of plantain based dishes and encourage them to diversify their diets. © Asian Network for Scientific Information, 2014. | Chemical; Diabetics; Dishes; Evaluation; Plantain-based | carbohydrate; mineral; protein; saponin; tannin; article; ash; banana; chemical analysis; diet; food composition; human; Nigeria; non insulin dependent diabetes mellitus; nonhuman; nutrient | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84922385530 | Evaluation of fast disintegrating tablets of nifedipine prepared by superdisintegrant addition and sublimation methods | Okhuelegbe E.S., Ikhuoria A.M., Ike A.A. | 2014 | Dhaka University Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences | 13 | 2 | None | Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria | Okhuelegbe, E.S., Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria; Ikhuoria, A.M., Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria; Ike, A.A., Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria | Fast disintegrating tablets of nifedipine prepared by superdisintegrant addition and sublimation methods were evaluated. Twelve batches of tablets were formulated by direct compression using varying concentrations of crospovidone and croscarmellose sodium. Camphor was incorporated into six of the batches. Their granules were evaluated for pre-compression and post-compression parameters. FTIR analysis of the drug and excipients was also carried out. Results obtained showed that their granules were free flowing with angle of repose < 26° and Carr’s index < 19%. The tablets gave hardness of 3.67-5.99 kgf, friability of < 1%, wetting and disintegration times of < 101 and < 91 secs, respectively. Dissolution profiles showed all the tablets released over 92% of their drug within 30 mins. FTIR analysis demonstrated no interactions between nifedipine and excipients. The sublimation method in combination with superdisintegrant addition method of formulation yielded fast disintegrating tablets of superior quality than the superdisintegrant addition method alone. © 2014, University of Dhaka. All rights reserved. | Dissolution; Nifedipine; Post-compression; Sublimation; Superdisintegrant | aspartame; camphor; croscarmellose sodium; crospovidone; drug carrier; magnesium stearate; microcrystalline cellulose; nifedipine; talc; angle of repose; Article; Carr index; controlled study; drug determination; drug dosage form comparison; drug granule; drug screening; drug solubility; drug structure; drug synthesis; excipient compatibility; Hausner ratio; infrared spectroscopy; pharmacological parameters; sublimation method; superdisintegrant addition method; tablet compression; tablet dimension; tablet disintegration time; tablet formulation; tablet friability; tablet hardness; tablet property; tablet thickness; tablet weight; tablet wetting time; tensile strength; timed drug release | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84903581552 | Evaluation of the suspending properties of the coprecipitate of Irvingia gabonesis gum and gelatin | Eraga S.O., Iwuagwu M.A., Adikwu M.U. | 2014 | Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research | 13 | 6 | 10.4314/tjpr.v13i6.3 | Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, University of Benin, PMB 1154, Benin City 300001, Nigeria; Department of Pharmaceutics, University of Nigeria, Nsukka 410001, Nigeria | Eraga, S.O., Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, University of Benin, PMB 1154, Benin City 300001, Nigeria; Iwuagwu, M.A., Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, University of Benin, PMB 1154, Benin City 300001, Nigeria; Adikwu, M.U., Department of Pharmaceutics, University of Nigeria, Nsukka 410001, Nigeria | Purpose: To evaluate the suspending properties of the co-precipitate from Irvingia gabonensis gum variety Excelsa (Fam: Irvingiaceae) and gelatin. Methods: The gum from Irvingia gabonensis was extracted and co-precipitated with gelatin in gum/gelatin ratios of 1:1, 1:2, 1:3, 1:4, 1:0 and 0:1. The suspending ability of the different ratios was evaluated in magnesium trisilicate suspension, and compared with a suspension prepared with Compound Tragacanth Powder BP (CTP) as well as a commercially available magnesium trisilicate suspension (MTS). The parameters tested were sedimentation rate, flow rate, viscosity, and pH. The effect of mono- and divalent electrolytes on the sedimentation rate of the suspensions was also studied. Results: In terms of suspending ability, co-precipitated gum-gelatin ratio of 1:2 was comparable to CTP while gum-gelatin ratio 1:3 was a superior suspending agent than CTP with regard to the parameters determined. At 2 % w/v concentration, the suspending ability of the suspending agents were in the rank order: 1:4 > 1:3 > 1:2 > CTP > 1:1 > 1:0 > MTS > 0:1. The 1:3 ratio suspensions also exhibited good stability following addition of mono- and divalent electrolytes although there was significant (p > 0.05) reduction in sedimentation volume. Conclusion: It can be inferred from the results of this investigation that the suspension prepared with the co-precipitate of Irvingia gabonensis gum and gelatin as a suspending agent appears to be superior to those prepared with the gum or gelatin alone as well as MTS. © Pharmacotherapy Group, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Benin, Benin City, 300001 Nigeria. All rights reserved. | Co-precipitate; Electrolytes; Gelatin; Gum; Irvingia gabonensis; Magnesium trisilicate; Stability; Suspending agent | compound tragacanth powder; electrolyte; gelatin; Irvingia gabonesis gum; magnesium trisilicate; plant gum; suspending agent; unclassified drug; article; controlled study; drug formulation; flow rate; pH; physical parameters; precipitation; sedimentation rate; sedimentation volume; suspension; viscosity | None |
| None | None | Field evaluation of the photo-induced electron transfer fluorogenic primers (PET) real-time PCR for the detection of Plasmodium falciparum in Tanzania | Talundzic E., Maganga M., Masanja I.M., Peterson D.S., Udhayakumar V., Lucchi N.W. | 2014 | Malaria Journal | 13 | 1 | 10.1186/1475-2875-13-31 | Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States; Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Disease, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States; Ifakara Health Institute, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Malaria Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Center for Global Health, Atlanta, GA, United States; Atlanta Research and Education Foundation, VA Medical Center, Decatur, GA, United States | Talundzic, E., Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States, Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Disease, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States, Malaria Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Center for Global Health, Atlanta, GA, United States; Maganga, M., Ifakara Health Institute, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Masanja, I.M., Ifakara Health Institute, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Peterson, D.S., Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Disease, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States; Udhayakumar, V., Malaria Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Center for Global Health, Atlanta, GA, United States, Atlanta Research and Education Foundation, VA Medical Center, Decatur, GA, United States; Lucchi, N.W., Malaria Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Center for Global Health, Atlanta, GA, United States | Background: Accurate diagnosis of malaria infections remains challenging, especially in the identification of submicroscopic infections. New molecular diagnostic tools that are inexpensive, sensitive enough to detect low-level infections and suitable in laboratory settings of resource-limited countries are required for malaria control and elimination programmes. Here the diagnostic potential of a recently developed photo-induced electron transfer fluorogenic primer (PET) real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) called PET-PCR was investigated. This study aimed to (i) evaluate the use of this assay as a method for the detection of both Plasmodium falciparum and other Plasmodium species infections in a developing country's diagnostic laboratory; and, (ii) determine the assay's sensitivity and specificity compared to a nested 18S rRNA PCR. Methods. Samples used in this study were obtained from a previous study conducted in the region of Iringa, Tanzania. A total of 303 samples from eight health facilities in Tanzania were utilized for this evaluation. All samples were screened using the multiplex PET-PCR assay designed to detect Plasmodium genus and P. falciparum initially in laboratory in Tanzania and then repeated at a reference laboratory at the CDC in the USA. Microscopy data was available for all the 303 samples. A subset of the samples were tested in a blinded fashion to find the sensitivity and specificity of the PET-PCR compared to the nested 18S rRNA PCR. Results: Compared to microscopy, the PET-PCR assay was 59% more sensitive in detecting P. falciparum infections. The observed sensitivity and specificity were 100% (95% confidence interval (CI0.95) = 94-100%) and (CI0.95 = 96-100%), respectively, for the PET-PCR assay when compared to nested 18S rRNA PCR. When compared to 18S rRNA PCR, microscopy had a low sensitivity of 40% (CI0.95 = 23-61%) and specificity of 100% (CI0.95 = 96-100%). The PET-PCR results performed in the field laboratory in Tanzania were in 100% concordance with the results obtained at the reference laboratory in the USA. Conclusion: The PET-PCR is a new molecular diagnostic tool with similar performance characteristics as commonly used PCR methods that is less expensive, easy to use, and amiable to large scale-surveillance studies in developing country settings. © 2014 Talundzic et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | Asymptomatic malaria; Malaria; Molecular test; PET-PCR; Tanzania | DNA Primers; DNA, Protozoan; Fluorescent Dyes; Malaria, Falciparum; Microscopy; Molecular Diagnostic Techniques; Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction; Plasmodium falciparum; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S; Sensitivity and Specificity; Tanzania | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84949818641 | Impact of structure on organisational performance of seleceted technical and service firms in Nigeria | Ogbo A.I., Chibueze N.F., Christopher O.C., Anthony I.A. | 2015 | Corporate Ownership and Control | 13 | 1CONT10 | None | Department of Management, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Nigeria; Department of Business Administration, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Enugu, Nigeria | Ogbo, A.I., Department of Management, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Nigeria; Chibueze, N.F., Department of Management, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Nigeria; Christopher, O.C., Department of Business Administration, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Enugu, Nigeria; Anthony, I.A., Department of Management, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Nigeria | The study aimed at establishing the impact of structure on organizational performance. Organizations today are becoming more automated and complex, hence, the need to maintain and improve performance by structuring and restructuring based on changing strategy. The study was conducted using the survey approach. The geographical scope of study was Innoson Nigeria Ltd, and Etisalat, Enugu Regional Office. Two sources of data were utilised in the study: they included primary and secondary sources. The primary source was the administration of copies of designed questionnaire to a total of eighty (80) respondents that made up the sample for the study. Out of the eighty (80) copies administered, seventy eight (78) were completed and returned. Simple percentage (%), chi-square (*a) and correlation were used in analysis of the data and in testing the three hypotheses. Findings revealed that decentralization enhanced better and more informed decision making in technical and service firms in Nigeria; that task routine affected staff productivity both positively and negatively; and that a significant positive relationship existed between narrow span of control and efficiency in organizations. The study concluded and recommended among others that managers of organizations should adopt more decentralized forms of structures as means of improving the decision making process; that managers should combine both task routine and variety in organizing employees for carrying out task in order to reap the advantages of both systems of task assignment; and that employees should be empowered to be more innovative in carrying out tasks, whether routine or not. © 2015, Virtus Interpress. All right rserved. | Automated; Decentralization; Organisational performance; Restructuring; Strategy; Structure; Task routine | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84943816086 | Impact of non-oil sector on economic growth: A managerial economic perspective | Igwe A., Edeh C.E., Ukpere W.I. | 2015 | Problems and Perspectives in Management | 13 | 2 | None | Department of Management, University of Nigeria Nsukka, Nigeria; Department of Economics, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Nigeria; Department of Industrial Psychology and People Management, Faculty of Management, University of Johannesburg, South Africa | Igwe, A., Department of Management, University of Nigeria Nsukka, Nigeria; Edeh, C.E., Department of Economics, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Nigeria; Ukpere, W.I., Department of Industrial Psychology and People Management, Faculty of Management, University of Johannesburg, South Africa | This study is motivated by the need to examine the impact of non-oil export to economic growth in Nigeria for the period 1981-2012. The study adopted the export-led growth hypothesis as the framework of study. A production function which specified economic growth as a function of capital stock, labor and non-oil export is formulated to express the relationship between the dependent and the independent variables. The econometric techniques of Johansen cointegration and the vector error correction model are chosen to ascertain the impact and the long run relationship between the dependent and the explanatory variables. Also, the Granger causality technique is used to investigate a causality relationship between economic growth and the independent variables. Findings from the VEC analysis reveal that in both the short and long runs, non-oil export determines economic growth. Also, the cointegration analysis indicates a long run relationship between non-oil export and economic growth over the period under study. These two findings agree with the theory of export-led growth hypothesis. However, the Granger causality analysis indicates no causality relationship between non-oil export and economic growth. A uni-directional causality relationship runs from capital stock to economic growth. Also, a uni-directional causality relationship runs from economic growth to labor force. | Development; Economic growth; Export; Non-oil sector | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-68549097921 | The impact of internal marketing on the perception of service quality in retail banking: A Ghanaian case | Opoku R.A., Atuobi-Yiadom N., Chong C.S., Abratt R. | 2009 | Journal of Financial Services Marketing | 13 | 4 | 10.1057/fsm.2008.26 | Department of Marketing, College of Industrial Management, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia; University of East Anglia, United Kingdom; GIMPA Business School, Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration, Accra, Ghana; Wits Business School, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Nova Southeastern University, 3301 College Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314, United States | Opoku, R.A., Department of Marketing, College of Industrial Management, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia; Atuobi-Yiadom, N., University of East Anglia, United Kingdom, GIMPA Business School, Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration, Accra, Ghana; Chong, C.S., GIMPA Business School, Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration, Accra, Ghana; Abratt, R., Wits Business School, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, Nova Southeastern University, 3301 College Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314, United States | Although there is a large volume of literature on internal marketing, there is limited empirical evidence on its impact on the perception of service quality in developing nations. A literature review of internal marketing and service quality has been completed. A survey of 32 top managers, 100 employees and 200 external customers of a major bank in Ghana was undertaken to assess the impact of internal marketing on the perception of service quality. The results suggest that internal marketing can have an influence on service quality. Implications of the study are highlighted, limitations noted and directions for future research are outlined. © 2009 Palgrave Macmillan 1363-0539. | Banks; Developing economies; Ghana; Internal marketing; Service quality | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-70350333271 | Customer-focus, competitor-focus and marketing performance | Nwokah N.G. | 2009 | Measuring Business Excellence | 13 | 3 | 10.1108/13683040910984293 | Department of Marketing, Faculty of Management Sciences, Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port Hartcourt, Nigeria | Nwokah, N.G., Department of Marketing, Faculty of Management Sciences, Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port Hartcourt, Nigeria | Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to assess the influence of customer focus and competitor focus on marketing performance of food and beverages organizations in Nigeria. Design/methodology/approach - The paper adopted an exploratory design- six measures of marketing performance is used to capture the customer-focus and competitive-focus of food and beverages organizations in Nigeria. Data were collected from key informants using a research instrument. Returned instruments were analyzed using regression analysis through the use of statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 16. Findings - The paper validated the existing instruments for measuring customer focus, competitor focus and marketing performance. The paper also finds a strong positive relationship between the three constructs. Practical implications - Two major implications are identified in this paper, one to scholars on the investigation of the link between customer focus, competitor focus and marketing performance in two different organizations. The second is for managers to be aware of the need for effective assessment of marketing performance measure in line with customer focus and competitor focus. This will no doubt help to provide knowledge and understanding of the reason for and consequences of any particular marketing decision. Originality/value - The paper significantly refines the body of knowledge concerning the impact of customer focus, competitor focus and marketing performance in the Nigerian context. © Emerald Group Publishing Limited. | Competitors; Customer orientation; Drinks; Food industry; Nigeria; Sales performance | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-80052041445 | Impacts of the global economic crisis on the consumption of psychiatric nursing services in Nigeria | Esu B.B., Inyang B.J. | 2011 | Journal of Health Management | 13 | 3 | 10.1177/097206341101300301 | Department of Marketing, University of Calabar, Pmb 1115 Calabar, Nigeria; Department of Business Management, University of Calabar, Pmb 1115 Calabar, Nigeria | Esu, B.B., Department of Marketing, University of Calabar, Pmb 1115 Calabar, Nigeria; Inyang, B.J., Department of Business Management, University of Calabar, Pmb 1115 Calabar, Nigeria | Psychiatric doctors and nurses are two groups of professionals whose responsibility is to offer mental health services: advice on issues related to mental health, treatment of cases of mental disorders and rehabilitation of individuals with mental health problems in the community. The demand and supply of these services are influenced extensively by the prevailing business environment, specially, the economic factors. The current global economic meltdown is an uncontrollable variable facing all economies of the world. Nigeria is no exception. What differentiates one economy from the other is the degree of impacts on the well-being of the citizenry. In this article, the authors X-ray the challenges of psychiatric nursing services in Nigeria and the impacts of the current global economic meltdown on consumption. The elementary laws of demand and supply were significant in this analysis. Suggestions that would help cushion the effect of the global economic crisis on the con-sumption of psychiatric nursing services were considered in the article. © 2011 Indian Institute of Health Management Research. | economic melt-down; global economic crises; mental health care; Nigeria; Psychiatric nursing; psychosocial intervention; spiritual intervention | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84966669944 | Merit measures and validation in employee evaluation and selection | Malebye W.P.R., Seeletse S.M., Rivera M.A. | 2015 | Problems and Perspectives in Management | 13 | 3 | None | Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Tshwane University of Technology, South Africa; Department of Statistics and Operations Research, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, South Africa; School of Public Administration, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States | Malebye, W.P.R., Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Tshwane University of Technology, South Africa; Seeletse, S.M., Department of Statistics and Operations Research, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, South Africa; Rivera, M.A., School of Public Administration, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States | Applicants for employment are usually compared subjectively in the selection process, and the selections made are typically not reliable, if only because they are seldom verifiable empirically. The present study describes a process of much more objective selection sequence, one that involves a quantitative/mathematical measure that may be used in selecting a candidate applying for a job, in a process then adds two other independent measures to validate the decision taken. The approach followed is a stepwise combination of SToR methods (Statistics and Operations Research, incorporating SAW, TOPSIS, and WP). In this analysis, SAW (simple additive weighting) is used in the first-cut selection process, and TOPSIS (technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution) and WP (weighted product) are used to validate selections. A practical exercise was developed from an actual selection problem, part of a real-world recruitment task undertaken in an organization for which the authors consulted, and in which the human resources (HR) department wanted to check if their selection was justifiable, and demonstrably valid. The resulting analytical approach was clearly valid, consistent, reliable, and replicable, and convincing to that HR department, since it considered the determinations made by our system quite satisfactory, while theirs could not stand up to empirical testing or corroboration. © Wilson P.R. Malebye, Solly M. Seeletse, Mario A. Rivera, 2015. | Candidate selection; Decisional complexity; Fuzzy-goal programming; HRM; MCDM; Person-job environment fit; Person-job requirement fit; SToR; SW; TOPSIS; WP | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79960833699 | 'Situated' in a separated campus - students' sense of belonging and academic performance: A case study of the experiences of students during a higher education merger | de Beer J., Smith U., Jansen C. | 2009 | Education as Change | 13 | 1 | 10.1080/16823200902944922 | Department of Mathematics, Science, Technology and Computer Education, Faculty of Education, University of Johannesburg, PO Box 524, Auckland Park, 2006, South Africa; University of Pretoria, South Africa | de Beer, J., Department of Mathematics, Science, Technology and Computer Education, Faculty of Education, University of Johannesburg, PO Box 524, Auckland Park, 2006, South Africa; Smith, U., University of Pretoria, South Africa; Jansen, C., University of Pretoria, South Africa | Fourteen years into post-apartheid South Africa, learning institutions are still facing the challenge of ensuring access to and success in education for all. Institutions for higher learning have experienced a number of mergers, and this article reflects on the surprising patterns of student performance in a case where one of the campuses of a historically black university (HBU) was incorporated into a historically white university (HWU). This mixed method research was done on two groups of foundation year students; one group placed at a suburban campus (the HWU), and the other group within a township (the HBU). Despite the fact that the academic programmes and support structures of the two campuses were comparable, and the student profiles regarding M- scores, socio-economic and cultural background, language proficiency, etc were similar, the academic performance of the students at the HBU campus was poor in comparison with that of the students at the HWU. From a Cartesian perspective the researchers were tempted to look at student performance on these two campuses through a cognitive science lens, locating cognitive functioning within the rational individual. However, we soon realised that students' academic progress can be better explained by viewing it through the lens of relational ontology, which acknowledges that learning occurs in the realm between individuals and their world, and also activity theory. This article focuses on the interesting group dynamics on the two campuses, and the theory of "goodness of fit", as well as students' sense of belonging, in an attempt to shed light on the differences in their academic performance on the two campuses. © Unisa Press. | Campus locality; Situated cognition; Situated learning; Students' sense of belonging; Tertiary academic performance | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84930370100 | Local bandwidths for improving performance statistics of model-robust regression 2 | Edionwe E., Mbegbu J.I. | 2014 | Journal of Modern Applied Statistical Methods | 13 | 2 | None | Department of Mathematics, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria | Edionwe, E., Department of Mathematics, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria; Mbegbu, J.I., Department of Mathematics, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria | Model-Robust Regression 2 (MRR2) method is a semi-parametric regression approach that combines parametric and nonparametric fits. The bandwidth controls the smoothness of the nonparametric portion. We present a methodology for deriving data-driven local bandwidth that enhances the performance of MRR2 method for fitting curves to data generated from designed experiments. © 2014 JMASM, Inc. | Local bandwidths; Model-robust regression; Response surface methodology; Semi-parametric methods | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84885421528 | Contrasting Performances of Tourist and Migrant Mobilities in Norwegian Hostels | Butler G., Hannam K. | 2013 | Scandinavian Journal of Hospitality and Tourism | 13 | 3 | 10.1080/15022250.2013.807983 | Department of Tourism, School of Humanities, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia; School of Events, Tourism and Hospitality, Leeds Metropolitan University, United Kingdom; School of Tourism and Hospitality, University of Johannesburg, South Africa | Butler, G., Department of Tourism, School of Humanities, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia, School of Tourism and Hospitality, University of Johannesburg, South Africa; Hannam, K., School of Events, Tourism and Hospitality, Leeds Metropolitan University, United Kingdom, School of Tourism and Hospitality, University of Johannesburg, South Africa | Hostels are synonymous with independent tourists and frequently identified as spaces of hospitality that enable a number of touristic performances to take place. These performances include resting, relaxation, destination or route planning, and interactions with other likeminded visitors. However, using Oslo, Norway as a research setting, we argue that such places may also permit a range of other performances to take place due to the increasing use of hostels as temporary and semi-permanent housing solutions for migrant populations. This alternative group of hostel users originated from a plethora of different countries and included economic and political migrants from Africa, the Middle East and Eastern Europe. Although hostel spaces provided comfort, safety, and platforms for friendships to prosper for non-tourist hostel users, they also served as settings for largely contrasting performances of immobility to take place. Thus, Oslo's hostels revealed a range of overlapping acts that resulted in a paradoxical ensemble of entangled tourist and non-tourist performances. © 2013 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC. | hostels; immobilities; migrants; mobilities; Norway | mobility; tourism; tourist destination; Norway; Oslo [Norway] | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-22844444824 | The interaction of aging and 10 years of racing on ultraendurance running performance | Rae D.E., Bosch A.N., Collins M., Lambert M.I. | 2005 | Journal of Aging and Physical Activity | 13 | 2 | None | Dept. of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, Newlands, 7725, South Africa | Rae, D.E., Dept. of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, Newlands, 7725, South Africa; Bosch, A.N., Dept. of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, Newlands, 7725, South Africa; Collins, M., Dept. of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, Newlands, 7725, South Africa; Lambert, M.I., Dept. of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, Newlands, 7725, South Africa | The aim of this study was to examine the interaction between aging and 10 years of racing in endurance runners. Race-time data from 194 runners who had completed 10 consecutive 56-km ultramarathons were obtained. The runners were either 20.5 ± 0.7, 30.0 ± 1.0, 39.9 ± 0.9, or 49.4 ± 1.0 years old at their first race. Each runner's race speed was determined for each race over the 10 years. Data were analyzed using repeated-measures ANOVA, one-way ANOVA, and independent t tests and showed that performance improved and declined at greater rates for younger runners; younger runners had a greater capacity for improvement than older runners; ≈4 years were required to reach peak racing speed, regardless of age; it was not possible to compete at peak speed for more than a few years; and the combined effects of 10 years of aging and racing neither improve nor worsen net performance. In conclusion, these data suggest that although these runners showed similar patterns of change in race speed over a 10-year period, the extent of change in performance was greater in younger than in older runners. © 2005, Human Kinetics Publishers, Inc. | Age groups; Longitudinal; Speed; Ultramarathon | age distribution; aged; aging; analysis of variance; article; controlled study; data analysis; endurance; female; human; male; physical performance; running; statistical analysis; adult; age; middle aged; physiology; running; Adult; Age Factors; Aged; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Physical Endurance; Running | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84888201097 | Evaluation of the mechanical properties of reinforcing steel bars from collapsed building sites | Adeleke A.A., Odusote J.K. | 2013 | Journal of Failure Analysis and Prevention | 13 | 6 | 10.1007/s11668-013-9739-5 | Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria; Department of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria | Adeleke, A.A., Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria; Odusote, J.K., Department of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria | Mechanical properties of reinforcing steel bars obtained from three different collapsed building sites in Lagos, Nigeria were examined. An optical emission spectrometer was used for chemical composition analysis while the tensile test was carried out using a Universal Testing Machine. The yield strength of the steel bars was found to be higher than BS4449 (GRADE 460B), Nst.65-Mn, and ASTM A706 standards, while their percentage elongations were lower than most of the standards. The steel bars used at the Sango collapse site have higher UTS compared with the standards, while those used at Ilesanmi and Ewuntun collapse sites have UTS values that are in close range with the standards. The reinforcing bar obtained from Ilesanmi collapsed site has higher percentage elongation than ASTM A706 standard but lower than Nst.65-Mn and BS4449 (GRADE 460B) standards. The bars obtained from Sango and Ewuntun collapse sites displayed lower percentage elongation compared with that from Ilesanmi site. All the investigated reinforcing bars possessed reasonably high strength with low ductility. Thus, these bars are susceptible to brittle fracture, which might have contributed to the collapse of the building structures. © 2013 ASM International. | Collapsed building; Ductility; Reinforced steel bars; Ultimate tensile strength; Yield strength | Chemical composition analysis; Collapsed buildings; Optical emission spectrometer; Percentage elongation; Reinforced steel; Reinforcing steel bar; Ultimate tensile strength; Universal testing machines; Brittle fracture; Ductility; Elongation; Manganese; Reinforced concrete; Standards; Surveying; Tensile strength; Tensile testing; Yield stress; Bars (metal) | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-34648834436 | Evaluation of critical thinking application in medical ultrasound practice among sonographers in south-eastern Nigeria | Agwu K.K., Ogbu S.O.I., Okpara E. | 2007 | Radiography | 13 | 4 | 10.1016/j.radi.2007.01.001 | Department of Medical Radiography and Radiological Sciences, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Enugu State, Nigeria; Department of Psychology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria | Agwu, K.K., Department of Medical Radiography and Radiological Sciences, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Enugu State, Nigeria; Ogbu, S.O.I., Department of Medical Radiography and Radiological Sciences, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Enugu State, Nigeria; Okpara, E., Department of Psychology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria | Purpose: To investigate the application of critical thinking (CT) in medical ultrasound by sonographers in south-eastern Nigeria as a measure of the quality of practice. Methods: A semi-structured questionnaire based on six elements of CT was distributed to 82 sonographers selected through a simple random sampling. The questionnaire investigated the application of the elements of interpretation, analysis, evaluation, inference, explanation and self-regulation involved in CT by medical sonographers. The data for each respondent were categorized into age, experience and the elements of CT. Statistical analyses were done using mean and Spearman's Rank correlation. Results: The overall mean score of the practitioners on all the elements of CT application was 8.65 ± 6.76 against a total of 60. The application of CT did not show any correlation with age or clinical experience using Spearman's Rank correlation (r = -0.017; p > 0.05 and r = -0.086; p > 0.05, respectively). Conclusions: The results show that there is poor application of CT by medical sonographers in the locality which may impact negatively on the outcome of this diagnostic process. Increase in the number of formal training programmes in sonography and inclusion of CT skills in the curriculum are recommended. © 2007 The College of Radiographers. | Audit; Critical thinking; Medical sonography | adult; article; clinical practice; controlled study; critical thinking; health care personnel; health care quality; human; Nigeria; priority journal; questionnaire; ultrasound | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77955441756 | Static endurance of the back extensor muscles: Association between performance and reported reasons for test termination | Mbada C.E., Ayanniyi O., Adedoyin R.A., Johnson O.E. | 2010 | Journal of Musculoskeletal Research | 13 | 1 | 10.1142/S0218957710002405 | Department of Medical Rehabilitation, College of Health Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria; Department of Physiotherapy, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria | Mbada, C.E., Department of Medical Rehabilitation, College of Health Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria; Ayanniyi, O., Department of Physiotherapy, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Adedoyin, R.A., Department of Medical Rehabilitation, College of Health Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria; Johnson, O.E., Department of Medical Rehabilitation, College of Health Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria | Purpose: Quite a few studies have reported previously on reasons for terminating tests of back muscles endurance. This study investigated the association between endurance performance and reported reasons for terminating back extensor muscle endurance test in apparently healthy adults. Methods: Three-hundred-and-seventy-six volunteers with the mean age of 38.9 ± 13.5 years participated in this study. All participants underwent modified BieringSørensen test of Static Muscular Endurance. Descriptive statistics of mean and standard deviation, Pearson's correlation and Chi-square, ANOVA and ANCOVA were used to analyze the data. The α level was set at 0.05. Results: It is found that 76.1% of the participants terminated the test due to fatigue in the low back, followed by low-back pain (LBP) (12.8%) and fatigue in the gluteal or hamstring muscles (7.4%) respectively. The magnitudes of the endurance time for each reason of termination fatigue in the low back (121 ± 49.3 sec), fatigue in the gluteal or hamstring muscles (102 ± 44.0 sec), LBP (59 ± 27.4 sec), and behavioral factors (92 ± 34.7 sec) were found to be significantly different (p = 0.001). Test termination due to fatigue in the low back was on the average 62 seconds longer than that due to LBP. Conclusions: Fatigue was the most commonly reported reason for back extensor muscles' endurance test termination. Endurance time was least in those individuals who terminate the test due to complaints of LBP and greatest in those who end the task for fatigue only. © 2010 World Scientific Publishing Company. | Back extensors; Fatigue; Low-back pain; Static endurance; Test termination | adult; article; back muscle; behavior; body height; body mass; body weight; controlled study; extensor muscle; female; gluteus maximus muscle; hamstring; human; human experiment; low back pain; male; muscle exercise; muscle fatigue; muscle function; normal human; task performance | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84911919724 | Evaluation of parent-child pairs on antiretroviral therapy in separate adult and pediatric clinics | Bost B.P., Fairlie L., Karstaedt A.S. | 2014 | Journal of the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care | 13 | 6 | 10.1177/2325957413503367 | Department of Medicine, Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, University of the Witwatersrand, PO Box 128, Parklands, Johannesburg, South Africa; Faculty of Health Sciences, Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Research Institute, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa | Bost, B.P., Department of Medicine, Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, University of the Witwatersrand, PO Box 128, Parklands, Johannesburg, South Africa; Fairlie, L., Faculty of Health Sciences, Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Research Institute, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Karstaedt, A.S., Department of Medicine, Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, University of the Witwatersrand, PO Box 128, Parklands, Johannesburg, South Africa | In Africa, HIV infection is considered a family disease. A retrospective cohort analysis was performed to describe the characteristics and outcome in 35 parent-child pairs taking antiretroviral therapy (ART) in separate adult and pediatric HIV clinics. In 26 pairs, ART was first initiated in children. Baseline median CD4 count was 122/mm3 in adults and 376/mm3 in children. World Health Organization stage 3 or 4 disease affected 49% of adults and 83% of children. In all, 3 parents and 1 child died. Hospitalization, poor adherence, missed appointments, or regimen change affected >50% of pairs on ART. Following tuberculosis diagnosis in their parents, 2 of the 5 children were not investigated. By week 104, 29 (83%) pairs remained on ART, and 69% of patients on ART were virologically suppressed. Parent-child pairs with advanced HIV infection had good outcomes when cared for in separate clinics. Establishing lines of communication between clinics is important. Family-centered services may provide more integrated care. © The Author(s) 2013. | Africa; antiretroviral treatment outcomes; children; HIV; parents | antiretrovirus agent; efavirenz; lamivudine; stavudine; zidovudine; antiretrovirus agent; adult; Africa; Article; child; cohort analysis; female; hospitalization; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; major clinical study; male; parent; patient care; patient compliance; pediatric hospital; treatment outcome; tuberculosis; CD4 lymphocyte count; HIV Infections; immunology; infant; middle aged; outpatient department; pediatrics; preschool child; retrospective study; young adult; Adult; Ambulatory Care Facilities; Anti-Retroviral Agents; CD4 Lymphocyte Count; Child; Child, Preschool; Female; HIV Infections; Hospitalization; Humans; Infant; Male; Middle Aged; Parents; Patient Compliance; Pediatrics; Retrospective Studies; Treatment Outcome; Young Adult | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77956665238 | Evaluation of the effect of duration of diabetes mellitus on peripheral neuropathy using the United Kingdom Screening Test Scoring System, Bio-thesiometry and Aesthesiometry | Oguejiofor O.C., Odenigbo C.U., Oguejiofor C.B.N. | 2010 | Nigerian Journal of Clinical Practice | 13 | 3 | None | Department of Medicine, Teaching Hospital, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria; General Outpatient Department, Teaching Hospital, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria | Oguejiofor, O.C., Department of Medicine, Teaching Hospital, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria; Odenigbo, C.U., Department of Medicine, Teaching Hospital, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria; Oguejiofor, C.B.N., General Outpatient Department, Teaching Hospital, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria | Background and Objectives: Risk factors predisposing to foot ulceration in diabetic subjects are multiple. Long duration of diabetes mellitus is a major risk factor, likewise peripheral neuropathy (PN), which globally, is recognized as the commonest risk factor for foot disease in diabetic subjects. Objectives: To evaluate the effect of duration of diabetes mellitus on peripheral neuropathy using the United Kingdom Screening Test (UKST) Scoring System, Bio-thesiometry and Aesthesiometry, in Nigerian diabetic subjects without current or previous foot ulceration. Subjects and methods: One hundred and twenty (120) diabetes mellitus (DM) subjects with and without symptoms of peripheral neuropathy receiving care at the medical outpatient department (MOPD) and the diabetic clinic of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital Nnewi, Nigeria, were recruited consecutively as they presented. Data collected included subjects age (years), gender, age at first diagnosis of DM, duration of DM (years) and baseline fasting venous plasma glucose. The United Kingdom Screening Test (UKST) symptom score was used to separate the participants into two groups those with symptoms of PN and those without and the subjects further assessed by three methods the UKST Signs score, Bio-thesiometry and Aesthesiometry to determine the presence ofPN. Results: Among the 120 diabetic participants, 83(69.2%) had neuropathic symptoms (the symptomatic participants) while 37(30.8%) were asymptomatic (the asymptomatic participants). The different methods of diagnosing PN increasingly detected PN with increasing duration of diabetes. For the symptomatic group, the UKST method detected PN least in those with duration of DM <5 years (73.9%) and 100.0% in those with duration of DM > 15 years while for the asymptomatic group, it detected PN in 25.0% of those with duration of DM <5 years, and 100.0% for those with duration of DM >15 years. For the symptomatic group, Aesthesiometry detected PN in 65.2% of those with duration of DM <5 years and 91.7% in those with duration of DM >15 years. For the asymptomatic group, it detected PN in 29.2% of those with duration of DM <5 years and 100.0% in those with duration of DM >15 years. Likewise, for the symptomatic group, Bio-thesiometry detected PN in 47.8% of those with duration of DM <5 years and 100.0% in those with duration of DM >15 years. For the asymptomatic group, it detected PN in 16.7% of those with duration of DM <5 years and 100.0% in those with duration of DM > 15 years. Conclusion: Long duration of diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy are risk factors for foot complication in Nigerians with diabetes mellitus. Diabetic subjects with long duration of diabetes (>10 years) almost always have associated peripheral neuropathy, and should be recognized as a special group at high risk for foot disease from DM. Specific preventive programs should target this group to reduce the rate of avoidable loss of limbs to diabetes. | Aesthesiometry; Biothesiometry; Diabetic foot ulceration; Peripheral neuropathy; United Kingdom Screening Test | adult; aged; article; diabetic foot; diabetic neuropathy; evaluation; glucose blood level; hospitalization; human; insulin dependent diabetes mellitus; male; middle aged; Nigeria; perceptive threshold; physiology; risk factor; time; touch; vibration; Adult; Aged; Blood Glucose; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1; Diabetic Foot; Diabetic Neuropathies; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Nigeria; Risk Factors; Sensory Thresholds; Severity of Illness Index; Time Factors; Touch Perception; Vibration | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84884419325 | Impact of Al and Fe on the development of phenanthrene catabolism in soil | Obuekwe I.S., Semple K.T. | 2013 | Journal of Soils and Sediments | 13 | 9 | 10.1007/s11368-013-0759-2 | Department of Microbiology, University of Benin, Benin, Nigeria; Lancaster Environmental Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, LA1 4YQ, United Kingdom | Obuekwe, I.S., Department of Microbiology, University of Benin, Benin, Nigeria; Semple, K.T., Lancaster Environmental Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, LA1 4YQ, United Kingdom | Purpose: Heavy metals often occur as co-contaminants with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and reportedly have adverse effects on biodegradation. In this study, the development of 14C-phenanthrene mineralisation in soil co-contaminated with aged or freshly added Al or Fe amendment was assessed. Materials and methods: 14C-phenanthrene mineralisation was assessed using respirometry; respirometers incorporated a Teflon-lined screw-capped CO2 trap containing 1-M NaOH within a glass scintillation vial. The production of 14CO2 was assessed by the addition of Ultima Gold liquid scintillation fluid to the CO2 traps and subsequent liquid scintillation counting. Enumeration of phenanthrene-degrading bacteria was achieved by counting the colony forming unit count using the spread plate method. Results and discussion: This investigation considered the effects of Al and Fe (50, 100, 250 and 500 mg/kg) on 14C-phenanthrene biodegradation in soil over 63-day contact time. Fresh Al amendments at lower concentrations (50 and 100 mg/kg) stimulated phenanthrene catabolism (p <0.05) at t = 21 and 42 days which may reflect an 'Arndt-Schulz' effect, but phenanthrene catabolism was significantly reduced (p <0.05) in 500 mg/kg aged Al this could be due to Al toxicity to phenanthrene degraders. Phenanthrene mineralisation was stimulated in the highest Fe concentration (500 mg/kg) in aged and fresh Fe amendments at t = 21 days. This could be because Fe is an essential requirement for microbial growth. Conclusions: The impact of Al or Fe on the catabolism of 14C-phenanthrene was dependent on incubation time and Al was more toxic than Fe to soil PAH catabolic activity. This could be because Al is a non-essential microbial requirement. Bioremediation of soils co-contaminated with PAH and heavy metal is a complex problem; therefore, studies on the impact of metals on PAHs biodegradation highlight the risks and biodegradation potential in contaminated soil. © 2013 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg. | Aluminium; Catabolism; Iron; Phenanthrene; Soil | aluminum; biodegradation; catabolism; heavy metal; iron; PAH; phenanthrene; soil pollution; toxicity; Bacteria (microorganisms) | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84855210865 | Impact of dog bite in kano city a retrospective study | Adeleke S.I. | 2010 | Nigerian Journal of Clinical Practice | 13 | 1 | None | Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria | Adeleke, S.I., Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria | Background: Rabies is an acute encephalomyelitis. It is zoonotic disease occurring in a variety of warm blooded animals including man. Objectives: The study is to review the impact of dog bite and rabies in Kano City. A review of cases seen in Paediatric Unit of Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano over a ten year period. (January 1996 December 2005). esults: There were 44 cases of dog bites of which five (11.4%) cases developed rabies. The age range of children with dog bite was 4 to 9years. The most common sites of bite were on the legs (45.5%), gluteal region (36.4%) while the least affected sites were the upper arm (6.8%) and the face (4.5%). There were 28 (63.7%) of the dogs were stray dogs while 12(27.3%) were domestic dogs, only 31.8% of the domestic dogs were vaccinated. All those with rabies died; All the five patients presented with furious rabies. Conclusion: Children with dog bites in which the current certificate of vaccination in the dog can not be produced, should be given antirabies vaccine. There should be public enlightenment talks aimed at informing the public of the need to report all cases of dog bite to health facilities. | Antirabies Vaccine; Dog bites; Paediatric; Rabies | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84887737727 | Determinants of academic performance in children with sickle cell anaemia | Ezenwosu O.U., Emodi I.J., Ikefuna A.N., Chukwu B.F., Osuorah C.D. | 2013 | BMC Pediatrics | 13 | 1 | 10.1186/1471-2431-13-189 | Department of Paediatrics, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria; Child Survival Unit, Medical Research Council UK, The Gambia Unit, Serrekunda, Gambia | Ezenwosu, O.U., Department of Paediatrics, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria; Emodi, I.J., Department of Paediatrics, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria; Ikefuna, A.N., Department of Paediatrics, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria; Chukwu, B.F., Department of Paediatrics, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria; Osuorah, C.D., Child Survival Unit, Medical Research Council UK, The Gambia Unit, Serrekunda, Gambia | Background: Some factors are known to influence the academic performance of children with Sickle Cell Anaemia (SCA). Information on their effects in these children is limited in Nigeria. The factors which influence academic performance of children with SCA in Enugu, Nigeria are determined in this study.Methods: Consecutive children with SCA aged 5-11 years were recruited at the weekly sickle cell clinic of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) Enugu, Nigeria. Their age- and sex- matched normal classmates were recruited as controls. The total number of days of school absence for 2009/2010 academic session was obtained for each pair of pupils from the class attendance register. Academic performance was assessed using the average of the overall scores in the three term examinations of same session. Intelligence ability was determined with Draw-A-Person Quotient (DAPQ) using the Draw-A-Person Test while socio-economic status was determined using the occupational status and educational attainment of each parent.Results: Academic performance of children with SCA showed statistically significant association with their socio-economic status (χ2 = 9.626, p = 0.047), and significant correlation with DAPQ (r = 0.394, p = 0.000) and age (r = -0.412, p = 0.000). However, no significant relationship existed between academic performance and school absence in children with SCA (r = -0.080, p = 0.453).Conclusions: Academic performance of children with SCA is influenced by their intelligence ability, age and socio-economic status but not negatively affected by their increased school absenteeism. © 2013 Ezenwosu et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | Academic; Children; Determinants; Sickle | absenteeism; academic achievement; age; article; blood transfusion; child; childhood disease; controlled study; correlational study; disease severity; educational status; employment status; female; hospital admission; human; intelligence; major clinical study; male; Nigeria; parent; preschool child; primary school; school child; scoring system; sex ratio; sickle cell anemia; social status; student; teaching hospital; Absenteeism; Anemia, Sickle Cell; Child; Child, Preschool; Educational Status; Female; Humans; Intelligence Tests; Male; Nigeria; Parents; Risk Factors; Severity of Illness Index; Socioeconomic Factors | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84884260819 | Phytochemical screening and evaluation of analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of the methanol leaf extract of Cissus polyantha | Sani Y.M., Musa A.M., Yaro A.H., Sani M.B., Amoley A., Magaji M.G. | 2013 | Journal of Medical Sciences (Faisalabad) | 13 | 8 | 10.3923/jms.2013.824.828 | Department of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria; Department of Pharmacology, Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria; Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria; Ahmadu Bello | Sani, Y.M., Department of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria; Musa, A.M., Department of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria; Yaro, A.H., Department of Pharmacology, Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria; Sani, M.B., Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria; Amoley, A., Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria; Magaji, M.G., Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria | Cissus polyantha is used in African traditional medicine is the management of pain and inflammatoiy conditions. This study was therefore designed to evaluate the analgesic and anti-inflammatoiy activities of the methanol extract of the leaf of Cissus polyantha, as well as to establish the class of phytochemical constituents present in the extract. The analgesic effect was studied using acetic acid-induced writhing and hot plate tests in mice, while anti-inflammatoiy effect was investigated using carrageenan-induced hind paw oedema in rats. The results ofthe study showed that the extract significantly (50, 100, 200 mg kg-1) (p<0.001) and dose-dependently inhibited acetic acid-induced writhing. The extract at dose of 100 mg kg-1 increased the mean pain responses by 69.25% compared to control. At the end of third hour after carrageenan administration, the various doses of the extract offered 65.67, 70.15 and 67.16% inhibition of hind paw oedema, respectively. These effects were more remarkable than those produced by ketoprofen (63.8%). Preliminary phytochemical screening revealed the presence of steroids, flavonoids, saponins, tannins and anthraquinones. The intraperitoneal mean lethal dose (LD50) of the extract in mice was estimated to be 774.6 mg kg-1. The findings of this study showed that the methanol leaf extract of Cissus polyantha contains some pharmacologically active principle(s) with analgesic and anti-inflammatoiy activities and lend credence of the ethnomedical use of the plant in the management of pain and inflammatoiy conditions. | Analgesia; Cissus polyantha; Inflammation; Phytochemical analysis | acetic acid; analgesic agent; anthraquinone; antiinflammatory agent; carbohydrate; carrageenan; Cissus polyantha extract; flavonoid; glycoside; ketoprofen; methanol; pentazocine; plant extract; saponin; steroid; tannin; triterpene; unclassified drug; analgesic activity; animal experiment; animal model; antiinflammatory activity; article; Cissus; Cissus polyantha; controlled study; dose response; drug dose comparison; drug screening; drug structure; female; hot plate test; LD 50; male; mouse; nonhuman; pain; paw edema; phytochemistry; plant leaf; rat; toxicity testing; writhing test | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84905258580 | Synthesis, anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive evaluation of palmitoyl benzamides | Baba H., Usifoh C.O., Igbinaduwa P.O. | 2014 | Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research | 13 | 7 | 10.4314/tjpr.v13i7.17 | Department of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Bayelsa State, Nigeria; Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria | Baba, H., Department of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Bayelsa State, Nigeria; Usifoh, C.O., Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria; Igbinaduwa, P.O., Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria | Purpose: To synthesize and characterize palmitoyl amino benzamides, and to evaluate them for possible anti-inflammatory and anti -nociceptive activities. Methods: Palmitoyl amino benzamides were synthesized by the opening of isatoic anhydride ring with respective amino acids (glycine, β-alanine and γ-aminobutyric acid) and the condensation of the product with palmitoyl chloride. The final products were purified on column chromatography, eluting with dichloromethane/ethyl acetate. All the compounds were unequivocally characterized using the combination of infra red (IR), 1H and 13C (nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), mass spectrometry (MS) and elemental analysis. In vivo anti -inflammatory and anti -nociceptive activities of the synthesized compounds at 20, 50 and 100mg/kg doses were carried out using carrageenan-induced paw oedema in rat and acetic acid-induced writhing in mice, respectively. Aspirin was used at a dose of 100mg/kg as the reference drug. Results: The compounds were obtained in high yield (70 - 90 %) and purity. The anti -inflammatory results showed a poor activity for the compounds except o-palmitoylamino N-carboxyethyl benzamide which produced significant inhibition (p < 0.05) at a dose of 50 mg/kg (43.8 % oedema inhibition) while the reference drug, aspirin, showed 51.3 % inhibition. The anti -nociceptive study, however, showed good inhibition (p < 0.05) of acetic acid-induced writhing, with o-palmitoylamino Ncarboxymethylbenzamide producing 86.2 % inhibition at 100 mg/kg dose compared with the reference drug (aspirin) which gave 74.3 % inhibition at 100 mg/kg. Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that the synthesized compounds, though displaying poor anti-inflammatory activity, do possess promising anti-nociceptive activity. © Pharmacotherapy Group, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Benin, Benin City, 300001 Nigeria. All rights reserved. | Analgesic; Anti-inflammatory; Aspirin; Benzamide; Glycine; Palmitoyl; β-Alanine; γ-Aminobutyric acid | 4 aminobutyric acid; acetylsalicylic acid; benzamide derivative; beta alanine; glycine; o palmitoylamino N carboxyethylbenzamide; o palmitoylamino N carboxymethylbenzamide; o palmitoylamino N carboxypropylbenzamide; palmitoyl amino benzamide; unclassified drug; animal experiment; animal model; antiinflammatory activity; antinociception; article; column chromatography; drug dose increase; drug purification; drug synthesis; female; infrared spectroscopy; male; mass spectrometry; mouse; nonhuman; nuclear magnetic resonance; paw edema; rat | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84896712325 | Sensitive and selective reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatographic-UV spectrophotometric determination of dextromethorphan and its CYP2D6 mediated metabolite, dextrorphan in human urine | Ebeshi B.U., Obodozie O.O., Bolaji O.O. | 2014 | Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research | 13 | 2 | 10.4314/tjpr.v13i2.18 | Department of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Nigeria; Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria; Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Quality Control, Nationa | Ebeshi, B.U., Department of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Nigeria, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria; Obodozie, O.O., Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Quality Control, National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Abuja, Nigeria; Bolaji, O.O., Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria | Purpose: To develop a simple, sensitive and selective method for the determination of dextromethorphan and its metabolite, dextrophan in human urine using reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography with UV-spectrophotometric detection (RP-HPLC-UV). Methods: Pre-column sample clean-up was carried out by liquid-liquid extraction of the analytes with chloroform: isopropanol (70:30) solution after alkalization of 1000 μL sample and spiking of internal standard, morphine. The samples were chromatographed in a reversed-phase (C-18) ultra sphere silica (5μm particle size and 250 × 4.6 mm I.D). The mobile phase consisted of methanol: acetonitrile: 0.5% w/v ammonium acetate (10:10:80) adjusted to pH 2.8 with orthophosphoric acid and pumped through the column at 1ml/min flow rate. The analytical method was validated for accuracy and precision as well as the recovery of the analytes, dextromethorphan and its metabolite, dextrophan over the concentration range of 0.20 to 5.0μg/ml. Results: The standard curves were linear over the concentration range of 0.2 to 5.0μg/ml for dextromethorphan and dextrorphan. The regression coefficients (R2) of the analytes were >0.99. The method was reproducible with coefficient of variation for the analytes being < 10%. Dextromethorphan was well resolved from its metabolite, dextrorphan and the internal standard, morphine. The limits of detection of dextromethorphan and dextrorphan were 50ng/ml and the recoveries and accuracies were greater than 85 and 90%, respectively. Conclusion: The analytical assay method exhibits good precision and selectivity and it was applied to the analysis of dextromethorphan and dextrorphan in urine for the assessment of CYP2D6 activity. © Pharmacotherapy Group, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Benin, Benin City, 300001 Nigeria. All rights reserved. | CYP2D6 activity; Dextromethorphan; Dextrophan; Human urine; Reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography | cytochrome P450 2D6; dextromethorphan; dextrorphan; morphine sulfate; unclassified drug; Zedex; accuracy; article; drug determination; enzyme activity; human; limit of detection; reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography; ultraviolet spectrophotometry; urinalysis | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84896708367 | Solidified reverse micellar solution (SRMS)-based indomethacin sustained-release tablets: Formulation and in vitro evaluation | Chime S.A., Onyishi I.V., Onunkwo G.C., Attama A.A. | 2014 | Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research | 13 | 2 | 10.4314/tjpr.v13i2.7 | Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Industrial Pharmacy, University of Nigeria, Nsukka 410001, Nigeria; Department of Pharmaceutics, University of Nigeria, Nsukka 410001, Nigeria | Chime, S.A., Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Industrial Pharmacy, University of Nigeria, Nsukka 410001, Nigeria; Onyishi, I.V., Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Industrial Pharmacy, University of Nigeria, Nsukka 410001, Nigeria; Onunkwo, G.C., Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Industrial Pharmacy, University of Nigeria, Nsukka 410001, Nigeria; Attama, A.A., Department of Pharmaceutics, University of Nigeria, Nsukka 410001, Nigeria | Purpose: To formulate and evaluate sustained-release indomethacin tablets based on solidified reverse micellar solution (SRMS). Methods: SRMS consisting of mixtures of phospholipid (Phospholipon® 90H) and triglyceride (Softisan® 154) were prepared in the ratios of 1:1, 2:1 and 1:2, respectively. SRMS-based tablets containing 75 mg of indomethacin each were prepared using a validated plastic mould. The physicochemical properties of the tablet formulations were studied. In vitro release study was carried out in simulated intestinal fluid (SIF, pH 7.5). Results: The results showed that the physicochemical properties of the tablet formulations were significantly affected by the composition/ratio of the lipid matrix used (p < 0.05). Tablet hardness ranged from 5.00 ± 0.39 to 5.60 ± 0.36 kgf for tablets formulated with SRMS 1:2 and 2:1 (N3 and N2), respectively. The tablets exhibited friability of < 1% (p < 0.05). Erosion time in SIF ranged from 124.0 ± 0.5 to 180.0 ± 1.1 min while drug release from the tablets reached a maximum in 8 - 11 h for all the batches. Conclusion: Indomethacin tablets based on SRMS exhibited good sustained-release properties and can be further developed to achieve once daily administration for improved patient adherence to therapy. © Pharmacotherapy Group, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Benin, Benin City, 300001 Nigeria. All rights reserved. | Indomethacin; Phospholipid; Solidified reverse micellar solution; Sustained release; Triglyceride | drug carrier; indometacin; phospholipid; triacylglycerol; article; differential scanning calorimetry; drug release; erosion time; kinetics; physical chemistry; solidified reverse micellar solution; sustained release preparation; tablet formulation; tablet friability; tablet hardness; tablet property; thermal analysis | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-54949098904 | Comparative evaluation of the binding properties of two species of khaya gum polymer in a paracetamol tablet formulation | Adenuga Y.A., Odeku O.A., Adegboye T.A., Itiola O.A. | 2008 | Pharmaceutical Development and Technology | 13 | 6 | 10.1080/10837450802179338 | Department of Pharmaceutics and Industrial Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria | Adenuga, Y.A., Department of Pharmaceutics and Industrial Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Odeku, O.A., Department of Pharmaceutics and Industrial Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Adegboye, T.A., Department of Pharmaceutics and Industrial Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Itiola, O.A., Department of Pharmaceutics and Industrial Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria | A study was made of the comparative effects of polymers obtained from two species of khaya tree - Khaya senegalensis and Khaya grandifoliola - as binding agents in a paracetamol tablet formulation. The mechanical properties of the tablets were assessed using the tensile strength (T), brittle fracture index (BFI) and friability (F) of the tablets while the drug release properties of the tablets were assessed using disintegration and dissolution times. The tensile strength, disintegration and the dissolution times of tablets increased with the increase in binder concentration while F and BFI decreased. K. senegalensis gum produced tablets with stronger mechanical properties with less tendency to laminate, and longer disintegration and dissolution times than K. grandifoliola gum. The results suggest that the polymer gum from K. senegalensis will be more appropriate as a binding agent than the gum from K. grandifoliola when higher mechanical strength and slower release profiles of tablets are desired. Copyright © Informa UK, Ltd. | Binding agent; Drug release properties; Khaya grandifoliola; Khaya gum polymer; Khaya senegalensis; Mechanical properties; Tablets | adhesive agent; Khaya gum polymer; paracetamol; polymer; unclassified drug; article; brittle fracture index; comparative study; concentration response; correlation analysis; drug formulation; drug release; drug screening; drug solubility; Khaya grandifoliola; Khaya senegalensis; parameter; priority journal; tablet; tablet disintegration; tablet disintegration time; tablet friability; tablet property; tensile strength; tree; viscosity; Acetaminophen; Algorithms; Analgesics, Non-Narcotic; Excipients; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Lactose; Meliaceae; Plant Gums; Starch; Tablets; Tensile Strength; Viscosity; Water | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84908372259 | Formulation and in vitro evaluation of natural gum-based microbeads for delivery of ibuprofen | Odeku O.A., Okunlola A., Lamprecht A. | 2014 | Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research | 13 | 10 | 10.4314/tjpr.v13i10.2 | Department of Pharmaceutics and Industrial Pharmacy, University of Ibadan, Nigeria; Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Technology, Institute of Pharmacy, Rhenische Friedrich Wilhelms University, Bonn, Germany | Odeku, O.A., Department of Pharmaceutics and Industrial Pharmacy, University of Ibadan, Nigeria, Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Technology, Institute of Pharmacy, Rhenische Friedrich Wilhelms University, Bonn, Germany; Okunlola, A., Department of Pharmaceutics and Industrial Pharmacy, University of Ibadan, Nigeria; Lamprecht, A., Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Technology, Institute of Pharmacy, Rhenische Friedrich Wilhelms University, Bonn, Germany | Purpose: To investigate the effectiveness of three natural gums, namely albizia, cissus and khaya gums, as excipients for the formulation of ibuprofen microbeads.Methods: Ibuprofen microbeads were prepared by the ionotropic gelation method using the natural gums and their blends with sodium alginate at various concentrations using different chelating agents (calcium chloride, zinc chloride, calcium acetate and zinc acetate) at different concentrations. Microbeads were assessed using SEM, swelling characteristics, drug entrapment efficiencies, release properties and drug release kinetics.Results: The natural gums alone could not form stable microbeads in the different chelating agents. Stable small spherical discrete microbeads with particle size of 1.35 ± 0.11 to 1.78 ± 0.11 mm, were obtained using the blends of natural gum: alginate at total polymer concentration of 2% w/v using 10% w/v calcium chloride solution at a stirring speed of 300 rpm. The encapsulation efficiencies of the microbeads ranged from 35.3 to 79.8% and dissolution times, t15 and t80 increased with increase in the concentration of the natural gums present in the blends. Controlled release was obtained for over 4 h and the release was found to be by a combination of diffusion and erosion mechanisms from spherical formulations.Conclusion: The three natural gums would be useful in the formulation of ibuprofen microbeads and the type and concentration of natural gum in the polymer blend can be used to modulate the release properties of the microbeads. © Pharmacotherapy Group, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Benin, Benin City, 300001 Nigeria. All rights reserved. | Drug release kinetics; Ibuprofen; Microbeads; Natural gums; Sodium alginate | Albizia gum; alginic acid; calcium acetate; calcium chloride; Cissus gum; drug carrier; ibuprofen; khaya gum; microbead; plant gum; polymer; unclassified drug; zinc acetate; zinc chloride; Article; correlation coefficient; drug delivery system; drug formulation; drug release; encapsulation; evaluation study; gelation; kinetics; physical chemistry; physical parameters; scanning electron microscopy; swelling index | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84906854211 | Evaluation of gentamicin-entrapped solid lipid microparticles formulated with a biodegradable homolipid from Capra hircus | Kenechukwu F.C., Umeyor C.E., Momoh M.A., Ogbonna J.D.N., Chime S.A., Nnamani P.O., Attama A.A. | 2014 | Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research | 13 | 8 | 10.4314/tjpr.v13i8.2 | Department of Pharmaceutics, University of Nigeria, Nsukka 410001, Nigeria; Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria; Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Industrial Pharmacy, University of | Kenechukwu, F.C., Department of Pharmaceutics, University of Nigeria, Nsukka 410001, Nigeria; Umeyor, C.E., Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria; Momoh, M.A., Department of Pharmaceutics, University of Nigeria, Nsukka 410001, Nigeria; Ogbonna, J.D.N., Department of Pharmaceutics, University of Nigeria, Nsukka 410001, Nigeria; Chime, S.A., Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Industrial Pharmacy, University of Nigeria, Nsukka 410001, Nigeria; Nnamani, P.O., Department of Pharmaceutics, University of Nigeria, Nsukka 410001, Nigeria; Attama, A.A., Department of Pharmaceutics, University of Nigeria, Nsukka 410001, Nigeria | Purpose: To formulate solidified reverse micellar solutions (SRMS)-based solid lipid microparticles (SLMs) using homolipid from Capra hircus, and evaluate its suitability for the delivery of gentamicin. Methods: SLMs were formulated by melt-emulsification using SRMS (15 % w/w Phospholipon® 90G in 35 % w/w Capra hircus), PEG 4000 and gentamicin (1.0, 2.0 and 3.0 % w/w), and characterized with respect to size, morphology, encapsulation efficiency (EE) and pH-dependent stability. In vitro release of gentamicin from the SLMs was performed in phosphate buffer (pH 7.4) while bioevaluation was carried out using clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. Results: Stable and discrete SLMs of size range 1.47 ± 0.02 to 3.55 ± 0.09 μm were obtained. The SLMs showed a biphasic pattern of drug release and exhibited time-dependent and capacity-limited bioactivity. Overall, SLMs containing 2 % w/w SRMS, 3 % w/w gentamicin and PEG 4000 entrapped the highest amount of drug, released 99 % of drug and gave the highest inhibitory zone diameter (IZD) against the organisms within 420 min, while plain gentamicin gave the least. Conclusion: SRMS-based SLMs prepared with homolipid from Capra hircus offers a suitable delivery system for gentamicin. © Pharmacotherapy Group, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Benin, Benin City, 300001 Nigeria. All rights reserved. | Capra hircus; Gentamicin; Phospholipon and ® 90 G; Solid lipid microparticles; Solidified reverse micellar solution | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-45849117608 | Evaluation of cocoa butter as potential lubricant for coprocessing in pharmaceutical tablets | Adeagbo A.A., Alebiowu G. | 2008 | Pharmaceutical Development and Technology | 13 | 3 | 10.1080/10837450801949400 | Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria | Adeagbo, A.A., Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria; Alebiowu, G., Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria | The lubricant activity of cocoa butter coprocessed with magnesium stearate plus talc (CMT) was compared with magnesium stearate plus talc (MT) using flow and compressional characteristics of paracetamol granules and mechanical properties of their tablets as assessment parameters. The flow of the granules quantified as Hausner's ratio, Carr's index, and angle of repose showed that CMT has a higher ability than MT to reduce densification of granules due to vibration. Compressional characteristics analyzed using density measurements and the Heckel and Kawakita plots revealed that CMT did not facilitate the increase in the densification of the granules during the filling and at low pressures, Db. Also, CMT reduced the plastic deformation of the granules measured by the Py-yield pressure at onset of plastic deformation and Pk-yield pressure of deformation under compression. The mechanical properties determined by the tensile strength, T, and brittle fracture index, BFI, of the tablets produced were affected by CMT. The T and BFI of tablets with CMT were lower than those of MT. The results suggest that though CMT lowered the plasticity of the granules, it improved their flow rate and assisted in producing tablets with fewer tendencies to cap or laminate. This work concluded that cocoa butter, an inexpensive and easily available lipid, is an effective and viable lubricant that can be co-processed with magnesium stearate/talc mixture for an efficient lubrication of granules and may be useful in reducing lamination and capping in formulations that are susceptible to these 2 defects of tablets. Copyright © Informa Healthcare USA, Inc. | Brittle fracture index; Cocoa butter; Heckel plot; Kawakita plot; Magnesium stearate; Tensile strength | lubricating agent; magnesium stearate; paracetamol; talc; Theobroma oil; article; flow rate; priority journal; tablet compression; tablet formulation; tablet manufacture; tensile strength; Adhesives; Cacao; Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; Chemistry, Physical; Excipients; Lubricants; Powders; Stearic Acids; Tablets; Talc; Tensile Strength | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84874532428 | How do health workers perceive and practice monitoring and evaluation of malaria control interventions in South-east Nigeria? | Mbachu C.O., Uzochukwu B.S., Onwujekwe O.E., Ilika A.L., Oranuba J. | 2013 | BMC Health Services Research | 13 | 1 | 10.1186/1472-6963-13-81 | Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Enugu State, Nigeria; Department of Community Medicine, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu State, Nigeria; Department of Health Administration and Managem | Mbachu, C.O., Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Enugu State, Nigeria, Department of Community Medicine, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu State, Nigeria; Uzochukwu, B.S., Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Enugu State, Nigeria, Department of Community Medicine, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu State, Nigeria, Department of Health Administration and Management, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Nigeria, Enugu State, Nigeria; Onwujekwe, O.E., Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Enugu State, Nigeria, Department of Health Administration and Management, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Nigeria, Enugu State, Nigeria; Ilika, A.L., Ministry of Health, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria; Oranuba, J., Ministry of Health, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria | Background: The Anambra state Malaria Control Booster Project (ANMCBP) depends on an effective monitoring and evaluation (M&E) system to continuously improve the implementation of the malaria control interventions. However, it is not clear how the health workers that are expected to be the fulcrum of the malaria M&E perceive and practise M&E. The study was carried out to determine the knowledge, perception, and practice of Malaria M&E among selected health staff, and to identify related socio-demographic factors, including cadre of staff. Methods. A semi-structured questionnaire and an observation checklist were used to collect information from selected health workers in public primary health centres in all 21 local government areas of the State. Multistage sampling technique was used in selection of respondents. The questionnaire explored knowledge, perception and practice of malaria M&E from 213 health workers. The observation checklist was used to record the actual practice of malaria M&E as observed by trained supervisors. Results: Over 80% of health workers interviewed were able to correctly identify the malaria M&E forms; 25.4% knew the basis for categorizing Artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) into ACT1 - ACT4; 97.6% of the respondents felt there was need to keep proper records to have information available and 7.5% of them kept records because they were asked to do so. Over 90% of respondents reported correct practice of M&E, but on verification of actual practice, 55.6% of the respondents had at least one wrongly filled form, and half of these had none of their forms properly filled; about 68.4% of respondents had met specified timeline for data transmission. Differences observed in knowledge, perception and practice of M&E across age categories and cadres were only significant in ability to identify malaria M&E forms; diagnosis of malaria based on blood film microscopy result; perception of how age should be recorded; and reported practice of keeping data till they are requested. Among lower cadre of staff, gaps still exist in knowledge, perception and practice of malaria M&E. Conclusions: Gaps still exist in health workers' understanding of malaria data management, perception of efficient data transmission and observed practice of malaria M&E. © 2013 Mbachu et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | Health workers; Knowledge; M&E; Malaria; Monitoring and evaluation; Perception; Practice | adult; article; checklist; disease eradication; female; health care personnel; health personnel attitude; health survey; human; infection control; malaria; male; middle aged; Nigeria; organization and management; psychological aspect; questionnaire; Adult; Attitude of Health Personnel; Checklist; Communicable Disease Control; Disease Eradication; Female; Health Personnel; Humans; Malaria; Male; Middle Aged; Nigeria; Population Surveillance; Questionnaires; Young Adult | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84893907742 | Evaluation of some anthropometric indices for the diagnosis of obesity in pregnancy in Nigeria: A cross-sectional study | Okereke C.E., Anyaehie U.B., Dim C.C., Iyare E.E., Nwagha U.I. | 2013 | African Health Sciences | 13 | 4 | 10.4314/ahs.v13i4.25 | Department of Physiology, College of Medicine University of Nigeria Enugu campus (UNEC), Enugu, Nigeria; Departments of Obstetrics and Gynaecology/Physiology, College of Medicine UNEC, Enugu, Nigeria | Okereke, C.E., Department of Physiology, College of Medicine University of Nigeria Enugu campus (UNEC), Enugu, Nigeria; Anyaehie, U.B., Department of Physiology, College of Medicine University of Nigeria Enugu campus (UNEC), Enugu, Nigeria; Dim, C.C., Departments of Obstetrics and Gynaecology/Physiology, College of Medicine UNEC, Enugu, Nigeria; Iyare, E.E., Department of Physiology, College of Medicine University of Nigeria Enugu campus (UNEC), Enugu, Nigeria; Nwagha, U.I., Departments of Obstetrics and Gynaecology/Physiology, College of Medicine UNEC, Enugu, Nigeria | Background: Obesity in pregnancy is a global health problem which is associated with poor pregnancy outcomes. The use of weight and height, measured at about ten weeks of gestation, to produce pre-gestational body mass index is recommended for the diagnoses of the condition but limitations abound in under resourced settings. Objectives: To measure anthropometric indices such as mid upper arm circumference, calf circumference, waist circumference and waist to hip ratio, for identification of obesity in pregnancy. Methods: Anthropometric measurements were carried out on cohorts of pregnant women from 4 hospitals in Enugu, South-eastern Nigeria. Results: There were no significant difference in the mean mid upper arm circumference (MUAC) and calf circumference (CC) across the trimester groups. The mean values of waist circumferences, hip circumference and waist to hip ratios changed significantly across the trimesters. The 75th percentile of MUAC (33 cm) and CC (39 cm) in all trimesters, had sensitivity and specificity of more than 70% for identifying obesity in pregnancy. Conclusion: MUAC and CC values of 33cm and 39cm respectively might be reliable cut off points for diagnoses of obesity throughout pregnancy in Enugu, Nigeria. | Anthropometric indices; Body mass index; Nigeria; Obesity; Oregnancy | adolescent; adult; anatomy and histology; anthropometry; arm; body composition; body mass; cross-sectional study; evaluation study; female; human; Nigeria; obesity; pregnancy; procedures; sensitivity and specificity; waist circumference; waist hip ratio; young adult; Adolescent; Adult; Anthropometry; Arm; Body Composition; Body Mass Index; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Humans; Nigeria; Obesity; Pregnancy; Sensitivity and Specificity; Waist Circumference; Waist-Hip Ratio; Young Adult | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-38649114066 | Psychiatric evaluation of intellectually disabled offenders referred to the Free State Psychiatric Complex, 1993-2003 | Calitz F.J.W., van Rensburg P.H.J.J., de Jager P.P., Olander M.L., Thomas L., Venter R., Wessels G.A., Joubert G. | 2007 | South African Journal of Psychiatry | 13 | 4 | None | Department of Psychiatry, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa; Department of Biostatistics, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa | Calitz, F.J.W., Department of Psychiatry, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa; van Rensburg, P.H.J.J., Department of Psychiatry, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa; de Jager, P.P., Department of Psychiatry, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa; Olander, M.L., Department of Psychiatry, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa; Thomas, L., Department of Psychiatry, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa; Venter, R., Department of Psychiatry, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa; Wessels, G.A., Department of Psychiatry, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa; Joubert, G., Department of Biostatistics, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa | Background. Increased crime is a problem in South Africa and complications arise when the accused is intellectually disabled. The accountability and fitness to stand trial of such individuals is an important facet that needs to be managed by the judicial and health systems. Objective. To analyse the accountability and triability of intellectually disabled people awaiting trial referred to the Free State Psychiatric Complex (FSPC) from 1993 to 2003 according to Sections 77 ond 78 of the Criminal Procedures Act (Act 51 of 1977). Method. A retrospective study was conducted. The study population consisted of 80 intellectually disabled people awaiting trial in the Free State, referred to the FSPC. The reason for referral was the possibility that they were not triable or accountable. A data form was compiled to transfer the relevant information from the patients' clinical files. Results. The study found that the majority of subjects were male (96.3%), unmarried (76.3%) and unemployed (63.8%). The median age was 27 years. A relatively high percentage (49%) had received some schooling and 16% had attended a special school. Most (32%) were referred from the Bloemfontein area and 68% were referred from the remainder of the Free State and other areas. The majority were referred according to Sections 77 and 78. The highest number of the offences were of a sexual nature (78%). Of the subjects, 62 (62.5%) were diagnosed as having mild mental retardation, while 16% were diagnosed as having moderate mental retardation. A total of 71 (71.25%) were found to be untriable and unaccountable. Conclusion. Triability and accountability are not only reflected by IQ score, but also involve the accused's understanding of his/her environment, his/her speech and language proficiency, level of education, reasoning ability and the manner in which the crime was committed. It is important to note that having an IQ of 70 or less does not automatically mean that the accused is unfit to stand trial or is not accountable. It is possible for an intellectually disabled person to be triable, accountable or diminished accoountable. | None | adult; age distribution; article; criminal behavior; criminal justice; female; human; intellectual impairment; intelligence quotient; major clinical study; male; mental deficiency; offender; patient referral; population research; psychologic test; retrospective study; risk factor; sex difference; sexual crime; single man; single woman; special education; unemployment | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-39449103633 | Household burden of malaria in South Africa and Mozambique: Is there a catastrophic impact? | Castillo-Riquelme M., McIntyre D., Barnes K. | 2008 | Tropical Medicine and International Health | 13 | 1 | 10.1111/j.1365-3156.2007.01979.x | Department of Public Health and Family Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; School of Public Health and Family Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Observatory 7925, Cape Town, South Africa | Castillo-Riquelme, M., Department of Public Health and Family Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Observatory 7925, Cape Town, South Africa; McIntyre, D., Department of Public Health and Family Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Barnes, K., Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa | Objectives: To evaluate treatment-seeking behaviour, financial impact and time lost due to malaria events, in southern Mozambique and eastern South Africa. Methods: In-depth household surveys (828 in Mozambique and 827 in South Africa) were analysed. An asset index was calculated using principal component analysis to allow comparison across socio-economic groups. Direct costs of seeking care and the time lost due to malaria were determined. The extent of catastrophic payments was assessed using as thresholds the traditional 10% of household income and 40% of non-food income, as recently recommended by WHO. Results: Poverty was highly prevalent: 70% of the South African and 95% of Mozambican households studied lived on less than $1 per capita per day. Around 97% of those with recent malaria sought healthcare, mainly in public facilities. Out-of-pocket household expenditure per malaria episode averaged $2.30 in South Africa and $6.50 in Mozambique. Analysis at the individual household level found that 32-34% of households in Mozambique, compared with 9-13% of households in South Africa, incurred catastrophic payments for malaria episodes. Results based on mean values underestimated the prevalence of catastrophic payments. Days off work/school were higher in Mozambique. Conclusions: The high rate of health seeking in public health facilities seems unusual in the African context, which bodes well for high coverage with artemisinin-based combinations, even if only deployed within the public sector. However, despite no or modest charges for public sector primary healthcare, households frequently incur catastrophic expenditure on a single malaria episode. © 2008 Blackwell Publishing Ltd. | Catastrophic payments; Health-seeking behaviour; Malaria; Sub-Saharan Africa | comparative study; health care; health expenditure; household expenditure; household income; household survey; malaria; poverty; article; child; disease surveillance; health care cost; health care facility; help seeking behavior; human; income; malaria; Mozambique; poverty; principal component analysis; socioeconomics; South Africa; Adolescent; Adult; Antimalarials; Catastrophic Illness; Child; Child, Preschool; Cost of Illness; Episode of Care; Family Characteristics; Female; Health Care Surveys; Health Expenditures; Humans; Malaria; Male; Middle Aged; Mozambique; Patient Acceptance of Health Care; Poverty; Public Sector; Rural Population; Socioeconomic Factors; South Africa; Africa; Mozambique; Southern Africa; Sub-Saharan Africa | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84907915448 | Grey-scale sonographic evaluation of portal vein diameter in healthy Nigerian adults | Adeyekun A.A., Tsebi H.B. | 2014 | Journal of Medicine and Biomedical Research | 13 | 1 | None | Department of RadioIogy, University of Benin-Teaching Hospital, PMB 1111, Benin-City, Nigeria | Adeyekun, A.A., Department of RadioIogy, University of Benin-Teaching Hospital, PMB 1111, Benin-City, Nigeria; Tsebi, H.B., Department of RadioIogy, University of Benin-Teaching Hospital, PMB 1111, Benin-City, Nigeria | To determine, by grey scale ultrasonography, normal portal vein diameter among healthy adults in Benin-City, Nigeria and correlate the values with age, gender and body mass index. This was a cross sectional ultrasound study of 250 randomly selected healthy subjects, under fasting conditions. Subjects with history of jaundice, alcoholism and liver disease were excluded. A 3.5MHz curvilinear transducer was used in scanning the selected subjects. Portal vein diameter was measured at its broadest part, distal to the union of the superior mesenteric and splenic veins. Two hundred and fifty apparently healthy subjects were assessed, comprising of 53 males (21.2%), and 197 females (78.8%). Portal vein diameter ranged from 6-14mm, with a mean value of 10.3±1.5mm. The mean value for males was 10.5 ± 1.5mm, and, for females 10.2 ±1.3mm. There was no significant correlation between measured values and age, gender and body mass index. The range of measurements obtained in this study has provided reference values for portal vein diameter in our environment. Thus, objective assessment of changes in portal vein diameter as may occur in some disease conditions such as portal hypertension can be made. © CMS UNIBEN JMBR. | Benin-City; Portal vein diameter; Ultrasonography | adult; age; aged; Article; body mass; cross-sectional study; diet restriction; echography; female; gender; grey scale ultrasonography; human; male; Nigeria; Nigerian; obesity; portal vein; ultrasound transducer; underweight; vein diameter; very elderly | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84907911578 | Evaluation of the effects of oxytocin and diethylstilboestrol on mouse oestrous cycle unsing an index | Beauty E.-O.U., Evi B.E. | 2014 | Journal of Medicine and Biomedical Research | 13 | 1 | None | Department of Science Laboratory Technology, University of Benin, PMB. 1154, Benin City, Nigeria | Beauty, E.-O.U., Department of Science Laboratory Technology, University of Benin, PMB. 1154, Benin City, Nigeria; Evi, B.E., Department of Science Laboratory Technology, University of Benin, PMB. 1154, Benin City, Nigeria | The reproductive cycle depends on physiological changes which are controlled by the endocrine system and is therefore responsible for reproduction. The reproductive cycle and functions of female mammals can be altered by several drugs acting either directly or indirectly on activities of the female sex hormones. Oxytocin (OT) and Diethylstilboestral (DES) are known to modulate the ovulation induction processes; however, their effects on cytological and morphological alterations of the reproductive organs (vagina, uterus and mammary glands) at different phases of the reproductive cycle are yet to be investigated, This study was therefore aimed at the comparative analysis of exogenously administered oxytocin at several concentrations and the simultaneous comparison with diethylsttiboestrol on cytological and morphological parameters using modified methods of oestrous measurement in adult female mice. Evaluation was performed via macroscopic examination of animals as well as by microscopic examination of vaginal smears for cytological changes before and after drug administration. The treatment was carried out for 21 days at 4-5 day intervals. Diethylstilboestrol showed significant dose-related changes in both methods of measurement. DES (0.1 mg(kg) induced oestrous significantly (p<0.05) as observed in the increase in vaginal opening, colour, moisture, as well as abdominal distension and cornification of the epithelial cells while 0.2 mg/kg DES displayed a more significant oestrous induction (p <0.01) which resulted in frill cornificat ion of the epithelial cells. Oxytocin at doses of 12 flJ/kg and 24 ILY/kg did not induce statistically significant changes in this study. This study thus serves to update and. contribute to current knowledge on the roles of oxytocin and DES on the reproductive cycle. © CMS UNIBEN JMBR. | Cytology; Morphology; Oestrous; Oestrous index; Reproductive cycle | diethylstilbestrol; oxytocin; sex hormone; abdominal distension; adult; animal experiment; Article; controlled study; cytology; endocrine system; epithelium cell; estrus cycle; female; genital system; mammary gland; morphology; mouse; nonhuman; ovary cycle; ovulation induction; uterus; vagina; vagina smear | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33746087113 | Sonographic evaluation of pancreatic segments in a normal adult population in Nigeria | Okoye I.J., Agwu K.K., Kolawole K.T., Okoye I.J. | 2006 | European Journal of Scientific Research | 13 | 4 | None | Department of Radiation Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria; Department of Medical Radiography, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria | Okoye, I.J., Department of Radiation Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria; Agwu, K.K., Department of Medical Radiography, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria; Kolawole, K.T., Department of Medical Radiography, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria; Okoye, I.J., Department of Radiation Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria | Aim: To sonographically determine the normal range of values of pancreatic segments and their relationship with each other in a normal adult population in Nigerian and to determine if these values show any racial bias. Materials and methods: The anteroposterior (AP) diameters of the pancreatic segments (Head, Neck, Body and Tail) were measured prospectively in the transverse/oblique planes by trans-abdominal sonography in 500 healthy adults (aged 18 to 67 years) from the South-Eastern region of Nigeria. The subjects gave informed consent and were selected by convenient sampling. Results: The normal range of AP diameters of the pancreatic head, neck, body and tail were (18-32)mm, (7-12)mm, (10-20)mm and (10-20)mm respectively and the overall mean AP diameters were 27.83±2.14mm, 9.51±1.35mm, 13.26±1.47mm and 13.30±1.68mm in the same respective order. The ratios of each segment relative to each other were found to be 3:1 (Head/Neck); 2:1 (Head/Body); 2:1 (Head/Tail); 2:3 (Neck/Body); 2:3 (Neck/Tail); 1:1 (Body/Tail).When each segment was related to the entire pancreas, the ratios were 3:7; 1:7; 3:14; 3:14; for the Head/ pancreas, Neck/pancreas, Body/pancreas and Tail/pancreas respectively. The subjects' ages showed negative correlation (P<0.001) with the pancreatic sizes and there was progressive decline in size of the pancreatic segments after the fifth decade of life. There were statistical significant differences between the mean AP diameters of the pancreatic segments of this study population and that of the Caucasian values obtained from literature, except for the neck. Conclusion: This study recommends that in assessing the pancreas, ratios of the (Head/Neck); (Head/Body); (Head/Tail); (Neck/Body); (Neck/Tail); (Body/Tail), Head/pancreas, Neck/pancreas, Body/pancreas and Tail/ pancreas, which exceeds 3:1, 2:1, 2:1, 2:3, 2:3, 1:1, 3:7, 1:7; 3:14; 3:14; respectively, should raise suspicion for focal enlargement. The positive correlation between each segment and the pancreas shown in this study, suggest that these ratios may be used alone to discriminate accurately between focal and diffuse involvement of the pancreas. The population-specific values have the potential to enable; early detection/ screening of patients with cancer and inflammatory disorders of the pancreas, monitoring response in patients with starvation disorders and discriminating between insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) and non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus, (NIDDM) patients. © EuroJournals Publishing, Inc. 2006. | IDDM; NIDDM; Pancreatic segments; Starvation | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84907916986 | Evaluation of bacterial vaginosis (BV) using nugent scoring system | Anukam K.C., Idemoh C., Olise N.A. | 2014 | Journal of Medicine and Biomedical Research | 13 | 1 | None | Department of Science Laboratory technology, University of Benin, P.M.B. 1154, Benin City, Nigeria | Anukam, K.C., Department of Science Laboratory technology, University of Benin, P.M.B. 1154, Benin City, Nigeria; Idemoh, C., Department of Science Laboratory technology, University of Benin, P.M.B. 1154, Benin City, Nigeria; Olise, N.A., Department of Science Laboratory technology, University of Benin, P.M.B. 1154, Benin City, Nigeria | Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is the most common form of vaginal infection with diverse etiology in women of reproductive age. It may lead to morbidity and obstetric/gynecological complications. This study was carried out to determine the usefulness of Nugent scoring system as a means of diagnosing bacterial vaginosis. Sixty seven (67) women between the ages of 16 and 45 years were enrolled in the study. Vaginal swabs were Gram stained and slides examined for Nugent scoring. BV was diagnosed in 13.4% of women and the highest prevalence found in the age group of 16-20 years. The relationships of a positive whiff test (P=0.0051), presence of clue cells (P=0.001) and a pH> 4.5 (P=0.0077) with bacterial vaginosis were shown to be statistically significant. Nugent scoring system appears to be a reliable and convenient method for laboratory evaluation of bacterial vaginosis. © CMS UNIBEN JMBR. | Bacterial vaginosis | adolescent; adult; Article; clue cell; female; Gram staining; gynecological examination; high risk population; human; human tissue; laboratory test; major clinical study; Nugent scoring system; prevalence; reliability; scoring system; vagina epithelium; vagina pH; vagina smear; vaginitis; whiff test | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84905226837 | The impact of donor-funded community empowerment projects on poverty alleviation in Zimbabwe | Tanga P.T., Mundau M. | 2014 | Perspectives on Global Development and Technology | 13 | 4 | 10.1163/15691497-12341312 | Department of Social Work / Social Development, University of Fort Hare, South Africa | Tanga, P.T., Department of Social Work / Social Development, University of Fort Hare, South Africa; Mundau, M., Department of Social Work / Social Development, University of Fort Hare, South Africa | The aim of this paper is to assess the impact of donor-funded community empowerment projects on poverty alleviation in Zimbabwe. The primary data were collected from a questionnaire survey from 52 project members who were from two local NGOs that were selected randomly. A semi-structured interview guide designed for two officials of the selected NGOs implementing the projects was also used. The findings show that there is heavy dependence on outside funding, no adherence to the principles of the empowerment approach and a failure to positively impact the lives of the project members. This therefore calls for NGOs to adopt better empowerment practices: community involvement in decision making, project ownership, and clear lines of communication with the NGOs. However the findings also show the strength of linking project members with relevant institutions and training in order to ensure sustainability of community projects that may foster community empowerment towards poverty eradication. © koninklijke brill nv, leiden, 2014. | Community development; Community empowerment; Donor-funded; Nongovernmental organizations (NGOs); Poverty alleviation | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33746092916 | Categorical imperatives for alleviating the problems militating against organizational performance in Nigeria | Aluko M.A.O. | 2006 | European Journal of Scientific Research | 13 | 4 | None | Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria | Aluko, M.A.O., Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria | This study examined the problems militating against organizational performance in Nigeria and then proceeded by suggesting the necessary categorical imperatives for alleviating the identified problems. Data were collected using both qualitative and quantitative methods. In all, 630 respondents who were selected via multiple sampling techniques were used for the study. The data were analyzed using parametric and non-parametric statistics. The findings reveal that the problems' militating against organizational performance is multidimensional and comprises of economic, technological, political, social and management issues. On the basis of these findings, the paper made some categorical imperatives, which will be of immense benefits in the area of policy formulation in the quest to alleviate these problems so that organizations can contribute their quota to national development. © EuroJournals Publishing, Inc. 2006. | Capacity utilization; Collectivistic; Downsizing; Industrializing; Liberalization; Materialistic | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84955260278 | The impact of social media within the sporting industry | Hussain S.B. | 2015 | Problems and Perspectives in Management | 13 | 4 | None | Department of Sport Studies, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Durban University of Technology, South Africa | Hussain, S.B., Department of Sport Studies, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Durban University of Technology, South Africa | Public Relations within the sporting industry should play a vital role towards an organization's key publics, the relationships developed and the overall organizational image that the sport organization portrays. Ultimately public relations are responsible for creating and maintaining a mutually favorable relationship amongst an organization and its key publics. Based on this premise, it can therefore be said that public relations within the sporting industry serve as a management function which involves the managing of communication, reputation and relationships that determine the success or failure of that sport organization. The role of public relations within sporting organizations have acquired considerable significance in the new media era. Hence, making the job of a public relations professional equally easy and difficult in terms of understanding social media, how publics use it and how to connect with their key publics. Therefore this study set out to assess the impact of social media communication tools within the sporting industry. A quantitative descriptive methodology was employed for this study. The results of the study indicated that although social media are used as a communication tool, other social media platforms should be included in the sport organizations communication strategy. © Sameera Banu Hussain, 2015. | Communication; Public relations; Social media | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84879818365 | Evaluation of antidiarrheal efficacy of Detarium microcarpum stem bark aqueous extract in Albino rats | Tijjani M.B., Barkindo A.A., Ngulde S.I., Wampana B., Sanda K.A. | 2013 | Journal of Medical Sciences (Faisalabad) | 13 | 6 | 10.3923/jms.2013.477.482 | Department of Veterimy Physiology, Pharmacology and Biochemistry, University of Maiduguri, PMB 1069, Bomo State, Nigeria; Department of Animal Science, Rangeland Management Modibbo Adama University, PMB 2076, Yola, Adamawa State, Nigeria | Tijjani, M.B., Department of Veterimy Physiology, Pharmacology and Biochemistry, University of Maiduguri, PMB 1069, Bomo State, Nigeria; Barkindo, A.A., Department of Animal Science, Rangeland Management Modibbo Adama University, PMB 2076, Yola, Adamawa State, Nigeria; Ngulde, S.I., Department of Veterimy Physiology, Pharmacology and Biochemistry, University of Maiduguri, PMB 1069, Bomo State, Nigeria; Wampana, B., Department of Veterimy Physiology, Pharmacology and Biochemistry, University of Maiduguri, PMB 1069, Bomo State, Nigeria; Sanda, K.A., Department of Veterimy Physiology, Pharmacology and Biochemistry, University of Maiduguri, PMB 1069, Bomo State, Nigeria | Decoction of Detarium microcarpum, used by traditional herbalist as antidiarrheal agents, was investigated for its efficacy. Determination of phytochemical constituents of the aqueous extract was carried qualitatively using standard laboratory procedures. Experimentally-induced diarrhoea and intraluminal pooling and charcoal transit time using castor oil was used as a model for assessing antidiarrheal efficacy of the plant. The result showed that the plant contain alkaloid, tannins, flavonoids and carbohydrates. The extract gave a protection against castor oil induced diarrhoea of 53% compared with standard drug loperamide that gave 91% protection. Intraluminal fluid volume was significantly (p≤0.05) decreased compared negative control. Distance travelled by charcoal meal was found to be significantly (p≤0.05) lower than the negative control and is comparable to with the positive control group that received atropine. The results of this study suggest that the plant was found to possess antidiarrheal effect as claimed by herbalist. | Albino rats; Antidanheal; Detariwn microcarpwn; Efficacy; Stem bark | alkaloid; antidiarrheal agent; atropine; carbohydrate; Detarium microcarpum extract; flavonoid; loperamide; plant extract; tannin derivative; unclassified drug; animal experiment; animal model; animal tissue; antidiarrheal activity; article; bark; controlled study; Detarium microcarpum; diarrhea; drug efficacy; drug mechanism; drug response; enteropooling test; female; gastroenterological procedure; intestinal motility test; intestine motility; intestine transit time; low drug dose; male; medicinal plant; nonhuman; phytochemistry; plant stem; qualitative analysis; rat | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84884254772 | Evaluation of the anti-diabetic and antioxidant activities of the methanol leaf extract of Berlinia grandiflora | Ode O.J., Nwaehujor C.O., Nwinyi C.F. | 2013 | Journal of Medical Sciences (Faisalabad) | 13 | 8 | 10.3923/jms.2013.743.748 | Department of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Abuja, Nigeria; Department of Biochemistry, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria | Ode, O.J., Department of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Abuja, Nigeria; Nwaehujor, C.O., Department of Biochemistry, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria; Nwinyi, C.F., Department of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Abuja, Nigeria | Hypoglycemic and anti-oxidant activities of the methanol leaf extract of Berlinia grandiflora were studied in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats to scientifically prove its folkloric use. Osmotic fragility test and phytochemical analysis of the extract were investigated. Hyperglycemia was induced in rats by injection of 50 mg kg-1 (i.p.) of freshly prepared streptozotocin. Three doses of the extract (50,100 and 250 mg kg-1) per os were used with glibenclamide (2 mg kg-1) as reference drug and a negative control. Fasting blood glucose was monitored at 1, 3 and 6 h. Anti-oxidant activity was studied using the DPPH and FRAP spectrophotometric assays. Ascorbic acid was used as standard. Acute toxicity studies revealed the extract was safe at 500 mg kg-1. Treatment of streptozotocin-induced hyperglycemic rats using the crude extract of B. grandiflora reduced the fasting blood glucose levels significantly (p<0.01) in a dose dependent manner. DPPH and FRAP results were comparable to Ascorbic acid. The crude extract did not disrupt eiythrocyte cell membranes. Phytochemical analysis revealed presence of tannins, alkaloids, flavonoids and glycosides. This suggests that B. grandiflora possesses anti-diabetic, anti-oxidant and membrane stabilizing activities. The extract could be a potential source of novel anti-diabetic and anti-oxidant agents. | Anti-diabetic; Anti-oxidant; Berlinia glandiflora; DPPH; FRAP; Glibenclamide; Osmotic fragility; Streptozotocin | 1,1 diphenyl 2 picrylhydrazyl; alkaloid derivative; antidiabetic agent; antioxidant; ascorbic acid; Berlinia grandiflora extract; flavonoid; glibenclamide; methanol; plant extract; plant glycoside; tannin derivative; unclassified drug; acute toxicity; animal cell; animal experiment; animal model; antidiabetic activity; antioxidant activity; article; Berlinia grandiflora; blood glucose monitoring; controlled study; diabetes mellitus; diet restriction; dose response; drug isolation; drug safety; drug screening; erythrocyte membrane; fluorescence recovery after photobleaching; hyperglycemia; legume; male; nonhuman; osmotic fragility; plant leaf; rat; streptozocin diabetes; traditional medicine | None |
| None | None | Mature glycoprotein G presents high performance in diagnosing herpes simplex virus type 2 infection in sera of different Tanzanian cohorts | Görander S., Mbwana J., Lyamuya E., Lagergård T., Liljeqvist J.-Å. | 2006 | Clinical and Vaccine Immunology | 13 | 6 | 10.1128/CVI.00051-06 | Department of Virology, Göteborg University, S-413 46 Göteborg, Sweden; Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Göteborg University, S-413 46 Göteborg, Sweden; Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Muhimbili University College of Health Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Department of Virology, University of Göteborg, Guldhedsgatan 10 B, S-413 46 Göteborg, Sweden | Görander, S., Department of Virology, Göteborg University, S-413 46 Göteborg, Sweden, Department of Virology, University of Göteborg, Guldhedsgatan 10 B, S-413 46 Göteborg, Sweden; Mbwana, J., Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Göteborg University, S-413 46 Göteborg, Sweden, Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Muhimbili University College of Health Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Lyamuya, E., Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Muhimbili University College of Health Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Lagergård, T., Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Göteborg University, S-413 46 Göteborg, Sweden; Liljeqvist, J.-Å., Department of Virology, Göteborg University, S-413 46 Göteborg, Sweden | Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) is a common sexually transmitted infection in sub-Saharan Africa. Glycoprotein G (gG) of HSV-2 elicits a type-specific antibody response and is widely used for serodiagnosis. gG is cleaved into a secreted portion (sgG-2) and a highly O-glycosylated mature portion (mgG-2). The performances of these two native immunosorbent purified antigens were compared in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) format with a commercially available assay (FOCUS2) using sera from blood donors (n = 194) and individuals (n = 198) with genital ulcer disease (GUD) from Tanzania. Discordant results were resolved by Western blotting. The HSV-2 seroprevalence for blood donors was estimated as 42%, and that for the GUD cohort was estimated as 78%. The prevalence increased significantly with age for both cohorts and was higher among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive individuals than among HIV-negative subjects. In the GUD cohort with a high HSV-2 prevalence, all three assays showed statistically similar performances, with sensitivities between 97% and 99% and specificities in the range of 86% to 91%. In contrast, among blood donors with a lower seroprevalence, the mgG-2-based ELISA presented significantly higher specificity (97%) than the sgG-2 ELISA (89%) and FOCUS2 (74%). Overall, the mgG-2 ELISA gave a high performance, with negative and positive predictive values of 96% for blood donors and a negative predictive value of 95% and a positive predictive value of 97% for the GUD cohort. We conclude that native purified mgG-2 showed the highest accuracy for detection of HSV-2 in patient sera from Tanzania and is therefore suitable for seroprevalence studies as well as in clinical settings. Copyright © 2006, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved. | None | glycosylated protein; immunoglobulin M antibody; thrombospondin; adolescent; adult; aged; antibody response; article; controlled study; diagnostic accuracy; enzyme linked immunosorbent assay; female; genital ulcer; herpes simplex; Herpes simplex virus 2; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infected patient; intermethod comparison; major clinical study; male; priority journal; protein degradation; protein glycosylation; protein processing; protein purification; sensitivity and specificity; serodiagnosis; seroprevalence; sexually transmitted disease; Tanzania; Western blotting; Adolescent; Adult; Age Factors; Animals; Antibody Specificity; Blotting, Western; Cells, Cultured; Cohort Studies; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Female; Herpes Genitalis; Herpesvirus 2, Human; Humans; Infection; Male; Middle Aged; Sensitivity and Specificity; Seroepidemiologic Studies; Sex Factors; Tanzania; Viral Envelope Proteins | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84855243951 | Evaluation of hydronephrosis, during pregnancy in Nigerian women | Oyinloye O.I., Okoyomo A.A. | 2010 | Nigerian Journal of Clinical Practice | 13 | 1 | None | Departments of Radiology, University Ofllorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Nigeria; Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja, Nigeria | Oyinloye, O.I., Departments of Radiology, University Ofllorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Nigeria; Okoyomo, A.A., Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja, Nigeria | Objective: Hydronephrosis is common during pregnancy. However, pattern of dilatation and effect of urinary tract problems are still largely controversial. The study aims to determine, the pattern of dilatation of the collecting system during pregnancy, effect of urinary tract problems and parity on the degree of dilatation, in our environment. aterials and Methods: Subjects were 135 women with singleton pregnancy (Gestational age of 12-40 weeks) and 43 non- pregnant women of child bearing age, referred to the ultrasound unit of Federal Medical centre Lokoja, Nigeria, for routine obstetrics sonography. Duration was, from January 2004 to may 2004. The pelvicalyceal diameters were measured and classified into mild, moderate or severe dilatation. esult: Hydronephrosis of pregnancy was found to have an incidence of 93.4% on the right side and 84.4% on the left side. A linear relationship was established between gestational age and mean pelvicalyceal diameters for both kidneys. Mean pelvicalyceal diameter was higher in women with urinary tract problems than those without, and this was statistically significant for the right kidney.(p<5).No association was however found with parity. onclusion: Hydronephrosis is common in pregnancy with a right sided predominance.Pelvicalyceal diameter increases gradually throughout pregnancy with advancing gestational age. Urinary tract problems seem to cause increase in pelvicalyceal diameter while parity has no influence. | Hydronephrosis; Pregnancy; Ultrasound | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84893970684 | Attitude of Lesotho health care workers towards HIV/AIDS and impact of HIV/AIDS on the population structure | Belle J.A., Ferriera S.B., Jordaan A. | 2013 | African Health Sciences | 13 | 4 | 10.4314/ahs.v13i4.36 | Disaster Risk Management Training and Education Centre for Africa, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa; Department of Social Work, University of the Free State, PO Box 339, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa | Belle, J.A., Disaster Risk Management Training and Education Centre for Africa, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa; Ferriera, S.B., Department of Social Work, University of the Free State, PO Box 339, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa; Jordaan, A., Disaster Risk Management Training and Education Centre for Africa, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa | Background: The impact and management of HIV/AIDS in Lesotho in the context of disaster management was investigated. Objectives: Lesotho health care workers' perception on HIV/AIDS progression, whether HIV/AIDS was managed as a disaster, and the impact on the demographic profile was investigated. Methods: The empirical investigation included a literature study, and primary and secondary data analyses. Questionnaires (n=116) determined health care workers' perception of HIV/AIDS. Interviews with officers of Lesotho Disaster Management determined how HIV/AIDS was managed as a disaster. National population censuses and data from surveys were summarised to describe the impact of HIV/AIDS on the population structure. Results: Respondents' modal age group was 25 to 39 years, 28.4% viewed HIV/AIDS related deaths as very high and perceived that HIV/AIDS changed the age composition, sex and dependency ratio of the population. Although HIV/ AIDS was declared a disaster, the Lesotho Disaster Management Authority only aided the National AIDS Commission. There was evidence that HIV/AIDS caused the population pyramid base to shrink, and an indentation in the active population. Conclusion: Health care workers attributed HIV/AIDS to changing the demographic profile of Lesotho, also reflected in the population pyramid. Lesotho Disaster Management Authority played a supporting role in HIV/AIDS disaster management. | Disaster management; Health care workers; HIV/AIDS; Lesotho; Population | acquired immune deficiency syndrome; adult; attitude to health; female; health personnel attitude; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; interview; Lesotho; male; middle aged; perception; psychology; questionnaire; Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Adult; Attitude of Health Personnel; Female; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; HIV Infections; Humans; Interviews as Topic; Lesotho; Male; Middle Aged; Perception; Questionnaires | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84930173431 | Evaluation and performance of statstrip glucose meter | Rensburg M.A., Hudson C., Erasmus R.T. | 2014 | Point of Care | 13 | 4 | 10.1097/POC.0000000000000037 | Division of Chemical Pathology, Tygerberg Hospital, Stellenbosch University, PO Box 19113, Tygerberg, Cape Town, South Africa | Rensburg, M.A., Division of Chemical Pathology, Tygerberg Hospital, Stellenbosch University, PO Box 19113, Tygerberg, Cape Town, South Africa; Hudson, C., Division of Chemical Pathology, Tygerberg Hospital, Stellenbosch University, PO Box 19113, Tygerberg, Cape Town, South Africa; Erasmus, R.T., Division of Chemical Pathology, Tygerberg Hospital, Stellenbosch University, PO Box 19113, Tygerberg, Cape Town, South Africa | Point-of-care testing glucose meter use is on the increase and is widely used in monitoring hospitalized patients as well as by patients for self-monitoring. A major concern is the accuracy of glucose meters in different clinical settings. StatStrip (Nova Biomedical, Waltham, Mass) is a new generation glucose and quantitative ketone meter designed to correct for common biochemical interferences and to measure and correct hematocrit. Our aim was to assess the analytical performance of the StatStrip (Xpress and Connectivity) to Accu-Chek Active meters (Roche Diagnostics, Mannheim, Germany) and assess the glucose meters in a clinical setting.Hematocrit interference and chemical interferences (ascorbic acid, maltose, xylose, and acetaminophen) were evaluated at different glucose levels and different interferent concentrations.Whole blood samples collected from patients attending the medical outpatients department were measured and compared with the reference method (Siemens Advia glucose oxidase) and assessed by comparison with the ISO 15197 glucose performance criteria. Diabetic patients were included for this evaluation. Finger-prick (capillary) glucose (obtained from diabetic patients) measured on the glucose meters was compared with plasma glucose measured in the laboratory (Siemens Advia glucose oxidase). Minimal hematocrit and chemical interference were observed on the StatStrip meters, whereas the Accu-Chek Active meters were significantly affected by both abnormal hematocrit and chemical interference. StatStrip correlated best to the reference method and demonstrated the lowest bias. The StatStrip glucose meters demonstrated acceptable correlation when compared with the reference method, were not susceptible to common interferences observed on currently used glucose meters, and performed well in the clinical setting. Copyright © 2014 by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. | Glucose meters; Hematocrit; Method validation; Point-of-care testing | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-82955175530 | Vuvuzela media coverage during the 2010 FIFA soccer world cup tournament: Impact on raising awareness of noise-induced hearing loss | Ramma L. | 2011 | Noise and Health | 13 | 55 | 10.4103/1463-1741.90302 | Division of Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of Cape Town, South Africa; Division of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Faculty of Health Sciences, Groote Schuur Hospital, F-45, Observatory, Cape Town, 7925, South Africa | Ramma, L., Division of Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of Cape Town, South Africa, Division of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Faculty of Health Sciences, Groote Schuur Hospital, F-45, Observatory, Cape Town, 7925, South Africa | Hearing loss, most specifically noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) due to exposure to vuvuzela noise, received extended media coverage before and during the 2010 Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) soccer world cup tournament. This study aimed to evaluate the impact that this media coverage had on raising awareness about NIHL due to exposure to vuvuzela noise at soccer matches among South African soccer spectators. A descriptive survey study, using a 24-item, self-administered questionnaire was used for this study. One hundred and forty seven (147) soccer spectators were surveyed before (N 1 =73) and after (N 2 =74) the tournament. Systematic sampling strategy was used to select the participants. Participants completed the questionnaire before the start of matches. Sixteen percent of the participants surveyed reported having had some media exposure about NIHL due to exposure to vuvuzela noise during soccer matches before the tournament in comparison to 26% of the participants after the tournament. This increase in the level of awareness was not statistically significant. Further, most participants were still not aware of the risk of NIHL to them from exposure to excessive noise during matches and did not consider hearing loss from noise exposure during soccer matches a serious concern both before and after the tournament. The results of this study therefore seem to suggest that vuvuzela media coverage during the 2010 FIFA soccer world cup tournament did not significantly raise the level of awareness about NIHL due to exposure to excessive noise during matches among the spectators surveyed. | Awareness; Hearing loss; Noise-induced hearing loss; Soccer; Spectators; Vuvuzela | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84880947015 | The national portfolio for postgraduate family medicine training in South Africa: A descriptive study of acceptability, educational impact, and usefulness for assessment | Jenkins L., Mash B., Derese A. | 2013 | BMC Medical Education | 13 | 1 | 10.1186/1472-6920-13-101 | Division of Family Medicine and Primary Care, Western Cape Department of Health, University of Stellenbosch, George, South Africa; Division of Family Medicine and Primary Care, University of Stellenbosch, Tygerberg, South Africa; Centre for Education Development, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium | Jenkins, L., Division of Family Medicine and Primary Care, Western Cape Department of Health, University of Stellenbosch, George, South Africa; Mash, B., Division of Family Medicine and Primary Care, University of Stellenbosch, Tygerberg, South Africa; Derese, A., Centre for Education Development, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium | Background: Since 2007 a portfolio of learning has become a requirement for assessment of postgraduate family medicine training by the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa. A uniform portfolio of learning has been developed and content validity established among the eight postgraduate programmes. The aim of this study was to investigate the portfolio's acceptability, educational impact, and perceived usefulness for assessment of competence. Methods. Two structured questionnaires of 35 closed and open-ended questions were delivered to 53 family physician supervisors and 48 registrars who had used the portfolio. Categorical and nominal/ordinal data were analysed using simple descriptive statistics. The open-ended questions were analysed with ATLAS.ti software. Results: Half of registrars did not find the portfolio clear, practical or feasible. Workshops on portfolio use, learning, and supervision were supported, and brief dedicated time daily for reflection and writing. Most supervisors felt the portfolio reflected an accurate picture of learning, but just over half of registrars agreed. While the portfolio helped with reflection on learning, participants were less convinced about how it helped them plan further learning. Supervisors graded most rotations, suggesting understanding the summative aspect, while only 61% of registrars reflected on rotations, suggesting the formative aspects are not yet optimally utilised. Poor feedback, the need for protected academic time, and pressure of service delivery impacting negatively on learning. Conclusion: This first introduction of a national portfolio for postgraduate training in family medicine in South Africa faces challenges similar to those in other countries. Acceptability of the portfolio relates to a clear purpose and guide, flexible format with tools available in the workplace, and appreciating the changing educational environment from university-based to national assessments. The role of the supervisor in direct observations of the registrar and dedicated educational meetings, giving feedback and support, cannot be overemphasized. © 2013 Jenkins et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | None | adult; article; clinical competence; education; female; general practice; health personnel attitude; human; male; medical education; methodology; middle aged; questionnaire; South Africa; standard; general practice; medical education; procedures; standards; Adult; Attitude of Health Personnel; Clinical Competence; Education, Medical, Continuing; Educational Measurement; Family Practice; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Questionnaires; South Africa; Adult; Attitude of Health Personnel; Clinical Competence; Education, Medical, Continuing; Educational Measurement; Family Practice; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Questionnaires; South Africa | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84883544683 | Qualitative evaluation of the Teenage Mothers Project in Uganda: A community-based empowerment intervention for unmarried teenage mothers | Leerlooijer J.N., Bos A.E., Ruiter R.A., Van Reeuwijk M.A., Rijsdijk L.E., Nshakira N., Kok G. | 2013 | BMC Public Health | 13 | 1 | 10.1186/1471-2458-13-816 | Division of Human Nutrition, Wageningen University, Wageningen, Netherlands; Department of Work and Social Psychology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands; Rutgers WPF, Utrecht, Netherlands; School of Psychology, Open University, Heerlen, Netherlands; Windesheim University of Applied Sciences, Windesheim Honours College, Zwolle, Netherlands; Uganda Christian University, Mukono, Kampala, Uganda | Leerlooijer, J.N., Division of Human Nutrition, Wageningen University, Wageningen, Netherlands, Department of Work and Social Psychology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands; Bos, A.E., School of Psychology, Open University, Heerlen, Netherlands; Ruiter, R.A., Department of Work and Social Psychology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands; Van Reeuwijk, M.A., Rutgers WPF, Utrecht, Netherlands; Rijsdijk, L.E., Department of Work and Social Psychology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands, Windesheim University of Applied Sciences, Windesheim Honours College, Zwolle, Netherlands; Nshakira, N., Uganda Christian University, Mukono, Kampala, Uganda; Kok, G., Department of Work and Social Psychology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands | Background: A large proportion of unmarried teenage mothers in Uganda face physical, psychological, and social problems after pregnancy and childbirth, such as obstetric complications, lack of education, and stigmatisation in their communities. The Teenage Mothers Project (TMP) in Eastern Uganda empowers unmarried teenage mothers to cope with the consequences of early pregnancy and motherhood. Since 2000, 1036 unmarried teenage mothers, their parents, and community leaders participated in economic and social empowerment interventions. The present study explored the changes resulting from the TMP as well as factors that either enabled or inhibited these changes. Methods. Semi-structured interviews (N = 23) were conducted with former teenage mothers, community leaders, and project implementers, and lifeline histories were obtained from former teenage mothers (N = 9). Quantitative monitoring data regarding demographic and social characteristics of teenage mother participants (N = 1036) were analysed. Results: The findings suggest that, overall, the TMP seems to have contributed to the well-being of unmarried teenage mothers and to a supportive social environment. It appears that the project contributed to supportive community norms towards teenage mothers' position and future opportunities, increased agency, improved coping with early motherhood and stigma, continued education, and increased income generation by teenage mothers. The study findings also suggest limited change in disapproving community norms regarding out-of-wedlock sex and pregnancy, late active enrolment of teenage mothers in the project (i.e., ten months after delivery of the child), and differences in the extent to which parents provided support. Conclusions: It is concluded that strengths of the community-based TMP seem to be its socio-ecological approach, the participatory planning with community leaders and other stakeholders, counselling of parents and unmarried teenage mothers, and the emphasis on education and income generation. The project can improve by earlier active participation of unmarried pregnant adolescents and increased support for parents. © 2013 Leerlooijer et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | Agency; Community; Empowerment; Qualitative evaluation; Social change; Stigma; Teenage pregnancy | adaptive behavior; adolescent; adolescent behavior; adolescent pregnancy; article; behavior; community care; developing country; evaluation study; family size; female; health education; human; intervention study; maternal behavior; mental stress; organization and management; pregnancy; psychological aspect; risk assessment; self help; single parent; socioeconomics; statistics; Uganda; young adult; Adaptation, Psychological; Adolescent; Adolescent Behavior; Community Health Services; Developing Countries; Evaluation Studies as Topic; Female; Health Education; Humans; Intervention Studies; Maternal Behavior; Power (Psychology); Pregnancy; Pregnancy in Adolescence; Risk Assessment; Self-Help Groups; Single Parent; Single Person; Socioeconomic Factors; Stress, Psychological; Uganda; Young Adult | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84872137581 | The impact of an employee wellness programme in clothing/textile manufacturing companies: A randomised controlled trial | Edries N., Jelsma J., Maart S. | 2013 | BMC Public Health | 13 | 1 | 10.1186/1471-2458-13-25 | Division of Physiotherapy, Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Cape Town, Anzio Road, Cape, South Africa | Edries, N., Division of Physiotherapy, Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Cape Town, Anzio Road, Cape, South Africa; Jelsma, J., Division of Physiotherapy, Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Cape Town, Anzio Road, Cape, South Africa; Maart, S., Division of Physiotherapy, Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Cape Town, Anzio Road, Cape, South Africa | Background: The prevalence of health risk behaviours is growing amongst South African employees. Health risk behaviours have been identified as a major contributor to reduced health related quality of life (HRQoL) and the increased prevalence of non-communicable diseases. Worksite wellness programmes promise to promote behaviour changes amongst employees and to improve their HRQoL. The aim of this study was to evaluate the short-term effects of an employee wellness programme on HRQoL, health behaviour change, body mass index (BMI) and absenteeism amongst clothing and textile manufacturing employees. Methods. The study used a randomised control trial design. The sample consisted of 80 subjects from three clothing manufacturing companies in Cape Town, South Africa. The experimental group was subjected to a wellness programme based on the principles of cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) as well as weekly supervised exercise classes over six weeks. The control group received a once-off health promotion talk and various educational pamphlets, with no further intervention. Measurements were recorded at baseline and at six weeks post-intervention. Outcome measures included the EQ-5D, Stanford Exercise Behaviours Scale, body mass index and absenteeism.Data was analysed with the Statistica-8 software program. Non-parametric tests were used to evaluate the differences in the medians between the two groups and to determine the level of significance. The Sign test was used to determine the within group changes. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to determine the difference between the two groups. Results: At six weeks post intervention the experimental group (39 subjects) demonstrated improvement in almost every parameter. In contrast, apart from an overall decrease in time off work and a reduction in BMI for all study participants, there was no significant change noted in the behaviour of the control group (41 subjects). Seventy percent of the experimental group had improved HRQoL EQ-5D VAS scores post intervention, indicating improved perceived HRQoL. In comparison, only 58% of the control group had improved HRQoL EQ-5D VAS scores post intervention. There was no significant difference between the two groups at baseline or at six weeks post intervention. Conclusion: An employee wellness programme based on the principles of CBT combined with weekly aerobic exercise class was beneficial in improving the perceived HRQoL and changing health-related behaviours of clothing manufacturing employees. However, it cannot be concluded that the EWP was more effective than the once off health promotion talk as no significant changes were noted between the two groups at 6-weeks post intervention.This trial has been registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (trial registration number NCT01625039). © 2013 Edries et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | Cognitive behaviour therapy; Employee wellness; Musculo-skeletal disorders; Occupational health | absenteeism; adult; article; attitude to health; body mass; clothing; control group; controlled clinical trial; controlled study; female; health behavior; health care quality; health promotion; human; male; materials; methodology; occupation; occupational health service; publication; quality of life; questionnaire; randomized controlled trial; South Africa; statistics; textile; Absenteeism; Adult; Body Mass Index; Clothing; Control Groups; Female; Health Behavior; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Health Promotion; Humans; Male; Manufactured Materials; Occupational Health Services; Occupations; Pamphlets; Quality Indicators, Health Care; Quality of Life; Questionnaires; South Africa; Textiles | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84905221082 | In vitro evaluation of PEGylated-mucin matrix as carrier for oral delivery of metformin hydrochloride | Momoh M.A., Adedokun M.O., Adikwu M.U., Ibezim C.E. | 2014 | Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research | 13 | 7 | 10.4314/tjpr.v13i7.5 | Drug Delivery Research Unit, Department of Pharmaceutics, University of Nigeria, Nsukka 410001, Nigeria; Department of Pharm, Tech and Pharmaceutical Microbiology, University of Uyo, Uyo, Nigeria | Momoh, M.A., Drug Delivery Research Unit, Department of Pharmaceutics, University of Nigeria, Nsukka 410001, Nigeria; Adedokun, M.O., Department of Pharm, Tech and Pharmaceutical Microbiology, University of Uyo, Uyo, Nigeria; Adikwu, M.U., Drug Delivery Research Unit, Department of Pharmaceutics, University of Nigeria, Nsukka 410001, Nigeria; Ibezim, C.E., Drug Delivery Research Unit, Department of Pharmaceutics, University of Nigeria, Nsukka 410001, Nigeria | Purpose:To formulate metformin hydrochloride-loaded PEGylated-mucin microparticles and evaluate their in vitro properties. Method:Three different formulations of metformin hydrochloride (MTH) (PEG-M1, PEG-M2 and PEGM3) were prepared using PEGylation method. PEG-8000 and snail mucin, in a ratio of 1:3, were PEGylated together using solvent interaction principle. Loading of MTH into the matrix was by diffusion method and the microparticles characterized for particle size, zeta potential, polydispersity index, stability and in vitro release in phosphate buffer (pH 7.4). Results:Maximum yield and encapsulation were 97 and 87 % respectively. Zeta potential was -37.7, -42.3 and -46.2 mV for PEG-M1, PEG-M2 and PEG-M3 with a corresponding polydispersity index (PDI) of 0.320, 0.374 and 0.398, respectively. Particles size was 85, 115, and 145 μm for PEG-M1, PEG-M2 and PEG-M3, respectively, and they showed a unimodal distribution. Drug release was biphasic and exhibited controlled release pattern with maximum release of 92 % in 18 h compared to 81 % in 6 h for the conventional formulation. Conclusion: Extended release metformin hydrochloride formulations were successfully developed using PEGylated mucin matrices. © Pharmacotherapy Group, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Benin, Benin City, 300001 Nigeria. All rights reserved. | Drug delivery; Encapsulation; Extended release; Mucin PEGylation; Polydispersity index; Polyethylene glycol; Zeta potential | macrogol 8000; metformin; article; controlled study; drug delivery system; drug formulation; drug release; drug screening; drug stability; drug yield; nonhuman; particle size; PEGylated mucin microparticle; physical phenomena; polydispersity index; zeta potential | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84908373301 | Formulation and in vitro evaluation of ibuprofen-loaded poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) microparticles | Momoh M.A., Adedokun M.O., Lawal S.B., Ubochi G.O. | 2014 | Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research | 13 | 10 | 10.4314/tjpr.v13i10.1 | Drug Delivery Research Unit, Department of Pharmaceutics, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria; Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Pharmaceutical Microbiology, University of Uyo, Uyo, Nigeria; Department of Biochemistry, Usman Danfodiyo Univers | Momoh, M.A., Drug Delivery Research Unit, Department of Pharmaceutics, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria; Adedokun, M.O., Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Pharmaceutical Microbiology, University of Uyo, Uyo, Nigeria; Lawal, S.B., Department of Biochemistry, Usman Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria; Ubochi, G.O., Drug Delivery Research Unit, Department of Pharmaceutics, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria | Purpose: To enhance and control the release of ibuprofen from poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) microparticles.Methods: Ibuprofen-loaded microparticles containing PLGA were formulated using a emulsification/solvent evaporation method. Various concentrations of ibuprofen (200, 300, 400 and 0 mg) were loaded into the PLGA microparticles and the formulations labeled A, B, C and D, respectively. The microcapsules were characterized for drug loading, particle size, polydispersity index, zeta potential (ZP) and drug release.Results: The zeta potential of the microparticles were -53, -68.7, -43.1, and -37.4 mV for batches A, B, C and D, respectively. Polydispersity index ranged from 0.745 to 0.900. Encapsulation efficiency (EE %) and loading capacity (LC) ranged from 83.4 to 89.3 and 23.4 to 30.1, respectively. Maximum and minimum release of 92 and 72.0% at 18 h were obtained for batches C and A, respectively.Conclusion: The study shows that PLGA-loaded with ibuprofen can serve as an alternative carrier for controlled release of ibuprofen. © Pharmacotherapy Group, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Benin, Benin City, 300001 Nigeria. All rights reserved. | Controlled release; Ibuprofen; Microparticles; Polydispersity; Zeta potential | dichloromethane; ibuprofen; oleate sodium; polyglactin; polyvinyl alcohol; Article; controlled release formulation; drug determination; drug formulation; drug loading; drug manufacture; drug release; drug stability; emulsification method; encapsulation efficiency; evaluation study; infrared spectrometry; microcapsule; micrometric property; morphology; particle size; polydispersity index; solvent evaporation method; zeta potential | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-67649976612 | Impact of extensive residential solar water heating on power system losses | Ijumba K.P., Sebitosi A.B., Pillay P., Folly K. | 2009 | Energy for Sustainable Development | 13 | 2 | 10.1016/j.esd.2009.04.004 | ESKOM - Megawatt Park, Sunninghill, 2157, South Africa; University of Cape Town, Department of Electrical Engineering, Rondebosch, 7700, South Africa; University of Stellenbosch, Centre for Renewable and Sustainable Energy Studies, Matieland, 7602, South Africa; Concordia University, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Montreal, Que. H3G 1M8, Canada | Ijumba, K.P., ESKOM - Megawatt Park, Sunninghill, 2157, South Africa, University of Cape Town, Department of Electrical Engineering, Rondebosch, 7700, South Africa; Sebitosi, A.B., University of Stellenbosch, Centre for Renewable and Sustainable Energy Studies, Matieland, 7602, South Africa; Pillay, P., Concordia University, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Montreal, Que. H3G 1M8, Canada; Folly, K., University of Cape Town, Department of Electrical Engineering, Rondebosch, 7700, South Africa | South Africa is in the grips of an electricity crisis. Currently, the bulk of power is produced at coal fired power stations which are located far from the large load centres. Solar energy is widely available in South Africa, and could be used to complement this coal based generation, and supply energy at the point of use. This paper aims to investigate the impact of residential solar water heating on power system transmission losses. Initially simulations were carried out in order to determine the impact of solar water heating on a household's electricity demand. These were done for households located in Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban. A number of solar water heating installations in Cape Town were also monitored, in order to validate the simulation results. Lastly, a power system model was developed in order to investigate the possible impact of large-scale implementation of solar water heating, at varied penetration levels, on a transmission system. Using the model and the results obtained from the simulations, a utility impact analysis was carried out in order to determine the effect on transmission losses. It was concluded that large-scale implementation of solar water heating can be used as a means to alleviate loading and losses on power systems' transmission lines particularly during peak demand. © 2009 International Energy Initiative. | Power system losses; Solar water heating | coal-fired power plant; energy use; heating; household energy; model validation; Africa; Cape Town; Durban; Gauteng; Johannesburg; KwaZulu-Natal; South Africa; Southern Africa; Sub-Saharan Africa; Western Cape | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-34548636216 | Girls' performance in mathematics in upper primary schools of Addis Ababa | Kassahun T., Kedir B. | 2006 | Indian Journal of Gender Studies | 13 | 3 | 10.1177/097152150601300304 | Ethiopian Civil Service College, Research and Publication Office, P.O. Box 5648, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; National Organisation for Examinations, Ministry of Education, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | Kassahun, T., Ethiopian Civil Service College, Research and Publication Office, P.O. Box 5648, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Kedir, B., National Organisation for Examinations, Ministry of Education, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | This article was designed to make a comprehensive comparative analysis of mathematics achievement for females and males at the upper primary education level. It was also aimed at investigating the extent of association between females' maths achievement and school ownership, and probing into existing gender stereotypes among the minds of schoolchildren. To this end, the article has employed both objective and subjective data-gathering instruments. The instruments were applied to 309 boys and 302 girls drawn from 10 schools (five government and five non-government) on the basis of diversified sampling techniques. The results of data analyses revealed that mathematics achievement was strongly associated with student gender, and girls' achievement was significantly lower than that of boys'. However, girls' mathematics performance did not show significant difference in government and non-government schools. Further, it was evident that traditional stereotypes, which favour male dominance in mathematical ability, were still prevalent at a modest level in the schools studied. © 2006 Sage Publications. | None | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33744498080 | Impact of crude oil on the performance of pararubber, Hevea brasiliensis (Kunth) Muell in Delta State, Nigeria | Agbogidi M.O., Onosode A.T., Ofuoku A.U. | 2006 | European Journal of Scientific Research | 13 | 2 | None | Faculty of Agriculture, Delta State University, Department of Forestry and Wildlife, Asaba, Delta State, Nigeria; Faculty of Agriculture, Delta State University, Asaba Campus, Asaba, Delta State, Nigeria | Agbogidi, M.O., Faculty of Agriculture, Delta State University, Department of Forestry and Wildlife, Asaba, Delta State, Nigeria; Onosode, A.T., Faculty of Agriculture, Delta State University, Department of Forestry and Wildlife, Asaba, Delta State, Nigeria; Ofuoku, A.U., Faculty of Agriculture, Delta State University, Asaba Campus, Asaba, Delta State, Nigeria | An investigation on the impact of crude oil on the performance of paraubber, Hevea brasiliensis (Kunth) Muell was carried out at the Teaching and Research Farm of the Department of Forestry and Wildlife, Delta State University, Asaba Campus. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with five treatments (0%, 1%, 2%, 4% and 8%) replicated thrice. Data collected were percentage germination, plant height, number of leaves, collar girth and leaf area. The results indicated a significant (P<0.05) higher percentage germination, plant height, number of leaves, collar girth and leaf area in the unpolluted (control) soil compared with those sown in crude oil treated soils. The highest values for the plant characters were obtained in soils without crude oil while the least values were recorded in soils treated with 4% crude oil. No germination occurred in pararubber seeds sown in soils treated with 8% of the oil. The study indicates that the performance of pararubber was significantly affected in the presence of crude oil. The effects being proportional to the concentration of the oil applied. The study further suggests that pararubber can serve as bio-indicator of oil pollution in oil producing areas of the Niger Delta. Pararubber can therefore be recommended for a long-term bio-remediation after crude oil spillage on land because the study has important implications for restoration of crude oil degraded areas of the Niger Delta. © EuroJournals Publishing, Inc. 2006. | Crude oil; Delta State; Impact; Pararubber | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-34547246322 | The impact of emotional intelligence on human modeling therapy given to a youth with bipolar disorder | Maree J.G., Finestone M. | 2007 | International Journal of Adolescence and Youth | 13 | 3 | None | Faculty of Education, University of Pretoria, 0001 Pretoria, South Africa | Maree, J.G., Faculty of Education, University of Pretoria, 0001 Pretoria, South Africa; Finestone, M., Faculty of Education, University of Pretoria, 0001 Pretoria, South Africa | This article deals with the impact of emotional intelligence on human modeling therapy that is used as a point of departure. Human modeling therapy is a creative therapeutic technique during which something new is created from material that already exists. The possible relationship between emotional intelligence and creativity made human modeling and creativity a suitable form of therapy for the purposes of this study. The BarOn EQ-i: YV™ was used as a measuring instrument to determine the emotional intelligence of the youth in this study. © 2007 A B Academic Publishers. | None | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84864662368 | Project Communication, Individual Commitment, Social Networks, and Perceived Project Performance | Ahimbisibwe A., Nangoli S. | 2012 | Journal of African Business | 13 | 2 | 10.1080/15228916.2012.693436 | Faculty of Commerce and Administration, Victoria University of Wellington, P. O. Box 600, Wellington, New Zealand; Department of Business Administration, Makerere University Business School, Kampala, Uganda | Ahimbisibwe, A., Faculty of Commerce and Administration, Victoria University of Wellington, P. O. Box 600, Wellington, New Zealand; Nangoli, S., Department of Business Administration, Makerere University Business School, Kampala, Uganda | This research examines the role of project communication, individual commitment, and social networks in explaining perceived project performance. Despite the increased involvement of commercial banks in citizenship projects in Uganda, anecdotal evidence reveals that over 70% of citizenship projects fall short of the expected quality, fail to boost bank awareness, are cost overrun, and are completed behind schedule. Based on data from 121 citizenship projects conducted by 16 commercial banks in Uganda, findings revealed that project communication, individual commitment, and social networks are significant predictors of perceived project performance. This study has managerial implications, which are presented in this article. © 2012 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC. | commitment; communication; project performance; social networks | banking; communication; perception; performance assessment; project management; social network; Uganda | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33947356758 | Impact of contraception use among women seeking tubal ligation in the rural Democratic Republic of the Congo | Chabikuli N., Ngwala P. | 2007 | South African Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology | 13 | 1 | None | Health Systems Management, University of London, London, United Kingdom; Department of Family Medicine, University of Pretoria, School of Public Health, Pretoria, South Africa; Institut Medical Evangelique, Kimpese Hospital, Bas-Congo, Congo | Chabikuli, N., Health Systems Management, University of London, London, United Kingdom, Department of Family Medicine, University of Pretoria, School of Public Health, Pretoria, South Africa; Ngwala, P., Institut Medical Evangelique, Kimpese Hospital, Bas-Congo, Congo | Introduction. Investing in health is recommended for economic growth and the reduction of inequity in developing countries. Family planning is one such investment that benefits women and children. But resource-constrained environments, such as countries in conflict, present logistical and other challenges to the implementation of health programmes. For this reason even a proven cost-effective health intervention still needs to be contextualised to assess the actual benefit or impact in resource-constrained settings. Objectives. To describe user characteristics and analyse the impact of reversible contraception use among women who underwent tubal ligation in a rural health district of the Democratic Republic of Congo over a 4-year period. Methods. A retrospective analysis of family planning programme registers for 4 years (1990 - 1994). During the study period, 400 women underwent tubal ligation. All records except for 76 that were incomplete were included in the study. Results. A sample of 324 women was analysed. Most of the subjects (96%) were older than 30 years and of the Christian protestant faith (85%). Most had an education level less than secondary. Of the participants 99% were married; 98% of participants did not work outside the home. There was no significant difference in the average birth interval between contraceptive users and non-users (p = 0.246), but small families of less than 5 children were significantly more common (p = 0.006) in the small group of contraception users compared with non-users (10.1% and 2.8% respectively). Conclusions. The demand for surgical contraception comes mainly from married women with low education and economic status. Previous use of contraception did not make a difference in terms of birth spacing, suggesting a high prevalence of inconsistent or incorrect use of contraception. | None | adult; article; contraception; controlled study; Democratic Republic Congo; family planning; family size; female; health program; human; marriage; medical record review; register; religion; rural health care; sampling; socioeconomics; uterine tube ligation | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84888319054 | Ozone concentrations and their potential impacts on Vegetation in Southern Africa | Laakso L., Beukes J.P., Van Zyl P.G., Pienaar J.J., Josipovic M., Venter A., Jaars K., Vakkari V., Labuschagne C., Chiloane K., Tuovinen J.-P. | 2013 | Developments in Environmental Science | 13 | None | 10.1016/B978-0-08-098349-3.00020-7 | Finnish Meteorological Institute, Helsinki, Finland; Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa; Department of Physics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; Cape Point GAW Observatory, ZAFn Weather Service, Stellenbosch, South Africa; Sustainability and Innovation, Environmental Sciences Department, Eskom, Johannesburg, South Africa | Laakso, L., Finnish Meteorological Institute, Helsinki, Finland, Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa; Beukes, J.P., Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa; Van Zyl, P.G., Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa; Pienaar, J.J., Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa; Josipovic, M., Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa; Venter, A., Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa; Jaars, K., Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa; Vakkari, V., Finnish Meteorological Institute, Helsinki, Finland, Department of Physics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; Labuschagne, C., Cape Point GAW Observatory, ZAFn Weather Service, Stellenbosch, South Africa; Chiloane, K., Sustainability and Innovation, Environmental Sciences Department, Eskom, Johannesburg, South Africa; Tuovinen, J.-P., Finnish Meteorological Institute, Helsinki, Finland | The tropospheric ozone concentrations over southern Africa are relatively high due to large precursor emissions from biomass burning, vegetation and anthropogenic sources and the intensity of solar radiation. In this study, we summarize ozone concentration data from both literature and new measurements. Further, we present data on the accumulated vegetation exposure to ozone in terms of the AOT40 index, which is calculated for the sites with hourly ozone and radiation data, with an aim to assess the potential for adverse effects on vegetation. As the seasonal variation of ozone concentrations is large, we discuss the effect of growing season onset on the stomatal gas exchange and the related potential for vegetation impacts. Finally, future research needs are discussed. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. | Air pollution; AOT40; South Africa; Tropospheric ozone; Vegetation impacts | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84883700146 | Evaluation and comparison of in-vitro dissolution profiles for different brands of amoxicillin capsules | Kassaye L., Genete G. | 2013 | African Health Sciences | 13 | 2 | 10.4314/ahs.v13i2.25 | Food and Medicine quality Control Laboratory, Food, Medicine and Healthcare Administration and Control Authority, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | Kassaye, L., Food and Medicine quality Control Laboratory, Food, Medicine and Healthcare Administration and Control Authority, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Genete, G., Food and Medicine quality Control Laboratory, Food, Medicine and Healthcare Administration and Control Authority, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | Background: Amoxicillin is an oral semi-synthetic, β-lactam antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections caused by susceptible micro organisms. It is usually prepared in capsule, tablet and powder for oral suspension form. Solid dosage forms for oral administration pose bioavailability problems related to the absorption process The World Health Organization (WHO) has promoted the use of generic brands in order to make the cost of medicines affordable. Generic substitution could be considered when a generic copy of a reference drug contains identical amounts of the same active ingredient in the same dose formulation and route of administration. However, the presences of generic products those are not interchangeable with that of the innovator and/or with each others have been reported. Objective: To evaluate and compare the in-vitro dissolution profiles of different generic brands of amoxicillin capsules with the innovator that are available in Ethiopian market. Methods: Dissolution profiles for nine brands of amoxicillin capsules contained amoxicillin 500 mg which are available in Ethiopian market were determined using a method from the United States Pharmacopoeia (USP, 2009). The obtained dissolution profile data of the eight brands were evaluated and compared with the innovator brand (Amoxil™) using two different statistical methods: the fit factors (f1 & f2) and the dissolution efficiency (D.E.) model. Most generic brands of amoxicillin capsules (62.5% of the tested brands) are not interchangeable with the innovator brand. Results: The calculated f1 factor for Brand A and Brand G are 10.1 and 1.1 respectively. However, for the rest six brands the f1 factors are greater than 15. The f2 factor for Brand G is 74.1 and for Brand A is 48.5 which is near to 50. Similarly, the f2 factors for the six brands are less than 50 which support the result of the f1 factors for the dissimilarity of these brands with the innovator brand. The mean dissolution efficiencies as well as the 95% confidence intervals are within ±10% only for two brands, Brand F and Brand G. Conclusion: Most generic brands of amoxicillin capsules (62.5%) are not interchangeable with the innovator brand (Amoxil™). | Amoxicillin; Dissolution profile; Evaluation and comparison | amoxicillin; generic drug; article; comparative study; controlled study; drug capsule; drug solubility; drug structure; in vitro study; tablet disintegration time; amoxicillin; Dissolution profile; evaluation and comparison; Amoxicillin; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Biological Availability; Capsules; Ethiopia; Solubility | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84900843782 | Semi-analytical model for subsonic tailpipe: Effects on solid rocket motor performance | Rapozo R.R. | 2014 | International Journal of Energetic Materials and Chemical Propulsion | 13 | 2 | 10.1615/IntJEnergeticMaterialsChemProp.2014001411 | GAC-AFS, P.O. Box 69037, 0169, Pretoria, South Africa; Instituto Tecnoíogico de Aeronáutica, Praça Marechal Eduardo Gomes, 50 Vila das Acacias, Sao Jose dos Campos, SP, Brazil | Rapozo, R.R., GAC-AFS, P.O. Box 69037, 0169, Pretoria, South Africa, Instituto Tecnoíogico de Aeronáutica, Praça Marechal Eduardo Gomes, 50 Vila das Acacias, Sao Jose dos Campos, SP, Brazil | A review of one-dimensional steady-state equations was performed for the flow in a subsonic blast tube/tailpipe of a rocket motor. Assuming a constant diameter and only frictional losses, the analytical model that was derived from these equations is discussed. A simplified, semi-analytical model regarding internal ballistic effects was developed and is presented in spite of the complex set of chemical reactions between the combustion products from the motor chamber and the ablative liner, char-layer formation, and wall roughness variation. The trend of tailpipes leads to overestimating the characteristic velocity (C*) of the propellant and underestimating the thrust coefficient (CF) due to new stagnation conditions. Even for bell-shaped nozzles, the raw data after static firing tests have shown an appreciable loss in their performance. Some considerations have to be taken into account to compensate for these perturbations without jeopardizing the overall performance. The findings of this study are validated with data from firings of a real low-smoke propellant solid rocket motor. © 2014 by Begell House, Inc. | Blast tube; Internal ballistics; Solid rocket motor; Tailpipe | Analytical models; Ballistics; Equations of state; Explosives; Models; Propellants; Rockets; Characteristic velocities; Combustion products; Internal ballistic; One dimensional steady state; Semi-analytical model; Solid rocket motors; Tailpipe; Thrust coefficients; Rocket engines | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84941059577 | Social capital interventions at firm level affecting performance in the Zimbabweanb manufacturing sector | Siwadi P., Miruka C., Achieng Ogutu F. | 2015 | Corporate Ownership and Control | 13 | 1CONT2 | None | Graduate School of Business Leadership, Midlands State University, P Bag 9055, Gweru, Zimbabwe; Graduate School of Business and Government Leadership, North-West University, Mafikeng Campus, South Africa | Siwadi, P., Graduate School of Business Leadership, Midlands State University, P Bag 9055, Gweru, Zimbabwe; Miruka, C., Graduate School of Business and Government Leadership, North-West University, Mafikeng Campus, South Africa; Achieng Ogutu, F., Graduate School of Business and Government Leadership, North-West University, Mafikeng Campus, South Africa | Social capital research has largely focused on developed economies and there is conflict of acceptance on the legality of some network relations across cultures. This study pioneered the interventions at firm level aimed at building social capital for company performance in the Zimbabwean manufacturing sector. This was in an effort to provide evidence of the need for network relations to enhance business performance. A survey method was used to collect data to confirm empirically the social capital interventions existing in the sector. Using an econometric model, 10 social capital variables were regressed to determine importance of the interventions. The bivariate results indicated that networks, level of trust and entertainment were significantly associated to firm performance. On the multivariate level, trust, presences of an entertainment budget and government liaison were positively associated with firm performance. It was concluded that investment in social capital through entertainment budget created profitable relationships which if nurtured builds trust which reduces transaction costs thus affecting the bottom line. So social variables which were significantly associated with performance worked in a symbiotic, cyclical nature. © 2015, Virtus interpress.All rights reserved. | Networks; Performance; Return on assets; Social capital; Trust | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000323978800001 | Using electronic technology to improve clinical care - results from a before-after cluster trial to evaluate assessment and classification of sick children according to Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) protocol in Tanzania | Hedt-Gauthier, Bethany L.,Lesh, Neal,Mitchell, Marc,Msellemu, Daniel,Nkaka, Melania | 2013 | BMC MEDICAL INFORMATICS AND DECISION MAKING | 13 | None | 10.1186/1472-6947-13-95 | Harvard University, Dimagi Inc, D Tree Int, Ifakara Hlth Inst | None | Background: Poor adherence to the Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) protocol reduces the potential impact on under-five morbidity and mortality. Electronic technology could improve adherence; however there are few studies demonstrating the benefits of such technology in a resource-poor settings. This study estimates the impact of electronic technology on adherence to the IMCI protocols as compared to the current paper-based protocols in Tanzania.
Methods: In four districts in Tanzania, 18 clinics were randomly selected for inclusion. At each site, observers documented critical parts of the clinical assessment of children aged 2 months to 5 years. The first set of observations occurred during examination of children using paper-based IMCI (pIMCI) and the next set of observations occurred during examination using the electronic IMCI (eIMCI). Children were re-examined by an IMCI expert and the diagnoses were compared. A total of 1221 children (671 paper, 550 electronic) were observed.
Results: For all ten critical IMCI items included in both systems, adherence to the protocol was greater for eIMCI than for pIMCI. The proportion assessed under pIMCI ranged from 61% to 98% compared to 92% to 100% under eIMCI (p < 0.05 for each of the ten assessment items).
Conclusions: Use of electronic systems improved the completeness of assessment of children with acute illness in Tanzania. With the before-after nature of the design, potential for temporal confounding is the primary limitation. However, the data collection for both phases occurred over a short period (one month) and so temporal confounding was expected to be minimal. The results suggest that the use of electronic IMCI protocols can improve the completeness and consistency of clinical assessments and future studies will examine the long-term health and health systems impact of eIMCI. | ,GUIDELINES,HEALTH-WORKERS,IMPLEMENTATION,"MULTICOUNTRY EVALUATION",STRATEGY | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-43149114219 | Impacts of land-use/cover changes on the hydrology of the transboundary Mara River, Kenya/Tanzania | Mati B.M., Mutie S., Gadain H., Home P., Mtalo F. | 2008 | Lakes and Reservoirs: Research and Management | 13 | 2 | 10.1111/j.1440-1770.2008.00367.x | Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, PO Box 62000, Nairobi, Kenya | Mati, B.M., Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, PO Box 62000, Nairobi, Kenya; Mutie, S., Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, PO Box 62000, Nairobi, Kenya; Gadain, H., Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, PO Box 62000, Nairobi, Kenya; Home, P., Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, PO Box 62000, Nairobi, Kenya; Mtalo, F., Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, PO Box 62000, Nairobi, Kenya | The Mara River is the lifeline of the transboundary Mara basin across Kenya and Tanzania. The basin is considered one of the more serene subcatchments of the Lake Victoria Basin and ultimately the Nile Basin, and traverses the famous Maasai Mara and Serengeti National Parks. The basin also contains forests, large-scale farms, smallholder farms, pastoral grazing lands, as well as hunter gatherers and fishers. There is growing concern, however, regarding land degradation in the basin, particularly deforestation in the headwaters, that is affecting the natural resource base and the river flows. Accurate scientific data are required to advise policy, and to plan appropriate mitigation measures. This study utilizes remote sensing and geographical information system (GIS) tools, and hydrological and ground-truth studies to determine the magnitude of the land-use/cover changes in the Mara River Basin, and the effects of these changes on the river flows over the last 30 years. The study results indicate that land-use/cover changes have occurred. In 1973, for example, rangelands (savannah, grasslands and shrublands) covered 10.989 km 2 (79%) of the total basin area. The rangelands had been reduced to 7245 km 2 (52%) by 2000, however, while the forest areas were reduced by 32% over the same period. These changes have been attributed to the encroachment of agriculture, which has more than doubled (203%) its land area over the same period. The hydrology of the Mara River also has changed, with sharp increases in flood peak flows by 7%, and an earlier occurrence of these peaks by 4 days between 1973 and 2000. There is evidence of increased soil erosion in the upper catchments, with silt build-up in the downstream floodplains. This has caused the Mara wetland to expand by 387%, adversely affecting riparian agriculture. There is need for urgent action to stem the land degradation of the Mara River Basin, including planning and implementing appropriate mitigation measures. © Journal compilation © 2008 Blackwell Publishing Asia Pty Ltd. | GIS; Hydrology; Kenya; Lake Victoria; Land use/cover; Marab asin; Tanzania | catchment; environmental impact; floodplain; GIS; hydrological response; land cover; land degradation; land use change; peak flow; river basin; river flow; soil erosion; Africa; East Africa; East African Lakes; Kenya; Lake Victoria; Masai Mara; Nile Basin; Rift Valley; Serengeti National Park; Sub-Saharan Africa; Tanzania | None |
| WoS | WOS:000267176400007 | Challenges in implementing a participatory evaluation approach: A case study of the Limpopo Literacy Teaching Evaluation Project | Makgamatha, Matthews Matome | 2009 | EDUCATION AS CHANGE | 13 | 1 | 10.1080/16823200902940730 | Human Sciences Research Council-South Africa | None | The Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC), in collaboration with the University of Limpopo, was commissioned by the Limpopo Department of Education (LDoE) in South Africa to evaluate literacy teaching materials and practices in Limpopo primary schools. The research followed a participatory evaluation approach involving key education stakeholders in the province. The article examines the formation of the Research Reference Group (RRG) as a mechanism through which stakeholders were enabled to participate in the evaluation. It reviews the challenges encountered during the process of establishing the RRG and how they were addressed by the evaluation team. These challenges included conflicts of interest among stakeholders; determining the size of the RRG and the number of stakeholder representatives, and the knowledge imbalance between the evaluation team and the stakeholder representatives. It also highlights lessons learnt from the Limpopo literacy evaluation case study. | "EVALUATION TEAM",LITERACY,"participatory evaluation",stakeholder | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000267176400006 | Enhancing teacher assessment practices in South African schools: Evaluation of the assessment resource banks | Kanjee, Anil | 2009 | EDUCATION AS CHANGE | 13 | 1 | 10.1080/16823200902940599 | Human Sciences Research Council-South Africa | None | The effective use of assessment by teachers can have a significant impact on improving learning. However, teachers require adequate support and appropriate resources to enhance their classroom assessment practices. This article reports on the results of a study which evaluated the effectiveness of Assessment Resource Banks (ARBs) for supporting teachers in rural primary schools to improve their classroom assessment practices. These ARBs are teacher booklets that comprise sets of Literacy and Numeracy tasks for use in assessing learner performance against the national Assessment Standards. The ARBs were piloted in 450 rural schools across four provinces. Data for the evaluation was obtained from classroom observations and interviews conducted in a sample of pilot schools and teacher and principal surveys administered in all pilot schools. The results of the evaluation indicate that providing teachers with relevant assessment resources can improve their classroom assessment practice. Most teachers reported that they found the ARBs to be extremely useful for conducting classroom assessments, and used them on a regular basis. In addition, the ARBs also provided a valuable resource for the planning and presentation of lessons as well as for assigning class work and homework exercises. The article concludes by highlighting future development and research needs in the deployment of ARBs in South African schools. | "assessment resource banks","classroom assessment","teacher assessment" | None | None |
| None | None | Health workers' performance in the implementation of Patient Centred Tuberculosis Treatment (PCT) strategy under programmatic conditions in Tanzania: A cross sectional study | Mkopi A., Range N., Amuri M., Geubbels E., Lwilla F., Egwaga S., Schulze A., Van Leth F. | 2013 | BMC Health Services Research | 13 | 1 | 10.1186/1472-6963-13-101 | Ifakara Health Institute, P.O. Box 78373, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; National Institute for Medical Research, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Programme, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Novartis Foundation for Sustainable Development, Basel, Switzerland; KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation, The Hague, Netherlands; Department of Global Health, University of Amsterdam, Academic Medical Centre, Amsterdam, Netherlands | Mkopi, A., Ifakara Health Institute, P.O. Box 78373, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Range, N., National Institute for Medical Research, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Amuri, M., Ifakara Health Institute, P.O. Box 78373, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Geubbels, E., Ifakara Health Institute, P.O. Box 78373, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Lwilla, F., Ifakara Health Institute, P.O. Box 78373, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Egwaga, S., National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Programme, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Schulze, A., Novartis Foundation for Sustainable Development, Basel, Switzerland; Van Leth, F., KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation, The Hague, Netherlands, Department of Global Health, University of Amsterdam, Academic Medical Centre, Amsterdam, Netherlands | Background: Patient Centred Tuberculosis Treatment (PCT) is a promising treatment delivery strategy for Mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB). It aims to improve adherence to treatment by giving patients the choice of having drug intake supervised at the health facility by a medical professional or at home by a supporter of their choice. Methods. A cross-sectional survey was undertaken in three districts of Tanzania during October 2007, one year after PCT was rolled out nationally. Semi-structured questionnaires were used to assess whether key elements of the PCT approach were being implemented, to evaluate supporters' knowledge, to capture opinions on factors contributing to treatment completion, and to assess how treatment completion was measured. Transcripts from open-ended responses were analysed using framework analysis. Results: Interviews were conducted with 127 TB patients, 107 treatment supporters and 70 health workers. In total, 25.2% of TB patients were not given a choice about the place of treatment by health workers, and only 13.7% of those given a choice reported that they were given adequate time to make their decision. Only 24.3% of treatment supporters confirmed that they were instructed how to complete patients' treatment cards. Proper health education was the factor most frequently reported by health workers as favouring successful completion of TB treatment (45.7%). The majority of health workers (68.6%) said they checked returned blister packs to verify whether patients had taken their treatment, but only 20.0% checked patients' treatment cards. Conclusions: The provision of choice of treatment location, information on treatment, and guidance for treatment supporters need to be improved. There is a requirement for regular re-training of health workers with effective supportive supervision if successful implementation of the PCT approach is to be sustained. © 2013 Mkopi et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | Directly observed treatment; Home-based; Patient centred treatment; PCT; Tanzania; TB | adult; article; cross-sectional study; directly observed therapy; female; health care quality; human; lung tuberculosis; male; medication compliance; paramedical personnel; patient care; patient participation; professional competence; qualitative research; questionnaire; Tanzania; Adult; Allied Health Personnel; Cross-Sectional Studies; Directly Observed Therapy; Female; Humans; Male; Medication Adherence; Patient Participation; Patient-Centered Care; Professional Competence; Qualitative Research; Quality of Health Care; Questionnaires; Tanzania; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84934755299 | Improved performance of cobas ampliprep/cobas taqman version 2.0 assay over amplicor monitor version 1.5 in the quantification of HIV-1 RNA viral load in Abuja, Nigeria | Abubakar A., Ndembi N., Ogbanufe O., Inalegwu A., Wilson S., Ebagua I., Peters S., Chime C., Dakum P., Abimiku A.G. | 2015 | Current HIV Research | 13 | 4 | None | Institute of Human Virology Nigeria, Maina Court, 252 Herbert Macaulay Way Central Business, District Garki Abuja, Nigeria; US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Abuja, Nigeria; Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland School of Medici | Abubakar, A., Institute of Human Virology Nigeria, Maina Court, 252 Herbert Macaulay Way Central Business, District Garki Abuja, Nigeria; Ndembi, N., Institute of Human Virology Nigeria, Maina Court, 252 Herbert Macaulay Way Central Business, District Garki Abuja, Nigeria; Ogbanufe, O., US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Abuja, Nigeria; Inalegwu, A., Institute of Human Virology Nigeria, Maina Court, 252 Herbert Macaulay Way Central Business, District Garki Abuja, Nigeria; Wilson, S., Institute of Human Virology Nigeria, Maina Court, 252 Herbert Macaulay Way Central Business, District Garki Abuja, Nigeria; Ebagua, I., Institute of Human Virology Nigeria, Maina Court, 252 Herbert Macaulay Way Central Business, District Garki Abuja, Nigeria; Peters, S., Institute of Human Virology Nigeria, Maina Court, 252 Herbert Macaulay Way Central Business, District Garki Abuja, Nigeria; Chime, C., Institute of Human Virology Nigeria, Maina Court, 252 Herbert Macaulay Way Central Business, District Garki Abuja, Nigeria; Dakum, P., Institute of Human Virology Nigeria, Maina Court, 252 Herbert Macaulay Way Central Business, District Garki Abuja, Nigeria; Abimiku, A.G., Institute of Human Virology Nigeria, Maina Court, 252 Herbert Macaulay Way Central Business, District Garki Abuja, Nigeria, Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 725 W. Lombard Street N446, Baltimore, MD, United States | Background: Improved viral detections by the real time PCR over the manual assays have been reported by various manufacturers. However, discrepancies and discordance between different platforms targeting the same pathogen have also been observed at different settings. Methods: We used an analytical study design to compare the performance of the Cobas Taqman /Cobas Ampliprep version 2.0 against the standard Amplicor Monitor 1.5 using 200 routine clinical samples, in Abuja-Nigeria. Results: Taqman and Amplicor detected 118/200 (59%) and 83/200 (41.5%) samples respectively. Two of 83 samples (2.4%) undetectable by Cobas Taqman, were detectable by Roche Amplicor, while 5 of 37 samples (13.5%) which were undetectable by Amplicor using Taqman. Among the 81 detectable samples by both assays 4 samples (4.9%) had a log10 difference > 0.5 log copies, while 9 samples (11.1%) showed a wider discrepancy of >1 log10. Bland and Altman’s comparison shows no significant difference between the two methods (p=0.2825) and CI-0.06171 to 0.2087. Conclusion: We observed a remarkable improvement in the performance of COBAS AmpliPrep/COBAS TaqMan version 2.0 Assay over Amplicor Monitor version 1.5 in the quantification of HIV1 RNA viral load. Discrepancies of clinical significance, in the viral load between the two platforms were also recorded. The implications of the inability of the automated Taqman 2.0 to detect 2.4% of samples detectable by the Amplicor need to be considered by programs, clinicians and the manufacturers. Periodic evaluation of platforms to detect new circulating HIV subtypes within each locality is also recommended. © 2015 Bentham Science Publishers. | HIV-1 RNA; Improved performance; Quantification; Viral load | adult; Article; clinical article; COBAS AmpliPrep; COBAS TaqMan; female; health program; human; Human immunodeficiency virus 1 infection; limit of quantitation; male; molecular diagnostics; molecular phylogeny; performance; real time polymerase chain reaction; regression analysis; sequence analysis; virus load | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84934767274 | Performance of genotype mtbdrplus in the detection of resistance to rifampicin and isoniazid among clinical mycobacteria isolates in Ilorin, Nigeria | Nwofor A.C., Nyamngee A., Nwabuisi C., Iwakun M., Gidado M., Mensah C., Dakum P., Agbede O.O., Ndembi N., Blattner W.A., Abimiku A.G. | 2015 | Current HIV Research | 13 | 4 | None | Institute of Human Virology, Abuja, Nigeria; University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria; National Tuberculosis and leprosy Training Center, Zaria, Nigeria; Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland, Baltimore, United States | Nwofor, A.C., Institute of Human Virology, Abuja, Nigeria; Nyamngee, A., University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria; Nwabuisi, C., University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria; Iwakun, M., Institute of Human Virology, Abuja, Nigeria; Gidado, M., National Tuberculosis and leprosy Training Center, Zaria, Nigeria; Mensah, C., Institute of Human Virology, Abuja, Nigeria, Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland, Baltimore, United States; Dakum, P., Institute of Human Virology, Abuja, Nigeria; Agbede, O.O., University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria; Ndembi, N., Institute of Human Virology, Abuja, Nigeria, Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland, Baltimore, United States; Blattner, W.A., Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland, Baltimore, United States; Abimiku, A.G., Institute of Human Virology, Abuja, Nigeria, Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland, Baltimore, United States | Background: Performance of Genotype MTBDRplus assay against Lowenstein Jensen (LJ) proportion method of Drug Susceptibility Testing (DST) in detection of resistance among clinical mycobacteria isolates to rifampicin (RMP) and isoniazid (INH) was evaluated in Ilorin, Nigeria. Methods: This retrospective study characterized one hundred mycobacteria isolates from pulmonary TB patients, stored on LJ medium and subcultured unto fresh LJ slants before being genotyped using MTBDRplus assay. DST was performed on the isolates against RMP, INH, Ethambutol and Streptomycin. Results: Genotype MTBDRplus identified 97% and 3% of the 100 isolates as Mycobacterium tuberculosis Complex (MTBC) and Non-Tuberculous Mycobacteria (NTM) respectively. Fourteen of the isolates, (14%) were resistant to RMP while 86% were sensitive by the genotypic method. Three of these 14 RMP-resistant isolates were NTMs while 11 were MTBC. Twelve (12%) of the 100 isolates were resistant to INH. Three INH-resistant isolates were NTMs, and 9 were MTBC. Phenotypically and genotypically, the 3 NTMs were resistant to RMP and INH and ten of the 97 MTBC strains were RMP-resistant. One RMP-phenotypically-sensitive strain was genotypically resistant to RMP. Six of the MTBC isolates were resistant to both RMP and INH by both methods. Most mutations occurred in the S-531L and S315T1 codons of rpoB and KatG genes of RMP and INH, respectively. Conclusion: The high specificity and positive predictive values recorded by MTBDRplus in our study make it suitable for use in the programmatic management of drug-resistant TB in resource-limited settings. © 2015 Bentham Science Publishers. | Codons; First-line anti-TB drugs; Genotypic; MDR-TB; Nigeria; Phenotypic | ethambutol; isoniazid; rifampicin; streptomycin; antiviral susceptibility; Article; controlled study; DNA isolation; genotype; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; Nigeria; nonhuman; polymerase chain reaction; retrospective study | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84949536141 | Increasing the impact of a business simulation: The role of reflection | Hughes S., Scholtz F. | 2015 | International Journal of Management Education | 13 | 3 | 10.1016/j.ijme.2015.06.001 | Monash South Africa, Private Bag X60, Roodepoort, South Africa; University of Johannesburg, P.O. Box 524, Aucklandpark, South Africa | Hughes, S., Monash South Africa, Private Bag X60, Roodepoort, South Africa, University of Johannesburg, P.O. Box 524, Aucklandpark, South Africa; Scholtz, F., Monash South Africa, Private Bag X60, Roodepoort, South Africa | The article considers a simulation in the context of experiential learning theory (ELT). Kolb's (1984) cycle of experiential learning involves experiencing, reflecting, thinking and acting. The researchers contend that the impact of incorporating a simulation in a course can be unlocked by purposefully directing student reflection. Cowan (1998) postulates that students should go through a process of reflecting for, in and on action. Through the use of Participatory Action Research (PAR) the researchers developed and propose educational initiatives that can be employed to encourage student reflection and can be categorised according to Cowan's (1998) model. Additionally, the researchers propose a model of integrative reflection, where reflection is less sequential and reflection for, in and on action overlap. Whilst experience, thinking and acting are imperative, reflection is conceptualised as the phase where the potential of learning in a simulation based course can be enhanced. © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. | Experiential learning theory; Integrative reflection; Participative action research; Reflection; Simulation | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-65249119288 | Impact of food aid on food variety and dietary diversity of an elderly community in Sharpeville, South Africa | Oldewage-Theron W.H., Kruger R. | 2009 | Journal of Nutrition, Health and Aging | 13 | 4 | 10.1007/s12603-009-0027-8 | Institute of Sustainable Livelihoods, Vaal University of Technology, Private Bag X021, Vanderbijlpark 1900, South Africa; Institute of Food, Nutrition and Human Health, Te Kura Hangarau o Kai-oranga-a-tangata, Massey University - Albany Campus, Private Bag 102 904, North Shore, Auckland, New Zealand | Oldewage-Theron, W.H., Institute of Sustainable Livelihoods, Vaal University of Technology, Private Bag X021, Vanderbijlpark 1900, South Africa; Kruger, R., Institute of Food, Nutrition and Human Health, Te Kura Hangarau o Kai-oranga-a-tangata, Massey University - Albany Campus, Private Bag 102 904, North Shore, Auckland, New Zealand | Objective: The objective of this paper was to discuss the impact of a two-year food aid intervention programme on dietary diversity and adequacy of an elderly community. This project was undertaken amongst the elderly (n=300), voluntarily attending a day care centre in Sharpeville, South Africa. In a baseline study (2004) in this community the dietary diversity scoring (DDS) method revealed low dietary diversity (3.41) and food variety (4.77) scores (FVS), and a trend that higher scores resulted in a better mean nutrient adequacy ratio. An intervention study, implemented in 2005, aimed to improve the dietary diversity of this elderly community by providing breakfast and lunch five days a week at the care centre. The impact of this food aid was investigated by comparing the DDS, FVS and nutrient adequacy ratios (NAR) before and after the intervention. Methods: The methods included socio-demographic, health, food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), 24 hour-recall (24h-recall), anthropometric and biochemical measurements in 107 elderly people who regularly attended the care centre since 2004. Results: At baseline, the majority of respondents (n=82, 55.1%) were classified with low DDS utilizing 0-3 food groups compared to after the intervention, where 98.1% (n=105) was classified with a high dietary diversity utilizing all nine nutritious food groups. The mean individual DDS of 3.41 that improved to 8.5 after the intervention further supported this. The mean adequacy ratio (MAR) showed a statistically significant improvement from baseline (0.77±0.48) to 1.02±0.66 after the intervention, indicating improvement of the adequacy of the overall diet to meet the daily requirements for this elderly community. Conclusions: The results of this study represent the first demonstration that food aid proved to be an effective short term nutrition intervention that improved the level of dietary diversity. Other food-based approaches or nutrition education activities should be implemented simultaneously to improve self-sufficiency in such a community for long-term effectiveness in terms of nutrient inadequacy and dietary diversity. | Dietary diversity; Elderly; Food variety; Household food insecurity; Nutrient adequacy | aged; article; cereal; clinical assessment; community living; controlled study; day care; dietary intake; elderly care; feeding behavior; fruit; health program; human; legume; macronutrient; meat; nutrient content; nutritional requirement; nutritional status; priority journal; questionnaire; scoring system; South Africa; vegetable; Aged; Diet; Diet Surveys; Female; Food; Food Services; Humans; Male; Nutritive Value; Outcome Assessment (Health Care); Social Welfare; South Africa | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84855167416 | Drought impacts and related risk management by smallholder farmers in developing countries: Evidence from Awash River Basin, Ethiopia | Murendo C., Keil A., Zeller M. | 2011 | Risk Management | 13 | 4 | 10.1057/rm.2011.17 | International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics, P.O. Box 776, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe; Department of Agricultural Economics and Social Sciences in the Tropics and Subtropics, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart 70593, Germany; Rural Development Theory and Policy, Department of Agricultural Economics and Social Sciences in the Tropics and Subtropics, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart 70593, Germany | Murendo, C., International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics, P.O. Box 776, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe; Keil, A., Department of Agricultural Economics and Social Sciences in the Tropics and Subtropics, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart 70593, Germany; Zeller, M., Rural Development Theory and Policy, Department of Agricultural Economics and Social Sciences in the Tropics and Subtropics, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart 70593, Germany | In this article, we analyze the effects of drought on Ethiopian rural households' food security and associated risk management strategies. Severe droughts have led to a significant depression of crop yields and death of livestock in the past. Droughts have drastically increased the proportion of food-insecure households and lengthened the duration of food insecurity in the area. Ex-ante adaptation strategies widely practised in the area include storage of crop residues as fodder for livestock, rearing of drought tolerant livestock, mixed cropping, use of short-duration crop varieties, and adoption of soil and water conservation practices. Ex-post coping strategies utilized by households include sale of assets and reliance on support from informal networks. Training farmers in the production and conservation of livestock fodder as well as in soil and water conservation practices appear to be key options relevant to strengthen farmers capacity to adapt to and cope with drought. © 2011 Macmillan Publishers Ltd. | None | None | None |
| None | None | Evaluation of the effectiveness of stainless steel cooking pots in reducing iron-deficiency anaemia in food aid-dependent populations | Talley L., Woodruff B.A., Seal A., Tripp K., Mselle L.S., Abdalla F., Bhatia R., Mirghani Z. | 2010 | Public Health Nutrition | 13 | 1 | 10.1017/S1368980009005254 | International Emergency and Refugee Health Branch, National Center for Environmental Health, MS F-60, 1600 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30333, United States; Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States; Centre for International Health and Development, Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom; Maternal and Child Nutrition Branch, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States; Tanzania Food and Nutrition Centre, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Laayoune, Western Sahara; United Nations World Food Programme, Regional Bureau for Asia, Bangkok, Thailand; United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Damascus, Syrian Arab Republic | Talley, L., International Emergency and Refugee Health Branch, National Center for Environmental Health, MS F-60, 1600 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30333, United States; Woodruff, B.A., Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States; Seal, A., Centre for International Health and Development, Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom; Tripp, K., Maternal and Child Nutrition Branch, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States; Mselle, L.S., Tanzania Food and Nutrition Centre, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Abdalla, F., United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Laayoune, Western Sahara; Bhatia, R., United Nations World Food Programme, Regional Bureau for Asia, Bangkok, Thailand; Mirghani, Z., United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Damascus, Syrian Arab Republic | Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of stainless steel (Fe alloy) cooking pots in reducing Fe-deficiency anaemia in food aid-dependent populations.Design Repeated cross-sectional surveys. Between December 2001 and January 2003, three surveys among children aged 6-59 months and their mothers were conducted in 110 households randomly selected from each camp. The primary outcomes were changes in Hb concentration and Fe status.Setting Two long-term refugee camps in western Tanzania.Subjects Children (6-59 months) and their mothers were surveyed at 0, 6 and 12 months post-intervention. Stainless steel pots were distributed to all households in Nduta camp (intervention); households in Mtendeli camp (control) continued to cook with aluminium or clay pots.Results: Among children, there was no change in Hb concentration at 1 year; however, Fe status was lower in the intervention camp than the control camp (serum transferrin receptor (sTfR) concentration: 6.8 v. 5.9 μg/ml; P < 0.001). There was no change in Hb concentration among non-pregnant mothers at 1 year. Subjects in the intervention camp had lower Fe status than those in the control camp (sTfR concentration: 5.8 v. 4.7 μg/ml; P = 0.003).Conclusions: Distribution of stainless steel pots did not increase Hb concentration or improve Fe status in children or their mothers. The use of stainless steel prevents rusting but may not provide sufficient amounts of Fe and strong educational campaigns may be required to maximize use. The distribution of stainless steel pots in refugee contexts is not recommended as a strategy to control Fe deficiency. | Anaemia; Cooking pots; Iron deficiency; Refugees; Stainless steel | aluminum; hemoglobin; stainless steel; transferrin receptor; adolescent; adult; article; blood; clinical trial; controlled clinical trial; controlled study; cross-sectional study; female; human; infant; iron deficiency anemia; iron intake; kitchen; male; middle aged; mother; newborn; nutritional status; preschool child; randomized controlled trial; refugee; Tanzania; Adolescent; Adult; Aluminum; Anemia, Iron-Deficiency; Child, Preschool; Cooking and Eating Utensils; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Hemoglobins; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Iron, Dietary; Male; Middle Aged; Mothers; Nutritional Status; Receptors, Transferrin; Refugees; Stainless Steel; Tanzania; Young Adult | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84938574028 | The impact of multimorbidity on adult physical and mental health in low- and middle-income countries: What does the study on global ageing and adult health (SAGE) reveal? | Arokiasamy P., Uttamacharya U., Jain K., Biritwum R.B., Yawson A.E., Wu F., Guo Y., Maximova T., Espinoza B.M., Salinas Rodríguez A., Afshar S., Pati S., Ice G., Banerjee S., Liebert M.A., Snodgrass J.J., Naidoo N., Chatterji S., Kowal P. | 2015 | BMC Medicine | 13 | 1 | 10.1186/s12916-015-0402-8 | International Institute for Population Sciences, Mumbai, India; Department of Community Health, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana; Shanghai Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Shanghai, China; Russian Academy of Medical Sciences (RAMS), Moscow, Russian Federation; National Institute of Public Health (INSP), Centre for Evaluation Research and Surveys, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico; Academic Unit of Primary Care and Population Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, University Road, Southampton, United Kingdom; Indian Institute of Public Health, Bhubaneswar, Public Health Foundation of India, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India; Ohio University, Department of Social Medicine and Director of Global Health, Athens, OH, United States; Centre for Dementia Studies, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, University of Sussex, Brighton, United Kingdom; University of Oregon, Department of Anthropology, Eugene, OR, United States; World Health Organization, Statistics Measurement and Analysis Unit, Geneva, Switzerland; World Health Organization Study on global AGEing and adult health (SAGE), Geneva, Switzerland; University of Newcastle Priority Research Centre for Gender, Health and Ageing, Newcastle, NSW, Australia | Arokiasamy, P., International Institute for Population Sciences, Mumbai, India; Uttamacharya, U., International Institute for Population Sciences, Mumbai, India; Jain, K., International Institute for Population Sciences, Mumbai, India; Biritwum, R.B., Department of Community Health, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana; Yawson, A.E., Department of Community Health, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana; Wu, F., Shanghai Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Shanghai, China; Guo, Y., Shanghai Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Shanghai, China; Maximova, T., Russian Academy of Medical Sciences (RAMS), Moscow, Russian Federation; Espinoza, B.M., National Institute of Public Health (INSP), Centre for Evaluation Research and Surveys, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico; Salinas Rodríguez, A., National Institute of Public Health (INSP), Centre for Evaluation Research and Surveys, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico; Afshar, S., Academic Unit of Primary Care and Population Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, University Road, Southampton, United Kingdom; Pati, S., Indian Institute of Public Health, Bhubaneswar, Public Health Foundation of India, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India; Ice, G., Ohio University, Department of Social Medicine and Director of Global Health, Athens, OH, United States; Banerjee, S., Centre for Dementia Studies, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, University of Sussex, Brighton, United Kingdom; Liebert, M.A., University of Oregon, Department of Anthropology, Eugene, OR, United States; Snodgrass, J.J., University of Oregon, Department of Anthropology, Eugene, OR, United States; Naidoo, N., World Health Organization, Statistics Measurement and Analysis Unit, Geneva, Switzerland, World Health Organization Study on global AGEing and adult health (SAGE), Geneva, Switzerland; Chatterji, S., World Health Organization, Statistics Measurement and Analysis Unit, Geneva, Switzerland, World Health Organization Study on global AGEing and adult health (SAGE), Geneva, Switzerland; Kowal, P., World Health Organization Study on global AGEing and adult health (SAGE), Geneva, Switzerland, University of Newcastle Priority Research Centre for Gender, Health and Ageing, Newcastle, NSW, Australia | Background: Chronic diseases contribute a large share of disease burden in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Chronic diseases have a tendency to occur simultaneously and where there are two or more such conditions, this is termed as 'multimorbidity'. Multimorbidity is associated with adverse health outcomes, but limited research has been undertaken in LMICs. Therefore, this study examines the prevalence and correlates of multimorbidity as well as the associations between multimorbidity and self-rated health, activities of daily living (ADLs), quality of life, and depression across six LMICs. Methods: Data was obtained from the WHO's Study on global AGEing and adult health (SAGE) Wave-1 (2007/10). This was a cross-sectional population based survey performed in LMICs, namely China, Ghana, India, Mexico, Russia, and South Africa, including 42,236 adults aged 18 years and older. Multimorbidity was measured as the simultaneous presence of two or more of eight chronic conditions including angina pectoris, arthritis, asthma, chronic lung disease, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, stroke, and vision impairment. Associations with four health outcomes were examined, namely ADL limitation, self-rated health, depression, and a quality of life index. Random-intercept multilevel regression models were used on pooled data from the six countries. Results: The prevalence of morbidity and multimorbidity was 54.2 % and 21.9 %, respectively, in the pooled sample of six countries. Russia had the highest prevalence of multimorbidity (34.7 %) whereas China had the lowest (20.3 %). The likelihood of multimorbidity was higher in older age groups and was lower in those with higher socioeconomic status. In the pooled sample, the prevalence of 1+ ADL limitation was 14 %, depression 5.7 %, self-rated poor health 11.6 %, and mean quality of life score was 54.4. Substantial cross-country variations were seen in the four health outcome measures. The prevalence of 1+ ADL limitation, poor self-rated health, and depression increased whereas quality of life declined markedly with an increase in number of diseases. Conclusions: Findings highlight the challenge of multimorbidity in LMICs, particularly among the lower socioeconomic groups, and the pressing need for reorientation of health care resources considering the distribution of multimorbidity and its adverse effect on health outcomes. © 2015 Arokiasamy et al. | Activities of daily living; Low- and middle-income countries; Mental health; Multimorbidity; Non-communicable diseases; Quality of life | ADL disability; adult; age; aged; aging; angina pectoris; arthritis; Article; asthma; cerebrovascular accident; China; chronic lung disease; correlation analysis; cross-sectional study; daily life activity; depression; diabetes mellitus; disease association; female; Ghana; health care need; health care system; health status; human; hypertension; India; lowest income group; major clinical study; male; mental health; Mexico; middle aged; morbidity; multimorbidity; physical capacity; prevalence; quality of life; regression analysis; Russian Federation; self evaluation; social status; South Africa; visual impairment; young adult | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-38649129788 | Land area eligible for afforestation and reforestation within the clean development mechanism: A global analysis of the impact of forest definition | Zomer R.J., Trabucco A., Verchot L.V., Muys B. | 2008 | Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change | 13 | 3 | 10.1007/s11027-007-9087-4 | International Water Management Institute (IWMI), P.O. Box 2075, Colombo, Sri Lanka; World Agroforestry Center (ICRAF), P.O. Box 30677, Nairobi, Kenya; Division Forest, Nature and Landscape, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200E, 3001 Leuven, Belgium; c/o IWMI, P.O. Box 2075, Colombo, Sri Lanka | Zomer, R.J., International Water Management Institute (IWMI), P.O. Box 2075, Colombo, Sri Lanka, c/o IWMI, P.O. Box 2075, Colombo, Sri Lanka; Trabucco, A., International Water Management Institute (IWMI), P.O. Box 2075, Colombo, Sri Lanka; Verchot, L.V., World Agroforestry Center (ICRAF), P.O. Box 30677, Nairobi, Kenya; Muys, B., Division Forest, Nature and Landscape, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200E, 3001 Leuven, Belgium | Within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Kyoto Protocol, countries have significant latitude to define a forest. The most important parameter affecting area designated as forest is the minimum crown cover which can be set between 10 and 30%. The choice will have implications for the amount of land available in a country for afforestation and reforestation activities within the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM-AR). In this paper, we present an analysis of the regional differences in land availability for CDM-AR projects. We then examine how the choice of a high or low threshold value for crown cover will affect the area available for CDM activities and how the limitations imposed by this element of the definition compares to other factors that are likely to limit CDM activities. Results represent a global analysis that included all countries not included in Annex I of the Kyoto Protocol, and examined the effect on land availability of a range of crown cover thresholds ranging from 10-30%. Of the 140 Non-Annex One countries, 107 countries were found to have a potential for CDM-AR projects. Asia had the largest amount of combined area suitable for CDM-AR at the 10% crown cover threshold level. However, at 30%, South America had the greatest amount of land available, and a large change in available land area, which increased by almost five times compared to what was available at the 10% threshold. The area available in Africa increased by a factor of 5.5. Central America showed the largest increase, to almost 10 times more at the 30% threshold. By contrast, within Asia, the area increase was comparatively less, but still the area nearly doubled. Globally, a low threshold of 10% crown cover excluded almost 2/3 of the land identified that was eligible at 30%, over 5 million km2. The spatial analyses showed not only the effects of the choice of the crown cover criterion, but also where the land was available for CDM activities within each country at different thresholds. Protected areas account for 10-20% of the CDM-AR eligible area in most countries. © 2007 Springer Science+Business Media, B.V. | Afforestation/Reforestation; Carbon sequestration; CDM-AR; Clean development mechanism; Climate change mitigation; Forest definition; Global spatial analysis; Land suitability modeling; Land use land cover and forestry (LULUCF) | afforestation; clean development mechanism; comparative study; environmental impact assessment; forest cover; reforestation; spatial analysis | None |
| WoS | WOS:000329277700001 | The impact of Fogarty International Center research training programs on public health policy and program development in Kenya and Uganda | Bennett, Sara,M'Imunya, James M.,Paina, Ligia,Ssengooba, Freddie,Waswa, Douglas | 2013 | BMC PUBLIC HEALTH | 13 | None | 10.1186/1471-2458-13-770 | Johns Hopkins University, Makerere University, University of Nairobi | "Bennett, Sara: Johns Hopkins University","M'Imunya, James M.: University of Nairobi","Paina, Ligia: Johns Hopkins University","Ssengooba, Freddie: Makerere University" | Background: The Fogarty International Center (FIC) has supported research capacity development for over twenty years. While the mission of FIC is supporting and facilitating global health research conducted by U.S. and international investigators, building partnerships between health research institutions in the U.S. and abroad, and training the next generation of scientists to address global health needs, research capacity may impact health policies and programs and therefore have positive impacts on public health. We conducted an exploratory analysis of how FIC research training investments affected public health policy and program development in Kenya and Uganda.
Methods: We explored the long term impacts of all FIC supported research training programs using case studies, in Kenya and Uganda. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with 53 respondents and 29 focus group discussion participants across the two countries. Qualitative methods were supplemented by structured surveys of trainees and document review, including a review of evidence cited in policy documents.
Results: In the primary focal areas of FIC grants, notably HIV/AIDS, there were numerous examples of work conducted by former FIC trainees that influenced national and global policies. Facilitators for this influence included the strong technical skills and scientific reputations of the trainees, and professional networks spanning research and policy communities. Barriers included the fact that trainees typically had not received training in research communication, relatively few policy makers had received scientific training, and institutional constraints that undermined alignment of research with policy needs.
Conclusions: While FIC has not focused its programs on the goal of policy and program influence, its investments have affected global and national public health policies and practice. These influences have occurred primarily through strengthening research skills of scientists and developing strong in-country networks. Further success of FIC and similar initiatives could be stimulated by investing more in the training of policy-makers, seeking to better align research with policy needs through more grants that are awarded directly to developing country institutions, and grants that better incorporate policy maker perspectives in their design and governance. Addressing structural constraints, for example supporting the development of national research agendas that inform university research, would further support such efforts. | HIV/AIDS,"policy influence","research capacity",CAPACITY,DIAGNOSIS,"HIV-1 DISCORDANT COUPLES","HIV-1-INFECTED WOMEN",MORTALITY,NEVIRAPINE,PREVENTION,"RANDOMIZED CLINICAL-TRIAL","SEXUALLY-TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS","TO-CHILD TRANSMISSION" | None | None |
| None | None | Experimental hut evaluation of the pyrrole insecticide chlorfenapyr on bed nets for the control of Anopheles arabiensis and Culex quinquefasciatus | Mosha F.W., Lyimo I.N., Oxborough R.M., Malima R., Tenu F., Matowo J., Feston E., Mndeme R., Magesa S.M., Rowland M. | 2008 | Tropical Medicine and International Health | 13 | 5 | 10.1111/j.1365-3156.2008.02058.x | Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre, Moshi, Tanzania; London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Amani Medical Research Centre, National Institute of Medical Research, Muheza, Tanzania; London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom | Mosha, F.W., Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre, Moshi, Tanzania; Lyimo, I.N., Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre, Moshi, Tanzania; Oxborough, R.M., London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Malima, R., Amani Medical Research Centre, National Institute of Medical Research, Muheza, Tanzania; Tenu, F., Amani Medical Research Centre, National Institute of Medical Research, Muheza, Tanzania; Matowo, J., Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre, Moshi, Tanzania; Feston, E., Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre, Moshi, Tanzania; Mndeme, R., Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre, Moshi, Tanzania; Magesa, S.M., Amani Medical Research Centre, National Institute of Medical Research, Muheza, Tanzania; Rowland, M., London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom | Objective: To determine the efficacy of chlorfenapyr against Anopheles arabiensis and Culex quinquefasciatus in East Africa and to identify effective dosages for net treatment in comparison with the commonly used pyrethroid deltamethrin. Methods: Chlorfenapyr was evaluated on bed nets in experimental huts against A. arabiensis and C. quinquefasciatus in Northern Tanzania, at application rates of 100-500 mg/m2. Results: In experimental huts, mortality rates in A. arabiensis were high (46.0-63.9%) for all dosages of chlorfenapyr and were similar to that of deltamethrin-treated nets. Mortality rates in C. quinquefasciatus were higher for chlorfenapyr than for deltamethrin. Despite a reputation for being slow acting, >90% of insecticide-induced mortality in laboratory tunnel tests and experimental huts occurred within 24 h, and the speed of killing was no slower than for deltamethrin-treated nets. Conclusions: Chlorfenapyr induced low irritability and knockdown, which explains the relatively small reduction in blood-feeding rate. Combining chlorfenapyr with a more excito-repellent pyrethroid on bed nets for improved personal protection, control of pyrethroid-resistant mosquitoes and pyrethroid resistance management would be advantageous. © 2008 Blackwell Publishing Ltd. | Anopheles; Chlorfenapyr; Culex; Mosquito nets | chlorfenapyr; deltamethrin; insecticide; unclassified drug; blood; comparative study; disease control; experimental study; impregnated bednet; laboratory method; mortality; mosquito; pesticide resistance; pyrethroid; resistance management; Anopheles; article; bed net; bioassay; controlled study; Culex quinquefasciatus; drug efficacy; female; laboratory test; mortality; nonhuman; pest control; Animals; Anopheles; Bedding and Linens; Culex; Female; Housing; Insecticides; Mosquito Control; Nitriles; Pyrethrins; Tanzania; Africa; East Africa; Sub-Saharan Africa; Anopheles arabiensis; Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus | None |
| WoS | WOS:000332940900001 | The role of communication inequality in mediating the impacts of socioecological and socioeconomic disparities on HIV/AIDS knowledge and risk perception | Bekalu, Mesfin Awoke,Eggermont, Steven | 2014 | INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR EQUITY IN HEALTH | 13 | None | 10.1186/1475-9276-13-16 | KU Leuven, Bahir Dar Univ | "Eggermont, Steven: KU Leuven", | Introduction: Although the link between social factors and health-related outcomes has long been widely acknowledged, the mechanisms characterizing this link are relatively less known and remain a subject of continued investigation across disciplines. In this study, drawing on the structural influence model of health communication, the hypothesis that differences in concern about and information needs on HIV/AIDS, HIV/AIDS-related media use, and perceived salience of HIV/AIDS-related information, characterized as communication inequality, can at least partially mediate the impacts of socioecological (urban vs. rural) and socioeconomic (education) disparities on inequalities in HIV/AIDS knowledge and risk perception was tested.
Methods: Data were collected from a random sample of 986 urban and rural respondents in northwest Ethiopia. Structural equation modeling, using the maximum likelihood method, was used to test the mediation models.
Results: The models showed an adequate fit of the data and hence supported the hypothesis that communication inequality can at least partially explain the causal mechanism linking socioeconomic and socioecological factors with HIV/AIDS knowledge and risk perception. Both urbanity versus rurality and education were found to have significant mediated effects on HIV/AIDS knowledge (urbanity vs. rurality: beta = 0.28, p = .001; education: beta = 0.08, p = .001) and HIV/AIDS risk perception (urbanity vs. rurality: beta = 0.30, p = .001; education: beta = 0.09, p = .001).
Conclusions: It was concluded that communication inequality might form part of the socioecologically and socioeconomically embedded processes that affect HIV/AIDS-related outcomes. The findings suggest that the media and message effects that are related to HIV/AIDS behavior change communication can be viewed from a structural perspective that moves beyond the more reductionist behavioral approaches upon which most present-day HIV/AIDS communication campaigns seem to be based. | "communication inequality",HIV/AIDS,"SOCIOECOLOGICAL FACTORS","SOCIOECONOMIC FACTORS",AIDS,BEHAVIOR-CHANGE,EPIDEMIOLOGY,GUIDE,"HEALTH COMMUNICATION",HIV,INFORMATION,INTERNET,MASS-COMMUNICATION,"SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA" | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000259647600011 | The impact of health education on attitudes towards female genital mutilation (FGM) in a rural Nigerian community | Amusan, Oluwatoyin A.,Asekun-Olarinmoye, Esther O. | 2008 | EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CONTRACEPTION AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE | 13 | 3 | 10.1080/13625180802075174 | Ladoke Akintola Univ Technol | None | Objectives To determine the level of practice of female genital mutilation (FGM) and the impact of a health education intervention in Shao community.
Materials and methods Intervention study using a multistage sampling technique. The instrument was a pre-tested, structured questionnaire. The survey was supplemented by an in-depth interview of the traditional excisors.
Results Most respondents (88.0%) cited traditional excisors as operators of the procedure, while 7.8% mentioned health workers. Factors found to be statistically significantly associated with the practice of FGM are age, gender and educational status of respondents (p < 0.05). The age at which FGM is usually performed was put at under one year old by 60.3% of respondents. All respondents cited type II FGM as the type practised in the community. Most (88.0%) of the female respondents were excised. A greater proportion of men than women did not want the practice of FGM stopped in the pre-intervention stage; however, there was a statistically significant decrease in the proportion of males who did not want the practice of FGM stopped in the post-intervention stage. Also, there was a statistically significant increase in the proportion of respondents who had no intention to excise future female children in the post-intervention stage (p < 0.05). Legislation, female literacy and empowerment, educating men and provision of alternative vocation for excisors were means suggested by respondents for stopping the practice.
Conclusion and recommendations The health education intervention had a positive impact on the attitude of respondents towards FGM. However, for sustainable behavioural changes that will lead to elimination of FGM practice, we recommend placing FGM elimination efforts within a comprehensive development strategy and the larger context of reproductive health and gender education in Nigeria. | "female genital mutilation","HEALTH EDUCATION",NIGERIA,"RURAL COMMUNITY",CIRCUMCISION | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-65249120317 | Evaluating the impact of the institutional repository, or positioning innovation between a rock and a hard place | Thomas G. | 2007 | New Review of Information Networking | 13 | 2 | 10.1080/13614570802105992 | Library Services, Rhodes University, South Africa | Thomas, G., Library Services, Rhodes University, South Africa | Repositories remain an innovative but marginalised technology largely because there is no consensus about an agreed set of Performance Indicators (PIs) that demonstrate their overall impact on the research enterprise of our universities. A successful institutional repository (IR) should be evaluated in terms of the extent to which the open access repository builds a critical mass of scholarly content which is sustained and available through active university community engagement and ongoing scholarly contributions (faculty, researchers and students) that, when managed efficiently and effectively, ultimately strengthen, promote and give visibility to the research enterprise of the institution, and bring benefit to broader society. However, librarians are grappling with what and how best to demonstrate 'institutional good' but without clear evidence, assessment is fed by perception based on limited information which leads to diminished impact and value of the facility, a tyranny described as being caught between a rock and a hard place. Using Illuminative Evaluation to design a series of quantitative and qualitative metrics, it is proposed that a distinction be made between significant and secondary PIs where the former gather evidence to demonstrate the overall effect or impact of the IR on the individual and collective research community. | None | Community engagements; Critical mass; Institutional repositories; Limited informations; Open access; Performance indicators; Research communities; Societies and institutions | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84929614187 | Use of electromagnetic non-destructive techniques for monitoring water and chloride ingress into concrete | Villain G., Ihamouten A., Du Plooy R., Palma Lopes S., Dérobert X. | 2015 | Near Surface Geophysics | 13 | 3 | 10.3997/1873-0604.2015016 | LUNAM Université de Nantes Angers Le Mans, IFSTTAR Centre de Nantes, CS4, Bouguenais, France; CEREMA, DLRCA, Techniques Physiques Avancées, ERA17, Angers, France; AURECON, Aurecon Center Lynnwood Bridge Office, Tshwane (Pretoria), South Africa | Villain, G., LUNAM Université de Nantes Angers Le Mans, IFSTTAR Centre de Nantes, CS4, Bouguenais, France; Ihamouten, A., CEREMA, DLRCA, Techniques Physiques Avancées, ERA17, Angers, France; Du Plooy, R., LUNAM Université de Nantes Angers Le Mans, IFSTTAR Centre de Nantes, CS4, Bouguenais, France, AURECON, Aurecon Center Lynnwood Bridge Office, Tshwane (Pretoria), South Africa; Palma Lopes, S., LUNAM Université de Nantes Angers Le Mans, IFSTTAR Centre de Nantes, CS4, Bouguenais, France; Dérobert, X., LUNAM Université de Nantes Angers Le Mans, IFSTTAR Centre de Nantes, CS4, Bouguenais, France | This paper deals with the use of three electromagnetic non-destructive in situ techniques to assess concrete conditions: electrical resistivity, capacimetry, and ground-penetrating radar. It shows the potential of these methods to monitor the ingress of water and chlorides into concrete. The electromagnetic properties that are studied here are dielectric permittivity and electrical resistivity, both sensitive to volumetric water content and chloride content. Results are presented from an experimental study conducted on concrete slabs (and corresponding core cylinders) in a controlled laboratory environment. Then, the discussion is focused on the ability of three electromagnetic techniques to assess the depth of the ingress front of different salt solutions and to discern between the 3 NaCl concentrations (0, 15 and 30 g/L). © 2015 European Association of Geoscientists & Engineers. | None | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84955251161 | Employee turnover rate and organizational performance in South Africa | Rijamampianina R. | 2015 | Problems and Perspectives in Management | 13 | 4 | None | Management Advancement Programmes, Wits Business School, University of Witwatersrand (WITS), South Africa | Rijamampianina, R., Management Advancement Programmes, Wits Business School, University of Witwatersrand (WITS), South Africa | Within the business community, employee turnover is widely assumed to affect organizational performance. Different variations of this relationship have been proposed over the years. This study seeks to confirm if a curvilinear relationship exists between employee turnover rates and organizational performance that could inform an optimal employee turnover rate for organizations in South Africa. To this purpose, a cross-sectional study that collected quantitative data through the use of a self-administered questionnaire was employed. Through multiple linear and nonlinear regression, the results indicate that voluntary employee turnover rate significantly predicted financial and organizational performance through a cubic function. The optimal functional voluntary employee turnover rate for organizations in South Africa was calculated to be between 14 and 19%. © Rasoava Rijamampianina, 2015. | Curvilinear; Employee turnover rate; Optimal; Organizational performance; Voluntary turnover | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-60949093578 | Founder centrality, management team congruence and performance in family firms: A Kenyan context | Kelly L., Lewa P.M., Kamaria K. | 2008 | Journal of Developmental Entrepreneurship | 13 | 4 | None | Marshall Goldsmith School of Management, Alliant International University, 10455 Pomerado Road, San Diego, CA 92131, United States; United States International University, Nairobi, Kenya | Kelly, L., Marshall Goldsmith School of Management, Alliant International University, 10455 Pomerado Road, San Diego, CA 92131, United States; Lewa, P.M., United States International University, Nairobi, Kenya; Kamaria, K., Marshall Goldsmith School of Management, Alliant International University, 10455 Pomerado Road, San Diego, CA 92131, United States | Applying social network theory to family business, founder centrality has been generally shown to positively affect top-management-team congruence and, as a consequence, firm performance. This study applies social network and strategic leadership theory to an examination of founder centrality in family businesses. It focuses on family businesses in Kenya, and examines the impact of the founder's influence on management team congruence in the three strategic areas of culture, vision, and goals. The discussion considers the research findings in Kenya of a negative influence of founder centrality on management team congruence and firm performance. The study concludes with a presentation of some possible reasons for this dynamic in developing countries like Kenya, where family business is prevalent, and in which the founder plays a central role. © 2008 World Scientific Publishing Company. | Congruence; Family business; Founder centrality; Management team; Performance; Social networks; Strategic decision making; Strategic leadership theory; Strategic planning | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-34047095096 | Neurological evaluation of untreated human immunodeficiency virus infected adults in Ethiopia | Clifford D.B., Mitike M.T., Mekonnen Y., Zhang J., Zenebe G., Melaku Z., Zewde A., Gessesse N., Wolday D., Messele T., Teshome M., Evans S. | 2007 | Journal of NeuroVirology | 13 | 1 | 10.1080/13550280601169837 | Medical Faculty, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Ethiopian Health and Nutrition Research Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Department of Neurology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, United States; Department of Biostatistics, Harvard School of Public Health., Boston, MA, United States | Clifford, D.B., Department of Neurology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, United States; Mitike, M.T., Department of Neurology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, United States; Mekonnen, Y., Ethiopian Health and Nutrition Research Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Zhang, J., Department of Biostatistics, Harvard School of Public Health., Boston, MA, United States; Zenebe, G., Medical Faculty, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Melaku, Z., Medical Faculty, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Zewde, A., Medical Faculty, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Gessesse, N., Ethiopian Health and Nutrition Research Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Wolday, D., Ethiopian Health and Nutrition Research Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Messele, T., Ethiopian Health and Nutrition Research Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Teshome, M., Department of Neurology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, United States; Evans, S., Department of Biostatistics, Harvard School of Public Health., Boston, MA, United States | Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has been implicated in neurological complications in developed countries. Developing countries have different viral clades and potentially different genetic and social risks for these complications. Baseline neurological performance measures associated with HIV infection have rarely been available from developing countries. The authors carried our a cross-sectional neurological evaluation of a cohort of community-dwelling treatment-naïve HIV-infected patients and similar control subjects from the same communities in Ethiopia. Blinded evaluation using standardized structured questionnaires and a neurological examination was performed by neurologists and treating physicians trained by an HIV neurology specialist. Quantitative performance measures for cognitive and motor function were employed. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistical methods, standard contingency table methods, and nonparametric methods. HIV-positive and control groups were similar by age, gender, and job site. Participants included 73 HIV-positive and 87 HIV-negative controls. Fingertapping speed in the dominant hand was more poorly performed in HIV positives than negatives (P = .01) and was significantly associated with HIV viral load levels (P = .03). Other quantitative neuropsychiatric tests including timed gait, grooved pegboard, task learning, and animal naming did not show significant differences between the two groups. The overall prevalence of central nervous system (CNS) and/or peripheral nervous system (PNS) disease did not significantly differ in the two populations. HIV patients had slowed fingertapping speed correlating with viral load. Other measures of CNS and/or peripheral nervous performance did not differ from controls. The unanticipated minor evidence of HIV-associated neurocognitive and peripheral nerve deficits in this untreated HIV-positive population invite further investigation. | None | adult; article; central nervous system disease; cognition; cohort analysis; community living; controlled study; correlation analysis; Ethiopia; female; gait; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infected patient; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; infection resistance; major clinical study; male; motor performance; neurologic examination; neuropathology; neuropsychiatry; peripheral neuropathy; prevalence; priority journal; quantitative analysis; statistical analysis; structured questionnaire; task performance; virus load; Adult; AIDS Dementia Complex; Cognition Disorders; Cohort Studies; Ethiopia; Female; HIV Infections; HIV-1; Humans; Male; Memory; Nervous System Diseases; Neurologic Examination; Neuropsychological Tests; Animalia; Human immunodeficiency virus | None |
| None | None | Monitoring, characterization and control of chronic, symptomatic malaria infections in rural Zambia through monthly household visits by paid community health workers | Hamainza B., Moonga H., Sikaala C.H., Kamuliwo M., Bennett A., Eisele T.P., Miller J., Seyoum A., Killeen G.F. | 2014 | Malaria Journal | 13 | 1 | 10.1186/1475-2875-13-128 | Ministry of Health, National Malaria Control Centre, Chainama Hospital College Grounds, off Great East road, Lusaka, Zambia; Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Vector Biology Department, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, United Kingdom; Centre for Applied Malaria Research and Evaluation, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA, United States; Partnership for Appropriate Technology (PATH), Health Malaria Control and Evaluation Partnership in Africa (MACEPA), Chainama Hospital, Lusaka, Zambia; Ifakara Health Institute, Biomedical and Environmental Thematic Group, P.O. Box 53, Ifakara, Morogoro, Tanzania | Hamainza, B., Ministry of Health, National Malaria Control Centre, Chainama Hospital College Grounds, off Great East road, Lusaka, Zambia, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Vector Biology Department, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, United Kingdom; Moonga, H., Ministry of Health, National Malaria Control Centre, Chainama Hospital College Grounds, off Great East road, Lusaka, Zambia; Sikaala, C.H., Ministry of Health, National Malaria Control Centre, Chainama Hospital College Grounds, off Great East road, Lusaka, Zambia, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Vector Biology Department, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, United Kingdom; Kamuliwo, M., Ministry of Health, National Malaria Control Centre, Chainama Hospital College Grounds, off Great East road, Lusaka, Zambia; Bennett, A., Centre for Applied Malaria Research and Evaluation, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA, United States; Eisele, T.P., Centre for Applied Malaria Research and Evaluation, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA, United States; Miller, J., Partnership for Appropriate Technology (PATH), Health Malaria Control and Evaluation Partnership in Africa (MACEPA), Chainama Hospital, Lusaka, Zambia; Seyoum, A., Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Vector Biology Department, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, United Kingdom; Killeen, G.F., Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Vector Biology Department, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, United Kingdom, Centre for Applied Malaria Research and Evaluation, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA, United States, Ifakara Health Institute, Biomedical and Environmental Thematic Group, P.O. Box 53, Ifakara, Morogoro, Tanzania | Background: Active, population-wide mass screening and treatment (MSAT) for chronic Plasmodium falciparum carriage to eliminate infectious reservoirs of malaria transmission have proven difficult to apply on large national scales through trained clinicians from central health authorities. Methodology. Fourteen population clusters of approximately 1,000 residents centred around health facilities (HF) in two rural Zambian districts were each provided with three modestly remunerated community health workers (CHWs) conducting active monthly household visits to screen and treat all consenting residents for malaria infection with rapid diagnostic tests (RDT). Both CHWs and HFs also conducted passive case detection among residents who self-reported for screening and treatment. Results: Diagnostic positivity was higher among symptomatic patients self-reporting to CHWs (42.5%) and HFs (24%) than actively screened residents (20.3%), but spatial and temporal variations of diagnostic positivity were highly consistent across all three systems. However, most malaria infections (55.6%) were identified through active home visits by CHWs rather than self-reporting to CHWs or HFs. Most (62%) malaria infections detected actively by CHWs reported one or more symptoms of illness. Most reports of fever and vomiting, plus more than a quarter of history of fever, headache and diarrhoea, were attributable to malaria infection. The minority of residents who participated >12 times had lower rates of malaria infection and associated symptoms in later contacts but most residents were tested <4 times and high malaria diagnostic positivity (32%) in active surveys, as well as incidence (1.7 detected infections per person per year) persisted in the population. Per capita cost for active service delivery by CHWs was US$5.14 but this would rise to US$10.68 with full community compliance with monthly testing at current levels of transmission, and US$6.25 if pre-elimination transmission levels and negligible treatment costs were achieved. Conclusion: Monthly active home visits by CHWs equipped with RDTs were insufficient to eliminate the human infection reservoir in this typical African setting, despite reasonably high LLIN/IRS coverage. However, dramatic impact upon infection and morbidity burden might be attainable and cost-effective if community participation in regular testing could be improved and the substantial, but not necessarily prohibitive, costs are affordable to national programmes. © 2014 Hamainza et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | Community health worker; Malaria; Passive and active case detection; Rapid diagnostic tests; Surveillance; Treatment with ACT | artemether plus benflumetol; pyrimethamine plus sulfadoxine; article; bed net; cost effectiveness analysis; coughing; diarrhea; fever; headache; health auxiliary; health care cost; health care facility; human; major clinical study; malaria; malaria control; microscopy; practice guideline; professional practice; remuneration; rural area; symptom; thorax pain; vector control; vomiting; Zambia; Community Health Workers; Delivery of Health Care; Diagnostic Tests, Routine; Incidence; Malaria; Mass Screening; Plasmodium falciparum; Prevalence; Rural Population; Time Factors; Zambia | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84944877292 | Using pay for performance incentives (P4P) to improve management of suspected malaria fevers in rural Kenya: A cluster randomized controlled trial | Menya D., Platt A., Manji I., Sang E., Wafula R., Ren J., Cheruiyot O., Armstrong J., Neelon B., O'Meara W.P. | 2015 | BMC Medicine | 13 | 1 | 10.1186/s12916-015-0497-y | Moi University School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Eldoret, Kenya; Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States; Academic Model Providing Access to Healthcare, Eldoret, Kenya; Moi University School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Eldoret, Kenya; Department of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States | Menya, D., Moi University School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Eldoret, Kenya; Platt, A., Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States; Manji, I., Academic Model Providing Access to Healthcare, Eldoret, Kenya; Sang, E., Academic Model Providing Access to Healthcare, Eldoret, Kenya; Wafula, R., Academic Model Providing Access to Healthcare, Eldoret, Kenya; Ren, J., Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States; Cheruiyot, O., Academic Model Providing Access to Healthcare, Eldoret, Kenya; Armstrong, J., Moi University School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Eldoret, Kenya; Neelon, B., Department of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States; O'Meara, W.P., Moi University School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Eldoret, Kenya, Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States, Department of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States | Background: Inappropriate treatment of non-malaria fevers with artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) is a growing concern, particularly in light of emerging artemisinin resistance, but it is a behavior that has proven difficult to change. Pay for performance (P4P) programs have generated interest as a mechanism to improve health service delivery and accountability in resource-constrained health systems. However, there has been little experimental evidence to establish the effectiveness of P4P in developing countries. We tested a P4P strategy that emphasized parasitological diagnosis and appropriate treatment of suspected malaria, in particular reduction of unnecessary consumption of ACTs. Methods: A random sample of 18 health centers was selected and received a refresher workshop on malaria case management. Pre-intervention baseline data was collected from August to September 2012. Facilities were subsequently randomized to either the comparison (n=9) or intervention arm (n=9). Between October 2012 and November 2013, facilities in the intervention arm received quarterly incentive payments based on seven performance indicators. Incentives were for use by facilities rather than as payments to individual providers. All non-pregnant patients older than 1year of age who presented to a participating facility and received either a malaria test or artemether-lumefantrine (AL) were eligible to be included in the analysis. Our primary outcome was prescription of AL to patients with a negative malaria diagnostic test (n=11,953). Our secondary outcomes were prescription of AL to patients with laboratory-confirmed malaria (n=2,993) and prescription of AL to patients without a malaria diagnostic test (analyzed at the cluster level, n=178 facility-months). Results: In the final quarter of the intervention period, the proportion of malaria-negative patients in the intervention arm who received AL was lower than in the comparison arm (7.3% versus 10.9%). The improvement from baseline to quarter 4 in the intervention arm was nearly three times that of the comparison arm (ratio of adjusted odds ratios for baseline to quarter 4=0.36, 95% CI: 0.24-0.57). The rate of prescription of AL to patients without a test was five times lower in the intervention arm (adjusted incidence rate ratio=0.18, 95% CI: 0.07-0.48). Prescription of AL to patients with confirmed infection was not significantly different between the groups over the study period. Conclusions: Facility-based incentives coupled with training may be more effective than training alone and could complement other quality improvement approaches. Trial registration: This study was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov ( NCT01809873 ) on 11 March 2013. © 2015 Menya et al. | Kenya; Malaria; Malaria case management; Pay for performance; Performance-based incentives | artemether; artemisinin; benflumetol; Article; child; clinical effectiveness; controlled study; diagnostic test accuracy study; endemic disease; evidence based medicine; financial management; funding; health care cost; health care delivery; health care facility; health center; health program; human; Kenya; major clinical study; malaria; microscopy; multicenter study; outcome assessment; pay for performance program; preschool child; quality control; randomized controlled trial; rural population; school child; sensitivity and specificity | None |
| None | None | Performance of ParaHIT and OptiMAL tests in the diagnosis of Malaria in mwanza, north-western Tanzania | Buhalata S.N., Massaga J.J. | 2011 | Tanzania Journal of Health Research | 13 | 1 | None | National Institute for Medical Research, Mwanza Medical Research Centre, P.O. Box 1462, Mwanza, Tanzania; National Institute for Medical Research, P.O. Box 9653, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania | Buhalata, S.N., National Institute for Medical Research, Mwanza Medical Research Centre, P.O. Box 1462, Mwanza, Tanzania; Massaga, J.J., National Institute for Medical Research, P.O. Box 9653, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania | Malaria rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) are non microscopic tests that provide a rapid detection of malaria infections in infected individuals. The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of ParaHit and OptiMAL tests for detection of malaria infections as compared with routine microscopy. This facility-based study was carried out in Mwanza, north-western Tanzania and involved outpatients attending Igoma Health Centre. Blood samples were tested for malaria infection using the two RDTs and compared with Giemsa stained blood films examined using microscope. A total of 243 individuals (median age= 22 years) were involved in the study. Microscopy had a higher detection rate of 19.7% (48/243) as compared to ParaHit (4.5%) and OptiMAL (3.7%). Low sensitivity of 21.2% and 17%, but high specificity of 99.4% for ParaHit and OptiMAL, respectively was observed. Of all positive blood slides for Plasmodium falciparum, 78.7% had low parasite density (80-720 parasite/μl of blood). These slides were negative for malaria parasite for both RDTs. Over 80% of study participants who reported fever had negative blood slides for malaria parasites by microscopy. On the other hand, 44.7% of those who reported no fever had positive blood slides for P. falciparum. Study participants who reported to have fever and high parasite density above 720 parasite/μl were likely to be positive by both RDTs (OR= 6.8; P= 0.031529). In conclusion, the overall performance of both RDTs in detecting asexual P. falciparum was low as compared to microscopy and their performance were highly affected by parasite density. This calls for further evaluation studies before RDTs are widely used in peripheral health facilities in order to minimize potential severe consequences. | Malaria; Microscopy; Rapid diagnostic test; Sensitivity; Specificity; Tanzania | adolescent; adult; aged; article; blood examination; child; controlled study; cross-sectional study; diagnostic accuracy; diagnostic test; diagnostic test accuracy study; false negative result; false positive result; female; fever; Giemsa stain; human; infant; intermethod comparison; major clinical study; malaria; male; microscopy; parasite identification; parasite prevalence; Plasmodium falciparum; Plasmodium ovale; predictive value; preschool child; rapid diagnostic test; school child; sensitivity and specificity; Tanzania | None |
| None | None | Establishing and implementing Demographic Surveillance System as a tool for monitoring health interventions in Korogwe District, north-eastern Tanzania | Kamugisha M.L., Mmbando B.P., Francis F., Ishengoma D.S., Challe D.P., Lemnge M.M. | 2011 | Tanzania Journal of Health Research | 13 | 4 | 10.4314/thrb.v13i4.1 | National Institute for Medical Research, Tanga Medical Research Centre, P.O. Box 5004, Tanga, Tanzania | Kamugisha, M.L., National Institute for Medical Research, Tanga Medical Research Centre, P.O. Box 5004, Tanga, Tanzania; Mmbando, B.P., National Institute for Medical Research, Tanga Medical Research Centre, P.O. Box 5004, Tanga, Tanzania; Francis, F., National Institute for Medical Research, Tanga Medical Research Centre, P.O. Box 5004, Tanga, Tanzania; Ishengoma, D.S., National Institute for Medical Research, Tanga Medical Research Centre, P.O. Box 5004, Tanga, Tanzania; Challe, D.P., National Institute for Medical Research, Tanga Medical Research Centre, P.O. Box 5004, Tanga, Tanzania; Lemnge, M.M., National Institute for Medical Research, Tanga Medical Research Centre, P.O. Box 5004, Tanga, Tanzania | In the Korogwe demographic surveillance system (DSS) site in north-eastern Tanzania, information on vital events such as births, deaths and migrations has been collected since its establishment in 2005. The aim was to obtain demographic and epidemiological indices to be used in the evaluation of health related interventions which have been undertaken in the area. Period covered is up to December 2010. Baseline survey was conducted in 14 villages of Korogwe district in October 2005 and DSS was launched in January 2006. Demographic, social economic status, immunisation coverage and birth history data was collected during the follow-up and each household was visited every 4 months. Estimates of mortality levels were derived from deaths that were collected during household visits. Birth history data were used to estimate the lifetime and period fertility of women aged 15-49. Estimates of crude migration and age specific migration rates were derived from the number of people moving in or out of the DSS site and the person-years lived. The population at baseline survey was 25,264 individuals in 5,853 households. The percentage of deaths was higher among adult aged 15-60 years compared to other age groups. The probability of dying among males (376/1000) aged 15-60 was higher than females (339/1000) in the same age group. The lifetime and period fertility estimates were 5.6 and 5.1 children per woman respectively. Women aged 30-34 are expected to have 3-4 children at the end of their childbearing age. Migration were higher at the youngest ages, lower rates at the 10-14 age groups, a peak at the 20-24 ages, and a gradual decline up to the oldest ages. Majority of households in rural areas 51.8% were l in low socio-economic status compared to 40.3% in urban areas which were in high socio-economic status. About 74% and 55.5% of the children received BCG and measles vaccination, respectively. In conclusion, Korogwe DSS has provided useful data which was utilised in planning malaria vaccine trials. Findings from the DSS will also be used in planning of future clinical trials and by the District authorities as input for health and other development planning purposes, including setting of crucial priorities. | Demographic surveillance; Health; Interventions; Monitoring; Tanzania | BCG vaccine; diphtheria pertussis tetanus vaccine; measles vaccine; poliomyelitis vaccine; adolescent; adult; age distribution; aged; article; BCG vaccination; child; childbirth; controlled study; demographic surveillance system; demography; diphtheria; epidemiological data; female; female fertility; follow up; health care quality; health program; health survey; household; human; immigration; infant; major clinical study; male; maternal age; measles; measles vaccination; medical history; mortality; pertussis; poliomyelitis; public health service; quality control; sex difference; social status; Tanzania; tetanus; tuberculosis; urban rural difference | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-70349200981 | The decline of tuberculosis in Yemen: Evaluation based on two nationwide tuberculin surveys | Al-Absi A., Bassili A., Abdul Bary H., Barker A., Daniels M., Munim A., Seita A., Williams B., Dye C. | 2009 | International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease | 13 | 9 | None | National Tuberculosis Control Programme, Ministry of Public Health and Population, Sana'a, Yemen; Tropical Disease Research, Stop TB, World Health Organization, Abdul Razzak Al Sanhouri Street, Nasr City, Cairo 11371, Egypt; Desmond Tutu TB Centre, Cape Town, South Africa; World Health Organization, Khartoum, Sudan; Stop TB, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland | Al-Absi, A., National Tuberculosis Control Programme, Ministry of Public Health and Population, Sana'a, Yemen; Bassili, A., Tropical Disease Research, Stop TB, World Health Organization, Abdul Razzak Al Sanhouri Street, Nasr City, Cairo 11371, Egypt; Abdul Bary, H., National Tuberculosis Control Programme, Ministry of Public Health and Population, Sana'a, Yemen; Barker, A., Desmond Tutu TB Centre, Cape Town, South Africa; Daniels, M., Desmond Tutu TB Centre, Cape Town, South Africa; Munim, A., World Health Organization, Khartoum, Sudan; Seita, A., Tropical Disease Research, Stop TB, World Health Organization, Abdul Razzak Al Sanhouri Street, Nasr City, Cairo 11371, Egypt; Williams, B., Stop TB, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland; Dye, C., Stop TB, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland | SETTING: Yemen. OBJECTIVE: To review the epidemiological situation of tuberculosis (TB) in Yemen by conducting a tuberculin survey and by comparing the results obtained with those of a previous tuberculin survey from 1991. DESIGN: A nationwide tuberculin survey enrolling 31276 schoolchildren aged between 7 and 12 years. RESULTS: Skin indurations were recorded for 28499 schoolchildren, of whom 16927 (59.4%) had no bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) scar. Analysis of the distribution of indurations was difficult as it did not show any bimodal pattern. Prevalence of infection and annual risk of tuberculosis infection (ARTI) were thus estimated using the mirror image and mixture methods, and not the cut-off point method. The two methods indicated similar results: respectively 0.45% and 0.51% for prevalence of infection, and 0.05% and 0.05% for ARTI. In comparison with the 1991 tuberculin survey, the average annual decline of ARTI was 9.0% by the mirror method and 5.5% by the mixture method. CONCLUSION: Yemen seems to have a low ARTI (0.05%), and TB infection seems to be declining considerably. Analysis of the survey results highlighted the limitations of tuberculin surveys in countries with comparable epidemiological situations. © 2009 The Union. | Annual risk of TB infection; Prevalence; Tuberculin survey; Tuberculosis | BCG vaccine; tuberculin; article; child; controlled study; female; human; major clinical study; male; prevalence; priority journal; school child; skin induration; tuberculosis; Yemen; Child; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Humans; Male; Population Surveillance; Prevalence; Risk Assessment; Time Factors; Tuberculin Test; Tuberculosis; Yemen | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84941550684 | Translation, cross-cultural adaptation and psychometric evaluation of yoruba version of the short-form 36 health survey | Mbada C.E., Adeogun G.A., Ogunlana M.O., Adedoyin R.A., Akinsulore A., Awotidebe T.O., Idowu O.A., Olaoye O.A. | 2015 | Health and Quality of Life Outcomes | 13 | 1 | 10.1186/s12955-015-0337-y | Obafemi Awolowo University, Department of Medical Rehabilitation, College of Health Sciences, Ile - Ife, Nigeria; African Population and Health Research Center, Nairobi, Kenya; University of Ibadan, Department of Physiotherapy, College of Medicine, Nigeri | Mbada, C.E., Obafemi Awolowo University, Department of Medical Rehabilitation, College of Health Sciences, Ile - Ife, Nigeria, African Population and Health Research Center, Nairobi, Kenya; Adeogun, G.A., Obafemi Awolowo University, Department of Medical Rehabilitation, College of Health Sciences, Ile - Ife, Nigeria; Ogunlana, M.O., University of Ibadan, Department of Physiotherapy, College of Medicine, Nigeria, Nigeria; Adedoyin, R.A., Obafemi Awolowo University, Department of Medical Rehabilitation, College of Health Sciences, Ile - Ife, Nigeria; Akinsulore, A., Obafemi Awolowo University, Department of Mental Health, College of Health Sciences, Ile - Ife, Nigeria; Awotidebe, T.O., Obafemi Awolowo University, Department of Medical Rehabilitation, College of Health Sciences, Ile - Ife, Nigeria; Idowu, O.A., Department of Physiotherapy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medical Sciences, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria; Olaoye, O.A., Obafemi Awolowo University, Department of Medical Rehabilitation, College of Health Sciences, Ile - Ife, Nigeria | Background and objective: The Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) is a valid quality of life tool often employed to determine the impact of medical intervention and the outcome of health care services. However, the SF-36 is culturally sensitive which necessitates its adaptation and translation into different languages. This study was conducted to cross-culturally adapt the SF-36 into Yoruba language and determine its reliability and validity. Methods: Based on the International Quality of Life Assessment project guidelines, a sequence of translation, test of item-scale correlation, and validation was implemented for the translation of the Yoruba version of the SF-36. Following pilot testing, the English and the Yoruba versions of the SF-36 were administered to a random sample of 1087 apparently healthy individuals to test validity and 249 respondents completed the Yoruba SF-36 again after two weeks to test reliability. Data was analyzed using Pearson's product moment correlation analysis, independent t-test, one-way analysis of variance, multi trait scaling analysis and Intra-Class Correlation (ICC) at p < 0.05. Results: The concurrent validity scores for scales and domains ranges between 0.749 and 0.902 with the highest and lowest scores in the General Health (0.902) and Bodily Pain (0.749) scale. Scale-level descriptive result showed that all scale and domain scores had negative skewness ranging from -2.08 to -0.98. The mean scores for each scales ranges between 83.2 and 88.8. The domain scores for Physical Health Component and Mental Health Component were 85.6 ± 13.7 and 85.9 ± 15.4 respectively. The convergent validity was satisfactory, ranging from 0.421 to 0.907. Discriminant validity was also satisfactory except for item '1'. The ICC for the test-retest reliability of the Yoruba SF-36 ranges between 0.636 and 0.843 for scales; and 0.783 and 0.851 for domains. Conclusion: The data quality, concurrent and discriminant validity, reliability and internal consistency of the Yoruba version of the SF-36 are adequate and it is recommended for measuring health-related quality of life among Yoruba population. © 2015 Mbada et al. | Cultural adaptation; Health-related quality of life; Psychometric properties; Translation; Yoruba SF-36 | adult; Article; concurrent validity; convergent validity; correlation coefficient; cultural factor; cultural psychiatry; discriminant validity; female; General Health Questionnaire; health status; human; internal consistency; major clinical study; male; mental health; middle aged; practice guideline; psychometry; quality of life; scoring system; Short Form 36; social adaptation; test retest reliability; translational research; validation study; Yoruba (people); aged; cultural factor; health status; health status indicator; Nigeria; outcome assessment; pain; psychometry; publication; questionnaire; reproducibility; standards; young adult; Adult; Aged; Cross-Cultural Comparison; Female; Health Status; Health Status Indicators; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Nigeria; Outcome Assessment (Health Care); Pain; Psychometrics; Quality of Life; Reproducibility of Results; Surveys and Questionnaires; Translations; Young Adult | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84876830116 | Impact of facilities on academic performance of students with special needs in mainstreamed public schools in Southwestern Nigeria | Oluremi F.D., Olubukola O.O. | 2013 | Journal of Research in Special Educational Needs | 13 | 2 | 10.1111/j.1471-3802.2011.01228.x | Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria | Oluremi, F.D., Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria; Olubukola, O.O., Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria | Facilities have a great impact on academic performances of students, and inadequate facilities translate to poor performance. The study examined the availability and convenience of the facilities that were provided to students with special educational needs in mainstreamed schools. It ascertained the qualifications of teachers teaching in mainstreamed public secondary schools. It determined the relationship between availability of facilities and academic performance of students with special educational needs; and also compared the academic performance of male and female students with special educational needs. The results showed that essential facilities and materials like hand railings, hearing aids, Braille, instructional materials, and lower toilets were not available, although the few that were available (typewriters, resource rooms, wheel chairs) were in poor condition. The study showed that specialist teachers were inadequate in mainstreamed public schools in Southwestern Nigeria. There was a significant relationship between availability of facilities and academic performance of students with special educational needs. However, there was no significant difference between the academic performance of male and female students with special educational needs. The study concluded that inadequate provision of facilities and materials to mainstreamed public schools would lead to poor academic performances of students with special educational needs. Finally, adequate funding of integrated schools would help to overcome the problem of provision and maintenance of special equipment and materials for the use of students with special educational needs. © 2012 The Authors. Journal of Research in Special Educational Needs © 2012 NASEN. | Facilities; Integrated schools; Mainstreaming; Nigeria; Students with special educational needs | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84883700715 | The impact of HIV/AIDS stigma on HIV counseling and testing in a high HIV prevalence population in Uganda | Ayiga N., Nambooze H., Nalugo S., Kaye D., Katamba A. | 2013 | African Health Sciences | 13 | 2 | 10.4314/ahs.v13i2.12 | Population Training and Research Unit, Mafikeng Campus, North West University, Private Bag X2046, Mmabatho 2735, South Africa; College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, P.O Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda | Ayiga, N., Population Training and Research Unit, Mafikeng Campus, North West University, Private Bag X2046, Mmabatho 2735, South Africa; Nambooze, H., College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, P.O Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda; Nalugo, S., College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, P.O Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda; Kaye, D., College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, P.O Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda; Katamba, A., College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, P.O Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda | Background: Despite its importance in HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment, HIV/AIDS Counseling and Testing (HCT) is low in sub-Saharan Africa, where the disease continues to be a serious public health problem. This has in part been attributed to HIV/AIDS related stigma. Objective: To assess the level of HIV/AIDS related stigma and its impact on uptake of HCT in a high HIV prevalence population in Uganda. Methods: The paper used cross-sectional data on 135 men and 185 women in reproductive ages. Data were analyzed using the Pearson's chi-square statistic and the random intercept binary logistic regression model to identify significant predictors of uptake of HCT. Results: The result shows that only 18.4% of the respondents, most of them men expressed highly stigmatizing attitudes against PLHA and 59%, men and women alike, received HCT. Uptake of HCT was higher among men (OR=1.89, p<0.01) and women (OR=4.48, p <0.001) who expressed least stigmatizing attitudes. Secondary/higher education, work in the informal sector and being ever married were significant predictors of uptake of HCT. Compared to men, women aged 25-34, 35+ and with one sexual partner were more likely to have received HCT. Conclusions: The low level of stigma, older age, higher level of education, being ever married and monogamous sexual relationships are significant predictors of increased uptake of HCT. | HIV counseling and Testing; Stigma; Uganda | adolescent; adult; article; attitude to illness; controlled study; counseling; educational status; employment status; female; HIV test; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; infection rate; major clinical study; male; marriage; prediction; prevalence; sex difference; sexual behavior; social status; stigma; Uganda; HIV counseling and Testing; Stigma; Uganda; Adolescent; Adult; Counseling; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; HIV Seropositivity; Humans; Logistic Models; Male; Patient Acceptance of Health Care; Sex Distribution; Social Stigma; Uganda; Young Adult | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84947930228 | Questioning the context of corporate performance measures in benchmarking CEO compensation | Oberholzer M., Barnard J. | 2015 | Corporate Ownership and Control | 13 | 1CONT8 | None | Potchefstroom Campus, North-West University, Private Bag X6001, Potchefstroom, South Africa | Oberholzer, M., Potchefstroom Campus, North-West University, Private Bag X6001, Potchefstroom, South Africa; Barnard, J., Potchefstroom Campus, North-West University, Private Bag X6001, Potchefstroom, South Africa | The purpose of the study was to reflect on existing practices in studying the CEO pay performance issue, with special reference to the context wherein the financial performance measurements were employed. In total, an in-depth content analysis of 40 published articles was done. Some flaws were identified in prior research, namely some studies only use either market-based or accounting-based measurements, only a single performance measurement, measurements without the context of the subjacent risks, monetary values without substance as performance measurements and without the context of a theory. The contribution of this study is that a framework is developed to guide future studies with regard to the context wherein financial performance measures should be employed and that some theories, additional to the agency theory, were identified that should be tested more frequently in pay performance-related studies. © 2015, Virtus Interpress. All right rserved. | Accounting-based performance measurements; CEO compensation; Market-based performance measurements; Motivation theories; Risk-return | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84878862975 | The effect of governance on performance of commercial banks in Kenya: A panel study | Nyamongo E.M., Temesgen K. | 2013 | Corporate Governance (Bingley) | 13 | 3 | 10.1108/CG-12-2010-0107 | Research and Policy Analysis Department, Central Bank of Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya; School of Economics and Business, Moi University, Nairobi, Kenya | Nyamongo, E.M., Research and Policy Analysis Department, Central Bank of Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya; Temesgen, K., School of Economics and Business, Moi University, Nairobi, Kenya | Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of corporate governance on the performance of 37 commercial banks in Kenya over the period 2005-2009. Design/methodology/approach: The paper uses two measures of performance, i.e. return on assets (ROA) and return on equity (ROE), and the dependent variables and three measures of governance - namely the board size, independent directors, and CEO duality - as the key independent variables. The study follows a panel econometrics technique to investigate the relationship between governance variables and bank performance. Findings: The main findings are as follows: a large board size tends to impact performance negatively; the existence of independent board directors tends to enhance the performance of the banks; and there is no evidence that CEO duality or otherwise has impact on the performance of commercial banks in Kenya. Practical implications: The study therefore recommends that for commercial banks in Kenya to register high performance they need to check the size of their board of directors and also increase the number of independent directors. Originality/value: To the authors' best knowledge, this is the first study on Kenya that has used advanced panel data techniques. © Emerald Group Publishing Limited. | Commercial banks; Governance; Kenya; Organizational performance; Panel data | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84894071742 | Exemplification and perceived job insecurity: Associations with self-rated performance and emotional exhaustion | De Cuyper N., Schreurs B., Elst T.V., Baillien E., De Witte H. | 2014 | Journal of Personnel Psychology | 13 | 0.041666666667 | 10.1027/1866-5888/a000099 | Research Group Work, Organizational and Personnel Psychology, KU Leuven, Belgium; Maastricht University, Netherlands; Human Relations Research Group, HU Brussel, Belgium; North West University, Vanderbijlpark, South Africa | De Cuyper, N., Research Group Work, Organizational and Personnel Psychology, KU Leuven, Belgium; Schreurs, B., Maastricht University, Netherlands; Elst, T.V., Research Group Work, Organizational and Personnel Psychology, KU Leuven, Belgium; Baillien, E., Human Relations Research Group, HU Brussel, Belgium; De Witte, H., Research Group Work, Organizational and Personnel Psychology, KU Leuven, Belgium, North West University, Vanderbijlpark, South Africa | Impression management is typically seen as a means to achieve success. Little is known about potential side effects for the self, or about impression management aimed at prevention of loss. Here, we probe the relationship between exemplification (impression management aimed at acquiring the image ofmodel employee) and performance and emotional exhaustion, accounting for the moderating role of job insecurity.Weuse the ResourceModel of Self-regulation and the Conservation of Resources Theory to propose that the association of exemplificationwith performance and emotional exhaustion is more positive with increased job insecurity. Hypotheses were tested in a sample of 603 Peruvian workers using structural equation modeling (SEM). The pattern of results supported our hypotheses: Exemplification has unintended effects when workers feel insecure. © 2014 Hogrefe Publishing. | Emotional exhaustion; Impression management; Job insecurity; Performance; Well-being | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-35649009945 | The impact of the staub model on policy making in Amsterdam regarding polarization and radicalization | De Lange J. | 2007 | Peace and Conflict | 13 | 3 | None | Royal Netherlands Embassy, Kampala, Uganda | De Lange, J.Royal Netherlands Embassy, Kampala, Uganda | [No abstract available] | None | policy making; political theory; Amsterdam; Benelux; Eurasia; Europe; Netherlands; North Holland; Western Europe | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84949749028 | The level and stability of institutional ownership and its influence on company performance in South Africa | Scholtz H.E., Engelbrecht W. | 2015 | Corporate Ownership and Control | 13 | 1CONT10 | None | School of Accounting, Stellenbosch University, South Africa | Scholtz, H.E., School of Accounting, Stellenbosch University, South Africa; Engelbrecht, W., School of Accounting, Stellenbosch University, South Africa | Institutional ownership in companies is an important tool in monitoring and controlling the business interests of the shareholders. This study investigated whether the performance of the Top 100 companies listed on the Johannesburg Securities Exchange is influenced by the level, and stability of institutional ownership. A regression analysis was used to test the relationship between Tobin’s Q and return on assets and the international, domestic and total institutional ownership and the stability of institutional shareholding. It was found that institutional shareholding is an important corporate governance factor to improve firm value. International institutional shareholding has an effect on future firm value, whilst domestic institutional, total institutional shareholding and the stability of total institutional shareholding has an effect on historical firm value. © 2015, Virtus Interpress. All right rserved. | Company performance; Domestic institutional shareholding; Foreign institutional shareholding; Institutional ownership; Ownership stability | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84904077609 | Comparative performance of aldolase and lactate dehydrogenase rapid diagnostic tests in Plasmodium vivax detection | Wang J., Dzakah E.E., Kang K., Ni C., Tang S., Wang J. | 2014 | Malaria Journal | 13 | 1 | 10.1186/1475-2875-13-272 | School of Bioscience and Bioengineering, South China University of Technology, Panyu District, Guangzhou 510006, China; Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana; National Engineering Laboratory of Rapid Diagnostic Tests, Guangzhou Wondfo Biotech Co Ltd, Science City, Lizhishan Rd No 8, Luogang District, Guangzhou 510663, China | Wang, J., School of Bioscience and Bioengineering, South China University of Technology, Panyu District, Guangzhou 510006, China; Dzakah, E.E., School of Bioscience and Bioengineering, South China University of Technology, Panyu District, Guangzhou 510006, China, Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana, National Engineering Laboratory of Rapid Diagnostic Tests, Guangzhou Wondfo Biotech Co Ltd, Science City, Lizhishan Rd No 8, Luogang District, Guangzhou 510663, China; Kang, K., School of Bioscience and Bioengineering, South China University of Technology, Panyu District, Guangzhou 510006, China, National Engineering Laboratory of Rapid Diagnostic Tests, Guangzhou Wondfo Biotech Co Ltd, Science City, Lizhishan Rd No 8, Luogang District, Guangzhou 510663, China; Ni, C., School of Bioscience and Bioengineering, South China University of Technology, Panyu District, Guangzhou 510006, China; Tang, S., National Engineering Laboratory of Rapid Diagnostic Tests, Guangzhou Wondfo Biotech Co Ltd, Science City, Lizhishan Rd No 8, Luogang District, Guangzhou 510663, China; Wang, J., National Engineering Laboratory of Rapid Diagnostic Tests, Guangzhou Wondfo Biotech Co Ltd, Science City, Lizhishan Rd No 8, Luogang District, Guangzhou 510663, China | Background: Misdiagnosis of malaria by commercial rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) is a major cause of concern in the diagnosis of malaria. This retrospective study was aimed at assessing the relative performance of four RDTs with emphasis on the detection of two Plasmodium vivax antigens: aldolase and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). Methods. Three commercially available Plasmodium LDH or aldolase antigen detection kits (One Step Malaria P.f/P.v, ParaHit Total ver. 1.0, SD Bioline Malaria) and an anti-P. vivax aldolase-specific monoclonal antibody (mAb) pair 1C3-12 F10 were evaluated with P. vivax positive as well as non-P. vivax samples and healthy samples using blood smear examination as standard. Each test was read according to the manufacturer's instructions. Results: MAb 1C3-12 F10 pair targeting P. vivax-specific aldolase exhibited very good specificity and sensitivity of 100 and 97.4%, respectively. Positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of 100 and 99.5%, respectively, were also observed. The anti-P. vivax LDH in the One-Step Malaria P.f/P.v test showed sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV of 93.5, 98.0, 88.9 and 98.8%, respectively. ParaHit Total ver. 1.0 targeting the pan-aldolase antigen showed sensitivity, specificity of 97.4 and 99.6%, respectively. PPV and NPV were both 99.5%. SD Bioline had sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV of 93.5, 100, 100 and 98.8%, respectively. The overall sensitivity and specificity of all four RDTs were acceptable, especially for the aldolase detection tests. Five (6.5%) of the P. vivax-positive samples (n = 77) that were confirmed by microscopic examination as well as the two aldolase detection RDTs (mAb 1C3-12 F10 and ParaHit Total ver.1.0) were undetected by the two LDH detection RDTs (One Step Malaria P.f/P.v and SD Bioline). Similarly, two positive samples (2.6%) that were positively confirmed by the LDH detection RDTs were also undetected by the aldolase detection test kits. Conclusion: Aldolase and LDH antigens perform differently in different P. vivax samples; hence there is a high risk of misdiagnosis when monoclonal antibodies are used against only one particular antigen in the test. A combination of both aldolase and LDH in RDTs for the rapid diagnosis of P. vivax will enhance the sensitivity of the assay and reduce misdiagnosis. © 2014 Dzakah et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | Aldolase; Antigen; Malaria; Misdiagnosis; Plasmodium vivax | fructose bisphosphate aldolase; lactate dehydrogenase; monoclonal antibody; monoclonal antibody 1C3 12 F10; unclassified drug; fructose bisphosphate aldolase; lactate dehydrogenase; monoclonal antibody; parasite antigen; protozoon antibody; antigen detection; article; blood smear; controlled study; diagnostic test accuracy study; human; intermethod comparison; major clinical study; malaria rapid test; microscopy; nonhuman; parasite identification; Plasmodium falciparum; Plasmodium malariae; Plasmodium vivax; Plasmodium vivax malaria; predictive value; retrospective study; sensitivity and specificity; blood; comparative study; diagnostic test; diagnostic use; evaluation study; hospital information system; immunoassay; Malaria, Vivax; procedures; Antibodies, Monoclonal; Antibodies, Protozoan; Antigens, Protozoan; Diagnostic Tests, Routine; Fructose-Bisphosphate Aldolase; Humans; Immunoassay; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; Malaria, Vivax; Point-of-Care Systems; Retrospective Studies; Sensitivity and Specificity | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77958529510 | Chief information officers: An empirical study of competence, organisational, positioning and implications for performance | Cohen J.F., Dennis C.M. | 2010 | South African Journal of Economic and Management Sciences | 13 | 2 | None | School of Economic and Business Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa | Cohen, J.F., School of Economic and Business Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa; Dennis, C.M., School of Economic and Business Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa | The role and contribution of the firm's Chief Information Officer has been the subject of much debate and uncertainty. Yet, too few empirical studies have examined the implications of the CIO role. This study examined the effects of CIO demography, CIO competencies as well as CIO organisational positioning on the contribution of information systems (IS&T) to business performance. Data were collected from 111 South African companies and results revealed that CIO business, interpersonal/political and technology management competence have significant direct effects on the dependent variable. The effect of CIO organisational position, including structural power and political relationship, was found to be mediated by CIO competence. CIO work experience also impacted the contribution of IS&T. Results have important implications for our understanding of the competencies and organisational positioning required of executives charged with the responsibility for information systems and technology management. | Chief information officer; Competence; Information systems management; Performance; Top management; Upper echelons | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77954440128 | Schooling in black and white: Assimilationist discourses and subversive identity performances in a desegregated South African girls' school | McKinney C. | 2010 | Race Ethnicity and Education | 13 | 2 | 10.1080/13613321003726876 | School of Education, University of Cape Town, South Africa | McKinney, C., School of Education, University of Cape Town, South Africa | Research on school desegregation in South Africa has largely documented an assimilationist process. As in educational contexts elsewhere, the assimilationist position presupposes that learners from non-dominant groups are made to change their ways of being on entering schools from which they were previously excluded. Drawing on an ethnographic case-study of a suburban girls' school in Johannesburg, South Africa, where 'black' learners have replaced 'white' learners, as well as on post-structuralist theorizing of 'discourse' and 'identity', this paper engages with and critiques the assimilationist position. I reconstruct the discursive positioning of the girls within official school discourses, thus highlighting the powerful assimilationist project of the school, but go on to explore the ways in which the learners use a range of semiotic resources not valued in official school discourses to subvert their positioning. I conclude that in inhabiting the school, the girls experience both repressive and liberatory effects, and they themselves produce mobile points of resistance. © 2010 Taylor & Francis. | Assimilation; Desegregated schools; Identity/subjectivities; Positioning; South Africa | education; racial identity; racial segregation; suburban area; Gauteng; Johannesburg; South Africa | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84941206934 | Towards an Explicit Justice Framing of the Social Impacts of Conservation | Martin A., Akol A., Gross-Camp N. | 2015 | Conservation and Society | 13 | 2 | 10.4103/0972-4923.164200 | School of International Development, University of East Anglia, Norwich, United Kingdom; Department of Zoology, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda | Martin, A., School of International Development, University of East Anglia, Norwich, United Kingdom; Akol, A., Department of Zoology, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda; Gross-Camp, N., School of International Development, University of East Anglia, Norwich, United Kingdom | This paper proposes that biodiversity conservation practice will benefit from assessment of environmental justice outcomes, especially in contexts of poverty and social marginalisation. Whilst there is an existing body of work that implicitly considers the justices and injustices arising from biodiversity conservation interventions, we suggest that a more explicit justice assessment might complement this work. We develop some general guidelines for such assessment, drawing on traditions of social and environmental justice, highlighting the importance of considering two types of justice outcome: distribution and recognition. We note the non-equivalence of these different justice values, implying that they cannot be traded-off against each other. We try out these guidelines through a case study of the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda. We find that the assessment helps us to identify intolerable social impacts of conservation, notably failures to adequately address the long-term impoverishment and domination of the indigenous Batwa people, and offers constructive insight for how conservation can better align with the need for environmental justice. ©Martin et al 2015. | Bwindi Impenetrable National Park; ecosystem services; environmental justice; recognition; revenue sharing; tourism; Uganda | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84884476512 | Evaluation of facilitative supervision visits in primary health care service delivery in Northern Ghana | Aikins M., Laar A., Nonvignon J., Sackey S., Ikeda T., Woode G., Nang-Beifubah A., Nyonator F. | 2013 | BMC Health Services Research | 13 | 1 | 10.1186/1472-6963-13-358 | School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana; Japanese International Cooperation Agency, Ghana Office, Accra, Ghana; Regional Health Directorate, Ghana Health Service, Upper West Region, Accra, Wa, Ghana; Policy Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Division, Ghana Health Service, Accra, Ghana | Aikins, M., School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana; Laar, A., School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana; Nonvignon, J., School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana; Sackey, S., School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana; Ikeda, T., Japanese International Cooperation Agency, Ghana Office, Accra, Ghana; Woode, G., Japanese International Cooperation Agency, Ghana Office, Accra, Ghana; Nang-Beifubah, A., Regional Health Directorate, Ghana Health Service, Upper West Region, Accra, Wa, Ghana; Nyonator, F., Policy Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Division, Ghana Health Service, Accra, Ghana | Background: In Ghana's health delivery services, facilitative supervisory visit (FSV) as a system of management is new. This paper presents the standard evaluation results of FSV, which formed an integral part of the community-based health planning services (CHPS) initiative. Methods. The study was conducted in the Upper West Region of Ghana. The Project developed guidelines and tools for FSV for four different health system levels - regional, district, sub-district and community levels. Electronic data from all four levels representing quarterly results were compiled into their annual equivalents, and summarized graphically for comparison. Results: The data show that all the nine districts embraced the FSV concept even though they differed markedly with regard to the degree of adherence to some set benchmarks. Three DHMTs (Wa Municipal, Lawra and Jirapa) were graded as good while the remaining six DHMTs were adjudged as fair in relation to management of supplies, transport and equipment, information, meeting, and technical support. Conclusions: The data further suggest that there is much to gain both individually and institutionally from FSVs. Generally, FSVs are crucial to the delivery of primary health care services in especially rural areas. © 2013 Aikins et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | Facilitative supervision visit; Ghana; Primary health care; Service delivery | article; community care; evaluation study; Ghana; health care delivery; health care planning; human; methodology; organization and management; primary health care; standard; Community Health Services; Delivery of Health Care; Ghana; Humans; Primary Health Care; Regional Medical Programs | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84943813789 | Empirical evaluation of China imports on employment in the South African textile industry | Edoun E.I., Netshiozwi E.E. | 2015 | Problems and Perspectives in Management | 13 | 2 | None | Senior Research Fellow, Department of Quality and Operations Management, University of Johannesburg, South Africa; Wits School of Governance, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa | Edoun, E.I., Senior Research Fellow, Department of Quality and Operations Management, University of Johannesburg, South Africa; Netshiozwi, E.E., Wits School of Governance, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa | This paper is set to generate some empirical perspective on the impact of Chinese imports on employment levels in the South African textile industry. Using regression analysis as a method of inquiry, this paper critically assesses the relationship that exists between textile imports and employment levels as well as between exchange rates and employment levels. South Africa's imports data, employment data and exchange rate (South African Rand per Chinese Yuan) for the period from 1993 to 2011 are used to analyze the relationship between high level of imports from China and employment levels in the industry. Initial findings reveal that an increase in the value of textile imports from China will cause a decline in employment levels in the South African textile industry. | China; Exports; Imports; South Africa; Textile industries; Trade agreement | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000341887000001 | Evaluation of record linkage of mortality data between a health and demographic surveillance system and national civil registration system in South Africa | Bradshaw, Debbie,Gomez-Olive, Francesc Xavier,Joubert, Jane D.,Kabudula, Chodziwadziwa W.,Kahn, Kathleen,Lopez, Alan D.,Mee, Paul,Rao, Chalapati,Tollman, Stephen,Tuoane-Nkhasi, Maletela,Vos, Theo | 2014 | POPULATION HEALTH METRICS | 13 | 1 | 10.1186/s12963-014-0023-z | South African Medical Research Council, Umea University, University of Melbourne, University of Queensland, University of Washington, University of Washington Seattle, University of Witwatersrand, INDEPTH Network, Stat South Africa | "Bradshaw, Debbie: South African Medical Research Council","Gomez-Olive, Francesc Xavier: University of Witwatersrand","Kabudula, Chodziwadziwa W.: University of Witwatersrand","Lopez, Alan D.: University of Melbourne","Rao, Chalapati: University of Queensland","Vos, Theo: University of Washington","Vos, Theo: University of Washington Seattle", | Background: Health and Demographic Surveillance Systems (HDSS) collect independent mortality data that could be used for assessing the quality of mortality data in national civil registration (CR) systems in low- and middle-income countries. However, the use of HDSS data for such purposes depends on the quality of record linkage between the two data sources. We describe and evaluate the quality of record linkage between HDSS and CR mortality data in South Africa with HDSS data from Agincourt HDSS.
Methods: We applied deterministic and probabilistic record linkage approaches to mortality records from 2006 to 2009 from the Agincourt HDSS and those in the CR system. Quality of the matches generated by the probabilistic approach was evaluated using sensitivity and positive predictive value (PPV) calculated from a subset of records that were linked using national identity number. Matched and unmatched records from the Agincourt HDSS were compared to identify characteristics associated with successful matching. In addition, the distribution of background characteristics in all deaths that occurred in 2009 and those linked to CR records was compared to assess systematic bias in the resulting record-linked dataset in the latest time period.
Results: Deterministic and probabilistic record linkage approaches combined linked a total of 2264 out of 3726 (60.8%) mortality records from the Agincourt HDSS to those in the CR system. Probabilistic approaches independently linked 1969 (87.0%) of the linked records. In a subset of 708 records that were linked using national identity number, the probabilistic approaches yielded sensitivity of 90.0% and PPV of 98.5%. Records belonging to more vulnerable people, including poorer persons, young children, and non-South Africans were less likely to be matched. Nevertheless, distribution of most background characteristics was similar between all Agincourt HDSS deaths and those matched to CR records in the latest time period.
Conclusion: This study shows that record linkage of mortality data from HDSS and CR systems is possible and can be useful in South Africa. The study identifies predictors for death registration and data items and registration system characteristics that could be improved to achieve more optimal future matching possibilities. | "Agincourt HDSS","Civil registration system","death registration","Health and demographic surveillance system (HDSS)",MORTALITY,"RECORD LINKAGE","SOUTH AFRICA","AGINCOURT HEALTH",CARE,DEATH,DISEASE,EPIDEMIOLOGY,"GLOBAL BURDEN",IDENTIFIERS,POPULATION,VALID | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84955488320 | The role of SANSA's geomagnetic observation network in space weather monitoring: A review | Kotzé P.B., Cilliers P.J., Sutcliffe P.R. | 2015 | Space Weather | 13 | 10 | 10.1002/2015SW001279 | South African National Space Agency, Space Science, Hermanus, South Africa | Kotzé, P.B., South African National Space Agency, Space Science, Hermanus, South Africa; Cilliers, P.J., South African National Space Agency, Space Science, Hermanus, South Africa; Sutcliffe, P.R., South African National Space Agency, Space Science, Hermanus, South Africa | Geomagnetic observations play a crucial role in the monitoring of space weather events. In a modern society relying on the efficient functioning of its technology network such observations are important in order to determine the potential hazard for activities and infrastructure. Until recently, it was the perception that geomagnetic storms had no or very little adverse effect on radio communication and electric power infrastructure at middle- and low-latitude regions like southern Africa. The 2003 Halloween storm changed this perception. In this paper we discuss the role of the geomagnetic observation network operated by the South African National Space Agency (SANSA) in space weather monitoring. The primary objective is to describe the geomagnetic data sets available to characterize and monitor the various types of solar-driven disturbances, with the aim to better understand the physics of these processes in the near-Earth space environment and to provide relevant space weather monitoring and prediction. ©2015. American Geophysical Union. All Rights Reserved. | geomagnetism; observatories; space weather | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84885012115 | The role of AFB microscopy training in improving the performance of laboratory professionals: Analysis of pre and post training evaluation scores | Reji P., Aga G., Abebe G. | 2013 | BMC Health Services Research | 13 | 1 | 10.1186/1472-6963-13-392 | TB CARE I/ Management Sciences for Health, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Oromia Health Bureau, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences and Pathology, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia | Reji, P., TB CARE I/ Management Sciences for Health, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Aga, G., Oromia Health Bureau, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Abebe, G., Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences and Pathology, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia | Background: Tuberculosis (TB) remains major cause of morbidity and mortality due to any one of infectious agent worldwide. In low income countries, Ziehl-Neelsen sputum smear microscopy is the only cost-effective tool for diagnosis and monitoring of patients on treatment. In order to have efficient AFB microscopy centers, it is imperative to have continuous refresher training for laboratory professionals and strong External Quality Assessment (EQA) system). However, very little data exists as to the effect of in-service training on performance of laboratory personnel in Ethiopia.The objective of this study was to investigate the role of AFB microscopy refresher training on the performance of laboratory professionals. Methods. A cross-sectional retrospective study was conducted to appraise theoretical and practical performance of laboratory professionals before and after AFB microscopy training. Theoretical assessment was based on standard questions while practical assessment was based on smear reading of 10 standard slides. Data on eight rounds of a five days training at Adama regional laboratory on AFB microscopy in 2009 was obtained and analyzed using SPSS 16.0 statistical software. Result: The pre-training mean score of the theoretical knowledge and practical skills were 61.8% and 75.7%, respectively. The post training mean scores were 84.2% and 89.2% for theoretical knowledge and practical skills, respectively. The increase in mean score of both theoretical and practical assessment was statistically significant (p < 0.0001). Post training mean score of theoretical knowledge was higher among diploma holders trainees than the BSc degree counter parts (p = 0.001). The mean scores on practice before and after training was dependent on participation in previous AFB microscopy trainings (p < 0.0001). Proportions of trainees with both major and minor errors were found to decrease after they were trained. Trainees who have had previous training were found to commit less errors than those who were not participated in previous training (p < 0.0001). Conclusion: Training has improved theoretical and practical performance of laboratory professionals. Pre-placement and continuous training irrespective of lab professionals qualification and service year and sustainable EQA are highly recommended to ensure quality of AFB microscopy service. © 2013 Reji et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | AFB; Refresher training; Scores; Tuberculosis | article; education; female; human; laboratory personnel; lung tuberculosis; male; medical error; microbiology; microscopy; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; statistics; total quality management; Educational Measurement; Female; Humans; Laboratory Personnel; Male; Medical Errors; Microscopy; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; Quality Improvement; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84924341785 | Learning from continuous evaluation: Principles, practices, and lessons | Busari O., Ngonini X. | 2015 | Management Education | 13 | 4 | None | Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority, Centurion, Gauteng, South Africa; Evaluation and Knowledge Integration, Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority, South Africa | Busari, O., Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority, Centurion, Gauteng, South Africa; Ngonini, X., Evaluation and Knowledge Integration, Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority, South Africa | For an organization increasingly taking on a leadership and change-agent role in the provision of infrastructure for growing the South African economy and pursuing a better life for all, the Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority prioritizes the generation and use of evaluative knowledge for organizational learning and effective management for results, as well as for fostering accountability. Focused and regular evaluations afford the organization with an objective assessment of contributions to national development results and outcomes, through systematically reviewing its programs and operations, including multi-billion rand mega infrastructure projects and strategic initiatives spanning policies, advocacy, advisory services, and partnerships. Aside from articulating the core principles underpinning the organization’s evaluative work and identifying the critical criteria applicable to its evaluations, this paper departs from the traditional preoccupation with measuring project outputs, and presents alternative practices seeking a more dynamic and comprehensive understanding of the processes inherent in interventions. With practical examples of lessons drawn continuously to assist stakeholders and executives make the necessary adjustments on the project pathway, the evaluation approach herein seeks to satisfy the need by participants and the collective organization to know more in relation to how complex changes are brought about by a variety of development levers and mechanisms. © Common Ground, Ola Busari, Xolani Ngonini, All Rights Reserved. | Evaluation practices; Project lessons; South Africa; Trans-caledon tunnel authority | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84865742272 | The impact of mothers' knowledge on the immunisation of children younger than five in ga-rankuwa, South Africa | Wright S.C.D., Maja T.M.M., Furaha S.A. | 2011 | Africa Journal of Nursing and Midwifery | 13 | 2 | None | Tshwane University of Technology, Adelaide Tambo School of Nursing, South Africa | Wright, S.C.D., Tshwane University of Technology, Adelaide Tambo School of Nursing, South Africa; Maja, T.M.M., Tshwane University of Technology, Adelaide Tambo School of Nursing, South Africa; Furaha, S.A., Tshwane University of Technology, Adelaide Tambo School of Nursing, South Africa | Routine immunisation at an appropriate age is the best means of averting vaccine-preventable diseases. Though the immunisation coverage rates for all nine provinces in South Africa are available, these are not available for smaller locations, such as Ga-Rankuwa, in the Gauteng province of South Africa (hereafter Gauteng). The main problem addressed by this study was the unavailability of immunisation coverage rate for Ga-Rankuwa, based on the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI). Information was also lacking about mothers' knowledge regarding immunisation and barriers they encountered to immunise their children younger than five. Data were gathered by direct observation of the Road-to-Health charts (n = 926) of children in Ga-Rankuwa. The mothers' knowledge levels were estimated by using structured interview schedules. Of the children, 46.1% (n = 426) missed one or more immunisations according to the schedule. The 60 month coverage rate was only 19.0%. Some mothers (59.8%) only used the Road-to-Health chart for the child's weight and 31.4% were unable to interpret the chart. Community-specific interventions, based on the evidence generated by the study, are urgently required to enhance the immunisation coverage in Ga-Rankuwa. © ISSN 1682-5055. | Children younger than five; Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI); Ga-Rankuwa; Immunisation coverage; Mothers' immunisation knowledge; Primary Health Care (PHC) | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84929153772 | Using theory and formative research to design interventions to improve community health worker motivation, retention and performance in Mozambique and Uganda | Strachan D.L., Källander K., Nakirunda M., Ndima S., Muiambo A., Hill Z., Meek S., Tibenderana J., Castel-Branco A.C., Kertho E., Strachan D., Kirkwood B., Soremekun S., Lingam R., Vassal A., Kasteng F. | 2015 | Human Resources for Health | 13 | 1 | 10.1186/s12960-015-0020-8 | UCL Institute for Global Health, 30 Guilford St., London, United Kingdom; Malaria Consortium, Development House, 56-64 Leonard Street, London, United Kingdom; Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Malaria Consortium Uganda, Plot 25 Upper Naguru East Road, P.O.Box 8045, Kampala, Uganda; Malaria Consortium Mozambique, Rua Joseph Ki-Zerbo 191, PO Box 3655, Coop, Maputo, Mozambique; Malaria Consortium, United Kingdom; UCL Institute for Global Health, United Kingdom; London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, United Kingdom | Strachan, D.L., UCL Institute for Global Health, 30 Guilford St., London, United Kingdom; Källander, K., Malaria Consortium, Development House, 56-64 Leonard Street, London, United Kingdom, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden, Malaria Consortium, United Kingdom; Nakirunda, M., Malaria Consortium Uganda, Plot 25 Upper Naguru East Road, P.O.Box 8045, Kampala, Uganda; Ndima, S., Malaria Consortium Mozambique, Rua Joseph Ki-Zerbo 191, PO Box 3655, Coop, Maputo, Mozambique; Muiambo, A., Malaria Consortium Mozambique, Rua Joseph Ki-Zerbo 191, PO Box 3655, Coop, Maputo, Mozambique; Hill, Z., UCL Institute for Global Health, 30 Guilford St., London, United Kingdom, UCL Institute for Global Health, United Kingdom; Meek, S., Malaria Consortium, United Kingdom; Tibenderana, J., Malaria Consortium, United Kingdom; Castel-Branco, A.C., Malaria Consortium, United Kingdom; Kertho, E., Malaria Consortium, United Kingdom; Strachan, D., UCL Institute for Global Health, United Kingdom; Kirkwood, B., London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, United Kingdom; Soremekun, S., London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, United Kingdom; Lingam, R., London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, United Kingdom; Vassal, A., London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, United Kingdom; Kasteng, F., London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, United Kingdom | Background: Community health workers (CHWs) are increasingly being used in low-income countries to address human resources shortages, yet there remain few effective, evidence-based strategies for addressing the enduring programmatic constraints of worker motivation, retention and performance. This paper describes how two interventions were designed by the Innovations at Scale for Community Access and Lasting Effects (inSCALE) project to address these constraints in Uganda and Mozambique drawing on behavioural theory and formative research results. Methods: A review of the work motivation and CHW motivation literature-incorporating influences on retention and performance-was conducted on articles sourced through electronic web searches. Formative research with a focus on the barriers and facilitators to CHW motivation, retention and performance was conducted with community health workers and key stakeholders in Uganda and Mozambique. An analytical induction approach to the thematic analysis of transcripts from 98 in-depth interviews and 26 focus group discussions was adopted across the country settings. Results: From the theoretical review, it was determined that the interventions should promote CHWs as members of a collective by highlighting a sense of shared experience, focus on alignment between worker and programme goals, and emphasise the actions that lead to good performance. The Social Identity Approach was selected as the theory most likely to lead to the development of effective, scalable and sustainable interventions by addressing the identified gap in the literature of the influence of CHW working context. The formative research indicated that CHWs value feedback and feeling connected to the health system and their community, are motivated by status and community standing, and want to be provided with the necessary tools to perform. Two interventions based on these results were developed: a participatory, local community approach and an information communication technology (ICT) approach. Conclusions: Drawing on contextual data and theory that is sensitive to context can potentially lead to the development of appropriate and effective interventions when aiming to improve the motivation, retention and performance of CHWs in Uganda and Mozambique and other comparable settings. Evaluation of the developed interventions is crucial to assess this potential. © 2015 Strachan et al. | Community health workers; Human resources for health; Motivation; Mozambique; Performance; Retention; Social identity approach; Uganda | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84880561708 | Photocatalytic performance of nitrogen, osmium co-doped TiO2 for removal of eosin yellow in water under simulated solar radiation | Kuvarega A.T., Krause R.W.M., Mamba B.B. | 2013 | Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology | 13 | 7 | 10.1166/jnn.2013.7589 | UJ Centre for Nanomaterials Science, Department of Applied Chemistry, University of Johannesburg, P.O. Box 17011, Doornfontein, 2028, Johannesburg, South Africa | Kuvarega, A.T., UJ Centre for Nanomaterials Science, Department of Applied Chemistry, University of Johannesburg, P.O. Box 17011, Doornfontein, 2028, Johannesburg, South Africa; Krause, R.W.M., UJ Centre for Nanomaterials Science, Department of Applied Chemistry, University of Johannesburg, P.O. Box 17011, Doornfontein, 2028, Johannesburg, South Africa; Mamba, B.B., UJ Centre for Nanomaterials Science, Department of Applied Chemistry, University of Johannesburg, P.O. Box 17011, Doornfontein, 2028, Johannesburg, South Africa | Nitrogen, osmium co-doped TiO2 photocatalysts were prepared by a modified sol-gel method using ammonia as the nitrogen source and osmium tetroxide as the source of osmium. The role of rutile phase OsO2 in enhancing the photocatalytic activity of rutile TiO2 towards the degradation of Eosin Yellow was investigated. The materials were characterised by various techniques that include FTIR, Raman, XRD, SEM, EDS, TEM, TGA and DRUV-Vis. The amorphous, oven dried sample was transformed to the anatase and then the rutile phase with increasing calcination temperature. DRUVVis analysis revealed a red shift in absorption with increasing calcination temperature, confirmed by a decrease in the band gap of the material. The photocatalytic activity of N, Os co-doped TiO2 was evaluated using eosin yellow degradation and activity increased with increase in calcination temperature under simulated solar irradiation. The rutile phase of the co-doped TiO 2 was found to be more effective in degrading the dye (ka = 1.84×10-2 min-1) compared to the anatase co-doped phase (ka =9.90×10-3 min-1). The enhanced photocatalytic activity was ascribed to the synergistic effects of rutile TiO2 and rutile OsO2 in the N, Os co-doped TiO 2. Copyright © 2013 American Scientific Publishers All rights reserved. | Absorption Edge; Anatase; Nitrogen-Osmium Co-Doped TiO2; Osmium Dioxide; Photocatalysis; Rutile; Visible Light | Absorption edges; Co-doped tio; Modified sol-gel method; Photocatalytic activities; Photocatalytic performance; Rutile; Simulated solar radiations; Visible light; Calcination; Nitrogen; Osmium; Oxide minerals; Photocatalysis; Photocatalysts; Sol-gel process; Solar radiation; Sun; Titanium dioxide; eosin; nanomaterial; nitrogen; osmium; titanium; titanium dioxide; article; catalysis; chemistry; isolation and purification; light; materials testing; methodology; radiation exposure; solar energy; water management; water pollutant; Catalysis; Eosine Yellowish-(YS); Light; Materials Testing; Nanostructures; Nitrogen; Osmium; Solar Energy; Titanium; Water Pollutants, Chemical; Water Purification | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-78650388990 | Nasal delivery of recombinant human growth hormone: In vivo evaluation with pheroid™ technology and N-trimethyl chitosan chloride | Steyn D., du Plessis L., Kotzé A. | 2010 | Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences | 13 | 2 | None | Unit for Drug Research and Development, North-West University, Potchefstroom 2531, South Africa | Steyn, D., Unit for Drug Research and Development, North-West University, Potchefstroom 2531, South Africa; du Plessis, L., Unit for Drug Research and Development, North-West University, Potchefstroom 2531, South Africa; Kotzé, A., Unit for Drug Research and Development, North-West University, Potchefstroom 2531, South Africa | Purpose. It was the aim of this study to investigate the possible enhancement of the absorption of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) in the nasal cavity, in the presence of a polymeric absorption enhancer, N-trimethyl chitosan chloride (TMC) and a patented fatty acid-based delivery system, Pheroid. Methods. Two types of Pheroid formulations, Pheroid vesicles and Pheroid microsponges were characterized and evaluated with regard to particle size and morphology. In vivo bioavailability studies in rats were performed and the nasal bioavailability of Pheroid vesicles and Pheroid microsponges were compared relative to subcutaneous administration. The results were also compared with different N-trimethyl chitosan chloride (TMC) formulations, TMC H-L and TMC H-H, well studied absorption enhancers. Results. Pheroid vesicles and Pheroid microsponges showed a size distribution of approximately 2-3 μm and 3-4 μm for Pheroid vesicles and Pheroid microsponges respectively. Using specific RIA, the relative bioavailability of rhGH after comparison with subcutaneous injection was determined to be 38.9, 128.5, 39.9, 136.3, and 8.3% for Pheroid microsponges, Pheroid vesicles, TMC H-H, TMC H-L and control group (intranasal rhGH alone), respectively. All the enhancers showed significant absorption enhancement (P < 0.05) with the highest effect observed with TMC H-L. Conclusion. All the enhancers may have promising potential as safe and effective nasal absorption enhancers of rhGH. The Pheroid delivery system is a novel patented system consisting of a unique submicron emulsion type formulation. The system, which consist mainly of essential fatty acids can entrap and transport pharmacological active compounds. In this study it is shown that two types of Pheroid formulations, Pheroid vesicles and Pheroid microsponges, have the ability to entrap recombinant human growth hormone and improve the nasal absorption and thus bioavailability of rhGH. Intranasal administration of rhGH entrapped in Pheroid technology is an attractive alternative to subcutaneous of intravenous administration. | None | drug carrier; human growth hormone; n trimethyl chitosan chloride; unclassified drug; animal experiment; area under the curve; article; controlled study; drug absorption; drug bioavailability; drug blood level; drug delivery system; drug formulation; in vivo study; male; maximum plasma concentration; morphology; nonhuman; nose cavity; particle size; rat; time to maximum plasma concentration; Administration, Intranasal; Animals; Biological Availability; Chitosan; Excipients; Fatty Acids; Human Growth Hormone; Humans; Injections, Subcutaneous; Male; Particle Size; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84899117323 | The impact of clinical research activities on communities in rural Africa: The development of the Clinical Research Unit of Nanoro (CRUN) in Burkina Faso | Tinto H., Valea I., Sorgho H., Tahita M.C., Traore M., Bihoun B., Guiraud I., Kpoda H., Rouamba J., Ouédraogo S., Lompo P., Yara S., Kabore W., Ouédraogo J.-B., Guiguemdé R.T., Binka F.N., Ogutu B. | 2014 | Malaria Journal | 13 | 1 | 10.1186/1475-2875-13-113 | Unité de Recherche Paludisme et Maladies Tropicales Négligées, Centre Muraz, Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso; Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé/Direction Régionale (IRSS/DRO), Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso; Clinical Research Unit of Nanoro (IRSS-CRUN), Nanoro, Burkina Faso; Institut Supérieur des Sciences de la Santé (INSSA), Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso; INDEPTH-Network, Accra, Ghana | Tinto, H., Unité de Recherche Paludisme et Maladies Tropicales Négligées, Centre Muraz, Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé/Direction Régionale (IRSS/DRO), Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, Clinical Research Unit of Nanoro (IRSS-CRUN), Nanoro, Burkina Faso; Valea, I., Unité de Recherche Paludisme et Maladies Tropicales Négligées, Centre Muraz, Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, Clinical Research Unit of Nanoro (IRSS-CRUN), Nanoro, Burkina Faso; Sorgho, H., Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé/Direction Régionale (IRSS/DRO), Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, Clinical Research Unit of Nanoro (IRSS-CRUN), Nanoro, Burkina Faso; Tahita, M.C., Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé/Direction Régionale (IRSS/DRO), Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, Clinical Research Unit of Nanoro (IRSS-CRUN), Nanoro, Burkina Faso; Traore, M., Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé/Direction Régionale (IRSS/DRO), Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, Clinical Research Unit of Nanoro (IRSS-CRUN), Nanoro, Burkina Faso; Bihoun, B., Clinical Research Unit of Nanoro (IRSS-CRUN), Nanoro, Burkina Faso; Guiraud, I., Clinical Research Unit of Nanoro (IRSS-CRUN), Nanoro, Burkina Faso; Kpoda, H., Unité de Recherche Paludisme et Maladies Tropicales Négligées, Centre Muraz, Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, Clinical Research Unit of Nanoro (IRSS-CRUN), Nanoro, Burkina Faso; Rouamba, J., Unité de Recherche Paludisme et Maladies Tropicales Négligées, Centre Muraz, Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso; Ouédraogo, S., Clinical Research Unit of Nanoro (IRSS-CRUN), Nanoro, Burkina Faso; Lompo, P., Clinical Research Unit of Nanoro (IRSS-CRUN), Nanoro, Burkina Faso; Yara, S., Clinical Research Unit of Nanoro (IRSS-CRUN), Nanoro, Burkina Faso; Kabore, W., Clinical Research Unit of Nanoro (IRSS-CRUN), Nanoro, Burkina Faso; Ouédraogo, J.-B., Unité de Recherche Paludisme et Maladies Tropicales Négligées, Centre Muraz, Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé/Direction Régionale (IRSS/DRO), Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso; Guiguemdé, R.T., Unité de Recherche Paludisme et Maladies Tropicales Négligées, Centre Muraz, Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, Institut Supérieur des Sciences de la Santé (INSSA), Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso; Binka, F.N., INDEPTH-Network, Accra, Ghana; Ogutu, B., INDEPTH-Network, Accra, Ghana | Background: The opportunities for developing new drugs and vaccines for malaria control look brighter now than ten years ago. However, there are few places in sub-Saharan Africa with the necessary infrastructure and expertise to support such research in compliance to international standards of clinical research (ICH-GCP). The Clinical Research Unit of Nanoro (CRUN) was founded in 2008 to provide a much-needed GCP-compliant clinical trial platform for an imminent large-scale Phase 3 malaria vaccine trial. A dynamic approach was used that entailed developing the required infrastructure and human resources, while engaging local communities in the process as key stakeholders. This provided a better understanding and ownership of the research activities by the local population. Case description. Within five years (2008-2013), the CRUN set up a fully and well-equipped GCP-compliant clinical trial research facility, which enabled to attract 25 grants. The research team grew from ten health workers prior to 2008 to 254 in 2013. A Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS), which covers a total population of about 60,000 people in 24 villages was set up in the district. The local community contributed to the development of the facility through the leadership of the king and the mayor of Nanoro. As a result of their active advocacy, the government extended the national electrical grid to the new research center, and later to the entire village. This produced a positive impact on the community's quality of life. The quality of health care improved substantially, due to the creation of more elaborate clinical laboratory services and the acquisition of state-of-the-art equipment. Conclusion: Involving the community in the key steps of establishing the centre provided the foundation for what was to become the CRUN success story. This experience demonstrates that when clinical trials research sites are carefully developed and implemented, they can have a positive and powerful impact on local communities in resource-poor settings, well beyond the task of generating expected study data. © 2014 Tinto et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | None | achievement; article; Burkina Faso; clinical research; clinical trial (topic); community trial; health care facility; health care personnel; health care quality; human; multicenter study (topic); phase 3 clinical trial (topic); quality of life; rural area; Biomedical Research; Burkina Faso; Clinical Trials as Topic; Female; Humans; Male; Rural Population | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84940843187 | Selection and performance of village health teams (VHTs) in Uganda: Lessons from the natural helper model of health promotion | Turinawe E.B., Rwemisisi J.T., Musinguzi L.K., de Groot M., Muhangi D., de Vries D.H., Mafigiri D.K., Pool R. | 2015 | Human Resources for Health | 13 | 1 | 10.1186/s12960-015-0074-7 | University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands; Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda | Turinawe, E.B., University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands; Rwemisisi, J.T., University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands; Musinguzi, L.K., University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands; de Groot, M., University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands; Muhangi, D., Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda; de Vries, D.H., University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands; Mafigiri, D.K., Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda; Pool, R., University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands | Background: Community health worker (CHW) programmes have received much attention since the 1978 Declaration of Alma-Ata, with many initiatives established in developing countries. However, CHW programmes often suffer high attrition once the initial enthusiasm of volunteers wanes. In 2002, Uganda began implementing a national CHW programme called the village health teams (VHTs), but their performance has been poor in many communities. It is argued that poor community involvement in the selection of the CHWs affects their embeddedness in communities and success. The question of how selection can be implemented creatively to sustain CHW programmes has not been sufficiently explored. In this paper, our aim was to examine the process of the introduction of the VHT strategy in one rural community, including the selection of VHT members and how these processes may have influenced their work in relation to the ideals of the natural helper model of health promotion. Methods: As part of a broader research project, an ethnographic study was carried out in Luwero district. Data collection involved participant observation, 12 focus group discussions (FGDs), 14 in-depth interviews with community members and members of the VHTs and four key informant interviews. Interviews and FGD were recorded, transcribed and coded in NVivo. Emerging themes were further explored and developed using text query searches. Interpretations were confirmed by comparison with findings of other team members. Results: The VHT selection process created distrust, damaging the programme's legitimacy. While the Luwero community initially had high expectations of the programme, local leaders selected VHTs in a way that sidelined the majority of the community's members. Community members questioned the credentials of those who were selected, not seeing the VHTs as those to whom they would go to for help and support. Resentment grew, and as a result, the ways in which the VHTs operated alienated them further from the community. Without the support of the community, the VHTs soon lost morale and stopped their work. Conclusion: As the natural helper model recommends, in order for CHW programmes to gain and maintain community support, it is necessary to utilize naturally existing informal helping networks by drawing on volunteers already trusted by the people being served. That way, the community will be more inclined to trust the advice of volunteers and offer them support in return, increasing the likelihood of the sustainability of their service in the community. © Turinawe et al. | Community health workers; Natural helpers; Village health teams | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84926137605 | Benchmarking health system performance across districts in Zambia: A systematic analysis of levels and trends in key maternal and child health interventions from 1990 to 2010 | Colson K.E., Dwyer-Lindgren L., Achoki T., Fullman N., Schneider M., Mulenga P., Hangoma P., Ng M., Masiye F., Gakidou E. | 2015 | BMC Medicine | 13 | 1 | 10.1186/s12916-015-0308-5 | University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley), Berkeley, CA, United States; University of Washington, Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, Seattle, WA, United States; Ministry of Health of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana; USAID, Washington, DC, United States; Clinton Health Access Initiative, Lusaka, Zambia; University of Bergen, Department of Economics, Bergen, Norway; University of Zambia, Department of Economics, Lusaka, Zambia | Colson, K.E., University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley), Berkeley, CA, United States; Dwyer-Lindgren, L., University of Washington, Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, Seattle, WA, United States; Achoki, T., University of Washington, Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, Seattle, WA, United States, Ministry of Health of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana; Fullman, N., University of Washington, Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, Seattle, WA, United States; Schneider, M., USAID, Washington, DC, United States; Mulenga, P., Clinton Health Access Initiative, Lusaka, Zambia; Hangoma, P., University of Bergen, Department of Economics, Bergen, Norway, University of Zambia, Department of Economics, Lusaka, Zambia; Ng, M., University of Washington, Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, Seattle, WA, United States; Masiye, F., University of Washington, Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, Seattle, WA, United States, University of Zambia, Department of Economics, Lusaka, Zambia; Gakidou, E., University of Washington, Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, Seattle, WA, United States | Background: Achieving universal health coverage and reducing health inequalities are primary goals for an increasing number of health systems worldwide. Timely and accurate measurements of levels and trends in key health indicators at local levels are crucial to assess progress and identify drivers of success and areas that may be lagging behind. Methods: We generated estimates of 17 key maternal and child health indicators for Zambia's 72 districts from 1990 to 2010 using surveys, censuses, and administrative data. We used a three-step statistical model involving spatial-temporal smoothing and Gaussian process regression. We generated estimates at the national level for each indicator by calculating the population-weighted mean of the district values and calculated composite coverage as the average of 10 priority interventions. Results: National estimates masked substantial variation across districts in the levels and trends of all indicators. Overall, composite coverage increased from 46% in 1990 to 73% in 2010, and most of this gain was attributable to the scale-up of malaria control interventions, pentavalent immunization, and exclusive breastfeeding. The scale-up of these interventions was relatively equitable across districts. In contrast, progress in routine services, including polio immunization, antenatal care, and skilled birth attendance, stagnated or declined and exhibited large disparities across districts. The absolute difference in composite coverage between the highest-performing and lowest-performing districts declined from 37 to 26 percentage points between 1990 and 2010, although considerable variation in composite coverage across districts persisted. Conclusions: Zambia has made marked progress in delivering maternal and child health interventions between 1990 and 2010; nevertheless, substantial variations across districts and interventions remained. Subnational benchmarking is important to identify these disparities, allowing policymakers to prioritize areas of greatest need. Analyses such as this one should be conducted regularly and feed directly into policy decisions in order to increase accountability at the local, regional, and national levels. © Colson et al. | Coverage; Indicators; Inequalities; Maternal and child health; Subnational benchmarking; Zambia | Rotavirus vaccine; BCG vaccine; diphtheria pertussis tetanus vaccine; measles vaccine; poliomyelitis vaccine; Article; BCG vaccination; breast feeding; child; child health; controlled study; female; health care system; human; immunization; malaria control; maternal welfare; measles vaccination; poliomyelitis; population research; prenatal care; quality control; scale up; social status; spatiotemporal analysis; task performance; Zambia; child welfare; family; health service; infant; information processing; maternal welfare; pregnancy; public health; socioeconomics; statistics and numerical data; child health care; diphtheria; geographic distribution; health care disparity; health care policy; health care quality; health survey; integrated health care system; maternal care; measles; pertussis; poliomyelitis; public health service; quality control; systematic review; tetanus; traditional birth attendant; trend study; tuberculosis; vaccination; Benchmarking; Child; Child Welfare; Data Collection; Family; Female; Humans; Infant; Maternal Health Services; Maternal Welfare; National Health Programs; Pregnancy; Socioeconomic Factors; Zambia | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84924569405 | Conceptualizing the impacts of dual practice on the retention of public sector specialists - evidence from South Africa | Ashmore J., Gilson L. | 2015 | Human Resources for Health | 13 | 1 | 10.1186/1478-4491-13-3 | University of Cape Town, Observatory, Health Economics Unit, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, Falmouth Annex, Medical Campus, Cape Town, South Africa; London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Department of Global Health and Development, Keppel Street, London, United Kingdom | Ashmore, J., University of Cape Town, Observatory, Health Economics Unit, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, Falmouth Annex, Medical Campus, Cape Town, South Africa; Gilson, L., University of Cape Town, Observatory, Health Economics Unit, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, Falmouth Annex, Medical Campus, Cape Town, South Africa, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Department of Global Health and Development, Keppel Street, London, United Kingdom | Background: 'Dual practice', or multiple job holding, generally involves public sector-based health workers taking additional work in the private sector. This form of the practice is purported to help retain public health care workers in low and middle-income countries' public sectors through additional wage incentives. There has been little conceptual or empirical development of the relationship between dual practice and retention. Methods: This article helps begin to fill this gap, drawing on empirical evidence from a qualitative study focusing on South African specialists. Fifty-one repeat, in-depth interviews were carried out with 28 doctors (predominantly specialists) with more than one job, in one public and one private urban hospital. Results: Findings suggest dual practice can impact both positively and negatively on specialists' intention to stay in the public sector. This is through multiple conceptual channels including those previously identified in the literature such as dual practice acting as a 'stepping stone' to private practice by reducing migration costs. Dual practice can also lead specialists to re-evaluate how they compare public and private jobs, and to overworking which can expedite decisions on whether to stay in the public sector or leave. Numerous respondents undertook dual practice without official permission. Conclusions: The idea that dual practice helps retain public specialists in South Africa may be overstated. Yet banning the practice may be ineffective, given many undertake it without permission in any case. Regulation should be better enforced to ensure dual practice is not abused. The conceptual framework developed in this article could form a basis for further qualitative and quantitative inquiry. © 2015 Ashmore and Gilson. | Health worker distribution; Loyalty; Migration; Multiple job holding; Public private mix; Retention | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-78649247964 | Computer efficacy, use and phobia: Contributions to Nigerian undergraduates' academic performance in a computer graphics course | Agbatogun A.O., Banjo B.O. | 2010 | Meridian | 13 | 1 | None | University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom; University of Lagos, Nigeria; Instructional Technology, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Nigeria; University of Nigeria Nsukka, Nigeria | Agbatogun, A.O., University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom, University of Lagos, Nigeria, Instructional Technology, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Nigeria; Banjo, B.O., University of Nigeria Nsukka, Nigeria | This study investigated the extent to which computer efficacy, computer use, and computer phobia predicted the level of students' academic performance in a Computer Graphics course. One hundred eighty-nine undergraduates of the Faculty of Education, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Nigeria, served as the sample for this study. The study sample responded to four instruments: Computer Self-Efficacy Scale (CSES), Computer Use Scale (CUS), Computer Phobia Scale (CPS) and Computer Performance Test (CPT). Pearson Product Moment Correlation, Multiple Regression and Analysis of Variance statistical tools were used to investigate the predictive capacity of the independent on the dependent variables. The findings revealed the three independent variables, when taken together, were effective in predicting students' academic performance in a Computer Graphics course. Meanwhile, each of the variables also contributed to the prediction of students' academic performance in a Computer Graphics course with computer use making the highest and a significant contribution to the prediction of the outcome measure (students' academic performance in a Computer Graphics course). On the basis of these findings, it was suggested higher education institutions in developing countries should make a major paradigm shift from the traditional instructional environment to promoting paperless classrooms and facilitate students' intense use of computer technologies by making assignments and projects writing, seminar presentations, display of course outlines and reference materials, and academic enquiries more computer-oriented. | None | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84892565119 | Modeling River Sosiani's water quality to assess human impact on water resources at the catchment scale | Chibole O.K. | 2013 | Ecohydrology and Hydrobiology | 13 | 4 | 10.1016/j.ecohyd.2013.10.003 | University of Eldoret, P.O. Box 1125-30100, Eldoret, Kenya | Chibole, O.K., University of Eldoret, P.O. Box 1125-30100, Eldoret, Kenya | To investigate the water quality status at catchment scale, the MIKE 11 modeling system (DHI) was used on the Sosiani, western Kenya. The river's catchment was delineated according to land-use practice into forested (Fz), agricultural (Az) and urban (Uz). Rainfallrunoff processes were modeled using NAM (DHI) and the hydrodynamic model was built using the MIKE 11 HD module. Water quality (WQ) modeling was limited to the oxygen cycle. Model calibration was done on the basis of available measured WQ data at Fz-Az; Az-Uz boundaries. Simulated data versus observed data show model efficiency of 0.70. The Uz contributes 75% of BOD flux in the catchment. © 2013 European Regional Centre for Ecohydrology of Polish Academy of Sciences. | BOD; Land-use practice; MIKE 11; River Sosiani; Water quality modeling | anthropogenic effect; catchment; hydrodynamics; hydrological modeling; land use change; rainfall-runoff modeling; water quality; water resource; Kenya; Sosiani River | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84944039009 | Requiem for a Dream? The Impact of Kiobel on Apartheid Reparations in South Africa | Swart M. | 2015 | Journal of International Criminal Justice | 13 | 2 | 10.1093/jicj/mqv025 | University of Johannesburg, South Africa | Swart, M., University of Johannesburg, South Africa | The Khulumani case, in which victims of Apartheid sued multinationals alleged to have profited from investments in pre-1994 South Africa, reflected and advanced international law developments with regard to corporate liability for human rights violations committed worldwide. It will be argued that corporations should be held accountable for human rights abuses and that pre-Kiobel, the Alien Tort Statute (ATS) provided a useful mechanism to ensure such accountability. Preserving the ATS as a means to achieving corporate liability is particularly important because ATS potentially provided a unique forum for the hearing of charges against corporations. This article will use the Khulumani suit as a template to assess the territorial reach of the ATS post-Kiobel and to assess whether, in future, the ATS is likely to be interpreted so as to permit corporate liability. The effects of the Kiobel decision on the Khulumani litigation will be considered, as well as the extent to which Kiobel forecloses ATS suits involving corporate liability for human rights violations. The article will also consider the alternative mechanisms that victims can resort to if the ATS route is no longer available to them. | None | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000296344400001 | A process evaluation of the scale up of a youth-friendly health services initiative in northern Tanzania | Andrew, Bahati,Changalucha, John,Kato, Charles,Kishamawe, Coleman,Nyalali, Kija,Obasi, Angela,Renju, Jenny | 2010 | JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL AIDS SOCIETY | 13 | None | 10.1186/1758-2652-13-32 | University of Liverpool, Mwanza Ctr | "Obasi, Angela: University of Liverpool", | Background: While there are a number of examples of successful small-scale, youth-friendly services interventions aimed at improving reproductive health service provision for young people, these projects are often short term and have low coverage. In order to have a significant, long-term impact, these initiatives must be implemented over a sustained period and on a large scale. We conducted a process evaluation of the 10-fold scale up of an evaluated youth-friendly services intervention in Mwanza Region, Tanzania, in order to identify key facilitating and inhibitory factors from both user and provider perspectives.
Methods: The intervention was scaled up in two training rounds lasting six and 10 months. This process was evaluated through the triangulation of multiple methods: (i) a simulated patient study; (ii) focus group discussions and semi-structured interviews with health workers and trainers; (iii) training observations; and (iv) pre- and post-training questionnaires. These methods were used to compare pre- and post-intervention groups and assess differences between the two training rounds.
Results: Between 2004 and 2007, local government officials trained 429 health workers. The training was well implemented and over time, trainers' confidence and ability to lead sessions improved. The district-led training significantly improved knowledge relating to HIV/AIDS and puberty (RR ranged from 1.06 to 2.0), attitudes towards condoms, confidentiality and young people's right to treatment (RR range: 1.23-1.36). Intervention health units scored higher in the family planning and condom request simulated patient scenarios, but lower in the sexually transmitted infection scenario than the control health units. The scale up faced challenges in the selection and retention of trained health workers and was limited by various contextual factors and structural constraints.
Conclusions: Youth-friendly services interventions can remain well delivered, even after expansion through existing systems. The scaling-up process did affect some aspects of intervention quality, and our research supports others in emphasizing the need to train more staff (both clinical and non-clinical) per facility in order to ensure youth-friendly services delivery. Further research is needed to identify effective strategies to address structural constraints and broader social norms that hampered the scale up. | ,ADOLESCENTS,BEHAVIOR,CLINICS,INTERVENTION,PRIMARY-CARE,QUALITY,"RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED-TRIAL","RURAL TANZANIA",SEXUALLY-TRANSMITTED-DISEASES,SOUTH-AFRICA | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84904413764 | The impact of gender difference on entrepreneurship inclinations in Nigeria | Unruh J., Adewusi A., Boolaky M. | 2014 | International Journal of Business and Globalisation | 13 | 1 | 10.1504/IJBG.2014.063391 | University of Liverpool, P.O. Box 16203, Two Rivers, AK 99716, United States; University of Liverpool/Laureate, 34, Eric Moore Rd, Iganmu, Lagos, Nigeria; University of Liverpool/Laureate, 36 A Swami Sivanandah Avenue, Floreal, Mauritius | Unruh, J., University of Liverpool, P.O. Box 16203, Two Rivers, AK 99716, United States; Adewusi, A., University of Liverpool/Laureate, 34, Eric Moore Rd, Iganmu, Lagos, Nigeria; Boolaky, M., University of Liverpool/Laureate, 36 A Swami Sivanandah Avenue, Floreal, Mauritius | This paper explores gender differences attributed to the motivators a group of entrepreneurs in a Nigerian city have in opting to run their own business. It uses the existing theoretical framework of push and pull factors to determine the motivation for male and female entrepreneurs to be in business and explore the potential gender differences that may exist within the entrepreneurial motivations. Empirical data collected from semi-structured interviews used a convenience sample of 60 entrepreneurs, 30 males and 30 females. Most of the administered survey questions were presented using a Likert format to determine the characteristics of each group. The resultant data were inferentially analysed to develop conclusions about significant differences from mean scores. The study found that males were significantly different from females in their reasons for starting a business; as one example, more female entrepreneurs expected to enjoy their jobs compared with the men even though many of them expressed that they do not have other satisfying jobs. The results of this research work identified some differences which are peculiar to only Nigerian entrepreneurs; they should not be used to infer equivalent gender differences in other countries except where these studies are replicated. Copyright © 2014 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd. | Customer orientation; Entrepreneur education; Entrepreneurs; Female; Gender; Job preferences; Male; Own boss | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000262574200015 | Management training in Vietnam's National Tuberculosis Program: an impact evaluation | Brooks, J.,Huong, N. T.,Iademarco, M.,Laserson, K.,Lowman, A.,Malison, M.,Umble, K. E. | 2009 | INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF TUBERCULOSIS AND LUNG DISEASE | 13 | 2 | None | University of North Carolina, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention - USA, Ctr Dis Control & Prevent, Dept Hlth & Human Serv, Vietnam Natl TB Program | "Lowman, A.: University of North Carolina","Lowman, A.: University of North Carolina Chapel Hill","Umble, K. E.: University of North Carolina","Umble, K. E.: University of North Carolina Chapel Hill", | SETTING: National Tuberculosis Program (NTP), Vietnam. OBJECTIVES: To show how the Sustainable Management Development Program (SMDP) of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention created capacity within Vietnam's NTP to organize a management training program, and to assess the influence of the NTP's incountry training program on individual and team management practices and the performance of provincial TB control programs.
DESIGN: Eight case studies of participating provincial TB organizations, including cross-case and content analysis.
RESULTS: Participants and their back-home learning project teams demonstrated a solid understanding of the concepts taught, particularly evidence-based decision making, problem diagnosis and problem solving, and using teamwork to improve results. They gave multiple examples of how they use these concepts in their daily work. Project teams exceeded, attained or very nearly attained their target objectives, including improved DOTS implementation. Process improvements had become a routine part of their practice and were often diffused to other districts. Several teams said they now took more initiative in identifying problems and devising solutions. Others said that increased teamwork was improving the commitment of the NTP staff.
CONCLUSION: Management training, including applied projects with coaching, can improve managerial and program performance of NTPs. | "PROGRAM EVALUATION","TOTAL QUALITY MANAGEMENT","TRAINING PROGRAMS",TUBERCULOSIS,VIETNAM,ACADEMY,CAPACITY,CARE,INDIA,INTERVENTION,PUBLIC-HEALTH,SOUTH-AFRICA,TRIAL | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84949741181 | Corporate governance on financial performance of insurance industry | Fekadu G.W. | 2015 | Corporate Ownership and Control | 13 | 1CONT10 | None | University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa | Fekadu, G.W., University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa | The role of corporate governance in financial institutions differs from that of non- financial institutions for the discretionary power of the board of directors would be limited especially in regulated financial systems where financial institutions are obliged to function through legislative and prescriptive procedures, policies, rules and regulations. This study, therefore, was aimed at examining the impact of corporate governance on the performance of closely regulated Ethiopian insurance Industry. The study employed explanatory research design with an econometric panel data of 10 Insurance companies that covers the period 2007 to 2014. Board size, board independence and board diversity have negative and insignificant effect on the performance of insurance companies while size and independence of audit committee and frequency of board meetings have positive but insignificant effect on the performance of insurance companies in Ethiopia. Thus it could be concluded that all corporate governance mechanisms have insignificant effect on the performance of insurance companies measured by return on asset. This vividly affirms that the role of board of directors in closely regulated financial sector is dismal and insignificant for they have limited discretionary power to exercise as board of directors. Thus it would be recommendable if the regulatory body could relax its prescriptive and stringent policies and devolve its power to board of directors without endangering the viability of insurance companies. © 2015, Virtus Interpress. All right rserved. | Board of directors; Corporate governance; Ethiopia; Insurance companies | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84941049306 | Examining the relationship between ceo remuneration and performance of major commercial banks in South Africa | Khumalo M., Masenge A. | 2015 | Corporate Ownership and Control | 13 | 1 | None | University of South Africa, South Africa; University of Pretoria, South Africa | Khumalo, M., University of South Africa, South Africa; Masenge, A., University of Pretoria, South Africa | The relationship between CEO remuneration and firm performance continues to receive much attention. Although the focus of most of the studies is across sectors, attention is increasingly being directed towards the banking industry. At the same time, controversy around what is deemed excessive remuneration of CEOs in the light of not so impressive firm performance across sectors continues. The 2008 global financial crisis and subsequent problems in the banking industry have increased interest in the dynamics of CEO remuneration and bank performance. This study, which examines the relationship between CEO remuneration and bank performance in South Africa, aims to bring a new perspective to the on-going research and debate. The data used is for the years 2008-2013, and a purposive sampling method was employed to select a sample frame that consists of five major commercial banks in South Africa. The results suggest that not all measurement instruments used confirmed that a relationship between CEO remuneration and bank performance existed. In the overall, the results of the study do show that the remuneration of the CEO in the banking industry is such that it does have a significant influence on the performance of a bank. © 2015, Virtus Interpress. All rights reserved. | Bank performance; CEO remuneration; Regression; South Africa | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84949188463 | Benchmarking health system performance across regions in Uganda: A systematic analysis of levels and trends in key maternal and child health interventions, 1990-2011 | Roberts D.A., Ng M., Ikilezi G., Gasasira A., Dwyer-Lindgren L., Fullman N., Nalugwa T., Kamya M., Gakidou E. | 2015 | BMC Medicine | 13 | 1 | 10.1186/s12916-015-0518-x | University of Washington, Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, 2301 5th Ave, Suite 60, Seattle, WA, United States; Mulago Hospital Complex, Infectious Diseases Research Collaboration, Kampala, Uganda; African Leaders Malaria Alliance, Kampala, Uganda; Makerere University College of Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Kampala, Uganda | Roberts, D.A., University of Washington, Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, 2301 5th Ave, Suite 60, Seattle, WA, United States; Ng, M., University of Washington, Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, 2301 5th Ave, Suite 60, Seattle, WA, United States; Ikilezi, G., University of Washington, Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, 2301 5th Ave, Suite 60, Seattle, WA, United States, Mulago Hospital Complex, Infectious Diseases Research Collaboration, Kampala, Uganda; Gasasira, A., African Leaders Malaria Alliance, Kampala, Uganda; Dwyer-Lindgren, L., University of Washington, Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, 2301 5th Ave, Suite 60, Seattle, WA, United States; Fullman, N., University of Washington, Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, 2301 5th Ave, Suite 60, Seattle, WA, United States; Nalugwa, T., Mulago Hospital Complex, Infectious Diseases Research Collaboration, Kampala, Uganda; Kamya, M., Mulago Hospital Complex, Infectious Diseases Research Collaboration, Kampala, Uganda, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Kampala, Uganda; Gakidou, E., University of Washington, Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, 2301 5th Ave, Suite 60, Seattle, WA, United States | Background: Globally, countries are increasingly prioritizing the reduction of health inequalities and provision of universal health coverage. While national benchmarking has become more common, such work at subnational levels is rare. The timely and rigorous measurement of local levels and trends in key health interventions and outcomes is vital to identifying areas of progress and detecting early signs of stalled or declining health system performance. Previous studies have yet to provide a comprehensive assessment of Uganda's maternal and child health (MCH) landscape at the subnational level. Methods: By triangulating a number of different data sources - population censuses, household surveys, and administrative data - we generated regional estimates of 27 key MCH outcomes, interventions, and socioeconomic indicators from 1990 to 2011. After calculating source-specific estimates of intervention coverage, we used a two-step statistical model involving a mixed-effects linear model as an input to Gaussian process regression to produce regional-level trends. We also generated national-level estimates and constructed an indicator of overall intervention coverage based on the average of 11 high-priority interventions. Results: National estimates often veiled large differences in coverage levels and trends across Uganda's regions. Under-5 mortality declined dramatically, from 163 deaths per 1,000 live births in 1990 to 85 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2011, but a large gap between Kampala and the rest of the country persisted. Uganda rapidly scaled up a subset of interventions across regions, including household ownership of insecticide-treated nets, receipt of artemisinin-based combination therapies among children under 5, and pentavalent immunization. Conversely, most regions saw minimal increases, if not actual declines, in the coverage of indicators that required multiple contacts with the health system, such as four or more antenatal care visits, three doses of oral polio vaccine, and two doses of intermittent preventive therapy during pregnancy. Some of the regions with the lowest levels of overall intervention coverage in 1990, such as North and West Nile, saw marked progress by 2011; nonetheless, sizeable disparities remained between Kampala and the rest of the country. Countrywide, overall coverage increased from 40% in 1990 to 64% in 2011, but coverage in 2011 ranged from 57% to 70% across regions. Conclusions: The MCH landscape in Uganda has, for the most part, improved between 1990 and 2011. Subnational benchmarking quantified the persistence of geographic health inequalities and identified regions in need of additional health systems strengthening. The tracking and analysis of subnational health trends should be conducted regularly to better guide policy decisions and strengthen responsiveness to local health needs. © 2015 Roberts et al. | Coverage; Indicators; Inequalities; Maternal and child health; Subnational benchmarking; Uganda; Under-5 mortality | artemisinin; BCG vaccine; measles vaccine; poliomyelitis vaccine; Rotavirus vaccine; tetanus toxoid; Article; bed net; biogeographic region; breast feeding; child health; diarrhea; disease control; educational status; health care delivery; health care disparity; health care facility; health care need; health care policy; health care quality; health care survey; health care system; household; human; indoor residual spraying; live birth; malaria; maternal welfare; measles; mortality; oral rehydration therapy; poliomyelitis; prenatal care; sanitation; tuberculosis; Uganda; underweight; vaccination; water supply | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79960748565 | University lecturers' perceptions of students evaluation of their instructional practices | Machingambi S., Wadesango N. | 2011 | Anthropologist | 13 | 3 | None | Walter Sisulu Universit, Centre for Learning and Teaching Development, South Africa | Machingambi, S., Walter Sisulu Universit, Centre for Learning and Teaching Development, South Africa; Wadesango, N., Walter Sisulu Universit, Centre for Learning and Teaching Development, South Africa | This article examines lecturers' perceptions of student evaluations on their instructional practices. A total of sixty lecturers from an institution of higher learning in South Africa participated in the study. Data were collected through a researcher- constructed 20-item Likert-type questionnaire. Data were analysed using frequency tables and the discussion revolved around the three research questions that formed the pillar of the study. The study established that generally university lecturers had negative perceptions of students' evaluation of their instructional practices. The study specifically revealed that while lecturers were sometimes positive about the use of results of student evaluations for formative purposes, they were strongly opposed to the use of such information for summative purposes. The study, therefore, recommends that student evaluations of teaching must always be triangulated with other multidimensional evaluation methods so as to increase validity and reliability in the evaluation of teaching effectiveness in higher education. © Kamla-Raj 2011. | Formative; Lecture; Summative; Teaching | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-78650598058 | Development Impact of Advocacy Initiatives in Solid Waste Management in Nigeria | Nzeadibe T.C., Ajaero C.K. | 2011 | Environment, Development and Sustainability | 13 | 1 | 10.1007/s10668-010-9254-8 | Waste Management and Recycling Research Unit, Department of Geography, University of Nigeria, 410001 Nsukka, Nigeria; Department of Geography, University of Nigeria, 410001 Nsukka, Nigeria | Nzeadibe, T.C., Waste Management and Recycling Research Unit, Department of Geography, University of Nigeria, 410001 Nsukka, Nigeria; Ajaero, C.K., Department of Geography, University of Nigeria, 410001 Nsukka, Nigeria | Solid waste management (SWM) in many low- and middle-income countries is sometimes driven by the informal sector. Unfortunately, contributions of the sector to SWM are not acknowledged in many developing countries. This situation often arises from inadequate awareness and lack of advocacy for these development contributions. This article reports on the impact of a study conducted by final-year geography undergraduates on the informal waste management sector in Nsukka urban area, Nigeria. The purposes of this exercise were to stimulate development intervention on behalf of the sector to improve perceptions, attitudes and performance, to impart a range of development research skills and to expose the students to the business opportunities provided by SWM and recycling. Informal waste sector workers and government officials responsible for SWM were interviewed, and some commercial data on recycling operations were collected. Findings of this study indicate that such advocacy initiatives were effective in increasing students' awareness of opportunities and interest in working in the informal waste sector to promote better SWM and development in Nigeria. Lessons from this university case study are also drawn for other developing countries struggling to achieve the poverty reduction and job creation Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). © 2010 Springer Science+Business Media B.V. | Advocacy; Capacity development; Entrepreneurship; Informal waste sector; Millennium development goals; Nigeria; Solid waste management; University | advocacy; developing world; perception; performance assessment; solid waste; state role; urban area; waste management; Enugu [Nigeria]; Nigeria; Nsukka | None |
| WoS | WOS:000282333200023 | Interim report: Review of evidence of the health impact of famine in Ethiopia | Mariam, D. Haile,Murray, V.,Taye, A. | 2010 | PERSPECTIVES IN PUBLIC HEALTH | 130 | 5 | 10.1177/1757913910379197 | Addis Ababa University, Hlth Protect Agcy | "Mariam, D. Haile: Addis Ababa University", | Historical accounts of famines in Ethiopia go as far back as the 9th century, however, evidence on its impact on health only started to emerge from the 15th century onwards. Unfortunately, famine has been endemic in Ethiopia in the last few decades. The 1973 famine is reported to have claimed over 300,000 lives. In 1985 approximately 10 million people were reported to be starving, with approximately 300,000 already dead and about 1,000 dying daily. In the following years, droughts leading to food shortage have had local and national adverse health effects, in particular in 1999/2000. This paper describes the initial findings of a literature review of evidence on the health impact of droughts leading to famine in Ethiopia and highlights gaps in knowledge. The key finding, thus far, is the marked paucity of health impact data. This review also highlights the fact that adverse health impacts of famines are probably complex and long lasting. Interpretation of any health impact data is difficult as there are few baseline data to compare. Health effects also impact livelihoods. Livelihood disruption following famine does not just affect one generation but also subsequent generations. Surveillance systems are needed so that records of the health impacts of a drought that leads to famine can inform action. With climate change bringing increased likelihood of drought and famine in some parts of the world, the findings of this review could be beneficial not just for Ethiopia but also elsewhere. | DROUGHT,ETHIOPIA,FAMINE,"health impacts",SURVEILLANCE,CRISIS,DROUGHT,MORTALITY,NUTRITION,PROVINCE,SUDAN | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79958254797 | Evaluation of strategies for the control of canola and lupin seedling diseases caused by Rhizoctonia anastomosis groups | Lamprecht S.C., Tewoldemedhin Y.T., Calitz F.J., Mazzola M. | 2011 | European Journal of Plant Pathology | 130 | 3 | 10.1007/s10658-011-9764-8 | Agricultural Research Council-Plant Protection Research Institute, Private Bag X5017, Stellenbosch 7599, South Africa; Agricultural Research Council-Biometry Unit, PO Box 8783, Pretoria 0001, South Africa; United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, Tree Fruit Research Laboratory, Wenatchee, WA 98801, United States | Lamprecht, S.C., Agricultural Research Council-Plant Protection Research Institute, Private Bag X5017, Stellenbosch 7599, South Africa; Tewoldemedhin, Y.T., Agricultural Research Council-Plant Protection Research Institute, Private Bag X5017, Stellenbosch 7599, South Africa; Calitz, F.J., Agricultural Research Council-Biometry Unit, PO Box 8783, Pretoria 0001, South Africa; Mazzola, M., United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, Tree Fruit Research Laboratory, Wenatchee, WA 98801, United States | Several methods with potential for the management of Rhizoctonia diseases of canola and lupin including plant resistance, fungicide seed treatment and biological control using binucleate Rhizoctonia anastomosis groups (AGs) were evaluated under glasshouse conditions. Screening included the examination of resistance of eight canola and eight lupin cultivars/selections to damping-off and hypocotyl/root rot caused by the multinucleate Rhizoctonia solani AG-2-1, 2-2, 4 and 11. All canola cultivars were highly susceptible to AG-2-1, but Rocket, Spectrum and 44C11 were more resistant than the other cultivars. Spectrum and 44C73 were also more resistant to AG-4 than the other canola cultivars. On lupin, R. solani AG-2-2 and 4 were most virulent, and the cultivar Cedara 6150 and selection E16 were most resistant to AG-2-2; Cedara 6150, E16, Mandelup and Quilinock were more resistant to AG-4 than the other cultivars/selections. The Lupinus luteus selections, E80.1.1.2 and E82. 1. 1 were most susceptible to AG-2-2, 4 and 11. Seed treatment with the fungicides Cruiser OSR (a.i. difenconazole, fludioxonil, metalaxyl-M, thiamethoxam) and SA-combination (a. i. iprodione, metalaxyl, thiram) significantly increased survival of canola and lupin seedlings, decreased hypocotyl/root rot and improved the percentage of healthy seedlings, with the SA-combination being significantly more effective than Cruiser OSR. Application of the binucleate Rhizoctonia AGs (A, Bo, K and I) significantly increased the survival of lupin seedlings inoculated with R. solani AG-2-2 and 4, and AG-I and K significantly improved survival of canola in the presence of AG-4. This is the first report of the potential of binucleate AGs to protect canola and lupin seedlings against infection by multinucleate AGs. © 2011 KNPV. | Binucleate; Multinucleate; Protective effect; Resistance; Seed treatment | biological control; canola; cultivar; disease control; disease resistance; fungal disease; fungicide; infectious disease; legume; pesticide application; survival; Brassica napus; Brassica napus var. napus; Hyphomycetes; Lupinus luteus; Rhizoctonia; Thanatephorus cucumeris | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84941175383 | Nutrient intake, digestibility and growth performance of Washera lambs supplemented with graded levels of sweet blue lupin (Lupinus angustifolius L.) seed | Ephrem N., Tegegne F., Mekuriaw Y., Yeheyis L. | 2015 | Small Ruminant Research | 130 | None | 10.1016/j.smallrumres.2015.07.019 | Department of Animal Production and Technology, Bahir Dar University, P.O. Box 79, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia; Arid Land Research Centre, Tottori University, 1390 Hamasaka, Tottori, Japan; Amhara Region Agricultural Research Institute, P.O. Box 527, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia | Ephrem, N., Department of Animal Production and Technology, Bahir Dar University, P.O. Box 79, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia; Tegegne, F., Department of Animal Production and Technology, Bahir Dar University, P.O. Box 79, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia, Arid Land Research Centre, Tottori University, 1390 Hamasaka, Tottori, Japan; Mekuriaw, Y., Department of Animal Production and Technology, Bahir Dar University, P.O. Box 79, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia; Yeheyis, L., Amhara Region Agricultural Research Institute, P.O. Box 527, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia | The experiment was conducted to evaluate nutrient intake, digestibility and growth performance of Washera lambs fed natural pasture hay-based diet supplemented with graded levels of sweet blue lupin (Lupinus angustifolius L.) seed. Twenty male intact Washera lambs with average age of four months and initial body weight of 16.9±0.32kg (mean±SD) were used in 90 days feeding trial followed by 10 days digestibility trial. The design of the experiment was randomized complete block design (RCBD) with five replications. The four supplement feeds were;150g wheat bran (WB) (control-T<inf>1</inf>), 150g WB+195g sweet lupin seed (SLS) (T<inf>2</inf>), 150g WB+245g SLS (T<inf>3</inf>) and 150g WB and 295g SLS (T<inf>4</inf>). Natural pasture hay was offered ad libitum. Digestibility trial was conducted at the end of the growth trial. Data were analyzed using the General Linear Model (GLM) procedures of SAS (version 9.2). Means were separated using Duncan's Multiple Range test. Correlation between nutrient intake, digestibility of nutrients and weight gain were analyzed using Pearson correlation procedure. Results showed that supplementation of SLS significantly increased total dry matter, crude protein and organic matter intakes. Supplementation of SLS improved the digestibility of dry matter and organic matter (P<0.05) and crude protein (P<0.001). However, the digestibility of NDF and ADF were not affected by supplementation (P 0.05). Average daily gain (ADG) was higher (P<0.001) for the SLS supplemented groups (61.8-89.1g/day). It was concluded that sweet blue lupin seed could serve as alternative CP supplement in natural pasture hay-based feeding of Washera sheep. Based on the biological performance of the experimental lambs (ADG and FCE values), T<inf>3</inf> could be recommended for practical feeding of lambs if optimum performance is targeted. © 2015 Elsevier B.V.. | Digestibility; Dryland; Ethiopia; Grass hay; Nutrient intake; Sweet blue lupin; Washera sheep; Weight change | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84881543915 | The influence of solvent properties on the performance of polysulfone/β-cyclodextrin polyurethane mixed-matrix membranes | Adams F.V., Nxumalo E.N., Krause R.W.M., Hoek E.M.V., Mamba B.B. | 2013 | Journal of Applied Polymer Science | 130 | 3 | 10.1002/app.39378 | Department of Applied Chemistry, University of Johannesburg, Doornfontein 2028, South Africa; Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, California NanoSystems Institute, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1593, United States | Adams, F.V., Department of Applied Chemistry, University of Johannesburg, Doornfontein 2028, South Africa; Nxumalo, E.N., Department of Applied Chemistry, University of Johannesburg, Doornfontein 2028, South Africa; Krause, R.W.M., Department of Applied Chemistry, University of Johannesburg, Doornfontein 2028, South Africa; Hoek, E.M.V., Department of Applied Chemistry, University of Johannesburg, Doornfontein 2028, South Africa, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, California NanoSystems Institute, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1593, United States; Mamba, B.B., Department of Applied Chemistry, University of Johannesburg, Doornfontein 2028, South Africa | This study investigates the effect of solvent properties on the structural morphology and permeation properties of polysulfone/β-cyclodextrin polyurethane (PSf/β-CDPU) mixed-matrix membranes (MMMs). The membranes were prepared by a modified phase-inversion route using four different casting solvents [dimethyl formamide (DMF), dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), dimethyl acetamide (DMA), and N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP)]. While DMSO-based membranes demonstrated particularly high permeability (ca 147 L/m2h.bar), their crystallinity was low compared to MMMs prepared using DMA, DMF and NMP due to the formation of thin active layers on their surfaces. Cross-sectional morphology revealed that the MMMs have a dense top skin with finger-like inner pore structures. Membranes prepared using NMP displayed the highest hydrophilicity, porosity, and crystallinity due to the low volatility of NMP; DMF membranes exhibited superior mechanical and thermal stability due to its (DMF) high hydrogen bonding (δH) values. Thus, the morphological parameters, bulk porosity, and flux performance of MMMs have a significant inter-relationship with the solubility properties of each solvent (i.e., δH, density, volatility, solubility parameter). © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. | blends; membranes; morphology; polyurethanes; properties and characterization | Cross-sectional morphology; Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO); Mixed-matrix membranes; Morphological parameters; N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone; Permeation properties; Solubility parameters; Structural morphology; Blending; Cyclodextrins; Dimethyl sulfoxide; Hydrogen bonds; Morphology; Organic solvents; Polyurethanes; Porosity; Solubility; Solvents; Membranes | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-53949114420 | Performance trends of an air-cooled steam condenser under windy conditions | van Rooyen J.A., Kröger D.G. | 2008 | Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power | 130 | 2 | 10.1115/1.2771567 | Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa | van Rooyen, J.A., Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa; Kröger, D.G., Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa | Air-cooled steam condensers (ACSCs) are increasingly employed to reject heat in modern power plants. Unfortunately, these cooling systems become less effective under windy conditions and when ambient temperatures are high. A better understanding of the fundamental air flow patterns about and through such ACSCs is essential if their performance is to be improved under these conditions. The present numerical study models the air flow field about and through a particular ACSC. The performance of the fans is modeled with the aid of a novel numerical approach known as the "actuator disc model." Distorted air flow patterns that significantly reduce fan performance in certain areas and recirculatory flows that entrain hot plume air are found to be the reasons for poor ACSC performance. It is found that the reduction in fan performance is the main reason for the poor ACSC performance while recirculation of hot plume air only reduces performance by a small amount. Copyright © 2008 by ASME. | Air-cooled steam condensers; Distorted air flow; Performance; Recirculation; Windy conditions | Air; Condensers (liquefiers); Cooling; Cooling systems; Electric power plants; Flow patterns; Numerical analysis; Power plants; Steam power plants; Air-cooled steam condensers; Distorted air flow; Performance; Recirculation; Windy conditions; Steam condensers | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84920555129 | Heat budget in the North Atlantic subpolar gyre: Impacts of atmospheric weather regimes on the 1995 warming event | Barrier N., Deshayes J., Treguier A.-M., Cassou C. | 2015 | Progress in Oceanography | 130 | None | 10.1016/j.pocean.2014.10.001 | Laboratoire de Physique des Oceans, UMR 6523, CNRS/IFREMER/IRD/UBO, Brest, France; ICEMASA, Department of Oceanography, University of Cape Town, South Africa; CNRS-CERFACS, Toulouse, France | Barrier, N., Laboratoire de Physique des Oceans, UMR 6523, CNRS/IFREMER/IRD/UBO, Brest, France; Deshayes, J., Laboratoire de Physique des Oceans, UMR 6523, CNRS/IFREMER/IRD/UBO, Brest, France, ICEMASA, Department of Oceanography, University of Cape Town, South Africa; Treguier, A.-M., Laboratoire de Physique des Oceans, UMR 6523, CNRS/IFREMER/IRD/UBO, Brest, France; Cassou, C., CNRS-CERFACS, Toulouse, France | In the mid 1990s, the North Atlantic subpolar gyre has shown a dramatic warming event that has been thoroughly investigated from observations and numerical simulations. Some studies suggest that it was due to an interannual, wind-driven weakening and shrinking of the gyre that facilitated the penetration of warm Atlantic Water, the weakening of the gyre being attributed to changes in the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and in the East Atlantic Pattern, which are the two dominant modes of atmospheric variability in the North Atlantic. However, other studies suggest that the warming event was due to a decadal, buoyancy-driven strengthening of the meridional overturning circulation and subsequent intensification of the poleward heat transport, in response to the positive NAO conditions of 1988-1995. To reconcile this discrepancy, the heat budget in the North Atlantic subpolar gyre is reconstructed from four ocean hindcast simulations sharing the same modelling platform but using different settings. The novelty of this work is the decomposition of the subpolar gyre into a western and an eastern subregion, which is motivated by water mass distribution around Reykjanes Ridge and by the fact that deep convection only occurs in the western subpolar gyre.In the western subpolar gyre, the 1995 warming event is the decadal, baroclinic ocean response to positive NAO conditions from 1988 to 1995. The latter induced increased surface heat loss in the Labrador Sea that intensified deep convection hence strengthened the meridional overturning circulation and the associated poleward heat transport. In the eastern subregion, a concomittant warming is induced by an interannual, barotropic adjustment of the gyre circulation to an abrupt switch from positive NAO conditions in winter 1995 to negative NAO conditions in winter 1996. Indeed, the gyre response to negative NAO conditions is a cyclonic intergyre-gyre that increases northward volume and heat transports at the southeastern limit of the subpolar gyre. Therefore, the discrepancies found in the literature about the 1995 warming event of the North Atlantic subpolar gyre are reconciled in the present work, which suggests that the atmospheric drivers, the mechanisms at stake and the associated timescales are different to the east and to the west of Reykjanes Ridge. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. | None | Heat budget; North Atlantic; Subpolar gyres; Weather regimes; climate change; extreme event; gyre; heat budget; hindcasting; North Atlantic Oscillation; numerical model; warming; water mass; wind-driven circulation; Atlantic Ocean; Reykjanes Ridge | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84931572586 | Laboratory evaluation of three dual rapid diagnostic tests for HIV and syphilis in China and Nigeria | Yin Y.-P., Ngige E., Anyaike C., Ijaodola G., Oyelade T.A., Vaz R.G., Newman L.M., Chen X.-S. | 2015 | International Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics | 130 | S1 | 10.1016/j.ijgo.2015.04.004 | National Center for STD Control, Institute of Dermatology, Peking Union Medical College, 12 Jiangwangmiao Street, Nanjing, China; National AIDS and STIs Control Program, Federal Ministry of Health, Abuja, Nigeria; World Health Organization, Abuja, Nigeria | Yin, Y.-P., National Center for STD Control, Institute of Dermatology, Peking Union Medical College, 12 Jiangwangmiao Street, Nanjing, China; Ngige, E., National AIDS and STIs Control Program, Federal Ministry of Health, Abuja, Nigeria; Anyaike, C., National AIDS and STIs Control Program, Federal Ministry of Health, Abuja, Nigeria; Ijaodola, G., National AIDS and STIs Control Program, Federal Ministry of Health, Abuja, Nigeria; Oyelade, T.A., World Health Organization, Abuja, Nigeria; Vaz, R.G., World Health Organization, Abuja, Nigeria; Newman, L.M., World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland; Chen, X.-S., National Center for STD Control, Institute of Dermatology, Peking Union Medical College, 12 Jiangwangmiao Street, Nanjing, China | Abstract Objective To determine the laboratory-based performance and operational characteristics of three dual rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) for testing HIV and syphilis. Methods Three dual RDTs (SD Bioline, Chembio, and MedMira) were evaluated using 1514 serum specimens archived at laboratories or collected from clinics in China and Nigeria to determine sensitivity and specificity, with 95% confidence intervals. Concordance of testing results read by two technicians, stability of testing results read at two time points, and test operation characteristics were also assessed. Results All three of the evaluated RDTs gave excellent performance with a combined sensitivity ranging from 99.0%-99.6% for HIV and 98.3%-99.0% for syphilis, and a combined specificity ranging from 97.9%-99.0% for HIV and 97.2%-99.6% for syphilis. Concordance of testing results between two technicians and stability of testing results read within and one hour past the recommended reading period showed excellent agreement, with Kappa greater than or equal to 0.98. Conclusions All the tests were found to be very or fairly easy to use and easy to interpret the results. Further evaluations of these dual RDTs with whole blood in field settings, and more studies on the implication of introduction of these tests in HIV and syphilis control programs are needed. © 2015 Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd. | HIV; Rapid tests; Sensitivity; Specificity; Syphilis | Human immunodeficiency virus antibody; Article; China; diagnostic test accuracy study; evaluation study; HIV rapid test; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; intermethod comparison; laboratory; Nigeria; performance; priority journal; sensitivity and specificity; syphilis; syphilis rapid test | World Health Organization; UNFPA, World Health Organization; WHO, World Health Organization |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-67649948771 | DNA repair and DNA triplet repeat expansion: The impact of abasic lesions on triplet repeat DNA energetics | Völker J., Plum G.E., Klump H.H., Breslauer K.J. | 2009 | Journal of the American Chemical Society | 131 | 26 | 10.1021/ja902161e | Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, 610 Taylor Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854, United States; IBET Inc., 1507 Chambers Road, Columbus, OH 43212, United States; Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Cape Town, Private Bag, Rondebosch 7800, South Africa; Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, United States | Völker, J., Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, 610 Taylor Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854, United States; Plum, G.E., Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, 610 Taylor Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854, United States, IBET Inc., 1507 Chambers Road, Columbus, OH 43212, United States; Klump, H.H., Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Cape Town, Private Bag, Rondebosch 7800, South Africa; Breslauer, K.J., Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, 610 Taylor Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854, United States, Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, United States | Enhanced levels of DNA triplet expansion are observed when base excision repair (BER) of oxidative DNA base damage (e.g., 8-oxo-dG) occurs at or near CAG repeat sequences. This observation suggests an interplay between processing mechanisms required for DNA repair and expansion pathways that yield genotypes associated with many neurological/developmental disorders. It has been proposed that DNA expansion involves the transient formation within the triplet repeat domains of non-native slipped DNA structures that are incorrectly processed by the BER machinery of repair during DNA synthesis. We show here that replacement within a triplet repeat bulge loop domain of a guanosine residue by an abasic site, the universal BER intermediate, increases the population of slipped/looped DNA structures relative to the corresponding lesion-free construct. Such abasic lesion-induced energetic enhancement of slipped/ looped structures provides a linkage between BER and DNA expansion. We discuss how the BER machinery of repair may be influenced by abasic-induced energetic alterations in the properties of regions proximal to and/or within triplet repeat domains, thereby potentially modulating levels of DNA expansion. © 2009 American Chemical Society. | None | Base excision repairs; DNA repair; DNA structure; DNA synthesis; Guanosine; Looped structures; Non-native; Transient formation; DNA; Expansion; Genes; Machinery; Nucleic acids; Repair; Synthesis (chemical); DNA sequences; DNA base; guanosine; repetitive DNA; tetrahydrofuran; article; DNA damage; DNA repair; DNA structure; DNA synthesis; energy transfer; excision repair; molecular dynamics; DNA; DNA Repair; Guanosine; Hot Temperature; Nucleic Acid Conformation; Nucleic Acid Denaturation; Thermodynamics; Trinucleotide Repeat Expansion | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84888353954 | Investigation of the crystalline phase morphology of a β-nucleated impact polypropylene copolymer | Motsoeneng T.S., Luyt A.S., Van Reenen A.J. | 2014 | Journal of Applied Polymer Science | 131 | 4 | 10.1002/app.39923 | Department of Chemistry, University of the Free State (Qwaqwa Campus), Phuthaditjhaba, South Africa; Department of Chemistry and Polymer Science, University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, South Africa | Motsoeneng, T.S., Department of Chemistry, University of the Free State (Qwaqwa Campus), Phuthaditjhaba, South Africa; Luyt, A.S., Department of Chemistry, University of the Free State (Qwaqwa Campus), Phuthaditjhaba, South Africa; Van Reenen, A.J., Department of Chemistry and Polymer Science, University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, South Africa | This study covers the preparation and the characterization of β-nucleated impact polypropylene copolymer (NA-IPC). Calcium stearate (CaSt), as well as pimelic (Pim) and adipic (Adi) acids, were doped into IPC as mono- or bicomponent nucleating agents (NAs) at varying mass ratios. Possible chemical interactions between the NAs and with IPC, as well as the effect of the NAs on the crystallization behavior and nonisothermal crystallization kinetics, were investigated. DSC and XRD results revealed that IPC nucleated with Pim and Pim-CaSt nucleants induced up to 90% β-crystals, whereas Adi and Adi-CaSt formed only about 17% β-crystals. This was associated with the strong nucleation efficiency of Pim. The nonisothermal crystallization kinetics showed that the crystallization of IPC and NA-IPC followed a three-dimensional growth with athermal nucleation mechanism. FTIR showed that none of the NAs chemically reacted with IPC, and the chemical structure of the polymer was thus intact during the treatment. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. | copolymers; crystallization; differential scanning calorimetry (DSC); kinetics; X-ray | Chemical interactions; Crystallization behavior; Impact polypropylene copolymer; Nonisothermal crystallization kinetics; Nucleation efficiency; Nucleation mechanism; Structure of the polymers; Three-dimensional growth; Copolymers; Crystallization; Differential scanning calorimetry; Enzyme kinetics; Isotherms; Kinetics; Nucleation; X rays; Polypropylenes | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84862024119 | Combining ability, genetic diversity and heterosis in relation to F 1 performance of tropically adapted shrunken (sh2) sweet corn lines | Solomon K.F., Zeppa A., Mulugeta S.D. | 2012 | Plant Breeding | 131 | 3 | 10.1111/j.1439-0523.2012.01965.x | Department of Employment Economic Development and Innovation (DEEDI), Hermitage Research Facility, Warwick, Qld 4370, Australia; Department of Animal Science, North West University, Private Bag X2046, Mafikeng, South Africa | Solomon, K.F., Department of Employment Economic Development and Innovation (DEEDI), Hermitage Research Facility, Warwick, Qld 4370, Australia; Zeppa, A., Department of Employment Economic Development and Innovation (DEEDI), Hermitage Research Facility, Warwick, Qld 4370, Australia; Mulugeta, S.D., Department of Animal Science, North West University, Private Bag X2046, Mafikeng, South Africa | The objectives of this study were to evaluate the importance of heterosis for agronomic and quality traits in shrunken (sh2) sweet corn, assess the usefulness of combining ability to predict the value of parents and their crosses for further genetic improvement and examine whether genetic divergence can predict heterosis or F 1 performance. Ten genetically diverse shrunken (sh2) sweet corn inbred lines were used to generate 45 F 1s. F 1s and parents were evaluated for agronomic and quality traits across environments. Heterosis was more important for yield-related traits than it was for ear aspects and eating quality. Heterosis for most traits was mostly dependent on dominance genetic effects of parental lines. Parents and F 1per se performance were highly correlated with general combining ability effects and mid-parent values, respectively, for most traits. Hybrid performance for flavour and plant height was significantly but weakly related to simple sequence repeat (SSR)-based genetic distance (GD). Phenotypic distance (PD), estimated from phenotypic traits was correlated with heterosis for total soluble solids, ear length and flavour. © 2012 State of Queensland. | Combining ability; Heterosis; Simple sequence repeats; Sweet corn | Zea mays | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84873840441 | Evaluation of MODIS gross primary productivity for Africa using eddy covariance data | Sjöström M., Zhao M., Archibald S., Arneth A., Cappelaere B., Falk U., de Grandcourt A., Hanan N., Kergoat L., Kutsch W., Merbold L., Mougin E., Nickless A., Nouvellon Y., Scholes R.J., Veenendaal E.M., Ardö J. | 2013 | Remote Sensing of Environment | 131 | None | 10.1016/j.rse.2012.12.023 | Department of Physical Geography and Ecosystem Science, Lund University, Sölvegatan 12, 22362, Lund, Sweden; Department of Geographical Sciences, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20740, United States; CSIR Natural Resources and Environment, P.O. Box 395, Pretoria 0001, South Africa; Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research/Atmospheric Environmental Research, 82467, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany; IRD, HydroSciences, BP 64501, 34394 Montpellier Cedex 5, France; Center for Remote Sensing of Land Surfaces, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany; CIRAD, UMR 111, Ecologie Fonctionnelle and Biogéochimie des Sols and Agro-écosystèmes, F-34060 Montpellier, France; CRDPI, BP 1291, Pointe-Noire, Congo; Geographic Information Science Center of Excellence (GIScCE), South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD 57007, United States; GET, University of Toulouse 3, CNRS, IRD, UMR 5563, F-31400 Toulouse, France; Thünen Institue for Climate-Smart Agriculture, Bundesalle 50, 38116 Braunschweig, Germany; ETH Zurich, Department of Environmental Systems Science, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Universitätsstrasse 2, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland; USP, Universidade de São Paulo, ESALQ, Departamento de Ciências Atmosféricas, IAG, CEP 05508-900 São Paulo, Brazil; Nature Conservation and Plant Ecology Group, Wageningen University, Droevendaalsesteeg 3a, 6700 AA Wageningen, Netherlands | Sjöström, M., Department of Physical Geography and Ecosystem Science, Lund University, Sölvegatan 12, 22362, Lund, Sweden; Zhao, M., Department of Geographical Sciences, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20740, United States; Archibald, S., CSIR Natural Resources and Environment, P.O. Box 395, Pretoria 0001, South Africa; Arneth, A., Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research/Atmospheric Environmental Research, 82467, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany; Cappelaere, B., IRD, HydroSciences, BP 64501, 34394 Montpellier Cedex 5, France; Falk, U., Center for Remote Sensing of Land Surfaces, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany; de Grandcourt, A., CIRAD, UMR 111, Ecologie Fonctionnelle and Biogéochimie des Sols and Agro-écosystèmes, F-34060 Montpellier, France, CRDPI, BP 1291, Pointe-Noire, Congo; Hanan, N., Geographic Information Science Center of Excellence (GIScCE), South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD 57007, United States; Kergoat, L., GET, University of Toulouse 3, CNRS, IRD, UMR 5563, F-31400 Toulouse, France; Kutsch, W., Thünen Institue for Climate-Smart Agriculture, Bundesalle 50, 38116 Braunschweig, Germany; Merbold, L., ETH Zurich, Department of Environmental Systems Science, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Universitätsstrasse 2, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland; Mougin, E., GET, University of Toulouse 3, CNRS, IRD, UMR 5563, F-31400 Toulouse, France; Nickless, A., CSIR Natural Resources and Environment, P.O. Box 395, Pretoria 0001, South Africa; Nouvellon, Y., CIRAD, UMR 111, Ecologie Fonctionnelle and Biogéochimie des Sols and Agro-écosystèmes, F-34060 Montpellier, France, CRDPI, BP 1291, Pointe-Noire, Congo, USP, Universidade de São Paulo, ESALQ, Departamento de Ciências Atmosféricas, IAG, CEP 05508-900 São Paulo, Brazil; Scholes, R.J., CSIR Natural Resources and Environment, P.O. Box 395, Pretoria 0001, South Africa; Veenendaal, E.M., Nature Conservation and Plant Ecology Group, Wageningen University, Droevendaalsesteeg 3a, 6700 AA Wageningen, Netherlands; Ardö, J., Department of Physical Geography and Ecosystem Science, Lund University, Sölvegatan 12, 22362, Lund, Sweden | MOD17A2 provides operational gross primary production (GPP) data globally at 1km spatial resolution and 8-day temporal resolution. MOD17A2 estimates GPP according to the light use efficiency (LUE) concept assuming a fixed maximum rate of carbon assimilation per unit photosynthetically active radiation absorbed by the vegetation (εmax). Minimum temperature and vapor pressure deficit derived from meteorological data down-regulate εmax and constrain carbon assimilation. This data is useful for regional to global studies of the terrestrial carbon budget, climate change and natural resources. In this study we evaluated the MOD17A2 product and its driver data by using in situ measurements of meteorology and eddy covariance GPP for 12 African sites. MOD17A2 agreed well with eddy covariance GPP for wet sites. Overall, seasonality was well captured but MOD17A2 GPP was underestimated for the dry sites located in the Sahel region. Replacing the meteorological driver data derived from coarse resolution reanalysis data with tower measurements reduced MOD17A2 GPP uncertainties, however, the underestimations at the dry sites persisted. Inferred εmax calculated from tower data was higher than the εmax prescribed in MOD17A2. This, in addition to uncertainties in fraction of absorbed photosynthetically active radiation (FAPAR) explains some of the underestimations. The results suggest that improved quality of driver data, but primarily a readjustment of the parameters in the biome parameter look-up table (BPLUT) may be needed to better estimate GPP for African ecosystems in MOD17A2. © 2012 Elsevier Inc. | Africa; AMMA; CarboAfrica; Gross primary production (GPP); MOD17A2; Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS); Remote sensing | Africa; AMMA; CarboAfrica; Gross primary production; MOD17A2; Moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer; Carbon; Climate change; Meteorology; Plants (botany); Radiometers; Remote sensing; Satellite imagery; Table lookup; Uncertainty analysis; carbon budget; climate change; eddy covariance; in situ measurement; light use efficiency; meteorology; MODIS; natural resource; net primary production; photosynthetically active radiation; seasonality; spatial resolution; vapor pressure; vegetation cover; Sahel [Sub-Saharan Africa] | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84896400985 | Performance of novel hyperbranched poly(aryl-ether-urea)s doped with N3-dye in nanocrystalline DSSC | Sathiyaraj S., Vanjinathan M., Shanavas A., Amudha S., Suthanthiraraj S.A., Nasar A.S. | 2014 | Journal of Applied Polymer Science | 131 | 12 | 10.1002/app.40408 | Department of Polymer Science, University of Madras, Guindy Campus, Tamil Nadu, Chennai 25, India; PG and Research Department of Chemistry, D. G. Vaishnav College Tamil Nadu, Chennai 106, India; Chemical, Metallurgical and Material Engineering, Polymer Technology Division, Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, South Africa; Department of Energy, University of Madras, Guindy Campus, Tamil Nadu, Chennai 25, India | Sathiyaraj, S., Department of Polymer Science, University of Madras, Guindy Campus, Tamil Nadu, Chennai 25, India; Vanjinathan, M., PG and Research Department of Chemistry, D. G. Vaishnav College Tamil Nadu, Chennai 106, India; Shanavas, A., Chemical, Metallurgical and Material Engineering, Polymer Technology Division, Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, South Africa; Amudha, S., Department of Energy, University of Madras, Guindy Campus, Tamil Nadu, Chennai 25, India; Suthanthiraraj, S.A., Department of Energy, University of Madras, Guindy Campus, Tamil Nadu, Chennai 25, India; Nasar, A.S., Department of Polymer Science, University of Madras, Guindy Campus, Tamil Nadu, Chennai 25, India | An amine-terminated hyperbranched poly(aryl-ether-urea) (HBPEU) was prepared from an AB2-type blocked isocyanate monomer and then its end groups were modified into urea (M-HBPEU) by reaction with phenyl isocyanate. Both of the polymers were doped with N3-dye along with KI/I2 to work as efficient polymer electrolytes in nanocrystalline dye sensitized solar cell. The increment in the conductivity of doped HBPEU and doped M-HBPEU was very significant and reached its value at 8.2 × 10-3 and 4.1 × 10-2 S/cm, respectively. The current-voltage (I-V) characteristics of these two doped polymers measured under simulated sunlight with AM 1.5 at 60 mW/cm2 generate photocurrent of 2.5 and 3.6 mA/cm2, together with a photo voltage of 690 and 750 mV, and fill factor of 0.55 and 0.61 yielding a overall energy conversion efficiency of 2.4% and 4.1%, respectively. These results suggest that M-HBPEU show better cell performance and conductance properties than the HBPEU. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. | blocked isocyanate monomer; dye sensitized solar cell (DSSC); hyperbranched poly (aryl-ether-urea); ion conducting polymer; photovoltaic applications; polymer electrolyte | Conducting polymers; Energy conversion; Ethers; Monomers; Polyelectrolytes; Solar cells; Urea; Blocked isocyanates; Dye-sensitized solar cells; Hyperbranched; Ion-conducting polymers; Photovoltaic applications; Polymer electrolyte; Metabolism | None |
| None | None | Evaluation of Serangium n. sp. (Col., Coccinellidae), a predator of Bemisia tabaci (Hom., Aleyrodidae) on cassava | Asiimwe P., Ecaat J.S., Guershon M., Kyamanywa S., Gerling D., Legg J.P. | 2007 | Journal of Applied Entomology | 131 | 2 | 10.1111/j.1439-0418.2006.01122.x | International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Kampala, Uganda; Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda; Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, Israel; International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich, Chatham Maritime, Kent, United Kingdom; International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, PO Box 7878, Kampala, Uganda | Asiimwe, P., International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Kampala, Uganda, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, PO Box 7878, Kampala, Uganda; Ecaat, J.S., International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Kampala, Uganda; Guershon, M., Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, Israel; Kyamanywa, S., Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda; Gerling, D., Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, Israel; Legg, J.P., International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich, Chatham Maritime, Kent, United Kingdom | The potential of a new, previously unidentified Serangium species (Col., Coccinellidae) to control the high Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hom., Aleyrodidae) populations on cassava was evaluated. Field and laboratory studies were carried out to determine the abundance and feeding capacity of this Serangium species feeding on B. tabaci on cassava. Serangium nymphs and adults were most abundant in cassava fields late in the season, rising sharply from 5 months after planting (MAP) to a peak at 7-8 MAP. Pre-imaginal development averaged 21.2 days and was longest in eggs and shortest in the L1 instar. Mean total prey consumption of immature Serangium increased with the stage of development with the lowest consumption in the L1 instar and highest in the L4 instar. Mean daily consumption was lowest on the first day after hatching in the L1 instar and rose to a peak on the 13th day after hatching in the L4 instar. Each Serangium larva consumed a mean of over 1000 nymphs during its entire development. These results have demonstrated the potential of this Serangium species to control B. tabaci populations on cassava. © 2007 The Authors Journal compilation 2007 Blackwell Verlag. | Biological control; Pre-imaginal development; Prey abundance; Prey consumption | abundance; beetle; biological control; cassava; crop damage; developmental biology; host plant; host-parasitoid interaction; pest species; potential biocontrol agent; whitefly; Aleyrodidae; Bemisia tabaci; Coccinellidae; Manihot esculenta; Serangium | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84911380768 | Breeding programs for smallholder sheep farming systems: I. Evaluation of alternative designs of breeding schemes | Gizaw S., Rischkowsky B., Valle-Zárate A., Haile A., van Arendonk J.A.M., Mwai A.O., Dessie T. | 2014 | Journal of Animal Breeding and Genetics | 131 | 5 | 10.1111/jbg.12101 | International Livestock Research Institute, ILRI, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; International Centre for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas, ICARDA, Aleppo, Syrian Arab Republic; Department of Animal Breeding and Husbandry in the Tropics and Subtropics, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany; Animal Breeding and Genomics Centre, Wageningen University, Wageningen, Netherlands; International Livestock Research Institute, ILRI, Nairobi, Kenya | Gizaw, S., International Livestock Research Institute, ILRI, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Rischkowsky, B., International Centre for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas, ICARDA, Aleppo, Syrian Arab Republic; Valle-Zárate, A., Department of Animal Breeding and Husbandry in the Tropics and Subtropics, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany; Haile, A., International Centre for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas, ICARDA, Aleppo, Syrian Arab Republic; van Arendonk, J.A.M., Animal Breeding and Genomics Centre, Wageningen University, Wageningen, Netherlands; Mwai, A.O., International Livestock Research Institute, ILRI, Nairobi, Kenya; Dessie, T., International Livestock Research Institute, ILRI, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | Village-and central nucleus-based schemes were simulated and evaluated for their relative bio-economic efficiencies, using Ethiopia's Menz sheep as example. The schemes were: village-based 2-tier (Scheme-1) and 1-tier (Scheme-2) cooperative village breeding schemes, dispersed village-based nuclei scheme (Scheme-3), conventional 2-tier central nucleus-based scheme (Scheme-4), and schemes linking a central nucleus and village multiplier nuclei with selection in central nucleus (Scheme-5) or in both central and village nuclei (Scheme-6). Among village-based schemes, Scheme-1 gave the highest genetic progress, while Scheme-2 was economically the most efficient with genetic gain in the breeding objective of Birr 5.6 and a profit of Birr 37.2/ewe/year. The central nucleus schemes were more efficient than the village schemes. Scheme-4 was the most efficient with genetic gain in the breeding objective of Birr 13.5 and a profit of Birr 71.2, but is operationally more difficult as it requires a very large central nucleus. The choice between village and central nucleus-based schemes would depend on local conditions (availability of infrastructure, logistics and technical knowhow and support). Linking central nucleus with village-based nuclei (Scheme-6) would be a feasible option to overcome the operational difficulties of the conventional central nucleus scheme. If a village-based breeding program is envisaged as should be the 1st step in most low-input systems, then Scheme-2 is the most efficient. To scale out to an entire Menz breed level, Scheme-3 would be recommended. © 2014 Blackwell Verlag GmbH. | Breeding programs; Nucleus breeding; Sheep; Smallholder system; Village breeding | Ovis aries; animal; animal husbandry; breeding; Ethiopia; evaluation study; genetics; procedures; sheep; Animal Husbandry; Animals; Breeding; Ethiopia; Sheep | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33644907191 | The impact of green cane production systems on manual and mechanical farming operations | Meyer E., Norris C.P., Jacquin E., Richard C., Scandaliaris J. | 2006 | Zuckerindustrie | 131 | 2 | None | South African Sugarcane Research Institute, Private Bag X02, Mount Edgecombe, 4300, South Africa; Booker Tate, PO Box 479, Atherton, QLD, Australia; Mauritius Sugar Industry Research Institute, Reduit, Mauritius; C Richard and Associates, 129S Cortez Street, New Orleans, 70119, United States; Estación Experimental Obispo Colombres, Casilla de Correo No 9, Las Talitas 4101, Tucumán, Argentina | Meyer, E., South African Sugarcane Research Institute, Private Bag X02, Mount Edgecombe, 4300, South Africa; Norris, C.P., Booker Tate, PO Box 479, Atherton, QLD, Australia; Jacquin, E., Mauritius Sugar Industry Research Institute, Reduit, Mauritius; Richard, C., C Richard and Associates, 129S Cortez Street, New Orleans, 70119, United States; Scandaliaris, J., Estación Experimental Obispo Colombres, Casilla de Correo No 9, Las Talitas 4101, Tucumán, Argentina | Many sugar industries around the globe have moved, or are in the process of moving, to green cane production systems. Some of these industries have done so because of pressure from local communities or because of government legislation regarding environmental pollution, while others have done so for a variety of agronomic and economic reasons. Nevertheless, it is estimated that at present more than 50% of all sugarcane around the world is still burnt prior to harvesting. Burning the cane is seen as an effective way of maintaining high manual cutter and mechanical harvester outputs and to deliver cleaner cane to the mills. However, there are many disadvantages associated with burning, which include atmospheric pollution, and soil and water losses. Cut to crush delays in burnt cane have been recognized as one of the main causes of increased dextran contents in sugar. Many factors need to be considered when moving to a green cane production system, with the main issues involving the changes required to adapt to different agronomic, mechanical and labor regimes. Factory performance and social and economic implications also need to be taken into account. This paper highlights many of the issues that affect the operational, economic and social considerations that need to be evaluated when changing from a burnt to green cane harvesting system. These issues include manual and mechanical harvesting efficiencies and performances, handling of sugarcane residues and machinery availability and suitability. Other areas such as cane quality, and loading and transport of sugarcane are also discussed. | Burnt cane; Economic implications; Green cane; Loading; Manual harvesting; Mechanical harvesting; Social implications; Transport | Saccharum hybrid cultivar | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-78149369037 | Evaluation of the phase composition, crystallinity, and trace isotope variation of SiC in experimental TRISO coated particles | de Villiers J.P.R., Roberts J., Ngoepe N., Tuling A.S. | 2009 | Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power | 131 | 6 | 10.1115/1.3098426 | University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa | de Villiers, J.P.R., University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa; Roberts, J., University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa; Ngoepe, N., University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa; Tuling, A.S., University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa | The SiC layers in experimental tristructural-isotropic (TRISO) coated particles with zirconia kernels were evaluated for their phase composition, impurity levels, crystal perfection, and twinning of the crystallites in the layers. This evaluation was necessary to compare the different SiC layers and relate these properties to various quality tests and ultimately to manufacturing parameters in the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) coater. Identification of the various polytypes was done using electron diffraction methods. This is the only method for the unequivocal identification of the different polytypes. The 3C and 6H polytypes were positively identified. The SiC in some samples is disordered. This is characterized by planar defects, of different widths and periodicities, giving rise to streaking in the diffraction pattern along the [111] direction of the 3C polytype. Polarized light microscopy in transmission easily distinguishes between the cubic (beta) and noncubic (alpha) SiC in the layers and provides valuable information about the distribution of these phases in the layers. Raman spectroscopy was used to examine the distribution of Si in the SiC layers of the different samples. Two samples contain elevated levels of Si(̃50%), with the highest levels on the inside of the layers. The elevated Si levels also occur in most of the other samples, albeit at lower Si levels. This was also confirmed by the use of scanning electron microscope (SEM) electron backscatter analysis. Rietveld analysis using X-ray diffraction is presently the only reliable method to quantify the polytypes in the SiC layer. It was found that the SiC layer consists predominantly (82-94%) of the 3C polytype, with minor amounts of the 6H and 8H polytypes. Impurities in the SiC and PyC could be measured with sufficient sensitivity using laser ablation inductively coupled mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). The SiC and PyC layers are easily located from the intensity of the C 13 and Si 29 signals. In most cases the absolute values are less important than the variation of impurities in the samples. Elevated levels of the transition elements Cu, Ni, Co, Cr, and Zn are present erratically in some samples. These elements, together with Ag 107 and Ag 109, correlate positively, indicating impurities, even metallic particles. Elevated levels of these transition elements are also present at the SiC/outer pyrolytic carbon (OPyC) interface. The reasons for this are unknown at this stage. NIST standards were used to calibrate the impurity levels in the coated particles. These average from 1 ppm to 18 ppm for some isotopes. © 2009 by ASME. | None | Absolute values; Coated particles; Crystal perfection; Crystallinities; Elevated level; Impurities in; Impurity level; Isotope variation; Laser ablation inductively coupled mass spectrometries; Manufacturing parameters; Metallic particles; Planar defect; Polarized light microscopy; Polytypes; Pyrolytic carbon; Quality test; Scanning electron microscopes; Transition element; Ablation; Chemical vapor deposition; Chromium; Crystal impurities; Diffraction; Electromagnetic induction; Isotopes; Light transmission; Mass spectrometry; Phase composition; Raman spectroscopy; Rietveld analysis; Rietveld method; Scanning electron microscopy; Silicon; Transition metals; Twinning; X ray diffraction; Zirconia; Silicon carbide | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84855200997 | Evaluation of Ethiopian sorghum accessions for resistance against Colletotrichum sublineolum | Chala A., Tronsmo A.M. | 2012 | European Journal of Plant Pathology | 132 | 2 | 10.1007/s10658-011-9861-8 | College of Agriculture, Hawassa University, P.O.Box 5, Hawassa, Ethiopia; Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, NO-1432 Ås, Norway; Plant Health and Plant Protection Division, Norwegian Institute for Agricultural and Environmental Research (Bioforsk), Høgskoleveien 7, 1432 Ås, Norway | Chala, A., College of Agriculture, Hawassa University, P.O.Box 5, Hawassa, Ethiopia, Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, NO-1432 Ås, Norway, Plant Health and Plant Protection Division, Norwegian Institute for Agricultural and Environmental Research (Bioforsk), Høgskoleveien 7, 1432 Ås, Norway; Tronsmo, A.M., Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, NO-1432 Ås, Norway | Field experiments were conducted in the 2007 and 2008 cropping seasons in Wolayta, southern Ethiopia, to assess the reaction of 56 Ethiopian sorghum accessions and two susceptible checks (AL70 and BTx623) to anthracnose from naturally occurring inoculum. Final anthracnose severity (FAS), relative area under the disease progress curve (rAUDPC, where a commonly used susceptible cultivar, AL70, was set to 1), and anthracnose progress rate were used as evaluation parameters. All the evaluation parameters revealed significant variation among the tested accessions. In 2007, anthracnose severity varied between 6.6 and 77.7%, and in 2008 it ranged from 9.7% to 76%. The Ethiopian sorghum accessions had rAUDPC ranging from 0.13 to 0.88 in 2007 and from 0.18 to 1.35 in 2008. Anthracnose progress rate varied between 0.02 and 0.06 and from 0.01 to 0.05 units per day in 2007 and 2008, respectively. Results from the three parameters were highly correlated (0.18-0.87), suggesting FAS would be a suitable selection parameter for germplasm screening. Fifteen accessions in 2007 and 18 in 2008 were rated as resistant, with six accessions rated as resistant in both years, suggesting germplasm from Ethiopia would be useful for breeding resistance to anthracnose. © 2011 KNPV. | Anthracnose; Disease progress; Inoculum; Sorghum bicolor | assessment method; cultivar; disease resistance; disease severity; fungal disease; germplasm; inoculation; sorghum; Ethiopia; Colletotrichum; Colletotrichum sublineolum; Sorghum bicolor | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84928910474 | Methyl jasmonate enhances memory performance through inhibition of oxidative stress and acetylcholinesterase activity in mice | Eduviere A.T., Umukoro S., Aderibigbe A.O., Ajayi A.M., Adewole F.A. | 2015 | Life Sciences | 132 | None | 10.1016/j.lfs.2015.04.007 | Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria | Eduviere, A.T., Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria, Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria; Umukoro, S., Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Aderibigbe, A.O., Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Ajayi, A.M., Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Adewole, F.A., Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria | Aims Current research effort focuses on the development of safer natural compounds with multipronged mechanisms of action that could be used to ameliorate memory deficits in patients with Alzheimer's disease, as cure for the disease still remains elusive. In this study, we evaluated the effect of methyl jasmonate (MJ), a naturally occurring bioactive compound on memory, acetylcholinesterase activity and biomarkers of oxidative stress in mice. Main methods Male Swiss mice were treated with intraperitoneal injection of MJ (10-40 mg/kg) alone or in combination with scopolamine (3 mg/kg) once daily for 7 days. Thirty minutes after the last treatment, memory functions were assessed using Y-maze and object recognition tests. Thereafter, acetylcholinesterase activity and levels of biomarkers of oxidative stress were assessed in mice brains using standard biochemical procedures. Key findings MJ significantly enhanced memory performance and reversed scopolamine-induced cognitive impairment in mice. MJ demonstrated significant inhibition of acetylcholinesterase activity suggesting increased cholinergic neurotransmission. It further decreased malondialdehyde concentrations in mouse brain indicating antioxidant activity. Moreover, MJ significantly increased glutathione levels and activity of antioxidant enzymes (catalase and superoxide dismutase) in mice brains. The increased oxidative stress; evidenced by elevated levels of malondialdehyde and decreased antioxidant defense systems in scopolamine-treated mice was attenuated by MJ. Significance The results of this study suggest that MJ may be useful in conditions associated with memory dysfunctions or age-related cognitive decline. The positive effect of MJ on memory may be related to inhibition of oxidative stress and enhancement of cholinergic neurotransmission through inhibition of acetylcholinesterase activity. © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. | Anti-cholinesterase activity; Antioxidant; Memory; Methyl jasmonate; Object recognition test | acetylcholinesterase; donepezil; glutathione; jasmonic acid methyl ester; malonaldehyde; superoxide dismutase; acetic acid derivative; biological marker; catalase; cholinesterase inhibitor; cyclopentane derivative; jasmonic acid methyl ester; malonaldehyde; oxylipin; scopolamine bromide; superoxide dismutase; animal experiment; animal model; antioxidant activity; Article; cholinergic transmission; controlled study; enzyme activity; male; memory; mouse; nonhuman; oxidative stress; scopolamine-induced cognitive defect; Alzheimer disease; analysis of variance; animal; brain; drug effects; maze test; memory; metabolism; oxidative stress; recognition; Mus; Acetates; Alzheimer Disease; Analysis of Variance; Animals; Biological Markers; Brain; Catalase; Cholinesterase Inhibitors; Cyclopentanes; Male; Malondialdehyde; Maze Learning; Memory; Mice; Oxidative Stress; Oxylipins; Recognition (Psychology); Scopolamine Hydrobromide; Superoxide Dismutase | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-58149194498 | Evaluation of the impact of Diachasmimorpha longicaudata on Bactrocera invadens and five African fruit fly species | Mohamed S.A., Ekesi S., Hanna R. | 2008 | Journal of Applied Entomology | 132 | 10-Sep | 10.1111/j.1439-0418.2008.01350.x | International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE), Nairobi, Kenya; International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Cotonou, Benin; International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE), P.O. Box 30772-00100 GPO, Nairobi, Kenya | Mohamed, S.A., International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE), Nairobi, Kenya, International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE), P.O. Box 30772-00100 GPO, Nairobi, Kenya; Ekesi, S., International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE), Nairobi, Kenya; Hanna, R., International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Cotonou, Benin | Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Ashmead), a solitary koinobiont larval-prepupal endoparasitoid of fruit flies, was introduced into Kenya for testing and final release against the recently discovered invasive species, Bactrocera invadens Drew, Tsuruta and White in Africa. Laboratory experiments were conducted to determine host preference, host acceptability for oviposition and physiological suitability of B. invadens and five other indigenous tephritid fruit fly species -Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), Ceratitis cosyra (Walker), Ceratitis rosa Karsch, Ceratitis fasciventris (Bezzi) and Ceratitis anonae Graham - for the development of D. longicaudata. Females of D. longicaudata visited all host-larval patches, and were also attracted to these hosts at comparable levels. Acceptability, successful development of parasitoid progenies and their sex ratio varied widely across hosts. C. capitata yielded the highest parasitoid numbers whereas B. invadens was the only host that yielded a female-biased sex ratio. Larvae of B. invadens, C. rosa, C. fasciventris and C. anonae mounted differential immune reaction towards D. longicaudata eggs. Although, the parasitoid performed poorly on the target host B. invadens, it was able to form new association with C. cosyra and C. capitata. The prospect of using this parasitoid in biological control of African indigenous fruit flies is discussed. © 2008 The Authors. | Bactrocera invadens; Ceratitis; New associations; Opiine; Tephritidae | biocontrol agent; endoparasite; fly; invasive species; sex ratio; wasp; Africa; Ceratitis; Ceratitis anonae; Ceratitis capitata; Ceratitis cosyra; Ceratitis fasciventris; Ceratitis rosa; Diachasmimorpha longicaudata; Tephritidae | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84878979041 | Effectiveness of selection at CIMMYT's main maize breeding sites in Mexico for performance at sites in Africa and vice versa | Kebede A.Z., Mahuku G., Burgueño J., Vicente F.S., Cairns J.E., Das B., Makumbi D., Magorokosho C., Windhausen V.S., Melchinger A.E., Atlin G.N. | 2013 | Plant Breeding | 132 | 3 | 10.1111/pbr.12063 | International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Apdo, Postal 6-641, Mexico DF, 06600, Mexico; Institute of Plant Breeding, Seed Science and Population Genetics, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, 70593, Germany; CIMMYT, PO Box MP163, Harare, Zimbabwe; CIMMYT, PO Box 1041-00621, Nairobi, Kenya; Bill and Melinda Gates foundation, PO Box 23350, Seattle, WA, 98102, United States | Kebede, A.Z., International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Apdo, Postal 6-641, Mexico DF, 06600, Mexico, Institute of Plant Breeding, Seed Science and Population Genetics, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, 70593, Germany; Mahuku, G., International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Apdo, Postal 6-641, Mexico DF, 06600, Mexico; Burgueño, J., International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Apdo, Postal 6-641, Mexico DF, 06600, Mexico; Vicente, F.S., International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Apdo, Postal 6-641, Mexico DF, 06600, Mexico; Cairns, J.E., CIMMYT, PO Box MP163, Harare, Zimbabwe; Das, B., CIMMYT, PO Box 1041-00621, Nairobi, Kenya; Makumbi, D., CIMMYT, PO Box 1041-00621, Nairobi, Kenya; Magorokosho, C., CIMMYT, PO Box MP163, Harare, Zimbabwe; Windhausen, V.S., Institute of Plant Breeding, Seed Science and Population Genetics, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, 70593, Germany; Melchinger, A.E., Institute of Plant Breeding, Seed Science and Population Genetics, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, 70593, Germany; Atlin, G.N., Bill and Melinda Gates foundation, PO Box 23350, Seattle, WA, 98102, United States | The exchange of elite breeding materials across regions is an important way in which multinational maize breeding programmes access new genetic variation, improve efficiency and reduce costs. Our objectives were to examine whether CIMMYT's breeding programmes for tropical and subtropical environments in Mexico and Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA) can effectively share materials. Sets of selected and unselected lines were evaluated for per se and testcross performance in multiple environments in Mexico and ESA for grain yield, days to anthesis and plant height. Genotypic correlations between performance in Mexico and ESA as testcross and line per se were high (≥ 0.72) for all experiments, and indirect selection efficiency ranged from 67 to over 100% for all traits. Lines selected in ESA or Latin America performed equally well in each region, indicating selection was for broad rather than regional adaptation. Thus, breeding programmes of CIMMYT in both Mexico and ESA can benefit tremendously by exchanging breeding materials and test results, and elite selections from each region should be fast-tracked for evaluation in the other. © 2013 Blackwell Verlag GmbH. | Breeding material exchange; Double haploids; Genotypic correlation; Indirect selection efficiency; Maize; Regional adaptation | Zea mays | Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84893144176 | Reference set selection with generalized orthogonal Procrustes analysis for multivariate statistical process monitoring of multiple production processes | Coetzer R.L.J., Rossouw R.F., Le Roux N.J. | 2014 | Chemometrics and Intelligent Laboratory Systems | 132 | None | 10.1016/j.chemolab.2014.01.006 | Sasol Technology Research and Development, Sasol, Private Bag 1, Sasolburg 1947, South Africa; Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa | Coetzer, R.L.J., Sasol Technology Research and Development, Sasol, Private Bag 1, Sasolburg 1947, South Africa; Rossouw, R.F., Sasol Technology Research and Development, Sasol, Private Bag 1, Sasolburg 1947, South Africa, Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa; Le Roux, N.J., Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa | Multivariate process monitoring is important in industry to ensure that production processes perform as close as possible to optimal operation. However, the selection of a reference set of optimal or expected performance is required for efficient process monitoring in real time. In this paper we present the method of generalized orthogonal Procrustes analysis to select a reference set for the multivariate monitoring of multiple production processes simultaneously. We combine generalized orthogonal Procrustes analysis with principal component analysis (PCA) and biplots to illustrate the implementation of the method and the interpretation of the results which provide important information on the relationships between many process variables and differences between the production processes. The work is motivated by an industrial problem involving the multivariate monitoring of a coal gasification production facility considering many process variables monitored across multiple reactors. © 2014. | Biplots; Multiple processes; Process monitoring; Procrustes analysis | coal; article; canonical variate analysis biplot; coal gasification; controlled study; generalized orthogonal Procrustes analysis; multivariate analysis; principal component analysis; priority journal; process monitoring; reactor monitoring; reference set selection; statistical analysis; statistical concepts; statistical parameters | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79953252394 | Monitoring solar home systems with pulse width modulation charge control | Williams N.J., Van Dyk E.E., Vorster F.J. | 2011 | Journal of Solar Energy Engineering, Transactions of the ASME | 133 | 2 | 10.1115/1.4003586 | Centre for Energy Research, Department of Physics, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Port Elizabeth 6031, South Africa | Williams, N.J., Centre for Energy Research, Department of Physics, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Port Elizabeth 6031, South Africa; Van Dyk, E.E., Centre for Energy Research, Department of Physics, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Port Elizabeth 6031, South Africa; Vorster, F.J., Centre for Energy Research, Department of Physics, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Port Elizabeth 6031, South Africa | With the high cost of grid extension and approximately 1.6 billion people still living without electrical services, the solar home system is an important technology in the alleviation of rural energy poverty across the developing world. The performance monitoring and analysis of these systems provide insights leading to improvements in system design and implementation in order to ensure high quality and robust energy supply in remote locations. Most small solar home systems now use charge controllers using pulse width modulation (PWM) to regulate the charge current to the battery. A rapid variation in current and voltage resulting from PWM creates monitoring challenges, which, if not carefully considered in the design of the monitoring system, can result in the erroneous measurement of photovoltaic (PV) power. In order to characterize and clarify the measurement process during PWM, a mathematical model was developed to reproduce and simulate measured data. The effects of matched scan and PWM frequency were studied with the model, and an algorithm was devised to select appropriate scan rates to ensure that a representative sample of measurements is acquired. Furthermore, estimation methods were developed to correct for measurement errors due to factors such as nonzero "short circuit" voltage and current/voltage peak mismatches. A more sophisticated algorithm is then discussed to more accurately measure PV power using highly programmable data loggers. The results produced by the various methods are compared and reveal a significant error in the measurement of PV power without corrective action. Estimation methods prove to be effective in certain cases but are susceptible to error during conditions of variable irradiance. The effect of the measurement error has been found to depend strongly on the duty cycle of PWM as well as the relationship between scan rate and PWM frequency. The energy measurement error over 1 day depends on insolation and system conditions as well as on system design. On a sunny day, under a daily load of about 20 A h, the net error in PV energy is found to be 1%, whereas a system with a high initial battery state of charge under similar conditions and no load produced an error of 47.6%. This study shows the importance of data logger selection and programming in monitoring accurately the energy provided by solar home systems. When appropriately considered, measurement errors can be avoided or reduced without investment in more expensive measurement equipment. © 2011 American Society of Mechanical Engineers. | measuring errors; monitoring; pulse width modulation; solar home system | Battery state of charge; Charge control; Charge controllers; Charge current; Corrective actions; Data logger; Developing world; Duty cycles; Electrical services; Energy measurements; Estimation methods; Grid extension; High costs; High quality; Measured data; Measurement equipment; Measurement process; Measuring errors; Monitoring system; No load; Performance monitoring and analysis; Pulse width; PV energy; Rapid variation; Remote location; Representative sample; Robust energy; Rural energy; Scan rates; Short circuit; solar home system; System conditions; System design; Algorithms; Design; Developing countries; Energy utilization; Estimation; Instruments; Investments; Lead acid batteries; Mathematical models; Measurement errors; Modulation; Potential flow; Pulse width modulation; Solar buildings; Solar energy; Systems analysis; Monitoring | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84891758858 | School violence, mental health, and educational performance in Uganda | Devries K.M., Child J.C., Allen E., Walakira E., Parkes J., Naker D. | 2014 | Pediatrics | 133 | 1 | 10.1542/peds.2013-2007 | Department of Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, 15-17 Tavistock Place, London, WC1H 9SH, United Kingdom; Department of Medical Statistics, London, United Kingdom; Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda; Institute of Education, London, United Kingdom; Raising Voices, Kampala, Uganda | Devries, K.M., Department of Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, 15-17 Tavistock Place, London, WC1H 9SH, United Kingdom; Child, J.C., Department of Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, 15-17 Tavistock Place, London, WC1H 9SH, United Kingdom; Allen, E., Department of Medical Statistics, London, United Kingdom; Walakira, E., Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda; Parkes, J., Institute of Education, London, United Kingdom; Naker, D., Raising Voices, Kampala, Uganda | BACKGROUND: Violence against children from school staff is anecdotally common in low- and middle-income countries, but data on prevalence and associations with mental health and educational outcomes are lacking. METHODS: We report data from a cross-sectional survey conducted in June and July 2012 in Luwero District, Uganda. Forty-two primary schools representing 80% of students in the district were randomly selected; 100% agreed to participate. The International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect Child Abuse Screening Tool - Child Institutional; Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire; and reading, spelling, and math tests were administered. We present descriptive statistics and logistic regression models, accounting for the complex sampling scheme used in the survey. RESULTS: We surveyed 3706 students and 577 school staff members; 93.3% (SE 1.0%) of boys and 94.2% (SE 1.6%) of girls attending primary school reported lifetime experience of physical violence from a school staff member, and >50% reported experience in the past week. Pastweek physical violence was associated with increased odds of poor mental health and, for girls, double the odds of poor educational performance (adjusted odds ratio = 1.78, 95% confidence interval = 1.19-2.66). For boys, significant interactions were present. CONCLUSIONS: Despite a ban on corporal punishment in Ugandan schools since 1997, the use of violence against students is widespread and associated with poor mental health and educational performance. School violence may be an important but overlooked contributor to disease burden and poor educational performance in low- and middle-income settings. Copyright © 2014 by the American Academy of Pediatrics. | Child maltreatment; Corporal punishment; Education; Mental health; Primary school; Uganda; Violence against children | academic achievement; adolescent; article; child; child neglect; controlled study; cross-sectional study; disability; emotional abuse; female; human; injury; International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect Child Abuse Screening Tool Child Institutional; male; mental health; named inventories, questionnaires and rating scales; partner violence; personal experience; physical violence; prevalence; primary school; priority journal; school child; Self Report Questionnaire; sexual violence; staff; strengths and difficulties questionnaire; student; Uganda | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79551539471 | Hypoglycemic evaluation of a new triterpene and other compounds isolated from Euclea undulata Thunb. var. myrtina (Ebenaceae) root bark | Deutschländer M.S., Lall N., Van De Venter M., Hussein A.A. | 2011 | Journal of Ethnopharmacology | 133 | 3 | 10.1016/j.jep.2010.11.038 | Department of Plant Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa; Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, P.O. Box 77000, Port Elizabeth 6031, South Africa | Deutschländer, M.S., Department of Plant Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa; Lall, N., Department of Plant Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa; Van De Venter, M., Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, P.O. Box 77000, Port Elizabeth 6031, South Africa; Hussein, A.A., Department of Plant Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa | Aim of the study: Investigate the hypoglycaemic activity of the four isolated compounds from a crude acetone extract of the root bark of Euclea undulata var. myrtina, which is used by traditional healers in the Venda area, Limpopo Province in the treatment of diabetes. Material and methods: The hypoglycaemic activity of the four compounds isolated from Euclea undulata was determined by in vitro screening of glucose utilization by C2C12 myocytes at a concentration of 25 μg/ml or 50 μg/ml. The inhibition of α-glucosidase was also tested at concentrations ranging from 0.02 to 200.00 μg/ml. Results: Assay-guided isolation of the crude acetone extract of the root bark of Euclea undulata var. myrtina afforded a new triterpene, α-amyrin-3O-β-(5-hydroxy) ferulic acid (1), in addition to three known compounds; betulin (2), lupeol (3) and epicatechin (4). The in vitro results on C2C12 myocytes suggest that compound 4 may have some effect to lowers blood glucose levels, whereas compound 1 has the ability to inhibit α-glucosidase at a concentration of 200.0 μg/ml with an IC50 value of 4.79 that correlates with that of the positive control acarbose IC50 value 4.75. Conclusion: The results suggest that 4 may have some ability to lower blood glucose levels, whereas 1 has the ability to inhibit α-glucosidase. Ethnopharmacological relevance: These findings corroborate the ethnomedicinal use of Euclea undulata by traditional healers for the treatment of diabetes as two substances was isolated from the acetone plant extract that exhibit hypoglycaemic activity. © 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. | α-Glucosidase; C2C12 myocytes; Ebenaceae; Euclea undulata; Hypoglycaemic activity; New triterpene | acarbose; alpha amyrin 3 o beta (5 hydroxy)ferulic acid; alpha glucosidase; antidiabetic agent; betulin; epicatechin; Euclea undulata extract; glucose; lupeol; plant extract; triterpene; unclassified drug; article; bark; carbon nuclear magnetic resonance; controlled study; drug activity; drug screening; Ebenaceae; enzyme inhibition; Euclea undulata; glucose utilization; hypoglycemic activity; IC 50; muscle cell; plant root; proton nuclear magnetic resonance; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; Ebenaceae; Hypoglycemic Agents; Plant Bark; Plant Extracts; Triterpenes; Ebenaceae; Euclea undulata | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84907708668 | Impact of the residential environment on second home use in Finland - Testing the compensation hypothesis | Strandell A., Hall C.M. | 2015 | Landscape and Urban Planning | 133 | None | 10.1016/j.landurbplan.2014.09.011 | Finnish Environment Institute SYKE, Environmental Policy Centre, Built Environment and Land Use, P.O. Box 140, Helsinki, Finland; Department of Management, Marketing and Entrepreneurship, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch, New Zealand; Department of Geography, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland; Linnaeus University School of Business and Economics, Kalmar, Sweden; School of Tourism and Hospitality, Faculty of Management, University of Johannesburg, South Africa; Centre for Tourism Studies, University of Eastern Finland, Savonlinna, Finland | Strandell, A., Finnish Environment Institute SYKE, Environmental Policy Centre, Built Environment and Land Use, P.O. Box 140, Helsinki, Finland; Hall, C.M., Department of Management, Marketing and Entrepreneurship, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch, New Zealand, Department of Geography, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland, Linnaeus University School of Business and Economics, Kalmar, Sweden, School of Tourism and Hospitality, Faculty of Management, University of Johannesburg, South Africa, Centre for Tourism Studies, University of Eastern Finland, Savonlinna, Finland | Calls for densification of urban structure highlight questions of compensation: do residents in dense urban environment compensate for the relative lack of gardens, parks and outdoor leisure opportunities in their primary residential area by traveling to second homes or other leisure destinations? How should compensation be addressed in urban planning? In Finland the use of second homes is widespread and may be such a compensation mechanism. The compensation hypothesis has previously been explored in the context of second home ownership. This study examines compensation for the first time with respect to the actual use of second homes. Use is a more flexible variable and second home users are a larger and socio-economically more heterogeneous group than the owners. The quality of the permanent home's residential environment was assessed by four factors: building density, access to private garden, and accessibility of local and larger green areas. The impact of these residential environment variables on both second home use and ownership was analyzed by regression analysis in which the socio-economic and demographic factors were controlled. Statistical relationships were found between the residential area and second home use, which provides support for the compensation hypothesis. When building density increases or the access to a private garden is reduced, the use of second homes increases. However, accessibility to green areas does not explain use. Analysis reveals that second home use is a more valid indicator for compensation than ownership. None of the residential environment variables explain the ownership of second homes. © 2014 Elsevier B.V. | Compensation hypothesis; Densification; Green infrastructure; Leisure mobility; Urban planning | Urban planning; Finland; Green infrastructure; Home use; Residential environment; Densification; compensation; home garden; homeownership; infrastructural development; regression analysis; residential location; socioeconomic status; urban area; urban planning; Finland | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-80052431099 | Calibration and resolution effects on model performance for predicting shallow landslide locations in Taiwan | Keijsers J.G.S., Schoorl J.M., Chang K.-T., Chiang S.-H., Claessens L., Veldkamp A. | 2011 | Geomorphology | 133 | 04-Mar | 10.1016/j.geomorph.2011.03.020 | Land Dynamics Group, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, Netherlands; Kainan University, Taoyuan County 33857, Taiwan; Department of Geography, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 106, Taiwan; International Potato Center, P.O. Box 25171, 00603 Nairobi, Kenya; ITC, Twente University, P.O. Box, 7500 AA Enschede, Netherlands | Keijsers, J.G.S., Land Dynamics Group, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, Netherlands; Schoorl, J.M., Land Dynamics Group, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, Netherlands; Chang, K.-T., Kainan University, Taoyuan County 33857, Taiwan, Department of Geography, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 106, Taiwan; Chiang, S.-H., Department of Geography, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 106, Taiwan; Claessens, L., Land Dynamics Group, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, Netherlands, International Potato Center, P.O. Box 25171, 00603 Nairobi, Kenya; Veldkamp, A., Land Dynamics Group, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, Netherlands, ITC, Twente University, P.O. Box, 7500 AA Enschede, Netherlands | In this paper we optimise the spatially explicit prediction of landslide hazard, landslide triggering and subsequent movement downslope of materials for a mountainous catchment in Taiwan. The location prediction is optimised by subsequently adding three location parameters: rainfall distribution, land-use classes and DEM derived slopes. Then the three most important model parameters are calibrated to find the best prediction for both stable and unstable areas. The landslides predicted by the LAPSUS-LS model are compared with a landslide inventory to validate the output. The optimal model settings for the calibration area are then applied to a validation area. Results show that model performance can be improved by adding the spatial distribution of rainfall and by stratifying according to land-use classes. Landslide prediction is better with fine resolution DEMs, mainly because the local topography is smoothed in coarser resolutions. Although in general the amount of landslides is over-predicted, the overall performance indicates that the model is able to capture the important factors determining landslide location. Additional spatially distributed data such as regolith or soil depth and regeneration rates of the legacy effect can further enhance the model's prediction. © 2011 Elsevier B.V. | Digital elevation model; Land use; Landslide modelling; Model calibration; Rainfall distribution | calibration; digital elevation model; hazard assessment; land use change; landslide; model validation; performance assessment; precipitation intensity; prediction; slope dynamics; slope stability; trigger mechanism; Taiwan | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-78651392565 | Plant composition, pharmacological properties and mutagenic evaluation of a commercial Zulu herbal mixture: Imbiza ephuzwato | Ndhlala A.R., Finnie J.F., Van Staden J. | 2011 | Journal of Ethnopharmacology | 133 | 2 | 10.1016/j.jep.2010.10.053 | Research Centre for Plant Growth and Development, School of Biological and Conservation Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal Pietermaritzburg, Private Bag X01, Scottsville 3201, South Africa | Ndhlala, A.R., Research Centre for Plant Growth and Development, School of Biological and Conservation Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal Pietermaritzburg, Private Bag X01, Scottsville 3201, South Africa; Finnie, J.F., Research Centre for Plant Growth and Development, School of Biological and Conservation Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal Pietermaritzburg, Private Bag X01, Scottsville 3201, South Africa; Van Staden, J., Research Centre for Plant Growth and Development, School of Biological and Conservation Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal Pietermaritzburg, Private Bag X01, Scottsville 3201, South Africa | Ethnopharmacology relevance: Imbiza ephuzwato is a traditional herbal tonic made from a mixture of extracts of roots, bulbs, rhizomes and leaves of 21 medicinal plants and is used in traditional medicine as a multipurpose remedy. Aim of the study: To compile and investigate the bioactivity and mutagenic effects of extracts of the 21 plant species used in the preparation of Imbiza ephuzwato herbal tonic. Materials and methods: The 21 plant species used to make Imbiza ephuzwato herbal mixture were each investigated for their pharmacological properties. Petroleum ether (PE), dichloromethane (DCM), 80% ethanol (EtOH) and water extracts of the 21 plants were evaluated against two gram-positive, two gram-negative bacteria and a fungus Candida albicans. The extracts were also evaluated for their inhibitory effects against cyclooxygenase (COX-1 and -2) and acetylcholinesterase AChE enzymes. Mutagenic effects of the water extracts were evaluated using the Ames test. Results: Gunnera perpensa and Rubia cordifolia were the only plant species used to manufacture Imbiza ephuzwato that had water extracts which showed good antibacterial activity. The extracts of G. perpensa (EtOH), Hypericum aethiopicum (DCM) and Urginea physodes (EtOH) showed the best antifungal activity. The water extracts of H. aethiopicum, G. perpensa, Drimia robusta, Vitellariopsis marginata, Scadoxus puniceus and Momordica balsamina showed percentage inhibition of COX-1 that was over 70%. For COX-2 enzyme, the water extracts of G. perpensa, Cyrtanthus obliquus, M. balsamina and Tetradenia riparia exhibited inhibitory activity above 70%. Water extracts of G. perpensa, C. obliquus, V. marginata, Asclepias fruticosa and Watsonia densiflora showed good AChE inhibitory activity (>80%). The Ames test results revealed that all the water extracts of the 21 plant species used to make Imbiza ephuzwato were non-mutagenic towards the Salmonella typhimurium TA98 strain for the assay with and without S9 metabolic activation. In contrast, Imbiza ephuzwato showed mutagenic effects after exposure to S9 enzyme mixture. Conclusion: The observed activities of some plant extracts, if supported by other confirmatory tests, may justify their inclusion in the makeup of Imbiza ephuzwato herbal mixture as well as their use in traditional medicine. Further studies aimed at investigating possible synergistic effects as a result of mixing plant extracts are necessary. The reported mutagenicity in Imbiza ephuzwato could be as a result of interaction of biomolecules in the heterogeneous mixture, yielding compounds that are converted to mutagenic agents by xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes. It is therefore important to carry out further studies aimed at identifying and eliminating the sources of the mutagenic compounds in the heterogeneous mixture. © 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. | Cyclooxygenase; Depression; Ethnopharmacology; Herbal mixtures; Mutagenicity | acetylcholinesterase; Acokanthera venenata extract; alcohol; Asclepias fruticosa extract; Aster bakeranus extract; Corchorus asplenifolius extract; cyclooxygenase 1; cyclooxygenase 2; Cyrtanthus obliquus extract; dichloromethane; Drimia robusta extract; Eriosema cordatum extract; Gnidia kraussiana extract; Gunnera perpensa extract; Hypericum aethiopicum extract; imbiza ephuzwato; Ledebouria extract; Lycopodium clavatum extract; Momordica balsamina extract; petroleum ether; plant extract; rubia cordifolia extract; Scadoxus puniceus extract; Stephania abyssinica extract; tetradenia riparia extract; unclassified drug; Urginea physodes extract; Vitellariopsis marginata extract; Watsonia densiflora extract; Zanthoxylum capense extract; Acokanthera venenata; antibacterial activity; antifungal activity; article; Asclepias; Asclepias fruticosa; Aster bakeranus; Candida albicans; Corchorus asplenifolius; Cyrtanthus obliquus; Drimia robusta; drug activity; enzyme inhibition; Eriosema cordatum; gnidia kraussiana; Gram negative bacterium; Gunnera perpensa; herb; Hypericum; Hypericum aethiopicum; Ledebouria; Lycopodium; metabolic activation; minimum inhibitory concentration; Momordica; Momordica balsamina; mutagenic activity; nonhuman; Rubia; rubia cordifolia; Salmonella typhimurium; Scadoxus puniceus; Stephania abyssinica; Tetradenia riparia; Urginea physodes; Vitellariopsis marginata; Watsonia densiflora; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Antifungal Agents; Cholinesterase Inhibitors; Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; Ethnopharmacology; Medicine, African Traditional; Mutagenicity Tests; Mutagens; Plant Preparations; Plants, Medicinal; South Africa; Asclepias fruticosa; Candida albicans; Cyrtanthus; Drimia robusta; Fungi; Gunnera perpensa; Hypericum; Momordica balsamina; Negibacteria; Posibacteria; Rubia cordifolia; Salmonella typhimurium; Scadoxus puniceus; Tetradenia riparia; Urginea; Vitellariopsis; Watsonia | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84941313442 | Performance of concrete-filled double-skin circular tubes in compression | Essopjee Y., Dundu M. | 2015 | Composite Structures | 133 | None | 10.1016/j.compstruct.2015.08.033 | University of Johannesburg, Department of Civil Engineering Science, P.O. Box 524, Auckland Park, South Africa | Essopjee, Y., University of Johannesburg, Department of Civil Engineering Science, P.O. Box 524, Auckland Park, South Africa; Dundu, M., University of Johannesburg, Department of Civil Engineering Science, P.O. Box 524, Auckland Park, South Africa | Tests were conducted on 32 concrete-filled double-skin circular tube (CFDSCT) columns. The CFDSCT columns were loaded in axial compression until failure. The parameters that were varied were the lengths, diameters and strength of the outer steel tubes. The lengths ranged from 1.0-2.5 m, in half a metre increments. The CFDSCTs of 1 m lengths, failed by yielding of the steel tubes. All the other CFDSCTs failed by overall buckling due to their large slenderness. Using the philosophy in the South African standard (SANS 10162-1) and Eurocode 4 (EN 1994-1-1), new formulas were developed to predict the results of the strengths of the CFDSCTs. The new formulae are in a similar format to SANS 10162-1 and EC4. A plot of the results from the proposed formulae over the test results, versus the slenderness ratio shows that the results were predicted well. © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. | Axial compression; Concrete-filled double-skin tubes; Confinement effect; Overall buckling; Slender columns; Yielding | Axial compression; Concretes; Tubular steel structures; Confinement effects; Double skin; Over-all buckling; Slender columns; Yielding; Tubes (components) | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-78249244810 | Oviposition preference and offspring performance of Crocidolomia pavonana (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) on different host plants | Karungi J., Lubanga U.K., Kyamanywa S., Ekbom B. | 2010 | Journal of Applied Entomology | 134 | 10-Sep | 10.1111/j.1439-0418.2010.01518.x | Crop Science Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda; Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden | Karungi, J., Crop Science Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda; Lubanga, U.K., Crop Science Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda; Kyamanywa, S., Crop Science Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda; Ekbom, B., Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden | The cabbage head caterpillar Crocidolomia pavonana (Fabricius) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) is an increasingly devastating pest on white cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata) in Uganda. Screen house and field trials were used to assess oviposition preference and offspring performance of C. pavonana on six hosts in the genus Brassica: kale (B. oleracea var. acephala), cauliflower (B. oleracea var. botrytis), broccoli (B. oleracea var. italica), Chinese cabbage (B. campestris spp. pekinensis), Indian mustard (B. juncea (L.) Czern.) and white cabbage (B. oleracea var. capitata). To assess oviposition preference, the hosts were offered to C. pavonana in multiple-choice (all six); two-choice (cabbage with each of the other hosts) or cabbage-only situations. After specified oviposition periods, egg numbers on individual plants were recorded. To determine C. pavonana offspring performance on the six hosts, whole plants were placed in individual cages, where larvae were monitored for development time, pupal weight and foliage consumption. Results of the choice tests indicated that C. pavonana preferred Chinese cabbage and broccoli for oviposition. In two-choice arrangements, all the tested host plants were able to greatly reduce oviposition on white cabbage (69-100%) when compared with the monocrop. Chinese cabbage was the most suitable host with regard to C. pavonana offspring performance as demonstrated by the shortest development time and highest pupal weight. Chinese cabbage and broccoli can be used as traps for the pest but the resulting larvae should be destroyed regularly to prevent accumulation in the system. © 2010 Blackwell Verlag, GmbH. | Brassica; Insect behaviour; Insect biology; Pest management; Trap cropping | behavioral ecology; biocontrol agent; biological control; dicotyledon; fieldwork; host plant; larva; moth; oviposition; pest control; pupa; trap crop; Uganda; Botrytis; Brassica; Brassica juncea; Brassica oleracea var. acephala; Brassica oleracea var. botrytis; Brassica oleracea var. capitata; Brassica oleracea var. italica; Brassica rapa subsp. pekinensis; Crocidolomia pavonana; Hexapoda; Lepidoptera; Pyralidae | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77649104658 | Effects of integrating companion cropping and nitrogen application on the performance and infestation of collards by Brevicoryne brassicae | Mutiga S.K., Gohole L.S., Auma E.O. | 2010 | Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata | 134 | 3 | 10.1111/j.1570-7458.2009.00952.x | Department of Seed, Crop and Horticultural Sciences, Moi University, PO Box 1125, Eldoret, Kenya; Cornell University, 335 Plant Science Building, Ithaca, NY 14850, United States | Mutiga, S.K., Department of Seed, Crop and Horticultural Sciences, Moi University, PO Box 1125, Eldoret, Kenya, Cornell University, 335 Plant Science Building, Ithaca, NY 14850, United States; Gohole, L.S., Department of Seed, Crop and Horticultural Sciences, Moi University, PO Box 1125, Eldoret, Kenya; Auma, E.O., Department of Seed, Crop and Horticultural Sciences, Moi University, PO Box 1125, Eldoret, Kenya | Sustainable management of cabbage aphids, Brevicoryne brassicae (L.) (Hemiptera: Aphididae), is a major goal for collard, Brassica oleracea (L.) var. acephala (Brassicaceae), growers globally. Host finding ability of insect pests is significantly affected by diversified cropping systems, and this approach is being utilized currently as a pest management tool. Soil nutrition and its interaction with the cropping systems could have a significant effect on the general performance of collards and the infestation by cabbage aphids. In a search for a sustainable cabbage aphid control, a two-season field experiment was carried out with two intercrops, collards and chilli, Capsicum frutescens (L.) (Solanaceae), and collards and spring onions, Allium cepa (L.) (Alliaceae), and a collard monoculture. For each of the cropping systems, nitrogen (N) was applied to the soil as a top-dress at 20, 25, 30, and 35 g per collard plant. The response factors monitored were collard yield (fresh weight) and aphid infestation on collards. Spring onion-collard intercrop had the lowest aphid density and the highest yield. Collard monoculture had the highest aphid infestation and the lowest yield. High levels of N led to increased infestation of collards by aphids, but also led to a significant increase in the yield of collards. Significant interactions between the N rates and the cropping systems were observed on some sampling dates, with the highest yield being realized under a combination of spring onion-collard intercrop at a N rate of 30 g per plant. High aphid density led to a decrease in the yield of collards. It was concluded that with a spring onion-collard intercrop, the soil N level could be raised from the blanket rate of 20-30 g per plant and this would lead to an increase in yield. © 2010 The Authors. Journal compilation © 2010 The Netherlands Entomological Society. | Allium cepa; Aphididae; Brassica oleracea var. acephala; Capsicum frutescens; Hemiptera; Intercropping; Top-dress; Yield | agronomy; aphid; crop yield; experimental study; fertilizer application; intercropping; monoculture; pest control; soil nutrient; vegetable; Alliaceae; Allium cepa; Aphididae; Brassica oleracea var. acephala; Brassica oleracea var. capitata; Brassica oleracea var. viridis; Brassicaceae; Brevicoryne brassicae; Capsicum frutescens; Hemiptera; Hexapoda; Magnoliophyta; Solanaceae | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-41749084182 | Groundwater quality evaluation for productive uses - The afram plains area, Ghana | Yidana S.M., Ophori D., Banoeng-Yakubo B. | 2008 | Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering | 134 | 2 | 10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9437(2008)134:2(222) | Dept. of Earth and Environmental Studies, Montclair State Univ., Montclair, NJ 07043, United States; Dept. of Geology, Univ. of Ghana, Legon, Ghana | Yidana, S.M., Dept. of Earth and Environmental Studies, Montclair State Univ., Montclair, NJ 07043, United States; Ophori, D., Dept. of Earth and Environmental Studies, Montclair State Univ., Montclair, NJ 07043, United States; Banoeng-Yakubo, B., Dept. of Geology, Univ. of Ghana, Legon, Ghana | Groundwater is the most widely used water resource in the Afram Plains area, Ghana. The objective of this study was to determine the distribution of fluoride, sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), and salinity (EC) in groundwater from the different aquifers in the Afram Plains area. The distribution of these parameters would enable a determination of the quality of groundwater from the different aquifer units for use in households and irrigation purposes. The inverse distance weighting, interpolator with a power of 2 was applied to 143 data points of each parameter to generate prediction maps for fluoride, SAR, and EC in the area. The distribution maps from this study show that the shale aquifers that underlie the southwestern sections of the area have the highest levels of fluoride, SAR, and EC. A narrow strip of the shale aquifer in the southwestern region produces groundwater whose fluoride level (2.2 mg/L) is higher than the World Health Organization minimum allowable fluoride concentration of 1.5 mg/L in drinking water. The feldsparthic sandstone, arkose, siltstone, and mudstone aquifers in the northeastern sections of the area produce groundwater with fluoride concentration in the range of 0.0-0.3 mg/L, which fall outside the minimum range of 0.7-1.2 mg/L required in drinking water for normal bone and dental health. The highest SAR and EC are also associated with the shale aquifers to the southwestern section of the area. Using the World Food and Agriculture Organization's guidelines for irrigation water quality, it was determined that groundwater from the Afram Plains area will generally have a mild to moderate effect on the hydraulic properties of soils when used as irrigation water. © 2008 ASCE. | Adsorption; Developing Countries; Electrical conductivity; Fluoridation; Ghana; Potable water; Sodium | Adsorption; Aquifers; Electric conductivity; Fluorine compounds; Irrigation; Potable water; Salinity measurement; Sodium; Groundwater quality; Sodium adsoprtion ratio; Water quality; Adsorption; Aquifers; Electric conductivity; Fluorine compounds; Irrigation; Potable water; Salinity measurement; Sodium; Water quality; adsorption; aquifer; developing world; drinking water; electrical conductivity; fluoride; groundwater resource; irrigation; salinity; sodium; water quality; Africa; Ghana; Sub-Saharan Africa; West Africa | None |
| WoS | WOS:000327889700019 | Evaluation of the impact of a breast cancer awareness program in rural Ghana: A cross-sectional survey | Ali, Ibrahim A.,Anderson, Benjamin O.,Dabis, Francois,Malvy, Denis,Mena, Marisa,Sasco, Annie J.,Sauvaget, Catherine,Wiafe-Addai, Beatrice,Wiafe, Seth A. | 2014 | INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CANCER | 134 | 4 | 10.1002/ijc.28412 | Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Institut National de la Sante et de la Recherche Medicale (Inserm), Loma Linda University, Universite de Bordeaux, Bordeaux Segalen Univ, Breast Care Int & Peace & Love Hosp, Catalan Inst Oncol, Int Agcy Res Canc | "Ali, Ibrahim A.: Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center","Anderson, Benjamin O.: Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center","Wiafe, Seth A.: Loma Linda University", | Community awareness is crucial to early detection of breast cancer in low- and middle-income countries. In Ghana 60% of the cases are detected at late stages. Breast Care International (BCI) is a Ghanaian non-governmental organization dedicated to raising breast cancer awareness. A cross-sectional survey was designed to assess the impact of BCI program on knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) toward breast cancer among women from rural communities of Ghana. A total of 232 women were interviewed in June 2011 in the Ashanti region; of these 131 participants were from a community that received the BCI program in August 2010 (intervention group) and 101 from another community that received the program post-survey (referent group). Data analysis was performed using Epi-Info version 3.5.3. Knowledge about breast cancer among participants who received the program was better than among those who did not. Only 53.5% of participants from the referent group knew that breast cancer usually appears as painless breast lump when compared to 82.3% from the intervention group. Participants who attended the program were significantly more likely to obtain higher knowledge scores (odds ratio (OR) = 2.10, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.14-3.86) and to state practicing breast self-examination (OR = 12.29, 95% CI = 5.31-28.48). The BCI program improved KAP toward breast cancer. Further research is warranted to provide stronger evidence that the program improves breast cancer early detection. | "awareness program","BREAST CANCER","EARLY DETECTION",GHANA,AREA,CONSENSUS,IBADAN,"INCOME COUNTRIES",LOW-RESOURCE,MANAGEMENT,NIGERIA,WOMEN | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77954770404 | Performance of Trichogrammatoidea sp. nr lutea Girault (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) collected from Mussidia spp. in Kenya on eggs of six lepidopteran hosts | Muli B.K., Schulthess F., van den Berg J. | 2010 | Journal of Applied Entomology | 134 | 6 | 10.1111/j.1439-0418.2009.01474.x | International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, Nairobi, Kenya; North West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa | Muli, B.K., International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, Nairobi, Kenya, North West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa; Schulthess, F., International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, Nairobi, Kenya; van den Berg, J., North West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa | Mussidia nigrivenella Ragonot (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), an important pest of maize ears in West Africa, has never been reported to attack crops in East and southern Africa (ESA), though it was found on various wild host plants in these regions. It was suggested that in ESA M. nigrivenella might be under natural control. In Kenya, exploration for natural enemies associated with Mussidia spp. yielded several parasitoids including a trichogrammatid egg parasitoid, Trichogrammatoidea sp. nr lutea Girault. The ability of T. sp. nr lutea to attack the eggs of several lepidopteran species found in Kenya was studied. The lepidopterans included the noctuids Busseola fusca (Fuller) and Sesamia calamistis (Hampson), the pyralids Eldana saccharina Walker, Mussidia fiorii Cecconi and de Joannis and Mussidia'madagascariensis', and the crambid Chilo partellus (Swinhoe). The former three species also infest cereals in West Africa. Trichogrammatoidea sp. nr lutea successfully attacked and developed in eggs of all six species indicating its potential to exploit other lepidopteran pests of maize in West Africa. Busseola fusca and S. calamistis were the most suitable hosts and had the largest number of eggs parasitized and progeny per female wasp where E. saccharina and C. partellus were the poorest hosts. The host species used to rear the parasitoid and the age of egg also significantly affected the total number of host eggs parasitized by the parasitoid. It was concluded that the ability of T. sp. nr lutea to exploit lepidopterans that are also pests of maize in West Africa may enhance biological control of M. nigrivenella and it should be considered for translocation to that area from Kenya. © 2009 Blackwell Verlag, GmbH. | Host egg preferences; Mussidia nigrivenella; Trichogrammatoidea sp. nr lutea | biological control; crop damage; crop pest; egg parasitoid; host plant; host preference; insect; maize; natural enemy; parasitoid; performance assessment; translocation; Kenya; West Africa; Busseola fusca; Chilo partellus; Crambidae; Eldana saccharina; Hymenoptera; Lepidoptera; Mussidia; Mussidia nigrivenella; Noctuidae; Pyralidae; Sesamia calamistis; Trichogrammatidae; Trichogrammatoidea; Zea mays | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-47749141840 | Model for predicting the performance of project managers at the construction phase of mass house building projects | Ahadzie D.K., Proverbs D.G., Olomolaiye P.O. | 2008 | Journal of Construction Engineering and Management | 134 | 8 | 10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9364(2008)134:8(618) | Kwame Nkrumah Univ. of Science and Technology, Center for Settlement Studies, Kumasi, Ghanan, Ghana; Department of Project Management, Univ. of Wolverhampton, School of Engineering and the Built Environment, Wolverhampton, WV1 1SB, United Kingdom; School of Engineering and the Built Environment, Univ. of Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton, WV1, 1SB, United Kingdom | Ahadzie, D.K., Kwame Nkrumah Univ. of Science and Technology, Center for Settlement Studies, Kumasi, Ghanan, Ghana, School of Engineering and the Built Environment, Univ. of Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton, WV1, 1SB, United Kingdom; Proverbs, D.G., Department of Project Management, Univ. of Wolverhampton, School of Engineering and the Built Environment, Wolverhampton, WV1 1SB, United Kingdom; Olomolaiye, P.O., Department of Project Management, Univ. of Wolverhampton, School of Engineering and the Built Environment, Wolverhampton, WV1 1SB, United Kingdom | The need to match project managers' (PMs) performance measures onto projects of both unique and similar characteristics has long since been acknowledged by researchers. The need for these measures to reflect the various phases of the project life cycle has also been contended in the recent past. Here, a competency-based multidimensional conceptual model is proposed for mass house building projects (MHBPs). The model reflects both performance behaviors and outcome in predicting the PMs' performances at the conceptual, planning, design, tender, construction, and operational phases of the project life cycle. Adopting a positivist approach, data elicited for the construction phase is analyzed using multiple regression techniques (stepwise selection). Out of a broad range of behavioral metrics identified as the independent variables, the findings suggest the best predictors of PMs' performances in MHBPs at the construction phase are: job knowledge in site layout techniques for repetitive construction works; dedication in helping works contractors achieve works schedule; job knowledge of appropriate technology transfer for repetitive construction works; effective time management practices on house units; ability to provide effective solution to conflicts, simultaneously maintaining good relationships; ease with which works contractors are able to approach the PM and volunteering to help works contractors solve personal problems. ANOVA, multicollineriality, Durbin-Watson, and residual analysis, confirm the goodness of fit. Validation of the model also reflected reasonably high predictive accuracy suggesting the findings could be generalized. These results indicate that the model can be a reliable tool for predicting the performance of PMs in MHBPs. © 2008 ASCE. | Buildings, residential; Construction management; Housing; Managers; Professional development; Regression models | Appropriate technologies; Conceptual modelling; Construction phasing; Construction works; Effective solution; Effective time; Goodness of fit (GOF); House building; Independent variables; Metrics (CO); Multidimensional (MD); Multiple regression techniques; Operational phases; Performance measure (PF); Predictive accuracy; Project life cycle (PLC); Project manager (PM); Residual analysis; Site layout; Construction industry; Contractors; Contracts; Food processing; Forecasting; Houses; Life cycle; Management; Managers; Technological forecasting; Technology; Technology transfer; Project management | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84886595547 | The impact of post gold mining on mercury pollution in the West Rand region, Gauteng, South Africa | Lusilao-Makiese J.G., Cukrowska E.M., Tessier E., Amouroux D., Weiersbye I. | 2013 | Journal of Geochemical Exploration | 134 | None | 10.1016/j.gexplo.2013.08.010 | Molecular Sciences Institute, School of Chemistry, University of the Witwatersrand, P.Bag X3, WITS 2050, Johannesburg, South Africa; Laboratoire de Chimie Analytique, Bio-Inorganique et Environnement (LCABIE-IPREM), Université de Pau et des Pays de l'Adour, France; School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences (APES), University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa | Lusilao-Makiese, J.G., Molecular Sciences Institute, School of Chemistry, University of the Witwatersrand, P.Bag X3, WITS 2050, Johannesburg, South Africa; Cukrowska, E.M., Molecular Sciences Institute, School of Chemistry, University of the Witwatersrand, P.Bag X3, WITS 2050, Johannesburg, South Africa; Tessier, E., Laboratoire de Chimie Analytique, Bio-Inorganique et Environnement (LCABIE-IPREM), Université de Pau et des Pays de l'Adour, France; Amouroux, D., Laboratoire de Chimie Analytique, Bio-Inorganique et Environnement (LCABIE-IPREM), Université de Pau et des Pays de l'Adour, France; Weiersbye, I., School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences (APES), University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa | The impact of historical use of mercury (Hg) for the extraction of gold was assessed in watersheds from an abandoned mine in Randfonetin, a town located at 45km west of Johannesburg (South Africa), which has a long history of gold mining, and its surroundings. The majority of analyzed waters at the site were acidic with pH ranging between 2.9 and 5.0. Elevated total Hg concentrations (HgTOT) were measured in waters (up to 223ngHgL-1; mean: 52ngHgL-1) as well as in surface sediments (up to 2580μgHgkg-1; mean: 970μgHgkg-1) from the old mine site. The Krugersdorp Game Reserve watersheds which are directly downstream from the mine drainage appear to become impacted by the pollution from historic gold mines. The high HgTOT measured in a borehole (223ngHgL-1) suggests a groundwater contamination in the area.Hg transported downstream from the mine site is also susceptible to methylation. Relatively high CH3Hg+ (MHg) values were measured in waters (up to 2ngMHgL-1) and surface sediments (up to 10μgMHgkg-1) with significant enrichment in bulk sediments. The methylation of Hg seems to be controlled by factors such as the inorganic Hg content, redox potential and the organic matter content.Sequential extraction procedures together with geochemical modeling have demonstrated the predominance of nonsoluble Hg species (91-95%) in studied soils and the existence of a number of Hg species in watersheds. Diverse mechanisms were proposed to explain both vertical and horizontal transport of Hg at the site. © 2013 Elsevier B.V. | Gold mining; Mercury; Modeling; Speciation | Extraction of golds; Extraction procedure; Geochemical modeling; Gold mining; Groundwater contamination; Horizontal transport; Speciation; Surface sediments; Alkylation; Extraction; Gold; Groundwater; Mercury (metal); Methylation; Models; Redox reactions; Surficial sediments; Water pollution; Watersheds; Gold mines; abandoned mine; acid mine drainage; environmental impact; gold mine; groundwater pollution; mercury (element); mining; modeling; pollutant transport; speciation (chemistry); Gauteng; South Africa | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77954935610 | Field and storage evaluations of 'Spuntag2' for resistance to potato tuber moth and agronomic performance | Douches D., Pett W., Visser D., Coombs J., Zarka K., Felcher K., Bothma G., Brink J., Koch M., Quemada H. | 2010 | Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science | 135 | 4 | None | Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, Michigan State University, A499B Plant and Soil Science Building, East Lansing, MI 48824, United States; Department of Entomology, Michigan State University, 444 Natural Science Building, East Lansing, MI 48824, United States; Agricultural Research Council, Vegetable and Ornamental Plant Institute, Private Bag X293, Pretoria 0001, South Africa; Institute of International Agriculture, Michigan State University, 319 Agriculture Hall, East Lansing, MI 48824, United States; 4502 Donnelly Drive,RR#4, Merrickville, ON K0G 1N0, Canada; Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, St. Louis, MO 63132, United States | Douches, D., Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, Michigan State University, A499B Plant and Soil Science Building, East Lansing, MI 48824, United States; Pett, W., Department of Entomology, Michigan State University, 444 Natural Science Building, East Lansing, MI 48824, United States; Visser, D., Agricultural Research Council, Vegetable and Ornamental Plant Institute, Private Bag X293, Pretoria 0001, South Africa; Coombs, J., Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, Michigan State University, A499B Plant and Soil Science Building, East Lansing, MI 48824, United States; Zarka, K., Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, Michigan State University, A499B Plant and Soil Science Building, East Lansing, MI 48824, United States; Felcher, K., Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, Michigan State University, A499B Plant and Soil Science Building, East Lansing, MI 48824, United States; Bothma, G., Agricultural Research Council, Vegetable and Ornamental Plant Institute, Private Bag X293, Pretoria 0001, South Africa; Brink, J., Institute of International Agriculture, Michigan State University, 319 Agriculture Hall, East Lansing, MI 48824, United States; Koch, M., 4502 Donnelly Drive,RR#4, Merrickville, ON K0G 1N0, Canada; Quemada, H., Institute of International Agriculture, Michigan State University, 319 Agriculture Hall, East Lansing, MI 48824, United States, Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, St. Louis, MO 63132, United States | 'SpuntaG2' is a transgenic potato (Solanum tuberosum) cultivar that contains the cry1Ia1 gene for resistance to potato tuber moth (Phthorimaea operculella), which is a serious pest of potato in many parts of the world. Previous studies have characterized 'SpuntaG2' at the molecular level and evaluated it for safety as a human food source. The objective here wasto determine the efficacyof'SpuntaG2' against the potato tuber moth in the field and in storage and to evaluate its agronomic performance. Efficacy trials at seven South African locations over 5 years indicated that 'SpuntaG2' gave complete control of potato tuber moth in the field and storage. The agronomic performance (tuber size and yield) of 'SpuntaG2' was not statistically different from 'Spunta' or was better than 'Spunta' at all locations/years with two exceptions. Three years of trials in Michigan further support these conclusions. Evaluations done during the 2006-07 South African season showed that 'SpuntaG2' did not differ from non-transgenic 'Spunta' for the following traits: maturity, growth habit, eye morphology, tuber size distribution, tuber shape, skin and flesh color, growth cracks, internal defects, specific gravity, chip color, cooking quality, disease resistance, and pollen fertility. Based on the results of these trials, it was concluded that 'SpuntaG2' provides the agronomic performance of 'Spunta' with the added benefit of resistance to potato tuber moth. | Bacillus thuringiensis; Cry1Ia1 gene; Deregulation; Phthorimaea operculella; Quality; South Africa; Transgenic | Bacillus thuringiensis; Lepidoptera; Phthorimaea operculella; Solanum tuberosum | None |
| None | None | Performance of visual inspection with acetic acid and human papillomavirus testing for detection of high-grade cervical lesions in HIV positive and HIV negative Tanzanian women | Dartell M.A., Rasch V., Iftner T., Kahesa C., Mwaiselage J.D., Junge J., Gernow A., Ejlersen S.F., Munk C., Kjaer S.K. | 2014 | International Journal of Cancer | 135 | 4 | 10.1002/ijc.28712 | Department of International Health, Public Health Institute, University of Copenhagen, Denmark; Unit of Virus Lifestyle and Genes, Danish Cancer Society Research Center, Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark; Department of Experimental Virology, Universitaetsklinikum, Tuebingen, Germany; Division of Cancer PreventionOcean Road Cancer Institute, Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania; Department of Pathology, Hvidovre University Hospital, Denmark; Gynecological Clinic, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Denmark | Dartell, M.A., Department of International Health, Public Health Institute, University of Copenhagen, Denmark, Unit of Virus Lifestyle and Genes, Danish Cancer Society Research Center, Copenhagen, Denmark; Rasch, V., Department of International Health, Public Health Institute, University of Copenhagen, Denmark, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark; Iftner, T., Department of Experimental Virology, Universitaetsklinikum, Tuebingen, Germany; Kahesa, C., Division of Cancer PreventionOcean Road Cancer Institute, Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania; Mwaiselage, J.D., Division of Cancer PreventionOcean Road Cancer Institute, Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania; Junge, J., Department of Pathology, Hvidovre University Hospital, Denmark; Gernow, A., Department of Pathology, Hvidovre University Hospital, Denmark; Ejlersen, S.F., Department of Pathology, Hvidovre University Hospital, Denmark; Munk, C., Unit of Virus Lifestyle and Genes, Danish Cancer Society Research Center, Copenhagen, Denmark; Kjaer, S.K., Unit of Virus Lifestyle and Genes, Danish Cancer Society Research Center, Copenhagen, Denmark, Gynecological Clinic, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Denmark | The aim of this cross sectional study was to assess type distribution of human papillomavirus (HPV) among HIV positive and HIV negative women who underwent cervical cancer screening, and to examine the ability of visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA), the standard detection method in Tanzania, and HPV-testing to detect cytologically diagnosed high grade lesions or cancer (HSIL+). Women from different areas in Tanzania were invited by public announcement to cervical cancer screening organized by Ocean Road Cancer Institute (Dar-es-Salaam). A total of 3,767 women were enrolled. Women underwent gynecological examination with collection of cervical cells for conventional cytological examination, and swab for HPV-DNA detection (Hybrid-Capture2) and genotyping (LiPAv2 test). Subsequently VIA was performed. The participants were also tested for HIV. HPV16, HPV52 and HPV18 were the three most common HR HPV types among women with HSIL+ cytology with prevalences of 42.9, 35.7 and 28.6%, respectively, in HIV positive women which was higher than among HIV negative women (30.2, 21.9 and 16.7%). A total of 4.5% of the women were VIA positive, and VIA showed a low sensitivity compared to HPV-testing for detection of HSIL+. The sensitivity of VIA varied with staff VIA experience, HIV status and age. Vaccines including HPV16, HPV52 and HPV18 will likely reduce the number of HSIL+ cases independently of HIV status. The frequency of HSIL+ was high among HIV positive women, emphasizing the importance of establishing a screening program which also reaches HIV positive women. Our results highlight the importance of continuous training of staff performing VIA, and also point to the need for other screening methods such as HPV-testing at low cost. © 2014 UICC. | Africa; cervical cancer; HIV; HPV testing; pap smear; sensitivity; specificity; Tanzania; visual inspection with acetic acid | acetic acid; adult; aged; article; cancer grading; cancer screening; cross-sectional study; diagnostic test accuracy study; female; genotype; gold standard; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; Human papillomavirus DNA test; Human papillomavirus type 16; Human papillomavirus type 18; Human papillomavirus type 52; intermethod comparison; major clinical study; medical personnel; prevalence; priority journal; professional competence; sensitivity and specificity; Tanzania; uterine cervix cancer; uterine cervix cytology; vagina smear; Africa; cervical cancer; HIV; HPV testing; pap smear; sensitivity; specificity; Tanzania; visual inspection with acetic acid; Acetic Acid; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Cervix Uteri; Cross-Sectional Studies; Cytological Techniques; DNA, Viral; Early Detection of Cancer; Female; Genotype; HIV Infections; HIV Seropositivity; Humans; Mass Screening; Middle Aged; Papillomaviridae; Prevalence; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Tanzania; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms; Vaginal Smears; Young Adult | None |
| None | None | Evaluation of HIV antibody and antigen/antibody combination ELISAs for use in an alternative confirmatory HIV testing strategy in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania | Aboud S., Urassa W., Lyamuya E., Mhalu F., Biberfeld G. | 2006 | Journal of Virological Methods | 135 | 2 | 10.1016/j.jviromet.2006.03.005 | Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Muhimbili University College of Health Sciences, P.O. Box 65001, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Swedish Institute for Infectious Disease Control and Microbiology, Tumorbiology Centre, Karolinska Institute, Nobels väg 18, SE-171 82 Solna, Stockholm, Sweden | Aboud, S., Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Muhimbili University College of Health Sciences, P.O. Box 65001, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Urassa, W., Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Muhimbili University College of Health Sciences, P.O. Box 65001, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Lyamuya, E., Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Muhimbili University College of Health Sciences, P.O. Box 65001, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Mhalu, F., Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Muhimbili University College of Health Sciences, P.O. Box 65001, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Biberfeld, G., Swedish Institute for Infectious Disease Control and Microbiology, Tumorbiology Centre, Karolinska Institute, Nobels väg 18, SE-171 82 Solna, Stockholm, Sweden | The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of two antibody enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) [Vironostika Uni-Form II plus O and Enzygnost® anti-HIV-1/2 Plus], and two antigen/antibody combination ELISAs [Murex and Vironostika HIV Uni-Form II] for use in an alternative confirmatory HIV diagnostic testing strategy in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Altogether, 1380 serum samples were included. All ELISA reactive samples were tested using the Inno-Lia antibody assay and discrepant samples were tested on the Innotest p24 antigen assay. Three hundred and one (21.8%) samples were confirmed HIV-1 antibody positive by Inno-Lia including 27/508 (5.3%) from blood donors, 65/511 (12.7%) from pregnant women and 209/361 (57.9%) from hospital patients. The sensitivity at initial testing was 100% (95% CI; 98.8-100%) for all assays except Vironostika Uni-Form II plus O (99.7%; 95% CI; 98.2-99.9%) which showed one false negative sample at initial testing but 100% sensitivity after repeat testing. The final specificity at repeat testing was 100% (95% CI; 99.7-100%) for Enzygnost® anti-HIV-1/2 Plus, 99.4% (95% CI; 98.8-99.8%) for each of the antigen/antibody combination ELISAs and 97.9% (95% CI; 96.8-98.6%) for Vironostika plus O ELISA. An alternative confirmatory HIV testing strategy based on initial testing on any of the two antigen/antibody assays followed by testing of reactive samples on the Enzygnost® anti-HIV-1/2 Plus assay gave 100% specificity (95% CI; 99.7-100%). © 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. | Alternative confirmatory strategy; HIV antigen/antibody combination assay; p24 antigen | antigen p24; Human immunodeficiency virus antibody; Human immunodeficiency virus antigen; antigen antibody complex; antigen binding; article; blood donor; blood sampling; clinical article; confidence interval; diagnostic test; enzyme linked immunosorbent assay; false negative result; female; hospital patient; human; Human immunodeficiency virus; Human immunodeficiency virus 1; Human immunodeficiency virus 2; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; immunoassay; pregnant woman; priority journal; sensitivity analysis; sensitivity and specificity; Tanzania; AIDS Serodiagnosis; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; HIV Antibodies; HIV Core Protein p24; HIV-1; HIV-2; Humans; Sensitivity and Specificity; Human immunodeficiency virus 1; Murex | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84929518018 | The evaluation of platelet function in HIV infected, asymptomatic treatment-naïve individuals using flow cytometry | Nkambule B.B., Davison G.M., Ipp H. | 2015 | Thrombosis Research | 135 | 6 | 10.1016/j.thromres.2015.01.031 | Divisions of Haematology, Department of Pathology, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, South Africa; Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Wellness Sciences, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Bellville, South Africa | Nkambule, B.B., Divisions of Haematology, Department of Pathology, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, South Africa; Davison, G.M., Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Wellness Sciences, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Bellville, South Africa; Ipp, H., Divisions of Haematology, Department of Pathology, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, South Africa | Introduction Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) induces inflammation and platelet activation. People living with HIV are at increased risk of thrombotic events. Activated platelets link inflammation with thrombosis. However platelet function in HIV remains unclear. P-selectin (CD62P), a marker of platelet activation, and platelet glycoprotein GPIV (CD36) a marker of platelet aggregation, can be measured using flow cytometry. We raise a hypothesis that HIV alters the signalling pathways involved in normal platelet function. We evaluated platelet function in HIV using a whole blood platelet flow cytometry based assay. Materials and methods Fifty-eight antiretroviral therapy naïve HIV infected and 38 HIV negative individuals were recruited in a clinic in Cape Town. Platelet surface CD36 and CD62P were measured using flow cytometry. These were then correlated with CD4 count, viral load and %CD38 on CD8 + T-cells. Platelet function was evaluated using adenosine diphosphate, arachidonic acid and collagen at varying concentrations. Results The HIV group showed increased levels of %CD62P (median 5.51[3.03- 10.11] vs. Control group 2.14[0.19 - 3.59], p < 0.0001. This correlated with Viral load (r = 0.336, P = 0.008). The HIV group also showed increased levels of platelet %CD36 21.93[11.03-44.92] vs. Control 16.15[2.24-25.37], p = 0.0087) which correlated with viral load (r = 0.398, p = 0.024). The HIV group showed a hyper response to AA and collagen at various concentrations. Notably, the HIV group only showed a hyper response to ADP at a maximal concentration of 20 μM (median CD62P MFI, 1.91[1.64-4.95] vs. Control 1.75[1.45-2.44] p = 0.0279. Conclusion The measurement of platelet function using flow cytometry is a rapid technique for the evaluation of platelet signalling pathways that may be modified in HIV infected individuals. © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. | None | adenosine diphosphate; antiretrovirus agent; arachidonic acid; CD36 antigen; CD8 antigen; collagen; PADGEM protein; adult; antiviral therapy; Article; CD4 lymphocyte count; controlled study; disease course; female; flow cytometer; flow cytometry; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infected patient; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; major clinical study; male; priority journal; signal transduction; thrombocyte count; thrombocyte function; thrombocyte membrane; virus load | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84928940092 | Tracing shadows: How gendered power relations shape the impacts of maternal death on living children in sub Saharan Africa | Yamin A.E., Bazile J., Knight L., Molla M., Maistrellis E., Leaning J. | 2015 | Social Science and Medicine | 135 | None | 10.1016/j.socscimed.2015.04.033 | Global Health and Population, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States; Francois-Xavier Bagnoud Center for Health and Human Rights, Harvard University, Boston, MA, United States; Partners In Health-Abwenzi Pa Za Umoyo, Neno, Malawi; HIV/AIDS, STI and TB Unit, Human Sciences Research Council, Durban, South Africa; Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Division of General Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States | Yamin, A.E., Global Health and Population, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States, Francois-Xavier Bagnoud Center for Health and Human Rights, Harvard University, Boston, MA, United States; Bazile, J., Partners In Health-Abwenzi Pa Za Umoyo, Neno, Malawi; Knight, L., HIV/AIDS, STI and TB Unit, Human Sciences Research Council, Durban, South Africa; Molla, M., Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Maistrellis, E., Francois-Xavier Bagnoud Center for Health and Human Rights, Harvard University, Boston, MA, United States, Division of General Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States; Leaning, J., Global Health and Population, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States, Francois-Xavier Bagnoud Center for Health and Human Rights, Harvard University, Boston, MA, United States | Driven by the need to better understand the full and intergenerational toll of maternal mortality (MM), a mixed-methods study was conducted in four countries in sub-Saharan Africa to investigate the impacts of maternal death on families and children. The present analysis identifies gender as a fundamental driver not only of maternal, but also child health, through manifestations of gender inequity in household decision making, labor and caregiving, and social norms dictating the status of women. Focus group discussions were conducted with community members, and in depth qualitative interviews with key-informants and stakeholders, in Tanzania, Ethiopia, Malawi, and South Africa between April 2012 and October 2013. Findings highlight that socially constructed gender roles, which define mothers as caregivers and fathers as wage earners, and which limit women's agency regarding childcare decisions, among other things, create considerable gaps when it comes to meeting child nutrition, education, and health care needs following a maternal death. Additionally, our findings show that maternal deaths have differential effects on boy and girl children, and exacerbate specific risks for girl children, including early marriage, early pregnancy, and school drop-out. To combat both MM, and to mitigate impacts on children, investment in health services interventions should be complemented by broader interventions regarding social protection, as well as aimed at shifting social norms and opportunity structures regarding gendered divisions of labor and power at household, community, and society levels. © 2015 . | Child health; Ethiopia; Gender roles; Malawi; Masculinities; Maternal mortality; South Africa; Tanzania | child care; child health; gender relations; gender role; health services; maternal mortality; womens status; adult; Africa south of the Sahara; Article; attitude to death; child; child health care; child nutrition; education; Ethiopia; father; female; health care access; human; Malawi; male; masculinity; maternal mortality; mother; orphaned child; sex difference; sex role; sexism; social norm; social status; socioeconomics; South Africa; Tanzania; wellbeing; Africa south of the Sahara; child health; developing country; gender identity; health service; information processing; maternal mortality; orphaned child; pregnancy; qualitative research; social norm; supply and distribution; Ethiopia; Malawi; South Africa; Tanzania; Adult; Africa South of the Sahara; Child; Child Health; Child, Orphaned; Developing Countries; Fathers; Female; Focus Groups; Gender Identity; Health Services; Humans; Male; Maternal Death; Maternal Mortality; Pregnancy; Qualitative Research; Social Norms; Socioeconomic Factors | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-38549181029 | Expression of Plasmodium falciparum 3D7 STEVOR proteins for evaluation of antibody responses following malaria infections in naïve infants | Schreiber N., Khattab A., Petter M., Marks F., Adjei S., Kobbe R., May J., Klinkert M.-Q. | 2008 | Parasitology | 135 | 2 | 10.1017/S0031182007003794 | Infectious Disease Epidemiology Group, Bernhard-Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Bernhard-Nocht-Strasse 74, 20359 Hamburg, Germany; Department of Molecular Medicine, Bernhard-Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Bernhard-Nocht-Strasse 74, 20359 Hamburg, Germany; Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, KNUST University Post Office, Kumasi, Ghana; International Vaccine Institute, Kwanak, PO Box 14, Seoul 151-600, South Korea; Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Bernhard-Nocht-Strasse 74, 20359 Hamburg, Germany | Schreiber, N., Infectious Disease Epidemiology Group, Bernhard-Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Bernhard-Nocht-Strasse 74, 20359 Hamburg, Germany; Khattab, A., Department of Molecular Medicine, Bernhard-Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Bernhard-Nocht-Strasse 74, 20359 Hamburg, Germany; Petter, M., Department of Molecular Medicine, Bernhard-Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Bernhard-Nocht-Strasse 74, 20359 Hamburg, Germany; Marks, F., Infectious Disease Epidemiology Group, Bernhard-Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Bernhard-Nocht-Strasse 74, 20359 Hamburg, Germany, International Vaccine Institute, Kwanak, PO Box 14, Seoul 151-600, South Korea; Adjei, S., Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, KNUST University Post Office, Kumasi, Ghana; Kobbe, R., Infectious Disease Epidemiology Group, Bernhard-Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Bernhard-Nocht-Strasse 74, 20359 Hamburg, Germany; May, J., Infectious Disease Epidemiology Group, Bernhard-Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Bernhard-Nocht-Strasse 74, 20359 Hamburg, Germany; Klinkert, M.-Q., Department of Molecular Medicine, Bernhard-Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Bernhard-Nocht-Strasse 74, 20359 Hamburg, Germany, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Bernhard-Nocht-Strasse 74, 20359 Hamburg, Germany | Clinical immunity to Plasmodium falciparum malaria develops after repeated exposure to the parasite. At least 2 P. falciparum variant antigens encoded by multicopy gene families (var and rif) are targets of this adaptive antibody-mediated immunity. A third multigene family of variant antigens comprises the stevor genes. Here, 4 different stevor sequences were selected for cloning and expression in Escherichia coli and His6-tagged fusion proteins were used for assessing the development of immunity. In a cross-sectional analysis of clinically immune adults living in a malaria endemic area in Ghana, high levels of anti-STEVOR IgG antibody titres were determined in ELISA. A cross-sectional study of 90 nine-month-old Ghanaian infants using 1 recombinant STEVOR showed that the antibody responses correlated positively with the number of parasitaemia episodes. In a longitudinal investigation of 17 immunologically naïve 9-month-old infants, 3 different patterns of anti-STEVOR antibody responses could be distinguished (high, transient and low). Children with high anti-STEVOR-antibody levels exhibited an elevated risk for developing parasitaemia episodes. Overall, a protective effect could not be attributed to antibodies against the STEVOR proteins chosen for the study presented here. © 2007 Cambridge University Press. | Immune responses; Infants; Plasmodium falciparum; Recombinant STEVOR | hybrid protein; immunoglobulin G antibody; parasite antibody; protozoal protein; STEVOR protein; unclassified drug; antibody response; article; controlled study; endemic disease; enzyme linked immunosorbent assay; Escherichia coli; gene expression; gene sequence; Ghana; high risk infant; human; infant; infection risk; malaria falciparum; molecular cloning; nonhuman; parasite immunity; Plasmodium falciparum; priority journal; Adult; Amino Acid Sequence; Animals; Antibodies, Protozoan; Antigens, Protozoan; Cross-Sectional Studies; Escherichia coli; Ghana; Humans; Immunoglobulin G; Infant; Longitudinal Studies; Mice; Molecular Sequence Data; Phylogeny; Plasmodium falciparum; Recombinant Fusion Proteins; Sequence Alignment; Time Factors; Escherichia coli; Plasmodium falciparum | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84909592407 | Influence of operating conditions on unsteady wind performance of vertical axis wind turbines operating within a fluctuating free-stream: A numerical study | Wekesa D.W., Wang C., Wei Y., Danao L.A.M. | 2014 | Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics | 135 | None | 10.1016/j.jweia.2014.10.016 | Institute of Dynamics and Control of Spacecrafts, School of Astronautics, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin City, China; Department of Physics, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Nairobi City, Kenya; Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quenzon City, Philippines | Wekesa, D.W., Institute of Dynamics and Control of Spacecrafts, School of Astronautics, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin City, China, Department of Physics, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Nairobi City, Kenya; Wang, C., Institute of Dynamics and Control of Spacecrafts, School of Astronautics, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin City, China; Wei, Y., Institute of Dynamics and Control of Spacecrafts, School of Astronautics, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin City, China; Danao, L.A.M., Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quenzon City, Philippines | A fluctuating free-stream in unsteady wind environment presents a more significant challenge in wind turbine performance. In this paper, a numerical method is presented to investigate the influence of operating conditions on Vertical Axis Wind Turbine (VAWT) of NACA00XX symmetric airfoils with 12% and 22% thickness in unsteady wind condition. The Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) numerical method was used to analyze the aerodynamic performance and physics of flow of the VAWT. The VAWT dynamic motion of blades was introduced by sinusoidally oscillating both VAWT blades. Using a validated CFD model, steady wind simulations at Umean=7.00m/s and 11.00m/s were conducted and the results predicted the Power Coefficient (CP) performance for the VAWT scale. The results derived in the numerical analysis show that, within fluctuating free-stream wind conditions, thicker airfoils are desirable. Overall maximum unsteady CP of VAWT with thicker blades reveals positive deviations if the tip speed ratio λ is slightly higher than λ of the steady maximum CP, while thinner blades maximum CP marginally drops from the steady maximum CP for the same λ range. Higher frequencies of fluctuation marginally improve the unsteady wind performance of both VAWT blade profiles. High fluctuation amplitudes reveal overall performance degradation on both VAWT blade profiles more than small fluctuation amplitudes. The findings lend substantially to our understanding of both the kinematic and aerodynamic behavior on VAWT scale blades operating in unsteady wind condition, and the flow physics that causes the behavior. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. | CFD; NACA00XX; Power coefficient; Unsteady wind; VAWT | Free-stream; NACA00XX; Operating condition; Power coefficients; VAWT; Vertical axis wind turbines; Wind performance; Computational fluid dynamics | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77954921893 | Safety evaluations of the cry1Ia1 protein found in the transgenic potato 'SpuntaG2' | Quemada H., Zarka K., Pett W., Bothma G., Felcher K., Mirendil H., Koch M., Brink J., Douches D. | 2010 | Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science | 135 | 4 | None | Institute of International Agriculture, Michigan State University, 319 Agriculture Hall, East Lansing, MI 48824, United States; Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, Michigan State University, A499B Plant and Soil Science Building, East Lansing, MI 48824, United States; Department of Entomology, Michigan State University, 444 Natural Science Building, East Lansing, MI 48824, United States; Agricultural Research Council, Vegetable and Ornamental Plant Institute, Private Bag X293, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa; Department of Biology, Calvin College, Grand Rapids, MI, United States; 4502 Donnelly Drive, RR#4, Merrickville, ON K0G 1N0, Canada | Quemada, H., Institute of International Agriculture, Michigan State University, 319 Agriculture Hall, East Lansing, MI 48824, United States; Zarka, K., Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, Michigan State University, A499B Plant and Soil Science Building, East Lansing, MI 48824, United States; Pett, W., Department of Entomology, Michigan State University, 444 Natural Science Building, East Lansing, MI 48824, United States; Bothma, G., Agricultural Research Council, Vegetable and Ornamental Plant Institute, Private Bag X293, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa; Felcher, K., Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, Michigan State University, A499B Plant and Soil Science Building, East Lansing, MI 48824, United States; Mirendil, H., Department of Biology, Calvin College, Grand Rapids, MI, United States; Koch, M., 4502 Donnelly Drive, RR#4, Merrickville, ON K0G 1N0, Canada; Brink, J., Institute of International Agriculture, Michigan State University, 319 Agriculture Hall, East Lansing, MI 48824, United States; Douches, D., Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, Michigan State University, A499B Plant and Soil Science Building, East Lansing, MI 48824, United States | The transgenic potato 'SpuntaG2' (Solanum tuberosum), which is resistant to potato tuber moth (Phthorimaea operculella), was subjected to protein safety evaluations including protein equivalency tests for the Cry1Ia1 protein from 'SpuntaG2' and bacterially produced Cry1Ia1, toxicity and allergenicity evaluations of Cry1Ia1 protein, and compositional equivalency of 'SpuntaG2' compared with non-transgenic 'Spunta'. Western blot analysis and biological activity assays showed molecular and functional equivalency between 'SpuntaG2'-derived Cry1Ia1 protein and bacteria-derived Cry1Ia1 protein. Comparison of the Cry1Ia1 amino acid sequence to known amino acid sequences revealed no significant homology to known toxins or known allergens. Acute toxicity studies using rodents were used to calculate an acceptable daily intake (ADI) value of 20 mg·kg-1 body weight per day. The ADI value was then used to calculate a margin of exposure (MOE) of 2,222,222, which is more than 22,000 times greater than the commonly used target MOE of 100. Digestibility and thermostability assays determined that Cry1Ia1 was fully digested within 30 s of exposure to pepsin and inactive after 3 to 4 minutes at 100°C, indicating that it would not be a potential allergen. Compositional analyses revealed no difference between 'SpuntaG2' and non-transgenic 'Spunta'. These results strongly indicate that the Cry1Ia protein and the transgenic potato 'SpuntaG2' is not a human health risk. | Bt; Insect resistance; NPTII; Phthorimaea operculella; Tuber moth | Bacteria (microorganisms); Hexapoda; Lepidoptera; Phthorimaea operculella; Rodentia; Solanum tuberosum | None |
| WoS | WOS:000228149500054 | An education and counseling program for preventing breast-feeding-associated HIV transmission in Zimbabwe: Design and impact on maternal knowledge and behavior | Gavin, L,HUMPHREY, JH,ILIFF, PJ,Lunney, K,Marinda, E,Nathoo, KJ,Piwoz, EG,Tavengwa, N,Zunguza, C,ZVITAMBO Study Grp | 2005 | JOURNAL OF NUTRITION | 135 | 4 | None | Johns Hopkins University, University of Zimbabwe | None | International guidance on HIV and infant feeding has evolved over the last decade. In response to these changes, we designed, implemented, and evaluated an education and counseling program for new mothers in Harare, Zimbabwe. The program was implemented within the ZVITAMBO trial, in which 14,1110 mother-baby pairs were enrolled within 96 h of delivery and were followed at 6 wk, 3 mo, and 3-mo intervals. Mothers were tested for HIV at delivery but were not required to learn their test results. Infant feeding patterns were determined using data provided up to 3 mo. Formative research was undertaken to guide the design of the program that included group education, individual counseling, videos, and brochures. The program was introduced over a 2-mo period: 11,362, 1311, and 1437 women were enrolled into the trial before, during, and after this period. Exclusive breast-feeding was recommended for mothers of unknown or negative HIV status, and for HIV-positive mothers who chose to breast-feed. A questionnaire assessing HIV knowledge and exposure to the program was administered to 1996 mothers enrolling after the program was initiated. HIV knowledge improved with increasing exposure to the program. Mothers who enrolled when the program was being fully implemented were 70% more likely to learn their HIV status early (< 3 mo) and 8.4 times more likely to exclusively breast-feed than mothers who enrolled before the program began. Formative research aided in the design of a culturally sensitive intervention. The intervention increased relevant knowledge and improved feeding practices among women who primarily did not know their HIV status. | BREAST-FEEDING,"EXCLUSIVE BREAST-FEEDING",HIV,"MOTHER TO CHILD TRANSMISSION",ZIMBABWE,"TO-CHILD TRANSMISSION" | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-69149083949 | High-performance isolated PV-diesel system | Elmitwally A., Rashed M. | 2009 | Journal of Energy Engineering | 135 | 2 | 10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9402(2009)135:2(44) | School of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering, Univ. of KwaZulu-Natal, King George V Ave., Durban 4041, South Africa; School of Engineering, Kings College, Fraser Noble Bldg., Aberdeen AB24 3UE, United Kingdom | Elmitwally, A., School of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering, Univ. of KwaZulu-Natal, King George V Ave., Durban 4041, South Africa; Rashed, M., School of Engineering, Kings College, Fraser Noble Bldg., Aberdeen AB24 3UE, United Kingdom | In this paper, a control scheme is proposed for a three-phase isolated photovoltaic (PV)-diesel system without an energy storage element. The scheme aims to: Track maximum power from the PV array, regulate the load voltage, compensate the load unbalance viewed by the diesel generator, and to control the diesel engine speed. The first three tasks are achieved by controlling the PWM inverter interfacing the PV array to the system. The fourth is realized by a modified fuzzy logic controller of the diesel engine. The obstacles encountered on operating the system under certain probable loading conditions are addressed. Two strategies are proposed to adapt the control scheme to accommodate all loading scenarios maintaining excellent technical and economic performance. The system operation is investigated under a variety of conditions to prove the aptness of the proposed techniques. © 2009 ASCE. | Energy storage; Fuels; Fuzzy sets | Control schemes; Diesel generators; Economic performance; Fuzzy logic controllers; Load voltages; Loading condition; Maximum power; PV arrays; PV-diesel systems; PWM inverter; System operation; Diesel engines; Electric potential; Energy storage; Flywheels; Fuzzy logic; Fuzzy sets; Fuel storage | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79960993397 | Field evaluation of Beauveria bassiana efficacy for the control of Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae) | Gatarayiha M.C., Laing M.D., Miller R.M. | 2011 | Journal of Applied Entomology | 135 | 8 | 10.1111/j.1439-0418.2010.01569.x | School of Agricultural Sciences and Agribusiness, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa; School of Biological and Conservation Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa | Gatarayiha, M.C., School of Agricultural Sciences and Agribusiness, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa; Laing, M.D., School of Agricultural Sciences and Agribusiness, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa; Miller, R.M., School of Biological and Conservation Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa | Trials with eggplants were conducted to evaluate field efficacy of Beauveria bassiana (Bb) applications against Tetranychus urticae, during spring of 2006 and 2007. In the 2006-Trial, a rate of ca. 0.7×10 12 conidia/ha was sprayed onto plants at intervals. In the 2007-Trial, the rates of ca. 0.8×10 12 and 1.6×10 12 conidia/ha were sprayed at 1- or 2-week intervals. Based on population densities of mites and leaf damage assessed throughout the trial, the Bb sprays with 1- or 2-week interval showed better control than those of 3 or 4weeks. In both trials there was no statistical difference between 1-week and 2-week spray interval for all parameters measured. Furthermore, the higher rate performed significantly better than the lower rate, regardless of the intervals. No interaction was found between the spraying interval and the applied rate. Ultimately, to suppress the population density of T. urticae and prevent the eggplant damage in spring, the higher rate applied at 2-week interval was effective. © 2010 Blackwell Verlag, GmbH. | Beauveria bassiana; Control efficacy; Eggplant; Tetranychus urticae | dicotyledon; field survey; integrated pest management; mite; pest damage; population density; seasonality; spatiotemporal analysis; Acari; Cordyceps bassiana; Solanum melongena; Tetranychidae; Tetranychus urticae | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84922576120 | Effects of gas distribution profile on flotation cell performance: An experimental investigation | Bhondayi C., Moys M.H. | 2015 | International Journal of Mineral Processing | 135 | None | 10.1016/j.minpro.2015.01.004 | School of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, Johannesburg WITS, South Africa | Bhondayi, C., School of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, Johannesburg WITS, South Africa; Moys, M.H., School of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, Johannesburg WITS, South Africa | A flotation cell that enables the study of the effects of different air distribution profiles on flotation performance has been designed. Three distinct gas fluxes viz. high gas flux at the back of the flotation cell (impeller and gas distribution mechanism at the back), high gas flux at the centre (impeller and gas distribution mechanism at the centre) and high gas flux close to the concentrate weir (impeller and gas distribution mechanism close to concentrate weir). Pseudo-steady state experiments using an artificial ore comprising of 80% silica as gangue and 20% limestone as floatable component were done. Results indicated that high gas rate at the back of the flotation cell resulted in higher limestone recovery when compared to the other gas distribution profiles investigated while high gas flux close to the concentrate weir resulted in high limestone grade. The differences in recovery ranged between 5 and 10% while the grade differences ranged between 0.5 and 5% with high gas flux at the centre produced lower values for all froth depths and gas rates. The effect of gas distribution profile on limestone grade was found to dwindle as froth height was increased; changes in limestone grade ranged between 0.47 and 2% for a froth depth of 10.1 cm while those for a froth height of 6.3 cm ranged between 1.40 and 5%. © 2015 Elsevier B.V. | Flotation cell; Gas distribution profile; Impeller; Superficial gas velocity | Cells; Cytology; Flotation; Hydraulic structures; Impellers; Limestone; Molecular biology; Weirs; Air distribution; Experimental investigations; Flotation cell; Flotation performance; Gas distribution; High gas fluxes; Pseudo steady state; Superficial gas velocities; Gases | None |
| WoS | WOS:000301996000017 | Impact of perinatal somatic and common mental disorder symptoms on functioning in Ethiopian women: The P-MaMiE population-based cohort study | Alem, Atalay,Araya, Mesfin,Dewey, Michael,Hanlon, Charlotte,Medhin, Girmay,Prince, Martin,Senturk, Vesile,Stewart, Robert | 2012 | JOURNAL OF AFFECTIVE DISORDERS | 136 | 3 | 10.1016/j.jad.2011.11.028 | Addis Ababa University, Ankara University, Kings College London, University of London | "Alem, Atalay: Addis Ababa University","Araya, Mesfin: Addis Ababa University","Dewey, Michael: Kings College London","Dewey, Michael: University of London","Medhin, Girmay: Addis Ababa University","Prince, Martin: Kings College London","Prince, Martin: University of London","Stewart, Robert: Kings College London","Stewart, Robert: University of London", | Background: Little is known of the relationship between perinatal somatic and common mental disorder (CMD) symptoms and impaired functioning in women from settings where the burden of undernutrition and infectious disease morbidity is high.
Methods: A population-based sample of 1065 women from Butajira, Ethiopia, was recruited in pregnancy (86.4% of those eligible) and reassessed two months postnatal (954 with singleton, live infants). At both time-points, women were administered a modified version of the Patient Health Questionnaire-15 and the Self-Reporting Questionnaire (locally-validated) to assess somatic and CMD symptoms, respectively. Negative binomial regression was used to investigate associations of CMD and somatic symptoms with functional impairment (World Health Organisation Disability Assessment Scale, version-II), after adjusting for maternal anthropometric measures, physical ill-health and sociodemographic factors.
Results: In pregnancy, somatic and CMD symptoms were independently associated with worse maternal functional impairment after adjustment for confounders (WHODAS-II score multiplied by 1.09 (95%CI 1.06, 1.13) and 1.11 (95%CI 1.08, 1.14) respectively for each additional symptom). In the postnatal period, the size of association between somatic symptoms and functional impairment was diminished, but the association with CMD symptoms was virtually unchanged (multiplier value 1.04 (95%CI 1.00, 1.09) and 1.11 (95%CI 1.07, 1.16) respectively).
Limitations: Use of largely self-report measures.
Conclusions: Somatic and CMD symptoms were independently associated with functional impairment in both pregnancy and the postnatal period, with CMD symptoms showing a stronger and more consistent association. This emphasises the public health relevance of both CMD and somatic symptoms in the perinatal period. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. | DEPRESSION,DISABILITY,POSTNATAL,PREGNANCY,"SOMATIC SYMPTOMS","SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA",CHILDBIRTH,COMPLAINTS,"GENERAL HEALTH QUESTIONNAIRE",GOA,INDIA,"MATERNAL DEPRESSION",POSTNATAL-DEPRESSION-SCALE,POSTPARTUM,RISK-FACTORS,VALIDATION | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84899795687 | Evaluation of the mosquitocidal effect of Birbira (Mellitia ferruginea) seed extract against Anopheles arabiensis (Diptera: Culicidae) from Ethiopia | Andemo A., Yewhalaw D., Alemayehu B., Ambelu A. | 2014 | Acta Tropica | 136 | 1 | 10.1016/j.actatropica.2014.04.016 | Bench Maji Zonal Health Department, Federal Ministry of Health, Bench Maji Zone, Ethiopia; Department of Biology, College of Natural Sciences, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia; Bench Maji Zonal Health Department, Federal Ministry of Health, Bench Maji Zone, Ethiopia; Department of Environmental Health Science and Technology, College of Public Health and Medical Sciences, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia | Andemo, A., Bench Maji Zonal Health Department, Federal Ministry of Health, Bench Maji Zone, Ethiopia; Yewhalaw, D., Department of Biology, College of Natural Sciences, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia; Alemayehu, B., Bench Maji Zonal Health Department, Federal Ministry of Health, Bench Maji Zone, Ethiopia; Ambelu, A., Department of Environmental Health Science and Technology, College of Public Health and Medical Sciences, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia | Mosquito control using insecticides has been the most successful intervention known to reduce malaria prevalence and/or incidence. However, over time success has been hampered due to the development of resistance by mosquitoes against chemical insecticides recommended for public health use. Development of effective botanical mosquitocidal compounds however can be potential alternatives tool in malaria vector control. Thus, the present study aimed at investigating the mosquitocidal effect of "Birbira" (Mellitia ferruginea) seed extract against the primary malaria vector, Anopheles arabiensis from Ethiopia. The mosquitocidal activity of M. ferruginea was assessed following WHO susceptibility test procedure. Methanol extract of M. ferruginea seeds was evaluated against third & fourth instar larvae, pupae and, non-blood fed 3-5 days old laboratory strains and field populations of A. arabiensis under laboratory condition. Mortality was then recorded after 24h exposure. The seed extract of M. ferruginea showed high mosquitocidal activity against larvae, pupae and adult stages of both the laboratory strain and field population of A. arabiensis. The LC50 values for larvae and pupae population from a laboratory strains was, respectively, 14.7 and 41.33mg/L. While the LC50 values for the larvae and a pupa of the field population were, respectively, 30.88 and 74.54mg/L. In addition, the LC99 and LD99 values were also identified. The findings of this study indicated that, the extract could be applied on mosquito breeding sites. The plant extract could be also used for indoor residual sprays after conducting the persistency test. © 2014 Elsevier B.V. | Bioassay; Botanicals; Ethiopia; Malaria; Mosquito; Vector control | insecticide; Mellitia ferruginea extract; plant extract; unclassified drug; insecticide; plant extract; bioassay; disease control; disease vector; efficiency measurement; insecticide; malaria; mosquito; pesticide resistance; Anopheles arabiensis; article; berry; botany; controlled study; Ethiopia; evaluation research; IC 50; insecticidal activity; larval stage; malaria; Mellitia ferruginea; mortality; nonhuman; parasite vector; plant seed; pupa (life cycle stage); toxicity testing; animal; Anopheles; chemistry; drug effects; Fabaceae; Ethiopia; Animals; Anopheles; Fabaceae; Insecticides; Plant Extracts; Seeds | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-39049091339 | Estimating the impact of vaccination using age-time-dependent incidence rates of hepatitis B | Hens N., Aerts M., Shkedy Z., Kung'u Kimani P., Kojouhorova M., Van Damme P., Beutels Ph. | 2008 | Epidemiology and Infection | 136 | 3 | 10.1017/S0950268807008692 | Center for Statistics, Hasselt University, Campus Diepenbeek, Agoralaan 1, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium; Kenya Institute of Medical Research, Nairobi, Kenya; National Center of Infectious and Parasitic diseases, Department of Epidemiology, Sofia, Bulgaria; Centre for the Evaluation of Vaccination, Epidemiology and Community Medicine, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium | Hens, N., Center for Statistics, Hasselt University, Campus Diepenbeek, Agoralaan 1, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium; Aerts, M., Center for Statistics, Hasselt University, Campus Diepenbeek, Agoralaan 1, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium; Shkedy, Z., Center for Statistics, Hasselt University, Campus Diepenbeek, Agoralaan 1, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium; Kung'u Kimani, P., Kenya Institute of Medical Research, Nairobi, Kenya; Kojouhorova, M., National Center of Infectious and Parasitic diseases, Department of Epidemiology, Sofia, Bulgaria; Van Damme, P., Centre for the Evaluation of Vaccination, Epidemiology and Community Medicine, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium; Beutels, Ph., Centre for the Evaluation of Vaccination, Epidemiology and Community Medicine, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium | The objective of this study was to model the age-time-dependent incidence of hepatitis B while estimating the impact of vaccination. While stochastic models/time-series have been used before to model hepatitis B cases in the absence of knowledge on the number of susceptibles, this paper proposed using a method that fits into the generalized additive model framework. Generalized additive models with penalized regression splines are used to exploit the underlying continuity of both age and time in a flexible non-parametric way. Based on a unique case notification dataset, we have shown that the implemented immunization programme in Bulgaria resulted in a significant decrease in incidence for infants in their first year of life with 82% (79-84%). Moreover, we have shown that conditional on an assumed baseline susceptibility percentage, a smooth force-of-infection profile can be obtained from which two local maxima were observed at ages 9 and 24 years. © 2007 Cambridge University Press. | None | hepatitis B vaccine; age; article; Bulgaria; conceptual framework; health program; hepatitis B; human; immunization; incidence; infant; infection sensitivity; mathematical model; nonparametric test; regression analysis; risk reduction; sensitivity analysis; stochastic model; time series analysis; vaccination; Bulgaria; Communicable Disease Control; Hepatitis B; Hepatitis B Vaccines; Hepatitis B virus; Humans; Incidence; Models, Statistical; Vaccination | None |
| WoS | WOS:000259198200010 | The impact of a school-based safe water and hygiene programme on knowledge and practices of students and their parents: Nyanza Province, western Kenya, 2006 | Ayalo, M.,Freeman, M. C.,Hoekstra, R. M.,Migele, J.,Mwaki, A.,Ombeki, S.,O'Reilly, C. E.,Quick, R.,Ravani, M. | 2008 | EPIDEMIOLOGY AND INFECTION | 136 | 1 | 10.1017/S0950268807008060 | Emory University, CARE Kenya, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention - USA, Ctr Dis Control & Prevent | "Freeman, M. C.: Emory University","Quick, R.: Emory University","Ravani, M.: Emory University", | Safe drinking water and hygiene are essential to reducing Kenya's diarrhoeal disease burden. A school-based safe water and hygiene intervention in Kenya was evaluated to assess its impact on students' knowledge and parents' adoption of safe water and hygiene practices. We surveyed 390 students from nine schools and their parents at baseline and conducted a final evaluation of 363 students and their parents. From baseline to final evaluation, improvement was seen in students' knowledge of correct water treatment procedure (21-65%. P < 0.01) and knowing when to wash their hands. At final evaluation, 14% of parents reported currently treating their water. compared with 6% Lit baseline (P < 0.01). From 2004 to 2005. school absenteeism in the September-November term decreased in nine project schools by 35%, and increased in nine neighbouring comparison Schools by 5%. This novel programme shows promise for reducing, school absenteeism and promoting water and hygiene interventions in the home. | ,ABSENTEEISM,BANGLADESH,BEHAVIORS,"CHILDHOOD DIARRHEA",CHLORINATION,"DIARRHEAL DISEASE",DRINKING-WATER,INTERVENTION,MORBIDITY,TRANSMISSION | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77949389638 | Rain drop size distribution variability and impact on X-band polarimetric radar retrieval: Results from the AMMA campaign in Benin | Gosset M., Zahirib E.-P., Moumounic S. | 2010 | Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society | 136 | SUPPL. 1 | 10.1002/qj.556 | Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), Laboratoire d'Etude des Transferts en Hydrologie et Environement (LTHE), Toulouse, France; Université Cocody, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, Cote d'Ivoire; Université Abomey Calavi (UAC), Bénin, South Africa | Gosset, M., Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), Laboratoire d'Etude des Transferts en Hydrologie et Environement (LTHE), Toulouse, France; Zahirib, E.-P., Université Cocody, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, Cote d'Ivoire; Moumounic, S., Université Abomey Calavi (UAC), Bénin, South Africa | During the African Monsoon Multidisciplinary Analysis (AMMA) field campaign, polarimetric weather radars, a rain-gauge network and disdrometers were available to analyse the convective systems and the rainfall in Benin. In this paper a three-year dataset of drop size distributions is used to compute theoretical relationships between X-band polarimetric variables and the rain rate, adjusted for the region of interest. The variability of these relationships from storm to storm and between rain types is studied. With an X-band polarimetric radar the rain rate can be retrieved from the differential specific phase shift K DP, the specific attenuation AH, the reflectivity Z or differential reflectivity ZDR corrected for attenuation, or a combination of these variables. The set of coefficients needed to run the rain retrieval or the attenuation correction schemes under the conditions found in Benin are computed. The rain retrieval schemes are compared on the basis of simulations. The retrievals based on one single propagative variable like K DP or A H perform well. Preliminary results from direct comparisons between X-band polarimetric radar estimates and rain-gauges are consistent with the disdrometer-based analysis. © 2010 Royal Meteorological Society. | Microphysics; Tropical rain | Attenuation ,; Attenuation correction; Convective systems; Data sets; Differential reflectivity; Disdrometers; Drop size distribution; Field campaign; Gauge network; Microphysics; Multi-disciplinary analysis; Polarimetric radars; Polarimetric variable; Rain drop size; Rain rates; Rain retrieval; Rain type; Region of interest; Specific attenuation; Tropical rain; Weather radars; Dynamic positioning; Gages; Image segmentation; Meteorological radar; Percolation (solid state); Physics; Polarimeters; Polarographic analysis; Radar; Reflection; Size distribution; Storms; Rain; convective system; data set; precipitation assessment; precipitation intensity; radar; raindrop; rainfall; raingauge; size distribution; theoretical study; weather station; Benin [West Africa] | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84899834640 | Evaluation of circulating cathodic antigen (CCA) urine-cassette assay as a survey tool for Schistosoma mansoni in different transmission settings within Bugiri District, Uganda | Adriko M., Standley C.J., Tinkitina B., Tukahebwa E.M., Fenwick A., Fleming F.M., Sousa-Figueiredo J.C., Stothard J.R., Kabatereine N.B. | 2014 | Acta Tropica | 136 | 1 | 10.1016/j.actatropica.2014.04.001 | Makerere University School of Public Health, P.O. Box 7026, Kampala, Uganda; Vector Control Division, Ministry of Health, P.O. Box 1661, Plot 15 Bombo Road, Kampala, Uganda; Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, United States; Schistosomiasis Control Initiative, Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Imperial College London, St Mary's Campus, Norfolk Place, London W2 1PG, United Kingdom; Parasitology Department, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool L3 5QA, United Kingdom; Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 6HT, United Kingdom | Adriko, M., Makerere University School of Public Health, P.O. Box 7026, Kampala, Uganda, Vector Control Division, Ministry of Health, P.O. Box 1661, Plot 15 Bombo Road, Kampala, Uganda; Standley, C.J., Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, United States; Tinkitina, B., Makerere University School of Public Health, P.O. Box 7026, Kampala, Uganda, Vector Control Division, Ministry of Health, P.O. Box 1661, Plot 15 Bombo Road, Kampala, Uganda; Tukahebwa, E.M., Makerere University School of Public Health, P.O. Box 7026, Kampala, Uganda; Fenwick, A., Schistosomiasis Control Initiative, Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Imperial College London, St Mary's Campus, Norfolk Place, London W2 1PG, United Kingdom; Fleming, F.M., Schistosomiasis Control Initiative, Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Imperial College London, St Mary's Campus, Norfolk Place, London W2 1PG, United Kingdom; Sousa-Figueiredo, J.C., Parasitology Department, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool L3 5QA, United Kingdom, Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 6HT, United Kingdom; Stothard, J.R., Parasitology Department, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool L3 5QA, United Kingdom; Kabatereine, N.B., Vector Control Division, Ministry of Health, P.O. Box 1661, Plot 15 Bombo Road, Kampala, Uganda, Schistosomiasis Control Initiative, Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Imperial College London, St Mary's Campus, Norfolk Place, London W2 1PG, United Kingdom | Diagnosis of schistosomiasis at the point-of-care (POC) is a growing topic in neglected tropical disease research. There is a need for diagnostic tests which are affordable, sensitive, specific, user-friendly, rapid, equipment-free and delivered to those who need it, and POC is an important tool for disease mapping and guiding mass deworming. The aim of present study was to evaluate the relative diagnostic performance of two urine-circulating cathodic antigen (CCA) cassette assays, one commercially available and the other in experimental production, against results obtained using the standard Kato-Katz faecal smear method (six thick smears from three consecutive days), as a 'gold-standard', for Schistosoma mansoni infection in different transmission settings in Uganda. Our study was conducted among 500 school children randomly selected across 5 schools within Bugiri district, adjacent to Lake Victoria in Uganda. Considering results from the 469 pupils who provided three stool samples for the six Kato-Katz smears, 293 (76%) children had no infection, 109 (23%) were in the light intensity category, while 42 (9%) and 25 (5%) were in the moderate and heavy intensity categories respectively. Following performance analysis of CCA tests in terms of sensitivity, specificity, negative and positive predictive values, overall performance of the commercially available CCA test was more informative than single Kato-Katz faecal smear microscopy, the current operational field standard for disease mapping. The current CCA assay is therefore a satisfactory method for surveillance of S. mansoni in an area where disease endemicity is declining due to control interventions. With the recent resolution on schistosomiasis elimination by the 65th World Health Assembly, the urine POC CCA test is an attractive tool to augment and perhaps replace the Kato-Katz sampling within ongoing control programmes. © 2014 Elsevier B.V. | Circulating cathodic antigen (CCA); Diagnostic methods; Intestinal schistosomiasis; Point-of-care diagnosis (POC); Rapid diagnostic test (RDT); Schistosoma mansoni; Uganda | praziquantel; CCA protein, Schistosoma mansoni; glycoprotein; helminth protein; parasite antigen; antigen; bioassay; disease; disease control; mapping; schistosomiasis; testing method; adolescent; article; bioassay; child; circulating cathodic antigen cassette assay; controlled study; diagnostic test accuracy study; disease control; disease transmission; feces analysis; female; gold standard; human; intermethod comparison; Kato Katz fecal smear method; laboratory diagnosis; major clinical study; male; point of care testing; predictive value; prevalence; quality control; randomized controlled trial; Schistosoma mansoni; schistosomiasis mansoni; sensitivity and specificity; Uganda; urinalysis; animal; epidemiology; isolation and purification; schistosomiasis mansoni; urine; Uganda; Adolescent; Animals; Antigens, Helminth; Child; Female; Glycoproteins; Helminth Proteins; Humans; Male; Predictive Value of Tests; Schistosoma mansoni; Schistosomiasis mansoni; Sensitivity and Specificity; Uganda | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-75649129083 | Process evaluation of schistosomiasis control in Uganda, 2003 to 2006: Perceptions, attitudes and constraints of a national programme | Fleming F.M., Fenwick A., Tukahebwa E.M., Lubanga R.G.N., Namwangye H., Zaramba S., Kabatereine N.B. | 2009 | Parasitology | 136 | 13 | 10.1017/S0031182009990709 | Schistosomiasis Control Initiative, Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Imperial College London, Norfolk Place, London, W2 1PG, United Kingdom; Vector Control Division, Ministry of Health, P.O. Box 1661, Kampala, Uganda; Department of Social Work and Social Administration, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda; Ministry of Health, Headquarters, P.O. Box 7272, Kampala, Uganda | Fleming, F.M., Schistosomiasis Control Initiative, Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Imperial College London, Norfolk Place, London, W2 1PG, United Kingdom; Fenwick, A., Schistosomiasis Control Initiative, Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Imperial College London, Norfolk Place, London, W2 1PG, United Kingdom; Tukahebwa, E.M., Vector Control Division, Ministry of Health, P.O. Box 1661, Kampala, Uganda; Lubanga, R.G.N., Department of Social Work and Social Administration, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda; Namwangye, H., Vector Control Division, Ministry of Health, P.O. Box 1661, Kampala, Uganda; Zaramba, S., Ministry of Health, Headquarters, P.O. Box 7272, Kampala, Uganda; Kabatereine, N.B., Vector Control Division, Ministry of Health, P.O. Box 1661, Kampala, Uganda | Schistosomiasis is widespread in Uganda along large lakes and rivers with approximately 4 million people infected. Hookworm infections also prevalent throughout the country, while infections with Ascaris lumbricoides and Trichuris trichiura are mainly found in south-western Uganda. A national programme aimed at controlling morbidity due to these infections was launched in 2003. This article describes the perceptions, attitudes, constraints and experiences of those implementing the programme and those receiving the treatment. The study used qualitative data collected largely in two districts but also from 18 other districts implementing the programme. Results showed that mass treatment was perceived to be beneficial because the drugs make people feel better. However, side-effects of praziquantel (PZQ), the smell and size of the tablets and the use of height, not weight, to determine dose were raised as major factors discouraging people from taking the drug. Generally, most of the end-users were appreciative of the programme and were beginning to demand regular treatment. Nevertheless, intensive and sustained health education is still vital for improvement of treatment coverage, especially among the non-compliers. It was repeatedly highlighted that there is a need to stock PZQ in all health facilities in endemic areas. Provision of incentives to drug distributors and to involve as many stakeholders as possible in the planning phase were also raised by respondents. Lessons learned for the development and success of a helminth control programme at a national scale are discussed. Copyright © 2009 Cambridge University Press. | attitude; control; perceptions; praziquantel; process evaluation; Schistosoma mansoni; Schistosomiasis; soil-transmitted helminthiasis; Uganda | praziquantel; antischistosomal agent; adolescent; article; Ascaris lumbricoides; awareness; child; control strategy; diarrhea; dizziness; endemic disease; female; health care personnel; health education; health program; health service; human; infection control; infection prevention; major clinical study; morbidity; mouse; nonhuman; parasite control; parasite prevalence; parasite transmission; priority journal; qualitative analysis; schistosomiasis; school child; stomach pain; treatment response; Trichuris; Uganda; vomiting; attitude to health; information processing; organization and management; patient compliance; public health; standard; Ancylostomatoidea; Ascaris lumbricoides; Schistosoma mansoni; Trichuris trichiura; Vermes; Communicable Disease Control; Data Collection; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Humans; National Health Programs; Patient Compliance; Schistosomiasis; Schistosomicides; Uganda | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77956265695 | In vitro and in vivo evaluation of five low molecular weight proteins of Ehrlichia ruminantium as potential vaccine components | Sebatjane S.I., Pretorius A., Liebenberg J., Steyn H., Van Kleef M. | 2010 | Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology | 137 | 42433 | 10.1016/j.vetimm.2010.05.011 | ARC-Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute, Private Bag X05, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa; Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa | Sebatjane, S.I., ARC-Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute, Private Bag X05, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa, Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa; Pretorius, A., ARC-Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute, Private Bag X05, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa; Liebenberg, J., ARC-Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute, Private Bag X05, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa; Steyn, H., ARC-Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute, Private Bag X05, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa; Van Kleef, M., ARC-Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute, Private Bag X05, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa, Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa | Low molecular weight (LMW) proteins of E. ruminantium can induce proliferation of immune peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and the production of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) by CD4+-enriched T-cells. In this study, a reverse vaccinology approach was applied to identify additional vaccine candidates focusing on genes that encode LMW proteins smaller than 20. kDa. Five open reading frames (ORFs) were selected from the E. ruminantium genome and their corresponding recombinant (r) proteins were produced in a bacterial expression system. Their ability to induce proliferative responses and IFN-γ production was evaluated in vitro using lymphocyte proliferation and ELISPOT assays. All five recombinant proteins induced proliferation of immune PBMCs and IFN-γ production by these cells. The corresponding five genes were each individually incorporated into pCMViUBs, a mammalian expression vector and tested as a potential vaccine in sheep using a DNA prime-protein boost immunisation regimen. A cocktail of these DNA constructs protected one out of five sheep against a virulent E. ruminantium (Welgevonden) needle challenge. Three of the five vaccinated sheep showed an increase in their proliferative responses and production of IFN-γ before challenge. This response decreased after challenge in the sheep that succumbed to the challenge and increased in the sheep that survived. This finding indicates that sustained IFN-γ production is likely to be involved in conferring protective immunity against heartwater. © 2010 Elsevier B.V. | DNA vaccine; E. ruminantium; ELISPOT; Recombinant proteins | gamma interferon; plasmid DNA; recombinant protein; animal model; article; bacterial genome; bacterial infection; cell proliferation; controlled study; cytokine production; Ehrlichia ruminantium; enzyme linked immunospot assay; in vitro study; in vivo study; lymphocyte proliferation; molecular weight; nonhuman; open reading frame; peripheral blood mononuclear cell; sheep; vaccination; Animals; Bacterial Proteins; Bacterial Vaccines; Ehrlichia ruminantium; Immunization, Secondary; Interferon-gamma; Lymphocyte Activation; Molecular Weight; Open Reading Frames; Sheep; Vaccines, DNA; Bacteria (microorganisms); Ehrlichia ruminantium; Mammalia; Ovis aries | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84880293862 | Resistance evaluation of wheat germplasm containing Dn4 or Dny against Russian wheat aphid biotype RWASA3 | Tolmay V.L., Jankielsohn A., Sydenham S.L. | 2013 | Journal of Applied Entomology | 137 | 6 | 10.1111/jen.12008 | ARC-Small Grain Institute, Bethlehem, South Africa | Tolmay, V.L., ARC-Small Grain Institute, Bethlehem, South Africa; Jankielsohn, A., ARC-Small Grain Institute, Bethlehem, South Africa; Sydenham, S.L., ARC-Small Grain Institute, Bethlehem, South Africa | Host plant resistance can effectively manage Russian wheat aphid (Diuraphis noxia) Kurdjumov (Homoptera: Aphididae) in areas where it is an economically important pest of wheat. However, biotypes of D. noxia virulent on wheat containing resistance gene Dn4 have been reported in both the United States and South Africa. Thirty wheat genotypes, including susceptible Yuma, resistant CItr2401, as well as 25 genotypes containing Dn4 and three genotypes containing Dny were planted under greenhouse conditions in Bethlehem, South Africa, and screened with D. noxia biotype RWASA3. RWASA3 caused susceptible damage symptoms in MTRWA92-145, Ankor, Halt, Bond CL, 18FAWWON-SA 262, Prowers99, 18FAWWON-SA 264, Hatcher, Yumar, Corwa and Thunder CL all reported to contain the Dn4 resistance gene. Genotypes PI586956, Stanton and 18FAWWON-SA 257, containing the Dny-resistance gene were susceptible to RWASA3. Similarly, coinciding development of virulence to resistance genes Dn4 and Dny was reported in the United States. However, in this study, 13 Dn4-containing genotypes showed moderate resistance when screened with RWASA3 alluding to a more complex biotype-gene-interaction. These findings could indicate that Dn4 and Dny may be related and possibly share a similar or common resistance factor. Further studies will be aimed at explaining these results investigating the possibility of an allelic cluster or series for Dn4, possibly including Dny. © 2012 Blackwell Verlag, GmbH. | Diuraphis noxia; Host plant resistance; Triticum aestivum | aphid; biotype; genetic analysis; genotype; germplasm; host plant; pest resistance; symptom; virulence; wheat; Arizona; Russian Federation; South Africa; United States; Yuma; Aphididae; Diuraphis noxia; Hemiptera; Triticum aestivum; Yuma | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84867015332 | The impact of Desmodium spp. and cutting regimes on the agronomic and economic performance of Desmodium-maize intercropping system in western Kenya | Kifuko-Koech M., Pypers P., Okalebo J.R., Othieno C.O., Khan Z.R., Pickett J.A., Kipkoech A.K., Vanlauwe B. | 2012 | Field Crops Research | 137 | None | 10.1016/j.fcr.2012.08.007 | Chepkoilel University College, A Constituent of Moi University, P.O. Box 1125-30100, Eldoret, Kenya; Tropical Soil Biology and Fertility Institute of the International Centre for Tropical Agriculture, United Nations Avenue, P.O. Box 30677-00100, Nairobi, Kenya; International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), P.O. Box 30772-00100, Nairobi, Kenya; Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, Hertfordshire AL5 2TQ, United Kingdom; Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI), Kitale, P.O. Box 450, Kitale, Kenya | Kifuko-Koech, M., Chepkoilel University College, A Constituent of Moi University, P.O. Box 1125-30100, Eldoret, Kenya, International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), P.O. Box 30772-00100, Nairobi, Kenya, Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI), Kitale, P.O. Box 450, Kitale, Kenya; Pypers, P., Tropical Soil Biology and Fertility Institute of the International Centre for Tropical Agriculture, United Nations Avenue, P.O. Box 30677-00100, Nairobi, Kenya; Okalebo, J.R., Chepkoilel University College, A Constituent of Moi University, P.O. Box 1125-30100, Eldoret, Kenya; Othieno, C.O., Chepkoilel University College, A Constituent of Moi University, P.O. Box 1125-30100, Eldoret, Kenya; Khan, Z.R., International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), P.O. Box 30772-00100, Nairobi, Kenya; Pickett, J.A., Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, Hertfordshire AL5 2TQ, United Kingdom; Kipkoech, A.K., Chepkoilel University College, A Constituent of Moi University, P.O. Box 1125-30100, Eldoret, Kenya; Vanlauwe, B., Tropical Soil Biology and Fertility Institute of the International Centre for Tropical Agriculture, United Nations Avenue, P.O. Box 30677-00100, Nairobi, Kenya | Low soil fertility, stemborers (particularly, Chilo partellus) and Striga weeds (Striga hermonthica and Striga asiatica) are major limitations to production of maize in western Kenya. The " Push-Pull" technology ("PPT") has been described as an appropriate innovative technology capable of addressing these constraints. The technology involves intercropping maize with Desmodium and planting Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum) around the intercrop, but in the current study a modified PPT was used and Napier grass was not included. Field trials were conducted in two locations in western Kenya during 4 subsequent seasons to test the hypothesis that maize yield, the degree of Striga suppression and economic benefits of intercropping maize with Desmodium are affected by: (i) the related biomass production by different Desmodium species and (ii) the cutting regime of the Desmodium. Maize was intercropped with Desmodium uncinatum (Jacq.) DC, cv Silverleaf or Desmodium intortum (Mill.) Urb. cv Greenleaf, and treatments with sole maize (with and without urea) were included for comparison. To eliminate phosphorus (P) deficiency, all treatments received basal P. The first two Desmodium cutting events were fixed at land preparation i.e. at the start of every season, and 4 weeks later, following the recommended practice, while the third cutting was varied and conducted at 9, 12 or 18 weeks after planting maize. Maize yield in the Desmodium-maize intercropping system was only higher than sole maize without urea from the third season. This implies that when P is not limiting inclusion of Desmodium spp. into the maize cropping system would provide a substitute for inorganic N fertilizers to enhance crop growth and yield after Desmodium becomes well established. Cumulative maize grain yield over the four seasons with the D. intortum and D. uncinatum intercrops were 6.3 and 7.0, and 10.9 and 11.6tha -1 in Busia and Siaya, respectively, and significantly higher than or comparable to a maize monocrop (5.8 and 11.8tha -1). Average net benefits from Desmodium intercropping over the four seasons were increased by 1290 and 918$ha -1 relative to the maize monocrop in Busia and Siaya, respectively. Biomass yields were significantly higher for D. intortum than for D. uncinatum. Varying the time of the third Desmodium cutting had little effect on Desmodium biomass yields or maize grain yields in Busia, while in Siaya, D. intortum biomass yields were highest when cut at 12 weeks after planting. In the Desmodium intercropping systems, Striga counts were reduced by 95% in Busia and by 65-90% in Siaya with higher reductions when Desmodium was cut at 18 weeks after planting. In summary, the use of PPT provides robust and high economic benefits to smallholder farmers in western Kenya. The use of D. uncinatum with the third cutting at 18 weeks after planting is recommended, but can be modified according to the need for fodder without much effect on maize yield or revenue. © 2012 Elsevier B.V. | Desmodium intortum; Desmodium uncinatum; Maize; Striga | agricultural management; agronomy; crop yield; economic analysis; grass; innovation; intercropping; maize; Busia; Kenya; Nyanza; Siaya; Western Province [Kenya]; Animalia; Chilo partellus; Desmodium; Desmodium intortum; Desmodium uncinatum; Pennisetum; Pennisetum purpureum; Striga; Striga asiatica; Striga hermonthica; Zea mays | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84881556553 | Comparison of laboratory and field bioassays of laboratory-reared Cydia pomonella (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) quality and field performance | Carpenter J.E., Blomefield T., Hight S.D. | 2013 | Journal of Applied Entomology | 137 | 8 | 10.1111/jen.12039 | Crop Protection and Management Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Tifton, GA, United States; Agricultural Research Council, Stellenbosch, South Africa; USDA-ARS-CMAVE Center for Biological Control, FAMU, Tallahassee, FL, United States | Carpenter, J.E., Crop Protection and Management Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Tifton, GA, United States; Blomefield, T., Agricultural Research Council, Stellenbosch, South Africa; Hight, S.D., USDA-ARS-CMAVE Center for Biological Control, FAMU, Tallahassee, FL, United States | Maximum production and fitness of insect species that are mass-reared for biological control programmes such as the sterile insect technique (SIT) have benefitted from the employment of quality control and quality management. With a growing interest in the use of SIT as a tactic for the suppression/eradication of key lepidopteran pests, such as the codling moth, Cydia pomonella L. (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), there is a parallel interest in inexpensive bioassays that can accurately detect differences in insect quality and monitor insect field performance. In this study, we examined laboratory (mating and flight ability) bioassays and field (field cage and open field release) bioassays simultaneously to discern the ability of the different bioassays to predict quality and field performance of codling moths produced in a commercial mass-rearing facility. Moth quality was degraded by different levels of radiation during the sterilization procedure. Both the laboratory flight bioassay and the field cage bioassay successfully detected quality and performance differences that were relevant to moth performance in the field. However, the study data suggest that the field cage bioassay was a better predictor of the daily performance of males that had been released in the orchard than the laboratory flight bioassay. Conversely, data suggest that the controlled climatic conditions of the laboratory allowed the flight cylinder bioassay to be more sensitive in detecting daily fluctuations in the quality of moths caused by factors within the mass-rearing facility. Therefore, both laboratory and field bioassays may be required to provide feedback on quality and performance of mass-reared moths in a SIT programme. Copyright © 2013 Blackwell Verlag GmbH1378 September 2013 10.1111/jen.12039 Original Contribution ORIGINAL ARTICLES © 2013 Blackwell Verlag, GmbH. | Codling moth; Flight ability; Quality control; Sterile insect technique | bioassay; biological control; entomology; fighting; fitness; integrated pest management; laboratory method; moth; orchard; quality control; rearing; sterile release method; Cydia pomonella; Hexapoda; Lepidoptera; Tortricidae | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84896900864 | Evaluation of pyrene sorption-desorption on tropical soils | Olu-Owolabi B.I., Diagboya P.N., Adebowale K.O. | 2014 | Journal of Environmental Management | 137 | None | 10.1016/j.jenvman.2014.01.048 | Department of Chemistry, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing 100190, China | Olu-Owolabi, B.I., Department of Chemistry, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Diagboya, P.N., Department of Chemistry, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing 100190, China; Adebowale, K.O., Department of Chemistry, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria | Sorption-desorption processes control soil-pollutant interactions. These processes determine the extent of pyrene transport in soils. Understanding sorption characteristics of pyrene is necessary in ascertaining its fate in soil. Laboratory batch experiments were conducted to study the sorptions-desorption of pyrene on eight soils from varying tropical agro-ecological zones (AEZs). The results showed that pyrene sorptions equilibria were attained within 720min. Solution pH had a reciprocal effect on pyrene sorptions. Sorption was exothermic and increased with pyrene concentration in solution. The quantities of pyrene sorbed by each soil as well as the hysteresis were proportional to the percentage organic matter, and to some degree, the clay mineralogy. Sorption isotherms showed distributed reactivity involving several linear and non-linear isotherms. The present investigation showed that pyrene is likely to be more available to biota and reach the aquifer faster in low organic matter soils than those with relatively higher organic matter and more so in warmer climes. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. | Agro-ecological zone; Pyrene; Sorption; Tropical soils | aluminum oxide; aluminum silicate; calcium carbonate; ferric hydroxide; ferric oxide; montmorillonite; organic matter; pyrene; soil organic matter; clay; pyrene; pyrene derivative; soil; soil pollutant; experimental study; organic matter; phase equilibrium; pollution control; pyrene; reaction kinetics; soil pollution; sorption; tropical soil; adsorption; article; controlled study; desorption; diffusion; isotherm; mineralogy; particle size; physical chemistry; physical phenomena; soil; soil acidity; soil property; sorption; surface soil; thermodynamics; chemical model; chemistry; kinetics; Nigeria; soil; soil pollutant; tropic climate; Adsorption; Aluminum Silicates; Kinetics; Models, Chemical; Nigeria; Pyrenes; Soil; Soil Pollutants; Thermodynamics; Tropical Climate | None |
| None | None | Field evaluation of the relative attractiveness of enriched ginger root oil (EGO)lure and trimedlure for African Ceratitis species (Diptera: Tephritidae) | Mwatawala M., Virgilio M., Quilici S., Dominic M., De Meyer M. | 2013 | Journal of Applied Entomology | 137 | 5 | 10.1111/j.1439-0418.2012.01744.x | Department of Crop Sciences and Production, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania; Entomology Section, Royal Museum for Central Africa, Tervuren, Belgium; Department of Recent Invertebrates, Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Brussels, Belgium; UMR C53 PVBMT CIRAD-Université de La Réunion, CIRAD Pôle de Protection des Plantes, Saint-Pierre, La Réunion, France | Mwatawala, M., Department of Crop Sciences and Production, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania; Virgilio, M., Entomology Section, Royal Museum for Central Africa, Tervuren, Belgium, Department of Recent Invertebrates, Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Brussels, Belgium; Quilici, S., UMR C53 PVBMT CIRAD-Université de La Réunion, CIRAD Pôle de Protection des Plantes, Saint-Pierre, La Réunion, France; Dominic, M., Department of Crop Sciences and Production, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania; De Meyer, M., Entomology Section, Royal Museum for Central Africa, Tervuren, Belgium | The males of some fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) are known to be attracted to specific parapheromones. The trapping results between trimedlure (TML) and enriched ginger root oil (EGOlure) were compared at two experimental sites in Morogoro (Central Tanzania) for a period of 12 weeks co-inciding with the main citrus season. Both attractants captured a comparable diversity of fruit flies, except that EGOlure also attracted fruit flies, such as Ceratitis cosyra, not normally found in TML-baited traps. Both EGOlure and TML attracted mainly or exclusively male fruit flies, but the catches with EGOlure were equal or superior to those with TML. It is concluded that EGOlure should be considered as a suitable alternative for TML in detection, monitoring and control programs for African fruit flies of the genus Ceratitis. It has the added advantage that it combines the attractiveness with regard to species spectrum of both TML and terpinyl acetate. © 2012 Blackwell Verlag, GmbH. | Afrotropical; Bactrocera invadens; Monitoring | Afrotropical Region; bait; biological control; experimental study; fly; herb; monitoring; pheromone trap; root; trapping; Morogoro [Tanzania]; Tanzania; Ceratitis; Ceratitis cosyra; Citrus; Diptera; Tephritidae; Zingiber officinale | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-80052029940 | Ethnopharmacological survey and in vitro evaluation of wound-healing plants used in South-western Nigeria | Adetutu A., Morgan W.A., Corcoran O. | 2011 | Journal of Ethnopharmacology | 137 | 1 | 10.1016/j.jep.2011.03.073 | Medicines Research Group, School of Health and Bioscience, University of East London, Water Lane, London E15 4LZ, United Kingdom; Department of Biochemistry, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomosho, Nigeria | Adetutu, A., Medicines Research Group, School of Health and Bioscience, University of East London, Water Lane, London E15 4LZ, United Kingdom, Department of Biochemistry, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomosho, Nigeria; Morgan, W.A., Medicines Research Group, School of Health and Bioscience, University of East London, Water Lane, London E15 4LZ, United Kingdom; Corcoran, O., Medicines Research Group, School of Health and Bioscience, University of East London, Water Lane, London E15 4LZ, United Kingdom | Ethnopharmacological relevance: Traditional healers in Nigeria employ a range of plant preparations as wound healing agents. Despite the use of local plants in wound healing, there is only scant literature on the wound healing properties of these plants to support the continued therapeutic application of these herbal remedies. Aim of the study: To document plants commonly used to treat wounds in South-western Nigeria and to test the scientific basis of such claims using relevant in vitro tests. Materials and methods: Structured questionnaires were used to determine which plant preparations are in common use, via interviews with Yoruba traditional healers. Aqueous and ethanolic extracts of the nine most common plants cited by the healers were collected, identified and tested using relevant in vitro wound healing assays. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) were determined against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Bacillus subtilis. Antioxidant activity was measured by DPPH assay and fibroblast proliferation determined by neutral red assay. Results: A total of 20 traditional healers from South-western Nigeria were involved in the study. Thirty-six plant species were recorded with their local names and parts used in the traditional wound healing preparations. Ethanolic extracts of nine species most frequently cited by the healers exhibited strong antioxidant activities (3.8-31.3 μg/ml) comparable to ascorbic acid (7.3 μg/ml). Crude extracts of the selected plants also inhibited the growth of bacteria with MIC values 0.3-7.6 mg/ml. Ethanol extracts of Bridelia ferruginea Benth. (1-30 μg/ml) and Parkia biglobosa Jacq. (15-30 μg/ml) influenced the proliferation of dermal fibroblasts significantly (p < 0.05). Extracts from the remaining seven plants either had no effect on fibroblast proliferation or were cytotoxic. Conclusion: Traditional use of many wound-healing plants from Nigeria can be rationalised by activity determined in relevant in vitro investigations of ethanol and aqueous extracts. These results support the traditional selection of these plants in South-western Nigeria for wound healing. © 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd All rights reserved. | Antibacterial; Antioxidant; Fibroblast proliferation; Medicinal plants; Nigeria; Wound-healing | Acalypha wilkesiana extract; Aframomum melegueta extract; Ageratum conyzoides extract; annona senegalensis extract; Anogeissus leiocarpa extract; Azadirachta indica extract; Bridelia ferruginea extract; Capsicum frutescence extract; Carica papaya extract; Chromolaena odorata extract; Citrullus lanatus extract; Cocos nucifera extract; Crassocephalum crepidioides extract; Datura stramonium extract; Dichrostachys glomerata extract; Dioscorea hirtiflora extract; Diospyros canaliculata extract; euphorbia heterophylla extract; Euphorbia poissonii extract; Ficus asperifolia extract; Flabellaria paniculata extract; Hibiscus sabdariffa extract; Jatropha curcas extract; Lawsonia inermis extract; Lycopersicon esculentum extract; Morinda lucida extract; Nymphaea lotus extract; Parkia biglobosa extract; plant extract; unclassified drug; unindexed drug; Acalypha wilkesiana; Aframomum melegueta; ageratum conyzoides; annona senegalensis; Anogeissus leiocarpa; antibacterial activity; antioxidant activity; article; assay; Azadirachta indica; Bacillus subtilis; bark; bridelia ferruginea; Capsicum frutescence; cell proliferation; Chromolaena odorata; coconut; controlled study; Crassocephalum crepidioides; cytotoxicity; Datura stramonium; Dichrostachys glomerata; Dioscorea hirtiflora; Diospyros canaliculata; Escherichia coli; ethnopharmacology; euphorbia heterophylla; Euphorbia poissonii; Ficus asperifolia; Flabellaria paniculata; fruit; hibiscus sabdariffa; human; human cell; in vitro study; jatropha curcas; Lawsonia inermis; medicinal plant; minimum inhibitory concentration; morinda lucida; neutral red assay; Nigeria; nonhuman; Nymphaea lotus; ocimum gratissimum; Olax subscorpioides; papaya; Parkia biglobosa; Piliostigma thonningii; plant leaf; plant stem; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; questionnaire; Ricinus communis; Sida acuta; skin fibroblast; Staphylococcus aureus; tomato; traditional medicine; tridax procumbens; vernonia amygdalina; watermelon; wound healing; Xylopia aethiopica; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Antioxidants; Bacteria; Biphenyl Compounds; Cell Proliferation; Cells, Cultured; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Ethnopharmacology; Fibroblasts; Humans; Medicine, African Traditional; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Nigeria; Picrates; Plant Preparations; Plants, Medicinal; Questionnaires; Wound Healing; Bacillus subtilis; Bridelia ferruginea; Escherichia coli; Parkia biglobosa; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Staphylococcus aureus | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-80054955815 | Isolation of narciprimine from Cyrtanthus contractus (Amaryllidaceae) and evaluation of its acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity | Nair J.J., Aremu A.O., Van Staden J. | 2011 | Journal of Ethnopharmacology | 137 | 3 | 10.1016/j.jep.2011.07.028 | Research Centre for Plant Growth and Development, School of Biological and Conservation Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal Pietermaritzburg, Private Bag X01, Scottsville 3209, South Africa | Nair, J.J., Research Centre for Plant Growth and Development, School of Biological and Conservation Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal Pietermaritzburg, Private Bag X01, Scottsville 3209, South Africa; Aremu, A.O., Research Centre for Plant Growth and Development, School of Biological and Conservation Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal Pietermaritzburg, Private Bag X01, Scottsville 3209, South Africa; Van Staden, J., Research Centre for Plant Growth and Development, School of Biological and Conservation Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal Pietermaritzburg, Private Bag X01, Scottsville 3209, South Africa | Ethnopharmacological relevance: Plants of the family Amaryllidaceae are used widely in traditional medicine in South Africa. Several of these, including representatives of the genus Cyrtanthus find use in the treatment of mental illness and age-related dementia. Aim of the study: Based on the distribution of central nervous system-activating alkaloidal constituents within the genus Cyrtanthus, Cyrtanthus contractus was here explored for such compounds which could interact with acetylcholinesterase (AChE), of significance in the progression of neurodegeneration associated with Alzheimer's disease. Materials and methods: The known phenanthridone alkaloid narciprimine was isolated via column chromatography of the ethanolic extract of bulbs of Cyrtanthus contractus. The structure of the compound was determined by high field 2D NMR and mass spectroscopic techniques. The classical method of Ellman et al. was used in the determination of AChE inhibitory activity. Results: The isolation of narciprimine from Cyrtanthus contractus is a landmark find since it has previously only been identified in Zephyranthes, Narcissus and Lycoris, genera endemic to the Americas, Europe and Asia, respectively. Narciprimine exhibited micromolar inhibitory activity (IC 50 78.9) against the enzyme acetylcholinesterase. Conclusion: This work represents the first isolation of narciprimine from an African Amaryllidaceae species, which may be of chemotaxonomic significance. The AChE inhibitory activity of narciprimine, taken together with activities of other structurally similar inhibitors within the series affords further insight to the structural details of the lycorine alkaloid acetylcholinesterase inhibitory pharmacophore. © 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. | Acetylcholinesterase; Alkaloid; Amaryllidaceae; Cyrtanthus contractus; Narciprimine | acetylcholinesterase; cholinesterase inhibitor; narciprimine; plant medicinal product; unclassified drug; Alzheimer disease; article; column chromatography; Cyrtanthus contractus; drug activity; drug isolation; drug screening; drug structure; enzyme inhibition; mass spectrometry; medicinal plant; nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy; plant bulb; Acetylcholinesterase; Amaryllidaceae Alkaloids; Animals; Cholinesterase Inhibitors; Chromatography; Eels; Liliaceae; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; Mass Spectrometry; Molecular Structure; Phenanthrenes; Plant Extracts; Plant Roots; Plants, Medicinal; Structure-Activity Relationship; Amaryllidaceae; Cyrtanthus; Lycoris; Narcissus; Zephyranthes | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84883079623 | Impact of water demand parameters on the reliability of municipal storage tanks | van Zyl J.E., le Gat Y., Piller O., Walski T.M. | 2012 | Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management | 138 | 5 | 10.1061/(ASCE)WR.1943-5452.0000200 | Department of Civil Engineering, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X3, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa; Hydraulics and Civil Engineering Research Unit, Cemagref, 50 avenue de Verdun, Gazinet, F-33612 Cestas cedex, France; Bentley Systems, 3 Brian's Place, Nanticoke, PA 18634, United States | van Zyl, J.E., Department of Civil Engineering, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X3, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa; le Gat, Y., Hydraulics and Civil Engineering Research Unit, Cemagref, 50 avenue de Verdun, Gazinet, F-33612 Cestas cedex, France; Piller, O., Hydraulics and Civil Engineering Research Unit, Cemagref, 50 avenue de Verdun, Gazinet, F-33612 Cestas cedex, France; Walski, T.M., Bentley Systems, 3 Brian's Place, Nanticoke, PA 18634, United States | Municipal storage tanks are normally sized according to inherently conservative design guidelines. An alternative way to determine the required size of a tank, on the basis of a stochastic analysis of the system, was proposed in a previous study, in which it was recommended that tanks should be sized for a minimum reliability of one failure in 10 years at the most critical time of the year, typically under seasonal peak demand conditions. In this study, the same method is used to investigate the impact of different user demand parameters on tank reliability. It was concluded that the supply ratio, defined as the ratio of the source capacity to the average demand in the week considered, is the most important demand-related factor affecting tank reliability. It is shown that the reliability of tanks varies greatly throughout the year, and it is recommended that municipalities do everything possible to ensure that their system runs smoothly over the seasonal peak demand period. Several other important demand factors affecting tank reliability are also identified. It is concluded that the optimal combination of source capacity and tank size should be determined on the basis of economic factors, and that it is likely to be system specific. © 2012 American Society of Civil Engineers. | Reliability; Stochastic models; Storage tanks; Water demand; Water distribution systems | Reliability; Reliability analysis; Stochastic models; Water distribution systems; Conservative designs; Demand factors; Economic factors; Optimal combination; Stochastic analysis; Storage tank; System specific; Water demand; Water tanks; distribution system; reliability analysis; stochasticity; storage tank; water demand; water resource; water storage; water supply | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-44249121715 | Diurnal blood pressure variation in the evaluation of early onset severe pre-eclampsia | Steyn D.W., Odendaal H.J., Hall D.R. | 2008 | European Journal of Obstetrics Gynecology and Reproductive Biology | 138 | 2 | 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2007.08.010 | Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Tygerberg Hospital, the University of Stellenbosch, P.O. Box 19063, Tygerberg, 7505, South Africa | Steyn, D.W., Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Tygerberg Hospital, the University of Stellenbosch, P.O. Box 19063, Tygerberg, 7505, South Africa; Odendaal, H.J., Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Tygerberg Hospital, the University of Stellenbosch, P.O. Box 19063, Tygerberg, 7505, South Africa; Hall, D.R., Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Tygerberg Hospital, the University of Stellenbosch, P.O. Box 19063, Tygerberg, 7505, South Africa | Objective: : To study the association between diurnal variation in blood pressure, the mean daily blood pressure and various complications of pregnancy in patients presenting with severe pre-eclampsia before 34 weeks' gestation. Study design: : Forty-four women presenting to a tertiary hospital in South Africa with severe pre-eclampsia between 28 and 34 weeks' gestation were managed expectantly for at least 8 days. We measured maternal blood pressure every 30 min with the pregnancy validated Spacelabs 90209 automated blood pressure monitor for 24 h periods on alternative days. The mean 24-h diastolic blood pressure measurement, the mean diastolic blood pressure for daytime and nighttime, the day-night blood pressure difference and the night-day ratio were compared with the occurrence of abruptio placentae, gestational age at delivery, neonatal intensive care unit admission, birth weight, abnormal umbilical artery Doppler FVW and reason for delivery. Results: : One hundred and seventy-six 24-h studies were analyzed. The day-night blood pressure difference decreased with increasing mean diastolic blood pressure (r = -0.323, p < 0.0001). A combination of normal mean diastolic blood pressure and normal day-night blood pressure difference was associated with increased gestational age and lower caesarean section rates. Conclusion: : The combination of mean diastolic blood pressure and day-night blood pressure difference may be a supplementary measurement of disease severity in early onset severe pre-eclampsia and seems to be of prognostic value. © 2007 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. | Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring; Diurnal blood pressure variation; Early onset; Pre-eclampsia | methyldopa; nifedipine; prazosin; adult; article; birth weight; blood pressure measurement; blood pressure variability; cesarean section; circadian rhythm; clinical article; diagnostic value; diastolic blood pressure; disease course; disease severity; Doppler flowmeter; Doppler flowmetry; early diagnosis; female; fetus monitoring; gestation period; gestational age; human; informed consent; maternal age; maternal hypertension; newborn intensive care; parity; patient monitoring; preeclampsia; pregnancy complication; pregnant woman; priority journal; prognosis; solutio placentae; South Africa; tertiary health care; Adult; Blood Pressure; Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory; Circadian Rhythm; Female; Humans; Pre-Eclampsia; Pregnancy | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84891815451 | Statistical evaluations of sugarcane quality, deterioration and the impacts of weekend logistics in a commercial sugarcane supply chain | Sibomana M.S., Bezuidenhout C.N. | 2013 | Zuckerindustrie | 138 | 1 | None | School of Engineering, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville, 3209, South Africa | Sibomana, M.S., School of Engineering, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville, 3209, South Africa; Bezuidenhout, C.N., School of Engineering, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville, 3209, South Africa | Crop quality can be used for monitoring the supply chain in agro-industries, although, sugarcane quality also varies naturally and is affected by climate, nutrition, pests and diseases, cane variety and water availability. Harvest-to-crush logistics affect sugarcane quality and present a significant impact on milling efficiency. This research studied commercial sugarcane quality parameters over six years at a large commercial sugar mill in South Africa, f(sucrose content expressed as a percentage of fiber content) was derived as a new parameter that consistently flagged poor quality deliveries during the early part of the week. This is a strong indicator of increased cane deterioration over weekends as a result of logistics inefficiencies. Shewhart quahty control charts (X̄ charts) and a non-para-metric statistic confirmed significantly inferior cane qualities after weekends. Statistical techniques were also able, with 95% significance, to identify growers with systemic deterioration of delivered cane. A large number of growers who were exposed to weekend logistics problems were also experiencing significant systemic deterioration problems. These results may enable the generation of a grower performance index that will allow stakeholders to improve operations. The study shows that, although notorious for its variability, commercial cane quahty data can be used to drive efficiency improvements in the supply chain, if used appropriately. | Post harvest deterioration; Quality control; Sugarcane; Supply chain | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84878360910 | Total building performance approach in building evaluation: Case study of an office building in Singapore | Oyedele L.O., Tham K.W., Fadeyi M.O., Jaiyeoba B.E. | 2012 | Journal of Energy Engineering | 138 | 1 | 10.1061/(ASCE)EY.1943-7897.0000056 | School of Planning, Architecture and Civil Engineering, Queen's Univ. Belfast, David Keir Building, Stranmillis Road, Belfast BT9 5AG, United Kingdom; Dept. of Building, School of Design and Environment, National Univ. of Singapore, 4 Architecture Drive, | Oyedele, L.O., School of Planning, Architecture and Civil Engineering, Queen's Univ. Belfast, David Keir Building, Stranmillis Road, Belfast BT9 5AG, United Kingdom; Tham, K.W., Dept. of Building, School of Design and Environment, National Univ. of Singapore, 4 Architecture Drive, Singapore 117566, Singapore; Fadeyi, M.O., Faculty of Engineering, British Univ. in Dubai, P.O. Box 345015, Dubai, United Arab Emirates; Jaiyeoba, B.E., Dept. of Architecture, Faculty of Environmental Design and Management, Obafemi Awolowo Univ., Ile-Ife, Nigeria | Although the individual building system has been designed to meet the specific performance criteria, the way people will perceive and react to a total office environment is only known after it is in use and subjected to diagnostic. Evaluation of office space has gone beyond looking at a single building requirement. There exists the need to look at the interrelationship of performance mandates to provide healthy buildings for building occupants and most importantly, to reduce energy consumption during the construction and operation of buildings. This study aims to demonstrate the use of total building performance (TBP) evaluation and diagnostic to assess the performance of an existing office building in Singapore. Two floors of the evaluated high-rise commercial building have been evaluated by using the TBP paradigm. Objective measurements and observations (walkthrough) coupled with occupant survey (subjective measurement) has been conducted. The analysis demonstrates that there is concurrence between the objective and subjective measures, and that the holistic approach of TBP elicited the interrelationships between the performance's mandates and constitutes a sound basis for diagnostics and sustainability improvement. This study is significant because it provides an evaluation tool for ensuring sustainable buildings. © 2012 American Society of Civil Engineers. | Building diagnostics; Carbon emission reduction; Office building; Performance mandates; Singapore; Sustainability; Total building performance | Building performance; Carbon emission reductions; Existing office buildings; Objective and subjective measures; Performance mandates; Reduce energy consumption; Singapore; Subjective measurements; Energy utilization; Intelligent buildings; Sustainable development; Office buildings | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84928060380 | Monitoring of atmospheric gaseous and particulate polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in South African platinum mines utilising portable denuder sampling with analysis by thermal desorption-comprehensive gas chromatography-mass spectrometry | Geldenhuys G., Rohwer E.R., Naudé Y., Forbes P.B.C. | 2015 | Journal of Chromatography A | 1380 | None | 10.1016/j.chroma.2014.12.062 | Laboratory for Separation Science, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of Pretoria, Lynnwood Road, Pretoria, South Africa; Mineral Processing Laboratory, Impala Platinum Limited, 123 Bethlehem Drive, Rustenburg, South Africa | Geldenhuys, G., Laboratory for Separation Science, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of Pretoria, Lynnwood Road, Pretoria, South Africa, Mineral Processing Laboratory, Impala Platinum Limited, 123 Bethlehem Drive, Rustenburg, South Africa; Rohwer, E.R., Laboratory for Separation Science, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of Pretoria, Lynnwood Road, Pretoria, South Africa; Naudé, Y., Laboratory for Separation Science, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of Pretoria, Lynnwood Road, Pretoria, South Africa; Forbes, P.B.C., Laboratory for Separation Science, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of Pretoria, Lynnwood Road, Pretoria, South Africa | Concentrations of diesel particulate matter and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in platinum mine environments are likely to be higher than in ambient air due to the use of diesel machinery in confined environments. Airborne PAHs may be present in gaseous or particle phases each of which has different human health impacts due to their ultimate fate in the body. Here we report on the simultaneous sampling of both phases of airborne PAHs for the first time in underground platinum mines in South Africa, which was made possible by employing small, portable denuder sampling devices consisting of two polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) multi-channel traps connected in series separated by a quartz fibre filter, which only require small, battery operated portable personal sampling pumps for air sampling. Thermal desorption coupled with comprehensive gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (TD-GC×GC-TofMS) was used to analyse denuder samples taken in three different platinum mines. The samples from a range of underground environments revealed that PAHs were predominantly found in the gas phase with naphthalene and mono-methylated naphthalene derivatives being detected at the highest concentrations ranging from 0.01 to 18μgm-3. The particle bound PAHs were found in the highest concentrations at the idling load haul dump vehicle exhausts with a dominance of fluoranthene and pyrene. Particle associated PAH concentrations ranged from 0.47 to 260ngm-3 and included benzo[k]fluoranthene, benzo[a]pyrene, indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene and benzo[ghi]perylene. This work highlights the need to characterise both phases in order to assess occupational exposure to PAHs in this challenging sampling environment. © 2015 Elsevier B.V. | Denuder; Diesel exhaust emissions; Diesel particulate matter; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; Polydimethylsiloxane; Underground platinum mines | Aromatic compounds; Aromatic hydrocarbons; Aromatization; Chromatography; Desorption; Gas chromatography; Hydrocarbons; Machinery; Mass spectrometry; Naphthalene; Platinum; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; Polydimethylsiloxane; Pyrene; Quartz; Silicones; Spectrometry; Thermal desorption; Denuders; Diesel exhaust emissions; Diesel particulate matters; Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry; Naphthalene derivatives; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHS); Polydimethylsiloxane PDMS; Underground environment; Platinum mines; dimeticone; naphthalene derivative; platinum; polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon; air pollutant; exhaust gas; particulate matter; polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon; Article; calibration; concentration response; degradation; desorption; environmental exposure; environmental monitoring; mass fragmentography; mining; particulate matter; principal component analysis; quantitative analysis; South Africa; thermal desorption comprehensive gas chromatography mass spectrometry; thermostability; ubiquitination; workshop; air pollutant; analysis; devices; exhaust gas; human; mass fragmentography; mining; procedures; Air Pollutants, Occupational; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Humans; Mining; Particulate Matter; Platinum; Polycyclic Hydrocarbons, Aromatic; South Africa; Vehicle Emissions | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84922781289 | Isolation of aspalathin and nothofagin from rooibos (Aspalathus linearis) using high-performance countercurrent chromatography: Sample loading and compound stability considerations | de Beer D., Malherbe C.J., Beelders T., Willenburg E.L., Brand D.J., Joubert E. | 2015 | Journal of Chromatography A | 1381 | None | 10.1016/j.chroma.2014.12.078 | Post-Harvest and Wine Technology Division, Agricultural Research Council (ARC) Infruitec-Nietvoorbij, Private Bag X5026, Stellenbosch, South Africa; Food Science Department, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland (Stellenbosch), South Africa; Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Laboratory, Central Analytical Facility, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland (Stellenbosch), South Africa | de Beer, D., Post-Harvest and Wine Technology Division, Agricultural Research Council (ARC) Infruitec-Nietvoorbij, Private Bag X5026, Stellenbosch, South Africa; Malherbe, C.J., Post-Harvest and Wine Technology Division, Agricultural Research Council (ARC) Infruitec-Nietvoorbij, Private Bag X5026, Stellenbosch, South Africa; Beelders, T., Post-Harvest and Wine Technology Division, Agricultural Research Council (ARC) Infruitec-Nietvoorbij, Private Bag X5026, Stellenbosch, South Africa, Food Science Department, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland (Stellenbosch), South Africa; Willenburg, E.L., Post-Harvest and Wine Technology Division, Agricultural Research Council (ARC) Infruitec-Nietvoorbij, Private Bag X5026, Stellenbosch, South Africa; Brand, D.J., Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Laboratory, Central Analytical Facility, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland (Stellenbosch), South Africa; Joubert, E., Post-Harvest and Wine Technology Division, Agricultural Research Council (ARC) Infruitec-Nietvoorbij, Private Bag X5026, Stellenbosch, South Africa, Food Science Department, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland (Stellenbosch), South Africa | Aspalathin and nothofagin, the major dihydrochalcones in rooibos (Aspalathus linearis), are valuable bioactive compounds, but their bioactivity has not been fully elucidated. Isolation of these compounds using high-performance countercurrent chromatography (HPCCC), a gentle, support-free, up-scalable technique, offers an alternative to synthesis for obtaining sufficient amounts. An HPLC-DAD method was adapted to allow rapid (16min from injection to injection) quantification of the four major compounds (aspalathin, nothofagin, isoorientin, orientin) during development of the isolation protocol. The traditional shake-flask method, used to determine distribution constants (KD) for target compounds, was also adapted to obtain higher repeatability. Green rooibos leaves with a high aspalathin and nothofagin content were selected as source material. Sample loading of the polyphenol-enriched extract was limited due to constituents with emulsifying properties, but could be increased by removing ethanol-insoluble matter. Furthermore, problems with degradation of aspalathin during HPCCC separation and further processing could be limited by acidifying the HPCCC solvent system. Aspalathin was shown to be fairly stable at pH 3 (91% remaining after 29h) compared to pH 7 (45% remaining after 29h). Aspalathin and nothofagin with high purities (99% and 100%, respectively) were obtained from HPCCC fractions after semi-preparative HPLC. © 2015 Elsevier B.V. | Aspalathin; Countercurrent chromatography; Nothofagin; Rooibos; Sample stability; Semi-preparative HPLC | Chromatography; Emulsification; Liquid chromatography; Aspalathin; Countercurrent chromatography; Nothofagin; Rooibos; Semi-preparative HPLC; Loading; alcohol; aspalathin; chemical compound; isoorientin; nothofagin; orientin; phenol derivative; polyphenol; unclassified drug; aspalathin; chalcone derivative; flavonoid; glucoside; luteolin; nothofagin; plant extract; Article; chemical procedures; controlled study; counter current chromatography; degradation kinetics; diode array detection; emulsion; high performance countercurrent chromatography; high performance liquid chromatography; measurement repeatability; pH measurement; phase separation; structure analysis; Aspalathus; chemistry; counter current chromatography; electrospray mass spectrometry; isolation and purification; plant leaf; Aspalathus linearis; Aspalathus; Chalcones; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Countercurrent Distribution; Flavonoids; Glucosides; Luteolin; Plant Extracts; Plant Leaves; Polyphenols; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84897446615 | Diversity in Puccinia triticina detected on wheat from 2008 to 2010 and the impact of new races on South African wheat germplasm | Terefe T.G., Visser B., Herselman L., Prins R., Negussie T., Kolmer J.A., Pretorius Z.A. | 2014 | European Journal of Plant Pathology | 139 | 1 | 10.1007/s10658-013-0368-3 | Agricultural Research Council-Small Grain Institute, Private Bag X29, Bethlehem, 9700, South Africa; Department of Plant Sciences, University of the Free State, P.O. Box 339, Bloemfontein, 9300, South Africa; CenGen, 78 Fairbairn St., Worcester, 6850, South Africa; USDA-ARS Cereal Disease Laboratory, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, 55108, United States | Terefe, T.G., Agricultural Research Council-Small Grain Institute, Private Bag X29, Bethlehem, 9700, South Africa; Visser, B., Department of Plant Sciences, University of the Free State, P.O. Box 339, Bloemfontein, 9300, South Africa; Herselman, L., Department of Plant Sciences, University of the Free State, P.O. Box 339, Bloemfontein, 9300, South Africa; Prins, R., Department of Plant Sciences, University of the Free State, P.O. Box 339, Bloemfontein, 9300, South Africa, CenGen, 78 Fairbairn St., Worcester, 6850, South Africa; Negussie, T., Department of Plant Sciences, University of the Free State, P.O. Box 339, Bloemfontein, 9300, South Africa; Kolmer, J.A., USDA-ARS Cereal Disease Laboratory, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, 55108, United States; Pretorius, Z.A., Department of Plant Sciences, University of the Free State, P.O. Box 339, Bloemfontein, 9300, South Africa | Samples of wheat and triticale infected with leaf rust were collected from 2008 to 2010 in South Africa to identify Puccinia triticina races. Races were identified based on their virulence profile on standard differential lines. Eight races were identified from 362 isolates. The dominant races were 3SA133 (syn. PDRS) in 2008 (78 %) and 2009 (34 %), and 3SA145 (47 %) in 2010. Race 3SA145 (CCPS) identified in 2009 was a new race in South Africa with virulence for the adult plant resistance gene Lr37. Another new race, 3SA146 (MCDS), was identified in 2010. Race 3SA146 is also virulent for Lr37 but unlike 3SA145, it is virulent for Lr1 and Lr23 and avirulent for Lr3ka and Lr30. Microsatellite analysis showed that 3SA145 and 3SA146 shared 70 % genetic similarity with each other, but only 30 % similarity with other races in South Africa, suggesting that both represent foreign introductions. In seedling tests of 98 South African winter and spring cultivars and advanced breeding lines, 27 % were susceptible to 3SA145 and 3SA146 but resistant to 3SA133. In greenhouse studies of 59 spring wheat adult plants, 19 % of breeding lines and 46 % of cultivars were susceptible to 3SA145, whereas 29 % of the lines and 53 % of cultivars were susceptible to 3SA146. The cssfr6 gene-specific DNA marker confirmed the presence of Lr34 gene for leaf rust resistance in a homozygous condition in 28 wheat entries. Five entries were heterogeneous for Lr34. Several entries which were susceptible as seedlings to the new races carried Lr34. These lines are expected to show lower levels of leaf rust as adult plants. Results of these studies indicate a continued vulnerability of South African wheat cultivars to new races and emphasise the importance of regular rust monitoring and the need to incorporate genes for durable resistance. © 2014 KNPV. | Leaf rust; Lr34; Microsatellites; Puccinia triticina; Race | cultivar; disease resistance; fungal disease; gene expression; genetic marker; germplasm; seedling; species diversity; vulnerability; wheat; South Africa; Puccinia triticina; Triticosecale; Triticum aestivum | None |
| None | None | Evaluation of buparvaquone (BUTA-Kel™ KELA, Belgium) as a treatment of East Coast fever in cattle, in the peri-urban of Dar Es Salaam city, Tanzania | Mbwambo H.A., Magwisha H.B., Mfinanga J.M. | 2006 | Veterinary Parasitology | 139 | 42372 | 10.1016/j.vetpar.2006.02.024 | Animal Disease Research Institute, P.O. Box 9254, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania | Mbwambo, H.A., Animal Disease Research Institute, P.O. Box 9254, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania; Magwisha, H.B., Animal Disease Research Institute, P.O. Box 9254, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania; Mfinanga, J.M., Animal Disease Research Institute, P.O. Box 9254, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania | Evaluation trials of the efficacy of buparvaquone (BUTA-kel™ KELA Laboratoria, N.V. Belgium), as a treatment of field cases of Theileria parva infection (East Coast fever - ECF) were carried out on 63 cattle in the peri-urban of Dar Es Salaam city, Tanzania, during the period November 2004 to August 2005. Thirty-two cattle (56%) received single-dose treatment (2.5 mg buparvaquone per kg body weight), while two and three-dose treatment with interval(s) of 48 h was given to 33% and 11% of total treated cattle, respectively; 38 cattle (60.3%) were treated at an early stage of the disease, while 25 cattle (39.7%) were treated at an advanced stage of the disease. The rectal body temperature of 90.5% of buparvaquone-treated cattle dropped to normal values (37.5-39.5 °C) by day 7 of treatment, and by day 15 of treatment 96.8% of treated cattle showed normal values. Pulmonary signs were observed in 8/68 (11.8%) of total ECF diagnosed cattle and were successfully treated, albeit with parvaquone plus frusemide (Fruvexon); were not included in final evaluation of the efficacy of BUTA-kel. The present evaluation trials record a recovery rate of 95.2%. Buparvaquone (BUTA-kel™ KELA Laboratoria, N.V. Belgium), therefore, records another efficacious and valuable alternative treatment against East Coast fever in Tanzania. © 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. | Cattle-East Coast fever; Cost-effective-treatment; Early-disease detection; Early-stage treatment; Pulmonary signs; Theileria parva schizonts; Theilericidal drug-buparvaquone | buparvaquone; buta kel; furosemide; parvaquone; animal parasitosis; article; cattle disease; controlled study; convalescence; drug efficacy; female; fever; lung disease; lymph node; male; nonhuman; rectum temperature; Tanzania; Theileria parva; urban area; Animals; Antiprotozoal Agents; Cattle; Cattle Diseases; Female; Male; Naphthoquinones; Tanzania; Theileria parva; Theileriasis; Treatment Outcome; Bos taurus; Theileria parva | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79958009248 | Sesbania sesban as a fodder tree in Ethiopian livestock farming systems. Feeding practices and farmers' perception of feeding effects on sheep performance | Oosting S.J., Mekoya A., Fernandez-Rivera S., van der Zijpp A.J. | 2011 | Livestock Science | 139 | 42371 | 10.1016/j.livsci.2011.03.009 | Animal Production Systems Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 338, 6700 AH Wageningen, Netherlands; International Livestock Research Institute, P.O. Box 5689, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | Oosting, S.J., Animal Production Systems Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 338, 6700 AH Wageningen, Netherlands; Mekoya, A., Animal Production Systems Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 338, 6700 AH Wageningen, Netherlands; Fernandez-Rivera, S., International Livestock Research Institute, P.O. Box 5689, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; van der Zijpp, A.J., Animal Production Systems Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 338, 6700 AH Wageningen, Netherlands | Sesbania sesban is one of the exotic multipurpose fodder trees introduced in the Ethiopian highlands for livestock feed and soil conservation. Several on-station studies showed that supplementation with Sesbania improved intake and digestibility of basal diet and growth rate of animals. However, information about farmers' feeding practices of Sesbania and farmers' perception of the effect of Sesbania feeding on animal performance is limited. The present study was conducted to assess farmers' feeding practices and their perception about effects of Sesbania supplementation on sheep performance in annual (one wheat-based (WheatCL) and one teff-based (TeffCL)) and perennial (coffee-based (CoffeeCL)) crop-based livestock systems in the Ethiopian Highlands. Data were collected from 98 households by interviews using a structured questionnaire. Farmers had on average 6.9. years of experience using Sesbania as a cut and carry supplementary feed. Farmers in the WheatCL and TeffCL fed Sesbania throughout the dry season while farmers in the CoffeeCL had no specific season for feeding Sesbania. Farmers in WheatCL and TeffCL offered significantly (P < 0.05) more frequently and a higher quantity per feeding of Sesbania than farmers in CoffeeCL. Most farmers perceived increased lamb birth weight and increased body weight gain, earlier onset of puberty, and improved pregnancy rate of ewes and rams' libido. Perceived improvement was significantly more (P < 0.05) in WheatCL and TeffCL than in CoffeeCL. We concluded that Sesbania was appreciated across farming systems for its feeding value. The marginal advantage of Sesbania was lowest in the CoffeeCL with relatively good availability of good quality feeds compared to the WheatCL and TeffCL, which explains the less positive perception of production and reproductive performance of Sesbania feeding in CoffeeCL. © 2011 Elsevier B.V. | Ethiopia; Farmers' practices; Sesbania sesban; Sheep; Supplementation | Animalia; Eragrostis tef; Ovis aries; Sesbania; Sesbania sesban; Triticum aestivum | None |
| WoS | WOS:000304490600006 | A longitudinal evaluation of religiosity and psychosocial determinants of suicidal behaviors among a population-based sample in the United States | Agbanu, Harry L. K.,Agbanu, Samuel Kwami,Diedhiou, Abdoulaye,Nkansah-Amankra, Stephen,Opoku-Adomako, Nana Serwaa,Twumasi-Ankrah, Philip | 2012 | JOURNAL OF AFFECTIVE DISORDERS | 139 | 1 | 10.1016/j.jad.2011.12.027 | Central Michigan University, University of Ghana, University of Kansas, University of Kansas Medical Center, University of South Carolina, University of South Carolina Columbia, University of South Carolina System, IntraHlth Int, Somerset Christian Coll | "Agbanu, Harry L. K.: University of Ghana","Nkansah-Amankra, Stephen: Central Michigan University","Opoku-Adomako, Nana Serwaa: Central Michigan University","Twumasi-Ankrah, Philip: University of Kansas","Twumasi-Ankrah, Philip: University of Kansas Medical Center", | Background: Relationships among religiosity and other psychosocial factors in determining suicidal behaviors in adolescence and in emerging adulthood have been inconclusive. We sought to investigate prospective relationships among religiosity, psychosocial factors and suicidal behaviors using a nationally representative sample of adolescents emerging into adulthood.
Method: Analysis was based on 9412 respondents from four waves of National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health. A Generalized Estimating Equation (GEE) procedure was used to fit a series of models on the response variable (suicidal behaviors) and a set of psychosocial and religiosity predictors taking into account the correlated structure of the datasets.
Results: Analyses showed that adolescent suicidality and religious activity participation showed significant declines over time. Using multinomial logistic regression we found that females showed statistically significant risks of suicidal behaviors, but this effect declined in adulthood. In adjusted models, baseline attendance of a church weekly was associated with 42% reduction (95% Confidence Interval: 0.35-0.98) of suicide ideation in Wave III. Across all waves, low support from fathers (compared with mothers) consistently explained variability in suicidal behaviors among genders emerging into adulthood.
Limitations: Accurate measurement of religiosity is psychometrically challenging.
Conclusions: The findings of the study indicate that religious activity participation is associated with reduced suicidal behaviors among adolescents but this effect declines during emerging adulthood. Psychosocial supports particularly from fathers' have an enduring impact on reduced suicidal behaviors among adolescents and emerging adults. Prevention, identification and evaluation of disorders of suicidality need a careful assessment of underlying mental pain (psyache) to reduce the likelihood of aggravated suicide. Published by Elsevier B.V. | "Private religiosity","Public religiosity",SPIRITUALITY,"SUICIDAL BEHAVIORS","AMERICAN ADOLESCENTS",DEPRESSION,DEVELOPMENTAL-TRENDS,GENDER-DIFFERENCES,INVOLVEMENT,MENTAL-HEALTH,"OLDER DUTCH CITIZENS",SELF-ESTEEM,SPIRITUALITY,"YOUNG ADULTHOOD" | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-83555163782 | Ethnobotanical study of antimalarial plants in Shinile District, Somali Region, Ethiopia, and in vivo evaluation of selected ones against Plasmodium berghei | Mesfin A., Giday M., Animut A., Teklehaymanot T. | 2012 | Journal of Ethnopharmacology | 139 | 1 | 10.1016/j.jep.2011.11.006 | Department of Life Sciences, Dire Dawa University, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia; Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | Mesfin, A., Department of Life Sciences, Dire Dawa University, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia; Giday, M., Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Animut, A., Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Teklehaymanot, T., Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | Ethnopharmacological relevance: The study documented medicinal plants that are traditionally used for treatment of malaria in Shinile District, eastern Ethiopia, and evaluated selected medicinal plants for their antiplasmodial activities against Plasmodium berghei. Materials and methods: The study was conducted in four kebeles of Shinile District, Somali Region, Ethiopia. A total of 15 traditional healers were sampled based on recommendations of local elders and administrators. Specimens of the reported antimalarial plants were collected and stored at the Mini Herbarium of the Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University, following identification. Crude aqueous and ethanol extracts of Aloe sp.; Azadirachta indica and Tamarindus indica were tested in vivo against Plasmodium berghei. The three plants were selected based on the frequency antimalarial use report by healers. Results: The study revealed 27 antimalarial plants, the majority of which were harvested from the wild. Root was the most frequently sought plant part. Most of the remedies were used in decoction form. Aloe sp.; Azadirachta indica and Tamarindus indica were the most commonly reported plants for their antimalarial use. For the in vivo test, all the plant extracts were given to mice orally. Ethanol and aqueous leaf extracts of Aloe sp. caused 73.94% and 58.10% parasitaemia suppression, respectively at dose of 650 mg/kg. Ethanol extract of Azadirachta indica leaves induced 54.79% parasitaemia suppression at the dose of 650 mg/kg and its water extract induced 21.47% parasite suppression at a similar dose. Water extract of the fruits of Tamarindus indica showed the highest parasitaemia suppression (81.09%) at the dose of 650 mg/kg. Most Plasmodium berghei infected mice treated with high dose of plant extracts survived relatively longer compared to their respective controls although the difference was not significant. Conclusions: The result of this study may support the traditional use of Aloe sp.; Azadirachta indica and Tamarindus indica in the study area against malaria. Results of this study can be used as a basis for further phytochemical and pharmacological investigations in the effort for search of new and locally affordable antimalarial agents. © 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. | Antimalarial plants; Ethiopia; Ethnobotanical study; Plasmodium berghei; Shinile | alcohol; Aloe vera extract; antimalarial agent; Azadirachta indica extract; plant extract; Tamarindus indica extract; unclassified drug; water; adult; aged; Aloe; animal experiment; animal model; antimalarial activity; article; Azadirachta indica; controlled study; drug screening; Ethiopia; ethnobotany; female; fruit; harvest; human; male; medicinal plant; mouse; nonhuman; normal human; parasitemia; plant leaf; plant root; Plasmodium berghei; Plasmodium berghei infection; survival; tamarind; traditional medicine; Aloe; Animals; Antimalarials; Azadirachta; Ethnobotany; Fruit; Malaria; Male; Medicine, African Traditional; Mice; Phytotherapy; Plant Extracts; Plant Leaves; Plants, Medicinal; Plasmodium berghei; Protozoan Infections, Animal; Tamarindus; Aloe; Azadirachta indica; Mus; Plasmodium berghei; Tamarindus indica | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84855990038 | Toxicological evaluation of the aqueous leaf extract of Moringa oleifera Lam. (Moringaceae) | Awodele O., Oreagba I.A., Odoma S., Teixeira Da Silva J.A., Osunkalu V.O. | 2012 | Journal of Ethnopharmacology | 139 | 2 | 10.1016/j.jep.2011.10.008 | Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Nigeria; Faculty of Agriculture, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kagawa University, Miki cho, Kita gun, Ikenobe 761-0795, Japan; Department of Haematology, College of Medicine, Universi | Awodele, O., Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Nigeria; Oreagba, I.A., Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Nigeria; Odoma, S., Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Nigeria; Teixeira Da Silva, J.A., Faculty of Agriculture, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kagawa University, Miki cho, Kita gun, Ikenobe 761-0795, Japan; Osunkalu, V.O., Department of Haematology, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Nigeria | Ethnopharmacological relevance: The rapid increase in consumption of herbal remedies worldwide has been stimulated by several factors, including the notion that all herbal products are safe and effective. However, over the past decade, several news-catching episodes in developed communities indicated adverse effects, sometimes life-threatening, allegedly arising as a consequence to taking herbal products or traditional medicines from various ethnic groups. Despite the popular use of Moringa oleifera for treating various disorders, there is limited or no scientific data available regarding safety aspects of this remedy, nor are there any documented toxicological studies that can be used to ascertain the safety index of its herbal preparation. Therefore, this present study aimed to carry out extensive toxicological evaluation of the aqueous leaf extract of Moringa oleifera. Materials and Methods: In an acute toxicity test, male Wistar albino mice were orally administered an aqueous extract up to 6400 mg/kg and intraperitoneally up to 2000 mg/kg. A sub-chronic toxicity test was performed by daily administration with the extract at 250, 500 and 1500 mg/kg orally for 60 days. Control rats received distilled water. Sperm quality was analyzed, haematological and biochemical (liver enzymes, urea and creatinine) parameters were determined and a histopathological examination was carried out. Results: The LD 50 was estimated to be 1585 mg/kg. The extract did not elicit any significant difference (P ≥ 0.05) in sperm quality, haematological and biochemical parameters in the treated rats compared to the control. Moreover, there was no significant difference in weight gain of the control and treated animals although there was a dose-dependent reduction in food consumption of the animals treated with 250 to 1500 mg/kg extract. Conclusions: Results obtained in this study suggest that the aqueous leaf extract of Moringa oleifera is relatively safe when administered orally. © 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. | Haematology; Liver and renal function; Moringa oleifera; Sub-chronic toxicity | creatinine; liver enzyme; Moringa oleifera extract; urea; animal experiment; animal tissue; article; brain; controlled study; creatinine blood level; erythrocyte count; food intake; heart; hemoglobin blood level; histopathology; kidney; LD 50; leukocyte count; liver; male; mean corpuscular hemoglobin; mean corpuscular volume; Moringa oleifera; nonhuman; plant leaf; rat; sperm; spermatozoon count; spermatozoon motility; testis; thrombocyte count; weight gain; Administration, Oral; Animals; Biological Markers; Blood Cell Count; Body Weight; Creatinine; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Eating; Enzymes; Glutathione; Injections, Intraperitoneal; Kidney; Lethal Dose 50; Liver; Male; Malondialdehyde; Mice; Moringa oleifera; Plant Extracts; Plant Leaves; Plants, Medicinal; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Sperm Count; Sperm Motility; Spermatozoa; Time Factors; Toxicity Tests; Urea; Animalia; Moringa oleifera; Moringaceae; Mus; Rattus | None |
| None | None | The impact of mobility on HIV control: A modelling study | Vissers D.C.J., De Vlas S.J., Bakker R., Urassa M., Voeten H.A.C.M., Habbema J.D.F. | 2011 | Epidemiology and Infection | 139 | 12 | 10.1017/S0950268811000069 | Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, PO Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, Netherlands; National Institute for Medical Research, Mwanza, Tanzania | Vissers, D.C.J., Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, PO Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, Netherlands; De Vlas, S.J., Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, PO Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, Netherlands; Bakker, R., Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, PO Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, Netherlands; Urassa, M., National Institute for Medical Research, Mwanza, Tanzania; Voeten, H.A.C.M., Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, PO Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, Netherlands; Habbema, J.D.F., Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, PO Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, Netherlands | Mobility is associated with HIV due to more risky sexual behaviour of mobile groups such as travellers and migrants. Limited participation of such groups may reduce the effectiveness of HIV interventions disproportionally. The established STDSIM model, which simulates transmission and control of HIV and STD, was extended to simulate mobility patterns based on data from Tanzania. We explored the impact of non-participation of mobile groups (travellers and recent migrants) on the effectiveness of two interventions: condom promotion and health education aiming at partner reduction. If mobile groups do not participate, the effectiveness of both interventions could be reduced by 40%. The impact of targeting travellers with a combined HIV campaign is close to that of a general population intervention. In conclusion, it is important to account for possible non-participation of migrants and travellers. If non-participation is substantial, impact of interventions can be greatly improved by actively approaching these people. © 2011 Cambridge University Press. | Control; HIV; migration; modelling; travel | adolescent; adult; article; condom; controlled study; female; health promotion; high risk behavior; HIV education; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; infection control; intervention study; male; migration; prevalence; safe sex; sexual behavior; simulation; social participation; Adolescent; Adult; Computer Simulation; Emigration and Immigration; Female; Health Promotion; HIV Infections; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Models, Biological; Patient Acceptance of Health Care; Program Evaluation; Risk-Taking; Tanzania; Travel; Young Adult | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84856211123 | Mutagenicity, antimutagenicity and cytotoxicity evaluation of South African Podocarpus species | Abdillahi H.S., Verschaeve L., Finnie J.F., Van Staden J. | 2012 | Journal of Ethnopharmacology | 139 | 3 | 10.1016/j.jep.2011.11.044 | Research Centre for Plant Growth and Development, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal Pietermaritzburg, Private Bag X01, Scottsville 3209, South Africa; Department of Toxicology, Scientific Institute of Public Health, Juliette Wytsmanstreet 14, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium | Abdillahi, H.S., Research Centre for Plant Growth and Development, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal Pietermaritzburg, Private Bag X01, Scottsville 3209, South Africa; Verschaeve, L., Department of Toxicology, Scientific Institute of Public Health, Juliette Wytsmanstreet 14, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium; Finnie, J.F., Research Centre for Plant Growth and Development, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal Pietermaritzburg, Private Bag X01, Scottsville 3209, South Africa; Van Staden, J., Research Centre for Plant Growth and Development, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal Pietermaritzburg, Private Bag X01, Scottsville 3209, South Africa | Ethnopharmacological relevance: Four species of Podocarpus are used in traditional medicine both in human and animal healthcare in South Africa. In vitro pharmacological screening of leaf and stem extracts of these species exhibited potent antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anti-tyrosinase, anthelmintic, acetylcholinesterase inhibitory and antioxidant activities. Aim of the study: To investigate the mutagenicity, antimutagenicity and cytotoxicity effects of leaf and stem extract of South African Podocarpus species. Material and methods: The mutagenicity and cytotoxic effects of extracts from four species of Podocarpus were tested using the Salmonella/microsome assay with and without metabolic activation, based on the plate-incorporation method and neutral red uptake (NRU) assay respectively. Five Salmonella typhimurium tester strains; TA98, TA100, TA102, TA1535 and TA1537 were used for mutagenicity testing. The relative cytotoxicity of the extracts was assessed by determining their NI 50 values (50% inhibition of NRU). Results: The extracts did not show any mutagenic effects against all the tester strains with or without metabolic activation. All extracts demonstrated a strong antimutagenic effect on the mutations induced by 4NQO, decreasing its mutagenic effect in a dose-dependent manner. Strong cytotoxic effects were exhibited by petroleum ether extracts as compared to 80% ethanol extracts. When HepG2 cells were in contact with plant extracts in an increasing concentration, slopes of NRU decreased (highest-lowest %) following a concentration-dependent pattern. For 80% ethanol extracts, the most toxic extract in terms of percentage viability was leaves of Podocarpus falcatus whereby at 0.2 mg/ml, the viability of the cells was 38.9%. Stem extract of Podocarpus latifolius was the most toxic among PE extracts, giving a percentage viability of 46.4 at 0.1 mg/ml. Conclusion: Absence of mutagenicity does not indicate lack of toxicity, as was observed from these extracts. These findings will help in assessing the safety measures to be considered in the use of these species and also the need to determine the cytotoxic potential of these species against various forms of human cancer cells. © 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. | Antimutagenicity; Cytotoxicity; Mutagenicity; Podocarpus | plant extract; Podocarpus elongatus extract; Podocarpus falcatus extract; Podocarpus henkelii extract; Podocarpus latifolius extract; unclassified drug; animal experiment; article; bacterial strain; cell viability; concentration response; controlled study; cytotoxicity; drug isolation; human; human cell; male; medicinal plant; metabolic activation; mutagenicity; nonhuman; plant leaf; plant stem; Podocarpus; Podocarpus elongatus; Podocarpus falcatus; Podocarpus henkelii; Podocarpus latifolius; rat; Salmonella; Salmonella typhimurium; South Africa; Antimutagenic Agents; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Gymnosperms; Hep G2 Cells; Humans; Liver Neoplasms; Medicine, African Traditional; Mutagens; Mutation; Phytotherapy; Plant Extracts; Plant Leaves; Plant Stems; Salmonella typhimurium; South Africa; Afrocarpus falcatus; Animalia; Podocarpus; Podocarpus latifolius; Salmonella typhimurium | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84874586536 | Performance evaluation of horizontal subsurface flow-constructed wetlands for the treatment of domestic wastewater in the tropics | Mburu N., Tebitendwa S.M., Rousseau D.P.L., Van Bruggen J.J.A., Lens P.N.L. | 2013 | Journal of Environmental Engineering (United States) | 139 | 3 | 10.1061/(ASCE)EE.1943-7870.0000636 | UNESCO-IHE, Institute for Water Education, P.O. Box 3015, 2601 DA, Delft, Netherlands; Dept. of Civil and Structural Engineering, Masinde Muliro Univ. of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 190-50100, Kakamega, Kenya; Kampala City Council, P.O. Box 7010, Kampala, Uganda; Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry and Applied Ecochemistry, Ghent Univ., Coupure Links 653, 9000 Gent, Belgium; Environmental Sciences, Univ. College West Flanders, Graaf Karel de Goedelaan 5, 8500 Kortrijk, Belgium | Mburu, N., UNESCO-IHE, Institute for Water Education, P.O. Box 3015, 2601 DA, Delft, Netherlands, Dept. of Civil and Structural Engineering, Masinde Muliro Univ. of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 190-50100, Kakamega, Kenya; Tebitendwa, S.M., Kampala City Council, P.O. Box 7010, Kampala, Uganda; Rousseau, D.P.L., Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry and Applied Ecochemistry, Ghent Univ., Coupure Links 653, 9000 Gent, Belgium, Environmental Sciences, Univ. College West Flanders, Graaf Karel de Goedelaan 5, 8500 Kortrijk, Belgium; Van Bruggen, J.J.A., UNESCO-IHE, Institute for Water Education, P.O. Box 3015, 2601 DA, Delft, Netherlands; Lens, P.N.L., UNESCO-IHE, Institute for Water Education, P.O. Box 3015, 2601 DA, Delft, Netherlands | The lack of information on constructed-wetland performance in the tropics is among the factors that have hindered the adoption of low-cost wastewater-treatment technologies as alternatives to conventional wastewater treatment. A pilot scale study was undertaken in Juja (Kenya) to assess the performance of horizontal subsurface flow-constructed wetlands (HSSF-CWs) under tropical conditions. Primary domestic wastewater effluent was continuously fed into three replicate wetland cells, each with an area of 22.5 m2 (7.5×3 m) and with gravel as substrate. The study revealed successful performance of the wetlands in terms of compliance with local discharge standards with respect to chemical-oxygen demand (COD), BOD5, total suspended solids (TSS), and SO42 - S at an average mass removal efficiency between 58.9 and 74.9%. Moderate removal of NH4+-N and total phosphorus (TP) was recorded. The estimated first-order aerial-rate constant and the BOD5 background concentration showed the HSSF-CW to be area-requirement competitive. The good performance in organic matter and suspended solids removal reveals that HSSF-CW can help to alleviate the current environmental pollution problems experienced in developing countries caused by the discharge of partially treated or untreated domestic wastewater. © 2013 American Society of Civil Engineers. | Developing countries; Waste treatment; Water pollution; Wetlands | Background concentration; Discharge standards; Domestic wastewater; Domestic wastewater effluents; Environmental pollution problem; First-order; Mass removal; Performance evaluation; Pilot-scale study; Suspended solids; Total phosphorus; Total suspended solids; Tropical conditions; Wetland cells; Developing countries; Effluents; Rate constants; Regulatory compliance; Tropics; Waste treatment; Water pollution; Wetlands; Wastewater treatment; biochemical oxygen demand; chemical oxygen demand; constructed wetland; developing world; discharge; organic matter; performance assessment; phosphorus; pollutant removal; subsurface flow; sulfate; suspended load; tropical region; waste treatment; water pollution; water treatment; Kenya | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84870489808 | E-Surveillance in Animal Health: Use and evaluation of mobile tools | Madder M., Walker J.G., Van Rooyen J., Knobel D., Vandamme E., Berkvens D., Vanwambeke S.O., De Clercq E.M. | 2012 | Parasitology | 139 | 14 | 10.1017/S0031182012000571 | Vector Biology Group, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nationalestraat 155, B-2000 Antwerp, Belgium; Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort, Pretoria, 0110, South Africa; KEMRI, CDC Research and Public Health Collaboration, P.O. Box 1578, Kisumu 40100, Kenya; Compton Mentor Fellowship, Compton Foundation, 101 Montgomery St., San Francisco, CA 94104, United States; Georges Lemaître Centre for Earth and Climate Research, Earth and Life Institute, Université Catholique de Louvain, place L. Pasteur 3, B-1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium | Madder, M., Vector Biology Group, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nationalestraat 155, B-2000 Antwerp, Belgium, Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort, Pretoria, 0110, South Africa; Walker, J.G., KEMRI, CDC Research and Public Health Collaboration, P.O. Box 1578, Kisumu 40100, Kenya, Compton Mentor Fellowship, Compton Foundation, 101 Montgomery St., San Francisco, CA 94104, United States; Van Rooyen, J., Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort, Pretoria, 0110, South Africa; Knobel, D., Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort, Pretoria, 0110, South Africa, KEMRI, CDC Research and Public Health Collaboration, P.O. Box 1578, Kisumu 40100, Kenya; Vandamme, E., Vector Biology Group, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nationalestraat 155, B-2000 Antwerp, Belgium; Berkvens, D., Vector Biology Group, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nationalestraat 155, B-2000 Antwerp, Belgium; Vanwambeke, S.O., Georges Lemaître Centre for Earth and Climate Research, Earth and Life Institute, Université Catholique de Louvain, place L. Pasteur 3, B-1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium; De Clercq, E.M., Georges Lemaître Centre for Earth and Climate Research, Earth and Life Institute, Université Catholique de Louvain, place L. Pasteur 3, B-1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium | In the last decade, mobile technology offered new opportunities and challenges in animal health surveillance. It began with the use of basic mobile phones and short message service (SMS) for disease reporting, and the development of smartphones and other mobile tools has expanded the possibilities for data collection. These tools assist in the collection of data as well as geo-referenced mapping of diseases, and mapping, visualization and identification of vectors such as ticks. In this article we share our findings about new technologies in the domain of animal health surveillance, based on several projects using a wide range of mobile tools, each with their specific applicability and limitations. For each of the tools used, a comprehensive overview is given about its applicability, limitations, technical requirements, cost and also the perception of the users.The evaluation of the tools clearly shows the importance of selecting the appropriate tool depending on the envisaged data to be collected. Accessibility, visualization and cost related to data collection differ significantly among the tools tested. This paper can thus be seen as a practical guide to the currently available tools. © 2012 Cambridge University Press. | animal health; mobile technology; smart phones; SMS; Surveillance | animal health; article; computer program; controlled study; disease surveillance; electronics; human; information processing; microscope; mobile phone; nonhuman; priority journal; technology; Africa; Animals; Cellular Phone; Data Collection; Introduced Species; Population Surveillance; Software; Tick-Borne Diseases; Ticks; Animalia; Ixodida | None |
| WoS | WOS:000263496700006 | Impact of antenatal common mental disorders upon perinatal outcomes in Ethiopia: the P-MaMiE population-based cohort study | Abdulahi, Abdulreshid,Alem, Atalay,Araya, Mesfin,Dewey, Michael,Hanlon, Charlotte,Hughes, Marcus,Lakew, Zufan,Medhin, Girmay,Patel, Vikram,Prince, Martin,Tesfaye, Fikru,Tomlinson, Mark,Worku, Bogale | 2009 | TROPICAL MEDICINE & INTERNATIONAL HEALTH | 14 | 2 | 10.1111/j.1365-3156.2008.02198.x | Addis Ababa University, Kings College London, University of London, MRC, UK & Sangath Ctr | "Abdulahi, Abdulreshid: Addis Ababa University","Alem, Atalay: Addis Ababa University","Araya, Mesfin: Addis Ababa University","Dewey, Michael: Kings College London","Dewey, Michael: University of London","Hughes, Marcus: Kings College London","Hughes, Marcus: University of London","Lakew, Zufan: Addis Ababa University","Medhin, Girmay: Kings College London","Medhin, Girmay: University of London","Prince, Martin: Kings College London","Prince, Martin: University of London","Tesfaye, Fikru: Addis Ababa University","Worku, Bogale: Addis Ababa University", | To examine the impact of antenatal psychosocial stressors, including maternal common mental disorders (CMD), upon low birth weight, stillbirth and neonatal mortality, and other perinatal outcomes in rural Ethiopia.
A population-based sample of 1065 pregnant women was assessed for symptoms of antenatal CMD (Self-Reporting Questionnaire-20: SRQ-20), stressful life events during pregnancy (List of Threatening Experiences: LTE) and worry about the forthcoming delivery. In a sub-sample of 654 women from six rural sub-districts, neonatal birth weight was measured on 521 (79.7%) singleton babies within 48 h of delivery. Information about other perinatal outcomes was obtained shortly after birth from the mother's verbal report and via the Demographic Surveillance System.
After adjusting for potential confounders, none of the psychosocial stressors were associated with lower mean birth weight, stillbirth or neonatal mortality. Increasing levels of antenatal CMD symptoms were associated both with prolonged labour (> 24 h) (SRQ 1-5: RR 1.4; 95% CI 1.0-1.9, SRQ >= 6: RR 1.6; 95% CI 1.0-2.6) and delaying initiation of breast-feeding more than eight hours (SRQ 1-5: RR 1.4; 95% CI 0.8 to 2.4, SRQ >= 6: RR 2.8; 95% CI 1.3-6.1). Worry about delivery was also associated with labour longer than 24 h (RR 1.5; 95% CI 1.0-2.1).
This study provides preliminary evidence of important public health consequences of poor maternal mental health in low-income countries but does not replicate the strong association with low birth weight found in South Asia. | "birth weight","BREAST FEEDING","MENTAL DISORDER","obstetric labour complications",PREGNANCY,"SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA",ANXIETY,ASSOCIATION,INDIA,"INFANT GROWTH",INITIATION,LOW-BIRTH-WEIGHT,"MATERNAL DEPRESSION",MORBIDITY,NUTRITIONAL-STATUS,PREGNANCY | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-70350025082 | Levels of childhood vaccination coverage and the impact of maternal HIV status on child vaccination status in rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | Ndirangu J., Bärnighausen T., Tanser F., Tint K., Newell M.-L. | 2009 | Tropical Medicine and International Health | 14 | 11 | 10.1111/j.1365-3156.2009.02382.x | Africa Centre for Health and Population Studies, University of KwaZulu-Natal, PO Box 198, Mtubatuba, KwaZulu-Natal, 3935, South Africa; Africa Centre for Health and Population Studies, University of KwaZulu Natal, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa; School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand, Witwatersrand, South Africa; Centre for Paediatric Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University College London, Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom | Ndirangu, J., Africa Centre for Health and Population Studies, University of KwaZulu-Natal, PO Box 198, Mtubatuba, KwaZulu-Natal, 3935, South Africa, Africa Centre for Health and Population Studies, University of KwaZulu Natal, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa; Bärnighausen, T., Africa Centre for Health and Population Studies, University of KwaZulu Natal, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa; Tanser, F., Africa Centre for Health and Population Studies, University of KwaZulu Natal, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa; Tint, K., School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand, Witwatersrand, South Africa; Newell, M.-L., Africa Centre for Health and Population Studies, University of KwaZulu Natal, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, Centre for Paediatric Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University College London, Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom | Objectives To analyse coverage of childhood vaccinations in a rural South African population and investigate whether maternal HIV status is associated with children's vaccination status. Methods 2 431 children with complete information, 12-23 months of age at some point during the period January 2005 through December 2006 and resident in the Africa Centre Demographic Surveillance Area at the time of their birth were investigated. We examined the relationship between maternal HIV status and child vaccination status for five vaccinations [Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG), diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTP3), poliomyelitis (polio3), hepatitis B (HepB3), and measles] in multiple logistic regressions, controlling for household wealth, maternal age, maternal education and distances to roads, fixed and mobile clinics. Results Coverage of the five vaccinations ranged from 89.3% (95% CI 81.7-93.9) for BCG to 77.3% (67.1-83.6) for measles. Multivariably, maternal HIV-positive status was significantly associated with lower adjusted odds ratios (AOR) of child vaccination for all vaccines [(AOR) 0.60-0.74, all P ≤ 0.036] except measles (0.75, P = 0.073), distance to mobile clinic was negatively associated with vaccination status (all P ≤ 0.029), household wealth was positively (all P ≤ 0.013) and distance to nearest road negatively (all P ≤ 0.004) associated with vaccination status. Conclusion Positive maternal HIV status independently reduces children's probability to receive child vaccinations, which likely contributes to the morbidity and mortality differential between children of HIV-positive and HIV-negative mothers. As a means of increasing vaccination coverage, policy makers should consider increasing the number of mobile clinics in this and similar communities in rural Africa. © 2009 Blackwell Publishing Ltd. | Maternal HIV status; Rural Africa; Vaccination coverage | BCG vaccine; diphtheria pertussis tetanus vaccine; hepatitis B vaccine; measles vaccine; poliomyelitis vaccine; child; child mortality; demographic survey; disease treatment; health education; health services; health status; hepatitis; human immunodeficiency virus; logistics; maternal health; measles; morbidity; policy making; poliomyelitis; rural population; spatial analysis; temporal analysis; vaccination; adolescent; adult; article; child; child health; female; human; Human immunodeficiency virus; major clinical study; male; maternal welfare; preschool child; questionnaire; school child; South Africa; vaccination; Adolescent; Adult; BCG Vaccine; Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis Vaccine; Female; Health Care Surveys; Hepatitis B Vaccines; HIV Seropositivity; Humans; Immunization Programs; Infant; Logistic Models; Male; Measles Vaccine; Middle Aged; Mothers; Poliovirus Vaccine, Oral; Rural Population; South Africa; Vaccination; Young Adult; Africa; KwaZulu-Natal; South Africa; Southern Africa; Sub-Saharan Africa; Mycobacterium bovis BCG | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84880335035 | Evaluation of the impact of immediate versus WHO recommendations-guided antiretroviral therapy initiation on HIV incidence: The ANRS 12249 TasP (Treatment as Prevention) trial in Hlabisa sub-district, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: Study protocol for a clus | Iwuji C.C., Orne-Gliemann J., Tanser F., Boyer S., Lessells R.J., Lert F., Imrie J., Bärnighausen T., Rekacewicz C., Bazin B., Newell M.-L., Dabis F. | 2013 | Trials | 14 | 1 | 10.1186/1745-6215-14-230 | Africa Centre for Health and Population Studies, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Somkhele, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa; University Bordeaux, ISPED, Bordeaux, France; INSERM, ISPED, Centre Inserm U897, Epidemiologie-Biostatistique, Bordeaux, France; INSERM, UMR912 (SESSTIM), Marseille, France; UMR-S912, IRD, Aix Marseille Université, Marseille, France; ORS PACA, Observ. Régional de la Santé Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, Marseille, France; Department of Clinical Research, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; INSERM U1018, CESP, Epidemiology of Occupational and Social Determinants of Health, Villejuif, France; University of Versailles Saint-Quentin, UMRS 1018 Villejuif, Paris, France; Centre for Sexual Health and HIV Research, Research Department of Infection and Population, Faculty of Population Health Sciences, University College London, London, United Kingdom; Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, United States; Agence nationale de recherches sur le sida et les hépatites virales (ANRS), Paris, France; Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, United Kingdom | Iwuji, C.C., Africa Centre for Health and Population Studies, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Somkhele, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa; Orne-Gliemann, J., University Bordeaux, ISPED, Bordeaux, France, INSERM, ISPED, Centre Inserm U897, Epidemiologie-Biostatistique, Bordeaux, France; Tanser, F., Africa Centre for Health and Population Studies, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Somkhele, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa; Boyer, S., INSERM, UMR912 (SESSTIM), Marseille, France, UMR-S912, IRD, Aix Marseille Université, Marseille, France, ORS PACA, Observ. Régional de la Santé Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, Marseille, France; Lessells, R.J., Africa Centre for Health and Population Studies, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Somkhele, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, Department of Clinical Research, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Lert, F., INSERM U1018, CESP, Epidemiology of Occupational and Social Determinants of Health, Villejuif, France, University of Versailles Saint-Quentin, UMRS 1018 Villejuif, Paris, France; Imrie, J., Africa Centre for Health and Population Studies, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Somkhele, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, Centre for Sexual Health and HIV Research, Research Department of Infection and Population, Faculty of Population Health Sciences, University College London, London, United Kingdom; Bärnighausen, T., Africa Centre for Health and Population Studies, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Somkhele, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, United States; Rekacewicz, C., Agence nationale de recherches sur le sida et les hépatites virales (ANRS), Paris, France; Bazin, B., Agence nationale de recherches sur le sida et les hépatites virales (ANRS), Paris, France; Newell, M.-L., Africa Centre for Health and Population Studies, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Somkhele, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, United Kingdom; Dabis, F., University Bordeaux, ISPED, Bordeaux, France, INSERM, ISPED, Centre Inserm U897, Epidemiologie-Biostatistique, Bordeaux, France | Background: Antiretroviral therapy (ART) suppresses HIV viral load in all body compartments and so limits the risk of HIV transmission. It has been suggested that ART not only contributes to preventing transmission at individual but potentially also at population level. This trial aims to evaluate the effect of ART initiated immediately after identification/diagnosis of HIV-infected individuals, regardless of CD4 count, on HIV incidence in the surrounding population. The primary outcome of the overall trial will be HIV incidence over two years. Secondary outcomes will include i) socio-behavioural outcomes (acceptability of repeat HIV counselling and testing, treatment acceptance and linkage to care, sexual partnerships and quality of life); ii) clinical outcomes (mortality and morbidity, retention into care, adherence to ART, virologic failure and acquired HIV drug resistance), iii) cost-effectiveness of the intervention. The first phase will specifically focus on the trial's secondary outcomes.Methods/design: A cluster-randomised trial in 34 (2 × 17) clusters within a rural area of northern KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa), covering a total population of 34,000 inhabitants aged 16 years and above, of whom an estimated 27,200 would be HIV-uninfected at start of the trial. The first phase of the trial will include ten (2 × 5) clusters. Consecutive rounds of home-based HIV testing will be carried out. HIV-infected participants will be followed in dedicated trial clinics: in intervention clusters, they will be offered immediate ART initiation regardless of CD4 count and clinical stage; in control clusters they will be offered ART according to national treatment eligibility guidelines (CD4 <350 cells/μL, World Health Organisation stage 3 or 4 disease or multidrug-resistant/extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis). Following proof of acceptability and feasibility from the first phase, the trial will be rolled out to further clusters.Discussion: We aim to provide proof-of-principle evidence regarding the effectiveness of Treatment-as-Prevention in reducing HIV incidence at the population level. Data collected from the participants at home and in the clinics will inform understanding of socio-behavioural, economic and clinical impacts of the intervention as well as feasibility and generalizability. © 2013 Iwuji et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | Antiretroviral therapy; HIV infections; Prevention; South Africa | nevirapine; zidovudine; anemia; article; CD4 lymphocyte count; controlled study; cost effectiveness analysis; counseling; health impact assessment; highly active antiretroviral therapy; HIV test; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; incidence; kidney dysfunction; liver dysfunction; morbidity; mortality; multidrug resistant tuberculosis; outcome assessment; phase 1 clinical trial; practice guideline; quality of life; randomized controlled trial; rural area; South Africa; world health organization; Adolescent; Adult; Anti-Retroviral Agents; CD4 Lymphocyte Count; Clinical Protocols; Cost-Benefit Analysis; Drug Administration Schedule; Drug Costs; Drug Resistance, Viral; Feasibility Studies; Guideline Adherence; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; HIV Infections; Humans; Incidence; Medication Adherence; Practice Guidelines as Topic; Predictive Value of Tests; Quality of Life; Research Design; Rural Health Services; Sexual Behavior; South Africa; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome; World Health Organization; Young Adult | Wellcome Trust |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84893204534 | Identifying perceived barriers to monitoring service quality among substance abuse treatment providers in South Africa | Myers B., Petersen Z., Kader R., Koch J.R., Manderscheid R., Govender R., Parry C.D.H. | 2014 | BMC Psychiatry | 14 | 1 | 10.1186/1471-244X-14-31 | Alcohol and Drug Abuse Research Unit, Medical Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa; Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Institute for Drug and Alcohol Studies, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States; National Association of County Behavioral Health and Developmental Disability Directors, Washington DC, United States; Department of Sociology, Centre for Social Science Research, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Department of Psychiatry, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa | Myers, B., Alcohol and Drug Abuse Research Unit, Medical Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa, Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Petersen, Z., Alcohol and Drug Abuse Research Unit, Medical Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa; Kader, R., Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Koch, J.R., Institute for Drug and Alcohol Studies, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States; Manderscheid, R., National Association of County Behavioral Health and Developmental Disability Directors, Washington DC, United States; Govender, R., Department of Sociology, Centre for Social Science Research, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Parry, C.D.H., Alcohol and Drug Abuse Research Unit, Medical Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa, Department of Psychiatry, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa | Background: A performance measurement system is planned for South African substance abuse treatment services. Provider-level barriers to implementing these systems have been identified in the United States, but little is known about the nature of these barriers in South Africa. This study explored the willingness of South African substance abuse treatment providers' to adopt a performance measurement system and perceived barriers to monitoring service quality that would need to be addressed during system development.Methods: Three focus group discussions were held with treatment providers from two of the nine provinces in South Africa. These providers represented the diverse spread of substance abuse treatment services available in the country. The final sample comprised 21 representatives from 12 treatment facilities: eight treatment centres in the Western Cape and four in KwaZulu-Natal. Content analysis was used to extract core themes from these discussions.Results: Participants identified barriers to the monitoring of service quality that included outdated modes of collecting data, personnel who were already burdened by paperwork, lack of time to collect data, and limited skills to analyse and interpret data. Participants recommended that developers engage with service providers in a participatory manner to ensure that service providers are invested in the proposed performance measurement system.Conclusion: Findings show that substance abuse treatment providers are willing to adopt a performance measurement system and highlight several barriers that need to be addressed during system development in order to enhance the likelihood that this system will be successfully implemented. © 2014 Myers et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | Performance measurement; Service monitoring; Service quality; South Africa; Substance abuse treatment | adult; article; female; health care facility; health care personnel; health care quality; health service; human; information processing; job stress; male; middle aged; patient monitoring; performance measurement system; physician; psychologist; social participation; social worker; South Africa; substance abuse; health care personnel; perception; psychology; Substance-Related Disorders; task performance; Adult; Female; Focus Groups; Health Personnel; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Perception; South Africa; Substance-Related Disorders; Task Performance and Analysis | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-81555205837 | Relative Impacts of Elephant and Fire on Large Trees in a Savanna Ecosystem | Shannon G., Thaker M., Vanak A.T., Page B.R., Grant R., Slotow R. | 2011 | Ecosystems | 14 | 8 | 10.1007/s10021-011-9485-z | Amarula Elephant Research Programme, School of Biological and Conservation Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville Campus, Pvt. Bag 54001, Durban 4000, South Africa; Scientific Services, Kruger National Park, Box 106, Skukuza 1350, South Africa | Shannon, G., Amarula Elephant Research Programme, School of Biological and Conservation Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville Campus, Pvt. Bag 54001, Durban 4000, South Africa; Thaker, M., Amarula Elephant Research Programme, School of Biological and Conservation Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville Campus, Pvt. Bag 54001, Durban 4000, South Africa; Vanak, A.T., Amarula Elephant Research Programme, School of Biological and Conservation Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville Campus, Pvt. Bag 54001, Durban 4000, South Africa; Page, B.R., Amarula Elephant Research Programme, School of Biological and Conservation Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville Campus, Pvt. Bag 54001, Durban 4000, South Africa; Grant, R., Scientific Services, Kruger National Park, Box 106, Skukuza 1350, South Africa; Slotow, R., Amarula Elephant Research Programme, School of Biological and Conservation Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville Campus, Pvt. Bag 54001, Durban 4000, South Africa | Elephant and fire are considered to be among the most important agents that can modify the African savanna ecosystem. Although the synergistic relationship between these two key ecological drivers is well documented, it has proved much more difficult to establish the relative effects they have on savanna vegetation structure at a fine-scale over time. In this study, we explore the comparative impacts of fire and elephant on 2,522 individually identified large trees (≥5 m in height) in the Kruger National Park, South Africa. Data were collected from 21 transects first surveyed in April 2006 and resurveyed in November 2008, to determine the relative importance of past damage by these agents on subsequent impacts and mortality. The occurrence of fire or elephant damage in 2006 affected the amount of tree volume subsequently removed by both these agents; elephant removed more tree volume from previously burned trees and the impact of subsequent fire was higher on previously burned or elephant-utilized trees than on undamaged trees. Mortality was also affected by an interaction between previous and recent damage, as the probability of mortality was highest for trees that suffered from fire or elephant utilization after being pushed over. Subsequent fire damage, but not elephant utilization, on debarked trees also increased the probability of mortality. Mortality was twice (4. 6% per annum) that of trees progressing into the ≥5 m height class, suggesting an overall decline in large tree density during the 30-month study period. The responses of large trees were species and landscape-specific in terms of sensitivity to elephant and fire impacts, as well as for levels of mortality and progression into the ≥5 m height class. These results emphasize the need for fine-scale site-specific knowledge for effective landscape level understanding of savanna dynamics. © 2011 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC. | ecological drivers; elephant; fire; herbivory; savanna management; tree survival; vegetation dynamics; woody species | biological invasion; elephant; forest fire; habitat management; herbivory; mortality; population decline; probability; savanna; sensitivity analysis; spatiotemporal analysis; survival; synergism; transect; volume; woody plant; Kruger National Park; South Africa | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84897839766 | Land-use change and its socio-environmental impact in Eastern Ethiopia's highland | Meshesha D.T., Tsunekawa A., Tsubo M., Ali S.A., Haregeweyn N. | 2014 | Regional Environmental Change | 14 | 2 | 10.1007/s10113-013-0535-2 | Arid Land Research Center, Tottori University, 1390 Hamasaka, Tottori, 680-0001, Japan; Department of Geology, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, 202002 UP, India; Department of Land Resources Management and Environmental Protection, Mekelle University, Tigray, P.O. Box 231, Mek'ele, Ethiopia; Institutes for Soil, Climate and Water, Agricultural Research Council, 600 Belvedere Street, Arcadia, Pretoria, 0083, South Africa | Meshesha, D.T., Arid Land Research Center, Tottori University, 1390 Hamasaka, Tottori, 680-0001, Japan; Tsunekawa, A., Arid Land Research Center, Tottori University, 1390 Hamasaka, Tottori, 680-0001, Japan; Tsubo, M., Arid Land Research Center, Tottori University, 1390 Hamasaka, Tottori, 680-0001, Japan, Institutes for Soil, Climate and Water, Agricultural Research Council, 600 Belvedere Street, Arcadia, Pretoria, 0083, South Africa; Ali, S.A., Department of Geology, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, 202002 UP, India; Haregeweyn, N., Arid Land Research Center, Tottori University, 1390 Hamasaka, Tottori, 680-0001, Japan, Department of Land Resources Management and Environmental Protection, Mekelle University, Tigray, P.O. Box 231, Mek'ele, Ethiopia | The Alemaya district (Eastern Ethiopian highlands) is characterized by undulating physiographic features with arid, semi-arid, and humid climatic conditions. This study evaluated socio-environmental changes in land use and land cover during 1985-2011. Screen digitization on remotely sensed data (i.e., Landsat images from 1985 to 2011) was performed to produce 10 classes of land use and land cover. Then, final land-use maps were prepared using a geographic information system following field verification and accuracy assessment. The drying of water bodies, including the prominent lakes Alemaya, Adele, and Tinike, had been the most important environmental change observed. Degraded land, marsh, perennial cropland, and residential areas increased by 37, 438, 42, and 190 %, respectively, whereas grassland, plantation, shrubland, and temporal cropland decreased by 64, 11, 63, and 29 %, respectively. The increase in land degradation (+37 %), the other major observed problem, has made large areas unsuitable for agriculture and has reduced crop productivity. These land-use and land-cover changes have affected both the environment and the livelihoods of local residents; especially the issue related to land degradation requires urgent attention. © 2013 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg. | Alemaya; Image classification; Lake retreat; Land degradation; Land-use change; Satellite image | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77954704762 | Liquid vs. solid culture for tuberculosis: Performance and cost in a resource-constrained setting | Chihota V.N., Grant A.D., Fielding K., Ndibongo B., Van Zyl A., Muirhead D., Churchyard G.J. | 2010 | International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease | 14 | 8 | None | Aurum Institute for Health Research, Private Bag X 30500, Houghton, Johannesburg, 2041, South Africa; London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom | Chihota, V.N., Aurum Institute for Health Research, Private Bag X 30500, Houghton, Johannesburg, 2041, South Africa; Grant, A.D., London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Fielding, K., London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Ndibongo, B., Aurum Institute for Health Research, Private Bag X 30500, Houghton, Johannesburg, 2041, South Africa; Van Zyl, A., Aurum Institute for Health Research, Private Bag X 30500, Houghton, Johannesburg, 2041, South Africa; Muirhead, D., Aurum Institute for Health Research, Private Bag X 30500, Houghton, Johannesburg, 2041, South Africa, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Churchyard, G.J., Aurum Institute for Health Research, Private Bag X 30500, Houghton, Johannesburg, 2041, South Africa, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom | SETTING: National Health Laboratory Services tuberculosis (TB) laboratory, South Africa. OBJECTIVES: To compare Mycobacterium Growth Indicator Tube (MGIT) with Löwenstein-Jensen (LJ) medium with regard to Mycobacterium tuberculosis yield, time to positive culture and contamination, and to assess MGIT cost-effectiveness. DESIGN: Sputum from gold miners was cultured on MGIT and LJ. We estimated cost per culture, and, for smear-negative samples, incremental cost per additional M. tuberculosis gained with MGIT using a decision-tree model. RESULTS: Among 1267 specimens, MGIT vs. LJ gave a higher yield of mycobacteria (29.7% vs. 22.8%), higher contamination (16.7% vs. 9.3%) and shorter time to positive culture (median 14 vs. 25 days for smear-negative specimens). Among smear-negative samples that were culture-positive on MGIT but negative/contaminated on LJ, 77.3% were non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM). Cost per culture on LJ, MGIT and MGIT+LJ was respectively US$12.35, US$16.62 and US$19.29. The incremental cost per additional M. tuberculosis identified by standard biochemical tests and microscopic cording was respectively US$504.08 and US$328.10 using MGIT vs. LJ, or US$160.80 and US$109.07 using MGIT+LJ vs. LJ alone. CONCLUSION: MGIT gives higher yield and faster results at relatively high cost. The high proportion of NTM underscores the need for rapid speciation tests. Minimising contaminated cultures is key to cost-effectiveness. © 2010 The Union. | Anti-MPB64 assay; LJ medium; MGIT; Microscopic cording; Mycobacterium tuberculosis | adult; aged; article; bacterium culture; bacterium identification; cost effectiveness analysis; decision tree; female; human; major clinical study; male; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; priority journal; South Africa; sputum culture; comparative study; cost; culture medium; economics; follow up; growth, development and aging; isolation and purification; microbiological examination; microbiology; middle aged; Mycobacterium fortuitum; prevalence; reproducibility; retrospective study; sputum; standards; tuberculosis; young adult; Adult; Aged; Bacteriological Techniques; Costs and Cost Analysis; Culture Media; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Middle Aged; Mycobacterium fortuitum; Prevalence; Reproducibility of Results; Retrospective Studies; South Africa; Sputum; Tuberculosis; Young Adult; culture medium; Adult; Aged; Bacteriological Techniques; Costs and Cost Analysis; Culture Media; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Middle Aged; Mycobacterium fortuitum; Prevalence; Reproducibility of Results; Retrospective Studies; South Africa; Sputum; Tuberculosis; Young Adult | None |
| WoS | WOS:000340956400001 | Impact of health education intervention on knowledge and perception of cervical cancer and cervical screening uptake among adult women in rural communities in Nigeria | Abiodun, Olumide A.,Olu-Abiodun, Oluwatosin O.,Oluwole, Francis A.,Sotunsa, John O. | 2014 | BMC PUBLIC HEALTH | 14 | None | 10.1186/1471-2458-14-814 | Babcock Univ, Olabisi Onabanjo Univ, Sch Nursing | None | Background: Cervical cancer is a disease of public health importance affecting many women and contributing to avoidably high levels of cancer deaths in Nigeria. In spite of the relative ease of prevention, the incidence is on the increase. This study aimed to determine the effect of health education on the awareness, knowledge and perception of cervical cancer and screening among women in rural Nigerian communities.
Methods: The study design was quasi-experimental. The study was carried out among adult women in Odogbolu (intervention) and Ikenne (control) local government areas (LGA) of Ogun state. Three hundred and fifty (350) women were selected per group by multistage random sampling technique. Data was collected by semi structured interviews with the aid of questionnaire. The intervention consisted of structured health education based on a movie.
Result: The intervention raised the level of awareness of cervical cancer and screening to 100% (p < 0.0001). The proportion of women with very good knowledge of cervical cancer and screening rose from 2% to 70.5% (X-2 = 503.7, p < 0.0001) while the proportion of those with good perception rose from 5.1% to 95.1% (p < 0.0001). The mean knowledge and mean perception scores were also increased (p < 0.0001). There was increase in the proportion of women who had undertaken cervical screening from 4.3% to 8.3% (p = 0.038). The major reason stated by the women for not having had cervical screening done was lack of awareness about cervical cancer and screening. There was statistically significant difference between the intervention and control groups concerning their knowledge attitude and practice towards cervical and screening (p < 0.05) after the intervention.
Conclusion: Multiple media health education based on a movie is effective in creating awareness for and improving the knowledge and perception of adult women about cervical cancer and screening. It also improves the uptake of cervical cancer screening. The creation of awareness is very crucial to the success of a cervical cancer prevention programme. | AWARENESS,"CERVICAL CANCER","CERVICAL SCREENING",KNOWLEDGE,movie,"Participatory health education",PERCEPTION,BREAST | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84880424853 | Exploring Teachers' Assessment Practices of Performance Tasks in Agriculture and Factors Influencing Their Choice | Masole T.M., Howie S. | 2013 | Journal of Agricultural and Food Information | 14 | 3 | 10.1080/10496505.2013.803347 | Botswana Examinations Council, Private Bag 0070, Gaborone, Botswana; Faculty of Education, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa | Masole, T.M., Botswana Examinations Council, Private Bag 0070, Gaborone, Botswana; Howie, S., Faculty of Education, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa | The aim of the study was to explore processes employed in performance assessment in agriculture in Botswana schools. The study employed an exploratory survey design, in which 13 schools were purposively sampled from two regions. Participants completed a self-administered questionnaire and some were interviewed. Descriptive statistics (frequency counts, percentages, and means) were initially computed before inferential analysis (factor analysis, t-test, and ANOVA) was carried out. Qualitative data was analyzed through thick description. It was found that teachers' performance assessment was the same in the two regions, characterized by holistic assessment of the product. The emphasis on product assessment was largely due to insufficient training, large class sizes, high workloads, and insufficient time. © 2013 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC. | agriculture; assessment; Botswana; performance assessment; process assessment; product assessment | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000262517900008 | The impact of distance of residence from a peripheral health facility on pediatric health utilisation in rural western Kenya | Adazu, Kubaje,Audi, Allan,Feikin, Daniel R.,Lindblade, Kim A.,Nguyen, Ly Minh,Ombok, Maurice,Slutsker, Laurence | 2009 | TROPICAL MEDICINE & INTERNATIONAL HEALTH | 14 | 1 | 10.1111/j.1365-3156.2008.02193.x | CDC, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention - USA, Ctr Dis Control & Prevent, Kenya Govt Med Res Ctr | None | To explore the impact of distance on utilisation of peripheral health facilities for sick child visits in Asembo, rural western Kenya.
As part of a demographic surveillance system (DSS), censuses of all households in the Asembo population of 55 000 are conducted three times a year, data are collected at all outpatient pediatric visits in seven DSS clinics in Asembo, and all households are GIS-mapped and linkable to a child's unique DSS identification number. Between May 1, 2003 and April 30, 2004, 3501 clinic visits were linked to 2432 children among 10 973 DSS-resident children < 5 years of age.
Younger children and children with more severe illnesses travelled further for clinic visits. The median distance travelled varied by clinic. The rate of clinic visits decreased linearly at 0.5 km intervals up to 4 km, after which the rate stabilised. Using Poisson regression, controlling for the nearest DSS clinic for each child, socio-economic status and maternal education, and accounting for household clustering of children, for every 1 km increase in distance of residence from a DSS clinic, the rate of clinic visits decreased by 34% (95% CI, 31-37%) from the previous kilometer.
Achieving equity in access to health care for children in rural Kenya will require creative strategies to address a significant distance-decay effect in health care utilisation. | "access to care",DISTANCE,"health care utilisation",KENYA,ATTENDANCE,CHILDREN,DISTRICT,FEVERS,MALARIA,MORTALITY,SERVICES | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84878542959 | The experimental evaluation and molecular dynamics simulation of a heat-enhanced transdermal delivery system | Otto D.P., De Villiers M.M. | 2013 | AAPS PharmSciTech | 14 | 1 | 10.1208/s12249-012-9900-6 | Catalysis and Synthesis Research Group, Faculty of Natural Sciences, North-West University, Private Bag X6001, Potchefstroom, South Africa; School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 777 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI, United States | Otto, D.P., Catalysis and Synthesis Research Group, Faculty of Natural Sciences, North-West University, Private Bag X6001, Potchefstroom, South Africa; De Villiers, M.M., School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 777 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI, United States | Transdermal delivery systems are useful in cases where preferred routes such as the oral route are not available. However, low overall extent of delivery is seen due to the permeation barrier posed by the skin. Chemical penetration enhancers and invasive methods that disturb the structural barrier function of the skin can be used to improve transdermal drug delivery. However, for suitable drugs, a fast-releasing transdermal delivery system can be produced by incorporating a heating source into a transdermal patch. In this study, a molecular dynamics simulation showed that heat increased the diffusivity of the drug molecules, resulting in faster release from gels containing ketoprofen, diclofenac sodium, and lidocaine HCl. Simulations were confirmed by in vitro drug release studies through lipophilic membranes. These correlations could expand the application of heated transdermal delivery systems for use as fast-release-dosage forms. © 2012 American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists. | diffusion; heated patch; ketoprofen; molecular dynamics; transdermal | diclofenac; ketoprofen; lidocaine; article; chemical reaction; correlation analysis; diffusion; drug delivery system; drug release; experimental study; gel; heat; heating; in vitro study; lipophilicity; molecular dynamics; priority journal; skin conductance; skin penetration; transdermal patch; Administration, Cutaneous; Gels; Hot Temperature; Molecular Dynamics Simulation; Permeability | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-62449214951 | Impact of intense, longitudinal retreatment with praziquantel on cure rates of schistosomiasis mansoni in a cohort of occupationally exposed adults in western Kenya | Black C.L., Steinauer M.L., Mwinzi P.N.M., Evan Secor W., Karanja D.M.S., Colley D.G. | 2009 | Tropical Medicine and International Health | 14 | 4 | 10.1111/j.1365-3156.2009.02234.x | Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, Department of Microbiology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, United States; Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, Department of Microbiology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States; Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States; Kenya Medical Research Institute, Center for Global Health Research, Kisumu, Kenya; Division of Parasitic Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States | Black, C.L., Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, Department of Microbiology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, United States, Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, Department of Microbiology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States; Steinauer, M.L., Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States; Mwinzi, P.N.M., Kenya Medical Research Institute, Center for Global Health Research, Kisumu, Kenya; Evan Secor, W., Division of Parasitic Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States; Karanja, D.M.S., Kenya Medical Research Institute, Center for Global Health Research, Kisumu, Kenya; Colley, D.G., Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, Department of Microbiology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States | Objective: To investigate trends in the efficacy of praziquantel (PZQ) suggestive of the emergence of drug resistance against Schistosoma mansoni infection after 12.5 years of intense, repeated use in a small geographic area along the shores of Lake Victoria. Methods: As part of a longitudinal study, 178 men occupationally exposed to schistosomes were repeatedly tested for S. mansoni infection at 4- to 6-week intervals and treated with PZQ at each reinfection. We compared cure rates by year of study and examined factors associated with cure failure in a multivariate logistic regression model. Results: Overall, the cure rate after a single dose of PZQ was 66%, ranging annually from 36% to 82%. In multivariate analysis, failure to cure after 1 PZQ dose was significantly associated with high intensity of infection and having fewer previous exposures to dying worms. Even after adjustment for these factors, treatments administered in 2006 were significantly more likely to result in cure failures than treatments administered in 2004, the year in which PZQ efficacy was highest. While cure rates varied over the course of 12 years, there was no consistent downward trend towards decreased efficacy over time. In years for which malacological data were available, periods of low PZQ efficacy coincide with high rates of S. mansoni infection in nearby snail populations. Conclusion: We did not find a pattern of cure failures consistent with development of clinical resistance to PZQ in our intensely treated cohort. © 2009 Blackwell Publishing Ltd. | Drug resistance; Praziquantel; Schistosomiasis | praziquantel; drug; drug resistance; infectious disease; multivariate analysis; numerical model; occupational exposure; population structure; regression analysis; snail; adult; article; cohort analysis; disease transmission; drug efficacy; egg; human; Kenya; longitudinal study; major clinical study; male; occupational exposure; parasite identification; parasite prevalence; repeated drug dose; Schistosoma mansoni; schistosomiasis; single drug dose; snail; treatment failure; treatment outcome; Adult; Animals; Anthelmintics; Drug Resistance; HIV Infections; Humans; Liver Diseases, Parasitic; Logistic Models; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Multivariate Analysis; Parasite Egg Count; Praziquantel; Schistosomiasis mansoni; Africa; East Africa; Kenya; Sub-Saharan Africa; Gastropoda; Schistosoma mansoni | None |
| WoS | WOS:000339283500001 | The impact of home-based HIV counseling and testing on care-seeking and incidence of common infectious disease syndromes in rural western Kenya | Ackers, Marta,Amolloh, Manase,Audi, Allan,Aura, Barrack,Bigogo, Godfrey,Breiman, Robert F.,Burton, Deron,Dalal, Warren,Feikin, Daniel R.,Laserson, Kayla F. | 2014 | BMC INFECTIOUS DISEASES | 14 | None | 10.1186/1471-2334-14-376 | Centers for Disease Control & Prevention - USA, Ctr Dis Control & Prevent, Kenya Govt Med Res Ctr | None | Background: In much of Africa, most individuals living with HIV do not know their status. Home-based counseling and testing (HBCT) leads to more HIV-infected people learning their HIV status. However, there is little data on whether knowing one's HIV-positive status necessarily leads to uptake of HIV care, which could in turn, lead to a reduction in the prevalence of common infectious disease syndromes.
Methods: In 2008, Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offered HBCT to individuals (aged >= 13 years) under active surveillance for infectious disease syndromes in Lwak in rural western Kenya. HIV test results were linked to morbidity and healthcare-seeking data collected by field workers through bi-weekly home visits. We analyzed changes in healthcare seeking behaviors using proportions, and incidence (expressed as episodes per person-year) of acute respiratory illness (ARI), severe acute respiratory illness (SARI), acute febrile illness (AFI) and diarrhea among first-time HIV testers in the year before and after HBCT, stratified by their test result and if HIV-positive, whether they sought care at HIV Patient Support Centers (PSCs).
Results: Of 9,613 individuals offered HBCT, 6,366 (66%) were first-time testers, 698 (11%) of whom were HIV-infected. One year after HBCT, 50% of HIV-infected persons had enrolled at PSCs - 92% of whom had started cotrimoxazole and 37% of those eligible for antiretroviral treatment had initiated therapy. Among HIV-infected persons enrolled in PSCs, AFI and diarrhea incidence decreased in the year after HBCT (rate ratio [RR] 0.84; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.77 - 0.91 and RR 0.84, 95% CI 0.73 - 0.98, respectively). Among HIV-infected persons not attending PSCs and among HIV-uninfected persons, decreases in incidence were significantly lower. While decreases also occurred in rates of respiratory illnesses among HIV-positive persons in care, there were similar decreases in the other two groups.
Conclusions: Large scale HBCT enabled a large number of newly diagnosed HIV-infected persons to know their HIV status, leading to a change in care seeking behavior and ultimately a decrease in incidence of common infectious disease syndromes through appropriate treatment and care. | "healthcare seeking","Home based HIV counseling and testing","Infectious disease incidence",AFRICA,"ANTIRETROVIRAL THERAPY",COTRIMOXAZOLE,FOLLOW-UP,HEALTH,"MORBIDITY SURVEILLANCE",MORTALITY,PROPHYLAXIS,TRIMETHOPRIM-SULFAMETHOXAZOLE,"UGANDAN ADULTS" | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33745726656 | Modelling the demographic impact of HIV/AIDS in South Africa and the likely impact of interventions | Johnson L.F., Dorrington R.E. | 2006 | Demographic Research | 14 | None | 10.4054/DemRes.2006.14.22 | Centre for Actuarial Research, University of Cape Town, Private Bag, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa | Johnson, L.F., Centre for Actuarial Research, University of Cape Town, Private Bag, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa; Dorrington, R.E., Centre for Actuarial Research, University of Cape Town, Private Bag, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa | This paper describes an approach to incorporating the impact of HIV/AIDS and the effects of HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment programmes into a cohort component projection model of the South African population. The modelled HIV-positive population is divided into clinical and treatment stages, and it is demonstrated that the age profile and morbidity profile of the HIV-positive population is changing significantly over time. HIV/AIDS is projected to have a substantial demographic impact in South Africa. Prevention programmes - social marketing, voluntary counselling and testing, prevention of mother-to-child transmission and improved treatment for sexually transmitted diseases - are unlikely to reduce AIDS mortality significantly in the short term. However, more immediate reductions in mortality can be achieved when antiretroviral treatment is introduced. © 2006 Max-Planck-Gesellschaft. | Antiretroviral treatment; Demographic impact; HIV/AIDS prevention; Simulation model; South Africa | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77954722951 | Case series of the long-term psychosocial impact of drug-resistant tuberculosis in HIV-negative medical doctors | Padayatchi N., Daftary A., Moodley T., Madansein R., Ramjee A. | 2010 | International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease | 14 | 8 | None | Centre for AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), Durban, South Africa; Department of Community Health, Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, Durban, South Africa; Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital, Durban, South Africa; King George V Hospital, Durban, South Africa | Padayatchi, N., Centre for AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), Durban, South Africa, Department of Community Health, Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, Durban, South Africa; Daftary, A., Centre for AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), Durban, South Africa, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Moodley, T., Centre for AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), Durban, South Africa; Madansein, R., Department of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital, Durban, South Africa; Ramjee, A., King George V Hospital, Durban, South Africa | BACKGROUND: Health care workers (HCWs) are at greater risk for tuberculosis (TB), including multidrugresistant TB (MDR-TB), compared to the general population. The psychosocial impact of nosocomial TB on HCWs has received little attention in the literature. METHODS: A retrospective medical record review from 1999 to 2003 found 15 HCWs who were treated for drug-resistant TB at a specialist hospital in South Africa. Five human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) negative doctors with no predisposing factors for drug resistance are included in this case series. We collectively present their clinical case histories based on medical records from 2000 to 2005, and explore the long-term psychosocial impact of TB from interviews conducted in 2009. RESULTS: Four doctors had primary MDR-TB and one had primary resistance to multiple first-line drugs. Time from symptom onset to commencement of effective treatment ranged from 8 to 39 weeks. Time for bacteriological confirmation of drug-resistant TB ranged from 6 to 24 weeks. All were cured within 3 years of initial presentation. Content analysis of follow-up interviews revealed five main themes: 1) prolonged morbidity, 2) psychological impact, 3) poor infection control, 4) weak support structures and 5) attrition from the field. CONCLUSION: Themes emergent from this case series encourage prioritisation of TB infection control education and practice to minimise HCW morbidity and prevent HCW attrition from high-burden resource-constrained settings. © 2010 The Union. | Drug-resistant tuberculosis; Health care workers; Infection control; Psychosocial impact; South Africa | amikacin; clarithromycin; cycloserine; dexamethasone; ethambutol; ethionamide; isoniazid; ofloxacin; prednisone; pyrazinamide; rifampicin; streptomycin; terizidone; valproic acid; tuberculostatic agent; adult; antibiotic therapy; anxiety; article; bladder dysfunction; case study; clinical article; clinical effectiveness; controlled study; depression; disease predisposition; drug resistant tuberculosis; female; follow up; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; infection control; insomnia; interview; limb pain; limb weakness; male; medical record review; medical specialist; morbidity; multidrug resistant tuberculosis; muscle spasm; nausea; otosclerosis; panic; physician; priority journal; pruritus; psychological aspect; retrospective study; sensory neuropathy; shoulder pain; side effect; small intestine disease; social aspect; South Africa; tinnitus; tuberculous meningitis; antibiotic resistance; attitude to health; comparative study; complication; disease transmission; incidence; Mental Disorders; multidrug resistant tuberculosis; physician; prevention and control; prognosis; psychology; questionnaire; risk factor; serodiagnosis; time; transmission; Adult; Antitubercular Agents; Attitude to Health; Drug Resistance, Bacterial; Female; Follow-Up Studies; HIV Seronegativity; Humans; Incidence; Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional; Male; Mental Disorders; Physicians; Prognosis; Questionnaires; Retrospective Studies; Risk Factors; South Africa; Time Factors; Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant; Adult; Antitubercular Agents; Attitude to Health; Drug Resistance, Bacterial; Female; Follow-Up Studies; HIV Seronegativity; Humans; Incidence; Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional; Male; Mental Disorders; Physicians; Prognosis; Questionnaires; Retrospective Studies; Risk Factors; South Africa; Time Factors; Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-60349104900 | Performance of OptiMAL-IT® compared to microscopy, for malaria detection in Burkina Faso | Valéa I., Tinto H., Nikiema M., Yamuah L., Rouamba N., Drabo M., Guiguemde R.T., D'Alessandro U. | 2009 | Tropical Medicine and International Health | 14 | 3 | 10.1111/j.1365-3156.2009.02228.x | Centre Muraz, Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso; IRSS-DRO, Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso; Armauer Hansen Research Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Prince Leopold Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium; Centre Muraz, 01 BP 390, Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso | Valéa, I., Centre Muraz, Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, Centre Muraz, 01 BP 390, Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso; Tinto, H., IRSS-DRO, Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso; Nikiema, M., Centre Muraz, Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso; Yamuah, L., Armauer Hansen Research Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Rouamba, N., IRSS-DRO, Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso; Drabo, M., IRSS-DRO, Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso; Guiguemde, R.T., Centre Muraz, Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso; D'Alessandro, U., Prince Leopold Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium | Objective: To compare the performance of OptiMAL-IT®, a rapid diagnostic test for malaria, with that of microscopy in Burkina Faso. Method: Finger-prick blood samples of 464 children attending hospital for suspected malaria were tested for malaria by microscopy and OptiMAL-IT®. Results: The sensitivity and specificity of OptiMAL-IT® were 98.7% (CI 95% = 97.6-99.8) and 96.2% (CI 95% = 94.3-98.1) respectively, with a high positive likelihood ratio (25.97). Conclusion: OptiMAL-IT® can be considered a good method to diagnose malaria in Burkina Faso, particularly in remote areas with little or no access to microscopy services. © 2009 Blackwell Publishing Ltd. | Burkina Faso; Diagnosis; Malaria; Rapid test | blood; comparative study; malaria; microscopy; performance assessment; public access; sensitivity analysis; testing method; article; blood sampling; Burkina Faso; child; controlled study; diagnostic test; groups by age; hospital; human; infant; intermethod comparison; major clinical study; malaria; microscopy; outcome assessment; preschool child; sensitivity and specificity; analytical equipment; blood; comparative study; enzyme assay; evaluation; methodology; microscopy; prediction and forecasting; Africa; Burkina Faso; Sub-Saharan Africa; West Africa; biological marker; lactate dehydrogenase; Biological Markers; Child, Preschool; Clinical Enzyme Tests; Humans; Infant; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; Malaria; Microscopy; Predictive Value of Tests; Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; Sensitivity and Specificity | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84927660470 | Performance analysis of a connection admission scheme for future networks | Walingo T.M., Takawira F. | 2015 | IEEE Transactions on Wireless Communications | 14 | 4 | 10.1109/TWC.2014.2378777 | Centre of Radio Access and Rural Technologies, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; School of Electrical and Information Engineering, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa | Walingo, T.M., Centre of Radio Access and Rural Technologies, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; Takawira, F., School of Electrical and Information Engineering, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa | Future networks are to deliver any-traffic, anytime, anywhere with full quality of service (QoS) guarantees. They will evolve from typical heterogeneous networks (HetNets) into dense, organic, and irregular heterogeneous networks called DenseNets. They will be complex and face additional challenges of heterogeneity in many design dimensions like different radio access technologies (RAT's) shrinking in structure. Radio Resource Management (RRM) is one of the key challenges in providing for QoS for these networks. Connection Admission Control (CAC) scheme and intelligent scheduling techniques are employed on the links for RRM. In this paper a CAC scheme is developed that features multiple traffic classes, multiple admission parameters at both packet and connection level. The CAC scheme uses both signal to interference ratio (SIR) and delay as admission parameters since the single parameter based CAC algorithm is not adequate for the emerging traffic classes. The performance analysis of the model features Batch Markovian Arrival Process (BMAP) traffic, a better representative of the future traffic characteristics than the traditional Poisson traffic. A simple approximate Markovian analytical model is developed and used to analyze the complex network. The developed model with more admission parameters outperforms those with less admission control parameters for future networks traffic. © 2002-2012 IEEE. | BMAP traffic; CDMA; Connection admission control; DenseNets; HetNets; Multimedia traffic | Cellular radio systems; Code division multiple access; Heterogeneous networks; Markov processes; Quality of service; Radio communication; Scheduling; Batch Markovian arrival process; Connection Admission Control; DenseNets; Heterogeneous network (HetNets); Hetnets; Multimedia traffic; Quality of service (QoS) guarantees; Signal-to-interference ratio; Complex networks | None |
| WoS | WOS:000345143900001 | Impact of implementing performance-based financing on childhood malnutrition in Rwanda | Binagwaho, Agnes,Bizimana, Jean de Dieu,Condo, Jeanine,Forrest, Jamie I.,Kanters, Steve,Karema, Corine,Ngabo, Fidele,Wagner, Claire | 2014 | BMC PUBLIC HEALTH | 14 | None | 10.1186/1471-2458-14-1132 | Dartmouth College, Harvard University, The World Bank, University of British Columbia, University of Rwanda, Global Hlth Delivery Partnership, Govt Rwanda, RBC | "Bizimana, Jean de Dieu: The World Bank","Condo, Jeanine: University of Rwanda","Forrest, Jamie I.: University of British Columbia","Kanters, Steve: University of British Columbia", | Background: Malnutrition remains a serious concern in Rwanda, particularly among children under-5 years. Performance-based financing (PBF), an innovative health systems financing strategy, has been implemented at the national level since 2008. This study aimed to assess the impact of PBF and other factors associated with the prevalence of three classifications of malnutrition (stunting, wasting and underweight) in children under-5 years in Rwanda.
Methods: The study is a cross-sectional study comprising of 713 children under five years old from 557 households, whose anthropometric measurements (height, weight and age) had been obtained as part of the 2008 Rwanda General Health and HIV household survey. Z-scores for height-for-age, weight-for-age, weight-for-height, and body mass index-for-age were analyzed according to the World Health Organization 2006 Child Growth Standards. Random intercept logistic regression models were used to regress each anthropometric measure (WAZ, HAZ and WHZ) against child, maternal and household characteristics.
Results: Child participants ranged in age from 0 to 60 months, 20.2% of children were under 12 months and 5.1% were HIV positive. The prevalence of wasting was 8.8%; of stunting was 58.4%; and of underweight status was 20.7%. Maternal emotional and social wellbeing was protective of wasting in children under-5 years of age. Living in districts implementing PBF was protective of wasting (Adjusted Odds Ratio: 0.43; 95% confidence interval: 0.19-0.97). Living in a district with PBF was not found to be associated with either stunting or underweight status among children under-5.
Conclusions: PBF may have a protective association with particular forms of malnutrition among children under-5 years in Rwanda. These findings warrant further investigation in relation to the impact of implementing innovative financing schemes on health outcomes. | "CHILD HEALTH",HIV/AIDS,MALNUTRITION,"MATERNAL HEALTH","Performance-based financing",COUNTRIES,GROWTH,HEALTH,"HIGH HIV PREVALENCE",INFANTS,MORTALITY,RISK-FACTORS,UGANDA,UNDERNUTRITION,YOUNG-CHILDREN | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84899149723 | Prevalence, impacts and medical managements of premenstrual syndrome among female students: Cross-sectional study in college of health sciences, Mekelle University, Mekelle, Northern Ethiopia | Tolossa F.W., Bekele M.L. | 2014 | BMC Women's Health | 14 | 1 | 10.1186/1472-6874-14-52 | Dembidolo Hospital, Wellega, Ethiopia; College of Health Sciences and Medicine, Wolaita Sodo University, P.O.Box: 138, Wolaita Sodo, Ethiopia | Tolossa, F.W., Dembidolo Hospital, Wellega, Ethiopia; Bekele, M.L., College of Health Sciences and Medicine, Wolaita Sodo University, P.O.Box: 138, Wolaita Sodo, Ethiopia | Background: Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is used to describe physical, cognitive, affective, and behavioral symptoms that occur cyclically during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle and resolve quickly at or within a few days of the onset of menstruation. The primary aim of the study was to assess the prevalence, impacts and medical managements of PMS on female medical students of Mekelle University College of Health Sciences.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among systematically selected female students of Mekelle University College of Health Sciences, Mekelle town, northern Ethiopia from March to April 2013. A structured and pretested self-administered questionnaire was employed for data collection. The collected data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL (SPSS version 16). The criteria proposed by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition, text revision (DSM-IV TR) were used to diagnose PMS.Result: From the total population size of 608; a sample size of 258 was drawn. Age of the study participants ranged from 18 to 25 years, with mean age of 20.86 ± 1.913 years. Among the participants, 144(83.2%) have had at least one PM symptoms with their menstrual period. The prevalence of PMS according to DSM-IV was 37.0%. About 49(28.3%) reported frequent class missing, 17(9.8%) exam missing, 14(8.1%) low grade scoring and 3(1.7%) of them reported withdrawal from their learning associated with their PMS. Only 83(48.0%) participants sought medical treatment for their PMS. The treatment modalities used were pain killers, 63(36.4%), hot drinks like coffee and tea, 13(7.5%), and massage therapy and exercise, 7(4.0%). Binary logistic regression analysis revealed average length of one cycle of menstruation (COR = 0.20(0.070-0.569) and academic performance impairment (AOR = 0.345(0.183-0.653) were significantly associated with the diagnosis of PMS and use of PMS treatments respectively.Conclusions: Our study revealed a high prevalence and negative impact of PMS on students of Mekelle University. Therefore, health education, appropriate medical treatment and counseling services, as part of the overall health service, should be availed and provided to affected women. © 2014 Tolossa and Bekele licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | Female students; Impacts; Medical management; PMS; Prevalence | contraceptive agent; abdominal cramp; academic achievement; adult; anger; article; backache; bloating; breast tenderness; coffee; concentration loss; cross-sectional study; depression; DSM-IV-TR; dyspnea; Ethiopia; female; headache; human; learning; major clinical study; massage; medical school; medical student; menstrual cycle; population size; premenstrual syndrome; prevalence; questionnaire; self report; sleep disorder; tea; vomiting; weakness; weight gain; weight reduction; Adult; Analgesics; Coffee; Cross-Sectional Studies; Ethiopia; Exercise Therapy; Female; Humans; Logistic Models; Massage; Premenstrual Syndrome; Prevalence; Quality of Life; Questionnaires; Severity of Illness Index; Students; Tea; Universities; Young Adult | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84859819106 | Measuring the impact of trade finance on country trade flows: A South African perspective | Kohler M., Saville A. | 2011 | South African Journal of Economic and Management Sciences | 14 | 4 | None | Deparment of Economics, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa; Gordon Institute of Business Science, University of Pretoria, South Africa | Kohler, M., Deparment of Economics, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa; Saville, A., Gordon Institute of Business Science, University of Pretoria, South Africa | Trade finance (or short-term credit) plays a crucial role in facilitating international trade yet is particularly vulnerable to financial crises as banks increase the pricing on all trade finance transactions to cover increased funding costs and higher credit risks. Whereas South Africa's financial institutions largely managed to strengthen their capital positions during the global financial crisis, the country's trade flows and access to capital (in particular trade finance and its costs) were hard hit by the crisis. Little is known about the extent of shortages or 'gaps' in trade finance and the impact of this on South Africa's recent trade performance. Whilst our research recognises that access to trade finance is not the main cause of South Africa's trade contraction, our research suggests that all else equal, a one percentage point increase in the interbank lending rate of our trade partner could reduce exports by approximately ten per cent. | Crisis; Exports; Trade finance | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84884369563 | Impact of retreatment with an artemisinin-based combination on malaria incidence and its potential selection of resistant strains: Study protocol for a randomized controlled clinical trial | Muhindo Mavoko H., Nabasumba C., Tinto H., D'Alessandro U., Grobusch M.P., Lutumba P., Van Geertruyden J.-P. | 2013 | Trials | 14 | 1 | 10.1186/1745-6215-14-307 | Département de Médecine Tropicale, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Kinshasa, B.P. 747 Kin XI, Democratic Republic Congo; Epicentre Mbarara Reasearch Base, P. O. Box 930, Mbarara, Uganda; Centre Muraz, Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé, P. O. Box 545, Bobo Dioulasso, Burkina Faso; Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nationalestraat 155, B-2000, Antwerp, Belgium; Medical Research Council, The Gambia Unit, P. O. Box 273, Banjul, Gambia; Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, Netherlands; International Health Unit, University of Antwerp, Campus Drie Eiken, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Wilrijk, Belgium | Muhindo Mavoko, H., Département de Médecine Tropicale, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Kinshasa, B.P. 747 Kin XI, Democratic Republic Congo; Nabasumba, C., Epicentre Mbarara Reasearch Base, P. O. Box 930, Mbarara, Uganda; Tinto, H., Centre Muraz, Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé, P. O. Box 545, Bobo Dioulasso, Burkina Faso; D'Alessandro, U., Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nationalestraat 155, B-2000, Antwerp, Belgium, Medical Research Council, The Gambia Unit, P. O. Box 273, Banjul, Gambia; Grobusch, M.P., Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, Netherlands; Lutumba, P., Département de Médecine Tropicale, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Kinshasa, B.P. 747 Kin XI, Democratic Republic Congo; Van Geertruyden, J.-P., International Health Unit, University of Antwerp, Campus Drie Eiken, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Wilrijk, Belgium | Background: Artemisinin-based combination therapy is currently recommended by the World Health Organization as first-line treatment of uncomplicated malaria. Recommendations were adapted in 2010 regarding rescue treatment in case of treatment failure. Instead of quinine monotherapy, it should be combined with an antibiotic with antimalarial properties; alternatively, another artemisinin-based combination therapy may be used. However, for informing these policy changes, no clear evidence is yet available. The need to provide the policy makers with hard data on the appropriate rescue therapy is obvious. We hypothesize that the efficacy of the same artemisinin-based combination therapy used as rescue treatment is as efficacious as quinine + clindamycin or an alternative artemisinin-based combination therapy, without the risk of selecting drug resistant strains.Design: We embed a randomized, open label, three-arm clinical trial in a longitudinal cohort design following up children with uncomplicated malaria until they are malaria parasite free for 4 weeks. The study is conducted in both the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda and performed in three steps. In the first step, the pre-randomized controlled trial (RCT) phase, children aged 12 to 59 months with uncomplicated malaria are treated with the recommended first-line drug and constitute a cohort that is passively followed up for 42 days. If the patients experience an uncomplicated malaria episode between days 14 and 42 of follow-up, they are randomized either to quinine + clindamycin, or an alternative artemisinin-based combination therapy, or the same first-line artemisinin-based combination therapy to be followed up for 28 additional days. If between days 14 and 28 the patients experience a recurrent parasitemia, they are retreated with the recommended first-line regimen and actively followed up for another 28 additional days (step three; post-RCT phase). The same methodology is followed for each subsequent failure. In any case, all patients without an infection at day 28 are classified as treatment successes and reach a study endpoint. The RCT phase allows the comparison of the safety and efficacy of three rescue treatments. The prolonged follow-up of all children until they are 28 days parasite-free allows us to assess epidemiological-, host- and parasite-related predictors for repeated malaria infection.Trial registration: NCT01374581 and PACTR201203000351114. © 2013 Muhindo Mavoko et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | Artemether-lumefantrine; Artemisinin-based combination treatment; Artesunate-amodiaquine; Clindamycin; Democratic Republic of Congo; Malaria; Quinine; Randomized trial; Uganda | amodiaquine plus artesunate; artemether plus benflumetol; clindamycin; co arsucam; doxycycline; hemoglobin; quinamax; quinine; tetracycline; unclassified drug; winthrop; adverse outcome; article; body weight; child; childhood disease; clinical protocol; cohort analysis; Congo; controlled study; drug comparison; drug efficacy; drug safety; drug treatment failure; female; fever; follow up; genotype; hematological parameters; hemoglobin blood level; hospitalization; human; hypothesis; insurance; liver function; longitudinal study; major clinical study; malaria; malaria falciparum; male; monotherapy; multicenter study; multidrug resistance; open study; outcome assessment; parasite clearance; parasite incidence; parasitemia; pharmacoepidemiology; phase 3 clinical trial; Plasmodium; preschool child; randomized controlled trial; recurrent infection; reinfection; retreatment; treatment duration; tympanic temperature; Uganda; unspecified side effect; world health organization; Amodiaquine; Antimalarials; Artemisinins; Child, Preschool; Clindamycin; Clinical Protocols; Democratic Republic of the Congo; Drug Combinations; Drug Resistance; Drug Therapy, Combination; Ethanolamines; Female; Fluorenes; Humans; Incidence; Infant; Longitudinal Studies; Malaria, Falciparum; Male; Plasmodium falciparum; Quinine; Recurrence; Research Design; Retreatment; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome; Uganda | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-82655173307 | Performance of smallholder agriculture under limited mechanization and the fast track land reform program in Zimbabwe | Obi A., Chisango F.F. | 2011 | International Food and Agribusiness Management Review | 14 | 4 | None | Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, University of Fort Hare, Private Bag X1314, Alice, Eastern Cape, 5700, South Africa | Obi, A., Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, University of Fort Hare, Private Bag X1314, Alice, Eastern Cape, 5700, South Africa; Chisango, F.F., Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, University of Fort Hare, Private Bag X1314, Alice, Eastern Cape, 5700, South Africa | The Zimbabwean government has long been committed to expansion of agricultural production through mechanization and pursued this goal under the unpopular fast track land reform program (FTLRP). The acquisition and use of tractors by arable crop farmers in communal and resettlement state land were encouraged. This research examines the performance of the program in the Bindura District. Ninety farmers were interviewed using a multistage sampling technique of structured questionnaires to collect data on demographic background, investment levels and production in terms of costs and returns. The Stochastic Frontier Model revealed the significant impact of the program on participating farmers, highlighting the significance of land and other productive factors. While overall production and productivity remain low, triggering a hyperinflationary situation due to supply constraints, practical implications for agribusinesses are foreseen. © 2011 International Food and Agribusiness Management Association (IFAMA). | Agribusiness management; Agricultural development; Agricultural mechanization; Fast track land reform; Stochastic frontier model; Technical efficiency | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84879304642 | The impact of micro financing on poverty levels of rural women farm households in Abia State, Nigeria; implication for policy intervention | Ezeh C.I., Anyiro C.O. | 2013 | Journal of Central European Agriculture | 14 | 2 | 10.5513/JCEA01/14.2.1245 | Department of Agricultural Economics, Extension Abia State University, Umuahia Campus, Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria | Ezeh, C.I., Department of Agricultural Economics, Extension Abia State University, Umuahia Campus, Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria; Anyiro, C.O., Department of Agricultural Economics, Extension Abia State University, Umuahia Campus, Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria | This study determined the impact of micro-finance on poverty level of rural women farm households in Abia State, Nigeria: Implication for policy intervention. A multistage random sampling technique was used to select the local government areas, communities and respondents in the three (Aba, Ohafia and Umuahia) agricultural zones of the State. The sample size was 240 (120 a piece for rural women farmer borrowers and non borrowers). Instrument of data collection was a set of structured and pre-tested questionnaire administered on both groups of rural women farmers. The result indicated that incidence of poverty or head count ratio was 0.558 for the rural women farmers borrowers and 0.933 for the rural women farmer non borrowers; poverty gap otherwise known as income short fall was 0.4547 for the rural women farmer borrowers and 0.6995 for the rural women farmer non borrowers. The result of the paired t-test showed that micro-finance impacted significantly on annual farm income, farm size and fertilizer use level of rural women farmer borrowers at given levels of significance. It was however, recommended that increased subsidy policy on agro-inputs and increased funding by the micro-finance will significantly aim at reducing the poverty levels of these women. | Impact; Micro-financing; Poverty levels; Rural women farm households | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-34548168514 | Impact of community-based approaches to wildlife management: Case study of the CAMPFIRE programme in Zimbabwe | Mutandwa E., Gadzirayi C.T. | 2007 | International Journal of Sustainable Development and World Ecology | 14 | 4 | None | Department of Agriculture, Bindura University of Science Education, Zimbabwe; Department of Agriculture, Bindura University of Science Education, P Bag 1020, Bindura, Zimbabwe | Mutandwa, E., Department of Agriculture, Bindura University of Science Education, Zimbabwe, Department of Agriculture, Bindura University of Science Education, P Bag 1020, Bindura, Zimbabwe; Gadzirayi, C.T., Department of Agriculture, Bindura University of Science Education, Zimbabwe | The objective of this study was to elicit community perceptions on the effectiveness of the CAMPFIRE programme, a community initiative, designed to benefit rural communities in Gonono ward in the Zambezi valley. Five villages and 76 respondents were selected from the ward using simple random sampling. Data collection included a structured questionnaire administered to households, semi-structured interviews with key informants, such as chiefs, headmen and local council staff, transect walks and participant observations. The results of the study revealed that, although the CAMPFIRE concept has been instrumental in creation of employment and infrastructure, the local community considers that no significant changes have occurred to their livelihoods. The findings suggest that the current model of wildlife conservation in Zimbabwe is not promoting total community participation. Future models need to focus on total involvement and independence from government structures. However, this can only happen when there is sufficient capacity building in communities on a wide number of issues, including general management, to ensure long-term sustainability. | CAMPFIRE; Sustainability; Wildlife conservation; Zimbabwe | ecological modeling; local participation; perception; sustainability; wildlife management; Africa; Southern Africa; Sub-Saharan Africa; Zimbabwe | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84921669039 | Toxicological evaluation of methanol leaves extract of Vernonia Bipontini Vatke in blood, liver and kidney tissues of mice | Alebachew M., Kinfu Y., Makonnen E., Bekuretsion Y., Urga K., Afework M. | 2014 | African Health Sciences | 14 | 4 | 10.4314/ahs.v14i4.33 | Department of Anatomy, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Department of Pharmacology, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Department of Pathology, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Department of Drug Research, Ethiopian Health and Nutrition Research Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | Alebachew, M., Department of Anatomy, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Kinfu, Y., Department of Anatomy, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Makonnen, E., Department of Pharmacology, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Bekuretsion, Y., Department of Pathology, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Urga, K., Department of Drug Research, Ethiopian Health and Nutrition Research Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Afework, M., Department of Anatomy, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | Background: Various medicinal plants have been studied using modern scientific approaches. These plants have a variety of properties and various biological components that can be used to treat various diseases. However, harmful effects of plants are common clinical occurrence.Objective:This study was designed to investigate toxicological assessment of acute and chronic methanol leaf extract of Vernonia bipontini Vatke (V.bipontini V) on blood, liver and kidney tissues of mice.Methods: Lethal dose (LD) at which 50% of experimental mice died and long term toxicity of methanolic leaf extract of V. bipontini V were determined. Some hematological and biochemical parameters were evaluated. Then, liver and kidney tissues of each animal were taken and processed for light microscopy.Results: Almost all mice treated with 800mg/kg methanol leaf extract of V. bipontini V showed swellings on the left part of abdominal region related to location of spleen, mild diarrhea and enlargement of spleen. The LD50 of the methanol leaf extract of V. bipontini V was 2130.6±1.5mg/kg. Treatment with 800mg/kg body weight of methanol leaf extract significantly decreased body, liver and kidney weights, red blood cells (RBC), haemoglobin (Hgb), mean cell haemoglobin (Mch), Mchc, platelet and significantly increased serum aspartate transferance (AST), vatanine tranferance(ALT) and alkaline phosphate (ALP) levels while 400mg/kg dose had no effect on these parameters. The reduced organ weights did not correlate with loss of body weight at 800mg/kg of methanol leaf extract of the plant. Light microscope observations of liver tissue of mice treated with 800mg/kg of the methanol leaf extract revealed dilated sinusoids, nuclear enlargement, lots of bi-nucleation of hepatocytes, peripheral cramped chromatin, shrinkages (single cell death) of hepatocytes, fragmentation of hepatocytes while no histopathological changes were observed in liver and kidney of mice treated at 400mg/kg. Kidney tissue sections of mice did not show significant histopathological changes at 400mg/kg. However, at 800mg/kg kidney sections showed increased cellularity of glomerulus, urinary space obliteration and enlarged macula densa.Conclusion: This study suggests that the methanol leaf extract may have been phytotoxic to liver that resulted in a rise in serum AST, ALT and ALP levels. © 2014 Makerere University, Medical School. All rights reserved. | Hematological and biochemical; Kidney; Liver; Methanol; Swiss Albino mice; V. Bipontini Vatke | alkaline phosphatase; hemoglobin; herbaceous agent; plant extract; unclassified drug; vernonia bipontini vatke extract; abdominal swelling; adult; animal experiment; animal tissue; Article; body weight; controlled study; diarrhea; disease severity; drug blood level; drug liver level; drug tissue level; enzyme blood level; erythrocyte count; female; hematological parameters; hemoglobin blood level; kidney; kidney injury; kidney mass; LD 50; liver cell damage; liver sinusoid; liver weight; male; medicinal plant; microscopy; mouse; nonhuman; plant leaf; splenomegaly; thrombocyte count; toxicokinetics; Vernonia bipontini Vatke; weight reduction | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84880611242 | Evaluation of a chick brooding technology based on cotton-plate material for small scale poultry farming | Ayalew M., Simeneh M. | 2013 | Middle East Journal of Scientific Research | 14 | 7 | 10.5829/idosi.mejsr.2013.14.7.2197 | Department of Animal Production and Extension, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Gondar, P.O. Box, 196, Gondar, Ethiopia | Ayalew, M., Department of Animal Production and Extension, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Gondar, P.O. Box, 196, Gondar, Ethiopia; Simeneh, M., Department of Animal Production and Extension, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Gondar, P.O. Box, 196, Gondar, Ethiopia | An experiment trial was conducted to examine the effect of cotton plate chicks brooder technology to retain day old chicks natural body heat at the University of Gondar teaching and research poultry farm, Ethiopia, on two hundred four day-old (commercial B102) chicks with the aim of producing an alternative chicks brooder which is applicable in small scale poultry farming areas on the basis of survival of chicks. The two hundred four day-old chicks were randomly divided into six groups: first four groups with four different levels of cotton plate each with equal number of (n=34) chicks placed under cotton plate candidate brooder, fifth group (n=34) was brooded under electrical brooder CE Complies with C.EE-EU ID06-2010/388 RAEE ITALY: (positive control) and the sixth group (n=34) was kept in brooder guard as negative control. Chicks were supervised constantly for 24 hours for 15 days and mortality of chicks was recorded. The candidate cotton plate brooder showed higher level of chicks survival. Mortality rate was 100 percent in negative control brooder. Cotton plate chicks brooder technology was not only environmentally friendly but does not require energy source. The study revealed that higher level of chicks' survival in case of cotton plate chicks brooder as compared to conventional electrical brooder. © IDOSI Publications, 2013. | Brooder; Chicks; Cotton; Ethiopia; Gondar; Plate | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84859481695 | Effect of breed and breeding system on reproductive performance of rabbits in a humid tropical environment | Oke U.K., Iheanocho V.C. | 2011 | Tropical and Subtropical Agroecosystems | 14 | 1 | None | Department of Animal Breeding and Physiology, College of Animal Science and Animal Production, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Abia State, Nigeria | Oke, U.K., Department of Animal Breeding and Physiology, College of Animal Science and Animal Production, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Abia State, Nigeria; Iheanocho, V.C., Department of Animal Breeding and Physiology, College of Animal Science and Animal Production, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Abia State, Nigeria | Data were collected from 36 does and 116 kits recorded in a 2 X 2 factorial experiment in CRD over a period of 12 weeks from artificial insemination and natural mating of 18 Newzealand white and 18 chinchilla does respectively to investigate the effect of breed and breeding system on the reproductive performance of rabbits. Analysis of data showed that breed had no significant effect (p>0.05) on most of reproductive traits measured. The statistical similarity (p>0.05) between both strains of rabbits may be attributed to indiscriminate breeding of rabbits and lack of pure breed. Percent conception was significantly (p<0.05) highest when natural mating was practiced, however, all other reproductive traits were non-significant (p>0.05). Breeding system had a significant effect on average kit weight when artificial insemination was practiced, while other post-partum litter traits were not significant (p>0.05). Chinchilla and Newzealand white may be selected for breeding and improvement in the humid tropical environment. However, natural mating which produced significant (p<0.05) higher percent conception rate 79.9% relative to 56.4% produced by artificial insemination should be practiced. Artificial insemination may not be encouraged on both breeds of rabbits except when interest is on average kit weight at weaning. | Breed; Breeding system; Rabbits and humid tropics; Reproductive performance | Oryctolagus cuniculus | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84930482270 | Growth performance and cost benefit of weaner rabbits fed diet supplemented with probiotic in the tropics | Ezema C., Eze D.C. | 2015 | Pakistan Journal of Nutrition | 14 | 1 | 10.3923/pjn.2015.47.49 | Department of Animal Health and Production, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria; Department of Veterinary Pathology and Microbiology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria | Ezema, C., Department of Animal Health and Production, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria; Eze, D.C., Department of Veterinary Pathology and Microbiology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria | This study investigated the effect of probiotic (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) on growth rate and evaluated the economic benefit of this supplementation in growing rabbits. Twenty male crossed-bred weaner rabbits were randomly divided into four groups (A, B, C and D) of five rabbits each. Each rabbit served as a replicate. They were fed pelleted grower mash and groups A to C had probiotic supplementation at varied levels of 0.08, 0.12 and 0.16 g/kg of diet, respectively. Group D had no yeast (control). Feed and water were given ad libitum. Daily feed intake was determined and the rabbits were weighed weekly. The study lasted thirteen weeks. Results showed that all the probiotic supplemented groups had higher but not statistically significant (p>0.05) feed intake and significantly (p<0.05) higher weight gain than the control. Cost of experimental diet per kilogram of live weight gain was cheapest (N69.68) in group B (0.12 g yeast/kg diet) than other groups. Group B (0.12 g probiotic/kg of diet) was thus recommended for maximum weight gain and optimum economic benefit in rabbit production. © Asian Network for Scientific Information, 2015. | Economic benefit; Feed; Growth rate; Probiotic; Rabbit | probiotic agent; Article; body growth; body weight; controlled study; cost benefit analysis; diet supplementation; economic aspect; food intake; male; nonhuman; Saccharomyces cerevisiae; weight gain; Oryctolagus cuniculus; Saccharomyces cerevisiae | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84930484345 | Probiotic effect of yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) on hen-day egg performance, serum and egg cholesterol levels in laying chicken | Ezema C., Eze D.C. | 2015 | Pakistan Journal of Nutrition | 14 | 1 | 10.3923/pjn.2015.44.46 | Department of Animal Health and Production, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria; Department of Veterinary Pathology and Microbiology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria | Ezema, C., Department of Animal Health and Production, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria; Eze, D.C., Department of Veterinary Pathology and Microbiology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria | This study evaluated the effect of varied levels of probiotc (Saccharomyces cereviae) on total serum and egg cholesterol levels in laying birds. The impact of this probiotic on hen-day egg performance was also studied. A total of 100 layers were randomly divided into 4 groups (A, B, C and D) of 25 layers each. The diets for groups A, B and C were supplemented with probiotic at varied levels of 0.6, 0.8 and 1.0 g/kg of feed, respectively. Group D diet had no probiotic (Control). The layers were given 120 g of feed per bird per day in two divided doses (morning and afternoon). Eggs were collected three times daily (morning, afternoon and evening). All the eggs collected from each group were weighed and recorded daily. Five birds were randomly selected from each group and 5.0 ml of blood was collected from each bird. The blood samples were allowed to clot in a sample bottle and serum harvested was used to determine the total serum cholesterol content with the aid of a commercial kit. Five eggs were also randomly collected from each group and used to determine the total egg cholesterol content following standard procedure. The result showed that the probiotic fed groups had a significant (p<0.05) reduction in serum cholesterol levels than the control (group “D”). The least mean serum cholesterol level was group “A” (108.33±9.28 mg/dl) followed by group “C” (112.67±7.88 mg/dl) and group “B” (115.00±14.34 mg/dl). Group “D” (control) had a significantly higher mean serum cholesterol level of 166.67±8.82 mg/dl. Group “C” had a significantly higher (p<0.05) hen-day egg performance of 85.00±10.00%, followed by group “B” with 70.00±9.35% hen-day egg performance. Group “A” had a hen-day egg performance of 68.00±8.93% while group “D” (the control) had the least hen-day egg performance of 65.00±5.00%. Probiotic inclusion of 1.0 g/kg of feed was therefore recommended for effective reduction in serum and egg cholesterol levels and optimum hen-day egg performance. © Asian Network for Scientific Information, 2015. | Cholesterol; Eggs; Feed; Layers; Probiotic | cholesterol; probiotic agent; Saccharomyces cerevisiae protein; Article; blood level; controlled study; diet supplementation; egg laying; egg production; female; hen; nonhuman; Aves; Saccharomyces; Saccharomyces cerevisiae | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84938337719 | Effect of graded levels of roselle (hibiscus sabdariffa LINN.) calyx extract on performance and carcass characteristic of broiler chickens | Omolade A.-P., Abiola A.A., Grace L.O. | 2015 | International Journal of Poultry Science | 14 | 6 | None | Department of Animal Production, Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology, Moor Plantation IbadanOyo State, Nigeria; Department of Animal Science, University of IbadanOyo State, Nigeria | Omolade, A.-P., Department of Animal Production, Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology, Moor Plantation IbadanOyo State, Nigeria; Abiola, A.A., Department of Animal Science, University of IbadanOyo State, Nigeria; Grace, L.O., Department of Animal Science, University of IbadanOyo State, Nigeria | The study evaluated the effect of graded levels of the red variety of roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) calyx extract on performance and carcass characteristics of broiler chickens. A total of two hundred Arbor acres broiler birds were used for the study, these were randomly assigned to five treatments, (T<inf>1</inf>, T<inf>2</inf>, T<inf>3</inf>, T<inf>4</inf> and T<inf>5</inf>) which had broiler chicks on water only, 2 g of roselle calyx boiled in 1 L of water for 30 min, 4 g of roselle calyx boiled in 1 L of water for 30 min, 6 g of roselle calyx boiled in 1 L of water for 30 min and 8 g of roselle calyx boiled in 1 L of water for 30 min, respectively. The birds were further randomly sub-divided into four replicates of ten birds each. The birds were given basal diets at both the starter (0-3 weeks) and finisher phases (4-6 weeks). Data obtained were subjected to ANOVA and means separated using the Duncan's New Multiple Range Test. Result showed no significant difference in average daily fluid intake, average daily weight gain, feed intake and FCR of the birds at the starter phase. However, at the finisher phase, there was significant difference (p<0.05) in the values obtained for average daily feed intake, weight gain and feed conversion. Carcass evaluation showed birds in T5 had better breast meat weight and dressing percentage. The extract was not toxic to the birds and can be administered to broiler chickens at a graded level of 8 g of Roselle calyx boiled in 1 L of water for 30 min. © Asian Network for Scientific Information, 2015. | Carcass characteristics; Fluid intake; Roselle calyx extract; Weight gain | Aves; Gallus gallus; Hibiscus sabdariffa | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84859496899 | Effect of replacing maize with cassava root meal and maize/sorghum brewers' dried grains on the performance of starter broilers | Uchegbu M.C., Etuk E.B., Omede A.A., Okpala C.P., Okoli I.C., Opara M.N. | 2011 | Tropical and Subtropical Agroecosystems | 14 | 1 | None | Department of Animal Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, P. M. B. 1526, Owerri, Nigeria | Uchegbu, M.C., Department of Animal Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, P. M. B. 1526, Owerri, Nigeria; Etuk, E.B., Department of Animal Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, P. M. B. 1526, Owerri, Nigeria; Omede, A.A., Department of Animal Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, P. M. B. 1526, Owerri, Nigeria; Okpala, C.P., Department of Animal Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, P. M. B. 1526, Owerri, Nigeria; Okoli, I.C., Department of Animal Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, P. M. B. 1526, Owerri, Nigeria; Opara, M.N., Department of Animal Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, P. M. B. 1526, Owerri, Nigeria | A study was carried out with one hundred and twenty one-week-old Hubbard broilers to determine the effect of replacing maize with cassava root meal (CRM) and maize/sorghum brewers' dried grains (MSBDG) on performance of starter broilers. Four experimental diets were formulated to contain 0, 15, 30 and 45% CRM and MSBDG combined in the ratio of 1:1 in the broiler starter rations. There was no difference (P>0.05) in feed intake among the birds on 0, 15 and 45% CRM/MSBDG, but these were lower (P<0.05) than the feed intake of birds on 30% CRM/MSBDG. There was no difference (P>0.05) in daily weight gain among the birds on 0, 15 and 30 CRM/MSBDG diets, and each of these was higher than that of the birds on 45% CRM/MSBDG diet. The feed convertion ratio of 0% compared favourably with that of the birds on 15% diets, and these two diets were better (P<0.05) utilized than 30% and 45% CRM/MSBDG diets. The result showed that CRM/MSBDG can be successfully incorporated in broiler starter diets up to 30% dietary level. | Broilers; Cassava root meal; Poultry performance | Aves; Manihot esculenta; Zea mays | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33749146538 | Nutritive evaluation of some trees and browse species from Scotland | Odeyinka S.M., Hector B.L., Ørskov E.R. | 2006 | European Journal of Scientific Research | 14 | 3 | None | Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria; The Macaulay Institute, Craigiebuckler, Aberdeen AB15 8QH, United Kingdom | Odeyinka, S.M., Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria; Hector, B.L., The Macaulay Institute, Craigiebuckler, Aberdeen AB15 8QH, United Kingdom; Ørskov, E.R., The Macaulay Institute, Craigiebuckler, Aberdeen AB15 8QH, United Kingdom | The nutritive value of twelve Scottish plants (trees, legumes and grasses): 1. Pinus sylvestris L., 2. Lolium perenne L., 3. Calluna vulgaris L., 4. Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carr; 5. Chamaenerion angustifolium (L) Scop., 6. Luzula sylvatica, 7. Pseudotsuga menziesii F. Mirb., 8. Fagus sylvatica L., 9. Vaccinum myrtillus L., 10. Brassica oleracea, 11. Acer pseudoplatanus L., 12. Juncus effusus L. were determined using in vitro gas production, in sacco DM degradability and in vivo digestibility. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) was used in the gas production to determine presence of phenolic related antinutritive factor. Species had significant effect on in vitro gas production (P<0.001). B. oleracea produced significantly highest volume of gas while V. myrtillus produced the lowest volume of gas though no significant difference between it and that of P. sitchensis. There was significant increase in gas production with the addition of PEG (P<0.001) except in L. perenne and A. pseudoplatanus where the increase was not significant. Species had significant effect on DM degradability (P<0.001). B. oleracea had the highest % DM degradability and F. sylvatica the least. There were no significant differences in DM degradability of C. angustifolium; L. perenne and B. oleracea at the 96hr. F. sylvatica and C. vulgaris were the least degraded. Species had significant effect on dry matter (DM) digestibility in vivo. As with in sacco digestibility, B. oleracea had the highest in vivo digestibility while P. sitchensis and F. sylvatica were the least digested. The results suggest that B. oleracea, C. angustifolium, L. perenne, P. menziesii, J. effusus, L. sylvatica and A. pseudoplatanus from Scotland are more than 70% degradable and are useful as animal feeds. © EuroJournals Publishing, Inc. 2006. | In sacco degradability; In vitro gas production; In vivo digestibility; Scottish plants | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84859497377 | Tocopherol supplementation on stocking density of broiler: Effect on performance characteristics and serum enzymes | Adebiyi O.A. | 2011 | Tropical and Subtropical Agroecosystems | 14 | 2 | None | Department of Animal Science, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria | Adebiyi, O.A., Department of Animal Science, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria | A total of two hundred and seventy day-old Arbor Acre strain of broiler chicks were used for this research. Five treatment: T1 - positive control (10 birds/m2), T2 - negative control, T3, T4 and T5 had 20 birds/m2. T1 and T2 had no supplementation with vitamin E (d1-α-tocopheryl acetate). T3, T4 and T5 had 50mg/kg, 100mg/kg and 150 mg/kg vitamin E supplementations respectively. Feed intake, feed conversion ratio (FCR) and weight gain and serum enzymes (Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST) and Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT)) were determined. There were no significant changes in the weight gain and final weight of the birds fed the different dietary treatments. The feed intake increased significantly in birds fed T2 (1.91kg) and compared to their counterpart on vitamin E supplementation (from 1.58 to 1.60 kg). However, FCR of birds on diets T1 (2.50), T4 (2.77) and T5 (2.50) was similar (P>0.05). The total protein and Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST) values were neither affected by increased stocking density nor with or without vitamin E supplementation. However, increased stocking density without vitamin E supplementation (T2) (0.97 U.I/l) resulted in a significant reduction in the albumin values. Although ALT values increased significantly with increase in vitamin E supplementation, the birds on dietary T1 (8.00 U.I/l) had similar level of ALT with their counterpart on T4 (7.50U.I/l) and T5 (8.50 U.I/l). In conclusion broiler chicks could be stocked up to 20 birds/m2 only if the diet is supplemented with 100mg/kg vitamin E. | Broilers; Serum enzymes; Stock density; Vitamin E | Aves | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84946018968 | Evaluation of In-vivo antimalarial activity of methanol leaf extract of Glyphaea brevis in Plasmodium berghei-infected mice | Anjuwon T.M., Ibrahim S., Nok A.J. | 2015 | Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research | 14 | 10 | 10.4314/tjpr.v14i10.14 | Department of Biochemistry, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria | Anjuwon, T.M., Department of Biochemistry, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria; Ibrahim, S., Department of Biochemistry, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria; Nok, A.J., Department of Biochemistry, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria | Purpose: To evaluate the in-vivo antimalarial activity of the methanol extract of the leaves of Glyphaea brevis in Plasmodium berghei infected mice. Methods: The phytochemical profile of ethylacetate, n-butanol, and residual aqueous fractions of the methanol extract of G. brevis were determined using standard procedures. Mice, weighing between 15 - 30 g, were used for this study. Plasmodium berghei infected blood (0.2 ml) was used to infect each of 55 mice (5 in 11 groups) intraperitoneally. Animals in the infected groups were treated orally with varying doses (200, 300 and 400 mg/kg body weight) of the ethylacetate, n-butanol and residual aqueous fractions daily, using artemisinin (5 mg/kg body weight per day) as standard drug, over a period of four days. The non-infected (normal control, n = 5) received distilled water (0.2 ml) while the infected control group (n = 5) was administered 0.2 ml normal saline. The suppressive antiplasmodial properties of the fractions as well as the serum concentrations of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were determined. Results: Alkaloids, carbohydrates, cardiac glycosides, flavonoids, saponins, tannins, steroids and triterpenes were present in the extract fractions. The suppressive antiplasmodial activity of n-butanol, residual aqueous portion and ethylacetate fractions was 76.64, 73.25 and 72.99 %, respectively, while that of artemisinin was 86.13 %. The serum concentrations of AST, ALT, and ALP in the infected control group were significantly higher (p < 0.05) than those of the treated malaria-infected groups treated with the three fractions. Conclusion: Glyphaea brevis possesses significant antiplasmodial properties and could be a source of lead molecules for the development of new antimalarial agents. © Pharmacotherapy Group, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Benin, Benin City, 300001 Nigeria. All rights reserved. | Antimalarial; Artemisinin; Glyphaea brevis; Plasmodium berghei | acetic acid ethyl ester; alanine aminotransferase; alkaline phosphatase; alkaloid; artemisinin; aspartate aminotransferase; butanol; carbohydrate; cardiac glycoside; flavonoid; Glyphaea brevis extract; methanol; plant extract; saponin; steroid; tannin; triterpene; unclassified drug; animal model; antimalarial activity; Article; blood analysis; controlled study; female; hematocrit; liver function; male; mouse; nonhuman; phytochemistry; plant leaf; Plasmodium berghei infection; toxicity testing | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84943248401 | Effects of NPK single fertilizers on relative growth performances of two cycles of maize (Zea mays L.) grown in a degraded soil of Southwest Nigeria | Chukwuka K.S., Ajala S., Nwosu P.C., Omotayo O.E. | 2015 | Journal of Agronomy | 14 | 4 | 10.3923/ja.2015.203.211 | Department of Botany, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan, Nigeria | Chukwuka, K.S., Department of Botany, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Ajala, S., International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan, Nigeria; Nwosu, P.C., Department of Botany, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Omotayo, O.E., Department of Botany, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria | The balanced use of inorganic amendments to enhance effective crop production for developing world economies like Nigeria is paramount to achieve her Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) for its teeming population. Thus this study was carried out to assess the relative growth performances of a major food crop under different regimes of fertilizer application. Field and Green House experiments were carried out to assess the relative growth performances of two Cycles of Zea mays L. (LNTP-W C0and C3) used as test crops for the amendment of degraded soil using N, P and K single fertilizers. The single fertilizers (treatments) used were Urea, Single Super Phosphate (SSP) and Muriate of Potash and the study was carried out in the Department of Botany, University of Ibadan, Nigeria. The experiment consisted of 4 treatments applied at 2 levels (C0 and C3) and replicated three times in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) to give a total of 48 experimental units. The application of Nitrogen (N) was done at four levels (0, 30, 60 and 90 kg ha–1), while the Phosphorous (P2O5) and Potassium (K) were applied at a constant rate of about 60 kg ha–1 for all the pots except for the experimental control pots. The design was adopted for both Green House and Field experiments. The results from the study showed that C3 performed better than C0 in Field and Green House experiments with respect to their relative performances of the growth parameters; plant height (cm), stem diameter (mm), number of leaves, leaf length (cm) and leaf width (cm) measured within the Pre-flowering period of 8 weeks. The treatment combination of 90 kg ha–1 N, 60 kg ha–1 P and 60 kg ha–1 K gave the best performance in this study. The study also revealed that the growth rate of the maize plant was directly proportional to the level of N applied with constant levels of P and K providing the basis for developing optimum NPK fertilizer level for the amendment of degraded soil for higher productivity using maize with tolerance to low soil Nitrogen. The study showed that more derelict soils can be put to good use with the appropriate level of NPK Fertilizer application optimum for the right crop, thus aiding the use of hitherto abandoned degraded land and putting more land under cultivation. © 2015 Asian Network for Scientific Information. | Eroded soil; Fertilizer application; Performance; Zea mays L | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-80051960855 | Growth performance of weanling wistar rats fed on accessions of cooked colocasia esculenta-based diets | Lewu M.N., Yakubu T.M., Adebola P.O., Afolayan A.J. | 2011 | Journal of Medicinal Food | 14 | 9 | 10.1089/jmf.2010.0253 | Department of Botany, University of Fort Hare, Alice 5700, South Africa; Phytomedicine, Toxicology, Reproductive and Developmental Biochemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria; Plant Breeding Division | Lewu, M.N., Department of Botany, University of Fort Hare, Alice 5700, South Africa; Yakubu, T.M., Phytomedicine, Toxicology, Reproductive and Developmental Biochemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria; Adebola, P.O., Plant Breeding Division, ARC-Vegetable and Ornamental Plant Institute, Pretoria, South Africa; Afolayan, A.J., Department of Botany, University of Fort Hare, Alice 5700, South Africa | The growth performance of weanling albino rats (Rattus norvegicus) maintained on different accessions (offspring of a variety that was planted/collected at a specific location and time but differing in certain morphologic characteristics) of cooked Colocasia esculenta (cocoyam)-based diets (UFCe1-UFCe7) for 28 days was investigated. Proximate analysis of the formulated diets revealed that UFCe3, UFCe4, UFCe5, UFCe6, and UFCe7 had significantly (P<.05) higher moisture contents than the corn starch-based diet (control). All the accession-based diets of C. esculenta had higher ash contents. Similarly, all the accessions of the C. esculenta-based diet had lower crude lipid content, whereas UFCe3-UFCe7 had significantly lower protein content. Although the crude fiber content was significantly higher in UFCe2, UFCe4, and UFCe5, only UFCe3 had significantly higher carbohydrate content among all the accessions of C. esculenta-based diets. UFCe1, UFCe2, UFCe4, UFCe5, and UFCe6 increased the average weekly water intake, feed consumption, total body weight, liver-body weight ratio, and kidney-body weight ratio of the animals; UFCe3 and UFCe7 decreased these measures. Overall, UFCe1, UFCe2, UFCe4, UFCe5, and UFCe6 are recommended as diets with promise to enhance growth performance in the animals. © Copyright 2011, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. | accession; cocoyam; Colocasia esculenta; growth performance | starch; animal experiment; animal food; article; ash; body growth; body weight; Colocasia; Colocasia esculenta; controlled study; cooking; dietary fiber; dietary intake; female; fluid intake; food composition; kidney mass; lipid composition; liver weight; male; moisture; nonhuman; priority journal; protein content; rat; weaning; Animal Feed; Animals; Colocasia; Drinking; Energy Intake; Female; Hot Temperature; Kidney; Liver; Male; Organ Size; Plant Tubers; Random Allocation; Rats; Rats, Wistar; South Africa; Species Specificity; Water; Weaning; Weight Gain; Animalia; Colocasia esculenta; Rattus norvegicus; Zea mays | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79955042921 | The impact of intra-group processes on family business success | Farrington S., Venter E., Boshoff C. | 2011 | South African Journal of Economic and Management Sciences | 14 | 1 | None | Department of Business Management, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, South Africa; Department of Business Management, Stellenbosch University, South Africa | Farrington, S., Department of Business Management, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, South Africa; Venter, E., Department of Business Management, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, South Africa; Boshoff, C., Department of Business Management, Stellenbosch University, South Africa | Interpersonal ties and intra-group processes influence the ability of people to work together effectively as teams. In the context of the family business team, intra-group processes describe the interaction that takes place between the family members and the resultant psychological climate that exists in the family business. Given the increasing number of sibling teams among family businesses, as well as the challenges they face as team members, this study focuses on sibling teams in family businesses and the intra-group processes that influence their success. The primary objective of this study is to identify and empirically test the intragroup processes influencing the effectiveness of sibling partnerships. A structured questionnaire was distributed to 1323 sibling partner respondents. The respondents were identified by means of a convenience snowball sampling technique, and the data were collected from 371 usable questionnaires. The empirical findings of this study show that the sibling relationship and fairness are important determinants of sibling team effectiveness. | Family business; Family team; Intra-group processes; Sibling partnership; Team | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84894070154 | Can personal initiative training improve small business success?: A longitudinal South African evaluation study | Solomon G., Frese M., Friedrich C., Glaub M. | 2013 | International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation | 14 | 4 | 10.5367/ijei.2013.0129 | Department of Business Management, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa; Department of Management and Organisation, National University of Singapore Business School, Singapore; Leuphana University of Lueneburg, Germany; Department of Management, University of the Western Cape, South Africa; University of Applied Sciences, Giessen, Germany; University of Giessen, Germany | Solomon, G., Department of Business Management, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa; Frese, M., Department of Management and Organisation, National University of Singapore Business School, Singapore, Leuphana University of Lueneburg, Germany; Friedrich, C., Department of Management, University of the Western Cape, South Africa, University of Applied Sciences, Giessen, Germany; Glaub, M., University of Giessen, Germany | High levels of personal initiative will be required to unlock the potential offered by the many untapped resources in Africa in terms of business opportunities. Significant resources are ploughed into the development of the small business sector by governments in Africa, particularly in South Africa. However, there is little evidence that these efforts are sufficiently effective to produce the desired results. Two issues are addressed in this article: (a) whether or not enhancing the personal initiative of owner-managers improves the performance of small businesses, and (b) the moderation of the content and effectiveness of a short training intervention by means of a longitudinal evaluation study, including a control group. The findings show an increase in the training group's business activities and performance, and also identify the varied contributions of the components of the training. | Entrepreneurial training; Entrepreneurship education; Personal initiative training; Small businesses; South africa; Success factors | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-46949088777 | Formulation and properties' evaluation of PVC/(dioctyl phthalate)/ (epoxidized rubber seed oil) plastigels | Balköse D., Egbuchunam T.O., Okieimen F.E. | 2008 | Journal of Vinyl and Additive Technology | 14 | 2 | 10.1002/vnl.20142 | Department of Chemical Engineering, Izmir Institute of Technology, Gulbahcekoyu, Urla-lzmir, Turkey; Department of Chemistry, College of Education, Warri, Nigeria; Department of Chemistry, Centre for Biomaterials Research, University of Benin, Benin City, | Balköse, D., Department of Chemical Engineering, Izmir Institute of Technology, Gulbahcekoyu, Urla-lzmir, Turkey; Egbuchunam, T.O., Department of Chemistry, College of Education, Warri, Nigeria; Okieimen, F.E., Department of Chemistry, Centre for Biomaterials Research, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria | Epoxidized rubber seed oil (4.5% oxirane content, ERSO) was prepared by treating the oil with peracetic acid generated in situ by reacting glacial acetic acid with hydrogen peroxide. The thermal behavior of the ERSO was determined by differential scanning calorimetry. The effect of the epoxidized oil on the thermal stability of poly (vinyl chloride) (PVC) plastigels, formulated to contain dioctyl phthalate (DOP) plasticizer and various amounts of the epoxidized oil, was evaluated by using discoloration indices of the polymer samples degraded at 1600C for 30 min and thermogravimetry at a constant heating rate of 10°C/min up to 600°C. The thermal behavior of the ERSO was characterized by endothermic peaks at about 150°C, which were attributed to the formation of network structures via epoxide groups, and at temperatures above 300°C, which were due to the decomposition of the material. Up to 50% of the DOP plasticizer in the PVC plastisol formulation could be substituted by ERSO without a marked deleterious effect on the consistency of the plastigel formed. In the presence of the epoxidized oil, PVC plastigel samples showed a marked reduction in discoloration and the number of conjugated double bonds, as well as high temperatures for the attainment of specific extents of degradation. These results showed that the ERSO retarded/inhibited thermal dehydrochlorination and the formation of long (n > 6) polyene sequences in PVC plastigels. The plasticizer efficiency/permanence of ERSO in PVC/DOP plastigels was evaluated from mechanical properties' measurements, leaching/migration tests, and water vapor permeability studies. The results showed that a large proportion of DOP could be substituted by ERSO in a PVC plastisol formulation without deleterious effects on the properties of the plastigels. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers. | None | Acetic acid; Agricultural products; Differential scanning calorimetry; Discoloration; Esters; Fatty acids; Gravimetric analysis; Hydrogen; Hydrogen peroxide; Laser interferometry; Mechanical permeability; Mechanical properties; Offshore oil well production; Oil well production; Oils and fats; Organic compounds; Organic polymers; Photoacoustic effect; Plasticizers; Plastisols; Polymers; Polyvinyl chlorides; Reaction kinetics; Reinforced plastics; Rubber; Seed; Sulfate minerals; Thermodynamic stability; Water vapor; (p ,p ,t) measurements; (PL) properties; Conjugated double bonds; Constant heating rate; Dehydrochlorination; Deleterious effects; Dioctyl phthalate (DOP); Endothermic peaks; Epoxide groups; Glacial acetic acid (HAc); High temperature (HT); In-situ; Network structures; Oxirane; Peracetic acid (PAA); Poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC); Polyene sequences; Polymer samples; Rubber seed oil (RSO); Scanning calorimetry; thermal stability; Water vapor permeability (WVP); Plastic products | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33645111948 | Performance comparison of controllers acting on a batch pulp digester using Monte Carlo modelling | Sandrock C., de Vaal P., Weightman D. | 2006 | Control Engineering Practice | 14 | 8 | 10.1016/j.conengprac.2005.05.009 | Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0001, South Africa; Sappi Saiccor (Pty) Ltd, P.O. Box 62, Umkomaas 4170, South Africa | Sandrock, C., Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0001, South Africa; de Vaal, P., Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0001, South Africa; Weightman, D., Sappi Saiccor (Pty) Ltd, P.O. Box 62, Umkomaas 4170, South Africa | Finding a suitable control structure for any process usually involves comparing the performance of different possible control structures and choosing one which best satisfies chosen criteria. It is desirable to do this performance comparison off-line, as installation of a sub-optimal controller will cost both time and money. Monte Carlo modelling provides a well documented method of evaluating the statistical properties of stochastic systems. Applied to control system design, Monte Carlo modelling can incorporate detailed process models and accurate estimates of input distributions to give an accurate estimate of the effect of different control strategies on the system. In this study, Monte Carlo modelling was used to compare three candidate controllers in order to determine the best controller in terms of two criteria, namely variance reduction and setpoint tracking. The modelling technique yielded results that could be interpreted without difficulty, showing one controller to be clearly superior to the others according to these criteria. These results can be used to implement the best controller without expensive trial and error procedures. In situ experiments on an operational digester correlated well with the simulation results, showing the best controller to reduce variance by 43% and reduce the mean error by 90% when compared to the controller currently in use. It is shown that Monte Carlo modelling is a viable technique for controller performance analysis on highly nonlinear processes, due to the increasing availability of powerful computing systems. © 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. | Batch; Control; Monte Carlo; Nonlinear; Performance; Pulp digester | Computer simulation; Control system synthesis; Correlation methods; Mathematical models; Monte Carlo methods; Nonlinear control systems; Process control; Batch pulp digester; Controller performance analysis; Pulp digesters; Computer simulation; Control system synthesis; Correlation methods; Mathematical models; Monte Carlo methods; Nonlinear control systems; Process control; Pulp digesters; Batch Digesters; Control Systems; Correlation; Mathematical Models; Process Control; Pulping; Simulation | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84866007903 | Evaluation of the levels of selected heavy metals in mangrove ecosystem and roadside topsoil in Ghana | Essumang D.K., Boamponsem L.K., Adokoh C.K., Bentum J.K., Owusu C., Adu-Boakye M.E., Afrifa J. | 2012 | Environmental Practice | 14 | 3 | 10.1017/S1466046612000191 | Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana; Laboratory Technology Department, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana; Chemistry Department, University of Johannesburg, Auckland Park Campus, Johannesburg, South Africa | Essumang, D.K., Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana; Boamponsem, L.K., Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana; Adokoh, C.K., Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana, Laboratory Technology Department, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana; Bentum, J.K., Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana; Owusu, C., Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana; Adu-Boakye, M.E., Chemistry Department, University of Johannesburg, Auckland Park Campus, Johannesburg, South Africa; Afrifa, J., Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana | Trace metals were determined in the soil and water of four lagoons, two estuaries, and four heavy-traffic roads in Greater Accra along the Atlantic coast of Ghana. The results showed that water samples from all of the water bodies studied were polluted with mercury (Hg) and less polluted with arsenic (As), nickel (Ni), and cadmium (Cd). The pollution status of water samples was confirmed by contamination degree (CD) analysis, which yielded values of >1 of Hg and <1 of As, Ni, and Cd. Evaluation of the data from the soil sample was enhanced by the application of pollution quantification tools the pollution load index (PLI) and the index of geoaccumulation (IGEO)which showed that the mangrove swamp soil studied is progressively degrading with Hg, As, Ni, and Cd. It was also revealed that vehicular emissions were a potential source of lead (Pb), Ni, and manganese (Mn) in the roadside soils monitored. From the results of this study, it is clear that the mangroves are gradually degrading and that measures should established to control release of these metals into the environment. Environmental Practice 14:173-183 (2012) © Copyright National Association of Environmental Professionals 2012. | None | cadmium; estuarine ecosystem; geoaccumulation; heavy metal; mercury (element); nickel; point source pollution; pollution monitoring; quantitative analysis; roadside environment; soil analysis; soil degradation; traffic emission; Ghana; Greater Accra; Rhizophoraceae | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84940025563 | In vitro evaluation of the comprehensive antimicrobial and antioxidant properties of curtisia dentata (Burm.f) C.A. Sm: Toxicological effect on the human embryonic kidney (HEK293) and human hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) cell lines | Fadipe V.O., Mongalo N.I., Opoku A.R. | 2015 | EXCLI Journal | 14 | None | 10.17179/excli2015-351 | Department of Chemistry, University of Zululand, Private Bag X1001, KwaDlangezwa, South Africa; College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences (CAES) Laboratories, University of South Africa, Private Bag X6, Florida, South Africa; Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Zululand, Private Bag X1001, KwaDlangezwa, South Africa | Fadipe, V.O., Department of Chemistry, University of Zululand, Private Bag X1001, KwaDlangezwa, South Africa; Mongalo, N.I., College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences (CAES) Laboratories, University of South Africa, Private Bag X6, Florida, South Africa; Opoku, A.R., Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Zululand, Private Bag X1001, KwaDlangezwa, South Africa | Curtisia dentata is used in African traditional medicine to treat variety of infections. C. dentata leaves were collected from Buffelskloof Nature Reserve, South Africa. The ethanol, chloroform, ethyl acetate and acetone extracts were evaluated for antimicrobial activity using micro dilution assay against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Mycobacterium smegmatis, Mycoplasma hominis, Candida albicans and some clinical isolates of Moraxella catarrhalis, Proteus mirabilis and Staphylococcus aureus isolated from HIV patient. Acetone extract exhibited lowest MIC of 0.01 mg/ml against Candida albicans compared to other extracts. Besides lupeol, betulinic acid and ursolic acid, β-sitosterol was isolated for the first time from C. dentata leaves and exhibited antimicrobial activity with MIC values ranging from 0.20 to 6.25 mg/ml. Furthermore, the ethanol extract and the four isolated compounds revealed microbicidal effect, with MIC index of less than 4. Ethanol extract revealed the best total activity of 2400 ml/g against Mycoplasma hominis. Cytotoxicity of the isolated compounds was further investigated against the Human embryonic kidney (HEK293) and Human hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) cell lines using the MTT assay. Ursolic acid exhibited the lowest LD<inf>50</inf> of 122.4 μg/ml against HEK293 cell line while lupeol exhibited LD<inf>50</inf> of 278.8 and 289.4 μg/ml against HEK293 and HepG2 respectively. Lupeol exhibited low selectivity index. Ethyl acetate and acetone extracts were further investigated for antioxidant activity against 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). The acetone extract exhibited potent inhibition of DPPH compared to ethyl acetate extract. The findings of the current work validate the use of the plant species in the treatment of various human infections. © 2015 Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors. All rights reserved. | Antimicrobial; Antioxidant; Curtisia dentata; Cytotoxicity; Ethnomedicine; β-sitosterol | 1,1 diphenyl 2 picrylhydrazyl; antiinfective agent; antioxidant; ascorbic acid; betulic acid; Curtisia dentata extract; lupeol; plant extract; sitosterol; streptomycin sulfate; unclassified drug; ursolic acid; antimicrobial activity; antioxidant activity; Article; Candida albicans; controlled study; Curtisia dentata; drug cytotoxicity; drug isolation; Escherichia coli; HEK293 cell line; HepG2 cell line; human; human cell; in vitro study; LD50; minimum bactericidal concentration; minimum fungicidal concentration; minimum inhibitory concentration; Moraxella catarrhalis; Mycobacterium smegmatis; Mycoplasma hominis; nonhuman; plant leaf; Proteus mirabilis; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Staphylococcus aureus; Candida albicans; Curtisia dentata; Escherichia coli; Moraxella catarrhalis; Mycobacterium smegmatis; Mycoplasma hominis; Proteus mirabilis; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Staphylococcus aureus | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84897631156 | Impact of three years training on operations capacities of research ethics committees in Nigeria | Folayan M.O., Adaranijo A., Durueke F., Ajuwon A., Adejumo A., Ezechi O., Oyedeji K., Akanni O. | 2014 | Developing World Bioethics | 14 | 1 | 10.1111/j.1471-8847.2012.00340.x | Department of Child Dental Health, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife Osun State, Nigeria; New HIV Vaccine and Microbicide Advocacy Society, Lagos, Nigeria; Department of Health Promotion, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Department of Psychology, | Folayan, M.O., Department of Child Dental Health, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife Osun State, Nigeria; Adaranijo, A., New HIV Vaccine and Microbicide Advocacy Society, Lagos, Nigeria; Durueke, F., New HIV Vaccine and Microbicide Advocacy Society, Lagos, Nigeria; Ajuwon, A., Department of Health Promotion, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Adejumo, A., Department of Psychology, Faculty of the Social Sciences, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Ezechi, O., Nigeria Institute of Medical Research, Lagos, Nigeria; Oyedeji, K., University of Lagos, Idi-Araba, Lagos, Nigeria; Akanni, O., New HIV Vaccine and Microbicide Advocacy Society, Lagos, Nigeria | This paper describes a three-year project designed to build the capacity of members of research ethics committes to perform their roles and responsibilities efficiently and effectively. The project participants were made up of a cross-section of the membership of 13 Research Ethics Committees (RECs) functioning in Nigeria. They received training to develop their capacity to evaluate research protocols, monitor trial implementation, provide constructive input to trial staff, and assess the trial's success in promoting community engagement in the research. Following the training, technical assistance was provided to participants on an ongoing basis and the project's impacts were assessed quantitatively and qualitatively. Results indicate that sustained investment in capacity building efforts (including training, ongoing technical assistance, and the provision of multiple tools) improved the participants' knowledge of both the ethical principles relevant to biomedical research and how effective REC should function. Such investment was also shown to have a positive impact on the knowledge levels of other RECs members (those who did not receive training) and the overall operations of the RECs to which the participants belonged. Building the capacity of REC members to fulfill their roles effectively requires sustained effort and investment and pays off by enabling RECs to fulfill their essential mission of ensuring that trials are conducted safely and ethically. © 2012 John Wiley & Sons Ltd. | Bioethics; Committees; Developing world; Research ethics; Sub-Saharan Africa | clinical trial (topic); consumer; education; ethics; human; human experiment; methodology; needs assessment; Nigeria; professional standard; program evaluation; qualitative research; questionnaire; research ethics; Clinical Trials as Topic; Consumer Participation; Ethics Committees, Research; Ethics, Research; Human Experimentation; Humans; Needs Assessment; Nigeria; Program Evaluation; Qualitative Research; Questionnaires; Research Design | None |
| None | None | Field performance of alternative landfill covers vegetated with cottonwood and eucalyptus trees | Abichou T., Musagasa J., Yuan L., Chanton J., Tawfiq K., Rockwood D., Licht L. | 2012 | International Journal of Phytoremediation | 14 | None | 10.1080/15226514.2011.607869 | Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Florida State University Tallahassee, 2525 Pottsdamer Street, Tallahassee, FL 32310, United States; Civil Engineering Department, Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Geosyntec Consultants, Columbia, Maryland, United States; Department of Oceanography, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, United States; Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, Tallahassee, Florida, United States; School of Forest Resources and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States; Ecolotree, Inc., North Liberty, Iowa, United States | Abichou, T., Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Florida State University Tallahassee, 2525 Pottsdamer Street, Tallahassee, FL 32310, United States; Musagasa, J., Civil Engineering Department, Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Yuan, L., Geosyntec Consultants, Columbia, Maryland, United States; Chanton, J., Department of Oceanography, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, United States; Tawfiq, K., Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, Tallahassee, Florida, United States; Rockwood, D., School of Forest Resources and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States; Licht, L., Ecolotree, Inc., North Liberty, Iowa, United States | A field study was conducted to assess the ability of landfill covers to control percolation into the waste. Performance of one conventional cover was compared to that of two evapotranspiration (ET) tree covers, using large (7 × 14 m) lined lysimeters at the Leon County Solid Waste management facility in Tallahassee, Florida. Additional unlined test sections were also constructed and monitored in order to compare soil water storage, soil temperature, and tree growth inside lysimeters and in unlined test sections. The unlined test sections were in direct contact with landfill gas.Surface runoff on the ET covers was a small proportion of the water balance (1% of precipitation) as compared to 13% in the conventional cover. Percolation in the ET covers averaged 17% and 24% of precipitation as compared to 33% in the conventional cover. On average, soil water storage was higher in the lined lysimeters (429 mm) compared to unlined test sections (408 mm). The average soil temperature in the lysimeters was lower than in the unlined test sections. The average tree height inside the lysimeters was not significantly lower (8.04 m for eucalyptus and 7.11 m for cottonwood) than outside (8.82 m for eucalyptus and 8.01 m for cottonwood). ET tree covers vegetated with cottonwood or eucalyptus are feasible for North Florida climate as an alternative to GCL covers. © 2012 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC. | alternative covers; cottonwood; eucalyptus; evapotranspiration; landfill covers; lysimeter | rain; water; article; chemistry; construction work and architectural phenomena; environmental monitoring; Eucalyptus; growth, development and aging; pollution; Populus; season; soil; standard; temperature; tree; United States; waste disposal facility; water flow; water pollution; Environmental Monitoring; Environmental Pollution; Eucalyptus; Facility Design and Construction; Florida; Populus; Rain; Seasons; Soil; Temperature; Trees; Waste Disposal Facilities; Water; Water Movements; Water Pollution; Eucalyptus; Populus | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84879687751 | Evaluation of performance of stress-absorbing membrane interlayer (SAMI) using accelerated pavement testing | Ogundipe O.M., Thom N.H., Collop A.C. | 2013 | International Journal of Pavement Engineering | 14 | 6 | 10.1080/10298436.2012.742193 | Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Ekiti-State University, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti-State, Nigeria; Department of Civil Engineering, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom; Faculty of Technology, De Montfort University, Leicest | Ogundipe, O.M., Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Ekiti-State University, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti-State, Nigeria; Thom, N.H., Department of Civil Engineering, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom; Collop, A.C., Faculty of Technology, De Montfort University, Leicester, United Kingdom | This study examines the performance of stress-absorbing membrane interlayer (SAMI) under traffic loading. Accelerated pavement test facility at the University of Nottingham was used for the study. It involves construction and trafficking of a pavement with sections having SAMI and without SAMI. The study indicates that the SAMI is able to delay reflective cracking. It shows that the performance of the SAMI depends on the thickness of the SAMI and the interface bonding between the overlay and the SAMI. Also, it reveals that when SAMI is used between an existing cracked pavement and an overlay, the interface shear stiffness of the overlay and SAMI plays a role in isolating the overlay from the relative deflection of the cracked underlying layer due to traffic loading. © 2013 Taylor and Francis Group, LLC. | crack; overlay; reflective cracking; SAMI; traffic | Accelerated pavement testing; Interface bonding; Interface shear; overlay; Reflective cracking; SAMI; Underlying layers; University of Nottingham; Pavements; Telecommunication traffic; Traffic surveys; Cracks | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84934268539 | Assessment of knowledge, interventional practices for, and impact of malaria in pregnancy among parturient women in a Nigerian tertiary healthcare facility | Obieche A.O., Enato E.F.O., Ande A.B.A. | 2015 | Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research | 14 | 6 | 10.4314/tjpr.v14i6.24 | Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Practice, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, College of Medical Sciences, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria | Obieche, A.O., Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Practice, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria; Enato, E.F.O., Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Practice, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria; Ande, A.B.A., Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, College of Medical Sciences, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria | Purpose: To assess knowledge of and intervention for malaria in pregnancy among immediate postpartum women, as well as the impact of malaria on some specific birth outcomes. Methods: A cross-sectional study in which 358 immediate postpartum women were recruited in the labour and maternity wards of University Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria. Information on demographics, knowledge of malaria, and utilization of malaria interventions were assessed. Immediately after expulsion of placentae, both maternal and placental blood samples were collected from a subset (236) of the study group for parasitaemia and haematocrit determination. Results: The mean age of the women was 29.5 ± 4.55 years. Poor knowledge of adverse effects of malaria during pregnancy was observed. Using an arbitrary scale, low, average and high knowledge of malaria were recorded in 22.4, 50.3 and 27.3% of the respondents, respectively. Use of insecticide-treated net (ITN) was reported by 48.9, 19.1 and 14.3% of women with high, average and low knowledge of malaria respectively (p = 0.004) while there was no statistical difference in the use of sulphadoxine/pyrimethamine (IPTp-SP) among the different levels of knowledge of malaria as its practice was reported by 61, 70 and 78.7% of women with high, average, and low knowledge of malaria, respectively, (p = 0.078). Incidence rates of parasitaemia of 4.0, 1.6 and 6.25% were obtained using peripheral microscopy, placental microscopy and peripheral rapid diagnostic test (RDT), respectively. Maternal infection was significantly associated with low birth weight (p = 0.020, peripheral microscopy; p = 0.020, placental microscopy) and maternal anaemia (p = 0.009, peripheral microscopy; p = 0.000, peripheral RDT). Conclusion: Knowledge gap still exists with regard to malaria and its interventions among mothers. Knowledge of malaria significantly influences the use of insecticide-treated bed nets. The negative impact of malaria infection during pregnancy is maternal anaemia and low birth weight infants. © Pharmacotherapy Group, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Benin, Benin City, 300001 Nigeria. All rights reserved. | Insecticide-treated bed nets; Low birth weight; Malaria in pregnancy; Maternal anaemia | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84926292174 | Evaluation of information contained in drug advertisement and promotion materials in Nigeria | Adibe M.O., Igboeli N.U., Ubaka C.M., Udeogaranya P.O., Onwudiwe N.P., Ita O.O. | 2015 | Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research | 14 | 3 | 10.4314/tjpr.v14i3.25 | Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Management, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria; Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria | Adibe, M.O., Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Management, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria; Igboeli, N.U., Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Management, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria; Ubaka, C.M., Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Management, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria; Udeogaranya, P.O., Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Management, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria; Onwudiwe, N.P., Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria; Ita, O.O., Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Management, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria | Purpose: To evaluate the physical characteristics (size, legibility or readability) and the completeness of information in drug package leaflets/inserts and drug promotional brochures in Nigeria. Methods: Three hundred materials (drug information leaflets and brochures) were collected from various community pharmacies, private and governmental clinics and from various pharmaceutical distributor or representatives from different states of Nigeria. Two independent panels sorted and evaluated the information found in them and differences were resolved by consensus. Results: This study revealed that 80.7% of the materials evaluated were leaflets while brochures accounted for 18%. The physical characteristics of the materials showed that 58.7, 31.3 and 89.0% of the materials were sizeable, readable/legible and had adequate color contrast respectively. Most of the materials were written in English (78.7%), English and French 17.3%, English and Arabic accounted for only 4%. Description of indications for which the drugs were used was mentioned in 30.3% of materials. Other contents of the materials were mechanism of action (70.3%), overdoses information (55.0%), drug interaction (51.3%), pharmacokinetics (36.3%) and revision date of the information (21.0%). Conclusion: This study reveals that advertising materials used in promoting drugs in Nigeria have incomplete information and the physical characteristics of the materials are not adequate. It seems that drug industries at present mainly aim at increasing sales rather than promoting health care. Information in some pharmaceutical brochures exaggerated the benefits of the drug and downplayed risks associated with the drugs. © Pharmacotherapy Group. | Advertizing materials; Drug information; Drug leaflet; Drug promotion brochure; Nigeria | advertizing; Article; consensus; data analysis; drug contraindication; drug industry; drug information; drug marketing; drug mechanism; drug packaging; English as a second language; health promotion; Nigeria; reading; storage | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84878708464 | Impact of a novel molecular TB diagnostic system in patients at high risk of TB mortality in rural South Africa (Uchwepheshe): Study protocol for a cluster randomised trial | Lessells R.J., Cooke G.S., McGrath N., Nicol M.P., Newell M.-L., Godfrey-Faussett P. | 2013 | Trials | 14 | 1 | 10.1186/1745-6215-14-170 | Department of Clinical Research, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom; Africa Centre for Health and Population Studies, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Mtubatuba, South Africa; Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom; Academic Unit of Primary Care and Population Sciences and Academic Unit of Social Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom; Division of Medical Microbiology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; UCL Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom | Lessells, R.J., Department of Clinical Research, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom, Africa Centre for Health and Population Studies, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Mtubatuba, South Africa; Cooke, G.S., Africa Centre for Health and Population Studies, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Mtubatuba, South Africa, Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom; McGrath, N., Africa Centre for Health and Population Studies, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Mtubatuba, South Africa, Academic Unit of Primary Care and Population Sciences and Academic Unit of Social Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom; Nicol, M.P., Division of Medical Microbiology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Newell, M.-L., Africa Centre for Health and Population Studies, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Mtubatuba, South Africa, UCL Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom; Godfrey-Faussett, P., Department of Clinical Research, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom | Background: Tuberculosis control in sub-Saharan Africa has long been hampered by poor diagnostics and weak health systems. New molecular diagnostics, such as the Xpert® MTB/RIF assay, have the potential to improve patient outcomes. We present a cluster randomised trial designed to evaluate whether the positioning of this diagnostic system within the health system has an impact on important patient-level outcomes.Methods/Design: This pragmatic cluster randomised clinical trial compared two positioning strategies for the Xpert MTB/RIF system: centralised laboratory versus primary health care clinic. The cluster (unit of randomisation) is a 2-week time block at the trial clinic. Adult pulmonary tuberculosis suspects with confirmed human immunodeficiency virus infection and/or at high risk of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis are enrolled from the primary health care clinic. The primary outcome measure is the proportion of culture-confirmed pulmonary tuberculosis cases initiated on appropriate treatment within 30 days of initial clinic visit. Univariate logistic regression will be performed as the primary analysis using generalised estimating equations with a binomial distribution function and a logit link.Conclusion: Diagnostic research tends to focus only on performance of diagnostic tests rather than on patient-important outcomes. This trial has been designed to improve the quality of evidence around diagnostic strategies and to inform the scale-up of new tuberculosis diagnostics within public health systems in high-burden settings.Trial registration: Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN18642314; South African National Clinical Trials Registry DOH-27-0711-3568. © 2013 Lessells et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | Clinical trial; HIV; Molecular diagnostics; Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis; Point-of-care systems; Tuberculosis | adult; article; binomial distribution; cluster analysis; comparative study; controlled study; health center; high risk patient; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; lung tuberculosis; molecular diagnostics; mortality; multidrug resistant tuberculosis; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; outcome assessment; randomized controlled trial; rural area; South Africa; sputum culture; treatment duration; univariate analysis; Ambulatory Care Facilities; Antitubercular Agents; Bacteriological Techniques; Clinical Protocols; Coinfection; HIV Infections; Humans; Laboratories; Logistic Models; Molecular Diagnostic Techniques; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; Point-of-Care Systems; Predictive Value of Tests; Primary Health Care; Research Design; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; Rural Health Services; South Africa; Sputum; Time Factors; Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary | 090999/Z/09/Z, Wellcome Trust |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84938691863 | The impact of the global economic crisis on HIV and AIDS programmes directed at women and children in Zambia | Serieux J., Njelesani M., Chompolola A., Sepehri A., Guliani H. | 2015 | African Journal of AIDS Research | 14 | 2 | 10.2989/16085906.2015.1040806 | Department of Economics, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada; Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), UNESCO, Johannesburg, South Africa; Department of Economics, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia; University of Regina, Regina, SK, Canada | Serieux, J., Department of Economics, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada; Njelesani, M., Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), UNESCO, Johannesburg, South Africa; Chompolola, A., Department of Economics, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia; Sepehri, A., Department of Economics, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada; Guliani, H., University of Regina, Regina, SK, Canada | This investigation sought to ascertain the extent to which the global economic crisis of 2008-2009 affected the delivery of HIV/AIDS-related services directed at pregnant and lactating mothers, children living with HIV and children orphaned through HIV in Zambia. Using a combined macroeconomic analysis and a multiple case study approach, the authors found that from mid-2008 to mid-2009 the Zambian economy was indeed buffeted by the global economic crisis. During that period the case study subjects experienced challenges with respect to the funding, delivery and effectiveness of services that were clearly attributable, directly or indirectly, to the global economic crisis. The source of funding most often compromised was external private flows. The services most often compromised were non-medical services (such as the delivery of assistance to orphans and counselling to HIV-positive mothers) while the more strictly medical services (such as antiretroviral therapy) were protected from funding cuts and service interruptions. Impairments to service effectiveness were experienced relatively equally by (HIV-positive) pregnant women and lactating mothers and children orphaned through HIV. Children living with AIDS were least affected because of the primacy of ARV therapy in their care. © 2015 NISC (Pty) Ltd. | case studies; crisis transmission; external funding; financial crisis; health care funding; HIV-related services | anti human immunodeficiency virus agent; acquired immune deficiency syndrome; adolescent; adult; Article; case study; child; childhood disease; clinical effectiveness; economic aspect; female; funding; health care delivery; health program; health service; human; lactation; major clinical study; male; maternal disease; medical service; orphaned child; patient counseling; pregnant woman; Zambia; Zambian | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84938520071 | Do Stock Prices Impact Consumption and Interest Rate in South Africa? Evidence from a Time-varying Vector Autoregressive Model | Aye G.C., Gupta R., Modise M.P. | 2015 | Journal of Emerging Market Finance | 14 | 2 | 10.1177/0972652715584267 | Department of Economics, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa | Aye, G.C., Department of Economics, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa; Gupta, R., Department of Economics, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa; Modise, M.P., Department of Economics, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa | This article investigates the existence of spillovers from stock prices onto consumption and the interest rate for South Africa using a time-varying parameter vector autoregressive (TVP-VAR) model with stochastic volatility. In this regard, we estimate a three-variable TVP-VAR model comprising real consumption growth rate, the nominal three-months Treasury bill rate and the growth rate of real stock prices. We find that the impact of a real stock price shocks on consumption is in general positive, with large and significant effects observed at the one-quarter-ahead horizon. However, there is also evidence of significant negative spillovers from the stock market to consumption during the financial crisis, at both short and long horizons. The monetary policy response to stock price shocks has been persistent, and strong especially post the financial liberalisation in 1985, but became weaker during the financial crisis. Overall, we provide evidence of significant time-varying spillovers on consumption and interest rate from the stock market. JEL Classification: C11, C15, C32, E31, E32, E44, E52 © 2015, © 2015 Institute for Financial Management and Research. | Bayesian inference; consumption; Markov chain Monte Carlo; monetary policy; stochastic volatility; stock price; structural vector autoregression; time-varying parameter | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84951202383 | Values orientation, needs satisfaction and job performance of public servants in Cross River State of Nigeria | Bassey P.U., Omori A.E. | 2015 | Organizational Cultures | 14 | 04-Mar | None | Department of Educational Psychology, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria; University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria; University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria | Bassey, P.U., Department of Educational Psychology, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria; Omori, A.E., University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria | The purpose of this research was to examine the effect of values orientation and needs satisfaction on public servants’ job performance in Cross River State, Nigeria. Survey data collected from five hundred (500) public servants were used in the study. In all, four hypotheses were formulated covering the variables in the study. The Workers’ Values Orientation, Needs Satisfaction and Performance Questionnaire (WVANSAPQ) was used, and data collected was tested at the 0.05 level of significance using the Pearson Moment Coefficient. The results and data analysis indicated that values orientation and needs satisfaction had significant influence on public servants’ job performance. Consequently, the study recommended that the government and counselors as well as employers of labour should embark on reorienting workers, particularly public servants in the area of values orientation and counseling in the public sector in order to raise their level of awareness and consciousness to the variables in the study as a means of facilitating their job effectiveness in the 21st century. © Common Ground, Peter Unoh Bassey, Anne Emmanuel Omori, All Rights Reserved. | Job performance; Needs satisfaction; Public servants; Values orientation | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-27544488014 | Heavy metals in sediments of the gold mining impacted Pra River basin, Ghana, West Africa | Donkor A.K., Bonzongo J.-C.J., Nartey V.K., Adotey D.K. | 2005 | Soil and Sediment Contamination | 14 | 6 | 10.1080/15320380500263675 | Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States; Department of Chemistry, University of Ghana, Legon-Accra, Ghana; Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611-6450, United States | Donkor, A.K., Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States, Department of Chemistry, University of Ghana, Legon-Accra, Ghana; Bonzongo, J.-C.J., Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States, Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611-6450, United States; Nartey, V.K., Department of Chemistry, University of Ghana, Legon-Accra, Ghana; Adotey, D.K., Department of Chemistry, University of Ghana, Legon-Accra, Ghana | Total concentrations of Hg, Al, Fe, As, Pb, Cu, Cr, Ni, Mn, Co, V, and Zn were determined in surface sediments collected from 21 locations within the gold mining impacted Pra River basin in southwestern Ghana. Samples were collected during both the rainy and dry seasons. We hypothesized that in the rural southwestern portion of Ghana, the lack of industrial activities makes artisanal gold mining (AGM) by Hg amalgamation the main source of water resource contamination with heavy metals. Therefore, metals showing concentration trends similar to that of Hg in the studied system are likely impacted by AGM. We found that total-Hg (THg) concentrations in riverine sediments are rather low as compared to other aquatic systems that are impacted by similar mining activities. Measured THg concentrations ranged from 0.018 to 2.917 mg/kg in samples collected in the rainy season and from about 0.01 to 0.043 mg/kg in those collected during the dry season. However, the determination of the enrichment factor (EF) calculated using shale data as reference background values showed signs of severe contamination in most of the sampled sites. In the dry season, THg concentrations correlated positively and significantly to the concentrations of As (r = 0.864, p < 0.01), Cu (r = 0.691, p < 0.05), and Ni (r = 0.579, p < 0.05). Based on our previously stated hypothesis, this could then be an indication of the impact of AGM on ambient levels of these 3 elements. However, the determined concentrations of Cu, and Ni co-varied significantly with Al, suggesting that natural sources do account for the observed levels. Accordingly, both AGM and metal inputs from weathered natural deposits are likely co-responsible for the observed levels of Cu and Ni. In contrast, the lack of correlation between As and Al tends to suggest an impact of AGM on As levels. Overall, our data suggest that besides Hg and to some extent As, the impact of AGM on ambient levels of investigated metals in the gold mining impacted Pra River remains negligible. Finally, the increase in metal concentrations from the dry to the rainy season underlines the impact of changes in hydrologic conditions on levels and fate of metals in this tropical aquatic system. Copyright © Taylor & Francis Inc. | Ghana; Gold mining; Heavy metals; Mercury; Sediment contamination; West Africa | Concentration (process); Gold mines; Heavy metals; Hydrology; Mercury (metal); Mining; Sediments; Ghana; Gold mining; Sediment contamination; West Africa; River pollution | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77954652162 | Laboratory evaluation of dimethyl phthalate treated wristbands against three predominant mosquito (Diptera: Culicidae) vectors of disease | Karunamoorthi K., Sabesan S. | 2010 | European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences | 14 | 5 | None | Department of Environmental Health Science, College of Public Health and Medical Sciences, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia; Vector Control Research Center (Indian Council of Medical Research), Indira Nagar, Pondicherry, India; Research and Development Center, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India | Karunamoorthi, K., Department of Environmental Health Science, College of Public Health and Medical Sciences, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia, Vector Control Research Center (Indian Council of Medical Research), Indira Nagar, Pondicherry, India, Research and Development Center, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India; Sabesan, S., Research and Development Center, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India | Objectives and Materials and Methods: The repellent efficacy of dimethyl phthalate (DMP) treated wristband was determined against mosquitoes, viz Anopheles stephensi Liston, Aedes aegypti Linnaeus, Culex quinquefasciatus Say at two concentrations viz., 1.5 and 2.0 mg/cm2 under the laboratory conditions. DMP treated wristband had shown variable degrees of repellency impact against different mosquito species. Results: Its offered higher reduction of man landing rate against Anopheles stephensi at both concentrations of 1.5 (81.1%) and 2.0 mg/cm2 (87.0%). 79.8% and 84.8% of protection achieved against Culex quinquefasciatus at concentrations of 1.5 and 2.0 mg/cm2, respectively. 74.4 and 86.5% of reduction of man landing rates were obtained against Aedes aegypti at concentrations of 1.5 and 2.0 mg/cm2 respectively. The reduction of man-landing rate evaluations were confirmed by ttest compared between control group and each experimental group. The t-test result shows at 1.5 (p = 0.0026; t = 19.2; df = 2) as well 2.0 mg/cm2 (p = 0.0025; t = 19.8; df = 2) are extremely significant to reduce the man vector contact. Conclusion: The present data suggest that DMP treated wristbands are most promising against both day and night-biting mosquitoes and significantly reducing the man-vector contact. Therefore, it could serve as a potential as means of personal protection device against insect nuisance biting and insect-borne disease when and where other kinds of personal protection measures are impossible and impracticable. | Dimethyl phthalate; Man landing rate; Mosquitoes; Personal protection; Repellent treated wristbands | insect repellent; phthalic acid dimethyl ester; insect repellent; phthalic acid derivative; phthalic acid dimethyl ester; Aedes aegypti; Anopheles stephensi; article; biological monitoring; concentration response; controlled study; Culex quinquefasciatus; disease carrier; equipment; female; fly; human; laboratory test; male; man landing rate; mosquito; nonhuman; normal human; Student t test; vector control; wristband; Aedes; animal; Anopheles; Culex; dose response; drug effect; insect bite; methodology; wrist; Aedes; Animals; Anopheles; Culex; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Female; Humans; Insect Bites and Stings; Insect Repellents; Insect Vectors; Male; Mosquito Control; Phthalic Acids; Wrist | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79955709861 | Traffic impacts on PM2.5 air quality in Nairobi, Kenya | Kinney P.L., Gichuru M.G., Volavka-Close N., Ngo N., Ndiba P.K., Law A., Gachanja A., Gaita S.M., Chillrud S.N., Sclar E. | 2011 | Environmental Science and Policy | 14 | 4 | 10.1016/j.envsci.2011.02.005 | Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722 West 168th St., New York, NY 10032, United States; Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology, College of Architecture and Engineering, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 30197, G.P.O., Nairobi, Kenya; Center for Sustainable Urban Development, Earth Institute, Columbia University, 475 Riverside Drive, Suite 520, New York, NY 10115, United States; Columbia University, Sustainable Development in the College of Arts and Sciences, School of International and Public Affairs, 420 West 118th Street, New York, NY 10027, United States; Department of Civil Engineering, College of Architecture and Engineering, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 30197, G.P.O.. Nairobi, Kenya; Department of Chemistry, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, P.O. Box 62000-00200, Nairobi, Kenya; Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia University, 61 Rt 9W, Palisades, NY 10964, United States | Kinney, P.L., Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722 West 168th St., New York, NY 10032, United States; Gichuru, M.G., Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology, College of Architecture and Engineering, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 30197, G.P.O., Nairobi, Kenya; Volavka-Close, N., Center for Sustainable Urban Development, Earth Institute, Columbia University, 475 Riverside Drive, Suite 520, New York, NY 10115, United States; Ngo, N., Columbia University, Sustainable Development in the College of Arts and Sciences, School of International and Public Affairs, 420 West 118th Street, New York, NY 10027, United States; Ndiba, P.K., Department of Civil Engineering, College of Architecture and Engineering, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 30197, G.P.O.. Nairobi, Kenya; Law, A., Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722 West 168th St., New York, NY 10032, United States; Gachanja, A., Department of Chemistry, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, P.O. Box 62000-00200, Nairobi, Kenya; Gaita, S.M., Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology, College of Architecture and Engineering, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 30197, G.P.O., Nairobi, Kenya; Chillrud, S.N., Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia University, 61 Rt 9W, Palisades, NY 10964, United States; Sclar, E., Center for Sustainable Urban Development, Earth Institute, Columbia University, 475 Riverside Drive, Suite 520, New York, NY 10115, United States, Columbia University, Sustainable Development in the College of Arts and Sciences, School of International and Public Affairs, 420 West 118th Street, New York, NY 10027, United States | Motor vehicle traffic is an important source of particulate pollution in cities of the developing world, where rapid growth, coupled with a lack of effective transport and land use planning, may result in harmful levels of fine particles (PM2.5) in the air. However, a lack of air monitoring data hinders health impact assessments and the development of transportation and land use policies that could reduce health burdens due to outdoor air pollution. To address this important need, a study of traffic-related PM2.5 was carried out in the city of Nairobi, Kenya, a model city for sub-Saharan Africa, in July 2009. Sampling was carried out using portable filter-based air samplers carried in backpacks by technicians on weekdays over two weeks at several sites in and around Nairobi ranging from high-traffic roadways to rural background. Mean daytime concentrations of PM2.5 ranged from 10.7 at the rural background site to 98.1μg/m3 on a sidewalk in the central business district. Horizontal dispersion measurements demonstrated a decrease in PM2.5 concentration from 128.7 to 18.7μg/m3 over 100m downwind of a major intersection in Nairobi. A vertical dispersion experiment revealed a decrease from 119.5μg/m3 at street level to 42.8μg/m3 on a third-floor rooftop in the central business district. Though not directly comparable to air quality guidelines, which are based on 24-h or annual averages, the urban concentrations we observed raise concern with regard to public health and related policy. Taken together with survey data on commuting patterns within Nairobi, these results suggest that many Nairobi residents are exposed on a regular basis to elevated concentrations of fine particle air pollution, with potentially serious long-term implications for health. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. | Health; Nairobi; Outdoor air quality; Sub-Saharan Africa; Transport; Urban | air monitoring; air particle control; air pollution; air quality; air sampling; airborne particle; article; atmospheric dispersion; controlled study; human; Kenya; priority journal; traffic | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33847074562 | Potentially modifiable classic risk factors and their impact on incident myocardial infarction: Results from the EPIC-Potsdam study | Heidemann C., Hoffmann K., Klipstein-Grobusch K., Weikert C., Pischon T., Hense H.-W., Boeing H. | 2007 | European Journal of Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation | 14 | 1 | 10.1097/01.hjr.0000238392.19847.4c | Department of Epidemiology, German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbruecke, Nuthetal, Germany; School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Institute for Social Medicine, Epidemiology and Health Economics, Charité University Medical Center, Berlin, Germany; Institute of Epidemiology and Social Medicine, University Muenster, Muenster, Germany; Department of Epidemiology, German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbruecke, Arthur Scheunert Allee 114-116, 14558 Nuthetal, Germany | Heidemann, C., Department of Epidemiology, German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbruecke, Nuthetal, Germany, Department of Epidemiology, German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbruecke, Arthur Scheunert Allee 114-116, 14558 Nuthetal, Germany; Hoffmann, K., Department of Epidemiology, German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbruecke, Nuthetal, Germany; Klipstein-Grobusch, K., Department of Epidemiology, German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbruecke, Nuthetal, Germany, School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Weikert, C., Department of Epidemiology, German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbruecke, Nuthetal, Germany; Pischon, T., Department of Epidemiology, German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbruecke, Nuthetal, Germany, Institute for Social Medicine, Epidemiology and Health Economics, Charité University Medical Center, Berlin, Germany; Hense, H.-W., Institute of Epidemiology and Social Medicine, University Muenster, Muenster, Germany; Boeing, H., Department of Epidemiology, German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbruecke, Nuthetal, Germany | BACKGROUND: Prospective data on the importance of established risk factors for myocardial infarction in Germany are sparse. DESIGN: The population-based cohort study European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC)-Potsdam with 159 incident cases of myocardial infarction (120 men, 39 women) occurring among 26 954 participants (10 463 men, 16 491 women) during an average follow-up time of 4.6 years. METHODS: We examined the classic, potentially modifiable risk factors smoking, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus, abdominal obesity, and sporting inactivity, both individually and in combination, by estimating their prevalence and their relative and population-attributable risks of incident myocardial infarction. RESULTS: After adjusting for age, sex, educational attainment, alcohol intake, and the respective other classic risk factors the relative risks of myocardial infarction were 3.18 for smoking [95% confidence interval (CI) 2.31, 4.38], 1.84 for hypertension (95% CI 1.27, 2.65), 1.81 for sporting inactivity (95% CI 1.04, 3.15), 1.64 for diabetes (95% CI 1.05, 2.56), 1.62 for abdominal obesity (95% CI 1.03, 2.56), and 1.15 for hyperlipidemia (95% CI 0.84, 1.59). Participants with four or all five significant risk factors had an approximately 11.5-fold higher risk of the coronary event than participants with none or one risk factor. Altogether, 84.3% of myocardial infarctions in the study population were attributable to the presence of the five risk factors smoking, hypertension, diabetes, sporting inactivity, and abdominal obesity. CONCLUSION: The majority of myocardial infarctions in the EPIC-Potsdam cohort were explainable by potentially modifiable classic risk factors. Therefore, besides efforts to investigate novel coronary risk factors, the prevention of coronary disease should focus on strategies to reduce the prevalence of established risk factors. © 2007 European Society of Cardiology. | Cohort study; EPIC; Myocardial infarction; Population attributable risk; Risk factors | abdominal obesity; adult; aged; alcohol consumption; article; cigarette smoking; cohort analysis; confidence interval; diabetes mellitus; education; european prospective investigation into cancer and nutrition; female; follow up; heart infarction; human; hyperlipidemia; hypertension; major clinical study; male; medical research; priority journal; risk factor; sport; statistical significance; Abdominal Fat; Aged; Cohort Studies; Coronary Disease; Diabetes Mellitus; Exercise; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Germany; Humans; Hyperlipidemias; Hypertension; Male; Middle Aged; Myocardial Infarction; Prevalence; Prospective Studies; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; Smoking | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84935888845 | Production and quality evaluation of ogi produced from fermented maize and horse eye bean (Mucuna urens) | Opeifa A.O., Olatidoye O.P., Adesala S.O., Fayomi M.J. | 2015 | Pakistan Journal of Nutrition | 14 | 7 | 10.3923/pjn.2015.417.425 | Department of Food Technology, Yaba College of Technology, P.M.B. 2011, Nigeria | Opeifa, A.O., Department of Food Technology, Yaba College of Technology, P.M.B. 2011, Nigeria; Olatidoye, O.P., Department of Food Technology, Yaba College of Technology, P.M.B. 2011, Nigeria; Adesala, S.O., Department of Food Technology, Yaba College of Technology, P.M.B. 2011, Nigeria; Fayomi, M.J., Department of Food Technology, Yaba College of Technology, P.M.B. 2011, Nigeria | In developing countries, particularly sub-Saharan Africa, infant complementary foods are grossly inadequate, the enrichment of maize with horse eye beans is a veritable approach for combating the effects of protein malnutrition. Yellow maize variety and horse eye bean were processed into flour, mixed in the ratios 95:5, 90:10, 85:15 and 100% maize flour and proximate, functional, pasting, antinutritional and sensory properties were evaluated using standard methods. Results of Proximate analysis, functional analysis, pasting characteristics, anti-nutritional analysis and sensory evaluation showed protein, crude fibre and ash increase with an increase in ratio of horse eye bean flour addition. Proximate analysis performed on the samples showed that sample (85:15) has the highest protein content of (12.37%), fat content, (2.77%) and ash content (0:71%). The control sample (100% maize flour) had a high carbohydrates content of (77.32%) and moisture content rage from 4.18 to 4.61%. The functional properties of all samples had almost the same level of bulk density (0.69%). A significant difference was observed in water absorption capacity of the samples (1.5-3.33%) and likewise swelling capacity. Pasting characteristic (peak viscosity, final viscosity and holding strength) also decreased significantly as proportion of horse eye bean flour increases above 10%. The setback value and breakdown viscosity of maize flour containing zero or 5% horse eye bean flour were significantly lower than those containing 10 and 15% horse eye bean flour. Apart from producing a nutritionally balanced amala meal, 10% fortification was more stable against retrogradation and was assessed to be more acceptable in terms of key quality index (texture and colour). Therefore the result obtained revealed that (he proximate parameters of the samples increases as the horse eye beans added increase, which confirm the reality of the enrichment. However, in terms of overall acceptability the blend ratio of 95:5% horse eye bean was the most the acceptable to the panelist <0.05. Apart from adding value and varieties to Ogi meal due to its textural improvement, fortifying maize flour with horse eye bean flour at 5% level would also reduce the problem of food security especially among children in the sub-Sahara region of Africa where malnutrition due to protein deficiency is common and also the utilization of horse eye bean. © Asian Network for Scientific Information, 2015. | Functional and sensory properties; Horse eye bean; Maize; Ogi; Pasting | fat; glycoside; oxalic acid; phytic acid; protein; tannin; Article; ash; bulk density; controlled study; corn flour; fermented product; food; food security; human; hydrophilicity; maize; moisture; Mucuna; Mucuna urens; nutritional health; plant fiber; porridge; sensory evaluation; viscosity; water absorption; Equidae; Mucuna urens; Zea mays | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-70349931435 | Impact of gold mining on soil and some staple foods collected from selected mining communities in and around tarkwa-prestea area | Hayford E.K., Amin A., Osae E.K., Kutu J. | 2009 | West African Journal of Applied Ecology | 14 | None | None | Department of Geology, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana; Department of Environmental Science, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana; Department of Physics, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana | Hayford, E.K., Department of Geology, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana; Amin, A., Department of Environmental Science, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana; Osae, E.K., Department of Physics, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana; Kutu, J., Department of Geology, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana | The principle of neutron activation was used to investigate the presence of toxic elements and possible heavy metals in samples of cassava, plantain and soil from the mining communities in and around Tarkwa in the Western Region of Ghana. The results showed that the maximum concentrations of the respective metals in cassava: plantain: soil samples were arsenic (As = 0.7 μg/g:0.25 μg/g:14.35 μg/g), mercury (Hg = 0.25 μg/g:0.52 μg/g:0.09 μg/g), antimony (Sb = 0.03 μg/g: 0.03 μg/g: 2.98 μg/g), chromium (Cr = 0.72 μg/g:3.42 μg/g:40.35 μg/g), vanadium (V = 0.8 μg/g:0.76 μg/g:188.40 μg/g), zinc (Zn = 38.42 μg/g:24.92 μg/g:42.36 μg/g), and copper (Cu = 66.39 μg/g: 8.74 μg/g: 53.46 μg/g). The concentrations in cassava and plantain were higher than the values proposed by the FAO, the Expert Committee on Food Additives of the WHO and the Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry (ATSDR). The concentrations of Hg (0,09 μg/g) in soil at Teberebie and of V (188.40ìg/g) at the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT) in soil were above the permitted concentrations of 5 μg/g and 90 μg/g, respectively. Samples from communities further away from the centres of mine drainages (mile 81/2, mile 101/2) had smaller values of element concentrations. An enrichment factor (EF) analysis for both cassava and plantain were Zn (7%) and Hg (90%). The remaining elements together add up to 3%. The enrichment factor analysis for plantain is greater than that for cassava. Mercury is the element that is chiefly enriched in both cassava and plantain. The second predominant element enriched in cassava and plantain is zinc. | None | Manihot esculenta | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84931267047 | Comparative evaluation of chemical composition of fermented ground bean flour (Kerstingella geocarpa) cowpea flour (vigna unguiculata) commercial wheat flour (triticum spp.) | Chikwendu, Ndirika J. | 2015 | Pakistan Journal of Nutrition | 14 | 4 | None | Department of Home Science, Nutrition and Dietetics, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria | Chikwendu, Department of Home Science, Nutrition and Dietetics, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria; Ndirika, J., Department of Home Science, Nutrition and Dietetics, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria | The study was conducted to compare the chemical composition of 3 flour samples: fermented ground bean flour, fermented cowpea flour and commercial wheat flour. Commercial wheat flour was purchased from a local market as well as cowpea and ground bean. The samples were cleaned and sorted, soaked in water at room temperature, dehulled, oven dried at 50°C for 12 h, milled into fine flour. The flours were fermented at room temperature for 3 days, oven dried at 50°C for 12 h and finally milled into flours. These flours were subjected to chemical analysis done in triplicates using standard assay. Mean, standard deviation of the samples were calculated and Duncan's multiple test was used to separate the means. The result indicated that the protein content ranged from 14.71 to 25.39%. The wheat flour had the least value (14.71%) while the ground bean flour and cowpea flour had 25.39 and 24.34%, respectively. The vitamin A composition varied from 10.80 to 29.60 mg/100 g. The wheat flour had the least vitamin A value which was significantly different from the other flours (10.80 vs 29.60 and 18.20 mg/100 g) (p<0.05). The iron composition varied. It ranged from 2.51 to 6.80 mg/100 g. The ground bean flour and the highest iron value (6.80 mg/100 g) while the cowpea flour and wheat flour had 2.51 mg and 4.70 mg/100 g. The calcium composition ranged from 166.10-308.46 mg/100 g. The cowpea flour had the highest value which was significantly different from the other flours (308.46 vs 166.10 and 183.25 mg/100 g) (p<0.05).The zinc composition differed. It varied from 8.30-28.05 mg/100 g. The wheat flour had the least value which was significantly different from the other flours at (8.30 vs 25.22 and 28.05 mg/100 g) (p<0.005). The cowpea flour had the highest zinc value (28.05 mg/100 g). Fermented cowpea and ground bean flours showed higher nutrient content mainly in nutrients of public health importance like Vitamin A and iron. These nutritional qualities calls for a greater attention to the underutilized (ground bean) crop. These flours could as well be incorporated into wheat flour to improve the nutritional qualities of confectionaries and bakery products. © Asian Network for Scientific Information, 2015. | Chemical composition; Comparative evaluation; Cowpea; Fermented; Flour; Ground bean; Wheat | calcium; carbohydrate; iodine; iron; magnesium; phosphorus; retinol; riboflavin; thiamine; zinc; Article; ash; bean; chemical analysis; chemical composition; comparative study; cowpea; distillation; fermentation; flour; Kerstingella geocarpa; lipid analysis; moisture; nonhuman; nutrient content; nutritional value; protein content; protein determination; public health; room temperature; titrimetry; wheat; Triticum; Triticum aestivum; Vigna subterranea; Vigna unguiculata | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-80054764420 | Recipe development, chemical and organoleptic evaluation of complementary food blends made from available agricultural products | Nwamarah J.U., Ugwumba C.G. | 2011 | Journal of Home Economics Research | 14 | None | None | Department of Home Science, Nutrition and Dietetics, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria | Nwamarah, J.U., Department of Home Science, Nutrition and Dietetics, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria; Ugwumba, C.G., Department of Home Science, Nutrition and Dietetics, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria | The study was done to improve on the traditional infant complementary food. The nutrient potential and organoleptic attributes of porridges based on processed maize and sweet potato flour, in which was added either of these: groundnut paste, palm oil or soybean oil were produced. Maize, sweet potato and groundnut were processed. Palm and soybean oils were purchased from the Nsukka main market. Four products PSP (maize + sweet potato flour + palm oil) (65:30:5), PSG-(maize + sweet potato flour + groundnut paste) (60:30:10) and PSS-(maize+ sweet potato flour + soybean oil) (65:30:5) were developed and CON-(maize gruel) (100:0) used as control. Nutrient content of the porridges and their organoleptic attributes were analyzed using standard techniques. Data were statistically analyzed using percentages, mean and standard deviation of means. Duncan's New Multiple Range Test was used to separate and compare means. The PSG had the highest protein (14.73%), folate (0.8mg), iron (4.0mg) than others. The PSG also had the highest organoleptic attributes (6.97-7.68) on a 9-point hedonic scale than any of the products. The PSG appears to have the most desirable nutrient profile (protein 14.73%, fibre 0.95%, ash 6.45% and energy value 328.40kcal). While samples PSP and PSS had comparable energy values (314.90 and 313.77 kcal). | None | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84947055067 | Evaluation of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) varieties for seed yield and yield components under Jimma condition, South Western Ethiopia | Balcha K., Belew D., Nego J. | 2015 | Journal of Agronomy | 14 | 4 | 10.3923/ja.2015.292.297 | Department of Horticulture and Plant Sciences, Jimma University College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine (JUCAVM), P.O. Box 307, Jimma, Ethiopia | Balcha, K., Department of Horticulture and Plant Sciences, Jimma University College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine (JUCAVM), P.O. Box 307, Jimma, Ethiopia; Belew, D., Department of Horticulture and Plant Sciences, Jimma University College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine (JUCAVM), P.O. Box 307, Jimma, Ethiopia; Nego, J., Department of Horticulture and Plant Sciences, Jimma University College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine (JUCAVM), P.O. Box 307, Jimma, Ethiopia | An experiment was conducted at Jimma University College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine (JUCAVM) experimental field to evaluate selected tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) varieties for their seed yield under irrigated condition. The experiment was set using a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications wherein nine tomato varieties: five determinate type (Bishola, Chali, Cochoro, Fetan and Melkasalsa) and four semi-determinate type (Metadel, Miya, Melkashola and Arp tomato d2) and one local variety (Roma VF) were used. Data was collected on yield, seed weight per fruit, seed weight per plant, seed yield per hectare, number of seed per fruit, thousand seed weight, fruit diameter, fruit weight per plant and fruit yield per hectare. The results revealed that Variety had highly significantly (p≤0.01) affected the yield and yield component parameters. Significantly the highest fruit diameter (6.25 cm) was recorded from variety Bishola whereas the lowest seed yield per hectare was obtained from Fetan (58.1 kg). Correlation analysis also indicated that Seed weight per plant was significantly and positively associated with seed weight per hectare (r = 0.95), fruit yield per hectare (r = 0.40) and fruit weight per plant (r = 0.40). Fruit weight per plant was highly significantly and positively correlated with seed weight per hectare (r = 0.47) and fruit yield per hectare (r = 0.99). The tomato variety Bishola was found to be high seed yielder as compared to the other varieties compared and hence it is suggested that tomato producers in Jimma area can use Bishola variety for high seed yield. © 2015 Asian Network for Scientific Information. | Fruit yield; Seed yield; Tomato; Varieties; Yield components | None | None |
| None | None | Evaluation of diagnos TB AG, a flow-through immunoassay for rapid detection of pulmonary tuberculosis | Reither K., Saathoff E., Jung J., Minja L.T., Machibya H., Maboko L., Perkins M.D., Hoelscher M., Boehme C.C. | 2010 | International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease | 14 | 2 | None | Department of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich, Munich, Germany; National Institute for Medical Research-Mbeya Medical Research Programme, Mbeya, Tanzania; Mbeya Regional Medical Office, Ministry of Health, Mbeya, Tanzania; Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics, Geneva, Switzerland | Reither, K., Department of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich, Munich, Germany, National Institute for Medical Research-Mbeya Medical Research Programme, Mbeya, Tanzania; Saathoff, E., Department of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich, Munich, Germany; Jung, J., Department of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich, Munich, Germany, National Institute for Medical Research-Mbeya Medical Research Programme, Mbeya, Tanzania; Minja, L.T., National Institute for Medical Research-Mbeya Medical Research Programme, Mbeya, Tanzania; Machibya, H., Mbeya Regional Medical Office, Ministry of Health, Mbeya, Tanzania; Maboko, L., National Institute for Medical Research-Mbeya Medical Research Programme, Mbeya, Tanzania; Perkins, M.D., Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics, Geneva, Switzerland; Hoelscher, M., Department of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich, Munich, Germany, National Institute for Medical Research-Mbeya Medical Research Programme, Mbeya, Tanzania; Boehme, C.C., Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics, Geneva, Switzerland | We evaluated the diagnostic performance of the Diagnos TB AG immunoassay in 171 Tanzanians with suspected pulmonary tuberculosis (TB). The sensitivity and specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of the rapid test for the detection of pulmonary TB in this population were respectively 60.0%, 33.3%, 40.3% and 52.6%. In its current configuration, this test will not help overcome difficulties in the rapid diagnosis of TB. ©2010 The Union. | Diagnostic performance; Flow-through immunoassay; Pulmonary tuberculosis | anorexia; article; clinical feature; clinical trial; diagnostic accuracy; female; fever; flow through immunoassay; hemoptysis; human; immunoassay; lung tuberculosis; major clinical study; malaise; male; night sweat; prediction; priority journal; sensitivity and specificity; sputum analysis; Tanzania; thorax pain; weight reduction; Adult; Antigens, Bacterial; Female; Humans; Immunoassay; Male; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; Predictive Value of Tests; Sensitivity and Specificity; Tanzania; Time Factors; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84892382973 | Doctoral training in Uganda: Evaluation of mentoring best practices at Makerere university college of health sciences | Nakanjako D., Katamba A., Kaye D.K., Okello E., Kamya M.R., Sewankambo N., Mayanja-Kizza H. | 2014 | BMC Medical Education | 14 | 1 | 10.1186/1472-6920-14-9 | Department of Internal Medicine, Makerere University, College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Makerere University, College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda; Department of Psychiatry, Makerere University, College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda | Nakanjako, D., Department of Internal Medicine, Makerere University, College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda; Katamba, A., Department of Internal Medicine, Makerere University, College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda; Kaye, D.K., Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Makerere University, College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda; Okello, E., Department of Psychiatry, Makerere University, College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda; Kamya, M.R., Department of Internal Medicine, Makerere University, College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda; Sewankambo, N., Department of Internal Medicine, Makerere University, College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda; Mayanja-Kizza, H., Department of Internal Medicine, Makerere University, College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda | Background: Good mentoring is a key variable for determining success in completing a doctoral program. We identified prevailing mentoring practices among doctoral students and their mentors, identified common challenges facing doctoral training, and proposed some solutions to enhance the quality of the doctoral training experience for both candidates and mentors at Makerere University College of Health Sciences (MakCHS). Methods. This cross-sectional qualitative evaluation was part of the monitoring and evaluation program for doctoral training. All doctoral students and their mentors were invited for a half-day workshop through the MakCHS mailing list. Prevailing doctoral supervision and mentoring guidelines were summarised in a one-hour presentation. Participants were split into two homogenous students' (mentees') and mentors' groups to discuss specific issues using a focus group discussion (FGD) guide, that highlighted four main themes in regard to the doctoral training experience; what was going well, what was not going well, proposed solutions to current challenges and perceived high priority areas for improvement. The two groups came together again and the note-takers from each group presented their data and discussions were recorded by a note-taker. Results: Twelve out of 36 invited mentors (33%) and 22 out of 40 invited mentees (55%) attended the workshop. Mentors and mentees noted increasing numbers of doctoral students and mentors, which provided opportunities for peer mentorship. Delays in procurement and research regulatory processes subsequently delayed students' projects. Similarly, mentees mentioned challenges of limited; 1) infrastructure and mentors to support basic science research projects, 2) physical office space for doctoral students and their mentors, 3) skills in budgeting and finance management and 4) communication skills including conflict resolution. As solutions, the team proposed skills' training, induction courses for doctoral students-mentor teams, and a Frequently Asked Questions' document, to better inform mentors', mentees' expectations and experiences. Conclusion: Systemic and infrastructural limitations affect the quality of the doctoral training experience at MaKCHS. Clinical and biomedical research infrastructure, in addition to training in research regulatory processes, procurement and finance management, communication skills and information technology, were highlighted as high priority areas for strategic interventions to improve mentoring within doctoral training of clinician scientists. © 2014 Nakanjako et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | Capacity building; Doctoral training; Health care; Low and middle income countries; Mentorship; Supervision; Uganda | academic achievement; article; evaluation study; methodology; organization and management; program evaluation; qualitative research; school; standard; teacher; Uganda; Education, Graduate; Mentors; Program Evaluation; Qualitative Research; Schools, Health Occupations; Uganda | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84875240382 | The impact of ICT in learning through distance education programmes at Zimbabwe Open University (ZOU): Roles of ict in learning through distance education programmes | Mpofu J., Chimhenga S., Mafa O. | 2013 | Turkish Online Journal of Distance Education | 14 | 1 | None | Department of Languages and Media Studies, Zimbabwe Open University, Zimbabwe; Centre for Student Management, Zimbabwe Open University, Zimbabwe; Department of Education, Zimbabwe Open University, Zimbabwe | Mpofu, J., Department of Languages and Media Studies, Zimbabwe Open University, Zimbabwe; Chimhenga, S., Centre for Student Management, Zimbabwe Open University, Zimbabwe; Mafa, O., Department of Education, Zimbabwe Open University, Zimbabwe | Zimbabwe Distance Open University is enrols students from both urban and rural settings. The majority of students living and working in rural areas have limited or no access to computers and electricity as a result the use of information and communication technology (ICT) in the learning process is very limited. Though government has realized the importance of developing ICT for learning purposes, in practice very little has materialized in the provision of the ICT technology especially in rural areas. The majority of Zimbabwe Open University students have expressed difficulties in coping with their studies partly due to lack of supplementary reading materials from internet. | None | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84956486629 | Implementation, monitoring and evaluation of sustainable business practices: framework and empirical illustration | Dos Santos M.A.O., Svensson G., Padin C. | 2014 | Corporate Governance (Bingley) | 14 | 4 | 10.1108/CG-02-2013-0022 | Department of Management, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa; Oslo School of Management, Oslo, Norway; Vigo University, Spain | Dos Santos, M.A.O., Department of Management, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa; Svensson, G., Oslo School of Management, Oslo, Norway; Padin, C., Vigo University, Spain | Purpose – This study aims to illustrate what and how a South African retail chain implements, monitors and evaluates its sustainable business practices using economic, ecological and social areas of indices. Design/methodology/approach – The study is based on the content analysis of public documents, such as sustainability and annual reports, of a retail chain. An assessment of sustainability and annual reports for 2008-2011 has been considered to examine how and what this retail chain implements, monitors and evaluates in its sustainable business practices. Findings – Woolworths has a sustainability programme in place that assures that the efforts of sustainable business practices are implemented, monitored and evaluated properly and that their targets for each area of indices are accomplished. Research limitations/implications – The content analysis shows that the areas of indices are important in the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of Woolworths’ spectrum of efforts in sustainability business practices. Practical implications – The study demonstrates practically how Woolworths South Africa implements, monitors and evaluates its sustainable business practices using various areas of indices which fall under the three pillars of sustainability, namely, economic, environmental and social. Originality/value – This research provides insight on what and how a retail chain in South Africa implements, monitors and evaluates its sustainable business practices over time. It also offers an insight into the strategic approach beyond the company’s judicial frontiers and into the supply chain. Furthermore, it shows how a company’s business network can be committed to change towards sustainable business practices. © 2014, Emerald Group Publishing Limited. | Areas of indices; Business; Retail industry; South Africa; Sustainable; Triple bottom line; Woolworths | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84908505438 | The impact of bugs reported from operational phase on successive software releases | Garmabaki A.H.S., Kapur P.K., Aggarwal A.G., Yadavali V.S.S. | 2014 | International Journal of Productivity and Quality Management | 14 | 4 | 10.1504/IJPQM.2014.065556 | Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Islamic Azad University, Nour Branch, Nour, Iran; Amity International Business School, Amity University, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India; Department of Operational Research, University of Delhi, Delhi, India; Department of Industrial and System Engineering, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa | Garmabaki, A.H.S., Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Islamic Azad University, Nour Branch, Nour, Iran; Kapur, P.K., Amity International Business School, Amity University, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India; Aggarwal, A.G., Department of Operational Research, University of Delhi, Delhi, India; Yadavali, V.S.S., Department of Industrial and System Engineering, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa | Software testing is a necessary part of software development life cycle (SDLC) to achieve a high reliable software system. In today's software environment of global competition where each company is trying to prove itself better than its competitors, software companies have to continually do up-gradation or add-ons in their software to survive in the market. Each succeeding up-gradation offers some innovative performance or new functionality, distinguishing itself from the past release. We consider the combined effect of bugs encountered during testing of present release and user reported bug from operational phase. The model developed in the paper takes into consideration the testing and the operational phase where fault removal phenomenon follows Kapur-Garg model and Weibull-model respectively. The model developed is validated on real datasets for software which has been released in the market with new features. Copyright © 2014 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd. | Multi release up-gradation; NHPP; Non-homogeneous poison process; Operational phase; Quality management; Testing phase | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77954635387 | Performance of solar chimney power plant in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau | Zhou X., Wang F., Fan J., Ochieng R.M. | 2010 | Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews | 14 | 8 | 10.1016/j.rser.2010.04.017 | Department of Mechanics, School of Civil Engineering and Mechanics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Luoyu Road 1037, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, China; Hubei Key Laboratory for Engineering Structural Analysis and Safety Assessment, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Luoyu Road 1037, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, China; Department of Physics and Materials Science, Maseno University, P.O. Box 333, Maseno, Kenya | Zhou, X., Department of Mechanics, School of Civil Engineering and Mechanics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Luoyu Road 1037, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, China, Hubei Key Laboratory for Engineering Structural Analysis and Safety Assessment, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Luoyu Road 1037, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, China; Wang, F., Department of Mechanics, School of Civil Engineering and Mechanics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Luoyu Road 1037, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, China, Hubei Key Laboratory for Engineering Structural Analysis and Safety Assessment, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Luoyu Road 1037, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, China; Fan, J., Hubei Key Laboratory for Engineering Structural Analysis and Safety Assessment, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Luoyu Road 1037, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, China; Ochieng, R.M., Department of Physics and Materials Science, Maseno University, P.O. Box 333, Maseno, Kenya | A solar chimney power plant (SCPP) is proposed to be built in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau where there is abundant solar radiation, high direct solar radiation low atmospheric temperature, large diurnal temperature range, and lots of salt lakes working as heat storage system, which can help to improve the power output of SCPP. The plant is expected to power local railway traffic lines and act as a solar power base to supply power for national development. The performance of the SCPP that will be built in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is analyzed and power potential estimated by developing a simple mathematical model. It is found that SCPP if built in the plateau can produce twice more power than an SCPP built on the same latitude of other regions. The yearly power potential for SCPP in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is estimated to be 86.8 million TJ. When 10-20% of the plateau land is used for the SCPP, the yearly power output may reach 8.7 million TJ to 17.4 million TJ, accounting for 10.7-21.3% of China's energy consumption in 2008 which stood at 81.6 million TJ. It is found that the SCPP in the plateau can support local and national development together with other renewable energy resources such as hydroelectric power and wind power. © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. | Power generation; Qinghai-Tibet Plateau; Solar chimney; Solar collector | Direct solar radiation; Diurnal temperature ranges; Energy consumption; Heat storage systems; National development; Power out put; Power potential; Qinghai Tibet plateau; Railway traffic; Salt lakes; Solar chimney; Solar chimney power plant; Solar power; Energy resources; Heat storage; Hydroelectric power; Mathematical models; Power plants; Solar collectors; Solar heating; Solar radiation; Sun; Wind power; Solar chimneys | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84924143523 | Evaluation of non-instrumented nucleic acid amplification by loop-mediated isothermal amplification (NINA-LAMP) for the diagnosis of malaria in Northwest Ethiopia | Sema M., Alemu A., Bayih A.G., Getie S., Getnet G., Guelig D., Burton R., LaBarre P., Pillai D.R. | 2015 | Malaria Journal | 14 | 1 | 10.1186/s12936-015-0559-9 | Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wollo University, Dessie, Ethiopia; School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences and Medicine, Wolaita Sodo University, Wolaita, Ethiopia; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada; Department of Medical Parasitology, School of Biomedical and Laboratory Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia; PATH, Seattle, United States | Sema, M., Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wollo University, Dessie, Ethiopia; Alemu, A., School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences and Medicine, Wolaita Sodo University, Wolaita, Ethiopia; Bayih, A.G., Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada; Getie, S., Department of Medical Parasitology, School of Biomedical and Laboratory Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia; Getnet, G., Department of Medical Parasitology, School of Biomedical and Laboratory Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia; Guelig, D., PATH, Seattle, United States; Burton, R., PATH, Seattle, United States; LaBarre, P., PATH, Seattle, United States; Pillai, D.R., Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada, Department of Medical Parasitology, School of Biomedical and Laboratory Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia | Background: Malaria is a major public health problem in sub-Saharan African countries including Ethiopia. Early and accurate diagnosis followed by prompt and effective treatment is among the various tools available for prevention, control and elimination of malaria. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of non-instrumented nucleic acid amplification loop-mediated isothermal amplification (NINA-LAMP) compared to standard thick and thin film microscopy and nested PCR as gold standard for the sensitive diagnosis of malaria in Northwest Ethiopia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in North Gondar, Ethiopia from March to July 2014. Eighty-two blood samples were collected from malaria suspected patients visiting Kola Diba Health Centre and analysed for Plasmodium parasites by microscopy, NINA-LAMP and nested PCR. The NINA-LAMP method was performed using the Loopamp™ Malaria Pan/Pf detection kits for detecting DNA of the genus Plasmodium and more specifically Plasmodium falciparum using an electricity-free heater. Diagnostic accuracy outcome measures (analytical sensitivity, specificity, predictive values, and Kappa scores) of NINA-LAMP and microscopy were compared to nested PCR. Results: A total of 82 samples were tested in the primary analysis. Using nested PCR as reference, the sensitivity and specificity of the primary NINA-LAMP assay were 96.8% (95% confidence interval (CI), 83.2% - 99.5%) and 84.3% (95% CI, 71.4% - 92.9%), respectively for detection of Plasmodium genus, and 100% (95% CI, 75.1% - 100%) and 81.2% (95% CI, 69.9% - 89.6%), respectively for detection of P. falciparum parasite. Microscopy demonstrated sensitivity and specificity of 93.6% (95% CI, 78.5% - 99.0%) and 98.0% (95% CI, 89.5% - 99.7%), respectively for the detection of Plasmodium parasites. Post-hoc repeat NINA-LAMP analysis showed improvement in diagnostic accuracy, which was comparable to nested PCR performance and superior to microscopy for detection at both the Plasmodium genus level and P. falciparum parasites. Conclusion: NINA-LAMP is highly sensitive for the diagnosis of malaria and detection of Plasmodium parasite infection at both the genus and species level when compared to nested PCR. NINA-LAMP is more sensitive than microscopy for the detection of P. falciparum and differentiation from non-falciparum species and may be a critical diagnostic modality in efforts to eradicate malaria from areas of low endemicity. © 2015 Sema et al. | None | protozoal DNA; Article; controlled study; cross-sectional study; diagnostic accuracy; diagnostic test accuracy study; diagnostic value; DNA determination; Ethiopia; evaluation study; female; human; human cell; LAMP system; loop mediated isothermal amplification; major clinical study; malaria falciparum; male; microscopy; molecular diagnosis; non instrumented nucleic acid loop mediated isothermal amplification; parasite identification; Plasmodium falciparum; Plasmodium malariae infection; Plasmodium ovale malaria; Plasmodium vivax malaria; polymerase chain reaction; post hoc analysis; predictive value; repeat procedure; sensitivity and specificity | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77953635043 | Evaluation of seven tests for the rapid detection of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in Uganda | Bwanga F., Joloba M.L., Haile M., Hoffner S. | 2010 | International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease | 14 | 7 | None | Department of Medical Microbiology, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda; TB Unit, Department of Bacteriology, Swedish Institute for Infectious Disease Control, SE-171 82 Solna, Sweden; Department of Microbiology, Tumour and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden | Bwanga, F., Department of Medical Microbiology, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda, TB Unit, Department of Bacteriology, Swedish Institute for Infectious Disease Control, SE-171 82 Solna, Sweden, Department of Microbiology, Tumour and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden; Joloba, M.L., Department of Medical Microbiology, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda; Haile, M., TB Unit, Department of Bacteriology, Swedish Institute for Infectious Disease Control, SE-171 82 Solna, Sweden, Department of Microbiology, Tumour and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden; Hoffner, S., TB Unit, Department of Bacteriology, Swedish Institute for Infectious Disease Control, SE-171 82 Solna, Sweden, Department of Microbiology, Tumour and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden | SETTINGS: National Tuberculosis (TB) Reference Laboratory and Department of Medical Microbiology, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate head-to-head rapid tests for drug susceptibility testing (DST) of Mycobacterium tuberculosis against rifampicin (RMP) and isoniazid (INH) in a resource-limited setting. METHODS: Thirty-one well-characterised strains of M. tuberculosis were tested with the nitrate reductase assay (NRA), microscopic observation drug susceptibility (MODS), MGITTM 960 (Mycobacterium Growth Indicator Tube 960), Genotype® MTBDRplus, Alamar blue, MTT and resazurin assays. The proportion method on Löwenstein-Jensen medium was used as the reference test. RESULTS: NRA correctly identifi ed the resistant strains, with 100% sensitivity and specifi city. MGIT 960 detected all multidrug-resistant strains but missed one RMPmonoresistant strain. Genotype MTBDRplus detected all RMP-resistant strains, but the sensitivity for detection of INH resistance was lower (88%). Sensitivity and specifi city ranged from 86% to 100% for MODS and from 57% to 100% for the Alamar blue, MTT and resazurin assays. Test results were obtained within 2-14 days. CONCLUSION: In the study setting, NRA, MGIT 960 and Genotype MTBDRplus gave excellent detection of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis, with signifi cantly shorter time to results compared to conventional testing. © 2010 The Union. | Drug susceptibility testing; Drug-resistant tuberculosis; M. tuberculosis; MDR-TB | 3 (4,5 dimethyl 2 thiazolyl) 2,5 diphenyltetrazolium bromide; isoniazid; nitrate reductase; resazurin; rifampicin; isoniazid; rifampicin; tuberculostatic agent; article; assay; bacterial growth; bacterial strain; bacterium detection; bacterium isolate; bacterium isolation; colorimetry; controlled study; culture medium; drug resistant tuberculosis; drug sensitivity; enzyme assay; genotype; human; lung tuberculosis; microscopic observation drug susceptibility; microscopy; multidrug resistance; mycobacterium growth indicator tube 960; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; nitrate reductase assay; nonhuman; observation; priority journal; sensitivity and specificity; Uganda; comparative study; drug effects; isolation and purification; microbial sensitivity test; microbiology; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; time; Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant; Antitubercular Agents; Humans; Isoniazid; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; Rifampin; Sensitivity and Specificity; Time Factors; Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant; Uganda | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84924066605 | Efficacy and pharmacokinetic evaluation of a novel anti-malarial compound (NP046) in a mouse model | Abay E.T., Van Der Westuizen J.H., Swart K.J., Gibhard L., Lawrence N., Dambuza N., Wilhelm A., Pravin K., Wiesner L. | 2015 | Malaria Journal | 14 | 1 | 10.1186/1475-2875-14-8 | Department of Medicine, Division of Clinical Pharmacology, University of Cape Town, Observatory 7925, Cape Town, South Africa; PAREXEL International Clinical Research Organization, Private Bag X09, Brandhof, Bloemfontein, South Africa; Department of Chemistry, University of the Free State, PO Box 339, Bloemfontein, South Africa; Research Development, University of the Free State, PO Box 339, Bloemfontein, South Africa | Abay, E.T., Department of Medicine, Division of Clinical Pharmacology, University of Cape Town, Observatory 7925, Cape Town, South Africa, PAREXEL International Clinical Research Organization, Private Bag X09, Brandhof, Bloemfontein, South Africa; Van Der Westuizen, J.H., Research Development, University of the Free State, PO Box 339, Bloemfontein, South Africa; Swart, K.J., PAREXEL International Clinical Research Organization, Private Bag X09, Brandhof, Bloemfontein, South Africa, Department of Chemistry, University of the Free State, PO Box 339, Bloemfontein, South Africa; Gibhard, L., Department of Medicine, Division of Clinical Pharmacology, University of Cape Town, Observatory 7925, Cape Town, South Africa; Lawrence, N., Department of Medicine, Division of Clinical Pharmacology, University of Cape Town, Observatory 7925, Cape Town, South Africa; Dambuza, N., Department of Medicine, Division of Clinical Pharmacology, University of Cape Town, Observatory 7925, Cape Town, South Africa; Wilhelm, A., Department of Chemistry, University of the Free State, PO Box 339, Bloemfontein, South Africa; Pravin, K., Research Development, University of the Free State, PO Box 339, Bloemfontein, South Africa; Wiesner, L., Department of Medicine, Division of Clinical Pharmacology, University of Cape Town, Observatory 7925, Cape Town, South Africa | Background: Even though malaria is a completely preventable and treatable disease, it remains a threat to human life and a burden to the global economy due to the emergence of multiple-drug resistant malaria parasites. According to the World Malaria Report 2013, in 2012 there were an estimated 207 million malaria cases and 627,000 deaths. Thus, the discovery and development of new, effective anti-malarial drugs are required. To achieve this goal, the Department of Chemistry at the University of the Free State has synthesized a number of novel amino-alkylated chalcones and analogues, which showed in vitro anti-malarial activity against both chloroquine-sensitive and chloroquine-resistant Plasmodium falciparum strains. The lead compound (NP046) was selected for a comprehensive pharmacokinetic (PK) and in vivo efficacy evaluation in a mouse model. Methods: In vivo efficacy: Water solutions of NP046 were administered orally at 50 and 10 mg/kg using oral gavage and IV at 5 and 1 mg/kg via the dorsal penile vein to Plasmodium berghei (ANKA strain) infected male C57BL/6 mice (n = 5), once a day for four days. Blood samples were collected via tail bleeding in tubes containing phosphate buffer saline (PBS) on day five to determine the % parasitaemia by flow cytometry. In vivo PK: NP046 solutions in water were administered orally (50 and 10 mg/kg) and IV (5 mg/kg) to male C57BL/6 mice (n = 5). Blood samples were collected via tail bleeding into heparinized tubes and analysed using a validated LC-MS/MS assay. Data obtained from the concentration-time profile was evaluated using Summit PK software to determine the PK parameters of NP046. Results: NP046 inhibited parasite growth for the oral and IV groups. Better parasite growth inhibition was observed for the IV group. The PK evaluation of NP046 showed low oral bioavailability (3.2% and 6% at 50 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg dose, respectively and a moderate mean half-life ranging from 3.1 to 4.4 hours. Conclusion: Even though the oral bioavailability of NP046 is low, its percentage parasite growth inhibition is promising, but in order to improve the oral bioavailability, structure-activity-relationship (SAR) optimization studies are currently being conducted. © 2015 Abay et al. | Drug development; In vivo efficacy; Malaria; Pharmacokinetics | antimalarial agent; chloroquine; hydrocortisone; np 046; reserpine; unclassified drug; animal experiment; antimalarial activity; area under the curve; Article; blood sampling; controlled study; drug bioavailability; drug clearance; drug efficacy; drug penetration; flow cytometry; in vivo study; lipophilicity; liquid chromatography; male; maximum plasma concentration; mouse; nonhuman; pharmacokinetics; plasma concentration-time curve; Plasmodium berghei; Plasmodium berghei infection; tandem mass spectrometry; time to maximum plasma concentration | MRC, South African Medical Research Council |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84934959080 | Impact of rapid diagnostic tests for the diagnosis and treatment of malaria at a peripheral health facility in Western Uganda: An interrupted time series analysis | Boyce R.M., Muiru A., Reyes R., Ntaro M., Mulogo E., Matte M., Siedner M.J. | 2015 | Malaria Journal | 14 | 1 | 10.1186/s12936-015-0725-0 | Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, United States; Center for Global Health, Massachusetts General Hospital, 100 Cambridge Street #1540, Boston, United States; Department of Community Health, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 1410, Mbarara, Uganda | Boyce, R.M., Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, United States; Muiru, A., Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, United States, Center for Global Health, Massachusetts General Hospital, 100 Cambridge Street #1540, Boston, United States; Reyes, R., Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, United States; Ntaro, M., Department of Community Health, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 1410, Mbarara, Uganda; Mulogo, E., Department of Community Health, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 1410, Mbarara, Uganda; Matte, M., Department of Community Health, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 1410, Mbarara, Uganda; Siedner, M.J., Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, United States, Center for Global Health, Massachusetts General Hospital, 100 Cambridge Street #1540, Boston, United States | Background: The World Health Organization recommends that all suspected malaria cases receive a parasitological diagnosis prior to treatment with artemisinin-based combination therapy. A recent meta-analysis of clinical trials evaluating RDTs for the management of patients with fever found substantial reductions in anti-malarial prescriptions when health workers adhered to treatment protocols based on test results. However few studies have reported on the impact of RDTs on health systems outside research settings. Methods: The study comprised a retrospective interrupted time series analysis, comparing rates of malaria diagnosis, treatment, and resource utilization before and after introduction of RDTs at a peripheral health facility in rural Western Uganda. The use of malaria diagnostic tests was graphically depicted throughout the study period and fit regression models to identify correlates of three outcomes of interest: (1) length of stay (2) the proportion of patients referred to a higher-level health facility, and (3) administration of antibiotics. Results: Over the course of the study period, 14,357 individuals underwent diagnostic testing for malaria with either a RDT (9,807) or microscopy (4,550). The proportion of patients with parasite-based diagnoses more than tripled to 34 % after the introduction of RDTs. RDTs largely replaced microscopy as the diagnostic method of choice. Compared to patients admitted during the pre-RDT period, patients admitted to the health centre with malaria in the post-RDT period had significantly reduced odds of being referred to another health centre (AOR∈=∈0.49, P∈=∈0.038), receiving antibiotics (AOR∈=∈0.42, P∈<∈0.001), and a significantly shorter mean length of stay (β∈=∈-0.32 days, 95 %CI -0.52 to -0.13). Conclusions: This study is one of the few to demonstrate significant improvement in clinical outcomes and process measures following the introduction of RDTs for the diagnosis of malaria at a rural health facility in Uganda. The results show a reduction in referrals and shorter mean inpatient LOS even as antibiotics were prescribed less frequently. This change greatly increased laboratory throughput and the resultant proportion of patients receiving a parasite-based diagnosis. © 2015 Boyce et.al; licensee BioMed Central. | Antibiotics; Case management; Malaria; Outcomes; Rapid diagnostic tests | antibiotic agent; adult; Article; blood smear; child; comorbidity; diagnostic test; diarrhea; female; gastroenteritis; health care facility; hospital admission; hospital discharge; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; length of stay; major clinical study; malaria; male; microscopy; patient referral; pneumonia; rapid test; respiratory tract infection; retrospective study; rural health care; time series analysis; Uganda | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79960088553 | Fracture toughness (K1C) evaluation for dual phase medium carbon low alloy steels using circumferential notched tensile (CNT) specimens | Alaneme K.K. | 2011 | Materials Research | 14 | 2 | 10.1590/S1516-14392011005000028 | Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Federal University of Technology, PMB 704, Akure, Nigeria | Alaneme, K.K., Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Federal University of Technology, PMB 704, Akure, Nigeria | The fracture behavior of dual phase medium carbon low alloy steels produced using two different chemical compositions (A - 0.34C, 0.75Mn, 0.12Cr, 0.13Ni steel and B - 0.3C, 0.97Mn, 0.15Cr steel) was investigated using circumferential notched tensile (CNT) specimens. Intercritical treatments were performed on samples with composition A by 1) austenitizing at 860 °C for 1 hour cooling in air, then treating at 770 °C for 30 minutes before oil quenching; 2) austenitizing at 860 °C for 1 hour quenching in oil, then treating at 770 °C for 30 minutes before quenching in oil; and 3) austenitizing at 860 °C for 1 hour, super-cooling to 770 °C and then quenching in oil. Samples of composition B were subjected to intercritical treatment at temperatures of 740, 760, and 780 °C for 30 minutes, followed by quenching rapidly in oil. Tensile testing was then performed on specimens without notches and the CNT specimens. It was observed that the dual phase steel produced from procedure (2) yielded a fine distribution of ferrite and martensite which gave the best combination of tensile properties and fracture toughness for composition A while the dual phase structure produced by treating at 760 °C yielded the best combination of tensile properties and fracture toughness for composition B. The fracture toughness results evaluated from the test were found to be valid (in plain strain condition) and a high correlation between the fracture toughness and notch tensile strength was observed. The fracture toughness values were also found to be in close agreement with data available in literature. | Circumferential notched tensile specimens; Fracture toughness; Intercritical treatment; Medium carbon low alloy steel | Austenitizing; Carbon low alloy steel; Chemical compositions; Circumferential notched tensile specimens; Composition-B; Dual-phase mediums; Dual-phase steel; Fracture behavior; Fracture toughness values; Intercritical treatment; Medium carbon low alloy steel; Notch tensile strength; Oil quenching; Plain strain; Alloys; Chromium; Ferrites; Fracture; High strength steel; Manganese; Martensitic steel; Quenching; Steel metallurgy; Tensile strength; Tensile testing; Fracture toughness | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84902077570 | Child feeding knowledge and practices among women participating in growth monitoring and promotion in Accra, Ghana | Gyampoh S., Otoo G.E., Aryeetey R.N.O. | 2014 | BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth | 14 | 1 | 10.1186/1471-2393-14-180 | Department of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Ghana, Legon, P.O. Box LG 134, Accra, Ghana; School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Legon, P.O. Box LG 13, Accra, Ghana | Gyampoh, S., Department of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Ghana, Legon, P.O. Box LG 134, Accra, Ghana; Otoo, G.E., Department of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Ghana, Legon, P.O. Box LG 134, Accra, Ghana; Aryeetey, R.N.O., School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Legon, P.O. Box LG 13, Accra, Ghana | Background: Child undernutrition and poor feeding practices remain a concern in Ghana. The Growth Monitoring and Promotion (GMP) programme seeks to empower mothers to provide appropriate child care. Although the program has been implemented in Ghana for over four decades, little is known about its impact on child feeding outcomes. The current study assessed the association between GMP exposure and mothers' child feeding knowledge and practices in the Accra Metropolitan Area (AMA), Ghana.Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 199 mother-child pairs accessing child welfare services in six public health facilities in the AMA was conducted. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data on respondent characteristics and child feeding knowledge a 24-hour dietary recall tool was used to record child feeding practices. Linear regression analysis was used to determine the association between mothers' exposure to GMP and their knowledge and practices on child feeding.Results: Seventy four percent of mothers had not missed any scheduled child welfare clinic sessions. Over 60% of mothers knew the appropriate age of introduction of foods; 86% also gave correct response regarding minimum number of times their child should be fed daily. About 81% of children less than 6 months were exclusively breastfed in the preceding 24 hours, although 36% had received water since birth. Forty two percent of children 6-23 months received dietary diverse meals while 64% were fed the required number of times in a day. Overall, only 32% of children 6-23 months received a minimum acceptable diet in the preceding 24 hours. A higher GMP exposure was positively associated with feeding knowledge scores among mothers with children below 6 months (p < 0.05).Conclusion: Although most mothers were knowledgeable about recommendations, feeding practices were suboptimal, especially complementary feeding. GMP exposure was associated with feeding knowledge only among mothers with children less than 6 months. Strengthening of feeding counselling focused on children above 6 months is recommended. © 2014 Gyampoh et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | Breastfeeding; Child feeding; Child welfare clinic; Complementary feeding; Growth monitoring and promotion | adult; article; association; child; child care; child growth; child nutrition; child welfare; counseling; cross-sectional study; educational status; employment; empowerment; female; Ghana; growth monitoring and promotion; health care facility; health care personnel; health program; human; infant; knowledge; major clinical study; male; newborn; pediatric hospital; public health; structured questionnaire; attitude to health; breast feeding; child health care; diet; feeding behavior; health education; mother; questionnaire; urban population; young adult; Adult; Breast Feeding; Child Health Services; Cross-Sectional Studies; Diet; Feeding Behavior; Female; Ghana; Health Education; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Humans; Infant; Infant Care; Male; Mothers; Questionnaires; Urban Population; Young Adult | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79955420224 | Grand multiparity: Obstetric performance in Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, Nigeria | Omole-Ohonsi A., Ashimi A.O. | 2011 | Nigerian Journal of Clinical Practice | 14 | 1 | 10.4103/1119-3077.79231 | Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Bayero University, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Zaria Road, Kano, Nigeria | Omole-Ohonsi, A., Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Bayero University, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Zaria Road, Kano, Nigeria; Ashimi, A.O., Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Bayero University, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Zaria Road, Kano, Nigeria | Objective: The objective was to review the obstetric performance of booked grand multiparae. Design and Setting: A 5-year prospective observational study of cases between January 1, 2002, and December 31, 2006, was conducted in Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, a tertiary institution, in Kano, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: The antenatal complications and pregnancy outcomes among booked grand mulltparous women (pregnancy after fifth delivery), who delivered in our labor ward, were compared with those of the booked mulitparae (parae 1-4) who delivered immediately after a grand multipara. Outcome Measures: These were obstetric factors of maternal age and parity, antepartum hemorrhage, fetal representations, and multiple pregnancy. Medical complications were gestational diabetes, hypertension, anemia, and heart disease. Pregnancy outcomes measured were gestational age at delivery, birth weight, mode of delivery, postpartum hemorrhage, and maternal and perinatal mortality. Results: The age range of the grand multiparae was between 22 and 43 years, with a mean age of 29.72 + 2.07 years. The parity range was between 5 and 15, with a mean parity of 7.78 + 0.63. There was increased occurrence of gestational diabetes mellitus (OR = 12.55, Cl = 6.72-23.91), hypertension (OR = 3.07, Cl =2.07-4.59), heart disease (OR = 2.01, Cl = 0.70-6.08), anemia (OR = 3.16, Cl = 1.42-7.24), antepartum hemorrhage (OR = 2.18, Cl = 1.22-3.92), fetal malpresentatlons (OR = 3.04, Cl = 2.38-3.88), cephalopelvic disproportion (OR = 2.09, Cl = 1.33-3.29), and fetal macrosomia (OR = 2.27, Cl = 1.72-3.00) among the grand multiparae compared with multiparae. Conclusion: The effects of these complications were minimized by good antenatal care. | Grand multiparity; Kano; Nigeria; Obstetric performance | adult; article; comparative study; delivery; female; health service; human; maternal age; newborn; Nigeria; parity; pregnancy; pregnancy complication; pregnancy outcome; prenatal care; prevalence; prospective study; socioeconomics; standard; teaching hospital; Adult; Delivery, Obstetric; Female; Hospitals, Teaching; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Maternal Age; Maternal Health Services; Nigeria; Parity; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications; Pregnancy Outcome; Prenatal Care; Prevalence; Prospective Studies; Socioeconomic Factors; Young Adult | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84892377812 | Original article: Impact of antiretroviral therapy on pregnancy outcomes | Aniji C.D., Towobola O.A., Hoque M.E., Mashamba T.J., Monokoane S. | 2013 | Southern African Journal of HIV Medicine | 14 | 4 | 10.7196/SAJHIVMED.834 | Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Limpopo, Medunsa Campus, Pretoria, South Africa; Graduate School of Business and Leadership, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville Campus, Durban, South Africa | Aniji, C.D., Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Limpopo, Medunsa Campus, Pretoria, South Africa; Towobola, O.A., Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Limpopo, Medunsa Campus, Pretoria, South Africa; Hoque, M.E., Graduate School of Business and Leadership, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville Campus, Durban, South Africa; Mashamba, T.J., Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Limpopo, Medunsa Campus, Pretoria, South Africa; Monokoane, S., Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Limpopo, Medunsa Campus, Pretoria, South Africa | Background. The majority of HIV-positive women in South Africa are of reproductive age, and pregnancies among women using antiretroviral therapy (ART) are common. However, there are mixed data regarding the impact of ART on pregnancy outcomes. Objective. To examine the impact of ART on pregnancy outcome according to the timing of initiation of treatment. Methods. A retrospective cohort study was conducted among women delivering at a tertiary hospital from 1 October 2008 to 31 March 2009. Results. A total of 245 mothers were receiving ART: 76 mothers (31%) started ART pre-conception and 169 mothers (69%) started ART after the first trimester. No significant differences were observed in the rates of preterm delivery and low birth weight (LBW) between the pre- and post-conception groups (21% v. 24% and 21% v. 25%, respectively). Conclusion. In this cohort of women receiving ART in pregnancy, timing of ART initiation did not have any adverse effect on the measured pregnancy outcomes such as preterm delivery and LBW. © S Afr J HIV Med 2013. | None | article; cohort analysis; conception; female; highly active antiretroviral therapy; human; low birth weight; major clinical study; pregnancy; pregnancy outcome; premature labor; retrospective study | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84874401223 | Impact of plasmodium falciparum and hookworm infections on the frequency of anaemia in pregnant women of rural communities in Enugu, South East Nigeria | Agu P.U., Ogboi J.S., Akpoigbe K., Okeke T., Ezugwu E. | 2013 | Pan African Medical Journal | 14 | None | 10.11604/pamj.2013.14.27.1925 | Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu, Nigeria; University of Camerino, Department of Experimental Medicine and Public Health (Malaria and Human Development), 62032 Camerino (MC), Italy; Soc | Agu, P.U., Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu, Nigeria; Ogboi, J.S., University of Camerino, Department of Experimental Medicine and Public Health (Malaria and Human Development), 62032 Camerino (MC), Italy; Akpoigbe, K., Society for Family Health, Garki Abuja, Nigeria; Okeke, T., Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu, Nigeria; Ezugwu, E., Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu, Nigeria | Introduction: Malaria and hookworm infections are common in sub-Saharan Africa and they increase the prevalence of anaemia in pregnancy with resultant poor pregnancy outcomes. This study was carried out to assess the impact of Plasmodium falciparum and hookworm infections on the frequency of anaemia among pregnant women in two rural communities in Enugu, South East Nigeria. Methods: A cross sectional descriptive study was carried out in a total of 226 women attending antenatal clinics at two rural Primary Health Centres (PHC) from April 2011 to July 2011(each PHC with 113 subjects). Socio-demographic data were collected through a structured questionnaire. Blood and stool samples were evaluated for haemoglobin estimation and malaria parasites, and stool samples examined for parasitic infection in all the women. Data was analyzed using STATA 10 software statistical analysis package. Student t-test was used for comparing mean values and chi square test for comparing categorical variables and level of significance set at p<0.05 and logistic regression was used to identify the risk factors associated with malaria in pregnancy Results: The mean age of the women was 27years with range 18 - 38years and SD of 5years. Most of the women were housewives and over 50% in their second trimester. 53% of them had malaria parasites while 27% had hookworm infection. About 40% of the women were anaemic (haemoglobin <10g/dl). There was a significant difference in mean haemoglobin (0.84g/dl) between those with malaria and without malaria (p < 0.001). Similar association was found between hookworm infection and anaemia (p <0.001). Though both malaria and hookworm infections greatly increase the odds for anaemia (AOR 18.06, CI 18.15 -39.99, P<0.001) and (AOR 5.28, CI 2.26 -12.38, P<0.001) respectively, the odds for having anaemia in pregnancy was higher for malaria than hookworm infections. Conclusion: Plasmodium falciparum and hookworm infections have significant impact on the high frequency of anaemia in pregnancy in our rural communities. There is need to strengthen the control program that has been in place with an integrated intervention to combat these parasitic infections in our rural communities, with mass distribution of antihelminthics as one of the included relevant methods, among others. © Polycarp Uche Agu et al. | Enugu; Hookworm; Malaria; Nigeria; Parasites | hemoglobin; adult; anemia; article; blood sampling; cross-sectional study; descriptive research; disease association; feces analysis; female; health center; hemoglobin blood level; hookworm infection; human; major clinical study; malaria falciparum; Nigeria; Plasmodium falciparum; pregnant woman; prevalence; risk factor; rural area; second trimester pregnancy; social aspect; structured questionnaire | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84897618941 | Factors influencing performance of health workers in the management of seriously sick children at a Kenyan tertiary hospital - Participatory action research | Irimu G.W., Greene A., Gathara D., Kihara H., Maina C., Mbori-Ngacha D., Zurovac D., Migiro S., English M. | 2014 | BMC Health Services Research | 14 | None | 10.1186/1472-6963-14-59 | Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, College of Health Sciences, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 19676-00202, Nairobi, Kenya; Centre for Geographic Medicine Research-Coast, KEMRI/Wellcome Trust Research Programme, P.O. Box 230 Kilifi, Nairobi, Kenya; Child Health, University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom; Kenyatta National Hospital, P.O. Box 20723-00202, Nairobi, Kenya; Centre for Tropical Medicine, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, CCVTM, Oxford OX3 7LJ, United Kingdom; Center for Global Health and Development, Boston University, Boston, MA 02118, United States; Division of Child Health, Ministry of Health, Nairobi, Kenya; Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom | Irimu, G.W., Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, College of Health Sciences, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 19676-00202, Nairobi, Kenya, Centre for Geographic Medicine Research-Coast, KEMRI/Wellcome Trust Research Programme, P.O. Box 230 Kilifi, Nairobi, Kenya; Greene, A., Child Health, University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom; Gathara, D., Centre for Geographic Medicine Research-Coast, KEMRI/Wellcome Trust Research Programme, P.O. Box 230 Kilifi, Nairobi, Kenya; Kihara, H., Kenyatta National Hospital, P.O. Box 20723-00202, Nairobi, Kenya; Maina, C., Kenyatta National Hospital, P.O. Box 20723-00202, Nairobi, Kenya; Mbori-Ngacha, D., Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, College of Health Sciences, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 19676-00202, Nairobi, Kenya; Zurovac, D., Centre for Geographic Medicine Research-Coast, KEMRI/Wellcome Trust Research Programme, P.O. Box 230 Kilifi, Nairobi, Kenya, Centre for Tropical Medicine, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, CCVTM, Oxford OX3 7LJ, United Kingdom, Center for Global Health and Development, Boston University, Boston, MA 02118, United States; Migiro, S., Division of Child Health, Ministry of Health, Nairobi, Kenya; English, M., Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, College of Health Sciences, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 19676-00202, Nairobi, Kenya, Centre for Geographic Medicine Research-Coast, KEMRI/Wellcome Trust Research Programme, P.O. Box 230 Kilifi, Nairobi, Kenya, Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom | Background: Implementation of World Health Organization case management guidelines for serious childhood illnesses remains a challenge in hospitals in low-income countries. Facilitators of and barriers to implementation of locally adapted clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) have not been explored. Methods. This ethnographic study based on the theory of participatory action research (PAR) was conducted in Kenyatta National Hospital, Kenya's largest teaching hospital. The primary intervention consisted of dissemination of locally adapted CPGs. The PRECEDE-PROCEED health education model was used as the conceptual framework to guide and examine further reinforcement activities to improve the uptake of the CPGs. Activities focussed on introduction of routine clinical audits and tailored educational sessions. Data were collected by a participant observer who also facilitated the PAR over an eighteen-month period. Naturalistic inquiry was utilized to obtain information from all hospital staff encountered while theoretical sampling allowed in-depth exploration of emerging issues. Data were analysed using interpretive description. Results: Relevance of the CPGs to routine work and emergence of a champion of change facilitated uptake of best-practices. Mobilization of basic resources was relatively easily undertaken while activities that required real intellectual and professional engagement of the senior staff were a challenge. Accomplishments of the PAR were largely with the passive rather than active involvement of the hospital management. Barriers to implementation of best-practices included i) mismatch between the hospital's vision and reality, ii) poor communication, iii) lack of objective mechanisms for monitoring and evaluating quality of clinical care, iv) limited capacity for planning strategic change, v) limited management skills to introduce and manage change, vi) hierarchical relationships, and vii) inadequate adaptation of the interventions to the local context. Conclusions: Educational interventions, often regarded as 'quick-fixes' to improve care in low-income countries, may be necessary but are unlikely to be sufficient to deliver improved services. We propose that an understanding of organizational issues that influence the behaviour of individual health professionals should guide and inform the implementation of best-practices. © 2014 Irimu et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | Clinical audits; Clinical practice guidelines; Continuous medical educational sessions; ETAT+; Ethnographic study; Implementation of best-practices; Interpretive description; Participant observer; Participatory action research; Performance of health worke | child; epidemiology; health care quality; health services research; hospital personnel; human; interpersonal communication; Kenya; medical audit; organization and management; practice guideline; practice guideline; procedures; standards; tertiary care center; Child; Communication; Guideline Adherence; Health Services Research; Humans; Kenya; Medical Audit; Personnel, Hospital; Practice Guidelines as Topic; Quality of Health Care; Tertiary Care Centers | 084538, Wellcome Trust; 097170, Wellcome Trust; CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77954710537 | The impact of the method of consent on response rates in the ISAAC time trends study | Ellwood P., Asher M.I., Stewart A.W., Aït-Khaled N., Anderson H.R., Beasley R., Björkstén B., Brunekreef B., Crane J., Flohr C., Foliaki S., Forastiere F., García-Marcos L., Keil U., Lai C.K.W., Mallol J., Mitchell E.A., Montefort S., Odhiambo J., Pearce | 2010 | International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease | 14 | 8 | None | Department of Paediatrics, Child and Youth Health, The University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142, New Zealand; School of Population Health, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand; International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Paris, France; Division of Community Health Sciences, St Georges, University of London, London, United Kingdom; Medical Research Institute of New Zealand, Wellington, New Zealand; Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Institute of Risk Assessment Sciences, Universiteit Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands; Wellington Asthma Research Group, Wellington School of Medicine, Wellington, New Zealand; St John's Institute of Dermatology, St Thomas' Hospital, London, United Kingdom; Centre for Public Health Research, Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand; Department of Epidemiology, Rome E Health Authority, Rome, Italy; Instituto de Salud Respiratoria, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain; Institut für Epidemiologie und Sozialmedizin, Universität Münster, Münster, Germany; Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Department of Respiratory Medicine, University of Santiago de Chile, Santiago, Chile; Department of Paediatrics: Child and Youth Health, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand; Department of Medicine, University of Malta, Malta; Centre Respiratory Diseases Research Unit, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya; Centre for Public Health Research, Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand; Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia; Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Population Health, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand; Dr von Haunerschen Kinderklinik, Universität München, Munich, Germany; Institute of Epidemiology, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany; Centre for Evidence Based Dermatology, Queen's Medical Centre, University Hospital, Nottingham, United Kingdom; Department of Paediatrics, Prince of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong; Department of Paediatrics: Child and Youth Health, The University of Auckland, New Zealand | Ellwood, P., Department of Paediatrics, Child and Youth Health, The University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142, New Zealand; Asher, M.I., Department of Paediatrics, Child and Youth Health, The University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142, New Zealand; Stewart, A.W., School of Population Health, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Population Health, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand; Aït-Khaled, N., International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Paris, France; Anderson, H.R., Division of Community Health Sciences, St Georges, University of London, London, United Kingdom, ; Beasley, R., Medical Research Institute of New Zealand, Wellington, New Zealand; Björkstén, B., Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Brunekreef, B., Institute of Risk Assessment Sciences, Universiteit Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands; Crane, J., Wellington Asthma Research Group, Wellington School of Medicine, Wellington, New Zealand; Flohr, C., St John's Institute of Dermatology, St Thomas' Hospital, London, United Kingdom; Foliaki, S., Centre for Public Health Research, Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand; Forastiere, F., Department of Epidemiology, Rome E Health Authority, Rome, Italy; García-Marcos, L., Instituto de Salud Respiratoria, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain, ; Keil, U., Institut für Epidemiologie und Sozialmedizin, Universität Münster, Münster, Germany; Lai, C.K.W., Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Mallol, J., Department of Respiratory Medicine, University of Santiago de Chile, Santiago, Chile; Mitchell, E.A., Department of Paediatrics: Child and Youth Health, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand; Montefort, S., Department of Medicine, University of Malta, Malta; Odhiambo, J., Centre Respiratory Diseases Research Unit, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya; Pearce, N., Centre for Public Health Research, Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand; Robertson, C.F., Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia; Strachan, D., Division of Community Health Sciences, St Georges, University of London, London, United Kingdom, ; von Mutius, E., Dr von Haunerschen Kinderklinik, Universität München, Munich, Germany; Weiland, S.K., Institute of Epidemiology, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany; Weinmayr, G., Institute of Epidemiology, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany; Williams, H., Centre for Evidence Based Dermatology, Queen's Medical Centre, University Hospital, Nottingham, United Kingdom; Wong, G., Department of Paediatrics, Prince of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong; Clayton, T.O., Department of Paediatrics: Child and Youth Health, The University of Auckland, New Zealand; Benhabylès, B.; Esamai, F.O.; Ng'ang'a, L.; Bouayad, Z.; Onadeko, B.O.; Zar, H.J.; Jerray, M.; Chen, Y.Z.; Zhong, N.-S.; Lau, Y.L.; Kartasasmita, C.B.; Odajima, H.; Teh, K.H.; de Bruyne, J.; Quah, B.S.; Cua-Lim, F.; Goh, D.Y.T.; Lee, H.-B.; Huang, J.-L.; Vichyanond, P.; Trakultivakom, M.; Masjedi, M.-R.; al-Momen, J.A.; Mahmood, N.; Al-Rawas, O.; Khatav, V.A.; Kumar, L.; Setty, G.; Jain, K.C.; Sukumaran, T.U.; Joshi, M.K.; Pherwani, A.V.; Sharma, S.K.; Hanumante, N.M.; Guimaraes, I.M.E.; Baena-Cagnani, C.E.; Rosário, N.; Fischer, G.B.; de Britto, M.; de Freitas Souza, L.; Solé, D.; Amarales, L.; Aguilar, P.; Calvo, M.A.; Soto-Quirós, M.E.; Romieu, I.; Cukier, G.; Guggiari-Chase, J.A.; Chiarella, P.; Holgado, D.; Howitt, M.E.; Sears, M.; Rennie, D.; Yeatts, K.; Redding, G.J.; Priftanji, A.; Riikjärv, M.-A.; Pekkanen, J.; Gotua, M.; Svabe, V.; Kudzyte, J.; Lis, G.; Breborowicz, A.; Deleanu, D.; Kondiourina, E.G.; Vogt, H.; Ognev, V.; Marks, G.; Moyes, C.; Pattemore, P.; Mackay, R.; Haidinger, G.; Weyler, J.; Standring, P.; Goulding, R.; Steriu, A.; Bonci, E.; Galassi, C.; Petronio, M.G.; Chellini, E.; Bisanti, L.; Sestini, P.; Ciccone, G.; Piffer, S.; Camâra, R.; Rosado Pinto, J.E.; Nunes, C.; dos Santos, J.M.L.; Clancy, L.; Busquets, R.M.; González Díaz, C.; Arnedo-Pena, A.; Garcia Hernández, G.; Guillén-Grima, F.; Morales-Suarez-Varela, M.M.; Blanco Quirós, A.; Thames, N.; Austin, J.B.; Shamssain, M.H.; Strachan, D.; Burr, M.; Shah, J.; Baratawidjaja, K.; Nishima, S.; Baeza-Bacab, M.; Manning, P.; Khaitov, R.M.; Lee, B.; Nilsson, L. | BACKGROUND: Centres in Phases I and III of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) programme used the method of consent (passive or active) required by local ethics committees. METHODS: Retrospectively, relationships between achieved response rates and method of consent for 13-14 and 6-7-year-olds (adolescents and children, respectively), were examined between phases and between English and non-English language centres. RESULTS: Information was obtained for 113 of 115 centres for adolescents and 72/72 centres for children. Both age groups: most centres using passive consent achieved high response rates (>80% adolescents and >70% children). English language centres using active consent showed a larger decrease in response rate. Adolescents: seven centres changed from passive consent in Phase I to active consent in Phase III (median decrease of 13%), with five centres showing lower response rates (as low as 34%). Children: no centre changed consent method between phases. Centres using active consent had lower median response rates (lowest response rate 45%). CONCLUSION: The requirement for active consent for population school-based questionnaire studies can impact negatively on response rates, particularly English language centres, thus adversely affecting the validity of the data. Ethics committees need to consider this issue carefully. © 2010 The Union. | Asthma; Children; Consent; Epidemiology; ISAAC | adolescent; article; child; human; informed consent; parental consent; priority journal; professional standard; questionnaire; retrospective study; asthma; clinical trial; comparative study; controlled study; cross-sectional study; female; health; health survey; hypersensitivity; informed consent; male; multicenter study; phase 1 clinical trial; phase 3 clinical trial; prevalence; randomized controlled trial; time; trends; Adolescent; Asthma; Child; Consent Forms; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Global Health; Health Surveys; Humans; Hypersensitivity; Male; Prevalence; Time Factors | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84864958013 | The effect of particle sizes on the performance of filler: A case study of rice husk and wood flour | Omofuma F.E., Adeniye S.A., Adeleke A.E. | 2011 | World Applied Sciences Journal | 14 | 9 | None | Department of Petroleum Engineering, General Abdulsalmi A. Abubakar, College of Engineering, Igbinedion University Okada, Nigeria; Department of Chemical Sciences, College of Natural and Applied Sciences, Igbinedion University Okada, Nigeria | Omofuma, F.E., Department of Petroleum Engineering, General Abdulsalmi A. Abubakar, College of Engineering, Igbinedion University Okada, Nigeria; Adeniye, S.A., Department of Chemical Sciences, College of Natural and Applied Sciences, Igbinedion University Okada, Nigeria; Adeleke, A.E., Department of Chemical Sciences, College of Natural and Applied Sciences, Igbinedion University Okada, Nigeria | The essence of this research paper is to gauge the effect of particle size and particle size distribution of filler on rubber compounds. It also involves the comparison of the level of reinforcement and gauge the possibility of utilizing the low cost locally sourced filler [(rice husk and wood flour) with a commercial filler calcium carbonate (CaCO 3)] as an alternative material in rubber compounding. Thus, the use of rice husk and wood flour as filler will in no doubt promote self employment among the teaming unemployed youths thereby reducing poverty and creating wealth for the people. Test like moisture content, pH, ash content, hardness resistance, abrasion resistance, compression set and flex fatigue were subsequently carried out on the vulcanizate. These properties were compared with that of CaCO 3 filled vulcanizate. The result reveals that at 212um, rice husk has hardness resistance of 50 (IRHD) and flex resistance 8690rpm and wood flour has better hardness resistance of 57 (IRHD), flex fatigue resistance of 10955rpm (yet to fail) and abrasion resistance of 21.0122%. © IDOSI Publications, 2011. | Compounding; Curing; Filler; Rice husk; Vulcanizate; Wood flour | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84942249582 | Variable piperaquine exposure significantly impacts protective efficacy of monthly dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine for the prevention of malaria in Ugandan children | Sundell K., Jagannathan P., Huang L., Bigira V., Kapisi J., Kakuru M.M., Savic R., Kamya M.R., Dorsey G., Aweeka F. | 2015 | Malaria Journal | 14 | 1 | 10.1186/s12936-015-0908-8 | Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden; Department of Medicine, San Francisco General Hospital, University of California, San Francisco, United States; Department of Clinical Pharmacy, University of California, San Francisco, United States; Infectious Diseases Research CollaborationKampala, Uganda; Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutics, University of California, San Francisco, United States; Department of Medicine, Makerere University, College of Health SciencesKampala, Uganda | Sundell, K., Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden; Jagannathan, P., Department of Medicine, San Francisco General Hospital, University of California, San Francisco, United States; Huang, L., Department of Clinical Pharmacy, University of California, San Francisco, United States; Bigira, V., Infectious Diseases Research CollaborationKampala, Uganda; Kapisi, J., Infectious Diseases Research CollaborationKampala, Uganda; Kakuru, M.M., Infectious Diseases Research CollaborationKampala, Uganda; Savic, R., Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutics, University of California, San Francisco, United States; Kamya, M.R., Department of Medicine, Makerere University, College of Health SciencesKampala, Uganda; Dorsey, G., Department of Medicine, San Francisco General Hospital, University of California, San Francisco, United States; Aweeka, F., Department of Clinical Pharmacy, University of California, San Francisco, United States | Background: Anti-malarial chemoprevention with dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine (DHA/PQ) is a promising tool for malaria control, but its efficacy in children may be limited by inadequate drug exposure. Methods: Children were enrolled in a non directly-observed trial of DHA/PQ chemoprevention in a high transmission setting in Uganda. Children were randomized at 6 months of age to no chemoprevention (n = 89) or monthly DHA/PQ (n = 87) and followed through 24 months of age, with pharmacokinetic sampling performed at variable times following monthly dosing of DHA/PQ. A previously published pharmacokinetic model was used to estimate piperaquine (PQ) exposure in each child, and associations between PQ exposure and the protective efficacy (PE) of DHA/PQ were explored. Results: The incidence of malaria was 6.83 and 3.09 episodes per person year at risk in the no chemoprevention and DHA/PQ arms, respectively (PE 54 %, 95 % CI 39-66 %, P < 0.001). Among children randomized to DHA/PQ, 493 pharmacokinetic samples were collected. Despite nearly 100 % reported adherence to study drug administration at home, there was wide variability in PQ exposure, and children were stratified into three groups based on average PQ exposure during the intervention that was determined by model generated percentiles (low, n = 40; medium, n = 37, and high, n = 10). Gender and socioeconomic factors were not significantly associated with PQ exposure. In multivariate models, the PE of DHA/PQ was 31 % in the low PQ exposure group (95 % CI 6-49 %, P = 0.02), 67 % in the medium PQ exposure group (95 % CI 54-76 %, P < 0.001), and 97 % in the high PQ exposure group (95 % CI 89-99 %, P < 0.001). Conclusions: The protective efficacy of DHA/PQ chemoprevention in young children was strongly associated with higher drug exposure; in children with the highest PQ exposure, monthly DHA/PQ chemoprevention was nearly 100 % protective against malaria. Strategies to ensure good adherence to monthly dosing and optimize drug exposure are critical to maximize the efficacy of this promising malaria control strategy. Trial Registration: Current Controlled Trials Identifier NCT00948896 © 2015 Sundell et al. | Chemoprevention; Dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine; Malaria; Pharmacokinetics; Plasmodium falciparum | dihydroartemisinin plus piperaquine; area under the curve; Article; child; controlled study; drug efficacy; drug half life; female; human; infection prevention; malaria; male; medication compliance; oral clearance; patient compliance; randomized controlled trial (topic); socioeconomics; Ugandan; volume of distribution | 5R01HD068174-05, NICHD, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development; 5R01HD068174-05, NIH, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development; K23 AI100949, NIAID, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development; K23 AI100949, |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84962079229 | The comparison of in vitro release methods for the evaluation of oxytocin release from pluronic® F127 parenteral formulations | Chaibva F.A., Walker R.B. | 2007 | Dissolution Technologies | 14 | 4 | 10.14227/DT140407P15 | Department of Pharmaceutics, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa | Chaibva, F.A., Department of Pharmaceutics, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa; Walker, R.B., Department of Pharmaceutics, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa | The objective of these studies was to develop a discriminatory in vitro release test for assessing formulation factors that may affect oxytocin (OT) release during formulation development studies of a Pluronic® F127 OT in situ gel-forming parenteral dosage form. An appropriate release assessment method should be able to discriminate between the performance of different formulation compositions (1, 2), and this was the primary criterion used for selection of an appropriate test procedure during the test method development process. ANOVA and the difference (f1) and similarity (f2) factors were used to evaluate the discriminatory behavior of different test methods that were investigated in these studies. The in vitro release tests that were investigated included the use of USP Apparatus 1, 2, and 3; a dialysis bag in USP Apparatus 2; and a membrane-less diffusion method. It was concluded that the use of USP Apparatus 3 was best able to discriminate between OT release for the different formulations tested. USP Apparatus 3 was thus considered the most suitable in vitro release test apparatus for studying formulation factors affecting OT release during the development of a parenteral dosage form prepared using Pluronic® F127. © 2007, Dissolution Technologies Inc. All rights reserved. | None | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-78649598616 | Evaluation of the anti-inflammatory activity of extract of Abrus precatorious | Georgewill O.A., Georgewill U.O. | 2009 | Eastern Journal of Medicine | 14 | 1 | None | Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Port Harcourt, Choba, Nigeria | Georgewill, O.A., Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Port Harcourt, Choba, Nigeria; Georgewill, U.O., Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Port Harcourt, Choba, Nigeria | The anti-inflammatory activity of the extract of Abrus precatorius was investigated. Inflammatory response was induced by topical application of croton oil dissolved in suitable vehicle on the rat ear. After 6 hrs, cutting out the ear quantitated the response. The cut ear is weighed and the increase in weight relative to controls evaluated. Extract of A. precatorius when co applied with croton oil to the rat ear produced a reduction in the inflammatory response produced when croton oil alone was applied to the rat ear. The extract produced 67.10 + 2% reduction of the inflammatory response produced by croton oil alone, this was however lower than the 71.1 + 2% reduction of the inflammatory response produced by acetyl salicylic acid. This finding suggests that extract of A. precatorius exhibits anti-inflammatory activity and may explain the usefulness of the leaves of this plant in the treatment of inflammatory disease conditions by traditional healers. | Abrus precatorius; Acetyl salicylic acid; Croton oil; Inflammatory response | Abrus precatorius extract; acetylsalicylic acid; croton oil; animal experiment; animal model; animal tissue; antiinflammatory activity; article; controlled study; drug effect; drug screening; female; male; nonhuman; organ weight; otitis; plant leaf; quantitative analysis; rat | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-78649574777 | Evaluation of anti-inflammatory activity of extract of Vernonia amygdalina | Georgewill U.O., Georgewill O.A. | 2009 | Eastern Journal of Medicine | 14 | 1 | None | Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Port Harcourt, Choba, Nigeria | Georgewill, U.O., Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Port Harcourt, Choba, Nigeria; Georgewill, O.A., Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Port Harcourt, Choba, Nigeria | The anti-inflammatory activity of the extract of Vernonia amygdalina was investigated. Inflammatory response was induced by topical application of croton oil dissolved in suitable vehicle on the rat ear. After 6 hrs, cutting out the ear quantitated the response. The cut ear is weighed and the increase in weight relative to controls evaluated. Extract of V.amygdalina when co-applied with croton oil to the rat ear produced a reduction in the inflammatory response produced when croton oil alone was applied to the rat ear. The extract produced 67.10 + 2% reduction of the inflammatory response produced by croton oil alone, this was however lower than the 71.1 + 2% reduction of the inflammatory response produced by acetyl salicylic acid. This finding suggests that extract of V. amygdalina exhibits anti-inflammatory activity and may explain the usefulness of the leaves of this plant in the treatment of inflammatory disease conditions by traditional healers. | Acetyl salicylic acid; Croton oil; Inflammatory response; Vernonia amygdali | acetylsalicylic acid; croton oil; Vernonia amygdalina extract; animal experiment; animal model; animal tissue; antiinflammatory activity; article; controlled study; drug screening; female; male; nonhuman; organ weight; otitis; plant leaf; quantitative analysis; rat | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84896065245 | Evaluation of haematological, hepatic and renal functions of petroleum tanker drivers in Lagos, Nigeria | Awodele O., Sulayman A.A., Akintonwa A. | 2014 | African Health Sciences | 14 | 1 | None | Department of Pharmacology, Therapeutics and Toxicology, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, PMB 12003, Lagos, Nigeria | Awodele, O., Department of Pharmacology, Therapeutics and Toxicology, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, PMB 12003, Lagos, Nigeria; Sulayman, A.A., Department of Pharmacology, Therapeutics and Toxicology, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, PMB 12003, Lagos, Nigeria; Akintonwa, A., Department of Pharmacology, Therapeutics and Toxicology, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, PMB 12003, Lagos, Nigeria | Background: Hydrocarbons which are among the major components of petroleum products are considered toxic and have been implicated in a number of human diseases. Tanker drivers are continuously exposed to hydrocarbons by inhalation and most of these drivers do not use protective devices to prevent inhalation of petroleum products; nor do they visit hospital regularly for routine check-up. Objective: In view of this occupational hazard, we investigated the haematological, renal and hepatic functions of workers of petroleum tankers drivers in Lagos, Nigeria. Method: Twenty-five tanker drivers' and fifteen control subjects were randomly selected based on the selection criteria of not smoking and working for minimum of 5 years as petroleum tanker driver. The liver, renal and haematological parameters were analyzed using automated clinical and haematological analyzers while the lipid peroxidation and antioxidant level tests were assayed using standard methods. Results: There were significant (p ≤ 0.05) increases in the levels of serum alanine amino transferase (31.14±13.72; 22.38±9.89), albumin (42.50±4.69; 45.36±1.74) and alkaline phosphatase (84.04±21.89; 62.04±23.33) of petroleum tanker drivers compared with the controls. A significant (p≤0.05) increase in the levels of creatinine, urea and white blood cells of the tanker drivers, compared with the controls, were also obtained. Conclusion: The results have enormous health implications of continuous exposure to petroleum products reflected hepatic and renal damage of petroleum tanker drivers. Therefore, there is need for this group of workers to be sensitized on the importance of protective devises, regular medical checkup and management. Conflict of Interest: The authors have no conflict of interest to declare. | Hydrocarbons; Liver functions; Oxidative stress; Petroleum tanker drivers; Renal | alanine aminotransferase; albumin; alkaline phosphatase; creatinine; petroleum; urea; adult; alanine aminotransferase blood level; albumin blood level; alkaline phosphatase blood level; article; autoanalyzer; controlled study; driver; eye infection; health status; hematological parameters; hematology analyzer; human; kidney function; kidney injury; leukocyte; lipid peroxidation; liver function; liver injury; major clinical study; Nigeria; occupational exposure; occupational hazard; ocular pruritus; rash; skin infection; thorax pain | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84893649409 | Evaluation of the impacts of formulation variables and excipients on the Drug release dynamics of a polyamide 6,10-based monolithic matrix using mathematical tools | Adeleke O.A., Choonara Y.E., Kumar P., Du Toit L.C., Tomar L.K., Tyagi C., Pillay V. | 2013 | AAPS PharmSciTech | 14 | 4 | 10.1208/s12249-013-0021-7 | Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, 7 York Road, Parktown 2193, Johannesburg, South Africa | Adeleke, O.A., Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, 7 York Road, Parktown 2193, Johannesburg, South Africa; Choonara, Y.E., Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, 7 York Road, Parktown 2193, Johannesburg, South Africa; Kumar, P., Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, 7 York Road, Parktown 2193, Johannesburg, South Africa; Du Toit, L.C., Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, 7 York Road, Parktown 2193, Johannesburg, South Africa; Tomar, L.K., Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, 7 York Road, Parktown 2193, Johannesburg, South Africa; Tyagi, C., Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, 7 York Road, Parktown 2193, Johannesburg, South Africa; Pillay, V., Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, 7 York Road, Parktown 2193, Johannesburg, South Africa | Drug release from hydrophilic matrices is regulated mainly by polymeric erosion, disentanglement, dissolution, swelling front movement, drug dissolution and diffusion through the polymeric matrix. These processes depend upon the interaction between the dissolution media, polymeric matrix and drug molecules, which can be significantly influenced by formulation variables and excipients. This study utilized mathematical parameters to evaluate the impacts of selected formulation variables and various excipients on the release performance of hydrophilic polyamide 6,10 (PA 6,10) monolithic matrix. Amitriptyline HCl and theophylline were employed as the high and low solubility model drugs, respectively. The incorporation of different excipient concentrations and changes in formulation components influenced the drug release dynamics as evidenced by computed mathematical quantities (tx%,MDT x%,f1, f2, k1, k2, and kF). The effects of excipients on drug release from the PA 6,10 monolithic matrix was further elucidated using static lattice atomistic simulations wherein the component energy refinements corroborates the in vitro and in silico experimental data. Consequently, the feasibility of modulating release kinetics of drug molecules from the novel PA 6,10 monolithic matrix was well suggested. © 2013 American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists. | Excipients; Formulation variables; Mathematical tools; Monolithic matrix; Polyamide 6 10 | aluminum sulfate; amitriptyline; electrolyte; excipient; magnesium sulfate; polyamide; potassium sulfate; theophylline; article; drug concentration; drug delivery system; drug diffusion; drug formulation; drug release; drug solubility; hydrogen bond; hydrophilicity; hydrophobicity; mathematical parameters; monolithic matrix; particle size; priority journal; static electricity; tablet matrix; Amitriptyline; Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic; Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; Electrolytes; Excipients; Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; Kinetics; Models, Molecular; Models, Statistical; Nylons; Particle Size; Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors; Solubility; Theophylline | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84929942930 | Well-aligned graphene oxide nanosheets decorated with zinc oxide nanocrystals for high performance photocatalytic application | Kaviyarasu K., Magdalane C.M., Manikandan E., Jayachandran M., Ladchumananandasivam R., Neelamani S., Maaza M. | 2015 | International Journal of Nanoscience | 14 | 3 | 10.1142/S0219581X15500076 | Department of Physics, Sri Sankara Arts and Science College, Enathur, Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu, India; Nanosciences/Nanotechnology Laboratories, Materials Research Department and Nanoscience Laboratories, IThemba LABS-National Research Foundation of South Africa, South Africa; Department of Chemistry, St. Xavier's College (Autonomous), Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, India; Electrochemical Materials Science Division, CSIR-Central Electrochemical Research Institute, Karaikudi, Tamilnadu, India; Department of Textile Engineering and Post Graduate Programme in Mechanical Engineering, Centre of Technology, Federal University of the State of Rio Grande Do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil; Coastal Management Program, Environment and Life Sciences Research Centre, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, P. O. Box 24885, Safat, Kuwait | Kaviyarasu, K., Department of Physics, Sri Sankara Arts and Science College, Enathur, Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu, India, Nanosciences/Nanotechnology Laboratories, Materials Research Department and Nanoscience Laboratories, IThemba LABS-National Research Foundation of South Africa, South Africa; Magdalane, C.M., Department of Chemistry, St. Xavier's College (Autonomous), Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, India; Manikandan, E., Nanosciences/Nanotechnology Laboratories, Materials Research Department and Nanoscience Laboratories, IThemba LABS-National Research Foundation of South Africa, South Africa; Jayachandran, M., Electrochemical Materials Science Division, CSIR-Central Electrochemical Research Institute, Karaikudi, Tamilnadu, India; Ladchumananandasivam, R., Department of Textile Engineering and Post Graduate Programme in Mechanical Engineering, Centre of Technology, Federal University of the State of Rio Grande Do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil; Neelamani, S., Coastal Management Program, Environment and Life Sciences Research Centre, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, P. O. Box 24885, Safat, Kuwait; Maaza, M., Nanosciences/Nanotechnology Laboratories, Materials Research Department and Nanoscience Laboratories, IThemba LABS-National Research Foundation of South Africa, South Africa | Graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets modified with zinc oxide nanocrystals were achieved by a green wet-chemical approach. As-obtained products were characterized by XRD, Raman spectra, XPS, HR-TEM, EDS, PL and Photocatalytic studies. XRD studies indicate that the GO nanosheet have the same crystal structure found in hexagonal form of ZnO. The enhanced Raman spectrum of 2D bands confirmed formation of single layer graphene oxides. The gradual photocatalytic reduction of the GO nanosheet in the GO:ZnO suspension of ethanol was studied by using X-ray photoelectron (XPS) spectroscopy. The nanoscale structures were observed and confirmed using high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM). The evolution of the elemental composition, especially the various numbers of layers were determined from energy dispersive X-ray spectra (EDS). PL properties of GO:ZnO nanosheet were found to be dependent on the growth condition and the resultant morphology revealed that GO nanosheet were highly transparent in the visible region. The photocatalytic performance of GO:ZnO nanocomposites was performed under UV irradiation. Therefore, the ZnO nanocrystals in the GO:ZnO composite could be applied in gradual chemical reduction and consequently tuning the electrical conductivity of the graphene oxide nanosheet. © 2015 World Scientific Publishing Company. | Electrical characterization; Electron microscopy; Nanostructures; Raman spectroscopy; X-ray photo-emission spectroscopy | Crystal structure; High resolution transmission electron microscopy; Nanocrystals; Nanosheets; Raman scattering; X ray photoelectron spectroscopy; Zinc; Zinc oxide; Electrical conductivity; Energy dispersive x-ray; Graphene oxide nanosheet; Graphene oxide nanosheets; Photocatalytic application; Photocatalytic performance; Photocatalytic reduction; Zinc oxide nanocrystals; Graphene | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77956567323 | Prevalence, pattern and impact of depression on quality of life of stroke survivors | Gbiri C.A., Akinpelu A.O., Odole A.C. | 2010 | International Journal of Psychiatry in Clinical Practice | 14 | 3 | 10.3109/13651501003797633 | Department of Physiotherapy, Federal Neuro-Psychiatry Hospital, Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria; Department of Physiotherapy, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Nigeria | Gbiri, C.A., Department of Physiotherapy, Federal Neuro-Psychiatry Hospital, Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria; Akinpelu, A.O., Department of Physiotherapy, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Nigeria; Odole, A.C., Department of Physiotherapy, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Nigeria | Objective. This study documented the incidence, pattern and impact of depression on QoL of stroke-survivors within 6-month post-stroke. Methods. This study involved 65 stroke survivors consecutively recruited at ictus from a tertiary health institution in Nigeria. The National Institute of Health Stroke-Scale, Stroke-Specific Quality-of-Life (SSQOL), international classification of diseases (tenth edition) and Center for Epidemiological Scale-Depression (CES-D) were administered at ictus to assess stroke-severity, QoL and depression respectively. The SSQOL, ICD-10 and CES-D were subsequently administered every other week for 6 months. Data were treated using Spearman's correlation coefficient, MannWhitney U-test and multivariable stepwise linear regression analysis (P0.05). Results. Participants were age 58.1±15.7 years; 38 and 27 hemorrhagic and ischaemic stroke respectively. Twenty-six (40%) and 60.0% had moderate and severe stroke, respectively. The QoL at post-stroke periods were significantly influenced (P<0.05) by depression, age, marital status, spouse supports, stroke-severity, and educational-attainment. Depression determined (P<0.05) poor QoL in stroke-survivors. Co-morbidity with stroke severity was a determinant (P<0.05) of poor QoL and death. The haemorrhagic stroke survivors had significantly higher (P<0.05) QoL at post-stroke periods. Conclusion. Depression is associated with stroke. It is common within the first 6 months post-stroke and has negative impact on quality of life of stroke-survivors. © 2010 Informa Healthcare. | Depression in stroke; Quality of life of stroke survivor; Stroke survivors | adult; age; aged; article; brain hemorrhage; brain ischemia; Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale; correlation coefficient; death; depression; disease association; disease severity; education; family attitude; female; health center; human; international classification of diseases; linear regression analysis; major clinical study; male; marriage; morbidity; multivariate analysis; National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale; Nigeria; patient assessment; prevalence; priority journal; quality of life; rank sum test; spouse; stroke; stroke patient; survivor; tertiary health care | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-57749087742 | Health and safety management efforts as correlates of performance in the Nigerian construction industry | Idoro G.I. | 2008 | Journal of Civil Engineering and Management | 14 | 4 | 10.3846/1392-3730.2008.14.27 | Dept. of Building, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria | Idoro, G.I., Dept. of Building, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria | This study investigates the level of efforts made by Nigerian contractors to maintain a healthy and safe work environment. The objectives are to determine the level of management efforts made by contractors on H&S and their correlation with H&S performance. To achieve these objectives, a field survey involving a sample of 40 contractors selected by stratified random sampling from the contractors registered with the Federation of Construction Industry of Nigeria was carried out. For the study, 6 H&S management variables and 7 H&S performance variables were selected. The H&S management variables are in compliance with H&S regulations, provision of H&S facilities, structures for managing H&S in head and site offices, provision of PPE and H&S incentives, while the H&S performance variables are respondents' assessment of the performance of structures for managing H&S in head and site offices, accident, injury, accident per worker, injury per worker and injury per accident rates. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and analysed by mean and Spearman correlation test. The results reveal that contractors' efforts on structures for managing H&S on site are the best correlates of H&S performance, but their level is low. The levels of contractors' efforts in provision of PPE, compliance with H&S regulations are high, but these efforts are not correlates of H&S performance. The levels of contractors' efforts in structures for managing H&S in head office and provision of H&S incentives are low and they have low correlation with H&S performance. The study considers these results as indication that the management efforts made by Nigerian contractors to ensure a healthy and safe work environment are yet to have meaningful impact. It suggests increased efforts on local H&S regulations, structures for managing H&S in both head and site offices and provision of H&S incentives as measures for improving safety in the Nigerian construction industry. | H&S management efforts; Objective H&S performance measurement; Subjective H&S performance measurement | Accidents; Construction industry; Contractors; Employment; Human engineering; Management; Occupational risks; Office buildings; Statistical tests; Surveys; Accident rates; Field surveys; Health and safeties; Low correlations; Nigeria; Nigerians; On sites; Performance variables; Spearman correlations; Stratified random samplings; Work environments; Contracts | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84898596877 | The rise of assertive community interventions in South Africa: A randomized control trial assessing the impact of a modified assertive intervention on readmission rates; a three year follow-up | Botha U.A., Koen L., Galal U., Jordaan E., Niehaus D.J.H. | 2014 | BMC Psychiatry | 14 | 1 | 10.1186/1471-244X-14-56 | Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Stellenbosch, PO Box 19063, Tygerberg 7505, South Africa; Medical Research Council, Bellville, South Africa; Department of Statistical Sciences, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa | Botha, U.A., Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Stellenbosch, PO Box 19063, Tygerberg 7505, South Africa; Koen, L., Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Stellenbosch, PO Box 19063, Tygerberg 7505, South Africa; Galal, U., Medical Research Council, Bellville, South Africa, Department of Statistical Sciences, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa; Jordaan, E., Medical Research Council, Bellville, South Africa; Niehaus, D.J.H., Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Stellenbosch, PO Box 19063, Tygerberg 7505, South Africa | Background: Many countries have over the last few years incorporated mental health assertive interventions in an attempt to address the repercussions of deinstitutionalization. Recent publications have failed to duplicate the positive outcomes reported initially which has cast doubt on the future of these interventions. We previously reported on 29 patients from a developing country who completed 12 months in an assertive intervention which was a modified version of the international assertive community treatment model. We demonstrated reduction in readmission rates as well as improvements in social functioning compared to patients from the control group. The obvious question was, however, if these outcomes could be sustained for longer periods of time. This study aims to determine if modified assertive interventions in an under-resourced setting can successfully maintain reductions in hospitalizations.Methods: Patients suffering from schizophrenia who met a modified version of Weidens' high frequency criteria were randomized into two groups. One group received a modified assertive intervention based on the international assertive community treatment model. The other group received standard care according to the model of service delivery in this region. Data was collected after 36 months, comparing readmissions and days spent in hospital.Results: The results demonstrated significant differences between the groups. Patients in the intervention group had significantly less readmissions (p = 0.007) and spent less days in hospital compared to the patients in the control group (p = 0.013).Conclusion: Modified assertive interventions may be successful in reducing readmissions and days spent in hospital in developing countries where standard care services are less comprehensive. These interventions can be tailored in such a way to meet service needs and still remain affordable and feasible within the context of an under-resourced setting. © 2014 Botha et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | Assertive interventions; Days in hospital; Developing countries; Readmission rates | adult; article; assertiveness; clinical article; community; control group; controlled study; developing country; female; follow up; group therapy; health care delivery; hospital readmission; hospitalization; human; intervention study; male; mental health service; patient care; randomized controlled trial; schizophrenia; South Africa; adolescent; deinstitutionalization; hospital readmission; middle aged; schizophrenia; statistics and numerical data; young adult; Adolescent; Adult; Community Mental Health Services; Deinstitutionalization; Developing Countries; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Patient Readmission; Schizophrenia; South Africa; Young Adult | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-43449104760 | The profile analysis of attempted-suicide patients referred to Pelonomi Hospital for psychological evaluation and treatment from 1 May 2005 to 30 April 2006 | du Toit E.H., Kruger J.M., Swiegers S.M., van der Merwe M., Calilz F.J.W., Philane L., Joubert G. | 2008 | South African Journal of Psychiatry | 14 | 1 | None | Department of Psychiatry, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa; Pelonomi Hospital, Bloemfontein, South Africa; Department of Biostatistics, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa | du Toit, E.H., Department of Psychiatry, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa; Kruger, J.M., Department of Psychiatry, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa; Swiegers, S.M., Department of Psychiatry, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa; van der Merwe, M., Department of Psychiatry, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa; Calilz, F.J.W., Department of Psychiatry, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa; Philane, L., Pelonomi Hospital, Bloemfontein, South Africa; Joubert, G., Department of Biostatistics, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa | Background. Suicide is an increasing phenomenon worldwide. A suicide occurs every 40 seconds, and there is 1 attempt every 1 to 3 seconds. By 2020, these figures may have doubled. No accurate statistics regarding the occurrence of attempted suicide (or non-fatal suicidal behaviour) in South Africa exist, because there has been no systematic data collection. Aim. The aim of the study was to determine the profile of patients who had attempted suicide and were referred to Pelonomi Hospital, Bloemfontein, for psychological evaluation and treatment during the period 1 May 2005 to 30 April 2006. Method. A descriptive, retrospective study was conducted. The study population comprised 258 attempted-suicide patients referred to Pelonomi Hospital for psychological evaluation and treatment. A data form was compiled to transfer the relevant information from patients' clinical files. Results. The majority of patients were female (68.9%). The median age was 22 years. The most common method used in suicide attempts was drug overdose (66%) - mostly antidepressants (19.7%)) and analgesics (8.2%). More females than males overdosed on drugs (p=0.0103). The main precipitating factors included problematic relationships (55.4%), financial problems (22.9%), psychiatric problems (22.1%), arguments (19.8%), abuse (emotional, sexual, physical - 18.2%), low self-esteem/ worthlessness/hopelessness/humiliation (16.7%), and recent life changes (13.2%). Conclusion. The aim of the study was to determine the profile of patients who had attempted suicide. Possible factors associated with suicide attempts in our sample were identified and summarised in the form of a screening checklist. The value of the checklist is that it can be used as a screening method to identify possible suicide risk in patients. | None | analgesic agent; antidepressant agent; adult; alcohol abuse; article; controlled study; demography; drug abuse; drug overdose; emotional disorder; female; fighting; high risk population; hopelessness; human; institutional care; life event; major clinical study; male; medical information; medical record; mental disease; mental health care; poverty; psychologic assessment; retrospective study; risk factor; sex difference; sexual abuse; social problem; socioeconomics; South Africa; suicide attempt; treatment duration; unemployment | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84870182563 | The impact of aircraft noise exposure on South African children′s reading comprehension: The moderating effect of home language | Seabi J., Cockcroft K., Goldschagg P., Greyling M. | 2012 | Noise and Health | 14 | 60 | 10.4103/1463-1741.102963 | Department of Psychology, School of Education, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, South Africa | Seabi, J., Department of Psychology, School of Education, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, South Africa; Cockcroft, K., Department of Psychology, School of Education, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, South Africa; Goldschagg, P., Department of Psychology, School of Education, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, South Africa; Greyling, M., Department of Psychology, School of Education, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, South Africa | Given the limited studies conducted within the African continent, the purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of chronic aircraft noise exposure and the moderating effect of home language on the learners′ reading comprehension. The sample comprised 437 (52%) senior primary learners exposed to high levels of aircraft noise (Experimental group) and 337 (48%) learners residing in a quieter area (Control group). Of these, 151 learners in the Experimental group spoke English as a first language (EFL) and 162 spoke English as a second language (ESL). In the Control group, the numbers were similarly divided (EFL n = 191; ESL n = 156). A univariate General Linear Model was used to investigate the effects of aircraft noise exposure and language on reading comprehension, while observing for the possible impact of intellectual ability, gender, and socioeconomic status on the results. A significant difference was observed between ESL and EFL learners in favor of the latter (F 1,419 = 21.95, P =.000). In addition a substantial and significant interaction effect was found between the experimental and control groups for the two language groups. For the EFL speakers there was a strong reduction in reading comprehension in the aircraft noise group. By contrast this difference was not significant for the ESL speakers. Implications of the findings and suggestions for further research are made in the article. | Aircraft noise; home language; reading comprehension; South Africa | adolescent; aircraft; article; child; cognitive defect; communication disorder; environmental exposure; female; human; language; learning disorder; longitudinal study; male; reading; South Africa; traffic noise; Adolescent; Aircraft; Child; Cognition Disorders; Communication Barriers; Environmental Exposure; Female; Humans; Learning Disorders; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Multilingualism; Noise, Transportation; Reading; South Africa | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-69249183148 | Impact of delayed introduction of sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine and arthemeter-lumefantrine on malaria epidemiology in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | Knight S.E., Anyachebelu E.J., Geddes R., Maharaj R. | 2009 | Tropical Medicine and International Health | 14 | 9 | 10.1111/j.1365-3156.2009.02333.x | Department of Public Health Medicine, University KwaZulu-Natal, Private bag 7, Congella, Durban 4013, South Africa; Malaria Research Programme, Medical Research Council, Durban, South Africa | Knight, S.E., Department of Public Health Medicine, University KwaZulu-Natal, Private bag 7, Congella, Durban 4013, South Africa; Anyachebelu, E.J., Department of Public Health Medicine, University KwaZulu-Natal, Private bag 7, Congella, Durban 4013, South Africa; Geddes, R., Department of Public Health Medicine, University KwaZulu-Natal, Private bag 7, Congella, Durban 4013, South Africa; Maharaj, R., Malaria Research Programme, Medical Research Council, Durban, South Africa | Objective To investigate how delayed introduction of sulfadoxine- pyrimethamine(Fansidar®) and arthemeter-lumefantrine (Coartem®) as first-line drugs for malaria in KwaZulu-Natal contributed to the reported epidemics of 1985-1988 and 1997-2001. Methods Ecological study assessing the association between malaria incidence and the emergence and degree of resistance to chloroquine from 1982 to 1988 and to sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine from 1991 to 2001, when each was the first-line malaria treatment. Results The relative risk for malaria infection after the level of drug resistance reached 10% was 4.5 (95% CI: 4.0-5.2) in the chloroquine period and 5.9 (95% CI: 5.7-6.1) in the sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine period. In the chloroquine period, the relative risk of death from malaria was tenfold (95% CI: 1.3-78.1) and the case fatality doubled after drug resistance had reached 10%. The risk of death during the sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine period was 10.8 (95% CI: 5.9-19.2) and case fatality 1.8 times higher after drug resistance had reached 10%, than before. Conclusion Malaria epidemics in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa have been exacerbated by failing drug regimens. The establishment of sentinel sites for monitoring drug failure and the prompt adoption of guidelines based on World Health Organization standards in drug resistance should improve malaria control. © 2009 Blackwell Publishing Ltd. | Chloroquine; Drug policy; KwaZulu-natal; Malaria; Resistance; Sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine | artemether plus benflumetol; chloroquine; fansidar; disease control; disease incidence; disease treatment; drug resistance; epidemiology; health risk; malaria; mortality; article; confidence interval; disease control; drug fatality; female; human; incidence; major clinical study; malaria; male; South Africa; Adolescent; Adult; Antimalarials; Artemisinins; Child; Child, Preschool; Drug Combinations; Drug Resistance, Multiple; Ethanolamines; Fluorenes; Guideline Adherence; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Malaria; Practice Guidelines as Topic; Pyrimethamine; South Africa; Sulfadoxine; Young Adult; Africa; KwaZulu-Natal; South Africa; Southern Africa; Sub-Saharan Africa | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84940654698 | Impact of an integrated community case management programme on uptake of appropriate diarrhoea and pneumonia treatments in Uganda: A propensity score matching and equity analysis study | Nanyonjo A., Ssekitooleko J., Counihan H., Makumbi F., Tomson G., Källander K. | 2015 | International Journal for Equity in Health | 14 | 1 | 10.1186/s12939-015-0202-y | Department of Public Health Sciences, Karolinska Institutet, Tomtebodavägen 18 A, Floor 4Stockholm, Sweden; Malaria Consortium Uganda Office, Plot 25, Upper East Naguru, P.O. Box 8045Kampala, Uganda; Malaria Consortium, Development House, 56-64 Leonard StreetLondon, United Kingdom; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Makerere University, New Mulago Hospital Complex, P.O. Box 7062Kampala, Uganda; Medical Management Centre (MMC), Karolinska InstitutetStockholm, Sweden | Nanyonjo, A., Department of Public Health Sciences, Karolinska Institutet, Tomtebodavägen 18 A, Floor 4Stockholm, Sweden, Malaria Consortium Uganda Office, Plot 25, Upper East Naguru, P.O. Box 8045Kampala, Uganda; Ssekitooleko, J., Malaria Consortium Uganda Office, Plot 25, Upper East Naguru, P.O. Box 8045Kampala, Uganda; Counihan, H., Malaria Consortium, Development House, 56-64 Leonard StreetLondon, United Kingdom; Makumbi, F., Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Makerere University, New Mulago Hospital Complex, P.O. Box 7062Kampala, Uganda; Tomson, G., Department of Public Health Sciences, Karolinska Institutet, Tomtebodavägen 18 A, Floor 4Stockholm, Sweden, Medical Management Centre (MMC), Karolinska InstitutetStockholm, Sweden; Källander, K., Department of Public Health Sciences, Karolinska Institutet, Tomtebodavägen 18 A, Floor 4Stockholm, Sweden, Malaria Consortium, Development House, 56-64 Leonard StreetLondon, United Kingdom, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Makerere University, New Mulago Hospital Complex, P.O. Box 7062Kampala, Uganda | Introduction: Pneumonia and diarrhoea disproportionately affect children in resource-poor settings. Integrated community case management (iCCM) involves community health workers treating diarrhoea, pneumonia and malaria. Studies on impact of iCCM on appropriate treatment and its effects on equity in access to the same are limited. The objective of this study was to measure the impact of integrated community case management (iCCM) as the first point of care on uptake of appropriate treatment for children with a classification of pneumonia (cough and fast breathing) and/or diarrhoea and to measure the magnitude and distribution of socioeconomic status related inequality in use of iCCM. Methods: Following introduction of iCCM, data from cross-sectional household surveys were examined for socioeconomic inequalities in uptake of treatment and use of iCCM among children with a classification of pneumonia or diarrhoea using the Erreygers' corrected concentration index (CCI). Propensity score matching methods were used to estimate the average treatment effects on the treated (ATT) for children treated under the iCCM programme with recommended antibiotics for pneumonia, and ORS plus or minus zinc for diarrhoea. Findings: Overall, more children treated under iCCM received appropriate antibiotics for pneumonia (ATT = 34.7 %, p < 0.001) and ORS for diarrhoea (ATT = 41.2 %, p < 0.001) compared to children not attending iCCM. No such increase was observed for children receiving ORS-zinc combination (ATT = -0.145, p < 0.05). There were no obvious inequalities in the uptake of appropriate treatment for pneumonia among the poorest and least poor (CCI = -0.070; SE = 0.083). Receiving ORS for diarrhoea was more prevalent among the least poor groups (CCI = 0.199; SE = 0.118). The use of iCCM for pneumonia was more prevalent among the poorest groups (CCI = -0.099; SE = 0.073). The use of iCCM for diarrhoea was not significantly different among the poorest and least poor (CCI = -0.073; SE = 0.085). Conclusion: iCCM is a potentially equitable strategy that significantly increased the uptake of appropriate antibiotic treatment for pneumonia and ORS for diarrhoea, but not the uptake of zinc for diarrhoea. For maximum impact, interventions increasing zinc uptake should be considered when scaling up iCCM programmes. © 2015 Nanyonjo et al. | Diarrhoea; Equity; Integrated community case management; Pneumonia; Treatment | antibiotic agent; oral rehydration solution; zinc; child health; community health worker; diarrheal disease; disease prevalence; disease treatment; equity; household survey; pneumonia; public health; socioeconomic status; antibiotic therapy; Article; community care; diarrhea; drug efficacy; drug response; health care delivery; health care disparity; integrated community case management; pneumonia; prevalence; priority journal; scoring system; social status; treatment indication; Uganda | OPP1002407, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77649235878 | Iterative design, implementation and evaluation of a supplemental feeding program for underweight children ages 6-59 months in western Uganda | Jilcott S.B., Ickes S.B., Ammerman A.S., Myhre J.A. | 2010 | Maternal and Child Health Journal | 14 | 2 | 10.1007/s10995-009-0456-3 | Department of Public Health, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, 1709 West Avenue, Greenville, NC 27834, United States; Department of Nutrition, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States; World Harvest Mission, Bundinutrition Program, P.O. Box 1142, Bundibugyo, Uganda | Jilcott, S.B., Department of Public Health, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, 1709 West Avenue, Greenville, NC 27834, United States; Ickes, S.B., Department of Nutrition, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States; Ammerman, A.S., Department of Nutrition, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States; Myhre, J.A., World Harvest Mission, Bundinutrition Program, P.O. Box 1142, Bundibugyo, Uganda | Objective In this paper we describe the development, implementation, evaluation, and subsequent improvements of a supplemental feeding program that provides community-based care to underweight children in a rural East African setting, using a locally-sourced and produced ready-to-use food (RUF). Methods Production teams were trained to grind soybeans and groundnuts (peanuts), which were then mixed with moringa oleifera leaf powder to form an energy-dense supplemental food, designed for use as an RUF. Eligible children (based on low weight-for-age or mid-upper-arm circumference < 12 cm) received RUF of approximately 682 kcal per day for five weeks. Weekly growth monitoring and caregiver education were provided by trained health center staff and community volunteers. The program was evaluated by examining RUF nutrient composition, weight gain velocity, and qualitative data from key-informant interviews and home feeding observations. Results Locally-produced RUF had similar energy density but higher protein content than commercial RUTF (ready-to-use therapeutic food). Mean weight gain of children was 2.5 g/kg/day (range 0.9-6.0). Feeding observations revealed that caregivers were diluting the RUF fed to children. Production team members desired increased financial compensation for their work but were enthusiastic about the program as helpful to malnourished children. Conclusions Locally-produced RUF is a promising strategy for community-based care of moderately malnourished children. Through the production team's entrepreneurship, a small business was formed, whereby financial incentives encouraged continued RUF production. Future efforts are needed to educate caregivers on correct RUF use and improve commercial viability in local markets. © 2009 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC. | Ready-to-use food; Stunting; Supplemental feeding; Underweight | article; body weight; fast food; health care quality; human; infant; infant nutrition; interview; methodology; preschool child; program development; Uganda; Child, Preschool; Fast Foods; Humans; Infant; Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Interviews as Topic; Program Development; Program Evaluation; Thinness; Uganda | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84855231902 | The state of occupational radiation protection and monitoring in public and private X-ray facilities in Edo state, Nigeria | Eze K.C., Nzotta C.C., Marchie T.T., Okegbunam B., Eze T.E. | 2011 | Nigerian Journal of Clinical Practice | 14 | 3 | 10.4103/1119-3077.86774 | Department of Radiology, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Nigeria; University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria; Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Nigeria; St Philomena Hospital, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria | Eze, K.C., Department of Radiology, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Nigeria; Nzotta, C.C., University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria; Marchie, T.T., University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria; Okegbunam, B., Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Nigeria; Eze, T.E., St Philomena Hospital, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria | Aims and Objectives: To find out the state of radiation protection and monitoring practices of the public and private X-ray centres in Edo State. Materials and Methods: Survey visits were made to all the functional X-ray facilities in Edo state and the available facilities identified, staff interviewed and collected data analyzed. Result: There are 18 functional X-ray facilities comprising 10 (55.56%) publicly owned and eight (44.44%) privately owned. Only two (20%) of the public and five (62.5%) of the private X-ray units have personnel and environmental monitoring. All the X-ray centers in both public and private hospitals have effective lead aprons. All the public (100%) and only four (50%) of the private centers have gonadal shield although none is using them on a routine basis. Qualified radiographers are available only in five (50%) of the public and six (75%) of the private centers. Only three (30%) of the public X-ray centers have the services of radiologists. Among the private X-ray units, five (62.5%) have radiologist while three (37.5%) have no radiologist. Only one (10%) of the public centers and one (12.5%) private X-ray centre have a purpose-built adequately designed X-ray unit with barium plasters and lead lining of walls and doors. There is also only limited lead lining of doors and walls in three (37.5%) private units while no lead lining or barium plasters are used in five (62.5%) of the private units. No X-ray unit in Edo State uses digital radiography or computerized information system. This means that lost hard copy must be repeated, leading to more radiation to patients and staff. Conclusions: There are inadequate radiation protection and monitoring practices in most of the functional X-ray facilities in Edo state with only five (62.5%) of the private and two (20%) of the public X-ray units monitored. There is poor adherence to the advice of the medical physicists due to the cost implications of the implementation. | Edo state; Monitoring; Nigeria; Practices; Protection; Radiation; Survey | adolescent; adult; article; evaluation; female; human; male; methodology; Nigeria; occupational exposure; occupational health; private hospital; protective clothing; public hospital; questionnaire; radiation monitoring; radiation protection; Adolescent; Adult; Female; Hospitals, Private; Hospitals, Public; Humans; Male; Nigeria; Occupational Exposure; Occupational Health; Protective Clothing; Questionnaires; Radiation Monitoring; Radiation Protection; Young Adult | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84861168930 | Sonographic evaluation of uterine cervical dimension within 4-24 weeks of pregnancy | Tobechukwu M.T., Ose-Emenim I.B., Ehinwenma O. | 2011 | Nigerian Journal of Clinical Practice | 14 | 4 | 10.4103/1119-3077.91743 | Department of Radiology, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, P.M.B. 1111, Benin City, Nigeria | Tobechukwu, M.T., Department of Radiology, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, P.M.B. 1111, Benin City, Nigeria; Ose-Emenim, I.B., Department of Radiology, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, P.M.B. 1111, Benin City, Nigeria; Ehinwenma, O., Department of Radiology, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, P.M.B. 1111, Benin City, Nigeria | Objective: To determine the normal range of uterine cervix within 4-24 weeks of pregnancy and also assess whether variations are related to some selected extraneous human conditions. Setting and Design: This was a prospective study conducted in University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin, Nigeria, and Nigerian National Petroleum Cooperation Health Centre, Warri, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: A prospective ultrasonographic (USS) study of uterine cervical dimension of 150 pregnant women within 4-24 weeks gestational age in two sonographic centers in Nigeria between January 2007 and October 2007 was conducted. The patients were examined by the authors. The uterine cervical dimensions (length, upper lip diameter, and lower lip diameter) were taken by means of ultrasonography. In addition, vital history, height and weight of patients were documented. The vital history included the age, number of childbirths, number of induced abortion, miscarriages and family history of miscarriages. Using Statistical program of social science (SPSS), the data were analyzed. Informed consent was obtained from all the patients and the study was done in line with the ethical guidelines of the centers. Results: The following uterine cervical dimensions were obtained: mean cervical length of 6.14 cm and standard deviation of 2.0, and the upper and lower lips' uterine cervical diameters of 1.81 and 1.76 cm, respectively, with standard deviations of 0.86 and 0.71, respectively. There was no significant correlation of dimensions of uterine cervix to the aforementioned extraneous human condition. However, the increasing number of miscarriages correlated with decreasing length or shortness of the cervix.Conclusion: Uterine cervical dimension in pregnancy between 4 and 24 weeks is reproducible with sonographic documentation and the following normal ranges were deduced: cervical length (6.14 ± 2.0 cm), upper lip (1.81 ± 0.86 cm) and lower lip (1.76 ± 0.71 cm). The study revealed that increasing number of miscarriages was associated with effacement or reduction in the cervical length. | Cross-tabulation; Dimensions; Pregnancy; Ultrasonography; Uterine cervix | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33748875045 | Gender differences in enrolment and academic performance in physics among secondary school students | Adolphus T. | 2006 | European Journal of Scientific Research | 14 | 2 | None | Department of Science and Technical Education, Faculty of Science and Technical Education, Rivers State University of Science and Technology, P.M.B. 5080, Port Harcourt, Nigeria | Adolphus, T., Department of Science and Technical Education, Faculty of Science and Technical Education, Rivers State University of Science and Technology, P.M.B. 5080, Port Harcourt, Nigeria | This paper looks at the gender differences in enrolment and academic performance in physics among secondary school students. The study was an empirical survey conducted in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. Seven (7) co-educational schools were selected by simple random sampling. Research instruments included records of enrolment and results of senior secondary school certificate examinations (SSCE) for five (5) years (1999-2003). Simple means, percentages and t-test were employed to analyze the data obtained from the study. Two hypotheses were formulated for the study. The results of the study showed significant difference in both enrolment and academic performance of male and female students in physics in favor of male students. It is recommended among others that government should encourage in form of scholarship the education of women in physics and science in general at higher levels. This will produce more female physics teachers, who will motivate more girls at the secondary schools to study physics. © EuroJournals Publishing, Inc. 2006. | None | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33749154694 | Health impact assessement of multinational corporations oil exploration in the Niger-Delta region of Nigeria | Ewhrudjakpor C. | 2006 | European Journal of Scientific Research | 14 | 3 | None | Department of Sociology and Psychology, Delta State University, P.M.B. 1 Abraka, Delta State, Nigeria | Ewhrudjakpor, C., Department of Sociology and Psychology, Delta State University, P.M.B. 1 Abraka, Delta State, Nigeria | This study aimed at assessing the multinational oil corporations exploration activities impacting on health conditions of the peoples of the Niger Delta region in Nigeria. 435 respondents and 65 interviewees selected using the accidental sampling technique participated in this study. The structured questionnaire and an interview schedule was used to gather data which were analysed using simple percentages and the chi-square (X2) statistic. Results (X2 = (1) 3.87, P < .05; X2 (7) 361.46, P < .05) obtained shows that oil exploration activities impacted negatively on the health conditions of the inhabitants of these multinational oil companies host communities. Suggestions to reverse this corporate social irresponsibility were proffered. © EuroJournals Publishing, Inc. 2006. | None | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84936849828 | Predicting the impact of border control on malaria transmission: a simulated focal screen and treat campaign | Silal S.P., Little F., Barnes K.I., White L.J. | 2015 | Malaria Journal | 14 | 1 | 10.1186/s12936-015-0776-2 | Department of Statistical Sciences, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, Cape Town, South Africa; Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Observatory, Cape Town, South Africa; Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand; Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, Centre for Tropical Medicine, Churchill Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom | Silal, S.P., Department of Statistical Sciences, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, Cape Town, South Africa; Little, F., Department of Statistical Sciences, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, Cape Town, South Africa; Barnes, K.I., Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Observatory, Cape Town, South Africa; White, L.J., Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, Centre for Tropical Medicine, Churchill Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom | Background: South Africa is one of many countries committed to malaria elimination with a target of 2018 and all malaria-endemic provinces, including Mpumalanga, are increasing efforts towards this ambitious goal. The reduction of imported infections is a vital element of an elimination strategy, particularly if a country is already experiencing high levels of imported infections. Border control of malaria is one tool that may be considered. Methods: A metapopulation, non-linear stochastic ordinary differential equation model is used to simulate malaria transmission in Mpumalanga and Maputo province, Mozambique (the source of the majority of imported infections) to predict the impact of a focal screen and treat campaign at the Mpumalanga-Maputo border. This campaign is simulated by nesting an individual-based model for the focal screen and treat campaign within the metapopulation transmission model. Results: The model predicts that such a campaign, simulated for different levels of resources, coverage and take-up rates with a variety of screening tools, will not eliminate malaria on its own, but will reduce transmission substantially. Making the campaign mandatory decreases transmission further though sub-patent infections are likely to remain undetected if the diagnostic tool is not adequately sensitive. Replacing screening and treating with mass drug administration results in substantially larger decreases as all (including sub-patent) infections are treated before movement into Mpumalanga. Conclusions: The reduction of imported cases will be vital to any future malaria control or elimination strategy. This simulation predicts that FSAT at the Mpumalanga-Maputo border will be unable to eliminate local malaria on its own, but may still play a key role in detecting and treating imported infections before they enter the country. Thus FSAT may form part of an integrated elimination strategy where a variety of interventions are employed together to achieve malaria elimination. © 2015 Silal et al. | Elimination; Focal screen and treat; Imported infections; Malaria | Article; controlled study; diagnostic procedure; infection control; malaria control; mathematical model; metapopulation; parasite clearance; parasite identification; parasite transmission; prediction; simulation; South Africa | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84858774220 | Tipping Practices and Policies in Zimbabwe's Hotel Industry: Impacts on Restaurant Waiters' Service Delivery and Work Relationships | Mkono M. | 2011 | Journal of Foodservice Business Research | 14 | 4 | 10.1080/15378020.2011.624054 | Department of Tourism and Hospitality Management, Midlands State University, Gweru, Zimbabwe | Mkono, M., Department of Tourism and Hospitality Management, Midlands State University, Gweru, Zimbabwe | This study analyzes tipping practices and policies in Zimbabwe's hotel industry from the perspective of restaurant waiters. The majority of respondents reported that discretionary tipping, as opposed to service charges, is the norm and that most hotels have a tip-pooling system. The findings show that guests who are expected to tip well, based largely on stereotypes as well as past tipping behavior, get better service treatment from waiters. Among themselves, waiters said that the culture of tipping has a huge impact on their work relationships. Most waiters presumed the pooling of tips to be an unfair practice. © 2011 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC. | Hotels; Service Delivery; Tipping; Waiters; Work relationships | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84930190272 | Evaluation of AFP surveillance indicators in polio-free Ghana, 2009-2013 | Odoom J.K., Ntim N.A.A., Sarkodie B., Addo J., Minta-Asare K., Obodai E., Eshun M., Ahove V.V., Diamenu S., Adjabeng M., Arthur-Quarm J., Barnor J.S. | 2014 | BMC Public Health | 14 | 1 | 10.1186/1471-2458-14-687 | Department of Virology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG 581, Legon, Accra, Ghana; Disease Surveillance Department, Accra, Ghana; World Health Organization, Country Office, Accra, Ghana | Odoom, J.K., Department of Virology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG 581, Legon, Accra, Ghana; Ntim, N.A.A., Department of Virology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG 581, Legon, Accra, Ghana; Sarkodie, B., Disease Surveillance Department, Accra, Ghana; Addo, J., Disease Surveillance Department, Accra, Ghana; Minta-Asare, K., Department of Virology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG 581, Legon, Accra, Ghana; Obodai, E., Department of Virology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG 581, Legon, Accra, Ghana; Eshun, M., Department of Virology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG 581, Legon, Accra, Ghana; Ahove, V.V., World Health Organization, Country Office, Accra, Ghana; Diamenu, S., World Health Organization, Country Office, Accra, Ghana; Adjabeng, M., Disease Surveillance Department, Accra, Ghana; Arthur-Quarm, J., Department of Virology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG 581, Legon, Accra, Ghana; Barnor, J.S., Department of Virology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG 581, Legon, Accra, Ghana | Background: Ghana recorded the last case of indigenous wild poliovirus in 1999 but suffered two more outbreaks in 2003 and 2008. Following the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, transmission was interrupted through high routine immunisation coverage with live-attenuated oral polio vaccine (OPV), effective acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) surveillance and supplementary immunisation activities (SIA). This article describes the results of a five-year surveillance of AFP in polio-free Ghana, evaluate the surveillance indicators and identify areas that need improvement. Methods. We investigated 1345 cases of AFP from children aged less than 15 years reported to the Disease Surveillance Department from January 2009 to December 2013. Data on demographic characteristics, vaccination history, clinical presentation and virological investigation on stool specimens collected during investigation were analysed. Results: Of the specimens analysed, 56% were from males and 76.3% were from children less than 5 years of age. Twenty-four percent of the children received up to 3 doses of OPV, 57% received at least 4 doses while the status of 19% was unknown. Core AFP surveillance indicators were partly met for non-polio AFP rate while the WHO target for stool adequacy and timeliness was exceeded over the period of study. All the cases were classified virologically, however no wild polio was found. Sixty-day follow-up was conducted for 56.3% of cases and 8.6% cases classified as compactible with polio. Conclusion: Both laboratory and epidemiological surveillance for AFP were efficient and many WHO targets were met. However, due to the risk of poliovirus importation prior to global eradication, longterm surveillance is required to provide a high degree of confidence in prevention of poliovirus infection in Ghana. Thus, efforts should be made to strengthen regional performance and to follow-up on all AFP cases in order to establish proper diagnoses for the causes of the AFP leading to proper care. © 2014 Odoom et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | AFP; Ghana; Indicators; Regional Reference Polio Laboratory; Surveillance | oral poliomyelitis vaccine; adolescent; child; evaluation study; feces; female; Ghana; health survey; human; male; microbiology; paraplegia; poliomyelitis; preschool child; world health organization; Adolescent; Child; Child, Preschool; Feces; Female; Ghana; Humans; Male; Paraplegia; Poliomyelitis; Poliovirus Vaccine, Oral; Population Surveillance; World Health Organization | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-80054760408 | Influence of home media technologies on academic performance of undergraduates. | Ukwueze F.N. | 2011 | Journal of Home Economics Research | 14 | None | None | Department of Vocational Teacher Education, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria | Ukwueze, F.N., Department of Vocational Teacher Education, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria | The effect of using home media technologies on academic performance of undergraduates was investigated. Using three research questions to guide the study, questionnaire was employed to obtain responses from 30 final year students of Computer Education in University of Nigeria Nsukka. The result of study showed that the use of these technologies, contrary to pessimistic views expressed in reports of some previous studies, significantly enhances learning outcomes of undergraduales. Limitations in use of the technologies, pose little hindrance to those students who possess adequate digital literacy. | None | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84872569478 | Effects of levamisole hydrochloride on cellular immune response and flock performance of commercial broilers | Oladele O.A., Emikpe B.O., Adeyefa C.A.O., Enibe F. | 2012 | Revista Brasileira de Ciencia Avicola | 14 | 4 | None | Departments of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Departments of Veterinary Pathology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria | Oladele, O.A., Departments of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Emikpe, B.O., Departments of Veterinary Pathology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Adeyefa, C.A.O., Departments of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Enibe, F., Departments of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria | Levamisole hydrochloride (Lev.HCl) has been acclaimed to boost immune response particularly in immunocompromised state. Its routine use as an immunomodulator in poultry production is yet to be well embraced, thus its effects of on cellular immunity and flock performance of commercial broilers were evaluated. One hundred and fifty Anak broiler chicks were separated into two groups of 75 each. Broilers in group 1 were sensitized with 150μg of Staphylococcus aureus antigen each at 4 and 5 weeks, while those in group 2 were not sensitized. Each group was further divided into subgroups A, B, and C. Levamisole hydrochloride (40 mg/kg) was administered orally to 1A and 2A at 45 and 46 days of age and to 1B and 2B at 47 and 48 days of age, while 1C and 2C were not treated. At 47 days of age, 12 broilers from all subgroups were challenged with 75μg of S. aureus antigen each at the right wattle. Wattle thickness was measured till 72 hours post challenge (pc) and delayed wattle reaction (DWR) was determined. Tissues were harvested at 72 hours pc for histopathology. Morbidity, mortality and live weights at 8 weeks of age were recorded. DWR peaked at 4 hours pc in 1A (2.22 ± 0.21 mm) and 1B (2.96 ± 0.21 mm) and 24 hours pc in 1C (3.39 ± 0.34 mm), the difference being significant (p<0.05). Inflammatory lesions were observed in wattles of sensitized subgroups and were more severe in 1C. Mortality rates were 4.17% and 29.17% in 1A and 1C respectively. Mean live weights in A and B i.e. 1.57± 0.06 kg and 1.56 ± 0.06 kg respectively, were significantly higher (p<0.0) than 1.43 ± 0.08 kg in C. Levamisole enhanced DTH via an early response, improved broiler liveability, and its anti-inflammatory property was confirmed. | Broilers; Cellular immunity; Delayed wattle reaction; Immunocompromised; Levamisole hydrochloride | Staphylococcus aureus | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84867890028 | Impact of economic drivers on mangroves of Indian Sundarbans: An exploration of missing links | Kumar P. | 2012 | Environment, Development and Sustainability | 14 | 6 | 10.1007/s10668-012-9361-9 | Ecosystem Services Economics Unit of Division of Environmental Policy Implementation (DEPI), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), P.O. Box 30522, Nairobi 00100, Kenya | Kumar, P., Ecosystem Services Economics Unit of Division of Environmental Policy Implementation (DEPI), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), P.O. Box 30522, Nairobi 00100, Kenya | Export of shrimps and prawns using intensive cultivation in the Sundarban area of Indian Bengal had a negative impact on mangrove forests in 1980s. Land conversions from agricultural use and mangrove forest to shrimp ponds are significant. The impact of changing economic factors such as trade on mangrove forests is evident but as yet this link is not clearly understood by decision-makers. In this context, this study analyses the impact of economic driver on land use changes by combining socio-economic data (economic variables) and satellite data (land use change). Using the panel data method for 1986-2004 in eight administrative units of the Sundarbans area, the study identifies relative return and productivity of labour for various types of land use together with population density as the major drivers of land use change. Identification of these drivers would help to design an effective response policy for management of this UNESCO Heritage site. © 2012 Springer Science+Business Media B.V. | Drivers; Economic-return; Land use change; Mangroves; Panel data method | agricultural land; decision making; economic impact; habitat restoration; heritage conservation; intensive culture; labor productivity; land use change; mangrove; policy strategy; pond culture; population density; prawn culture; satellite data; shrimp culture; swamp forest; UNESCO; India; Sundarbans; West Bengal; Decapoda (Crustacea); Rhizophoraceae | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84924286466 | Comparison of effective population size, rate and level of inbreeding and its potential impact on village chicken populations of Southern Africa | Zulu S.G., Muchadeyi F.C., Dzomba E.F. | 2015 | International Journal of Poultry Science | 14 | 1 | None | Discipline of Genetics, University of KwaZulu Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa; Biotechnology Platform, Agricultural Research Council, Private Bag X5, Onderstepoort, South Africa | Zulu, S.G., Discipline of Genetics, University of KwaZulu Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa; Muchadeyi, F.C., Biotechnology Platform, Agricultural Research Council, Private Bag X5, Onderstepoort, South Africa; Dzomba, E.F., Discipline of Genetics, University of KwaZulu Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa | The term village chicken best describes the scavenging chickens because of the effect of the village socio-economic and biophysical environment on the production and health status of the chicken. These chickens are predominantly farmed in African villages by small holder farmers. The purpose of this study was to compare rates and levels of inbreeding in village (free range) chickens in Southern Africa. In addition the study sought to investigate the major economic traits that could be negatively affected by inbreeding. The study was carried out in 2007 and 2009 by sampling households in five agro-ecological zones (AEZ) in Zimbabwe and three farming regions in South Africa. Data was captured in the form of surveys conducted using pre-tested questionnaires and included farmer socio-demographic information and household chicken flock sizes and composition. Data was also captured on traits that chicken farmers target when selecting or culling the flocks by ranking traits in order of importance, one being most important and eight being the least important. Three parameters i.e. effective population size (Ne), rate of inbreeding (AF) and the level of inbreeding (F) were estimated using different mathematical formulas. Statistical analysis of the effect of agro-ecological zone and country on each of the three parameters was done using Generalized Linear Models procedure in SAS. Results showed that Limpopo province of South Africa and AEZ III of Zimbabwe had highest and lowest Ne, respectively. Consequently, Limpopo and AEZ III had the lowest and the highest AF respectively. Both effective population size and rate of inbreeding varied significantly (p<0.05) between farming regions/agro ecological zones within countries. It was observed that chicken body size, reproductive performance, mothering ability and health were ranked high while body conformation and morphological traits (plumage color and comb shape) were ranked the least important traits for choosing animals for breeding and for culling chickens from the flock. © Asian Network for Scientific Information, 2015. | Effective population size; Farming region; Inbreeding; Village chicken | Animalia; Gallus gallus | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84924390372 | Comparative reevaluation of FASP and enhanced FASP methods by LC - MS/MS | Nel A.J.M., Garnett S., Blackburn J.M., Soares N.C. | 2015 | Journal of Proteome Research | 14 | 3 | 10.1021/pr501266c | Division of Medical Biochemistry, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Anzio Road Observatory, Cape Town, South Africa | Nel, A.J.M., Division of Medical Biochemistry, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Anzio Road Observatory, Cape Town, South Africa; Garnett, S., Division of Medical Biochemistry, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Anzio Road Observatory, Cape Town, South Africa; Blackburn, J.M., Division of Medical Biochemistry, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Anzio Road Observatory, Cape Town, South Africa; Soares, N.C., Division of Medical Biochemistry, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Anzio Road Observatory, Cape Town, South Africa | Filter-aided sample preparation is a proteomic technique for the preparation and on column proteolysis of proteins. Recently an enhanced FASP protocol was developed that uses deoxycholic acid (DCA) and that reportedly enhances trypsin proteolysis, resulting in increases cytosolic and membrane protein representation. FASP and eFASP were re-evaluated by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to a quadrupole mass filter Orbitrap analyzer (Q Exactive). Although there was no difference in trypsin activity, 14 099 and 13 414 peptides, describing 1723 and 1793 protein groups, from Escherichia coli K12 were identified using FASP and eFASP, respectively. Characterization of the physicochemical properties of identified peptides showed no significant differences other than eFASP extracting slightly more basic peptides. At the protein level, both methods extracted essentially the same number of hydrophobic transmembrane helix-containing proteins as well as proteins associated with the cytoplasm or the cytoplasmic and outer membranes. By employing state-of-the-art LC-MS/MS shot gun proteomics, our results indicate that FASP and eFASP showed no significant differences at the protein level. However, because of the slight differences in selectivity at the physicochemical level of peptides, these methods can be seen to be somewhat complementary for analyses of complex peptide mixtures. © 2015 American Chemical Society. | deoxycholic acid; eFASP; enhanced FASP; Escherichia coli K12; FASP; filtered-aided sample preparation; physicochemical; Q exactive | acetic acid ethyl ester; deoxycholic acid; formic acid; membrane protein; periplasmic protein; trypsin; analyzer; Article; cell membrane; cytoplasm; Escherichia coli K 12; filter aided sample preparation; hydrophobicity; intermethod comparison; mass spectrometer; nonhuman; outer membrane; physical chemistry; priority journal; protein analysis; protein degradation; proteomics; quadrupole mass spectrometry; ultra performance liquid chromatography; Escherichia coli | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-34447569541 | In vitro evaluation of human cytochrome P450 and P-glycoprotein-mediated metabolism of some phytochemicals in extracts and formulations of African potato | Nair V.D.P., Foster B.C., Thor Arnason J., Mills E.J., Kanfer I. | 2007 | Phytomedicine | 14 | 42559 | 10.1016/j.phymed.2006.12.004 | Division of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa; Centre for Research in Biopharmaceuticals and Biotechnology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ont., Canada; The Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine, Toronto, Ont., Canada | Nair, V.D.P., Division of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa; Foster, B.C., Centre for Research in Biopharmaceuticals and Biotechnology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ont., Canada; Thor Arnason, J., Centre for Research in Biopharmaceuticals and Biotechnology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ont., Canada; Mills, E.J., The Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine, Toronto, Ont., Canada; Kanfer, I., Division of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa | African potato (Hypoxis hemerocallidea, AP) is a traditional herbal medicine widely used as an immune booster and also for the treatment of various ailments such as urinary diseases, prostrate hypertrophy and cancer. Amongst the chemical components contained in AP, the norlignan glycoside, hypoxoside (HYP) is purported to be the most important phytochemical in terms of AP's medicinal value. Additional constituents in AP include the sterols, β-sitosterol (BSS), stigmasterol (STG), and the stanol, stigmastanol (STN). The potential of extracts of AP, AP formulations as well as HYP, its aglycone rooperol (ROP) and the sterols to inhibit in vitro metabolism of drug marker substrates by human cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes such as CYP3A4, 3A5 and CYP19 were investigated. Samples were also assessed for their effect on drug transport proteins such as P-glycoprotein (P-gp). The effects on CYP-mediated metabolism were studied by fluorometric microtitre plate assay. The potential interaction with P-gp was investigated by measuring the efflux of the fluorescent dye rhodamine 123 (Rh 123) in the CaCo-2 (colon carcinoma) cell line. Various extracts of AP, AP formulations, only STG and the norlignans, in particular the aglycone ROP, exhibited inhibitory effects on CYP3A4-, 3A5- and 19-mediated metabolism. The extracts and the formulations that contained a significant amount of HYP showed high induction of P-gp compared to the positive control, ritonavir. Whilst extrapolation of the current in vitro findings to clinical effects may well be considered speculative, these in vitro data should be heeded as a signal of possible in vivo interactions. Appropriate measures are therefore necessary to explore the possibility of such in vitro-in vivo correlations. © 2007 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved. | β-sitosterol; Drug interactions; Hypoxis hemerocallidea; Hypoxoside; Rooperol; Stigmasterol | African potato extract; alpha tocopherol; aromatase; ascorbic acid; cyanocobalamin; cytochrome P450; cytochrome P450 3A4; cytochrome P450 3A5; fluorescent dye; ginseng extract; glycoprotein P; hypoxoside; norlignan glycoside; plant extract; plant medicinal product; pyridoxine; retinol; rhodamine 123; riboflavin; ritonavir; rooperol; selenium; sitostanol; sitosterol; stanol ester; sterol derivative; stigmasterol; thiamine; unclassified drug; unindexed drug; vitamin D; article; cell strain CACO 2; controlled study; drug formulation; drug metabolism; herb; human; human cell; in vitro study; in vivo study; nonhuman; potato; priority journal; protein induction; traditional medicine; Caco-2 Cells; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Enzyme Inhibitors; Humans; Hypoxis; Molecular Structure; P-Glycoprotein; Plant Extracts; Ritonavir; Hypoxis hemerocallidea; Solanum tuberosum | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84931834161 | Formulation and evaluation of ibuprofen loaded lipospheres for effective oral drug delivery | Momoh M.A., Kenechukwu F.C., Gwarzo M.S., Builders P.F. | 2015 | Dhaka University Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences | 14 | 1 | None | Drug Delivery Research Unit, Department of Pharmaceutics, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria; Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria; Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Raw Mater | Momoh, M.A., Drug Delivery Research Unit, Department of Pharmaceutics, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria; Kenechukwu, F.C., Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria; Gwarzo, M.S., Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Raw Material Development, National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Abuja, Nigeria; Builders, P.F. | Ibuprofen (IBU) is an anti-inflammatory drug characterized by low solubility and bioavailabilty. This study was to develop IBU-liposphere and investigated for in vitro and in vivo performance. IBU free base was incorporated into lipospheres based on micronized beeswax and Phospholipon® 90H in the ratio of (1:3), via hot emulsification. IBU-loaded lipospheres were characterized based on morphology, encapsulation efficiency (EE%), and in vitro drug release. Analgesic, anti-inflammatory activities and the pharmacokinetics were similarly evaluated. Minimum and maximum encapsulation efficiency (EE%) of 89.4 and 97.9% were obtained for lipospheres A1 and A3, respectively. Stable, spherical and smooth lipospheres of size range 101 ± 0.30 to 178 ± 0.30 µm were obtained. Minimum and maximum release of 75 and 96.9% were obtained for A1 and A3, respectively. Significant (p<0.005) analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities were achieved with prolong plasma concentration. IBU-lipospheres based on beeswax and phospholipid could be explored as an alternative drug delivery system. © 2015, University of Dhaka. All rights reserved. | Characterization; Drug delivery; Ibuprofen; Lipospheres; Sustained-release | ibuprofen; liposphere; microsphere; phosphatidylcholine; propolis; unclassified drug; analgesic activity; animal experiment; animal model; antiinflammatory activity; area under the curve; Article; controlled study; drug bioavailability; drug blood level; drug delivery system; drug formulation; drug release; emulsion; encapsulation; female; in vitro study; in vivo study; male; maximum plasma concentration; morphology; nonhuman; particle size; paw edema; rat; tail flick test; time to maximum plasma concentration | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84903778139 | Energy efficient environment monitoring system based on the IEEE 802.15.4 standard for low cost requirements | Kumar A., Hancke G.P. | 2014 | IEEE Sensors Journal | 14 | 8 | 10.1109/JSEN.2014.2313348 | Electrical, Electronics and Computer Engineering Department, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa, South Africa; Department of Computer Science, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong | Kumar, A., Electrical, Electronics and Computer Engineering Department, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa, South Africa; Hancke, G.P., Electrical, Electronics and Computer Engineering Department, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa, South Africa, Department of Computer Science, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong | Power consumption, portability, and system cost are important parameters in designing pervasive measurement systems. With these parameters in mind, wireless environment monitoring system with a capability to monitor greenhouse gases, such as CO, {\rm CO}-{2} , {\rm SO}-{\rm x} , {\rm NO}-{\rm x} , {\rm O}-{2} with environmental parameter is developed. In order to achieve the target design goals, the communication module, the wireless smart transducer interface module, and wireless network capable application processor module were developed based on the IEEE 802.15.4, IEEE 1451.2, and IEEE 1451.1 standards, respectively. The low cost and energy efficient gas sensing modules were successfully developed with improved tolerance to EMF/RFI noise. We defined recalibration of the system at time intervals to ensure that the desired accuracy is maintained. This paper presents the undertaken design detailing solutions to issues raised in previous research. © 2001-2012 IEEE. | electrochemical gas sensor array; IEEE 802.15.4standard; network capable application processor; Smart sensor, smart transducer interfacemodule | Energy efficiency; Greenhouse gases; Monitoring; Transducers; Electrochemical gas sensors; Environment monitoring system; Environmental parameter; IEEE 802.15.4 standards; IEEE 802.15.4standard; Network capable application processor; Smart transducer interface modules; Smart transducers; Standards | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84907995962 | Evaluation of the modified colorimetric resazurin microtiter plate-based antibacterial assay for rapid and reliable tuberculosis drug susceptibility testing | Katawera V., Siedner M., Boum Ii Y. | 2014 | BMC Microbiology | 14 | 1 | 10.1186/s12866-014-0259-6 | Epicentre Mbarara Research Centre, Mbarara, Uganda; Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara, Uganda; Massachussetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States | Katawera, V., Epicentre Mbarara Research Centre, Mbarara, Uganda, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara, Uganda; Siedner, M., Massachussetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States; Boum Ii, Y., Epicentre Mbarara Research Centre, Mbarara, Uganda, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara, Uganda | Background: The resazurin microtiter assay (classic REMA), a colorimetric liquid culture-based drug susceptibility assay for Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB), has been endorsed by the World Health Organization. The assay requires 8-16 days to obtain results, delaying management of drug resistant tuberculosis patients. A modified REMA which allows results in as little as 24 hours for bacterial strains, has been developed and validated using Staphylococcus aureus, but has not yet been evaluated for MTB. Therefore we assessed the performance of the modified REMA for rifampicin (RIF) and isoniazid (INH) susceptibility, using the classic REMA as the reference standard. We also compared simplicity (from the technicians' point of view), time taken to obtain results (rank-sum testing), specificity and Kappa statistics of the two methods.Results: The modified REMA, which is a one-step procedure, was found to be simpler to perform and results were obtained in a significantly shorter time (5 versus 9 days, p < 0.0001) compared to the classic REMA due to addition of indicator and strain at the same time. The specificity of the modified REMA was low {46.8% (35.5% - 58.4%) for RIF and 13.9% (7.2% - 23.5%) for INH}. Kappa statistics were 16.0% for RIF and 2.0% for INH. Low specificity and kappa statistics are due to indicator reduction by the strains before complete drug activity.Conclusion: Although modified REMA is faster and simpler compared to classic REMA, it is not reliable for MTB drug susceptibility testing. © 2014 Katawera et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | None | isoniazid; resazurin; rifampicin; isoniazid; oxazine derivative; resazurin; rifampicin; tuberculostatic agent; xanthene derivative; Article; bacterial strain; controlled study; diagnostic accuracy; diagnostic test accuracy study; drug activity; drug resistant tuberculosis; drug sensitivity; microtiter plate assay; minimum inhibitory concentration; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; nonhuman; Staphylococcus aureus; tuberculosis; colorimetry; drug effects; evaluation study; human; microbial sensitivity test; microbiology; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; procedures; tuberculosis; Antitubercular Agents; Colorimetry; Humans; Isoniazid; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; Oxazines; Rifampin; Tuberculosis; Xanthenes | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-60349123484 | Individual efficacy of intermittent preventive treatment with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine in primi- and secundigravidae in rural Burkina Faso: Impact on parasitaemia, anaemia and birth weight | Gies S., Coulibaly S.O., Ouattara F.T., D'Alessandro U. | 2009 | Tropical Medicine and International Health | 14 | 2 | 10.1111/j.1365-3156.2008.02215.x | Epidemiology and Control of Parasitic Disease Unit, Department of Parasitology, Prince Leopold Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nationalestraat 155, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium; Epidemiology and Control of Parasitic Diseases Unit, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium; UFR Sciences de la Santé, Université de Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, South Africa; Laboratoire National de Santé Publique, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, South Africa; District Sanitaire Boromo, Burkina Faso, South Africa | Gies, S., Epidemiology and Control of Parasitic Disease Unit, Department of Parasitology, Prince Leopold Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nationalestraat 155, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium, Epidemiology and Control of Parasitic Diseases Unit, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium; Coulibaly, S.O., UFR Sciences de la Santé, Université de Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, South Africa, Laboratoire National de Santé Publique, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, South Africa; Ouattara, F.T., District Sanitaire Boromo, Burkina Faso, South Africa; D'Alessandro, U., Epidemiology and Control of Parasitic Diseases Unit, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium | Objective : To assess the efficacy at individual level of intermittent preventive treatment with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (IPTp-SP) in primi- and secundigravidae in rural Burkina Faso. Methods : Data of 1441 women enrolled in a health centre randomized trial and delivering a live-singleton between September 2004 and October 2006 were analysed at individual level. Prevalence of peripheral and placental parasitaemia, anaemia (PCV <33%), low-birth weight (<2500 g; LBW), mean packed cell volume (PCV) and birth weight were compared in relation to the number of directly observed SP doses. Results : Two or more doses of SP significantly reduced the risk of placental parasitaemia [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 0.04, 95%CI = 0.003-0.60, P = 0.023] and anaemia at delivery (AOR = 0.31, 95%CI = 0.18-0.52, P < 0.001). IPTp was associated with reduced risk of LBW in primigravidae (AOR = 0.11, 95%CI = 0.07-0.17, P < 0.001) but not secundigravidae (AOR = 0.70, 95%CI = 0.26-1.91, P = 0.452). For each increment in number of SP doses mean PCV increased by 1.0% (95%CI = 0.4-1.7, P = 0.005) at 32 weeks gestation, by 1.2% (95%CI = 0.2-2.2, P = 0.025) at delivery and mean birth weight by 220 g (95%CI = 134-306 P < 0.001) in primigravidae and by 102 g (95%CI = 55-148, P = 0.001) in secundigravidae. Conclusion : The risk of malaria infection was significantly reduced by IPTp with SP in primi- and secundigravidae in rural Burkina Faso. The impact on clinical outcomes is lower and mainly limited to primigravidae for LBW. Incomplete uptake of IPTp-SP and limited effect in low risk groups together may substantially dilute the measurable impact of effective interventions. This needs to be taken into account when evaluating interventions at community level. © 2009 Blackwell Publishing Ltd. | Birth weight; Burkina Faso; Intermittent preventive treatment; Malaria; Pregnancy; Sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine | antianemic agent; fansidar; quinine; anemia; body mass; community care; disease prevalence; disease treatment; health risk; malaria; medicine; pregnancy; rural area; adult; anemia; article; birth weight; Burkina Faso; clinical trial; confidence interval; controlled clinical trial; controlled study; delivery; directly observed therapy; disease association; dose response; drug efficacy; drug intermittent therapy; female; gestational age; health care; hematocrit; human; low birth weight; major clinical study; malaria; parasitemia; pregnancy; prevalence; primigravida; randomized controlled trial; risk reduction; rural area; statistical significance; Adult; Anemia; Animals; Antimalarials; Birth Weight; Burkina Faso; Drug Combinations; Female; Humans; Infant, Low Birth Weight; Infant, Newborn; Logistic Models; Malaria, Falciparum; Parasitemia; Placenta; Plasmodium falciparum; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic; Pyrimethamine; Sulfadoxine; Young Adult; Africa; Burkina Faso; Sub-Saharan Africa; West Africa | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79960765195 | How Mapula fell through the cracks in her community school: A failing environment in a 'high-impact social setting' | Salmon L., Fourie J. | 2011 | Education as Change | 14 | SUPPL.1 | 10.1080/16823206.2010.517939 | Faculty of Education, University of Johannesburg, PO Box 524, Auckland Park 2006, South Africa | Salmon, L., Faculty of Education, University of Johannesburg, PO Box 524, Auckland Park 2006, South Africa; Fourie, J., Faculty of Education, University of Johannesburg, PO Box 524, Auckland Park 2006, South Africa | As with other schools, there are many casualties on the road of the community school psychology movement in South Africa. This article presents the case of one young girl, Mapula, who may have been spared if school community psychology practice had been established in the inner city where she tried to get an education. The case study tells the story of her school's attempts to meet her educational needs and of her struggle. Mapula's condition deteriorated, parallel with the school's efforts to try and assist her. It urgently required the help of a support team and caring educational psychologists, social workers and public health professionals. None of these were forthcoming in this 'private' school 'for the poor'. We argue for radical community psychology support in schools situated in settings such as these, where social impact is high. It also questions the ability of organisations running such schools, to cope with the full responsibility. © 2010 The University of Johannesburg. | Bullying; Community psychology; Hallucinatory episodes; Inner-city school; Reading problems | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-63849123939 | Exploring the impact of narrative arts activities on the self-concept of grade 9 learners in group context | Maree J.G., Pienaar P.A. | 2009 | International Journal of Adolescence and Youth | 14 | 4 | None | Faculty of Education, University of Pretoria, 0001 Pretoria, South Africa; Faculty of Education, University of Pretoria, Groenkloof Campus, Groenkloof, Pretoria 0001, South Africa | Maree, J.G., Faculty of Education, University of Pretoria, 0001 Pretoria, South Africa, Faculty of Education, University of Pretoria, Groenkloof Campus, Groenkloof, Pretoria 0001, South Africa; Pienaar, P.A., Faculty of Education, University of Pretoria, 0001 Pretoria, South Africa | In this study we investigate the impact of a narrative arts learning programme on the self-concept of Grade 9 learners in the Life Orientation classroom. The programme was designed in response to a suggestion contained in the government guidelines for Life Orientation. The aims of narrative counselling were employed to allow the learners to tell their stories to themselves and others, and the arts component allowed the learners an opportunity to give visual substance to their individual and collective narratives. Brief video recordings were made of each group's interactions during the narrative arts episodes in order to compile an edited video overview of the process. The aims of positive psychology were embedded in the structure and design of the arts episodes and activities. © 2009 A B Academic Publishers. | None | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-58449089773 | The impact of primary health care on malaria morbidity - Defining access by disease burden | O'Meara W.P., Noor A., Gatakaa H., Tsofa B., McKenzie F.E., Marsh K. | 2009 | Tropical Medicine and International Health | 14 | 1 | 10.1111/j.1365-3156.2008.02194.x | Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States; KEMRI/Wellcome Trust Collaborative Program, Nairobi, Kenya; Kenya Medical Research Institute, CGMRC/Wellcome Trust Collaborative Program, Kilifi, Kenya; Ministry of Health, Kilifi, Kenya | O'Meara, W.P., Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States; Noor, A., KEMRI/Wellcome Trust Collaborative Program, Nairobi, Kenya; Gatakaa, H., Kenya Medical Research Institute, CGMRC/Wellcome Trust Collaborative Program, Kilifi, Kenya; Tsofa, B., Ministry of Health, Kilifi, Kenya; McKenzie, F.E., Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States; Marsh, K., Ministry of Health, Kilifi, Kenya | Objectives Primary care facilities are increasingly becoming the focal point for distribution of malaria intervention strategies, but physical access to these facilities may limit the extent to which communities can be reached. To investigate the impact of travel time to primary care on the incidence of hospitalized malaria episodes in a rural district in Kenya. Methods The incidence of hospitalized malaria in a population under continuous demographic surveillance was recorded over 3 years. The time to travel to the nearest primary health care facility was calculated for every child between birth and 5 years of age and trends in incidence of hospitalized malaria as a function of travel time were evaluated. Results The incidence of hospitalized malaria more than doubled as travel time to the nearest primary care facility increased from 10 min to 2 h. Good access to primary health facilities may reduce the burden of disease by as much as 66%. Conclusions Our results highlight both the potential of the primary health care system in reaching those most at risk and reducing the disease burden. Insufficient access is an important risk factor, one that may be inequitably distributed to the poorest households. © 2008 Blackwell Publishing Ltd. | Access; Kenya; Malaria morbidity; Primary health care; Travel time | child health; disease control; health care; malaria; morbidity; travel time; article; child; disease surveillance; health care access; health care facility; hospital admission; hospital patient; human; infant; Kenya; major clinical study; malaria; morbidity; newborn; outpatient care; preschool child; primary health care; rural health care; Ambulatory Care Facilities; Child, Preschool; Endemic Diseases; Health Services Accessibility; Health Services Research; Hospitalization; Humans; Incidence; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Kenya; Malaria; Primary Health Care; Residence Characteristics; Rural Health; Time Factors; Travel; Africa; East Africa; Kenya; Sub-Saharan Africa | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84924139696 | Stepping Stones and Creating Futures intervention: Shortened interrupted time series evaluation of a behavioural and structural health promotion and violence prevention intervention for young people in informal settlements in Durban, South Africa | Jewkes R., Gibbs A., Jama-Shai N., Willan S., Misselhorn A., Mushinga M., Washington L., Mbatha N., Skiweyiya Y. | 2014 | BMC Public Health | 14 | 1 | 10.1186/1471-2458-14-1325 | Gender and Health Research Unit, Private Bag X385, Pretoria, South Africa; School of Public Health, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; HEARD, University of Kwa-Zulu Natal, Durban, South Africa; University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa; Project Empower, Durban, South Africa | Jewkes, R., Gender and Health Research Unit, Private Bag X385, Pretoria, South Africa, School of Public Health, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Gibbs, A., HEARD, University of Kwa-Zulu Natal, Durban, South Africa; Jama-Shai, N., Gender and Health Research Unit, Private Bag X385, Pretoria, South Africa, School of Public Health, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Willan, S., HEARD, University of Kwa-Zulu Natal, Durban, South Africa; Misselhorn, A., HEARD, University of Kwa-Zulu Natal, Durban, South Africa; Mushinga, M., University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa; Washington, L., Project Empower, Durban, South Africa; Mbatha, N., Project Empower, Durban, South Africa; Skiweyiya, Y., Gender and Health Research Unit, Private Bag X385, Pretoria, South Africa | Background: Gender-based violence and HIV are highly prevalent in the harsh environment of informal settlements and reducing violence here is very challenging. The group intervention Stepping Stones has been shown to reduce men's perpetration of violence in more rural areas, but violence experienced by women in the study was not affected. Economic empowerment interventions with gender training can protect older women from violence, but microloan interventions have proved challenging with young women. We investigated whether combining a broad economic empowerment intervention and Stepping Stones could impact on violence among young men and women. The intervention, Creating Futures, was developed as a new generation of economic empowerment intervention, which enabled livelihood strengthening though helping participants find work or set up a business, and did not give cash or make loans. Methods: We piloted Stepping Stones with Creating Futures in two informal settlements of Durban with 232 out of school youth, mostly aged 18-30 and evaluated with a shortened interrupted time series of two baseline surveys and at 28 and 58 weeks post-baseline. 94/110 men and 111/122 women completed the last assessment, 85.5% and 90.2% respectively of those enrolled. To determine trend, we built random effects regression models with each individual as the cluster for each variable, and measured the slope of the line across the time points. Results: Men's mean earnings in the past month increased by 247% from R411 (~$40) to R1015 (~$102, and women's by 278% R 174 (~$17) to R 484 (about $48) (trend test, p < 0.0001). There was a significant reduction in women's experience of the combined measure of physical and/or sexual IPV in the prior three months from 30.3% to 18.9% (p = 0.037). This was not seen for men. However both men and women scored significantly better on gender attitudes and men significantly reduced their controlling practices in their relationship. The prevalence of moderate or severe depression symptomatology among men and suicidal thoughts decreased significantly (p < 0.0001 and p = 0.01). Conclusions: These findings are very positive for an exploratory study and indicate that the Creating Futures/ Stepping Stones intervention has potential for impact in these difficult areas with young men and women. Further evaluation is needed. © 2014 Jewkes et al. | None | adolescent; adult; alcoholism; attitude; behavior; depression; female; health promotion; HIV Infections; human; income; male; partner violence; prevalence; prevention and control; procedures; sexual behavior; South Africa; statistics and numerical data; suicidal ideation; violence; young adult; Adolescent; Adult; Alcoholism; Attitude; Depression; Female; Health Promotion; HIV Infections; Humans; Income; Interrupted Time Series Analysis; Male; Power (Psychology); Prevalence; Sexual Behavior; South Africa; Spouse Abuse; Suicidal Ideation; Violence; Young Adult | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84879116855 | Long-term crushing performance of lightly cementitious pavement materials - update to the South African procedure | Litwinowicz A., De Beer M. | 2013 | Road Materials and Pavement Design | 14 | 3 | 10.1080/14680629.2012.755934 | GHD, Brisbane, Australia; CSIR Built Environment, Infrastructure Engineering, PO Box 395, Pretoria 0001, South Africa | Litwinowicz, A., GHD, Brisbane, Australia; De Beer, M., CSIR Built Environment, Infrastructure Engineering, PO Box 395, Pretoria 0001, South Africa | Evaluation of the crushing (or compression) failure and associated surface deformation of lightly cementitious (stabilised) materials used for base/sub-base course in pavements has been well established in the South African pavement design practice since the 1990s. This paper presents a re-evaluation of this earlier work, focusing on expanding the empirically derived crushing performance relationships (i.e. transfer functions or damage laws) for lightly cementitious materials at in situ moisture conditions, i.e. without the adverse effect of additional or artificial water infiltration into the lightly cementitious base, which limited the practical application of the original transfer functions for significant rutting. The re-evaluation was undertaken to determine whether the original crush initiation relationship was reasonable for as-built moisture conditions and also to develop practical advanced crushing damage relationships for various rut depths developing within the base, based on the measured response of the original test sections prior to water ingress. The newly derived crush initiation relationship differs little from the original and either can be used with similar confidence. However, the new 10 mm rut relationship differs significantly from the original relationships (which were derived from the adverse statistical bound of the crush initiation data), the previous relationship should now be abandoned, and the new relationships adopted for well-protected pavements. The newly developed advanced crushing damage relationships for 5, 10, 15 and 20 mm level of deformation ("rut") within the lightly cementitious base layers are proposed for practical application to in situ as-constructed (as built) moisture conditions. © 2013 © 2013 Taylor & Francis. | base; cemented; cementitious; compression; crushing; damage; failure; life; pavement; stabilised; transfer functions | base; cemented; Cementitious; damage; life; stabilised; Abandoned wells; Compaction; Computer system recovery; Crushing; Deformation; Moisture; Transfer functions; Pavements | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84859839854 | Innovation outcomes of South African new technology-based firms: A contribution to the debate on the performance of science park firms | Chan K.-Y.A., Oerlemans L.A.G., Pretorius M.W. | 2011 | South African Journal of Economic and Management Sciences | 14 | 4 | None | Graduate School of Technology Management, University of Pretoria, South Africa; Department of Organisation Studies and Center for Innovation Research, Tilburg University and Graduate School of Technology Management, University of Pretoria, South Africa | Chan, K.-Y.A., Graduate School of Technology Management, University of Pretoria, South Africa; Oerlemans, L.A.G., Department of Organisation Studies and Center for Innovation Research, Tilburg University and Graduate School of Technology Management, University of Pretoria, South Africa; Pretorius, M.W., Graduate School of Technology Management, University of Pretoria, South Africa | Science parks are often established to drive regional economic growth, especially in countries with emerging economies. However, mixed findings on the innovation outcomes of science park firms are reported in the literature. This study systematically identifies innovation outputs used in the science park literature and argues: (a) that firms generate different outcomes at various stages of the innovation process; and (b) that their use is a possible explanation for the mixed findings reported in the field. This paper combines a knowledge production function approach, modeling knowledge transfers and spillover flowing to new technology-based firms (NTBFs) in the emerging South African economy with innovation outcomes, which are measured by using a multi-dimensional construct. The estimations produce non-consistent and non-systematic results across different dimensions of innovation outcomes, implying that results are outcome indicator specific and that it makes sense to distinguish multiple indicators of innovation outcomes referring to different phases in a firm's innovation process. | Innovative outcomes; Knowledge transfer; New technology-based firms; Science parks; Spillovers | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000334942700001 | Implementation and evaluation of the Helping Babies Breathe curriculum in three resource limited settings: does Helping Babies Breathe save lives? A study protocol | Bang, Akash,Bellad, Roopa,Carlo, Waldemar A.,Derman, Richard J.,Esamai, Fabian,Gisore, Peter,Goco, Norman,Goudar, Shivaprasad,Hibberd, Patricia,Liechty, Edward A.,McClure, Elizabeth,Meleth, Sreelatha,Patel, Archana,Wright, Linda L. | 2014 | BMC PREGNANCY AND CHILDBIRTH | 14 | None | 10.1186/1471-2393-14-116 | Harvard University, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Indiana University System, Moi University, National Institutes of Health (NIH) - USA, Research Triangle Institute, University of Alabama Birmingham, University of Alabama System, Christiana Care, Eunice Kennedy Shriver Natl Inst Child Hlth & Hum, KLEs Jawaharlal Nehru Med Coll, Lata Med Res Fdn, Mahatma Gandhi Inst Med Sci, Massachusetts Gen Hosp, NIH Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD), , RTI Int | "Carlo, Waldemar A.: University of Alabama Birmingham","Carlo, Waldemar A.: University of Alabama System","Esamai, Fabian: Moi University","Gisore, Peter: Moi University","Goco, Norman: Research Triangle Institute","Hibberd, Patricia: Harvard University","Liechty, Edward A.: Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis","Liechty, Edward A.: Indiana University System","McClure, Elizabeth: Research Triangle Institute","Meleth, Sreelatha: Research Triangle Institute","Wright, Linda L.: National Institutes of Health (NIH) - USA", | Background: Neonatal deaths account for over 40% of all under-5 year deaths; their reduction is increasingly critical for achieving Millennium Development Goal 4. An estimated 3 million newborns die annually during their first month of life; half of these deaths occur during delivery or within 24 hours. Every year, 6 million babies require help to breathe immediately after birth. Resuscitation training to help babies breathe and prevent/manage birth asphyxia is not routine in low-middle income facility settings. Helping Babies Breathe (HBB), a simulation-training program for babies wherever they are born, was developed for use in low-middle income countries. We evaluated whether HBB training of facility birth attendants reduces perinatal mortality in the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development's Global Network research sites.
Methods/design: We hypothesize that a two-year prospective pre-post study to evaluate the impact of a facility-based training package, including HBB and essential newborn care, will reduce all perinatal mortality (fresh stillbirth or neonatal death prior to 7 days) among the Global Network's Maternal Neonatal Health Registry births >= 1500 grams in the study clusters served by the facilities. We will also evaluate the effectiveness of the HBB training program changing on facility-based perinatal mortality and resuscitation practices. Seventy-one health facilities serving 52 geographically-defined study clusters in Belgaum and Nagpur, India, and Eldoret, Kenya, and 30,000 women will be included. Primary outcome data will be collected by staff not involved in the HBB intervention. Additional data on resuscitations, resuscitation debriefings, death audits, quality monitoring and improvement will be collected. HBB training will include training of MTs, facility level birth attendants, and quality monitoring and improvement activities.
Discussion: Our study will evaluate the effect of a HBB/ENC training and quality monitoring and improvement package on perinatal mortality using a large multicenter design and approach in 71 resource-limited health facilities, leveraging an existing birth registry to provide neonatal outcomes through day 7. The study will provide the evidence base, lessons learned, and best practices that will be essential to guiding future policy and investment in neonatal resuscitation. | ASPHYXIA,"bag and mask ventilation",">= 1500 grams","Helping Babies Breathe","NEONATAL MORTALITY","PERINATAL MORTALITY",RESUSCITATION,STILLBIRTH,DEVELOPING-COUNTRY,"NEONATAL RESUSCITATION",PERINATAL-MORTALITY | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84859474803 | Effects of feeding Moringa stenopetala leaf meal on nutrient intake and growth performance of Rhode Island Red chicks under tropical climate | Melesse A., Tiruneh W., Negesse T. | 2011 | Tropical and Subtropical Agroecosystems | 14 | 2 | None | Hawassa University, College of Agriculture, P. O. Box 05, Hawassa, Ethiopia; Dilla University, Faculty of Agriculture and Rural Development, P. O. Box 419, Dilla, Ethiopia | Melesse, A., Hawassa University, College of Agriculture, P. O. Box 05, Hawassa, Ethiopia; Tiruneh, W., Dilla University, Faculty of Agriculture and Rural Development, P. O. Box 419, Dilla, Ethiopia; Negesse, T., Hawassa University, College of Agriculture, P. O. Box 05, Hawassa, Ethiopia | The effects of Moringa stenopetala leaf meal (MSLM) on nutrient intake and weight gain (WG) were evaluated. Forty unsexed Rhode Island Red chicks were randomly assigned to 4 treatment groups. The control diet (T1) (MSLM 0%), the experimental diets contained MSML at a rate of 2% (T2), 4% (T3), and 6% (T4) of the diets (as fed basis) to replace 3%, 5.9% and 8.8% of the crude protein (CP) of the control diet. Daily feed, dry matter and CP intake of the chicks fed MSLM diets were higher (p<0.05) than those fed the control diet. Average weight gain (AWG) of birds fed MSLM diets were higher (p<0.05) than those fed the control diet. Chicks fed T4 showed higher (p<0.05) AWG than those on T2 and T3. Feed efficiency ratio (FER, g gain/g feed intake) and protein efficiency ratio (PER, g gain/g CP intake) were higher for chicks fed MSLM. MSLM elicited no deleterious effects in the birds. The results indicated that MSLM is a potential plant protein supplement and could be included to 6% in the diet of grower chicks to substitute expensive conventional protein sources. | Growth performance; Moringa stenopetala leaf meal; Nutrient intake; Rhode Island Red chicks | Aves; Moringa; Moringa stenopetala | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-44349168404 | Informatics for historians: Tools for medieval document XML markup, and their impact on the history-sciences | Burkard B., Vogeler G., Gruner S. | 2008 | Journal of Universal Computer Science | 14 | 2 | None | Hist.-Kulturw. Inf.-Verarbeitung, Univ. zu Köln, Germany; Histor. Seminar, Ludwig-Max.-Univ. München, Germany; Dept. of Comp.-Science, Univ. of Pretoria, South Africa | Burkard, B., Hist.-Kulturw. Inf.-Verarbeitung, Univ. zu Köln, Germany; Vogeler, G., Histor. Seminar, Ludwig-Max.-Univ. München, Germany; Gruner, S., Dept. of Comp.-Science, Univ. of Pretoria, South Africa | This article is a revised and extended version of [VBG, 07]. We conjecture that the digitalization of historical text documents as a basis of data mining and information retrieval for the purpose of progress in the history sciences is urgently needed. We present a novel, specialist XML tool-suite supporting the working historian in the transcription of original medieval charters into a machine-readable form, and we also address some latest developments which can be found in the field, since the publication of [VBG, 07]. © J.UCS. | Digitalization and preparation of medieval documents for the semantic web; History-informatics; Tool-support; XML tagging | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84925125198 | Impact of organisational justice on work outcomes in the pharmaceutical industry in Kuwait | Mohamed I., Yeo R.K. | 2014 | International Journal of Human Resources Development and Management | 14 | 42372 | 10.1504/IJHRDM.2014.068083 | Ianndryan Healthcare Inc., 81-2435 Greenwich Drive, Oakville, Canada; University of South Australia, GPO Box 2471, Adelaide, SA, Australia; Saudi Aramco, P.O. Box 12979, Dhahran, South Africa | Mohamed, I., Ianndryan Healthcare Inc., 81-2435 Greenwich Drive, Oakville, Canada; Yeo, R.K., University of South Australia, GPO Box 2471, Adelaide, SA, Australia, Saudi Aramco, P.O. Box 12979, Dhahran, South Africa | This paper investigates the impact of organisational justice on work outcomes based on the moderation of trust and mediation of social exchange. A survey was conducted in the Kuwait pharmaceutical industry receiving 324 responses. Through multiple regression analyses, findings indicate that the perception of social exchange and organisational justice was influenced by the negative moderation of trust. Commitment to organisation, workplace aggression control and employee engagement were found to have a significant inverse relationship with intention to quit, while organisational citizenship behaviour, job satisfaction and commitment to supervisor demonstrated a direct positive relationship with intention to quit. The study extends the theoretical concepts of justice by illuminating the importance of context arising from culture, workforce diversity and industry competitiveness. Particularly, trust and social exchange are interrelated to offer a different perspective to the understanding of organisational justice and work outcomes. The paper outlines some implications for human resource management. Copyright © 2014 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd. | Behaviour; Intention to quit; ITQ; Kuwait; Organisational justice; Pharmaceutical industry; Social exchange; Trust | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000315119400002 | The impact of hotspot-targeted interventions on malaria transmission: study protocol for a cluster-randomized controlled trial | Baidjoe, Amrish,Bayoh, Nabie,Bousema, Teun,Cox, Jonathan,Desai, Meghna,Drakeley, Chris,Griffin, Jamie T.,Kleinschmidt, Immo,Laserson, Kayla,Remarque, Edmond J.,Sauerwein, Robert,Stevenson, Jennifer,Stresman, Gillian,Vulule, John | 2013 | TRIALS | 14 | None | 10.1186/1745-6215-14-36 | Imperial College London, Radboud University Nijmegen, University of London, Biomed Primate Res Ctr, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention - USA, Ctr Dis Control & Prevent, Kenya Govt Med Res Ctr, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine | "Baidjoe, Amrish: Radboud University Nijmegen","Cox, Jonathan: University of London","Drakeley, Chris: University of London","Griffin, Jamie T.: Imperial College London","Kleinschmidt, Immo: University of London","Sauerwein, Robert: Radboud University Nijmegen","Stevenson, Jennifer: University of London","Stresman, Gillian: University of London", | Background: Malaria transmission is highly heterogeneous in most settings, resulting in the formation of recognizable malaria hotspots. Targeting these hotspots might represent a highly efficacious way of controlling or eliminating malaria if the hotspots fuel malaria transmission to the wider community.
Methods/design: Hotspots of malaria will be determined based on spatial patterns in age-adjusted prevalence and density of antibodies against malaria antigens apical membrane antigen-1 and merozoite surface protein-1. The community effect of interventions targeted at these hotspots will be determined. The intervention will comprise larviciding, focal screening and treatment of the human population, distribution of long-lasting insecticide-treated nets and indoor residual spraying. The impact of the intervention will be determined inside and up to 500 m outside the targeted hotspots by PCR-based parasite prevalence in cross-sectional surveys, malaria morbidity by passive case detection in selected facilities and entomological monitoring of larval and adult Anopheles populations.
Discussion: This study aims to provide direct evidence for a community effect of hotspot-targeted interventions. The trial is powered to detect large effects on malaria transmission in the context of ongoing malaria interventions. Follow-up studies will be needed to determine the effect of individual components of the interventions and the cost-effectiveness of a hotspot-targeted approach, where savings made by reducing the number of compounds that need to receive interventions should outweigh the costs of hotspot-detection. | ANOPHELES,ELIMINATION,EPIDEMIOLOGY,ERADICATION,falciparum,HETEROGENEITY,IMMUNOLOGY,MALARIA,MOLECULAR,TRANSMISSION,ANOPHELES-GAMBIAE,"BED NETS",CHILD-MORTALITY,DAR-ES-SALAAM,"DRIED BLOOD SPOTS",LIGHT-TRAP,PAPUA-NEW-GUINEA,PLASMODIUM-FALCIPARUM,TANZANIA,"WE | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000296353600001 | Alternative antiretroviral monitoring strategies for HIV-infected patients in east Africa: opportunities to save more lives? | Bacon, Melanie C.,Braithwaite, R. Scott,Diero, Lameck,Kimaiyo, Sylvester,Musick, Beverly,Nucifora, Kimberly A.,Wools-Kaloustian, Kara,Yiannoutsos, Constantin T. | 2011 | JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL AIDS SOCIETY | 14 | None | 10.1186/1758-2652-14-38 | Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Indiana University System, Moi University, National Institutes of Health (NIH) - USA, New York University, National Institutes of Health (NIH) - USA, NIH National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases (NIAID) | "Bacon, Melanie C.: National Institutes of Health (NIH) - USA","Braithwaite, R. Scott: New York University","Diero, Lameck: Moi University","Kimaiyo, Sylvester: Moi University","Musick, Beverly: Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis","Musick, Beverly: Indiana University System","Nucifora, Kimberly A.: New York University","Wools-Kaloustian, Kara: Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis","Wools-Kaloustian, Kara: Indiana University System","Yiannoutsos, Constantin T.: Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis","Yiannoutsos, Constantin T.: Indiana University System", | Background: Updated World Health Organization guidelines have amplified debate about how resource constraints should impact monitoring strategies for HIV-infected persons on combination antiretroviral therapy (cART). We estimated the incremental benefit and cost effectiveness of alternative monitoring strategies for east Africans with known HIV infection.
Methods: Using a validated HIV computer simulation based on resource-limited data (USAID and AMPATH) and circumstances (east Africa), we compared alternative monitoring strategies for HIV-infected persons newly started on cART. We evaluated clinical, immunologic and virologic monitoring strategies, including combinations and conditional logic (e. g., only perform virologic testing if immunologic testing is positive). We calculated incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICER) in units of cost per quality-adjusted life year (QALY), using a societal perspective and a lifetime horizon. Costs were measured in 2008 US dollars, and costs and benefits were discounted at 3%. We compared the ICER of monitoring strategies with those of other resource-constrained decisions, in particular earlier cART initiation (at CD4 counts of 350 cells/mm(3) rather than 200 cells/mm3).
Results: Monitoring strategies employing routine CD4 testing without virologic testing never maximized health benefits, regardless of budget or societal willingness to pay for additional health benefits. Monitoring strategies employing virologic testing conditional upon particular CD4 results delivered the most benefit at willingness-to-pay levels similar to the cost of earlier cART initiation (approximately $2600/QALY). Monitoring strategies employing routine virologic testing alone only maximized health benefits at willingness-to-pay levels (> $4400/QALY) that greatly exceeded the ICER of earlier cART initiation.
Conclusions: CD4 testing alone never maximized health benefits regardless of resource limitations. Programmes routinely performing virologic testing but deferring cART initiation may increase health benefits by reallocating monitoring resources towards earlier cART initiation. | ,ADHERENCE,COST-EFFECTIVENESS,MODEL,OUTCOMES,PROGRAMS,"RESOURCE-LIMITED SETTINGS",THERAPY,"VIRAL LOAD" | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-68149168978 | The impact of gender and income on survival and retention in a south african antiretroviral therapy programme | Cornell M., Myer L., Kaplan R., Bekker L.-G., Wood R. | 2009 | Tropical Medicine and International Health | 14 | 7 | 10.1111/j.1365-3156.2009.02290.x | Infectious Disease Epidemiology Unit, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Perinatal HIV Research Unit, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States; Desmond Tutu HIV Centre, Institute for Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa | Cornell, M., Infectious Disease Epidemiology Unit, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa, Perinatal HIV Research Unit, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Myer, L., Infectious Disease Epidemiology Unit, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa, Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States; Kaplan, R., Desmond Tutu HIV Centre, Institute for Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Bekker, L.-G., Desmond Tutu HIV Centre, Institute for Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Wood, R., Desmond Tutu HIV Centre, Institute for Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa | Objectives Despite the rapid expansion of antiretroviral therapy (ART) services in Africa, there are few data on whether outcomes differ for women and men and what factors may drive such variation. We investigated the association of gender and income with survival and retention in a South African ART programme. Methods A total of 2196 treatment-naïve adults were followed for 1 year on ART. Proportional hazards regression was used to explore associations between baseline characteristics and survival and loss-to-follow-up (LTFU). Results Patients were predominantly female (67%). Men presented at an older age and with more advanced HIV disease, and during early ART the crude death rate was higher among men than women (22.8 vs 12.5/100 person-years; P = 0.002). However in multivariate analysis, gender was not significantly associated with survival after adjusting for baseline clinical and immunovirological status (HR = 1.46, 95% CI = 0.96-2.22; P = 0.076). In late ART (4-12 months), there was no gender difference in mortality rates (3.5 vs 3.8/100 person-years; P = 0.817). In multivariate analysis, survival was strongly associated with age (HR = 1.05, 95% CI = 1.02-1.09; P < 0.001), CD4 count >150 vs <50 cells/μl (HR = 0.35, 95% CI = 0.14-0.87; P = 0.023) and any monthly income vs none (HR = 0.47, 95% CI = 0.25-0.88; P = 0.018). Having some monthly income was protective against LTFU at 1 year on ART (adjusted HR = 0.56, 95% CI = 0.39-0.82; P = 0.002). Conclusion Men's high early mortality on ART appears due largely to their presentation with more advanced HIV disease. Efforts are needed to enrol men into care earlier in HIV disease and to reduce socio-economic inequalities in ART programme outcomes. © 2009 Blackwell Publishing Ltd. | Africa; Antiretroviral therapy; Gender; Mortality; Socio-economic status | antiretrovirus agent; disease treatment; gender; hazard management; income; mortality; multivariate analysis; socioeconomic status; survival; adult; article; controlled study; female; highly active antiretroviral therapy; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; mortality; sex ratio; socioeconomics; survival rate; Adult; Anti-Retroviral Agents; CD4 Lymphocyte Count; Continuity of Patient Care; Female; Health Services Accessibility; HIV Infections; HIV-1; Humans; Male; Patient Acceptance of Health Care; Rural Health; Sex Distribution; Socioeconomic Factors; South Africa; Africa; South Africa; Southern Africa; Sub-Saharan Africa | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-80054767304 | Global phylogeography of the dusky shark Carcharhinus obscurus: Implications for fisheries management and monitoring the shark fin trade | Benavides M.T., Horn R.L., Feldheim K.A., Shivji M.S., Clarke S.C., Wintner S., Natanson L., Braccini M., Boomer J.J., Gulak S.J.B., Chapman D.D. | 2011 | Endangered Species Research | 14 | 1 | 10.3354/esr00337 | Institute for Ocean Conservation Science, School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, United States; Guy Harvey Research Institute, Save Our Seas Shark Center, Nova Southeastern University Oceanographic Center, Dania Beach, FL 33004, United States; Field Museum, Pritzker Laboratory for Molecular Systematics and Evolution, 1400 South Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60605, United States; Oceanic Fisheries Programme, Secretariat of the Pacific Community, BPD5 CEDEX, Noumea 98848, New Caledonia; KwaZulu-Natal Sharks Board, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Umhlanga Rocks 4320 and Biomedical Resource Unit, Private Bag 2, Durban 4000, South Africa; NOAA Fisheries Service, 28 Tarzwell Dr., Narragansett, RI 02882, United States; Fisheries Centre, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T1Z4, Canada; Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia; NOAA Fisheries Service, Southeast Fisheries Science Center, 3500 Delwood Beach Road, Panama City, FL 32408, United States | Benavides, M.T., Institute for Ocean Conservation Science, School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, United States; Horn, R.L., Guy Harvey Research Institute, Save Our Seas Shark Center, Nova Southeastern University Oceanographic Center, Dania Beach, FL 33004, United States; Feldheim, K.A., Field Museum, Pritzker Laboratory for Molecular Systematics and Evolution, 1400 South Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60605, United States; Shivji, M.S., Guy Harvey Research Institute, Save Our Seas Shark Center, Nova Southeastern University Oceanographic Center, Dania Beach, FL 33004, United States; Clarke, S.C., Oceanic Fisheries Programme, Secretariat of the Pacific Community, BPD5 CEDEX, Noumea 98848, New Caledonia; Wintner, S., KwaZulu-Natal Sharks Board, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Umhlanga Rocks 4320 and Biomedical Resource Unit, Private Bag 2, Durban 4000, South Africa; Natanson, L., NOAA Fisheries Service, 28 Tarzwell Dr., Narragansett, RI 02882, United States; Braccini, M., Fisheries Centre, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T1Z4, Canada; Boomer, J.J., Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia; Gulak, S.J.B., NOAA Fisheries Service, Southeast Fisheries Science Center, 3500 Delwood Beach Road, Panama City, FL 32408, United States; Chapman, D.D., Institute for Ocean Conservation Science, School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, United States | Genetic stock structure information is needed to delineate management units and monitor trade in sharks, many of which are heavily exploited and declining. The dusky shark Carcha -rhinus obscurus is a large apex predator that is sought after for its fins and is considered highly susceptible to overexploitation. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classifies this species as 'Vulnerable' globally and 'Endangered' in the northwest Atlantic. We make the first assessment of global stock structure of C. obscurus by analyzing part of the mitochondrial control region (mtCR) in 255 individuals sampled from 8 geographically dispersed locations. We found 25 mtCR haplotypes and rejected a hypothesis of panmixia (analysis of molecular variance, ΦST = 0.55, p < 0.000001), detecting significant differentiation between 3 management units: US Atlantic (USATL), South Africa (SAF), and Australia (AUS). We also found preliminary evidence of population structure between the USATL and southwest Atlantic (Brazil). There were no shared haplotypes between the western Atlantic and Indo-Pacific. These analyses suggest that replenishment of the collapsed USATL management unit via immigration of females from elsewhere is unlikely. Mixed stock analysis (MSA) simulations show that reconstruction of the relative contributions of USATL, SAF, and AUS management units to the Asian fin trade is possible using these mtCR sequences. We suggest avenues for obtaining samples to conduct MSA of the shark fin trade, which could enhance management of dusky sharks and other species that are exploited for their fins. © Inter-Research 2011. | Conservation; Mitochondrial DNA; Mixed stock analysis; Phylogeography | conservation management; endangered species; environmental monitoring; fishery management; mitochondrion; phylogeography; population structure; shark fishery; Australia; Brazil; South Africa; United States; Carcharhinus obscurus; Chondrichthyes | None |
| None | None | Development and evaluation of mosquito-electrocuting traps as alternatives to the human landing catch technique for sampling host-seeking malaria vectors | Maliti D.V., Govella N.J., Killeen G.F., Mirzai N., Johnson P.C.D., Kreppel K., Ferguson H.M. | 2015 | Malaria Journal | 14 | 1 | 10.1186/s12936-015-1025-4 | Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Graham Kerr Building, Glasgow, United Kingdom; Environmental Health and Ecological Sciences, Ifakara Health Institute, PO Box 78373, Kiko Avenue, Mikocheni B, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Bioelectronics Unit, University of Glasgow, Graham Kerr Building, Glasgow, United Kingdom; Department of Vector Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, United Kingdom; School of Life Sciences, Nelson Mandela African Institute of Science and Technology Tanzania, PO Box 447, Arusha, Tanzania | Maliti, D.V., Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Graham Kerr Building, Glasgow, United Kingdom, Environmental Health and Ecological Sciences, Ifakara Health Institute, PO Box 78373, Kiko Avenue, Mikocheni B, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, School of Life Sciences, Nelson Mandela African Institute of Science and Technology Tanzania, PO Box 447, Arusha, Tanzania; Govella, N.J., Environmental Health and Ecological Sciences, Ifakara Health Institute, PO Box 78373, Kiko Avenue, Mikocheni B, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Killeen, G.F., Environmental Health and Ecological Sciences, Ifakara Health Institute, PO Box 78373, Kiko Avenue, Mikocheni B, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, Department of Vector Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, United Kingdom; Mirzai, N., Bioelectronics Unit, University of Glasgow, Graham Kerr Building, Glasgow, United Kingdom; Johnson, P.C.D., Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Graham Kerr Building, Glasgow, United Kingdom; Kreppel, K., Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Graham Kerr Building, Glasgow, United Kingdom, Environmental Health and Ecological Sciences, Ifakara Health Institute, PO Box 78373, Kiko Avenue, Mikocheni B, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Ferguson, H.M., Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Graham Kerr Building, Glasgow, United Kingdom | Background: The human landing catch (HLC) is the gold standard method for sampling host-seeking malaria vectors. However, the HLC is ethically questionable because it requires exposure of humans to potentially infectious mosquito bites. Methods: Two exposure-free methods for sampling host-seeking mosquitoes were evaluated using electrocuting surfaces as potential replacements for HLC: (1) a previously evaluated, commercially available electrocuting grid (CA-EG) designed for killing flies, and (2) a custom-made mosquito electrocuting trap (MET) designed to kill African malaria vectors. The MET and the CA-EG were evaluated relative to the HLC in a Latin Square experiment conducted in the Kilombero Valley, Tanzania. The sampling consistency of the traps across the night and at varying mosquito densities was investigated. Estimates of the proportion of mosquitoes caught indoors (Pi), proportion of human exposure occurring indoors (πi), and proportion of mosquitoes caught when most people are likely to be indoors (Pfl) were compared for all traps. Results: Whereas the CA-EG performed poorly (<10 % of catch of HLC), sampling efficiency of the MET for sampling Anopheles funestus s.l. was indistinguishable from HLC indoors and outdoors. For Anopheles gambiae s.l., sampling sensitivity of MET was 20.9 % (95 % CI 10.3-42.2) indoors and 58.5 % (95 % CI 32.2-106.2) outdoors relative to HLC. There was no evidence of density-dependent sampling by the MET or CA-EG. Similar estimates of Pi were obtained for An. gambiae s.l. and An. funestus s.l. from all trapping methods. The proportion of mosquitoes caught when people are usually indoors (Pfl) was underestimated by the CA-EG and MET for An. gambiae s.l., but similar to the HLC for An. funestus. Estimates of the proportion of human exposure occurring indoors (πi) obtained from the CA-EG and MET were similar to the HLC for An. gambiae s.l., but overestimated for An. funestus. Conclusions: The MET showed promise as an outdoor sampling tool for malaria vectors where it achieved >50 % sampling sensitivity relative to the HLC. The CA-EG had poor sampling sensitivity outdoors and inside. With further modification, the MET could provide an efficient and safer alternative to the HLC for the surveillance of mosquito vectors outdoors. © 2015 Maliti et al. | Anopheles arabiensis; Anopheles funestus s.l.; Anopheles gambiae s.l.; Human landing catch; Malaria; Mosquito behaviour; Mosquito electrocuting trap; Outdoor biting; Vector sampling tools | Anopheles funestus; Anopheles gambiae; Article; environmental exposure; equipment design; host parasite interaction; human landing catch technique; intermethod comparison; malaria control; mosquito; mosquito electrocuting trap; sampling; sensitivity analysis; Tanzania; vector control | None |
| None | None | Institutional Change and Institutional Performance Under Decentralized Forest Management in Babati District, Tanzania | Babili I.H., Mtalo E., Kajembe G.C., van der Wal H. | 2015 | Small-scale Forestry | 14 | 3 | 10.1007/s11842-015-9294-x | Institute of Continuing Education, Sokoine University of Agriculture, P.O Box 3044, Morogoro, Tanzania; College of Science, Informatics and Built Environment, University of Bagamoyo, P.O Box 31285, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Department of Forest Mensuration and Management, Sokoine University of Agriculture, P.O Box 3013, Morogoro, Tanzania; El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Unidad Villahermosa, Carretera Villahermosa-Reforma km 15.5, Ranchería El Guineo, Sección II, Villahermosa, Tabasco, Mexico | Babili, I.H., Institute of Continuing Education, Sokoine University of Agriculture, P.O Box 3044, Morogoro, Tanzania; Mtalo, E., College of Science, Informatics and Built Environment, University of Bagamoyo, P.O Box 31285, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Kajembe, G.C., Department of Forest Mensuration and Management, Sokoine University of Agriculture, P.O Box 3013, Morogoro, Tanzania; van der Wal, H., El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Unidad Villahermosa, Carretera Villahermosa-Reforma km 15.5, Ranchería El Guineo, Sección II, Villahermosa, Tabasco, Mexico | In the last three decades, self-governed robust institutions and design principles were emphasized for effective management of the commons including forests. However, little attention was given to institutional change and institutional performance. This paper addresses the relationship between institutional change and institutional performance under decentralized forest management (DFM) in Babati District, Tanzania. It is demonstrated that both constitutional and operational changes occurred under DFM in Babati. Institutional changes were found to be associated with improved condition of forest resources, good governance and sustainable livelihoods. However, cash income accrued from forests under DFM did not improve. Theoretically, a framework of multiple institutional logics of action was found more capable of explaining institutional change and institutional performance than Ostrom’s rational choice institutionalism and design principles. © 2015, Steve Harrison, John Herbohn. | Community-based forest management; Institutional effects; Institutions; Joint forest management; Multiple institutional logics of action | forest management; forest resource; governance approach; institutional reform; performance assessment; Arusha [Tanzania]; Babati; Tanzania | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84893093893 | European athletes dominate performances in Double Iron ultra-triathlons - A retrospective data analysis from 1985 to 2010 | Rüst C.A., Knechtle B., Knechtle P., Lepers R., Rosemann T., Onywera V. | 2014 | European Journal of Sport Science | 14 | SUPPL.1 | 10.1080/17461391.2011.641033 | Institute of General Practice and for Health Services Research, University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland; Gesundheitszentrum, St. Gallen, Switzerland; INSERM U1093, University of Dijon, Dijon, France; Department of Exercise and Sports Science, Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya | Rüst, C.A., Institute of General Practice and for Health Services Research, University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland; Knechtle, B., Gesundheitszentrum, St. Gallen, Switzerland; Knechtle, P., Gesundheitszentrum, St. Gallen, Switzerland; Lepers, R., INSERM U1093, University of Dijon, Dijon, France; Rosemann, T., Institute of General Practice and for Health Services Research, University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland; Onywera, V., Department of Exercise and Sports Science, Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya | We investigated the participation and performance trends of ultra-endurance triathletes from all nationalities competing in a Double Iron ultra-triathlon (7.6-km swim, 360-km cycle and 84.4-km run) from 1985 to 2010. A total of 1854 athletes participated in 92 Double Iron ultra-triathlons. The majority of the winners came from Europe with 72 victories, followed by North America with 17 victories. The race time for the European ultra-triathletes was 1340 (s=95.3) min, decreasing highly significantly (r2=0.28; P<0.0001) across the years. North American ultra-triathletes finished the races within 1556 (s=124.5) min; their race time showed no changes across the years (r2=0.045; P=0.07). The race time for the Europeans was highly significantly faster compared to the North Americans (P<0.0001). Future studies should investigate each country in Europe and North America in order to find the country with the largest participation of athletes and their best performance. © 2014 Copyright European College of Sport Science. | cycling; running; Swimming; ultra-endurance | analysis of variance; article; athlete; athletic performance; Europe; female; human; male; North America; physiology; sport; statistical model; Analysis of Variance; Athletes; Athletic Performance; Europe; Female; Humans; Linear Models; Male; North America; Sports | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84899987684 | Design of an impact evaluation using a mixed methods model - An explanatory assessment of the effects of results-based financing mechanisms on maternal healthcare services in Malawi | Brenner S., Muula A.S., Robyn P.J., Bärnighausen T., Sarker M., Mathanga D.P., Bossert T., De Allegri M. | 2014 | BMC Health Services Research | 14 | 1 | 10.1186/1472-6963-14-180 | Institute of Public Health, Ruprecht-Karls-University, Heidelberg, Germany; Department of Community Health, University of Malawi, College of Medicine, Blantyre, Malawi; World Bank, Washington, DC, United States; Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States; Wellcome Trust Africa Centre for Health and Population Studies, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Mtubatuba, South Africa | Brenner, S., Institute of Public Health, Ruprecht-Karls-University, Heidelberg, Germany; Muula, A.S., Department of Community Health, University of Malawi, College of Medicine, Blantyre, Malawi; Robyn, P.J., World Bank, Washington, DC, United States; Bärnighausen, T., Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States, Wellcome Trust Africa Centre for Health and Population Studies, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Mtubatuba, South Africa; Sarker, M., Institute of Public Health, Ruprecht-Karls-University, Heidelberg, Germany; Mathanga, D.P., Department of Community Health, University of Malawi, College of Medicine, Blantyre, Malawi; Bossert, T., Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States; De Allegri, M., Institute of Public Health, Ruprecht-Karls-University, Heidelberg, Germany | Background: In this article we present a study design to evaluate the causal impact of providing supply-side performance-based financing incentives in combination with a demand-side cash transfer component on equitable access to and quality of maternal and neonatal healthcare services. This intervention is introduced to selected emergency obstetric care facilities and catchment area populations in four districts in Malawi. We here describe and discuss our study protocol with regard to the research aims, the local implementation context, and our rationale for selecting a mixed methods explanatory design with a quasi-experimental quantitative component. Design. The quantitative research component consists of a controlled pre- and post-test design with multiple post-test measurements. This allows us to quantitatively measure 'equitable access to healthcare services' at the community level and 'healthcare quality' at the health facility level. Guided by a theoretical framework of causal relationships, we determined a number of input, process, and output indicators to evaluate both intended and unintended effects of the intervention. Overall causal impact estimates will result from a difference-in-difference analysis comparing selected indicators across intervention and control facilities/catchment populations over time. To further explain heterogeneity of quantitatively observed effects and to understand the experiential dimensions of financial incentives on clients and providers, we designed a qualitative component in line with the overall explanatory mixed methods approach. This component consists of in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with providers, service user, non-users, and policy stakeholders. In this explanatory design comprehensive understanding of expected and unexpected effects of the intervention on both access and quality will emerge through careful triangulation at two levels: across multiple quantitative elements and across quantitative and qualitative elements. Discussion. Combining a traditional quasi-experimental controlled pre- and post-test design with an explanatory mixed methods model permits an additional assessment of organizational and behavioral changes affecting complex processes. Through this impact evaluation approach, our design will not only create robust evidence measures for the outcome of interest, but also generate insights on how and why the investigated interventions produce certain intended and unintended effects and allows for a more in-depth evaluation approach. © 2014 Brenner et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | Impact evaluation; Mixed methods; Performance-based incentives; Study design | economics; evaluation study; female; health service; human; Malawi; reimbursement; Evaluation Studies as Topic; Female; Humans; Malawi; Maternal Health Services; Reimbursement, Incentive | University of Heidelberg |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33746454751 | Impact of land use on vegetation composition, diversity, and selected soil properties of wetlands in the southern Drakensberg mountains, South Africa | Walters D.J.J., Kotze D.C., O'Connor T.G. | 2006 | Wetlands Ecology and Management | 14 | 4 | 10.1007/s11273-005-4990-5 | Mondi Wetlands Project, Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa, WWF-South Africa, P.O. Box 493, Merrivale 3291, South Africa; Centre for Environment, Agriculture and Development, University of KwaZulu Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville, 3209, South Africa; Centre for African Ecology, School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, P.O. Wits, 2050, South Africa | Walters, D.J.J., Mondi Wetlands Project, Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa, WWF-South Africa, P.O. Box 493, Merrivale 3291, South Africa; Kotze, D.C., Centre for Environment, Agriculture and Development, University of KwaZulu Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville, 3209, South Africa; O'Connor, T.G., Centre for African Ecology, School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, P.O. Wits, 2050, South Africa | Wetlands provide the ecosystem services of enhancing water quality, attenuating floods, sequestrating carbon and supporting biodiversity. In southern Africa, the pattern and intensity of land use is influenced by whether land tenure is public (state), private (individual ownership), or communal (shared agricultural and grazing resources). The influence of land tenure and its associated use on service provision was compared for communal tenure (grazing, maize production), wildlife conservation, and commercial agriculture (grazing, planted pastures) in the southern Drakensberg. Ordination analyses revealed that oxbow marshes, hill slope seepages and hygrophilous grasslands, the main hydro-geomorphic units, supported distinct plant communities that differed in their response to land use because of wetness or slope. Oxbows, uncultivated because of wetness, were inherently species poor with few exotics. Composition of hill slope seepages, uncultivated because of saturated slopes, varied among tenure types most likely in relation to grazing pressure. Seepages were threatened by the exotic invasive Rubus cuneifolius. Eighty-five percent of hygrophilous grassland had been cultivated by 1953, most of which was subsequently abandoned to secondary grassland. Primary hygrophilous grassland and hill slope seepages were the main repository for indigenous plant diversity, while communal maize fields supported a diverse mixture of mainly exotic species. Soil carbon concentrations decreased from oxbows to pastures, seepages, primary hygrophilous grassland, secondary grassland, and maize on former grassland (7.0, 4.1, 4.0, 3.5, 2.4, and 1.7%, respectively). The pattern for total soil nitrogen and sulphur were the same. Cultivation of hygrophilous grassland was estimated to have reduced soil carbon stocks to 69% of pre-settlement levels by 1953 (∼150 years BP). Stocks then increased by 8% to 2001 following crop abandonment. Cultivation has impaired water quality enhancement and flood attenuation because of greater amounts of bare ground and shorter vegetation. Further improvement of ecosystem services will depend on the influence of socio-economic factors on communal cropping. © Springer 2006. | Carbon; Communal; Cultivation; DCA; Invasives; Oxbows; Plant diversity; South Africa | community composition; grazing pressure; land use; ordination; plant community; soil carbon; soil nitrogen; soil property; vegetation; wetland; Africa; Drakensberg; Southern Africa; Sub-Saharan Africa; Rubus cuneifolius; Zea mays | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84876487831 | The nature and prevalence of disability in a ghanaian community as measured by the language independent functional evaluation | Kelemen B.W., Haig A.J., Goodnight S., Nyante G. | 2013 | Pan African Medical Journal | 14 | None | 10.11604/pamj.2013.14.103.2142 | Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, United States; The University of Michigan, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, United States; The University of Ghana, Ghana | Kelemen, B.W., Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, United States; Haig, A.J., The University of Michigan, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, United States; Goodnight, S., The University of Michigan, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, United States; Nyante, G., The University of Ghana, Ghana | Introduction: The current study uses the Language Independent Functional Evaluation (L.I.F.E.) to evaluate disability in a smaller Ghanaian coastal town to characterize the extent and nature of disability. The L.I.F.E. is a video animated, language free equivalent of the standard 10-item verbal/written Barthel Index functional assessment. Methods: Over a four-month period, the L.I.F.E. survey was given to members of the village of Anomabo in a preliminary survey which consisted of recruitment in an un-controlled manner, followed by a systematic, comprehensive survey of three neighborhood clusters. Basic demographics were also collected, along with the observer's assessment of disability. Results: 541 inhabitants (264 in the preliminary survey and 277 in systematic survey) completed the L.I.F.E. Participants ranged from 7-100 years old (mean age 32.88, s.d. 20.64) and were 55.9% female. In the systematic study, 16.6% of participants had a less than perfect score on the L.I.F.E., indicating some degree of impairment. Significant differences were found between age groups, but not between sexes, the preliminary and systematic survey, and study location (α=.05). Conclusion: The L.I.F.E. and this study methodology can be used to measure the prevalence of disability in African communities. Disability in this community was higher than the frequently cited estimate of 10%. African policymakers can use the L.I.F.E. to measure disability and thus more rationally allocate resources for medical rehabilitation. © Benjamin William Kelemen et al. | Africa; Disability; Epidemiology; Health care policy; Literacy; Rehabilitation | adult; age distribution; aged; article; child; clinical evaluation; community assessment; demography; disability; disability severity; ethnic group; female; follow up; functional assessment; functional status; Ghana; health survey; human; Language Independent Functional Evaluation; major clinical study; male; named inventories, questionnaires and rating scales; resource allocation; school child | None |
| WoS | WOS:000322634100001 | Evaluating institutional capacity for research ethics in Africa: a case study from Botswana | Ali, Joseph,Hyder, Adnan A.,Kass, Nancy,Ndebele, Paul,Ssekubugu, Robert,Zafar, Waleed | 2013 | BMC MEDICAL ETHICS | 14 | None | 10.1186/1472-6939-14-31 | Johns Hopkins University, Uganda Virus Research Institute, University of Botswana | "Ali, Joseph: Johns Hopkins University","Ndebele, Paul: University of Botswana","Ssekubugu, Robert: Uganda Virus Research Institute","Zafar, Waleed: Johns Hopkins University" | Background: The increase in the volume of research conducted in Low and Middle Income Countries (LMIC), has brought a renewed international focus on processes for ethical conduct of research. Several programs have been initiated to strengthen the capacity for research ethics in LMIC. However, most such programs focus on individual training or development of ethics review committees. The objective of this paper is to present an approach to institutional capacity assessment in research ethics and application of this approach in the form of a case study from an institution in Africa.
Methods: We adapted the Octagon model originally used by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency to assess an organization along eight domains in research ethics: basic values and identity; structure and organization; ability to carry out activities; relevance of activities to stated goals; capacity of staff and management; administrative, financing and accounting systems; its relations with target groups; and the national context. We used a mixed methods approach to collect empirical data at the University of Botswana from March to December 2010.
Results: The overall shape of the external evaluation Octagon suggests that strengths of the University of Botswana are in the areas of structure, relevance, production and identity; while the university still needs more work in the areas of systems of finance, target groups, and environment. The Octagons also show the similarities and discrepancies between the 'external' and 'internal' evaluations and provide an opportunity for exploration of these different assessments. For example, the discrepant score for 'identity' between internal and external evaluations allows for an exploration of what constitutes a strong identity for research ethics at the University of Botswana and how it can be strengthened.
Conclusions: There is a general lack of frameworks for evaluating research ethics capacity in LMICs. We presented an approach that stresses evaluation from both internal and external perspectives. This case study highlights the university's rapid progress in developing research ethics capacity and points to some notable areas for improvement. We believe that such an empirically-driven and participatory assessment allows a more holistic measurement and promotion of institutional capacity strengthening for research ethics in LMICs. | Africa,BIOETHICS,BOTSWANA,"capacity development","research ethics",CLINICAL-RESEARCH,GLOBALIZATION,"HEALTH RESEARCH","MIDDLE-INCOME COUNTRIES",POLICY,SYSTEMS | None | None |
| None | None | Does training on performance based financing make a difference in performance and quality of health care delivery? Health care provider's perspective in Rungwe Tanzania | Manongi R., Mushi D., Kessy J., Salome S., Njau B. | 2014 | BMC Health Services Research | 14 | None | 10.1186/1472-6963-14-154 | Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre, P. O. Box 3010, Kilimanjaro, Tanzania; Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College, P. O. Box 2240, Kilimanjaro, Tanzania | Manongi, R., Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre, P. O. Box 3010, Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College, P. O. Box 2240, Kilimanjaro, Tanzania; Mushi, D., Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College, P. O. Box 2240, Kilimanjaro, Tanzania; Kessy, J., Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College, P. O. Box 2240, Kilimanjaro, Tanzania; Salome, S., Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre, P. O. Box 3010, Kilimanjaro, Tanzania; Njau, B., Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre, P. O. Box 3010, Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College, P. O. Box 2240, Kilimanjaro, Tanzania | Background: In recent years, Performance Based Financing (PBF); a form of result based financing, has attracted a global attention in health systems in developing countries. PBF promotes autonomous health facilities, motivates and introduces financial incentives to motivate health facilities and health workers to attain pre-determined targets. To achieve this, the Tanzanian government through the Christian Social Services Commission initiated a PBF pilot project in Rungwe district, Mbeya region. Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center was given the role of training health workers on PBF principles in Rungwe. The aim of this study was to explore health care providers' perception on a three years training on PBF principles in a PBF pilot project at Rungwe District in Mbeya, Tanzania. Methods. This was an explorative qualitative study, which took place at Rungwe PBF pilot area in October 2012. Twenty six (26) participants were purposively selected. Six took part in- depth interviews (IDIs) and twenty (20) in the group discussions. Both the IDIs and the GDs explored the perceived benefit and challenges of implementing PBF in their workplace. Data were manually analyzed using content analysis approach. Results: Overall informants had positive perspectives on PBF training. Most of the health facilities were able to implement some of the PBF concepts in their work places after the training, such as developing job descriptions for their staff, creating quarterly business plans for their facilities, costing for their services and entering service agreement with the government, improved record keeping, customer care and involving community as partners in running their facilities. The most common principle of paying individual performance bonuses was mentioned as a major challenge due to inadequate funding and poor design of Rungwe PBF pilot project. Conclusion: Despite poor design and inadequate funding, our findings have shown some promising results after PBF training in the study area. The findings have highlighted the potential of PBF to act as leverage for initiating innovative and proactive actions, which may motivate health personnel performance and quality of care in the study setting with minimal support. However, key policy issues at the national level should be addressed in order to exploit this opportunity. © 2014 Manongi et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | PBF pilot project; Performance based financing; Rungwe; Tanzania | adult; female; health care financing; health care policy; health care quality; human; in service training; male; nonbiological model; qualitative research; reimbursement; Tanzania; Adult; Female; Health Care Reform; Healthcare Financing; Humans; Inservice Training; Male; Models, Organizational; Qualitative Research; Quality of Health Care; Reimbursement, Incentive; Tanzania | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-45849146184 | Letter: Characterisation and identification of spermine and spermidine derivatives in Microdesmis keayana and Microdesmis puberula roots by electrospray ionisation tandem mass spectrometry and high-performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionisation | Roumy V., Hennebelle T., Zamblé A., Yao J.D., Sahpaz S., Bailleul F. | 2008 | European Journal of Mass Spectrometry | 14 | 2 | 10.1255/ejms.910 | Laboratoire de Pharmacognosie, EA 1043, Faculté des Sciences Pharmaceutiques et Biologiques, Université de Lille 2, BP 83, F-59006 Lille Cedex, France; Laboratoire de Pharmacologie et Nutrition, Université de Cocody, Abidjan, BP 582, Abidjan 22, Côte d'Ivoire, South Africa | Roumy, V., Laboratoire de Pharmacognosie, EA 1043, Faculté des Sciences Pharmaceutiques et Biologiques, Université de Lille 2, BP 83, F-59006 Lille Cedex, France; Hennebelle, T., Laboratoire de Pharmacognosie, EA 1043, Faculté des Sciences Pharmaceutiques et Biologiques, Université de Lille 2, BP 83, F-59006 Lille Cedex, France; Zamblé, A., Laboratoire de Pharmacognosie, EA 1043, Faculté des Sciences Pharmaceutiques et Biologiques, Université de Lille 2, BP 83, F-59006 Lille Cedex, France; Yao, J.D., Laboratoire de Pharmacologie et Nutrition, Université de Cocody, Abidjan, BP 582, Abidjan 22, Côte d'Ivoire, South Africa; Sahpaz, S., Laboratoire de Pharmacognosie, EA 1043, Faculté des Sciences Pharmaceutiques et Biologiques, Université de Lille 2, BP 83, F-59006 Lille Cedex, France; Bailleul, F., Laboratoire de Pharmacognosie, EA 1043, Faculté des Sciences Pharmaceutiques et Biologiques, Université de Lille 2, BP 83, F-59006 Lille Cedex, France | Three new N1,N5,N14-tris(4- hydroxycinnamoyl)spermines were identified in hydromethanolic root extracts of Microdesmis keayana J. Léonard and Microdesmis puberula Hook f. The electrospray ionisation tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS) technique with specific nuclear magnetic resonance analysis of hydrolysed products made it possible to identify N1,N5,N14-tris(p- coumaroyllspermine. N1-feruloyl,N5,N14-di(p- coumaroyl)spermine and N1,N5,N14-tris(feruloyl) spermine, named keayanines B, C and D, respectively. ESI-MS/MS analysis most effectively provided structural data although high-performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionisation tandem mass spectrometry was also used to characterise four other compounds from Microdesmis puberula-keayanidines A, B, C and keayanine A - which had already been identified in M. keayana. This chemical data is the first to be published for M. puberula which is a commonly used plant in Central African traditional medicine. © IM Publications LLP 2008. All rights reserved. | Keayanidine; Keayanine; Liquid-chromatography-mass-spectrometry; Microdesmis keayana; Microdesmis puberula; Spermidine; Spermine | spermidine; spermine; article; chemistry; electrospray mass spectrometry; liquid chromatography; plant root; tandem mass spectrometry; traditional medicine; Chromatography, Liquid; Medicine, Traditional; Plant Roots; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization; Spermidine; Spermine; Tandem Mass Spectrometry | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84859460950 | Impacts of climate change on rice agriculture in Nigeria | Ajetomobia J., Abiodunb A., Hassanc R. | 2011 | Tropical and Subtropical Agroecosystems | 14 | 2 | None | Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, PMB 4000, Ogbomoso, Nigeria; Dept. of Economics, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa | Ajetomobia, J., Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, PMB 4000, Ogbomoso, Nigeria; Abiodunb, A., Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, PMB 4000, Ogbomoso, Nigeria; Hassanc, R., Dept. of Economics, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa | This study employed the Ricardian approach to test the relative importance of climate normals (average long-term temperature and precipitation) in explaining net revenue from Nigerian rice agriculture under irrigation and dry land conditions. A survey was done by interviewing 1200 rice farmers from 20 rice producing states in Nigeria. The states covered all the six geopolitical zones in the country. The results showed that increase in temperature will reduce net revenue for dry land rice farms while net revenue rises with increase in temperature for irrigated rice farms. Precipitation had similar effects on rice net revenue. Increase in precipitation will cause reduction in revenue for dry land rice farms whereas it will cause increase in revenue for irrigated farms. The results clearly demonstrate irrigation as a significant techniques used by the farmers to adapt to the climate change. Other adaptation options include Keeping of livestock, engaging in off farm works and the use of different market channels. | Climate change; Irrigation; Net revenue; Nigeria | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84899474205 | Comparison of same day diagnostic tools including Gene Xpert and unstimulated IFN-γ for the evaluation of pleural tuberculosis: A prospective cohort study | Meldau R., Peter J., Theron G., Calligaro G., Allwood B., Symons G., Khalfey H., Ntombenhle G., Govender U., Binder A., van Zyl-Smit R., Dheda K. | 2014 | BMC Pulmonary Medicine | 14 | 1 | 10.1186/1471-2466-14-58 | Lung Infection and Immunity Unit, Division of Pulmonology and UCT Lung Institute, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa | Meldau, R., Lung Infection and Immunity Unit, Division of Pulmonology and UCT Lung Institute, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Peter, J., Lung Infection and Immunity Unit, Division of Pulmonology and UCT Lung Institute, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Theron, G., Lung Infection and Immunity Unit, Division of Pulmonology and UCT Lung Institute, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Calligaro, G., Lung Infection and Immunity Unit, Division of Pulmonology and UCT Lung Institute, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Allwood, B., Lung Infection and Immunity Unit, Division of Pulmonology and UCT Lung Institute, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Symons, G., Lung Infection and Immunity Unit, Division of Pulmonology and UCT Lung Institute, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Khalfey, H., Lung Infection and Immunity Unit, Division of Pulmonology and UCT Lung Institute, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Ntombenhle, G., Lung Infection and Immunity Unit, Division of Pulmonology and UCT Lung Institute, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Govender, U., Lung Infection and Immunity Unit, Division of Pulmonology and UCT Lung Institute, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Binder, A., Lung Infection and Immunity Unit, Division of Pulmonology and UCT Lung Institute, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; van Zyl-Smit, R., Lung Infection and Immunity Unit, Division of Pulmonology and UCT Lung Institute, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Dheda, K., Lung Infection and Immunity Unit, Division of Pulmonology and UCT Lung Institute, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa, Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa | Background: The accuracy of currently available same-day diagnostic tools (smear microscopy and conventional nucleic acid amplification tests) for pleural tuberculosis (TB) is sub-optimal. Newer technologies may offer improved detection.Methods: Smear-microscopy, adenosine deaminase (ADA), interferon gamma (IFN-γ), and Xpert MTB/RIF [using an unprocessed (1 ml) and centrifuged (~20 ml) sample] test accuracy was evaluated in pleural fluid from 103 consecutive patients with suspected pleural TB. Culture for M.tuberculosis and/or histopathology (pleural biopsy) served as the reference standard. Patients were followed prospectively to determine their diagnostic categorisation.Results: Of 93 evaluable participants, 40 had definite-TB (reference positive), 5 probable-TB (not definite but treated for TB) and 48 non-TB (culture and histology negative, and not treated for TB). Xpert MTB/RIF sensitivity and specificity (95% CI) was 22.5% (12.4 - 37.6) and 98% (89.2 - 99.7), respectively, and centrifugation did not improve sensitivity (23.7%). The Xpert MTB/RIF internal positive control showed no evidence of inhibition. Biomarker specific sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPVs were: ADA (48.85 IU/L; rule-in cut-point) 55.3% (39.8 - 69.9), 95.2% (83.9 - 98.7), 91.4 (73.4 - 95.4), 69.7% (56.7 - 80.1); ADA (30 IU/L; clinically used cut-point) 79% (63.7 - 89), 92.7% (80.6 - 97.5), 91.0 (73.4 - 95.4), 82.7% (69.3 - 90.1); and IFN-γ (107.7 pg/ml; rule-in cut-point) 92.5% (80.2 - 97.5), 95.9% (86.1 - 98.9), 94.9% (83.2 - 98.6), 93.9% (83.5 - 97.9), respectively (IFN-γ sensitivity and NPV better than Xpert [p < 0.05] and rule-in ADA [p < 0.05]).Conclusion: The usefulness of Xpert MTB/RIF to diagnose pleural TB is limited by its poor sensitivity. IFN-γ is an excellent rule-in test and, compared to ADA, has significantly better sensitivity and rule-out value in a TB-endemic setting. © 2014 Meldau et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | Adenosine deaminase; Diagnosis; Interferon gamma; Pleural fluid; Tuberculosis; Xpert MTB/RIF | adenosine deaminase; biological marker; gamma interferon; rifampicin; tuberculostatic agent; adult; article; bacterium culture; centrifugation; cohort analysis; colony forming unit; diagnostic accuracy; diagnostic test accuracy study; drug resistant tuberculosis; female; histopathology; human; human tissue; intermethod comparison; liquid culture; major clinical study; male; microscopy; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; nucleic acid amplification; pleura biopsy; pleura effusion; pleura fluid; predictive value; prospective study; real time polymerase chain reaction; sensitivity and specificity; smear; smear microscopy; South Africa; tuberculous pleurisy; xpert mtb rif; Adult; Body Fluids; Clinical Laboratory Techniques; Cohort Studies; Female; Humans; Interferon-gamma; Male; Middle Aged; Pleural Effusion; Prospective Studies; Sensitivity and Specificity; Time Factors; Tuberculosis, Pleural | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84940670571 | Monitoring changes in malaria epidemiology and effectiveness of interventions in Ethiopia and Uganda: Beyond Garki Project baseline survey | Abeku T.A., Helinski M.E.H., Kirby M.J., Kefyalew T., Awano T., Batisso E., Tesfaye G., Ssekitooleko J., Nicholas S., Erdmanis L., Nalwoga A., Bass C., Cose S., Assefa A., Kebede Z., Habte T., Katamba V., Nuwa A., Bakeera-Ssali S., Akiror S.C., Kyomuhagi | 2015 | Malaria Journal | 14 | 1 | 10.1186/s12936-015-0852-7 | Malaria Consortium, London, United Kingdom; Malaria Consortium, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Malaria Consortium, Kampala, Uganda; Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, United Kingdom; Medical Research Council/Uganda Virus Research Institute, Uganda Research Unit on AIDS, Entebbe, Uganda; South Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Regional Health Bureaux, Hawassa, Ethiopia; London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Ethiopian Public Health Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; National Malaria Control Programme, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda | Abeku, T.A., Malaria Consortium, London, United Kingdom; Helinski, M.E.H., Malaria Consortium, London, United Kingdom, Malaria Consortium, Kampala, Uganda; Kirby, M.J., Malaria Consortium, London, United Kingdom, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Kefyalew, T., Malaria Consortium, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Awano, T., Malaria Consortium, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Batisso, E., Malaria Consortium, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Tesfaye, G., Malaria Consortium, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Ssekitooleko, J., Malaria Consortium, Kampala, Uganda; Nicholas, S., Malaria Consortium, London, United Kingdom; Erdmanis, L., Malaria Consortium, London, United Kingdom, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, United Kingdom; Nalwoga, A., Medical Research Council/Uganda Virus Research Institute, Uganda Research Unit on AIDS, Entebbe, Uganda; Bass, C., Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, United Kingdom; Cose, S., Medical Research Council/Uganda Virus Research Institute, Uganda Research Unit on AIDS, Entebbe, Uganda, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Assefa, A., Ethiopian Public Health Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Kebede, Z., Malaria Consortium, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Habte, T., Malaria Consortium, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, South Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Regional Health Bureaux, Hawassa, Ethiopia; Katamba, V., National Malaria Control Programme, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda; Nuwa, A., Malaria Consortium, Kampala, Uganda; Bakeera-Ssali, S., Malaria Consortium, Kampala, Uganda; Akiror, S.C., Malaria Consortium, Kampala, Uganda; Kyomuhagi, I., Malaria Consortium, Kampala, Uganda; Tekalegne, A., Malaria Consortium, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Magumba, G., Malaria Consortium, Kampala, Uganda; Meek, S.R., Malaria Consortium, London, United Kingdom | Background: Scale-up of malaria interventions seems to have contributed to a decline in the disease but other factors may also have had some role. Understanding changes in transmission and determinant factors will help to adapt control strategies accordingly. Methods: Four sites in Ethiopia and Uganda were set up to monitor epidemiological changes and effectiveness of interventions over time. Here, results of a survey during the peak transmission season of 2012 are reported, which will be used as baseline for subsequent surveys and may support adaptation of control strategies. Data on malariometric and entomological variables, socio-economic status (SES) and control coverage were collected. Results: Malaria prevalence varied from 1.4 % in Guba (Ethiopia) to 9.9 % in Butemba (Uganda). The most dominant species was Plasmodium vivax in Ethiopia and Plasmodium falciparum in Uganda. The majority of human-vector contact occurred indoors in Uganda, ranging from 83 % (Anopheles funestus sensu lato) to 93 % (Anopheles gambiae s.l.), which is an important factor for the effectiveness of insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) or indoor residual spraying (IRS). High kdr-L1014S (resistance genotype) frequency was observed in A. gambiae sensu stricto in Uganda. Too few mosquitoes were collected in Ethiopia, so it was not possible to assess vector habits and insecticide resistance levels. ITN ownership did not vary by SES and 56-98 % and 68-78 % of households owned at least one ITN in Ethiopia and Uganda, respectively. In Uganda, 7 % of nets were purchased by households, but the nets were untreated. In three of the four sites, 69-76 % of people with access to ITNs used them. IRS coverage ranged from 84 to 96 % in the three sprayed sites. Half of febrile children in Uganda and three-quarters in Ethiopia for whom treatment was sought received diagnostic tests. High levels of child undernutrition were detected in both countries carrying important implications on child development. In Uganda, 7-8 % of pregnant women took the recommended minimum three doses of intermittent preventive treatment. Conclusion: Malaria epidemiology seems to be changing compared to earlier published data, and it is essential to have more data to understand how much of the changes are attributable to interventions and other factors. Regular monitoring will help to better interpret changes, identify determinants, modify strategies and improve targeting to address transmission heterogeneity. © 2015 Abeku et al. | Anopheles arabiensis; Anopheles funestus; Anopheles gambiae; Epidemiology; Malaria; Plasmodium falciparum; Plasmodium vivax; Undernutrition; Vector control | antimalarial agent; anemia; Anopheles funestus; Anopheles gambiae; Article; bed net; chemoprophylaxis; child health; child nutrition; controlled study; data analysis; disease carrier; disease transmission; epidemiological monitoring; Ethiopia; fever; geographic distribution; health survey; household; human; indoor residual spraying; insecticide resistance; intervention study; major clinical study; malaria; malaria control; malnutrition; parasite prevalence; Plasmodium falciparum; Plasmodium vivax; pregnancy; prevalence; program effectiveness; seasonal variation; social adaptation; social status; species dominance; Uganda; vector control | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-70449347189 | The performance of haematuria reagent strips for the rapid mapping of urinary schistosomiasis: Field experience from Southern Sudan | Robinson E., Picon D., Sturrock H.J., Sabasio A., Lado M., Kolaczinski J., Brooker S. | 2009 | Tropical Medicine and International Health | 14 | 12 | 10.1111/j.1365-3156.2009.02407.x | Malaria Consortium - Africa Regional Office, Plot 2a, Sturrock Road, Kololo, Kampala, Uganda; Malaria Consortium - Southern Sudan Office, Juba, Sudan; London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Ministry of Health, Government of Southern Sudan, Juba, Sudan; Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Nairobi, Kenya | Robinson, E., Malaria Consortium - Africa Regional Office, Plot 2a, Sturrock Road, Kololo, Kampala, Uganda; Picon, D., Malaria Consortium - Southern Sudan Office, Juba, Sudan; Sturrock, H.J., Malaria Consortium - Southern Sudan Office, Juba, Sudan, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Sabasio, A., Malaria Consortium - Southern Sudan Office, Juba, Sudan; Lado, M., Ministry of Health, Government of Southern Sudan, Juba, Sudan; Kolaczinski, J., Malaria Consortium - Africa Regional Office, Plot 2a, Sturrock Road, Kololo, Kampala, Uganda, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Brooker, S., London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom, Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Nairobi, Kenya | The implementation of programmes to control neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) requires up-to-date information on the prevalence and distribution of each NTD. This study evaluated the performance of reagent strip testing for haematuria to diagnose Schistosoma haematobium infection among school-aged children in the context of a rapid mapping survey in Southern Sudan. The reagent strips were highly sensitive (97.8%) but only moderately specific (58.8%). The proportion of false positive diagnoses was significantly higher among girls than boys, especially among girls aged 5-10 years. These findings suggest that reagent strips alone are not sufficient for rapid mapping surveys. A two-step approach is thus recommended whereby haematuria-positive urine samples are subsequently examined using urine filtration. © 2009 Blackwell Publishing Ltd. | Diagnosis; Mapping; Neglected tropical diseases; Schistosoma haematobium; Southern Sudan; Urinary schistosomiasis | child health; disease control; disease prevalence; health services; health survey; schistosomiasis; urine; article; child; controlled study; diagnostic procedure; female; health survey; hematuria; human; laboratory diagnosis; major clinical study; male; performance; preschool child; Schistosoma hematobium; schistosomiasis; school child; sensitivity and specificity; Sudan; test strip; urinalysis; Adolescent; Age Factors; Child; Child, Preschool; Community Health Services; False Positive Reactions; Female; Hematuria; Humans; Male; Parasite Egg Count; Population Surveillance; Prevalence; Reagent Strips; Schistosomiasis haematobia; Sensitivity and Specificity; Sudan; Africa; East Africa; Sub-Saharan Africa; Sudan; Schistosoma haematobium | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84942295223 | Impact of a behaviour change communication programme on net durability in eastern Uganda | Helinski M.H., Namara G., Koenker H., Kilian A., Hunter G., Acosta A., Scandurra L., Selby R.A., Mulondo K., Fotheringham M., Lynch M. | 2015 | Malaria Journal | 14 | 1 | 10.1186/s12936-015-0899-5 | Malaria Consortium, Kampala, Uganda; Johns Hopkins University Center for Communication Programs, Baltimore, MD, United States; Tropical Health LLP, Montagut, Spain; Malaria Consortium, London, United Kingdom; Johns Hopkins University Center for Communication Programs, Nairobi, Kenya; Johns Hopkins University Center for Communication Programs, Kampala, Uganda; John Snow International, Kampala, Uganda; United States Agency for International Development, Washington, DC, United States | Helinski, M.H., Malaria Consortium, Kampala, Uganda; Namara, G., Malaria Consortium, Kampala, Uganda; Koenker, H., Johns Hopkins University Center for Communication Programs, Baltimore, MD, United States; Kilian, A., Tropical Health LLP, Montagut, Spain, Malaria Consortium, London, United Kingdom; Hunter, G., Johns Hopkins University Center for Communication Programs, Baltimore, MD, United States; Acosta, A., Johns Hopkins University Center for Communication Programs, Baltimore, MD, United States; Scandurra, L., Johns Hopkins University Center for Communication Programs, Baltimore, MD, United States; Selby, R.A., Malaria Consortium, Kampala, Uganda, Johns Hopkins University Center for Communication Programs, Nairobi, Kenya; Mulondo, K., Johns Hopkins University Center for Communication Programs, Kampala, Uganda, John Snow International, Kampala, Uganda; Fotheringham, M., United States Agency for International Development, Washington, DC, United States; Lynch, M., Johns Hopkins University Center for Communication Programs, Baltimore, MD, United States | Background: The importance of net durability and the average useful life of a net is increasingly recognized as one of the critical factors that determine how often nets need to be replaced. A study to assess the effect of a net care and repair behaviour change communication (BCC) programme on net durability was conducted in one district in Eastern Uganda with a district in a neighbouring region serving as a comparison. Both districts had received LLINs in September of 2012. Methods: The intervention was comprised of radio programmes, school and community events. Two-stage cluster sampling household surveys to assess net condition, exposure to BCC messages, and attitudes towards net care and repair were conducted in both districts at baseline (2-3 months post net distribution) and endline (20-21 months post distribution). Net condition was assessed using the proportionate hole index, with nets being classified as either serviceable or too torn. Results: The intervention led to an additional 31.2 % increased exposure to net care and repair messages in the intervention district. Respondents in the intervention district had a more positive attitude towards net care and repair (32 % of respondents were classified as having a very positive attitude compared to 10 % in the comparison district), which was positively associated with the number of channels through which messages had been received (P < 0.001). Nets belonging to respondents with a very positive attitude were more often categorized as serviceable (80.2 %) compared to respondents with a poor/average attitude (66.4 %; odds ratio: 2.05, P = 0.028); however, this was only observed for the net brand with the greater physical integrity. Additionally, socio-economic status was a significant predictor of net condition. Although nets in the intervention district had significantly more repairs done per net, the act of repairing alone did not improve net condition. Conclusions: In conclusion, the evaluation showed that the BCC programme resulted in improved knowledge and attitudes towards care and repair, which impacted positively on net condition. Repairs alone were not sufficient to improve net condition. Additional research on which care behaviours and attitudes are most associated with improved net condition would help BCC planners hone their campaigns. © 2015 Helinski et al. | BCC; Care and repair; Durability; ITN; LLIN; Malaria; Uganda | adolescent; adult; Article; awareness; bed net; behavior change; child; community program; female; health education; household; human; information dissemination; malaria control; male; mass communication; mass medium; quality control; risk reduction; social behavior; social participation; strategic planning; teaching; Uganda | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33947282157 | The impact of malaria control on perceptions of tourists and tourism operators concerning malaria prevalence in KwaZulu-Natal, 1999/2000 versus 2002/2003 | Maartens F., Sharp B., Curtis B., Mthembu J., Hatting I. | 2007 | Journal of Travel Medicine | 14 | 2 | 10.1111/j.1708-8305.2006.00086.x | Malaria Lead Programme, South African Medical Research Council, Durban, South Africa; KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Malaria Control, South African National Department of Health, Jozini, South Africa; KwaZulu-Natal Malaria Control Programme, South African National Department of Health, Richards Bay, South Africa; South African Medical Research Council, 491 Ridge Road, Overport, Durban 4001, South Africa | Maartens, F., Malaria Lead Programme, South African Medical Research Council, Durban, South Africa, South African Medical Research Council, 491 Ridge Road, Overport, Durban 4001, South Africa; Sharp, B., Malaria Lead Programme, South African Medical Research Council, Durban, South Africa; Curtis, B., Malaria Lead Programme, South African Medical Research Council, Durban, South Africa; Mthembu, J., KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Malaria Control, South African National Department of Health, Jozini, South Africa; Hatting, I., KwaZulu-Natal Malaria Control Programme, South African National Department of Health, Richards Bay, South Africa | Background. Although the regional approach to malaria control between South Africa, Swaziland, and Mozambique has significantly decreased malaria risk in the Lubombo corridor, many facility owners' and tourists' malaria risk perception has remained unchanged. A large percentage are still unaware of the extensive malaria control efforts in the region and subsequent malaria reductions in the Lubombo corridor. Methods. A questionnaire-based follow-up survey was carried out in northern KwaZulu-Natal in the 1999/2000 and 2002/2003 malaria seasons. Tourists and tourist facility owners/managers were interviewed on their perceptions pertaining to malaria risk. Results. In the 1999/2000 malaria season, 18% of tourist facilities in northern KwaZulu-Natal were in areas where 5 to 25 malaria cases per 1,000 population were recorded, and 68% were in areas where <5 malaria cases per 1,000 population were recorded. A major reduction in malaria cases was achieved by the end of the 2002/2003 malaria season. None (0%) of the tourist facilities were in areas where 5 to 25 malaria cases per 1,000 population were recorded, and 98% were in areas where malaria cases were lower than five cases per 1,000 population. Conclusion. The survey of local and international tourists and tourist facility operators in northern KwaZulu-Natal revealed that there was a discrepancy between perceived and actual malaria risk. The perceived malaria risk among both local and international tourists and facility operators needs to be addressed by distributing updated malaria risk information on an annual basis. © 2007 International Society of Travel Medicine. | None | artemisinin; chloroquine; fansidar; article; follow up; health survey; human; infection risk; malaria; malaria control; questionnaire; tourism; Attitude; Climate; Data Collection; Humans; Information Dissemination; Malaria; Prevalence; Public Opinion; South Africa; Travel | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84953291011 | Consumer behaviour mutations and their impact on retail development. Evidence from South Africa | Haydam N., Edu T., Negricea I.C., Ionescu A. | 2015 | Transformations in Business and Economics | 14 | 3 | None | Marketing, Cape Peninsula University of Technology Cape Town, Tennant Street, Cape Town, South Africa; Management-Marketing, Romanian-American University, Bdul Expozitiei IB, sector 1, Bucharest, Romania; Commerce, Economic Integration and Business Administration, Romanian-American University, Bdul Expozitie IB, sector 1, Bucharest, Romania | Haydam, N., Marketing, Cape Peninsula University of Technology Cape Town, Tennant Street, Cape Town, South Africa; Edu, T., Management-Marketing, Romanian-American University, Bdul Expozitiei IB, sector 1, Bucharest, Romania; Negricea, I.C., Management-Marketing, Romanian-American University, Bdul Expozitiei IB, sector 1, Bucharest, Romania; Ionescu, A., Commerce, Economic Integration and Business Administration, Romanian-American University, Bdul Expozitie IB, sector 1, Bucharest, Romania | The purpose of the paper is to demonstrate the relationship between the consumer behaviour mutations recorded in the last 18 years in South Africa and the food and non-alcoholic beverage retail development in this country. The authors pursued a comprehensive desk research about the South African retail development, consumption behaviour mutations and cool drink consumption. A direct research was executed among 100 young Black educated South Africans to determine the consumer behaviour dimensions for cool drinks and correlations with demographic and offer-related variables. The findings show that the variables under study are interconnected, influencing each other, rendering a better informed and educated individual. The practical implications of the study reside in the fact that consumption patterns, economic and social changes and influences are of interest to the scientific world, the South African Government, NGOs, domestic and foreign businesses; these findings bear valuable information for the assessment of local and international opportunities. © Vilnius University, 2002-2015. © Brno University of Technology, 2002-2015. © University of Latvia, 2002-2015. | Consumer behaviour; Cool drinks; Marketing; Retail; South Africa | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77954755643 | Impact of age and sex on mycobacterial immunity in an area of high tuberculosis incidence | Gallant C.J., Cobat A., Simkin L., Black G.F., Stanley K., Hughes J., Doherty T.M., Hanekom W.A., Eley B., Beyers N., Jaïs J.-P., Van Helden P., Abel L., Alcaïs A., Hoal E.G., Schurr E. | 2010 | International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease | 14 | 8 | None | McGill Centre for the Study of Host Resistance, Departments of Human Genetics and Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada; Laboratory of Human Genetics of Infectious Diseases, Necker Branch, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Paris, France; Faculté de Médecine Necker, Université de Paris Descartes, Paris, France; Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, South Africa; Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, Health Sciences Faculty, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Department of Infectious Disease Immunology, Statens Serum Institute, Copenhagen, Denmark; Paediatric Infectious Diseases Unit, Red Cross Children's Hospital, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Desmond Tutu TB Centre, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, South Africa; Laboratory of Human Genetics of Infectious Diseases, Rockefeller Branch, Rockefeller University, New York, NY, United States; Montreal General Hospital Research Institute, 1650 Cedar Avenue, Montreal, QC H3G 1A4, Canada | Gallant, C.J., McGill Centre for the Study of Host Resistance, Departments of Human Genetics and Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada; Cobat, A., Laboratory of Human Genetics of Infectious Diseases, Necker Branch, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Paris, France, Faculté de Médecine Necker, Université de Paris Descartes, Paris, France; Simkin, L., McGill Centre for the Study of Host Resistance, Departments of Human Genetics and Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada; Black, G.F., Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, South Africa; Stanley, K., Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, South Africa; Hughes, J., Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, Health Sciences Faculty, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Doherty, T.M., Department of Infectious Disease Immunology, Statens Serum Institute, Copenhagen, Denmark; Hanekom, W.A., Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, Health Sciences Faculty, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Eley, B., Paediatric Infectious Diseases Unit, Red Cross Children's Hospital, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Beyers, N., Desmond Tutu TB Centre, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, South Africa; Jaïs, J.-P., Faculté de Médecine Necker, Université de Paris Descartes, Paris, France; Van Helden, P., Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, South Africa; Abel, L., Laboratory of Human Genetics of Infectious Diseases, Necker Branch, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Paris, France, Faculté de Médecine Necker, Université de Paris Descartes, Paris, France, Laboratory of Human Genetics of Infectious Diseases, Rockefeller Branch, Rockefeller University, New York, NY, United States; Alcaïs, A., Laboratory of Human Genetics of Infectious Diseases, Necker Branch, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Paris, France, Faculté de Médecine Necker, Université de Paris Descartes, Paris, France; Hoal, E.G., Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, South Africa; Schurr, E., McGill Centre for the Study of Host Resistance, Departments of Human Genetics and Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada, Montreal General Hospital Research Institute, 1650 Cedar Avenue, Montreal, QC H3G 1A4, Canada | SETTING: The extent of immune reactivity measured by the tuberculin skin test (TST) and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) T-cell assays is usually not analysed. OBJECTIVE: To determine the impact of age and sex on assay positivity and on the extent of reactivity of both TST and T-cell assays in young persons in an area of South Africa with high TB transmission. RESULTS: Age had a strong impact on assay positivity for all seven immune phenotypes tested (P < 0.0007). Among positive responders, the extent of purified protein derivative (PPD) triggered IFN-γ release (P < 0.003) was sensitive to age. ESAT-6 triggered IFN-γ release (day 7, P = 0.03) and the frequency of PPD-specific IFN-γ+CD4+ (P = 0.03) and IFN-γ+CD8+ cells (P = 0.04) were weakly dependent on age. By contrast, the extent of TST induration was insensitive to age (P > 0.05), and sex had no significant impact on any phenotype measured (P > 0.05). The high proportion of positive responders in the 1-10 year age-group observed with long-term whole blood assays, but not with 3-day assays and TST, suggests that long-term whole blood assays may be confounded by bacille Calmette-Guérin vaccination in this age group. CONCLUSION: There is a significant impact of age, but not sex, on different assays of immune reactivity in this high TB transmission setting. © 2010 The Union. | Covariates; IFN-γ release assays; TST; Tuberculosis | BCG vaccine; early secretory antigenic target 6; gamma interferon; bacterial antigen; gamma interferon; adolescent; adult; age distribution; article; bacterial immunity; bacterial transmission; CD4+ T lymphocyte; CD8+ T lymphocyte; child; controlled study; cytokine release; female; human; immunoassay; incidence; infant; male; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; normal human; phenotype; preschool child; priority journal; protein purification; school child; sex difference; South Africa; tuberculin test; tuberculosis; vaccination; age; age distribution; clinical trial; comparative study; follow up; immunology; innate immunity; isolation and purification; microbiology; multicenter study; retrospective study; sex difference; sex ratio; tuberculosis; young adult; Adolescent; Age Distribution; Age Factors; Antigens, Bacterial; Child; Child, Preschool; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Immunity, Innate; Incidence; Infant; Interferon-gamma; Male; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; Phenotype; Retrospective Studies; Sex Distribution; Sex Factors; South Africa; Tuberculin Test; Tuberculosis; Young Adult; Adolescent; Age Distribution; Age Factors; Antigens, Bacterial; Child; Child, Preschool; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Immunity, Innate; Incidence; Infant; Interferon-gamma; Male; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; Phenotype; Retrospective Studies; Sex Distribution; Sex Factors; South Africa; Tuberculin Test; Tuberculosis; Young Adult | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77950887690 | Impact of introducing human immunodefi ciency virus testing, treatment and care in a tuberculosis clinic in rural Kenya | Huerga H., Spillane H., Guerrero W., Odongo A., Varaine F. | 2010 | International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease | 14 | 5 | None | Médecins Sans Frontières, Nairobi, Kenya; National Tuberculosis Programme, Homa Bay, KEN, Kenya; Médecins Sans Frontières France, Paris, France | Huerga, H., Médecins Sans Frontières, Nairobi, Kenya; Spillane, H., Médecins Sans Frontières, Nairobi, Kenya; Guerrero, W., Médecins Sans Frontières, Nairobi, Kenya; Odongo, A., National Tuberculosis Programme, Homa Bay, KEN, Kenya; Varaine, F., Médecins Sans Frontières France, Paris, France | SETTING: In July 2005, Médecins Sans Frontières and the Ministry of Health, Kenya, implemented an integrated tuberculosis-human immunodefi ciency virus (TB-HIV) programme in western Kenya. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of an integrated TB-HIV programme on patient care and TB programme outcomes. DESIGN: Retrospective evaluation of three time periods: before (January-June 2005), shortly after (January-June 2006) and medium term after (January-December 2007) the implementation of the integrated programme. RESULTS: Respectively 79% and 91% of TB patients were HIV tested shortly and at medium term after service integration. The HIV-positive rate varied from 96% before the intervention to respectively 88% (305/347) and 74% (301/405) after. The estimated number of HIVpositive cases was respectively 303, 323 and 331 in the three periods. The proportion of patients receiving cotrimoxazole prophylaxis increased signifi cantly from 47% (142/303) to 94% (303/323) and 86% (285/331, P < 0.05). Before the intervention, 87% (171/197) of the TB-HIV patients would have been missed when initiating antiretroviral treatment, compared to respectively 29% (60/210) and 36% (78/215) after the integration. The TB programme success rate increased from 56% (230/409) to 71% (319/447) in the third period (P < 0.05); however, there was no signifi cant decrease in the default rate: 20% to 22% (P = 0.66) and 18% (P = 0.37). CONCLUSION: Integrated TB-HIV care has a very positive impact on the management of TB-HIV patients and on TB treatment outcomes. © 2010 The Union. | ART; HIV; Integration; One-stop; Tuberculosis | antiretrovirus agent; cotrimoxazole; antibiotic prophylaxis; article; diagnostic test; health program; highly active antiretroviral therapy; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infected patient; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; integrated health care system; intervention study; Kenya; lung tuberculosis; major clinical study; patient care; priority journal; retrospective study; treatment outcome; tuberculosis control; Anti-HIV Agents; Anti-Infective Agents; Delivery of Health Care, Integrated; HIV Infections; Humans; Kenya; Patient Care; Retrospective Studies; Rural Health Services; Treatment Outcome; Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole Combination; Tuberculosis | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84864947140 | Comparative performance of irrigated and rainfed agriculture in Ethiopia | Tilahun H., Teklu E., Michael M., Fitsum H., Awulachew S.B. | 2011 | World Applied Sciences Journal | 14 | 2 | None | Melkasa Agricultural Research Centre, P.O. Box: 436, Nazareth, Ethiopia; International Water Management Institute, P.O. Box: 5689, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Freie University of Berlin, Malteserstr, 74-100, Haus H, Raum H-152, 12249, Berlin, Germany | Tilahun, H., Melkasa Agricultural Research Centre, P.O. Box: 436, Nazareth, Ethiopia; Teklu, E., International Water Management Institute, P.O. Box: 5689, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Michael, M., Freie University of Berlin, Malteserstr, 74-100, Haus H, Raum H-152, 12249, Berlin, Germany; Fitsum, H., International Water Management Institute, P.O. Box: 5689, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Awulachew, S.B., International Water Management Institute, P.O. Box: 5689, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | With its an estimated human population of 85 million which increases annually at about 2.7 per cent, Ethiopia is the second most populous country in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) only after Nigeria. Agriculture contributes about 45% and 85% to the GDP and the export earnings, respectively. However, agriculture largely depends on the highly variable rainfall. Accentuated with the rampant land degradation, the seasonal and annual variation in rainfall severely impedes agricultural productivity. In the face of soaring global food prices, importing agricultural products is becoming more challenging. This entails a substantial increase in water and land productivity through investment in both rainfed and irrigated agriculture. Irrigation projects often require huge financial and capital investment. As a result, rain fed agriculture may continue to play a major role in the near future, especially in areas with sufficient rainfall. Therefore, prioritization and resources allocation to the rainfed and irrigated agriculture should ensure the efficient use of the limited resources. This study compared the efficiency of the small-scale irrigation (SSI) and the large-scale irrigated agricultural schemes in different river basins against the rain fed system. The study indicated that irrigated agriculture is more efficient both in terms of water use and economics regardless of the typology or the basins considered. The large-scale schemes are more efficient than the small-scale ones. This may be attributed to the use of other complementary crop management technologies such as fertilizers and the use of improved crop varieties. Although rainfed agriculture remains important for a long period to come, gradual transformation to irrigation particularly to large-scale schemes may lead to efficient use of resources for economic development. © IDOSI Publications, 2011. | Large-scale irrigation; River basins; Small-scale irrigation | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84950137912 | Evaluation of the mechanical properties and corrosion behaviour of coconut shell ash reinforced aluminium (6063) alloy composites | Daramola O.O., Adediran A.A., Fadumiye A.T. | 2015 | Leonardo Electronic Journal of Practices and Technologies | 14 | 27 | None | Metallurgical and Materials Engineering Department, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria; Mechanical Engineering Department, Landmark University, Omu-Aran, Kwara State, Nigeria | Daramola, O.O., Metallurgical and Materials Engineering Department, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria; Adediran, A.A., Metallurgical and Materials Engineering Department, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria; Fadumiye, A.T., Mechanical Engineering Department, Landmark University, Omu-Aran, Kwara State, Nigeria | Aluminium 6063/Coconut shell ash (CSAp) composites having 3-12 weight percent (wt%) coconut shell ash were fabricated by double stir-casting method. The microstructure, ultimate tensile strength, hardness values, density and corrosion behaviour in 0.3M H2SO4 and 3.5wt% NaCl solution of the composites were evaluated. The density of the composites exhibit a linear and proportional decreased as the percentage of coconut shell ash increases in the aluminium alloy. It implies that composites with lower weight component can be produced by adding CSAp. The microstructural analysis showed uniform distribution of coconut shell ash particles in the aluminium alloy matrix. Significant improvement in hardness and ultimate tensile strength values was noticeable as the wt% of the coconut shell ash increased in the alloy, although this occur at the expense of ductility of the composites as the modulus of elasticity of the composites decreases as the percentage of CSAp increases. Hence, this work has established that incorporation of coconut shell particles in aluminum matrix can lead to the production of low cost aluminum composites with improved hardness and tensile strength values. © 2015, AcademicDirect. All rights reserved. | Aluminium 6063; Coconut shell; Composite; Corrosion; Matrix; Mechanical properties; Stir casting | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84937239039 | Design of a study to determine the impact of insecticide resistance on malaria vector control: A multi-country investigation | Kleinschmidt I., Mnzava A.P., Kafy H.T., Mbogo C., Bashir A.I., Bigoga J., Adechoubou A., Raghavendra K., Knox T.B., Malik E.M., Nkuni Z.J., Bayoh N., Ochomo E., Fondjo E., Kouambeng C., Awono-Ambene H.P., Etang J., Akogbeto M., Bhatt R., Swain D.K., Kiny | 2015 | Malaria Journal | 14 | 1 | 10.1186/s12936-015-0782-4 | MRC Tropical Epidemiology Group, Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom; Federal Ministry of Health, PO Box 1204, Khartoum, Sudan; Khartoum State Malaria Control Programme, VBDC, P.O. Box 1517, Khartoum, Sudan; School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Pulau Pinang, Malaysia; KEMRI Centre for Geographic Medicine Research Coast, P.O. Box 230, Kilifi, Kenya; National Reference Unit (NRU) for Vector Control, Biotechnology Center, University of Yaoundéi, P.O. Box 3851, Messa, Yaoundé, Cameroon; Programme National de Lutte Conte le Paludisme (PNLP), Ministère de la Santé, Cotonou, Benin; Department of Health Research, National Institute of Malaria Research, (GoI), Sector 8, Dwarka, Delhi 110 077, India; Global Malaria Programme, World Health Organization, Avenue Appia, Geneva, Switzerland; KEMRI/CDC Research and Public Health Collaboration, PO Box 1578, Kisumu, Kenya; National Malaria Control Programme, Ministry of Public Health, PO Box 14386, Yaoundé, Cameroon; Organisation de Coordination Pour la Lutte Contre les Endémies en Afrique Centrale (OCEAC), Yaoundé, Cameroon; Department of Vector Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, United Kingdom; Ministry of Health, Wad Madani, Gezera State, Sudan; Malaria Programme, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge, United Kingdom; Department of Medical Physiology, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya; Ministry of Health, Malaria Control Unit, PO Box 1992, Nairobi 00202, Kenya; KEMRI Centre for Public Health Research, Nairobi, Kenya; Centre de Recherche Entomologique de Cotonou, Cotonou, Benin; KEMRI-Centre for Biotechnology and Research Development, Nairobi, Kenya; KEMRI-Eastern and Southern Africa Centre of International Parasite Control, Nairobi, Kenya; Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Douala, PO Box 2701, Douala, Cameroon; Faculté des Sciences de la Santé, Université d'Abomey Calavi, Cotonou, Benin; School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa | Kleinschmidt, I., MRC Tropical Epidemiology Group, Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom, School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Mnzava, A.P., Global Malaria Programme, World Health Organization, Avenue Appia, Geneva, Switzerland; Kafy, H.T., Federal Ministry of Health, PO Box 1204, Khartoum, Sudan; Mbogo, C., KEMRI Centre for Geographic Medicine Research Coast, P.O. Box 230, Kilifi, Kenya; Bashir, A.I., Khartoum State Malaria Control Programme, VBDC, P.O. Box 1517, Khartoum, Sudan, School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Pulau Pinang, Malaysia; Bigoga, J., National Reference Unit (NRU) for Vector Control, Biotechnology Center, University of Yaoundéi, P.O. Box 3851, Messa, Yaoundé, Cameroon; Adechoubou, A., Programme National de Lutte Conte le Paludisme (PNLP), Ministère de la Santé, Cotonou, Benin; Raghavendra, K., Department of Health Research, National Institute of Malaria Research, (GoI), Sector 8, Dwarka, Delhi 110 077, India; Knox, T.B., Global Malaria Programme, World Health Organization, Avenue Appia, Geneva, Switzerland; Malik, E.M., Ministry of Health, Wad Madani, Gezera State, Sudan; Nkuni, Z.J., Global Malaria Programme, World Health Organization, Avenue Appia, Geneva, Switzerland; Bayoh, N., KEMRI/CDC Research and Public Health Collaboration, PO Box 1578, Kisumu, Kenya; Ochomo, E., KEMRI/CDC Research and Public Health Collaboration, PO Box 1578, Kisumu, Kenya; Fondjo, E., National Malaria Control Programme, Ministry of Public Health, PO Box 14386, Yaoundé, Cameroon; Kouambeng, C., National Malaria Control Programme, Ministry of Public Health, PO Box 14386, Yaoundé, Cameroon; Awono-Ambene, H.P., Organisation de Coordination Pour la Lutte Contre les Endémies en Afrique Centrale (OCEAC), Yaoundé, Cameroon; Etang, J., Organisation de Coordination Pour la Lutte Contre les Endémies en Afrique Centrale (OCEAC), Yaoundé, Cameroon, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Douala, PO Box 2701, Douala, Cameroon; Akogbeto, M., Centre de Recherche Entomologique de Cotonou, Cotonou, Benin; Bhatt, R., Department of Health Research, National Institute of Malaria Research, (GoI), Sector 8, Dwarka, Delhi 110 077, India; Swain, D.K., Department of Health Research, National Institute of Malaria Research, (GoI), Sector 8, Dwarka, Delhi 110 077, India; Kinyari, T., Department of Medical Physiology, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya; Njagi, K., Ministry of Health, Malaria Control Unit, PO Box 1992, Nairobi 00202, Kenya; Muthami, L., KEMRI Centre for Public Health Research, Nairobi, Kenya; Subramaniam, K., Department of Vector Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, United Kingdom; Bradley, J., MRC Tropical Epidemiology Group, Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom; West, P., MRC Tropical Epidemiology Group, Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom; Massougbodji, A., Faculté des Sciences de la Santé, Université d'Abomey Calavi, Cotonou, Benin; Okê-Sopoh, M., Programme National de Lutte Conte le Paludisme (PNLP), Ministère de la Santé, Cotonou, Benin; Hounto, A., Faculté des Sciences de la Santé, Université d'Abomey Calavi, Cotonou, Benin; Elmardi, K., Federal Ministry of Health, PO Box 1204, Khartoum, Sudan; Valecha, N., Department of Health Research, National Institute of Malaria Research, (GoI), Sector 8, Dwarka, Delhi 110 077, India; Kamau, L., KEMRI-Centre for Biotechnology and Research Development, Nairobi, Kenya; Mathenge, E., KEMRI-Eastern and Southern Africa Centre of International Parasite Control, Nairobi, Kenya; Donnelly, M.J., Department of Vector Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, United Kingdom, Malaria Programme, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge, United Kingdom | Background: Progress in reducing the malaria disease burden through the substantial scale up of insecticide-based vector control in recent years could be reversed by the widespread emergence of insecticide resistance. The impact of insecticide resistance on the protective effectiveness of insecticide-treated nets (ITN) and indoor residual spraying (IRS) is not known. A multi-country study was undertaken in Sudan, Kenya, India, Cameroon and Benin to quantify the potential loss of epidemiological effectiveness of ITNs and IRS due to decreased susceptibility of malaria vectors to insecticides. The design of the study is described in this paper. Methods: Malaria disease incidence rates by active case detection in cohorts of children, and indicators of insecticide resistance in local vectors were monitored in each of approximately 300 separate locations (clusters) with high coverage of malaria vector control over multiple malaria seasons. Phenotypic and genotypic resistance was assessed annually. In two countries, Sudan and India, clusters were randomly assigned to receive universal coverage of ITNs only, or universal coverage of ITNs combined with high coverage of IRS. Association between malaria incidence and insecticide resistance, and protective effectiveness of vector control methods and insecticide resistance were estimated, respectively. Results: Cohorts have been set up in all five countries, and phenotypic resistance data have been collected in all clusters. In Sudan, Kenya, Cameroon and Benin data collection is due to be completed in 2015. In India data collection will be completed in 2016. Discussion: The paper discusses challenges faced in the design and execution of the study, the analysis plan, the strengths and weaknesses, and the possible alternatives to the chosen study design. © 2015 Kleinschmidt et al. | None | insecticide; Article; bed net; Benin; Cameroon; cohort analysis; drug sensitivity; genotype; human; India; indoor residual spraying; insecticide resistance; Kenya; malaria; observational study; phenotype; study design; Sudan; vector control | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84935015721 | Outdoor biting by Anopheles mosquitoes on Bioko Island does not currently impact on malaria control | Bradley J., Lines J., Fuseini G., Schwabe C., Monti F., Slotman M., Vargas D., Garcia G., Hergott D., Kleinschmidt I. | 2015 | Malaria Journal | 14 | 1 | 10.1186/s12936-015-0679-2 | MRC Tropical Epidemiology Group, London School of Hygiene, Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Department of Disease Control, London School of Hygiene, Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Medical Care Development International, Malabo, Equatorial Guinea; Medical Care Development International, Silver Spring, MD, United States; Texas A and M University, College Station, TX, United States; Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa | Bradley, J., MRC Tropical Epidemiology Group, London School of Hygiene, Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Lines, J., Department of Disease Control, London School of Hygiene, Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Fuseini, G., Medical Care Development International, Malabo, Equatorial Guinea; Schwabe, C., Medical Care Development International, Silver Spring, MD, United States; Monti, F., Medical Care Development International, Malabo, Equatorial Guinea; Slotman, M., Texas A and M University, College Station, TX, United States; Vargas, D., Medical Care Development International, Malabo, Equatorial Guinea; Garcia, G., Medical Care Development International, Malabo, Equatorial Guinea; Hergott, D., Medical Care Development International, Malabo, Equatorial Guinea; Kleinschmidt, I., MRC Tropical Epidemiology Group, London School of Hygiene, Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa | Background: There have been many recent reports that the rate of outdoor biting by malaria vectors has increased. This study examined the impact this might have on malaria transmission by assessing the association between exposure to outdoor bites and malaria infection on Bioko Island, Equatorial Guinea. Methods: Responses to questions about time spent outside the previous night from a malaria indicator survey were combined with human landing catch measurements of hourly rates of outdoor and indoor biting for the whole island to estimate the number of outdoor and indoor bites received by each survey respondent. The association between RDT measured malaria infection status of individuals and outdoor bites received was investigated. Results: The average number of bites received per person per night was estimated as 3.51 in total, of which 0.69 (19.7%) would occur outdoors. Malaria infection was not significantly higher in individuals who reported spending time outside between 7 pm and 6 am the previous night compared to those not spending time outside in both adults (18.9% vs 17.4%, p∈=∈0.20) and children (29.2% vs 27.1%, p∈=∈0.20). Malaria infection in neither adults (p∈=∈0.56) nor in children (p∈=∈0.12) was associated with exposure to outdoor bites, even after adjusting for confounders. Conclusions: Malaria vector mosquitoes in Bioko do bite humans outdoors, and this has the potential to reduce the effectiveness of vector control. However, outdoor biting is currently not a major factor influencing the malaria burden, mainly because more than 95% of the population are indoors during the middle of the night, which is the peak biting period for malaria vector mosquitoes. The majority of resources should remain with control measures that target indoor biting and resting such as LLINs and IRS. © 2015 Bradley et al.; licensee BioMed Central. | None | adolescent; adult; Anopheles; Article; bed net; child; controlled study; environmental exposure; environmental factor; Equatorial Guinea; female; health survey; human; indoor residual spraying; malaria; malaria control; male; mosquito bite; night; parasite load; parasite vector; vector control | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84859507579 | Digestibility and performance of water hyacinth meal in the diets of African Catfish (Clarias gariepinus; Burchell, 1822) | Sotolu A.O., Sule S.O. | 2011 | Tropical and Subtropical Agroecosystems | 14 | 1 | None | Nasarawa State University Keffi, Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries Shabu-Lafia Campus, Lafia, Nigeria; Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Management, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria | Sotolu, A.O., Nasarawa State University Keffi, Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries Shabu-Lafia Campus, Lafia, Nigeria; Sule, S.O., Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Management, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria | Water hyacinth meal (WHM) as an alternative protein source was investigated in this study. Whole water hyacinth plant meal (WPM), water hyacinth leaf meal (WLM) and soya bean meal (SBM) were used to compound three isoproteic (40% crude protein) fish diets. Catfish of 11.2 ± 0.3g average weight were used for the 70-day digestibility study. Data were collected forthnightly on fish growth performance and water qualities (dissolved oxygen, pH, ammonia and temperature). Fish, feeds, and faecal wastes were analyzed. Fish fed SBM-based diet had superior performance over those fed WHM-based diets with respect to Mean weight gain (MWG), Specific growth rate (SGR), Protein efficiency ratio (PER), Feed conversion ratio (FCR), Nitrogen metabolism (Nm) and digestibility coefficients (ADC). Fish fed all diets exhibited marginal difference in total feed intake but growth performance and nutrient utilization were significantly higher in fish fed WLM than fish fed WPM probably as a result of high fibre content present in WPM. Extremely low value of ammonia was recorded in water under WPM treatment (0.18±0.06 mg/l) while water under WLM and SBM treatment had significantly higher values of ammonia 0.46± 0.13 mg/l and 0.71± 0.10 mg/l respectively. These observations may be due to the presence of significantly higher fibre content in the WPM than other meals. Consequently this could be responsible for its poor digestibility values but high potential for waste water purification. Water hyacinth leaf meal (WLM) would therefore serve a better option for adoption in ensuring maximum utilization potentials of the aquatic plant both for profitable and sustainable fish production. | Catfish; Fish feed; Fish production; Water hyacinth; Water purification | Clarias gariepinus; Eichhornia crassipes; Glycine max | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-49649103527 | Comparative assessment of draught performance of the one humped camel (Camelus dromedarius) and Bunaji work bulls in Zaria, Nigeria | Mohammed A.K., Sackey A.K.B., Tekdek L.B., Gefuo J.O. | 2007 | Journal of Camel Practice and Research | 14 | 2 | None | National Animal Production Research Institute, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria | Mohammed, A.K., National Animal Production Research Institute, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria; Sackey, A.K.B., Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria; Tekdek, L.B., Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria; Gefuo, J.O., National Animal Production Research Institute, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria | The study was carried out to evaluate the draught performance of the dromedary and Bunaji work bulls as draught animals for ridging, ploughing and weeding operations in a sub-humid environment of Nigeria. 4 work dromedaries singly harnessed and 8 Bunaji work bulls yoked in pairs were used for the evaluation. The camel's mean weight was 450 ± 12.8 kg while a pair of bulls weighed 760 ± 15.4 kg. The animals were made to plough, ridge and weed an area of 1500 m 2 of uncultivated flat land. The absolute draught force produced by one dromedary for ridging (0.80 kN), weeding (0.36 kN) and ploughing (0.18 kN) were not significantly different (P>0.05) from that produced by a pair of work bulls (0.79 kN, 0.30 kN, 0.30 kN) for same operations, although the live weight of a pair of work bulls (760 ±15.4 kg) was significantly (P<0.01) higher than that of a single dromedary (450 ± 12.8 kg). The bulls ridged 0.23 ha of land per hour (1 ha / 4.4 hours) which was significantly (P<0.01) faster than the camel's 0.18 ha per hour (1 ha / 5.3 hours). It is thus conclusive from this study that, the one humped camel can be efficiently utilised as an alternative draught ruminant in the sub-humid savannah zone of Nigeria. | Bunaji work bulls; Camelus dromedaries; Draught performance; Nigeria | Animalia; Bovidae; Camelus dromedarius | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-70350316807 | Field performance of VST SHAKTI power tiller on sawah rice plots in Nigeria and Ghana | Ademiluyi S.Y., Oladele O.I. | 2008 | Bulgarian Journal of Agricultural Science | 14 | 5 | None | National Center for Agricultural Mecahnisation, Ilorin, Nigeria; Department of Agricultural Economics, Education and Extension, Botswana College of Agriculture, University of Botswana, Gaborone, Belgium | Ademiluyi, S.Y., National Center for Agricultural Mecahnisation, Ilorin, Nigeria; Oladele, O.I., Department of Agricultural Economics, Education and Extension, Botswana College of Agriculture, University of Botswana, Gaborone, Belgium | ADEMILUYI, S. Y. and O. I. OLADELE, 2008. Field performance of VST SHAKTI power tiller on sawah rice plots in Nigeria and Ghana. Bulg. J. Agric. Sci., 14: 517-522 The paper reports the Field performance of VST SHAKTI power tiller on sawah rice plots in Nigeria and Ghana. This is based on the fact that power tillers were re- introduced in Nigerian agriculture in 2001 by Water shed Initiatives Nigeria by importing few units for sawah rice production technology. The field performance evaluation of the model was carried out in different rice fields located at Shaba-Maliki and Ejeti village near Bida on a clayey loamy, sandy soil, under the guinea savannah ecology of Nigeria. The process was repeated in Biemo No1 and Adugyma in Ghana. These study sites are located about 40 kilometers northwest of Kumasi on the Kumasi - Sunyani main road in Ahafo Ano South District which is at the north-western part of the Ashanti Region. The result shows that 93% and 92% were recorded for field efficiency at Ejeti and Shaba-Maliki respectively. The difference in effective field capacity obtained at Shaba- Maliki (0.089 ha/hr) and Ejeti (0.047 ha/hr) was due to the variation in the average time of operation, the operational time at Ejeti (21.7 hr/ha) almost doubles that of Shaba-Maliki (13.15 hr/ha). In Ghana the field efficiency of VST SHAKTI 130D1 power tillers Biemso 1 and Adugyma were 80.52% and 82%. On the other hand, the effective field capacity are 0.15 ha/hr and 0.11 ha/hr for Biemo1 and Adugyma; while the average time of operation are 7.92 hr/ha and 8.9 hr/ha respectively for the locations in Ghana. The results of One way analysis of variance for field performance of power tillers in 4 locations show that average time of operations only Ejeti is significantly different from the 3 other locations, while Adugyma and AhabaMaliki, the effective field capacity differs significantly from Biemso and Ejeti. In terms of field efficiency, Biemso 1 is significantly different from Adugyma but not any difference between Ejeti and Shaba-Maliki. The means for slippage is highest in Ejeti and Shaba-Maliki though not significantly different between them but shows high significance difference between the locations in Ghana that is Biuemso 1 and Adugyma. | Field capacity; Field efficiency; Field performance; Sawah rice; Slippage; VST SHAKTI power tiller | None | None |
| None | None | Evaluation of ICON Maxx, a long-lasting treatment kit for mosquito nets: Experimental hut trials against anopheline mosquitoes in Tanzania | Tungu P.K., Malima R., Mosha F.W., Lyimo I., Maxwell C., Kaur H., Kisinza W.N., Magesa S.M., Kirby M.J., Rowland M. | 2015 | Malaria Journal | 14 | 1 | 10.1186/s12936-015-0742-z | National Institute for Medical Research, Amani Medical Research Centre, Muheza, Tanzania; Pan-African Malaria Vector Research Consortium (PAMVERC), P.O.Box 81, Muheza, Tanga, Tanzania; Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre, Moshi, Tanzania; London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom | Tungu, P.K., National Institute for Medical Research, Amani Medical Research Centre, Muheza, Tanzania, Pan-African Malaria Vector Research Consortium (PAMVERC), P.O.Box 81, Muheza, Tanga, Tanzania; Malima, R., National Institute for Medical Research, Amani Medical Research Centre, Muheza, Tanzania, Pan-African Malaria Vector Research Consortium (PAMVERC), P.O.Box 81, Muheza, Tanga, Tanzania; Mosha, F.W., Pan-African Malaria Vector Research Consortium (PAMVERC), P.O.Box 81, Muheza, Tanga, Tanzania, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre, Moshi, Tanzania; Lyimo, I., Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre, Moshi, Tanzania; Maxwell, C., National Institute for Medical Research, Amani Medical Research Centre, Muheza, Tanzania, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Kaur, H., London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Kisinza, W.N., National Institute for Medical Research, Amani Medical Research Centre, Muheza, Tanzania, Pan-African Malaria Vector Research Consortium (PAMVERC), P.O.Box 81, Muheza, Tanga, Tanzania; Magesa, S.M., National Institute for Medical Research, Amani Medical Research Centre, Muheza, Tanzania; Kirby, M.J., Pan-African Malaria Vector Research Consortium (PAMVERC), P.O.Box 81, Muheza, Tanga, Tanzania, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Rowland, M., Pan-African Malaria Vector Research Consortium (PAMVERC), P.O.Box 81, Muheza, Tanga, Tanzania, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom | Background: Insecticide-treated nets are the primary method of preventing malaria. To remain effective, the pyrethroid insecticide must withstand multiple washes over the lifetime of the net. ICON® Maxx is a 'dip-it-yourself' kit for long-lasting treatment of polyester nets. The twin-sachet kit contains a slow-release capsule suspension of lambda-cyhalothrin plus binding agent. To determine whether ICON Maxx meets the standards required by the World Health Organization Pesticide Evaluation Scheme (WHOPES), the efficacy and wash fastness of ICON Maxx was evaluated against wild, free-flying anopheline mosquitoes. Methods: ICON Maxx was subjected to bioassay evaluation and experimental hut trial against pyrethroid-susceptible Anopheles gambiae, Anopheles arabiensis and Anopheles funestus. Mosquito mortality, blood feeding inhibition and personal protection were compared between untreated nets, conventional lambda-cyhalothrin treated nets (CTN) washed either four times (cut-off threshold) or 20 times, and ICON Maxx-treated nets either unwashed or washed 20 times. Results: In bioassay, ICON Maxx demonstrated superior wash resistance to the CTN. In the experimental hut trial, ICON Maxx killed 75 % of An. funestus, 71 % of An. gambiae and 47 % of An. arabiensis when unwashed and 58, 66 and 42 %, respectively, when 20 times washed. The CTN killed 52 % of An. funestus, 33 % of An. gambiae and 30 % of An. arabiensis when washed to the cut-off threshold of four washes and 40, 40 and 36 %, respectively, when 20 times washed. Percentage mortality with ICON Maxx 20 times washed was similar (An. funestus) or significantly higher (An. gambiae, An. arabiensis) than with CTN washed to the WHOPES cut-off threshold. Blood-feeding inhibition with ICON Maxx 20 times washed was similar to the CTN washed to cut-off for all three species. Personal protection was significantly higher with ICON Maxx 20 times washed (66-79 %) than with CTN washed to cut-off (48-60 %). Conclusions: Nets treated with ICON Maxx and washed 20 times met the approval criteria set by WHOPES for Phase II trials in terms of mortality and blood-feeding inhibition. This finding raises the prospect of conventional polyester nets and other materials being made long-lastingly insecticidal through simple dipping in community or home, and thus represents a major advance over conventional pyrethroid treatments. © 2015 Tungu et al. | Anopheles arabiensis; Anopheles funestus; Anopheles gambiae; Experimental huts; Lambda-cyhalothrin; Long-lasting insecticidal nets | cyhalothrin; insecticide; pyrethroid; Anopheles; Anopheles arabiensis; Anopheles funestus; Anopheles gambiae; Article; bed net; bioassay; blood; chemical analysis; controlled study; cyhalothrin treated net; experimental study; feeding behavior; insecticide resistance; mortality; nonhuman; reference value; Tanzania | None |
| None | None | Evaluation of the KEMRI Hep-cell ii test kit for detection of hepatitis B surface antigens in Tanzania | Kilale A.M., Range N.S., Ngowi P.H., Kahwa A.M., Mfinanga S.G. | 2012 | Tanzania Journal of Health Research | 14 | 3 | 10.4314/thrb.v14i3.5 | National Institute for Medical Research, Muhimbili Medical Research Centre, P. 0. Box 3436, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania | Kilale, A.M., National Institute for Medical Research, Muhimbili Medical Research Centre, P. 0. Box 3436, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Range, N.S., National Institute for Medical Research, Muhimbili Medical Research Centre, P. 0. Box 3436, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Ngowi, P.H., National Institute for Medical Research, Muhimbili Medical Research Centre, P. 0. Box 3436, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Kahwa, A.M., National Institute for Medical Research, Muhimbili Medical Research Centre, P. 0. Box 3436, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Mfinanga, S.G., National Institute for Medical Research, Muhimbili Medical Research Centre, P. 0. Box 3436, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania | Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) is one of the most important serological markers used to diagnose acute and chronic hepatitis B infection. The objective of the current evaluation was to assess the operational characteristics of the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) Hep-cell II against an ELISA Exsym HBsAg in the detection of hepatitis B surface antigens. To evaluate the Hep-cell II test, blood samples were collected from blood donors and processed for detection of HBsAg using Hep-cell II based on the test principle and procedure outlined by the manufacturer. ELISA Axsym HBsAg test was used as golden standard. Of the 400 samples tested, 287 (71.8%) were positive by Hep-cell test and 295 (73.8%) were positive by the ELISA Axsym. Hep-cell test had a sensitivity of 98.6% and specificity of 95.96%. Similar values of sensitivity and specificity of the Hep-cell test were obtained even when Bayesian Analysis Model was applied. The positive and negative predictive values of Hep-cell test were 98.61% and 95.96%, respectively. The positive and negative diagnostic likelihood ratios of Hep-cell test were 24.4% and 0.0145, respectively. In conclusion, the Hep-cell test is useful for detecting hepatitis B virus and the high likelihood ratio observed suggests that it may be useful in blood screening. However, it may be necessary to evaluate for cost-effectiveness and robustness in field conditions before the test is recommended for use. | Antigen; Diagnosis; Hep-cell test; Hepatitis B; KEMRI; Tanzania | hepatitis B surface antigen; antigen detection; article; Bayes theorem; blood donor; blood sampling; diagnostic kit; diagnostic test accuracy study; diagnostic value; enzyme linked immunosorbent assay; Hep cell II test kit; hepatitis B; human; intermethod comparison; predictive value; sensitivity and specificity | None |
| None | None | Impact of insecticide treated mosquito nets and low dose monthly diethylcarbamazine on lymphatic filariasis infection between 1999 and 2004 in two endemic communities of north-eastern Tanzania | Lemnge M.M., Mmbando B.P., Segeja M.D., Gesase S., Bygbjerg I.C. | 2012 | Tanzania Journal of Health Research | 14 | 3 | 10.4314/thrb.v14i3.2 | National Institute for Medical Research, Tanga Medical Research Centre, Tanzania; Centre for Medical Parasitology at the Institute of International Health, Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark | Lemnge, M.M., National Institute for Medical Research, Tanga Medical Research Centre, Tanzania; Mmbando, B.P., National Institute for Medical Research, Tanga Medical Research Centre, Tanzania; Segeja, M.D., National Institute for Medical Research, Tanga Medical Research Centre, Tanzania; Gesase, S., National Institute for Medical Research, Tanga Medical Research Centre, Tanzania; Bygbjerg, I.C., Centre for Medical Parasitology at the Institute of International Health, Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark | Lymphatic filariasis (LF) is among the poverty related neglected tropical diseases earmarked for elimination using mass drug administration (MDA) strategy. Additional use of insecticide treated mosquito nets (ITNs) might enhance elimination of LF infection. Between August 1998 and July 1999, all individuals aged ≥ 8 months from Magoda and Mpapayu villages in northeastern Tanzania, were administered with monthly low dose diethylcarbamazine (DEC) at a dosage of 50mg in children aged < 15 years and 100mg in adults aged ≥ 15 years. ITNs were also distributed to Magoda in December 1998 and to Mpapayu in March 2001. The main objective of our study was to assess the impact of ITNs and low dose DEC on microfilaria (mf) prevalence and intensity and incidence of new mf infections. Four annual cross-sectional surveys were conducted between 1999 and 2004 in the two villages to screen for Wuchereria bancrofti microfilariae in individuals aged ≥ 1 year. Overall, 80% of the population in Magoda and 66% in Mpapayu were covered during these surveys. Results revealed a significant decrease in both mf prevalence and intensity in both villages. Furthermore, there was a steady decrease in mf incidence in Magoda; with 36.7 cases per 1000 person years in 2000 and 7.4 in 2004. In Mpapayu, the incidence initially increased from 20.8 cases in 2000 to 24.3 in 2001 and then decreased to 7.2 cases in 2004. Individuals using ITNs in Magoda had significantly lower risk of mf (OR=0.681; 95%CI: 0.496-0.934); and the risk of new infections was reduced by 58.8% (95%CI: 30.3-75.4). These results suggest that when MDA is complemented with ITNs there is high likelihood to half filariasis transmission within a shorter period than using chemotherapy alone. | Diethylcarbamazine; Insecticide mosquito nets; Lymphatic filariasis; Tanzania | diethylcarbamazine; adolescent; adult; article; Bancroftian filariasis; bed net; child; cross-sectional study; elephantiasis; endemic disease; female; human; hydrocele; incidence; infection prevention; low drug dose; lymphatic filariasis; lymphedema; male; Microfilaria; parasite prevalence; parasite transmission; risk assessment; Tanzania; Wuchereria bancrofti | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-34147181637 | Evaluation of the partec flow cytometer against the BD FACSCalibur system for monitoring immune responses of human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients in Zimbabwe | Manasa J., Musabaike H., Masimirembwa C., Burke E., Luthy R., Mudzori J. | 2007 | Clinical and Vaccine Immunology | 14 | 3 | 10.1128/CVI.00416-06 | National Microbiology Reference Laboratory (NMRL), Harare, Zimbabwe; African Institute of Biomedical Science and Technology, Harare, Zimbabwe; Connaught Clinic, Harare, Zimbabwe; COMFORCE Corporation, Centre for Disease Control (CDC) Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe; Molecular Diagnostics Unit, African Institute of Biomedical Science and Technology, P.O. Box 2294, Harare, Zimbabwe | Manasa, J., African Institute of Biomedical Science and Technology, Harare, Zimbabwe, Molecular Diagnostics Unit, African Institute of Biomedical Science and Technology, P.O. Box 2294, Harare, Zimbabwe; Musabaike, H., National Microbiology Reference Laboratory (NMRL), Harare, Zimbabwe; Masimirembwa, C., African Institute of Biomedical Science and Technology, Harare, Zimbabwe; Burke, E., COMFORCE Corporation, Centre for Disease Control (CDC) Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe; Luthy, R., Connaught Clinic, Harare, Zimbabwe; Mudzori, J., National Microbiology Reference Laboratory (NMRL), Harare, Zimbabwe | A single-platform volumetric flow cytometer, the Partec Cyflow SL_3, was evaluated against a BD FACSCalibur/ Sysmex XT1800i dual platform for measuring CD4+ lymphocytes, total lymphocytes, and the percentage of CD4 lymphocytes in whole-blood samples for monitoring the immune systems of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/AIDS patients. Statistical analyses for precision, correlation, and agreement were performed. Coefficients of variation (CV) of 5.8, 4.6, and 3.9% were obtained for low, medium, and high CD4+ cell counts, respectively, using the SL_3, and CV of 3.7, 4.0, and 0.94 were obtained for the same categories, using the BD FACSCalibur. Significant correlations (P < 0.005) between the two assays for CD4 counts, total lymphocyte counts, and percentages of CD4 were obtained, with correlation coefficients of 0.99, 0.96, and 0.99, respectively (n = 229). Using the Bland-Altman plot, mean biases of -18 cell/μl (95% confidence interval (CI); -91 to 54 cells/μl), -0.8% (95% CI; -3.6 to 2%), and -36.8 cells/μl (95% CI; -477 to 404 cells/μl) were obtained for comparisons of CD4 counts, percentages of CD4 cells, and total lymphocyte counts, respectively. The effects of the age of the samples on the three parameters were also analyzed by comparing results from the same samples analyzed at 6, 24, and 48 h after collection. The correlation coefficients for comparisons among different time points for the same machine and among all the time points for the two different machines were greater than 0.90. These data showed that the Partec Cyflow SL_3 assay is comparable to the BD FACSCalibur/Sysmex XT1800i dual-platform method for measuring the amount of CD4+ cells and total lymphocytes and the percentages of CD4 cells in blood samples for the purpose of monitoring HIV/AIDS patients. Copyright © 2007, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved. | None | accuracy; article; CD4 lymphocyte count; controlled study; device; flow cytometer; flow cytometry; human; human cell; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; immune response; patient monitoring; priority journal; Zimbabwe; CD4 Lymphocyte Count; Flow Cytometry; HIV Infections; Humans; Lymphocyte Count | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-54449101622 | Global decomposition experiment shows soil animal impacts on decomposition are climate-dependent | Wall D.H., Bradford M.A., St. John M.G., Trofymow J.A., Behan-Pelletier V., Bignell D.E., Dangerfield J.M., Parton W.J., Rusek J., Voigt W., Wolters V., Gardel H.Z., Ayuke F.O., Bashford R., Beljakova O.I., Bohlen P.J., Brauman A., Flemming S., Henschel J | 2008 | Global Change Biology | 14 | 11 | 10.1111/j.1365-2486.2008.01672.x | Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory, Department of Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, United States; Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, United States; Landcare Research, PO Box 40, Lincoln 7640, New Zealand; Canadian Forest Service, Pacific Forestry Centre, Victoria, BC V8Z 1M5, Canada; Agriculture and Agri-food Canada, Ottawa, ON K1A 0C6, Canada; Queen Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, United Kingdom; Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia; Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, United States; Institute of Soil Biology, Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice 370 05, Czech Republic; Institute of Ecology, University of Jena, Jena 07743, Germany; Department of Animal Ecology, Justus-Liebig-University, D-35392 Giessen, Germany; Kenya Methodist University, Kaaga Campus, Meru, Kenya; Department of Forest Entomology, Forestry Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7000, Australia; Centralno-Chernozemnyj Reserve, Zapovednoe, Russian Federation; MacArthur Agro-Ecology Research Center, Lake Placid, FL 33852, United States; Laboratoire MOST Centre IRD, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, UR SeqBio, Montpellier, France; Gros Morne National Park, Rocky Harbour, NL A0K 4N0, Canada; Gobabeb Training and Research Centre, Box 953, Walvis Bay, Namibia; Department of Geography, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4, Canada; Cardiff School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3US, United Kingdom; Institute of Botany, Academy of Sciences, Pruhonice 252 43, Czech Republic; B.C. Ministry of Forests, Smithers, BC V0J 2N0, Canada; Inuvik Research Centre, Inuvik, NT X0E 0T0, Canada; Taiwan Forestry Research Institute, Taipei 100, Taiwan; Institute of Tropical Biology and Conservation, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Sabah, Malaysia; Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, BP 182, Ouagadougou 01, Burkina Faso; Institute of Ecology and Evolution, RAS, Moscow 119071, Russian Federation; Centro Universitário do Leste de Minas Gerais, Coronel Fabriciano 35170-056, Brazil; Tropical Soil Biology and Fertility Institute, CIAT, ICRAF, Nairobi, Kenya; Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, DC, Colombia; Institute of Biology, Federal University of Uberlândia, CP 593, 38400-902 Uberlândia, Brazil; Department of Forest Resources, Department of Indian and Northern Affairs, Whitehorse, YT Y1A 2B5, Canada; Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650223, China; Institute for Tropical Ecosystem Studies, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan 00931-1910, Puerto Rico | Wall, D.H., Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory, Department of Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, United States; Bradford, M.A., Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, United States; St. John, M.G., Landcare Research, PO Box 40, Lincoln 7640, New Zealand; Trofymow, J.A., Canadian Forest Service, Pacific Forestry Centre, Victoria, BC V8Z 1M5, Canada; Behan-Pelletier, V., Agriculture and Agri-food Canada, Ottawa, ON K1A 0C6, Canada; Bignell, D.E., Queen Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, United Kingdom; Dangerfield, J.M., Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia; Parton, W.J., Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, United States; Rusek, J., Institute of Soil Biology, Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice 370 05, Czech Republic; Voigt, W., Institute of Ecology, University of Jena, Jena 07743, Germany; Wolters, V., Department of Animal Ecology, Justus-Liebig-University, D-35392 Giessen, Germany; Gardel, H.Z., Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, United States; Ayuke, F.O., Kenya Methodist University, Kaaga Campus, Meru, Kenya; Bashford, R., Department of Forest Entomology, Forestry Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7000, Australia; Beljakova, O.I., Centralno-Chernozemnyj Reserve, Zapovednoe, Russian Federation; Bohlen, P.J., MacArthur Agro-Ecology Research Center, Lake Placid, FL 33852, United States; Brauman, A., Laboratoire MOST Centre IRD, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, UR SeqBio, Montpellier, France; Flemming, S., Gros Morne National Park, Rocky Harbour, NL A0K 4N0, Canada; Henschel, J.R., Gobabeb Training and Research Centre, Box 953, Walvis Bay, Namibia; Johnson, D.L., Department of Geography, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4, Canada; Jones, T.H., Cardiff School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3US, United Kingdom; Kovarova, M., Institute of Botany, Academy of Sciences, Pruhonice 252 43, Czech Republic; Kranabetter, J.M., B.C. Ministry of Forests, Smithers, BC V0J 2N0, Canada; Kutny, L., Inuvik Research Centre, Inuvik, NT X0E 0T0, Canada; Lin, K.-C., Taiwan Forestry Research Institute, Taipei 100, Taiwan; Maryati, M., Institute of Tropical Biology and Conservation, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Sabah, Malaysia; Masse, D., Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, BP 182, Ouagadougou 01, Burkina Faso; Pokarzhevskii, A., Institute of Ecology and Evolution, RAS, Moscow 119071, Russian Federation; Rahman, H., Institute of Tropical Biology and Conservation, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Sabah, Malaysia; Sabará, M.G., Centro Universitário do Leste de Minas Gerais, Coronel Fabriciano 35170-056, Brazil; Salamon, J.-A., Department of Animal Ecology, Justus-Liebig-University, D-35392 Giessen, Germany; Swift, M.J., Tropical Soil Biology and Fertility Institute, CIAT, ICRAF, Nairobi, Kenya; Varela, A., Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, DC, Colombia; Vasconcelos, H.L., Institute of Biology, Federal University of Uberlândia, CP 593, 38400-902 Uberlândia, Brazil; White, D., Department of Forest Resources, Department of Indian and Northern Affairs, Whitehorse, YT Y1A 2B5, Canada; Zou, X., Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650223, China, Institute for Tropical Ecosystem Studies, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan 00931-1910, Puerto Rico | Climate and litter quality are primary drivers of terrestrial decomposition and, based on evidence from multisite experiments at regional and global scales, are universally factored into global decomposition models. In contrast, soil animals are considered key regulators of decomposition at local scales but their role at larger scales is unresolved. Soil animals are consequently excluded from global models of organic mineralization processes. Incomplete assessment of the roles of soil animals stems from the difficulties of manipulating invertebrate animals experimentally across large geographic gradients. This is compounded by deficient or inconsistent taxonomy. We report a global decomposition experiment to assess the importance of soil animals in C mineralization, in which a common grass litter substrate was exposed to natural decomposition in either control or reduced animal treatments across 30 sites distributed from 43°S to 68°N on six continents. Animals in the mesofaunal size range were recovered from the litter by Tullgren extraction and identified to common specifications, mostly at the ordinal level. The design of the trials enabled faunal contribution to be evaluated against abiotic parameters between sites. Soil animals increase decomposition rates in temperate and wet tropical climates, but have neutral effects where temperature or moisture constrain biological activity. Our findings highlight that faunal influences on decomposition are dependent on prevailing climatic conditions. We conclude that (1) inclusion of soil animals will improve the predictive capabilities of region- or biome-scale decomposition models, (2) soil animal influences on decomposition are important at the regional scale when attempting to predict global change scenarios, and (3) the statistical relationship between decomposition rates and climate, at the global scale, is robust against changes in soil faunal abundance and diversity. © 2008 The Authors Journal compilation © 2008 Blackwell Publishing. | Climate decomposition index; Decomposition; Litter; Mesofauna; Soil biodiversity; Soil carbon; Soil fauna | biodiversity; decomposition; grass; leaf litter; mineralization; soil carbon; soil organic matter; Animalia; Invertebrata | None |
| None | None | Monitoring of efficacy and safety of artemisinin-based anti-malarials for treatment of uncomplicated malaria: A review of evidence of implementation of anti-malarial therapeutic efficacy trials in Tanzania | Shayo A., Buza J., Ishengoma D.S. | 2015 | Malaria Journal | 14 | 1 | 10.1186/s12936-015-0649-8 | Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology, P.O Box 447, Arusha, Tanzania; National Institute for Medical Research, Tanga Research Centre, P.O Box 5004, Tanga, Tanzania | Shayo, A., Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology, P.O Box 447, Arusha, Tanzania; Buza, J., Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology, P.O Box 447, Arusha, Tanzania; Ishengoma, D.S., National Institute for Medical Research, Tanga Research Centre, P.O Box 5004, Tanga, Tanzania | Abstract Background: Prompt diagnosis and effective treatment are considered the cornerstones of malaria control and artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) is currently the main anti-malarial drugs used for case management. After deployment of ACT due to widespread parasite resistance to the cheap and widely used anti-malarial drugs, chloroquine and sulphadoxine/pyrimethamine, the World Health Organization recommends regular surveillance to monitor the efficacy of the new drugs. The present paper assessed the implementation of anti-malarial efficacy testing for monitoring the therapeutic efficacy of ACT for treatment of uncomplicated malaria in Tanzania before and after policy changes in 2006. Methods: A literature search was performed for published clinical trials conducted in Tanzania from 2001 to 2014. It focused on studies which assessed at least one form of ACT for treatment of uncomplicated falciparum malaria in children less than 10 years and reported efficacy and safety of the tested anti-malarials. References were imported into the Endnote library and duplicates removed. An electronic matrix was developed in Microsoft Excel followed by full text review with predetermined criteria. Studies were independently assessed and information related to ACT efficacy and safety extracted. Results: Nine papers were selected from 125 papers screened. The efficacy of both artemether-lumefantrine (AL) and artesunate-amodiaquine (AS + AQ) against uncomplicated P. falciparum infections in Tanzania was high with PCR-corrected cure rates on day 28 of 91-100% and 88-93.8%, respectively. The highest day-3 parasite positivity rate was 1.4%. Adverse events ranged from mild to serious but were not directly attributed to the drugs. Conclusion: ACT is efficacious and safe for treatment of uncomplicated malaria in Tanzania. However, few trials were conducted in Tanzania before and after policy changes in 2006 and thus more surveillance should be urgently undertaken to detect future changes in parasite sensitivity to ACT. © 2015 Shayo et al. | Amodiaquine; Artemether; Artesunate; Combination therapy; Efficacy; Lumefantrine; Plasmodium falciparum and Tanzania; Safety | amodiaquine; artemether; artesunate; benflumetol; Article; drug blood level; drug efficacy; drug monitoring; drug safety; human; malaria falciparum; parasite clearance; systematic review; Tanzania; treatment outcome | None |
| WoS | WOS:000319744300003 | MITIGATING THE IMPACT OF EDUCATIONAL POLICIES IN RURAL KENYA | Boske, C,Diem, S,Mwita, Miriam Bageni,Wasonga, Teresa | 2012 | GLOBAL LEADERSHIP FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE: TAKING IT FROM THE FIELD TO PRACTICE | 14 | None | 10.1108/S1479-3660(2012)0000014005 | Northern Illinois University | "Wasonga, Teresa: Northern Illinois University", | In this chapter, we argue that injustices experienced by children in Kenyan schools can be traced back to educational policies and corruption in government. However, few studies have focused on the links between policies, injustices, and the work of principals. Data collected on the work of school principals indicated that individual commitments and developing capacity for leadership in schools through the practice of dispositional values resulted in success. | ,GENDER | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84856038239 | Determinants of Spending: An Evaluation of Three Major Sporting Events | Saayman M., Saayman A. | 2012 | International Journal of Tourism Research | 14 | 2 | 10.1002/jtr.841 | North-West University, Institute for Tourism and Leisure Studies, Potchefstroom, South Africa; North-West University, School of Economics, Potchefstroom, South Africa | Saayman, M., North-West University, Institute for Tourism and Leisure Studies, Potchefstroom, South Africa; Saayman, A., North-West University, School of Economics, Potchefstroom, South Africa | South Africa plays host to a number of major sporting events that takes place annually such as the Two Oceans Marathon, the Argus Cycle Tour and the Midmar open water mile. This research aims to identify the socio-economic differences of participants in the events and to determine the key drivers of their spending. Three surveys were conducted at the events during 2008 and 2010. The data analyses include a factor and a regression analyses. The analyses identified the different motives why participation takes place, the socio-demographic differences between participants and the impact thereof on spending. © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. | Factor analysis; Motives; Regression analysis; Socio-demographics; Sporting events | factor analysis; public spending; regression analysis; socioeconomic survey; sport; South Africa | None |
| None | None | Establishing sustainable performance-based incentive schemes: Views of rural health workers from qualitative research in three sub-Saharan African countries | Ye´ M., Aninanya G.A., Sie´ A., Kakoko D.C.V., Chatio S., Kagone´ M., Loukanova S., Williams J.E., Sauerborn R. | 2014 | Rural and Remote Health | 14 | 3 | None | Nouna Health Research Centre, Nouna, Burkina Faso; Navrongo Health Research Centre, Navrongo, Ghana; Department of Medical Anthropology, Public Health and Social Sciences, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar-Es-Salaam, Tanzania; Institute of Public Health, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany | Ye´, M., Nouna Health Research Centre, Nouna, Burkina Faso; Aninanya, G.A., Navrongo Health Research Centre, Navrongo, Ghana; Sie´, A., Nouna Health Research Centre, Nouna, Burkina Faso; Kakoko, D.C.V., Department of Medical Anthropology, Public Health and Social Sciences, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar-Es-Salaam, Tanzania; Chatio, S., Navrongo Health Research Centre, Navrongo, Ghana; Kagone´, M., Nouna Health Research Centre, Nouna, Burkina Faso; Loukanova, S., Institute of Public Health, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany; Williams, J.E., Navrongo Health Research Centre, Navrongo, Ghana; Sauerborn, R., Institute of Public Health, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany | Introduction: Performance-based incentives (PBIs) are currently receiving attention as a strategy for improving the quality of care that health providers deliver. Experiences from several African countries have shown that PBIs can trigger improvements, particularly in the area of maternal and neonatal health. The involvement of health workers in deciding how their performance should be measured is recommended. Only limited information is available about how such schemes can be made sustainable. This study explored the types of PBIs that rural health workers suggested, their ideas regarding the management and sustainability of such schemes, and their views on which indicators best lend themselves to the monitoring of performance. In this article the authors reported the findings from a cross-country survey conducted in Burkina Faso, Ghana and Tanzania. Methods: The study was exploratory with qualitative methodology. In-depth interviews were conducted with 29 maternal and neonatal healthcare providers, four district health managers and two policy makers (total 35 respondents) from one district in each of the three countries. The respondents were purposively selected from six peripheral health facilities. Care was taken to include providers who had a management role. By also including respondents from district and policy level a comparison of perspectives from different levels of the health system was facilitated. The data that was collected was coded and analysed with support of NVivo v8 software. Results: The most frequently suggested PBIs amongst the respondents in Burkina Faso were training with per-diems, bonuses and recognition of work done. The respondents in Tanzania favoured training with per-diems, as well as payment of overtime, and timely promotion. The respondents in Ghana also called for training, including paid study leave, payment of overtime and recognition schemes for health workers or facilities. Respondents in the three countries supported the mobilisation of local resources to make incentive schemes more sustainable. There was a general view that it was easier to integrate the cost of non-financial incentives in local budgets. There were concerns about the fairness of such schemes from the provider level in all three countries. District managers were worried about the workload that would be required to manage the schemes. The providers themselves were less clear about which indicators best lent themselves to the purpose of performance monitoring. District managers and policy makers most commonly suggested indicators that were in line with national maternal and neonatal healthcare indicators. Conclusions: The study showed that health workers have considerable interest in performance-based incentive schemes and are concerned about their sustainability. There is a need to further explore the use of non-financial incentives in PBI schemes, as such incentives were considered to stand a greater chance of being integrated into local budgets. Ensuring participation of healthcare providers in the design of such schemes is likely to achieve buy-in and endorsement from the health workers involved. However, input from managers and policy makers is essential to keep expectations realistic and to ensure the indicators selected fit the purpose and are part of routine reporting systems. © M Ye´, GA Aninanya, A Sie´, DCV Kakoko, S Chatio, M Kagone´, S Loukanova, JE Williams, R Sauerborn, 2014. | Burkina Faso; Developing countries; Ghana; Incentives; Pay-for-performance; Performance-based financing; Performance-based incentives; Sub-Saharan African; Tanzania | adult; Africa south of the Sahara; female; health care personnel; health care quality; health personnel attitude; health service; human; in service training; male; middle aged; motivation; organization and management; psychology; qualitative research; salary and fringe benefit; Adult; Africa South of the Sahara; Attitude of Health Personnel; Female; Health Personnel; Humans; Inservice Training; Male; Maternal Health Services; Middle Aged; Motivation; Qualitative Research; Quality of Health Care; Salaries and Fringe Benefits | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84891712397 | Libya's implosion and its impacts on children | Amusan L. | 2013 | Journal of International Women's Studies | 14 | 5 | None | Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife, University of South Africa, South Africa | Amusan, L., Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife, University of South Africa, South Africa | The Arab Spring's ripple effects on Libya led to the overthrow of Muammar Al- Qaddafi's government of over four decades. The regime change in Libya was not a smooth adventure. It led to a civil war, which impacted negatively on Libyan children. The seeds of discord that this war sowed in the once considered stable state shall be the focus of this discussion through the employment of descriptive and analytical methods. The contention of this study is that every actor in the civil war disregarded various international treaties that protect children and indigenous peoples during the war. This paper argues that the issue of children should be addressed through domestic legislation and international treaties the country is a signatory to. Also important is the resolution of problems of disarmament, demobilization, reintegration and reinsertion (DDRR)1 for a stable society in a divided post Al-Qaddafi government where different militias are in control of the state. ©2013 Journal of International Women's Studies. | Children; Civil war; Libya | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84943327905 | Impact of co-administration of red palm oil (Elaeis guineensis Arecaceae) and rooibos (Aspalathus linearis Fabaceae) on glycaemic parameters, liver function and key glycolytic enzymes in diabetic rats | Ayeleso A.O., Oguntibeju O.O., Brooks N.L. | 2015 | Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research | 14 | 9 | 10.4314/tjpr.v14i9.10 | Oxidative Stress Research Centre, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Bellville, South Africa; Department of Wellness Sciences, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Cape Town, South Africa | Ayeleso, A.O., Oxidative Stress Research Centre, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Bellville, South Africa; Oguntibeju, O.O., Oxidative Stress Research Centre, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Bellville, South Africa; Brooks, N.L., Department of Wellness Sciences, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Cape Town, South Africa | Purpose: To investigate the anti-diabetic effects of red palm oil (RPO), rooibos tea extract (RTE) and their combination (RPO + RTE). Methods: Diabetes was induced by a single administration of streptozotocin (50 mg/kg) and the rats were treated for 49 days. The effects of these plant products on plasma glucose, serum insulin, serum fructosamine, glycosylated haemoglobin (HbIAC), liver enzymes in serum and liver glycolytic enzymes were studied using standard techniques. Results: The combined treatment of RPO and RTE significantly (p < 0.05) decreased the glucose (20.98 ± 6.46 mmol/L to 15.60 ± 5.94 mmol/L), HbIAC (16.74 ± 2.73 % to 12.41 ± 2.25 %), fructosamine (98.61 ± 23.35 mmol/L to 62.52 ± 28.41 mmol/L) levels and increased insulin (0.30 ± 0.09 ng/mL to 0.72 ± 0.21 ng/mL) levels in the diabetic rats. Similarly, the combined treatment significantly (p < 0.05) reduced alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in the serum of diabetic rats. RPO + RTE significantly (p < 0.05) increased the activity of pyruvate kinase in the liver when compared with the diabetic control group. Conclusion: Combined treatment with red palm oil and rooibos shows promising beneficial effects in diabetic conditions of rats. Further studies on the mechanism of actions of the plant products are required. © Pharmacotherapy Group, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Benin, Benin City, 300001 Nigeria. All rights reserved. | Diabetic rats; Glycaemic parameters; Glycolytic enzymes; Liver function; Red palm oil; Rooibos | alanine aminotransferase; alkaline phosphatase; aspartate aminotransferase; fructosamine; glucose; glycolytic enzyme; hemoglobin A1c; insulin; plant extract; pyruvate kinase; red palm oil; rooibos tea extract; unclassified drug; animal experiment; animal model; animal tissue; antidiabetic activity; Article; controlled study; liver function; male; nonhuman; rat | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84870154596 | Evaluation of charge density and the theory for calculating membrane potential for a nano-composite nylon-6,6 nickel phosphate membrane | Arfin T., Falch A., Kriek R.J. | 2012 | Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics | 14 | 48 | 10.1039/c2cp42683h | PGM Group, Chemical Resource Beneficiation (CRB), North-West University, Research Focus Area, Private Bag X6001, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa | Arfin, T., PGM Group, Chemical Resource Beneficiation (CRB), North-West University, Research Focus Area, Private Bag X6001, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa; Falch, A., PGM Group, Chemical Resource Beneficiation (CRB), North-West University, Research Focus Area, Private Bag X6001, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa; Kriek, R.J., PGM Group, Chemical Resource Beneficiation (CRB), North-West University, Research Focus Area, Private Bag X6001, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa | A new crystalline organic-inorganic nano-composite nylon-6,6 nickel phosphate membrane was synthesised subsequent to which (a) the physico-chemical characteristics of the membrane were evaluated employing FTIR, SEM, EDX, TEM, XRD and porosity measurements, and (b) membrane potential measurements were conducted employing different concentrations (0.0001 ≤ c (M) ≤ 1) of KCl, NaCl and LiCl 1:1 electrolyte solutions. The Teorell, Meyer and Sievers (TMS) theoretical method was employed for evaluating the charge density of the synthesised membranes, and the observed data were utilised to calculate membrane potentials using the extended TMS theory. Charge density for 1:1 electrolyte solutions was found to decrease in the order KCl > NaCl > LiCl, which is in accordance with a decrease in the size of the cation. The synthesised membrane was found to be cation-selective with the measured membrane potentials found to be positive in all instances, decreasing in the order LiCl > NaCl > KCl, which is in accordance with an increase in the size of the cation for the chosen electrolytes. Observed potential data were used to calculate the transference numbers, mobilities, distribution coefficients, and charge effectiveness of ions and the theoretically calculated potential values were found to be in good agreement with the experimentally observed values. © 2012 the Owner Societies. | None | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000306206800001 | Livelihoods of fringe communities and the impacts on the management of conservation area: the case of Kakum National Park in Ghana | Amoah, M.,Wiafe, E. D. | 2012 | INTERNATIONAL FORESTRY REVIEW | 14 | 2 | None | Presbyterian Univ Coll, Univ Educ Winneba | None | In the developing countries most of the rural communities depend on forest resources for their livelihood. The establishment of protected areas and national parks however deprive them of having access to these resources. Using both quantitative and qualitative methods, this study assessed the NTFPs collection situation of the fringe communities after the establishment of Kakum National Park, the extent to which the livelihood of the communities has been improved, and how the presence or absence of livelihood improvement strategies has shaped the attitudes and perceptions of the fringe communities toward the national park. The results showed that about 17% of the household leaders were unemployed. Livelihood support strategies such as livelihood alternatives and enhancement, social capital and sociological tourism were found to be absent. Opinion leaders of the communities reported that no member is involved in the management of the park. In spite of restrictions, majority (88.4%) of the household members enter the national park for NTFP collection. Hunting was found to be third highest activity. The households reported that majority of the NTFPs they collect were not processed indicating that their capacities to add value to the resource have not been developed. They believe that value addition to NTFPs could increase their income levels but did not support the theory that it could safeguard the future availability of forest resources and contribute to their sustainability. The respondents believed that once the resources are in abundance they must be exploited to meet their socio-economic needs, suggesting the nexus between illegal entry to conservation area and unsustainable exploitation of forest resources. The paper concludes that when restrictions are placed on access to forest resources and no alternative sources of income are made, illegal entry becomes the norm. The illegal NTFPs collectors would not view the resources as "their own" and would exploit them in an unsustainable way to meet their needs. | "Forest resources","multi-dimensional approach",RESTRICTIONS,"social capital","Sociological tourism","BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION",CAMEROON,DEVELOPMENT-PROJECTS,ELEPHANTS,FOREST-PRODUCTS,"INTEGRATED CONSERVATION",WILDLIFE | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84859843067 | Nature of the relationship between strategic leadership, operational strategy and organisational performance | Serfontein K., Hough J. | 2011 | South African Journal of Economic and Management Sciences | 14 | 4 | None | PSG Konsult, Cape Town, South Africa; Department of Business Management, University of Stellenbosch, South Africa | Serfontein, K., PSG Konsult, Cape Town, South Africa; Hough, J., Department of Business Management, University of Stellenbosch, South Africa | Since the mid-1980s a growing body of leadership research has focused on strategic leadership, in contrast to managerial and visionary leadership. It focused on how top leadership makes decisions in the short term that guarantees the long-term viability of the organisation. The best performing organisations are consciously strategic in their leadership planning. These top leaders also have the ability to align human resources in an effective way directly to the business strategy. This article identifies some of the direct and indirect pathways in which strategic leadership influences the operational strategy and performance of business organisations in South Africa. This research pinpointed theoretical and substantively meaningful endogenous organisational capabilities that mediated this relationship and exogenous organisational factors that moderated this relationship. | Operational strategy; Organisational performance; Strategic leadership | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-34547133237 | Performance of two commercial immunochromatographic assays for rapid detection of antibodies specific to human immunodeficiency virus types 1 and 2 in serum and urine samples in a rural community-based research setting (Rakai, Uganda) | Kagulire S.C., Stamper P.D., Opendi P., Nakavuma J.L., Mills L.A., Makumbi F., Gray R.H., Serwadda D., Reynolds S.J. | 2007 | Clinical and Vaccine Immunology | 14 | 6 | 10.1128/CVI.00442-06 | Rakai Health Sciences Program, Kalisizo, Uganda; Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda; Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States; Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States; NIAID, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States; Rakai Health Sciences Program, Uganda Virus Research Institute, P.O. Box 49, Entebbe, Uganda | Kagulire, S.C., Rakai Health Sciences Program, Kalisizo, Uganda, Rakai Health Sciences Program, Uganda Virus Research Institute, P.O. Box 49, Entebbe, Uganda; Stamper, P.D., Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States; Opendi, P., Rakai Health Sciences Program, Kalisizo, Uganda; Nakavuma, J.L., Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda; Mills, L.A., Rakai Health Sciences Program, Kalisizo, Uganda, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States; Makumbi, F., Rakai Health Sciences Program, Kalisizo, Uganda; Gray, R.H., Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States; Serwadda, D., Rakai Health Sciences Program, Kalisizo, Uganda; Reynolds, S.J., Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States, NIAID, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States | Rapid detection of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antibodies is of great importance in developing and developed countries to diagnose HIV infections quickly and at low cost. In this study, two new immunochromatographic rapid tests for the detection of HIV antibodies (Aware HIV-1/2 BSP and Aware HIV-1/2 U; Calypte Biomedical Corporation) were evaluated in rural Africa to determine the tests' performance and comparability to commercially available conventional enzyme immunoassay (EIA) and Western blot (WB) tests. This prospective study was conducted from March 2005 through May 2005 using serum and urine from respondents in the Rakai Community Cohort Survey. Nine hundred sixty-three serum samples were tested with the Aware blood rapid assay (Aware-BSP) and compared to two independent EIAs for HIV plus confirmatory Calypte WB for any positive EIAs. The sensitivity of Aware-BSP was 98.2%, and the specificity was 99.8%. Nine hundred forty-two urine samples were run using the Aware urine assay (Aware-U) and linked to blood sample results for analysis. The sensitivity of Aware-U was 88.7% and specificity was 99.9% compared to blood EIAs confirmed by WB analysis. These results support the adoption of the Aware-BSP rapid test as an alternative to EIA and WB assays for the diagnosis of HIV in resource-limited settings. However, the low sensitivity of the Aware-U assay with its potential for falsely negative HIV results makes the urine assay less satisfactory. Copyright © 2007, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved. | None | Human immunodeficiency virus antibody; antibody detection; article; blood sampling; controlled study; diagnostic accuracy; diagnostic error; diagnostic procedure; diagnostic value; enzyme immunoassay; female; human; Human immunodeficiency virus 1; Human immunodeficiency virus 1 infection; Human immunodeficiency virus 2; Human immunodeficiency virus 2 infection; human tissue; immunoaffinity chromatography; immunoassay; intermethod comparison; major clinical study; male; patient satisfaction; priority journal; prospective study; rural population; urinalysis; Western blotting; Adolescent; Adult; Blotting, Western; Chromatography; Female; HIV Antibodies; HIV-1; HIV-2; Humans; Immunoenzyme Techniques; Male; Middle Aged; Rural Health; Sensitivity and Specificity; Uganda | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84879840172 | Perceptions of the Impact of Refugees on Host Communities: The Case of Liberian Refugees in Ghana | Codjoe S.N.A., Quartey P., Tagoe C.A., Reed H.E. | 2013 | Journal of International Migration and Integration | 14 | 3 | 10.1007/s12134-012-0249-1 | Regional Institute for Population Studies, University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG 96, Legon, Ghana; Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research, University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG 74, Legon, Ghana; CUNY Institute for Demographic Research and Department of Sociology, Queens College, City University of New York (CUNY), New York,11367, United States | Codjoe, S.N.A., Regional Institute for Population Studies, University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG 96, Legon, Ghana; Quartey, P., Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research, University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG 74, Legon, Ghana; Tagoe, C.A., Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research, University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG 74, Legon, Ghana; Reed, H.E., CUNY Institute for Demographic Research and Department of Sociology, Queens College, City University of New York (CUNY), New York,11367, United States | This paper analyses the effects of the presence of Liberian refugees on cost of goods/services and business activities, pressure on resources/facilities, social vices and environmental activities based on perceptions (although attempts have been made to buttress the perceptions with information from focus group discussions) of hosts and refugees. The analysis included gender and type of occupation from within and among the groups. The aim was to ascertain whether the presence of refugees are viewed as having positive, negative or mixed impacts. Data are from 10 focus group discussions and 120 household surveys undertaken in April 2007. Results show that although there are gender and occupational differentials, host communities contend that refugees have increased the costs of goods and services, brought pressure on facilities, increased social vices and deteriorated environmental resources. However, refugees are viewed as a source of income and market, and trade partners, who have brought a lot of infrastructural developments. Thus, one can describe refugee presence as having mixed impacts. © 2012 Springer Science+Business Media B.V. | Environmental activities; Gender; Goods and services; Impact; Liberian refugees; Perceptions; Social vices | gender relations; international migration; occupation; perception; refugee; Ghana | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84892454034 | Validation of public health competencies and impact variables for low- and middle-income countries | Zwanikken P.A.C., Alexander L., Huong N.T., Qian X., Valladares L.M., Mohamed N.A., Ying X.H., Gonzalez-Robledo M.C., Linh L.C., Wadidi M.S.E.A., Tahir H., Neupane S., Scherpbier A. | 2014 | BMC Public Health | 14 | 1 | 10.1186/1471-2458-14-55 | Royal Tropical Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands; School of Public Health, University of the Western Cape, Capetown, South Africa; Hanoi School of Public Health, Hanoi, Viet Nam; School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; National Institute of Public Health, Cuernavaca, Mexico; Ministry of Health, Khartoum, Sudan; Department of Demography, Hanoi School of Public Health, Hanoi, Viet Nam; Human Resource Development, Federal Ministry of Health, Khartoum, Sudan; University of Medical Sciences and Technology, Khartoum, Sudan; Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands | Zwanikken, P.A.C., Royal Tropical Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands; Alexander, L., School of Public Health, University of the Western Cape, Capetown, South Africa; Huong, N.T., Hanoi School of Public Health, Hanoi, Viet Nam; Qian, X., School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Valladares, L.M., National Institute of Public Health, Cuernavaca, Mexico; Mohamed, N.A., Ministry of Health, Khartoum, Sudan; Ying, X.H., School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Gonzalez-Robledo, M.C., National Institute of Public Health, Cuernavaca, Mexico; Linh, L.C., Department of Demography, Hanoi School of Public Health, Hanoi, Viet Nam; Wadidi, M.S.E.A., Human Resource Development, Federal Ministry of Health, Khartoum, Sudan; Tahir, H., University of Medical Sciences and Technology, Khartoum, Sudan; Neupane, S., School of Public Health, University of the Western Cape, Capetown, South Africa; Scherpbier, A., Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands | Background: The number of Master of Public Health (MPH) programmes in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) is increasing, but questions have been raised regarding the relevance of their outcomes and impacts on context. Although processes for validating public health competencies have taken place in recent years in many high-income countries, validation in LMICs is needed. Furthermore, impact variables of MPH programmes in the workplace and in society have not been developed. Method. A set of public health competencies and impact variables in the workplace and in society was designed using the competencies and learning objectives of six participating institutions offering MPH programmes in or for LMICs, and the set of competencies of the Council on Linkages Between Academia and Public Health Practice as a reference. The resulting competencies and impact variables differ from those of the Council on Linkages in scope and emphasis on social determinants of health, context specificity and intersectoral competencies. A modified Delphi method was used in this study to validate the public health competencies and impact variables; experts and MPH alumni from China, Vietnam, South Africa, Sudan, Mexico and the Netherlands reviewed them and made recommendations. Results: The competencies and variables were validated across two Delphi rounds, first with public health experts (N = 31) from the six countries, then with MPH alumni (N = 30). After the first expert round, competencies and impact variables were refined based on the quantitative results and qualitative comments. Both rounds showed high consensus, more so for the competencies than the impact variables. The response rate was 100%. Conclusion: This is the first time that public health competencies have been validated in LMICs across continents. It is also the first time that impact variables of MPH programmes have been proposed and validated in LMICs across continents. The high degree of consensus between experts and alumni suggests that these public health competencies and impact variables can be used to design and evaluate MPH programmes, as well as for individual and team assessment and continuous professional development in LMICs. © 2014 Zwanikken et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | Impact; Low- and middle-income countries; Master of Public Health; Public health competencies | article; China; Delphi study; developing country; education; human; Mexico; professional competence; program evaluation; public health; public health service; South Africa; standard; Sudan; validation study; Viet Nam; China; Delphi Technique; Developing Countries; Humans; Mexico; Professional Competence; Program Evaluation; Public Health; Public Health Administration; South Africa; Sudan; Vietnam | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84859450037 | Impact of Acacia drepanolobium (an invasive woody species) on Gum-resin resources and local livelihood in Borana, southern Ethiopia | Terefe B., Limenih M., Gure A., Angassa A. | 2011 | Tropical and Subtropical Agroecosystems | 14 | 3 | None | Samara University, Ethiopia; Wondo Genet College of Forestry and Natural Resource Management, Hawassa University, Ethiopia; Department of Animal and Range Sciences, Hawassa University, Ethiopia; Botanical Institute, University of Cologne, Germany | Terefe, B., Samara University, Ethiopia; Limenih, M., Wondo Genet College of Forestry and Natural Resource Management, Hawassa University, Ethiopia; Gure, A., Wondo Genet College of Forestry and Natural Resource Management, Hawassa University, Ethiopia; Angassa, A., Department of Animal and Range Sciences, Hawassa University, Ethiopia, Botanical Institute, University of Cologne, Germany | We investigated the impact of Acacia drepanolobium, a species threatening rangeland resources including Gum-resin production and pastoralists' livelihoods in Borana. Data were collected through vegetation surveys, key informant interviews, use of formal questionnaires and focus group discussions. We found a total of 22 woody species in the study area. A. drepanolobium was found to be the most dominant (22%) and abundant (65%) invasive woody species with an importance value index (IVI) of 103. According to our respondents, A. drepanolobium was the first widely expanded woody species followed by Dichrostachys cinerea and A. mellifera. Eighty seven percent of our respondents ranked A. drepanolobium as the most invading woody species during their life time. Overall, our results demonstrated that the impact of A. drepanolobium had greatly affected the condition of rangeland vegetation. The implication is that the reduction in the capacity of rangelands for livestock grazing could reduce the resilience of local livelihood under changing environmental conditions. Furthermore, pastoralists' perception indicated that the expansion of A. drepanolobium had reduced the survival of Gum-resin producing species. Generally, the shift from cattle based pastoral economy to mixed livestock types could be attributed to the expansion of A. drepanolobium that forced the community to shift their mode of production. We confirmed that A. drepanolobium is an invasive indigenous woody species with multiple effects on the ecology of rangelands and on the livelihood security of pastoral communities. | Acacia drepanolobium; Borana; Bush encroachment; Importance value index; Invasiveness; Livelihood security; Rangeland ecology | Acacia; Acacia drepanolobium; Acacia mellifera; Bos; Dichrostachys cinerea | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84935025949 | Development and performance evaluation of a novel immunofluorescence chromatographic assay for histidine-rich protein 2 of Plasmodium falciparum | Kang K., Dzakah E.E., Huang Y., Xie M., Luo X., Li W., Wang J. | 2015 | Malaria Journal | 14 | 1 | 10.1186/s12936-015-0740-1 | School of Bioscience and Bioengineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou Guangdong, China; National Engineering Laboratory of Rapid Diagnostic Tests, Guangzhou Wondfo Biotech Co Ltd, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China; Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana | Kang, K., School of Bioscience and Bioengineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou Guangdong, China, National Engineering Laboratory of Rapid Diagnostic Tests, Guangzhou Wondfo Biotech Co Ltd, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China; Dzakah, E.E., Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana; Huang, Y., National Engineering Laboratory of Rapid Diagnostic Tests, Guangzhou Wondfo Biotech Co Ltd, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China; Xie, M., School of Bioscience and Bioengineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou Guangdong, China; Luo, X., School of Bioscience and Bioengineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou Guangdong, China; Li, W., National Engineering Laboratory of Rapid Diagnostic Tests, Guangzhou Wondfo Biotech Co Ltd, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China; Wang, J., National Engineering Laboratory of Rapid Diagnostic Tests, Guangzhou Wondfo Biotech Co Ltd, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China | Background: The low sensitivity and specificity of Plasmodium falciparum diagnostic tests pose a serious health threat to people living in endemic areas. The objective of the study was to develop a rapid assay for the detection of histidine-rich protein 2 (HRP2) of P. falciparum in whole blood by immunofluorescence chromatographic technology. Methods: A total of 1163 positive and negative blood samples were screened. The double-antibody sandwich assay was used to establish the kit and its performance was evaluated for sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, precision, stability, and clinical effectiveness. Results: The cut-off level of detection of the kit was 25 parasites/μl. Common interfering substances in human blood specimens, such as bilirubin, triglyceride and cholesterol had no significant effect on HRP2 antigen detection. The precision of the kit was run with different concentration of standard calibrators and the values were less than 10 %. The performance of this diagnostic kit in the detection of the calibrators has shown that a shelf life of about 12 months gives a more reliable result. Among clinical samples tested, the HRP2 test kit and the reference products had good coincidence rate in a parallel experiment and this test kit had a more sensitive detecting level to the target protein than the reference kits used in this study. The specificity and sensitivity for this test were 99.6 % (800/803) and 99.7 % (1160/1163), respectively. Conclusions: A novel HRP2 immunofluorescence detection method was developed in this study. Overall performance evaluation indicated that the kit has a rapid, high sensitivity and on-spot method for detecting P. falciparum. © 2015 Kang et al. | Histidine-rich protein 2; Immunofluorescence chromatographic assay; Plasmodium falciparum; Rapid diagnostic test | bilirubin; cholesterol; histidine; histidine rich 2 protein; triacylglycerol; unclassified drug; accuracy; Article; clinical effectiveness; controlled study; cross reaction; diagnostic kit; immunofluorescence; limit of detection; nonhuman; Plasmodium falciparum; protein analysis; protein targeting; sensitivity and specificity | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33749467285 | Residual stresses and fatigue performance | James M.N., Hughes D.J., Chen Z., Lombard H., Hattingh D.G., Asquith D., Yates J.R., Webster P.J. | 2007 | Engineering Failure Analysis | 14 | 2 | 10.1016/j.engfailanal.2006.02.011 | School of Engineering, Faculty of Technology, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth, Devon PL4 8AA, United Kingdom; FaME38, ILL, ESRF, Grenoble, Cedex 9, France; Department of Mechanical Engineering, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Port Elizabeth, 6000, South Africa; Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S1 3JD, United Kingdom; Institute for Materials Research, University of Salford, Salford, M5 4WT, United Kingdom | James, M.N., School of Engineering, Faculty of Technology, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth, Devon PL4 8AA, United Kingdom; Hughes, D.J., FaME38, ILL, ESRF, Grenoble, Cedex 9, France; Chen, Z., FaME38, ILL, ESRF, Grenoble, Cedex 9, France; Lombard, H., Department of Mechanical Engineering, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Port Elizabeth, 6000, South Africa; Hattingh, D.G., Department of Mechanical Engineering, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Port Elizabeth, 6000, South Africa; Asquith, D., Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S1 3JD, United Kingdom; Yates, J.R., Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S1 3JD, United Kingdom; Webster, P.J., Institute for Materials Research, University of Salford, Salford, M5 4WT, United Kingdom | Residual stresses are an inescapable consequence of manufacturing and fabrication processes, with magnitudes that are often a high proportion of the yield or proof strength. Despite this, their incorporation into life prediction is primarily handled through sweeping assumptions or conservative application of statistics. This can lead to highly conservative fatigue design methodologies or unforeseen failures under dynamic loading. The pull from the desire for higher levels of materials performance, coupled with the push of more sophisticated techniques for residual stress measurement, favours a reassessment of the accuracy of assumptions made about residual stresses and their modification during fatigue cycling. A viewpoint is also emerging that the fatigue performance of welded joints might be optimised through careful process control, coupled with understanding of the relative positions of, and interaction between, residual stress peaks, weld defects, hardness and microstructure. This paper will present information regarding the residual stress profiles in aluminium and steel welds, and in shot peened aluminium, obtained via synchrotron and neutron diffraction at the ESRF-ILL in Grenoble. Certain specimens were then subjected to specific cases of fatigue loading and the residual stress field was again measured. Difficulties associated with determining the strain-free lattice spacing will be mentioned, and the potential import of these data for life prediction modelling will be considered. © 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. | Fatigue performance; Residual stress; Shot peening; Synchrotron and neutron diffraction; Welded joints | Fatigue loading; Strain-free lattice spacing; Welded joints; Aluminum; Fatigue of materials; Mathematical models; Residual stresses; Shot peening; Steel; Welds; Failure analysis; Aluminum; Failure analysis; Fatigue of materials; Mathematical models; Residual stresses; Shot peening; Steel; Welds | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84941166830 | Malaria impact of large dams in sub-Saharan Africa: maps, estimates and predictions | Kibret S., Lautze J., McCartney M., Wilson G.G., Nhamo L. | 2015 | Malaria Journal | 14 | 1 | 10.1186/s12936-015-0873-2 | School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale, NSW, Australia; International Water Management InstitutePretoria, South Africa; International Water Management InstituteVientiane, Laos | Kibret, S., School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale, NSW, Australia; Lautze, J., International Water Management InstitutePretoria, South Africa; McCartney, M., International Water Management InstituteVientiane, Laos; Wilson, G.G., School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale, NSW, Australia; Nhamo, L., International Water Management InstitutePretoria, South Africa | Background: While there is growing recognition of the malaria impacts of large dams in sub-Saharan Africa, the cumulative malaria impact of reservoirs associated with current and future dam developments has not been quantified. The objective of this study was to estimate the current and predict the future impact of large dams on malaria in different eco-epidemiological settings across sub-Saharan Africa. Methods: The locations of 1268 existing and 78 planned large dams in sub-Saharan Africa were mapped against the malaria stability index (stable, unstable and no malaria). The Plasmodium falciparum infection rate (PfIR) was determined for populations at different distances (<1, 1-2, 2-5, 5-9 km) from the associated reservoirs using the Malaria Atlas Project (MAP) and WorldPop databases. Results derived from MAP were verified by comparison with the results of detailed epidemiological studies conducted at 11 dams. Results: Of the 1268 existing dams, 723 are located in malarious areas. Currently, about 15 million people live in close proximity (<5 km) to the reservoirs associated with these dams. A total of 1.1 million malaria cases annually are associated with them: 919,000 cases due to the presence of 416 dams in areas of unstable transmission and 204,000 cases due to the presence of 307 dams in areas of stable transmission. Of the 78 planned dams, 60 will be located in malarious areas and these will create an additional 56,000 cases annually. The variation in annual PfIR in communities as a function of distance from reservoirs was statistically significant in areas of unstable transmission but not in areas of stable transmission. Conclusion: In sub-Saharan Africa, dams contribute significantly to malaria risk particularly in areas of unstable transmission. Additional malaria control measures are thus required to reduce the impact of dams on malaria. © 2015 Kibret et al. | Dam; Malaria; Reservoir-shoreline; Stable; Sub-Saharan Africa; Unstable | Africa south of the Sahara; Article; community; dam (barrier); epidemiological data; geographic mapping; human; malaria falciparum; morbidity; population risk; prediction; prevalence | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84870425835 | The social-emotional impact of instrumental music performance on economically disadvantaged South African students | Devroop K. | 2012 | Music Education Research | 14 | 4 | 10.1080/14613808.2012.685456 | School of Music, North-West University, Private Bag X6001, Potchefstroom, 2520, South Africa | Devroop, K., School of Music, North-West University, Private Bag X6001, Potchefstroom, 2520, South Africa | Within the literature there exists a large volume of research studies attesting to the positive relationships between studying music and various psychological and sociological variables. A close examination of these studies reveals that only a handful were conducted on disadvantaged populations. Accordingly, it remains unclear to what extent these findings hold true for disadvantaged students. The purpose of this study was to investigate the social-emotional impact of instrumental music instruction on disadvantaged South African students. The two specific questions addressed in this study were (1) what impact did instrumental music instruction have on student's self-esteem, optimism, sense of happiness and perseverance and (2) do any relationships exist between instrumental music instruction and the variables under investigation? The results indicated that there were generally increased levels of self-esteem, optimism, happiness and perseverance after participation in an instrumental music programme. There was also an increase in subject's optimism and sense of happiness. There were moderate to moderately strong positive relationships between participation in instrumental music and self-esteem, optimism, happiness and perseverance. © 2012 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC. | disadvantaged students; instrumental music performance; social-emotional impact | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84927132794 | Bioconversion of wastes (Khat leaf leftovers and eucalyptus twigs) into vermicompost and assessing its impact on potato yield | Mekonnen E., Argaw A. | 2015 | Journal of Agronomy | 14 | 1 | 10.3923/ja.2015.37.42 | School of Natural Resources Managemen and Environmental Sciences, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Haramaya University, P.O. Box 337, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia | Mekonnen, E., School of Natural Resources Managemen and Environmental Sciences, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Haramaya University, P.O. Box 337, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia; Argaw, A., School of Natural Resources Managemen and Environmental Sciences, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Haramaya University, P.O. Box 337, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia | The major rural land use system in Eastern Ethiopia is cultivation of khat (Catha edulis Forsk), which is the main perennial cash crop in the region for its stimulant leaf. Due to its financial attractiveness, farmers mostly cultivate the crop on cost of soil nutrient depletion as the marketing practice involves harvesting its fresh leaves throughout the year, wrapping with Eucalyptus twigs to retain its freshness during transportation to the local market, where they are dumped as municipal waste. Such routine activity disrupts the nutrient cycle out of its agro ecosystem. This study was conducted to assess fertilizer value of these wasted materials in the form of vermicompost and also to evaluate impacts of the vermicompost when it replenish soil in smallholder agriculture under rainfed condition. The khat and Eucalyptus wastes were collected, chopped and filled into 5 cemented pits of 1.5 m3. Treatments were arranged in a Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications, which was designed as 100% khat leftover; 70% khat leftover mixed with 30% Eucalyptus twig and inoculated with red earthworms (Eisenia fetida), which feed and ultimately produce the vermicomposts. Its quality analysis showed that both forms of vermicompost are rich with essential plant nutrients. They were bulked and applied into a soil with rate of 0,15 and 301 ha-1 with or without half dose of recommended nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer. The rate below 151 ha-1 of vermicompost plus half dose of the recommended fertilizer resulted highest marketable tuber yield. It implies that these forms of vermicomposts can be effective source of organic fertilizer in smallholder agriculture, potato cultivation in particular. © 2015 Asian Network for Scientific Information. | Bioconversion; Ethiopia; Municipal waste; Potato; Vermicompost | Catha edulis; Eisenia fetida; Eucalyptus; Solanum tuberosum | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-83655183603 | Evaluation of co-inoculation of Bradyrhizobium japonicum and phosphate solubilizing Pseudomonas spp. effect on soybean (Glycine max L. (Merr.)) in Assossa area | Argaw A. | 2012 | Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology | 14 | 1 | None | School of Natural Resources Management and Environmental Sciences, Haramaya University, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia | Argaw, A., School of Natural Resources Management and Environmental Sciences, Haramaya University, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia | An experiment was conducted at Assossa Agricultural Research Center (AARC) station during 2008 cropping season in order to study the effects of co-inoculation of Bradyrhizobium japonicum (TAL-378 and TAL-379) and phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB) (Pseudomonas spp.), and conventional farmers' fertilizer level (combined and individual application of 46N kg ha-1 and 46 P2O5 kg ha-1) on nodulation, seed yield and yield components of soybean (Glycine max L. (Merr.)). Analyses of variance indicated that most of the parameters measured were significantly (P≥0.05) affected by the treatments. Accordingly, dual inoculation with TAL-378 and PSB significantly increased plant height at harvest, number of nodules per plant, nodule volume per plant, nodule fresh weight per plant, and shoot height at late flowering and early pod setting compared to the other treatments. Similarly, co-inoculation with TAL-378 and PSB, and dual fertilization of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) fertilizers significantly increased number of pods per plant, number of seeds per pod per plant and seed yield ha-1 compared to the other treatments. Analysis of plant tissue also indicated that dual inoculation of TAL-379 and PSB yielded the highest total N whereas the lowest was recorded for the negative control. Likewise, dual inoculation with TAL-378 and PSB and the positive control gave the highest plant P compared to all other treatments. The data revealed that, there was no significant difference (P≥0.05) in days required for emergence, flower bearing and maturity, number of seeds per pod, 300 seeds weight and root length among the investigated treatments. Thus, the dual inoculation of TAL-378 and PSB is recommended to achieve maximum seed yield of soybean in Assossa area. | Assossa; Bradyrhizobium japonicum; Phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB); Soybean (Glycine max L. (Merr.) | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84908498374 | Comparing a paper based monitoring and evaluation system to a mHealth system to support the national community health worker programme, South Africa: An evaluation | Neupane S., Odendaal W., Friedman I., Jassat W., Schneider H., Doherty T. | 2014 | BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making | 14 | 1 | 10.1186/1472-6947-14-69 | School of Public Health, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa; Health Systems Research Unit, Medical Research Council of South Africa, Cape Town, South Africa; Seed Trust, Durban, South Africa; Health Systems Trust, Durban, South Africa | Neupane, S., School of Public Health, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa; Odendaal, W., Health Systems Research Unit, Medical Research Council of South Africa, Cape Town, South Africa; Friedman, I., Seed Trust, Durban, South Africa; Jassat, W., Health Systems Trust, Durban, South Africa; Schneider, H., School of Public Health, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa; Doherty, T., School of Public Health, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa, Health Systems Research Unit, Medical Research Council of South Africa, Cape Town, South Africa | Background: In an attempt to address a complex disease burden, including improving progress towards MDGs 4 and 5, South Africa recently introduced a re-engineered Primary Health Care (PHC) strategy, which has led to the development of a national community health worker (CHW) programme. The present study explored the development of a cell phone-based and paper-based monitoring and evaluation (M&E) system to support the work of the CHWs.Methods. One sub-district in the North West province was identified for the evaluation. One outreach team comprising ten CHWs maintained both the paper forms and mHealth system to record household data on community-based services. A comparative analysis was done to calculate the correspondence between the paper and phone records. A focus group discussion was conducted with the CHWs. Clinical referrals, data accuracy and supervised visits were compared and analysed for the paper and phone systems.Results: Compared to the mHealth system where data accuracy was assured, 40% of the CHWs showed a consistently high level (>90% correspondence) of data transfer accuracy on paper. Overall, there was an improvement over time, and by the fifth month, all CHWs achieved a correspondence of 90% or above between phone and paper data. The most common error that occurred was summing the total number of visits and/or activities across the five household activity indicators. Few supervised home visits were recorded in either system and there was no evidence of the team leader following up on the automatic notifications received on their cell phones.Conclusions: The evaluation emphasizes the need for regular supervision for both systems and rigorous and ongoing assessments of data quality for the paper system. Formalization of a mHealth M&E system for PHC outreach teams delivering community based services could offer greater accuracy of M&E and enhance supervision systems for CHWs. © 2014Neupane et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. | Community based services; Community health workers; mHealth; Monitoring and evaluation | comparative study; evaluation study; health auxiliary; human; medical record; public health; South Africa; standards; telemedicine; Community Health Workers; Humans; Medical Records; National Health Programs; South Africa; Telemedicine | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-58049114857 | Evaluation of splicing efficiency in lymphoblastoid cell lines from patients with splicing-factor retinitis pigmentosa | Ivings L., Towns K.V., Matin M.A., Taylor C., Ponchel F., Grainger R.J., Ramesar R.S., Mackey D.A., Inglehearn C.F. | 2008 | Molecular Vision | 14 | None | None | Section of Ophthalmology and Neuroscience, Leeds Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds LS9 7TF, United Kingdom; Department of Statistics, University of Leeds, Leeds LS9 7TF, United Kingdom; Section of Musculoskeletal Disease, Leeds Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds LS9 7TF, United Kingdom; Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom; Department of Human Genetics, University of Cape Town Medical School, Cape Town, South Africa; CERA, University of Melbourne, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia | Ivings, L., Section of Ophthalmology and Neuroscience, Leeds Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds LS9 7TF, United Kingdom; Towns, K.V., Section of Ophthalmology and Neuroscience, Leeds Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds LS9 7TF, United Kingdom; Matin, M.A., Department of Statistics, University of Leeds, Leeds LS9 7TF, United Kingdom; Taylor, C., Department of Statistics, University of Leeds, Leeds LS9 7TF, United Kingdom; Ponchel, F., Section of Musculoskeletal Disease, Leeds Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds LS9 7TF, United Kingdom; Grainger, R.J., Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom; Ramesar, R.S., Department of Human Genetics, University of Cape Town Medical School, Cape Town, South Africa; Mackey, D.A., CERA, University of Melbourne, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Inglehearn, C.F., Section of Ophthalmology and Neuroscience, Leeds Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds LS9 7TF, United Kingdom | Purpose: Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is caused by mutations in a variety of genes, most of which have known functions in the retina. However, one of the most perplexing findings of recent retinal genetics research was the discovery of mutations causing dominant PP in four ubiquitously expressed splicing factors. The aim of this study was to use lymphoblast cell lines derived from RP patients to determine whether mutations in two of these splicing factors, PRPF8 and PRPF31, cause measurable deficiencies in pre-mRNA splicing. Methods: cDNA was prepared from lymphoblastoid cell lines derived from RP patients bearing mutations in the splicing factor genes and controls, grown under a variety of conditions. Introns representing the U2 and U12 intron classes, with both canonical and noncanonical donor and acceptor sequences, were analyzed by real-time PCR to measure the ratio of spliced versus unspliced transcripts for these introns. In addition, plasmids encoding the retinal outer segment membrane protein-1 (ROM-1; exon 1 to exon 2) gene, both in the wild-type form and with mutations introduced into the splice donor sites, were transfected into cell lines. The spliced versus unspliced cDNA ratios were measured by real-time RT-PCR. Results: Splicing of four canonical U2 introns in the actin beta (ACTB), glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), PRPF8, and retinitis pigmentosa GTPase regulator (RPGR) genes was unaffected in PRPF8 mutant cells. However, the splicing efficiency of RPGR intron 9 was significantly decreased in PRPF31 mutant cell lines. In contrast, a consistent decrease in the splicing efficiency of all U12 and noncanonical U2 introns was seen in PRPF8, but not in PRPF31, mutant cells, with statistical significance for STK11 intron 3. Conclusions: In spite of the ubiquitous expression patterns of the genes implicated in splicing factor RP, no pathology has yet been documented outside the retina. The observed differences in splicing efficiency described herein favor the hypothesis that these mutations may have a subpathological effect outside the retina. These observations argue against a defect in some yet to be discovered additional function of these proteins and support the alternative hypothesis that this form of RP does indeed result from aberrant splicing of retinal transcripts. © 2008 Molecular Vision. | None | beta actin; complementary DNA; glyceraldehyde 3 phosphate dehydrogenase; guanosine triphosphatase regulator protein; messenger RNA precursor; outer membrane protein; premessenger ribonucleic acid processing factor 31; premessenger ribonucleic acid processing factor 8; regulator protein; retina outer segment membrane protein 1; unclassified drug; adult; article; canonical analysis; controlled study; enzyme regulation; female; gene function; gene mutation; gene sequence; genetic transfection; human; human cell; intron; lymphoblastoid cell line; male; mutant; pathogenesis; priority journal; retinitis pigmentosa; reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction; RNA splicing; RNA transcription; ubiquitination; Adult; Aged; Carrier Proteins; Cell Line; Eye Proteins; Female; Genes, Dominant; Humans; Introns; Lymphocytes; Male; Membrane Proteins; Middle Aged; Multivariate Analysis; Organ Specificity; Retinitis Pigmentosa; RNA Precursors; RNA Splicing; Transfection | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84892411070 | Physiological and performance responses of elite North African and European endurance runners to a traditional maximal incremental exercise | Santos-Concejero J., Granados C., Irazusta J., Bidaurrazaga-Letona I., Zabala-Lili J., Badiola A., Gil S.M. | 2013 | International SportMed Journal | 14 | 4 | None | UCT/MRC Research Unit for Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Department of Physical Education and Sport, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain; Department of Physiology, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Leioa, Spain | Santos-Concejero, J., UCT/MRC Research Unit for Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa, Department of Physical Education and Sport, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain; Granados, C., Department of Physical Education and Sport, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain; Irazusta, J., Department of Physiology, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Leioa, Spain; Bidaurrazaga-Letona, I., Department of Physical Education and Sport, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain; Zabala-Lili, J., Department of Physical Education and Sport, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain; Badiola, A., Department of Physical Education and Sport, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain; Gil, S.M., Department of Physical Education and Sport, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain | Background: A variety of studies have been undertaken on East and South African athletes to identify the factors that underlie the superior performance of African runners. However, the physiological response of North African runners to exercise remains unknown. Research question: Investigate the physiological response to exercise in North African and European runners. Type of study: Descriptive study. Methods: Eight North African and 13 European runners completed a maximal incremental running test, starting at 9 km·h-1 and speed increased by 1.5 km·h-1 every 4 minutes, with 1 minute of recovery between workloads. Respiratory parameters were measured and blood lactate concentration and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) were assessed. Results: North African and European runners achieved similar maximal aerobic velocity (MAV) (20.5 ± 1.7 vs. 19.9 ± 1.3 km·h-1, respectively) and peak treadmill velocity (PTV) (20.8 ± 0.7 vs. 20.7 ± 1.1 km·h-1). However, MAV was slower than PTV in the European runners (p < 0.05), but not in North Africans. North African runners presented a lower respiratory exchange ratio at 16.5 km·h-1 (1.03 ± 0.03 vs. 1.07 ± 0.05) and 18 km·h-1 (1.07 ± 0.03 vs. 1.12 ± 0.06) and a lower RPE at 18 km·h-1 (3.9 ± 0.8 vs. 5.1 ± 1.2) than the European runners (p < 0.05). Conclusions: This study provides evidence that North African runners were able to maintain a higher MAV relative to PTV and lower RPE than the European runners. However, the absence of differences in variables such as VO2max or running economy suggest that the success of North African runners cannot be explained by differences in metabolic efficiency. | Ethnicity; Maximal aerobic velocity; Performance; RPE; Running economy | None | None |
| None | None | The environmental and socio-economic impacts of mining on local livelihoods in Tanzania: A case study of Geita District | Kitula A.G.N. | 2006 | Journal of Cleaner Production | 14 | 42433 | 10.1016/j.jclepro.2004.01.012 | Sokoine University of Agriculture, P.O. Box 3187, Morogoro, Tanzania | Kitula, A.G.N., Sokoine University of Agriculture, P.O. Box 3187, Morogoro, Tanzania | This paper reports the findings of a study undertaken to assess the socio-economic and environmental impacts of mining in Geita District, Tanzania. In addition to sampling community perceptions of mining activities, the study prescribes interventions that can assist in mitigating the negative impacts of mining. Marked environmental and interrelated socio-economic improvements can be achieved within regional artisanal gold mines if the government provides technical support to local operators, regulations are improved, and illegal mining activity is reduced. © 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. | Geita District; Gold mining; Local people; Mining activities; Socio-economic | Economic and social effects; Environmental impact; Gold mines; Mining laws and regulations; Geita district; Local people; Mining activities; Mining | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-28244454770 | Human impacts, energy availability and invasion across Southern Ocean Islands | Chown S.L., Hull B., Gaston K.J. | 2005 | Global Ecology and Biogeography | 14 | 6 | 10.1111/j.1466-822x.2005.00173.x | Spatial, Physiological and Conservation Ecology Group, Centre for Invasion Biology, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa; Australian Antarctic Division, Channel Highway, Kingston, Tasmania 7050, Australia; Biodiversity and Macroecology Group, Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TN, United Kingdom; DST Centre of Excellence for Invasion Biology, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa | Chown, S.L., Spatial, Physiological and Conservation Ecology Group, Centre for Invasion Biology, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa, DST Centre of Excellence for Invasion Biology, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa; Hull, B., Australian Antarctic Division, Channel Highway, Kingston, Tasmania 7050, Australia; Gaston, K.J., Biodiversity and Macroecology Group, Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TN, United Kingdom | Aim Ongoing biological invasions will enhance the impacts of humans on biodiversity. Nonetheless, the effects of exotic species on diversity are idiosyncratic. Increases in diversity might be a consequence of similar responses by species to available energy, or because of positive relationships between human density, energy and propagule pressure. Here we use data from the Southern Ocean island plants and insects to investigate these issues. Location The Southern Ocean Islands ranging from Tristan da Cunha to Heard Island and South Georgia. Methods Generalized linear models are used to explore the relationships between indigenous and exotic species richness for plants and insects on two different islands. Similar models are used to examine interactions between indigenous and exotic species richness, energy availability and propagule pressure at the regional scale. Results Positive relationships were found between indigenous and exotic species richness at local scales, although for plants, the relationship was partially triangular. Across the Southern Ocean Islands, there was strong positive covariation between indigenous and exotic plant species richness and insect species richness, even taking spatial autocorrelation into account. Both exotic and indigenous plant and insect species richness covaried with energy availability, as did human visitor frequency. When two islands with almost identical numbers of human visits were contrasted, it was clear that energy availability, or perhaps differences in climate-matching, were responsible for differences in the extent of invasion. Conclusion In plants and insects, there are positive relationships between indigenous and exotic diversity at local and regional scales across the Southern Ocean islands. These relationships are apparently a consequence of similar responses by both groups and by human occupants to available energy. When visitor frequency is held constant, energy availability is the major correlate of exotic species richness, though the exact mechanistic cause of this relationship requires clarification. © 2005 Blackwell Publishing Ltd. | Biological invasions; Disturbance; Diversity; Human history; Insects; Introduced species; Propagule pressure; Vascular plants | biodiversity; biological invasion; human activity; island; species richness; Southern Ocean; Hexapoda; Insecta; Tracheophyta | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84919840894 | Tackler characteristics associated with tackle performance in rugby union | Hendricks S., Matthews B., Roode B., Lambert M. | 2014 | European Journal of Sport Science | 14 | 8 | 10.1080/17461391.2014.905982 | UCT/MRC Exercise Science and Sports Medicine Research Unit, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa | Hendricks, S., UCT/MRC Exercise Science and Sports Medicine Research Unit, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Matthews, B., UCT/MRC Exercise Science and Sports Medicine Research Unit, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Roode, B., UCT/MRC Exercise Science and Sports Medicine Research Unit, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Lambert, M., UCT/MRC Exercise Science and Sports Medicine Research Unit, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa | Abstract: Tackling is an important skill for performance in rugby, yet little has been reported on tackler characteristics and its relationship to performance in competition. The aim of this study was to identify tackler characteristics and its association with tackle performance in matches. Eighteen matches of the 2010 Super 14 were analysed, which amounted to 2092 coded tackles. Tackler characteristics such as head position – in motion, up and forward, type of tackle – shoulder tackler, arm tackle or ball-carrier fend – absent, moderate, strong and leg drive–absent, moderate, strong or shoulder usage were coded and associated with tackle outcomes. Relative risk ratio (RRR), the ratio of the probability of an outcome occurring when a characteristic was observed (versus the non-observed characteristic) was determined using multinomial logistic regression. Having the head in motion decreased the tackler's chances of a successful tackle (RRR 2.24, 95% CI 1.72–2.92, p < 0.001) relative to an up and forward head position. Ball-carriers using a fend significantly decreased the tackler's probability of success (moderate fend RRR 2.97, 95% CI 2.04–4.31, p < 0.001). Moderate leg drive (RRR 0.36, 95% CI 0.26–0.50, p < 0.001) by the tackler increased the likelihood of tackle success. Head up and forward, counter-acting the ball-carrier fend, shoulder tackles targeted at the ball-carrier mid-torso, using the arms to wrap or pull, and leg driving were key tackler characteristics associated with positive tackle outcome in matches. Based on these findings, it is recommended that these technical characteristics are emphasised and incorporated into training to effectively prepare tacklers for competition. © 2014, © 2014 European College of Sport Science. | collision sports; contact skills; multinomial logistic regression; performance; Tackling; technique | athletic performance; football; human; image processing; physiology; statistical model; videorecording; Athletic Performance; Football; Humans; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; Logistic Models; Video Recording | National Research Foundation; DAAD, National Research Foundation |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84875303576 | The therapeutic benefits of sport in the rehabilitation of young sexual offenders: A qualitative evaluation of the Fight with Insight programme | Draper C.E., Errington S., Omar S., Makhita S. | 2013 | Psychology of Sport and Exercise | 14 | 4 | 10.1016/j.psychsport.2013.02.004 | UCT/MRC Research Unit for Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, University of Cape Town, Sports Science Institute of South Africa, Boundary Road, Newlands, Cape Town 7700, South Africa; Teddy Bear Clinic for Abused Children, 13 Joubert Street Ext, Parktown, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa | Draper, C.E., UCT/MRC Research Unit for Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, University of Cape Town, Sports Science Institute of South Africa, Boundary Road, Newlands, Cape Town 7700, South Africa; Errington, S., Teddy Bear Clinic for Abused Children, 13 Joubert Street Ext, Parktown, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa; Omar, S., Teddy Bear Clinic for Abused Children, 13 Joubert Street Ext, Parktown, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa; Makhita, S., Teddy Bear Clinic for Abused Children, 13 Joubert Street Ext, Parktown, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa | Objectives: Abuse of children is a concerning issue in South Africa, particularly the percentage of sexual offences committed by children and youth. Fight with Insight (FWI), which forms part of a 12-week diversion programme, combines boxing and cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), and is intended for child and youth sexual offenders. The aim of this evaluation was to qualitatively evaluate the FWI programme. The evaluation was intended to achieve the following outcomes: 1) a description of FWI (including outcomes and mechanisms); 2) understanding of perceptions of FWI's effectiveness; and 3) insight into factors influencing programme effectiveness. Design: A case-study approach was used to conduct this qualitative evaluation. Methods: Focus groups were conducted with FWI participants (n = 17), parents of FWI participants (n = 7), and a comparison group of youth offenders who had only participated in CBT sessions (n = 10). Key informants interviews were conducted with programme staff (n = 6). Results: The main outcome was identified as a reduction in recidivism, along with other intra- and inter-personal outcomes. Participants were generally positive about FWI and it's effectiveness, and these views were reinforced by key informant and parents' perceptions. FWI (compared to comparison) participants tended to be more specific about changes and learning they experienced as a result of the programme. A conceptual model highlights that it is the interplay between the boxing and the themes addressed within the CBT that contributes to FWI's effectiveness. Conclusions: This study has provided insight into FWI's outcomes and mechanisms, factors influencing its effectiveness, and the kind of change that it helps to bring about in its participants. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. | Programme evaluation; Qualitative research; Sexual offenders | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84872442014 | Development and formative evaluation of a visual e-tool to help decision makers navigate the evidence around health financing | Skordis-Worrall J., Pulkki-Brännström A.-M., Utley M., Kembhavi G., Bricki N., Dutoit X., Rosato M., Pagel C. | 2012 | Journal of Medical Internet Research | 14 | 6 | 10.2196/resprot.2173 | UCL Institute for Global Health, 30 Guilford Street, London, WC1N 1EH, United Kingdom; Clinical Operational Research Unit, UCL, London, United Kingdom; Save the Children UK, London, United Kingdom; Sydesy.com, London, United Kingdom; Centre for Anthropological Research, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa | Skordis-Worrall, J., UCL Institute for Global Health, 30 Guilford Street, London, WC1N 1EH, United Kingdom; Pulkki-Brännström, A.-M., UCL Institute for Global Health, 30 Guilford Street, London, WC1N 1EH, United Kingdom; Utley, M., Clinical Operational Research Unit, UCL, London, United Kingdom; Kembhavi, G., UCL Institute for Global Health, 30 Guilford Street, London, WC1N 1EH, United Kingdom; Bricki, N., Save the Children UK, London, United Kingdom; Dutoit, X., Sydesy.com, London, United Kingdom; Rosato, M., UCL Institute for Global Health, 30 Guilford Street, London, WC1N 1EH, United Kingdom, Centre for Anthropological Research, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa; Pagel, C., Clinical Operational Research Unit, UCL, London, United Kingdom | Background: There are calls for low and middle income countries to develop robust health financing policies to increase service coverage. However, existing evidence around financing options is complex and often difficult for policy makers to access. Objective: To summarize the evidence on the impact of financing health systems and develop an e-tool to help decision makers navigate the findings. Methods: After reviewing the literature, we used thematic analysis to summarize the impact of 7 common health financing mechanisms on 5 common health system goals. Information on the relevance of each study to a user's context was provided by 11 country indicators. A Web-based e-tool was then developed to assist users in navigating the literature review. This tool was evaluated using feedback from early users, collected using an online survey and in-depth interviews with key informants. Results: The e-tool provides graphical summaries that allow a user to assess the following parameters with a single snapshot: the number of relevant studies available in the literature, the heterogeneity of evidence, where key evidence is lacking, and how closely the evidence matches their own context. Users particularly liked the visual display and found navigating the tool intuitive. However there was concern that a lack of evidence on positive impact might be construed as evidence against a financing option and that the tool might over-simplify the available financing options. Conclusions: Complex evidence can be made more easily accessible and potentially more understandable using basic Web-based technology and innovative graphical representations that match findings to the users' goals and context. | Financing; Health care systems; Policy makers; Software tools | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000208285300008 | Impacts of public solar PV electrification on rural micro-enterprises: The case of Ghana | Evers, H-D,Obeng, G. Y. | 2010 | ENERGY FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT | 14 | 3 | 10.1016/j.esd.2010.07.005 | University of Bonn, Kwame Nkrumah University Science & Technology, Kwame Nkrumah Univ Sci & Technol | "Evers, H-D: University of Bonn", | Micro-enterprises are a key component in rural enterprise creation and income generation. In rural areas far removed from grid-electricity, public solar photovoltaic (PV) electrification projects have served useful purposes by contributing to improve the economic activities of micro-enterprises beyond daylight hours. Through fee-for-service approach some rural micro-enterprises in Ghana were provided with access to solar PV systems to enhance their output. It is expected that the effect of solar PV electrification on enterprise output would be of research interest. However, the relationship is under-researched. Hence, there is lack of data particularly quantitative ones to show the benefits that can be derived from the sustainable use of solar PV to electrifiy rural micro-enterprises. Using systematic sampling and developing a set of enterprise-level indicators, micro-enterprises with and without solar PV were surveyed in eight rural communities in five regions of Ghana. The results revealed that the cost avoided by using solar PV in the enterprises instead of kerosene lanterns was US$1-5/month. The results established a statistically significant association between solar PV lighting and additional income after sunset of US$5-12/day in grocery (merchandise) enterprises. Without the external lighting of solar-electrified enterprises, the businesses of about two night vendors were affected. Further to the impacts on income and cost savings the study discussed affordability, factors preventing the extension of working hours after sunset and sustainability issues. (C) 2010 International Energy Initiative. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. | "Additional income",GHANA,"Rural micro-enterprises","solar PV" | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000342599000001 | Strengthening monitoring and evaluation (M&E) and building sustainable health information systems in resource limited countries: lessons learned from an M&E task-shifting initiative in Botswana | Grignon, Jessica,Lebelonyane, Refeletswe,Ledikwe, Jenny H.,Ludick, Steven,Matshediso, Ellah,Mpofu, Mulamuli,Semo, Bazghina-werq,Sento, Baraedi | 2014 | BMC PUBLIC HEALTH | 14 | None | 10.1186/1471-2458-14-1032 | University of Botswana, University of Washington, University of Washington Seattle, Botswana Minist Hlth, Botswana Minist Local Govt, Int Training & Educ Ctr Hlth I TECH | None | Background: The demand for quality data and the interest in health information systems has increased due to the need for country-level progress reporting towards attainment of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals and global health initiatives. To improve monitoring and evaluation (M&E) of health programs in Botswana, 51 recent university graduates with no experience in M&E were recruited and provided with on-the-job training and mentoring to develop a new cadre of health worker: the district M&E officer. Three years after establishment of the cadre, an assessment was conducted to document achievements and lessons learnt.
Methods: This qualitative assessment included in-depth interviews at the national level (n = 12) with officers from government institutions, donor agencies, and technical organizations; and six focus group discussions separately with district M&E officers, district managers, and program officers coordinating different district health programs.
Results: Reported achievements of the cadre included improved health worker capacity to monitor and evaluate programs within the districts; improved data quality, management, and reporting; increased use of health data for disease surveillance, operational research, and planning purposes; and increased availability of time for nurses and other health workers to concentrate on core clinical duties. Lessons learnt from the assessment included: the importance of clarifying roles for newly established cadres, aligning resources and equipment to expectations, importance of stakeholder collaboration in implementation of sustainable programs, and ensuring retention of new cadres.
Conclusion: The development of a dedicated M&E cadre at the district level contributed positively to health information systems in Botswana by helping build M&E capacity and improving data quality, management, and data use. This assessment has shown that such cadres can be developed sustainably if the initiative is country-led, focusing on recruitment and capacity-development of local counterparts, with a clear government retention plan. | "DATA QUALITY","HEALTH INFORMATION SYSTEMS","monitoring and evaluation",task-shifting,CHALLENGES,"DATA QUALITY",HIV,INTERVENTIONS,MALAWI,MANAGEMENT,"MIDDLE-INCOME COUNTRIES",SETTINGS,SOUTH-AFRICA,"SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA" | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-76149135713 | Chest radiograph reading and recording system: Evaluation for tuberculosis screening in patients with advanced HIV | Dawson R., Masuka P., Edwards D.J., Bateman E.D., Bekker L.-G., Wood R., Lawn S.D. | 2010 | International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease | 14 | 1 | None | University of Cape Town Lung Institute, Division of Pulmonology, Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa; Desmond Tutu HIV Centre, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Anzio Road, Observatory 7925, Cape Town, South Africa; Clinical Research Unit, Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom | Dawson, R., University of Cape Town Lung Institute, Division of Pulmonology, Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa; Masuka, P., Desmond Tutu HIV Centre, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Anzio Road, Observatory 7925, Cape Town, South Africa; Edwards, D.J., Desmond Tutu HIV Centre, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Anzio Road, Observatory 7925, Cape Town, South Africa; Bateman, E.D., University of Cape Town Lung Institute, Division of Pulmonology, Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa; Bekker, L.-G., Desmond Tutu HIV Centre, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Anzio Road, Observatory 7925, Cape Town, South Africa; Wood, R., Desmond Tutu HIV Centre, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Anzio Road, Observatory 7925, Cape Town, South Africa; Lawn, S.D., Desmond Tutu HIV Centre, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Anzio Road, Observatory 7925, Cape Town, South Africa, Clinical Research Unit, Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom | SETTING: An antiretroviral treatment (ART) service in Gugulethu township, Cape Town, South Africa. OBJECTIVE: To assess the inter-observer agreement when using the chest radiographic reading and reporting system (CRRS) to detect radiographic abnormalities in patients with advanced human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) associated immunodeficiency being actively screened for tuberculosis (TB). Second, to assess the associated performance characteristics of radiology as a routine screening test for detection of culture-confirmed pulmonary TB. DESIGN: Radiographs from a study in which patients were actively screened for TB just before starting ART were independently reported by two CRRS-certified readers blinded to clinical status. RESULTS: Good kappa statistic agreements between observers were found when reporting any radiological abnormality consistent with TB among all patients (n = 203, κ = 0.63, 95%CI 0.52-0.73) and among those with culture-confirmed TB (n = 53, κ = 0.61, 95%CI 0.40-0.83). However, in comparison with sputum culture, the sensitivity (0.68, 95%CI 0.54-0.79) and specificity (0.53, 95%CI 0.45-0.61) of radiology in this patient group were low. CONCLUSION: This study provides evidence of the good inter-observer agreement using the CRRS standardised reporting methodology when used among patients with advanced HIV-associated immunodeficiency and a high prevalence of culture-proven pulmonary TB. The utility of radiology as a screening test for TB in this patient group, however, remains limited. ©2010 The Union. | Antiretroviral; CRRS; HIV; Radiology; Screening; Tuberculosis | adult; article; bacterium culture; confidence interval; controlled study; evaluation; female; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infected patient; image analysis; immune deficiency; kappa statistics; lung tuberculosis; major clinical study; male; methodology; performance measurement system; priority journal; screening; sensitivity analysis; sputum culture; thorax radiography; Adult; AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections; Female; HIV Infections; Humans; Male; Mass Screening; Observer Variation; Radiography, Thoracic; Sensitivity and Specificity; Single-Blind Method; South Africa; Sputum; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary | None |
| WoS | WOS:000296348200001 | Keeping health staff healthy: evaluation of a workplace initiative to reduce morbidity and mortality from HIV/AIDS in Malawi | Bemelmans, Marielle,Chiomba, Harriet,Ford, Nathan,Hermann, Katharina,Jalasi, Winnie,Mwagomba, Beatrice,Pasulani, Olesi,Philips, Mit,Tayub, Nabila Saddiq,van den Akker, Thomas | 2011 | JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL AIDS SOCIETY | 14 | None | 10.1186/1758-2652-14-1 | University of Cape Town, Inst Trop Med, Med Sans Frontieres, Minist Hlth & Populat, Natl Org Nurses & Midwives | None | Background: In Malawi, the dramatic shortage of human resources for health is negatively impacted by HIV-related morbidity and mortality among health workers and their relatives. Many staff find it difficult to access HIV care through regular channels due to fear of stigma and discrimination. In 2006, two workplace initiatives were implemented in Thyolo District: a clinic at the district hospital dedicated to all district health staff and their first-degree relatives, providing medical services, including HIV care; and a support group for HIV-positive staff.
Methods: Using routine programme data, we evaluated the following outcomes up to the end of 2009: uptake and outcome of HIV testing and counselling among health staff and their dependents; uptake and outcomes of antiretroviral therapy (ART) among health staff; and membership and activities of the support group. In addition, we included information from staff interviews and a job satisfaction survey to describe health workers' opinions of the initiatives.
Results: Almost two-thirds (91 of 144, 63%) of health workers and their dependents undergoing HIV testing and counselling at the staff clinic tested HIV positive. Sixty-four health workers had accessed ART through the staff clinic, approximately the number of health workers estimated to be in need of ART. Of these, 60 had joined the support group. Cumulative ART outcomes were satisfactory, with more than 90% alive on treatment as of June 2009 (the end of the study observation period). The availability, confidentiality and quality of care in the staff clinic were considered adequate by beneficiaries.
Conclusions: Staff clinic and support group services successfully provided care and support to HIV-positive health workers. Similar initiatives should be considered in other settings with a high HIV prevalence. | ,"ANTIRETROVIRAL THERAPY","CARE WORKERS",IMPACT,SCALE-UP,ZAMBIA | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33846026049 | Evaluation of pine bark or pine bark with goat manure or sewage sludge cocomposts as growing media for vegetable seedlings | Mupondi L.T., Mnkeni P.N.S., Brutsch M.O. | 2006 | Compost Science and Utilization | 14 | 4 | None | University of Fort Hare, Faculty of Science and Agriculture, Department of Agronomy, Alice, South Africa | Mupondi, L.T., University of Fort Hare, Faculty of Science and Agriculture, Department of Agronomy, Alice, South Africa; Mnkeni, P.N.S., University of Fort Hare, Faculty of Science and Agriculture, Department of Agronomy, Alice, South Africa; Brutsch, M.O., University of Fort Hare, Faculty of Science and Agriculture, Department of Agronomy, Alice, South Africa | The suitability as growing media of composts made from pine bark or pine bark cocomposted with goat manure or sewage sludge and either inoculated or not inoculated with effective microorganisms, was evaluated under greenhouse conditions with and without fertilization using cabbage as the test crop. The treatments were replicated three times and arranged in a randomized complete block design in a fibre glass covered greenhouse. Cabbage seedlings were grown in cavity trays for five weeks, after which plants were harvested and fresh and dry weights determined. Samples were also analyzed for N, P, K and selected heavy metal concentrations. Results revealed that pine bark-goat manure cocomposts supported good seedling growth and could thus be good substitutes for pine bark alone as a growing medium where goat manure or similar manures are available. The results also showed that despite the superior nutritional value of these alternative growing media, nutrient supplementation may still be necessary where seedlings are kept in the nursery for extended periods due to nutrient exhaustion through plant uptake and leaching. Pine bark-sewage sludge compost also had positive effects on seedling growth but could only be recommended as a growing medium for nonfood plants because its composting did not reach the thermophillic temperatures necessary for adequate pathogen kill. Inoculation with effective microorganisms improved seedling growth in sewage sludge and goat manure based composts but the mechanisms involved remain to be established. | None | Fertilizers; Growth kinetics; Manures; Microorganisms; Plants (botany); Sewage sludge; Soils; Fertilization; Seedlings; Composting; bark; compost; goat; manure; seedling; sewage; sludge; vegetation; Brassica oleracea var. capitata; Capra hircus | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-61649120830 | Impact of terrorism and security measures on global business transactions: Some international business guidelines | Jain S.C., Grosse R. | 2009 | Journal of Transnational Management | 14 | 1 | 10.1080/15475770802698540 | University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, United States; Standard Bank, Johannesburg, South Africa | Jain, S.C., University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, United States; Grosse, R., Standard Bank, Johannesburg, South Africa | Terrorism is likely to continue well into the future, presenting a new type of risk for companies that engage in international business transactions. Worldwide, government policymakers have introduced a variety of security measures to contain terrorism while trying not to reduce/distract global trade and investment. For international business (IB) scholars, this opens a new field of inquiry. This paper outlines different streams of research relative to terrorism, related security measures, and international business. Suggestions are made regarding the unique role that multinational enterprises can play in abating terrorism, for example, by taking steps to reduce global poverty and hatred, directly negotiating with terrorists, and developing new technology to counter terrorism. | Role of MNCs in countering terrorism; Security and global business; Terrorism | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84880612922 | Quality versus quantity: The use of observation by early childhood educators in improving the performance of children enrolled in preschool programs in ghana | Tackie-ofosu V., Bentum K. | 2013 | Contemporary Issues in Early Childhood | 14 | 1 | 10.2304/ciec.2014.14.1.99 | University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana; Northwest Special Education Cooperative, Freeport, IL, United States | Tackie-ofosu, V., University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana; Bentum, K., Northwest Special Education Cooperative, Freeport, IL, United States | In the current study, the authors explored how early childhood educators used observation to support children in the learning environment. The objectives set were to find out the observation methods teachers used, ascertain their understanding of child observation, find out activities children undertook, and how teachers documented what children did and said during play activities. A qualitative, explorative, descriptive and contextual design, using in-depth interviews, focus group discussion and photography, was considered appropriate for this research. Three main themes emerged in this study: Teachers or Playmates?, Observation as in Supervision, and Observation or Resources? The results of the study revealed that supervision of activities that children engaged in was equated to observation. Lack of observational skills, resources, and poor record keeping emerged as areas of concern. Implications for child development are rooted in the need for teachers to recognize the educational needs of children via observation and to develop appropriate strategies to address identified needs. | None | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000306168300012 | An Evaluation of the Gender Sensitive Nature of Selected Textbooks in the Zimbabwean Secondary School Curriculum | Modiba, Maropeng,Mutekwe, Edmore | 2012 | ANTHROPOLOGIST | 14 | 4 | None | University of Johannesburg | "Modiba, Maropeng: University of Johannesburg","Mutekwe, Edmore: University of Johannesburg" | The aim of the study was to evaluate the gender sensitivity and balance of selected textbooks in the Zimbabwean school curriculum. An evaluation instrument was designed to evaluate the books and focus group interviews were carried out with a purposive and gender stratified sample of students. The data management and analysis procedures adopted covered both the content and discourse analyses of selected history text books in addition to the interpretations of participants' verbatim statements from the focus group discussions. The study revealed that a great deal of patriarchal values and ideologies are embodied in the textbooks. The textbooks analysed were found to contain gender biases, imbalances and stereotypes. The interviews' carried out revealed that students were overtly and covertly affected by the gender representations in textbooks. In depicting traditional gender stereotypes, textbooks shaped students in particular ways and affect their academic achievement and career choices. The study recommends that textbooks in schools should be carefully selected to avoid those that are full of gender biases or stereotypes. Where possible textbooks could be rewritten to ensure gender sensitivity in order to avoid producing and peddling gender role ideologies and stereotypes that differentially reinforce boys and girls for not only different but highly gender polarized social roles. | domesticity,"Gender Role Biases","hidden curriculum",stereotyping | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000285576800011 | Establishment of a catchment monitoring network through a participatory approach in a rural community in South Africa | Jewitt, G. P. W.,Kongo, V. M.,Kosgei, J. R.,Lorentz, S. A. | 2010 | HYDROLOGY AND EARTH SYSTEM SCIENCES | 14 | 12 | 10.5194/hess-14-2507-2010 | University of Kwazulu Natal | "Jewitt, G. P. W.: University of Kwazulu Natal","Kongo, V. M.: University of Kwazulu Natal","Kosgei, J. R.: University of Kwazulu Natal","Lorentz, S. A.: University of Kwazulu Natal" | The establishment of a catchment monitoring network is a process, from the inception of the idea to its implementation, the latter being the construction of relevant gauging structures and installation of the various instruments. It is useful that the local communities and other stakeholders are involved and participate in such a process, as was highlighted during the establishment of the hydrological monitoring network in the Potshini catchment in Bergville District in the KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa. The paper highlights the participatory establishment of a hydrological monitoring network in a small rural inhabited catchment, in line with the overall objective of the Smallholder System Innovations (SSI) research programme, to monitor hydrological processes at both field and catchment scale for water resources management research purposes. The engagement and participation of the Potshini community precipitated a learning opportunity for both the researchers and the local community on (i) the understanding of hydrological processes inherent in the catchment (ii) appreciating the inherent dynamics in establishing a catchment monitoring network in the midst of a community (iii) paradigm shift on how to engage different stakeholders at different levels of participation. The participatory engagement in the monitoring process led to appreciation and uptake of some of the research results by the Potshini community and ensured continued support from all stakeholders. This paper is of the view that the participation of the local community and other stakeholders in catchment monitoring and instilling a sense of ownership and management of natural resources to the local communities needs to be encouraged at all times. Success stories in water resources management by local communities can be realized if such a process is integrated with other development plans in the catchment at all forums, with due recognition of the social dynamics of the communities living in the catchment. | ,"ENERGY BALANCE ALGORITHM",EVAPORATION,MANAGEMENT,SCALE,SCINTILLATION,"SENSIBLE HEAT FLUXES",TURKEY,WATER | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000333602200001 | The impact of voluntary counselling and testing services on sexual behaviour change and HIV incidence: observations from a cohort study in rural Tanzania | Cawley, Caoimhe,Kumugola, Yusufu,Michael, Denna,Slaymaker, Emma,Todd, Jim,Urassa, Mark,Wringe, Alison,Zaba, Basia | 2014 | BMC INFECTIOUS DISEASES | 14 | None | 10.1186/1471-2334-14-159 | University of London | "Cawley, Caoimhe: University of London","Slaymaker, Emma: University of London","Wringe, Alison: University of London","Zaba, Basia: University of London", | Background: It is widely assumed that voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) services contribute to HIV prevention by motivating clients to reduce sexual risk-taking. However, findings from sub-Saharan Africa have been mixed, particularly among HIV-negative persons. We explored associations between VCT use and changes in sexual risk behaviours and HIV incidence using data from a community HIV cohort study in northwest Tanzania.
Methods: Data on VCT use, sexual behaviour and HIV status were available from three HIV serological surveillance rounds undertaken in 2003-4 (Sero4), 2006-7 (Sero5) and 2010 (Sero6). We used multinomial logistic regression to assess changes in sexual risk behaviours between rounds, and Poisson regression to estimate HIV incidence.
Results: The analyses included 3,613 participants attending Sero4 and Sero5 (3,474 HIV-negative and 139 HIV-positive at earlier round) and 2,998 attending Sero5 and Sero6 (2,858 HIV-negative and 140 HIV-positive at earlier round). Among HIV-negative individuals VCT use was associated with reductions in the number of sexual partners in the last year (aRR Seros 4-5: 1.42, 95% CI 1.07-1.88; aRR Seros 5-6: 1.68, 95% CI 1.25-2.26) and in the likelihood of having a non-cohabiting partner in the last year (aRR Seros 4-5: 1.57, 95% CI 1.10-2.25; aRR Seros 5-6: 1.48, 95% CI 1.07-2.04) or a high-risk partner in the last year (aRR Seros 5-6 1.57, 95% CI 1.06-2.31). However, VCT was also associated with stopping using condoms with non-cohabiting partners between Seros 4-5 (aRR 4.88, 95% CI 1.39-17.16). There were no statistically significant associations between VCT use and changes in HIV incidence, nor changes in sexual behaviour among HIV-positive individuals, possibly due to small sample sizes.
Conclusions: We found moderate associations between VCT use and reductions in some sexual risk behaviours among HIV-negative participants, but no impacts among HIV-positive individuals in the context of low overall VCT uptake. Furthermore, there were no significant changes in HIV incidence associated with VCT use, although declining background incidence and small sample sizes may have prevented us from detecting this. The impact of VCT services will ultimately depend upon rates of uptake, with further research required to better understand processes of behaviour change following VCT use. | "COHORT STUDY",HIV,"sexual behaviour",Tanzania,"voluntary counselling and testing",AFRICA,"ANTIRETROVIRAL THERAPY",POPULATIONS,RANDOMIZED-TRIAL,"RISK BEHAVIOR",SPREAD,TRENDS,UGANDA,ZIMBABWE | None | None |
| WoS | WOS:000269810800002 | Are hospitals prepared to support newborn survival? - an evaluation of eight first-referral level hospitals in Kenya | English, Mike,Irimu, Grace,Migiro, Santau,Ntoburi, Stephen,Opondo, Charles,Wafula, Jackline,Wagai, John,Wamae, Annah,Wasunna, Aggrey,Were, Fred | 2009 | TROPICAL MEDICINE & INTERNATIONAL HEALTH | 14 | 10 | 10.1111/j.1365-3156.2009.02358.x | University of Nairobi, University of Oxford, KEMRI Ctr Geog Med Res Coast, Minist Publ Hlth & Sanitat, Wellcome Trust Res Programme | "Wasunna, Aggrey: University of Nairobi","Were, Fred: University of Nairobi", | OBJECTIVE To assess the availability of resources that support the provision of basic neonatal care in eight first-referral level (district) hospitals in Kenya.
METHODS We selected two hospitals each from four of Kenya's eight provinces with the aim of representing the diversity of this part of the health system in Kenya. We created a checklist of 53 indicator items necessary for providing essential basic care to newborns and assessed their availability at each of the eight hospitals by direct observation, and then compared our observations with the opinions of health workers providing care to newborns on recent availability for some items, using a self-administered structured questionnaire.
RESULTS The hospitals surveyed were often unable to maintain a safe hygienic environment for patients and health care workers; staffing was insufficient and sometimes poorly organised to support the provision of care; some key equipment, laboratory tests, drugs and consumables were not available while patient management guidelines were missing in all sites.
CONCLUSION Hospitals appear relatively poorly prepared to fill their proposed role in ensuring newborn survival. More effective interventions are needed to improve them to meet the special needs of this at-risk group. | HOSPITALS,KENYA,"NEONATAL CARE","observational study",AFRICA,CHILDREN,FACILITIES,HEALTH-CARE,IMPACT,INTERVENTIONS,QUALITY,RESUSCITATION,SETTINGS | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-57249090335 | The effect of multilingual policies on performance and progression in reading literacy in South African primary schools | Howie S., Venter E., Van Staden S. | 2008 | Educational Research and Evaluation | 14 | 6 | 10.1080/13803610802576775 | University of Pretoria, South Africa | Howie, S., University of Pretoria, South Africa; Venter, E., University of Pretoria, South Africa; Van Staden, S., University of Pretoria, South Africa | South Africa's rich multicultural society is reflected by 11 official languages. The Language in Education policy stipulates that children should start learning at school in their home language until Grade 3. In most schools, the language of instruction for all subjects changes in Grade 4 from an indigenous African language to English, which means that more than 80% of South African pupils learn in a language different to their home language. This paper seeks to ascertain (a) to what extent South African pupils are proficient readers in the language in which they have received reading instruction for 4 years, (b) what differences in achievement become evident between pupils in Grade 4 and Grade 5, and (c) the relationship between South African pupils' performance in the test language and home language. Statistics from the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) 2006 were applied to determine differences in achievement. | Assessment; International comparative studies; Reading literacy | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84885361444 | Evaluation of the vocational education orientation programme (VEOP) at a university in South Africa | Jacobs L., De Wet C. | 2013 | International Review of Research in Open and Distance Learning | 14 | 4 | None | University of the Free State, South Africa | Jacobs, L., University of the Free State, South Africa; De Wet, C., University of the Free State, South Africa | To address the training needs of Further Education and Training college (FETC) lecturers, and in the absence of a full professional education qualification, several higher education institutions, FETCs, and other bodies in South Africa formed an alliance to develop a short programme towards a possible future full qualification. In 2010 a Vocational Education Orientation Programme (VEOP) was piloted. In line with the responsibility for quality assurance, and the need to inform further developments in the training of FETC lecturers, the aim of this research was to evaluate the VEOP presented by the University of the Free State (UFS). To reach the stated aim, a two phase evaluative study was undertaken (1) to assess the individual modules, and (2) to holistically investigate the quality of the programme. Two questionnaires were used to gather data. The first set of data was collected at the completion of each of the six modules. For the second phase of the study, 48 lecturer-students were randomly selected more than a year after completion of the VEOP. The study identified a number of strengths and weaknesses of the VEOP. The results emphasise the need to carefully select tutors and train them to have an understanding of the FETC milieu, rethink the methodology employed in the education training of FETC lecturers, and redesign the modules' contents to better reflect the FETC sector. The need to enhance student support and improve administration is also highlighted by the study. The results of the study may inform the development of a full qualification for FETC lecturers. | Distance education; Further education and training; Programme evaluation; South Africa; Sub-Saharan Africa; Vocational training | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84907154047 | Impact of an interprofessional education program on developing skilled graduates well-equipped to practise in rural and underserved areas | Mpofu R., Late T., Daniels P.S., Adonis T.-A., Karuguti W.M. | 2014 | Rural and Remote Health | 14 | 3 | None | University of the Western Cape, Johanasburg, South Africa | Mpofu, R., University of the Western Cape, Johanasburg, South Africa; Late, T., University of the Western Cape, Johanasburg, South Africa; Daniels, P.S., University of the Western Cape, Johanasburg, South Africa; Adonis, T.-A., University of the Western Cape, Johanasburg, South Africa; Karuguti, W.M., University of the Western Cape, Johanasburg, South Africa | Introduction: Poverty, limited access to resources and a lack of infrastructure characterise the division of rural areas from urban South Africa. Low numbers of social welfare professionals compound the problem. With education linked inextricably in social responsibility, higher education institutions (HEIs) are called upon increasingly to create conditions that encourage students and graduates to practise in more socially responsible ways, involving more than mere disciplinary expertise or technical knowledge, and that consider the problems of rural areas. Use of interprofessional education (IPE) programs, based on teamwork, could enable HEIs to train and guide health sciences students in how best to cooperate with each other and combine their skills to mutual benefit. This would enable them to develop professional skills facilitated by interactive engagement within community settings. Methods: Referencing experience gained in Australia and elsewhere, the Faculty of Community and Health Sciences (FCHS) at the University of Western Cape (UWC) has developed and applied an IPE program for South Africa. Students were placed in interdisciplinary groups in a rural and underserved municipality of the Western Cape - 17 students participated in a study on the effectiveness of this program. A quantitative self-administered questionnaire, followed by qualitative focus group discussions, established student perceptions of their IPE experience, how the experience influenced their intentions for or against future practice in rural and underserved areas, and their interest in future interprofessional collaboration and practice. Results: More than 75% of the participating students agreed that they had learnt to develop knowledge base, procedural and healthcare practice presentation skills, along with preparing written community health histories. Student willingness to practise in rural areas was evidenced, citing community- and resource-based factors as determinants; however, concerns that some community members had 'own agendas' were expressed. Nearly all students highly appreciated their learning and service delivery development, but 47% felt that their educational experience did not go as far as expected. Student concerns were a lack of structured student placement for IPE to occur in the program, as well as limited staff supervision of students. Conclusions: The UWC FCHS IPE program is evidenced as a valid approach to encouraging health sciences students and graduates to choose to practise in more socially responsible ways. However, improvement of placement and supervision methodology and practice should be explored at faculty level and implemented in future IPE programs. © R Mpofu, The Late, PS Daniels, T-A Adonis, WM Karuguti, 2014. | Community welfare; Health science students and graduates; Healthcare practice; Interactive professionalism; Interprofessional education; Procedural skills; Rural and underserved areas; Social responsibility; Supervision methodology; Well equipped practice | adult; attitude to health; clinical competence; education; female; health care personnel; health care planning; human; male; organization and management; program evaluation; public relations; questionnaire; reproducibility; rural health care; South Africa; Adult; Clinical Competence; Female; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Health Personnel; Humans; Interprofessional Relations; Male; Medically Underserved Area; Program Evaluation; Questionnaires; Reproducibility of Results; Rural Health Services; South Africa | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84907189559 | Jogoo la shambani haliwiki mjini: The village and the town in the Mũgithi and one-man guitar performances in Kenya | Mutonya M.W. | 2014 | African Studies Quarterly | 14 | 4 | None | University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa | Mutonya, M.W., University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa | The 1990s marked an emergence of a relatively new genre in the contours of Kenyan popular culture. The Mũgithi performance signaled a beginning of new directions, largely in Kenyan music and specifically in the contemporary Gikuyu music in terms of themes and style. The performance, mostly an urban phenomenon dominated by Gĩkũyũ one-man guitarists, is a major site for negotiation of identities and incorporates the interface and interplay between the traditional and the contemporary, especially in the urban setting. This article highlights the inherent contradictions in creation and re-creation of urban identities as expressed in this music. The main argument is that identities are always contested and different socio-economic situations call for a negotiation, if not a re-negotiation of identities. © University of Florida Board of Trustees. | None | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84866547411 | The influence of teacher participation in decision-making on student performance | Wadesango N. | 2012 | Anthropologist | 14 | 5 | None | Walter Sisulu University, East London, South Africa | Wadesango, N., Walter Sisulu University, East London, South Africa | The purpose of this study was to examine empirically the influence of teacher participation in crucial school- based decisions on student performance in Zimbabwean secondary schools. The study adopted an interpretive qualitative research approach utilising a case study research design. A purposive convenient sample of 5 school heads and 20 secondary school teachers formed the study. Together with observations of meetings during school visits, interviews were also conducted with the participants. The study established that the involvement of secondary school teachers in critical school- based decisions has a significant influence on student performance. This finding implies that if teachers are involved in strategic school decisions, this would be vita l to improve not only student performance but also organisational performance. The study therefore concludes that a positive correlation does exist between teacher involvement in decision making and student performance. © Kamla-Raj 2012. | Collegiality; Decentralisation; High schools; School; School heads | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84856587278 | Study of secondary schools students performance in mathematics from Zimbabwe | Wadesango N., Dhliwayo E. | 2012 | Anthropologist | 14 | 2 | None | Walter Sisulu University, Teaching and Learning Centre, East London, South Africa | Wadesango, N., Walter Sisulu University, Teaching and Learning Centre, East London, South Africa; Dhliwayo, E., Walter Sisulu University, Teaching and Learning Centre, East London, South Africa | The study was set up to determine some causes of poor performance in Mathematics examinations at Ordinary ('O') levels in Gweru District Day Secondary Schools in Zimbabwe. For the purpose of establishing the causes, ten day secondary schools in the district were investigated. The research design employed was the descriptive survey because of its ability to address current issues during the time of the study. Ten 'O' level mathematics teachers and their heads of departments were sampled. This information was collected through the use of teacher questionnaire and Head of Departments (H.O.D) questionnaires which enabled the researchers to have a wider view on the research problem. The questionnaires were physically administered by the researchers from school to school which facilitated a 100% return rate. Data collected was grouped and presented in tables in the form of numbers and interpretation. The results obtained from the study indicated that teaching methods and negative attitudes by students of both sexes are some of the causes of poor performance by students at 'O' level mathematics. The study recommends regular staff development workshops. © Kamla-Raj 2012. | 'O' Level; Both Sexes; Day Schools; Gweru; Secondary Schools | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79955019567 | The impact of female business leaders on the performance of listed companies in South Africa | Mkhize M., Msweli P. | 2011 | South African Journal of Economic and Management Sciences | 14 | 1 | None | Wits Business School, University of Witwatersrand, South Africa; Graduate School of Business Leadership, University of South Africa, South Africa | Mkhize, M., Wits Business School, University of Witwatersrand, South Africa; Msweli, P., Graduate School of Business Leadership, University of South Africa, South Africa | The purpose of this study is to determine the impact of female business leaders in JSE-listed companies on the financial performance of those companies. This is as result of the proposition that women, over and above men, bring unique skills to the workplace. However, it is hypothesized in this study that JSE-listed companies led by a high percentage of women do not outperform similar companies led by a low percentage of women. The Lean Modigliani and France Modigliani measure (M 2) was used to test this hypothesis. Results of this study indicate that companies led by women do not outperform similar companies led by men. As a result, the hypothesis is not rejected. Implications of these results are discussed. | Business women; Employment equity; Female business leaders; Financial performance | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33947129150 | Evaluation of dried whole blood spots obtained by heel or finger stick as an alternative to venous blood for diagnosis of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection in vertically exposed infants in the routine diagnostic laboratory | Patton J.C., Akkers E., Coovadia A.H., Meyers T.M., Stevens W.S., Sherman G.G. | 2007 | Clinical and Vaccine Immunology | 14 | 2 | 10.1128/CVI.00223-06 | Wits Pediatric HIV Clinics, Wits Health Consortium, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa; Department of Molecular Medicine and Hematology, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa; Department of Pediatrics, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa; National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa; P.O. Box 79722, Senderwood, 2145 Johannesburg, South Africa | Patton, J.C., Wits Pediatric HIV Clinics, Wits Health Consortium, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa; Akkers, E., Department of Molecular Medicine and Hematology, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa, National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa; Coovadia, A.H., Wits Pediatric HIV Clinics, Wits Health Consortium, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa, Department of Pediatrics, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa; Meyers, T.M., Wits Pediatric HIV Clinics, Wits Health Consortium, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa, Department of Pediatrics, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa; Stevens, W.S., Department of Molecular Medicine and Hematology, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa, National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa; Sherman, G.G., Wits Pediatric HIV Clinics, Wits Health Consortium, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa, Department of Molecular Medicine and Hematology, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa, National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa, P.O. Box 79722, Senderwood, 2145 Johannesburg, South Africa | The diagnostic accuracy of the Roche Amplicor human immunodeficiency virus type 1 DNA PCR assay (version 1.5) on DNA extracted from pediatric heel prick dried blood spots using Roche MagNA Pure nucleic acid purification technology was evaluated. The methodologies transfer successfully from the labor-intensive research laboratory to the high-throughput automated routine laboratory. Copyright © 2007, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved. | None | Human immunodeficiency virus antibody; acquired immune deficiency syndrome; article; diagnostic accuracy; diagnostic procedure; DNA determination; DNA extraction; exposure; false positive result; finger; heel; high throughput screening; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; needle; needlestick injury; polymerase chain reaction; priority journal; screening; venous blood; vertical transmission; Blood; Child; Child, Preschool; Disease Transmission, Vertical; HIV Infections; HIV-1; Humans; Infant; Phlebotomy | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84887969392 | Parasite co-infections show synergistic and antagonistic interactions on growth performance of East African zebu cattle under one year | Thumbi S.M., De. C. Bronsvoort B.M., Poole E.J., Kiara H., Toye P., Ndila M., Conradie I., Jennings A., Handel I.G., Coetzer J.A.W., Hanotte O., Woolhouse M.E.J. | 2013 | Parasitology | 140 | 14 | 10.1017/S0031182013001261 | Ashworth Laboratories, Centre for Infectious Diseases, University of Edinburgh, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JT, United Kingdom; Roslin Institute, Easter Bush, University of Edinburgh, Roslin, Midlothian EH25 9RG, United Kingdom; International Livestock Research Institute, P.O. Box 30709, Nairobi 00100, Kenya; Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Private bag X04, Onderstepoort, South Africa; School of Life Science, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, United Kingdom; Paul G. Allen School for Global Animal Health, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-7079, United States; KEMRI/CDC Research and Public Health Collaboration, P.O. BOX 1578, Kisumu 40100, Kenya | Thumbi, S.M., Ashworth Laboratories, Centre for Infectious Diseases, University of Edinburgh, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JT, United Kingdom, Paul G. Allen School for Global Animal Health, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-7079, United States, KEMRI/CDC Research and Public Health Collaboration, P.O. BOX 1578, Kisumu 40100, Kenya; De. C. Bronsvoort, B.M., Roslin Institute, Easter Bush, University of Edinburgh, Roslin, Midlothian EH25 9RG, United Kingdom; Poole, E.J., International Livestock Research Institute, P.O. Box 30709, Nairobi 00100, Kenya; Kiara, H., International Livestock Research Institute, P.O. Box 30709, Nairobi 00100, Kenya; Toye, P., International Livestock Research Institute, P.O. Box 30709, Nairobi 00100, Kenya; Ndila, M., International Livestock Research Institute, P.O. Box 30709, Nairobi 00100, Kenya; Conradie, I., Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Private bag X04, Onderstepoort, South Africa; Jennings, A., Roslin Institute, Easter Bush, University of Edinburgh, Roslin, Midlothian EH25 9RG, United Kingdom; Handel, I.G., Roslin Institute, Easter Bush, University of Edinburgh, Roslin, Midlothian EH25 9RG, United Kingdom; Coetzer, J.A.W., Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Private bag X04, Onderstepoort, South Africa; Hanotte, O., School of Life Science, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, United Kingdom; Woolhouse, M.E.J., Ashworth Laboratories, Centre for Infectious Diseases, University of Edinburgh, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JT, United Kingdom | The co-occurrence of different pathogen species and their simultaneous infection of hosts are common, and may affect host health outcomes. Co-infecting pathogens may interact synergistically (harming the host more) or antagonistically (harming the host less) compared with single infections. Here we have tested associations of infections and their co-infections with variation in growth rate using a subset of 455 animals of the Infectious Diseases of East Africa Livestock (IDEAL) cohort study surviving to one year. Data on live body weight, infections with helminth parasites and haemoparasites were collected every 5 weeks during the first year of life. Growth of zebu cattle during the first year of life was best described by a linear growth function. A large variation in daily weight gain with a range of 0·03-0·34 kg, and a mean of 0·135 kg (0·124, 0·146; 95% CI) was observed. After controlling for other significant covariates in mixed effects statistical models, the results revealed synergistic interactions (lower growth rates) with Theileria parva and Anaplasma marginale co-infections, and antagonistic interactions (relatively higher growth rates) with T. parva and Theileria mutans co-infections, compared with infections with T. parva only. Additionally, helminth infections can have a strong negative effect on the growth rates but this is burden-dependent, accounting for up to 30% decrease in growth rate in heavily infected animals. These findings present evidence of pathogen-pathogen interactions affecting host growth, and we discuss possible mechanisms that may explain observed directions of interactions as well as possible modifications to disease control strategies when co-infections are present. © Cambridge University Press 2013. | cattle; co-infections; growth rate; interactions | Anaplasma; Anaplasma marginale; article; Babesia bigemina; blood parasite; body weight; cattle; Coccidia; cohort analysis; Cooperia; Cryptosporidium; Dictyocaulus; Dictyocaulus viviparous; disease control; environmental factor; Fasciola; growth rate; helminth; helminthiasis; host parasite interaction; livestock; mixed infection; Nematodirus; nonhuman; Oesophagostomum; oesophagostomum radiatum; Ostertagia ostertagi; parasitosis; priority journal; Schistosoma; Strongyloides; Theileria; theileria mutans; Theileria parva; trematode; Trichostrongylus; Trypanosoma; weight gain; Africa, Eastern; Aging; Animals; Cattle; Cattle Diseases; Coinfection; Parasitic Diseases, Animal; Weight Gain | 079445, Wellcome Trust |
| WoS | WOS:000327280400014 | Evaluation of an External Quality Assessment Program for HIV Testing in Haiti, 2006-2011 | Anselme, Renette,Balajee, S. Arunmozhi,Boncy, Jacques,Buteau, Josiane,Dahourou, Georges,Louis, Frantz Jean,Marston, Barbara,Ndongmo, Clement,Vertefeuille, John | 2013 | AMERICAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PATHOLOGY | 140 | 6 | 10.1309/AJCPYWX49IZSQKFS | Assoc Publ Hlth Labs, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention - USA, Ctr Dis Control & Prevent | None | Objectives: To evaluate an external quality assessment (EQA) program for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) rapid diagnostics testing by the Haitian National Public Health Laboratory (French acronym: LNSP). Acceptable performance was defined as any proficiency testing (PT) score more than 80%.
Methods: The PT database was reviewed and analyzed to assess the testing performance of the participating laboratories and the impact of the program over time. A total of 242 laboratories participated in the EQA program from 2006 through 2011; participation increased from 70 laboratories in 2006 to 159 in 2011.
Results: In 2006, 49 (70%) laboratories had a PT score of 80% or above; by 2011, 145 (97.5%) laboratories were proficient (P < .05).
Conclusions: The EQA program for HIV testing ensures quality of testing and allowed the LNSP to document improvements in the quality of HIV rapid testing over time. (C) American Society for Clinical Pathology | "EXTERNAL QUALITY ASSESSMENT","HIV rapid tests","PROFICIENCY TESTING",DEVELOPING-COUNTRIES,PROFICIENCY,SETTINGS | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-30144444012 | Preliminary assessment of risk of ozone impacts to maize (Zea mays) in southern Africa | Van Tienhoven A.M., Zunckel M., Emberson L., Koosailee A., Otter L. | 2006 | Environmental Pollution | 140 | 2 | 10.1016/j.envpol.2005.07.016 | CSIR Environmentek, PO Box 17001, Congella 4013, Durban, South Africa; Stockholm Environment Institute at York, University of York, Box 373, York, T01 5YW, United Kingdom; Sasol Synfuels, Private Bag X1000, Secunda 2302, South Africa; Climatology Research Group, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag X3, WITS 2050, South Africa | Van Tienhoven, A.M., CSIR Environmentek, PO Box 17001, Congella 4013, Durban, South Africa; Zunckel, M., CSIR Environmentek, PO Box 17001, Congella 4013, Durban, South Africa; Emberson, L., Stockholm Environment Institute at York, University of York, Box 373, York, T01 5YW, United Kingdom; Koosailee, A., Sasol Synfuels, Private Bag X1000, Secunda 2302, South Africa; Otter, L., Climatology Research Group, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag X3, WITS 2050, South Africa | Surface ozone concentrations in southern Africa exceed air quality guidelines set to protect agricultural crops. This paper addresses a knowledge gap by performing a preliminary assessment of potential ozone impacts on vegetation in southern African. Maize (Zea mays L.) is the receptor of interest in the main maize producing countries, i.e. South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Surface ozone concentrations are estimated for the growing season (October to April) using photochemical modelling. Hourly mean modelled ozone concentrations ranged between 19.7 and 31.2 ppb, while maximums range between 28.9 and 61.9 ppb, and are near 30 ppb over South Africa and Zambia, while in Zimbabwe, they exceed 40 ppb and translate into monthly AOT40 values of over 3000 ppb h in five of the seven months of the growing season. This study suggests that surface ozone may pose a threat to agricultural production in southern African, particularly in Zimbabwe. © 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. | AOT40; Crop loss; Ground level ozone; Maize; Southern Africa | Agricultural products; Air quality; Ozone; Space surveillance; Vegetation; AOT40; Crop loss; Ground level ozone; Maize; Southern Africa; Air pollution; ozone; air quality; maize; ozone; air pollutant; air quality; article; chemical model; crop production; environmental impact; environmental monitoring; maize; nonhuman; ozone layer; photochemistry; plant growth; risk assessment; seasonal variation; South Africa; vegetation; Zambia; Zimbabwe; Circadian Rhythm; Environmental Monitoring; Models, Chemical; Oxidants, Photochemical; Ozone; Risk Assessment; Seasons; South Africa; Zambia; Zea mays; Zimbabwe; Ozone; Plants; Africa; Southern Africa; Sub-Saharan Africa; Zea mays | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33846614909 | Preparation and evaluation of a recombinant Rift Valley fever virus N protein for the detection of IgG and IgM antibodies in humans and animals by indirect ELISA | Jansen van Vuren P., Potgieter A.C., Paweska J.T., van Dijk A.A. | 2007 | Journal of Virological Methods | 140 | 42371 | 10.1016/j.jviromet.2006.11.005 | North-West University, Potchefstroom, 2520, South Africa; Biochemistry Division, Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa; Special Pathogens Unit, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, Private Bag X4, Sandringham, 2131, South Africa | Jansen van Vuren, P., North-West University, Potchefstroom, 2520, South Africa; Potgieter, A.C., Biochemistry Division, Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa; Paweska, J.T., Special Pathogens Unit, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, Private Bag X4, Sandringham, 2131, South Africa; van Dijk, A.A., North-West University, Potchefstroom, 2520, South Africa | This paper describes the cloning, sequencing and bacterial expression of the N protein of the Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) ZIM688/78 isolate and its evaluation in indirect ELISAs (I-ELISA) for the detection of IgM and IgG antibodies in human and sheep sera. Sera used for the evaluation were from 106 laboratory workers immunised with an inactivated RVF vaccine, 16 RVF patients, 168 serial bleeds from 8 sheep experimentally infected with wild type RVFV and 210 serial bleeds from 10 sheep vaccinated with the live attenuated Smithburn RVFV strain. All human and animal sera that tested positive in the virus neutralisation test were also positive in the IgG I-ELISA. There was a high correlation (R2 = 0.8571) between virus neutralising titres and IgG I-ELISA readings in human vaccinees. In experimentally infected sheep IgG antibodies were detected from day 4 to 5 post-infection onwards and IgM antibodies from day 3 to 4. The IgG I-ELISA was more sensitive than virus neutralisation and haemagglutination-inhibition tests in detecting the early immune response in experimentally infected sheep. The I-ELISAs demonstrated that the IgG and IgM response to the Smithburn vaccine strain was slower and the levels of antibodies induced markedly lower than to wild type RVFV infection. © 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. | Humans; IgM and IgG indirect ELISA; Recombinant N protein; Rift Valley fever virus; Sheep | guanine nucleotide binding protein; immunoglobulin G antibody; immunoglobulin M antibody; inactivated vaccine; live vaccine; recombinant protein; rift valley fever virus vaccine; smithburn vaccine; unclassified drug; virus protein; animal experiment; animal model; antibody detection; article; clinical article; correlation coefficient; enzyme linked immunosorbent assay; hemagglutination inhibition test; human; immune response; immunization; molecular cloning; nonhuman; nucleotide sequence; priority journal; protein expression; Rift Valley fever bunyavirus; sequence analysis; virus neutralization; wild type; Animals; Antibodies, Viral; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Evaluation Studies; Hemagglutination Tests; Humans; Immunoglobulin G; Immunoglobulin M; Neutralization Tests; Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques; Nucleocapsid Proteins; Recombinant Proteins; Reproducibility of Results; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; Rift Valley Fever; Rift Valley fever virus; RNA, Viral; Sensitivity and Specificity; Sheep; Time Factors; Vaccination; Animalia; Bacteria (microorganisms); Ovis aries; Rift Valley fever virus | None |
| WoS | WOS:000273659900007 | Randomized response techniques: An application to the Botswana AIDS impact survey | Arnab, Raghunath,Singh, Sarjinder | 2010 | JOURNAL OF STATISTICAL PLANNING AND INFERENCE | 140 | 4 | 10.1016/j.jspi.2009.09.019 | University of Botswana, Texas A&M Univ, Texas A&M University Kingsville, Texas A&M University System | "Arnab, Raghunath: University of Botswana", | The performance of the sampling strategy used in the Botswana Aids Impact Survey H (BAISII) has been studied in detail under a randomized response technique. We have shown that alternative strategies based on the Rao-Harley-Cochran (RHC) sampling scheme for the selection of first stage units perform much better than other strategies. In particular, the combination RHC for the selection of first stage units (fsu's) and systematic sampling for the selection of second stage units (ssu's) perform the best when the sample size is small where as the RHC and SRSWOR perform the best when the sample size is large. In view of the present findings it is recommended that the BAISII survey should be studied in more detail incorporating more indicators and increased sample sizes. This is because the BAISII survey design is extensively in use for large scales surveys in Southern African countries. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. | "multi-stage sampling","RANDOMIZED RESPONSE","RELATIVE EFFICIENCY","SAMPLING DESIGN","VARIANCE ESTIMATION",MODEL | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-80052523434 | Effects of cocoa tree phenology and canopy microclimate on the performance of the mirid bug Sahlbergella singularis | Babin R., Anikwe J.C., Dibog L., Lumaret J.-P. | 2011 | Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata | 141 | 1 | 10.1111/j.1570-7458.2011.01164.x | CIRAD, UPR Bioagresseurs Analyse et Maîtrise du Risque, F-34398 Montpellier, France; Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria, PMB 5244, Ibadan, Nigeria; IRAD, BP 2067, Yaoundé, Cameroon; Arthropod Team, UMR 5175 CEFE, University of Montpellier III, Montpellie | Babin, R., CIRAD, UPR Bioagresseurs Analyse et Maîtrise du Risque, F-34398 Montpellier, France; Anikwe, J.C., Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria, PMB 5244, Ibadan, Nigeria; Dibog, L., IRAD, BP 2067, Yaoundé, Cameroon; Lumaret, J.-P., Arthropod Team, UMR 5175 CEFE, University of Montpellier III, Montpellier, France | Populations of the cocoa mirid, Sahlbergella singularis Haglund (Hemiptera: Miridae), on cocoa, Theobroma cacao L. (Malvaceae), display sharp seasonal fluctuations in population size. To better understand factors and mechanisms involved in seasonal variation, we studied the life history traits of 10 successive generations of a caged population under field conditions. Nymphal survival and development were assessed on pods stored under cocoa canopy, whereas female survival and fecundity were evaluated on sleeved pods in cocoa trees. At the same time, cocoa phenology and cocoa canopy microclimate were characterized. A life table analysis was conducted with survival and fecundity temporal data. Reproductive parameters showed far more variation than nymphal development parameters, both within and among generations. We obtained low intrinsic rates of natural increase (about 0.04), the variation of which was mainly linked to the decrease in fecundity. Fecundity as well as life table parameters varied in accordance with natural population fluctuations, suggesting that S. singularis seasonal variation might be mainly linked to variation in female fecundity. A multiple regression analysis showed that variation in female fecundity was first correlated with the presence of young fruits on cocoa trees. Fecundity was also weakly affected by daily minimum r.h. and daily mean temperature. The usefulness of our results for modeling of S. singularis population dynamics and for the improvement of IPM strategies is discussed. © 2011 The Authors. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata © 2011 The Netherlands Entomological Society. | Demographic parameters; Demographic processes; Fecundity; Hemiptera; IPM strategy; Life history traits; Life tables; Miridae; Nymphal development; Seasonal variation; Survival; Theobroma cacao | biological development; cocoa; crop pest; developmental stage; fecundity; insect; integrated pest management; life history trait; life table; microclimate; multiple regression; phenology; population dynamics; population modeling; population size; reproductive status; seasonal variation; survival; Hemiptera; Malvaceae; Miridae; Sahlbergella singularis; Theobroma cacao | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-80053583947 | Effect of long-term heat stress on some performance traits and plasma enzyme activities in Naked-neck chickens and their F1 crosses with commercial layer breeds | Melesse A., Maak S., Schmidt R., von Lengerken G. | 2011 | Livestock Science | 141 | 42403 | 10.1016/j.livsci.2011.06.007 | Department of Animal and Range Sciences, Hawassa University, P.O. Box 05, Hawassa, Ethiopia; Research Unit Muscle Biology and Growth, Leibniz Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), Wilhelm-Stahl-Allee 2, D-18196 Dummerstorf, Germany; Institute of Animal and Nutritional Sciences, Martin-Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Theodor-Lieser-Str. 11, D-06120 Halle (Saale), Germany | Melesse, A., Department of Animal and Range Sciences, Hawassa University, P.O. Box 05, Hawassa, Ethiopia; Maak, S., Research Unit Muscle Biology and Growth, Leibniz Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), Wilhelm-Stahl-Allee 2, D-18196 Dummerstorf, Germany; Schmidt, R., Institute of Animal and Nutritional Sciences, Martin-Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Theodor-Lieser-Str. 11, D-06120 Halle (Saale), Germany; von Lengerken, G., Institute of Animal and Nutritional Sciences, Martin-Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Theodor-Lieser-Str. 11, D-06120 Halle (Saale), Germany | The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of long-term heat stress on performance traits and plasma enzyme activities in Naked-neck (Na) chickens and commercial breeds (New Hampshire, NH and Lohmann white, LW) with their F 1 crosses (NaxNH and NaxLW). A total of 240 female chickens were randomly assigned to a completely randomized design in a 5×2 factorial arrangement (five genetic groups and two ambient temperatures: high=30-32°C; normal=18-20°C). Body weights were measured at 20 and 68weeks of age. Eggs were collected once daily while egg weight and feed intake were determined at 28-d intervals. Blood samples were taken from 12 randomly selected birds per genotype and ambient temperature (12 out of 24 hens) at 22, 38, 51 and 65weeks age. Levels of glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (GPT), glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) and creatine kinase (CK) were determined in blood plasma. Compared with controls, the commercial hens showed significant (p<0.05) performance reductions under thermal stress with respect to egg production (33%), egg mass (24.2%), feed intake (15%) and shell thickness (24.3%). At high ambient temperature, the NaxLW cross outperformed all other genotypes with respect to heat tolerance in body weight, egg number, egg weight, feed intake and shell thickness; and thus, appeared to be suitable genetic combinations. Compared with controls, heat stress significantly (p<0.05) increased CK, GPT and GOT activities in all genotypes. However, the response of heat stressed genotypes at different ages was inconsistent and variable. In conclusion, the present study showed that the Naked-neck chickens and their F 1 crosses were more thermo-tolerant compared with commercial layer hens. Although plasma enzyme activities uniformly increased due to heat stress, the response of genotypes with age was inconsistent. © 2011 Elsevier B.V. | Commercial chicken breeds; Enzyme activities; F1 crosses; Heat stress; Naked-neck chicken | Aves; Gallus gallus | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79953316162 | Evaluation of sensitivity and specificity of RBT, c-ELISA and fluorescence polarisation assay for diagnosis of brucellosis in cattle using latent class analysis | Matope G., Muma J.B., Toft N., Gori E., Lund A., Nielsen K., Skjerve E. | 2011 | Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology | 141 | 42371 | 10.1016/j.vetimm.2011.02.005 | Department of Paraclinical Veterinary Studies, University of Zimbabwe, P.O. Box MP 167, Mount Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe; Department of Disease Control, University of Zambia, School of Veterinary Medicine, P.O. Box 32397, Lusaka, Zambia; Department of Preclinical Veterinary Studies, University of Zimbabwe, P.O. Box MP 167, Mount Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe; Department of Animal Health, National Veterinary Institute, P.O. Box 8156 Dep., N-0033 Oslo, Norway; Ontario Laboratories (Fallowfield), Canadian Food Inspection Agency, 3851 Fallowfield Road, Nepean, ON, K2H 8P9, Canada; Department of Large Animal Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences, Copenhagen University, Grønnegaardsvej 8, DK 1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark; Department of Food Safety and Infection Biology, Norwegian School of Veterinary Science, P.O. Box 8146 Dep., 0033 Oslo, Norway | Matope, G., Department of Paraclinical Veterinary Studies, University of Zimbabwe, P.O. Box MP 167, Mount Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe; Muma, J.B., Department of Disease Control, University of Zambia, School of Veterinary Medicine, P.O. Box 32397, Lusaka, Zambia; Toft, N., Department of Large Animal Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences, Copenhagen University, Grønnegaardsvej 8, DK 1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark; Gori, E., Department of Preclinical Veterinary Studies, University of Zimbabwe, P.O. Box MP 167, Mount Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe; Lund, A., Department of Animal Health, National Veterinary Institute, P.O. Box 8156 Dep., N-0033 Oslo, Norway; Nielsen, K., Ontario Laboratories (Fallowfield), Canadian Food Inspection Agency, 3851 Fallowfield Road, Nepean, ON, K2H 8P9, Canada; Skjerve, E., Department of Food Safety and Infection Biology, Norwegian School of Veterinary Science, P.O. Box 8146 Dep., 0033 Oslo, Norway | The sensitivity (Se) and specificity (Sp) of the Rose Bengal test (RBT), competitive ELISA (c-ELISA), serum (sFPA) and blood (bFPA) fluorescence polarisation assay for brucellosis were evaluated using latent class analysis using sera and whole blood collected from infected cattle reared in smallholder dairy farms of Zimbabwe. The latent class model allowed estimation of Se and Sp in the absence of a gold standard test. The c-ELISA had the highest Se (99.0%; 95% credible posterior interval (CPI): 94.8; 100%), while the RBT and sFPA had the highest Sp (99.0%; 95% CPI: 98.0; 99.6%). The bFPA had the lowest Se (71.3%; 95% CPI: 56.2, 83.5%), while its Sp (96.3%; CPI: 93.9; 98.0%) was marginally higher than that of the c-ELISA (95.4% CPI: 93.7; 96.8%). Therefore based on these data, test regimen using the RBT and c-ELISA could be suitable for diagnosis of brucellosis in smallholder dairies in Zimbabwe. Based on cost and ease of performance, the sFPA may be adopted as a confirmatory test, but its performance may be optimised by altering cut-off points to suit the Zimbabwean conditions. Thus, latent class models provide an alternative method for evaluating Se and Sp of diagnostic tests, which could be used to optimise test performance in different cattle populations. © 2011 Elsevier B.V. | Brucellosis; C-ELISA; FPA; Latent class analysis; RBT | rose bengal; analytic method; animal experiment; article; brucellosis; diagnostic test accuracy study; enzyme linked immunosorbent assay; evaluation; fluorescence polarization; latent class analysis; nonhuman; performance; sensitivity and specificity; serum; Zimbabwe; Animals; Brucellosis, Bovine; Cattle; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Fluorescence Polarization Immunoassay; Rose Bengal; Sensitivity and Specificity; Zimbabwe; Bos | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84927912291 | Towards malaria microscopy at the point-of-contact: An assessment of the diagnostic performance of the Newton Nm1 microscope in Uganda | Stothard J.R., Nabatte B., Sousa-Figueiredo J.C., Kabatereine N.B. | 2014 | Parasitology | 141 | 14 | 10.1017/S0031182014000833 | Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom; Vector Control Division, Ministry of Health, P.O. Box 1661, Kampala, Uganda; Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, United Kingdom | Stothard, J.R., Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom; Nabatte, B., Vector Control Division, Ministry of Health, P.O. Box 1661, Kampala, Uganda; Sousa-Figueiredo, J.C., Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, United Kingdom; Kabatereine, N.B., Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom | Malaria microscopy in sub-Saharan Africa is often restricted by access to light microscopes. To address this gap, a novel portable inverted monocular microscope, the Newton Nm1, was designed and is now commercially available. Its diagnostic performance was assessed in a blinded-slide trial at ×1000 (oil) of Giemsa-stained thick blood films against a conventional microscope as undertaken by four Ugandan Ministry of Health technicians. With the Newton Nm1, diagnostic performance was: sensitivity 93·5% (95% confidence interval (CI) 78·6-99·2%), specificity 100·0% (95% CI 82·4-100·0%), positive predictive value 100·0% (95% CI 88·1-100·0%) and negative predictive value 90·5% (95% CI 69·6-98·8%). Discordance was due to a systematic error underestimating parasitaemia by ∼45%; when counting Plasmodium parasites against 200 white blood cells, blood films with low parasitaemia (i.e. <100 μL-1 of blood) could be overlooked and misclassified. By contrast, specificity was excellent with no false positives encountered. Whilst proven useful, especially in resource-poor environments, it is still unclear how we can ensure the uptake of the Newton Nm1 within sub-Saharan Africa. Copyright © 2014 Cambridge University Press. | Bland-Altman; diagnosis; evaluation; malaria; McArthur microscope; microscopy | adult; Article; child; diagnostic test accuracy study; female; film; Giemsa stain; human; infant; laboratory diagnosis; leukocyte; malaria; malaria microscopy; microscope; microscopy; nonhuman; parasitemia; Plasmodium; point of contact; portable inverted monocular microscope; predictive value; priority journal; schistosomiasis; sensitivity and specificity; systematic error; Uganda; Plasmodium parasites | Wellcome Trust |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84931363521 | Clients' perceptions of architect performance on building projects in Ghana | Adinyira E., Dafeamekpor C.A. | 2015 | Journal of Professional Issues in Engineering Education and Practice | 141 | 3 | 10.1061/(ASCE)EI.1943-5541.0000218 | Dept. of Building Technology, KNUST-Kumasi, Ghana; Ghana Education Trust Fund, 42nd 4th Close Airport Residential Area, Accra, Ghana | Adinyira, E., Dept. of Building Technology, KNUST-Kumasi, Ghana; Dafeamekpor, C.A., Ghana Education Trust Fund, 42nd 4th Close Airport Residential Area, Accra, Ghana | This paper aims to establish clients' perception of the performance of architects on building projects in Ghana. It reports on a survey of both public and private clients of recently completed building projects in two major metropolitan areas of the country. Data from the survey were analyzed by first computing performance indexes and subsequently comparing similarities and differences between results obtained for the two sector clients. The results showed that private sector clients are likely to be more concerned with cost, while public sector clients are more concerned with buildability of design. A total of 71% of the 28 architect performance assessment criteria identified from literature were similarly selected by both sectors with respect to importance of the criteria. Using these, both public and private sector clients were asked to assess the performance of their architects. The results showed that architects were perceived to perform better on public sector building projects than on private sector ones. Their performance on 25% of the performance assessment criteria employed was indicated as being statistically different. The study also revealed that clients expected their architects to improve their performance significantly in approximately 82% of the 28 performance assessment criteria used in the study. The results from this study provide vital feedback to architects on their perceived performance on building projects in Ghana. On a broader level, the paper offers practicing architects some useful feedback that will allow for correction of misconceptions about their true role so as to improve on their relationship with project clients for improved project delivery. © 2014 American Society of Civil Engineers. | Architect performance; Building project; Client perception; Ghana | Buildings; Surveys; Architect performance; Building projects; Client perception; Computing performance; Ghana; Perceived performance; Performance assessment; Public and private sector; Architecture | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84894521773 | The impact of co-infections on the haematological profile of East African Short-horn Zebu calves | Van Wyk I.C., Goddard A., De C. Bronsvoort B.M., Coetzer J.A.A.W., Handel I.G., Hanotte O., Jennings A., Lesosky M., Kiara H., Thumbi S.M., Toye P., Woolhouse M.W., Penzhorn B.L. | 2014 | Parasitology | 141 | 3 | 10.1017/S0031182013001625 | Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Private bag X04, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa; Department Companion Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Private bag X04, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa; Roslin Institute at the R (D) SVS, University of Edinburgh, Easter-Bush, EH25 9RG, United Kingdom; School of Biology, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, United Kingdom; Department of Production Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Private bag X04, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa; Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, 1000, South Africa; International Livestock Research Institute, P.O. Box 30709-00100, Nairobi, Kenya; Centre for Immunology, Infection and Evolution, University of Edinburgh, EH9 3JT, United Kingdom | Van Wyk, I.C., Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Private bag X04, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa; Goddard, A., Department Companion Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Private bag X04, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa; De C. Bronsvoort, B.M., Roslin Institute at the R (D) SVS, University of Edinburgh, Easter-Bush, EH25 9RG, United Kingdom; Coetzer, J.A.A.W., Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Private bag X04, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa; Handel, I.G., Roslin Institute at the R (D) SVS, University of Edinburgh, Easter-Bush, EH25 9RG, United Kingdom; Hanotte, O., School of Biology, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, United Kingdom; Jennings, A., Roslin Institute at the R (D) SVS, University of Edinburgh, Easter-Bush, EH25 9RG, United Kingdom; Lesosky, M., Department of Production Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Private bag X04, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, 1000, South Africa; Kiara, H., International Livestock Research Institute, P.O. Box 30709-00100, Nairobi, Kenya; Thumbi, S.M., Centre for Immunology, Infection and Evolution, University of Edinburgh, EH9 3JT, United Kingdom; Toye, P., International Livestock Research Institute, P.O. Box 30709-00100, Nairobi, Kenya; Woolhouse, M.W., Centre for Immunology, Infection and Evolution, University of Edinburgh, EH9 3JT, United Kingdom; Penzhorn, B.L., Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Private bag X04, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa | The cumulative effect of co-infections between pathogen pairs on the haematological response of East African Short-horn Zebu calves is described. Using a longitudinal study design a stratified clustered random sample of newborn calves were recruited into the Infectious Diseases of East African Livestock (IDEAL) study and monitored at 5-weekly intervals until 51 weeks of age. At each visit samples were collected and analysed to determine the infection status of each calf as well as their haematological response. The haematological parameters investigated included packed cell volume (PCV), white blood cell count (WBC) and platelet count (Plt). The pathogens of interest included tick-borne protozoa and rickettsias, trypanosomes and intestinal parasites. Generalized additive mixed-effect models were used to model the infectious status of pathogens against each haematological parameter, including significant interactions between pathogens. These models were further used to predict the cumulative effect of co-infecting pathogen pairs on each haematological parameter. The most significant decrease in PCV was found with co-infections of trypanosomes and strongyles. Strongyle infections also resulted in a significant decrease in WBC at a high infectious load. Trypanosomes were the major cause of thrombocytopenia. Platelet counts were also affected by interactions between tick-borne pathogens. Interactions between concomitant pathogens were found to complicate the prognosis and clinical presentation of infected calves and should be taken into consideration in any study that investigates disease under field conditions. © Cambridge University Press 2013. | Calves; Co-infections; Packed cell volume; Platelets; White blood cell count; Zebu | Anaplasma; Animals; Animals, Newborn; Babesia; Cattle; Cattle Diseases; Cohort Studies; Coinfection; Female; Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections; Hematocrit; Kenya; Leukocyte Count; Longitudinal Studies; Nematoda; Parasitic Diseases, Animal; Platelet Count; Theileria; Tick-Borne Diseases; Ticks; Trypanosoma; Anaplasma marginale; anaplasmosis; Article; Babesia bigemina; bloodborne bacterium; cattle disease; Coccidia; coccidial infection; controlled study; East African; East Coast fever; Fasciola gigantica; Fasciola gigantica infection; hematocrit; leukocyte count; longitudinal study; mixed infection; nagana; newborn; nonhuman; pathogen load; pathogenesis; piroplasmosis; Rickettsia; Rickettsiaceae infection; seroconversion; strongyle infection; Strongyloidea; Theileria mutans; Theileria mutans infection; Theileria parva; theileriosis; thrombocyte count; Trypanosoma vivax; trypanosomiasis; Bos indicus | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84924777770 | Further evaluation of uPA and PAI-1 as biomarkers for prostatic diseases | Akudugu J., Serafin A., Böhm L. | 2015 | Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology | 141 | 4 | 10.1007/s00432-014-1848-3 | Division of Radiobiology, Department of Medical Imaging and Clinical Oncology, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, South Africa | Akudugu, J., Division of Radiobiology, Department of Medical Imaging and Clinical Oncology, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, South Africa; Serafin, A., Division of Radiobiology, Department of Medical Imaging and Clinical Oncology, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, South Africa; Böhm, L., Division of Radiobiology, Department of Medical Imaging and Clinical Oncology, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, South Africa | Purpose: To assay for uPA and PAI-1 in prostate tissue from 40 patients with prostatic disease and to examine the robustness of the correlation of the uPA/PAI-1 ratio with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostate cancer (PCa), previously identified in a different cohort of 62 patients.Methods: uPA and PAI-1 were extracted from liquid N<inf>2</inf> frozen homogenised prostate tissue with TRIS/Triton pH 8.5 buffer and measured by ELISA (FEMTELLE).Results: The concentration of uPA (mean ± SD) was found to be 0.1177 ± 0.0266 (range 0.0070–0.7200; n = 30) and 0.1092 ± 0.0130 (range 0.0040–0.7800; n = 70) for PCa and BPH patients, respectively. The concentration of PAI-1 was found to be 5.236 ± 0.688 ng/mg protein (range 1.10–15.19; n = 30) and 4.975 ± 0.501 ng/mg protein (range 0.20–25.00; n = 70) for PCa and BPH patients, respectively. The mean uPA/PAI-1 ratio was found to be 0.0479 ± 0.0060 (range 0.0043–0.1200; n = 30) in PCa samples and was significantly higher than BPH samples where the ratio was 0.0332 ± 0.0023 (range 0.0040–0.0860; n = 70) (P = 0.0064). In PCa patients older than 68 years, the uPA/PAI-1 ratio was above 0.050 reaching 0.100 in 73-year-old patients.Conclusions: Evaluation of 100 patients with prostatic pathologies (70 PCa; 30 BPH) shows the uPA/PAI-1 ratios in PCa patients to be significantly higher than in BPH patients. This is fully consistent with a previous study on 62 patients (16 were PCa; 46 BPH) where the ratios were 0.055 and 0.031 for PCa and BPH patients, respectively (P = 0.0028). In older PCa patients, uPA/PAI-1 ratios tend to be higher. © 2014, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg. | Correlation with prostatic disease; Prostate tissue resections; uPA/PAI-1 markers | plasminogen activator inhibitor 1; urokinase; biological marker; plasminogen activator inhibitor 1; urokinase; adult; aged; Article; cancer patient; clinical evaluation; cohort analysis; correlational study; enzyme linked immunosorbent assay; human; human tissue; major clinical study; male; middle aged; pH; priority journal; prostate cancer; prostate hypertrophy; very elderly; age; differential diagnosis; metabolism; Prostatic Hyperplasia; Prostatic Neoplasms; sensitivity and specificity; Age Factors; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biological Markers; Diagnosis, Differential; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1; Prostatic Hyperplasia; Prostatic Neoplasms; Sensitivity and Specificity; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator | CANSA, National Research Foundation; 85703, National Research Foundation; 92741, National Research Foundation |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84911477707 | Development and evaluation of a sensitive mycotoxin risk assessment model (mycoram) | Burger H.-M., Lombard M.J., Shephard G.S., Danster-Christians N., Gelderblom W.C. | 2014 | Toxicological Sciences | 141 | 2 | 10.1093/toxsci/kfu134 | Institute of Biomedical and Microbial Biotechnology, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, PO Box 1906, Bellville, South Africa; Department of Biochemistry, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland, South Africa; School of Physiology, Nutrition and Consumer Sciences: Nutrition, Faculty of Health Sciences, Potchefstroom Campus, North-West University, Private Bag X6001, Potchefstroom, South Africa; Department Agricultural and Food Sciences, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, PO Box 1906, Bellville, South Africa | Burger, H.-M., Institute of Biomedical and Microbial Biotechnology, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, PO Box 1906, Bellville, South Africa, Department of Biochemistry, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland, South Africa; Lombard, M.J., School of Physiology, Nutrition and Consumer Sciences: Nutrition, Faculty of Health Sciences, Potchefstroom Campus, North-West University, Private Bag X6001, Potchefstroom, South Africa; Shephard, G.S., Institute of Biomedical and Microbial Biotechnology, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, PO Box 1906, Bellville, South Africa; Danster-Christians, N., Department Agricultural and Food Sciences, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, PO Box 1906, Bellville, South Africa; Gelderblom, W.C., Institute of Biomedical and Microbial Biotechnology, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, PO Box 1906, Bellville, South Africa, Department of Biochemistry, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland, South Africa | The differential risk of exposure to fumonisin (FB), deoxynivalenol (DON), and zearalenone (ZEA) mycotoxins to the South African population, residing in the nine Provinces was assessed during a cross-sectional grain consumer survey. The relative per capita maize intake (g/day) was stratified by gender, ethnicity, and Province and the probable daily intake (PDI) for each mycotoxin (ng/kg body weight/day) calculated utilizing SPECIAL and SUPER dry milled maize fractions representing different exposure scenarios. Men consumed on an average more maize (173 g/day) than women (142 g/day) whereas the black African ethnic group had the highest intake (279 g/day) followed by the Colored group (169 g/day) with the Asian/Indian and White groups consuming lower quantities of 101 and 80 g/day, respectively. The estimated mean PDIs for the various subgroups and Provinces, utilizing the different dry milled maize fractions, were below the provisional maximum tolerable daily intake (PMTDI) for each mycotoxin. A distinct and more sensitive mycotoxin risk assessment model (MYCORAM) for exposure, stratified by Province and ethnicity were developed utilizing specific maize intake increments (g/kg body weight/day) that provides information on the percentage of the population exposed above the PMTDI for each mycotoxin. Evaluation of the MYCORAM utilizing commercial and experimentally derived SPECIAL milling fractions, containing predefined mycotoxins levels, predicts the percentage of maize consumers exposed above the respective PMTDI. Safety modeling using the MYCORAM could also predict a maximum tolerated level adequate to safeguard all South African maize consumers including the most vulnerable groups. © The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society of Toxicology. All rights reserved. | Maize consumers; Mycotoxins exposure; Probable daily intakes; Risk assessment model; South africa | fumonisin; vomitoxin; zearalenone; fumonisin; trichothecene derivative; vomitoxin; zearalenone; adult; aged; Article; body weight; controlled study; cross-sectional study; environmental exposure; ethnic difference; female; food frequency questionnaire; food safety; human; maize; major clinical study; male; nutritional assessment; patient safety; risk assessment; sex difference; South African; adolescent; comparative study; demography; eating; ethnic group; ethnology; feeding behavior; food control; food handling; microbiology; middle aged; questionnaire; risk factor; South America; very elderly; young adult; Zea mays; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Body Weight; Cross-Sectional Studies; Eating; Ethnic Groups; Female; Food Habits; Food Handling; Food Microbiology; Fumonisins; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Questionnaires; Residence Characteristics; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; Sex Factors; South America; Trichothecenes; Young Adult; Zea mays; Zearalenone | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-80054840537 | Evaluation of CD103 (αEβ7) integrin expression by CD8 T cells in blood as a surrogate marker to predict cervical T cell responses in the female genital tract during HIV infection | Kiravu A., Gumbi P., Mkhize N.N., Olivier A., Denny L., Passmore J.-A. | 2011 | Clinical Immunology | 141 | 2 | 10.1016/j.clim.2011.06.008 | Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town Observatory, Cape Town, South Africa; Dept Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Cape Town and Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa; National Health Laboratory Services, Cape Town, South Africa | Kiravu, A., Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town Observatory, Cape Town, South Africa; Gumbi, P., Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town Observatory, Cape Town, South Africa; Mkhize, N.N., Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town Observatory, Cape Town, South Africa; Olivier, A., Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town Observatory, Cape Town, South Africa; Denny, L., Dept Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Cape Town and Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa; Passmore, J.-A., Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town Observatory, Cape Town, South Africa, National Health Laboratory Services, Cape Town, South Africa | Mucosal homing receptors expressed by blood T cells may be useful surrogates for measuring mucosal T cell immune responses at the site of HIV transmission. Here, we investigated whether HIV-specific responses by T cells expressing the mucosal integrin receptor CD103 in blood reliably predicted corresponding HIV-specific responses at the cervix. The frequency of CD8+ T cells expressing CD103 in blood correlated significantly with the number of CD103. +. CD8+ T cells from the cervix suggesting that CD103 was involved in trafficking of T cells from blood to the cervical mucosa. TGF-β concentrations in plasma were significantly associated with the frequency of CD103 expression by blood but not cervical CD8 T cells. The majority of Gag-responsive CD8 T cells were CD103+ in both blood and at the cervix. Despite this, the magnitude of Gag-specific IFN-γ responses by CD103. +. CD8+ T cells in blood did not predict similar Gag-specific responses at the cervix. © 2011 Elsevier Inc. | CD103; CD8; HIV; Mucosal homing; TGF | CD103 antigen; Gag protein; gamma interferon; interleukin 10; interleukin 1beta; interleukin 8; transforming growth factor beta; tumor necrosis factor alpha; adult; antigen expression; article; CD8+ T lymphocyte; cell migration; cellular immunity; clinical article; controlled study; cytokine production; disease marker; female; human; human cell; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; lymphocyte count; priority journal; uterine cervix; uterine cervix mucosa; virus load; Adult; Antigens, CD; Biological Markers; Body Fluids; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes; Cervix Uteri; Chemotaxis, Leukocyte; Cytokines; Female; Gene Expression Regulation; Gene Products, gag; HIV Infections; HIV-1; Humans; Immunity, Mucosal; Immunologic Memory; Integrin alpha Chains; Interferon-gamma; Organ Specificity; T-Lymphocyte Subsets; Transforming Growth Factor beta1; Viral Load | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-36348978770 | Effect of substrate to piezoceramic layer thickness ratio on the performance of a C-shape piezoelectric actuator | Mtawa A.N., Sun B., Gryzagoridis J. | 2008 | Sensors and Actuators, A: Physical | 141 | 1 | 10.1016/j.sna.2007.07.031 | Smart Devices, Structures and MEMS Research Group and Laboratory, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Box 1906, Bellville, 7535, South Africa | Mtawa, A.N., Smart Devices, Structures and MEMS Research Group and Laboratory, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Box 1906, Bellville, 7535, South Africa; Sun, B., Smart Devices, Structures and MEMS Research Group and Laboratory, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Box 1906, Bellville, 7535, South Africa; Gryzagoridis, J., Smart Devices, Structures and MEMS Research Group and Laboratory, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Box 1906, Bellville, 7535, South Africa | This paper is focused on the influence of the thickness ratio between substrate and piezoceramic layers on the displacement and force output of a C-shape actuator. The ratio of substrate/PZT layers thickness is one of the parameters that can be used for the optimization of performance of a C-shape actuator. Experimental and Finite Element software (MSC Marc) was used for validation of the theoretical results. The results show that with a fixed piezoceramic layer thickness, the thickness, hence the stiffness of the substrate layer can be varied to obtain a range of values of displacement and force. With increasing thickness of substrate, the free displacement reaches a maximum value after which it decreases. The possible causes for this behaviour are discussed. This information is a useful guide to designers enabling the selection of appropriate material and geometry for a C-shape actuator, depending on whether the primary requirement is large force or large displacement. The information is also useful when deciding on the required number of individual C-shape actuators in series or parallel. © 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. | C-shape actuator; Curved actuator; Lightweight actuator; Piezocomposite actuator; Piezoelectric actuator | Computer software; Finite element method; Optimization; Piezoelectric actuators; Thickness measurement; Curved actuators; Lightweight actuators; Piezoceramic layers; Piezocomposite actuators; Piezoelectric ceramics | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84894345479 | The impact of a school-based water supply and treatment, hygiene, and sanitation programme on pupil diarrhoea: A cluster-randomized trial | Freeman M.C., Clasen T., Dreibelbis R., Saboori S., Greene L.E., Brumback B., Muga R., Rheingans R. | 2014 | Epidemiology and Infection | 142 | 2 | 10.1017/S0950268813001118 | Center for Global Safe Water, Department of Environmental Health, Emory University, CNR 2027 1518 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30322, United States; Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Center for Global Safe Water, Hubert Department of Global Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States; Department of Biostatistics, University of Florida, FL, United States; Tropical Institute for Community Health and Development, Great Lakes University of Kisumu, Kenya; Department of Global and Environmental Health, University of Florida, FL, United States | Freeman, M.C., Center for Global Safe Water, Department of Environmental Health, Emory University, CNR 2027 1518 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30322, United States; Clasen, T., Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Dreibelbis, R., Center for Global Safe Water, Hubert Department of Global Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States; Saboori, S., Center for Global Safe Water, Department of Environmental Health, Emory University, CNR 2027 1518 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30322, United States; Greene, L.E., Center for Global Safe Water, Department of Environmental Health, Emory University, CNR 2027 1518 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30322, United States; Brumback, B., Department of Biostatistics, University of Florida, FL, United States; Muga, R., Tropical Institute for Community Health and Development, Great Lakes University of Kisumu, Kenya; Rheingans, R., Department of Global and Environmental Health, University of Florida, FL, United States | The impact of improved water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) access on mitigating illness is well documented, although impact of school-based WASH on school-aged children has not been rigorously explored. We conducted a cluster-randomized trial in Nyanza Province, Kenya to assess the impact of a school-based WASH intervention on diarrhoeal disease in primary-school pupils. Two study populations were used: schools with a nearby dry season water source and those without. Pupils attending 'water-available' schools that received hygiene promotion and water treatment (HP&WT) and sanitation improvements showed no difference in period prevalence or duration of illness compared to pupils attending control schools. Those pupils in schools that received only the HP&WT showed similar results. Pupils in 'water-scarce' schools that received a water-supply improvement, HP&WT and sanitation showed a reduction in diarrhoea incidence and days of illness. Our study revealed mixed results on the impact of improvements to school WASH improvements on pupil diarrhoea. © 2013 Cambridge University Press. | Diarrhoea; hand hygiene; water (quality); water (safe); waterborne infections | article; child; child health; cluster analysis; controlled study; diarrhea; disease duration; hand washing; health program; health promotion; human; incidence; Kenya; prevalence; risk reduction; school health education; school hygiene; water quality; water sanitation and hygiene program; water supply; water treatment; diarrhea; female; hygiene; male; procedures; randomized controlled trial; sanitation; school health service; statistics and numerical data; student; controlled clinical trial; health promotion; Kenya; methodology; sanitation; statistics; Child; Diarrhea; Female; Health Promotion; Humans; Hygiene; Kenya; Male; Prevalence; Sanitation; School Health Services; Students; Water Supply; Child; Diarrhea; Female; Health Promotion; Humans; Hygiene; Kenya; Male; Prevalence; Sanitation; School Health Services; Students; Water Supply | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84863990101 | Pharmacological evaluation of Ipomoea asarifolia (Desr.) against carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity in rats | Farida T., Salawu O.A., Tijani A.Y., Ejiofor J.I. | 2012 | Journal of Ethnopharmacology | 142 | 3 | 10.1016/j.jep.2012.05.029 | Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Idu, Abuja, Nigeria | Farida, T., Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria; Salawu, O.A., Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Idu, Abuja, Nigeria; Tijani, A.Y., Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Idu, Abuja, Nigeria; Ejiofor, J.I., Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria | Ethnopharmacological relevance: Ipomoeaasarifolia (Desr.) Roem. and Schult. is used traditionally in some parts of Africa for the treatment of a variety of diseases. This study attempts to validate its hepatoprotective activity by evaluating the prophylactic and curative properties of the methanolic extract of Ipomoea asarifolia (IA) leaves. Materials and Methods: Liver damage was induced by administering 0.5 ml/kg of an equal mixture of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) in olive oil intraperitoneally on alternate days, for 5 days and the plant extract was given orally daily, for 7 days at doses of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg. Results: Pre-treatment with the extract significantly (P<0.05) decreased CCl4-induced elevation in serum levels of alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, triglycerides, bilirubin and cholesterol, better than the standard drug silymarin at 100 mg/kg. In the curative study, IA significantly (P<0.05) reversed CCl 4-induced liver damage, comparable to silymarin. Hepatoprotective potential was further supported by decrease in pentobarbitone sleeping time and improved hepatic tissue histopathology. Conclusion: These results indicate that I. asarifolia leaves have potent hepatoprotective activity against CCl 4-induced hepatic damage in rats. © 2012 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. | Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4); Convolvulaceae; Hepatoprotective activity; Ipomoea asarifolia; Liver damage | alanine aminotransferase; alkaline phosphatase; aspartate aminotransferase; bilirubin; cholesterol; Ipomoea asarifolia extract; liver protective agent; pentobarbital; plant extract; silymarin; triacylglycerol; unclassified drug; animal experiment; animal model; article; controlled study; female; histopathology; Ipomoea; Ipomoea asarifolia; LD 50; liver protection; liver toxicity; male; nonhuman; plant leaf; rat; sleep time; Alanine Transaminase; Alkaline Phosphatase; Animals; Aspartate Aminotransferases; Bilirubin; Carbon Tetrachloride; Cholesterol; Drug-Induced Liver Injury; Female; Ipomoea; Male; Organ Size; Phytotherapy; Plant Extracts; Plant Leaves; Protective Agents; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Triglycerides; Convolvulaceae; Ipomoea asarifolia; Rattus | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84900381734 | Evaluation of the Merrill-Crowe process for the simultaneous removal of platinum, palladium and gold from cyanide leach solutions | Mpinga C.N., Bradshaw S.M., Akdogan G., Snyders C.A., Eksteen J.J. | 2014 | Hydrometallurgy | 142 | None | 10.1016/j.hydromet.2013.11.004 | Department of Processing Engineering, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa; Department of Metallurgical Engineering, Western Australian School of Mines, Curtin University, GPO Box U1987, Perth , WA 6845, Australia | Mpinga, C.N., Department of Processing Engineering, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa; Bradshaw, S.M., Department of Processing Engineering, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa; Akdogan, G., Department of Processing Engineering, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa; Snyders, C.A., Department of Processing Engineering, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa; Eksteen, J.J., Department of Metallurgical Engineering, Western Australian School of Mines, Curtin University, GPO Box U1987, Perth , WA 6845, Australia | Studies were conducted to evaluate the Merrill-Crowe cementation method for the simultaneous extraction of platinum, palladium and gold associated with copper and nickel from cyanide solutions, particularly high temperature eluates from carbon adsorption and desorption process. The paper reviews the Merrill-Crowe method and its potential for platinum and palladium recovery in the presence of gold, copper and nickel. In a mechanically stirred tank reactor and in the presence of pure nitrogen gas, statistically designed experiments were performed at two levels of the five operating parameters which were the free cyanide concentration, temperature, cementation time, base and precious metal concentrations and their studied ranges were 50-150 ppm, 60-90 C, 15-90 min, 175-1350 ppm and 220-880 ppm, respectively. The optimum experimental conditions resulted in a solution with free cyanide concentration of 150 ppm at 60 C and a reaction time of 90 min, base metal concentration of 175 ppm and precious metal concentration of 880 ppm. Under these conditions, cementation yield obtained was 91; 54; 19% for Au(I), Pd(II) and Pt(II) respectively. Zn addition was 1.5 times the stoichiometric amount for complete cementation for the low level case, while it was 0.68 times less the stoichiometric for the high level, in order to monitor competitive aspects of cementation from a mixed solution on a time scale and at conditions that might be relevant to industrial operations. In contrast to Au cementation reaction, Pd and Pt cementation did not go to completion even though excess zinc powder (0.15 g Zn i.e. 1.5 to 3.4 stoichiometric ratio) was used with their mono-ionic solutions, which gave 48 and 36% of Pd(II) and Pt(II) respectively. In preliminary kinetic studies, deviations from the first-order rate law were observed. The rate of cementation of Au(I) was about 5 times higher than for Pd(II) and 15 times higher than for Pt(II), based on the apparent rate constant, k′1. It was also found that the ratio k′1/k ′2 was smallest for Pt, in other words the deviation from 1st order linear kinetics was greatest. © 2013 Elsevier B.V. | Cementation; Cyanide; Gold; Palladium; Platinum | Apparent rate constant; Cementation; Experimental conditions; Industrial operations; Operating parameters; Platinum and palladiums; Simultaneous extractions; Stirred tank reactors; Cementing (shafts); Cements; Copper; Cyanides; Economic geology; Gold; Nickel; Palladium; Rate constants; Zinc; Platinum | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84934987551 | Chemical exposure reduction: Factors impacting on South African herbicide sprayers' personal protective equipment compliance and high risk work practices | Andrade-Rivas F., Rother H.-A. | 2015 | Environmental Research | 142 | None | 10.1016/j.envres.2015.05.028 | Environmental Health Division and oCentre for Environmental and Occupational Health Research, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Anzio Road, Observatory, South Africa; Universidad El Bosque, Research Vice-rectoray, Bogotá, Colombia | Andrade-Rivas, F., Environmental Health Division and oCentre for Environmental and Occupational Health Research, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Anzio Road, Observatory, South Africa, Universidad El Bosque, Research Vice-rectoray, Bogotá, Colombia; Rother, H.-A., Environmental Health Division and oCentre for Environmental and Occupational Health Research, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Anzio Road, Observatory, South Africa | The high exposure risks of workers to herbicides in low- and middle-income countries is an important public health concern because of the potential resulting negative impacts on workers' health. This study investigated workers' personal protective equipment (PPE) compliance as a risk mitigation measure; particularly workers who apply herbicides for Working for Water (WfW) - a South African invasive alien vegetation control programme. The study aim was to understand workers' low PPE compliance by analysing their risk perceptions of herbicide use, working conditions and socio-cultural context. Research methods included ethnographic observations, informal interviews, visual media, questionnaires and a focus group. Study results indicated that low PPE compliance persists despite workers' awareness of herbicide exposure risks and as a result of the influence from workers' socio-cultural context (i.e. gender dynamics and social status), herbicide risk perceptions and working conditions (i.e. environmental and logistical). Interestingly, teams comprised of mostly women had the highest compliance rate. These findings highlighted that given the complexity of PPE compliance, especially in countries with several economic and social constraints, exposure reduction interventions should not rely solely on PPE use promotion. Instead, other control strategies requiring less worker input for effectiveness should be implemented, such as elimination and substitution of highly hazardous pesticides, and altering application methods. © 2015 The Authors. | Gender; Personal protective equipment (PPE) compliance; Pesticide risk management; Pesticides; Risk perception | herbicide; herbicide; compliance; health risk; herbicide; invasive species; pollution exposure; public health; risk assessment; risk perception; Article; awareness; control strategy; ethnography; female; gender; harm reduction; high risk behavior; human; male; mental compliance; normal human; occupational exposure; occupational hazard; occupational health; occupational safety; pesticide spraying; priority journal; protective equipment; questionnaire; research; risk assessment; risk reduction; social class; social status; South African; work environment; agricultural worker; analysis; occupational exposure; practice guideline; prevention and control; psychology; risk management; sex difference; social aspects and related phenomena; South Africa; standards; South Africa; Farmers; Female; Guideline Adherence; Herbicides; Humans; Male; Occupational Exposure; Personal Protective Equipment; Risk Management; Risk Reduction Behavior; Sex Factors; Sociological Factors; South Africa; Surveys and Questionnaires | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84855527677 | Performance of a semiochemical-baited autoinoculation device treated with Metarhizium anisopliae for control of Frankliniella occidentalis on French bean in field cages | Niassy S., Maniania N.K., Subramanian S., Gitonga L.M., Ekesi S. | 2012 | Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata | 142 | 2 | 10.1111/j.1570-7458.2011.01203.x | International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE), PO Box 30772-00100, Nairobi, Kenya; Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), PO Box 62000, Nairobi, Kenya | Niassy, S., International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE), PO Box 30772-00100, Nairobi, Kenya, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), PO Box 62000, Nairobi, Kenya; Maniania, N.K., International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE), PO Box 30772-00100, Nairobi, Kenya; Subramanian, S., International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE), PO Box 30772-00100, Nairobi, Kenya; Gitonga, L.M., Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), PO Box 62000, Nairobi, Kenya; Ekesi, S., International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE), PO Box 30772-00100, Nairobi, Kenya | The performance of an autoinoculation device was evaluated in field cage experiments for control of Western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), in French bean, Phaseolus vulgaris L. var. Samantha (Fabaceae). Treatments consisted of a fungus-treated device with and without semiochemical (Lurem-TR), and a fungus-free device as control; the fungus used was Metarhizium anisopliae (Metchnikoff) Sorokin (Hypocreales: Clavicipitaceae). The overall mean number of conidia acquired by a single insect was higher in the fungus-treated semiochemical-baited device than in the device without semiochemical: 5.0±0.6×10 4 vs. 2.2±0.4×10 4 conidia per insect. The overall thrips mortality was also higher in the semiochemical-baited device than in the device without the semiochemical: 59.3±3.9 vs. 41.7±3.5%. Conidial viability was not affected in the M. anisopliae-treated device without semiochemicals, 7days after treatment, whereas it was considerably decreased - from 81.0±1.3 to 6.5±1.1%, 2 and 7days post-inoculation - in the M. anisopliae-treated semiochemical-baited device. Thrips mortality was positively correlated with M. anisopliae conidial viability, and conidial viability was negatively correlated with conidial acquisition. This suggests that the semiochemical volatiles reduced the conidial viability, which in turn resulted in significant reduction in thrips mortality, despite the highest conidial acquisition in the semiochemical-baited fungus-treated device. Thrips density per plant was significantly reduced in both fungus-treated treatments (with semiochemical: 8.7±1.7 adults per plant; without semiochemical: 6.6±1.4 adults per plant) compared with the fungus-free control (19.8±2.6 adults per plant). These results demonstrate the potential for an autoinoculation device strategy for the control of thrips, particularly in screenhouses. © 2011 The Authors. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata © 2011 The Netherlands Entomological Society. | Antifungal; Clavicipitaceae; Conidial acquisition; Conidial persistence; Fabaceae; Lurem; Methyl-isonicotinate; Thripidae; Thysanoptera; Western flower thrips | bait; disease treatment; fungus; inoculation; legume; mortality; performance assessment; pest control; semiochemical; thrips; volatile substance; Clavicipitaceae; Fabaceae; Frankliniella; Frankliniella occidentalis; Fungi; Hexapoda; Hypocreales; Metarhizium anisopliae; Phaseolus vulgaris; Thripidae; Thysanoptera | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-67349223949 | Genetic variability within the coat protein gene of Grapevine fanleaf virus isolates from South Africa and the evaluation of RT-PCR, DAS-ELISA and ImmunoStrips as virus diagnostic assays | Liebenberg A., Freeborough M.-J., Visser C.J., Bellstedt D.U., Burger J.T. | 2009 | Virus Research | 142 | 42371 | 10.1016/j.virusres.2009.01.016 | Vitis laboratory, Department of Genetics, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, South Africa; Department of Biochemistry, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, South Africa | Liebenberg, A., Vitis laboratory, Department of Genetics, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, South Africa; Freeborough, M.-J., Vitis laboratory, Department of Genetics, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, South Africa; Visser, C.J., Department of Biochemistry, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, South Africa; Bellstedt, D.U., Department of Biochemistry, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, South Africa; Burger, J.T., Vitis laboratory, Department of Genetics, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, South Africa | Grapevine fanleaf virus (GFLV) is responsible for severe fanleaf degeneration in grapevines of all major wine producing regions of the world, including South Africa. In order to successfully control the spread of the virus, specific and reliable diagnostic assays are necessary. The genetic variability of 12 GFLV isolates recovered from naturally infected grapevine plants in the Western Cape region of South Africa were characterised. These samples were subjected to RNA extraction, RT-PCR analysis and sequencing of the coat protein gene (2CCP). Sequence identities between different GFLV isolates from South Africa were between 86-99% and 94-99% at the nucleotide and amino acid levels, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 2CCP gene sequences showed that the South African isolates form two distinct clades or sub-populations. The specificity and sensitivity of three diagnostic techniques (rapid-direct-one-tube-RT-PCR, DAS-ELISA and ImmunoStrips) for the detection of GFLV were analysed to determine the appropriate diagnostic assay for virus infection. Rapid-direct-one-tube-RT-PCR was found to be the most reliable technique for detection. This is the first report on sequence analysis of full-length 2CCP gene cDNA clones of GFLV isolates from South Africa. © 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. | Genetic variability; GFLV; Phylogenetic analysis; RT-PCR diagnostic detection | amino acid; coat protein; nucleotide; article; cladistics; climbing plant; controlled study; double antibody sandwich enzyme linked immunosorbent assay; gene sequence; genetic variability; grapevine; grapevine fanleaf virus; leaf damage; Nepovirus; nonhuman; nucleotide sequence; phylogeny; priority journal; reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction; RNA extraction; sensitivity and specificity; unindexed sequence; virus diagnosis; Capsid Proteins; DNA, Viral; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Genetic Variation; Immunoassay; Molecular Sequence Data; Nepovirus; Phylogeny; Plant Diseases; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; South Africa; Vitis; Fioria; Grapevine fanleaf virus; Vitis | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-22544475944 | Effect of constant photoperiods on the laying performance of broiler breeders allowed conventional or accelerated growth | Lewis P.D., Backhouse D., Gous R.M. | 2005 | Journal of Agricultural Science | 143 | 1 | 10.1017/S0021859605005010 | Animal and Poultry Science, School of Agricultural Sciences and Agribusiness, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville 3209, South Africa; Northcot, Cowdown Lane, Andover, Hants SP11 7HG, United Kingdom | Lewis, P.D., Animal and Poultry Science, School of Agricultural Sciences and Agribusiness, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville 3209, South Africa, Northcot, Cowdown Lane, Andover, Hants SP11 7HG, United Kingdom; Backhouse, D., Animal and Poultry Science, School of Agricultural Sciences and Agribusiness, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville 3209, South Africa; Gous, R.M., Animal and Poultry Science, School of Agricultural Sciences and Agribusiness, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville 3209, South Africa | An experiment was conducted at the University of KwaZulu-Natal to assess the effect of constant photoperiods on sexual maturity and egg-laying performance in broiler breeders given two levels of control-feeding during the rearing phase. Cobb broiler breeder females were grown to reach 2.1 kg body weight at 17 or 21 weeks, and maintained on 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 or 16-h photoperiods from 2 days to 68 weeks of age. There were no significant interactions between photoperiod and growth rate for any production parameter. The time required reaching 2.1 kg increased proportionally with photoperiod but, because of delayed sexual development, birds on longer photoperiods consumed more feed to, and were heavier at, sexual maturity than shorter daylengths. The longer-photoperiod birds also had inferior rates of lay in the first half of the cycle, but superior in the second, which, together with the photoperiodic effects on maturity, resulted in birds on 11, 13 or 14 h producing most eggs to 68 weeks, and those on 16 h fewest. It is possible that the pattern of egg production was due to some of the birds on ≥ 13-h photoperiods becoming photorefractory, having a mid-cycle pause, and then spontaneously resuming egg production in the latter half of the cycle. However, a hinge-analysis of current and other data to the more usual depletion age of 60 weeks showed that the combined effects of photoperiod on sexual maturity and egg production resulted in constant 10-h birds producing the highest number of eggs, with numbers decreasing by 3.6 eggs/h of photoperiod above the hinge and 7.8 eggs/h of photoperiod below it. Mean egg weight increased by 0.4 g/h of photoperiod, but the proportion of abnormally large and floor eggs and the incidence of mortality were unaffected by daylength. For each photoperiod, accelerated growth resulted in body weights being heavier than controls at sexual maturity, despite the mean age at maturity being 10 days earlier for the faster-growing birds. Body weights for the two growth groups were not significantly different at 68 weeks. Faster-growth birds consumed 1 kg less feed to 2.1 kg body weight, but 1.3 kg more feed to sexual maturity and 2.7 kg more to 68 weeks, and produced 6 more eggs than, but had similar patterns of egg production to, the conventionally managed controls. Mean egg weight, the proportion of floor eggs and the incidence of mortality were similar for both groups. Notwithstanding that the overall production of abnormally large eggs was low (1.1 eggs per bird); the faster-growing birds produced significantly more than the controls. Egg weight was positively influenced by age at sexual maturity, body weight at sexual maturity and photoperiod, but was unaffected by rate of growth to 2.1 kg per se. These findings show that there are differences between broiler breeders and egg-type pullets in their response to constant photoperiods. It is likely that the factors responsible for these differences, particularly in terms of sexual development, are the exhibition of photorefractoriness by, and the retardational effects of controlled feeding on, broiler breeders. © 2005 Cambridge University Press. | None | photoperiod; poultry; Aves | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77957268796 | Tinnitus in the elderly: Profile, correlates, and impact in the Nigerian study of ageing | Lasisi A.O., Abiona T., Gureje O. | 2010 | Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery | 143 | 4 | 10.1016/j.otohns.2010.06.817 | Department of Otorhinolaryngology, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria; Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria | Lasisi, A.O., Department of Otorhinolaryngology, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria; Abiona, T., Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria; Gureje, O., Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria | OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence and correlates of tinnitus among community elderly and its impact on their quality of life. STUDY DESIGN: Longitudinal cohort. SETTING: Yoruba-speaking communities in Nigeria. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Face-to-face interviews of 1302 subjects 65 years or older selected by the use of a multistage stratified sampling of households. Subjects were assessed for subjective tinnitus, chronic health conditions, functional impairment, and quality of life by use of the brief version of the World Health Organization quality of life instrument. RESULTS: Tinnitus was reported in 184 (110 female and 74 male subjects), giving a prevalence of 14.1 percent (SE = 0.49). Gender, age, economic status, educational level, residence, smoking, and alcohol consumption were not significantly associated with tinnitus. Univariate analysis revealed a history of recurrent otitis media (odds ratio [OR] = 4.5, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 3.1-6.6, P = 0.01), head injury (OR 3.4, 95% CI 2.1-5.6, P = 0.01), rhinosinusitis (OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.5-4.0, P = 0.01), dizziness (OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.4-3.1, P = 0.01), and hypertension (OR 1.7, 95% CI 1.0-2.7, P = 0.05) as significant correlates. However, in multivariate analysis, only a history of otitis media and of head injury remained significant. Compared with those without, persons with tinnitus had a more negative perception of their overall health and a poorer quality of life as well as twofold likelihood to experience impairment in both activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living. CONCLUSION: Tinnitus is common among elderly Nigerians and is associated with treatable health conditions, such as otitis media, rhinosinusitis, head injury, and hypertension. Its association with functional impairment and reduced quality of life highlights the need for inclusion in any comprehensive health care for the elderly. © 2010 American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation. All rights reserved. | None | aged; aging; alcohol consumption; article; chronic otitis media; cigarette smoking; cohort analysis; community care; controlled study; correlation analysis; daily life activity; depression; diabetes mellitus; disabled person; dizziness; educational status; elderly care; female; functional disease; gender; head injury; health care; household; human; hypertension; interview; longitudinal study; major clinical study; male; medical history; Nigeria; perception; prevalence; quality of life; recurrent disease; rhinosinusitis; sampling; social status; tinnitus; transient ischemic attack; world health organization; Activities of Daily Living; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Female; Humans; Male; Nigeria; Prevalence; Tinnitus | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84927958067 | Evaluation of the impact of a simple hand-washing and water-treatment intervention in rural health facilities on hygiene knowledge and reported behaviours of health workers and their clients, Nyanza Province, Kenya, 2008 | Sreenivasan N., Gotestrand S.A., Ombeki S., Oluoch G., Fischer T.K., Quick R. | 2015 | Epidemiology and Infection | 143 | 4 | 10.1017/S095026881400082X | Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark; Epidemic Intelligence Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, GA, United States; CARE, Kenya; Department of Infectious Diseases, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Virology, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark; Waterborne Diseases Prevention Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, GA, United States | Sreenivasan, N., Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark, Epidemic Intelligence Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, GA, United States; Gotestrand, S.A., Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark; Ombeki, S., CARE, Kenya; Oluoch, G., CARE, Kenya; Fischer, T.K., Department of Infectious Diseases, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark, Department of Virology, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark; Quick, R., Waterborne Diseases Prevention Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, GA, United States | Many clinics in rural western Kenya lack access to safe water and hand-washing facilities. To address this problem, in 2005 a programme was initiated to install water stations for hand washing and drinking water in 109 health facilities, train health workers on water treatment and hygiene, and motivate clients to adopt these practices. In 2008, we evaluated this intervention's impact by conducting observations at facilities, and interviewing staff and clients about water treatment and hygiene. Of 30 randomly selected facilities, 97% had water stations in use. Chlorine residuals were detectable in at least one container at 59% of facilities. Of 164 interviewed staff, 79% knew the recommended water-treatment procedure. Of 298 clients, 45% had received training on water treatment at a facility; of these, 68% knew the recommended water-treatment procedure. Use of water stations, water treatment, and client training were sustained in some facilities for up to 3 years. Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2014 This is a work of the U.S. Government and is not subject to copyright protection in the United States.. | Hand hygiene; hospital-acquired (nosocomial) infections; water (safe) | water; adult; aged; Article; attitude to health; controlled study; female; hand washing; health care facility; health care personnel; health care quality; human; Kenya; male; rural health care; water treatment; epidemiology; evaluation study; health care personnel; hygiene; interview; middle aged; procedures; standards; statistics and numerical data; water management; water supply; young adult; Adult; Hand Disinfection; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Health Personnel; Humans; Hygiene; Interviews as Topic; Kenya; Middle Aged; Rural Health Services; Water Purification; Water Supply; Young Adult | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84866050827 | Evaluation of in vivo wound healing activity of methanol extract of Achyranthes aspera L. | Fikru A., Makonnen E., Eguale T., Debella A., Abie Mekonnen G. | 2012 | Journal of Ethnopharmacology | 143 | 2 | 10.1016/j.jep.2012.06.049 | Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Gondar, P.O. Box 196, Gondar, Ethiopia; Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 9086, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Akililu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Department of Drug Research, Ethiopian Health and Nutrition Research Institute, P.O. Box 1242, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Department of Pathology, National Animal Health Diagnostic and Investigation Center, P.O. Box, 04, Sebeta, Ethiopia | Fikru, A., Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Gondar, P.O. Box 196, Gondar, Ethiopia; Makonnen, E., Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 9086, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Eguale, T., Akililu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Debella, A., Department of Drug Research, Ethiopian Health and Nutrition Research Institute, P.O. Box 1242, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Abie Mekonnen, G., Department of Pathology, National Animal Health Diagnostic and Investigation Center, P.O. Box, 04, Sebeta, Ethiopia | Ethnopharmacological relevance: The leaves of Achyranthes aspera L. (Amarenthacea) has been used traditionally for the treatment of wound in various parts of Ethiopia. However, the plant has not been explored scientifically for its wound healing activity. Therefore, this study was designed to investigate the wound healing activity of methanol extract of Achyranthes aspera L. leaves in rats. Materials and methods: Incision and excision wounds were inflicted on albino rats of either sex, under diethyl ether anesthesia. Group I served as positive control and was treated with 1% silver sulphadiazine, group II, III, IV treated with simple ointment containing 2.5%, 5% and 10% (w/w) methanol extract of the leaves of Achyranthes aspera L.; respectively, whereas group V served as negative control and was treated with simple ointment. All the animals were treated topically once a day. Wound healing potential was assessed with excision and incision wound model. Excision wound model was used to assess the change in percentage contraction of wound, epithelization time, DNA content and histological features whereas rats inflicted with the incision wounds were used to determine breaking strength. Results: Based on the results of percentage wound contraction, the DNA content and epithelization time, all groups of rats treated with methanol extract of the leaves of Achyranthes aspera L. showed significant (p<0.05) wound healing activity compared to group of rats treated with simple ointment (negative control) group. The difference in breaking strength was, however, significant (p<0.05) only for the 5% and 10% methanol extract of Achyranthes aspera (w/w) ointment treated groups. Histological evaluation showed well organized epidermal layer, increased number of fibrocytes, remarkable degree of neovascularization and epithelization which was comparable to the standard on the 21st day after treatment; especially in the 5% and 10% (w/w) extract treated group. Conclusion: The present study provides a scientific rationale for the traditional use of the leaf extracts of Achyranthes aspera L. in the treatment of wound. © 2012 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. | Achyranthes aspera L.; In vivo; Methanol; Rats; Wound healing | Achyranthes aspera extract; ether; sulfadiazine silver; wound healing promoting agent; Achyranthes aspera; animal experiment; animal model; article; controlled study; DNA content; epidermis; epithelization; excision; female; in vivo study; incision; male; medicinal plant; nonhuman; plant leaf; rat; wound contraction; wound healing; Achyranthes; Animals; DNA; Ethiopia; Female; Male; Medicine, African Traditional; Methanol; Phytotherapy; Plant Extracts; Plant Leaves; Rats; Skin; Solvents; Wound Healing; Achyranthes aspera; Animalia; Rattus | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84887870833 | Costs of current antihypertensive therapy in Switzerland: An economic evaluation of 3,489 patients in primary care | Schäfer H.H., Scheunert U. | 2013 | Swiss Medical Weekly | 143 | None | 10.4414/smw.2013.13854 | Graduate School of Business, University of Cape Town, EMBA 14, South Africa; Faculty of Business and Economics, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany | Schäfer, H.H., Graduate School of Business, University of Cape Town, EMBA 14, South Africa; Scheunert, U., Faculty of Business and Economics, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany | QUESTION UNDER STUDY: Due to greater life expectancy, costs of medication have increased within the last decade. This investigation assesses health care expenditures needed to manage the current state of blood pressure (BP) control in Switzerland. Objectives: a) average day therapy costs (DTC) of substances, b) actual DTC of currently prescribed antihypertensive therapy, c) monetary differences of treatment regimens within different BP-groups and different high risk patients, d) estimated compliance-related financial loss/annum and adjusted costs/annum. Single-pill-combinations appear to be useful to increase patient's compliance, to reduce side effects and to bring more patients to their blood pressure goal. METHODS: Costs were identified based on data from the Swiss department of health. We calculated DTC for each patient using prices of the largest available tablet box. RESULTS: The average antihypertensive therapy in Switzerland currently costs CHF 1.198 ± 0.732 per day. On average beta blockers were the cheapest substances, followed by angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ARBs), calcium channel blockers and diuretics. The widest price ranges were observed within the class of ARBs. Most expensive were patients with impaired renal function. Throughout all stages, single-pill-combinations appeared to be significantly cheaper than dual-free-combinations. Stage-II-hypertension yielded the highest costs for dual free combination drug use. The actual costs for all patients observed in this analysis added up to CHF 1,525,962. Based on a compliance model, only treatment amounting to CHF 921,353 is expected to be actually taken. CONCLUSION: A disproportionately high healthcare cost is expected due to compliance reasons. The prescription of monotherapies appears to be a major cost factor, thus, the use of single-pill-combination therapy can be considered as a suitable approach to saving costs throughout all BP-stages. | Antihypertensive therapy; Compliance; Costs; Hypertension; Switzerland | amlodipine; antihypertensive agent; atenolol; carvedilol; chlortalidone; diltiazem; enalapril; felodipine; furosemide; hydrochlorothiazide; lisinopril; losartan; nifedipine; torasemide; angiotensin receptor antagonist; antihypertensive agent; beta adrenergic receptor blocking agent; calcium channel blocking agent; dipeptidyl carboxypeptidase inhibitor; diuretic agent; adult; aged; antihypertensive therapy; article; blood pressure regulation; drug cost; economic evaluation; female; health care cost; high risk patient; human; hypertension; major clinical study; male; medication compliance; monotherapy; primary medical care; sex difference; Switzerland; drug combination; drug cost; economics; hypertension; middle aged; primary health care; statistics; very elderly; Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; Antihypertensive Agents; Calcium Channel Blockers; Diuretics; Drug Combinations; Drug Costs; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Humans; Hypertension; Male; Medication Adherence; Middle Aged; Primary Health Care; Switzerland | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77957281639 | Preliminary evaluation of infrared spectroscopy for the differentiation of Brettanomyces bruxellensis strains isolated from red wines | Oelofse A., Malherbe S., Pretorius I.S., Du Toit M. | 2010 | International Journal of Food Microbiology | 143 | 3 | 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2010.08.004 | Institute for Wine Biotechnology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland (Stellenbosch), ZA 7602, South Africa; The Australian Wine Research Institute, PO Box 197, Glen Osmond (Adelaide), SA 5064, Australia | Oelofse, A., Institute for Wine Biotechnology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland (Stellenbosch), ZA 7602, South Africa; Malherbe, S., Institute for Wine Biotechnology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland (Stellenbosch), ZA 7602, South Africa; Pretorius, I.S., The Australian Wine Research Institute, PO Box 197, Glen Osmond (Adelaide), SA 5064, Australia; Du Toit, M., Institute for Wine Biotechnology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland (Stellenbosch), ZA 7602, South Africa | The objective of this study was to evaluate different infrared spectroscopy methods in combination with chemometrics for the differentiation between Brettanomyces bruxellensis strains. These methods of discrimination were applied to intact yeast cells of B. bruxellensis strains and on wines spoiled by the same strains. Eleven wine isolates of B. bruxellensis were evaluated for volatile phenol production in red wine and their genetic diversity was determined by Restriction Endonuclease Analysis-Pulsed Field Gel Electrophoresis (REA-PFGE). Fourier transform mid-infrared (FTMIR) spectroscopy was used to obtain spectral fingerprints of the spoiled wines. Attenuated total reflectance (ATR) was used to obtain spectral fingerprints from the intact cells of the 11 B. bruxellensis strains. The groupings from the genetic fingerprints obtained with REA-PFGE were used as reference firstly for comparison with the groupings observed with the FTMIR spectral fingerprint of the wines and secondly for the FTIR-ATR spectral fingerprints from the whole cells. Results indicated that ATR-IR spectra obtained by scanning whole cells of B. bruxellensis could be useful for rapid strain typing in comparison or complementary to molecular techniques and FTMIR spectra from wines provide a useful resource for the discrimination between B. bruxellensis contaminated wines. © 2010 Elsevier B.V. | ATR; Brettanomyces; FTMIR; Red wine; Spectral fingerprints; Volatile phenols | phenol; article; Brettanomyces; brettanomyces bruxellensis; chemometric analysis; comparative study; controlled study; finger dermatoglyphics; food analysis; food contamination; food spoilage; fungal strain; genetic analysis; genetic variability; infrared spectroscopy; isolated artery; isolation and purification; multivariate analysis; nonhuman; pulsed field gel electrophoresis; red wine; restriction mapping; species differentiation; yeast cell; Brettanomyces; Food Microbiology; Spectrophotometry, Infrared; Wine; Brettanomyces; Dekkera bruxellensis | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84949117216 | On the evaluation of Fast-SAGD process in naturally fractured heavy oil reservoir | Kamari A., Hemmati-Sarapardeh A., Mohammadi A.H., Hashemi-Kiasari H., Mohagheghian E. | 2015 | Fuel | 143 | None | 10.1016/j.fuel.2014.10.065 | School of Engineering, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Howard College Campus, King George V Avenue, Durban, South Africa; Department of Petroleum Engineering, Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran, Iran; Institut de Recherche en Génie Chimique et Pétrolier (IRGCP), Paris Cedex, France; Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL, Canada | Kamari, A., School of Engineering, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Howard College Campus, King George V Avenue, Durban, South Africa; Hemmati-Sarapardeh, A., Department of Petroleum Engineering, Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran, Iran; Mohammadi, A.H., School of Engineering, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Howard College Campus, King George V Avenue, Durban, South Africa, Institut de Recherche en Génie Chimique et Pétrolier (IRGCP), Paris Cedex, France; Hashemi-Kiasari, H., Department of Petroleum Engineering, Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran, Iran; Mohagheghian, E., Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL, Canada | Very recently, Fast-SAGD as a modification of steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) has been much attended due to lower cumulative steam oil ratio as well as higher cumulative oil production. However, there are still many suspicions about the successful application of this method in naturally fractured reservoirs (NFR) in which faults, fissures, vugs, micro-fractures, poorly interconnected matrix pore structure as well as undesirable wettability are combined with high-viscosity oil. In this communication, initially, Fast-SAGD has been compared with traditional SAGD in an Iranian naturally fractured heavy oil reservoir with oil wet rock using CMG-STARS thermal simulator. Moreover, the effects of operational parameters on Fast-SAGD method have been investigated. In addition, a novel economical model has been established in which all economical parameters including input cash flow costs such as the rate of oil production and oil price, and the output cash flow costs such as capital expenditures (CAPEX), operating expenditures (OPEX), injection material and pipe line tariffs, have been considered. During the optimization of the operational parameters, it was observed that by increasing steam injection rate into both offset and SAGD wells in Fast-SAGD system, ultimate recovery factor (RF) increased, but ultimate net present value (NPV) increased up to an optimal point which could be due to the increased SOR value. By increasing steam injection pressure into offset well, both the ultimate RF and NPV increased up to an optimal point. To optimally select parameters such as the number of cyclic steam stimulation (CSS) cycles, elevation of CSS well and well spacing of SAGD well pair, sensitivity analysis should be performed to achieve the best case economically and technically due to the lack of a decrease or increase trend. In contrast to conventional reservoirs, the performance affected by start-up time at the offset well during Fast-SAGD process in fractured reservoirs indicates that earlier start-up time of steam injection leads to high RF and NPV. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. | Economic model; Fast-SAGD; Heavy crude oil; Naturally fractured reservoir; Operational parameters | Costs; Crude oil; Heavy oil production; Injection (oil wells); Oil shale; Petroleum reservoir engineering; Petroleum reservoirs; Sensitivity analysis; Steam; Water injection; Well spacing; Well stimulation; Economic modeling; Fast-SAGD; Heavy crude oil; Naturally fractured reservoirs; Operational parameters; Oil wells | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84875541585 | Modelling and monitoring for strategic yield gap diagnosis in the South African sugar belt | Van den Berg M., Singels A. | 2013 | Field Crops Research | 143 | None | 10.1016/j.fcr.2012.10.009 | South African Sugarcane Research Institute, Private Bag X02, Mount Edgecombe 4300, South Africa; Department of Plant Production, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield 0028, South Africa; School of Agriculture, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Kwazulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville 3209, South Africa | Van den Berg, M., South African Sugarcane Research Institute, Private Bag X02, Mount Edgecombe 4300, South Africa; Singels, A., South African Sugarcane Research Institute, Private Bag X02, Mount Edgecombe 4300, South Africa, Department of Plant Production, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield 0028, South Africa, School of Agriculture, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Kwazulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville 3209, South Africa | This paper revisits the diagnostic use of industry-wide sugarcane (Saccharum sp. hybrid) modelling and monitoring in South Africa for gaining a better understanding of production trends and the strategies required to address temporal and spatial yield variation.Such reviews have been conducted annually since 2008, by comparing the ratio of actual to simulated (potential) average sugarcane yields for 14 sugar mills with that of preceding seasons (since 1980). Actual yields are determined from total amount of cane crushed at the mill and the estimated area harvested as determined from mill records and grower surveys. Potential yields are determined by using the Canesim model with daily weather data for 48 homogenous agro-climatic zones. Widening yield gaps in some key producing regions and significant differences between regions indicated the need to investigate the impact of non-climatic factors such as pests, diseases, and sub-optimal agronomic management, even though this analysis is still qualitative and incomplete, and not fully objective. Factors that were highlighted as likely causes of suboptimal production were damaging effect of a new pest (sugarcane thrips), inadequate nutrition and inadequate replanting, apparently linked to unfavourable socio-economic conditions; even more so for small-scale growers than for large-scale growers. In addition to providing a service that is valued by the industry, the annual reviews have contributed to strengthening co-operation between researchers of distinct disciplines as well as between researchers and canegrowers, and to help identify priorities for further research. The quality of the analysis could be further improved by more accurate and timely estimates of the area harvested, improved resolution of yield data and extended surveys of pests, diseases and other yield limiting or reducing factors. © 2012 Elsevier B.V. | Modelling; Sugar cane; Yield gap | agricultural management; agricultural modeling; agroecology; agronomy; crop production; crop yield; farmers knowledge; harvesting; limiting factor; monitoring; pest damage; research work; socioeconomic impact; spatial variation; sugar cane; temporal variation; South Africa; Saccharum; Saccharum sp.; Thysanoptera | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84916887285 | Evaluation of the trophic structure of the West Florida Shelf in the 2000s using the ecosystem model OSMOSE | Grüss A., Schirripa M.J., Chagaris D., Drexler M., Simons J., Verley P., Shin Y.-J., Karnauskas M., Oliveros-Ramos R., Ainsworth C.H. | 2015 | Journal of Marine Systems | 144 | None | 10.1016/j.jmarsys.2014.11.004 | Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami, FL, United States; Southeast Fisheries Science Center, Sustainable Fisheries Division, 75 Virginia Beach Drive, Miami, FL, United States; Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, 100 8th Ave SE, St. Petersburg, FL, United States; University of South Florida, College of Marine Science, 140 7th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL, United States; Center for Coastal Studies Natural Resources Center, Texas A andM University-Corpus Christi, 6300 Ocean Dr., Corpus Christi, TX, United States; Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, UMR EME 212, Centre de Recherche Halieutique Méditerranéenne et Tropicale, Avenue Jean Monnet, CS 30171, Sète cedex, France; University of Cape Town, Marine Research Institute Ma-Re, Department of Biological Sciences, Private Bag X3, Rondebosch, Cape Town, South Africa; Instituto del Mar del Perú (IMARPE), Gamarra y General Valle s/n Chucuito, Callao, Peru | Grüss, A., Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami, FL, United States, Southeast Fisheries Science Center, Sustainable Fisheries Division, 75 Virginia Beach Drive, Miami, FL, United States; Schirripa, M.J., Southeast Fisheries Science Center, Sustainable Fisheries Division, 75 Virginia Beach Drive, Miami, FL, United States; Chagaris, D., Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, 100 8th Ave SE, St. Petersburg, FL, United States; Drexler, M., University of South Florida, College of Marine Science, 140 7th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL, United States; Simons, J., Center for Coastal Studies Natural Resources Center, Texas A andM University-Corpus Christi, 6300 Ocean Dr., Corpus Christi, TX, United States; Verley, P., Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, UMR EME 212, Centre de Recherche Halieutique Méditerranéenne et Tropicale, Avenue Jean Monnet, CS 30171, Sète cedex, France; Shin, Y.-J., Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, UMR EME 212, Centre de Recherche Halieutique Méditerranéenne et Tropicale, Avenue Jean Monnet, CS 30171, Sète cedex, France, University of Cape Town, Marine Research Institute Ma-Re, Department of Biological Sciences, Private Bag X3, Rondebosch, Cape Town, South Africa; Karnauskas, M., Southeast Fisheries Science Center, Sustainable Fisheries Division, 75 Virginia Beach Drive, Miami, FL, United States; Oliveros-Ramos, R., Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, UMR EME 212, Centre de Recherche Halieutique Méditerranéenne et Tropicale, Avenue Jean Monnet, CS 30171, Sète cedex, France, Instituto del Mar del Perú (IMARPE), Gamarra y General Valle s/n Chucuito, Callao, Peru; Ainsworth, C.H., University of South Florida, College of Marine Science, 140 7th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL, United States | We applied the individual-based, multi-species OSMOSE modeling approach to the West Florida Shelf, with the intent to inform ecosystem-based management (EBM) in this region. Our model, referred to as 'OSMOSE-WFS', explicitly considers both pelagic-demersal and benthic high trophic level (HTL) groups of fish and invertebrate species, and is forced by the biomass of low trophic level groups of species (plankton and benthos). We present a steady-state version of the OSMOSE-WFS model describing trophic interactions in the West Florida Shelf in the 2000s. OSMOSE-WFS was calibrated using a recently developed evolutionary algorithm that allowed simulated biomasses of HTL groups to match observed biomasses over the period 2005-2009. The validity of OSMOSE-WFS was then evaluated by comparing simulated diets to observed ones, and the simulated trophic levels to those in an Ecopath model of the West Florida Shelf (WFS Reef fish Ecopath). Finally, OSMOSE-WFS was used to explore the trophic structure of the West Florida Shelf in the 2000s and estimate size-specific natural mortality rates for a socio-economically important species, gag grouper (Mycteroperca microlepis). OSMOSE-WFS outputs were in full agreement with observations as to the body size and ecological niche of prey of the different HTL groups, and to a lesser extent in agreement with the observed species composition of the diet of HTL groups. OSMOSE-WFS and WFS Reef fish Ecopath concurred on the magnitude of the instantaneous natural mortality of the different life stages of gag grouper over the period 2005-2009, but not always on the main causes of natural mortality. The model evaluations conducted here provides a strong basis for ongoing work exploring fishing and environmental scenarios so as to inform EBM. From simple size-based predation rules, we were indeed able to capture the complexity of trophic interactions in the West Florida Shelf, and to identify the predators, prey and competitors of socio-economically important species as well as pivotal prey species of the ecosystem. © 2014 Elsevier B.V. | Gag grouper; Marine ecosystem modeling; Natural mortality; Resource management; Trophic structure; West florida shelf | Biomass; Computer simulation; Fish; Nutrition; Reefs; Florida; Marine ecosystem; Natural mortality; Resource management; Trophic structure; Ecosystems; algorithm; body size; ecosystem modeling; mortality; niche; predation; resource management; socioeconomic status; trophic structure; Atlantic Ocean; Florida Shelf; Epinephelinae; Invertebrata; Mycteroperca microlepis | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84875045560 | Revisiting dominant notions: A review of costs, performance and institutions of small reservoirs in sub-Saharan Africa | Venot J.-P., de Fraiture C., Acheampong E.N. | 2012 | IWMI Research Report | 144 | None | 10.5337/2012.202 | International Water Management Institute (IWMI), Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso; Land and Water Development, UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education, Delft, Netherlands; African Technology Policy Studies (ATPS) Network, Nairobi, Kenya; IWMI, Accra, Ghana | Venot, J.-P., International Water Management Institute (IWMI), Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso; de Fraiture, C., International Water Management Institute (IWMI), Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, Land and Water Development, UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education, Delft, Netherlands; Acheampong, E.N., African Technology Policy Studies (ATPS) Network, Nairobi, Kenya, IWMI, Accra, Ghana | Thousands of small reservoirs dot the rural landscape of sub-Saharan Africa. They have long attracted development and academic interest on the grounds that they make vulnerable and generally little-developed regions 'drought-proof' and allow for smallscale community-based irrigation. On the other hand, concerns have long been raised over the high construction costs, poor irrigation performance, low managerial capacity on the part of communities and little sustainability of investments that seem to be locked in a build-neglect-rebuild syndrome. A common response to these shortcomings has been to improve project designs and organize farmers in Water User Associations (WUAs) to better manage their common resources. This report, however, calls for a different approach based on a renewed understanding of small reservoirs. Drawing information from a crosscountry comparative analysis conducted in Burkina Faso, Ghana, Ethiopia and Zambia, this report argues that high costs are not inherent to the technology but are caused by major shortcomings in the planning and implementation processes. Non-standard and corrupt practices throughout the project cycle add to the costs and affect the quality of construction and hence the performance, and the farmers' ability to maintain the reservoir in a workable state. Performance assessments are centered on downstream irrigation activities and universally point to the disappointing results of small reservoirs in these terms. Such assessments are grounded in field observations but remain partial. Small reservoirs support, and enhance synergies between, multiple livelihood strategies. The performance of small reservoirs needs to be assessed against this backdrop of multiple uses/users. WUAs, often externally triggered, have been framed and instituted as the sole and most adequate structure for the management of small reservoirs, with generally disappointing results. This is because decision making on small reservoirs takes place in multiple and overlapping arenas; the concerns of users may thus be best addressed by promoting arrangements that enhance multiple institutional relationships at multiple scales. An integrative approach, both in spatial (the watershed) and temporal (the project cycle) terms, holds the promise of sustainable management of small reservoirs. © 2012, by IWMI. All rights reserved. | None | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84904020684 | Metrics to assess ecological condition, change, and impacts in sandy beach ecosystems | Schlacher T.A., Schoeman D.S., Jones A.R., Dugan J.E., Hubbard D.M., Defeo O., Peterson C.H., Weston M.A., Maslo B., Olds A.D., Scapini F., Nel R., Harris L.R., Lucrezi S., Lastra M., Huijbers C.M., Connolly R.M. | 2014 | Journal of Environmental Management | 144 | None | 10.1016/j.jenvman.2014.05.036 | School of Science and Engineering, The University of the Sunshine Coast, Q-4558 Maroochydore, Australia; Division of Invertebrates, The Australian Museum, Sydney, NSW 2010, Australia; Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-6150, United States; UNDECIMAR, Facultad de Ciencias, Igua 4225, PO Box 10773, 11400 Montevideo, Uruguay; Institute of Marine Sciences, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Morehead City, NC 28557, United States; Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood, VIC 3125, Australia; Department of Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 14 College Farm Road, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, United States; Department of Biology, University of Florence, via Romana 17, 50125 Firenze, Italy; Department of Zoology, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Port Elizabeth, 6031, South Africa; TREES-Tourism Research in Economic Environs and Society, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa; Department of Ecology and Animal Biology, Faculty of Marine Science, University of Vigo, 36310 Vigo, Spain; Australian Rivers Institute, Coast and Estuaries, and School of Environment, Gold Coast Campus, Griffith University, QLD, 4222, Australia | Schlacher, T.A., School of Science and Engineering, The University of the Sunshine Coast, Q-4558 Maroochydore, Australia; Schoeman, D.S., School of Science and Engineering, The University of the Sunshine Coast, Q-4558 Maroochydore, Australia; Jones, A.R., Division of Invertebrates, The Australian Museum, Sydney, NSW 2010, Australia; Dugan, J.E., Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-6150, United States; Hubbard, D.M., Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-6150, United States; Defeo, O., UNDECIMAR, Facultad de Ciencias, Igua 4225, PO Box 10773, 11400 Montevideo, Uruguay; Peterson, C.H., Institute of Marine Sciences, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Morehead City, NC 28557, United States; Weston, M.A., Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood, VIC 3125, Australia; Maslo, B., Department of Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 14 College Farm Road, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, United States; Olds, A.D., School of Science and Engineering, The University of the Sunshine Coast, Q-4558 Maroochydore, Australia; Scapini, F., Department of Biology, University of Florence, via Romana 17, 50125 Firenze, Italy; Nel, R., Department of Zoology, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Port Elizabeth, 6031, South Africa; Harris, L.R., Department of Zoology, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Port Elizabeth, 6031, South Africa; Lucrezi, S., TREES-Tourism Research in Economic Environs and Society, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa; Lastra, M., Department of Ecology and Animal Biology, Faculty of Marine Science, University of Vigo, 36310 Vigo, Spain; Huijbers, C.M., Australian Rivers Institute, Coast and Estuaries, and School of Environment, Gold Coast Campus, Griffith University, QLD, 4222, Australia; Connolly, R.M., Australian Rivers Institute, Coast and Estuaries, and School of Environment, Gold Coast Campus, Griffith University, QLD, 4222, Australia | Complexity is increasingly the hallmark in environmental management practices of sandy shorelines. This arises primarily from meeting growing public demands (e.g., real estate, recreation) whilst reconciling economic demands with expectations of coastal users who have modern conservation ethics. Ideally, shoreline management is underpinned by empirical data, but selecting ecologically-meaningful metrics to accurately measure the condition of systems, and the ecological effects of human activities, is a complex task. Here we construct a framework for metric selection, considering six categories of issues that authorities commonly address: erosion; habitat loss; recreation; fishing; pollution (litter and chemical contaminants); and wildlife conservation. Possible metrics were scored in terms of their ability to reflect environmental change, and against criteria that are widely used for judging the performance of ecological indicators (i.e., sensitivity, practicability, costs, and public appeal). From this analysis, four types of broadly applicable metrics that also performed very well against the indicator criteria emerged: 1.) traits of bird populations and assemblages (e.g., abundance, diversity, distributions, habitat use); 2.) breeding/reproductive performance sensu lato (especially relevant for birds and turtles nesting on beaches and in dunes, but equally applicable to invertebrates and plants); 3.) population parameters and distributions of vertebrates associated primarily with dunes and the supralittoral beach zone (traditionally focused on birds and turtles, but expandable to mammals); 4.) compound measurements of the abundance/cover/biomass of biota (plants, invertebrates, vertebrates) at both the population and assemblage level. Local constraints (i.e., the absence of birds in highly degraded urban settings or lack of dunes on bluff-backed beaches) and particular issues may require alternatives. Metrics - if selected and applied correctly - provide empirical evidence of environmental condition and change, but often do not reflect deeper environmental values per se. Yet, values remain poorly articulated for many beach systems; this calls for a comprehensive identification of environmental values and the development of targeted programs to conserve these values on sandy shorelines globally. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. | Biological monitoring; Coastal dunes; Ecological indicators; Environmental values; Sandy beaches; Wildlife conservation | beach; coastal zone management; dune; economic analysis; environmental change; environmental conditions; environmental management; environmental monitoring; human activity; shoreline; wild population; article; authority; biological trait; biomass; biota; bird; breeding; breeding success; cost; ecosystem; environmental change; environmental impact assessment; environmental management; erosion; fishing; habitat use; human; macroinvertebrate; nesting; nonhuman; population dynamics; public opinion; recreation; sandy beach; seashore; species composition; species distribution; species diversity; species richness; turtle; water contamination; water pollution; wildlife conservation; biological model; environmental monitoring; environmental protection; procedures; swimming; Bathing Beaches; Conservation of Natural Resources; Ecosystem; Environmental Monitoring; Models, Biological | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84858128134 | Growth performance, blood characteristics and plasma lipids of growing pullet fed dietary concentrations of organic and inorganic copper sources | Jegede A.V., Oduguwa O.O., Oso A.O., Fafiolu A.O., Idowu O.M.O., Nollet L. | 2012 | Livestock Science | 145 | 03-Jan | 10.1016/j.livsci.2012.02.011 | Department of Animal Nutrition, University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria; Alltech Biotechnology Centre, Dunboyne, Ireland | Jegede, A.V., Department of Animal Nutrition, University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria; Oduguwa, O.O., Department of Animal Nutrition, University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria; Oso, A.O., Department of Animal Nutrition, University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria; Fafiolu, A.O., Department of Animal Nutrition, University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria; Idowu, O.M.O., Department of Animal Nutrition, University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria; Nollet, L., Alltech Biotechnology Centre, Dunboyne, Ireland | A 140-day study was conducted to determine the influence of dietary organic Cu (Cu proteinate) and inorganic Cu (CuSO 4) on growth performance, blood characteristics and plasma lipids of growing pullet. 480day-old Kabiru® breed chicks were randomly allocated to 6 treatment groups of 80 birds split over 4 replicates of 20 birds each. The diets consisted of a basal diet (containing 32.84 and 31.78mg/kg Cu for starter and grower phases respectively) supplemented with organic Cu (Cu proteinate; Cu-P) or inorganic Cu (Cu sulphate; CuSO 4) fed at 3 dietary concentrations (50, 100 and 150mg/kg). No significant (P>0.05) effect of Cu source, concentration and interaction of Cu source and concentration was obtained for growth response at starter and grower phases. CuSO 4 supplementation resulted in elevated (P<0.05) serum uric acid. Supplementation of diets with 150mg/kg Cu resulted in the reduction (P<0.05) of white blood cell count of the birds. Cu-P decreased (P<0.05) plasma cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL) and triglyceride in comparison to CuSO 4. CuSO 4 supplementation resulted in increased high density lipoprotein (HDL). Cu concentration elicited a linear response (P<0.05) for total cholesterol, LDL and triglyceride. It was concluded that the source and concentration of Cu did not lead to a significant difference in growth performance. Furthermore, Cu-P reduced (P<0.05) the plasma cholesterol concentration of the experimental birds when compared to CuSO 4. Also plasma cholesterol concentration reduced (P<0.05) with increased dietary Cu concentration. © 2012 Elsevier B.V. | Copper; Growth; Lipid; Performance; Pullet | Aves | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-51949109315 | The impact of vehicular fallout on the Pra estuary of Ghana (a case study of the impact of platinum group metals (PGMs) on the marine ecosystem) | Essumang D.K., Dodoo D.K., Adokoh C.K. | 2008 | Environmental Monitoring and Assessment | 145 | 42372 | 10.1007/s10661-007-0037-0 | Environmental Research Group, Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana | Essumang, D.K., Environmental Research Group, Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana; Dodoo, D.K., Environmental Research Group, Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana; Adokoh, C.K., Environmental Research Group, Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana | It is increasingly being recognised and environmental measurements have demonstrated that Platinum (Pt) (and potentially Rhodium (Rh) and Palladium (Pd)) is released with the ageing of catalytic converters. Platinum is a particular concern as it has a known mutagenic and toxic effect, even at exceedingly low concentrations, in urban air (affecting human health) and urban water (affecting ecosystem health). In the context given above and given the still keen lack of reliable experimental data on the levels of Pd, Pt and Rh in water and sediment, this study determined the concentration of such elements in water and sediment of the Pra estuary in the Western Region of Ghana where it is estimated that more than two thousand cars pass over the bridge under which the river flows to join the sea each day. Elevated concentrations of platinum (Pt), palladium (Pd) and Rhodium (Rh) were found to be associated with water and soils from areas of high traffic densities (Beposo) suggesting that vehicles also contribute heavy metals (PGMs) to the environment. The result showed elevated levels of these metals in river bank, waterbed and in the water. There is therefore the tendency of possible accumulation of these metals in plant and animals along these areas. © Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2007. | Akotokyir; Beposo; Bosomdo Krobo; Canberra Multi-Channel Analyzer (MCA); Catalytic converters; Kakum; Platinum group metals (PGMs); Pra estuary; Shama Beach | Catalytic converters; Concentration (process); Ecosystems; Heavy metals; Heavy water; Iridium alloys; Metals; Palladium; Platinum; Platinum metals; Rhodium; Rivers; Sedimentation; Sedimentology; Transition metals; Akotokyir; Beposo; Bosomdo Krobo; Canberra Multi-Channel Analyzer (MCA); Case studies; Ecosystem health; Elevated concentrations; Elevated levels; Environmental measurements; Experimental data; Human health; In plants; Kakum; Low concentrations; Marine ecosystems; Platinum group metals; Platinum group metals (PGMs); Pra estuary; River banks; River flows; Shama Beach; Toxic effects; Traffic densities; Urban air; Urban waters; River pollution; heavy metal; palladium; platinum derivative; rhodium; river water; bioaccumulation; concentration (composition); ecological impact; estuarine ecosystem; fallout; palladium; platinum; pollution effect; rhodium; toxicity; traffic emission; urban atmosphere; article; environmental impact; environmental monitoring; estuary; flotation bed; Ghana; marine environment; motor vehicle; riparian ecosystem; soil analysis; soil chemistry; soil quality; water analysis; water content; water flow; water quality; water sampling; Ecosystem; Ghana; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Palladium; Platinum; Rhodium; Seawater; Vehicle Emissions; Water Pollutants, Chemical; Africa; Ghana; Pra Estuary; Sub-Saharan Africa; West Africa; Animalia | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-35649012028 | Clinical performance of an in-house real-time RT-PCR assay using a fluorogenic LUX™ primer for quantitation of human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) | Rekhviashvili N., Stevens W., Marinda E., Gonin R., Stevens G., McIntyre J., Wood R. | 2007 | Journal of Virological Methods | 146 | 42371 | 10.1016/j.jviromet.2007.05.024 | Department of Molecular Medicine and Hematology, National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS), University of the Witwatersrand (WITS), 7 York Road, Parktown, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa; School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand (WITS), Faculty of Health Science, 7 York Road, Parktown, Johannesburg, 2193, South Africa; Westat, Rockville, MD 20850, United States; International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, Unit 006, Magaliszicht Avenue, Albury Park, Dunkel West, Johannesburg 2196, South Africa; Perinatal HIV Research Unit (PHRU), WITS University, WITS Health Consortium, Old Potch Road, Soweto, Johannesburg, South Africa; The Desmond Tutu HIV Center, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, South Africa | Rekhviashvili, N., Department of Molecular Medicine and Hematology, National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS), University of the Witwatersrand (WITS), 7 York Road, Parktown, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa; Stevens, W., Department of Molecular Medicine and Hematology, National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS), University of the Witwatersrand (WITS), 7 York Road, Parktown, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa; Marinda, E., School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand (WITS), Faculty of Health Science, 7 York Road, Parktown, Johannesburg, 2193, South Africa; Gonin, R., Westat, Rockville, MD 20850, United States; Stevens, G., International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, Unit 006, Magaliszicht Avenue, Albury Park, Dunkel West, Johannesburg 2196, South Africa; McIntyre, J., Perinatal HIV Research Unit (PHRU), WITS University, WITS Health Consortium, Old Potch Road, Soweto, Johannesburg, South Africa; Wood, R., The Desmond Tutu HIV Center, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, South Africa | The South African National Antiretroviral Treatment Guideline recommends the use of HIV viral load assays for routine monitoring of HIV-1 positive patients on Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART). Approved commercial HIV-1 viral load assays are expensive for developing countries where a large number of patients are treated in the public sector. The evaluation of an in-house HIV-1 viral load assay (LUX assay) is described using 458 plasma specimens. Good specificity of the LUX assay was demonstrated using 50 seronegative plasma specimens. A group of 142 HIV-1 positive patients was used to assess the agreement between the LUX assay and the COBAS Amplicor assay. An intra class correlation (ICC) coefficient of 0.85 (CI 95%) indicated good agreement between the assays. The Bland-Altman model showed good agreement between the assays for ∼87% of the results (mean 0.03 [-1.26; 1.32], CI 95%). In a cohort of 55 patients followed-up longitudinally the LUX assay showed similar declines in viral load to the COBAS Amplicor assay in response to therapy. Viral rebound was detected in 5 patients out of 55 by both assays. Thus, the LUX assay compares well to the gold standard and represents an affordable alternative for high volume testing in resource limited settings. © 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. | Affordable; HIV-1 viral load; LUX primer; Quantitative real-time RT-PCR | antiretrovirus agent; article; blood sampling; controlled study; correlation coefficient; gold standard; highly active antiretroviral therapy; human; Human immunodeficiency virus 1; Human immunodeficiency virus 1 infection; Human immunodeficiency virus infected patient; intermethod comparison; major clinical study; model; nonhuman; priority journal; quantitative analysis; real time polymerase chain reaction; reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction; sensitivity and specificity; serology; treatment outcome; virus load; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; HIV Infections; HIV-1; Humans; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; Sensitivity and Specificity; Viral Load; Human immunodeficiency virus 1 | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84929990698 | Development of an appropriate methodology for measuring economic impacts of sports events: A case study of the KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa | Balkaran R., Tifflin W. | 2013 | Actual Problems of Economics | 146 | 8 | None | Durban University of Technology, South Africa | Balkaran, R., Durban University of Technology, South Africa; Tifflin, W., Durban University of Technology, South Africa | Major international sporting events occur on a daily basis globally and little thought goes into the actual hosts that manage a large part of these events. Many countries view hosting these events as the spin-offs to a city or country providing benefits to them in respect of tourism and its multiplier effects. To many third world countries and cities this is seen as a source of income and a means to create employment and the opportunity to earn foreign capital. Some argue that the costs incurred by the host country/ city for providing specialised infrastructure for these events, do so with the intention of having these costs off-set with the expected benefits from the sports event. It becomes essential therefore to ensure these events are well researched in respect of their benefits and overall impact to a host before committing valuable resources that could otherwise be more appropriately used. Within South African context the major national imperatives would be boosting the economy, employment creation and poverty alleviation. The paper provides various models for measuring economic impacts in the literature and critiques them with the intention of offering a suitable model/ methodology that provides necessary feedback for suitable measurements. A case study of two major Super 14 rugby matches was used in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. © Rishidaw Balkaran, Wayne Tifflin, 2013. | Economic effects of sports; Rugby; South Africa; Sports activities | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84875221413 | Evaluation of amentoflavone isolated from Cnestis ferruginea Vahl ex DC (Connaraceae) on production of inflammatory mediators in LPS stimulated rat astrocytoma cell line (C6) and THP-1 cells | Ishola I.O., Chaturvedi J.P., Rai S., Rajasekar N., Adeyemi O.O., Shukla R., Narender T. | 2013 | Journal of Ethnopharmacology | 146 | 2 | 10.1016/j.jep.2012.12.015 | Medicinal and Process Chemistry Division, Central Drug Research Institute (CSIR), Lucknow-226 001, Uttar Pradesh, India; Pharmacology Division, Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow-226 001, Uttar Pradesh, India; Department of Pharmacology, College of | Ishola, I.O., Pharmacology Division, Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow-226 001, Uttar Pradesh, India, Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria; Chaturvedi, J.P., Medicinal and Process Chemistry Division, Central Drug Research Institute (CSIR), Lucknow-226 001, Uttar Pradesh, India; Rai, S., Pharmacology Division, Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow-226 001, Uttar Pradesh, India; Rajasekar, N., Pharmacology Division, Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow-226 001, Uttar Pradesh, India; Adeyemi, O.O., Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria; Shukla, R., Pharmacology Division, Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow-226 001, Uttar Pradesh, India; Narender, T., Medicinal and Process Chemistry Division, Central Drug Research Institute (CSIR), Lucknow-226 001, Uttar Pradesh, India | Ethnopharmacological relevance: Cnestisferruginea (CF) Vahl ex DC (Connaraceae) is a shrub widely used in traditional African medicine for the treatment of various psychiatric illness and inflammatory conditions. Aim of the study: This study was carried out to investigate the effect of amentoflavone isolated from methanolic root extract of CF on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced neuroinflammatory cascade of events associated to the oxidative and nitrative stress, and TNF-α production in rat astrocytoma cell line (C6) and human monocytic leukemia cell line (THP-1), respectively. Materials and methods: Rat astrocytoma cells (C6) were stimulated with LPS (10 μg/ml) alone and in the presence of different concentrations of amentoflavone (0.1-3 μg/ml) for 24 h incubation period. Nitrite release, reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA) and reduced-glutathione (GSH) in C6 cells were estimated; while the TNF-α level was estimated in THP-1 cell lysate. In vivo analgesic activity was evaluated using mouse writhing and hot plate tests while the anti-inflammatory effect was investigated using carrageenan-induced oedema test. Results: LPS (10 μg/ml) significantly (P<0.05) stimulated C6 cells to release nitrite, ROS, MDA, and TNF-α generation while GSH was down regulated in comparison to control. However, amentoflavone significantly (P<0.05) attenuated nitrite, ROS, MDA and TNF-α generation and also up regulated the level of GSH. Amentoflavone per se did not have any significant effect on C6 and THP-1 cells. Amentoflavone (6.25-50 mg/kg) significantly (P<0.05) reduced number of writhes and also increase pain threshold in hot plate test. It produced time course significant (P<0.05) decrease in oedema formation in rodents. Discussion and conclusion: Findings in this study demonstrate the anti-neuroinflammatory and antinoceptive effects of amentoflavone which may suggest its beneficial roles in neuroinflammation associated disorders. © 2012 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. | Amentoflavone; Astrocytoma cell; Human monocytic leukemia cells; Neuroinflammation; Reactive oxygen species | amentoflavone; carrageenan; glutathione; ibuprofen; lipopolysaccharide; malonaldehyde; morphine; nimesulide; nitrite; reactive oxygen metabolite; tumor necrosis factor alpha; analgesic activity; animal cell; animal experiment; animal model; antiinflammatory activity; antinociception; article; astrocytoma cell; cell lysate; cell stimulation; cell viability; cnestis ferruginea; concentration response; Connaraceae; controlled study; cytokine production; down regulation; drug isolation; drug screening; female; hot plate test; human; human cell; in vivo study; incubation time; leukemia cell line; male; mediator; monocytic leukemia; mouse; nervous system inflammation; nitrative stress; nonhuman; oxidative stress; pain; pain threshold; paw edema; plant root; rat; writhing test; Acetic Acid; Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Astrocytoma; Biflavonoids; Carrageenan; Cell Line; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Survival; Connaraceae; Edema; Female; Glutathione; Hot Temperature; Inflammation Mediators; Lipopolysaccharides; Male; Malondialdehyde; Mice; Nitrites; Pain; Phytotherapy; Plant Roots; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Reactive Oxygen Species; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; Connaraceae; Rattus; Rodentia | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84930181436 | Impact of increased grid resolution on global marine biogeochemistry | McKiver W.J., Vichi M., Lovato T., Storto A., Masina S. | 2015 | Journal of Marine Systems | 147 | None | 10.1016/j.jmarsys.2014.10.003 | Centro Euro-Mediterraneo sui Cambiamenti Climatici, Bologna, Italy; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Bologna, Italy; Department of Oceanography, University of Cape Town, South Africa | McKiver, W.J., Centro Euro-Mediterraneo sui Cambiamenti Climatici, Bologna, Italy; Vichi, M., Centro Euro-Mediterraneo sui Cambiamenti Climatici, Bologna, Italy, Department of Oceanography, University of Cape Town, South Africa; Lovato, T., Centro Euro-Mediterraneo sui Cambiamenti Climatici, Bologna, Italy; Storto, A., Centro Euro-Mediterraneo sui Cambiamenti Climatici, Bologna, Italy; Masina, S., Centro Euro-Mediterraneo sui Cambiamenti Climatici, Bologna, Italy, Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Bologna, Italy | Here we examine the impact of mesoscale processes on the global marine biogeochemical system by performing simulations at two different resolutions, 2° (LO-res) and 1/4° resolution (HI-res) using the PELAGOS model. Both the LO-res and HI-res simulations are set up with the same forcings and biogeochemical parameterizations, while the initial conditions are provided by a spinup of the LO-res simulation. This allows us to perform a direct inter-comparison of the two cases with a view to understanding how the introduction of mesoscale features affects the biogeochemical system, specifically how differences in the resolved horizontal and vertical motions are reflected in the plankton biomass and the nutrient availability. While the global large-scale oceanographic features (fronts, gyres, etc.) are captured in both the LO-res and HI-res simulations, differences in the mesoscale flow structures, and in particular the resolved vertical physics in the HI-res simulation generate very different behavior in the biogeochemical system. These differences in the physics drive what is a spun-up biogeochemical system in the LO-res simulation into a new regime in the HI-res simulation with significant reduction of typical low resolution biases. Coastal features are well reproduced due to stronger Ekman upwelling at the continental margins and increased eddy kinetic energy in the Southern Ocean significantly reduces the winter overestimation. These biases in the LO-res model are a result of inadequate vertical dynamics. The enhancement of surface chlorophyll can be attributed to improvements in the winter mixed layer in some regions such as the North Atlantic, while it is overall the difference in the Ekman vertical velocity which improves surface production allowing to simulate more realistic deep chlorophyll maxima as well. While the HI-res is better than the LO-res at capturing the timing of the spring bloom in the Southern Ocean, it still overestimates the peak of the bloom, hinting at the need to better understand the driving forces of the seasonal cycle of sub-Antarctic plankton dynamics. © 2014 Elsevier B.V. | Chlorophyll; Global ocean; Marine plankton; Mesoscale processes; Nutricline | Biogeochemistry; Blooms (metal); Chlorophyll; Kinetic energy; Kinetics; Marine biology; Oceanography; Plankton; Different resolutions; Global ocean; Horizontal and vertical motions; Marine planktons; Mesoscale process; Nutricline; Nutrient availability; Winter mixed layers; Computer simulation; biogeochemistry; kinetic energy; marine ecosystem; mesoscale meteorology; nutrient availability; parameterization; plankton; simulation; Southern Ocean | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79955716642 | Evaluation of the functional potential of Weissella and Lactobacillus isolates obtained from Nigerian traditional fermented foods and cow's intestine | Ayeni F.A., Sánchez B., Adeniyi B.A., de los Reyes-Gavilán C.G., Margolles A., Ruas-Madiedo P. | 2011 | International Journal of Food Microbiology | 147 | 2 | 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2011.03.014 | Department of Microbiology and Biochemistry of Dairy Products, Instituto de Productos Lacteos de Asturias, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas (IPLA-CSIC), Villaviciosa, Asturias, Spain; Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Faculty of Ph | Ayeni, F.A., Department of Microbiology and Biochemistry of Dairy Products, Instituto de Productos Lacteos de Asturias, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas (IPLA-CSIC), Villaviciosa, Asturias, Spain, Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria; Sánchez, B., Department of Microbiology and Biochemistry of Dairy Products, Instituto de Productos Lacteos de Asturias, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas (IPLA-CSIC), Villaviciosa, Asturias, Spain; Adeniyi, B.A., Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria; de los Reyes-Gavilán, C.G., Department of Microbiology and Biochemistry of Dairy Products, Instituto de Productos Lacteos de Asturias, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas (IPLA-CSIC), Villaviciosa, Asturias, Spain; Margolles, A., Department of Microbiology and Biochemistry of Dairy Products, Instituto de Productos Lacteos de Asturias, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas (IPLA-CSIC), Villaviciosa, Asturias, Spain; Ruas-Madiedo, P., Department of Microbiology and Biochemistry of Dairy Products, Instituto de Productos Lacteos de Asturias, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas (IPLA-CSIC), Villaviciosa, Asturias, Spain | The characterisation of 24 lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolates from Nigerian traditional fermented dairy foods, including some cow's intestine isolates, was conducted in order to select isolates for potential use as probiotics. LAB isolates were identified by partial sequencing the 16S rRNA gene as belonging to the species Lactobacillus paracasei, Lactobacillus brevis and mainly Weissella confusa. At the end of a characterisation process, 2 L. paracasei and 2 W. confusa isolates were selected, and their resistance to a simulated gastrointestinal digestion and their ability to adhere to eukaryotic cell lines were assessed. The survival to the simulated gastrointestinal passage was higher when bacterial suspensions were made in skimmed milk (2.0 ± 0.8 log units reduction) or at the simulated gastric juice pH 3 (2.7 ± 0.9 log units reduction) than at pH 2.0 (5.5 ± 0.7 log units reduction). Adhesion of LAB to both intestinal and vaginal epithelial models was comparable or higher than that of the reference Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG. However, some of the isolates increased the adhesion of the pathogen Escherichia coli LMG2092 to HT-29 and HeLa monolayers. Overall, isolates L. paracasei UI14 and W. confusa UI7 are good candidates for further studying potential benefits that support their use as probiotics. This is one of the few articles reporting the characterisation and the probiotic potential of Weissella, although more studies are needed in order to establish their safety for potential probiotic applications. © 2011 Elsevier B.V. | Adhesion epithelial cell culture; Antibiotic resistance; Gastrointestinal transit; Lactobacillus; Probiotic; Weissella | probiotic agent; RNA 16S; animal tissue; article; bacterial survival; bacterium identification; bacterium isolate; cell strain HT29; controlled study; cow; digestion; Escherichia coli; fermentation; food; gene sequence; HeLa cell; human; human cell; intestine; Lactobacillus brevis; Lactobacillus paracasei; Lactobacillus rhamnosus; milk; monolayer culture; Nigeria; nonhuman; pathogenesis; stomach juice; stomach pH; Weissella; Weissella confusa; Animals; Bacterial Adhesion; Cattle; Cell Line; Dairy Products; Escherichia coli; Female; Hela Cells; Humans; Intestines; Lactobacillus; Nigeria; Probiotics; Weissella; Bacteria (microorganisms); Escherichia coli; Eukaryota; Lactobacillus; Lactobacillus brevis; Lactobacillus paracasei; Lactobacillus rhamnosus; Weissella; Weissella confusa | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-34249745741 | Evaluation of the influence of housefly maggot meal (magmeal) diets on catalase, glutathione S-transferase and glycogen concentration in the liver of Oreochromis niloticus fingerling | Ogunji J.O., Nimptsch J., Wiegand C., Schulz C. | 2007 | Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology - A Molecular and Integrative Physiology | 147 | 4 | 10.1016/j.cbpa.2007.02.028 | Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries Berlin, Germany; Ebonyi State University, Department of Animal Production and Fisheries Management, P.M.B. 053, Abakaliki, Nigeria; Institute of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture and Horticulture, | Ogunji, J.O., Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries Berlin, Germany, Ebonyi State University, Department of Animal Production and Fisheries Management, P.M.B. 053, Abakaliki, Nigeria; Nimptsch, J., Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries Berlin, Germany; Wiegand, C., Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries Berlin, Germany; Schulz, C., Institute of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture and Horticulture, Humboldt University Berlin, Germany | Influence of housefly maggot meal (magmeal) diets on the activities of catalase (CAT), glutathione S-transferase (GST) and glycogen concentration in liver of Tilapia Oreochromis niloticus fingerling was evaluated. Triplicate groups of fifteen fish (initial average weight 2.0 ± 0.1 g) were fed eight weeks with seven test diets (in average 36% crude protein, dry matter) formulated by replacing fish meal with magmeal. Percentage body weight gain (591-724.46%), food conversion ratio (1.05-1.22) and standard growth rate (3.45-3.76) in all feeding groups were not significantly different (P < 0.05). No significant difference (P < 0.05) was observed in liver glycogen reserve (175.27-236.88 μmol g- 1) among the fish groups. Hepatic catalase activity also did not differ significantly. However, elevated glutathione S-transferases activities were observed when fish received higher dietary magmeal concentration. This might have been temporary with no real physiological implication when appraised by the growth responses. These results indicate that magmeal was well utilized by the fish and its incorporation into tilapia diets seems to have no oxidative stress generating effect on fish metabolism and may not be containing any compound that stimulates the generation of reactive oxygen species. Magmeal can effectively be used as an alternative protein source in tilapia fingerling production. © 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. | Catalase; Fish nutrition; Glutathione S-transferases; Housefly maggot meal; Liver glycogen; Oxidative stress; Tilapia Oreochromis niloticus | catalase; glutathione transferase; glycogen; reactive oxygen metabolite; animal experiment; article; controlled study; dietary intake; enzyme activity; glycogen liver level; house fly; maggot; nonhuman; nutrition; oreochromis niloticus; oxidative stress; Tilapia; Animal Feed; Animals; Antioxidants; Catalase; Cichlids; Diet; Feeding Behavior; Food; Glutathione Transferase; Glycogen; Houseflies; Larva; Liver; Survival Analysis; Oreochromis niloticus; Tilapia | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-67649411731 | Genetic evaluation of Ethiopian Boran cattle and their crosses with Holstein Friesian in central Ethiopia: Reproductive traits | Haile A., Joshi B.K., Ayalew W., Tegegne A., Singh A. | 2009 | Journal of Agricultural Science | 147 | 1 | 10.1017/S0021859608008095 | National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal-132001, India; International Livestock Research Institute, P.O. Box 5689, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Jimma University College of Agriculture, P.O. Box 307, Jimma, Ethiopia | Haile, A., National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal-132001, India, International Livestock Research Institute, P.O. Box 5689, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Jimma University College of Agriculture, P.O. Box 307, Jimma, Ethiopia; Joshi, B.K., National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal-132001, India; Ayalew, W., International Livestock Research Institute, P.O. Box 5689, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Tegegne, A., International Livestock Research Institute, P.O. Box 5689, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Singh, A., National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal-132001, India | Breed additive and non-additive effects as well as genetic parameters for calving interval (CI), days open (DO), age at first service (AFS), age at first calving (AFC), number of services per first conception (NSC) and breeding efficiency (BE) were estimated in Ethiopian Boran cattle and their crosses with Holstein Friesian in central Ethiopia. The data analysed were spread over 15 years (19902004). The Ethiopian Boran cattle had longer CI and DO, lower BE and delayed AFS and AFC compared with all the crosses. However, there was no significant difference in NSC between the genetic groups. Comparison between the crosses revealed no clear cut superiority of any of the genetic groups except for CI and DO which were shorter for 050 and 0875 crosses compared with the 075 crosses. The additive breed differences between Ethiopian Boran and Holstein Friesian for CI, DO, NSC and BE were not significant (P>005). These estimates are also associated with large standard errors. The non-significance of the otherwise large difference (40 days for CI for instance) between the two breeds could be a result of a large variation (and hence standard errors) associated with the traits. On the other hand, the estimates for additive direct effects for AFS and AFC were negative and significant (P<001). The estimates were 721 and 728 months, respectively. The individual heterosis values were not significant (P>005) for CI, DO, NSC and BE. However, significant (P<001) estimates for AFS and AFC (P<005) were recorded. None of the maternal heterotic effects for reproduction traits were significant (P>005) except for AFC, for which positive (29 months) and significant (P<005) estimates were obtained. Heritabilities of CI, DO, AFS, AFC, NSC and BE for crosses were 010046, 010047, 060145, 070159, 010071 and 060156, respectively. Selection coupled with improved herd reproductive management should substantially improve the reproductive performance of the indigenous Ethiopian Boran breed under such production system. © 2008 Cambridge University Press. | None | age at maturity; cattle; genetic analysis; genetic variation; hybrid; maternal effect; reproductive potential; reproductive productivity; reproductive strategy; selective breeding; Africa; East Africa; Ethiopia; Sub-Saharan Africa; Bos; Friesia | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33745425069 | Keystone predators (eastern newts, Notophthalmus viridescens) reduce the impacts of an aquatic invasive species | Smith K.G. | 2006 | Oecologia | 148 | 2 | 10.1007/s00442-006-0370-y | Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Tennessee, 569 Dabney Hall, Knoxville, TN 37996-1610, United States; Florida Integrated Science Center, United States Geological Survey, 7920 NW 71st St, Gainesville, FL 32653, United States; Department of Zoology, School of Environmental Science and Development, North-West University, Private Bag X6001, 2520 Potchefstroom, South Africa | Smith, K.G., Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Tennessee, 569 Dabney Hall, Knoxville, TN 37996-1610, United States, Florida Integrated Science Center, United States Geological Survey, 7920 NW 71st St, Gainesville, FL 32653, United States, Department of Zoology, School of Environmental Science and Development, North-West University, Private Bag X6001, 2520 Potchefstroom, South Africa | Predation, competition, and their interaction are known to be important factors that influence the structure of ecological communities. In particular, in those cases where a competitive hierarchy exists among prey species, the presence of certain keystone predators can result in enhanced diversity in the prey community. However, little is known regarding the influence of keystone predator presence on invaded prey communities. Given the widespread occurrence of invasive species and substantial concern regarding their ecological impacts, studies on this topic are needed. In this study I used naturalistic replications of an experimental tadpole assemblage to assess the influence of predatory eastern newts, Notophthalmus viridescens, on the outcome of interspecific competition among native and nonindigenous tadpoles. When newts were absent, the presence of the tadpoles of one invasive species, the Cuban treefrog, Osteopilus septentrionalis, resulted in decreased survival and growth rate of the dominant native species, Bufo terrestris, and dominance of the tadpole assemblage by O. septentrionalis. However, the presence of one adult newt generally reduced or eliminated the negative impacts of O. septentrionalis tadpoles, resulting in comparable survival and performance of native species in invaded and noninvaded treatments. Differential mortality among the tadpole species suggests that newts preyed selectively on O. septentrionalis tadpoles, supporting the hypothesis that newts acted as keystone predators in the invaded assemblage. The presence of nonindigenous larval cane toads, Bufo marinus, did not significantly affect native species, and this species was not negatively affected by the presence of newts. Collectively, these results suggest that eastern newts significantly modified the competitive hierarchy of the invaded tadpole assemblage and reduced the impacts of a competitively superior invasive species. If general, these results suggest that the presence of certain species may be an essential factor regulating the ecological impacts of biological invasions. © Springer-Verlag 2006. | Aquatic ecology; Biotic resistance; Competition; Nonindigenous species; Predation | biological invasion; competition (ecology); interspecific competition; predation; predator-prey interaction; animal; article; ecosystem; frogs and toads; growth, development and aging; larva; newt; physiology; predation; toad; Animals; Anura; Bufo marinus; Ecosystem; Larva; Notophthalmus viridescens; Predatory Behavior; Anura; Bufo marinus; Bufo terrestris; Notophthalmus; Notophthalmus viridescens; Osteopilus septentrionalis; Salamandridae | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84886745650 | Carotenoid accumulation and agronomic performance of maize hybrids involving parental combinations from different marker-based groups | Menkir A., Gedil M., Tanumihardjo S., Adepoju A., Bossey B. | 2014 | Food Chemistry | 148 | None | 10.1016/j.foodchem.2013.09.156 | International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Oyo Road, PMB 5320 Ibadan, Nigeria; University of Wisconsin, 273 Nutritional Science, 1415 Linden DY, Madison, WI 53706, United States | Menkir, A., International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Oyo Road, PMB 5320 Ibadan, Nigeria; Gedil, M., International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Oyo Road, PMB 5320 Ibadan, Nigeria; Tanumihardjo, S., University of Wisconsin, 273 Nutritional Science, 1415 Linden DY, Madison, WI 53706, United States; Adepoju, A., International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Oyo Road, PMB 5320 Ibadan, Nigeria; Bossey, B., International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Oyo Road, PMB 5320 Ibadan, Nigeria | The present study examined the effect of crossing parental lines from two AFLP-based groups on carotenoid accumulation and agronomic performance in hybrids, which were tested in four environments in Nigeria. Environments, hybrids and hybrid × environment interactions had significant effects on carotenoid content. Hybrids had consistent carotenoid levels across test environments. The correlations between carotenoids produced in a specific branch of the biosynthetic pathway were significant and positive. Environments, hybrids and hybrid × environment interactions had significant effects on grain yield and other traits in this study. Several hybrids with high provitamin A content that were competitive to a commercial hybrid in grain yield and other traits were identified in this study. Selection of parental lines with high provitamin A content and desirable agronomic traits from different molecular-based groups may serve as the basis for developing hybrids with greater expression of heterosis in productivity and concentrations of provitamin A carotenoids. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. | AFLP (amplified fragment length polymorphism); Agronomic traits; Carotenoids; Hybrids; Marker-based groups | Agronomic traits; Amplified fragment length polymorphisms; Carotenoids; Hybrids; Marker-based groups; Agronomy; Pigments; alpha carotene; carotenoid; agronomic trait; article; bioaccumulation; controlled study; cross breeding; grain yield; hybrid; maize; Nigeria; nonhuman; plant environment interaction; Zea mays; AFLP (amplified fragment length polymorphism); Agronomic traits; Carotenoids; Hybrids; Marker-based groups; Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism Analysis; Biological Markers; Carotenoids; Hybridization, Genetic; Nigeria; Plant Extracts; Zea mays | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84902654472 | Seed germination and phytochemical evaluation in seedlings of Aloe arborescens Mill. | Kulkarni M.G., Amoo S.O., Kandari L.S., Van Staden J. | 2014 | Plant Biosystems | 148 | 3 | 10.1080/11263504.2013.782901 | School of Life Sciences, Research Centre for Plant Growth and Development, University of KwaZulu-Natal Pietermaritzburg, South Africa | Kulkarni, M.G., School of Life Sciences, Research Centre for Plant Growth and Development, University of KwaZulu-Natal Pietermaritzburg, South Africa; Amoo, S.O., School of Life Sciences, Research Centre for Plant Growth and Development, University of KwaZulu-Natal Pietermaritzburg, South Africa; Kandari, L.S., School of Life Sciences, Research Centre for Plant Growth and Development, University of KwaZulu-Natal Pietermaritzburg, South Africa; Van Staden, J., School of Life Sciences, Research Centre for Plant Growth and Development, University of KwaZulu-Natal Pietermaritzburg, South Africa | Many Aloe species are exploited as natural products. Generally, the leaves are unsustainably picked from wild plants to meet the market demand. Basic scientific information on seed biology and the ways of increasing levels of secondary metabolites in seedlings is still lacking for Aloe species. This study investigated seed germination requirements and evaluated levels of secondary metabolites in seedlings of Aloe arborescens, an important species in traditional medicine. The highest percentage germination (78%) and the fastest germination rate (GR) (10% d- 1) with a mean germination time (MGT) of 9 days were achieved at 20°C under a 16-h photoperiod. At 25°C, maximum percentage germination (67%) (P < 0.05), higher GR (13% d- 1) and shorter MGT (6 days) were obtained under constant light. These results indicate that temperature and light play a significant role in germination of A. arborescens seeds. Increasing osmotic pressure on seeds decreased percentage germination, whereas buffering the solution to a range of pH values (4-10) did not significantly affect germination. Smoke-water (1:500 v/v), smoke-isolated karrikinolide (10- 8 and 10- 9 M) and potassium nitrate (10- 3 and 10- 4 M) significantly promoted germination compared with the control at 25°C (supra-optimal temperature) under a 16-h photoperiod. These treatments were also effective in increasing secondary metabolite levels (flavonoids and phenolics) in A. arborescens seedlings. © 2013 Societá Botanica Italiana. | Aloe; flavonoid; germination; phenolics; potassium nitrate; smoke | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84949120794 | Impacts of conservation agriculture-based farming systems on optimizing seasonal rainfall partitioning and productivity on vertisols in the Ethiopian drylands | Araya T., Nyssen J., Govaerts B., Deckers J., Cornelis W.M. | 2015 | Soil and Tillage Research | 148 | None | 10.1016/j.still.2014.11.009 | University of Fort Hare, Department of Agronomy, PBX 1314, Alice, South Africa; Mekelle University, Department of Crop and Horticultural Science, P.O. Box 231, Mekelle, Ethiopia; Ghent University, Department of Geography, Krijgslaan 281 (S8), Gent, Belgium; International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), A.P. 6-641, Mexico D.F., Mexico; KU Leuven, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Celestijnenlaan 200E, Heverlee, Belgium; Ghent University, Department of Soil Management, Coupure Links 653, Gent, Belgium | Araya, T., University of Fort Hare, Department of Agronomy, PBX 1314, Alice, South Africa, Mekelle University, Department of Crop and Horticultural Science, P.O. Box 231, Mekelle, Ethiopia; Nyssen, J., Ghent University, Department of Geography, Krijgslaan 281 (S8), Gent, Belgium; Govaerts, B., International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), A.P. 6-641, Mexico D.F., Mexico; Deckers, J., KU Leuven, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Celestijnenlaan 200E, Heverlee, Belgium; Cornelis, W.M., Ghent University, Department of Soil Management, Coupure Links 653, Gent, Belgium | Field water conservation practices are a way to build resilience against drought by increasing productive green water through reducing runoff and evaporation and thereby boosting crop yield. A field study was undertaken on permanently kept rainfed experimental plots established in 2005 on a vertisol in order to evaluate two resource saving cropping systems based on conservation agriculture (CA) that integrate in situ soil and water conservation tillage practices (derdero+ and terwah+) as compared to a conventional system in terms of soil moisture, runoff, water loss (drainage and evapotranspiration together), water productivity and crop yield. The experimental layout was a randomized complete block design with three replications and a plot size of 5m×19m. The farming systems differed in tillage practice, but all had wheat, teff, barley and grass pea crops grown in rotation. The tillage treatments were (i) derdero+ (DER+) with a furrow and permanent raised bed planting system, plowed only by refreshing the furrow once at planting with no tillage on top of the permanently kept raised beds, 30% standing crop straw retention, and with ~20% of the crop residue being covered with soil during refreshing the furrow at planting, (ii) terwah+ (TER+) with furrows made at 1.5m intervals, plowed once at planting, 30% standing crop straw retention and fresh broad beds, and crop residue being partly covered with soil during tillage at planting, and (iii) conventional tillage (CT) with a minimum of three plain tillage operations and complete removal of crop straw. All plowing as well as the maintenance of the furrows of the permanent raised beds was done using a local ard plow called mahresha. Glyphosate was sprayed at 2lha-1 to control weeds before crop emergence, starting from 2007 with DER+ and TER+. Runoff was collected at the lower end of each plot in calibrated runoff collectors after each runoff event. Soil-water content was measured using the gravimetric method at 5-6 day intervals. Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) was measured in the field at several phenological stages, using a handheld GreenSeeker™ Optical Sensor Unit. Soil-water storage (0-80cm soil depth) during the growing season was always highest with DER+ followed by TER+ and CT, whereas the opposite trend was observed for runoff. On the other hand, deep drainage and evapotranspiration was always highest in the DER+ compared to CT. NDVI records throughout the growing season were significantly highest with DER+ for wheat and grass pea, while the highest values were observed with TER+ when under teff. These values were directly proportional to the above ground crop biomass and yield. The grain and straw yield of wheat in 2009 was increased from 1.6 and 3.7tha-1 with CT to 2.6 and 5.2tha-1 with DER+, respectively. Our study demonstrates that field water conservation tillage practices that incorporate CA principles are effectively increasing green water in the root zone available for crops and thus, improve crop productivity and yields substantially on vertisols in drylands without other inputs. © 2014 Elsevier B.V. | Conservation agriculture; Crop residue; Permanent bed; Soil-water balance; Vertisols | Agricultural machinery; Agricultural wastes; Agriculture; Crops; Cultivation; Evapotranspiration; Plants (botany); Productivity; Runoff; Soil conservation; Soil moisture; Soils; Water conservation; Water content; Water supply; Conservation agricultures; Crop residue; Permanent bed; Soil water balance; Vertisols; Agricultural runoff; conservation tillage; crop yield; emergence; evapotranspiration; farming system; growing season; NDVI; optimization; phenology; rainfall; seasonal variation; soil moisture; soil water; Vertisol; Ethiopia; Eragrostis tef; Hordeum; Pisum sativum; Triticum aestivum | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-60949700706 | The impact of translation activities on the development of African languages in a multilingual society: Duramazwi reMimhanzi as a case-study | Mheta G. | 2005 | Lexikos | 15 | None | None | African Languages Research Institute, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe | Mheta, G., African Languages Research Institute, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe | The article examines the impact of translation activities on the development of African languages in the multilingual Zimbabwean society. It analyses Shona musical terms created through translation processes and strategies such as borrowing, coining, compounding and derivation. Focus is on the way this ongoing term-creation is contributing to improving or hindering the development of Shona. The importance of such processes and strategies are discussed in the broader context of empowering African languages. The article also offers recommendations on how best to produce systematized terminology in music and other specialized fields. | Borrowing; Coining; Compounding; Derivation; Development of African languages; Multilingual societies; Terminography; Terminology; Translation | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84925878225 | Evaluation of adherence measures of antiretroviral prophylaxis in HIV exposed infants in the first 6 weeks of life | Desmond A.C., Moodley D., Conolly C.A., Castel S.A., Coovadia H.M. | 2015 | BMC Pediatrics | 15 | 1 | 10.1186/s12887-015-0340-9 | Center for AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa-CAPRISA, Women's Health and HIV Research Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; Biostatistics Unit, Medical Research Council, Durban, South Africa; Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Maternal Adolescent and Child Health (MatCH), University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa | Desmond, A.C., Center for AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa-CAPRISA, Women's Health and HIV Research Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; Moodley, D., Center for AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa-CAPRISA, Women's Health and HIV Research Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; Conolly, C.A., Biostatistics Unit, Medical Research Council, Durban, South Africa; Castel, S.A., Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Coovadia, H.M., Maternal Adolescent and Child Health (MatCH), University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa | Background: Adherence to an antiretroviral regimen is imperative for treatment success in both HIV infected adults and children. Likewise, adherence to antiretroviral prophylaxis is critical in HIV prevention. Studies on pediatric adherence are limited, particularly the prophylactic use of antiretroviral drugs and treatment adherence in very young infants. The HIV Prevention Trials Network (HPTN) 046 study (Clinical Trial Registration NCT00074412) determined the safety and efficacy of an extended regimen of nevirapine suspension in infants born to HIV-1 infected women for the prevention of vertical HIV transmission during breastfeeding. As per protocol, adherence to nevirapine prophylaxis was measured by maternal verbal reports. In addition, the pharmacy assessed the unused returned suspension. The aim of this sub-study was to determine the reliability of maternal verbal reports in measuring adherence to antiretroviral prophylaxis in infants in the first 6 weeks of life and evaluating the unused returned nevirapine as an alternative method of measuring adherence. Methods: Maternal verbal reports and pharmacy returns indicative of "missed<2 doses" were evaluated against a plasma nevirapine concentration of >100 ng/ml in a subgroup of infants at 2, 5 and 6 weeks of age. Plasma nevirapine concentration of >100 ng/ml was used as a marker of adherence (10 times the in vitro IC50 against HIV). Results: Adherence was 87.7% (maternal verbal report) and 71.3% (unused returned medication), as compared to 85.6% by plasma nevirapine concentration. Evaluated against plasma nevirapine concentration <100 ng/ml, the sensitivity and specificity of maternal verbal reports to detect a missed dose in the last 3 days were 75% and 78% (p=0.03) respectively. Overall, among infants who were classified as adherent based on missed doses by maternal verbal reports and unused returned medication, 88.4% and 87.4% of infants attained a nevirapine concentration above 100 ng/ml respectively. Conclusion: Maternal verbal reports are a reliable measure of adherence to infant antiretroviral prophylaxis in the first 6 weeks of life and could be useful in assessing adherence to antiretroviral treatment in infants younger than 6 weeks. In the absence of resources or expertise to determine plasma drug concentration, we would recommend random assessments of unused returned medication. © Desmond et al.; licensee BioMed Central. | Adherence measures; Antiretroviral prophylaxis; Infants; Maternal verbal report; Pharmacy returns | nevirapine; adult; antibiotic prophylaxis; Article; breast feeding; diagnostic test accuracy study; drug blood level; drug efficacy; drug safety; female; highly active antiretroviral therapy; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; IC50; infant; maternal verbal report; measurement; medication compliance; patient compliance; sensitivity and specificity; verbal communication; vertical transmission | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-46049089443 | Field-based evaluation of a reagent strip test for diagnosis of schistosomiasis mansoni by detecting circulating cathodic antigen (CCA) in urine in low endemic area in Ethiopia | Legesse M., Erko B. | 2008 | Parasite | 15 | 2 | None | Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | Legesse, M., Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Erko, B., Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of a reagent strip test for the diagnosis of schistosomiasis mansoni by detecting circulating cathodic antigen (CCA) in urine were evaluated using 184 stool and urine samples collected from schoolchildren living in relatively low endemic area of schistosomiasis mansoni in Ethiopia. A combined result of stool samples processed by Kato and formol-ether concentration methods was used as gold standard. The results showed that detection of CCA in urine using reagent strip test was slightly higher than the combined results of the stool techniques (65.2 % vs 42.4 %, p > 0.05) in suggesting the prevalence of the disease. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of the reagent strip test were 76.9 %, 43.4 %, 50 % and 71.9 %, respectively. The result of egg counts using Kato method suggested that detection of urine CCA could be used to indicate the intensity of infection. Nevertheless, like that of stool examination, the reagent strip test was found to be less sensitive in case of light to moderate infections. About 23.1 % of the study children who were excreting the eggs of the parasite were found negative by the reagent strip test. The relative insensitivity of a reagent strip test in low intensity of infection necessitates for the development of more sensitive assay that can truly discriminate schistosome-infected from non-infected individuals. | CCA; Ethiopia; Reagent strip test; S. mansoni; Urine | CCA protein, Schistosoma mansoni; glycoprotein; helminth protein; parasite antigen; adolescent; adult; animal; article; child; cross-sectional study; Ethiopia; feces; female; human; immunology; male; parasite identification; parasitology; preschool child; prevalence; reproducibility; Schistosoma mansoni; sensitivity and specificity; test strip; urine; Adolescent; Adult; Animals; Antigens, Helminth; Child; Child, Preschool; Cross-Sectional Studies; Ethiopia; Feces; Female; Glycoproteins; Helminth Proteins; Humans; Male; Parasite Egg Count; Prevalence; Reagent Strips; Reproducibility of Results; Schistosoma mansoni; Schistosomiasis mansoni; Sensitivity and Specificity; Schistosoma; Schistosoma mansoni | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84893516821 | Late presentation to HIV/AIDS testing, treatment or continued care: Clarifying the use of CD4 evaluation in the consensus definition | Maccarthy S., Bangsberg D., Fink G., Reich M., Gruskin S. | 2014 | HIV Medicine | 15 | 3 | 10.1111/hiv.12088 | Alpert Medical School of Brown University and The Miriam Hospital, Providence, RI, United States; Massachusetts General Hospital Center for Global Health, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States; Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara, Mbarara District, Uganda; Department of Global Health and Population, Boston, MA, United States; Institute of Global Health, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States | Maccarthy, S., Alpert Medical School of Brown University and The Miriam Hospital, Providence, RI, United States; Bangsberg, D., Massachusetts General Hospital Center for Global Health, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara, Mbarara District, Uganda; Fink, G., Department of Global Health and Population, Boston, MA, United States; Reich, M., Department of Global Health and Population, Boston, MA, United States; Gruskin, S., Department of Global Health and Population, Boston, MA, United States, Institute of Global Health, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States | Objectives: Late presentation to HIV/AIDS services compromises treatment outcomes and misses opportunities for biomedical and behavioural prevention. There has been significant heterogeneity in how the term 'late presentation' (LP) has been used in the literature. In 2011, a consensus definition was reached using CD4 counts to define and measure late presenters and, while it is useful for clinical care, the consensus definition has several important limitations that we discuss in this article. Methods: Using the spectrum of engagement in HIV care presented by Gardner and colleagues, this article highlights issues and opportunities associated with use of the consensus definition. Results: The consensus definition is limited by three principal factors: (1) the CD4 count threshold of 350cells/μL is being increasingly questioned as the biomedical justification grows for earlier initiation of treatment; (2) CD4 evaluations are conducted at multiple services providing HIV care; thus it remains unclear to which service the patient is presenting late; and (3) the limited availability of CD4 evaluation restricts its use in determining the prevalence of LP in many settings. Conclusions: The consensus definition is useful because it describes the level of disease progression and allows for consistent evaluation of the prevalence and determinants of LP. Suggestions are provided for improving the application of the consensus definition in future research. © 2013 British HIV Association. | CD4 evaluations; HIV/AIDS; Late presentation; Testing; Treatment | antiretrovirus agent; acquired immune deficiency syndrome; article; CD4 lymphocyte count; disease course; evaluation study; health care; health care utilization; HIV test; human; Human immunodeficiency virus; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; late presentation; prevalence; priority journal; treatment outcome; virus replication; virus transmission; CD4 evaluations; HIV/AIDS; late presentation; testing; treatment; CD4 Lymphocyte Count; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes; Delayed Diagnosis; Disease Progression; HIV Infections; Humans; Time Factors | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-76049129409 | Impact of sediment characteristics on the macrobenthic invertebrates community of a perturbed tropical lagoon | Uwadiae R.E., Edokpayi C.A., Adegbite O., Ablmbola O. | 2009 | Ecology, Environment and Conservation | 15 | 3 | None | Benthic Ecology Unit, Department of Marine Sciences, University of Lagos, Akoka, Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria | Uwadiae, R.E., Benthic Ecology Unit, Department of Marine Sciences, University of Lagos, Akoka, Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria; Edokpayi, C.A., Benthic Ecology Unit, Department of Marine Sciences, University of Lagos, Akoka, Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria; Adegbite, O., Benthic Ecology Unit, Department of Marine Sciences, University of Lagos, Akoka, Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria; Ablmbola, O., Benthic Ecology Unit, Department of Marine Sciences, University of Lagos, Akoka, Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria | The physico-chemical characteristics of the sediments and the benthic macrfauna of Epe lagoon, in south-western Nigeria were investigated between September, 2004 and February, 2005. The sediment parameters studied were grain size, total organic content (TOC), pH, conductivity, nitrate, phosphate, sulphate and heavy metals (zinc and copper). A range of 65.8-92.8% for sand, 7.8-29.4% for mud, 2.05-98.5% for TOC, 7.2-8.0 for pH, 3.81-44.27mg/kg for zinc, 0.32-5.81mg/kg for copper, 0.10-0.19mg/kg for sulphate, 1.12-1.38mg/kg for nitrate, and 0.22-0.35mg/kg for phosphate were recorded during the study period. Sediment types were predominantly sand intermixed with varied proportions of mud. There was significant difference (ANOVA, P<0.05) in all the parameters investigated at the study stations except for phosphate and nitrate. A total of 2,673 individuals belonging to three phyla (Annelida, Arthropoda and mollusca) were encountered in this study. The molluscs dominated both in the number of individuals and species. The benthic macroinvertebrates abundance and diversity were low. The impact of sediment characteristics on the distribution, abundance and diversity of benthic macroinvertebrates in the study area is discussed. Copyright © Enviromedia. | Coastal water; Macrobenthic invertebrates; Sediment characteristics; South-western Nigeria | coastal lagoon; inorganic compound; macrobenthos; macroinvertebrate; mollusc; parameterization; perturbation; physicochemical property; population density; population distribution; rationalization; sediment property; Epe Lagoon; Lagos [Nigeria]; Nigeria; Annelida; Arthropoda; Invertebrata; Mollusca | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84886018169 | Performance of different potato genotypes under aeroponics system | Chiipanthenga M., Maliro M., Demo P., Njoloma J., Khumar N. | 2013 | Journal of Applied Horticulture | 15 | 2 | None | Bunda College of Agriculture, University of Malawi, Njuli-Estate, Malawi; Kasinthula Research Station, Department of Agricultural Research Services, Njuli-Estate, Malawi; International Potato Center (CIP), Njuli-Estate, Malawi; Universal Farming and Milling Ltd., Njuli-Estate, Malawi; World Agroforestry Centre, ICRAF Southern Africa, Kenya | Chiipanthenga, M., Bunda College of Agriculture, University of Malawi, Njuli-Estate, Malawi, Kasinthula Research Station, Department of Agricultural Research Services, Njuli-Estate, Malawi; Maliro, M., Bunda College of Agriculture, University of Malawi, Njuli-Estate, Malawi; Demo, P., International Potato Center (CIP), Njuli-Estate, Malawi; Njoloma, J., Bunda College of Agriculture, University of Malawi, Njuli-Estate, Malawi, World Agroforestry Centre, ICRAF Southern Africa, Kenya; Khumar, N., Universal Farming and Milling Ltd., Njuli-Estate, Malawi | Potato yields in developing countries are below potential yield because potato production is mainly constrained by lack of quality seed. Lack of potato seed systems to provide farmers with quality clean and certified potato seed has led majority of farmers save their own seed. Such potato seed is characterized by systemic viral and bacterial diseases that are transmitted from generation to generation and this leads to low crop yields. The study was aimed at exploring the use of tissue culture and aeroponics techniques in the production of quality potato seed. Potato plantlets were produced in the tissue culture laboratory at Bvumbwe Research Station, 15° 41′ 0″ South, 35° 8′ 0″ East in Thyolo district of Malawi and then transferred to an aeroponics facility at Njuli Estate, 15° 41′ 0″ South, 35° 8′ 0″ East in Chiradzulu district of Malawi. The four potato genotypes did not differ on plant growth performance, but responded differently to aeroponics system in terms of mini tuber yield and stolon numbers. Genotypes CIP381381.20 and CIP381381.13 showed superiority among the other tested genotypes in terms of tuber number per plant. Genotype CIP381381.20 produced significantly higher number of stolons than the rest. In this study, on an average 30 tubers were produced per plant under aeroponics system which is six times more than the conventional (use of soil-based substrate) seed potato production system under screen house conditions (5 tubers per plant) under Malawian conditions. | Aeroponics; Potato; Potato genotypes; Potato seed; Solanum tuberosum; Tissue culture | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84885408544 | Monitoring outcomes and impacts of capacity development in the water sector: A Cap-Net UNDP experience | Gunawardana I., Leendertse K., Handoko W. | 2013 | Water Policy | 15 | SUPPL.2 | 10.2166/wp.2013.121 | Cap-Net UNDP, Pretoria, South Africa; CK Net, IHE Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia | Gunawardana, I., Cap-Net UNDP, Pretoria, South Africa; Leendertse, K., Cap-Net UNDP, Pretoria, South Africa; Handoko, W., CK Net, IHE Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia | Cap-Net UNDP is an international capacity development network for integrated water resources management (IWRM). Cap-Net's approach of working through regional and country networks is an effective method of drawing together various experts from different disciplines, fostering local ownership for capacity development and scaling-up implementation of IWRM. This paper discusses the lessons drawn from outcome monitoring of Cap-Net capacity development courses for 2 consecutive years 2010-12. Cap-Net follows the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Plan that it developed and this helps Cap-Net to learn about progress towards its objectives. It also allows for corrective measures to the on-going process in capacity development program delivery. Lessons from the outcome monitoring exercises provided guidance for revision of monitoring approaches in order to capture the outcomes and impacts and to contribute to the overall goal of Cap-Net. It was realized that interest and involvement of partner networks, continuous follow-up of the courses and standardized processes are important for successful monitoring. © IWA Publishing 2013. | Capacity development; Evaluation; Impacts; Monitoring; Outcome | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84942190785 | The effect of performance-based financing on illness, care-seeking and treatment among children: An impact evaluation in Rwanda | Skiles M.P., Curtis S.L., Basinga P., Angeles G., Thirumurthy H. | 2015 | BMC Health Services Research | 15 | 1 | 10.1186/s12913-015-1033-7 | Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 400 Meadowmont Village Circle, Chapel Hill, NC, United States; Department of Maternal and Child Health, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States; Global Health Program, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Seattle, WA, United States; Rwanda Biomedical Center, Ministry of Health, Kigali, Rwanda; Department Health Policy and Management, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States | Skiles, M.P., Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 400 Meadowmont Village Circle, Chapel Hill, NC, United States; Curtis, S.L., Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 400 Meadowmont Village Circle, Chapel Hill, NC, United States, Department of Maternal and Child Health, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States; Basinga, P., Global Health Program, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Seattle, WA, United States, Rwanda Biomedical Center, Ministry of Health, Kigali, Rwanda; Angeles, G., Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 400 Meadowmont Village Circle, Chapel Hill, NC, United States, Department of Maternal and Child Health, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States; Thirumurthy, H., Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 400 Meadowmont Village Circle, Chapel Hill, NC, United States, Department Health Policy and Management, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States | Background: Performance-based financing (PBF) strategies are promoted as a supply-side, results-based financing mechanism to improve primary health care. This study estimated the effects of Rwanda's PBF program on less-incentivized child health services and examined the differential program impact by household poverty. Methods: Districts were allocated to intervention and comparison for PBF implementation in Rwanda. Using Demographic Health Survey data from 2005 to 2007-08, a community-level panel dataset of 5781 children less than 5 years of age from intervention and comparison districts was created. The impacts of PBF on reported childhood illness, facility care-seeking, and treatment received were estimated using a difference-in-differences model with community fixed effects. An interaction term between poverty and the program was estimated to identify the differential effect of PBF among children from poorer families. Results: There was no measurable difference in estimated probability of reporting illness with diarrhea, fever or acute respiratory infections between the intervention and comparison groups. Seeking care at a facility for these illnesses increased over time, however no differential effect by PBF was seen. The estimated effect of PBF on receipt of treatment for poor children is 45 percentage points higher (p∈=∈0.047) compared to the non-poor children seeking care for diarrhea or fever. Conclusions: PBF, a supply-side incentive program, improved the quality of treatment received by poor children conditional on patients seeking care, but it did not impact the propensity to seek care. These findings provide additional evidence that PBF incentivizes the critical role staff play in assuring quality services, but does little to influence consumer demand for these services. Efforts to improve child health need to address both supply and demand, with additional attention to barriers due to poverty if equity in service use is a concern. © 2015 Skiles et al. | None | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-40949099573 | Evaluation of circulating cathodic antigen (CCA) strip for diagnosis of urinary schistosomiasis in Hassoba school children, Afar, Ethiopia | Ayele B., Erko B., Legesse M., Hailu A., Medhin G. | 2008 | Parasite | 15 | 1 | None | Carter Center-Ethiopia, P.O. Box 13373, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Faculty of Medicine, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | Ayele, B., Carter Center-Ethiopia, P.O. Box 13373, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Erko, B., Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Legesse, M., Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Hailu, A., Faculty of Medicine, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Medhin, G., Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | A total of 206 urine samples collected from Hassoba Elementary schoolchildren, Afar, Ethiopia, a low Schistosoma haematobium endemic setting, was diagnosed to evaluate the performance of CCA strip using double references, urine filtration technique and urinalysis dipstick (Combur 10 Test®] that detect schistosome eggs and blood in urine, respectively. The former was used as a gold standard reference method. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values for the CCA were 52 %, 63.8 %, 56.7 % and 59 % respectively, with reference to urine filtration technique whereas these parameters were 50.4 %, 62.4 %, 55.6 % and 57.5 % respectively, with reference to Combur 10 Test®. 47 S. haematobium egg-positive children were found negative by CCA strip while 38 egg-negative children were found positive by CCA strip. Moreover, among the pre-tests done in duplicate, inconsistent results were also recorded. Assays were also compared with regard to the cost of equipment and reagents, speed and simplicity of use. Though CCA strip was found to be rapid and could be performed with minimal training, it was found to be expensive (US $ 4.95 per test) to use it for large-scale field use even if its diagnostic value would have been satisfactory. Further development and standardization of the CCA strip are required for its applicability for field use. It is also recommended that its cost per strip should be substantially cut down if it is to be used in poor schistosomiasis endemic countries. | Circulating cathodic antigen strip; Diagnosis; Ethiopia; Urinary schistosomiasis | CCA protein, Schistosoma mansoni; glycoprotein; helminth protein; parasite antigen; unclassified drug; adolescent; adult; animal; article; child; cost; economics; Ethiopia; female; filtration; human; isolation and purification; male; parasite identification; prediction and forecasting; preschool child; Schistosoma hematobium; sensitivity and specificity; test strip; urine; Adolescent; Adult; Animals; Antigens, Helminth; Child; Child, Preschool; Costs and Cost Analysis; Ethiopia; Female; Filtration; Glycoproteins; Helminth Proteins; Humans; Male; Parasite Egg Count; Predictive Value of Tests; Reagent Strips; Schistosoma haematobium; Schistosomiasis haematobia; Sensitivity and Specificity; Schistosoma; Schistosoma haematobium | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84881479814 | Variant ataxia telangiectasia: Clinical and molecular findings and evaluation of radiosensitive phenotypes in a patient and relatives | Claes K., Depuydt J., Taylor A.M.R., Last J.I., Baert A., Schietecatte P., Vandersickel V., Poppe B., De Leeneer K., D'Hooghe M., Vral A. | 2013 | NeuroMolecular Medicine | 15 | 3 | 10.1007/s12017-013-8231-4 | Center for Medical Genetics, Ghent University Hospital, De Pintelaan 185, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Ghent University, De Pintelaan 185, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; School of Cancer Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, United Kingdom; NRF IThemba LABS, PO Box 722, Somerset West 7129, South Africa; Department of Neurology and Child Neurology AZ St-Jan, 8000 Brugge, Belgium | Claes, K., Center for Medical Genetics, Ghent University Hospital, De Pintelaan 185, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; Depuydt, J., Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Ghent University, De Pintelaan 185, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; Taylor, A.M.R., School of Cancer Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, United Kingdom; Last, J.I., School of Cancer Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, United Kingdom; Baert, A., Center for Medical Genetics, Ghent University Hospital, De Pintelaan 185, 9000 Ghent, Belgium, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Ghent University, De Pintelaan 185, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; Schietecatte, P., Center for Medical Genetics, Ghent University Hospital, De Pintelaan 185, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; Vandersickel, V., NRF IThemba LABS, PO Box 722, Somerset West 7129, South Africa; Poppe, B., Center for Medical Genetics, Ghent University Hospital, De Pintelaan 185, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; De Leeneer, K., Center for Medical Genetics, Ghent University Hospital, De Pintelaan 185, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; D'Hooghe, M., Department of Neurology and Child Neurology AZ St-Jan, 8000 Brugge, Belgium; Vral, A., Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Ghent University, De Pintelaan 185, 9000 Ghent, Belgium | Variant ataxia telangiectasia (A-T) may be an underdiagnosed entity. We correlate data from radiosensitivity and kinase assays with clinical and molecular data from a patient with variant A-T and relatives. The coding region of ATM was sequenced. To evaluate the functional effect of the mutations, we performed kinase assays and developed a novel S-G2 micronucleus test. Our patient presented with mild dystonia, moderately dysarthric speech, increased serum α-fetoprotein but no ataxia nor telangiectasias, no nystagmus or oculomotor dyspraxia. She has a severe IgA deficiency, but does not have recurrent infections. She is compound heterozygote for ATM c.8122G>A (p.Asp2708Asn) and c.8851-1G>T, leading to in frame loss of 63 nucleotides at the cDNA level. A trace amount of ATM protein is translated from both alleles. Residual kinase activity is derived only from the p.Asp2708Asn allele. The conventional G0 micronucleus test, based on irradiation of resting lymphocytes, revealed a radiosensitive phenotype for the patient, but not for the heterozygous relatives. As ATM is involved in homologous recombination and G2/M cell cycle checkpoint, we optimized an S-G2 micronucleus assay, allowing to evaluate micronuclei in lymphocytes irradiated in the S and G2 phases. This test showed increased radiosensitivity for both the patient and the heterozygous carriers. Intriguingly, heterozygous carriers of c.8851-1G>T (mutation associated with absence of kinase activity) showed a stronger radiosensitive phenotype with this assay than heterozygous carriers of p.Asp2708Asn (mutation associated with residual kinase activity). The modified S-G2 micronucleus assay provided phenotypic insight into complement the diagnosis of this atypical A-T patient. © 2013 Springer Science+Business Media New York. | ATM heterozygous carriers; cDNA analysis; In vitro radiosensitivity; Kinase assay; S-G2 micronucleus assay; Variant ataxia telangiectasia | alpha fetoprotein; baclofen; levodopa; psychotropic agent; tetrazepam; adult; anamnesis; article; ataxia telangiectasia; ATM gene; case report; cell cycle checkpoint; cell cycle progression; cerebral palsy; clinical feature; controlled study; disease severity; dystonia; enzyme activity; female; gene; gene locus; gene mutation; gene sequence; genetic transcription; genetic variability; heterozygosity; homologous recombination; human; immunoglobulin A deficiency; mental disease; micronucleus test; missense mutation; molecular typing; mutational analysis; nucleotide sequence; phenotype; priority journal; protein blood level; psychotherapy; radiosensitivity; reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction; strabismus; Ataxia telangiectasia; Adult; Amino Acid Substitution; Ataxia Telangiectasia; Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated Proteins; Breast Neoplasms; Caffeine; Child; Exons; Female; G2 Phase; Heterozygote; Humans; Lymphocytes; Male; Micronucleus Tests; Mutation, Missense; Neoplastic Syndromes, Hereditary; Neurologic Examination; Pedigree; Phenotype; Radiation Tolerance; Recombinational DNA Repair; Rhabdomyosarcoma, Embryonal; RNA Splice Sites; S Phase; Sequence Analysis, DNA | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84878275810 | A process evaluation of a capacity-building project for comprehensive HIV/AIDS management in Nkonkobe local municipality, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa | Chipunza C., Nyawasha T.S. | 2013 | Anthropologist | 15 | 3 | None | Central University of Technology, Bloemfontein, Free State, South Africa; University of Limpopo, Department of Sociology, South Africa | Chipunza, C., Central University of Technology, Bloemfontein, Free State, South Africa; Nyawasha, T.S., University of Limpopo, Department of Sociology, South Africa | South Africa has put in place policies to curb the HIV and AIDS pandemic and adopted the multi-sectoral approach to effectively implement the policies and manage the scourge in terms of prevention, treatment, care and support. However, the implementation of the policies has been hampered by lack of human capacity. This article focuses on the results of a process or implementation evaluation of a capacity-building project in the management of HIV and AIDS in one of South Africa's local municipalities. The intention of the researchers were twofold: (1) to provide a picture of important observations about the project in terms of delivery in line with the original plan, reaching targeted population, as well as frequency and adequacy of project activities (2) to draw up lessons that can be used to improve HIV and AIDS policy implementation through projects. Using interviews and corroborating them with, observations and documents, the process evaluation exercise focused on two levels of analysis, that is, the programme staff and their provincial partners, and the project's intended beneficiaries. The results of the evaluation showed a high level of fidelity implementation, reach and dose. The study highlights the lessons learnt in contributing to a co-ordinated and, participatory and vibrant response to HIV and AIDS management. It draws a number of recommendations for future policy and practices based on the project's experience. © Kamla-Raj 2013. | Dose; Empowerment; Fidelity; Participation; Reach | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77955643799 | The impact of the pandemic influenza a(H1N1) 2009 virus on seasonal influenza a viruses in the southern hemisphere, 2009 | Blyth C.C., Kelso A., McPhie K.A., Ratnamohan V.M., Catton M., Druce J.D., Smith D.W., Williams S.H., Huang Q.S., Lopez L., Schoub B.D., Venter M., Dwyer D.E. | 2010 | Eurosurveillance | 15 | 31 | None | Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology Laboratory Services, Institute of Clinical Pathology and Medical Research (ICPMR), Westmead Hospital, Westmead, NSW, Australia; School of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Western Australia, Princess Margaret Hospital, Subiaco, WA, Australia; World Health Organisation Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza, Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory (VIDRL), North Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory (VIDRL), North Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Pathwest Laboratory Medicine, Queen Elizabeth II Medical Centre, Nedlands, WA, Australia; World Health Organisation National Influenza Centre, Institute of Environmental Science and Research, Wellington, New Zealand; National Institute for Communicable Diseases, Sandringham, Johannesburg, South Africa | Blyth, C.C., Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology Laboratory Services, Institute of Clinical Pathology and Medical Research (ICPMR), Westmead Hospital, Westmead, NSW, Australia, School of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Western Australia, Princess Margaret Hospital, Subiaco, WA, Australia; Kelso, A., World Health Organisation Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza, Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory (VIDRL), North Melbourne, VIC, Australia; McPhie, K.A., Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology Laboratory Services, Institute of Clinical Pathology and Medical Research (ICPMR), Westmead Hospital, Westmead, NSW, Australia; Ratnamohan, V.M., Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology Laboratory Services, Institute of Clinical Pathology and Medical Research (ICPMR), Westmead Hospital, Westmead, NSW, Australia; Catton, M., Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory (VIDRL), North Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Druce, J.D., Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory (VIDRL), North Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Smith, D.W., Pathwest Laboratory Medicine, Queen Elizabeth II Medical Centre, Nedlands, WA, Australia; Williams, S.H., Pathwest Laboratory Medicine, Queen Elizabeth II Medical Centre, Nedlands, WA, Australia; Huang, Q.S., World Health Organisation National Influenza Centre, Institute of Environmental Science and Research, Wellington, New Zealand; Lopez, L., World Health Organisation National Influenza Centre, Institute of Environmental Science and Research, Wellington, New Zealand; Schoub, B.D., National Institute for Communicable Diseases, Sandringham, Johannesburg, South Africa; Venter, M., National Institute for Communicable Diseases, Sandringham, Johannesburg, South Africa; Dwyer, D.E., Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology Laboratory Services, Institute of Clinical Pathology and Medical Research (ICPMR), Westmead Hospital, Westmead, NSW, Australia | Data collected over winter 2009 by five World Health Organisation National Influenza Centres in the southern hemisphere were used to examine the circulation of pandemic and seasonal influenza A strains during the first pandemic wave in the southern hemisphere. There is compelling evidence that the pandemic influenza A(H1N1) 2009 virus significantly displaced seasonal influenza A(H1N1) and, to a lesser extent, A(H3N2) viruses circulating in the southern hemisphere. Complete replacement of seasonal influenza A strains, however, was not observed during the first pandemic wave. | None | 2009 H1N1 influenza; article; disease course; disease surveillance; human; infection prevention; Influenza virus A H3N2; nonhuman; pandemic influenza; prevalence; seasonal influenza; Southern Hemisphere; virus detection; virus strain; Geography; Humans; Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype; Influenza A Virus, H3N2 Subtype; Influenza, Human; Pandemics; Seasons; World Health Organization | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77955366010 | Prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) programme in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: An evaluation of PMTCT implementation and integration into routine maternal, child and women's health services | Horwood C., Haskins L., Vermaak K., Phakathi S., Subbaye R., Doherty T. | 2010 | Tropical Medicine and International Health | 15 | 9 | 10.1111/j.1365-3156.2010.02576.x | Centre for Rural Health, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Umbilo Road, Durban 4013, South Africa; Medical Research Council, Health Systems Research Unit, Cape Town, South Africa | Horwood, C., Centre for Rural Health, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Umbilo Road, Durban 4013, South Africa; Haskins, L., Centre for Rural Health, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Umbilo Road, Durban 4013, South Africa; Vermaak, K., Centre for Rural Health, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Umbilo Road, Durban 4013, South Africa; Phakathi, S., Centre for Rural Health, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Umbilo Road, Durban 4013, South Africa; Subbaye, R., Centre for Rural Health, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Umbilo Road, Durban 4013, South Africa; Doherty, T., Medical Research Council, Health Systems Research Unit, Cape Town, South Africa | Objectives To evaluate prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) implementation and integration of PMTCT with routine maternal and child health services in two districts of KwaZulu-Natal; to report PMTCT coverage, to compare recorded and reported information, and to describe responsibilities of nurses and lay counsellors. Methods Interviews were conducted with mothers in post-natal wards (PNW) and immunisation clinics; antenatal and child health records were reviewed. Interviews were conducted with nurses and lay counsellors in primary health care clinics. Results Eight hundred and eighty-two interviews were conducted with mothers: 398 in PNWs and 484 immunisation clinics. During their recent pregnancy, 98.6% women attended antenatal care (ANC); 60.8% attended their first ANC in the third trimester, and 97.3% were tested for HIV. Of 312 mothers reporting themselves HIV positive during ANC, 91.3% received nevirapine, 78.2% had a CD4 count carried out, and 33.1% had a CD4 result recorded. In the immunisation clinic, 47.6% HIV-exposed babies had a PCR test, and 47.0% received co-trimoxazole. Of HIV-positive mothers, 42.1% received follow-up care, mainly from lay counsellors. In 12/26 clinics, there was a dedicated PMTCT nurse, PCR testing was not offered in 14/26 clinics, and co-trimoxazole was unavailable in 13/26 immunisation clinics. Nurses and lay counsellors disagreed about their roles and responsibilities, particularly in the post-natal period. Conclusions There is high coverage of PMTCT interventions during pregnancy and delivery, but follow-up of mothers and infants is poor. Poor integration of PMTCT services into routine care, lack of clarity about health worker roles and poor record keeping create barriers to accessing services post-delivery. © 2010 Blackwell Publishing Ltd. | health care systems; HIV; infant; programme evaluation; South Africa; vertical infection transmission | cotrimoxazole; nevirapine; child health; disease transmission; health services; human immunodeficiency virus; immunization; pregnancy; womens health; article; CD4 lymphocyte count; clinical evaluation; female; follow up; health care planning; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; infection prevention; intrapartum care; maternal care; medical practice; prenatal care; prevention of mother to child transmission program; preventive health service; South Africa; virus transmission; Anti-HIV Agents; Attitude of Health Personnel; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; HIV Infections; Humans; Infant; Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; Maternal-Child Health Centers; Patient Acceptance of Health Care; Postnatal Care; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious; Prenatal Care; Program Evaluation; South Africa; Women's Health Services; KwaZulu; KwaZulu-Natal; South Africa | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79960200958 | Impact of an educational development programme on teaching practice of academics at a research-intensive university | Cilliers F.J., Herman N. | 2010 | International Journal for Academic Development | 15 | 3 | 10.1080/1360144X.2010.497698 | Centre for Teaching and Learning, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa | Cilliers, F.J., Centre for Teaching and Learning, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa; Herman, N., Centre for Teaching and Learning, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa | Evidence of the impact of educational development (ED) programmes on faculty is often not gathered beyond ascertaining the immediate reactions of participants. This paper reports the results of a study to determine what level of impact an ED programme at a university has had on academics' teaching practice over time. Kirkpatrick's framework provided a useful approach to conceptualise how to examine critically the impact of ED efforts. A series of semi-structured interviews with 14 programme participants and a subsequent questionnaire survey of 248 participants were undertaken. The programme resulted in high-level impact when rated according to Kirkpatrick's framework, including changes to individual behaviour and organisational practice, benefits to academics and perceived benefits to their students. Change was reported up to seven years after participation. These results emphasise the role that a well-designed ED programme can play in enhancing the quality of teaching and assessment practice at a research-intensive university. © 2010 Taylor & Francis. | Educational development; Effectiveness; Faculty development; Impact; Staff development | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-70349925243 | The impact of shrub encroachment on savanna bird diversity from local to regional scale | Sirami C., Seymour C., Midgley G., Barnard P. | 2009 | Diversity and Distributions | 15 | 6 | 10.1111/j.1472-4642.2009.00612.x | Climate Change and BioAdaptation Division, South African National Biodiversity Institute, P/;Bag X7, Claremont 7735, Cape Town, South Africa; Botany Department, University of Cape Town, Private Bag, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa; Applied Biodiversity Research Division, South African National Biodiversity Institute, P/;Bag X7, Claremont 7735, Cape Town, South Africa; DST-NRF Centre of Excellence at the Percy FitzPatrick, Institute of African Ornithology, University of Cape Town, Private Bag, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa | Sirami, C., Climate Change and BioAdaptation Division, South African National Biodiversity Institute, P/;Bag X7, Claremont 7735, Cape Town, South Africa, Botany Department, University of Cape Town, Private Bag, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa; Seymour, C., Applied Biodiversity Research Division, South African National Biodiversity Institute, P/;Bag X7, Claremont 7735, Cape Town, South Africa; Midgley, G., Climate Change and BioAdaptation Division, South African National Biodiversity Institute, P/;Bag X7, Claremont 7735, Cape Town, South Africa, Botany Department, University of Cape Town, Private Bag, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa; Barnard, P., Climate Change and BioAdaptation Division, South African National Biodiversity Institute, P/;Bag X7, Claremont 7735, Cape Town, South Africa, DST-NRF Centre of Excellence at the Percy FitzPatrick, Institute of African Ornithology, University of Cape Town, Private Bag, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa | Aim Evidence is accumulating of a general increase in woody cover of many savanna regions of the world. Little is known about the consequences of this widespread and fundamental ecosystem structural shift on biodiversity. Location South Africa. Methods We assessed the potential response of bird species to shrub encroachment in a South African savanna by censusing bird species in five habitats along a gradient of increasing shrub cover, from grassland/;open woodland to shrubland dominated by various shrub species. We also explored historical bird species population trends across southern Africa during the second half of the 20th century to determine if any quantifiable shifts had occurred that support an ongoing impact of shrub encroachment at the regional scale. Results At the local scale, species richness peaked at intermediate levels of shrub cover. Bird species composition showed high turnover along the gradient, suggesting that widespread shrub encroachment is likely to lead to the loss of certain species with a concomitant decline in bird species richness at the landscape scale. Finally, savanna bird species responded to changes in vegetation structure rather than vegetation species composition: bird assemblages were very similar in shrublands dominated by Acacia mellifera and those dominated by Tarchonanthus camphoratus. Main conclusions Shrub encroachment might have a bigger impact on bird diversity in grassland than in open woodland, regardless of the shrub species. Species recorded in our study area were associated with historical population changes at the scale of southern Africa suggesting that shrub encroachment could be one of the main drivers of bird population dynamics in southern African savannas. If current trends continue, the persistence of several southern African bird species associated with open savanna might be jeopardized regionally. © 2009 Blackwell Publishing Ltd. | Biome shift; Bush encroachment; Global change; Land cover change; Landscape heterogeneity | biodiversity; bird; demographic trend; ecosystem structure; environmental disturbance; global change; habitat loss; population dynamics; savanna; shrub; shrubland; species richness; vegetation cover; vegetation dynamics; Africa; South Africa; Southern Africa; Sub-Saharan Africa; Acacia; Acacia mellifera; Aves; Tarchonanthus camphoratus | None |
| None | None | Modelling the impacts of new diagnostic tools for tuberculosis in developing countries to enhance policy decisions | Langley I., Doulla B., Lin H.-H., Millington K., Squire B. | 2012 | Health Care Management Science | 15 | 3 | 10.1007/s10729-012-9201-3 | Clinical Group, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom; National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Programme, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Institute of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan | Langley, I., Clinical Group, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom; Doulla, B., National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Programme, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Lin, H.-H., Institute of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan; Millington, K., Clinical Group, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom; Squire, B., Clinical Group, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom | The introduction and scale-up of new tools for the diagnosis of Tuberculosis (TB) in developing countries has the potential to make a huge difference to the lives of millions of people living in poverty. To achieve this, policy makers need the information to make the right decisions about which new tools to implement and where in the diagnostic algorithm to apply them most effectively. These decisions are difficult as the new tools are often expensive to implement and use, and the health system and patient impacts uncertain, particularly in developing countries where there is a high burden of TB. The authors demonstrate that a discrete event simulation model could play a significant part in improving and informing these decisions. The feasibility of linking the discrete event simulation to a dynamic epidemiology model is also explored in order to take account of longer term impacts on the incidence of TB. Results from two diagnostic districts in Tanzania are used to illustrate how the approach could be used to improve decisions. © 2012 The Author(s). | Cost effectiveness; Developing Countries; Simulation; Transmission modelling; Tuberculosis | algorithm; article; clinical pathway; cost benefit analysis; decision making; developing country; economics; health care delivery; health care policy; human; lung tuberculosis; management; microbiology; organization and management; sputum; theoretical model; time; Algorithms; Cost-Benefit Analysis; Critical Pathways; Decision Making; Delivery of Health Care; Developing Countries; Health Policy; Humans; Models, Theoretical; Policy Making; Sputum; Time Factors; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-55449093312 | CD4 stabilization tubes provide improved accuracy of absolute CD4 T-cell counts compared to standard K3 EDTA tubes in human immunodeficiency virus immunologic monitoring in resource-poor settings | Shott J.P., Iga B., Makumbi F., Luswata C., Kagulire C., Nammanda J., Mills L.A., Serwadda D., Quinn T.C., Reynolds S.J. | 2008 | Clinical and Vaccine Immunology | 15 | 10 | 10.1128/CVI.00176-08 | Clinical Monitoring Research Program, SAIC-Frederick, Inc., NCI-Frederick, Frederick, MD 21702, United States; National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, MD, United States; Rakai Health Sciences Program, Rakai District, Kalisizo, Uganda; Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD, United States; School of Public Health, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda; SAIC-Frederick, Inc., NIAID/NIH - Uganda, Rakai Health Sciences Program, Rakai District, Kalisizo, Uganda | Shott, J.P., Clinical Monitoring Research Program, SAIC-Frederick, Inc., NCI-Frederick, Frederick, MD 21702, United States, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, MD, United States, SAIC-Frederick, Inc., NIAID/NIH - Uganda, Rakai Health Sciences Program, Rakai District, Kalisizo, Uganda; Iga, B., Rakai Health Sciences Program, Rakai District, Kalisizo, Uganda; Makumbi, F., Rakai Health Sciences Program, Rakai District, Kalisizo, Uganda, School of Public Health, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda; Luswata, C., Rakai Health Sciences Program, Rakai District, Kalisizo, Uganda; Kagulire, C., Rakai Health Sciences Program, Rakai District, Kalisizo, Uganda; Nammanda, J., Rakai Health Sciences Program, Rakai District, Kalisizo, Uganda; Mills, L.A., Rakai Health Sciences Program, Rakai District, Kalisizo, Uganda, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD, United States; Serwadda, D., School of Public Health, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda; Quinn, T.C., National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, MD, United States, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD, United States; Reynolds, S.J., National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, MD, United States, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD, United States | CD4 stabilization tubes have the ability to ensure internal quality control in the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) monitoring laboratory by maintaining accurate absolute CD4 T-cell counts for up to 6 days. Here, we assessed this technology for its use in an HIV clinical monitoring laboratory in a resource-poor setting in rural Uganda. Copyright © 2008, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved. | None | CD4 antigen; edetic acid; accuracy; article; CD4 lymphocyte count; comparative study; female; human; human cell; Human immunodeficiency virus; Human immunodeficiency virus infected patient; laboratory; major clinical study; male; nonhuman; priority journal; quality control; rural area; technology; tube; Uganda; CD4 lymphocyte count; evaluation; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; immunology; laboratory diagnosis; methodology; CD4 Lymphocyte Count; HIV Infections; Humans; Specimen Handling; Uganda | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77955778908 | The impact of the water rights system on smallholder irrigators' willingness to pay for water in Limpopo province, South Africa | Speelman S., Farolfi S., Frija A., D'Haese M., D'Haese L. | 2010 | Environment and Development Economics | 15 | 4 | 10.1017/S1355770X10000161 | Department of Agricultural Economics, Ghent University, Coupure links 653, 9000 Gent, Belgium; CIRAD, UMR G Eau, Centre for Environmental Economics and Policy in Africa (CEEPA), University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa; Department of Applied Biological Sciences, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020 Antwerpen, Belgium | Speelman, S., Department of Agricultural Economics, Ghent University, Coupure links 653, 9000 Gent, Belgium; Farolfi, S., CIRAD, UMR G Eau, Centre for Environmental Economics and Policy in Africa (CEEPA), University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa; Frija, A., Department of Agricultural Economics, Ghent University, Coupure links 653, 9000 Gent, Belgium; D'Haese, M., Department of Agricultural Economics, Ghent University, Coupure links 653, 9000 Gent, Belgium; D'Haese, L., Department of Agricultural Economics, Ghent University, Coupure links 653, 9000 Gent, Belgium, Department of Applied Biological Sciences, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020 Antwerpen, Belgium | Water rights are currently receiving increased attention from scholars and policymakers due to the growing understanding that ill-defined water rights impair efficient use. In South Africa, smallholder irrigation faces problems of low water use efficiency and cost recovery of government investments. This study uses contingent ranking to analyse the willingness to pay (WTP) of smallholder irrigators for changes in the water rights system. The results indicate that smallholders are prepared to pay considerably higher water prices if these are connected to improvements in the water rights system. By segmenting the population it was also shown that the importance attached to water rights dimensions varies in each segment. While lower institutional trust and lower income levels lead to a lower WTP for transferability, experiencing water shortage increases this WTP. Such information is valuable in guiding policy makers in the future design of water rights. © 2010 Cambridge University Press. | None | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84908210702 | Patterns and Impact of Public Expenditure on Agriculture: Empirical Evidence from Benue State, Nigeria | Ani D.P., Biam C.K., Kantiok M. | 2014 | Journal of Agricultural and Food Information | 15 | 4 | 10.1080/10496505.2014.958933 | Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Nigeria | Ani, D.P., Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Nigeria; Biam, C.K., Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Nigeria; Kantiok, M., Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Nigeria | This study assessed the budgetary allocation to agriculture in Benue State. Secondary data were collected for 10 years from Annual Reports of the Accountant General, Central Bank of Nigeria statistical publications, and Benue State Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (BNARDA). Descriptive statistics and regression were used to analyze the data. The result revealed that the Nigerian Government allocates only 8% of its annual budget to the agricultural sector, with the crop subsector being the most preferred (77.34%). The result of the regression analysis indicated a negative and nonsignificant (−3.3610) contribution to agricultural production. The Government should not only raise the fund allocation to the agricultural sector but devise adequate monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to ensure increased productivity. © 2014, Copyright © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. | None | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84861632691 | The differential impact of two anesthetic techniques on cortisol levels in Nigerian surgical patients | Aggo A.T., Fyneface-Ogan S., Mato C.N. | 2012 | Nigerian Journal of Clinical Practice | 15 | 1 | 10.4103/1119-3077.94102 | Department of Anaesthesia, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, Nigeria | Aggo, A.T., Department of Anaesthesia, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, Nigeria; Fyneface-Ogan, S., Department of Anaesthesia, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, Nigeria; Mato, C.N., Department of Anaesthesia, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, Nigeria | Background: Surgical procedures are associated with a complexity of stress response characterized by neurohumoral, immulogic, and metabolic alterations. Aim: The aim was to compare the effects on the stress response by isoflurane-based intratracheal general anesthesia (ITGA) and bupivacaine-based epidural anesthesia (EA), using cortisol as a biochemical marker. Materials and Methods: Following the approval of the Hospital Ethical Board, informed written consent from patients recruited into this study was obtained. One group received general anesthesia with relaxant technique (group A) while the other group had bupicaine epidural anesthesia with catheter placement for top-ups (group B) for their surgeries. Both groups were assessed for plasma cortisol levels -baseline, 30 minutes after skin the start of surgery and at skin closure. Results: There was no statistically significant difference in the baseline mean heart rate, mean arterial pressure (mean MAP) and the mean duration of surgery between the two groups; the baseline mean plasma cortisol level was 88.70 ± 3.85 ng/ml for group A and 85.55 ± 2.29 ng/ml for group B, P=0.148. At 30 minutes after the start of surgery the plasma cortisol level in the GA group was 361.60 ± 31.27 ng/ml while it was 147.45 ± 22.36 ng/ml in the EA group, showing a significant difference, P=0.001. At skin closure the mean plasma cortisol value of 384.65 ± 48.04 ng/ml recorded in the GA group was found to be significantly higher than the value of 140.20 ± 10.74 ng/ml in the GA group, P<0.002. Conclusion: Using plasma cortisol as a measure, bupivacaine-based epidural anesthesia significantly reduces the stress response to surgical stimuli when compared with isoflurane-based tracheal general anesthesia. | Cortisol levels; Epidural anesthesia; General anesthesia; Surgery | anesthetic agent; bupivacaine; hydrocortisone; isoflurane; adult; aged; anesthesia; article; blood; epidural anesthesia; evaluation; female; general anesthesia; heart rate; human; male; methodology; middle aged; surgery; treatment outcome; Adult; Aged; Anesthesia, Epidural; Anesthesia, General; Anesthesia, Intratracheal; Anesthetics; Bupivacaine; Female; Heart Rate; Humans; Hydrocortisone; Isoflurane; Male; Middle Aged; Outcome and Process Assessment (Health Care); Surgical Procedures, Operative | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-70349574617 | Evaluation of the Histo-Gastroprotective and antimicrobial activities of Heliotropium indicum linn (Boraginaceae) | Adelaja A.A., Ayoola M.D., Otulana J.O., Akinola O.B., Olayiwola A., Ejiwunmi A.B. | 2008 | Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences | 15 | 3 | None | Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Olabisi Onabanjo University, P.M.B. 1515, Ikenne, Ogun State, Nigeria; Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Olabisi Onabanjo University, P.M.B. 1515, Ikenne, Ogun State, Nigeria; Depar | Adelaja, A.A., Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Olabisi Onabanjo University, P.M.B. 1515, Ikenne, Ogun State, Nigeria; Ayoola, M.D., Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Olabisi Onabanjo University, P.M.B. 1515, Ikenne, Ogun State, Nigeria; Otulana, J.O., Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Olabisi Onabanjo University, P.M.B. 1515, Ikenne, Ogun State, Nigeria; Akinola, O.B., Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria; Olayiwola, A., Department of Morbid Anatomy, Olabisi Onabanjo Teaching Hospital, P.M.B. 1515, Ikenne, Ogun State, Nigeria; Ejiwunmi, A.B., Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Olabisi Onabanjo University, P.M.B. 1515, Ikenne, Ogun State, Nigeria | Heliotropium indicum of the family Boraginaceae is used locally in Nigeria to treat ailments such as ulcer and fever. In this study, ulceration of the gastric mucosa in Wistar rats was induced via the oral administration of 80mg/kg/bodyweight of Indomethacin. Histological analyses of the stomach body wall in the rats of Groups 2 and 4 (which received 100mg/kg/bodyweight of extract before oral administration of 80mg/kg/bodyweight Indomethacin and 80mg/kg/bodyweight Indomethacin only respectively) showed erosion of the mucus-secreting cells, gastric pit, upper and middle parts of gastric glands and some of the parietal cells. Histological observations of the stomach body wall in rats of Group 5 (which received 200mg/kg/bodyweight of extract before oral administration of 80mg/kg/bodyweight of Indomethacin) showed erosion of the mucus-secreting cells, gastric pit and the upper most part of the gastric gland. Histological observations of the stomach body wall in rats of Groups 1, 6 and 3 (which received 50mg/kg/bodyweight of Ranitidine and 400mg/kg/bodyweight of extract before oral administration of 80mg/kg/bodyweight Indomethacin; and only 80mg/kg/bodyweight of Normal Saline respectively) showed normal morphological appearance of the different components of the mucosa layer. Thus, the aqueous extracts of the dried leaves of Heliotropium indicum have dose dependent histo-gastroprotective effects. | Heliotropium indicum; Histo-gastroprotective effects; Mucosa; Ulcerated gastric | Heliotropium indicum extract; indometacin; plant extract; unclassified drug; animal experiment; animal model; animal tissue; antimicrobial activity; article; controlled study; Heliotropium; heliotropium indicum; histopathology; nonhuman; phytochemistry; plant leaf; rat; stomach erosion; stomach mucosa; stomach parietal cell; stomach protection; stomach ulcer; Wistar rat | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84879008580 | Free range and deep litter housing systems: Effect on performance and blood profile of two strains of cockerel chickens | Olaniyi O.A., Oyenaiya O.A., Sogunle O.M., Akinola O.S., Adeyemi O.A., Ladokun O.A. | 2012 | Tropical and Subtropical Agroecosystems | 15 | 3 | None | Department of Animal Production and Health, University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, P.M.B. 2240, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria; Department of Animal Physiology, University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, P.M.B. 2240, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria | Olaniyi, O.A., Department of Animal Production and Health, University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, P.M.B. 2240, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria; Oyenaiya, O.A., Department of Animal Production and Health, University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, P.M.B. 2240, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria; Sogunle, O.M., Department of Animal Production and Health, University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, P.M.B. 2240, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria; Akinola, O.S., Department of Animal Production and Health, University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, P.M.B. 2240, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria; Adeyemi, O.A., Department of Animal Production and Health, University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, P.M.B. 2240, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria; Ladokun, O.A., Department of Animal Physiology, University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, P.M.B. 2240, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria | This study was conducted to determine the performance and blood profile of one hundred and fifty cockerel chickens each of Harco Black and Novogen strains raised on deep litter and free range production systems. Each production system was allotted 150 chicks in three replications of 25 chicks per strain. The birds on deep litter production system were fed ad libitum while each of the birds on free range was fed 50 % of its daily feed requirement. The birds were weighed weekly. Blood plasma and serum were collected at the 4th and 12th weeks for laboratory analyses. Data generated were subjected to analysis of variance in a 2×2 factorial arrangement. Novogen strain consumed less feed (P<0.05) on free range and had the best feed: gain (2.72 ± 0.14). At the 4th week, strain significantly (P<0.05) affected the packed cell volume, haemoglobin, red blood cell count, serum total protein, serum albumin and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration and was evident at the 12th week. In conclusion, Novogen strain should be raised on free range for a better performance in terms of feed: gain but in the blood profile, the two strains of birds could be managed in any of the production systems. | Blood profile; Cockerel chicken; Feed: Gain; Performance; Production system | Aves; Gallus gallus | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33845417015 | Quality evaluation of water sources in Ife North Local Government area of Osun State, Nigeria | Oluyemi E.A., Adekunle A.S., Makinde W.O., Kaisam J.P., Adenuga A.A., Oladipo A.A. | 2006 | European Journal of Scientific Research | 15 | 3 | None | Department of Chemistry, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria; Centre for Energy Research and Development, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria | Oluyemi, E.A., Department of Chemistry, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria; Adekunle, A.S., Department of Chemistry, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria; Makinde, W.O., Centre for Energy Research and Development, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria; Kaisam, J.P., Department of Chemistry, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria; Adenuga, A.A., Department of Chemistry, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria; Oladipo, A.A., Centre for Energy Research and Development, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria | The quality examination of water in Ife - North Local Government of Osun State Nigeria was conducted by determining the physico - chemical parameters. Fourty samples including surface water, bore holes, well and pipe borne water were collected from major towns in the Local Government Area and analyzed. Results showed temperature range of 26.5 - 33.0oC, pH (6.526 - 8.905), conductivity (63.0 - 1039.0 S/cm), resistivity (0.00 - 0.02mΩ.cm), salinity (300.0 - 700.0 mg/l), total solids (90.0 - 1175.0 mg/l), total dissolved solids (37.8 - 622.5mg/l), suspended solids (34.5 - 794.0 mg/l),dissolved oxygen (4.483 - 9.483 mg/l), Biological oxygen demand-BOD5 (0.690 - 6.745 mg/l), chloride (3.64 - 184.04 mg/l), Nitrate (1.08 -53.03 mg/l), phosphate (4.99 - 23.07 mg/l) and sulphate (6.02 - 28.95 mg/l). The results obtained agreed with the limits set by both national and international bodies for drinking and domestic water with few exceptions. Pipe borne water was observed to be safest while the surface waters would support aquatic life and recreational activities. © EuroJournals Publishing, Inc. 2006. | Behavioural animation; Collision avoidance; Crowd simulation; Path finding | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-72349088098 | The impact of a small-scale irrigation scheme on malaria transmission in Ziway area, Central Ethiopia | Kibret S., Alemu Y., Boelee E., Tekie H., Alemu D., Petros B. | 2010 | Tropical Medicine and International Health | 15 | 1 | 10.1111/j.1365-3156.2009.02423.x | Department of Biology, Addis Ababa University, PO Box 14001, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; International Water Management Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | Kibret, S., Department of Biology, Addis Ababa University, PO Box 14001, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Alemu, Y., Department of Biology, Addis Ababa University, PO Box 14001, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Boelee, E., International Water Management Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Tekie, H., Department of Biology, Addis Ababa University, PO Box 14001, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Alemu, D., Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Petros, B., Department of Biology, Addis Ababa University, PO Box 14001, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | Objective To assess the impact of a small-scale irrigation scheme in Ziway area, a semi-arid area in the Central Ethiopian Rift Valley, on malaria transmission. Method Parasitological, entomological and socio-economic studies were conducted in a village with and a village without irrigation. Blood smear samples were taken from individuals during the dry and wet seasons of 2005/2006. Socio-economic data were collected from household heads and key agricultural and health informants through interviews and questionnaires. Larval and adult mosquitoes were sampled during the dry and short wet seasons of 2006. Female anopheline mosquitoes were tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for blood meal sources and sporozoite infections. Results Malaria prevalence was higher in the irrigated village (19%, P < 0.05) than the non-irrigated village (16%). In the irrigated village, malaria prevalence was higher in the dry season than in the wet season while the reverse occurred in the non-irrigated village. Households with access to irrigation had larger farm land sizes and higher incomes, but also higher prevalence of malaria. Larval and adult abundance of the malaria vectors, Anopheles arabiensis and Anopheles pharoensis, was higher in the irrigated than in the non-irrigated village throughout the study period. Furthermore, the abundance of An. pharoensis was significantly higher than that of An. arabiensis during the dry irrigated period of the year. Canal leakage pools, irrigated fields and irrigation canals were the major breeding habitats of the two vector mosquitoes. Plasmodium falciparum sporozoite infection rates of 1.18% and 0.66% were determined for An. arabiensis and An. pharoensis in the irrigated village. Peak biting activities of the vectors occurred before 22:00 h, which is a source of concern that the effectiveness of ITNs may be compromised as the mosquitoes feed on blood before people go to bed. Conclusion Irrigation schemes along the Ethiopian Rift Valley may intensify malaria by increasing the level of prevalence during the dry season. To reduce the intensity of malaria transmission in the small-scale irrigation schemes currently in operation in Ethiopia, year-round source reduction by using proper irrigation water management, coupled with health education, needs to be incorporated into the existing malaria control strategies. © 2009 Blackwell Publishing Ltd. | An. arabiensis; An. pharoensis; Ethiopia; Malaria; Plasmodium falciparum; Small-scale irrigation | blood; disease prevalence; disease transmission; disease vector; dry season; entomology; immunoassay; infectious disease; irrigation; malaria; mosquito; parasitology; sampling; socioeconomic survey; wet season; Anopheles; Anopheles arabiensis; anopheles pharoensis; article; blood smear; breeding; enzyme linked immunosorbent assay; Ethiopia; female; health education; interview; irrigation (agriculture); larva; malaria; malaria control; mosquito; nonhuman; parasite transmission; parasite vector; Plasmodium falciparum; prevalence; questionnaire; season; socioeconomics; sporozoite; water management; Adolescent; Adult; Age Distribution; Aged; Agriculture; Animals; Anopheles; Child; Child, Preschool; Ecosystem; Ethiopia; Female; Health Surveys; Humans; Infant; Insect Vectors; Malaria, Falciparum; Malaria, Vivax; Male; Middle Aged; Prevalence; Rural Health; Seasons; Socioeconomic Factors; Water Supply; Young Adult; Ethiopia; Anopheles arabiensis; Anopheles pharoensis; Plasmodium falciparum | None |
| None | None | Understanding watershed dynamics and impacts of climate change and variability in the Pangani River Basin, Tanzania | Lalika M.C.S., Meire P., Ngaga Y.M., Chang'a L. | 2015 | Ecohydrology and Hydrobiology | 15 | 1 | 10.1016/j.ecohyd.2014.11.002 | Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Campus Drie Eiken, Universiteitsplein 1, Antwerp, Belgium; Department of Physical Sciences, Faculty of Science, Sokoine University of Agriculture, P.O. Box 3038, Chuo Kikuu, Morogoro, Tanzania; Department of Forest Economics, Faculty of Forestry and Nature Conservation, Sokoine University of Agriculture, P.O. Box 3011, Chuo Kikuu, Morogoro, Tanzania; Tanzania Meteorological Agency, P.O. Box 3056, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania | Lalika, M.C.S., Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Campus Drie Eiken, Universiteitsplein 1, Antwerp, Belgium, Department of Physical Sciences, Faculty of Science, Sokoine University of Agriculture, P.O. Box 3038, Chuo Kikuu, Morogoro, Tanzania; Meire, P., Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Campus Drie Eiken, Universiteitsplein 1, Antwerp, Belgium; Ngaga, Y.M., Department of Forest Economics, Faculty of Forestry and Nature Conservation, Sokoine University of Agriculture, P.O. Box 3011, Chuo Kikuu, Morogoro, Tanzania; Chang'a, L., Tanzania Meteorological Agency, P.O. Box 3056, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania | Watersheds and rivers are vital ecological features for the provision of hydrological services for the health, welfare and prosperity of human communities. Nevertheless, anthropogenic activities coupled with climate change and climate variability are blamed for degrading watersheds and rivers and decreasing their capacity to irrigate. To address the situation, it is important to understand why and how water shortages are occurring. This paper reports findings of a study carried out to identify and assess drivers of water shortages and adaptation strategies to climate change and variability in Pangani River Basin of Tanzania. To assess the influence of climate change and variability on hydrological flow and water shortages, time series data on rainfall and temperature were compiled from the Tanzania Meteorological Agency. We also used structured questionnaires to collect data on villagers' perceptions about the drivers of water shortages and adaptation strategies. Results indicated a decreasing trend of water flow (p < 0.05) at Kikuletwa-Karangai gauging station along Pangani River Basin. Trend analysis indicated a slight decrease of rainfall and increase of temperature. Although there is no empirical evidence to associate climate change with the decline of rainfall and water flow, adaptation measures need to be put in place in order to mitigate against increasing climate variability, reduced water flow, and projected climate change. Therefore, watershed conservation strategies should also focus on improving the welfare of local communities. Additionally, involvement of stakeholders in the entire PRB is crucial toward watersheds conservation for steady flow of hydrological services. © 2014 European Regional Centre for Ecohydrology of Polish Academy of Sciences. | Basin; Climate change; Ecosystem services; Pangani; River; Water; Watershed degradation | climate change; climate effect; climate variation; ecosystem service; environmental degradation; river basin; water flow; watershed; Pangani Basin; Tanzania | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84961327393 | Relationships among internal stakeholders in construction projects: A cognitive evaluation for sustainable team integration in Nigeria | Ujene A.O., Edike U.E. | 2015 | International Journal of Construction Management | 15 | 1 | 10.1080/15623599.2015.1012142 | Department of Building, University of Uyo, Uyo, Akwa-Ibom State, Nigeria; Department of Building Technology, Bells University of Technology, Otta, Nigeria | Ujene, A.O., Department of Building, University of Uyo, Uyo, Akwa-Ibom State, Nigeria; Edike, U.E., Department of Building, University of Uyo, Uyo, Akwa-Ibom State, Nigeria, Department of Building Technology, Bells University of Technology, Otta, Nigeria | This study evaluates the relationships among internal stakeholders in the Nigerian construction industry. The objectives are to evaluate the factors influencing good working relationships, with priority placed on relationship indicators and variation in effect/priority among groups of relationships. A survey of 95 purposively sampled stakeholders resulted in 72 valid structured questionnaires. Data were analysed using mean score and Kruskal-Wallis tests. The study concludes that unitary relationships are more associated with professionals; coercive relationships more associated with contractors; while mutuality relationships are least prevalent. The influence of factors promoting/hindering good relationships do not significantly vary among the internal stakeholders (p-values = 0.665 and 0.468), while significant variation exists in the priority placed on relationship-oriented indicators (p-value = 0.015). The study recommends encouragement of mutual relationships, clear/regular communication, trust/respect for contractual conditions, cooperation/collaboration, adequate job descriptions and good job attitudes. Priority should be placed on seamless/collaborative operation, collective understanding and gain/pain-sharing, which encourage team integration. ©2015 Taylor & Francis. | construction; internal stakeholders; projects; relationship; team integration | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84876270245 | Modelling critical success factors of business process reengineering and business performance of Nigerian oil and gas companies | Asika N., Awolusi O.D. | 2013 | International Journal of Services and Operations Management | 15 | 1 | 10.1504/IJSOM.2013.053253 | Department of Business Administration and Marketing, School of Postgraduate Studies, Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State, P.M.B 21244, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria | Asika, N., Department of Business Administration and Marketing, School of Postgraduate Studies, Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State, P.M.B 21244, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria; Awolusi, O.D., Department of Business Administration and Marketing, School of Postgraduate Studies, Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State, P.M.B 21244, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria | Business process reengineering (BPR) is a fundamental rethinking and radical redesign of business processes to achieve dramatic improvements in critical contemporary measures of performance such as cost, quality, speed and services (Al-Mashari and Zairi, 1999). This paper provides a holistic view of the BPR implementation process, by reviewing the hard and soft factors that cause success and failure for BPR implementation, as well as, examine the effectiveness of the critical success factors (CSFs) of BPR on both primary (operational) and secondary (organisational) measures of business performance in Nigerian oil and gas industry. The aim was achieved through an empirical study involving the administration of 650 self-administered questionnaires to a randomly selected senior and management staff of eight (8) re-engineered oil and gas companies in Nigeria. Using the framework from Khong and Richardson (2003), several hypotheses were tested, via structural equation modelling (SEM). Using SEM, multivariate analyses were mathematically represented in a single equation, and findings from this study confirmed that BPR had significant association on business performance of Nigerian oil and gas companies. Copyright © 2013 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd. | BPR; Business process reengineering; Factor analysis; Multivariate analysis; Nigeria; Oil and gas industry; Operating performance; Organisational performance | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-80053150203 | Geological and geophysical evaluation of the Ajana area's groundwater potential, Southwestern Nigeria [Evaluación geológica y geofísica del potencial de aguas subterráneas de la zona Ajana, el sudoeste de Nigeria] | Ariyo S.O., Folorunso A.F., Ajibade O.M. | 2011 | Earth Sciences Research Journal | 15 | 1 | None | Department of Earth Sciences, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Nigeria; Department of Geosciences, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria; Department of Earth Sciences, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Nigeria | Ariyo, S.O., Department of Earth Sciences, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Nigeria; Folorunso, A.F., Department of Geosciences, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria; Ajibade, O.M., Department of Earth Sciences, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Nigeria | A combined geological and geophysical evaluation was made of the groundwater potential of the Ajana, Remo North area in south-western Nigeria; the geology and other structural features of the rocks there strongly influenced and correlated the aquifers' storability and transmissivity. Geological mapping revealed that the area was made up of granite, quartzite and varieties of gneiss, some of which have good secondary porosity and permeability. Ten vertical electric soundings (VES) stations were established using a Schlumberger electrode array. Five geoelectric layers consisting of topsoil, sand, clayey-sandy, fractured/weathered basement and fresh bedrock were delineated. The aquifer layers were the 38.3m thick 283?m resistivity sand/sandy clay and 55 - 518?m resistivity fractured/weathered basement. Other geoelectric parameters used in evaluating the area's hydrogeological potential included curve type, anisotropy coefficient and reflection coefficient-The QH curve type was predominant in the area. The anisotropy Coefficients suggested VES stations having high groundwater potential ranging from 1.4-1.56; while the reflection coefficients for the area ranged from 0.21-0.99. The overall results showed that VES stations 8, 9 and 10 could be possible groundwater sources having high expected yield. | Ajana; Anisotropy coefficient; Geoelectric layers; Groundwater potential; Mapping; Reflection coefficient | anisotropy; electrical resistivity; electrode; geological structure; geophysical method; groundwater abstraction; porosity; transmissivity; Nigeria | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84899445523 | Synthesis of standards and procedures for specimen preparation and in-field evaluation of cold-recycled asphalt mixtures | Tebaldi G., Dave E.V., Marsac P., Muraya P., Hugener M., Pasetto M., Graziani A., Grilli A., Bocci M., Marradi A., Wendling L., Gaudefroy V., Jenkins K., Loizos A., Canestrari F. | 2014 | Road Materials and Pavement Design | 15 | 2 | 10.1080/14680629.2013.866707 | Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Architecture, University of Parma, Parma, Italy; Department of Civil Engineering, University of Minnesota Duluth, Duluth, MN, United States; IFSTTAR, Nantes, France; Department of Civil and Transport Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway; EMPA, Dübendorf, Switzerland; Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering, University of Padua, Padua, Italy; Department of Civil Engineering, Construction and Architecture, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy; Department of Civil Engineering, University of San Marino, San Marino, Italy; Department of Civil and Industrial Engineering, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy; Department of Civil Engineering, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa; Department of Transportation Planning and Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Athens, Greece | Tebaldi, G., Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Architecture, University of Parma, Parma, Italy; Dave, E.V., Department of Civil Engineering, University of Minnesota Duluth, Duluth, MN, United States; Marsac, P., IFSTTAR, Nantes, France; Muraya, P., Department of Civil and Transport Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway; Hugener, M., EMPA, Dübendorf, Switzerland; Pasetto, M., Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering, University of Padua, Padua, Italy; Graziani, A., Department of Civil Engineering, Construction and Architecture, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy; Grilli, A., Department of Civil Engineering, University of San Marino, San Marino, Italy; Bocci, M., Department of Civil Engineering, Construction and Architecture, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy; Marradi, A., Department of Civil and Industrial Engineering, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy; Wendling, L., IFSTTAR, Nantes, France; Gaudefroy, V., IFSTTAR, Nantes, France; Jenkins, K., Department of Civil Engineering, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa; Loizos, A., Department of Transportation Planning and Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Athens, Greece; Canestrari, F., Department of Civil Engineering, Construction and Architecture, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy | The use of recycled asphalt (RA) materials in pavement rehabilitation processes is continuously increasing as recycling techniques, such as cold recycling (CR), are being utilised in increasing magnitude and greater awareness for use of recycled materials and consideration of sustainable practices is becoming common in the construction industry. The focus of this paper is on developing a state of the art and state of the practice summary of processes used for classification of RA as well as the curing and specimen preparation practices for cold-recycled asphalt mixtures. A variety of topics were explored through an exhaustive literature search, these include RA production methods, definition of RA materials, stockpiling practices, industrial operations, specimen curing and preparation practices and in-field evaluation of cold-recycled rehabilitation. This paper was developed through efforts of CR task group (TG6) of RILEM Technical Committee on Testing and Characterization of Sustainable Innovative Bituminous Materials and Systems (TC-237 SIB). © 2014 Taylor & Francis. | cold-recycling; material characterisation; RAP; recycled asphalt; specimen preparation | Asphalt mixtures; Construction industry; Curing; Mixtures; Recycling; cold-recycling; Industrial operations; Material characterisation; Pavement rehabilitation; RAP; Recycled asphalt; Sustainable practices; Synthesis of standards; Specimen preparation | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-33746301127 | Feasibility of structural monitoring with vibration powered sensors | Elvin N.G., Lajnef N., Elvin A.A. | 2006 | Smart Materials and Structures | 15 | 4 | 10.1088/0964-1726/15/4/011 | Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Michigan State University, Engineering Building 3573, East Lansing, MI 48824, United States; Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa | Elvin, N.G., Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Michigan State University, Engineering Building 3573, East Lansing, MI 48824, United States; Lajnef, N., Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Michigan State University, Engineering Building 3573, East Lansing, MI 48824, United States; Elvin, A.A., Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa | Wireless sensors and sensor networks are beginning to be used to monitor structures. In general, the longevity, and hence the efficacy, of these sensors are severely limited by their stored power. The ability to convert abundant ambient energy into electric power would eliminate the problem of drained electrical supply, and would allow indefinite monitoring. This paper focuses on vibration in civil engineering structures as a source of ambient energy; the key question is can sufficient energy be produced from vibrations? Earthquake, wind and traffic loads are used as realistic sources of vibration. The theoretical maximum energy levels that can be extracted from these dynamic loads are computed. The same dynamic loads are applied to a piezoelectric generator; the energy is measured experimentally and computed using a mathematical model. The collected energy levels are compared to the energy requirements of various electronic subsystems in a wireless sensor. For a 5cm3 sensor node (the volume of a typical concrete stone), it is found that only extreme events such as earthquakes can provide sufficient energy to power wireless sensors consisting of modern electronic chips. The results show that the optimal generated electrical power increases approximately linearly with increasing sensor mass. With current technology, it would be possible to self-power a sensor node with a mass between 100 and 1000g for a bridge under traffic load. Lowering the energy consumption of electronic components is an ongoing research effort. It is likely that, as electronics becomes more efficient in the future, it will be possible to power a wireless sensor node by harvesting vibrations from a volume generator smaller than 5cm3. © 2006 IOP Publishing Ltd. | None | Earthquakes; Electric power systems; Electronic equipment; Energy efficiency; Problem solving; Vibration control; Structural monitoring; Vibration powered sensors; Volume generators; Sensors | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84876378203 | Optimization of pollution control performance of wet detention ponds in tropical urban catchments using particle swarm optimization | Dan'Azumi S., Shamsudin S., Aris A. | 2013 | Journal of Hydroinformatics | 15 | 2 | 10.2166/hydro.2012.206 | Department of Civil Engineering, Bayero University Kano, PMB 3011, Kano, Nigeria; Razak School of Engineering and Advanced Technology, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 54100, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Faculty of Civil Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysi | Dan'Azumi, S., Department of Civil Engineering, Bayero University Kano, PMB 3011, Kano, Nigeria, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310, Skudai, Johor, Malaysia; Shamsudin, S., Razak School of Engineering and Advanced Technology, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 54100, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Aris, A., Faculty of Civil Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310, Skudai, Johor, Malaysia | Wet detention ponds are the best management systems for the control of urban stormwater. The objective of this study is to develop optimum pollution control performance of wet detention ponds using an analytical probabilistic model (APM) and particle swarm optimization (PSO). An urban catchment, in a tropical region, was selected as a case study and APM parameters were developed using long-term rainfall data. Firstly, the active storage was kept constant while the permanent pool was varied and PSO simulations conducted. Secondly, PSO simulations were conducted, keeping the permanent pool constant and varying the active storage. The pollution control increased with increasing detention time, reached a peak value and thereafter declined. However, the pollution control was more sensitive to permanent pool than active storage as higher pollution control is attained at a shorter time using the former. The PSO captures the optimum detention time and the corresponding peak pollution control performance by five iterations and the computational time required for the PSO is much shorter than the APM which has to be exhaustively enumerated. The optimum detention time in tropical climates is found to be shorter than temperate regions and recommendations given in existing literature cannot be applied to tropical regions. © IWA Publishing 2013. | Active storage; Detention pond; Particle swarm optimization; Permanent pool; Pollution control; Wet pond | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84899464453 | Performance of cold recycling materials with foamed bitumen and increasing percentage of reclaimed asphalt pavement | Dal Ben M., Jenkins K.J. | 2014 | Road Materials and Pavement Design | 15 | 2 | 10.1080/14680629.2013.872051 | Department of Civil Engineering, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa | Dal Ben, M., Department of Civil Engineering, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa; Jenkins, K.J., Department of Civil Engineering, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa | The increasing use of bitumen-stabilised materials (BSMs) in the world and especially in Southern Africa necessitates further research into the fundamental properties and behaviour of BSMs. In particular, bitumen stabilisation is increasingly being used to rehabilitate base layers of pavements incorporating thick asphalt layers, resulting in higher percentages of reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) in the mixes. There is a significant need for improved understanding of these materials, which is the main objective of the study being undertaken. The extended knowledge gained from this research is intended to improve current mix design and structural design practices. The project's aim is to investigate the feasibility and suitability of producing BSMs that include RAP with relatively high blending ratios of recycled graded crushed stone. In this study, the RAP used in each mix design contains materials with relatively fresh binder. The proportions range from 100:0 to 0:100 of graded crushed stone: RAP. Tri-axial tests at different temperatures are carried out to determine shear properties, resilient modulus and permanent deformation behaviour of the mix. The findings show that the RAP type and percentage influence the rutting resistance, indirect tensile strength (ITS) and moisture susceptibility of the BSMs. A portion of this study is dedicated to the characterisation of the permanent deformation behaviour and to the moisture damage simulation. © 2013 Taylor & Francis. | bitumen-stabilised materials; cold in place recycling; RAP; recycling; tri-axial tests | Moisture; Recycling; Structural design; Tensile strength; Cold in-place recycling; Fundamental properties; Indirect tensile strength; Moisture susceptibility; Permanent deformations; RAP; Reclaimed asphalt pavements; Tri-axial; Bituminous materials | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84954470591 | Evaluation of prescription pattern and patients’ opinion on healthcare practices in selected primary healthcare facilities in Ibadan, South-Western Nigeria | Adisa R., Fakeye T.O., Aindero V.O. | 2015 | African Health Sciences | 15 | 4 | 10.4314/ahs.v15i4.35 | Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Administration, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria | Adisa, R., Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Administration, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Fakeye, T.O., Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Administration, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Aindero, V.O., Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Administration, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria | Background: Inappropriate prescribing negatively impacts on health and economy of individual and the society. Objectives: To evaluate the prescribing patterns and patients’ opinions on healthcare practices in selected primary healthcare centres (PHC) in Ibadan, South-Western Nigeria. Methods: A prospective cross-sectional study was carried out among patients and healthcare workers in selected PHCs using semi-structured questionnaires. Also, patients’ prescription records were reviewed using the WHO-prescribing indicators. Results: About one-half (210; 52.5%) were very satisfied with convenience of obtaining prescribed medicines in the PHCs, accessibility of PHC to abode (158;39.5%) and affordable medications (136;34.0%). Patients were dissatisfied with follow-up of care (191; 47.8%), courtesy of workers (184; 46.3%) and non-availability of medicines (138;34.5%). Number of drugs per encounter was 5.8±2.3 and % encounter with an antibiotic was >26.8% in each facility. Hematinics accounted for (814; 35.0%), analgesics (544; 23.4%), antimicrobials (303;13.0%) and antihypertensives (5; 0.2%). Conclusion: Primary healthcare attendees were satisfied with medication costs affordability and accessibility of PHC to abode but expressed dissatisfaction with follow-up of care and courtesy of workers. Also, inappropriate prescriptions characterized by polypharmacy and overuse of antibiotics were common underscoring the need for regular training of PHC workers on rational drug use and instituting appropriate measures for improvement. © 2015, Makerere University, Medical School. All rights reserved. | Healthcare workers; Prescribing patterns; Primary healthcare | amoxicillin; amoxicillin plus clavulanic acid; ampicillin; ampicillin plus cloxacillin; artesunate; ascorbic acid; cefalexin; cefixime; cefuroxime; ciprofloxacin; cotrimoxazole; cyanocobalamin; diclofenac; doxycycline; erythromycin; ferrous sulfate; folic acid; gentamicin; ibuprofen; magnesium trisilicate; metronidazole; multivitamin; ofloxacin; paracetamol; procaine penicillin; sulfadimidine; tetracycline; unindexed drug; vitamin B complex; zinc sulfate; adolescent; adult; Article; cross-sectional study; drug cost; drug use; female; health care delivery; health care facility; health care practice; human; major clinical study; male; Nigeria; patient satisfaction; polypharmacy; prescription; prospective study | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79959987568 | The impact of highly active antiretroviral therapy on activities of daily living in HIV-infected adults in South Africa | Kakinami L., De Bruyn G., Pronyk P., Mohapi L., Tshabangu N., Moshabela M., McIntyre J., Martinson N.A. | 2011 | AIDS and Behavior | 15 | 4 | 10.1007/s10461-010-9776-y | Department of Community and Preventive Medicine, University of Rochester, Box 644, 601 Elmwood Ave, Rochester, NY 14642, United States; Perinatal HIV Research Unit, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Earth Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States; School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States | Kakinami, L., Department of Community and Preventive Medicine, University of Rochester, Box 644, 601 Elmwood Ave, Rochester, NY 14642, United States; De Bruyn, G., Perinatal HIV Research Unit, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Pronyk, P., Earth Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States, School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Mohapi, L., Perinatal HIV Research Unit, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Tshabangu, N., Perinatal HIV Research Unit, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Moshabela, M., School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; McIntyre, J., Perinatal HIV Research Unit, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Martinson, N.A., Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States | This study investigated the relationship between highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) among two clinical cohorts in South Africa. Between 2003 and 2008 structured questionnaires were administered to HIV-positive patients attending outpatient clinics at an urban hospital (Soweto, n = 3,081) and a rural hospital (Acornhoek, n = 1,247). Among those receiving help, an average of 4.8 and 5.1 h of assistance with IADLs daily was reported (rural and urban participants, respectively), with the patient's mother and children assisting the most. Participants on HAART were 17 and 41% less likely to receive assistance with IADLs in the rural and urban cohorts, respectively, after adjusting for demographic characteristics, healthcare utilization, and CD4 counts. HAART significantly decreased the IADL assistance among patients in South Africa. Alongside clinical benefits, HAART has the potential to reduce the burden of HIV-related care, potentially extending wider social and economic gains to other family members. © 2010 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC. | Antiretroviral therapy; Family; HIV; Household economy; Indirect benefits; Instrumental activities of daily living; South Africa | adult; aged; article; CD4 lymphocyte count; cohort analysis; daily life activity; female; highly active antiretroviral therapy; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; male; middle aged; outpatient department; quality of life; questionnaire; rural population; socioeconomics; South Africa; treatment outcome; urban population; virology; virus load; Activities of Daily Living; Adult; Aged; Ambulatory Care Facilities; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; CD4 Lymphocyte Count; Cohort Studies; Female; HIV Infections; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Quality of Life; Questionnaires; Rural Population; Socioeconomic Factors; South Africa; Treatment Outcome; Urban Population; Viral Load; Young Adult | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84932169132 | Evaluation of herbal medicines: Value addition to traditional medicines through metabolism, pharmacokinetic and safety studies | Thelingwani R., Masimirembwa C. | 2014 | Current Drug Metabolism | 15 | 10 | 10.2174/1389200216666150206125727 | Department of DMPK and Bioanalytical Chemistry, Drug Metabolism, Pharmacokinetics and Bioanalytical Chemistry Unit, African Institute of Biomedical Science and Technology, Cnr Rekai Tangwena and Josiah Tongogara, Harare, Zimbabwe | Thelingwani, R., Department of DMPK and Bioanalytical Chemistry, Drug Metabolism, Pharmacokinetics and Bioanalytical Chemistry Unit, African Institute of Biomedical Science and Technology, Cnr Rekai Tangwena and Josiah Tongogara, Harare, Zimbabwe; Masimirembwa, C., Department of DMPK and Bioanalytical Chemistry, Drug Metabolism, Pharmacokinetics and Bioanalytical Chemistry Unit, African Institute of Biomedical Science and Technology, Cnr Rekai Tangwena and Josiah Tongogara, Harare, Zimbabwe | The safety and efficacy of herbal medicines remain major issues of concern especially in the developing world where the use is high. The World Health Organisation estimates up to 80% of the population in Africa relies on herbal medicines for treatment of many diseases. Minimum safety evaluations need to be done for both the herbal and conventional drugs, in particular when there is a high likelihood of co-administration. This is particularly important in Africa where there is increased access to antiretrovirals in the treatment of HIV/AIDS, which are being used in a population background characterized by rampant use of herbal medicines. Many techniques used in the discovery and evaluation of conventional drugs can be adapted to herbal medicines. Such evaluations will add value to herbal medicines as doctors and patients will be better informed on which drugs and herbal medicines to take or not take together. This can also lead to the adoption of guidelines by regulatory agents such as the European Medicines Agency (EMA), Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and governmental agencies controlling the use of medicines. Of current interest is the evaluation of drug-herb interactions (DHI) involving the absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion (ADME) of medicines where there is a promising possibility to adopt the current FDA and EMA guidelines on the evaluation of herbal medicines for drug-drug interactions (DDI). In this review we demonstrate progress made so far in DHI and point to possible future developments that will contribute to the safe use of herbal medicines. © 2014 Bentham Science Publishers. | ADME; Herbal medicines; Pharmacokinetics; Value addition | antiretrovirus agent; herbaceous agent; plant medicinal product; acquired immune deficiency syndrome; Africa; Article; drug absorption; drug distribution; drug excretion; drug metabolism; drug safety; food and drug administration; health care access; herb drug interaction; herbal medicine; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; nonhuman; traditional medicine; world health organization; animal; drug development; herb drug interaction; medicinal plant; phytotherapy; risk assessment; Animals; Drug Discovery; Herb-Drug Interactions; Humans; Medicine, Traditional; Phytotherapy; Plant Preparations; Plants, Medicinal; Risk Assessment | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-78149497773 | Impact of prolonged rainy seasons on food crop production in Cameroon | Yengoh G.T., Tchuinte A., Armah F.A., Odoi J.O. | 2010 | Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change | 15 | 8 | 10.1007/s11027-010-9241-2 | Department of Earth and Ecosystem Sciences, Division of Physical Geography and Ecosystems Analysis, Lund University, Sölvegatan 12, SE-223 62 Lund, Sweden; National Service of Statistics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Yaounde, Cameroon; Department of Environmental Science, School of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana; Nature Today, A 25 Standard Estates, Sakumono, Osu, P.O. Box OS 1455, Accra, Ghana | Yengoh, G.T., Department of Earth and Ecosystem Sciences, Division of Physical Geography and Ecosystems Analysis, Lund University, Sölvegatan 12, SE-223 62 Lund, Sweden; Tchuinte, A., National Service of Statistics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Yaounde, Cameroon; Armah, F.A., Department of Environmental Science, School of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana; Odoi, J.O., Nature Today, A 25 Standard Estates, Sakumono, Osu, P.O. Box OS 1455, Accra, Ghana | This study set out to examine why agricultural production in differing agro-ecological zones of the same country responds differently to a common environmental event (an extension of the rainy season). We find that the heavy reliance of farmers in the drier agro-ecological zones on seasonal cycles make them more vulnerable to an extension of the rainy season than those in regions where rainfall is less relied on. Effects in these vulnerable regions include significant damage to crops as well as a shortage in local markets, which raises prices of basic food commodities. The difference between prices in low and high food producing periods is low for crops that can easily be preserved during rains (such as cassava at 58% from an average of 20% in previous years and yams at 82% from 65%). Crops that depend on sunshine for preservation experience greater differences between low and high periods (maize at 92% from an average of 31% in previous years, sorghum at 180% from 53%, and beans at 68% from 42%). In zones with a history of unreliable dry seasons, farmers are more adapted to coping with an extension of the rainy season and possess technology and skills which can be made available to others in vulnerable zones through inter-regional knowledge transfer of knowledge and skills. This study further reinforces the understanding that isolated climate shocks could be important in understanding and managing vulnerability. Also, vulnerability is quite variable even among communities in the same country, in which people practice the same economic activity and are exposed to the same shock. © 2010 Springer Science+Business Media B.V. | Agriculture; Agro-ecological zones; Effects; Rainfall; Seasons; Small-scale farming | commodity; crop damage; crop production; ecological impact; economic analysis; farming system; legume; maize; market system; rainfall; season; sorghum; vulnerability; Cameroon; Manihot esculenta; Zea mays | None |
| None | None | Performance and revenue potential of excise taxation in Tanzania | Osoro N.E., Mwinyimvua H.H., Mpango P.I.N. | 2006 | Journal of African Economies | 15 | 1 | 10.1093/jae/eji031 | Department of Economics, University of Dar es Salaam, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; World Bank, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania | Osoro, N.E., Department of Economics, University of Dar es Salaam, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Mwinyimvua, H.H., Department of Economics, University of Dar es Salaam, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Mpango, P.I.N., World Bank, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania | This paper analyses the performance of excise taxation in Tanzania in terms of revenue generation objective with a view to identifying its revenue potential. In pursuit of this objective, the paper measures the buoyancy and elasticity of excise taxes, estimates demand functions for excisable goods and computes revenue-maximising tax rates. Consequently, the paper identifies goods that should bear excise tax. Both short- and long-run estimation results for buoyancy and elasticity show that excise tax revenue is inelastic with respect to the quarterly change in GDP. In addition, the buoyancy of excise tax has been higher than elasticity, implying that discretionary changes undertaken over the period of the study enhanced revenue collection. The estimation results of the demand functions for cigarettes, motor fuel, beer, 'Chibuku' and 'Konyagi' gin, show inelastic own-price elasticity of demand implying that the government can collect more revenue by levying higher rates of excise tax on these products. The revenue-maximising tax rates for cigarettes, motor fuel and beer are high both in the short and long run. © 2006 Oxford University Press. | None | tax system; Africa; East Africa; Sub-Saharan Africa; Tanzania | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84867698555 | Macroeconomic impact of Eskom's six-year capital investment programme | Seymore R., Akanbi O.A., Abedian I. | 2012 | South African Journal of Economic and Management Sciences | 15 | 2 | None | Department of Economics, University of Pretoria, South Africa; Department of Economics, University of South Africa, South Africa; GIBS, University of Pretoria, South Africa | Seymore, R., Department of Economics, University of Pretoria, South Africa; Akanbi, O.A., Department of Economics, University of South Africa, South Africa; Abedian, I., GIBS, University of Pretoria, South Africa | This study analyses the impact of an increase in Eskom's capital expenditure on the overall macro and sectoral economy using both a Time-Series Macro-Econometric (TSME) model and a Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) model. The simulation results from the TSME model reveal that in the long run, major macro variables (i.e. household consumption, GDP, and employment) will be positively affected by the increased investment. A weak transmission mechanism of the shock on the macro and sectoral economy is detected both in the short run and long run due to the relatively small share of electricity investment in total investment in the economy. On the other hand, the simulation results from the CGE reveal similar but more robust positive impacts on the macro economy. Most of the short-run macroeconomic impacts are reinforced in the long run. | Capital expenditure; General equilibrium modelling; Macroeconomic variables | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-79960359875 | Managerial roles and choice of performance measures in the kenyan five-star hotels using a cross-sectional correlational design | Wadongo B.I., Edwin O., Oscar K.O. | 2010 | Managing Leisure | 15 | 02-Jan | 10.1080/13606710903447980 | Department of Ecotourism, Hotel and Institution Management, Maseno University, Private Bag, Maseno, Kenya; American Hospitality Academy Romania, International Hotel Management Schools, Camp. Colegiul Astra, Cladire Corp B, Str Panselelor, Brasov, 500419, Kenya | Wadongo, B.I., Department of Ecotourism, Hotel and Institution Management, Maseno University, Private Bag, Maseno, Kenya; Edwin, O., American Hospitality Academy Romania, International Hotel Management Schools, Camp. Colegiul Astra, Cladire Corp B, Str Panselelor, Brasov, 500419, Kenya; Oscar, K.O., Department of Ecotourism, Hotel and Institution Management, Maseno University, Private Bag, Maseno, Kenya | Performance management was traditionally defined as the process of financial control, in which the mission and strategy are translated into budgets, and subsequently results are compared with budgets in Kenya. Despite the progress taking place with regard to the design of more effective performance measurement systems, little is known about the linkage between managerial roles and performance dimensionmeasures, yet this provides the best opportunity for organizations to improve their performancemeasurement systems.Across-sectionalcorrelational studyof160managers insixfive-starhotels in Nairobi andMombasa, Kenya found the relationships betweenmanagerial roles and choice of performance measures. Hospitality organizations that want to implement effective performance management systems should use managerial roles to influence managers' choice of performance measures. © 2010 Taylor & Francis. | Cross-sectional survey; Hotel industry; Kenya; managerial roles; Performance measures | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-77951657673 | Women, power and subversion in orature: A palace performance in Yorubaland, Nigeria | Jegede O.B. | 2006 | Journal of Gender Studies | 15 | 3 | 10.1080/09589230600862000 | Department of English, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria | Jegede, O.B., Department of English, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria | It is our contention in this paper that though royal wives in Oyo-Yorùbá community are invisible in some social, political and religious lives of their people, they are visible in the sphere of poetic creation. We opine that Yorùbá kings are powerful in most spheres, but in orature, the power of women in general, and royal wives in particular, cannot be underestimated. Through the examples of 'yùngbà' and 'igbátítí', two poetic spheres created by tradition for royal wives from Oyo-Yorùbá community, this paper argues that royal wives reposition themselves as channels of poetic utterance. They use poetry to redefine their position as wives and women, reassert themselves and subvert unwanted values. In particular, they use their creative power as a weapon for subverting male-constructed structures and views in society. In exercising their creative power, the women use their power to speak, to perform and to decide the course of action. In conclusion, we state that contemporary women writers also enhance the efforts of women in orature. In this regard, the paper refers to Emecheta's novels that condemn the economic, sexual and social exploitation of women. Like the royal wives, Emecheta creates protagonists who use their intellectual power to decide on issues that concern them. © 2006 Taylor & Francis. | Gender relations; Kingship; Power; Subversion; Visibility; Women | None | None |
| Scopus | 2-s2.0-84928012852 | Students want HIV testing in schools a formative evaluation of the acceptability of HIV testing and counselling at schools in Gauteng and North West provinces in South Africa | Madiba S., Mokgatle M. | 2015 | BMC Public Health | 15 | 1 | 10.1186/s12889-015-1746-x | Department of Environmental and Occupational Heath, School of Public Health, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Pretoria, South Africa; Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Pretoria, South Africa | Madiba, S., Department of Environmental and Occupational Heath, School of Public Health, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Pretoria, South Africa; Mokgatle, M., Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Pretoria, South Africa | Background: The proposal by the South African Health Ministry to implement HIV testing and counselling (HTC) at schools in 2011 generated debates about the appropriateness of such testing. However, the debate has been between the Ministries of Education and Health, with little considerations of the students. The main aim of the study was to assess the students' opinions and uptake of HIV testing and counselling in general, and the acceptability of the provision of HIV testing and counselling in schools. The study also determined the association between socio-demographic characteristics, sexual behaviour, and HIV testing behaviour of the students. Methods: A survey was conducted among grade 10-12 high school students in North West and Gauteng provinces, South Africa. Seventee |